No Lair is so Dark Spring Can't Reach it

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/33461110.

Rating: Explicit
Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Category: M/M
Fandom: 天官赐福 - 墨香铜臭 | Tiān Guān Cì Fú - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù
Relationship: Huā Chéng/Xiè Lián (Tiān Guān Cì Fú)
Characters: Huā Chéng (Tiān Guān Cì Fú), Xiè Lián (Tiān Guān Cì Fú), Fēng Xìn
(Tiān Guān Cì Fú), Mù Qíng (Tiān Guān Cì Fú), Yǐn Yù (Tiān Guān Cì
Fú), Ruòyé (Tiān Guān Cì Fú), È-Mìng (Tiān Guān Cì Fú), Shī
Qīngxuán, Hè Xuán (Tiān Guān Cì Fú), Jūn Wú (Tiān Guān Cì Fú), Qī
Róng (Tiān Guān Cì Fú)
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Eventual FengQing, Minor
Original Character(s), POV Multiple, Falling In Love, Ghost City (Tiān
Guān Cì Fú), Ghost City Residents (Tiān Guān Cì Fú) - Freeform, Soft
Huā Chéng, Pampered Xiè Lián, depressed xie lian, Kissing, Boys
Kissing, Neck Kissing, Undressing, Frottage, Cuddling & Snuggling,
Bodily Fluids, Shapeshifting, Female Xiè Lián, mentions of cannibalism,
mentions of torture, Original Character Death(s), Canon-Typical
Violence
Language: English
Collections: fics that im haunting rn, China Fandom, Alternative Universes of
Fandoms I enjoy., Works Loved By Luna04
Stats: Published: 2021-08-24 Completed: 2023-04-18 Words: 128,398
Chapters: 38/38
 No Lair is so Dark Spring Can't Reach it
by firstfairytale

Summary

Xie Lian finds his way to Ghost City before his third Ascension and the circumstances in
which he did compel him to stay.
 Prologue
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

For Feng Xin, it began when one of his junior deputies came to him after weeks of absence
with a request and a story.

For Mu Qing, it began soon afterward, when Feng Xin marched into his palace dragging said
junior deputy by the scruff of his neck.

“You want to hear this,” Feng Xin said before Mu Qing could protest. “In private.”

Mu Qing protested anyway.

“You dare come to my palace—!”

“To tell you that you want to hear this.” Feng Xin’s fists remained tightly closed and he held
Mu Qing’s gaze with a determination the latter hadn’t seen in centuries.

For once, curiosity grew stronger than Mu Qing’s indignation. He scoffed to save face and
folded his arms before shooing his attendants away with a nod.

“Make it worth my while.”

Feng Xin pushed his deputy forward.

“Tell him what you told me. Word by word. Don’t leave anything out.”

The deputy stumbled a couple of steps but he managed to stop before crossing the boundaries
of a respectful distance. His failed attempt at disguising his blandness and confusion with a
mask of neutrality was annoying. Mu Qing didn’t recognize him, which meant he must’ve
been new. Not that he paid any attention to the comings and goings of Feng Xin’s staff.

The young man bowed formally to both generals as he began to speak.

“General Xuan Zhen, it is an honor to be in your presence. My name is Zan Chow and I am
here under the orders of—”

“To the point!” Mu Qing spat.

“Yes, sir. Apologies. The story my general wants me to tell started one month ago as I was
coming back from an errand.”
Before finding out that he had been cursed after all, Zan Chow spent the entire day feeling
proud of himself. His first solo task in general Nan Yang’s name had been a success; the
fierce, sadistic ghoul who tormented his followers would bother no one else ever again. As
for the cursed artifact, he buried it at the feet of a nearby mountain, dusted his hands off, and,
then, he pushed the ordeal out of his mind. He was a heavenly official, Middle Court or not.
A trinket such as this wouldn’t dare to affect him.

Hours later, he realized he had spent the entire afternoon walking in circles when he tripped
on the same tree root for the third time. Yes, the road was covered in a thick fog, but his sense
of direction had always been decent. He had never gotten lost before. Ever.

Zan Chow stopped, folded his arms, and began to think, unwilling to let himself fall into
panic.

“Retrace your steps,” he told himself. “Once at the beginning, going back to the heavenly
capital will be easy.”

He turned around and walked. And walked and walked—and then he tripped on a tree root
for the fourth time. The tree root.

“How is this happening?” he exclaimed.

He reached down and grabbed it, following it all the way to the tree it was attached to. He
examined it. Then, he examined the rocks around it and the ground itself, reaching chilling
conclusions: at some point, he had wandered into the ghost realm without realizing it, and
now he was lost.

It took a long moment for the implications to sink in. He had been cursed. The trinket had
dared.

Zan Chow had been in the ghost realm only once before in the company of more experienced
heavenly officials. Back then, he had been too busy guarding the scrolls they recovered to
pay attention, and, now, he didn’t remember how to leave and he didn’t have anyone he could
ask. Worse, praying to his general for help would earn him a punishment instead of a rescue.
He was on his own.

No, wait.

He was on his own but with his spiritual powers, his bow, and his arrows. Zan Chow placed
his fingers on top of his quiver. The familiarity of the gesture, the arrows against his fingers
relaxed him. As someone who got general Nan Yang’s attention thanks to his archery skills,
he would be fine.

Just fine.

A rustle from the side of the road startled him. In less than a second, Zan Chow had an arrow
pointing toward the bushes and he adjusted his aim every other breath. Fog could be
treacherous, maybe even more so in the ghost realm.
“Hello? Who’s there?” a male, unknown voice said. It sounded non-threatening, but that
meant nothing. A silhouette—malformed, large, inhuman—followed those words coming out
from the fog little by little. Step by step.

Zan Chow’s fingers reacted on their own. Panic took over and the arrow flew from the bow to
the coming figure. Its speed dissipated the fog enough to let him see, too late, that his target
was neither a monster nor a ghost but a young cultivator. He was clad in white and he had a
wide straw hat on his head and a huge sack over his shoulder, both of which had been the
cause of the confusion. In a frenzy, Zan Chow tried to stop the arrow with a spell, forgetting
for a second that those were special arrows, impervious to all spiritual powers. All he could
do was brace himself to live with what he had done.

However, the young cultivator grabbed the arrow millimeters away from his face in an
elegant, fluid movement. He showed near god-like speed even though he was a mortal. A
very good-looking mortal, by the way. There was an aura about him that made Zan Chow
think this cultivator was bound to ascend during his lifetime.

Regardless, he was owed an apology.

“I’m sorry!” he said. “I have no words to express—! I thought you were a ghost!”

The cultivator took another step forward. He seemed more annoyed than angry, and his small
pout disappeared when he heard Zan Chow’s words of contrition.

“Ah. It’s fine,” he said. With a casual flick of his wrist, he threw the arrow back to the quiver.
“Just be more careful next time.”

“Yes, I will.” Zan Chow then tried to change the topic. He had lost enough face already.
“Excuse me, young cultivator, are you aware of what place this is?”

By then, the fog had come back to surround them as thick as before. As if it had never been
disturbed. Zan Chow was only able to see the cultivator’s embarrassed smile and how he
scratched his cheek with one finger because of how close they stood to each other.

“Yes, I am. I was wondering if by any chance you knew the way back to the mortal realm.”

Well…

There had to be a way for Zan Chow to say that he had no idea without making himself look
bad. Sadly, it took him long enough to think of one that his silence became an answer.

The cultivator sighed.

“Do you mind if I stay close? Working together can increase our chances of finding the way
out,” he said.

“That’s fine with me.”

“Thank you. So, have you tried that way?”

“I’m not sure. It’s possible that I haven’t.”

“Let’s go there, then,” the cultivator said.

His voice and manners were soft, and he waited for Zan Chow to join him when he began to
walk. Yet, he had taken charge of the situation after a mere handful of words. Not that Zan
Chow minded.

“My name is Zan Chow.”

“Xie Lian,” the cultivator said. “It’s a pleasure. You are a heavenly official, right?”

“Uh. Yes. I am. I’m a junior deputy under general Nan Yang and the only reason I’m lost is
that I touched a cursed artifact.”

Zan Chow shut his mouth but it was too late. He had explained himself to a stranger, and he
had done it the way a child would. Swallowing a sigh, he looked ahead, faking the dignity he
had just lost.

“I see.” Xie Lian pulled the brim of his hat down to the side to cover his face. “From what
I’ve heard, it sounds like your general is doing well.”

Thank you for focusing on that, Zan Chow thought.

“He is!” Zan Chow said with enthusiasm. “Are you one of his worshipers?”

“Ah— It’s complicated.”

Zan Chow waited for Xie Lian to elaborate, but bells jingling in the distance interrupted
them. Through the fog, they saw row after row of green lights coming down the road in their
direction.

Xie Lian placed his arm in front of Zan Chow.

“Behind the trees,” he whispered.

They hid right on time to see the ghostly procession pass by. None of the lights stopped,
which meant that they didn’t notice the intruders.

“I definitely don’t want to go where they’re going,” Zan Chow said after the ghosts were out
of hearing range.

“Then, I propose we go the opposite way,” Xie Lian replied.

And so they did.

Yet, the curse was relentless. Under its influence, it didn’t take them long to reach one of the
most infamous cities in all the three realms, one full of ghosts.
***

In summary, this is the opposite of what I wanted, Zan Chow thought after explaining to Xie
Lian all he could about Ghost City.

“Despite everything,” Xie Lian began, “it is a city and we’re here. There has to be someone
out here able to give us directions.”

Zan Chow tightened his fists and bit his lower lip.

“Able maybe, but willing…I am a heavenly official. If they realize I’m here—”

Xie Lian pointed around them.

“We’re right at the gate. If anyone wanted to attack you, they would’ve done it already.”

Frowning, Zan Chow followed Xie Lian’s finger. He was right. The fog had lifted and they
were in the open. All kinds of ghosts and spirits came and went around them without paying
them any mind. Among the relief washing over Zan Chow, he felt miffed at being ignored. It
passed soon, though. Losing a little—more—face beat being imprisoned and tortured by Hua
Cheng. By anyone, really, but Hua Cheng could only be very creative regarding these things.

Anyway, their goal was to escape the ghost realm and their option pool was limited. Unable
to come up with an alternative, Zan Chow had to give in and agree with Xie Lian. He took a
deep breath, readied himself for anything that could come at them, and they crossed Ghost
City’s gate.

While at first being ignored brought peace of mind, it became a problem when they began
asking around for information. The city residents either mocked them or tried to trick them
into buying useless trash.

“This is hopeless!” Zan Chow said after an hour of nothing. They had stopped next to a food
stall. It smelled good, but, in places such as this, one never knew if the main ingredient was
human flesh. “Perhaps we should buy whatever they’re selling. That’ll make them talk.”

“Perhaps. Except that…” Xie Lian made a pause in which he smiled apologetically and
scratched the side of his nose. “I don’t have any money on me at the moment.”

Zan Chow grinned and reached into his sleeve for his money bag.

“If it’s only that, don’t worry. It’s on me.”

However, his confidence disappeared when his hand came out empty. Dismayed, Zan Chow
patted the front of his robes. Then, every other place in which he had pockets, his eyes
widening more and more when he kept not finding anything.

“What? Where is it? Was it stolen? That cursed teapot!”

“Teapot?” Xie Lian asked.

Zan Chow made a face. They had come this far together and Xie Lian had ended up being
affected as well. He might as well come clean.

“Earlier today, I battled a gruesome ghoul. Among his treasures, there was a beautiful teapot,
small and delicate. Painted with trees and flowers you could almost see moving. Of course, it
was too good to be true. According to a local elder, that thing brought misery to whoever
touched it. I got rid of it by burying it—”

“So you touched it?”

“Before I knew it was cursed! The point is that it made me lose my money and it got me lost
in the ghost realm.” Zan Chow sobbed. “We should part ways. I’m only dragging you down
with me.”

With a neutral expression, Xie Lian placed the sack he carried on the floor. He opened it and
brought out a beautiful teapot painted with flowers and trees.

Zan Chow’s jaw dropped.

“That’s what I thought,” Xie Lian said. “I found it next to a hole a few hours ago. Some
animal must’ve dug it out. I thought I’d get a good price for it. But as you said, it was too
good to be true.” After a heartfelt sigh, Xie Lian put the teapot back on his back and smiled
like he had achieved enlightenment. “Ah, well. What’s one more curse on top of all others?”
He took a deep breath and cleared his throat. “Still, your plan is solid. I can try to sell what I
have. Even if we don’t make any money, we could make a potential customer talk.”

That sounded good. However, Zan Chow wasn’t willing to just stand around and watch. On
the one hand, his pride wouldn’t allow him to become a simple street merchant—no insult to
Xie Lian intended. On the other hand, he fancied himself as a man of action.

“While you do that,” he said, “I’ll try something on my own. Shall we meet here in an hour?”

“Sure.”

With that, Xie Lian threw his sack back over his shoulder and they went their separate ways.

***

Zan Chow didn’t know how he got into the Gambler’s Den. Probably following what at the
moment seemed like a series of good ideas. The same ones that led him to lose everything of
value he carried on him without having gotten the answers he sought.

If only he had stopped there! But, when he was about to leave to lick his wounds, he had
been tempted by a map that showed the way back to the mortal realm. He asked to have a
look, but all he got was a round of mocking laughter in response.

“You can! But only if you win it!”

“I have nothing else,” Zan Chow protested.

“You have your robes!”

“I’m not going to go around half-naked!”

“What about a hand?”

“Or a leg!”

“Your nose?”

“Your freedom,” said a voice from behind the red curtains in the back. It exuded power and
raised above the chaos caused by the other ghosts.

Zan Chow shivered.

“Is that—?”

“Lord Hua Chenzhu!” the ghosts cheered. “He has spoken!”

“You want my freedom?” Zan Chow repeated toward the curtains, his voice trembling. He
knew who Hua Cheng was. What he had done. What he was capable of. Facing him was the
nightmare of all heavenly officials whether they admitted it or not, and Zan Chow had called
his attention.

“Let’s be honest,” Hua Cheng said, not bothering to show himself. “If you don’t get the map,
you’ll stay here forever anyway. What difference does it make?”

Zan Chow looked back at the dice. Hua Cheng was right. Besides, there was the young
cultivator to think of. He couldn’t let Xie Lian down.

“Alright,” he said. “My freedom for the map.”

“Deal,” Hua Cheng announced.

His smug smile could be felt around that one word, shattering what little confidence Zan
Chow had gathered. But he had given his word and he was past the point of no return.
Feeling like he was in a dream, he reached for the dice.

He lost. Again.

Before he could react, a quick hand sealed his spiritual powers and he was held by the arms
and dragged away. He didn’t even recognize his own screams on his way to the dungeon. It
was only when he shivered in the cold covered with shackles that it sank that it was real. This
was his life now. This, and whatever torture and scorn Crimson Rain Sought Flower had in
store for him.

They had planned this from the start, those ghosts. They took advantage of his need and he
fell for it. It was all that abominable teapot’s fault.

Time passed slowly. He didn’t know how long it had been when the door creaked open. Zan
Chow pressed himself against the wall, feeling disgusted with himself right afterward. He
was a heavenly official, Middle Court or not. He had to be brave and face whoever and
whatever was coming no matter what. Thus, he steeled himself and turned his head to see
who was coming.

Once more, he was surprised.

“Zan Chow!” Xie Lian said, hurrying to kneel next to him. “I heard what happened! Are you
hurt?”

“No, not hurt. What are you doing here? Did they get you too?”

Xie Lian shook his head and answered with that steady, gentle voice of his.

“I’ve come to get you out of here.”

“What? How?”

The two big, burly ghosts behind Xie Lian, the same ones who brought Zan Chow here,
loomed over them. For a second, Zan Chow thought they were going to club the young
cultivator’s head open. Instead, though, they opened his shackles and pulled him up. He had
been sitting down and hugging his legs for so long that he was unable to stand by himself,
which led to him being dragged across Ghost City for the second time the same day.

“What’s happening? I don’t understand!”

“Don’t worry. You’ll be fine,” Xie Lian said. He was right behind them, following them with
firm strides.

Zan Chow forced his brain to work as fast as possible. Just how had Xie Lian gotten enough
authority to do this? The answer to his question came when the group reached the entrance of
the city. The ghosts carrying Zan Chow tossed him out while Xie Lian stopped right before
crossing the threshold, making no effort to leave.

Zan Chow’s blood froze at the realization.

Xie Lian had traded himself for his freedom.

“Wait! No!” Zan Chow exclaimed, scrambling to get back up, but his legs were still weak.

Xie Lian’s smile spoke of a sunny day instead of the dark future that awaited him.

“Go home,” he said. “This is no longer your concern.”

“But—!”

One of the big ghosts threw something at his face while the other closed the city door on him.
Instead of grabbing it, Zan Chow jumped to bang the door, and he did so for so long and with
such force that his hands bruised, but no one answered. At that point, he realized two things.
The first, that there was nothing he could do except go back to the heavenly capital and report
to his general. The second, that the object they threw at his face was the map to the mortal
realm. Therefore, holding his hurt hand against his chest, Zan Chow picked the scroll up and
left, promising to himself that he would find a way to solve this.

“If this happened a month ago, how is this the first time I’m hearing about it?” Mu Qing
growled, breaking the silence that befell the room when Zan Chow finished his story.

“I arrived this morning,” Zan Chow said. “I was on my way back, as I said. But no one
bothered to break the seal on my spiritual powers and they kept my weapons. Then, late the
third night, I slipped on a patch of mud and fell into a ditch. But I think that’s when my back
luck ended because I was nursed back to health by the most beautiful and sweet—” he
stopped when he saw Mu Qing’s fist coming at his face.

Feng Xin pulled his underling to the side and the only thing Mu Qing cracked was the pillar
behind him.

“Why did you do that?” Mu Qing yelled.

“How I handle discipline in my palace is none of your business!” Feng Xin responded.

They glared at each other, growling and ready to put their fists to good use.

“General, don’t forget about the spiritual communication array,” Zan Chow intervened, not
quite daring to place himself in the middle.

“What about the—?”

Feng Xin freezing in the middle of the phrase made Mu Qing remove his hand from his
saber.

“What’s in the spiritual communication array?” Mu Qing repeated.

Feng Xin pursed his lips and looked away.

“Check for yourself,” he said.

Mu Qing, then, raised his fingers to his temple and listened.

A moment later, he raised his eyes in horror while Feng Xin kept refusing to look at him.
“You don’t think—”

“The description matches, doesn’t it?”

“General…?” Zan Chow asked from the side.

“You’re still here?”

“You will save the young cultivator, right?”

This time, Feng Xin joined Mu Qing in trying to hit the deputy. He jumped backward so they
both failed, although barely.

“Get out of my sight!” Feng Xin yelled. “No! Go back to the mortal realm and stay there! If
you ever show your face to me again, consider yourself lucky if I only have your tongue!”

“Does that mean I can go get married?”

“Do whatever the fuck you want! Just get out of here!”

“Yes, sir! Thank you, sir!”

Zan Chow pranced out of the palace, happier than he should’ve been after getting kicked out
of heaven. Whatever. As long as Mu Qing wouldn’t have to deal with that useless numskull
anymore. He still had, however, to deal with Feng Xin, who had neglected to remove himself
from his hall.

Mu Qing refused to ask the one question that should’ve come next. Yet, it was the only way
to make the other general leave, so he gave in.

“What now?”

“You can also do whatever you want,” Feng Xin answered, although his refrain from using
profanity wasn’t unnoticed. “I just thought you should know about this.”

Well, Mu Qing was not going to thank him for it. He remained in silence as Feng Xin, who
had finished saying his piece, left.

‘Now what?’ was the correct question. Did Mu Qing have to do anything? Should he even
care?

The rumor in the spiritual communication array, the one thing everyone babbled about, was
that the Red Calamity had taken a sweet, gentle beauty from royal origin as his lover. No
names were given but the description, paired with the story he had just heard…

Mu Qing marched further inside his palace. It wasn’t his business. None of it. Which was
why he hated it. Those were only rumors.

After all these centuries, had Xie Lian chosen to break his vows despite how proud he once
was of his cultivation? Or—
 —or hadn’t he?

Mu Qing stood in front of a wall covered with the strongest spiritual weapons he owned.

He hated it. He hated it all. He hated the situation and he hated Feng Xin for telling him
about it.

But, most of all, he hated how, without further thought, his hand reached out for the saber he
thought most fitting for the task.

Chapter End Notes

The title is a paraphrased verse from Oda a la flor by Pablo Neruda.

This fic is loosely inspired by The Beauty and the Beast.
 Part 1: Hualian | Chapter 1
Chapter Summary

In which Xie Lian is confused and Hua Cheng overplays it.

Ghost City’s heavy doors closed in front of Xie Lian. Behind him, the two ghosts who had
taken Feng Xin’s deputy out waited to bring him back to the cell to take his place. They were
big and burly, but the muscles were for show. Besides, they had their guard down and they
knew neither about Ruoye nor about Xie Lian’s real strength and skill. With the surprise
factor on his side, it would take him seconds to knock them down and jump over the wall to
get away.

This plan had a few downsides, though. Such an action would spark a chase and Xie Lian
still didn’t know the way out of the ghost realm. With his luck, they would catch him and
bring him back to be caged under worse conditions. Never mind that he had given his word to
stay. So he should. A few years, at least. Until they realized he didn’t grow old and things got
ugly. Uglier.

Less than half a day in this realm and Xie Lian was already looking forward to spend the near
future chained to a wall. Not his first time, though.

“Let’s get this over with,” he murmured.

He turned around and found the thuggish ghosts being paid and dismissed by the man in the
ghost mask, the person acting in Hua Cheng’s stead ever since Xie Lian struck his deal.

Xie Lian squinted trying to find the man’s eyes through the mask without success. All he got
was a polite bow in return. Out of respect for his… bravery? Xie Lian didn’t feel brave, just
thickheaded. And tired. He had felt responsible for Feng Xin’s man and he had a high pain
threshold, that was all.

“This way, please, young master,” the man in the mask said, gesturing to be followed.

So they were not going to drag him back to the cell. Small mercies.

As they walked, Xie Lian counted the steps to make sure he had done it right the first time.
An important provision for when he needed to break out. However, they took a different path
this time. Well, joke was on them; now he’d have two possible escape routes. Except that—

—except that, in the end, they didn’t go to the dungeon. Instead, they found themselves in a
corridor that surveyed a beautiful garden.
“This will be your place of residence from now on,” the man in the mask said. “Over here,
please,” he added and opened the second door on the left.

Xie Lian hesitated. The change of circumstances forced him to recalibrate his entire strategy
—and, to be honest, to question his entire existence. His escape plan might have to be
executed sooner than he thought.

The man in the mask held the door open and waited, making no attempt at hurrying him.

Well, there was no reason to delay things and there was a fair chance that he was jumping to
conclusions. Thus, Xie Lian folded his arms inside his sleeves and nodded his thanks as he
walked inside the room.

The garden had been gorgeous, with its clear pond, the elegant bridge, the bushes and trees
covered with flowers, so in hindsight, he should have expected the interior to be as
sumptuous. In the moment, though, it took him aback. Everything in there had to cost a
fortune, from the curtains to the chairs, and from the desk to the paintings on the walls. Just
the comb next to the mirror could get him two months’ worth of good food and decent
shelter. Worse yet, the furniture wasn’t only expensive; it was refined, making the only things
out of place Xie Lian himself, his straw hat, and his sack of scrap. The hat, he kept with him
all along, but the sack, abandoned on the floor of the Gambler’s Den, had been brought and
placed carefully on a corner, unopened.

“Please, rest,” the man in the ghost mask said from the entrance. “There is a bell on the
dresser. Ring it if you need anything.”

Then, he bowed one last time and left, closing the door behind him.

“What did I get myself into?” Xie Lian said as soon as he was left alone, scratching Ruoye.
“First order of business is to figure out what Crimson Rain Sought Flower’s intentions are,
exactly. But who to ask?”

A silver butterfly he had until then mistaken as part of the decoration, flew down from the
wall to perch on his finger. It looked as beautiful as it did delicate, and it didn’t seem to want
to hurt him. Xie Lian didn’t have the heart to chase it away.

“Hello,” he said, inspecting it. The butterfly’s elegant wings shone with a faint light of its
own. However, no matter how ethereal or sweet-looking, he wouldn’t dare to think of it as
harmless. “Just what kind of spirit are you?”

“Among other things, Crimson Rain Sought Flower uses the Wrath Butterflies as messengers
or as weapons when the need arises. As his guest, gege is most welcome to address any
request to them. They’ll pass the message along.”

Xie Lian looked up to see a handsome young man dressed in red who had let himself in
without knocking. The air of flair and charisma about him made him intriguing. Yet, just like
with the butterflies, Xie Lian wouldn’t lower his guard. Even at a short distance, this
newcomer would’ve fooled most people into believing him mortal had he not looked so
unconcerned about being in the house of a Supreme Ghost. Thus, he could only be a Wrath.
A strong one, as it happened.

Regardless, having his guard up didn’t mean he couldn’t be polite. Xie Lian approached the
young man to help him with the food tray he carried, which prompted the butterfly to fly
back to the wall.

“I see. I’ll keep it in mind. Thank you for telling me. My name is Xie Lian. What’s yours?”

“You’re welcome.” The young man placed the tray on a table before Xie Lian could get to it.
Then, he bowed formally. “You can call me San Lang, gege. I’m looking forward to being of
service.”

Of service? Now he had a servant? Xie Lian grabbed a piece of bread from the tray and
nibbled on it to give himself time to think. First, they gave him this room. Next, he’s called a
guest, and now…

At least the bread was good. No one ever thought of poisoning the bread. Xie Lian would
wait to get more information before trying the rest of the food, but at least he wouldn’t have
to spend the night hungry.

“I didn’t expect Crimson Rain Sought Flower to treat a prisoner like this.”

“That’s because he won’t. Gege is a guest who has been granted complete rights over this
wing to do as he wants. If you’re displeased with the pond or you hate the trees, just ask. I’ll
get rid of them myself.”

“Ah, no, no! That’s fine!” Xie Lian replied, waving his hand. “The trees are nice and I
actually would like to see the pond up close.”

San Lang beamed and opened the door.

“Come on, then!”

He was allowed to leave the room, then. Maybe the rule was that he couldn’t leave the wing.

Taking the half-eaten piece of breath with him, Xie Lian nodded his thanks to San Lang and
got a pleased smile in return. It was a lovely smile. Too bright to be fake.

Just like the rest of the garden—just like everything else Xie Lian had seen in this house—,
the pond was a delight. A school of carps swam underneath water so clear it was easy to see
them despite being so late at night.

San Lang joined him soon after. He stood close to Xie Lian, arms folded.

“What’s your verdict, gege? Do you like the pond or should I fill it in and replace it with a
statue?”

Xie Lian chuckled. If there had been more familiarity between them, he would’ve teased San
Lang saying that it seemed that he was the one who didn’t like it.
“The pond is fine,” he said. “I’m not sure there are many statues that can outshine the natural
beauty of this place as it is.”

“In my opinion, that would depend on the subject matter,” San Lang said.

He winked at Xie Lian, making the latter feel flustered for some reason. Xie Lian’s gaze
returned to the fish and he took another bite out of his piece of bread, chewing faster than it
would’ve been considered polite.

Once he swallowed, he changed the topic—although he wasn’t sure what he was changing it
from.

“Ah. You sure make it sound like I can make that kind of decision.” Xie Lian laughed. “What
kind of host gives their guest that much power?” He made a pause before asking the question
he truly wanted. “What kind of person is the one called Hua Cheng, really?”

“I can tell you all there is to know about him if you want.”

“Will you? I’d appreciate it.”

“Well, he’s blind on this side,” San Lang began, pointing at his right eye.

Xie Lian nodded along while listening to San Lang’s explanation. It was filled with legend
and lore and maybe even some facts. Nevertheless, it painted Crimson Rain Sought Flower as
an interesting character. Interesting and fearsome, which matched with what Feng Xin’s
junior official had told him.

“He has to be very busy, I know that,” Xie Lian said when San Lang finished his tale. “But
when do you think I’ll be able to meet him? I didn’t get to back at the Gambler’s Den. He
relied on all of his orders through the man in the mask.”

“Ah, yes, that masked guy. He’s always around. Everyone keeps saying he’s Hua Cheng’s
right-hand man.”

“What do you say?”

San Lang shrugged.

“That they have an advantageous business relationship. You can ask him for things too if you
see him around, but—”

“Yes?”

San Lang looked away and pouted.

“Nothing. Don’t mind me.”

“San Lang, it’s all right. You can tell me.”

San Lang’s pout intensified and looked at Xie Lian from the corner of his eye.
“I’d rather if you tell me first, that’s all.”

Although he didn’t understand where it had come from, that burst of adorable honesty
softened Xie Lian’s mood and he covered his giggles with his hand.

San Lang kept avoiding Xie Lian’s eyes and, during the silence they fell into, the latter
finished his bread.

“Then, San Lang…”

“Yes, gege?”

“About my previous question, when will I be able to see Crimson Rain Sought Flower?”

San Lang smiled apologetically. He had expected Xie Lian to be distracted, then. A shame it
wasn’t that easy.

“Apologies, gege. I’ll pass your message along and let you know when the time is right.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s late. Why don’t you go rest? I’ll have a hot bath ready for you first thing tomorrow.”

Xie Lian rubbed the back of his neck and cracked his shoulders. San Lang had a point. He
was tense and a hot bath following a few hours of sleep sounded tempting. This situation
hadn’t stopped being strange and confusing, but he had certainly slept through worse. Thus,
he headed back to the room. San Lang came with him to help him get settled for the night.
Not that Xie Lian needed it, but the young man was only doing the job he’d been assigned to
do.

Or was he?

There was something on the way San Lang conducted himself, how he moved, how he
bowed to wish him good night, that stirred something deep in Xie Lian. As he held the soft
and fancy blanket all the way to his nose, he couldn’t get out of his head that they had met
before, although he wasn’t able to put his finger exactly on when. Or how. Or —or maybe—,
not so deep down, he didn’t want to.

***

Xie Lian hadn’t had this one nightmare in some time. Normally, his mind pieced together a
collage of several events he had gone through and showed it to him through the night. This
one, though, was a concrete, never-forgotten memory he experienced again in utmost detail.
The shame and the horror felt as real and as present as the rain on his face, same with the
weight of the sword first in his self-inflicted wound and, later, on his hands. Then, the sword
was taken away, and soon Xie Lian didn’t know where his screams ended and where the ones
of the figure in black began.

Once he opened his eyes, it took him a moment to recognize San Lang hovering over him.
His hands didn’t dare to hold Xie Lian’s shoulders, but their faces were too close to each
other’s, but only because Xie Lian had grabbed the front of San Lang’s robes to pull him
down.

Slowly, Xie Lian released his grip and rubbed his face.

“San Lang…” he croaked. His throat was sore. His screaming had been real. “I’m sorry.”

San Lang moved so he could sit down on the edge of the bed.

“Gege, are you alright?”

“Yes. I am. I’m fine.” He even managed to smile as he sat up, hoping it was convincing.
“Thank you for worrying about me.”

“I’ll get you some water,” San Lang said after a moment of inspecting Xie Lian’s expression.

Their hands brushed when he came back Xie Lian grabbed the cup. Although, instead of
calming him down, this simple action had the opposite effect. His pulse quickened and his
hands trembled as he drank.

San Lang hurried to grab the cup before it fell from Xie Lian’s hands.

“Gege, should I call a doctor?”

Xie Lian’s knee-jerk reaction of dismissing the idea faded away before he could voice it. San
Lang’s anxious expression had everything to do with it. He looked nearly as distressed as Xie
Lian felt. As if he cared about him in earnest. Xie Lian hadn’t seen such an expression
directed at him for so long… This, coupled with the lingering distress from his nightmare,
created a knot in his throat and a sting in his eyes.

“Gege?”

“I’m—I’m fine. It was a dream, nothing else. It doesn’t happen often.”

“Mmm. As you say, gege.” San Lang stared at the cup for a moment before announcing, “As
promised, a hot bath is waiting for you in the next room.”

Xie Lian sighed and forced a smile, grateful for the bath and for the opportunity to pretend
his nightmare had never happened.

“Thank you. I feel like I need it.”

San Lang moved to give him space. Despite being still upset, he managed to smile back. It
wasn’t very convincing.
“Take your time. I’ll have breakfast and your clothes waiting for you when you’re done.”

For centuries, Xie Lian had been taking care of those things himself—whenever he had
access to proper food and clothing, that is. The things that once upon a time he took for
granted, were now a luxury. The mere idea of someone else doing them for him made him
feel self-conscious at best. At any other moment, he would have protested. Yet, he reminded
himself once more that San Lang was just playing his part, and Xie Lian might as well take
advantage of the break while it lasted.

***

This next room was as opulent as the first. The bathtub itself was huge, full of steaming
water. The temperature was perfect, as Xie Lian discovered when he tested it with his hand.
With a sense of yearning, Xie Lian left his folded inner robes on a chair alongside Ruoye, and
slid inside the bathtub, relishing the hot water soaking his old bones. As he loosened his
muscles, he allowed himself to push all those unpleasant thoughts and memories that had
plagued him since he woke up to the back of his head, where they belonged. The thoughts
resisted, so Xie Lian submerged his head under the water for as long as his lungs could take it
and he had to come back up, gasping for air. There. Distraction achieved.

That taken care of, it didn’t take him long to get himself all cleaned up.

“That was great,” he murmured, stretching out as he stepped out of the bathtub. “Let’s go get
that breakfast now.” No idea what it could be, but, in any case, he was sure he’d had worse.
And that it wouldn’t be poisoned.

He had yet to take a step when a swarm of Hua Cheng’s Wrath Butterflies flew toward him,
carrying a fresh set of white inner robes.

“Are you serious?”

The butterflies fluttered in front of him, never letting go of the robes. Yes, they were serious.

“You are so very kind,” he told them. What did these little spirits know, anyway? They were
just the messengers and he didn’t want to offend them nor their hard work.

The robes were made out of the softest silk he had seen in a while, and it felt cool and
soothing against his skin.

Xie Lian needed to talk to Hua Cheng and set things straight. He was, of course, grateful at
not being chained to a wall in a cold, moldy dungeon, but this was starting to feel like too
much.

Ruoye noticed that bath time was over. He coiled himself back around his master’s wrist and
they returned to the bedroom. San Lang was there, smoothing out the wrinkles of a white
cultivation robe that was definitely not Xie Lian’s.
“Welcome back, gege,” he said, striking first. “Your other robes needed some washing and I
took the liberty. I’m afraid these will have to suffice.”

To his horror, Xie Lian remembered that his robes weren’t only dirty. They were old and his
attempts at repairing them probably left them worse off than if he had left the holes alone.
Given the standards of this place, chances were he’d never see those robes again.

“Yes. They will do,” Xie Lian said, so defeated that he even let San Lang help him put them
on.

The robes were simple and elegant, a perfect match to what the butterflies had offered him.
Furthermore, they had powerful protection spells embroidered on the hems. Powerful, but not
evil. At least, not as far as Xie Lian could tell with his currently limited abilities.

“What do you think, gege? Do you like them?”

“They’re—I do. I do like them,” Xie Lian answered, looking down to inspect himself. “They
fit really well.”

San Lang beamed with pride. It was endearing.

Then, he grabbed the comb.

“Let’s do your hair, now.”

Oh, no. This was starting to get overwhelming. There had been a time when he let—no, when
he expected — someone else to do this every morning, but those days were long gone.
However, he was running out of energy to object. Not wanting to waste whatever little he had
left, he gave up and sat down in front of the mirror.

“Your master wants me spoiled, doesn’t he?”

“Gege, I don’t have a master,” San Lang replied, his eyes fixed on Xie Lian’s hair as he
worked on untangling it. “But if I did—”

“Yes?”

“No, nothing. Say, there’s something I saw in a book a while ago, and I’ve been wanting to
try it. Will you indulge me? If you don’t like it, I’ll just undo it.”

“Fine. Go ahead.”

“Thank you!”

“Then, San Lang, if you don’t have a master—”

“What am I doing here? The answer is easy, gege: I’m indulging myself.”

Well, that statement cleared nothing. San Lang didn’t seem to care, though. He was hard at
work, grabbing locks of Xie Lian’s hair from here and there, fetching pins and clips from his
sleeves. After a while, when he was done, Xie Lian faced another shock. San Lang had styled
his hair into a simplified version of what Xianle nobility had worn once upon a time.

“I was right,” San Lang said. He circled Xie Lian admiring his handiwork. “It looks great on
you.”

In the mirror, Xie Lian saw his face going red. He raised his hands to cover his blush but he
stopped halfway through, not wanting to ruin San Lang’s work.

“Before I forget, one last thing!” The next item coming out of San Lang’s pockets was a
beautiful ring on a chain. “It’s no big deal, but it was lying around and I thought it was nice.”

He didn’t have to—he could have chosen any other position for this—, but he knelt in front
of Xie Lian to put the chain around his neck. The way he moved as he did, the air of respect
that surrounded him, brought back the knot in Xie Lian’s stomach.

“Done. All ready.” San Lang said when he finished. “So, gege, would you rather have
breakfast here or outside in the garden?”

Xie Lian needed some air, so.

“The garden. The garden is fine.”

“As you wish. Afterward, we can get you a tour of Paradise Manor.”

So he wasn’t confined to this wing either? Or was it just a one-time courtesy?

“Yes. That would be nice. Maybe we can run into Crimson Rain Sought Flower.”

San Lang grinned and scratched the side of his nose.

“Ah. Maybe. Come on, then, gege. Let’s get everything ready.”

Of course, ‘let’s’ meant that San Lang intended to do everything himself while Xie Lian
watched, no matter how much the latter insisted on helping. On the other hand, Xie Lian
needed to gather his thoughts and, to do so, he permitted himself to explore the area on the
other side of the pond. He crossed the bridge and stared at the flower-covered bushes.

San Lang joined him when he finished setting up the table.

“It’s done, gege,” he said. As he did, he leaned down to pick up a flower. A small, white one.

For a moment, it seemed as if he wanted to offer it to Xie Lian but, in the end, he didn’t.
Instead, he played with it, twirling the stem.

“Come on, you should be hungry,” he said, looking up at Xie Lian, smiling again.

Unlike all his other smiles, this one did look forced. Too big to be natural, and with his eyes
closed like that, San Lang’s face seemed—-
—it seemed enough like a mask that it chased away the last strands of denial Xie Lian had
been so desperately holding on to.

Suppressing the storm causing havoc within him, keeping it away from showing on his face
with everything he had, Xie Lian reached out and, gently, he took the flower from San Lang’s
hand.
 Part 1: Hualian | Chapter 2
Chapter Summary

In which badly kept secrets are revealed, E'Ming is a cutie, and Hua Cheng is knocked
down by the power of love.

“I’ve always liked flowers like these,” Xie Lian said, his smile gentle and nostalgic, despite
an underlying layer of tension in his voice. “Always. Even when I was at my lowest and I
thought them cruel for reminding me of what I could no longer have.”

Hua Cheng, in his San Lang guise, opened his mouth and the words flowed on their own. It
was difficult to stop and think when your dream—your love, your everything—stood in front
of you after so much time of uncertainty, finally allowing you to treat him the way he
deserved. In consequence, he just let them.

“If that’s how it is, I’ll get you more flowers, gege.”

Hua Cheng had made preparations to receive Xie Lian in his house—starting by building said
house, of course. A carefully and lovingly crafted list of backup plans, hidden somewhere on
the Ghost King’s desk, went as far as to include the possibility of tearing Ghost City down
and rebuilding it anew if that’s what it took.

In his mind, after finding Xie Lian somewhere on the road, Hua Cheng escorted him to
Paradise Manor—some days, by foot, holding his hand; others, on the chair he had made for
him. Always in the most respectful and tender way. Xie Lian’s barging into the Gambler’s
Den asking about a lowly Middle Court heavenly official who wore the colors of Feng Xin’s
palace, the one whose only use would’ve been for Hua Cheng to ruffle said god’s feathers,
took him off guard.

“If you let him go, I’ll stay in his place!” weren’t exactly the first words Hua Cheng had
wished to hear from Xie Lian’s mouth, but close enough.

Yet, all throughout the negotiations, Hua Cheng remained behind the curtain. What if he
showed himself and Xie Lian found him disgusting? It’d be better to ease him into this life
and introduce himself in an indirect way. It seemed to be working, to his relief. Xie Lian
accepted the room, the food, the clothes… even his company. On top of everything, His
Highness’s declaration made his heart soar.

Xie Lian liked his flowers. He always had. For Hua Cheng to know that they were now
accepted again, those little, silly things, the only thing he had been able to offer his god when
he had been a heinous, worthless child…It made him happy.
“Will you?” Xie Lian replied. “I’d love to get more flowers. But later. Right now I’m hungry.
Let’s eat. You’ll stay with me, won’t you?”

“If that’s what you wish.”

“I won’t have it any other way. Come.”

Hua Cheng moved slowly, watching how Xie Lian walked to the table. Something had
changed. He wasn’t sure why, but Xie Lian’s voice and the way he carried himself were not
the same. However, he hadn’t been dismissed, and as long as that didn’t happen, he would
soldier on—and even if he were dismissed, he would. He’d only find a different way.

“Maybe the nightmare has him unsettled…” he murmured.

Despite his need to comfort Xie Lian, he didn’t want to impose. He hoped to be told, sooner
or later, in order to fix it. No matter what, no matter who had to fall, Xie Lian would not be
hurt again. Ever.

“San Lang?”

“On my way, gege!” he said, trotting to join His Highness.

His Highness. He intended to use that title when he introduced himself as San Lang, but then
he remembered this title made Xie Lian sick back in that other life. On the other, it hadn’t
been disclosed and San Lang wasn’t supposed to know about it. He could’ve probably found
some leeway thanks to Hua Cheng’s information network, but that would’ve been too much.
Besides, the more familiar term suited the way Xie Lian was now, and the lack of corrections
gave Hua Cheng the confidence to keep using it.

Hua Cheng sat down across Xie Lian. While ghosts didn’t need food, they could find it to be
a pleasurable experience. More so in the right company.

Xie Lian placed the flower between them and began to eat, elegance pouring out from his
every movement. Hua Cheng had to make a conscious effort to keep his focus on enjoying
the view rather than resenting the food that touched Xie Lian’s lips.

“San Lang,” Xie Lian said after a couple of bites. “I apologize for my rudeness. At this point,
I’m still to ask you about yourself.”

“No need to apologize, gege. There’s not much to tell, to be honest.” By this, Hua Cheng
meant he hadn’t had time to come up with a convincing backstory yet. “I bet you have more
exciting stories to tell.”

There. That should get him time to fabricate something.

“I’m not sure they’re that good. If you’re willing to endure them, I’ll be happy to tell you
some at some point. Right now, I would like to hear about San Lang.”

Or not.
Hua Cheng grinned and rested his chin on the back of his hand.

“Why don’t we make it a game? Gege can state some guesses and I will confirm or deny
them.”

Xie Lian, arms folded, closed his eyes and nodded.

“Fine. Let’s start with an easy one. You’re a Wrath-level ghost. A strong one. Your skin is
very good.”

“Gege has a great eye.”

Hua Cheng’s real power level was way beyond a mere Wrath. Under other circumstances, he
would’ve bothered to pretend to be a mortal. But this was the ghost realm—the Red
Calamity’s house—and, therefore, his being a ghost was expected.

“What else…?” Xie Lian wondered. “You’re used to luxury—and have been for a long time”

“Another correct guess.”

“I thought so. You said you were indulging yourself. If you’re allowed to do as much, it
means Hua Cheng trusts you and he holds you in high regard.”

“Ah. I wouldn’t know about that,” Hua Cheng replied. “He doesn’t really trust anyone. He’s
too fickle and he does whatever he feels like whenever he wants.”

“It does sound like he has the power to do so.”

“Yeah. And one dares to oppose him.”

“Impressive. However, enough about Crimson Rain Sought Flower. Let’s go back to San
Lang.”

Damn it.

“Yes, gege.”

Xie Lian closed his eyes again and spoke, enunciating every word with great care.

“San Lang remains in this world because there is someone he wants to meet again.”

Confronted by the truth, Hua Cheng stared and said nothing.

“Someone he looked up to and respected. But this person made terrible mistakes and played a
big role in San Lang’s death. Therefore, he’s on a quest for revenge, and he found a way to
get Hua Cheng’s help.”

Oh. Oh, no. That was absolutely not true. The last part, anyway. But the rest…

Hua Cheng forced a laugh, although he made it the most charming one he could manage.
“Ah. Sadly, here you are off the mark, gege. I died in an accident. I fell from a galloping
horse and I broke my neck. None to blame but myself. No revenge. I’m still in this world
simply because I don’t want to leave.”

There. That should be good enough.

“I see.”

When Xie Lian opened his eyes, his expression was soft. However, his eyes had lost their
spark. They were… sad now. Dim. As if he had expected something else. Something like the
truth, for example.

Did he know?

Did he suspect? What did he suspect?

Hua Cheng brushed off breadcrumbs from the table with an absent-minded movement of his
hand while he frantically looked for a way to move on from this.

Xie Lian did it for him.

“San Lang,” he said as he stood up. “You promised me a tour of the manor after breakfast.”

Hua Cheng sprang to his feet.

“Of course, gege! Follow me, please.”

He led the way to the halls of the main building, wondering when he had lost both control
and track of the circumstances.

***

Since Paradise Manor had always been intended as an offering to Xie Lian, Hua Cheng could
talk lengths about the architectural choices, and the origin and meaning of all pictures, vases,
and other assorted artifacts they encountered.

Xie Lian followed him, paying attention and asking questions Hua Cheng was only glad to
answer. It didn’t escape his attention that, nevertheless, Xie Lian kept shooting glances
around them, at times even trying to look around the corner. He probably hoped to see
Crimson Rain Sought Flower in his true form. No. Not yet. There was enough time to get
there.

“It’s only the two of us here, isn’t it?” Xie Lian said, stopping next to a window.

“The staff know to make themselves scarce when they’re not needed.”

In addition, Hua Cheng had given orders that they were not to be bothered for any reason
until further notice. The city could catch fire and Yin Yu would be the one dealing with it.

“Is Crimson Rain Sought Flower fickle about where he spends his time too?”
“Oh, yes. I don’t know where he is right now, but it’s probably not in the manor at the
moment. My apologies, gege. I know you’ve been wanting to talk to him.”

“It’s fine. It’s not your fault.”

Except that it was, but they’d get there. At some point.

“I’ve sent your request,” Hua Cheng continued. “I’m sure it’ll be answered soon. Meanwhile,
would you like to see his study? Hua Cheng has an extensive library and, as his guest, you
can borrow as many volumes as you’d like.”

The study’s entrance was right on the next corridor. It contained a couple of sturdy desks
made out of the finest wood, and row after row of the books, scrolls, and tablets Hua Cheng
had gathered over the centuries. A collection he was very proud of.

“All right! That sounds great. The objects people collect say a lot about their personality.”

“Do they? I would like to hear more about it.”

Before Xie Lian could expand on the idea, though, he glimpsed something that called his
attention through a half-opened door.

“Wait. Is that…?”

Hua Cheng pushed the door open.

“I see gege has found the armory.”

“Armory,” Xie Lian repeated as he walked in. He gasped when he saw the interior. His steps
became more lively and he spread out his arms as if he wanted to touch everything at the
same time.

Looking at him, Hua Cheng felt very pleased with himself. Xie Lian’s affinity for swords had
always been well known, and it was good to see that hadn’t changed.

Xie Lian walked around the room, going from one sword to the next, at points almost about
to unsheathe one or the other, but not daring in the end. He sighed and contented himself with
brushing them with the tips of his fingers.

Why couldn’t Hua Cheng be a sword?

“Go ahead, gege,” he said. “You can take them.”

“Thank you, San Lang. But I think I’d rather have Hua Cheng’s direct permission.”

But you have it! Hua Cheng wanted to say. His plan was working too well and he hated it.
How to communicate that he gave his full authorization without giving his true identity
away?
“Oh? What’s this?” Xie Lian asked, leaning toward a certain spot Hua Cheng was certain had
been empty moments ago.

As soon as Xie Lian got close enough, the sword on that display jumped into his arms.

“Hello, there!” he exclaimed.

“You bastard!” Hua Cheng muttered through his teeth when he realized what was going on.
He approached, wanting to take the scimitar away, but not going as far as to rip it off Xie
Lian’s hands.

His Highness was all but cradling the cursed thing, allowing it to rub its hilt against his chin
like a most annoying cat.

“Look, San Lang! A sentient sword! Isn’t it magnificent?”

“That’s E’Ming, Hua Cheng’s spiritual weapon. It is not supposed to be here but it seems it
couldn’t wait to meet its master’s guest.”

“Nice meeting you, then, E’Ming,” Xie Lian said, petting the scabbard and examining the
sword with care, satisfied with what he found. Although what was satisfying about the damn
thing, Hua Cheng had no idea.

The more Xie Lian giggled and doted on E’Ming, the more irritated Hua Cheng grew. He was
the one supposed to make His Highness laugh, not his sword. Waiting for Xie Lian to put
E’Ming back on the display felt eternal. When he did, Hua Cheng hurried to grab the scimitar
before it forced itself back to Xie Lian’s embrace. This was his own fault, for talking so
fondly of His Highness where E’Ming could hear. But who else was he supposed to talk to?
Black Water?

“I’ll put it back where it belongs,” Hua Cheng said, forcing a smile and squeezing the hilt
right where the red eye was. E’Ming squirmed for a moment before going still. Once they
were alone, they’d have a… conversation before Hua Cheng put him in a cage.

“Is E’Ming supposed to be at the study?” Xie Lian asked, head tilted and eyes fixed on Hua
Cheng’s hand.

“Actually, yes. It’s our next stop anyway.”

They resumed their way, with Xie Lian stealing glances at the sword every other step. He felt
sorry for it. If Xie Lian asked for mercy, Hua Cheng would be bound to grant… some. But he
didn’t. Actually, he didn’t say any other word, and, thus, they made the rest of the way in
silence.

When they arrived, Xie Lian found bookshelves impressive as well, even if his enthusiasm
was more subdued than what he had shown at the armory.

“Are you sure I can borrow some books?”

“Yes, gege, I am sure.”

As he answered, Hua Cheng opened a random chest to toss E’Ming into, mouthing a warning
so it would stay there before closing the lid again.

For a moment, Hua Cheng thought there would be a repeat of Xie Lian refusing to touch
anything before permission came out from the mouth of the Ghost King’s true form.
However, this time, Xie Lian grabbed two poetry collections and one anthology of folktales.
Books were different from swords, then.

“I haven’t heard of these authors before. They must be new.”

“One of them died a hundred years ago, and the other, about a hundred and fifty, gege,” Hua
Cheng said after a glance.

“Ah. Newer than I thought.” Xie Lian laughed. “I have a lot to catch up with.”

“Of course, gege. At your leisure.”

***

Hua Cheng escorted Xie Lian back to his room so he could settle down with the books.
Besides wanting to make sure he’d be comfortable, there was something Hua Cheng had
been meaning to do for a while now.

“Gege, if you don’t mind my asking,” he began after he placed the best chair next to the
window, “what exactly do you have in that sack?”

“Oh? Only some scrap I intended to sell. That’s how I make my living.”

Hua Cheng felt a pang of guilt. ‘Made!’ he wanted to yell. Made, not make. Not anymore.
Picking up scrap was below Xie Lian’s dignity. If Hua Cheng had done a better job—if he
had found him sooner—he wouldn’t have had to resort to that. Again, not anymore. From
now on, Hua Cheng would take care of all his needs and expenses.

“Don’t make that face,” Xie Lian said in good humor. “It’s not that bad. It has its ups and
downs, but it’s honest work. Besides, you get to find interesting things from time to time.
Why don’t you take a look? If there’s anything you like in there, you can keep it.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Suit yourself.”

“Thank you, gege!”

Hua Cheng knelt next to the bag and opened it. He had felt the existence of a cursed object
inside since the first time he saw the sack. The object was dormant, not causing any active
harm, and Hua Cheng couldn’t just rummage in Xie Lian’s property without permission.
Which was the reason he had waited until now.

Was this how Xie Lian had felt in the armory?

Anyway, after moving some objects from the top, Hua Cheng found what he looked for. He
wrapped his hand around it and sent a blast of spiritual energy to destroy it. There. Now it
wouldn’t have the opportunity to hurt His Highness.

As he put the pieces of the broken hairpin in his sleeve, he noticed another interesting object
in there. When he grabbed and recognized it, his eyes widened. This teapot…He had been
looking for this one teapot for over a century. The story went that touching it would lead you
to your one true love no matter what or how long it took. Ever since he had first heard about
it, a vain hope grew inside him. After all, there had only been in his mind and his heart all
throughout his life.

Hua Cheng raised his eyes to look at Xie Lian, who was giving him his back while he leafed
through one of the poetry collections. He had been missing for so long, and then he arrived at
Ghost City after finding this object? Not only that; he had gone straight to where Hua Cheng
was and he requested an audience with him.

Coincidence? Wishful thinking on Hua Cheng’s part? Or—?

He raised the teapot to his eye level and shook it.

“Are you real?” he whispered. “Do you even work?”

Then, he felt it scoff. It scoffed! At him!

“Do you know who I am, you insolent, little—?”

Before he could finish his sentence, the teapot pulled him to the side with all its might. In
addition to the thing commanding a great force, Hua Cheng’s surprise at its audacity
prevented him from letting go on time. As a result, he stumbled forward and crashed against
Xie Lian, making the book the latter held fly across the room and throwing two of them on
the bed, Hua Cheng on top.

“San Lang!” Xie Lian exclaimed.

Hua Cheng got ready to jump away and offer an apology, but he remained motionless when
Xie Lian’s hands touched his face and shoulders

“San Lang,” he repeated. “Are you hurt?”

This is where I belong, was Hua Cheng’s first thought. The second was to move away while
reassuring His Highness. The third was that yes, he would spare the teapot despite its
imprudence.

“No, gege. It’s on me. I’m too clumsy. I’m sorry. How are you?”

Xie Lian sat up alongside him.

“I’m all right.”

They stayed there, sitting in the middle of the bed, staring at each other. If Hua Cheng leaned
forward just a little, he’d be able to steal a kiss…

As soon as the thought crossed Hua Cheng’s mind, Xie Lian’s eyes widened and he lurched
forward to grab the teapot.

“Oh, no! Let go of that! I’m sorry! I had forgotten about it! It’s cursed!”

“Cursed?” San Lang repeated. Despite knowing otherwise, his knee-jerk reaction was to
stand up to keep the teapot away from Xie Lian.

“Cursed!” Xie Lian insisted. “I found it yesterday before getting lost in the ghost realm.
Please, put it down. Don’t put yourself at risk like that.”

Hua Cheng opened his mouth and then closed it again before explaining the teapot’s true
nature. That would ruin everything. Xie Lian had to choose to be here, not to feel forced by a
spell.

“It’s fine, gege.” Hua Cheng jumped up and danced around Xie Lian to get to the door. “I’ll
take it to the treasure room. It won’t affect anyone there.”

“What about you? I’ll do it. I don’t know how it works, but the longer you touch it, the worse
it could get, and I have enough curses on me to care about one more.”

What kind of terrible reason was that?

“And I am dead,” Hua Cheng replied. “It was just a prank, gege. I doubt it’ll get any worse
for me.”

Slowly, Xie Lian turned his back on him. He checked on the small white flower in his sash,
which had somehow survived the ordeal, and then he placed it on the pillow with all the care
in the world.

“Let me,” he said, in the softest voice. “You’ve been hurt enough because of me.”

If Hua Cheng’s had any warm blood in him, it would’ve frozen right then and there.

“Gege, what do you mean?”

Still without looking at him, Xie Lian shook his head.

“If you don’t want to say it, I won’t make you. But— Please. Let me—” His voice broke. He
continued after he cleared his throat. “Let me be the one to ease your burden this one time.
Even if it’s a small curse and it doesn’t compare to what you did for me.”

Panicking, Hua Cheng left the teapot on the nearest table.

Xie Lian knew. He had found out. How? Had Hua Cheng been that careless?
That didn’t matter now. There was no undoing what had been done, and to deny it would only
hurt Xie Lian more.

In the end, Hua Cheng stared at his now empty hands for a moment and, then, he took a step
forward.
 Part 1: Hualian | Chapter 3
Chapter Summary

In which Xie Lian finds some comfort in company.

Xie Lian kept his eyes on the flower. Yes, he had been trying to nudge San Lang into a
confession, but he didn’t want to force him like this. It was all that teapot’s fault. That cursed
thing! It had brought Xie Lian here so he could stare at his greatest regret on the face. Now
that the truth was out, revenge was surely coming.

Yet, no matter what happened afterward, the guilt that would forever linger in his heart gave
way to the joy of finding out that the events of that day didn’t destroy Wuming as Xie Lian
had dreaded. He did wonder about San Lang’s journey to become who he was now, and how
he came to be in such a privileged position, but he had intruded enough already.

On the other hand, it was obvious that the teapot’s curse did not respect power and privilege.
It made a mockery of San Lang’s position and status, affecting him despite them. After all, it
took Xie Lian half a day to guess two of his secrets, and an instant to reveal one of them,
wrecking the illusion that San Lang had so carefully constructed. He owed it to him to do his
best and keep quiet about the other one.

“Gege,” Xie Lian heard behind him, the term of endearment burning in his ears. An honest
endearment he didn’t believe he deserved. “Gege, I’m sorry.”

Those words hit Xie Lian’s heart like a red-hot needle. When he turned around, he found San
Lang looking at him with a pained expression.

Xie Lian raised his hands with the intent of holding onto San Lang’s shoulders, but he
stopped midway. Instead, he grabbed fistfuls of his sleeves.

“Why are you apologizing for?” he murmured, head hung low. “It’s me who was wrong—
who did wrong. Who caused you to— I’m sorry! I’m so sorry…! It should have been me!”

San Lang made Xie Lian let go of one of his arms only to place a hand on his shoulder. The
gentleness and warmth of this gesture only made the already piercing guilt go deeper.

“Please, gege, don’t say that. I made my own choices. I don’t regret them.”

Whatever it was that held Xie Lian together broke down. It became difficult to speak around
the sobbing, to see through the tears that covered his eyes, but Xie Lian tried anyway.
However, no matter how many times he opened his mouth, the words refused to come out.
During the past centuries, he had spent countless nights going over everything he would like
to tell Wuming if there were a chance for them to meet again. Now that it was real—that he
was real—and they were together, Xie Lian couldn’t put together any of those things. After a
few moments, though, he managed to push them out, little by little, words stumbling over
each other, barely coherent.

“All the things I said to you…everything I did— I. Don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I
want you to know—”

After a moment of hesitation, San Lang wiped Xie Lian’s tears away.

“I don’t know about deserving,” he said, his voice as soft as his hand, “but there is nothing to
forgive, Your Highness. You did what you did. I did what I did. It’s all in the past.”

“Not for me!” Xie Lian protested, although weakly. His former title sounded wrong and
hearing it filled him with shame. But that was a battle for another day. He didn’t have the
energy for that today, and, likely, not any time soon.

San Lang then placed a hand under Xie Lian’s chin to lift his head so they could see each
other in the eye.

“Gege, you owe me nothing. But if you need to hear it, then rest assured that, if anything, I
forgave you long ago.”

Xie Lian closed his eyes and exhaled. The feeling of worthlessness remained, and yet a
weight lifted from his heart. Not all of it, but enough to let him breathe again.

“San Lang… Thank you.”

He could breathe, yes, but he knew that his knees would give in at any moment. Thus, he
remained where he stood, going back to hold San Lang’s sleeves with tight fists.

What now? Would he be dismissed, sent back to the road? Or would he be allowed to stay to
make it up for all the things he did? All the horrors and pain he caused?

“Gege, come here.”

Supporting him by the elbow, San Lang guided him to the chair next to the window. Then, he
poured some tea from a freshly prepared pot that wasn’t the cursed one and that Xie Lian had
no idea when nor how got into the room. Either way, he accepted it and drank from it without
questioning it. It was good and it helped him feel more at ease.

Meanwhile, San Lang placed another chair next to Xie Lian. The gesture was comforting,
even when the latter didn’t feel like he had the right. He drank another sip from the tea before
speaking again.

“So, San Lang… is this how I should keep calling you?”

“Please,” San Lang replied with a smile. Not a big, bright smile, but a small, soothing one. “I
like it when you do it.”
Xie Lian didn’t have it in him to smile back, so he sighed.

“What now?”

“What do you mean?”

Xie Lian finished the tea and placed the cup on the table, next to the books.

“I mean that my being here instead of in the dungeon has everything to do with you, correct?
I mean, that’s where I expected to be when I offered myself in exchange for Zan Chow.”

San Lang pouted.

“I would never allow anyone to take you to a dungeon.”

Ah. He’d better not find out about all the times I did end up in one of those, Xie Lian thought
with a mix of amusement and remorse.

“Gege, if you don’t mind my asking, how well do you know that heavenly official?”

San Lang rested his chin on the palm of his hand while leaning his elbow on the chair’s
armrest. He aimed for casual, but he looked pouty.

“Not much. I met him just yesterday when we both got lost in the ghost realm. The plan was
to ask around for directions to go back to the mortal realm, but he found his way to the casino
when I lost track of him and… ah. You know that part. He was just a naive kid while I’ve
been through all kinds of situations and I’ve developed a high tolerance to pain.”

“Don’t sound so proud of that,” San Lang murmured, almost whined.

Xie Lian waved his hands defensively.

“I’m not proud of it! It’s just how it is. I thought I had a better chance of getting through this
than a heavenly official from the Middle Court! That’s why I offered. Before I knew I
wouldn’t be in a cell. On the other hand, when you think about it, I did better than him
anyway.”

San Lang snorted.

“No one else would’ve been invited as a guest in Paradise Manor, that’s true.”

“How did you convince Hua Cheng to do this? The tales I’ve heard paint him as heartless.”

It didn’t feel right to be so shameless and feign ignorance like this. But if they were to keep
up with the charade, this kind of question was expected.

“Oh, he is heartless. But even he has a weak point.” San Lang winked and leaned his head
closer to Xie Lian’s. “As every ghost’s, it’s his ashes.”

“Do you have them?”

“Ah, gege. That’s a secret.”

“What about yours? Are they safe?”

San Lang smiled softly and looked at Xie Lian in a way that made his heart itch.

“They are now.”

Xie Lian nodded in relief. As long as they were, it’d be better not to meddle too much.
Besides, Ruoye chose that moment to squeeze his wrist gently, reminding him about his
existence. The piece of silk had concluded they were in a friendly environment and therefore
he should go out and investigate because he was bored.

Xie Lian scratched him.

“All right, then. Show yourself.”

And Ruoye did. He unwrapped part of himself from Xie Lian’s wrist, giving the impression
of a pet snake raising its head.

“San Lang, do you remember Ruoye?”

San Lang got his finger closer as if to poke the piece of silk but not quite doing it.

“I do. It shouldn’t be surprising that you still have it with you.”

“Mmm. Where else was he going to go?”

And what was Xie Lian going to do without Ruoye? Despite being a constant reminder of
painful events, Ruoye was also a loyal companion. The only one who had stayed since before
his second Ascension and throughout his banishment. Furthermore, since his spiritual tool
was always there, Xie Lian had got used to talking to him. From the perspective of outsiders,
it looked like he was talking to himself. Those who caught him doing it left wondering how
balanced Xie Lian’s head was. Not that he minded. As long as they left him alone, they could
think whatever they wanted.

San Lang tried to reach for Ruoye again. This time he seemed more determined to grab him,
but Ruoye evaded him. Although, to be honest, he didn’t move to avoid San Lang, but
because he had discovered something hidden in the corner, behind the wall and the dresser.
He flew all the way there, forming a circle above the area while moving part of him like a
whip.

“What’s he doing?” San Lang asked.

“He only acts like that when he finds rats.”

San Lang frowned, his face a mix of annoyance and curiosity. Then, he stood up and went to
take a look.
“Well, that’s not right,” he said. “Rats are not allowed in Paradise Manor. Much less in this
room”

“It could be something else,” Xie Lian offered as he followed.

San Lang knelt in front of the dresser. His tongue clicked and his frown deepened.

“Hm. It’s not a rat. But it is vermin,” he grunted. He extended his arm and fished out
something from there. It was a scimitar Xie Lian recognized immediately. “What are you
doing here? I told you to stay away!”

“E’Ming! You came to visit again!” Xie Lian exclaimed at the same time.

E’Ming vibrated with enthusiasm until San Lang squeezed the hilt again.

“ Stop it! ”

“Please, don’t be so harsh. E’Ming is just being polite.”

San Lang’s mouth twisted in a pout.

“This piece of garbage doesn’t deserve to be spoiled, gege. Least of all, by you.”

“I don’t know anything about spoiling,” Xie Lian replied. “Maybe he brings a message from
his master?”

He was well aware that this wouldn’t be the case because said master was right there, very
blatant in his displeasure with the sword’s presence. Yet, Xie Lian couldn’t help himself.

“I don’t think so. Hua Cheng wouldn’t trust him with anything important.”

Xie Lian smiled one of his more practiced innocent-looking smiles, tilted his head slightly to
the right, and clasped his hands.

“But there’s no way to be sure unless we ask either E’Ming or Hua Cheng himself, is there?”

“I guess not,” San Lang admitted.

Keeping the smile, Xie Lian leaned over the saber, ignoring San Lang’s pout.

“Hello, E’Ming. It’s nice to see you again. Say, do you have any message for us?”

The red eye embedded on the hilt moved in frantic circles, going from San Lang to Xie Lian
and vice versa. After a moment, it stopped and he shook left to right several times.

“See, gege?”

“Yes, I see. Another reason, then.”

E’Ming’s eye glanced at San Lang and shook again, now back and forth. Then, as if he had
been gathering determination and courage, the sword escaped San Lang’s grasp and jumped
into Xie Lian’s arms for the second time that day. Xie Lian caught him and cradled him
against his chest.

“Oh! This is what you wanted?” He laughed. “What a good sword!”

Xie Lian twirled a couple of times both to give E’Ming some distance from San Lang and
because he found the sword that adorable. Yes, it was a magnificent scimitar. Without a
doubt, fierce and powerful when properly wielded, capable of inflicting gruesome curses
when commanded by its rightful owner. But his personality was so… huggable, and if there
was anyone who knew how much it hurt to be lonely, hopelessly yearning for someone’s
embrace and comfort for years upon years, that was Xie Lian. Besides, it helped his heart to
settle down after the intensity he went through mere moments ago.

Behind them, San Lang had given up trying to stop them. Instead, he let out quite a loud sigh
and went to the door. He opened it and came back inside before Xie Lian could wonder if he
had taken things too far with his teasing.

Someone had brought an interesting wooden box with protection charms carved on it, which
San Lang carried inside.

“Here, gege. We can seal that teapot in this box and then take it to one of the treasure rooms.”

Xie Lian approached, half-hiding his face behind E’Ming.

“That’s a very clever solution.”

Beaming, San Lang opened the box and, turning it on its side, he placed it next to the teapot.

“Use E’Ming to push the teapot inside. He’s already cursed. It won’t affect him.”

Xie Lian patted E’Ming’s scabbard.

“If you’re sure…” he said, doing as San Lang asked.

“That’s it!” San Lang said when he closed the lid. “Will you come with me? We can leave
this thing and the one you’re holding back in their respective places. And we can finish our
tour of the manor.”

Xie Lian’s arms tightened around the sword again.

“There’s no need to be mean, San Lang.”

But he was curious, so he agreed to join him. Besides, now that he had him back, Xie Lian
wasn’t willing to let him go out of his sight so soon and so easily.

***
San Lang had wanted to stuff E’Ming into the first closet they came across, but he yielded
when Xie Lian insisted on taking him back to the display in the armory.

“He was there when we found him first, so that’s likely where Hua Cheng wants him to be.
We may have some liberties, but it may not be a good idea to go against his direct wishes like
that.”

Xie Lian didn’t know how he managed to be so outrageous while maintaining the lecturing
tone. He comforted himself thinking that he gave San Lang the opportunity to save face. He
would decide when and how to shed that second layer of his identity himself.

“He doesn’t deserve you spoiling him, gege,” San Lang said for the second time, making a
face.

Xie Lian looked at him fondly and realized that, no matter how much he frowned and twisted
his mouth, he never stopped looking handsome. There was dignity in every step as he carried
the wooden box. He looked calm despite what had transpired between them, and Xie Lian
decided to get on the same page and focus on the present.

San Lang looked back at him and tilted his head when he noticed him staring.

“Gege?”

Xie Lian shook his head and cleared his throat.

“It’s nothing. I was just thinking it should be impressive to see E’Ming being wielded by his
master.”

San Lang scratched the side of the nose.

“Well, they have managed great feats. I can tell you some.”

“I’d love to hear them. You said that Hua Cheng crafted his spiritual tool himself. That means
E’Ming, right?”

“Yes, that’s true. E’Ming was made the very same day Hua Cheng carved his eye out. It’s a
story less fascinating than you might believe.”

“How could that not be fascinating?”

San Lang laughed softly.

“It was a gory business, but little else.”

Xie Lian frowned and stole glances at San Lang’s face. Although he suspected something of
the sort since E’Ming’s eye had to have come from somewhere, both of San Lang’s eyes gave
the impression to be in great condition. What an impressive skin he had fashioned for
himself!

“Does he regret it? Taking out his eye?”

“Not at all. He claims to be better off like that.”

Xie Lian covered his own right eye with his hand. He had gone periods deprived of light for
one reason or another, but he couldn’t fathom being without one eye for the rest of his
existence. Swordsmanship—and combat in general, really—would be challenging. Same
with his defense, thanks to such a big and literal blind spot. Then again, given enough time,
people were able to adapt to all kinds of conditions.

“Was that before or after he fought the thirty-three gods?”

“Before. I didn’t tell you that. I see you’re well informed.”

“Zan Chow told me at length about it. It happened before his time, but he got the details from
others who witnessed it first hand. He also said that most gods fear the moment Hua Cheng
decides he wants to fight them. Even the ones who ascended after the fact.”

San Lang laughed.

“Oh, do they? That’s interesting. If Hua Cheng doesn’t know about it already, he’ll be
pleased to find out.”

“Does he delight in being feared?”

“He hates everyone in the heavenly capital, so…”

“I see…”

“Ah,” San Lang said, stopping suddenly. “Here’s what I wanted to show you.”

They had walked through corridors that took them further and further from the areas they
explored that morning.

“Here, gege. Use this,” San Lang said, presenting him with a pair of dice. “Throw them and
they will give you access to any room in the manor.”

Xie Lian took them and examined them.

“Any room?”

“Yes. Even if you don’t know where it is. They’ll respond to your intent.”

“Even if I don’t have access to any spiritual powers?”

It had been long since he had been deprived of them, but it still hurt to say it. Yet, he had to
make sure.

“Even then. They’re powered by Hua Cheng’s spiritual energy, and he would never allow his
guest to get lost in his house.”
Xie Lian stared at the dice some more. This way to use the distance shortening array was
very interesting. He frowned and made a big show about being thinking.

“Maybe… ”

“Yes?”

“Maybe I should try to go to Hua Cheng’s quarters so I can actually meet him.”

That made San Lang jump.

“That might not be the best call of action, gege.”

Xie Lian covered his mouth with his closed fist to laugh.

“I know. I know. I won’t. And I know you passed along my request, but I just really want to
talk to him.”

San Lang sighed.

“You’re terrible, gege.”

However, he was smiling as he said it. Then, in retaliation, he grabbed back the dice making
sure to brush the skin on Xie Lian’s palm.

“Here. This is how you do it.”

With that, he used them to open the door to the treasure room they were looking for. To think
Xie Lian had begun his stay in Ghost City believing himself a prisoner. Had his luck really
changed or should he brace himself for when it ended? He shook his head to chase away
those thoughts. Focus on the present. Enjoy what you have now, he told himself. Feeling
better, he stepped into the treasure room.

San Lang found a nice shelf where to leave the box while Xie Lian explored the chamber.

There were all kinds of objects in here. Xie Lian’s time as a scrap collector had taught him
how to appraise what others considered junk and how to get the most out of it from the right
buyer. However, now that he was here, he realized that all he had learned meant nothing.
Several of these items didn’t seem like much at first glance. He would’ve picked them up and
sold them without further care, but all of them must’ve been there for a reason. Had he,
inadvertently, passed around curses from one innocent person to the next? The answer had to
be yes.

Oh, how he missed his spiritual powers sometimes.

“Gege? Is everything alright?”

“Yes! I—San Lang, do you know the stories behind some of these treasures?”

“As a matter of fact, I do! Where do you want to start?”

“Huh. That one,” Xie Lian replied, pointing out at some random spot to his left.

“Good choice.”

Xie Lian listened to the story. When it was finished, he requested another and, then, another.
San Lang was only happy to continue while Xie Lian held onto one of his words like a bigger
treasure than any of the ones in the room. It was so nice to have the voice of another to focus
on, like a little light that kept his darkest thoughts away. He would cherish it for as long as it
lasted. But, if possible, he wished for the chance of never letting go.
 Part 1: Hualian | Chapter 4
Chapter Summary

In which Hua Cheng does some soul searching, feeds fish, and scares ghosts.

Showing Xie Lian the treasure room and exploring the rest of the manor with the dice,
including a stop to the armory to leave E’Ming on one of the displays, took the rest of the
afternoon. By the time they were done, dinner was ready and waiting for them in Xie Lian’s
room. They sat together again and Hua Cheng listened to Xie Lian rambling on about his
impressions on the objects they’d just seen. He also told some stories about items he had
collected and sold before, although he couldn’t remember to whom, and he refused Hua
Cheng’s offer to track them down and see how they or their descendants were doing.

“They’ll turn up if there’s a need to deal with them. It may take a century or two, but
important objects have a way of doing that.”

“Like the teapot?”

“Yes, exactly.”

“So, gege, how come you were carrying it around?”

“I didn’t know it was cursed when I picked it up. Zan Chow told me when I met him.” Xie
Lian chuckled. “He found it first, buried it, and then some animal dug it out right before I
passed through. Talk about serious bad luck.”

So, the string of events that had brought Hua Cheng and Xie Lian together was a long and
intricate one. He was not going to thank one Middle Court heavenly official for the incorrect
disposal of a magical object; sparing him and letting him go had been enough. Regardless,
there were a few more questions he wanted to ask. He twirled a strand of his hair between his
fingers, and he stared at it while he spoke.

“Gege, we are here, together, having dinner and talking. That heavenly official left in one
piece and he was given a map to return safely home. Are these examples of having bad
luck?”

Xie Lian stopped talking. He placed his hands over the table and rubbed the wood with his
fingers for a moment before answering.

“Maybe it wore off… Earlier, I thought—Now I know that you won’t, but when I figured out
who you were, I thought you wanted revenge.”

“I remember you mentioned it.”

“I kept trying to give you an opening to admit it and get it over with.”

“I’m terrible at picking up cues, gege. I apologize.”

He was rewarded by the sweet sound of Xie Lian’s laughter.

“Either way, whether it was because the bad luck has worn off or because it wasn’t back luck
at all, I’m glad to have found you, San Lang.”

“Me too, gege.”

For a moment, Hua Cheng thought of grabbing Xie Lian’s hand, but his hesitation took too
long and the moment passed. Repressing a sigh, since they were done with the food, Hua
Cheng picked up the plates and piled them up to leave them outside. Someone else would
take them back to the kitchen. All that was left for the night was to help Xie Lian into bed.

“Ah, San Lang, there’s no need…”

“It’s alright, gege. I enjoy it.”

“Fine, then. Thank you.”

It was true too; he could’ve been happy spending his whole life at Xie Lian’s service without
receiving any gratitude. This was as true now as any of the other times they had met. To
know that, at least this once, he was appreciated, only made his heart grow softer.

Once Xie Lian was made comfortable, Hua Cheng went to the pond in the garden. The pond
was connected to He Xuan’s territory, and those bony fish of his were under an illusion that
disguised them as the beautiful carps Xie Lian praised so much. Their owner would disagree
with this treatment, but he wasn’t here. Besides, as long as his pets were well looked after, as
per their agreement, he had no right to complain.

Feeding the fish was an easy enough task that he could have delegated it. But he never did.
Having those creatures recognize him and associate him with their sustenance could come in
handy in the future. He had to start asking Xie Lian to join him on the regular for this, just in
case. Not now, though. Right now, Hua Cheng needed to keep his hands busy while he
cleared up his mind.

The basket with the food waited for him on the edge of the water as always. He opened it and
tossed the contents to the fish by the handful. They swarmed at his feet while they devoured
their meal with the same viciousness as Black Water did with his. This illusion didn’t break
even when the fish’s heads bobbed up and down. A shame that not all of Hua Cheng’s tricks
were that good.

It took Xie Lian less than a day to figure out the last thing Hua Cheng had wanted him to
know. But he wasn’t angry at Xie Lian. Of course not. He could never be. He was angry at
himself. He had been careless. Ecstatic and panicked at the same time. Eager to regale his
god, he revealed too much too fast. Had Xie Lian said something like, “I know this is not
your real identity,” he could have shown himself as the Crimson Rain Sought Flower first, to
distract him, But he had been too direct. Too clear about who he had meant. To deny it would
have only hurt him more.

Either way, it was done, and Xie Lian didn’t dismiss him. Hua Cheng was allowed to keep
tending Xie Lian under the guise of a Wrath who had the ear of a Supreme. His identity as
Hua Cheng would have to wait to be revealed until later when the conditions improved and
Xie Lian felt more comfortable in Paradise Manor.

On top of things, E’Ming, that treacherous sword, had cheered His Highness up. The only
thing that spared him a beating. Although he wasn’t off the hook; if he ever tried to be so
familiar with Xie Lian again, then he’d pay the consequences.

Hua Cheng tossed the last crumbs from the basket to the pond and left the area. There were
some city-related businesses he had to attend now that he needed the distraction. He didn’t
care that much, personally. Being a ghost himself, Hua Cheng knew first-hand that all of
them were who they were. They just followed their natures and they would be fine left alone
with a few basic guidelines if they wanted to stay in his territory. After all, they feared him
enough to adhere to them. Yet, just as Paradise Manor, Ghost City existed to be a backdrop
for Xie Lian and whatever he wanted to do. He could torch it down, salt the ground, and
exorcise everyone if that made him happy. Hua Cheng would only cheer for him whether he
was among the exorcised or not.

Either way, until he found out what Xie Lian’s wishes for the city and the manor were, he’d
keep taking care of them as he had done so far.

***

Xie Lian had always been an early riser, even at the time Hua Cheng had served him under
the guise of Wuming. Although to be fair, he didn’t sleep much those days. That was not the
case now, fortunately. Hua Cheng had left a butterfly on standby to alert him when His
Highness stirred so he could barge into the room to announce the new day as soon as Xie
Lian sat up on the bed.

“Ah! San Lang. Good morning,” Xie Lian said, a soft smile on his still sleepy face.

For the second time in a row, Hua Cheng’s efforts were rewarded with the sight of Xie Lian’s
eyes blinking as they got used to the morning light. His tangled bed hair only enhanced his
delicate features, serving to reassure Hua Cheng of how real and tangible he was. More than
once, he had dared to fantasize what it would be like to wake up next to Xie Lian every day.
This was the next best thing, a reality that had nothing to do with what his imagination came
up with. It was just as splendid.

“Good morning, gege!” Hua Cheng said, placing bundles of fresh white flowers on every
surface. “What would you like to wear today?”
“Good morning, San Lang.” Xie Lian yawned before standing up and stretching. Hua
Cheng’s ring dangled from his neck, showing through his half-opened robes as he leaned
down to smile at the flowers. “Are my old robes back yet?”

No, they weren’t. And they wouldn’t be any time soon if Hua Cheng had something to say
about it—which he did. They were, as Xie Lian had pointed out, old. Worn out. Low quality.
In short, unfit for a figure as important as Hua Cheng’s only god. But, unable to voice his
opinion, he went with a different approach.

“Not yet. It seems there is some mending to be done.”

“It’s fine. I can mend them myself— Or not,” Xie Lian added with a sigh when faced with
San Lang’s sad puppy-dog eyes. “Please, choose today’s robes for me. I’m not sure if I’m
brave enough to look in those chests.”

“Yes, gege!”

Satisfied, Hua Cheng checked the outfits he had ordered for Xie Lian. He selected one similar
to the one he had worn the day before. The colors were different, though. The robes from
yesterday were all white, and these now were white with accents in cream. Both of them had
protection charms all over; they were the most important part.

“What about these?”

Xie Lian got closer to examine them. His fingers brushed the clothes so delicately that Hua
Cheng had to wonder what it would feel like to be a piece of fabric.

“It’s beautiful,” Xie Lian said. “Thank you.”

“It’s my pleasure.”

“You don’t have to help me with— Fine, fine! You can! Stop making that face!”

“Thank you, gege!” Hua Cheng said, making absolutely no promises about the second part.
He would not stop making that face for as long as it got him his way. “Would you like me to
do your hair like yesterday?”

“Yes. That would be nice.”

Hua Cheng had Xie Lian done and ready in a blink of an eye. His Highness even spent longer
than yesterday looking at himself in the mirror, which felt like a victory. His wide eyes
assessed his own figure as if it brought memories of the past, and of how things should be.
That this was the treatment he deserved. Exactly what Hua Cheng wanted.

Yin Yu sent a message through their personal spiritual communication array announcing that
breakfast was ready and waiting for them in the garden. Hua Cheng acknowledged it and
dismissed his assistant so he could guide Xie Lian there.

“It looks delicious,” Xie Lian said a few moments later as he sat down.
Hua Cheng took the seat in front of him.

“I hope it lives up to expectations.”

“I’m sure it will.”

And it did. Xie Lian delighted himself with every bite, happiness pouring out of him. The
happier his expression grew, so did the smugness in Hua Cheng.

“Ah! It was great!” Xie Lian said at the end, patting his belly. “Just like everything else I’ve
eaten here.”

San Lang laughed.

“So, gege, since you approve of the cook, I believe we can trust her with special requests.
What would you like to have for lunch? Ask for anything you want. Don’t limit yourself.”

Xie Lian perked up.

“Anything I want?”

“Just name it.”

For a moment, it seemed like Xie Lian would resign himself to whatever was available. Hua
Cheng got ready to encourage him, but, in the end, it wasn’t necessary.

“If lunch is not yet made, I’d like to prepare it. It’s been a while since I was able to cook in a
proper kitchen with actual ingredients.”

Not at all what Hua Cheng expected. His knee-jerk reaction was to tell Xie Lian not to bother
with such menial tasks, but there was something different about this. Maybe the fact that Xie
Lian made it sound like a long-craved luxury. Besides, maybe he could also get something
out of it.

“Will gege prepare lunch for me too?” Hua Cheng asked after giving instructions to Yin Yu
through the spiritual communication array.

“Of course! I’ll make enough for a handful of people, in case anyone else wants to join us.”

“Anyone else?”

Xie Lian nodded.

“Maybe Hua Cheng would want to eat with us. Is there a way to send him an invitation?”

“There is. I’ll take care of it.”

And then he’d send his apologies for being unable to attend.

“Done,” Yin Yu said, only for Hua Cheng to hear. “The cook will go back to haunt her old
restaurant the rest of the afternoon. You’ll have the kitchen for yourselves.”
“Good. Continue with the rest of your tasks.”

“Yes, sir.”

Hua Cheng cut off his communication and went back to focus his entire energy on Xie Lian.

***

Xie Lian set one plate in front of Hua Cheng and another in front of himself as he sat down.
The dish had started its journey as rice, fish, and vegetables, and had now become an
indistinct blackened mass with a gooey texture. But this gooey, blackened mass was made by
His Highness' own hands. Therefore, it was blessed. Not to mention that Hua Cheng had been
dead for centuries and he was powerful enough to withstand it.

Without hesitation and with a smile that never faltered, Hua Cheng grabbed a spoon and took
a bite. Looking at Xie Lian’s eyes, who was very attentive at his reaction, he chewed and
swallowed, making sure of licking his lips before stating his verdict.

“Delicious.”

Xie Lian’s shoulders relaxed and he grabbed his own spoon.

“Really? You might be the first person to ever tell me that.”

“Am I? Gege, you have to tell me the name of the ones who didn’t.”

“Ah! Most of them should be dead by now…”

“If they’re ghosts, I can track them down.”

Xie Lian waved his hands in front of him.

“There’s no need! It’s not a big deal.”

“Gege can be too generous. Even to people who don’t deserve it.”

“And you’re so kind,” Xie Lian replied. “By the way, did Hua Cheng ever answer our
invitation?”

Hua Cheng swallowed a second spoonful of the… soup? before answering.

“He had pressing business to take care of. He sends his apologies.”

“I see. I understand. He has a city to rule, after all.”

He looked and sounded disappointed, which led to Hua Cheng feeling somewhat guilty. For a
moment, he thought of dropping the illusion and let him know that nothing in this world was
more important than Xie Lian. That he lived to fulfill his needs and give him anything he
could ever wish for. But he stopped himself before opening his mouth. There would be time
for that. Better circumstances. When he became sure Xie Lian wouldn’t reject him.

Of course, he kept his emotions away from his face all throughout. He just ate and smiled and
commended Xie Lian’s food until he made him blush all the way to his ears.

“San Lang, please! Now you’re mocking me!”

“I would never do such a thing,” Hua Cheng protested, answering a pout with a pout. “It’s
just that I never thought I’d be able to eat anything prepared by you. It’s a real treat. Say, why
don’t you cook every day? We’d have to get rid of the cook but…”

By then, Xie Lian had half his face covered with his long sleeves.

“I wouldn’t want anyone to be dismissed on my behalf,” he said. “How about I do it once a

week?”

“That’s acceptable.”

Still from behind the sleeves, Xie Lian giggled, and Hua Cheng thought he was going to
explode from the loveliness of it. When he realized it, he was giggling too.

It didn’t escape Hua Cheng’s notice, though, that Xie Lian didn’t insist on inviting Hua
Cheng over for their next meal.

Good.

***

“What did you do before I arrived?” Xie Lian asked some time later.

They were sitting down next to the pond. They had been there for a while now, meditating,
chatting, and reading old stories. In reality, though, Hua Cheng’s main activity had been to
contemplate Xie Lian’s beauty from every angle as he did all those things. He sat as close as
he could with the excuse of leaning over when Xie Lian needed context for whatever he was
reading.

“I used to break up fights in the city,” Hua Cheng lied seamlessly, playing with a blade of
grass between his fingers. “And I dealt with the transgressors. Ghost City’s dwellers are
allowed many liberties, but there are also some boundaries Hua Cheng won’t allow them to
infringe.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Xie Lian said. “The more I hear about him, the more it sounds like
Hua Cheng is a great leader.”
Hua Cheng tried not to look too smug at the praise, but he did feel quite smug.

“What happens to the ones who won’t follow his rules? Are they banned from the city?”

“Pretty much, yes.”

Banned, eviscerated, torn to pieces. Same thing.

“You must be so strong. I haven’t seen much of Ghost City, but the ghosts I did see on the
streets were fierce.”

“Ah, gege,” Hua Cheng replied, scratching the back of his head. “You’re embarrassing me.
Although, if I can brag, I would say that I am fiercer than any of them.”

“San Lang is really amazing.”

Hua Cheng laughed, this time letting the smugness show all over his face.

“Say, gege, would you like to go to the city? This time at your leisure.”

“Only if you’re there to escort me.”

“Nothing would’ve stopped me.”

Xie Lian nodded and stood up, dusting himself off.

“Let’s go, then!”

San Lang did the same and led the way.

***

They took the main street down to the market. Hua Cheng made a point of avoiding the way
to the Gambler’s Den for the time being. This trip was at His Highness’ leisure, yes, but that
didn’t mean he had to be exposed to that place again so soon. There were other parts they
could explore.

“I was trying to sell some scrap on that corner when I heard about the heavenly official
caught in the casino,” Xie Lian said, pointing at the spot.

“Selling things without a permit? Gege, I should report this.”

Xie Lian skipped one step and froze.

“Ah! Yes…Perhaps you should. I wouldn’t want you to get in trouble…”

Why was he so adorable? It wasn’t fair.

Hua Cheng did his best not to laugh at his reaction. It wasn’t easy.

“Apologies, gege. I was pulling your leg. No one bothers with permits here.”

Xie Lian exhaled and placed a hand on his chest.

“Don’t scare me like that!”

“I’m sorry. Let me make it up to you. Wait right here.”

Hua Cheng hurried to a store across the street. Normally, he would’ve been given preferential
treatment and allowed to take everything he wanted without being charged. But for the sake
of his undercover mission, he repressed his spiritual energy so no one recognized him. It
worked as it should even among the always vigilant denizens of Ghost City, who ignored him
until he proved he had money. He bought the sweets he wanted to treat His Highness with
and went out to the street again. However, it seemed like his errand had taken too long.

Xie Lian had been surrounded by a gang of rowdy ghosts who threw rude and lewd
comments at him. He did his best to ignore them, trying to get away, but they wouldn’t let
him.

“I remember you. Weren’t you begging us to buy trash two days ago?”

“And you had such ugly clothes back then. What did you do to them?”

“He tossed them out to get into someone’s bed in exchange for new ones!”

The ghosts all laughed.

“These are so fancy! Damn, I knew you had so much talent, I would’ve snatched you first!”

“Why don’t you come to my house and show us? I have a few coins that’ll get you a warm
dinner.”

Xie Lian kept his expression neutral the whole time, pretending they didn’t exist.
Furthermore, as long as he didn’t suffer a direct, physical attack, the protection charms
wouldn’t activate, which Hua Cheng now saw as a flaw in the design.

But that wasn’t the only thing he had to fix.

He strode right to them.

“All of you! Scram!”

“What?” one ghost said.

“Who the fuck are you?” said another.

“Why do you think you can give us orders?”

Who was he? Who were they ? How did they dare to disrespect both His Highness and him?
“ Scram! ” he yelled again, sending enough spiritual energy to be recognized.

This time, he got what he wanted. The ghosts all jumped and stumbled on each other to get
away.

“Hua Chengzhu! We’re sorry!”

“We didn’t know it was you!”

“It won’t happen again!”

Hua Cheng glared at them as they left. He took a note of their identities, but he let them get
away for now. The dead didn’t sleep, and yet they would have nightmares as they waited for
him to get to them. Right now, he had to focus on the real priorities. Trying not to make it
obvious how he crumpled the bag with the sweets in his hands, he approached Xie Lian.

“Gege, are you all right?”

Xie Lian nodded. He looked relieved and had even a small smile lingering on his lips.

“Yes, I am fine. Thank you, Hua Cheng,” he added after a pause.

It took all Hua Cheng had not to cringe.

“You don’t seem too surprised.”

Xie Lian’s smile turned awkward.

“I’m sorry.”

Ah. No need for that. Hua Cheng would truly forgive him everything.

“What gave me away?”

“E’Ming. The way he yielded under your grip could only mean he belonged to you.”

That damn sword again.

Xie Lian placed a hand on his forearm.

“Why don’t we continue exploring the city?”

So, it seemed like Hua Cheng was also forgiven for this second deception.

“Of course, gege.” He offered Xie Lian the bag with the sweets, which had survived Hua
Cheng squeezing it. “This is for you.”

When Xie Lian looked up again from inspecting his present, Hua Cheng had come back to
his true form. He waited for judgment and began to worry when Xie Lian’s eyes widened, but
that didn’t last long. His surprised expression was soon replaced with a warm smile.
“Hello,” Xie Lian said, and that was all.

Hua Cheng wasn’t dismissed. He didn’t face disgust. Xie Lian’s acceptance was like a balm
that lifted the rest of the weight Hua Cheng carried with him. He smiled right back while he
promised to himself that he wouldn’t separate from His Highness ever again without leaving
him at least a few wrath butterflies to look after him.
 Part 1: Hualian | Chapter 5
Chapter Summary

In which Xie Lian makes friends.

“It’s not a good idea that he comes with me now,” Xie Lian told himself as he stood side by
side with Hua Cheng at the entrance of Paradise Manor. For San Lang, who was just a
member of the household, it was fine to act as his valet. But for the master of the house,
someone with so much prestige and power, it would be outrageous.

“Gege, is everything alright?”

In the grand scheme of things, yes, everything was fine. Xie Lian was in a safe place, next to
someone who knew the worst of him and, nevertheless, had his back and extended his
hospitality to him. But his entire self was burning with questions, starting with needing to
know how a young, nameless soldier became a renowned power so feared by the heavens.
What he had gone through. How much he had suffered.

Whether he had been looking for him all this time.

Xie Lian stopped himself before a single word escaped him. Hua Cheng was forced to reveal
his identity twice in the same number of days already. If the pattern continued, the answers
would come out on their own regardless of Xie Lian’s plans and intentions, so he might as
well take the kindest route and be patient.

“It’s nothing, Hua Cheng. I was just thinking”

“San Lang. That name sounds better coming from you.”

“Fine. Then: everything is fine, San Lang.”

Hua Cheng smiled and gestured toward the hall that led to Xie Lian’s room.

“Shall we? You must be tired.”

Well, to escort him back to his room was not that terrible, Xie Lian thought. Except that, once
there, Hua Cheng insisted on acting as he had done the previous nights.

“San Lang…”

“Yes, gege?”

“You’re going to make me forget how to unfasten my own clothes.”

“Don’t worry. You can practice with mine whenever you want.”

“S-San Lang!”

Hua Cheng chuckled from behind him.

“Apologies, gege. I’m only joking.”

Xie Lian pouted.

“Well. For me to do that, I’d—I’d have to go to your room!”

“You can. With the dice.”

“I just might.”

“And you’d be welcome.”

Xie Lian’s hair cascaded over his shoulders after all the pins were removed and he swallowed
a sigh. Hua Cheng had a point: this was his house to do as he wanted. If this was it, then Xie
Lian had to respect it.

“Would you need anything else for the night, gege?”

“Thank you. I’ll be fine.”

The problem wasn’t, he thought as he raised the blanket up to his nose, his getting used to
this treatment. It was that he didn’t want it to stop. Even when he closed his eyes, Hua
Cheng’s face kept coming back. San Lang had been pretty, but Xie Lian didn’t expect Hua
Cheng to be that handsome. He fell asleep wondering which face was the one behind the
mask so long ago.

***

By the next week, they had established a routine. Hua Cheng showed up the moment Xie
Lian woke up, helped him get dressed, and they shared breakfast. All of that with impeccable
timing. Granted, Xie Lian had always been very regular as far as his schedule went, but the
level of precision made him think there had to be surveillance involved. He didn’t mind,
though. He was comfortable and warm, content and at ease, and he began to look forward to
seeing Hua Cheng first thing in the morning. It brought him a joy he hadn’t known before.

After breakfast, Xie Lian got to explore the manor. Sometimes with Hua Cheng, sometimes
on his own, when the first had city manners to attend. Those days, he had better chances of
seeing the other members of the staff. Half of them hurried to get out of his way, and the rest
begged him to give them orders, whatever they thought would earn them Hua Cheng’s favor.
It was endearing. In making things up for them to do, Xie Lian ended up with too many tea
leaves and all kinds of colorful rocks he collected in wooden boxes.

There were, however, two exceptions to all that ruckus. One of them was the cook, a recently
deceased restaurant owner with a grudge against a bureaucrat who scorned one of her dishes.
Her name was Shu Hu and, in exchange for her services, Hua Cheng promised to help her
with her revenge. Other than never disclosing the big plans she had, she was very talkative.
Xie Lian was a patient listener, which earned him to be tolerated in the kitchen as long as he
didn’t help. He was only allowed to get his hands on pots and pans the day of the week he
had the place for himself, which worked for him.

The second exception, a much more elusive one, was the man in the ghost mask. The same
one who was rumored to be Hua Cheng’s right-hand man, despite Hua Cheng himself
insisting on having nothing but a satisfactory business relationship with him. Xie Lian
wanted to hear the man’s opinion on the matter—or, at least, to learn his name—, but he was
impossible to get a hold on and Hua Cheng avoided the subject altogether. Xie Lian was not
going to give up, though. He’d only have to rethink his strategy.

***

“Gege, I apologize,” Hua Cheng said one night by the end of Xie Lian’s second week at
Ghost City. “I have an important business matter to attend first thing in the morning. I won’t
be able to join you for breakfast.”

Xie Lian was used to be alone. He had spent decade after decade—century after century—on
his own with no one but Ruoye as company. He could have breakfast alone. He would be
fine. He’d only have to force down the loneliness he felt just thinking about it.

He had been right; all this pampering was affecting him.

“It’s fine, San Lang. You are in charge of a city and I keep you away from your duties for too
long as it is. I understand. I can amuse myself.”

“I’ll make it up to you, promise. Feel free to do as you wish.”

After a night full of uneasy dreams he couldn’t remember upon waking up, Xie Lian dressed
himself in the simplest set of white robes he could find and grabbed a quick bite. Then, he
busied himself walking up and down the halls. He didn’t find a single cabinet, chest, or even
door he hadn’t opened already. His hands itched and his feet, he realized, were restless.

“This is a wonderful house,” he told Ruoye. “But I’ve grown so used to roam around. Do you
want to go outside for a while? Just the two of us. After what happened that time, we
shouldn’t find much trouble.”
The piece of silk didn’t object and Xie Lian, in desperate need of air and a change of scenery
to distract himself, went out to the street.

Just like with the ones in the house, the ghosts outside had learned Xie Lian was under the
lord mayor’s protection. Some of them gave him a wide berth as he walked by. Others pushed
all kinds of objects into his hands as gifts. But there was yet another group that, while staying
away from him, seemed to enjoy whispering among themselves while looking in his
direction. They didn’t come at him with lewd proposals and slanders, but it was annoying.

Maybe whispering was too nice of a word. They were loud and they made no secret of who
the subject of their conversation was.

Scratch annoying. It was embarrassing.

Normally, Xie Lian didn’t care when others assumed things about him. He had heard it all
and survived. However, this time they involved Hua Cheng. Xie Lian would not stand for
this.

“Excuse me,” he said as he got closer.

As soon as he addressed them, most of them scattered. The ones who remained were—who
else?—the boldest ones.

“Yes, young master?” said a ghost in tacky clothes whose makeup was on the side of too
much. “Are you looking for tips on how to please lord Hua Chenzhu in bed?”

The swift and merciless attack rendered Xie Lian speechless and made him forget the speech
about propriety and respect he had prepared. He stayed there, gaping, for too long of a long
moment before he could produce the words to disabuse her of that notion. Sadly, all the
words that came out of his mouth from that moment on stumbled onto each other, unwilling
to form even one complete, coherent sentence.

“That’s not—! How can you—?! We—!”

The lady ghost cackled.

“It’s alright, honey. Lord Chengzhu has never invited anyone to stay in Paradise Manor
before, just like he’s never been in any of our reputable brothels. I won’t lie; we were
worried. But you’re really pretty and we want him to be happy. So ask away, dear. We have
hundreds of years of experience and thousands of techniques that guarantee pleasure. Ask
away. For free. Just for you.”

The more she spoke, the more mortified Xie Lian grew. Even worse, her friends trickled
back, all of them giggling. Were they mocking him? Did they mean to give him advice?

Did it matter?

“We’re not— We’re just...”

Friends.

Friends. That was all.

“We don’t have the kind of relationship you’re implying.”

“Oh, please,” another ghost chimed in. “My friend works cleaning cobwebs in Paradise
Manor. He says that the way lord Chengzhu looks at you—”

She interrupted herself and her face became a mask of panic. Xie Lian cringed and looked
behind him. With his luck, Hua Cheng surely changed his mind at the last moment and had
come in time to hear this nonsense. However, it wasn’t him. It was a swarm of Wrath
Butterflies coming to his rescue. Well, Xie Lian couldn’t say if that was their intention, but
they had that effect. This time, all the ghosts ran away.

Surrounded by butterflies and a sense of relief, Xie Lian let out a sigh and extended a hand. A
few of Hua Chen’s messengers perched on it.

“Thank you, little ones,” he said, his other hand pressed against his chest to calm it down.
“The things that go through some people’s minds, really.”

The butterflies flapped their wings as if in agreement with his words. Then, a couple of them
flew to his hair and some others to his shoulders, where they stayed as adornments. The rest
moved around on the street to stand on walls and windowsills, but they remained close.

“Ah. It’s been a while since I’ve got bodyguards,” he murmured, amused.

Xie Lian, of course, was not going to let an incident such as this spoil his excursion. Besides,
he had promised to amuse himself out here, and he was going to. This time, though, when he
resumed his walk, he didn’t hear the smallest indiscreet peep.

***

When Xie Lian came back to Paradise Manor, he had decided to purge everything those
ghosts said to him out of his mind. Or try, at least. But he couldn’t. The words came back and
back again, holding onto his brain like leeches, impossible to get rid of. To the point that,
against his better judgment, he began to consider them.

How did Hua Cheng look at him? How was it different from the way he looked at everyone
else? It was difficult to say because, now that he thought of it, save for those ghosts who
harassed him the first time they went out together, Xie Lian hadn’t seen Hua Cheng interact
with anyone else.

He was so caught in his thoughts that he nearly crashed against the person who waited for
him at the entrance of the house: the man in the ghost mask.
“Hello,” Xie Lian said. “I’m sorry. I was lost in thought and I didn’t see you there.”

The man bowed.

“Your Highness. Hua Chengzhu sends his apologies. His reunion with Black Water
Submerging Boats is still ongoing. He’ll meet with you as soon as it’s over.”

“Black Water…?” Xie Lia repeated, trying to remember who the person behind that moniker
was. “Ah! That’s the Black Calamity, isn’t he? That has to be the important business he
meant.”

The man in the ghost mask neither confirmed nor denied. He just stood there, unmoving. To
be honest, if anyone were to ask Xie Lian what the creepiest part of the ghost realm was, his
answer would be to point at him.

“In the meantime, is there anything Your Highness needs?”

“Actually, yes! I need to know how to call you. What’s your name?”

There was another moment of silence, although this one felt heavier.

“My name?”

Xie Lian nodded emphatically.

“How can I call you?” he insisted.

“You can call him, ‘hey, you!’ and he’ll answer, gege,” Hua Cheng said. He was coming
down from the end of the corridor.

Xie Lian squinted, unsure whether that had been an insult or some kind of in-joke. But the
man vowed again, first in the direction Hua Cheng came from, and then back to Xie Lian.

“That is acceptable,” he declared, his voice neutral.

Was it, really? Mysteries just kept piling up.

Either way, Xie Lian paid attention in order to discover how Hua Cheng looked at the man in
the mask, trying to find a difference with how he looked at him. But he was foiled by the fact
that Hua Cheng focused entirely on him while he ignored his subordinate.

Regardless, even if he lacked a point of comparison, with those ghosts’ words ringing in his
ears, Xie Lian could now feel the full weight of Hua Cheng’s gaze. He just hadn’t noticed
before.

Hua Cheng’s face was soft and his remaining eye shone with warmth and fondness. However
, this didn’t mean the ghost lady had been right. Hua Cheng was fond of him, yes. But even
then, he had been clear since the first time he dolled Xie Lian up: he was merely amusing
himself. Nothing too terrible. After all, others had amused themselves with Xie Lian in much
worse ways before.
“How was your morning, gege?” Hua Cheng asked before Xie Lian could continue chasing
that line of thought.

His voice was like the sun vanishing dark, stormy clouds.

“It was fun! I went to explore outside,” Xie Lian answered, smiling again now that he had
found the courage. Hua Cheng didn’t need to waste time with some baseless, crude rumors,
so Xie Lian didn’t even mention them. Besides, he had a confession of his own to make. He
pressed his hands together as if praying that he wouldn’t upset Hua Cheng. “You might be hit
by a few bills, though. I didn’t have any money on me, so I asked them to send them over.”

“It’s fine, gege. I’ll take care of them.”

“I’ll pay you back!”

He’d find a way. He hoped the scrap he still had to sell would be enough.

“If that is what you want…”

“Yes, it is. Thank you.”

At that moment, Xie Lian realized that Hua Cheng’s assistant had left in silence, without
calling attention to himself. Ah, well. His self-appointed task of getting to know him better
made little progress, but it hadn’t been zero. He understood now that the man in the ghost
mask didn’t want his name to be disclosed. Not only that. Thinking about it, Hua Cheng had
come to his rescue before he was cornered too badly. This spoke well of him and Xie Lian
felt a pang of pride. He would always be happy to stand next to a man who helped his
friends.

“Then, gege,” Hua Cheng continued. “I promised I’d make it up to you. I’m all yours the rest
of the day to do as you want.”

Xie Lian’s first reaction was guilt at hogging the lord mayor’s time again. However, it
disappeared as soon as they walked into the armory. Hua Cheng told him the fascinating
stories behind each of the swords and how he had acquired them. The only weapon he
refused to elaborate on was E’Ming, who was saved from being shoved into another closet
when Xie Lian suggested sparring.

“Please? It’s been a while and I miss it.”

“Of course. It would be my honor. Choose any sword you like.”

Xie Lian laughed.

“I like plenty,” he said. Then, he got serious and grabbed the one he had already decided on
from the start. “This one.”

“It’s all yours,” Hua Cheng said.

Xie Lian made warm-up movements. The one he had chosen was a long and flexible sword
with faint spiritual powers. Good enough to ease himself back into the game, he thought.

With their weapons drawn, Xie Lian and Hua Cheng stood in the middle of the armory facing
each other. After a moment of examining Xie Lian’s stance, Hua Cheng struck first. Xie Lian
received him and pushed him away, initiating their dance.

Regardless of Hua Cheng’s unexplainable disgust for E’Ming, the saber was still his spiritual
tool. They were a fierce team, moving as one. Hua Cheng had an impeccable form, which
Xie Lian wasn’t shy on praising at every turn. It wasn’t hard to believe that the name
Crimson Rain Sought Flower brought terror to the heavens with his skill, despite him holding
back most of it to give the scrap collector a chance not to win but to have fun. Xie Lian didn’t
mind it. He didn’t mind it either when he lost five times in a row.

“We should do this more often,” Hua Cheng offered when they were done.

He looked as fresh now as when they started, in contrast with Xie Lian, who was disheveled
and out of breath. So much he could only nod as an answer. But it was a very enthusiastic
nod.

Xie Lian had had so much fun he couldn’t stop smiling, and he wouldn’t be able to for hours.
Hua Cheng’s eye, fixed on Xie Lian, shone with delight. They stared at each other, feeling
connected in all the ways that mattered. Until someone interrupted Hua Cheng through the
spiritual communication array. Xie Lian was able to tell by the way Hua Cheng’s nose
wrinkled and his mouth grew thin.

His scowl soon changed into a smile, though.

“Dinner is ready. Gege must be hungry after all this exercise.”

Xie Lian couldn’t say no to that. They left the swords back on their displays and headed back
to Xie Lian’s bedroom. Hua Cheng’s humor had improved, it seemed, since E’Ming got a
dignified treatment for once. Xie Lian managed to neither giggle or call attention to it. The
saber had, indeed, been of good service and he had earned a break.

***

Later, when Hua Cheng had retired for the night, Xie Lian checked the contents of his sack of
scrap. There were a few things there that he could sell at a good price to cover at least a part
of what he had spent in his outing to the city. Maybe he could get more scrap from the Ghost
City denizens for reselling. There was also busking. There was always busking. He hadn’t
done it in a while, but he could fall back to that if needed.

Sitting down on the floor, Xie Lian brought out, one by one, every item in the bag and placed
them on the floor in front of him. Everything he remembered was there. Except—except for a
hairpin he got two towns ago. He thought it strange until he remembered that he had offered
Hua Cheng to take whatever he wanted from the sack. He had probably grabbed the hairpin
before the teapot called his attention.

That cursed teapot.

Although…

“Is it really cursed?” he mused.

At first, it seemed to bring doom, and then… Then it didn’t. Feng Xin’s deputy had evaded
doom and was sent home with a map. Xie Lian landed on the lap of luxury at the hands of
someone he thought he’d never see again. He was even able to make amends and ease his
heart. As for Hua Cheng, it had only bruised his ego by having him shed the layers around his
identity, forcing him to show his true self.

Was that bad?

Xie Lian rocked backward and flopped on his back, arms spread to the sides.

“Does it matter, though?” he murmured. “This is where I am now. There’s a roof, and food
and clothes… And company. I should enjoy it while it lasts.”

Because he didn’t doubt his second shackle would strike again at the worst moment, as it
usually did.

Sighing, he turned to the side and closed his eyes. Immediately, Hua Cheng’s face—both of
them, the three of them —appeared in his mind, and he was unable to shake them off no
matter how hard he tried. They filled him with a yearning that made no sense because he was
going to see him the very next day. But he had already lost him before, hadn’t he? What were
the possibilities of that happening again? Higher than it not happening. Most people Xie Lian
had ever met were dead. He was used to loss. But just thinking about not seeing Hua Cheng
again hurt. He didn’t think his heart would be able to take it again.

In the end, he sat up and curled up in a corner of the room. See how long that peace of mind
he had been so proud of lasted him.

Ruoye uncoiled from his wrist so he could pat his master’s cheek. Xie Lian curled up further.
Look at him, unable to comfort his loyal companion. He was, simply, a failure who brought
misfortune wherever he went. He was the real cursed one, fit only to be abandoned in a ditch
on the side of the road.
 Part 1: Hualian | Chapter 6
Chapter Summary

In which Xie Lian stress bakes and stress saves people.

Feeding the fish with Xie Lian would have to be postponed. After that sparring session, Hua
Cheng needed some time to scold himself. While they were dancing around each other, as
their swords clashed and they moved back and forth, he’d had plenty of opportunities to steal
a kiss and he wasted them all. On the other hand, part of him hoped Xie Lian would be the
one to go for it first. However, His Highness had been too focused on and enthusiastic about
the wrong workout, making Hua Cheng realize that would have to change tactics. Try again
in a different scenario. Xie Lian loved swords too much. Which in turn explained why he was
so soft on E’Ming, who didn’t deserve such preferential treatment.

On the plus side, throughout the afternoon, Hua Cheng had gotten constant praise regarding
his saber work. He had spent years practicing, improving on what he had learned in the
Xianle army back when he was a soldier, creating a few techniques of his own that made his
style distinctive and unique. He knew how good he was. However, to hear it from Xie Lian
brought it to a whole new level. After all, it wasn’t just that because of Xie Lian he privileged
a saber as his primary weapon; it was because of him that he picked up a sword at all.

Yet, when His Highness needed it the most, his sword had not been of any help.

“It will be now,” he murmured. “Or I will scatter my ashes away myself.”

Hua Cheng stared at his hands and made a face. Black Water had come to deliver the latest
heavenly gossip in person. He could’ve done so through the spiritual communication array—
except that his main purpose had been to insist on this new fish food that he found who knew
where and that stuck to the fingers. It was more expensive but he didn't care. Well, now he’d
have to deal as well with an extra fee that Hua Cheng decided to add for the inconvenience.

On the topic of when he’d go ahead and finish the job, Black Water refused to answer. Hua
Cheng was not going to start telling him how to get his revenge, but the Red Calamity had
ultimately destroyed 33 heavenly officials in a single night while making quite a spectacle of
it. Why was it taking Black Water so long to take care of just one? Or two. The number
changed every time he came over. In the end, though, it wasn’t Hua Cheng’s problem. As
long as he got information from the Heavenly Capital and debt piled up allowing him to keep
a degree of control over the Black Calamity, he had no reason to care.

Yet, now that the god he spent so long looking for—the only one that mattered—, was under
his roof, did he still need that information? Well, it might. He had to think of the future. After
all, few things generated more profit than the information trade.
Hua Cheng finished with the crumbs for the fish and went back to the study where Yin Yu,
thorough and efficient as always, had piled up everything he needed to check. Thoroughness,
efficiency, dependability. Loyalty. That was what Hua Cheng received. In return, Yin Yu got
to leave his past behind to never think about it. This was, as Hua Cheng had described it, a
mutually beneficial business relationship. Nothing else.

***

Hua Cheng’s conundrum was that he didn’t want to impose on Xie Lian’s privacy while also
being anxious at fulfilling all of Xie Lian’s needs as they presented themselves. He
compromised on having the Wrath Butterflies in the room under strict orders of calling him
when either Xie Lian woke up in the morning, or when something unusual happened. A few
hours after he finished feeding the fish, something indeed happened.

One of the butterflies sent news via an image of Xie Lian leaving in the middle of the night,
which hit Hua Cheng like a heavy wave made out of panic. He calmed down when another
one showed him Xie Lian’s straw hat hanging on the wall. Its owner was too fond of it, and
he wouldn’t leave it behind. Besides, the butterfly that went after Xie Lian showed him going
into the kitchen instead of taking the road.

Regardless, Hua Cheng had to take a moment to compose himself before he was able to think
of an excuse for showing up there. Well, dawn wasn’t that far away, and he had to give
instructions for the meals of the day. Which he didn’t normally do, but there were always
exceptions. If asked, he’d say he had something special planned. Something like…Like
having lunch next to a nice lake in the mortal world. Yes, that’d do.

A few moments later, Hua Cheng walked into a mess so big that even Ruoye was hanging
from a beam on the ceiling instead of his usual place around his master’s wrist. Probably so
he could avoid getting covered in grime. Xie Lian himself was covered in all kinds of
ingredients from head to toe.

“Good morning, San Lang! I’m sorry. I thought I’d finish before you went looking for me.
They’re almost done. I know it’s not the day I’m supposed to be here, but I traded with Shu
Hu. She was fine with it!”

Just who in the world was—? Oh, right. Shu Hu, the cook.

“It’s alright, gege.” Xie Lian could exorcise her if that made him happy, for all Hua Cheng
cared. “So tell me, what is almost done? Whatever it is must be delicious. I can see you’ve
worked very hard on it.”

Xie Lian grinned at him, delighted, and cleaned a smudge off his nose with his sleeve.

“Sweets!” he said. “Which we can eat after breakfast, that is. Which is also—” As he spoke, a
cloud of smoke rose from one of the pots boiling behind him.“Which is now burned,” he
corrected. His shoulders slouched down for a moment. However, he soon went back to an
embarrassed, resigned—forced—smile. “Ah. I guess I’ll have to start over.”

Worried, Hua Cheng came closer and began gathering random ingredients.

“Allow me to help.”

“Yes. Of course. It’s your house, after all,” Xie Lian replied.

He piled up the dirty pots and pans on the side and got clean ones. Yin Yu had been the one in
charge of stocking the kitchen, and he had done well in getting so many of those things.
Either way, they worked together. He rolled up his sleeves and began chopping what Xie Lian
told him to chop. Xie Lian took care of the rest. However, as he did so, he spent the time
alternating between not looking at Hua Cheng and staring at him for too long. All in all, he
came and went all over the kitchen, fretting more than cooking.

“Gege, is everything fine?”

“Yes, of course. Why wouldn’t it be?” Xie Lian asked right back, speaking too fast. Then, he
added, without giving space for Hua Cheng to answer, “The sweets are ready! I’ll fetch them.
But don’t eat them yet. They’re for after breakfast.”

The sweets weren’t done. They were undercooked. And the second attempt at breakfast was
overdone. It was only saved from being burned again only because Xie Lian heeded Hua
Cheng’s warnings at the last moment. He only calmed down when all the dishes were served
and they sat down to eat in front of each other. The change was too sudden and too drastic,
though. From hopping all around them to staring down at the plate as if his energy had
dissipated between the moment he pulled back the chair and he got on it.

Hua Cheng concealed his worry behind a smile for now.

“Ah, gege. You’re so good to me.”

Xie Lian looked up in surprise.

“I mean it,” Hua Cheng said, spoon in hand.

Xie Lian’s expression softened. Although he still looked pensive.

“And you’re too kind. You know, you don’t have to—”

Hua Cheng began to eat before Xie Lian finished the phrase and looked back at him from
between his eyelashes. The picture of perfect innocence.

Xie Lian took a deep breath and finally chuckled.

“All right. Go ahead.”

“Sorry, gege. I couldn’t wait.”

“No apologies needed. Thank you, San Lang,” he added after a pause.

Hua Cheng grinned and continued to eat while Xie Lian watched him and relaxed. If His
Highness would not volunteer what had him so worked up, at least Hua Cheng could try to
distract him.

“San Lang, I must apologize,” Xie Lian said, toying with the hem of his sleeve. Hua Cheng
thought idly how much he wished to be the sleeve before going back to pay attention to Xie
Lian’s words. “I noticed yesterday that I’m hogging too much of your time. Before you say
it’s no problem, it’s not sustainable in the long run. You should be able to dedicate your time
to your work without having to worry about me.”

Thing was, Hua Cheng could not stop worrying about Xie Lian. Ever. Before he found him,
he worried because he couldn’t protect him from hardship. Now, he was worried because he
wanted to make him happy. This morning had made clear that his attempts weren’t working.

What could Hua Cheng do now? Do as Xie Lian said and—? Yes, he should do as Xie Lian
said.

“Actually, gege, I’m due to appear at the Gambler’s Den this evening. Why don’t you join
me?”

Xie Lian’s nod of agreement and relaxed stance made Hua Cheng think this was a step in the
right direction.

“As a treat, everything the house wins tonight is yours.”

“San Lang! There’s no need for that!”

As Xie Lian got flustered again, Hua Cheng chuckled. This time the mood was different.
Lighter, more domestic. Yes, this was better.

“Now, gege, I believe you promised some sweets.”

Sooner than Hua Cheng would’ve liked it, breakfast was finished and Xie Lian began to pick
up the empty plates.

“Gege, you can leave those on the table. It’s fine.”

Xie Lian shook his head.

“I dirtied everything. It’s only fair that I clean it.”

Hua Cheng bit his tongue before saying that he probably didn’t do any of that in the imperial
palace of Xianle. Instead, he got up from the chair.

“In that case, since I helped you cook, I should do this as well.”
“Very well,” Xie Lian answered.

They worked side by side in silence. Even though Xie Lian let out small sighs from time to
time, he looked more at ease. Hua Cheng let the situation be. This was not the time to start
asking. When Xie Lian felt like it, he’d share his woes.

“Thank you, San Lang,” Xie Lian said when they finished. “You can go to work now.”

“Haven’t I been working already?” Hua Cheng asked, allowing a slight whine to show
through his voice.

“You know what I mean,” Xie Lian said in the tone of a strict teacher. Or, at least, in what
Hua Cheng thought strict teachers sounded like. He didn’t know. He’d never had one. All
he’d ever had were bullies, mean generals, and people from all walks of life trying to kill
him. Either way, anyone else using this tone on him would have E’Ming going through their
throat before they could even finish the phrase. However, since this was Xie Lian, Hua Cheng
didn’t dare to contradict him.

“Yes, gege. That is going to take me a few hours. What will you do meanwhile?”

“I’ll practice my swordsmanship. I’m rusty. If we’re to spar again, I want to improve so it
won’t be as boring for you.”

Hua Cheng had some ideas on how to make sparring more exciting that they could start doing
right then and there, but His Highness hurried both of them out of the kitchen before he could
start. Some other time, then.

***

Hua Cheng arrived first to the Gambler’s Den to make the area behind the curtain ready to
host both of them, and that they would have enough and suitable food and drinks available.
He could have, again, delegated the task knowing his instructions would be followed to the
letter. But if Xie Lian could take the time to cook for them, Hua Cheng could take care of
these details. Besides, he wanted to let everyone know that no more rumors would be allowed
where His Highness could hear them. Xie Lian deserved to have a great evening and he was
going to have it.

The casino was one of the most iconic locations in Ghost City, the place where visitors and
locals risked everything for the dream of obtaining riches beyond measure. Hua Cheng’s
presence, even from behind the red curtain where he couldn’t be seen, served to press the
players to increase the stakes. It didn’t matter whether they accepted or not, they all left
humiliated in one way or the other. Even the denizens of Ghost City who took it as a
spectator's sport were important. They served to keep circulating the stories about the power
of the Ghost King, embellishing them with new details every time.
Yes, part of Hua Cheng’s power was rooted here, in the Den, in making sure the rules—his
rules—were enforced. It was a way to let everyone know that he was the ultimate authority
and to remind them that, by crossing the threshold, all of them had chosen to become subjects
of his whim. Furthermore, the Gambler’s Den was the place he and Xie Lian had finally
reunited. From every angle, it seemed auspicious to extend him an invitation if he wanted to
see him at work.

The Gambler’s Den never ceased operations. Ghosts didn’t need to sleep and few of them had
anywhere else to be or the desire to stop gambling. That was also another great selling point.
Players could come at any time of the day or night and go straight into betting without having
time to stop and think twice. If they had come this far, why go back home empty-handed?

Today, for example, a young woman marched right in, stopping only when she got in front of
the dice table. She was alone and she held her hands tight together. Her exaggeratedly raised
chin, the mouth pressed thin, and the scrunched nose did a decent job to hide how terrified
she felt. She even kept her voice steady when she bet herself against an important sum of
money. The ghosts around her exploded in chatter and mockery but she ignored them. She
was sure to have some sob story Hua Cheng already didn’t care about. Regardless, he hurried
to accept the bet in hope of ending the incident before Xie Lian arrived. Once they reached an
agreement, she cast the dice.

And she lost.

A merchant in rich, elaborated, and tacky robes rushed through the doors the moment the
result was announced. He froze at the same time her face turned ashen and her knees gave in.
She didn’t struggle when two members of the staff grabbed her arms to pick her up.

“Stop!” the merchant yelled. “Let go of her! She’s my bride!”

Hua Cheng rested his chin on his hand and grunted. He was tired of that ruse. It was so
predictable. Next, they’d beg for mercy while crying and crawling all over the floor.
Although it made for a good spectacle that some of the weirdos here enjoyed, Hua Cheng had
always found it in bad taste. He was about to wave his hand to have both of them taken away
when Xie Lian appeared at the entrance of the casino and Hua Cheng lost track of everything
that wasn’t his god.

Although Xie Lian wore a simple set of white robes, he had put special care on his hair, done
up in a ponytail that highlighted his handsome features. If Hua Cheng still had a heart, it
would’ve skipped several beats. It was a different thrill than the one he felt when Xie Lian
first barged into the Gambler’s Den looking for that inconsequential heavenly official.
Nevertheless, it felt like all the beauty and warmth in the world returned after a long slumber.

“Young master, mercy!” exclaimed the merchant’s bride as she threw herself at Xie Lian’s
feet as he walked by her.

On the one hand, Hua Cheng couldn’t fault her; he would’ve done the same ten thousand
times over, and Xie Lian was the only one in the room with a kind expression on his face. On
the other hand, it was annoying. However, she was harmless, with no spiritual power nor
martial skills altogether. Thus, Hua Cheng decided to watch the scene unravel, ready to have
her taken away the instant Xie Lian showed discomfort.

When Xie Lian picked her up, she began whispering in his ear. The desperation on her face
made it obvious that she was sharing her tale of woe. She spoke at length, having invoked
Xie Lian’s mercy, and he was listening. From this moment on, any decision His Highness
made regarding the fates of the merchant and his bride, Hua Cheng would enforce without
hesitation.

“Young master!” the merchant called, so loud that his voice carried effortlessly over all the
chatter. “I apologize for my boldness. It shames me. But, please, listen. Maybe you can help
us. I see that you’re a rich and powerful lord fortunate enough not to have known hardships
during your life.”

At this, the corners of Xie Lian’s mouth twitched but he managed not to cackle like he surely
wanted to.

The merchant carried on.

“My dear, dear bride and I are poor. Not long ago, we were robbed of everything we owned.”
Here, the man kowtowed in front of Xie Lian. “Which is why I have no choice but to beg
you, while we still have your ear, to lend us a little bit of money with the only purpose of
gaining her back from Crimson Rain Sought Flower.”

“Stand up,” Xie Lian commanded. His voice was firm and compelling, like when he gave
orders on the battlefield all those centuries ago, but not cruel and dry like the tone he had
used to order Wuming around.

“Young master?”

The merchant kept his eyes low, although he kept trying to steal glances at his bride, who
remained hidden behind Xie Lian and had not joined his husband in his begging.

Interesting.

“Mere hours ago,” Xie Lian continued, “Crimson Rain Sought Flower promised he would
give me everything he won today. I guess I don’t have to explain what it means.”

Everyone, living, dead, and undead went silent in shock at this declaration. Most heads
looked at the curtain where their lord sat observing the action. Their shock became deeper
and longer lasting when Hua Cheng did not contest Xie Lian. Good. They were starting to
realize how much they shouldn’t mess with him. After all, even if Xie Lian had made this up
on the spot, Hua Cheng would just yield to his wishes.

“You can, of course, get your bride back,” Xie Lian said.

The merchant’s shoulders relaxed and the woman cringed.

Even more interesting.

“But you have to pay,” Xie Lian added.

“My lord, I have nothing!” the merchant replied.

“I disagree,” Xie Lian said. “This is your dear, dear bride, after all. I’m sure you can gladly
part with your right hand, left foot, and nose to get her back.”

The merchant paled first and then grew green before falling down on his knees. The ghosts
began laughing and yelling obscenities again.

“Decide now,” Xie Lian continued. “Are you willing or not?”

The merchant’s mouth opened and closed without any words coming out from there.

“You’re not, then,” Xie Lian finished.

This was a good moment for Hua Cheng to intervene.

“If he’s not willing, then take him away. Stop wasting our time,” he said.

His orders were immediately followed. Meanwhile, a female ghost led the woman to another
area of the casino. This kind of thing didn’t happen every day, but often enough that there
was an established protocol. If she proved not to have any useful skills, she’d be taken to do
menial work to pay off her debt. Unless someone else paid it for her, but that happened even
less frequently.

Well, the scene was finally done and Xie Lian resumed his way to the red curtain. He kept the
princely expression on his face, hiding his emotions.

Hua Cheng stood up and extended his hand through the curtain to welcome him.

He was pleased. There had been many lessons taught today, and it seemed that everyone
around them had understood them. Xie Lian would do whatever he wanted, and he wasn’t a
soft, little lordling—and that’s how Hua Cheng liked it.
 Part 1: Hualian | Chapter 7
Chapter Summary

In which Hua Cheng first sees a dream come true and then he finds cause to worry.

Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Xie Lian accepted Hua Cheng’s extended hand before crossing the red curtain. He didn’t
need to. There were neither hidden stairs or a seal that would prevent him from going in if he
hadn’t. However, he wouldn’t be able to conceive a world in which he rejected it. Xie Lian
shivered as their fingers brushed, the kind of shivering one would gladly spend entire
lifetimes searching for.

“Gege, I must commend the way you handled things out there. Although, I have to admit I
expected you to release the woman back to her lover.”

Ah. That. It had certainly been intense.

Xie Lian let Hua Cheng lead him to his chair and help him sit down before answering.

“She is an orphan who got tricked into marrying that oaf—her word, not mine—and she
refused to go back to him. He’d promised to provide for her, but she’s the one doing all the
work while he spends the days eating and drinking. Then, she found out that he let his
previous wife die when he didn’t have a use for her anymore. The idea of sharing the same
fate terrified her. Coming here was her last hope: she’d either get enough money to buy her
freedom or she would be taken into servitude by you.”

Hua Cheng raised his visible eyebrow and laughed.

“She’d rather be my servant?”

“She’d heard that you’re a fair master when people keep their word. Either way, I believe that
speaks very well of you.”

“Gege flatters me.” Hua Cheng reached for a plate of fruit, which he offered to Xie Lian.
“Indeed, similar things have happened before. About twice every ten, fifteen years.”

Xie Lian took the plate and grabbed a piece of fruit.

“What do you do with them?” he asked before eating it.

Hua Cheng’s eye followed the movement of Xie Lian’s fingers, quickly looking away when
the latter licked them clean from the juice that lingered on them. The movement made Xie
Lian feel self-conscious. Trying not to make too much of a fuss, he hurried to get a
handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe his fingers with it instead. He had spent long bouts
without proper company and he tended to forget what was proper. Normally, he didn’t care.
But, being next to Hua Cheng… He’d have to do better.

“What I do with them depends on what they have to offer,” Hua Cheng replied. “In short,
they work until they pay off their debt. Then, they decide whether to leave or stay. It’s the
same for me. However, regarding this particular mortal woman, as promised, her debt is
yours, gege. Tell me how you want to handle it and it will be done.”

“I’m not interested in having anyone in indentured servitude.” Xie Lian was about to grab a
second piece of fruit, but the concern of forgetting himself again stopped him. Besides, they
were discussing the fate of a human being. He had to keep his priorities in order. “However,
maybe she’d like to earn some money before going back to the mortal realm.”

Hua Cheng nodded.

“Very well. She’ll be asked about her skills and, then, she’ll be offered a job.”

“Thank you, San Lang. I apologize if I’m overstepping with this.”

“Don’t worry, gege. You’re not.” He grabbed a piece of fruit, which he tossed into his mouth
with fascinating abandon, and ate it. “Now that the matter has been settled, let’s see what else
the night brings. And, please, don’t offer to let me go back on my word. Everything else I
earn tonight it’s still yours.”

Xie Lian laughed. He had been caught; that was exactly what he was thinking about.

“All right. I just hope it won’t be another person.”

“Don’t worry. As I said, it doesn’t happen that often.”

Hua Cheng’s prediction turned out to be accurate. No one else paraded into the Gambler’s
Den betting themselves or their limbs to the audience’s disappointment. Hua Cheng shut
them down whenever they tried to push someone to bet a hand or a leg. Although Xie Lian
suspected it was because of him, he decided just to let it play without making any comments
on it. On the other hand, a small mountain made out of jewels and gold grew and grew at Xie
Lian’s feet throughout the night. This soon began to feel overwhelming and surreal. Just like
everything else since his arrival at Ghost City.

“Gege, are you alright?” Hua Cheng asked when he saw him holding his forehead.

“Yes. Yes, I’m fine.” He sighed—and decided to be candid. “I was wondering what I’m going
to do with all of this.”

“Whatever you want, of course.”

Yes, that was the problem. As of late, his basic needs were covered with no more than a
handful of coins. Even less since he began living in Paradise Manor. Xie Lian could pay what
he owed Hua Cheng after his excursion to the city, even if it felt like cheating because it was
him who gave Xie Lian the money. Besides, after that, Xie Lian would still have a lot left,
and he didn’t want to do something as basic as hoarding it under the bed. He had to find a
way to put this money to good use.

Of course, the moment he tried to think in earnest, was the moment Hua Cheng chose to lean
toward him and whisper to his ear the rules of the most complex games in the casino. Or
maybe they weren’t the most complex. Maybe Hua Cheng’s mouth all but pressed against
Xie Lian’s skin was too much of a distraction.

This was going to be a long night. A night full of yearning. It was torture. A different kind of
torture from the one he was used to, but torture nevertheless. Like the teapot’s curse had
finally caught with him.

Xie Lian decided to enjoy it while it lasted, and he renounced to recite the Sutras as he knew
he should have done.

***

It was almost dawn when they left the Gambler’s Den. The establishment kept working,
though. It never stopped. It didn’t have any reason to. To be honest, Xie Lian had spent days
upon days awake working nonstop before, and Hua Cheng didn’t need to sleep, so they
could’ve stayed for longer. However, the latter insisted that it was time for him to rest.

“It’s enough debauchery for a day, gege,” he had said.

Xie Lian had run away from worse parties throughout the years, and Hua Cheng’s comment
was meant as a joke. Yet, his worry was real, and Xie Lian had to agree; in more than one
way, Hua Cheng was right. Xie Lian had seen enough to have an idea of how the casino was
handled and, through that, how Ghost City itself was managed.

He had met countless rulers both in person and by reputation, starting with his own father.
Most of them had been inconsequential even when they had the best intentions. Very few
caused a lasting impression whether by being exemplary or by being true monsters. At this
point, regardless of any other consideration he had for the Ghost King, Hua Cheng definitely
caused an impression.

He had a hands-off management style, allowing the city’s residents to exist true to their
natures without interfering with them. At the same time, he was strict about the rules they did
have. Hua Cheng held his word at a high standard, for good or otherwise, and he expected the
same from everyone else. Even if he had described himself as fickle back when he was
pretending to have never met Xie Lian, and even if, yes, he did a lot of things on a whim,
once he gave his word he became predictable. Easy to read. Easy to trust. Better yet, easy to
respect and to admire. The more he learned about him, the prouder Xie Lian felt about who
Hua Cheng had become.

“You seem to be deep in thought, gege,” Hua Cheng said when they were halfway to the
manor.

“Ah. Sorry. I was just thinking about tonight.”

“Were you? I hope it’s nothing too terrible.”

“It’s the opposite, actually. It’s much better than what the rumors I’d heard led me to
believe.”

“That shows how much we can trust rumors.”

Xie Lian nodded. He was about to follow up Hua Cheng’s observation with one of his own
when he heard weeping coming from around the corner.

“What’s that?” Xie Lian asked, heading toward the source of the noise without waiting for an
answer.

Hua Cheng followed him. He said nothing, but he placed himself not-so-discretely between
Xie Lian and the weeping one, who turned out to be a mortal man. An old mortal man in
worn-out clothes and shoes covered in mud who cried and sobbed like a lost child. He sat
with his back against the wall and held his knees against his chest.

“Excuse me,” Xie Lian asked, squatting in front of the man. “Do you need any help? Are you
injured?”

The old man gasped and wiped his face with his hands when he looked up. Then, when he
saw Xie Lian, he jumped to a kowtow without giving any thought to his old joints.

“My lord!” he whimpered. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to offend your ears!”

Xie Lian sighed. He had forgotten about the effect he had in clothes that weren’t rags full of
patches. Gently, he placed his hands under the man’s arms to encourage him to get up.

“You have not offended me,” he said. “Will you please tell me what pains you?”

The old man took a couple of deep breaths and allowed himself to kneel up, but he wouldn’t
go any further. Therefore, Xie Lian knelt down so he could listen to him better. As for Hua
Cheng, he remained standing up, arms folded, surveying the situation. The old man hadn’t
noticed him, or he probably would’ve run away screaming.

“Oh, young master,” he began. “My life has been just a big tragedy as of late. An avalanche
destroyed my village! The place where I grew up! The one where I’d hope to die and be
buried next to my ancestors!” He wiped his face again. “Most of my neighbors—” He
sniffed. “The few of us who survived lost everything. I am old, closer to death than anyone
else, so I thought of coming here and trying to win some money in the Gambler’s Den. I had
the hope of giving us a chance to rebuild our homes. If not… Well, it wouldn’t make any
difference to anyone. But when I arrived, I was told that tonight Crimson Rain Sought Flower
wouldn’t let anyone bet body parts! I have nothing else! I have—I have no hope of getting
back home!”

When he finished talking, the old man started sniffling again.

One would’ve thought that preventing people from hacking their limbs off for money was a
good thing. Yet, this man was in despair because of it. Having heard so many people fake
grief to take advantage of others, Xie Lian could tell the old man told the truth. He really
intended to make a sacrifice to help his people.

This proved too much for Xie Lian’s heart. Without thinking, he reached into his sleeve and
got one of the bags with the earnings of the night, and placed it on the man’s hands.

“Here, take them this. Wait. It may not be enough.” He shoved two more bags in his hands.
“That’s better.”

The old man gaped for a moment before opening the bags. As he did, his jaw dropped further.

“Young—young master! This is enough to build my village five times over!”

“Or you can build better houses,” Hua Cheng commented. “Gege, there are many thieves out
there. He’s going to need an escort.” He offered his hands to Xie Lian. “Don’t worry. I’ll see
to that.”

Xie Lian accepted Hua Cheng’s hands to help him up even if he didn’t— No. He did. He did
need them.

“Thank you, San Lang. You do think of everything.”

Hua Cheng squeezed Xie Lian’s fingers and stared into his eyes. Xie Lian lost himself in that
warmth and softness. That had to be it, the way Hua Cheng looked at him that had everyone
talking. Xie Lian realized he liked it, wishing they could remain like this forever, only
remembering they were out in public when the old man’s armed escort arrived to lead him
away.

“I’ll—I’ll build you a temple, young master!”

“I’m not a god…”

Anymore.

Yet.

The idea of having temples dedicated to him at this point stirred something in Xie Lian’s
stomach. It didn’t feel right, but the old man had already made up his mind, and he was going
to do what he wanted with the money anyway. Trying to stop mortals from building temples
when they got like this was only a waste of time and effort.
“It’s alright, gege,” Hua Cheng said, squeezing Xie Lian’s fingers again to call his attention.
“You’ve been very generous today.”

“Have I?” Xie Lian couldn’t help but lean on Hua Cheng for comfort. “I only hope I didn’t
ruin what remains of his life with that gift.”

“You did what you could. If anything, he’d ruin it himself.” One of Hua Cheng’s hands left
Xie Lian’s but only so he can place it on the latter’s waist. Then, he gestured for them to
resume their way back to Paradise Manor. “Come on. You need rest.”

Xie Lian nodded and followed. He didn’t stop leaning on Hua Cheng, and he didn’t allow
himself to think about why.

They walked the rest of the way to Paradise Manor very close to each other, holding hands.
Hua Cheng felt Xie Lian’s weight growing heavier against him. Good. It wasn’t just that it
had been a long day and he needed to rest. His life had been difficult for so long. But Xie
Lian’s years of suffering hardship after hardship were over. Besides, to show this amount of
vulnerability meant how much he trusted his companion, making said companion both
flattered and humbled by it. Everything Hua Cheng had hoped for his entire life was coming
true.

He fought the urge of nuzzling Xie Lian’s temple every step of the way. When they stood in
front of the door of Xie Lian’s chamber, they finally—reluctantly—let go of each other.

“San Lang…” Xie Lian murmured, his smile was bright and honest. “Thank you for tonight.”

“I’m glad to know you enjoyed it, gege. We can do it again whenever you want.”

“Mmm. I would like that. You have to go to the Gambler’s Den often anyway, don’t you?”

“Every once in a while it’s fine. But we don’t have to limit ourselves to that place. We can go
anywhere.”

Xie Lian’s smile grew brighter. Hua Cheng felt he was in the presence of the one and only
sun.

“Even better,” Xie Lian said.

They remained there, staring at each other for a moment until Hua Cheng leaned forward a
bit. Other than a slight widening of his eyes, Xie Lian kept still, so Hua Cheng leaned further.
And further.

“Gege,” he whispered when they were but a breath away.

Xie Lian didn’t answer. Not with words. But it was him who closed the distance between
them, pressing his lips against Hua Cheng’s.

The world exploded. It took everything Hua Cheng had not to explode himself into a swarm
of butterflies. Instead, he cupped Xie Lian’s cheek with his hand and kissed him back for the
glorious second it took His Highness to panic.

“I— Ah. San Lang!” he stuttered, taking a step backward. “I don’t— I—” Another step. “It’s
late. You need to rest. Have a good night. See you—see you tomorrow. Bye. Good night.”

He said the second half of that in one last breath before closing the door. Or more like he
threw it against the frame. It was a wonder it didn’t break. But what had just transpired was
even more of a wonder.

Hua Cheng touched his lips, which had been blessed the way he had always dreamed of.
Even if Xie Lian were to tell him he’d never be willing to do it again—or that he didn’t want
to go any further—, the one kiss they had shared would be enough to keep Hua Cheng going
for an eternity.

After checking that the door was, indeed, correctly closed, Hua Cheng turned around and left
the area back to one specific treasure room. Something there needed his attention.

***

Paradise Manor had enough rooms for several to be dedicated to keeping the treasures Hua
Cheng had gathered since he began caring about keeping them in one place. They contained
items of all kinds: benign, malign, and neutral. Of all sizes and shapes. Both the
inconsequential and the ones that would make most people sacrifice their loved ones in order
to obtain them. Since they were of no use in his search for Xie Lian, Hua Cheng forgot about
them after he tossed them in there. Yin Yu was the one who came in to dust them off and put
them on the shelves whenever he had some free time. Either way, the object Hua Cheng came
looking for deserved some appreciation. It had, after all, been the one that brought his god to
his house.

Hua Cheng opened the box where he and Xie Lian had placed the famous teapot of the one
true love.

“Who do you think you are, whispering to my ear?” Hua Cheng growled.

The moment the lid was off, a small spirit, translucent, and humanoid in shape, with pointed
ears and in bright clothes, stood up from the inside. It rested its elbows on the edge of the
teapot as it leaned forward.

“But it worked! Why are you complaining?” it said, all smug.

Hua Cheng scoffed. Yes, it had worked. Normally, he wouldn’t have cared about the fate of
the old man after Xie Lian gave him the gold. Those had been enough boons for any mortal
in his situation. However, the spirit of the teapot had whispered in Hua Cheng’s ear
suggesting him to offer the escort. Hua Cheng would’ve brushed it off, except that he noticed
it would be something His Highness would appreciate. Which he did. So yes, the advice had
worked.

“Don’t do it again,” Hua Cheng warned the spirit.

“I’ll try. I have a job to do, though.” It sighed. “I’m overworked as it is. I’m supposed to be
all solid, you know?”

Hua Cheng frowned and took the teapot out of the box. It looked different. The colors, once
vibrant and full of life, were fading away. The flowers, despite being painted, withered, and
the trees were losing their leaves. It was all very dramatic, but also disturbing.

“What’s happening to you?”

“I’m going against the shackles your beloved is wearing. I would let go if it wasn’t against
my nature to leave a job incomplete.”

“You can let go,” Hua Cheng said. “Now that he knows he’ll always have a place here—”

“He can return at any time even if he chooses to leave?” The spirit shook its head. “His
intentions won’t matter. If I let go, the back luck shackle will gain control and your beloved
will be taken.”

“Taken?” Hua Cheng snarled. “Who would dare?”

“My power is limited in that regard,” the spirit said. “I only know that he’ll be taken by the
one with twisted love. The one who loves your prince so much he hates him and will do
anything to destroy any chance of happiness he gets. Before you say you’ll destroy him first,
it’s not that easy. I know nothing beyond that, not even his identity. And that’s killing me!
Literally! I exist to bring lovers together. My fate is tied to the ones who touch the teapot
until my mission is fulfilled, and now all my power is spent in keeping him here. Do you see
my problem? If I let go, he’ll be taken. If I hang on until I die, he’ll be taken anyway.”

“So the only solution is to break the shackles?”

Which brought its own set of problems. Hua Cheng had learned a lot about those things
thanks to Yin Yu. While they prevented the wearer from accessing their spiritual powers, they
also preserved their youth and immortality. Thus, getting rid of them would mean old age and
death. Concepts that Hua Cheng didn’t even want to think about in relation to Xie Lian.

Without warning, the Red Calamity extended his hand and poured spiritual energy into the
teapot.

“What are you doing?” the spirit asked. It stared at how its hands became solid again, and the
colors and flowers and leaves returned to the teapot.
 “Buying time,” Hua Cheng replied. “Continue doing your work while I find a solution.”

“So, if I give you advice later, will you follow it?”

“No.”

“Had to ask.”

Hua Cheng placed the teapot back in the box, which then he returned to its place on the shelf.
He’d come back later to check on it. Hopefully, he would’ve freed Xie Lian from the
shackles by then. If not, he’d refill the teapot again. And again and again, until either the
shackles were destroyed or he found the bastard in white. That he had survived only spoke of
how useless the heavenly emperor was. No big surprise there

And no, there was no need for His Highness to know anything about this. He deserved to be
free from worry, which was why Hua Cheng would enjoy running his saber through the
throat of every single person who wished him ill.

Chapter End Notes

Hi! I apologize for the late update - I gave myself a schedule, oops!

Also, I'm sorry for not replying to all the great comments you've left yet. I love them all!
They're amazing! (You're amazing for encouraging me in this adventure ;_;)

I'll try to do it over the week!

Finally, thanks to my friends for suggesting what Xie Lian should do with his money in
this chapter. <3

Thanks again!
 Part 1: Hualian | Chapter 8
Chapter Summary

In which Xie Lian makes a brave choice.

“ You want to supervise ?” Shu Hu, the cook, repeated once Xie Lian expressed his
intentions.

“Yes,” he said. “I trust you. And your judgment and your taste. But I promised Hua Cheng
I’d have a nice diner ready for him when he returned and I already used up my cooking day
for this week.”

She snorted.

“What a cute little lordling you are. Explaining yourself when you don’t have to. That’s fine
with me. But,” she added, brandishing a knife, “you grab one pot or get too close to the
radishes and you’re out!”

“Yes, ma’am. Thank you,” Xie Lian said, pressing his hands together and nodding in her
direction.

His morning had been complicated and doing this gave him something to do while he waited
for Hua Cheng to come back from the business he had to attend. He would’ve preferred to
cook himself, but he wasn’t going to break his agreement just like that. Besides, he didn’t
want to ruin the robes he was wearing. In hindsight, perhaps he should’ve dressed up after the
meal was done. Too late for that now, though.

Shu Hu grumped one more time and got to work. There was not much to supervise with her,
though. She was a professional. However, Xie Lian stayed there, pressed to the wall, looking
at her coming and going, chopping vegetables with a dexterity and speed one would’ve
thought could only be acquired as a side effect of practicing swordsmanship.

“Is it true what they say, then?” the cook asked, suddenly. “About Hua Chengzhu and you.”

“Excuse me?”

“You know. You’re living in his house while he showers you with gifts and lets you do
whatever you want. I’ve heard that the two of you came back from the Gambler’s Den
snuggling all the way last night.”

“What? No! That’s not—!”

Except—It was true. All of it was true. And then some.

Xie Lian rubbed his face.

“He and I, we—we’re just—” The last time he had been confronted by that argument he had
been able to say safely that he and Hua Cheng were just friends. Now, though, the events that
transpired between them the night before and earlier that day flashed in his mind’s eye,
changing everything. Xie Lian groaned and deflated. “I don’t know what we are.”

“Yet, here you are, dressed like that and supervising a special meal yourself, like a blushing
bride who has decided on a suitor. How does he treat you in bed?”

Every one of her words was worse than the other. Xie Lian didn’t know where to start
complaining, so he covered his ears.

“Merciless! Shu Hu, you’re merciless!” he whined.

“That’s either very good or very bad.”

“We don’t—! We didn’t—! We haven’t—!”

“But you want to.”

“I—!”

Did he?

Moreover, since when did it matter what he wanted? That whole day had proved that,
whenever he went after something, he got nothing but the opposite.

***

After the kiss he had so foolishly initiated when they returned from the Gambler’s Den, once
he got himself inside and closed the door behind him, Xie Lian pressed his back against it
and let his weight drag him down to the floor while he held his head with his hands.

What had he done?

He had disrespected Hua Cheng, that’s what he had done.

He had disrespected his… his Wuming.

There were, of course, his vows to be considered, but that seemed irrelevant in comparison. It
would’ve been so easy to take a step back instead of…

Xie Lian had spent most of his life ready to recite mantras whenever the need arose. Now that
it did, he forgot them. He had been overwhelmed by Hua Cheng’s closeness, his touch, the
way he had supported him, both physically and otherwise.
Hua Cheng. So easy to respect and to admire. So easy to.

To love.

Was this love? Xie Lian had no way to compare. In all the centuries he had roamed the land,
he had met countless people. Several of them fell in love right in front of him. Most times,
the signs were obvious. The smiles, the looks. The way they yearned for the touch of the
object of their affection. To all of that, Xie Lian had listened and nodded, thinking he
understood what yearning meant.

What a fool he had been.

Hearing Xie Lian’s groan, Ruoye unwrapped himself to pat the top of his master’s head.

“Thank you,” Xie Lian sighed. “What do I do now? I guess I can’t stay hidden here forever,
no matter how much I want to.” He stood up with slow movements. “Ah. I’m not going to
sleep anyway.”

He changed into simpler robes and began to pace. He didn’t want to see Hua Cheng right
now. He wasn’t ready. Which was exactly why he had to do it. But not before deciding what
his next steps should be.

He was confused. It seemed that he hadn’t stopped being confused about one thing or the
other ever since his arrival at Ghost City. Not that he had all the answers before that, but at
least he knew his place: he was a disgraced former martial god turned immortal scrap
collector, doomed to roam the world to atone for his sins. Was he still all of that? He wasn’t
roaming anymore. Yes, he could pick up his things and leave. Go back to life on the road.
Hua Cheng had made clear that he was not a prisoner.

Should he leave, then? Just like that? After all the effort and troubles Hua Cheng had gone
through because of him?

No. He shouldn’t. That wasn’t him and it wasn’t proper. Like the kiss had been either him or
proper. However, precisely because of that, Xie Lian had to take the opportunity and correct
the course. Therefore, he had to speak with Hua Cheng, do his best to explain himself, and,
then, say his goodbyes. He would leave in shame—there was no way around it—, but at least
he wouldn’t do it like a thief in the night.

He spent the next few hours pacing as he waited. Then, he sat down on a chair. After that, he
flopped on the bed. He paced again. He sat down on another chair. Then, he went back on the
bed and flopped face down, and groaned against the pillow.

Time went by. His normal wake-up time came and went and Hua Cheng didn’t come carrying
a tray with breakfast, ready to convince Xie Lian to try the new set of robes he had just got
him.

Xie Lian’s heart sank even when he tried to convince himself that Hua Cheng had told him to
sleep after having spent the entire night at the casino. He most likely expected him to sleep
in. Maybe, if Hua Cheng was not coming today, Xie Lian could take him at his word and ask
him to.

He raised his hand toward one of the butterflies permanently stationed on the walls.
Obedient, the little spirit came down to perch on a finger. Xie Lian kept it at eye level and
talked to it. Or, more precisely, he talked to Hua Cheng through it.

“Can you come?” he said. “Please.”

The moment Xie Lian uttered those words, the doors opened and Hua Cheng came in. It took
him not even three seconds to answer the summoning.

“It’s everything alright, gege?”

No. No, it wasn’t.

Xie Lian attempted to reach for Hua Cheng’s arm and guide him to a chair, but he stopped.
He couldn’t touch him. If he got that close to him again, would he be able to stop himself? He
couldn’t continue overstepping like that.

When he took his hand back, Xie Lian noticed a shadow crossing Hua Cheng’s face.
Disappointment? Disgust? Did it matter?

In the end, Xie Lian invited him to take a seat with a gesture instead.

“We need to talk,” he said, sitting down in front of Hua Cheng. He made sure to do it at a
distance that would allow him to think clearly. He might have miscalculated, though, because
just the sight of him made Xie Lian’s heart beat faster than usual.

This was not good.

It took Xie Lian a moment to turn his attention to the words he should say instead of losing
himself staring at the person he would be telling them to. In order to manage, Xie Lian kept
his eyes on his hands at the beginning. But only at the beginning, because to make his point
across, he’d have to look at Hua Cheng in the eye at some point. It was the least he owed
him.

“San Lang,” Xie Lian finally began, looking up at Hua Cheng’s face, who waited in
respectful silence. “This is about… about last night…”

His resolve dissolved into a knot in his stomach thanks to Hua Cheng’s intense gaze. The
smirk that followed it all worse.

“Do you regret giving those gifts to the old man, gege? I can send word to have him
beheaded and the gold returned to you.”

Xie Lian waved his hands in front of Hua Cheng’s face.

“No, no! That’s fine! Please, let him save his village! That’s not what I meant. I meant—”
Xie Lian sighed. The conversation hadn’t started yet and it already had gone astray. “What
happened after.”

So, he had been unable to keep his eyes on Hua Cheng in the end. He also felt his face
growing hot. Hotter than it had ever been before.

“Do you mean… the kiss?” Hua Cheng said, lowering his voice to a soft growl that raised
goosebumps all over Xie Lian’s body.

“Yes, the—”

He shook his head. He couldn’t even say it. It was such a simple word. Such a simple act.
Then why?

Hua Cheng reached out and grabbed his hand.

“Gege, I would like to do it again.”

Xie Lian froze. With stilted movements, he turned his head away from Hua Cheng and then
back while his eyes darted back and forth between him and the wall.

“Do—do you?”

Hua Cheng’s other hand cupped Xie Lian’s cheek. When he spoke, he leaned forward and,
unfairly, he lowered his voice again.

“Yes. I do. I want to kiss you again.”

Right.

So.

Xie Lian was supposed to be apologizing for taking advantage of Hua Cheng. Not—not this.

“And you, gege?” Hua Cheng asked, leaning closer. “Do you want to kiss me again?”

“I—”

Xie Lian had enough presence of mind to move backward, but he had also lost track of the
mantras he was about to start reciting in his head. It was so difficult to make sense of words
when Hua Cheng’s presence had somehow become the entire world. Xie Lian closed his eyes
and Hua Cheng seemed to take that as permission. He slid his hand from Xie Lian’s cheek to
his chin and tilted his head upwards before pressing their lips together.

A few moments before, Xie Lian felt very brave and able to push Hua Cheng away. Now, in
the moment of truth, he was grabbing fistfuls of Hua Cheng’s sleeves, answering the kiss,
moving his lips in a way that even he knew was awkward. Then, he felt Hua Cheng holding
him by the back of his neck to keep him close and invaded his mouth with his tongue,
making Xie Lian forget about everything around them.
The kiss lasted forever and it ended too soon at the same time. Xie Lian discovered himself
missing it as soon as Hua Cheng broke it, even if he remained close.

“Is this what you wanted?” he asked.

Xie Lian’s mind, now mush, was only able to answer with incoherent sounds that weren’t
even words. He received a soft chuckle as an answer. There was something important he had
to say, but, right now, he couldn’t remember. It was only after his forehead rested on Hua
Cheng’s shoulders, with the latter mercilessly pressing soft kisses on his hair, that it came
back.

“I— can’t.”

“Gege?”

“My cultivation path,” he whispered. It really was easier to speak when he wasn’t looking at
Hua Cheng’s face, huh. “It demands abstinence.”

“I see,” Hua Cheng said after a pause. “I understand.”

“Do you?”

Once again, Hua Cheng tilted Xie Lian’s chin to look up at him.

“Gege, nothing else has to happen. These blessings you’ve given me, they’re more than
enough.”

Xie Lian lowered his head again. He was too. Thankful. Glad. Happy to have the opportunity
to be so close to him. Yet, now that he had said his piece and the air between them was clear,
instead of being relieved, he felt miserable. He didn’t understand what was going on in his
heart, and he wanted to know what Hua Cheng was thinking as much as he feared asking.

“Gege,” Hua Cheng murmured after the longest time of them not moving. “I’d love to stay
here like this. I do. However, a delicate matter came to my attention a few hours ago. Only I
can take care of it and therefore I must leave. Don’t worry, though. I’ll return to you later in
the afternoon. Will you prepare a nice meal for when I’m back?”

Xie Lian looked up again. The jolt of panic that struck him at first was gone the moment Hua
Cheng explained he’d be back that same day. He wasn’t leaving because of him. That brought
some peace.

“I already used up my cooking day of this week yesterday.”

Hua Cheng pouted.

“Gege,” he whined.

It had been days since the last time Xie Lian saw him being that adorable. He didn’t have the
heart to refuse him. After all, it was only a meal. Ghosts didn’t need to eat, but Hua Cheng
seemed to enjoy it. It was worth the effort.
“All right. I’ll take care of it.”

Hua Cheng beamed. And nuzzled him.

“Thank you, gege.”

Xie Lian shivered. Was that Hua Cheng’s idea of nothing else happening? To set his body on
fire with such a simple gesture?

“Any requests?” he asked, pushing Hua Cheng away the slightest bit. Only so he could regain
composure. That was a mistake; he got to see his face and his smile, which was sweet and
open.

“Whatever you want is fine.”

Xie Lian nodded in agreement and Hua Cheng excused himself after squeezing his hands,
repeating that he’d be back soon. When he closed the door behind him, Xie Lian went to the
window. Pressing his hand against his lips, he scolded himself. He had lost all control of the
situation from the beginning and he had done nothing right. He could still fix this, he thought.
He only had to decide whether he wanted to make sense of his feelings or to push them to the
back of his mind. The most rational part of him told him to settle upon the latter.

He gave up after a couple of minutes, though. It was torture. He grew desperate looking for a
way to make it hurt less. Soon, he realized that there was only one way. Coming to terms with
it was the issue. He’d feel better if he did something and he had a meal to plan. But first, he
went to the chest where Hua Cheng kept Xie Lian’s newest robes and picked up one of the
fanciest, most flattering outfits in there. The very one that wouldn’t have been out of place in
an audience with the heavenly emperor and that Xie Lian had believed, until then, that he
would never have the chance of wearing. He ran into a problem when he tried to put it on,
though.

“Why are there so many layers?” He sighed. “Have I really forgotten how to fasten my own
clothes?”

However, it might as well be that these fastenings were too complicated. Or maybe his
fingers shook too much. Or a combination of all of the above. Regardless, Xie Lian was not
going to do this on his own before nightfall.

“Ruoye, come out.”

Ruoye went and did his best to help. However, he knew even less what to do and it was
difficult for Xie Lian to give him the right instructions when he couldn’t see what was going
on.

“Enough. Enough. It’s all right. You tried,” he said, petting the piece of silk after the third
time he tied a sash too tightly.

The spiritual tool returned to his place while his master began to think of another solution for
his problem. Then, his eyes caught a glimpse of the bell on the dresser.
“Oh. That’s it,” he murmured.

Next, he went to pick it up and rang it. The man in the ghost mask knocked at the door a
moment later. He didn’t answer the summing as fast as Hua Cheng, but Xie Lian didn’t
expect it either.

“Your Highness?” the man said when Xie Lian opened the door.

“Please, come in,” Xie Lian replied. “I need your help.”

***

With the help of the man in the mask, Xie Lian hadn’t only gotten the robes in place. His hair
also got done in a more modern way that made him feel self-conscious. However, as long as
it looked good… He wasn’t doing this for himself, after all, and he had no choice but to trust
the advice of Hua Cheng’s assistant regarding his boss’ tastes.

“Young master, you’re thinking so loud it’s annoying,” Shu Hu said. “It’s like your head’s
gonna explode at any second.”

“Sorry…” Xie Lian mumbled.

The cook made a face.

“If you don’t want tea, then go get some air. I’m nearly done here, anyway.”

Xie Lian looked at all the pots and pans and the food accumulated on the table and the stove
and grimaced. He had lost himself in his thoughts and lost track of what he was supposed to
be supervising. Thank everything Shu Hu knew how to do her job.

“Right,” he said. “I’ll come back in a while.”

He took a couple of steps toward the door when it opened, showing Hua Cheng on the other
side. He stood there for a moment, staring at Xie Lian without saying a word. Xie Lian, on
the other hand, started to panic. He turned his head and looked at Shu Hu, the only person he
could ask for help. The cook, instead of taking pity on him, shook her hands to shoo him
away.

She was chasing him away? But Hua Cheng was blocking the only exit—!

No. Wait. That was it, wasn’t it?

He took a deep breath, straightened his back, and went to Hua Cheng.

“San Lang,” he said, letting his smile bloom on his face. “Welcome.”
Hua Cheng kept his eyes fixed on him while he reached out with his arm.

“Gege.”

The closer he got, the faster Xie Lian’s heartbeat and the more nervous he felt.

“Dinner will be ready soon,” he said, courageously placing his hand on Hua Cheng’s
forearm. “We can come back when it’s done.”

Hua Cheng nodded and allowed himself to be led. Xie Lian felt—realized—he could take
him anywhere in the three realms and he wouldn’t protest. It was a strange sensation of
power that should have given him an extra push to his confidence. Yet, all he could hear was
his own blood rumbling in his ears as he once again got overwhelmed by Hua Cheng’s
closeness.

They stopped at some point, at some hall, in front of some window. They stood in front of
each other, holding hands.

“Gege, you look beautiful. Is this all for me?”

Xie Lian felt both happy and on the edge of deflecting the compliment. But wasn’t this why
he had gone these lengths? To please Hua Cheng? He had achieved it, by the looks of it, so he
had to celebrate it. He just wished it wasn’t so hard.

“San Lang, aren’t you upset?”

Hua Cheng’s tilted.

“Why would I be? I’ve got everything I want.”

“Everything?” Xie Lian let go of Hua Cheng’s hands and turned to the side.

“Everything.”

“Even after what we talked about before? About the vows I made?”

In response, Hua Cheng hugged him from behind, his arms going around Xie Lian’s
shoulders as he hid his face against his neck.

Xie Lian gasped and shivered. However, despite this making it harder to think, he refused to
push Hua Cheng away.

“All I ever wanted was to find you, Your Highness, to be able to offer you a home. To be like
this…” He left a soft kiss on Xie Lian’s neck, right above bandages that covered the
banishment shackle. “It’s a dream come true.”

“San Lang, I—”

Coherently expressing his thoughts became impossible when Xie Lian felt his body engulfed
in fire. He Lian turned around in Hua Cheng’s arms and freed himself, taking a few steps
backward.

“San Lang. San Lang, please, listen to me. This is important.”

Hua Cheng stayed where he was, listening.

“I’ve been thinking. I’ve done nothing to think, really, and it’s killing me. I’ve never been in
a situation like this. I’ve never—” he clutched his hands against his chest. “I’ve never felt
anything like this. I’m not even sure what it is.” He made a pause and pressed the bridge of
his nose in an attempt to clear his head. “You’re the only one I can say this to because you’re
the only one who will be able to understand. Things have never gone the way I’ve wanted
them to. Ever. When I was younger, I wanted to have a prosperous kingdom and I wanted to
be a good and proper heavenly official. Then, I wanted to keep my family together, I wanted
to keep my friends. I wanted... I wanted—”

He had wanted to escape the swords, to escape Bai Wuxiang, but he couldn’t bring himself to
say this out loud. The thought of it made him dizzy, cutting his speech. Hua Cheng’s cold
hands cupping his face brought him back.

“Your Highness… Gege... It’s fine. You’re fine. You’re safe.”

Xie Lian leaned against one of those hands and held the other one.

“San Lang, oh, San Lang,” he whispered. “I can’t be the cause of your destruction a second
time. I won’t be able to handle it.”

Hua Cheng leaned forward to kiss Xie Lian’s forehead. The fervor and worship in the gesture
made Xie Lian’s head feel full of air.

“Gege, I promised to protect you and I will. Your enemies are strong, so I became stronger.
Your enemies are powerful, so I became more powerful. You say you’re unlucky, I have
plenty of luck to share. I’ll take care of you if you let me.”

“San Lang.” Deeply moved and touched by those words, Xie Lian raised his hand to touch
Hua Cheng’s face. He didn’t know what was going to happen after this conversation, but he
hadn’t expected to hear such heartfelt words. Specially not directed at him, who had so little
to offer in return. Except this. Except for himself. This reinforced his wish of taking a shot at
happiness however brief it may be. Because he hadn’t finished saying his piece. This would
be the most difficult part. He gathered all the resolution inside him and managed to keep his
eyes on Hua Cheng’s face. “You are the only one who has ever made me consider breaking
my vows.”

Hua Cheng’s face became a mix of smugness, confusion, and hope.

“Gege?”

Xie Lian continued before he lost the courage that had been so difficult to find.

“So, if you’re fine with the possibility of your house being set on fire at some point because
of me, then... Then, San Lang, I’m—I’m willing. Please, take care of me.”
“Screw the house. I can build you a hundred more,” Hua Cheng said right before his mouth
covered Xie Lian’s in desperation and need. Then, he pressed Xie Lian’s back against the
wall behind them. Both actions very welcomed.

The next thing Xie Lian knew, Hua Cheng opened the nearest door and they stumbled into his
room. It took a moment for him to remember the distance shortening arrays, but he forgot
about them again as he was pushed to the bed and felt Hua Cheng’s fingers fumbling with his
robes. Xie Lian sincerely hoped Hua Cheng didn’t have as many problems taking them off as
he did to put them on.
 Part 1: Hualian | Chapter 9
Chapter Summary

In which HuaLian are a sexy mess.

Chapter Notes

Please, note that I increased the rating starting this chapter. :D I also added some tags.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Xie Lian had asked to be held. He wanted to be in Hua Cheng’s arms.

Hua Cheng complied in a heartbeat, holding him and kissing His Highness the Crown Prince
the way he had wanted to since he discovered what it was to need someone else’s body.

It was real. It was happening.

When Xie Lian told him about his cultivation, Hua Cheng had discarded the idea of taking
the physical part of their relationship any further than indulging in some cuddling and
begging for the occasional kiss. For a moment, he thought it unfair, but he had also sworn to
follow every single one of Xie Lian’s orders and whims, and fulfill every single one of his
needs. Now, for some reason he wouldn’t dare to question, Xie Lian wished for this. His
humble servant could only obey and perform to the best of his abilities.

Xie Lian’s words resonated in his mind. They always did because Hua Cheng always
listened, but these ones had taken over, echoing inside his heart as well.

“You are the only one who has ever made me consider breaking my vows.”

If Hua Cheng hadn’t had so much control over his ghostly body, he would’ve trembled. He
would’ve shivered from the top of his head to his toes, as much as Xie Lian himself did.
Terrified of being misunderstood, Hua Cheng strove to avoid it at all costs. Xie Lian deserved
a fantastic experience. One so good that would make him want Hua Cheng not just as the first
man in his life, but also the only one.

“Gege,” he whispered when he broke the kiss to follow the line of Xie Lian’s jaw to his
neck.

“San Lang…” Xie Lian replied. He was out of breath and his fingers dug into Hua Cheng’s
arms.
“Don’t be afraid. Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of you,” Hua Cheng replied, caressing Xie
Lian’s back.

“Yes, I know… I know…”

Xie Lian closed his eyes and gasped when he felt Hua Cheng’s lips on his neck and then his
teeth scraping over the bandage. Hua Cheng would’ve bitten off the shackle underneath and
danced on its remains if not for the consequences. As things were, he didn’t even ask if he
could remove the bandages and he focused on untying Xie Lian’s sash.

Xie Lian snickered.

Hua Cheng stopped.

“Your Highness?”

“It’s nothing. I’m sorry. It’s just—It was such an ordeal to put these robes on and—”

Hua Cheng tilted his head, confused.

“Do you want to keep them on? We should be able to make it work, but…”

But he really wanted to touch and kiss every millimeter of Xie Lian’s body…

Xie Lian covered his face with both hands.

“That’s not what I meant!” He was as red as Hua Cheng’s clothes. “I just— You— You’re
going to make me say it, aren’t you?” Xie Lian whined after a long moment of silence.

“I need to know what gege means so I can better please him.”

Xie Lian made some muffled distressed noises before taking a peek between his fingers. Hua
Cheng made sure to meet his gaze looking much more confident than he felt. In truth, he felt
just as nervous as Xie Lian looked, but he was willing to die a thousand times over before
showing it.

“I just hope,” Xie Lian began, making a pause to gather even more courage. “That it won’t
give you as many problems taking them off.”

Ah. That was it, then. A failed joke attempt. Nevertheless, Hua Cheng rewarded it with a
chuckle and a kiss.

“It’s fine, gege. If needed, I can just rip your clothes off with my hands.”

“No, wait! Don’t!”

Hua Cheng swallowed the second chuckle. Xie Lian being this cute even now was unfair.

“Do you like those robes?” he asked.

Xie Lian covered his eyes again with his fingers and answered with a shy nod.
Hua Cheng tilted Xie Lian’s face upward.

“Then I’ll be careful.”

Xie Lian nodded a little more firmly now, and Hua Cheng resumed their kissing to calm him
down. It worked. When Hua Cheng felt Xie Lian once again melting into the kiss, he undid
the sash with all the care in the world, as he promised, and continued working with the rest of
his robes. His Highness had been right; the fastenings were too complicated. It flattered him
to think Xie Lian had gone through all this trouble for him.

Every layer he took away was one step closer to the prize Hua Cheng had coveted for so
long. The idea of ripping them off and being done with it crossed his mind several times, but
he had given his word. Thus, he let them pile up at their feet. When he finally reached the
inner clothes, he took a moment to check on Xie Lian. He was flushed, breathing fast, and his
eyes were closed.

“San Lang?” he asked when he felt him stop.

“You’re so beautiful, Your Highness,” Hua Cheng said, breathing the words.

Xie Lian opened his eyes, smiling, and grabbed a fistful of Hua Cheng’s sleeve.

“And you—ah. You’re so handsome!” That last phrase came out in one breath, sounding like
a single word. Once he said it, Xie Lian rubbed his face against Hua Cheng’s chest, and this
made him realize something. “I should—Should I be helping you too? Un—undress, that…
is.”

Hua Cheng licked his lips and guided Xie Lian’s hand to his waist.

“Please,” he whispered in a wanton way that had Xie Lian shivering again.

Xie Lian’s fingers twitched on the fabric before they traced random lines on it before he
gathered the aplomb to start taking Hua Cheng’s robes off.

As Xie Lian worked on that, Hua Cheng removed his silver accessories and vambraces
himself. Despite Xie Lian doing his best, he was still nervous, so it would be better that Hua
Cheng took care of the most difficult part.

“It’s fine, gege. Take your time.”

Xie Lian nodded and resumed undressing Hua Cheng. To see him like this was like multiple
dreams come true at the same time. Although, to be honest, all of Hua Cheng’s fantasies were
variations of the same scenario, and this was it.

Finally, the time came for Hua Cheng to push Xie Lian’s inner robes to the ground. Xie
Lian’s blush went well beyond his face and his neck. It covered his shoulders and his chest.
Such alluring and harmonic shoulders over a well-defined chest. Hua Cheng felt the urge to
bite them and sent a silent prayer of thanks—to Xie Lian, who else?—because his beloved
chose to wear his hair up today, allowing him to appreciate him in all his glory.
Then, without warning, Xie Lian reciprocated and he pushed Hua Cheng’s clothes so they
would slide to the floor.

“Gege,” Hua Cheng mumbled again as he cupped Xie Lian’s cheek with his hands, leaning
forward to kiss him again.

Xie Lian allowed it, but then he went into panic again. He gasped, covered his face with his
hands, and turned around.

“S-San Lang!”

“Yes, gege?”

Hua Cheng hugged him from behind, keeping his arms around Xie Lian’s shoulders and his
face pressed against his hair to avoid seeing what Xie Lian didn’t want to be seen yet. He did,
however, kiss the back of his head.

In response, Xie Lian pressed himself against Hua Cheng, feeling his erection.

Hua Cheng moaned and rubbed himself against Xie Lian.

“Do you feel it? This is how much I want you.”

Xie Lian shivered and turned around in Hua Cheng’s arms to grab him by the back of his
neck and pull him down for a desperate, sloppy kiss. As he did so, Hua Cheng’s hands
realized they were now free to roam, and roam they did, exploring Xie Lian’s back, stopping
only shy of touching his ass. That was a special treat and Hua Cheng had to prepare himself.
Besides, he had just found out that Xie Lian was as hard as him.

“San Lang, I want you too.”

Xie Lian was out of breath again, and his words would’ve knocked the air out of Hua
Cheng’s lungs had he had any. As things were, he picked up Xie Lian in his arms and carried
him to the bed, where he left him on display for him to see, wearing nothing but Hua Cheng’s
ring and the bandages with which he covered his shackles. For a moment, Hua Cheng’s eye
lingered on the well-defined muscles of Xie Lian’s sculpted chest. Then, it traveled down to
Xie Lian’s abdomen, his hips… his erection, which was ready for him, begging to be cared
for.

“Don’t look at me!” Xie Lian said, covering his face with his hands again.

“But, gege, you look delicious.” As he spoke, Hua Cheng made a show of licking his lips. He
remained next to the bed, only his knee resting next to Xie Lian. “Don’t you want to look at
me too?”

Xie Lian took a peek between his fingers and stared. And stared. But he did nothing else. He
remained motionless for so long that Hua Cheng began to feel nervous. His fear of being
rejected, of looking hideous, of being a monster came back in full force. He was about to step
back, cover them both, and apologize when Xie Lian sat up, his hands abandoning his face to
touch Hua Cheng’s chest. Those holy hands brushed the sinner’s skin tracing hesitant figures
before pressing the palms for a firmer caress. This, and Xie Lian’s fascinated expression
should have reassured Hua Cheng and made him relax. Instead, it set him on fire.

He grabbed Xie Lian’s waist and brought him closer. Kissing him hungrily, desperately, he
pushed him back to the bed. Pliant, Xie Lian allowed him to, kissing Hua Cheng back, and
arching his back, asking without words to be touched more and all over. Hua Cheng
complied, going down to kiss Xie Lian’s chest, his moans filling his heart.

“San Lang… I’m sorry. I started this, but I don’t know what to do. I—I do have a general
idea of what two men do. It’s impossible to exist in the world for so long and not to have seen
— I never meant to spy on anyone! It’s just that when people are desperate… and I didn’t
know what that felt like. I understand better now. I was so naive and ignorant—”

Hua Cheng moved up to kiss him again. Xie Lian relaxed under him, giving himself into the
kiss. This was transforming into an interesting pattern.

“It’s alright, gege,” Hua Cheng said, stopping only so he could see into Xie Lian’s eyes. “Let
me do this. Relax and enjoy it. Just tell me if I do anything you don’t like.”

Xie Lian smiled and nodded.

“This is my San Lang. I’ll like anything he does.”

Hua Cheng closed his eye and licked his lips.

“Your San Lang…”

Xie Lian cupped his cheek.

“Mine.”

He initiated the kiss this time, and Hua Cheng was only happy to let Xie Lian push his tongue
in his mouth.

Their bodies were desperate for contact, and the way they moved showed it. At one point,
their erections rubbed against each other and they both gasped. Before Hua Cheng could
recover and think of what to do next, Xie Lian did it again. And again, and again, all while
wrapping his arms around Hua Cheng’s neck, trapping him there.

The happiest of traps.

Whatever plan Hua Cheng might have had for the night crumbled down around him, but he
couldn’t care any less. If this was what Xie Lian wanted, this was what he would have.
Besides, rubbing each other like this felt better than he expected. Hua Cheng grabbed both
their erections and stroked them together, taking advantage of Xie Lian tilting his head
backward to nibble on his throat.

“Like this, gege? Do you like it?”

“Yes… yes, like that. It feels…It feels good .”

“It feels good for me too,” Hua Cheng replied, moaning in Xie Lian’s ear, running his free
hand all over Xie Lian’s sides. “You feel so good and you’re so beautiful.”

“San Lang… San Lang… I— You—”

Hua Cheng grinned against Xie Lian’s skin, his face hidden on the side of Xie Lian’s. His
grip tightened and moved faster, and he got as lost in the feeling as Xie Lian. So lost that his
body remembered how things were when he was alive, when he first began to fantasize about
being with Xie Lian like this, and it reacted accordingly. Thus, both of them were soon
grunting and panting and unable to articulate a single word.

Xie Lian’s grip on Hua Cheng’s neck tightened when the whole of him tensed up as he came.
To feel his beloved’s orgasm in his embrace pushed Hua Cheng over the edge as well. He
climaxed, covering Xie Lian’s navel with his seed.

“Your Highness,” Hua Cheng murmured once he was able to, nuzzling Xie Lian’s neck. “Oh,
Your Highness.”

Xie Lian hummed. He stroked Hua Cheng’s hair with one of his hands.

“San Lang, I’m sorry. You told me to relax and enjoy it, but instead I—”

Hua Cheng kissed Xie Lian’s cheek and separated only enough so they could see each other’s
faces. Despite his shame, Xie Lian was glowing, and this earned him a quick reassuring kiss
before Hua Cheng spoke.

“Gege, you look relaxed right now. Did you enjoy it?”

Xie Lian smiled shyly and raised his hand to trace Hua Cheng’s features with his fingers.

“I did. A lot.”

Hua Cheng smiled and kissed those fingers.

“Then it’s fine.”

“And you, San Lang? Did you enjoy it too?”

“Did I?” He pressed his forehead against Xie Lian’s. “It’s the most wonderful and perfect
experience I’ve ever had. And, you know this is not the only thing we can do, right?”

Xie Lian blushed and smiled.

“Right. Not—not in detail, though. I always left to give people privacy when I ran into…
things .”

Hua Cheng kissed him softly.

“Mmm. You’re about to find out all about those details.”

“Yes…”

“Yes?”

“Yes, I want—I want more! I want everything! With you…”

Hua Cheng chuckled and then he laughed, out loud and free, celebrating the opportunity to
please his god. Moreover, he was glad—so glad—Xie Lian didn’t regret breaking his vows.

“As you wish, gege. By the way, this is the moment when we’re glad I don’t have the
limitations of a mere mortal.”

Xie Lian gasped after working out what that meant.

“…oh? Oh! ”

Hua Cheng’s chuckling became louder and more shameless. But he spared Xie Lian’s
feelings and kissed him with fervor again, ready and very willing to illustrate the details of
the things Xie Lian no longer ran away from.

***

Once Xie Lian got down from the string of orgasms, he hid under the sheets, covering
himself from his toes to his forehead. The only part of him showing was his now disheveled
hair, which covered most of the pillow.

In hindsight, Hua Cheng, who didn’t fare any better in the grooming department, shouldn’t
have been surprised. Chuckling softly, he got closer and poked Xie Lian’s cheek over the
blankets.

“Gege?”

“Leave me alone! Don’t look at me! I’m shameless!”

Hua Cheng smirked and traced the line on Xie Lian’s forehead where the blanket ended.

“You’re right. I had no idea you could be so shameless,” he said, and then he let out a lewd
moan. “It was the best part.”

“San Lang!”

Xie Lian turned around, giving him his back. When he curled up, exposing his shoulders and
back. It probably wasn’t intentional, but Hua Cheng was not going to complain. He caressed
Xie Lian’s shoulder first, and then he lowered his hand to his waist to hold him closer. Xie
Lian didn’t protest, and he even sighed when Hua Cheng began to leave gentle kisses on the
back of his neck.
“Gege, you were fantastic. I will treasure your sweetness forever.”

Xie Lian groaned a little at first, but after a few moments of those ministrations and some
nuzzling, he settled down, although his back remained pressing against Hua Cheng’s chest.

“I enjoyed it too. So much. Too much.” He grabbed Hua Cheng’s hand and started playing
with his fingers. “Why is it forbidden? I used to think it was for the best, but I’m not sure
anymore.”

“I’m thankful I changed your mind.”

“You changed my mind even before we—we made love.”

Even that term took some effort out of Xie Lian, so Hua Cheng didn’t comment on it. He did
have another question to make, though.

“When was it exactly that I did that?”

“Ah. When you kissed me before I could tell you we couldn’t kiss anymore. You started a fire
in me and I couldn’t think about anything else anymore.”

“And now, gege? Was I able to put out that fire?”

“Mmm. But it’ll be back. I know it.”

“I’ll be ready, then. Whenever you need help with that fire, tell me. I’ll drop whatever I’m
doing to rush you to bed.”

Xie Lian shivered in response. Then, he turned around and placed both hands on Hua
Cheng’s cheeks. A deep blush covered the determined expression on his face.

“You too, alright? Tell me if you ever want—if you ever want me.”

Being dead should’ve made it impossible for Hua Cheng to feel warmth in his heart.
However, Xie Lian’s words did the trick. Hua Cheng gave him a chaste kiss before
answering.

“I will. Although that means we won’t be leaving the bed anymore.”

“It doesn’t have to be only on the bed, does it? I mean… We could, in other places…”

“Ah. Gege is better informed than he led me to believe.”

“San Lang! No! All I know I found out by accident!”

Hua Cheng laughed.

“It’s fine. I believe you.”

“You’re mean!”
Pouting, Xie Lian hid his face by pressing it against Hua Cheng’s chest. They kept quiet for a
while in which Hua Cheng played with Xie Lian’s hair with one hand while the other
explored as much as it could reach. At one point, he brushed the ring with his ashes.

Xie Lian sighed.

“I love that ring. It’s San Lang’s gift. It doesn’t matter that he said it was only a trinket he
found lying around. Although, I have a feeling it’s more important than that.”

Hua Cheng pouted. Xie Lian seemed to be making a habit of stumbling into his secrets. Had
it been anyone else, the Red Calamity would’ve been annoyed at having to wipe the blood
from his clothes after dealing with the offender. However, for His Highness, he’d just adjust
his design and navigate around Xie Lian’s findings.

“What made you think that, gege?”

“Nothing in the manor is a mere trinket. Except maybe most of the scrap I brought. Besides,
now I know how much…” Xie Lian averted his eyes before continuing, but he looked
pleased and flattered. “How much you care about me. You wouldn’t give me a random object
out of a whim.”

“Not even because it’s pretty?”

“San Lang, I saw your treasure room. There are plenty of beautiful objects in there, some of
them extremely powerful. It can be both.”

“Ah, gege, you see right through me.”

“Ah. Sorry, San Lang. I speak too much. Did I upset you?”

“You could never.” Hua Cheng kissed Xie Lian’s forehead. Perhaps he should cut to the
chase and ask him if he wanted to know the truth about the ring. But there was something
about the idea of Xie Lian knowing exactly what he had been entrusted with that terrified
Hua Cheng. Therefore, he proceeded to cover Xie Lian’s face with butterfly kisses. “You’re
right, too. Everything I give you, I want it to be special and fitting.”

“Does that mean I won’t get my old robes back?”

“Ah…”

Xie Lian giggled.

“It’s fine. I’m sorry. I like the ones you’ve given me. They’re the best ones I’ve had in a long
time.”

“In that case, I’ll get you more.”

“You don’t have to…”

“I know. I want to.”

 “Alright.”

Xie Lian closed his eyes and rested his head on Hua Cheng’s chest, an arm around his waist.
Hua Cheng, once more playing with Xie Lian’s hair, felt his breathing slow down until it
seemed he had fallen asleep.

To be like this, cuddling and talking, Xie Lian so relaxed he was teasing, Hua Cheng realized,
was even better than sex. Better than any fantasy or dream he had ever had.

Hua Cheng grabbed a strand of Xie Lian’s hair and pressed it against his lips, like the sacred
relic it was.

“I’ll protect you,” he murmured. “Forever. No matter what.”

With a finger, he traced the shackle on Xie Lian’s neck. He hated it, and he also hated the
second shackle, which he now knew was around his ankle. Hua Cheng had already made his
entire purpose to remove them. However, he couldn’t free his beloved from them unless he
could find a way to do it safely and while ensuring his immortality. Until then, he’d keep the
teapot safe, sustaining it with his spiritual powers.

Right now, though, letting Xie Lian sleep on top of him was fine. Hua Cheng didn’t need to
sleep but, just like he didn’t need to eat, it was pleasurable to do so in the right company.
There was no better company than Xie Lian, so Hua Cheng closed his eye and allowed
himself to slip into slumber.

End of Part 1

Chapter End Notes

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 Part 2: "Rescue" | Chapter 1
Chapter Summary

In which Feng Xin and Mu Qing do some brainstorming on the go.

Chapter Notes

Starting this chapter, there's going to be more swearing. Just FYI.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Ever since his Ascension, Feng Xin had never had to pretend to be anyone else, and it
aggravated him terribly to find himself in the need to do so. A ghost would be too much, but
he could play a mortal. A sad and desperate mortal. Hadn’t been one once, after all? Not
desperate enough to wander into Ghost City on purpose, he liked to think—although he
stopped himself from thinking about the issue any further. The point was that his disguise
would hold because all he had to do to keep in character was to remember.

That took care of step number one. Steps two through four of his plan: get in wherever Xie
Lian was held, sneak him out, and hide him somewhere he couldn’t be found. Feng Xin
would work out the details as he went along. He had considered other ways, of course, but he
realized soon that rallying the heavens against the Red Calamity for a twice fallen prince
foolish enough to, among other things, attack the heavenly emperor, would be impossible.
Which was also why he had to keep his palace officially out of this.

Either way, Feng Xin needed information to work out the logistics of his rescue mission. For
that, he had his wits and enough money for a world-worth of drinks and bribes, no matter
how much the idea of befriending random dimwits to waste time in their life stories drove
him up the wall. On the other hand, overhearing conversations in restaurants and tea houses
was also an excellent source of gossip. He would try that first.

Still in the mortal realm, halfway from the fifth restaurant to the sixth, he finally caught an
interesting conversation. A group of friends was talking in the middle of the street, right in
front of a stall that sold hair accessories.

“Have you heard about the Ghost King’s Bride?”

“Is that a new play?”

“No, but it should be! I’m talking about a real person who caught the eye and the heart of
Crimson Rain Sought Flower!”

If you believe he has a heart, Feng Xin thought from around the corner, where he could hear
them without being seen.

“They say,” the woman continued, “that if you lose a bet in the Gambler's Den, as long as
your heart is pure, you can plead with the Bride for your life, and even get away with boons!”

“What if your heart isn’t pure?”

“Then Crimson Rain Sought Flower will double your debt.”

“That sounds fair.”

“Did he really take a bride, though? I’ve never heard anything like it.”

“He did! Not long ago. A beauty from royal birth! Everyone says it was love at first sight!”

“I wish I were the Ghost King’s Bride! I would be so pampered and well-cared for!”

“At the cost of your entire family being wiped out?”

“Did that happen?”

“Which father would allow such a betrothal?”

The rest of the group nodded and began exchanging asinine and pointless theories that Feng
Xin went on to ignore. As he walked away, his fingernails dug into his palms and his jaw was
so tight it was close to start cramping. Yes, Xie Lian’s family and kingdom had been wiped
out, but Hua Cheng hadn’t existed back then. This one thing couldn’t be pinned on him.
Regardless, the friends had a point: no parent would allow this. Neither should a bod— a fr—

—any rightful person.

Feng Xin tightened his fists and gritted his teeth. There was no time for this. He needed to
confirm the story he had heard. If it was true, then his plan got a few new steps: place a bet,
lose, get a chance to talk with Xie Lian. However, if, in the end, that wasn’t real, he’d find
another way.

Later that same day, Feng Xin stood the closest he had ever been to Ghost City. He was on
the side of the road staring at its walls. He took a good look at them, remembering the time
Crimson Rain Sought Flower called him and other thirty-four gods by name for a challenge
back when he was a nobody. This conceited ghost wasn’t worth anyone’s time, Feng Xin—
and Mu Qing too, most likely—had thought. On the one hand, that wrong conclusion had
resulted in the best outcome. On the other, now that he thought about it, wasn’t Xie Lian the
only thing left in the world Feng Xin and Mu Qing had in common? A petty ghost with a
petty vendetta could have targeted him because of that. It was a trap with the prince as the
bait. Bait out of which Hua Cheng got to have some… some fun .

“Dammit, Your Highness, what did you get yourself into?” Feng Xin muttered.

The more he thought about it, the deeper his heart throbbed. His right arm raised behind his
head, stayed there for a moment before launching itself forward, aiming for the nearest tree.
However, the fist didn’t hit its target; someone had grabbed the arm, stopping it.

“What the fuck are you doing?” the newcomer said. “They’ll recognize you!”

“What?”

Feng Xin turned around to see the young man dressed in black who had stopped a god with
so little effort. Said young man’s pursed mouth and eyes rolled as far up as they could go
could only belong to one person. Or more like: to one other particular god.

“You…!” Feng Xin recovered his arm and lowered his voice. “What are you doing here?
How did you know it was me?”

Mu Qing whispered too.

“You’re the only person in the three realms who looks like a deranged bull and has a reason
to be this close to Ghost City. And what do you think I’m doing? I’m fixing the problem your
junior official caused! That’s what I’m doing!”

Feng Xin shook his fist at Mu Qing.

“Don’t talk about my palace like that!”

“Shut up! This is all your fault!”

Feng Xin gaped.

“What? How can it be—! If it’s mine, then it’s yours too!”

“That nitwit wasn’t my underling!”

By then, they were pressing their foreheads together while they yelled at each other, calling
the attention of a group of bystanders who were getting ready to see a good fight, and who
might or might not have been starting to place bets. Mu Qing noticed them first. After one
last bark at Feng Xin, he took the slightest step back.

“Let’s go talk somewhere else.”

Feng Xin grumped but agreed.

Then, the both of them turned around and walked away, the daggers they glared never
stopping.
The bystanders booed at them as they called their bets null. However, among them, there was
one lucky spirit who had called this outcome. Unknowingly, the gods made it a fortune.

“You have one chance to explain,” Mu Qing said. “Why would this mess be my fault?”

He and Feng Xin stood behind a boulder away from the road, where no one would be able to
hear them.

Feng Xin told him about his theory, the one about Hua Cheng targeting Xie Lian to get to
them. It would be lying to say he didn’t enjoy just a tiny bit Mu Qing’s shock at his words.
After all, they made sense. A horrible sense.

“That changes nothing, though,” Feng Xin said. Since they were already there, they should be
able to speak openly about it. “We have to get him out of there.”

Mu Qing gave up fighting for the time being. He folded his arms and glared at the void
between them.

“Did you hear the tale of the Ghost King’s Bride?”

Feng Xin nodded.

“I did,” he said, and nothing else.

There was no need; he could tell they had come up with the same plan.

“Fine,” Mu Qing continued. “What do you have to bet?”

Feng Xin showed him a chain with a fake jade pendant that hung around his neck. He had
gotten both with a discount in the mortal realm a few hours before.

“This,” he said. “It’s a keepsake from my grandmother, the last reminder I have of her.”

Mu Qing’s eyes widened and he showed Feng Xin a real jade pendant hanging from a fancy
chain.

“ This is a keepsake from my grandmother! The last reminder I have of her!”

Feng Xin’s jaw dropped and he rubbed his face.

“If the two of us have the same story, he’s not going to believe it! No matter how soft he
might be about dead old ladies. We need to decide which one of us is going to use it.”
“Me, of course. Mine was too expensive not to, and yours is so cheap-looking nobody’s
gonna take your bet.”

“What am I supposed to do then? Wait outside?”

“Maybe you should if you’re not going to take this seriously!”

They were back at shaking fists at each other, about to start a fight that would shatter the
earth around them for kilometers, when someone coughed above them. When they heard it,
both gods turned their fighting stances toward the stranger, a rock on top of the boulder
behind them. Said rock was the size of a watermelon and it sported a human-like face in the
middle that stared at them with a bland expression. It was unsettling to behold.

“Why don’t you pretend to be cousins?” it said with a high-pitched, grating voice that wasn’t
any better than its looks. “That way, you can share the memento and the grandmother.”

“Who the fuck are you?”

“Who told you we cared about your opinion?”

“I’m but a humble wandering rock,” it said as it began to roll down the boulder. However, no
matter how much it rotated, the face remained in position, staring at them. “You made me
rich moments ago, and this is how I pay you back: with a piece of advice and with keeping
my mouth forever shut. Now, I’m going to fulfill my dreams and travel the world! I hope to
see you again someday! Hehehehe!”

It kept laughing as it rolled its way across the road, getting lost among the vegetation. The
heavenly officials were left behind shivering in disgust.

“We should—”

“Pretend that never happened?”

“Yeah.”

As much as they would hate to admit it, the appearance of the rock spirit defused the situation
between them, leaving them without any wish to keep arguing.

To leave the incident behind them, they went back to the road, right on time to hear voices
calling, “Make way! Make way!”

Curious, the two heavenly officials remained on the side of the road. They saw a litter carried
by skeletons coming from Ghost City. It was the skeletons who warned every other ghost and
spirit to move aside. Everyone did as instructed, and all of them followed the litter with their
eyes. Several of them let out heartfelt sighs as it passed by.

“Who was that?”

Although he already suspected the answer, Mu Qing asked his question out loud in order to
fish a response from whoever was closest.
“You don’t know?” a ghost said, smug. “That litter belongs to Hua Chengzhu’s lover.”

He had been right, then. Mu Qing fought the urge of going after it, take Xie Lian out of there,
and run to the heavens. They wouldn’t make it far even if only a fraction of the population of
Ghost City ganged up on them to protect the Red Calamity’s interests.

“Does it?” he continued. “I thought those were just rumors.”

“Well, there you go! it’s all real!”

“I wish I could give my lover a litter like that,” chimed in another ghost.

A third one patted him in the back and mocked him.

“Start by wishing you had a lover!”

“And one so lovely!”

“They are so in love! It’s the stuff you read about in old tales, and we’re here to witness it
ourselves!”

“Hua Chengzhu has such a great taste! He stole a great beauty for himself!”

“Stole?!”

“He’s our Hua Chengzhu! How else was he going to do it?”

All creatures around him began to laugh in the most indecent of ways. Mu Qing then tried to
exchange a disgusted look with Feng Xin but he didn’t find him where he left him. He wasn’t
anywhere around the area. However, it wasn’t difficult to figure out where he had gone.

“Dammit, you asshole,” Mu Qing muttered between his teeth before he began running after
Feng Xin. It took a long while, as it turned out that the way taken by the skeletons took them
to the mortal realm. But he finally did it, managing to get to Feng Xin before he reached the
litter. Mu Qing stood in front of him in the middle of the road, blocking him.

“Step aside!” Feng Xin yelled.

“You can’t do it like this! We have a plan!”

“The plan was to talk to His Highness! He’s right there!”

“We don’t know if he’s alone!”

“But if he is—”

Feng Xin’s expression was fierce. However, despite himself, Mu Qing knew him well enough
to recognize that his eyes were also pleading.

Mu Qing grunted and deflated.

“Fine. Let’s—let’s give it a try.”

Feng Xin’s expression softened, and he might have even smiled thankfully, but Mu Qing
turned away before he could make sure. After all, he had accepted, in spite of his best
judgment, to follow Xie Lian.

They avoided the main road and remained at a distance, making sure to be able to see the
litter while they remained hidden.

The litter stopped at a gorgeous lake where a picnic setup awaited. When the skeletons
lowered their cargo, Hua Cheng himself came out from behind the nearby trees and extended
his hand as an invitation. The one inside the litter responded by offering his own hand. Hua
Cheng held it and kissed it gently before helping this person to get down.

The rock behind Feng Xin cracked when he elbowed it. Next to him, Mu Qing muttered,
“Fuck.”

The crown prince of Xianle was, indeed, the one to step down the litter, all smiles and
pleasant manners and wearing robes that wouldn’t have been out of place in the imperial
palace even before disaster hit.

Seeing Xie Lian alive and in one piece brought some relief. It was just that Mu Qing wished
it had been under different circumstances. Most any other would have worked.

“He must be under a spell,” whispered Mu Qing, seeing how Xie Lian allowed himself to be
guided by Hua Cheng’s hand toward their picnic.

“We have to get him out of there,” Feng Xin said.

Mu Qing shook his head trying to get rid of the voice that started whispering in his ear how
this was all his fault, listing all the things that he could’ve done to avoid it.

The worst was yet to come, though. In the distance, with their silhouettes cut against the
scenery painted by the mountains and the forest on the other side of the lake, Hua Cheng
leaned down to kiss Xie Lian, who did nothing to fight him. He just accepted it, both hands
pressed against Hua Cheng’s chest, not pushing him away.

“I’m going to kill him!” Feng Xin growled, the cracked rock now dust under his hands.

Mu Qing echoed the sentiment, but he grabbed Feng Xin’s forearm and stopped him from
fetching an arrow from his quiver.

“You won’t make it. He has to have Wrath butterflies all over. Besides, even a hundred
arrows to the head won’t stop him, and we’re not close enough to snatch Xie Lian while he
recovers.”

Feng Xin’s mouth twisted further.

“I hate it when you’re right.”

It was a testament to how horrid the situation was that Mu Qing didn’t have it in him to feel
superior. He only let go of Feng Xin’s arm.

“I can’t keep looking!” Feng Xin said, giving his back to the picnic.

“Let’s go back to the original plan. Talk to him, organize an escape. But if he’s under a
spell...”

“Then we break it! That shouldn’t be beyond us! We’re gods!”

“Gods who are going to need as many escape routes as possible.”

That said, as much as it pained them, the two worried deities turned their backs on their
former prince, leaving him in a dire situation for the second time in less than a thousand
years. But each of them vowed, not knowing that the other had done it as well, that this
would be the last time.

***

It cut deeply to leave Xie Lian alone like that, but he had survived Hua Cheng this long. He
could resist a little longer, until they got a solid plan to get him out of there in one piece.
Besides, by the looks of it, the… the worst had already happened. Some things would never
be the same, but it would be possible for Xie Lian to start over and pursue a different
cultivation path.

Mu Qing caught himself putting together a list for him to choose from once they were all
safe, and he had a moment of self-hatred for caring so much. He kept thinking that no one
deserved to be Hua Cheng’s toy, but there was no denying that he wouldn’t have gone out of
his way to rescue anyone else.

He looked at Feng Xin from the corner of his eye. Knowing him, he was one minor
inconvenience away from turning around and facing Hua Cheng on his own. That wouldn’t
do. It wouldn’t help either of them and, well, Mu Qing might not find Feng Xin agreeable,
but that didn’t mean he wanted to see his guts scattered all over the three realms.

“Hold on!” Feng Xin said suddenly, and Mu Qing prepared himself for the worst. “I’m
getting a prayer.”

“Is this really a good moment to answer prayers?!”

Feng Xin shook his head and pointed at the city ahead of them.

“It’s coming from there.”

Mu Qing rolled his eyes.

“Another one of your stupid followers got caught?”

“Yes, but Xie Lian saved her. She’s thanking me for putting him on her path.”

Mu Qing was about to engage in a round of insults, but then Feng Xin continued explaining
before he could start.

“I’ve heard her before,” he said, scratching his chin. “She’s been burning incense in my name
every day for over a week.”

“ What?! Why didn’t you say so before?! Idiot god, idiot followers!”

“ Because I didn’t know who she meant! Have you never gotten offerings for things you
didn’t do?! All she keeps saying is ‘thank you for sending the city lord’s lover to help me’!
How was I supposed to know she was here and that she meant Xie Lian!”

“By paying attention?”

“Why would I pay attention to the prayer of someone who’s already safe? Do you have any
idea of how many I get?”

“Can’t be more than what I get!”

The gods were back to their attempt to out-yell each other. However, now Mu Qing couldn’t
get the idea out of his head that, when phrased like that, given how oh-so-selfless-and-so-
helpful Xie Lian was, what were the chances that other grateful prayers throughout the years
were also because of him and they had just missed it?

In the end, Mu Qing made a face, folded his arms, and scoffed.

“It doesn’t matter. Show yourself in her dreams. She might be able to help us get to him and
spare us the trip to the casino.”

Feng Xin scowled, gave his back to Mu Qing, and marched toward the city.

“No. Let’s do this right now. She has an audience with him this evening to show him the
progress she’s made with her work.”

Mu Qing shrugged.

“Good with me.”

Feng Xin led them to an inn and they climbed the stairs while ignoring the innkeeper—who
was very happy to ignore them back when Mu Qing tossed him a coin. Thank everything,
Feng Xin didn’t kick the door down. He knocked like a normal person, and the woman they
came to see opened it before her god—and his companion—grew restless.

“Can I help you?” she asked.

She was young and not bad-looking. She was probably on the shameless side too, since those
were the kind of worshipers who gravitated toward Feng Xin after the misspelling incident.

Both gods went inside the room and closed the door behind them.

“Greetings, Yi Guo. My name is Nan Feng, and this is—”

“Fu Yao.”

“And this is Fu Yao. We are here in representation of General Nan Yang. He’s heard your
prayers and he’s pleased with how his design has been followed.”

Mu Qing was so appalled by being introduced as belonging to Feng Xin’s palace that he
barely noticed when Yi Guo let go of the knife she carried hidden in her robes. He was going
to protest, she cut him off before he could begin.

“Really, my lord?” She bowed down deep. “Thank you so much. Please, tell the general I’ll
give him better offerings as soon as I have more money.”

“Yes, do that,” Feng Xin continued. “However, he has a specific request for you.”

“Yes, anything,” she answered, although there was some hesitation in her voice. “Just… give
me some time to prepare. I—I may not be a maiden any longer, but…”

“NO, IT’S NOT THAT!” Feng Xin yelled. His face grew as red as an apple as he shook his
fists in the air.

Mu Qing had to turn around to cover his mouth. He’d laugh at Feng Xin’s face later. Right
now, he couldn’t afford to give them away.

“Then what is it?” Yi Guo asked. She was honestly and innocently confused.

Feng Xin had to take a few breaths to calm down before speaking.

“He wants us to escort you to your audience with His High— with Xie Lian today. There are
important matters we have to discuss with him in person.”

“I don’t know if I’ll be allowed into Paradise Manor with two strange men in tow.”

“Fine, then,” Mu Qing said. “Convince him to take a stroll with you. We’ll handle the rest.”

“You’re not going to hurt him, right?”

“Of course not!”

“The opposite, actually.”

Yi Guo took a moment to examine them before nodding. Mu Qing couldn’t even blame her.
That fool of a crown prince had a way of making people care about him.

“Very well,” she said. “I’ll ask him.”

 After that, Feng Xin and Mu Qing left the inn. Their next step was to map the exits from
Ghost City, which ones were the fastest route back to the heavenly capital.

“Why did you tell her I belong to your palace?” Mu Qing whispered at Feng Xin once they
were on the street.

“It was easier and less suspicious. If you don’t like it, you can go back to your palace. No one
asked you to come.”

“Like you’d be able to complete the mission without me.”

“What? I came here on my own! And Yi Guo is my follower! You wouldn’t have been able to
come this far if it wasn’t for me!”

“You would’ve jumped on Hua Cheng if I hadn’t stopped you! You’re welcome for still
having your balls attached!”

“You wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t told you about it!”

“We wouldn’t be here if you chose smarter deputies!”

“You—!”

Having nothing to counteract that with, Feng Xin froze. His face, contorted in a scowl, made
Mu Qing smirk.

“Come on, we have work to do,” the latter said, turning around and starting to walk away.

“See you at the entrance,” Feng Xin replied, taking the opposite direction, as Mu Qing knew
he would.

Chapter End Notes

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 Part 2: "Rescue" | Chapter 2
Chapter Summary

In which Xie Lian lives a fantasy he didn't know he had.

Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

“I had forgotten what happiness felt like,” Xie Lian murmured. It was late at night and he had
his face buried on Hua Cheng’s back. “How sweet in its simplicity, how warm.”

Hua Cheng took Xie Lian’s hand and pressed his lips on it, shivering as he did.

“I’m happy as well,” he murmured a moment later, although his voice sounded a little
broken.

Xie Lian decided not to comment on it. He understood. Words had a way to get stuck in one’s
throat when love was this overwhelming. Taking advantage of the position of his hand, Xie
Lian moved it and caressed Hua Cheng’s cheek while he held him closer with his other arm.
Hua Cheng relaxed and Xie Lian felt his heart about to explode.

It didn’t take them long to settle into a routine. The two of them enjoyed each other’s bodies
and slept together every night. However, the first part of the arrangement was not confined to
any particular room—nor to a specific time.

“Ah… Is this why you send everyone away?” Xie Lian teased the next day while they were
fixing their robes after a quick, improvised tryst in a hallway.

“So I can be alone with you? Yes,” Hua Cheng replied, hugging him.

The front of his robes was still open, and Xie Lian couldn’t help but run his hands over Hua
Cheng’s chest while he chuckled. Next thing he knew, he was pressed against the wall again,
both of his hands held over his head.

“Unfair!” he exclaimed in between bouts of laughter, and he promptly jumped to wrap his
legs around Hua Cheng’s waist.

“Unfair?” Hua Cheng scoffed, also in jest. “Unfair is what you do to me. I can’t keep my
hands away from you.”

Xie Lian kissed his cheek.

“I don’t want them away.”

Hua Cheng smirked and kissed Xie Lian deeply.

“As you wish, Your Highness.”

The use of his title no longer bothered Xie Lian. From Hua Cheng’s lips, anyway. He had
also forgotten what it felt like to listen to it and feel cherished instead of mocked. He could
feel Hua Cheng’s reverence in every little thing he did. From the way he looked at him to
how he grabbed his hand. Right now, it was there, in the way he removed his robes to get
inside of him again.

Hua Cheng let go of Xie Lian’s hands to get a better purchase of them against the wall, and
Xie Lian took the opportunity to wrap his arms around Hua Cheng’s neck, moaning loudly
against his ear.

Yes, it was good that no one else was around to hear that.

However, despite their best efforts, their days weren’t filled with just sex. Hua Cheng had
duties to attend, which Xie Lian encouraged despite how much he missed him. To fill that
time, Xie Lian found a couple of ways to distract him. Mainly, he spent his time being chased
away from the kitchen and rearranging the furniture in an attempt to improve the Manor’s
feng shui. Said task required him to acquire more furniture, to which Hua Cheng had given
him blanket permission and unlimited funds. This is when Yi Guo came in.

The young woman whose debt Xie Lian had pardoned turned out to have a passion for
designing furniture. Not so much for building it but, in time, she’d be able to hire assistants.
Meanwhile, Xie Lian had offered to commission the ones he liked the most, paying upfront
for her to have them built and delivered to Paradise Manor. That evening in particular, she
came to see him carrying about half a dozen scrolls with her new designs. Xie Lian couldn’t
wait to see them, but he had to be a good host. He was representing Hua Cheng who was,
after all, the master of the house.

“Young master,” Yi Guo said, bowing to him when she arrived.

“Yi Guo, welcome,” Xie Lian said. “Please, take a seat and have some tea.”

She stared at the steaming cups and the snacks and tightened her hold on her scrolls.

Without losing his smile, Xie Lian hurried to clear the air.

“Shu Hu made them herself. She’s very skillful.”

“Ah!” Yi Guo left her work on a desk and grabbed one of the cakes. “Thank you.”

As she ate, he opened the scrolls to study their content. There were chairs, tables, and a
couple of cabinets, all of them drawn with exquisite detail. Although a bit modern for Xie
Lian’s tastes, they were nice to look at. Hua Cheng would surely enjoy using a couple of
them.
“These are wonderful,” he said. “I think this cabinet would fit perfectly in the study. And this
table. I like it for myself, actually.”

Yi Guo took a peek over his shoulder and hesitated before speaking. She tried to cover it by
wiping crumbs from the corners of her mouth, but it was obvious. Xie Lian tilted his head
and smiled, trying to encourage her to speak her mind.

“For that table,” she began, “I thought of a finer wood than usual. More… more expensive.”

“Did you? Oh, that’s no problem.”

“Ah, young master. I know.” She nibbled on the cake a bit more and looked aside. “It’s just
that… I don’t feel comfortable carrying that kind of money around. It shames me to ask, but
would you be so kind to come with me to the inn? No one will dare to mess with you.”

“If it’s only that, of course! It’ll be my pleasure. I’ll also tell everyone not to bother you.”

Yi Guo smiled with relief. Xie Lian completed his order with two elegant chairs and brought
the money. He felt a little guilty for spending so much. On top of that, he still owed Hua
Cheng the money for the food and souvenirs he bought in the city. Some day, he told himself.
Some day he’d be able to pay him back. Meanwhile, doing his part to procure the Ghost King
the beautiful and favorable house he deserved was enough for now.

The walk back to the inn was pleasant. Xie Lian and Yi Guo discussed in length the details of
the furniture the former had commissioned , and she took the opportunity to bounce some
ideas.

“Word is spreading,” she said. “I think I’ll soon be able to expand my business.”

“That sounds good.” It was the real goal, in the end. “Why don’t you do it now?”

She grinned.

“I’m enjoying too much being able to say Crimson Rain Sought Flower is my exclusive
client. Well, you, but—”

Xie Lian laughed.

“It’s fine. I get it.”

After all, didn’t Hua Cheng have an impressive reputation while Xie Lian himself was no one
of importance? This was fine with him. He didn’t need that, and he felt proud of his beloved.
Of his… his lover.

It was difficult to think of the words, even when it was true this time around. Xie Lian had
spent most of his life believing he’d never go through anything like this. Being wrong had
never made him happier.

Yi Guo pushed him with her shoulder as a tease.

“Are you thinking of him?”

Xie Lian felt his cheeks growing hot and he covered his face with his hands.

“I— ah!”

She hid her giggles with her sleeve.

“It’s alright. If I were you, I’d think of him all the time.” She sighed. “I envy how much in
love you are, sometimes.”

“I’ve never felt anything like this about anyone,” Xie Lian confessed, not knowing what else
to say.

“I’m glad,” she said. They’d reached the entrance of the inn by then. “You deserve to be
happy.”

“Thank you,” Xie Lian replied after a pause, moved to the core. “You too, you know.”

“I’m on my way there, young master,” she replied. “My god has answered my prayers, and I
know that you’ve been blessed too.”

Some weeks before, Xie Lian would have disagreed with the second part of that statement.
Now, though, he did feel like that. For a moment, Xie Lian was very close to asking who she
prayed to; maybe he had met that god. On the other hand, maybe he had met that god so he
dropped the idea. It’d be for the best.

They bowed to each other as a goodbye and Xie Lian started his way back to Paradise Manor.
The night was nice, and most people around him went about their businesses. Some of them
did whisper as he passed by, but they stopped as soon as Xie Lian did as much as glance at
them. Yet, this time around, he didn’t mind them. He felt happy and couldn’t wait to come
back to spend the night in Hua Cheng’s arms.

It was then, though, when he was still a few minutes away from the Manor, that two figures
approached him.

“Your Highness,” said one of them.

“We need to talk,” said the other. “It’s urgent.”

Xie Lian squinted. The first young man wore the colors of Feng Xin’s palace. And the other
one… He wore black from neck to toe, which made it harder to tell. Either way, their guarded
expressions and the glances they threw all around showed clearly that they didn’t enjoy being
there. Not that Xie Lian could blame them. On the other hand, he hadn’t even considered Zan
Chow reporting to his general, and even less that he would try to send anyone to check on
him.

Well. This was going to be awkward.

Xie Lian smiled and pressed his hands together as if in prayer. He would start by pretending
he had no idea what this was about.

“Hello, then. How can I help you?”

The two heavenly officials had stopped at a respectful distance and looked around to make
sure they weren’t calling that much attention. They were, though, now that they were
addressing Xie Lian. Maybe if they didn’t scowl so much, the ghosts around them wouldn’t
look eager for an opportunity to jump to Xie Lian’s defense to score points in Hua Cheng’s
eye.

“Can we talk in private?” said the deputy from Feng Xin’s palace, leaning forward.

“Of course. As long as you introduce yourselves first,” Xie Lian answered with the sunniest
disposition he could muster. “You seem to know who I am, but I’m in the dark regarding
you.”

The two of them exchanged looks. For a second, it was as if the request caught them by
surprise, but they recovered quickly. Interesting.

The other deputy got a couple of steps closer and, with a whisper, he confirmed what Xie
Lian had suspected from the beginning.

“My name is Fu Yao and this is Nan Feng. We come from the palaces of general Xuan Zhen
and of general Nan Yang, respectively.”

So Mu Qing had sent someone too. Xie Lian’s smile became sincere.

“I see. Come with me, then.”

Xie Lian resumed his way. Or tried to. Nan Feng and Fu Yao blocked his path before he
could even take a couple of steps.

“Where are we going?” Nan Feng asked.

“Paradise Manor.”

“What?”

Fu Yao scoffed.

“We cannot go there!”

“Why not? I have leftover tea.”

“We came here to rescue you!” Nan Feng whispered, although too loudly. “Not to take you
back to Hua Cheng’s lair!”

Just what Xie Lian was afraid of.

“You’re so very kind, but I don’t need rescuing.”

“Yes, you do!”

“Come on! This may be our only chance!”

Nan Feng reached out for him and tried to grab his arm at the same time Fu Yao attempted to
hold from the back, but Xie Lian sidestepped both of them with ease. The end result was the
two deputies in a mess of tangled limbs that Ruoye tied up before they could recover.

Xie Lian put a stern front and held back his amusement before addressing them again.

“You’d better leave,” he said. “Please, tell your generals they’re welcome for tea any time but
I am staying in Ghost City.”

“We’re not going back without you!” Nan Feng grunted while a ball of fire formed on his
hand.

Frowning, Xie Lian considered his next move. Even if they were from the Middle Court, they
were heavenly officials and, while he was strong and had some skills, he didn’t have access
to his spiritual powers. That didn’t mean he was without options, though. He didn’t want
Ruoye to be burned, so the first thing would be to call him back, and then…

…and then the largest swarm of Wrath Butterflies he had seen passed around him, straight to
Nan Feng and Fu Yao.

Ruoye came back to wrap himself on his master’s arm while the butterflies pinned the
deputies in place against a wall.

“Are these two bothering you, gege?” Hua Cheng said next to Xie Lian’s ear. His voice was
cold and it had a dangerous edge that made Xie Lian’s heart beat faster and his entire body
shiver.

He licked his lips before answering.

“It’s not important, San Lang. They were leaving.”

“Like hell we are!”

Nan Feng and Fu Yao threw a handful of spells that scattered the butterflies. Then, their
swords came unsheathed and they launched themselves forward. Xie Lian raised his hand to
stop them with Ruoye again, but Hua Cheng was faster. He stepped forward, placing himself
between Xie Lian and the other two.

E’Ming withstood the clash of the two swords like it was nothing and pushed them away with
a flick of Hua Cheng’s wrist. Going by the way the eye on the hilt moved, Xie Lian realized
that the sword enjoyed the opportunity to show off. Same as his master.

Hua Cheng fought the gods effortlessly, making a barrier out of himself to keep them away
from Xie Lian. Whenever their swords met, they sent sparks that covered the entire street.
Although aware of the ghosts who gathered around them to cheer on their lord mayor, Xie
Lian’s eyes never left the combatants. He had finally gotten his wish of seeing Hua Cheng
and E’Ming fighting together, after all. Their opponents didn’t have a chance of winning, yet
Hua Cheng took his time to destroy their defenses and deflect everything they threw at him,
giving Xie Lian ample opportunity to analyze their styles.

It didn’t take long for all the pieces to fall into place.

Xie Lian sighed. He couldn’t say he wasn’t touched. In the beginning, he thought it was only
wishful thinking, that he only wanted to believe those were actually Feng Xin and Mu Qing
in disguise. And then it was them. Even after all this time, he was able to recognize their
techniques. They were more polished, that much was true, but the basics were there. The way
they moved and the way they held their swords remained the same. Xie Lian would’ve been
able to recognize them just by listening to them.

He wondered if Hua Cheng had realized it as well. For now, though, he’d stay away from
this. He wouldn’t interfere, even as his heart sank when he realized that Mu Qing and Feng
Xin could have improved their chances had they teamed up and presented a common front.
They knew each other and they had trained together in the past. Yet, their aversion to working
together shone through. Both of them were convinced that their strategy was the best one,
which caused them to trip on each other, giving Hua Cheng the advantage at every turn. Of
course, Xie Lian wanted Hua Cheng to win, but he didn’t want those two to die.

After a while, Feng Xin’s and Mu Qing’s swords flew away. One got stuck on a door and the
other, on the ground. Both gods, still in their disguises, were on their way to sit up, glaring at
each other before turning their heads to Hua Cheng. At that moment, the man in the ghost
mask came out from behind the crowd and tied them up with God-Binding rope to seal their
spiritual powers.

That was a relief; it meant their lives would be spared. For the time being, at least.

“What now?” Xie Lian asked when Hua Cheng came to him.

“Now,” Hua Cheng said, grabbing Xie Lian by the waist with one hand while holding
E’Ming on his side with the other, “this.”

With that, he brought him close for a kiss.

This wasn’t what Xie Lian meant, but he understood what it was. His lover was claiming
him. Well, he was Hua Cheng’s by choice, so he had no problem placing his hands on Hua
Cheng’s shoulders and kissing him back, even if his cheeks felt like they would explode.
They were that hot. This was their first kiss in public, and if the crowd had been loud before,
they went wild.

The kiss was short but intense, just like the fight. Xie Lian had to hide his face on Hua
Cheng’s shoulder for a moment when they separated.

“Take them to the dungeon,” the Ghost King said.

The rumble of Hua Cheng’s chest as he spoke made Xie Lian shiver again and filled him with
the desire of dragging Hua Cheng to the bedroom. But that would have to wait. Right now, he
moved his head to the side to look at Feng Xin and Mu Qing being taken away, looking back
at him with despair. Xie Lian wished he had access to the spiritual communication array to
tell them they’d be fine and that he’d go to check on them as soon as he could.

“Gege, let’s go back home.”

Hua Cheng let go of him only so he could sheath E’Ming. After that, his hand returned to his
waist and held him close as they walked.

“San Lang, what are you going to do with them?”

“Keep them locked up.”

“They shouldn’t have attacked you.” Xie Lian sighed. “I think they misunderstood why I’m
staying. They believe you were forcing me.”

“I only care about what you believe.”

Xie Lian squeezed Hua Cheng’s hand.

“I know. But…It took me by surprise. I didn’t expect them to care this much. Or at all.”

“You figured it out too, then?” Hua Cheng chuckled. “Is there a disguise that can get past
your eyes?”

Xie Lian laughed as well.

“No when I know their fighting moves as well as my own. What gave them away to you?”

“They weren’t holding back their spiritual powers by the end.”

“They did? I didn’t notice.”

Hua Cheng smirked.

“That’s because I adjusted my own power as they did.”

And because Xie Lian was cut off from his own, therefore barred from accurately gauging
anyone else’s. But he said nothing of this.

“And yet they weren’t a match for you.”

He didn’t bother to hide the pride in his voice.

Hua Cheng kissed Xie Lian’s temple.

“No one will take you away from me.”

Xie Lian raised his head and grabbed Hua Cheng’s to pull him down for a different kind of
kiss.

“No one,” he repeated.

As they kissed again, Hua Cheng used the dice to connect the Manor’s main door to Xie
Lian’s bedroom.

“Coming, gege?” Hua Cheng asked, pressing a few kisses on Xie Lian’s neck.

“Yes,” Xie Lian replied, pushing Hua Cheng inside and closing the door behind them.

***

It took a while, but Xie Lian finally managed to peel himself away from Hua Cheng.

“Gege,” Hua Cheng whined.

“I need to check on them. Make sure they haven’t killed each other yet.”

Hua Cheng grunted something that sounded close to the world not missing much if that
happened before giving Xie Lian a last squeeze, but he let go of him.

“Get back soon.”

“I will. I—” Xie Lian interrupted himself as he got dressed. “San Lang, would you let them
go if I ask?”

“If you ask. But if they try anything again, I might not be as merciful.”

Xie Lian sat on the bed to kiss Hua Cheng’s cheek.

“Thank you. If they do it again, I will not ask you.”

Hua Cheng raised his head to kiss Xie Lian’s lips, forcing the latter to finally leave the room
before being tempted into jumping back to the bed.

Before going to the dungeon, Xie Lian stopped by the kitchen to make sure Feng Xin and Mu
Qing had a good dinner at least. Also, to give himself some space to think because he hadn’t
decided whether he should them he knew who they were. In the end, he decided it would
depend on them.

He didn’t have problems going all the way down to the dungeon. Everyone let him cross door
after door without even asking him why he was there. All this treatment reminded him what
it was like to be a prince, yet another thing he had forgotten.
Mu Qing and Feng Xin were in the middle of the room, still in their disguises, tied up back to
back. Their jaws were tense and they made a marked effort to ignore each other.

“Oh, dear…” Xie Lian murmured.

He placed the tray with the food on the floor between those two and himself before kneeling
down. He had to make them promise to behave before releasing them from their bindings.

“So,” he began.

They jumped when they heard him, but they didn’t look at him.

“Why?” Feng Xin asked.

The anguish in his voice made Xie Lian abandon all intent to tease them.

“Why? Because I’m happy. He makes me happy.”

“Happy?” Mu Qing spat. “Do you know who he is? What he’s done?”

“Yes, I know. Probably better than anyone else.”

“You—!”

Feng Xin was at a loss for words, but Mu Qing didn’t have that problem.

“You’re so stupid!” He moved forward, dragging Feng Xin with him. “Do you really believe
what he told you?”

“What he did or didn’t tell me and what I believe or not is between us,” Xie Lian said,
although he didn’t dare to tell them that he had been there for some of that past. So yes: he
knew Hua Cheng better than either of them.

“It’s worse than I thought,” Mu Qing said, rolling his eyes.

“Shut up!” Feng Xin said.

“No! You shut up! Xie Lian, just fucking think!”

Xie Lian sighed and stood up.

“There’s no need for this. He’ll let you go. I just need to—”

“No!” Feng Xin exclaimed.

“No? You want to stay here?” Xie Lian asked, head tilted in confusion.

“If the price you have to pay for our freedom—”

Feng Xin bit his lips and looked away. Mu Qing also grimaced.
It took Xie Lian a long moment to get their meaning. He yelped and turned around covering
his face.

“That’s not— I wouldn’t— He wouldn’t— He’ll let you go if I ask!”

“You mean you haven’t—?”

Xie Lian took a peek between his fingers only to hide behind them again.

“We haven’t—? That’s none of your business!”

“Is that a yes or a no?”

“None of your business!”

“What about your cultivation?” Feng Xin asked.

He sounded sincerely worried, but Xie Lian only wanted them to stop asking. The words
escaped him despite himself, in defiance.

“Dual cultivation is a thing!”

That did shock Feng Xin and Mu Qing into silence.

“So are many other paths,” Xie Lian continued, rubbing his face. “I can pursue a different
one.” He had calmed down and he was finally able to look at them in the face. “Feng Xin,
Mu Qing, I appreciate your concern. I can’t begin to tell you how moved I am because
you’ve gone these lengths for me, but there’s no need.”

Silence fell into the room, which all three of them felt growing colder.

Mu Qing went back to sit down, once again ignoring Feng Xin’s grunts of protest.

“I see,” Mu Qing growled, staring at the wall. “If this is how it’s going to be, we shouldn’t
have bothered.”

“Mu Qing…”

“If you’re going to be happy living as a pampered concubine, go for it. Just don’t come to us
crying when the novelty wears off and you’re discarded after being used.”

“Mu Qing, shut up!” Feng Xin warned him again, but it was too late.

The blood in Xie Lian’s body began to boil. He closed his fists.

“Listen, the two of you,” he said in a commanding voice he hadn’t used in centuries. It
worked to surprise them into attention. “You can say whatever you want about me. But don’t
you dare insult my Hua Cheng. You know nothing about him and you know nothing about
us.” He turned around and opened the door. “I’ll be back in the morning with your breakfast.”
 Xie Lian left the dungeon, his heart heavy. Of course they wouldn’t understand. They only
knew the worst of Hua Cheng. But the good parts either weren’t Xie Lian’s story to tell or he
wasn’t ready to tell them to anyone. He’d have to convince them of how much he meant to
him in some other way. Later, though. He was too upset for this now. Either way, they were
gods; one night in a dungeon wouldn’t hurt them. Besides, they had to start getting along at
some point. Maybe they’d be able to come up with a plan to escape on their own. Xie Lian
doubted it but he wished them luck nevertheless.

Chapter End Notes

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 Part 2: "Rescue" | Chapter 3
Chapter Summary

In which two gods made a promise and Hua Cheng does a thing.

Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

“Great job there,” Feng Xin grumped once the echo of Xie Lian’s steps faded away.

Mu Qing scoffed.

“Did I lie? With the kind of prayers you get, you should know that’s exactly how it’s gonna
go. ”

“Precisely because I get that kind of prayer I knew he wasn’t going to listen! Did you forget
how stubborn he is?”

“What should we do, then? Tell me, oh, great general Nan Yang! You, with your vast
experience!”

“I do have more experience than you!”

“And look at how it ended!”

Feng Xin shook them both in their bindings, roughing Mu Qing up.

Worth it.

Anyway, they had to go back to the business at hand at some point. Mu Qing waited until
Feng Xin stopped moving to continue the conversation as if nothing had happened.

“He has to be under an enchantment.”

Feng Xin answered in the same tone.

“Yes. But did you notice? You didn’t change to your original form. Neither did I. How could
he tell it was us?”

“Well, you fucking called me by my name!”

“He used both our names before I did that! It doesn’t count!”
After sorting out his priorities, Mu Qing closed his mouth and reserved his next insult of
choice for later. Instead, he replayed the conversation in his mind and realized that, yes, Xie
Lian had to have known before coming to see them. However, that wasn’t nearly as bad as
the implications: if Xie Lian was aware of their identities, then Hua Cheng should be as well.

“Damn it.”

“I don’t think he’s told him. Yet. We're still alive, aren’t we?”

“We are,” Mu Qing agreed after a moment of hesitation. Feng Xin had always thought highly
of Xie Lian and this sounded a lot like wishful thinking, but he raised a good point. He
groaned. “We have to take him to the heavenly emperor. He won’t refuse to help us break a
curse cast by a Calamity once we put Xie Lian in front of the throne.”

“Right. First, we need to go over our assets. Which are…”

“Nothing.”

Feng Xin sighed.

“Yeah. Nothing. No weapons, no spiritual power, no help on the way… Except… Xie Lian
said he’d come back in the morning. He’ll probably let us go if you apologize.”

Mu Qing began to nod along—and then Feng Xin got to the last part.

“Apologize? For what? Speaking the truth?” He let out a scoff that had been building up for a
few centuries now. “Nothing is ever going to change.”

“What was that?”

“I said: nothing is ever going to change,” Mu Qing repeated, enunciating every word. “Not
like it matters. I stopped caring about that long ago.” This wasn’t true, but no one had to
know. The worst thing, though, was that, this time, he couldn’t exit the room leaving behind
only the shadow of his disdain. He was forced, once again, to prioritize. “Whatever. Listen,
Feng Xin. There’s no way we’ll be allowed to spend the night in peace. Someone is going to
come before the night’s over. If not Hua Cheng, his henchmen.”

Feng Xin scoffed.

“If it’s only a couple, we’ll be able to subdue them and have them release us.”

“Exactly. All we have to do is wait.”

“They can come in whenever they want.”

They turned to the door and glared at it, ready to show the wrath of two angry martial gods.
And they glared, and glared, and glared…
***

The night came and went with a distressful lack of people showing up to torture them. By the
time Xie Lian returned—at the break of dawn, judging by the light coming in from the door
—, all that frowning had made Mu Qing’s brow numb. How that freak of Feng Xin managed
to do it all the time was a mystery.

Xie Lian opened the door to the dungeon slowly, so carefully it didn’t creak, and he looked
remorseful as he came into the cell because of course he did. The tray with the dinner he
brought last night remained on the floor, untouched. He took notice of it, but said nothing,
although he seemed to be expecting it because he didn’t bring the promised breakfast either.

“You’re free to go,” he said, kneeling down in front of them. “With one condition: you can’t
do what you did last night ever again.”

“For the sake of clarification,” Mu Qing asked. “What exactly did we do last night?”

“Fight Hua Cheng and try to kidnap me.”

“It wasn’t a kidnapping!” Feng Xin said. “It was a rescue!”

Xie Lian pressed his hands together and took a deep breath.

“We’re not arguing this right now. That’s the condition. Do you agree? If you don’t, it’ll be
more merciful to leave you here as you are now.”

“Fine,” Feng Xin said through gritted teeth.

“We agree to your conditions,” Mu Qing said.

Xie Lian let out a sigh of relief and hurried to untie them.

“Come on, then. I owe you breakfast. We can get to that before you go. You know your way
out of the ghost realm, right? Either way, I can get you a map—”

“Oh, no. We’re not leaving,” Feng Xin said.

“Sorry?”

“We’re taking rooms at the inn for a few days. There’s nothing on your list of conditions
about being banned from Ghost City.”

“Well, no, because I wanted you to visit. Are you sure?”

“Yes. Unless you want to invite us to stay at Paradise Manor,” Mu Qing said, standing up and
stretching.

Xie Lian chuckled and scratched his cheek.

“Ah. I believe that would be pushing it too hard.”

“The inn it is, then,” Feng Xin said.

“As you wish.” Before opening the door, Xie Lian produced a couple of swords from his
sleeves, the same ones the heavenly officials had lost during the fight the evening before.
“Here. These are yours. Now, come. There’s quite a gathering out there. Stay close and
ignore all provocations. We need to let everyone know you no longer want to antagonize Hua
Cheng. Yes, I’m aware that in reality you still do, but they don’t have to know that.” He
looked from Feng Xin to Mu Qing. “I don’t need to tell you that every single resident of
Ghost City will do anything to win Hua Cheng’s favor, right?”

Feng Xin and Mu Qing exchanged a quick look. They were gods, yes, but they would still be
threading dangerous terrain. In no way they would survive if the entire population of Ghost
City ganged up on them. Yet, with that one look, they communicated to each other that
neither would back down from their mission, so they nodded and followed Xie Lian out from
the dungeon.

As soon as they stepped on the streets, they were greeted with booing and unsheathed
weapons of all kinds.

“It’s all right, it’s all right,” Xie Lian said, waving his hand. “They’re with me. They’ve
reconsidered their actions and they will behave.”

That shut the peanut gallery up, but more than half the weapons remained in their hands and
none of the death stares left. They were allowed to pass through, at least.

“Let go of me!” one of the ghosts yelled. He was being held back by a group of what seemed
to be his… friends . “I’ll have this settled down in an instant!”

“Shut up! Do you want to face Hua Chengzhu’s wrath?”

“If they’re not dead yet it’s because he doesn’t want them dead!”

“And you know he lets him do whatever he wants!”

After that, the first ghost grunted a bit more, but he remained in his place. He did, however,
spit on the ground right after the gods passed. Mu Qing wrinkled his nose but he managed to
keep quiet. They weren't worth his time.

The upsetting part was that Xie Lian already had the reputation of a pampered concubine. It
allowed them to move around Ghost City but, in the great scheme of things, that didn’t
provide any comfort at all.

***
The innkeeper was unwilling to rent rooms to them and he didn’t even pretend that the inn
was full. However, thanks to Xie Lian’s intervention, he ended up agreeing to let them stay in
the same one for double the price.

“That’s the best you’re going to get. I’m sorry,” Xie Lian said.

“It’s fine,” Feng Xin said. “It’s not that expensive.”

“Right.” Xie Lian looked from one to the other. “You don’t have any luggage, do you?”

Mu Qing rolled his eyes.

“Of course not.”

“It didn’t hurt to ask,” Xie Lian said. “Anyway. Are you up for breakfast?”

“Sure. Why not?” Mu Qing said while Feng Xin nodded.

Xie Lian’s face brightened and Mu Qing looked away. He noticed Feng Xin doing the same
and felt horrified at realizing that they shared the same guilt. But he didn’t have time to dwell
on that. Xie Lian got a firm hold of their arms and dragged them both down to a street stand.
Next Mu Qing knew, he was ordering the first thing on the menu that seemed properly dead.

“So,” Xie Lian began as they waited for their meal. “How have things been in the heavenly
capital?”

“Boring,” Feng Xin said.

“Annoying,” Mu Qing said at the same time.

“Really? But you’re— your generals are very popular gods.”

“That has nothing to do with it.”

“I see.”

The cook, a big man with the head of a pig, brought their food. The dishes he placed on the
table seemed edible and their presentation was decent enough.

“Thank you,” Xie Lian said. “You didn’t spit on it, I’m sure.”

The pig-man looked at Feng Xin’s and Mu Qing’s dishes from the corner of his eyes.

“… No?”

“These are my guests. I would really appreciate it if you refrained from spitting on their food
from now on.”

The pig-man shifted his weight from one foot to the other while staring at the ground, and
took the food away.
“Yes, great uncle.”

The second batch of food was presented a few minutes later without any further comment
from either Xie Lian or the cook. Feng Xin and Mu Qing, who had been rendered speechless
after the cook’s admission of guilt, could now only stare at the food before them. Meanwhile,
Xie Lian, the only one whose plate had remained the same from the start, grabbed a piece of
meat with his chopsticks.

“Don’t do that!” Feng Xin exclaimed.

He tried to seize Xie Lian’s arms to stop him, but it was too late: he was already chewing.

Mu Qing pushed his dish away.

“Ugh. How can you—? Do you actually trust them?”

Xie Lian, already on his second mouthful, nodded.

“Even if they weren’t scared stiff of Hua Cheng, I’ve eaten worse.”

Feng Xin made a face and he also pushed his dish away from him, his long, dexterous fingers
twitching. Mu Qing kept his eyes on those hands. They wanted to do something they
shouldn’t. The question wasn’t if Feng Xin would dare. It was when .

Mu Qing folded his arms and began counting under his breath.

“Three, two, one…”

Right on cue, Feng Xin smacked Xie Lian’s plate and its contents to the ground.

“There it is,” Mu Qing murmured.

Xie Lian’s eyes followed his food as it flew away although it didn’t linger on it when it
crashed on the ground. A second later, he looked back at the two gods.

“Feng—! Um. Remind me of your names, please.”

“Nan Feng.”

“Fu Yao.”

“Nan Feng, Fu Yao, please, don’t take it out on others if you’re frustrated or upset with me.
The cook worked hard on—”

Feng Xin stood up, nearly flipping the table when he did.

“Frustrated?! Upset?! Do you even know—?!”

Xie Lian raised his hand requesting silence. It was an authoritative, sudden movement that
stunted into silence those who followed him. This time, despite the gods' better judgment, it
was no exception.
“This morning,” Xie Lian continued as if Feng Xin’s outburst hadn’t happened, “when I was
on my way to the dungeon, I ran into Yi Guo. She begged me for forgiveness and assured me
that she didn’t know what you two were on about. I told her it was fine and she shouldn’t
speak about this to anyone else. So, please, let her and any other unrelated person out of
whatever businesses we might have.”

Feng Xin sat down again and rubbed his face.

“She spent the whole night praying to me—my general to punish me for going this far. She
was sure I went against his orders.”

Xie Lian continued.

“And you know what must be done.”

Feng Xin folded his arms and looked away.

“Ignore it and make it so the lack of punishment can be understood as a reward.”

Xie Lian’s mouth became a strict thin line and he raised an eyebrow.

Wow. He was deploying the big weapons. So much so that, even when Mu Qing was not on
the receiving end, he felt nervous. He hated how much old habits—even habits that old—died
hard.

Feng Xin grunted and dropped his arms.

“My general will appear in her dreams to reassure her.”

Xie Lian’s face softened.

“Thank you.” He stood up and left some coins on the unflipped table. “I think we can call it a
day. We all have a lot to think about.”

“Wait!” Mu Qing said. “We haven’t begun to talk!”

“We will. In due time,” Xie Lian replied, already walking away. “You know where to find
me. In the meantime, you can go settle down in your room the rest of the day and reflect on
your next course of action.”

With that, he left, vanishing into the crowd, who opened a clear path for him and closed it
behind him while giving Feng Xin and Mu Qing the stinky eye. However, they didn’t raise a
hand—or whatever limb—against them. Already a bonus.

“Did he ground us?” Feng Xin murmured, making a face.

“It seems so…” Mu Qing replied. He was scowling, not pouting, damn it. “But we’re not
going to—”

Feng Xin folded his arms again and hardened his face.
“Of course not.”

They spent a while like that, looking down at the street until Feng Xin spoke again.

“We do need to regroup, though. Fine-tune our strategies for gathering intelligence.”

And, since they couldn’t do that in the open, they went back to the inn. But only because they
had things to do.

Hua Cheng should’ve been working on some of his paperwork. He had promised to be
responsible, after all. Instead, though, he was remembering the events of the night before,
when Xie Lian came back from visiting his former servants. Hua Cheng had only a vague
idea of what had transpired between them. Although he had the dungeon monitored, thanks to
his butterflies, they would only alert him when something unusual happened. Thus, he got an
enjoyable surprise when Xie Lian left those clowns to spend the night tied up. And, even
then, that had nothing on what happened next.

Xie Lian marched right into their room and got rid of his clothes before Hua Cheng could ask
what was going on. Then, he grabbed the sheet covering the Supreme Ghost King and threw
it to the feet of the bed.

Hua Cheng stared in awe as Xie Lian climbed on the bed and straddled him. He still looked
upset, in deep concentration, with his mouth a thin line and his brow furrowed. The sight was
enough to make Hua Cheng’s cock hard in an instant.

“Gege…?”

Xie Lian leaned forward and kissed him deeply, possessively. Hua Cheng groaned and
grabbed Xie Lian by the waist to turn them around. But Xie Lian stopped him.

“I’m in charge this once,” Xie Lian said.

The firmness in his voice brought Hua Cheng several notches closer to climax.

“Yes, gege,” he answered, pliant.

“Good,” Xie Lian said. He went back to kiss Hua Cheng, running his hands all over his torso
and shoulders while he rubbed himself against Hua Cheng’s crotch. “So good…” Xie Lian
caressed the side of Hua Cheng’s face with his hand. “You’re so sweet and gentle. They know
nothing.”

Oh. So that’s what this is about, Hua Cheng thought and said nothing about how his
sweetness and gentleness were only for His Highness. However, as long as Xie Lian was
satisfied, it was enough. And Xie Lian was satisfied, given that both of them came three more
times in different positions, all of them orchestrated and directed by Xie Lian.

“San Lang,” said Xie Lian, the real one, in the present. He was back from releasing those
useless gods and having breakfast with them. With any luck, they made him angry again.

“Back so soon, gege?”

“Mmm. It went better than I expected.”

Curses.

On the plus side, Xie Lian got closer. He took a look at the pile of paperwork and poked Hua
Cheng’s cheek as a gentle tease.

“Weren’t you working on this?”

“Not at all.” Hua Cheng got a hold of Xie Lian’s waist and had him sit on his lap. Then, he
licked his lips making sure Xie Lian could see. “I was lost in thought, remembering
everything we did last night.”

“San Lang!” Xie Lian exclaimed, covering his face with his hands. “I’m sorry!”

Hua Cheng nuzzled his neck.

“Why are you apologizing for? I enjoyed it, and I would be honored if you did it again.”

Xie Lian took a peek between his fingers.

“Would you? Fine. I’ll—I’ll try.”

“Thank you, gege,” Hua Cheng said. He kissed Xie Lian’s forehead, the tip of his nose, and
he finished with a peck to his lips, making him relax and soften his expression.

“By the way, San Lang, Mu Qing and Feng Xin are staying in Ghost City, and they’re
keeping the pretense that they come from the Middle Court.”

“I can’t say I’m surprised. They want to convince you to go with them.”

“Yes. They— We didn’t part in the best of ways, but we were once friends. It is touching to
see that they care. Even if their worry is misguided.” He cupped Hua Cheng’s cheek in his
hand and looked him in the eye. “I won’t leave you. I don’t want to leave you.”

Hua Cheng held him closer and hid his face on Xie Lian’s neck.

“Gege, I meant it when I said that I would never allow anyone to take you away from me but,
if you ever change your mind…”

“Oh, San Lang, you don’t have to worry. I know how I feel.”

Hua Cheng hugged him tightly. He felt a knot in his throat.

 “Just know that you’re not a prisoner.”

Xie Lian separated only enough to see him with the sweetest eyes.

“I know that too. I am where I want to be.”

Hua Cheng closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against Xie Lian’s.

“Gege. Gege, let’s get married.”

Too late he realized what he had done. Just when he had told him he was free, he tried to tie
him up further. Hua Cheng’s first instinct was to say that he was kidding, and the second to
explode in a cloud of butterflies and disappear. But he couldn’t do either of that. Not after all
the ways he and Xie Lian had been together, and even less after hearing him saying how
much he wanted to stay. He’d have to deal with the consequences of his words.

Not knowing what else to do, he hurried to press a finger against Xie Lian’s lips.

“You don’t have to answer now. Think about it. Take your time.”

“Oh, San Lang,” Xie Lian sighed. He leaned forward to rest his head on Hua Cheng’s
shoulder and said nothing else.

Panicking and despondent, Hua Cheng could only hug Xie Lian again and hope that he
hadn’t ruined things between them.

Chapter End Notes

Promo tweet!

Feel free to come and chat! :)

 Part 2: "Rescue" | Chapter 4
Chapter Summary

In which Yin Yu deserves a raise.

Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Back at the inn, Feng Xin and Mu Qing discovered their room to be a little more than a
cupboard. On top of that, it lacked all furniture except for a single bed. Hard and narrow, it
allowed for only one person to lie down at the time and, even then, uncomfortably. In order to
take a seat, the noble guests would have to do so very close to each other whether they chose
to do so on the bed or on the floor. The possibility of one of them sitting on the bed and the
other one on the floor existed, of course. However, the chances of them doing it did not.

Mu Qing grimaced at the emptiness in front of him and rubbed the bridge of his nose. When
he opened his eyes again, he found Feng Xin sitting on the bed.

“Hey!”

Smirking, Feng Xin folded his arms and crossed his legs.

“I got here first, fair and square.”

Grunting, Mu Qing crossed the small space and leaned against the frame of the lone window.
He took a glance outside and found nothing worthy of his attention, only the denizens of
Ghost City coming and going about their anodyne businesses. He was more concerned with
how not to address the fact that both he and his now roommate had spent centuries looking
for the same person without telling the other. It was pointless anyway, now that they knew
where Xie Lian was and—and with whom. Far from an ideal situation, but better than what it
was a mere couple of days ago.

“So,” Feng Xin said. “We’re not allowed to take him by force, but there was nothing in those
conditions that say we can’t convince him to come willingly.”

“There’s a lot not included in those conditions,” Mu Qing said, although he agreed. “We also
need to take into account that, since we’re not allowed to fight Hua Cheng, we can expect
him to taunt us.”

“So what? We’ll ignore him.”

Mu Qing scoffed.
“Well, yes. I can. But you’re too easy to rile up.”

“What do you mean by that?” Feng Xin exclaimed.

“I mean exactly that,” Mu Qing answered, gesturing at Feng Xin’s offensive stance which
included a fist already up in the air. “You need to get a better grip on yourself. Start by
spending the rest of the day in meditation. That’ll help you to stop being so choleric.”

“Who’s choleric?!”

“Who do you think?”

They were now glaring at each other, gnarling and circling around the room—until Mu Qing
was on the perfect spot to sit on the bed, leaving Feng Xin his place next to the window.

“How—?”

Mu Qing sneered.

“So easy to rile up, as I said.”

Feng Xin’s face grew redder and his fist shook faster.

Mu Qing faced Feng Xin’s glare with one of his own, struggling with his own need to punch
the latter’s face.

“This is practice,” he said. “I’ll keep doing it until you act like an actual adult. I’m also
sleeping here. You can stay on the floor.”

“I— What? Who do you think I am?”

“A choleric child with no self-control, obviously.”

After that, the bed flew out to the street amidst a shower of splinters, the leftovers of the poor
window. Mu Qing, who had barely dodged it, couldn’t hold himself back any longer and
punched Feng Xin’s face so hard he sent him spiraling down to the street. He followed him
with a graceful jump, landing close to the figure that was in the process of coming out from
the remains of a broken cart, covered with who knew what stinky fruit.

Before Mu Qing could mock him again, Feng Xin charged, ready to give back the punch he
had just received.

“Come here, you!”

“Does it look like I’m running away?”

They had only exchanged a couple of blows when they weren’t able to move anymore. Their
arms were forcefully pressed against their torsos and, when they looked down, the part of the
God-Binding Rope tied around their legs was pulled, making them flop on the ground. Right
there in the middle of the street.
“What the fuck?” Feng Xin yelled.

“Who dares treat us like this?” Mu Qing said, refusing to use profanity no matter how much
he wanted to just because Feng Xin had done it first.

As they spoke, they followed the rope with their eyes all the way to where the man in the
ghost mask, Hua Cheng’s loyal henchman, held the other end. He didn’t respond, but the way
he stood, and the way his hands tugged at the rope told them with all clarity how badly they
had messed things up.

The street had been damaged. Not as bad as it would’ve been five minutes from then if the
man in the mask hadn’t intervened, though. No one seemed hurt, which might get them some
leniency from Xie Lian. However, he might have already used up all the influence he had
over Hua Cheng by setting both heavenly officials free once already.

Mu Qing turned to Feng Xin and found him glaring at him.

“This is your fault!”

Mu Qing rolled his eyes.

“My fault? Who tossed the bed out the window?”

“Who kept provoking me?”

They growled and scowled while they thrashed about on the ground, unable to do anything
else. They weren’t tied up together, so they couldn’t even kick each other.

“That would be enough,” the man in the ghost mask said. He tugged the rope to shake them
into stopping. “You will pay for the damages.”

The man in the mask didn’t wait for an answer because that hadn’t been a question. He
picked up the two gods and placed them on a wheelbarrow he borrowed from one of the
merchants. More likely, though, he had rented it and expected Feng Xin and Mu Qing to pay
for it as well.

“I don’t want them back!” said the innkeeper.

“You won’t have them,” the man in the mask said.

“I can make a nice soup out of them!” said a voice that Mu Qing took a moment to place as
belonging to the pig-man who had prepared the breakfast they refused to eat.

The man in the mask pushed the wheelbarrow down the street.

“Only if you want to upset Hua Chengzhu’s guest.”

He didn’t elaborate. There was no need to. Everyone around him fell silent. Mu Qing, lying
on his back next to Feng Xin and able only to see the sky, could, nevertheless, picture in his
mind’s eye the ghosts exchanging nervous looks.
On the other hand, Feng Xin kept glaring at him. For the first time in his life, Mu Qing bit his
tongue. The man in the ghost mask might not be allowed to kill them, but they were in
trouble. He could at least try not to make it worse.

Yin Yu pushed the wheelbarrow first through the streets of Ghost City and then through the
back door of Paradise Manor. The gods kept quiet all the way, as if they finally understood
how big a problem they were in. A problem that could only end in disaster from most angles
Yin Yu looked at it. He was just aiming for the one that wouldn’t.

The One Reason Yin Yu had a job—and a place to call home—was that Hua Cheng needed
someone to make his life easier so he could focus on searching for his Crown Prince. Now
that His Highness had been found, he brought with him the dawn of a new era in which Yin
Yu’s job was to make Hua Cheng’s life easier so he could focus on spending quality time
with his Crown Prince. This development had also added a handful of new items to Yin Yu’s
ever-growing list of tasks, all vaguely summarized as “keep His Highness happy.” In a rare
twist of good fortune, this turned out to be quite easy.

The Crown Prince was less demanding and more agreeable than Yin Yu had expected
between his royal status and, to be honest, his reputation as the fool who challenged the
Heavenly Emperor. Instead, he was closer to the idealized version Crimson Rain Sought
Flower kept talking about since they met. Closer, but not quite, which Yin Yu considered
would be more beneficial for his employer in the long run. Not that he had a right to have an
opinion.

Upon reaching his destination, a simple patio surrounded by high walls, he tilted the
wheelbarrow for the generals to hit the ground, stripping away whatever dignity they might
have thought they still had. Both of them grunted and tried to complain about their treatment.
Yin Yu didn’t allow them more than two words before he grabbed them by the back of their
robes, pulling them up until they were in a kneeling position, looking more like scolded
children than war prisoners. He was fast, removing his hand before either of them could think
of biting it.

“Generals,” he said as all the welcome they were going to have.

“Whatever you’re going to do, do it now,” said general Xuan Zhen.

“There’s no point in dragging it,” said general Nan Yang.

Behind his mask, Yin Yu raised an eyebrow.

“I am doing it,” he said. “I’m about to offer you a deal.”

They kept quiet, so he continued.

“Do you know what will happen when His Highness hears about what you two have done?
He’s going to get upset and then you can count yourselves lucky if all that Crimson Rain
Sought Flower does is have all your temples set on fire in an hour.” He made a pause for
effect and, then, he carried on. “But he doesn’t have to know. Neither of them.”

The gods exchanged a look.

“They don’t know?” general Xuan Zhen asked.

“I thought Hua Cheng would have us under surveillance,” general Nan Yang said.

Yin Yu remained in silence until they figured out he was the one surveilling them. They made
faces when they did. It was amusing.

“What’s in it for you?” general Xuan Zhen said.

“It’d make my life easier. Hua Chengzhu will be in a better mood if His Highness is happy,
and His Highness will be happy if the two of you behave like civilized people.”

General Xuan Zhen rolled his eyes and general Nan Yang’s mouth twisted. Yin Yu let them
and waited for the answer.

“Where are we?” general Xuan Zhen asked.

He had mellowed down. Slightly, but noticeably.

“My personal quarters,” Yin Yu said. “No one else in Ghost City will have you. If you want
to stay, this is the place.”

In the most grudging of ways, the gods turned their heads to look at each other. Interesting
how, despite their well-known mutual dislike, they had come this far together for their former
master. One had to respect that level of loyalty, Yin Yu thought despite himself.

“Fine,” general Nan Yang said. “What are your conditions?”

“Other than following the general rules of the household, at the first sign of you two fighting
again, I will put you in a barrel of pickles and kick it out of the city. That is all.”

General Xuan Zhen looked like he had swallowed a rusty nail.

“All right.”

He pushed those two words through his teeth as painfully as if the rusty nail had instead
pierced his tongue. General Nan Yang, on the other hand, just nodded in agreement with his
partner.

With a flick of his hand, Yin Yu recalled the God-Binding Rope and freed them.

“Follow me, then. Let’s have you settled.”

After collecting the money the heavenly officials owed the street merchants and the
innkeeper, the man in the ghost mask left Feng Xin and Mu Qing in what would be their
room from then on. They would still share it, but it was definitely an improvement over the
other one. For one, it was bigger. Much bigger, and it had two beds, each on an opposite
corner. There was also actual furniture and a sober atmosphere more fitting for a scholar than
for martial gods. But they were not going to start complaining about it when there was so
much at stake.

Mu Qing sat down on one of the beds. Feng Xin walked toward the other one, where he
flopped his back, hands under his head. Now that fighting between them was forbidden, there
was only one way they wouldn’t do it: ignore each other. However, that wouldn’t work in the
long run. Not with what they’d come here to do.

It was good while it lasted, though.

“He made it sound real,” Mu Qing began.

“What? Who?” Feng Xin replied.

“That guy in the mask. He made it sound as if Hua Cheng really cares about His Highness.”

Feng Xin sat up, arms folded and looking down at the clean floor. Mu Qing was right, and it
was terrible when Mu Qing was right. The problem was to convince Xie Lian.

Was there ever a time where the prince heeded advice from either of them? Xie Lian had
always been this willful. This stubborn. Once he got an idea ingrained in his head, it was
impossible to make him change his mind, and it had always been this exasperating.

“To me,” Feng Xin said, “Hua Cheng sounds like a child obsessed with a new toy.”

“For all we know, that’s Xie Lian’s frame of mind as well.”

“I’m not willing to wait until the novelty wears off so we can drag him away.” What if he got
hurt in the process? “Do we even know if Hua Cheng has had any other…” Feng Xin didn’t
even want to think of the word lovers in this context, so he gave up trying to say it. “Other…
you know, and what’s happened to them?”

“No one knows,” Mu Qing said. He rolled his eyes, although maybe because at this point in
his life it had become a reflex. “I asked around before I came here. If he’s ever had anyone
else, it’s never been public knowledge.”

“Now you’re making it sound like he’s never been interested in anyone else.”

Mu Qing’s mouth twisted further. He looked away while his fingers dug in his arm. It took
Feng Xin a moment to realize why Mu Qing was holding back the scathing reply he surely
had on the tip of his tongue. Provoking Feng Xin was forbidden no matter how much he
wanted to.

Feng Xin sighed and rubbed his face. He hated every single aspect of this mission, and he
wished that, if Xie Lian was going to break his vows, he would’ve chosen someone else.
Literally anyone else—who wasn’t a Calamity, anyway.

He stood up and went to one of the desks.

“Fine, let’s get to work.”

“What are you doing?”

“I’m going to make a list of every single one of Crimson Rain Sought Flower’s known sins.
One of them has to be a dealbreaker for His Highness.”

Mu Qing left the bed to stand behind Feng Xin, peeking over his shoulder.

“He said that he knew Hua Cheng better than anyone else, so he probably has heard his
version and swallowed it. We’ll need proof.”

“I’ll bring fucking witnesses if I have to,” Feng Xin said.

“ We’ll bring fucking witnesses if we have to,” Mu Qing added, dragging another chair so he
could sit down next to Feng Xin.

And, with that, they began drafting their very long list.

Night had fallen when Yin Yu found the generals bent over a desk, heads pressed together
and whispering to each other. That was not fighting, so he stood a few steps away, waiting for
them to realize he was there. When they didn’t after a while, he cleared his throat. That did
the trick.

“Is everything alright?” he asked.

“Everything is fine,” general Xuan Zhen said. “But we need your help.”

Next to him, general Nan Yang’s mouth became a thin line indicating that yes, they needed it
and that no, he didn’t like it.

Yin Yu got closer.

“What is it?”

He kept his hand close to the God-Binding Rope he still carried. Just in case.
 “We’re compiling Crimson Rain Sought Flower’s greatest… feats,” general Xuan Zhen
explained. “You must be aware of some that are not so commonly known thanks to your
position.”

General Nan Yang tilted his head and raised an eyebrow in obvious appreciation of his peer’s
wording.

Regardless, it was a peculiar request. Easy to fulfill, too. Yin Yu leaned down to take a look
at what they’d already written down. A good deal of the items were indeed actions attributed
to Hua Cheng, but only that. He hadn’t done them. However, there was no point in
commenting on them when the main topic was far more entertaining.

“Is this your plan for impressing His Highness?”

The heavenly officials exchanged a surprised look, which Yin Yu answered by chuckling
inwardly. Outwardly, he shrugged.

“It’s fine. There’s nothing in the rules against it,” Yin Yu said.

“What rules?”

“The ones in the competition you have going with Hua Chengzhu over His Highness the
Crown Prince.” They kept quiet, so Yin Yu continued. “He himself laid them down for you:
don’t fight Crimson Rain Sought Flower and don’t try to take him away by force. Other than
that…” He shrugged again and gestured toward the list. “This is fair game. Now, let’s see.”

The generals wrote down every detail Yin Yu told them without question. The more
gruesome the story, the more enthusiastic they got, so he felt free to adorn his tales here and
there. Yin Yu wasn’t privy to everything in his employer’s life, but from what he did know
about the Ghost King and the Crown Prince, none of this would have any bearing on the
opinion and feelings of the latter toward the former. Yin Yu was sure of that, especially after
the incident at the Gambler’s Den, where Xie Lian had presented himself as ruthless-but-fair,
a perfect match to Hua Cheng. Therefore, he was not being disloyal by playing the part of a
good host. Besides, once on paper, those stories had the potential of reaching the mortal
world as further testament of Hua Cheng’s power, earning him more believers and reinforcing
the faith of the existing ones.

It was amusing that these gods thought that what made Hua Cheng strong would be the thing
to defeat him. More and more, Yin Yu was glad not to be up in the Heavenly realm anymore.
Despite a few annoyances, his current life was more than satisfying and he was not in a hurry
to change anything about it.

Chapter End Notes

And then there was only one bed and they used it as a weapon. :P
I hope Yin Yu gets that raise someday. He deserves it.
 Part 2: "Rescue" | Chapter 5
Chapter Summary

In which three friends have a conversation.

Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Xie Lian returned to Paradise Manor from an unsuccessful trip to the inn and made a beeline
to hide his face on Hua Cheng’s chest. Caught by surprise, the latter dropped whatever he
held in his hand—probably a book since they were in his study—, wrapped one hand around
Xie Lian’s shoulder, and began to stroke his hair with the other.

“What is it, gege?” he asked in a sweet, warm voice even before Xie Lian could let out the
whining noise building up in his throat.

“They’re gone.”

“Oh.” Hua Cheng took a moment to answer while he figured out who Xie Lian meant. “I’m
sorry to hear that.”

He sounded as sorry as the innkeeper when he told Xie Lian that the heavenly officials had
left: none at all. Nevertheless, Xie Lian appreciated Hua Cheng’s effort to be reassuring as
much as he enjoyed being in his arms.

“Don’t worry, gege. You’ll see them again.”

“I’m not worried,” Xie Lian replied, his voice muffled by Hua Cheng’s clothes. “I’m—” Sad.
Disappointed. “I thought they’d stay for longer. That’s all. There’s a lot of catching up to do.
Or maybe I misunderstood their intentions all along.”

Hua Cheng hugged him closer and kissed his forehead more warmly and gently than any
ghost had the right to be.

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

The most rational part of Xie Lian’s mind told him that Hua Cheng was all but asking for
permission to hunt Mu Qing and Feng Xin down. The rest of him knew he shouldn’t find this
endearing, but he couldn’t help it. Thus, the warm and fuzzy feelings shared space with a
pinch of guilt. Only a pinch, because he would never request such a thing from the Ghost
King.

“Can we stay like this?” he asked. “It’s nice.”

“Of course,” Hua Cheng replied.

While Xie Lian rested his weight on him, Hua Cheng began to trace circles on his scalp just
on the right spot. For centuries, the existence of this specific area of his body had escaped
Xie Lian’s notice. Yet, it had taken Hua Cheng a handful of nights to discover this one and
others. He memorized them with ease and used them to his advantage whenever Xie Lian
was within arm’s distance. Despite the unfair advantage it gave him, for Xie Lian it was
comforting to know someone out there willing to reassure him, and that this someone was not
repelled by his touch.

Xie Lian lost track of time at some point. He closed his eyes and opened them again to find
his head resting on Hua Cheng’s lap and he wore his red outer robes as a blanket.

“What—?” he mumbled, rubbing his eyes but otherwise not moving. “How long—”

“Not much,” Hua Cheng answered, smug. “Did you rest well?”

“I did. Thanks.” Xie Lian brought the robes up to his nose. Hua Cheng was right there, but
smelling him through his clothes was a different experience. To be honest, Xie Lian wasn’t
sure he wanted to give them back.

Still embarrassed at having fallen asleep like that, Xie Lian grabbed one of Hua Cheng’s
hands. He played with it, sliding his fingers all over the palm and he examined its elegance
and strength. This hand had played a big role in making him feel safe and in taking him to the
heights of pleasure. How could he not love it the same way he loved its owner?

Not long ago, all he had in the world was Ruoye, the clothes on his back, and a pile of scrap.
Now, everything he needed and everything he could ever want was right next to him. He
didn’t mean the luxuries surrounding him in the manor, not in the slightest. They were nice,
but losing them would not stop him from having a good night’s sleep. Hua Cheng, though,
was another matter. As long as they could be together, spending the rest of their days under a
bridge would be a bliss. Xie Lian had no doubts about it; he had lived alone under enough
bridges to know there was a difference.

Ever since Hua Cheng had proposed, Xie Lian planned to say yes. Yet, he had behaved and
honored his promise to think about it no matter how much his heart wanted to scream. Hua
Cheng was so sweet and considerate and he listened . It had been so long since anyone
listened to Xie Lian, since anyone had paid real attention to what he had to say. Furthermore,
Hua Cheng had witnessed—no, he had experienced the worst of Xie Lian and he still
accepted him. Hua Cheng understood him. Thanks to him, Xie Lian no longer saw life as an
endless succession of meaningless day after meaningless day.

Fine then. That was it. This was it. Today was the day.

Today, he would answer.

When he sat up, Xie Lian maneuvered the red robes so they’d now be on his shoulders. His
eyes were fixed on Hua Cheng, who followed his movements with enough warmth in his
remaining eye to compensate for the lack of the other.
Despite his resolution, it took Xie Lian a moment of grabbing tight fists of the red robes to
gather the courage he needed.

“San Lang…”

He stopped when he noticed Hua Cheng’s nose wrinkling in annoyance, the way it always did
when something interrupted them. He was getting a message through the spiritual
communication array.

“San Lang?”

Mouth twisted into a pout, Hua Cheng hesitated.

“San Lang, if it’s work…”

“It’s not work, gege,” Hua Cheng whined. He squeezed Xie Lian’s hand before continuing.
“Your former servants are at the entrance of the manor. They’re requesting an audience.”

Xie Lian tilted his head.

“My former ser—” He beamed when he realized who Hua Cheng meant. Not only because
his friends were back, but because he understood how difficult it was for Hua Cheng to tell
him about it. “Thank you for letting me know.”

Hua Cheng relaxed under the kiss with which Xie Lian showed his appreciation.

“Go see them, gege. I’ll wait right here.”

Xie Lian kissed Hua Cheng one more time before getting up. The Answer to The Question
would have to wait. It wouldn’t do to say it just to leave to see other people right afterward.
They needed time to talk and discuss and make plans. Resigned, he stood up, giving Hua
Cheng’s robes back.

“I’ll come back soon,” he said.

Hua Cheng squeezed his hand one more time before letting him go.

Xie Lian decided his happiness would remain undeterred by Feng Xin and Mu Qing looking
like determined sour grapes. The handful of scrolls they held tightly against their chests
raised his curiosity, but he was not going to start their reunion by asking them about it. Sadly,
though, he didn’t even get to say hello.

“We need to talk,” Feng Xin began in a firm and commanding voice that would have scared
most everyone. Not Xie Lian, though. Not even when Mu Qing joined the fray with his
twisted mouth and eyes rolled up high. He had seen them like that so often whenever they
had Opinions on whatever Xie Lian was up to, and even now it was easy to go back to the
routine of shrugging them off.

“Let’s go to a private area,” Mu Qing said.

Xie Lian swallowed a sigh.

“Come on, then,” he said, turning around to go back into the Manor. “This way.”

“Wait!” Feng Xin said. “In there?”

“We’ll go to my private garden,” Xie Lian said without stopping. “If there’s a place in the
ghost realm where we won’t run into gossiping ghosts, that is it.”

“What about—?”

Xie Lian shook his head.

“He’s not very keen on spending time with you, socially or otherwise. He’ll only come if I
call him.”

“He hates us, you know?” Feng Xin said.

“He doesn’t— Well, maybe he does despise you somewhat. Hate is too personal.” Xie Lian
stopped and turned to look at Feng Xin and Mu Qing when they didn’t answer. Their eyes
avoided him too. “But you do believe it, don’t you? That he hates you.” Xie Lian folded his
arms inside his sleeves. “What did you do?”

Mu Qing was the first one to react, taking half a step forward in a defensive stance.

“Why do you think we were the ones who did anything?”

“Hua Cheng is a neutral being. He’ll leave you alone if you leave him alone.”

As he said that, Xie Lian braced himself for the two of them to start protesting again.
However, their faces grew even grimmer.

“Listen to us first,” Feng Xin said, raising his arms to bring his attention to the scrolls he
carried.

“Alright,” Xie Lian said after looking from one to the other, and he resumed his way to the
garden.

Feng Xin’s and Mu Qing’s steps soon resonated behind him. However, their stubborn silence
gave way to a subdued gasp when they reached Xie Lian’s garden. They weren’t expecting to
find this kind of beauty in Paradise Manor, surely. With a gesture of his hand, Xie Lian
invited them to take a seat at the table next to the pond where Xie Lian and Hua Cheng
normally shared breakfast. From there, they could see the fish coming and going, which only
added to the serenity of the scene.
As the only introduction Xie Lian was going to have, Feng Xin unrolled on the table the first
one of the scrolls he carried. Then, he and Mu Qing took turns to read gruesome tale after
gruesome tale featuring the Red Calamity as the main villain. Xie Lian listened without
raising a protest or moving a finger. He didn’t have a reason not to believe that most of that
had happened, and even that some of it might have been executed by Crimson Rain Sought
Flower. But Hua Cheng was who he was. He was what he was, and he acted according to his
nature. Why would anyone blame him for it?

Soon enough, Xie Lian’s attention drifted away from the endless droning to focus on how the
two men in front of him had overcome their mutual dislike to work together toward one goal.
A shame it had to be this one, though. Regardless, it was commendable.

“Xie Lian? Xie Lian!” Mu Qing slapped his fist on the table.

“Sorry, what?” Xie Lian asked, now back from his abstraction. “I’m sorry. It began to get
repetitive and I lost track.”

He ended with an apologetic smile that didn’t stop Mu Qing from making a face nor Feng
Xin from grunting and rubbing his forehead.

“You’re not sorry at all!” Mu Qing exclaimed.

“None of this matters to you,” Feng Xin said with a pained expression.

“On the contrary,” Xie Lian said, now waving his hands in front of him. “It matters a lot! I
really appreciate your efforts and all you’ve gone through. I do! But—”

“But it won’t change your mind,” Mu Qing interrupted.

“It won’t change my heart.”

Both of them growled and Feng Xin looked, once more, about to flip the table.

“You are under a spell!” he said, tapping the scrolls with a furious finger. “Where is that
proud, righteous prince we once knew? The one who would be horrified by all of this and
wouldn’t stand by it?”

Xie Lian allowed himself to sigh loudly this time. It was all he could do not to tell him that
the naive fool he was referring to hadn’t been around for a long time.

“Have you ever punished anyone since you became gods?” he asked instead. “A misbehaving
junior official? A thug who mistreated your followers?” Xie Lian made a pause while his
guests answered with affirmative, confused grunts. “In all your stories, those Hua Cheng goes
after are people who think they can outsmart him. Or they dare to challenge him. As I said
before, leave him alone and he’ll leave you alone. The ones who’ve suffered by his hands
brought it on themselves.”

“What about the thirty-three gods he challenged?” Mu Qing asked.

“The version I know says you two were challenged as well and, yet, here you are.”
“We refused him,” Feng Xin said.

“Did he ever go after you because of it?”

“…no,” Mu Qing said, sourness dripping from his tongue.

Xie Lian relaxed his face, barely stopping himself from smiling.

However, as he did, Feng Xin said, “Yes.”

At first, Mu Qing seemed to be just as surprised as Xie Lian. But then, it was as he
remembered something and shook his head.

“Oh, right. That,” he said.

“That what?” Xie Lian asked.

Feng Xin answered by pointing at Xie Lian’s face.

“You,” he said. “He found out about our connection to you and he targeted you to lure us to
his territory.”

It took a long moment for Xie Lian to process those words. He glanced at Feng Xin looking
for further explanation, but the latter just shrugged.

“It’s a theory,” Mu Qing said. “He came up with it all by himself. I wasn’t going to
discourage him when he was so proud of it.”

Feng Xin hit the table with his hand and stood up, facing Mu Qing.

“What exactly do you mean by that?”

Mu Qing stood up as well.

“We’ve already been in his dungeon! Why did he let us go if we were not what he was after?”

“He’s toying with us!”

Xie Lian rested his head on his hand. It had taken them a while, but they had fallen down on
the familiar spiral of their usual arguments in the end.

“Stop it, you two, or you’re going to start reciting proverbs. I don’t want you to destroy my
garden in a fight.”

Mu Qing and Feng Xin stopped making faces at each other to answer to Xie Lian.

“We’re not fighting—!”

However, as soon as they realized that they were, indeed, about to start fighting, they sat
down again, although now facing opposite directions.
“It’s not like that, you know?” Xie Lian said. “It’s not like that at all. My relationship with
Hua Cheng has nothing to do with either of you.”

“Whatever.” Feng Xin pushed the scrolls, all of them, read and unread, toward Xie Lian.
“Take a look at them when you’re alone.”

Xie Lian placed a hand on them.

“Fine,” he said, and he would if only out of respect for the time they had spent writing them.
“Although I make no promises.”

“It’ll be a start, anyway,” Mu Qing said.

Xie Lian stared at the scrolls. He had intended to share with them his news, the proposal, and
what he planned on answering. But they were so bent on taking him away from his beloved.
Yet, a small part of him couldn’t blame them, not with Hua Cheng’s reputation being what it
was. It was just that they ignored everything about Xie Lian’s own sins. And it would stay
that way for the time being. To be honest, Xie Lian didn’t know if he’d ever be ready to tell
them.

“Hua Cheng—my Hua Cheng—is very good to me,” he said in a lower, gentler voice. “He’s
sweet, kind, and generous. It won’t matter if our story ends the way you forebode. I will
always be happy and grateful for having experienced this by his side.”

Upon hearing those words, Feng Xin’s face became very hard to read. Was it regret he felt?
Guilt? Pity? Xie Lian got only as far as ‘conflicted.’

The three of them remained quiet for a moment until Feng Xin broke the silence. By then, he
seemed to have settled on resigned. Despondent, even.

“Your Highness, for your sake,” he murmured, his gaze turned to the pond, “I hope all that
you believe is true.”

Xie Lian felt a warm wave spreading from his chest to the rest of his body. He beamed at the
same time his eyes prickled.

“Thank you, Feng Xin.”

“Are you really fine with this?” Mu Qing asked, glaring harder than he’d done so far.

Feng Xin’s mouth twitched.

“Of course I’m not fine with any of this! And I’m not giving up! But it— It beats the
alternative, doesn’t it?” Feng Xin then caught a glimpse of Xie Lian and panicked. “Why are
you crying now?”

“I’m not—” However, when Xie Lian touched his cheeks, he found them wet. It was then
that he realized he did feel like crying, and he began to swallow sobs while he wiped his face
with his sleeves. “It’s all too much and your words are so—” He took a deep breath. “Thank
you. Thank you, really.”
“He’s not giving you his best wishes!” Mu Qing exclaimed. “And it’s not like you’re getting
married—” When he got there, he began to panic. “You’re not—are you?”

Xie Lian felt his face growing warm.

“I didn’t mean for you to find out like this but Hua Cheng did propose. I haven’t answered
him yet, but I want—”

Feng Xin jumped over the table in a graceful arch so he could cover Xie Lian’s mouth before
he finished the phrase.

“Shut up! You cannot answer that question the way you are now!”

“Besides!” Mu Qing added, “How long has it been since you met him? One month? Five
weeks?”

Longer. It had been much longer. However, it wasn’t just Xie Lian’s story. It didn’t appear in
any folktale, in any legend. No one but Xie Lian and Hua Cheng themselves knew about it. It
was something that belonged only to them, and, at the moment, that was how Xie Lian liked
it.

He grabbed Feng Xin’s hand and pushed it down.

“Does it matter?”

“Yes, it does!” Feng Xin and Mu Qing yelled at the same time while the first shoved his hand
back up.

“Even if it didn’t,” Feng Xin said, “he’s— you’re—”

Mu Qing exploded, throwing his hands up in the air.

“You’d be marrying down!”

Both Feng Xin and Xie Lian stared at him for a long moment.

“What?” Mu Qing continued. “Now you’re gonna pretend that’s not the case?”

Gently, Xie Lian moved Feng Xin’s away and took a few steps around the table, toward Mu
Qing.

“If anything,” Xie Lian said, “it’s the opposite.”

Mu Qing raised his hand.

“Stop,” he said.

“Yes, stop it,” Feng Xin said. He had gone back to stand next to Mu Qing. They were joining
forces again. “There’s no need for you to put yourself down like that.”
 Xie Lian couldn’t help a bitter chuckle from escaping him. When he realized, it was already
too late. He did, however, bit his lips so he wouldn’t rub on their faces how little they knew.

“Is that what he tells you?” Feng Xin continued.

“No, it’s not,” Xie Lian said. It was the opposite despite Hua Cheng having strong evidence
of Xie Lian’s worst flaws. Xie Lian was the one who kept telling himself those things. He
sighed. “Just to bring it out in the open: I haven’t given him an answer because he asked me
to think about it.”

“Well, keep thinking,” Mu Qing said in a tone that said, with utmost clarity, that if it were up
to him, Xie Lian should think about it until the end of time.

It was a good thing that it didn’t depend on them, then.

“Just—think it further,” Feng Xin said. “Don’t let infatuation dictate a path you’ll regret.” He
made a pause to exhale. “If only you knew the kind of prayers I have to listen to when people
let their nether parts make their choices—”

“Wait,” Xie Lian said. “Aren’t you a martial god? Those sound like prayers better suited for a
fertility god…”

Mu Qing snickered.

“Oh! You’re going to love this!” he said.

Feng Xin’s eyes widened and he began throwing punches that Mu Qing evaded with ease.

“Don’t you dare!

“What? Dare to what?” Xie Lian asked. “Will you—? Stop fighting!”

As soon as they heard him, they froze and sat down at the table again. Annoyed, Feng Xin
folded his arms over the table. On the other hand, Mu Qing’s mood had improved and he told
Xie Lian the story of a spelling mistake, poems and all.

Xie Lian couldn’t say he loved it, but he’d be lying if he didn’t find it amusing.

Chapter End Notes

I loved writing this chapter. :)

Thank you for reading!

Promo tweet!
Feel free to come and see my cats!
 Part 2: "Rescue" | Chapter 6
Chapter Summary

In which Mu Qing and Feng Xin get some help.

Dressed in the flimsiest inner robes, Xie Lian ran around the room looking for some trinket
or another while he shared the details of his day. From the bed, wearing nothing but the red
bead in his hair and the red thread in his finger, Hua Cheng listened. He adjusted his elbow to
be both more comfortable and raised his head a little higher to get a better angle.

It was glorious to see Xie Lian like this, so giddy he forgot what he was searching for
because he got distracted talking. After spending so much time yearning to hear that voice,
Hua Cheng wouldn’t get tired of this, even when he despised the subject matter. On the other
hand, this was about the humiliation of said subject matter, which gave it a nice silver lining.

Xie Lian finally climbed on the bed.

“To be honest,” he said, kneeling next to Hua Cheng, “I don’t understand how nobody
brought it to Feng Xin’s attention as soon as it happened. Preventing the mistake from
spreading at the start would’ve been easier.”

Hua Cheng smiled, moving his head to rest on Xie Lian’s lap. He had heard about the
incident, got a laugh out of it, and then he forgot about the whole thing. Now, he was glad to
see Xie Lian was not offended on his former servant’s behalf and not only because this meant
he could mock the heavenly official again.

“It could be worse, I guess,” Xie Lian added while he stroked Hua Cheng’s hair.

Hua Cheng purred and looked up at his lover.

His lover. What a joy to be able to call him that.

“It could be,” Hua Cheng said. “Imagine if mortals had found a way to worship him as a
eunuch instead.”

Xie Lian covered his mouth with his hand.

“San Lang!”

Hua Cheng nuzzled himself further on Xie Lian’s lap.

“Yes, gege?”
“You’re terrible.” Xie Lian’s fingers dug into his neck to massage it. “You know, they think
you hate them. Feng Xin and Mu Qing.”

“I do hate them. They’re disgusting.”

“Because they’re heavenly officials? Or is it personal as they believe?”

Hua Cheng was about to answer when he realized what he could be walking into—what he
had already walked into. He’d have to consider his next words carefully. To say that he didn’t
hate them would be a lie too transparent. On the other hand, to accept how much he did might
displease Xie Lian, who spoke of those two with a fondness they didn’t deserve.

“Ah. I see.”

Well, it seemed that his silence did the speaking for him. He might as well go ahead and say
it out loud.

“It’s both, gege.”

Xie Lian’s expression became serious. However, as Hua Cheng tried to think of a proper
apology, Xie Lian poked the Ghost King’s cheek with a finger.

“I’m sorry, San Lang. I shouldn’t have pried. You don’t need to tell me what they did to
offend you.”

Hua Cheng sat up to stare at Xie Lian’s face.

What those two had done to offend him? It was all about what they had done to offend—hurt
—Xie Lian! How could he not tell? Had he forgiven them? Or—worse—did he think he
deserved their betrayal?

Xie Lian tilted his head.

“What is it?”

Anything he said next, would make Hua Cheng sound like a brat. Thus, this once he didn’t
waste time thinking. Instead, he leaned forward and kissed Xie Lian.

“You’re so sweet and generous, gege,” Hua Cheng murmured.

There. No lies at all.

He felt Xie Lian’s smile against his lips.

“You’re so kind, San Lang.”

“Can I show you the entirety of my appreciation?”

“Yes,” Xie Lian sighed, placing a hand on Hua Cheng’s shoulder as he allowed himself to be
lowered to the bed for further distraction.
Good. Things were going well, exactly how Hua Cheng wanted them to be.

It took them a while but, in the end, Mu Qing and Feng Xin dared to try the food sold on the
streets of Ghost City without Xie Lian around. The man in the ghost mask had confirmed
within everyone’s hearing range that, as long as the heavenly officials behaved, tampering
with their meals—or any of their belongings, for that matter—would make the crown prince
sad which in turn would make Hua Chengzhu angry, and no one wanted to see Hua Chengzhu
angry. He didn’t say that last part, but that was the general sentiment left lingering afterward.
As for the heavenly officials, they agreed to behave even though being under the Ghost
King’s indirect protection like this made them seethe, but they weren’t ready to give up on
their self-appointed mission just yet.

Soon, Mu Qing discovered something else that also made him seethe: the food was good.
Feng Xin’s expression showed he thought the same. In mutual agreement, they decided not to
mention it at all ever.

They were, then, enjoying their lunch despite their best efforts, when an unknown woman
wearing fancy robes in light colors sat down between them.

“You have some nerve,” she said in a whisper as she glared.

“Excuse me?” Mu Qing said while Feng Xin choked on his noodles.

“You’re here, sitting in the open like this, not even hiding you’re from the Middle Court!”
She sighed and held her chin with her hand. “Were you sent to look into the latest gossip?
Or…” She leaned forward and lowered her voice. “Were you the ones behind it?”

Feng Xin left his bowl of noodles on the table with a loud thud.

“Who are you to question us? Do you know who we—our generals are?”

The woman reached for the fan stuck in her sash, opening it and closing it in a quick
movement. However, it had been enough to let them see what was written on it.

“You’re—”

The Wind Master tapped her mouth with the closed fan and winked.

“Discretion, please. We’re undercover.”

“We?”

It was then that Mu Qing noticed a slurping sound too close for comfort. He looked to his left
and found a taller woman dressed in black and, according to the number of bowls piled,
already on her fourth noodle serving. That had to be the Earth Master. The friendship she had
with the Wind Master was well-known even to those who didn’t give any fucks, like Mu
Qing. Besides, only a god—or a Calamity—would’ve been able to sneak on them like that.
Regardless, their arrival was both worrisome and inconvenient.

“Which gossip are you referring to, exactly?” Mu Qing said, in a more polite voice he
would’ve liked, but they had appearances to keep. “Is this about the Ghost King’s Bride?”

“Yes. Although more about the part where two heavenly officials tried to kidnap the Ghost
King’s Bride. Humans are already writing plays about how General Pei roped the Water
Master into that. They’re both mildly annoyed about it, but not enough to pursue it. I, on the
other hand, just had to know who did it, so we came to investigate.” She narrowed her eyes.
“So, are your generals involved in this?”

Mu Qing and Feng Xin exchanged a look and, for the first time in hundreds of years, Feng
Xin reached out through their personal spiritual communication array.

“They could help, ” Feng Xin said through the array. “ I know His Highness said to leave
others away from this, but… ”

“ But we didn’t bring them. They brought themselves in, ” Mu Qing finished, acknowledging
it but also keeping his feelings on the matter out of his face. “It’s a personal matter,” he said
now out loud for the other two gods.

However, before he could explain himself any further, the Wind Master, all wide-eyed and
sparkling, interrupted him.

“Oh! Which one of you fancies the Bride?”

Both Feng Xin and Mu Qing jumped to their feet.

“It’s not like that!” they yelled at the same time.

Feng Xin began, “He’s an old—”

“—acquaintance!” finished Mu Qing.

“We’re just trying to bring him to his senses!”

“He’s always been a stubborn ass, but this time he must be under a spell!”

The Wind Master pouted.

“Aw, too bad. It would’ve been so exciting to help reunite young lovers. It sounds better than
merely helping three friends.” She sighed and turned to the Earth Master. “What do you
think, Ming-jie?”

“No,” the Earth Master said in a flat voice as she left aside a sixth empty bowl on the pile.

“Ming-jie! We at least need to make sure their friend is here because he wants to!”
“Two competent heavenly officials, even from the Middle Court, should be able to tell if
someone they know is under a spell.”

“This one would’ve been cast by a Calamity,” the Wind Master insisted. “I’d like to check
things myself.”

“Of course you would,” the Earth Master said, resigned, as she accepted a tray with steamed
buns from the owner of the food stall.

“Very well,” the Wind Master said, delighted. She turned to the generals. “Now, I need you to
get me an audience with your friend.”

Feng Xin’s thin line of a mouth made it clear that he was on the edge of punching someone’s
face, and they couldn’t afford that. Thus, Mu Qing, even though he felt as insulted by the
Earth Master’s implications, nudged him with his foot. Feng Xin glared at him, but he
seemed to understand because he gripped his knees instead and took deep breaths.

Crisis averted. For now.

“Fine. We’ll get you an audience,” Mu Qing said.

“But we’ll need a good cover story,” Feng Xin added.

“Mmm. The stories say your friend has a soft spot for supplicants. I could be one.”

Feng Xin snorted.

“He won’t buy that from us. Knowing him, he’d scold us for not helping you ourselves.”

“He’d have a point,” the Earth Master said between the last bites of the last bun.

“How about an admirer?” the Wind Master said.

“What? You prayed to their generals so you could meet the Ghost King’s Bride?” the Earth
Master said. “Like they’re going to grant that.”

“Ming-jie! You’re such a spoilsport!”

“She’s being realistic,” Mu Qing said.

Next to him, Feng Xin nodded.

“Then what?” the Wind Master said, leaning backward on her chair, arms folded and cheeks
puffed. “Let’s see if you have any good ideas.”

The Earth Master fished out a piece of paper from her sleeve and she put it on the table.

“They were handing these out at the entrance,” she said. “Do with it what you want.”

The paper was a pamphlet in poor taste and garish colors reminding every resident of Ghost
City that their Lord Mayor’s birthday was coming, and it called everyone to a town-wide
meeting to help organize the festivities.

“They do like him, huh,” the Wind Master said.

“How is this going to help us?” Feng Xin asked.

“Xie Lian hasn’t mentioned any of this,” Mu Qing said after musing for a bit. “It’s likely
this’ll catch him by surprise. Otherwise, he would’ve told us about it and pestered us asking
for gift suggestions. I think,” he added, raising his eyes from the paper to his co-conspirators,
“that this is how we can do it. You can be a seller of novelty items.”

“Oh! That’s brilliant!” The Wind Master clapped, delighted. “I have a lot of stuff in my
palace that’d work for this. I’ll get it and then we’ll reconvene tomorrow in this place.”

After agreeing to the plan, the generals said their goodbyes to the other gods. The Wind
Master and the Earth Master stood up and left, leaving them with the bill.

As soon as he saw it, Mu Qing yelled.

“What the—?!”

“What is it?” Feng Xin asked.

In response, Mu Qing put the bill in front of his face.

“How did the Earth Master eat that much?” he asked now, eyes wide.

“The cook must’ve inflated it thinking we’d never notice,” Mu Qing mumbled. “Either way,
we have to cover the full amount if we want to come back tomorrow.”

“Right,” Feng Xin agreed with a grump.

“Leave a good tip too,” Mu Qing said, walking away after pocketing the pamphlet the other
two gods left behind and not bothering to pay attention to Feng Xin’s protests.

***

“I must apologize. With yesterday’s excitement, I forgot to ask your names,” the Wind
Master said. Her clothes were plainer than the ones she wore the day before, and she covered
herself with a sober cloak. The Earth Master, on the other hand, continued to wear black
robes and an expression that made clear how little she wanted to be there. On the plus side,
neither of them looked any more suspicious than the average Ghost City resident.

“Nan Feng.”

“Fu Yao.”
“So, how was the evening on your end, Nan Feng and Fu Yao?”

“As predicted,” Mu Qing said. “He went into a frenzy when we told him the news and he’s
very eager to meet you and see what you have to offer.”

“Good. I brought a range of spiritual tools, including a doll that changes colors when anyone
under a spell picks it up. It’s supposed to catch even the subtlest ones but I’ll be on it as well.
Don’t worry, either of you, we will find out for sure whether your friend is here by his own
free will or not.”

Mu Qing began to nod as a way to acknowledge her words and show appreciation, but she
held her finger up and continued.

“However, we should also take into consideration that he’s not suffered any form of coercion
and he’s here because he’s willing and in love. Just think!” she exclaimed before either Feng
Xin or Mu Qing could protest. “Think of what could be accomplished by someone as gentle
as the stories say having the Ghost King’s ear. Your friend is as gentle as the stories say,
right?” she added after a cautious pause.

“That and then some,” Feng Xin said, glaring at the wall next to him in a low voice. His
glower provided a sharp contrast to his now soft tone. “Gentle, strong, and stubborn.
Definitely not a doormat.”

Which means he won’t allow the heavenly realm to manipulate Hua Cheng through him, Mu
Qing thought, although it might not be a good political move to say it out loud like that.

“He won’t allow the heavenly realm to manipulate Hua Cheng through him,” Feng Xin said.
His frown was now accompanied by a smile that, although small, was full of pride.

Mu Qing rolled his eyes, annoyed at being unable to find it in himself to tell Feng Xin to shut
up even though he should.

“I didn’t mean it like that!” the Wind Master protested. “Fine, maybe a little— In any case—
Hear me out! Stop making that face, Nan Feng! It’s scary! The keywords here are ‘good
influence.’ A little less maiming here, not so much bloodshed there… We could even save
ourselves some patches of land from being covered in bloody rain. What do you think, Ming-
jie?”

The Earth Master shrugged one shoulder and didn’t answer since her mouth was full of candy
she had gotten out of who knew where.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” Mu Qing said as he stood up, unwilling to let
himself be trapped by another gigantic bill. This time it wouldn’t be so easy to saddle Feng
Xin with it. “Let’s go. He’s expecting us.”

***
Because of the nature of this visit, they didn’t go to Paradise Manor. Xie Lian had insisted on
seeing them in a private room at the most disreputable teahouse Mu Qing had ever been to.
The room was clean, at least. Cleaner than the rest of the establishment, like they had made
an effort for Xie Lian’s sake.

When the four gods walked into the room, Xie Lian, who, by the looks of it, had been pacing
all over, hurried to greet them, stopping close from grabbing Mu Qing and Feng Xin’s hands
in relief.

“Here you are! Thank you again! If you hadn’t told me… After you left, I found the people
organizing the festivities. They’re keeping the news away from the Manor because they want
it to be a surprise for Hua Cheng. They thought I already knew. You can’t imagine how many
apologies I’m getting.”

“It’s fine. We’re here now,” Feng Xin said, patting Xie Lian’s shoulder somewhat awkwardly,
but the former prince seemed to relax under the gesture.

Mu Qing folded his arms and pointed at the Wind Master with his head.

“These are the people we told you about.”

Xie Lian beamed as he greeted them and welcomed them. The Wind Master beamed right
back, bowing her head as she came right in.

“It’s an honor to meet you,” she said. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Xie Lian looked at Feng Xin and Mu Qing, head tilted and questioning.

“There are a few plays about you and your romance with Crimson Rain Sought Flower,” the
Wind Master continued, saving them from having to answer. “I got to see a couple of them!
They’re so inspiring!”

That left Xie Lian even more confused.

“Plays? Already?” His sigh was followed by a fond smile. Worse yet, he was blushing in shy
delight. “Mortals. Always doing what they want.”

“I know, right,” the Wind Master said. “They can be so endearing.”

Behind them, Mu Qing, Feng Xin, and the Earth Master rolled their eyes at the same time.

Unafraid and earnest, the Wind Master held Xie Lian’s hands on her own and had him lean
forward so they could trade confidences. Xie Lian went cheerfully along with it.

“And how is he? Crimson Rain Sought Flower, I mean. I saw him once from afar and he was
terrifying. With you he must be really sweet, though. He’d better, too. You’re so kind and
lovely!”

Flustered, Xie Lian retrieved one of his hands to scratch his nose.
“Ah. You’re— Your words—Thank you for thinking so highly of me. To—ah, to answer your
question, yes. Hua Cheng is very good to me. He’s gentle and supportive, and he makes me
happy.”

Mu Qing bit his tongue not to growl or to be imprudent, and he took a look around. Feng Xin
and the Earth Master were watching the scene with the same revolted expression on their
faces. The three of them were probably thinking the same thing: the Wind Master was a
skillful merchant, able to win customers over with ease. Getting a hold of Xie Lian’s hands
was also clever. By doing that and looking into his eyes, she should’ve been able to check if
there was any evil magic in him. Her lack of reaction indicated that she hadn’t found any
cause of immediate concern.

The Wind Master cooed, reinforcing that idea.

“I’m so glad to hear that,” she said. “Let’s talk business, then. I’m sure you’d like to acquire
the best present for his birthday, correct? Here, let me show you what I have.”

She extended her hand to the side. Without a word, as if they had rehearsed it—or if they had
spoken through their private spiritual communication array—, the Earth Master produced a
small pouch from her sleeve and handed it over before returning to her spot next to the door.
The Wind Master thanked her with a smile and a wink and took a series of interesting objects
out of it. They were remarkable, exactly what one would expect one of the richest gods to
have as decoration in their palace. Yet, here she was, laying them down on the table as if they
were simple knick knacks on a street market.

“Here!” she said when she was done, sitting down behind the table, which was now her place
of business. “Please, go ahead! Take as many good looks as you need!”

“That’s a lovely Qiankun pouch,” Xie Lian said, referring to the one she had used to carry her
merchandise.

“Thanks! It’s a present from my brother. I’m sorry to say it’s not for sale.”

“Of course. I wouldn’t dare.”

That said, Xie Lian began to examine the items one by one, carefully picking them up and
placing them down again.

“They’re all quite interesting,” he murmured.

“Aren’t they?” the Wind Master said. She rested her head on her hand. “Do you have any
preference? No, the real question should be: does he have any preference?”

“He has plenty of interests,” Xie Lian said. “And he seems to have one of everything. That’s
why it’s difficult.”

“I’m sure that, no matter what you choose, he will treasure it because it came from you.”

Xie Lian’s blush went from surprised to confident in record time.

Mu Qing scoffed and looked out the window. He had spent some of his formative years
working for Xie Lian and he had seen him being a fool in countless ways. Yet, the fool in
love was a new one. The crown prince from the past had considered himself above the mortal
need of romantic love, but that was gone. He was a different person now. The three of them
were. Maybe that was why, despite considering it irrational to care to the point of meddling
with Crimson Rain Sought Flower’s—the Scourge of Heaven’s—love life, the Mu Qing of
today was willing to pick up the pieces if they reached the point of Xie Lian being discarded
due to the novelty wearing off. If only because he hadn’t done it the last time.

Then, Xie Lian’s eyes wandered toward the doll, the one promised by the Wind Master. It
was a beautiful thing, a miniature in the shape of a girl with pigtails.

“What does this one do?” he asked.

“Pick it up and see,” the Wind Master said.

Xie Lian did.

Mu Qing pursed his mouth and looked aside to avoid showing the tension he felt as he waited
for any effect to take place. He even allowed Feng Xin to grab his forearm even though the
strength with which he did it would’ve broken the arm of anyone who wasn't a god.

And they waited.

And waited.

Nothing happened.

The spiritual tool had spoken with its silence: the crown prince was not under any kind of
spell. Mu Qing felt Feng Xin deflate against him, and he felt like he needed a chair.

As he looked at Xie Lian poking the doll with a finger, Mu Qing caught a glimpse of a smile
on the Earth Master’s face. Fighting the urge of unleashing Feng Xin on her, he went to get
that chair. It would be unfair on Feng Xin anyway. In the moment of truth, he’d do nothing
but freeze.

That was it. Mu Qing was officially out of ideas. Except for the one that implied getting
advice from a higher authority. They should probably go ahead and do that.

End of Part 2
 Intermission - Calamity Reunion
Chapter Summary

In which two Calamities have a conversation

“You owe me,” Black Water Submerging Boats said in a deadpan tone. He was back at Hua
Cheng’s studio in his original form not long after the Earth Master should’ve been safely
tucked in his palace.

“I owe you shit,” Hua Cheng replied, his arms folded as he leaned casually against the back
of his chair. “We can go over your balance and make sure if you want.”

He Xuan grimaced and Hua Cheng smirked.

After a moment of staring at each other, He Xuan tossed the stolen doll on the desk.

“That’s the real one. It would’ve reacted to the cursed shackles that precious prince of yours
is wearing. Those clowns then would’ve made enough of a fuss to fill him with doubt before
they figured it out.”

“He wouldn’t entertain the notion,” Hua Cheng replied, sounding more certain than how he
felt. Even if Xie Lian didn’t have the shackles, there was the matter of the teapot that kept
him safe from the White-Clothed Calamity. Hua Cheng couldn’t afford Xie Lian to find out
about that yet. “Speaking of the shackles,” he added, “have you found anything?”

He Xuan shook his head.

“No one knows how to remove them. They barely want to talk about their existence. Either
way, the consensus is that, since the Emperor is the one who makes them, he’s the only one
able to take them off.”

Hua Cheng nodded. He’d feared as much. Of course, he was not going to appeal to Jun Wu.
Not out of pride, even though there was an element of truth there. But this was the asshole
who had ignored the crown prince during his darkest moments only to show up at the end
when he could reap some glory for himself. Didn’t people keep talking about how he had
defeated the White Calamity while forgetting everything about Xie Lian?

Exactly. Hua Cheng would disperse himself before going to Jun Wu.

He grabbed the doll to examine it, turning it in his hands. It was exquisitely detailed and
strong. It would perform as advertised. He hated to admit it, but Black Water had actually
done him a favor. His fish eating for free the rest of the month should be enough
acknowledgment.
“What are you going to do with it?”

“Give it back,” He Xuan replied. “It’s not worth enough to blow my cover.”

Hua Cheng nodded and placed the doll back on the desk.

The Black Calamity grabbed it and played with it in his hands for a moment.

“So,” he said. “You’re not going to ask what he got you?”

Hua Cheng scoffed.

“I wouldn’t dare to ruin a thoughtful gift with an imprudent question.”

“A thoughtful gift bought with your money.”

“Fuck off!” Hua Cheng growled.

With only one of the corners of his mouth raised into the shadow of a smile, Black Water
stood up from the chair.

“By the way, we’re coming to your birthday celebration. Your prince invited us.”

“You and—?”

He Xuan nodded.

“They hit it off pretty well,” he said.

Hua Cheng waved his hand. He understood; Xie Lian striking a friendship with the Wind
Master was an unfortunate development. However, to coordinate things so His Highness was
distracted when Black Water finally decided to go ahead with his plan wouldn’t be much of a
problem. The amount of comfort Xie Lian would need in the aftermath would depend on He
Xuan making up his mind on how many gods he wanted to behead, though.

“I’ll handle it.”

He Xuan nodded as a goodbye. He said nothing else, but his grimace betrayed his worry of
getting an extra fee for this new service.

Best thing was that, depending on Hua Cheng’s mood when it happened, he might even be
right.
 Part 3: On the Road | Chapter 1
Chapter Summary

In which HuaLian are saps and stumble upon role-playing.

Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Not long after He Xuan left, Hua Cheng went to the bedroom and walked into Xie Lian
standing up in a hurry and pretending he hadn’t just left a box under the bed. Hua Cheng
went along with it, pretending he hadn’t noticed. Instead, he made a show of chasing Xie
Lian all around the room to steal a kiss.

“Gege, be merciful!”

“San Lang! What are you doing?” Xie Lian replied between giggles, allowing himself to be
chased, staying just a breath away from Hua Cheng’s fingertips before letting himself be
cornered. Then, still laughing, he turned his head to the side while going through the motions
of pushing Hua Cheng away.

This meant Xie Lian wanted to keep the game going. He had clear and firm ways to stop
things for good if he wished so, which meant Hua Cheng had tacit permission to leave soft
kisses on Xie Lian’s cheeks, ears, and hair.

“Gege, please! Will you bestow your blessings on this poor soul?”

Xie Lian laughed harder and cupped both of Hua Cheng’s cheeks with his hands to keep the
Ghost King’s head in place.

“Oh, you silly,” he said before giving Hua Cheng a peck.

Hua Cheng moaned against those sacred lips and his arms wrapped more tightly around Xie
Lian to bring him closer.

Xie Lian’s gaze was all sweetness.

“Happy now?”

“Mmm,” Hua Cheng replied, hiding his face on Xie Lian’s neck.

Xie Lian held him back, rubbing his back and caressing his head.

“Did you have a nice day, San Lang?”

“I’m having it now.”

“I see. But what about before?”

“Before doesn’t exist. Only gege matters.”

Xie Lian chuckled.

“Ah.” He gave another peck to Hua Cheng’s temple. “Say, do you want to know what I did
today?”

“Always.”

“I bought some nice things. Here, let me show you.”

He escaped Hua Cheng’s arms to go to a table next to the window where he moved some
things around to have enough space to unroll an old scroll. It was well-preserved and it had
nice illustrations. As far as Hua Cheng could tell from over Xie Lian’s shoulder, where he
had rested his chin when he hugged His Highness from behind, it told a story about a young
warrior that had been mildly popular some centuries ago. Hua Cheng had heard a couple of
versions before it vanished from the memories of mortals. The story wasn’t bad, but the
lower shelves of Hua Cheng’s personal library housed better ones.

While Hua Cheng went over his silent appraisal, Xie Lian’s fingers hovered over one of the
illustrations depicting said young warrior about to enter a dark forest.

“Nice, isn’t it? I had no idea this existed. It’s about me, you know?”

Fine. This tidbit of entirely new information made Hua Cheng pay more attention to the
scroll.

“Is it?”

“Yes. It’s embellished in a lot of places and I definitely didn’t marry the mayor’s daughter.”
Xie Lian laughed. “But I did chase away those bandits.”

Hua Cheng moved the scroll to uncover another section of the story.

“Is the part where they kill the warrior also true?”

Xie Lian’s smile became awkward and he scratched the side of his nose.

“Yes. I let them believe the gods brought me back to life out of convenience and, well, if you
think about it—San Lang? Are you alright? Don’t put on that face. This was centuries ago.
Those bandits are long dead and the story ended well.”

Hua Cheng pressed his face on Xie Lian’s shoulder while he grunted. His Highness had
arrived at the correct conclusion; had they been alive, he would’ve gone to dismember them
in a heartbeat. However, they had been bandits. Maybe he could find one or two as ghosts
somewhere…On the other hand, now that he knew about this, he should be able to get into
circulation a story truer to reality, giving the Flower Crown Prince the credit he was long due
while having the mayor’s daughter get married to some random sidekick, and then
commission a play or two.

“San Lang? Is everything alright?”

“Yes, gege,” Hua Cheng said, although it wasn’t. His Highness was happy to have found the
scroll; he had no right to sully his joy.

Xie Lian rolled up the scroll again and placed it on a shelf. An impressive feat, given that
Hua Cheng clung to his neck, limiting his mobility. He didn’t seem to mind carrying the Red
Calamity around like that, though.

“The seller I got it from is a very nice person, too,” Xie Lian said, and then he started to talk
wonders about the Wind Master.

Ah. Once more, the dichotomy of enjoying the delight that was Xie Lian’s voice paired with
Hua Cheng’s not caring at all about the subject matter. Nevertheless, he paid attention. Which
was just as well because it turned out that Xie Lian had some interesting thoughts on the
whole thing.

“I’m pretty sure she and her friend were heavenly officials.”

“Really?”

Of course, Xie Lian was right. Hua Cheng just wanted to know how he had come to that
conclusion.

“Feng Xin and Mu Qing were the ones who introduced me to them. They had no reason to be
that helpful when they’ve been so intent on making me leave. Besides, they were very
interested in which objects I picked up. They stared at my hands as if they expected some
reaction when I touched them. None of them did in any way, which surely frustrated
whatever plan they might’ve had. I would say they were out of ideas because they’ve left
Ghost City.”

“They have?”

Xie Lian nodded.

“They promised to return for your— ah, for a few more days once they’ve checked how
things are going in their palaces.”

So they’d be back for his birthday. Hua Cheng had planned to spend the day locked in their
room coaxing some extra presents out of Xie Lian anyway.

“There’s something else, too,” Xie Lian continued.

“Do you want me to punish them for attempting to deceive you?”

Hua Cheng knew what the answer would be but he had to ask.
“That won’t be necessary,” Xie Lian said, patting Hua Cheng’s hair. “They meant well and
there’s no harm done.”

“Tell me if there’s ever a need,” Hua Cheng murmured, rubbing his face on Xie Lian’s
shoulder like the happiest of cats.

“I will. Thank you.”

“What did you mean, then?”

“Right. So, when I found this scroll, I remembered how much I enjoy being out on the road. I
realized that I miss it. I love it here, don’t get me wrong. Paradise Manor is beautiful, and
Ghost City is welcoming when it wants to be. This is also the most stability I’ve had since…
Ah. Since I don’t remember when. But… I miss being out there.”

Every one of Xie Lian’s words was like darts to Hua Cheng’s heart. The first idea that
crossed his mind was to beg. Beg for Xie Lian to stay with him. Beg him to say what he was
missing to be happy in his house.

But he had just said it, hadn’t he?

He pressed a kiss on the side of Xie Lian’s neck.

“If that’s what you want, gege.”

Xie Lian turned around in his arms and grabbed Hua Cheng’s cheeks to squeeze them.

“Can we leave tomorrow morning? We’ll be back in a week so you don’t get too behind with
your work. If you’re not too busy, I mean. Otherwise, it’s fine if we have to wait.”

Hua Cheng stared at Xie Lian with his eye wide open.

“You want me to come with you?” he repeated, feeling the weight of the world abandoning
him. “Gege, I’m never too busy for you. I’ll only be too happy to join you.”

Xie Lian beamed.

“Thank you!” He pulled Hua Cheng down to kiss the tip of his nose. “We’re going to have so
much fun, you’ll see. You won’t get bored.”

Hua Cheng took revenge by peppering Xie Lian’s entire face with butterfly kisses.

“I’m never bored when I’m with gege.”

Xie Lian laughed.

“Oh, San Lang! I can’t wait to show you everything there is to see out there.”

Hua Cheng pressed his forehead against Xie Lian’s.

“And I can’t wait to make love to you under the stars,” he said, smiling when Xie Lian
flushed.

However, under all that red on his face, he smiled and wrapped his arms around Hua Cheng’s
neck.

“Yes,” he murmured. “That sounds nice.”

They kissed again, slow and warm.

“Shall we use the bed one last time before we go?” Hua Cheng said.

“Yes,” Xie Lian said again.

So they went, hand in hand, Hua Cheng reassured about Xie Lian’s happiness. He, of course,
would have let him go, no questions asked, had Xie Lian wished so. But Xie Lian wanted
them to be together. Perhaps, Hua Cheng could take advantage of the trip and find some
romantic scenery to propose again, this time without the hesitation and doubts that tainted the
first time he did.

***

They left before sunrise, holding hands and using secret doors, sneaking through alleys and
hiding behind buildings as if they didn’t own the place. It was fun, although Xie Lian’s
snickering almost gave them away a couple of times. But they managed. No one noticed
them leaving, and no one would know they were gone before Hua Cheng sent Yin Yu a
message letting him know he and Xie Lian had eloped, that they’d be back when they came
back, and that they shouldn’t be bothered for any reason.

Soon enough, they were on the mortal realm and a random road, walking under a bright sun
at a measured step, never letting go of each other’s hands. Xie Lian was back to a simple set
of white cultivator robes, and Hua Cheng had chosen to go under the younger San Lang
visage out of convenience.

“You know,” Xie Lian said, “I saw many couples sneaking out of their homes throughout the
years, but I never imagined it could be so thrilling.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed the little adventure,” Hua Cheng replied.

“It’s much better than making a formal announcement and getting loud goodbyes, at least.”
Xie Lian chuckled. “The residents of Ghost City love their lord mayor so much that it
would've taken us half a day. ”

Hua Cheng grunted and looked away.

“They have no right to know about my comings and goings.”

“That’s an entirely different matter. The important thing here is that they like you. They made
Feng Xin and Mu Qing’s lives impossible thinking that it would please you.”

“I had nothing to do with that.”

“I know. But did it? Please you, I mean.”

“Do you want me to be honest, gege?”

“Yes, I do. Thank you.”

“Well, in that case, I can’t say I’m displeased.”

Xie Lian laughed and wrapped his arms around Hua Cheng’s waist.

“You’re mean!”

Hua Cheng turned to face him, his arms on Xie Lian’s shoulders.

“Am I?”

“A little. But I—If I’m being honest as well, I can’t say I’m displeased, either.”

Hua Cheng laughed out loud.

“Gege, you’re too much.”

He leaned forward but stopped when he found Xie Lian examining his face. This time, Hua
Cheng would have to pretend to be a living youth, so he made sure to have a heartbeat, to
breathe, and to sweat accordingly. Had he overdone it?

“San Lang, we haven’t even kissed with you looking like this.”

“That has an easy solution. Or does it bother you, gege?”

Xie Lian shook his head.

“It’s just going to take some getting used to, that’s all. I know it’s you.”

“Yes, it’s me. Unless…it’s not.”

“What do you mean?”

Hua Cheng lowered his hands and tightened his grip on Xie Lian’s waist as he grinned.

“What if a cocky Wrath named San Lang stole the Ghost King’s most precious treasure from
under his nose?”

It took Xie Lian a moment to process that information. When he did, he grew red.

“S-San Lang!”
“Yes, gege?”

“Why—why would I leave the Ghost King if he’s so good to me?”

“Being good has nothing on the excitement the Wrath makes you feel. Besides,” Hua Cheng
added, pressing his forehead against Xie Lian’s, “the Ghost King will always take you back.”

“Would he forgive you—the Wrath?”

Hua Cheng shrugged one shoulder.

“Probably not. But it’s fine.” He cupped Xie Lian’s cheek and stroked it with his thumb.
“You are worth whatever hardship and punishment he has to offer.”

Xie Lian was already entrapped in the narrative. His eyes shone and his mouth was slightly
open and inviting. Hua Cheng accepted it by further tilting Xie Lian’s chin upward and
seizing Xie Lian’s lips with his own. He kept it chaste and short, though, and got his reward
when he heard Xie Lian’s whine of protest when he separated.

“So, what do you say, gege?”

Xie Lian hid his face on Hua Cheng’s chest and Hua Cheng felt him nod.

“We just escaped and this would be our first time together, right?”

Hua Cheng smiled, smug.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Still avoiding looking at Hua Cheng’s face, Xie Lian tugged his sleeve.

“Let’s find a nice place.”

Hua Cheng kissed Xie Lian’s temple.

“Yes, gege.”

* **

In the end, the only thing that advanced that day—and afternoon and evening—was the plot
of their little story.

The Ghost King’s most precious treasure had consented to be stolen by the cocky Wrath
because he was bored of being cooped up in the palace all day long.

“Maybe I should update the Manor to an actual palace, gege,” Hua Cheng said.
They were sitting in front of a campfire, surrounded by enough protective wards to last them
a hundred years.

“No need, San Lang. Paradise Manor is fine as it is.”

“Alright, gege.”

“Where were we? Oh, right. The prince will only be willing to return if the Ghost King
forgives the Wrath and promises not to disperse him. Is that asking for too much?”

Hua Cheng grabbed a blade of grass to play with it.

“You’re so generous, gege. However, the Ghost King loves the prince so much he’ll agree to
any condition to get him back. Or to let him go if that is what the prince needs to be happy.”

“The prince doesn’t want to leave. He just needed to get some air.”

Hua Cheng chuckled.

“Fine, then. When the prince comes back, it’s revealed that the Wrath was another aspect of
the Ghost King. He used it to show his beloved a good time outside the palace.”

“And then, the prince told the Ghost King that he didn’t need to go those lengths to win the
prince’s approval—or his heart. Although, if this is what we’re going with, I think the prince
should figure out the Wrath’s identity much earlier. Before he gave himself to him would be a
good point. I mean, the Wrath could’ve done or said something, some small detail that was
enough to give himself away. The prince just went along with it because he was too polite to
point it out.” Xie Lian made a pause in which he looked at Hua Cheng in the eye and showed
him a mischievous smile. “And, well, he might have also found the whole charade a little
amusing.”

Hua Cheng pouted and scrunched his nose.

“Gege, you don’t have to rub it in like that.”

Xie Lian laughed against his fist. The glint in his eye and the way his hair bounced were
enough for Hua Cheng to forgive him completely.

“I’m sorry, San Lang. But isn’t it interesting how we arrived at what happened in reality? I
wonder if that’s how mortal playwrights do it. Maybe they get divine glimpses here and there
and then they fill up the gaps with their imagination.”

“I couldn’t say. I’ve never spoken with a playwright about their creative process while paying
attention.”

Xie Lian laughed again.

“But you have spoken to them.”

Hua Cheng scoffed and tossed the blade of grass to the fire.
“Some of them are very invested in getting my approval for their plays. They want my
patronage at any cost, but they can be so annoying I just give them shit.”

After the word escaped his mouth, Hua Cheng felt himself blush with embarrassment. A
downside of creating a detailed human-like disguise and letting it react on its own. However,
that was nothing compared to what he had dared to do. This is what he got for lowering his
guard in front of His Highness. He’d have to disappear now, regardless of whether his clothes
were left behind.

After a moment of silence, Xie Lian laughed once more. Loudly and throwing his head
backward.

It was mortifying.

“San Lang!” Xie Lian said when he was able to catch his breath again, wiping a tear from the
corner of his eye. “Do you think I’m going to chastise you for using that language? Don’t
worry. I’ve heard worse and I’m sure those playwrights earned it.” He spread his arms.
“Come here.”

Ashamed, although not enough to reject the invitation, Hua Cheng fell into the embrace,
breathing in the scent of Xie Lian’s skin. That brought comfort.

Xie Lian hugged him and kissed the top of his head before falling down on his back, reaching
with his hand for the closest one of their robes to cover them both. It was his own, and Hua
Cheng welcomed the softness of the silk. Not as much as he welcomed the warmth of Xie
Lian’s hand caressing his loose hair, though.

“The stars have never seemed so beautiful,” Xie Lian murmured after a while.

“Haven’t they?”

Hua Cheng spared a glance at the sky. He had never cared about the stars because the one he
looked for was not up there. But now that his heart was at peace, he thought he saw the
appeal.

“Mmm. Tonight is special.” Xie Lian took a deep breath and sighed, slow and content.
“Tonight, I have you.”

Hua Cheng looked for Xie Lian’s hand with his own and gave it a squeeze.

“You’ll always have me.”

“Oh, San Lang.” Xie Lian tilted Hua Cheng’s face upward so they could look at each other.
“You’ll always have me too.”

Hua Cheng bit his lower lip when his heart, which was beating this time around, swelled up.
Then, he moved so he could kiss Xie Lian again, slowly and sweetly, before going back to
rest his head on Xie Lian’s chest, delighting in this privilege granted only to him. He knew
that if he asked for another round, he wouldn’t be denied. However, he noticed the
drowsiness weighing on his beloved’s eyelids.
 “Sleep, gege. I’ll keep watch.”

One of Xie Lian’s hands traced figures on Hua Cheng’s shoulder, and the other went back to
his hair.

“Alright. Thank you.”

Hua Cheng snuggled further and waited for Xie Lian’s breathing to slow down as he fell
asleep. He didn’t move after that. With the wards he had set up, there was no need. Not a
single creature would dare to cross them. However, he didn’t sleep this once. Xie Lian might
love to look at the stars, but Hua Cheng had his in his arms, and he wouldn’t mind spending
the entire night admiring his beauty.

“We should’ve followed them,” Feng Xin whispered in Mu Qing’s direction as they both
walked into the Heavenly Capital side by side.

“Will you tone down on the death wish?” Mu Qing grunted, although also in a low voice.
“We need to change the approach. Do some research. The Wind Master could’ve been
mistaken. Or the spiritual tool she used, defective.”

“You want to involve the librarians?”

“We don’t have to tell them why we’re checking into curses. But that’s all I can think of right
now that’s not asking the Heavenly Emperor directly.”

Feng Xin’s frown grew deeper. No, he couldn’t think of anything else either. However, Mu
Qing was right: as long as they didn’t explain why they were looking into curses created by
Supreme-level ghosts, there shouldn’t be that much of a problem. They could be dealing with
Black Water or the Green Lantern. Or even heard rumors about the White-Clothed Calamity.
They wouldn’t necessarily be working against Crimson Rain Sought Flower. Besides, who
would be so bold as to question them about their business?

“Nan Yang, Xuan Zhen,” they heard suddenly and clearly through the spiritual
communications array in the unmistakable voice of the Heavenly Emperor. “Welcome back.”

Chapter End Notes

I almost called part 3 "Eloping." Almost.

Promo tweet!
Feel free to drop by and chat and to see pictures of my cats! :)
 Part 3: On the Road | Chapter 2
Chapter Summary

In which Hualian have an episode of hurt/comfort followed by a thrilling adventure.

Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Xie Lian felt the light of dawn hitting his eyes as soon as he opened them, and he stretched
the best he could while having a Ghost King wrapped around his body.

“Good morning, San Lang,” he said, patting the top of Hua Cheng’s head.

“Morning, gege,” Hua Cheng replied, sounding groggy and with his eyes half opened as if he
really needed to sleep in. It was endearing. “Can we stay in bed?”

“San Lang, we don’t have a bed out here.”

“I’ll build you one.” Despite his words, Hua Cheng went back to hide under Xie Lian’s robes.
“But later.”

Xie Lian lifted the white robes just enough to look at Hua Cheng’s eyes.

“You’ll build me a bed right here, in the middle of the mountain?”

“Yes. A sturdy one, enough to last us a while before we break it.”

Aware that he was as red as Hua Cheng’s robes, Xie Lian laughed.

“Come on. We need to get up. I’ve decided where I want us to go.”

That made Hua Cheng raise his head to look at him.

“Where?”

“I’d like to see how that old man is doing. Do you remember? The one I gave money to and
that you had escorted back home.”

“Vaguely,” Hua Cheng replied. He was resting his chin on his hand as he supported himself
with his elbow planted on the ground. “Only because we had our first kiss right after.”

He winked and Xie Lian felt his blush intensifying. But he also felt flattered. He reached out
and tucked a rebellious lock of hair behind Hua Cheng’s ear. Even though this wasn’t his true
face, it was the first one he had known him by. Xie Lian couldn’t help but be fond of it, of
loving it too.

“Now I wish I hadn’t panicked.”

“I, on the other hand, wouldn’t dare to change a thing about that night, panic and all. It was
perfect, and you’ve made up for it a thousand times over.”

“You’re so kind to me, San Lang.”

“I’m only giving back what I get.”

Hua Cheng pressed his mouth on Xie Lian’s hip before sinking his teeth enough to leave a
red mark on that same place.

Xie Lian’s surprised gasp was followed by a bout of laughter as he pounced on Hua Cheng.

“Gege?” Hua Cheng asked, laughing as well. His back was pressed against the ground while
Xie Lian held him firmly by the shoulders.

“Revenge!” Xie Lian exclaimed, leaning down to bite Hua Cheng’s chest. However, when he
looked at his work, he found it lacking. He tried again, in a location further down.

Hua Cheng squirmed.

“Gege, it’s not fair. I only bit you once.”

“San Lang, if you count the bite marks on my body only from last night, we’re far from being
even.”

“Ah. If that’s the case…” Hua Cheng spread his arms and all but made a gift out of himself.
“Please, do as you want.”

Xie Lian’s snickering exploded into full-blown laughter. Next, he leaned down again, willing
to accept Hua Cheng’s offering, taking his time between each mark to make sure they were
all perfect. The world outside could wait until he was done.

***

“Mmm, San Lang,” Xie Lian began when they finally bothered to get dressed and have some
breakfast. “Could you do me a favor?”

“Anything, gege.”

Xie Lian grinned and scratched the side of his nose.

“Could you ask your people, the ones you sent to accompany the old man, what direction we
should take? I just realized I have no idea where that village is.”

Hua Cheng kissed the top of Xie Lian’s head before leaning forward to press their foreheads
together. San Lang was shorter than Hua Cheng but still taller than Xie Lian, which meant he
had to hunch down a bit. Xie Lian hoped it wasn’t too uncomfortable.

“As you wish, gege.”

Hua Cheng sent the question through the spiritual communication array, making sure that Xie
Lian was able to hear everything. The man in the ghost mask was, as always, polite and
deferential when he answered, while Hua Cheng was commanding but civil in his questions.
It was nice to see that Hua Cheng could have this kind of relationship.

The directions they sought came back swift and clear. The old man’s village was a few hours
away from where they stood, to the east.

“Great!” Xie Lian said, clapping his hands. “We’ll be there soon!”

Hua Cheng cut the communication and looked at Xie Lian with a frown and a pout, the same
expression he had whenever he wanted to say or ask something and he didn’t dare to.

Sometimes, he could be so much like a small child, Xie Lian thought with affection. But that
was fine. If Xie Lian kept encouraging him, maybe one day Hua Cheng would ask everything
he wanted without worrying about making Xie Lian uncomfortable.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Gege, I can summon the litter. It would be faster than walking.”

Xie Lian smiled and cupped Hua Cheng’s cheeks.

“I know that, and you know that I have fun traveling on it, right? But, just like the prince in
our story, I really feel like stretching my legs, and I want to share the experience of this trip
with you. Would you let me?”

“Yes, gege.”

Hua Cheng sounded moved and solemn, suffering the way Xie Lian squeezed his face with
great dignity.

“Thank you for indulging me,” Xie Lian said.

He stepped on the tip of his toes to kiss Hua Cheng’s nose and nothing else. Otherwise, their
journey would be delayed again. Although, yes, the main purpose of this trip was to keep
Hua Cheng away from Ghost City while the residents prepared for his birthday, they only had
a week to be on the road and there were so many things Xie Lian wanted to show him. All
the things he had learned, most of which he had stumbled upon. He had the urge of passing
on that knowledge even to someone who wouldn’t be affected by the inconveniences. On the
other hand, Hua Cheng listened to him no matter how much he babbled, or what he babbled
about. That was one of the many little things that made him feel like Hua Cheng truly cared
about him.

“Gege must be thinking of something very important.”

“Ah. No… Yes. Yes, I was. I was thinking of you.”

The answer took Hua Cheng by surprise, enough that a sense of pride overcame Xie Lian’s
embarrassment at having said those words. Emboldened, he grabbed Hua Cheng’s hand,
intertwining their fingers. After that, it took a moment longer for Hua Cheng to compose
himself. When he did, he exhaled and relaxed.

“Gege, I am humbled.”

“You are also very sweet and kind.”

“No more than you.”

“We can be on equal terms.”

“Can we?”

Xie Lian nodded as a response. He had intended to continue the conversation but, at that
moment, he saw in the middle of the road a small, often ignored plant that was good for
treating scratches when crushed with a little water and applied on the skin.

“It can leave you with a rash and a week-long migraine if you eat it, though.”

“How did you learn about it?”

“The hard way.”

“Gege…”

Well, if he was going to go around making that face, Xie Lian had better not tell him about
the times he was so hungry he had knowingly eaten poisonous fruits because, no matter how
terrible the results, he couldn’t die, and hunger was worse.

“Hey!” he said instead, pointing a little further away. “You can eat those mushrooms! All you
need to do is season them the right way and they’re not half bad.”

Before he could go get them, Hua Cheng hugged him from behind.

“There’s no need for you to go around foraging for food anymore, do you hear me?” he said,
his voice loaded with sadness and regret.

Regret about what, Xie Lian couldn’t tell. However, he now felt a bit guilty, even though he
didn’t understand why either. Those were just things that had happened to him, often enough
that he got used to them, and he had learned to roll with them. Otherwise…
…otherwise, it was too painful. It had been too painful at the beginning. It was painful now
to remember. How odd. Xie Lian hadn’t thought about those things since he began living in
Ghost City. It felt like such a long time.

He placed a hand over Hua Cheng’s.

“San Lang…”

“If you need anything, just let me know, all right, Your Highness? I’ll give it to you, whatever
it is.”

Xie Lian didn’t know which one of them was trembling now. The two of them at the same
time, most likely. He caressed Hua Cheng’s hand.

“I will. Don’t worry, San Lang. I’ll tell you.”

“Thank you,” Hua Cheng replied, hiding his face on Xie Lian’s neck.

They stood there for a few moments before Xie Lian began walking again holding Hua
Cheng’s hand. From then on, he only talked about edible and safe food, and the nice people
he had met, stopping his stories before reaching the point where they died. He had to bite his
tongue more than once, but he managed to change the topic before Hua Cheng noticed. Or, at
least, he hoped so.

***

Despite everything, the trip was pleasant. The temperature was mild, the sky was clear, and
Hua Cheng’s hand in Xie Lian’s was soft and soothing.

“If we follow this path, we should be there soon,” Xie Lian said. “It looks like it’s transited
often.”

“Gege is so amazing,” Hua Cheng said. “None of his steps has shown any hesitation.”

Xie Lian chuckled.

“You start learning the signals once you’ve been on the road for long enough.”

“I’m so lucky to have you looking out for me,” Hua Cheng said, intertwining their fingers.

Xie Lian was about to kiss Hua Cheng’s knuckles when their peaceful stroll was rudely
interrupted by a robbery in progress. Screams from just around a bend on the road alerted
them and, when they went to take a look, they found a band of bandits blocking a caravan of
merchants. To be honest, to call them a band was generous. It was just a handful of them, and
they weren’t that well equipped, either. Their swords had been made by a not particularly
gifted smith apprentice, and they thought that waving them over their heads while they yelled
would be enough to scare their victims. It might’ve been, as long as said victims weren’t
well-versed in the martial arts, which seemed to be the case of the travelers—and of the
swordsman they hired to defend them, judging by the way he became a dot in the horizon
before the dust settled down behind him.

“Everything you have!” the bandit leader roared. “To the bag! Now!”

The travelers, who were still crossing the bridge between confusion and panic, didn’t move.
Things would get ugly when they reached the second stage.

Xie Lian, then, did the only thing he could: he cleared his throat to call everyone’s attention.

“Excuse me?”

The leader of the bandits was the first one to react. He turned his unkempt head around and
pointed at Xie Lian with his subpar sword.

“You too! Everything of value you have—!”

Xie Lian folded his arms inside his sleeves and shook his head.

“We have nothing of value that you can steal.”

“What about that ring you have on your neck? It looks expensive.”

Xie Lian grabbed the ring and placed it inside his robes.

“As I said, you can’t steal this.”

The bandit leader laughed.

“You’re so funny!” He moved his sword to point at the space at Xie Lian’s right. “You!”

“Me?” Hua Cheng said in his San Lang voice. In that one word, he managed to sound as non-
threatening as a one-month-old puppy.

“Yes, you! You look like the son of a rich family! We’ll take you for ransom!”

“Ah!” Hua Cheng exclaimed, hiding behind the smaller Xie Lian, his hands pressing Xie
Lian’s shoulders. “That sounds scary. Please, help, gege!”

Xie Lian reined back his laughter and patted Hua Cheng’s hand.

“Don’t worry, San Lang. I’ll protect you.”

The bandits laughed.

“How are you going to protect him? There’s only one of you! But we can take you too if you
want. We need someone to clean the latrines.”

“No, thank you. That’s never been my favorite job,” Xie Lian said.
“Leave him to me, boss,” another bandit said, taking a step forward.

Xie Lian rolled his eyes, realizing it only after he had done it. The time spent with Mu Qing
had taken its toll.

“Would you be so kind of attacking as a group? It’ll save us time.”

The bandits didn’t listen to him and only that one guy dashed toward Xie Lian, swinging his
sword over his head as if it were a flag.

Xie Lian didn’t bother moving. With a flick of his wrist, he sent Ruoye forth. The spiritual
tool went and came back so fast no one else was able to see it. What the bandits and the
merchants saw was Xie Lian’s attacker falling to the ground after he waved his hand. Silence
dominated the road for several seconds until the bandit leader hollered at his men for all of
them to charge in unison.

“Finally,” Xie Lian murmured.

He jumped forward to take them straight on. He dodged and sent swords flying, swept legs,
and punched a couple of noses. In less than a minute, the bandit leader’s and his second in
command’s ears were pinched between Xie Lian’s fingers, and they were forced to kneel
down in front of the cultivator.

“Now, apologize.”

“I’m not going to—!”

Xie Lian tightened his grip.

“Fine! Fine! I’m sorry!”

“We’re all sorry!” the second in command cried.

“We’re sorry we tried to rob you,” mumbled a third one, one of the bandits on the ground,
barely intelligible due to his broken nose.

Xie Lian pointed at Hua Cheng.

“Apologize to him too.”

“We—we’re sorry we wanted to kidnap you.”

Hua Cheng smiled and began to clap as he approached.

“Ah, gege! You’re so strong! I’m so lucky to be traveling with you!”

Xie Lian let go of the bandits’ ears and smiled at Hua Cheng.

“It’s nothing.”

“Daozhang!”
“Young master!”

The travelers had come out from their haze and came forward. They were a colorful group, a
couple of farmers and merchants with their families. Judging by their clothes and their carts,
Xie Lian would risk saying that while not extremely rich, they were the kind of people who
didn’t know real hunger, not even in the deepest of winter.

“Thank you! Thank you so much for your help!”

“What’s your name?”

“I’m Xie Lian and this is San Lang.”

“How can we repay you?”

“There’s no need, really,” Xie Lian replied, waving his hands. “I’m happy to help.”

“Daozhang, please, come with us! We’re not going far and we’ll feel safer.”

“Name your price and we’ll double it!”

“It’s not about money,” Xie Lian said, louder this time.

He helplessly turned to Hua Cheng, but the latter only shrugged.

The leader of the merchants took advantage of his distraction to put a big bag of money in his
hand, looking so determined Xie Lian felt bad about the idea of giving it back.

“Fine,” he said in the end, swallowing a sigh. Why couldn’t people have been like this back
when he needed the money? Maybe Hua Cheng was a lucky charm.

“There weren’t thieves on this road last year,” said another one of the farmers as they got
ready to go.

“What’s the world come up to!” exclaimed a woman who could only be the latter’s wife.

“People have complained about the state of the world ever since I was little,” said the eldest
of the women. “I’m glad we got ourselves a proper escort in the end after all.”

As she spoke those words, she glared at the rest of the group, half of which hung their heads
in shame.

“It seems like they just hired someone’s nephew and called it a day,” Hua Cheng murmured
in Xie Lian’s ear.

“I hope they’ll listen to her next time,” Xie Lian murmured back before showing Hua Cheng
a sheepish smile. “I’m sorry we got tangled into this. Besides, if they’re following this road,
they’re going where we’re going.”

Hua Cheng shrugged again.

“It's not like we're in a hurry. All I know is that I’m going where you’re going, gege.”

In truth, they did have a schedule, but they also had ample time before they had to comply
with it. Meanwhile, they were free to do whatever they wanted, and if Hua Cheng agreed to
it, Xie Lian wanted to help if he could.

After putting the bag of money inside a pocket in his sleeve, Xie Lian used both his hands to
squeeze and knead Hua Cheng’s cheeks as if they were dough for the day’s bread.

“Thank you, my love. You're the best.”

Xie Lian meant the gesture as a tease, but he stopped and let go when he realized the way
Hua Cheng stared at him.

“I'm sorry. Did I overdo it? It's just that—”

Hua Cheng kept staring at him, wide-eyed and with reddened cheeks, and he slowly shook
his head.

“Gege, I—” he began, but the travelers’ yelling called their attention.

“Hey! A thief is running away!”

A half resigned and half annoyed sigh escaped Xie Lian before he sent Ruoye to bring the
man back into the fold.

“Do you have any rope?” he asked.

“One moment!” the merchants answered.

It didn't take long before all the bandits were tied up in neat rows.

“What shall we do with them?”

“Is there any authority you can hand them over to?” Xie Lian asked.

“Or,” Hua Cheng added, hands on his back as he paced in front of them, “you could offer
them as a sacrifice to Crimson Rain Sought Flower. I'm sure there's always space for new
toys in his dungeon, and he might even grant you some good luck in exchange.”

Despite the mocking and light tone he used—or maybe because of it—, the thieves cried for
mercy. Literally cried. Tears went down their faces like waterfalls.

“The magistrate! Take us to the magistrate! Please!”

Xie Lian had to simulate a coughing fit to cover his laughter.

“Fine. It shall be done. Come on, let's go now.”

The bandits were tethered to the cart Xie Lian would travel on so he could keep an eye on
them. Of course, Hua Cheng got on next to him.
 “It was amazing, gege,” he said, holding his hand.

Xie Lian finally allowed himself to snicker.

“It was fun,” he admitted. “So, space in the dungeon?”

“The story goes that the Crown Prince who lives in the Ghost King’s house pardoned the
prisoners he had in there. Thus, he was left with some extra space.”

He said that in all seriousness, holding Xie Lian's gaze. It didn't take long for the two of them
to start laughing out loud.

“I shouldn’t be encouraging you,” Xie Lian said, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye.

Hua Cheng leaned his head on Xie Lian’s shoulder.

“No. Please, encourage me.”

Xie Lian put the loose strands of Hua Cheng’s hair behind his ears.

“It seems I can’t help myself, either way.”

“Thank you for keeping me safe, gege,” Hua Cheng murmured.

Xie Lian hummed.

“Always.” He turned his head to kiss Hua Cheng’s cheek. “You can count on me.”

Hua Cheng returned the gesture before going back to rest his head on Xie Lian’s shoulder.

“I know.”

Xie Lian let out a satisfied sigh and began to play with Hua Cheng’s hair between his fingers.
It was such a nice way to travel he didn’t care that the bandits had been watching, and it was
obvious that Hua Cheng didn’t either.

Chapter End Notes

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 Part 3: On the Road | Chapter 3
Chapter Summary

In which Hua Cheng is challenged but nobody dies. Yet.

Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Hua Cheng spent most of the trip resting his head on Xie Lian’s lap, pretending to be asleep
while Xie Lian stroked his hair and pretended to believe him. It was a win-win situation. For
a while, anyway. At some point, a young boy, no older than twelve, sneaked on the cart and
went ahead to be predictable and question Xie Lian about where he had learned martial arts,
what he did to practice, how many foes he had defeated.

Hua Cheng tensed up but, before he got up, Xie Lian’s fingers tangled further in his hair and
caressed that delicious spot between Hua Cheng’s ear and jaw, making him relax again. Fine.
If things were going to be like this, Hua Cheng had no option but to endure it.

While Xie Lian humored the kid and let him meet Ruoye, Hua Cheng checked in with the
butterfly that rode on the outside of the cart. Their destination wasn’t far. Merely a couple of
hours away from where they met the merchants. Far enough for the bandits to feel it but not
so it would be actual torture. The story would be very different if Hua Cheng had been in
charge of the punishment, but Xie Lian went with what the merchants agreed to do. Either
way, the bandits would survive this and they weren’t even struggling that bad.

When they finally arrived and the boy was called away by his parents, Hua Cheng made a
show of stirring and rubbing his face as he sat up.

“Did you sleep well?” Xie Lian asked.

“The wood was hard on my back but the pillow made up for it.”

Xie Lian smiled.

“I’ll give you a massage later tonight if you behave.”

Hua Cheng pouted.

“Haven’t I earned it already, gege?”

Xie Lian smiled coyly before diverting his eyes to the side.

“The kind of massage I’m talking about is still on the fence.”

Hua Cheng’s artificially constructed heart skipped a beat. The first thought he was able to
structure was that now he felt like behaving in front of His Highness and, the second, that Xie
Lian continued to be unfairly cute. Thus, he couldn’t help but tease back. He leaned forward
to whisper in Xie Lian’s ear.

“I’ll be so good I’ll make you want to give me that massage, gege.”

That worked to make Xie Lian blush while he giggled.

“I’ll hold you to your word.” Xie Lian tugged Hua Cheng’s sleeve. “Come on. I want to
explore this place and find the old man. See how he’s doing.”

Hua Cheng jumped from the cart to help Xie Lian down.

Around them, the merchants spoke with the town authorities to have the bandits sent to the
magistrate. That was no longer Xie Lian’s concern and Hua Cheng never cared about any of
them in the first place, so both of them left without looking back.

The town was pretty much like what Hua Cheng expected. Some houses were nearly
finished, a handful was nothing but the foundation. Yet, all of them looked solid, which
meant that Xie Lian’s money had been put to good use.

However, there was one building that caught Hua Cheng’s attention.

“Gege, is that a shrine?” Before Xie Lian could say anything, Hua Cheng grabbed his hand to
drag him there. “I hope it’s the one the old man promised!”

“I—I had forgotten all about that part,” Xie Lian mumbled.

Despite his reservations, Hua Cheng was relentless and determined to show his beloved how
worthy he was of worship.

Xie Lian didn’t resist much, probably aware that, if he protested, Hua Cheng would use a
pout and his sad eyes against him. It was just saving time, really.

The shrine was the only building already finished. The old man Xie Lian had given the
money to stood at the entrance, berating someone else.

“You can’t do anything right! He didn’t look like that!”

“Grandpa, you saw him in an alley in the middle of the night,” said a youngster, only for the
old man to grump at him.

“Don’t tell me what I saw! You weren’t there! I was! And I tell you that he was more
handsome than any of this charlatan’s sorry attempts at art!”

The third man in the group, the aforementioned charlatan, no doubt, had bulging veins on his
forehead about to explode.

“If my work doesn’t satisfy you, perhaps you should find another artist.”
“Oh! Me! Me!” Hua Cheng exclaimed without missing a beat. Hand raised over his head, he
approached the group. “I can do it!”

The artist turned his head and examined Hua Cheng from head to toe.

“Can you? Bragging is free, I guess. Who might you be?”

“An expert on the subject matter,” Hua Cheng said, responding to the man’s condescending
tone with his most innocent smile. Next, he addressed the old man. “I’ll have your statue
ready tomorrow for half of whatever he’s charging for it.”

The artist began to laugh out loud before the old man could answer.

“They’re asking for a life-size statue, you brat!”

“Oh! Not having to scale anything makes it even easier. And, on top of that, I brought the
model with me.”

He moved a bit to the right and turned to present Xie Lian, who had remained behind.

“Ah—” Xie Lian waved his hand. “Hello?”

“Young Master!” the old man said, walking to where Xie Lian was. “It is you! What a joyous
occasion!” He turned to the hired artist without stopping. “See? Isn’t he the most handsome
man you’ve seen? I told you!”

The grandson bowed his head at the artist as an apology before hurrying to join the old man
in an effort to contain him before he reached Xie Lian, whose face was now redder than Hua
Cheng’s clothes.

The artist stood there for a while, sulking.

“Brat!” he said, addressing Hua Cheng. “You obviously don’t know who I am! None of you
do! Otherwise, you’d be kissing the ground under my feet!” He stopped his tirade only so he
could huff. “I’m leaving now, but I’ll come back tomorrow. If in that time you manage to
make anything resembling what you promised, I’ll be the one worshiping you .”

Ah. If you knew who you’re talking to, you’d be pissing yourself, Hua Cheng thought.
However, he kept a friendly smile.

“I’ll take you at your word.”

The artist scoffed one last time and left.

Hua Cheng, meanwhile, chuckled before going back to where Xie Lian was being welcomed
by his new believers. This trip was turning out to be better than expected.

***
The old man, who called himself Han Ping, gave them a tour of the town. There wasn’t much
to see, but he took the opportunity to introduce Xie Lian around as the town’s benefactor.
That brought them from ignored newcomers to guests of honor. As word spread, even the
merchants came with gifts and apologized for taking so many liberties when they just met.

“So, young master,” Han Ping said to San Lang while Xie Lian tried to reassure the
merchants that they hadn’t offended him, “you sounded very brave back there. But do you
think you are up to the task?”

Hua Cheng smirked.

“I don’t think I am. I know it.”

“Very well, then. That charlatan was well recommended and he wanted to charge a fortune. A
few moments ago, I tried to dissuade him from the challenge he threw at you, but he wouldn’t
listen.” Han Ping pointed at Hua Cheng. “Thus, it’s only fair for me to tell you that, if you do
this right, his full payment will be yours.”

When Hua Cheng offered to take the place of the artist, charging for it was the last thing on
his mind. He had carved hundreds upon hundreds of sculptures to celebrate the Flower
Crown Prince, all without expecting any kind of reward. One more would be nothing. Maybe
this was how Xie Lian felt about the money the merchants gave him. Either way, Hua Cheng
wasn’t as much of a good person as Xie Lian. Not even close. Thus, he gladly accepted the
money.

“I didn’t know what to expect from this trip, but it wasn’t this,” Xie Lian said sometime later,
between amused and embarrassed, when they were left alone in a room with the block of
stone Hua Cheng was to transform into a statue for the shrine. From there, they could hear
the noises the townspeople made while preparing a feast in Xie Lian’s honor.

“I am having more fun than I expected, I must say,” Hua Cheng said. He had finished
inspecting the stone and he was ready to start. “Thank you for bringing me along, gege—and
for being my model,” he added with a wink.

Xie Lian’s sigh was followed by soft laughter.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way. Although it’s been so long since I’ve done this… Do you
need me to be a certain way?”

“Just be as comfortable as you want, gege.” Hua Cheng got closer to Xie Lian’s chair and
leaned down to whisper in his ear. “After all, am I not the one with the most intimate
knowledge of your body, having traced it with these unworthy fingers in the dark?”

Xie Lian shivered and he had to clear his throat before speaking, which pleased Hua Cheng
as he moved back to start working.

“Ah. Yes, I— I suppose you do.”

“I haven’t forgotten about the massage you promised me. I’ll need it even more after all this
hard work today.”

Xie Lian covered his face with his hands.

“San Lang! Please!”

“Please stop? Please continue? Gege, if I don’t know what I’m supposed to do, how am I to
satisfy you?”

Xie Lian whined.

“Just… keep working. We’ll discuss the rest later. After—after dark.”

“Very well, then!”

However, the moment Hua Cheng grabbed the chisel, it hit him. Yes, he had made countless
statues of Xie Lian before he’d obtained the intimate familiarity he possessed now, but this
would be the first time he’d be watched by His Highness as he worked. Thus, for the first
time since he left Mount Tonglu, the Red Calamity, Supreme Ghost King Hua Cheng,
doubted his skills.

“San Lang?”

“It’s nothing, gege,” Hua Cheng said with a cheerful voice, although he didn’t turn around
just in case Xie Lian wouldn’t buy his smile. “I was just wondering whether the statue should
wear white robes or the ones the old man met you with. Or…”

“Yes?”

“The clothes you were wearing the first time we made love. Looking at you… It blew me
away. You looked so… so handsome. So beautiful. So—so enticing.”

Xie Lian left the chair and came to hug him from behind, pressing his face on Hua Cheng’s
back.

“That kind of decision is better left to the artist.”

“Mmm. Very well.” Hua Cheng placed a hand on top of the one Xie Lian had around his
waist. “We shouldn’t be doing this, Your Highness. After all, you belong to the Red Calamity
and I’m but a humble sculptor.”

Xie Lian laughed.

“Is the little Wrath a sculptor now or are we creating a new story?”

“What would you like?”

“I’d like to finish what we started before we embark on something else.”

Hua Cheng turned around in Xie Lian’s arms.

“Yes, gege.” He tilted Xie Lian’s chin up. “We can get caught at any moment.”

Xie Lian held him more tightly.

“Let them come. I want you too much to care.”

Then, he pulled Hua Cheng down for a kiss.

Next, they forgot about all the people outside as soon as Xie Lian pushed Hua Cheng’s back
against the stone, giving him yet another reason to ask for that massage. But that would be
later. After dark, as Xie Lian had said, and there were still many hours left in the day before
sunset came.

***

When Xie Lian and Hua Cheng showed up at the feast, the block of rock continued to be
untouched by the chisel, but neither of them was worried about that. Xie Lian took his place
as the guest of honor and Hua Cheng sat down on his right without consulting anybody, but
no one dared to challenge him.

There was a lot of food adequately prepared and presented. These people had never attended
a royal feast and it showed, but they approximated this one to what they had heard in stories.
Besides, they had put it together in a short time, and it was heartfelt. Thus, Hua Cheng would
allow it as a correct way to celebrate His Highness.

Meanwhile, Xie Lian ate and laughed and enjoyed the music and the dances. Since there
wasn’t anything to outright object to, Hua Cheng spent his time staring at Xie Lian and how
radiant he looked. The closest Hua Cheng could recall him being like that was the parade
back when they had first met, in the carefree days before his life crumbled down.

Xie Lian noticed him looking and smiled at him. However, before they could start a
conversation, Xie Lian got requests from some of the people present. Soon, it was from most
of the people present, enough for Xie Lian to give up telling them he was not a god. Instead,
he sent them form a line in front of him; if he had to listen to them, it would be one by one.
Hua Cheng would’ve loved nothing more than to scare them away so they would leave Xie
Lian alone to enjoy the party. Yet, he had the hunch that such a thing would, at this point,
upset Xie Lian more than not doing it, so Hua Cheng kept the idea to himself. At least until
Xie Lian asked for help.

To keep himself distracted, he checked in with the butterflies he had scattered around town.
One of them had picked up something interesting in one of the houses in construction.

A group of girls had huddled in there and were engaged in quite the gossip.
“If that Xie Lian is who grandpa says he is, shouldn’t he be a woman? I mean, it was the
Ghost King’s Bride who gave him the money, right?”

Another girl shook her head in a patronizing way.

“Two men can be lovers,” she said.

“Fine. But what if he’s only disguised as a man to be safer in his travels.”

“It’s a very realistic disguise, though.”

“Well, gods can change forms, can’t they?”

“He said he wasn’t a god.”

“That’s what a god in disguise would say. That's the whole point!”

The oldest girl lowered her voice and leaned forward.

“What worries me is that other guy who’s with him. Have you seen how he looks at Xie
Lian?”

“Yes! I wish somebody looked at me like that! I would marry him in an instant!”

“Me too!”

“Exactly! Do you think that—?”

“They’re having an affair?” said one girl.

“He’s Crimson Rain Sought Flower?” said another one at the same time.

Everyone gasped.

“No way!”

“I don’t think it’s an affair…”

“He can’t be Crimson Rain Sought Flower! He would’ve skinned Xu Guanting alive. He was
very rude.”

“Xu Guanting also promised to worship him if his statue was better. Knowing him, that’d be
more humiliating.”

“Why don’t we ask him?”

“No!”

“If we ask him and he’s not Hua Cheng, we’re going to look ridiculous!”

“And if he is, we can end up cursed for meddling!”

Hua Cheng chuckled when the girls agreed not to take that route, although he did wonder
whether he should confirm their suspicions or just let them be.

“San Lang, is everything all right?” Xie Lian asked, placing a plate of sweets in front of him.

“Yes, gege. I had just forgotten how funny mortals could be,” Hua Cheng answered with the
same kind of conspiratorial whisper the girls had used.

Xie Lian looked a bit confused, but he squeezed Hua Cheng’s arm regardless.

“Well, I’m glad to see that you’re enjoying yourself.”

“More than I expected. What about gege?”

“I’m having fun too. Just a bit overwhelmed. I can take care of some of their requests
tomorrow, and there are a couple that I’d better forward to Feng Xin and Mu Qing. They’re
better positioned to handle them.”

“Do you think they’ll do it?”

Xie Lian folded his arms and closed his eyes.

“That’ll be up to them. Either way, I would’ve done what I could.”

“You would’ve gone above and beyond, gege.”

Xie Lian opened an eye to see him. He was blushing again, but this time he seemed more
pleased than flustered.

“We should focus on enjoying the party now.”

Hua Cheng nodded and grabbed one of the sweets Xie Lian had left for him. It wasn’t bad
but, to be honest, he preferred the ones Xie Lian made. Whether undercooked, burned, or
containing ingredients that shouldn’t be there, they had been produced by the holiest hands in
the three realms, and nothing would ever be able to compete.

***

The feast didn’t last that long. Most people began to retire early, and it had also been a long
day for Xie Lian. Hua Cheng made sure to start whining when he noticed His Highness
stifling yawns until Xie Lian gave in and acknowledged he was tired. However, his whining
became real when he realized that they were being offered different rooms. Very close to each
other but, still, different. Yet, it would be fun and it would add excitement to their game to be
able to sneak into Xie Lian’s room as if he didn’t belong there.
 However, once he went through the window, Hua Cheng found Xie Lian lying on the bed,
completely dressed, and fast asleep. He had, no doubt, flopped on the bed and called it a day.
It was really cute.

Hua Cheng smiled and moved around the room not wanting to wake him up. What he wanted
to do, though, was to make him comfortable. In complete silence, carefully and gently, he
took Xie Lian’s boots and outer robes off. Xie Lian reacted only with a sigh. Hua Cheng
stayed there for a moment, admiring that sweet, beloved face. Xie Lian looked happy and
satisfied, which in turn brought satisfaction to the Ghost King.

That was a good moment for inspiration to strike. Hua Cheng left the room—again, through
the window—and went back to work on the statue. Once he grabbed the chisel again, his
fingers flew and would only stop at dawn, when his work was finished.

Chapter End Notes

Promo tweet!
 Part 3: On the Road | Chapter 4
Chapter Summary

In which Hua Cheng betrays himself more than once.

Xie Lian woke up to find himself in his inner robes and without his boots. He didn’t
remember taking his outer robes off before falling asleep, which could only mean one thing
and that thing made him feel both guilt and a sweet warmth spreading in his chest. Just when
he thought he couldn’t love Hua Cheng more, he did something to prove him wrong. Xie
Lian pressed his hand to his chest, right over the ring Hua Cheng gave him, and he promised
that he would make it up to his beloved as soon as he had the chance. Which meant he had to
start by going to look for him.

He got dressed and left the room. However, he hadn’t taken two steps into the street when he
ran into a group of girls whose chatting stopped as soon as they saw him. It wasn’t a
disdainful or disgusted silence, though, like it had happened to Xie Lian oftentimes. They
looked nervous and it took them a second to start exchanging whispers again. Xie Lian
pretended not to hear them. Instead, he smiled at them and wished them a good day before
trying to sneak away.

He didn’t manage.

The group pushed their most unlucky member forward to block his path.

“Just ask him!” they whispered to the blushing girl, who looked back and forth between her
friends and Xie Lian, unsure of how she had gotten in this situation.

Xie Lian, now amused, smiled at her and waited, wondering whether she’d speak up or run
away. The girl herself didn’t seem to know either.

A second girl took pity on her. Not enough to ask the questions herself, just to feed her the
lines in her ear.

The first girl pouted and bounced on her place before speaking.

“Excuse me, are you—” She cleared her throat. “Are you really in a relationship with
Crimson Rain Sought Flower?”

“You were supposed to start with, ‘Pardon my imprudence,’” whispered the other girl. “What
is daozhang going to think?”

Well, daozhang was thinking the same he would’ve thought if they had started with that.
Either way, it wouldn’t hurt to be truthful.
“Yes, I am.”

The girls screamed half in fear and half in delight. Those three simple words seemed to have
destroyed a previously insurmountable barrier, allowing them to launch the next round of
questions at the same time.

“Are you a prince?”

“Are you a god?”

“Are you a ghost?”

“Ah! I am not a ghost,” Xie Lian said, raising his hands in self-defense. As for the other
questions, he pretended he didn’t hear them. “I can teach you how to spot one, though. In
case you ever encounter one.”

“What about the other person with you? Is he a ghost?”

“Is he…” The oldest girl leaned forward and whispered in a conspiratorial manner. “Is he
Crimson Rain Sought Flower?”

Xie Lian forced his smile to stay in place while he went over the list of things Hua Cheng
could’ve done that gave him away.

“Well,” he began.

However, he didn’t have to go any further than that. A loud shriek came from the direction of
his shrine. It was horrible, like a man being dragged to slaughter. Or, now that Xie Lian was
more familiar with the handling of the casino, like a man who had lost a hefty bet at the
Gambler’s Den.

Resigned, he sighed and dashed toward the scream, readying Ruoye for whatever they might
find. The girls came after him before he could tell them to stay put. He was only able to tell
them to keep themselves at a safe distance, to which he received a chorus of, ‘yes, daozhang!’
in different volumes.

What they found was Xu Guanting, the original artist hired by the town, in the middle of the
street, pointing inside the shrine and screaming. Xie Lian hurried to take a look and found
Hua Cheng as San Lang leaning against a wall across from a finished statue of the Flower
Crown Prince, the most beautiful and detailed he had seen, even counting the ones his own
parents had commissioned so long ago.

“Will you shut up?” Hua Cheng said. He was playing with the chisel in his hand, twirling it
with ease.

Worried for a moment that he would throw it at the man who had dared challenge him, Xie
Lian sent Ruoye to cover Xu Guanting’s mouth. The piece of silk, excited about doing
something, wrapped itself around the man’s head leaving only his eyes and nose uncovered.
“Thank you, gege,” Hua Cheng continued as soon as silence fell again. “He was hurting my
ears.” Then, he addressed the artist. “As I was saying, you will have to do your part and kneel
to me.”

“You did this to yourself,” Xie Lian said, folding his arms in his sleeves.

Xu Guanting turned to him and glared even harder. He tried to remove Ruoye from his face,
but the spiritual tool wouldn’t let go unless his master gave the order, and said master didn’t
feel like releasing the man. Not with that attitude.

A loud gasp sounded behind them. The entire town had gathered to see what was causing the
commotion only to find the scorned artist, the beautiful statue, and its magnificent creator.

“Wonderful,” said Han Ping, stepping forward to take a better look, but not daring to touch
the statue. “This is exactly what I wanted.” He glanced at Xie Lian and then back at the
statue. “The resemblance is perfect. I bow to your superior skill, young master,” he told Hua
Cheng.

Do I really look like that? Xie Lian thought. He had seen himself in mirrors, of course.
Recently more than ever, thanks to his newfound need to look good for his beloved.
However, he hadn’t reflected on it more than necessary.

At the very least, this was how Hua Cheng saw him, and it was—

It was—

Xie Lian liked it.

“See? I told you,” came a whisper very close to him, although addressing someone else.

“It is him, isn’t he?” said another person to Xie Lian’s right. “To make it so fast!”

The girls had also caught up with him and had decided this would be their proof. Which,
granted, it was.

Xie Lian turned to them.

“Will you keep our secret?” he asked, knowing quite well that, in the long run, they wouldn’t.
But, at least, this would buy them peace for the rest of the day.

“Yes, yes!” said the girls.

“Thank you.”

Xie Lian recalled Ruoye to his wrist and Xu Guanting proceeded to glare and shake his fists
at everyone.

“I am not going to—!”

“Young man, you lost the wager!” Han Ping said. “I was a witness when you made it against
my advice. It’s time you learn some humility.”

Xu Guanting kept glaring, but this time with his mouth shut of his own accord.

“Now,” Hua Cheng said, addressing him. “You’ll get your instructions on how and where I
want the temple in due time. I don’t want to see your face until then. Leave.”

He gave his back to Xu Guanting in a fluid, elegant motion. This, and the expression on his
face as he spoke, made Xie Lian’s heart beat faster. The girls behind him giggled and sighed
loudly. Their noise upset Xie Lian for some reason. It made him want to chase everyone
away to grab Hua Cheng’s smug face and kiss that crooked smile of his. However, even that
problem solved itself.

“Now that’s done,” Han Ping said once Xu Guanting was gone, although Xie Lian didn’t
remember seeing him leave, busy as he was staring at Hua Cheng, “I believe it’s time for
breakfast. We’ll take care of it, daozhang, young master, and call you when it’s ready.”

With that, he ushered the townspeople away. Yet, it was when they were left alone that Hua
Cheng looked nervous. He avoided facing Xie Lian, but the latter could tell by the way he
turned his head away and how he hung the chisel and the hammer on the wall.

Was he afraid Xie Lian would judge his work harshly? Well, Xie Lian had nothing bad to say
about it. But words might not be enough, so he went straight to Hua Cheng and gave him the
tightest hug he could.

“Thank you. I love it. It’s beautiful.”

Only then did the Red Calamity relax in Xie Lian’s arms and hugged him back.

“I did what I could, gege. But I’ll never be able to capture—”

Xie Lian interrupted him with the kiss he had been wanting to give him for a while now.

“It’s perfect.”

“Fine, I’m convinced,” whispered someone outside. “That has to be the Red Ghost King!”

The girls again.

Startled, Xie Lian fought the urge to hide behind Hua Cheng, but the latter transformed
himself back to his original form and took a step toward them.

“Do you want the Ghost King? Here you have him! Now, scram!” he exclaimed in his most
commanding and frightening voice.

The girls ran away screaming.

“We won’t tell anyone! We won’t tell anyone! Promise!”

In the end, Xie Lian couldn’t help a giggle, even when he had his face pressed against Hua
Cheng’s chest and held fistfuls of his sleeves. Hua Cheng himself began laughing as soon as
the girls were out of hearing range.

“They had figured it out already,” Xie Lian mumbled. “Others might have too, with how fast
the statue was made.”

Hua Cheng caressed Xie Lian’s hair.

“All of this has the makings of a great folktale, don’t you think, gege?”

“You sound too happy about it.” He looked up only to find Hua Cheng smiling and he
couldn’t keep the stern expression. Besides, despite them being together all the time, he
hadn’t seen that face in days. “So, how long are you going to let pass before telling Xu
Guanting to build that temple?”

“I haven’t decided yet. Somewhere people can access it but that makes that guy’s life
difficult. Will you help me find such a place? I have plenty of maps back at Paradise Manor.”

“I shouldn’t be encouraging you, but yes. I’ll help you.”

“Thank you, gege.”

Then, Xie Lian took a step back and turned his face into a severe mask as he looked at Hua
Cheng in the eye.

“Speaking of encouraging you, I’m not sure you’ve earned that massage I promised you.”

Hua Cheng’s hurt and disappointed pout bloomed into a poem.

“Gege…”

“Xu Guanting challenged you, so he deserved what he got. But those girls—”

“ Gege! ”

“Hold on. I’m still deciding.”

Hua Cheng whined but remained quiet while Xie Lian looked up at the ceiling and tapped his
chin.

“As I was saying, those girls… I guess they were a bit gossipy and you could’ve done worse
to them. In the end, I would say that you showed a lot of restraint.” He got closer and traced
random figures on Hua Cheng’s chest with his fingers. “That needs to be rewarded.”

“Gege…”

It was fascinating to have this level of control. To be this bold and this shameless. Hua Cheng
had said ‘gege’ three different times in three different ways, all of them with a different
meaning. First in indignant surprise, then a tantrum-like protest, and now he said it in a
breathy, expectant way. The worst part was that Xie Lian didn’t feel any shame in eliciting
these reactions from his lover. Then, he remembered something he had seen countless
maidens do over the centuries, and he decided to give it a try. Hua Cheng was taller, so
chances were this would work. Xie Lian got even closer and looked up at him through his
eyelashes.

“Later,” he whispered. “When we know for sure we’ll be alone and we’ve procured a
comfortable bed.” Then, before Hua Cheng could offer to take them to such a place in an
instant, Xie Lian pressed the tip of his finger to the Ghost King’s lips. “ Later . Now, let’s go
have some breakfast, alright?”

Hua Cheng kissed that finger.

“Yes, gege. As you wish.”

Xie Lian smiled at him, pleased.

“Thank you, my love.”

Hua Cheng shivered.

“Yours…” he whispered, pressing his forehead against Xie Lian’s, making the latter almost
accept going back to Paradise Manor right then and there. But they couldn’t; the ghosts back
there needed a few more days to set up the city-wide party.

What Xie Lian could do was press a soft kiss on Hua Cheng’s lips and then lead the way
outside the shrine to join the villagers.

Before leaving the shrine, Hua Cheng took back the shape of San Lang and followed Xie
Lian to get that breakfast. They would be taking it in the same open space where the villagers
had organized the feast the previous evening. The two of them could have gone to the local
restaurant which, despite being small, had a roof and a decent-looking menu, but they didn’t
seem to want their benefactor to spend any money. Once again, Xie Lian didn’t have the heart
to tell them there was no need to bother.

It was strange. A long time ago, in the first years of his banishment, Xie Lian had wanted so
many times to stand on a rock and yell at the world to stop ignoring his suffering. To yell that
he was hungry. That he was hurting. That he was angry and lonely. Now, he wished to have a
way to politely ask them to stop hovering over him and giving him gifts.

Hua Cheng and Xie Lian got dishes in front of them as soon as they sat down. After a quick
thank you, Xie Lian began to eat and Hua Cheng followed his cue. He made contented noises
as he did, but Xie Lian noticed that, from time to time, Hua Cheng glanced beyond him, to
something on his right.

“What’s going on?” Xie Lian asked.

Hua Cheng pouted.

“Those girls. They’re behind the wall and they keep staring at you.”

Xie Lian grinned, but he didn’t turn around.

“They’re probably staring at you, though. You’re quite handsome, after all.”

Hua Cheng’s face froze after that statement. Xie Lian snickered this time, now poking Hua
Cheng’s cheek. This was fun, so he decided to tease him further.

“You don’t agree? Would you say, then, that I’m lying?”

“Gege!” Hua Cheng protested in a pained voice.

“If I’m not lying, then you are handsome. End of the question.”

Hua Cheng leaned forward and buried his face in Xie Lian’s shoulder. The latter laughed
softly and gave a few comforting pats on the other’s head.

“There, there. It’s good to admit it once in a while.”

Hua Cheng then sat up, keeping his face very close to Xie Lian’s. It was fascinating how
even the fake eye, the one that was entirely a fabrication, was able to shine as true and
determined as the real one. This skin was too good, and it could probably deceive a god. At
least, it could’ve deceived Xie Lian if he had been caught off guard and he hadn’t known
beforehand about Hua Cheng’s true nature, and he’d had ample experience telling apart the
dead from the living.

“Gege,” Hua Cheng said with a firm voice despite the tight lines of his mouth betraying his
self-consciousness about whatever he was going to do or say. “If it’s good to admit things,
then you have to admit that your beauty is beyond comparison.”

Xie Lian stared back, trying and failing to form a coherent sentence. His teasing mood had
vanished.

Hua Cheng began to lean forward, as slow as honey. As sweet as honey. Xie Lian’s heart
thumped inside his chest, feeling like this would be their first kiss all over again.

Just as he began to feel the warmth of Hua Cheng’s breath, someone flopped on the stool on
the other side of Hua Cheng, making Xie Lian jump. To be fair, Hua Cheng also jumped, but
his surprise was followed by a killing intent Xie Lian barely had the opportunity to rein back
by holding Hua Cheng’s arm. To be honest, he was also upset at being interrupted, but it
wouldn’t do to murder one of their hosts.

“San Lang!” he whispered.

“Yes, gege,” Hua Cheng whispered back.

He put his other hand on top of Xie Lian’s and his killing intent subdued. It didn’t disappear,
and Xie Lian found himself writing down another item on the list of things his beloved did
that he should neither encourage nor find endearing. Alas, he did, anyway.

The poor soul who had nearly lost his head to the blade of the Red Calamity was Han Ping.
He didn’t seem to have realized how close he had come to saying goodbye to this plane—nor
that he was interrupting, for that matter. He sported a placid smile on his face as he dropped a
money bag on the table. The bag was so heavy it made the dishes, cups, and cutlery rattle.

“As promised, young master: your payment for the statue.”

“Great,” Hua Cheng muttered.

In the mood he was in, this would be the closest thing the old man would have as a thank
you. Not that Xie Lian thought he deserved anything more for being so rude, and therefore he
didn’t bother correcting Hua Cheng.

Next, Hua Cheng made the money disappear into his sleeve, a process that Han Ping
followed with fascination.

“That is a Qiankun sleeve, right? My whole life I’ve been wanting to get one for myself.” He
chuckled. “Well, if we manage to make ours a prosperous village as we’ve planned, I could
make my dream come true.”

“I wish you the best of luck,” Xie Lian said.

Meanwhile, Hua Cheng had gone back to glaring at the girls.

Young people were so strange. First, Xie Lian couldn’t get their attention to teach them useful
things, and now they wouldn’t stop spying on him. Depending on how the day progressed, he
might need to give them a lecture on respecting their elders.

“I hope you’re enjoying your stay,” Han Ping said. “And that you would grace us with your
presence one more day.”

“We are enjoying it, thank you. Actually, I was thinking of fulfilling some of the requests I
got last night.”

The most immediately doable, anyway.

Han Ping’s eyes lit up.

“Of course! I’m sure everyone will be happy to find out.”

“I only have one request myself,” Xie Lian said. “I would like for people I’ve helped to give
me some scrap.”

“Scrap?” Han Ping said.

Even Hua Cheng stopped pretending he wasn’t listening and turned his attention to the
conversation.

“Scrap,” Xie Lian repeated with an open smile as if his request hadn’t been weird at all.

“Very well,” Han Ping said after a moment of silence. “I guess… I guess that shouldn’t be a
problem.” He got up from the stool. “I’ll let everyone know so they can prepare. Do you
know which requests you’ll be fulfilling?”

“He’ll figure it out as we go,” Hua Cheng said. “After we’ve finished our breakfast.”

“Oh. Of course, of course. Please, enjoy your meal.”

Han Ping bowed to them and walked away.

“I thought he’d never leave,” Hua Cheng grunted so only Xie Lian could hear.

Xie Lian snickered.

“Me neither. But sometimes you just have to listen to people.”

“Not when they interfere with your meals.”

Xie Lian leaned forward to leave a quick kiss on Hua Cheng’s frown and another one on his
lips.

“Nor when they interfere with your kisses,” he said, knowing he was blushing but feeling
bold nonetheless.

Hua Cheng’s face softened, just as did his mood.

“Especially then,” he said, venturing for another kiss before they finally went back to eat.

Xie Lian was sure he heard the girls squealing somewhere behind him, but he didn’t care.
 Part 3: On the Road | Chapter 5
Chapter Summary

In which Xie Lian gets even more followers.

Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Xie Lian’s intervention was the only reason the old man kept his head on his shoulders.
Despite that, and despite his keeping his word—paying Hua Cheng the promised amount
within an appropriate time frame—, he wasn’t off the hook. A shame the butterflies lacked
frowns so they could help their master, at present in the position of having a big group of
people he wanted to glare at simultaneously, starting with the noisy group of girls who kept
shadowing them—didn’t they have chores to do?—and Han Ping, who was oh-so-helpful
while guiding them and reminding Xie Lian of the names of the townspeople. On the other
hand, that was helpful. What was the use of wasting time memorizing the names and faces of
so many unworthy creatures when he didn’t have to? None. None at all.

One thing he had to recognize was that the people here had done their mourning and moved
on. They saw their village destroyed by a landslide, and they lost family members and
friends, but they were rebuilding and they seemed happy about having a future. A future that
Xie Lian had so generously given them—and they’d better remember who had been
responsible for it.

As they walked, Xie Lian held the empty sack he would use to carry the scrap he wanted in
return for helping the supplicants, the same sack he had arrived with at Ghost City weeks
ago. Xie Lian’s idea of offerings had baffled Hua Cheng as much as it did the old man, but he
wasn’t going to question His Highness even when the presence of said sack made clear he
had planned this from the beginning. Or, at least, that he expected something like this to
happen.

By then, Hua Cheng was well-versed in how Xie Lian had made a living the past centuries
collecting trash. He insisted that it was better than it sounded, but Hua Cheng wasn’t sure.
Then again, for Hua Cheng, everything but a life full of luxuries and pampering was beneath
the Crown Prince.

They reached the first family whose request could be answered on the spot. For the tasks that
needed a different skill set, Xie Lian would delegate to his former servants, which was just as
good as long as they didn’t get the credit. People might remember who they asked this of, but
even more who answered. Hua Cheng decided to find a workaround so His Highness retained
the merit and the whole town became his followers.
While Han Ping remained inside drinking tea, Xie Lian and Hua Cheng were led to the back
of the house. This courtyard was one of the few places that survived the landslide. It was
dusty and the walls were one sneeze away from falling apart, but the well in the middle
remained unobstructed.

“That’s where it is,” said the owner of the house, a middle-aged man who looked very
worried and contrite. “Granny threw it in there.”

Well, it seemed like Hua Cheng had missed part of the story here. A blessing that he didn’t
care. All he had to know was that Xie Lian had to take out something from the mud at the
bottom of the well.

“After the landslide, nothing has been the same,” the man continued with a heartfelt sigh.
“The structures might’ve survived but the water in the well has all become filth. I’ve been
trying to find a way to get it out for years, and now it’s worse. We used to be able to see the
chest under the water when the sun hit the right way, but now, nothing. I’m afraid it’s not
there anymore and I’m out of ideas.”

As the man rambled, Hua Cheng leaned against a tree. Now that he got a better grasp of what
these people were up to, the whole ordeal got even more boring. Part of him cheered for the
old lady and her way of making everyone’s lives difficult by throwing their inheritance down
there, however. The rest of him was in awe at the patience and kindness of Xie Lian, who
listened and let the man finish all he had to say before he got to work.

Xie Lian grabbed a pebble from the ground and tossed it into the well. It took some time for
it to reach the bottom. As expected, it didn’t splash. To be honest, a simple mortal wouldn’t
have been able to hear the mushy thud that cut the pebble’s fall. Not at all discouraged, Xie
Lian nodded.

“Let’s see if it’s there,” he said.

“Are you going into the well, daozhang?” the man’s wife asked. She held a tray with a tea set
in her hands. “You’ll ruin your clothes!”

“Oh, no. I’m not going in there if I can help it,” Xie Lian answered.

Hua Cheng was glad. He would’ve followed Xie Lian without hesitation no matter how
disgusting the interior of the well.

Either way, Xie Lian not going in meant Ruoye would. The piece of silk uncoiled from Xie
Lian’s wrist and went into the insides of the earth.

The pair of husband and wife stared in wonder at how Xie Lian’s spiritual tool stretched and
stretched until it didn’t anymore. It took Ruoye a couple of seconds to be back up, carrying a
wooden chest the size of a cat that he left in Xie Lian’s hands.

“Thank you,” Xie Lian said, scratching the silk that had gone back to wrap around his wrist.
“You did a great job. Here you go,” he added, turning to the other two.
“That was it?” the woman said.

“Gege is nothing if not efficient,” Hua Cheng said, smug.

“Very, very efficient,” the man repeated, all but dancing on his way to retrieve the box. In a
moment, he ripped off the rotten piece of rope that kept the lid in its place and opened it, not
caring about the smell. Next, he removed everything that was inside. “What?” he exclaimed
after a moment of rummaging. The more he spoke, the louder he got. “Letters? Is it only
letters? Where are the hairpins? And the combs? She had combs covered in jewels! I
remember them!”

“I wouldn’t know…” Xie Lian murmured with a placating smile.

“Dear, calm down,” the wife said.

“How do you want me to calm down? This is a—” He seemed to remember he was in polite
company, so he stopped and didn’t even toss the chest on the ground as he surely wanted to.
Instead, he offered it to Xie Lian. “Here. You wanted trash, didn’t you?”

“But the letters…”

“They’re trash and I want this thing out of my sight!” he added, pushing the chest on Xie
Lian’s hands.

The man’s tone was harsher than necessary and Hua Cheng toyed with the idea of haunting
him later on for being so disrespectful. Xie Lian, on the other hand, very notoriously
swallowed a sigh, grabbed the chest, and put it in his sack.

“Thank you.”

He meant it.

“I have some more trash in the kitchen,” the woman said.

A few moments later, they left the house with Xie Lian’s sack half full.

Hua Cheng was conflicted, unsure of whether he should offer his help with it. Xie Lian
carried it over his shoulder with no effort and, if asked, he’d say it was no problem for him,
which Hua Cheng would have to respect while his mind kept frantically going over the
circumstances that had pushed Xie Lian to collect trash not to starve. Hua Cheng knew what
it was to be hungry and bullied for no other reason than to exist in the wrong place at the
wrong time. If there was anyone in any realm who didn’t deserve such treatment, that was
Xie Lian.

Fortunately, their next stop was only about a dozen steps away. Han Ping announced them as
they went inside. As a herald, he was lacking, but he had never had any training, the only
reason that made Hua Cheng willing to allow it.

This second petition led them to a house whose owners believed it was haunted. Hua Cheng
dutifully followed the group when they hurried Xie Lian to the room they considered the
origin of it all.

“My wife is terrified of ghosts and I’m a firm believer in not getting in the way when I don’t
know how to help,” the husband said as he closed the door with a slam, leaving Xie Lian and
Hua Cheng inside.

“I don’t think the wife is the one afraid of ghosts,” Hua Cheng said.

Xie Lian chuckled.

“Perhaps.” He walked to the middle of the room and peeked at Ruoye. The piece of silk did
nothing. Xie Lian petted it two or three times and turned to Hua Cheng. “You already know
what’s going on, right?”

Hua Cheng smirked.

“Yes—Gege?” he exclaimed when Xie Lian began pushing him toward the door.

“I’m supposed to get rid of the ghosts in the room and you’re the only one here,” Xie Lian
said between bouts of laughter.

“Gege, please!” Hua Cheng said in a failed whine that also dissolved into laughter.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I couldn’t help it,” Xie Lian said, covering his mouth with his closed
fist as he tried to calm down.

Hua Cheng pretended to be upset and hid his face on Xie Lian’s neck.

“Gege is so mean.”

Xie Lian laughed a little more, petting his hair.

“I’ll make it up to you, promise.”

“With anything I want?”

“How much am I going to regret that?”

Hua Cheng left a soft kiss on the bandages around Xie Lian’s neck.

“A lot. But only at first. Then, you’re gonna love it.”

Xie Lian’s neck went red immediately and his entire body tensed up in a way that promised
all kinds of delights. It wouldn’t be proper for Hua Cheng to take advantage of it in this
place. He, of course, didn’t care about propriety, but he did care about Xie Lian’s reputation.
He just nuzzled his way to Xie Lian’s ear and whispered, “When we’re back home, then.”

Xie Lian nodded and pressed the bridge of his nose.

Satisfied with himself, Hua Cheng let go of him and took a step backward to hear Xie Lian’s
conclusions regarding this room.
A few deep breaths later, Xie Lian spoke again.

“Let’s call the family to tell them what they should do.”

However, once Xie Lian explained that their problem was easier to solve than they expected,
he met disbelieving stares.

“That’s all?” the husband said.

“Yes. Cover the hole near the roof. What you hear it’s just the wind.”

The pair exchanged a look.

“We just rebuilt the house!” the wife said. “How can it have a hole already?”

Xie Lian folded his arms inside his sleeves.

“Rats and some birds can be very—”

“Ghosts!” the husband interrupted. “Ghosts are destroying my house!”

“Can they do that?” the wife asked.

“Of course! What else can it be?”

Hua Cheng witnessed the corner of Xie Lian’s mouth pulling backward while one of his eyes
twitched. Despite that, he didn’t ask Hua Cheng to hang the couple on the roof beams by their
feet. His Highness’s patience was to be admired.

“I’ll leave you some talismans,” Xie Lian said, slowly and enunciating every word. “Place
them on the wall as you fix it, leave them overnight, and that will do the trick.”

That did the trick, indeed. The family agreed to the deal with enthusiasm and Xie Lian spent
the next few hours making basic talismans with all the paper and ink those two kept on
giving him.

***

“I’m in awe of the way you inspire people, gege,” Hua Cheng said sometime later as he
massaged Xie Lian’s wrist. They were waiting for lunch to be served, alone and free for the
first time in the day. The old man had gone to hurry the cooks and the girls had grown bored
waiting outside the house while Xie Lian made the talismans. “And also of how generous you
are.”
Xie Lian, self-conscious, laughed softly.

“Are you really? I thought I was taking the easy way out. But sometimes there’s no
convincing some people.”

“There’s nothing wrong with saving yourself the trouble.”

Xie Lian leaned against Hua Cheng.

“You’re just saying that.” He sighed. “In any case, only those two took the entire morning.
We’ve wasted a lot of time.”

“Gege, we have nothing but time.”

Xie Lian looked up at Hua Cheng as if he had suddenly remembered something only to
realize that he couldn’t say it. Hua Cheng wondered if it was what he thought. It was likely.
He had been suspecting it from almost the start; the timing had been suspicious. But Xie Lian
had let out nothing—until now. He also would’ve liked to know if it had been Xie Lian’s
idea. The trip for sure, but the party? He could ask later, when it was all said and done. And,
in case someone else had been the one to come up with it, he’d let very clear what happened
when anyone tried to manipulate His Highness in any way, even if it was for something as
inane as celebrating his birthday. Specially when it was something as inane as celebrating his
birthday.

Right now, though, he’d pretend he had no clue as to what it was. He tilted his head and
conjured a confused smile. Perhaps he could tease Xie Lian into tangling his tongue. That
was always cute.

“Gege? What is it?”

Xie Lian coughed into his fist.

This looked promising.

“Nothing. It’s fine.”

“Are you sure? Your expression just now… Did you forget anything at the Manor?”

“Mmm. I don’t think so. Everything I need that’s not inside my sleeves is right in front of
me,” Xie Lian answered.

He maintained a sweet smile as he poked the tip of Hua Cheng’s nose.

Following Xie Lian’s finger, Hua Cheng crossed his eyes.

Unfair!

Now he was all touched and flustered. With that simple gesture, Xie Lian had reversed the
tables and he hadn’t even realized it.
Hua Cheng sighed and decided to drop the matter for the time being. Getting back to the
topic would be tricky and he had to focus on discouraging more supplicants to come and ask
for Xie Lian’s help. Now that they saw he’d been doing things in person—unlike other beings
who dared to call themselves gods—, they would be coming. It wasn’t just a supposition; his
butterflies alerted him of the fact. Thus, that was how he spent lunch: sending the Wrath
butterflies to tangle people’s feet and locking them in their houses with their silk. He’d let
them out soon enough, once Xie Lian had had his much-needed break.

After lunch, Hua Cheng let go of the townspeople and Xie Lian spent the rest of the day
answering more petitions. He was patient with them, alternating between firm and soothing
according to the situation. Although he was in a hurry, the villagers weren’t able to tell, since
he did take the time to listen to their babbling. Despite his words earlier, he looked happy
doing this kind of work. Yet, the most baffling thing was his gratitude when he got the scrap
he had asked for. If this kept going, Hua Cheng would forfeit all decorum and ask.

Either way, Hua Cheng kept out of the way. In every house Xie Lian had a petition to answer,
Hua Cheng found a nice wall or tree or rock to lean against from where he looked at Xie Lian
so he could cheer whenever he achieved anything. It didn’t matter that most people had
problems they could’ve easily solved themselves. What mattered was that they never forgot
who did this and that they went to the right shrine to pray.

***

By the time Xie Lian reached the end of his list and was able to come back to his room, the
sun had long set. Hua Cheng had decided that this time he would stay in there, appearances
be damned. Thus, he closed the door behind him and sat on the bed. Next, he patted the place
next to him as an invitation. However, instead of just sitting, Xie Lian collapsed and planted
his face on Hua Cheng’s lap.

Stifling a surprised chuckle, Hua Cheng said nothing and began caressing the back of Xie
Lian’s head with one hand while he twirled locks of hair between his fingers.

“Are you tired, gege?”

“Mmm,” Xie Lian grumbled.

That meant yes and Hua Cheng picked it up. He could picture Xie Lian’s closed eyes and
scrunched face.

“Gege, I believe I’ll be the one giving you a massage first.”

“Don’t be upset if I fall asleep halfway through it.”

Hua Cheng leaned forward to kiss the top of Xie Lian’s head.

“That’s what it’s for,” he purred.

Xie Lian let out a contented sigh and went ahead to be dead weight, letting Hua Cheng
handle him like a doll—a most revered doll.

Hua Cheng removed the top of Xie Lian’s clothes and tied his hair in a bun to get it out of the
way. After that, he rubbed his hands to warm them up with the fake blood circulation he
maintained in this body. He needed only the smallest of spiritual power to keep up this
disguise. It was no effort at all. What did require effort was to keep his hands steady as they
worked on Xie Lian’s muscles. Regardless of how many times he touched that smooth,
beautiful skin, how many times and in how many ways he had kissed it, he would never get
used to it. Being allowed to worship His Highness so closely would always bring him to
ecstasy.

“That feels great,” Xie Lian said, his voice muffled against the bedding.

“I’m just starting.” Hua Cheng let a few moments pass before adding, “You did a great job
out there today, gege. I’m proud.”

“It’s not that big of a deal. Their biggest requests are still to be done. I’ll pass them along.”

Hua Cheng’s finger traced a line along Xie Lian’s spine, pressing the right spot at the right
moment. A heavy moan followed the cracking noise and Hua Cheng felt Xie Lian’s body
melting into a puddle.

“The people will remember who they asked.”

“That’s not important, San Lang.”

Hua Cheng didn’t like to openly disagree with Xie Lian, but he’d have to do so now. He had
to find a way to convince him about this. He began by making a noncommittal noise while he
disrobed.

“I mean it,” Xie Lian said, turning on his side to look at Hua Cheng.

However, before adding anything else, he got distracted by the way Hua Cheng’s fingers
removed his clothes. Xie Lian moved to leave him some space and relaxed even further into
the bed.

“Thank you for worrying,” he said.

Hua Cheng, in his inner robes, lay down next to him.

“I can’t not worry, gege.”

 Xie Lian burrowed himself against him. Hua Cheng hugged him close and felt him drifting
off to sleep.

“I worry because I love you,” he whispered against Xie Lian’s hair.

He shivered in the delight of being able to say it so close to his beloved, although at the same
time hating himself for being unable to say it looking into Xie Lian’s eyes. But he wasn’t
worthy—and maybe he’d never be.

Chapter End Notes

Promo tweet!
 Part 3: On the Road | Chapter 6
Chapter Summary

In which the road trip ends and the party starts.

Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Centuries of meandering in the mortal realm without plans or schedules had messed up with
Xie Lian’s perception of time and distance. He only realized how much he had miscalculated
their time of departure when they were about to leave town. However, taking it back meant to
impose themselves again on their hosts and maybe even raise Hua Cheng’s suspicions. Thus,
in order to arrive at Hua Cheng’s birthday celebration on time, he insisted on making more
stops in a few different villages with the pretext of wanting to see some wonder or another
that might or might not be hidden somewhere in them.

Hua Cheng’s only comment had been to repeat his previous statement.

“I’m going where you’re going, gege,” he said, refusing to complain when people replied that
they had no idea about the existence of said wonders.

“Ah, what a shame,” Xie Lian replied with a smile that was neither awkward nor forced.
“Next town, perhaps.”

Then, the lady who had so kindly stopped her sweeping to entertain Xie Lian’s questions
asked him if he was the brave and strong cultivator she had heard about.

“Well, gege is certainly a cultivator, and he is the bravest, strongest, and most intelligent
person I’ve ever met,” Hua Cheng answered.

Feeling himself blush, Xie Lian hurried to wave his hands.

“Ahaha! That’s— Um. Excuse me. What have you heard about, exactly?”

The lady looked from Xie Lian to Hua Cheng.

“That this cultivator defeated a group of thieves who roamed the area. Probably one of the
most dangerous gangs in the land, and that he was followed around by a young master in red
robes. So it must be you.”

Xie Lian’s smile did grow awkward.

“They weren’t that dangerous, to be honest.”

“Ah, gege! You’re so fearless! I remember that incident. I was so afraid! I only kept my
composure because you were standing between us!”

It amazed Xie Lian how easy it was for Hua Cheng to lie. Those bandits had been useless,
and the Ghost King needed but a snap of his fingers to have them at his feet begging not to be
chopped into pieces. Then again, maybe that was the composure he talked about and Xie Lian
had ended up saving the lives of the thieves who had unknowingly threatened to kidnap
Crimson Rain Sought Flower.

“Daozhang, you don’t have to be so modest,” the lady continued. “Don’t sell yourself short.”

“I’ll try,” Xie Lian replied.

Hua Cheng squeezed his shoulder. A blatant threat meaning, “I won’t let you.”

It seemed like there were a few things he couldn’t fight, and a Supreme Ghost King bent on
singing his praises was one of them.

“Say,” the woman carried on, “is it true that daozhang will help people in exchange for
scrap?”

Good. Back to familiar territory.

“Yes, it’s true. Although some things might take longer than others.”

In the beginning, Xie Lian thought of that as a one-time thing, but the hope and wonder on
the people’s faces made it difficult to refuse them. Besides, this was, yet again, a good
reception by his standards. No one was trying to get their dogs to bite him and they weren’t
throwing the scrap at his head. Most definitely an improvement.

Just in case, Xie Lian glanced at Hua Cheng to gauge his reaction. The latter’s face changed
from a neutral expression as he stared ahead to a smile when he noticed Xie Lian’s eyes on
him. Xie Lian’s heart skipped a beat as he realized once more how lucky he was. Hua
Cheng’s disguise also had the same beautiful and cocky smile, which made Xie Lian think
he’d be able to recognize his beloved anywhere at any time. The biggest difference between
his two forms was that the dangerous edge always present in the step of the Ghost King’s
original form was more subdued and subtle in San Lang’s.

In any case, Hua Cheng didn’t seem concerned at all, and his expression lacked all judgment.
He didn’t complain about these little distractions and he kept encouraging and cheering Xie
Lian as he worked on the tasks random people assigned him. Most of them were simple and
didn’t take much time, and some were even kind of fun. Yet, there were many and, at the end
of the day, both Hua Cheng and Xie Lian got invited for dinner. The result? Xie Lian too tired
at night for sex. Fortunately, Hua Cheng seemed content when they cuddled and, for Xie
Lian, falling asleep as soon as he rested his head on Hua Cheng’s chest, felt nice. Warm.
Comfortable.

Safe.
The best scrap-collecting trip Xie Lian had ever made. Of course, he got sad when it ended.

***

“I must thank you for such a high-quality Qiankun sleeve, San Lang,” Xie Lian was saying
when they were finally on their way back to Ghost City. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been
able to carry everything they gave me. You know, it used to be rare for me to get more than I
could carry in one or two sacks.”

“What did you do when that happened, gege?”

“Well, I had to choose and keep only the more expensive stuff. You develop an eye for that
kind of thing after a while.”

“Are you thinking of selling what you collected, then?”

“I am. I don’t think it’d be good to keep it in—in our room.”

He made a pause there, waiting to see how that word landed as he played with a lock of his
hair. From the beginning, Hua Cheng had declared it Xie Lian’s room, and that area of the
manor Xie Lian’s wing, even though Xie Lian had hesitated considering them as such back
when he thought of himself as a guest. Now, as their relationship had progressed, things were
different. Which didn’t mean he wasn’t terrified of overstepping.

Yet, Hua Cheng’s only reaction was to hum in a noncommittal way.

“You can decorate it any way you want.”

Xie Lian nodded and pressed the issue. The lock of his hair was already a knot around his
fingers.

“I’d also like your input. You also should be able to decorate it as you want. At—at least half
of it!”

Hua Cheng took a longer step so he could stand before Xie Lian, blocking his way. One of
his hands went to Xie Lian’s waist and the other to his cheek as he peered into Xie Lian’s
eyes. The eyes of Hua Cheng’s disguise were perfect, so expertly made that no one would’ve
guessed that one of them was a complete fabrication. The intensity of his gaze made Xie Lian
weak on his knees, as usual, and Hua Cheng’s next words made everything worse.

“I already placed there the most beautiful thing in the world.”

“San Lang…”

“Not only in the room. Also in my house, and in my city.”

“You—you mean that, don’t you?”

“Of course I do, gege.”

“I shouldn’t be encouraging this out here in the open. I shouldn’t feel so flattered. I
shouldn’t… I shouldn’t…”

“But you are, aren’t you?”

Xie Lian had started to press the bridge of his nose, but then he got to witness Hua Cheng’s
smug grin. One second later, he had to suffer the indignity of the Red Calamity giving a
quick peck to his pout. That ended in Xie Lian’s hand darting to squeeze Hua Cheng’s
cheeks.

“Yes, I am. I’m also spoiling you too much. Starting tomorrow, we’ll be having more
discipline around the household!”

“Tomorrow? Why not today?”

“Because today—” It’s your birthday. “Because I may want to keep spoiling you a bit more
today. That’s all.”

“Ah, gege. To hear those words makes me so happy, even if it’s only for today.”

Xie Lian let go of Hua Cheng’s cheeks and faked a cough to cover a small chuckle.

“You’re terrible.”

“I won’t deny it. I’ve heard worse, after all, and I won’t deny anything that’s true. Besides…”

“Yes?” Xie Lian asked when he realized Hua Cheng’s trailing off was on purpose.

“The affair of the Ghost King’s lover must reach a conclusion. Why shouldn’t the runaways
have a last round before they come back?”

Xie Lian felt himself blush so hard he was sure he became purple. There was no one around,
and they were already in Hua Cheng’s territory. No one would dare to— to pry on them.

And yet…

“H—here?”

Hua Cheng kept the happy, shameless grin.

“The bushes over there are thick and tall. Besides, I can cast wards that would keep everyone
away. We’ll have complete privacy.”

“I—”

They had done it in the open before, of course. Under the most beautiful stars Xie Lian had
ever slept under. But it hadn’t been so close to a road, much less next to one so often
transited. The chances of someone finding them and seeing…

At that moment, Xie Lian realized two things. First, the misfortune he carried with him had
led him to be found in compromising and disgraceful situations too often for him to care
about that thing. However, he didn’t want anyone else to see Hua Cheng like—like that .
That was for his eyes only and the ferocity with which he didn’t want to share it threw him
off. Second, it distressed Xie Lian to find the offer so tempting. At any other time, in the time
before, he would’ve found such a proposal scandalous. Indecent. Now, he wanted it. No. He
craved it.

Hua Cheng’s hold tightened around Xie Lian’s waist.

“Gege?”

Xie Lian placed a hand on Hua Cheng’s arm.

“San Lang, with you, I always—”

However, the battle against his shyness had him look to the side, where he noticed the
panicked face of a familiar ghost staring at him from behind a rock. It was one of the
organizers of the festival. She shook her head while making wild hand gestures. Her message
was clear: the festival wasn’t ready yet!

“Gege?” Hua Cheng repeated, more confused this once.

He began to follow Xie Lian’s line of sight, which was awfully inconvenient. Frenzied, Xie
Lian grabbed his cheek and had him turn to the other side. Even though Hua Cheng complied
with commendable docility, Xie Lian still had to justify what he had done. However, he
hadn’t thought this through. Hua Cheng’s head was turned too far to the other side for Xie
Lian to say he wanted to kiss him and the whole thing would’ve looked even more
suspicious. Thus, he did the next thing that came to mind: he stood on his tiptoes and pressed
his mouth against the skin on Hua Cheng’s neck.

“With you, I always want this,” he said as he pushed his lover toward those bushes without
further explanation.

One part of Xie Lian’s mind told him he had the chance to get what he wanted and buy the
ghosts an extra couple of hours to prepare at the same time. This was, to give it a name,
efficient.

Shameless, called the other part of his mind. Indecent.

Xie Lian shut it down.

“You have behaved so well I may want to spoil you a little more,” he said, pressing his teeth
on the skin of Hua Cheng’s neck. “Cast those wards, San Lang.”

“Yes, gege.”

Hua Cheng’s reply came out as a moan.

Xie Lian didn’t know when Hua Cheng cast the wards, but he trusted him. Ghosts had their
ways of doing things, and one as powerful as Hua Cheng should’ve been able to fulfill his
promise with a quick hand gesture. It wasn’t something Xie Lian thought of often. Yet, at this
moment, it gave him a sense of power and might, especially now that he was pushing the
fearsome Ghost King down to the floor to do with him as he wanted.

So, he went ahead and did as he wanted with Hua Cheng, whose answer was to beg for more.
Well, Xie Lian had no reason to hold back, but he had every intention of fulfilling every
single one of Hua Cheng’s needs.

***

A few hours later, when they removed enough branches and leaves from their clothes and
hair to look decent, the couple resumed their way to Ghost City. Hua Cheng had changed
back to his original shape, which Xie Lian was always happy to see, although he was going
to miss San Lang too. Fortunately, there was always the chance of bringing him back, either
for another outing or for some game in the bedroom.

Despite everything they had just done, when he realized how bold and shameless his idea
was, Xie Lian pressed his face against Hua Cheng’s side in embarrassment. Ghost City was
just around the corner. He had to regain composure before they reached the gates, and the
way to do just that was to let his feelings in the open.

“It’s not fair,” he mumbled.

“What is?” Hua Cheng asked, amused.

Xie Lian did not look up, just in case Hua Cheng wore that smug smile again. The version
sported on his original face would only delay them further.

“All these ways you make me feel. It’s unexpected and new. I would’ve never thought that,
after so many centuries, there was still a whole new world waiting for me to discover it. I
thought I had experienced all the possible human emotions, but I was wrong. I’ve never been
so glad to be proved wrong. I— San Lang, not a moment goes by when I’m not glad to have
met you.”

It was then that he finally looked up and found Hua Cheng’s eye wide open in wonder, his
expression soft and surprised.

Xie Lian reached out with his hand to cup Hua Cheng’s cheek.

“San Lang?”

Hua Cheng grabbed Xie Lian’s hand and kissed it with both fervor and sweetness.
“Gege, your words… They humble me. I—” He then held both of Xie Lian’s hands, encasing
them in his. “Gege, let’s get out of here.”

“What? We can’t. What about—?” He stopped himself before asking what about the festival.
“You’re the lord mayor. You— They need you.”

“I don’t care about them. What I care about, what I need—it’s you.”

“But you already have me.”

“Gege…” Hua Cheng’s face was contracted into an anguished expression, more nervous than
Xie Lian had ever seen him before. It seemed that whatever this was, it would be easier to say
with his eye closed. Hua Cheng did so, pressing his forehead against Xie Lian’s. “Gege, let’s
get m—”

He couldn’t finish. Not because he didn’t want to, though. Loud music coming through the
mist around them interrupted him. Triumphant, loud, dissonant music. The worst Xie Lian
had ever heard. The Ghost City denizens might have had their Hua Chengzhu in high regard,
but they were no artists.

With his eyebrow twitching, and momentarily wishing he wasn’t able to hear that, Xie Lian
hurried to stand between Hua Cheng and the newly arrived ghost committee before he
vanquished them all for interrupting them. He didn’t let go of Hua Cheng’s hands. He just
squeezed them and did his best to keep Hua Cheng’s attention in his bright smile.

“San Lang!”

It worked. At least, Hua Cheng didn’t look furious when he focused on Xie Lian.

“Gege,” was all he said, resigned, hiding whatever frustration he might’ve felt.

“Hua Chengzhu! Great Uncle!” said the committee leader. He grew emboldened as he spoke
once it became clear that Xie Lian’s presence did have a calming effect on the Ghost King.
“It is our honor to welcome back the both of you to Hua Chengzhu’s birthday celebration!”

A pause intended to be dramatic followed his words. However, it came out more like a
desperate need for validation. It was endearing how this bunch of ghosts, who wouldn’t doubt
turning anyone who stood in their way into a bloody mess, tended to behave as children
around Hua Cheng. They looked up to him as if they belonged to his household regardless of
Hua Cheng’s opinion on the matter.

Hua Cheng’s opinion manifested as a sound that was half-sigh and half-scoff. Well, as it
turned out, Xie Lian’s relationship gave him a position in this peculiar household, one that
demanded him to act as a buffer between the two parties in order to keep the peace.
Therefore, he turned around to face the ghosts.

“And we thank you for your troubles.”

The committee beamed collectively. The group parted in two and let the skeleton-carried
litter come forward between them. Despite being nothing but bones held together by resentful
energy, they managed to communicate a sense of solemnity. They placed the litter down in
front of them.

Xie Lian went back to face Hua Cheng and offered him his hand along with what he hoped
was a charming smile.

“Come on. Let’s not keep them waiting.”

Hua Cheng relaxed his stance as soon as his hand was in Xie Lian’s and he followed him
inside. Once they were sitting down comfortably and the porters picked them up to complete
the final part of the journey, Hua Cheng leaned his entire weight on Xie Lian, hid his face on
his neck, and whined. Xie Lian patted his head.

“Gege,” Hua Cheng said in the most pitiful of ways.

“They like you. That’s what they’ve done all of this for your birthday. It is your birthday,
right?” Xie Lian asked after a pause. “They said it was but I had no way to confirm without
ruining the surprise.”

“It is. I have no idea how they found out, but they got it right.”

Xie Lian chuckled.

“That kind of thing has a way to come up. But even if it wasn’t, it’s the thought that counts.”

“I only care about gege’s thoughts.”

“Do you want to know what I think, then? I think that they deserve a chance. Who knows?
Maybe we’ll have fun.”

“I have fun when I’m with gege.”

“And gege has fun when he’s with his San Lang. However, he sounds a little bratty right
now.”

Hua Cheng whimpered in woe.

Xie Lian carried on.

“They said you always found out about their plans and disappeared. Is that why you told me
you wanted to leave again?”

Hua Cheng tensed up.

“No, gege. Not really,” he said in the softest voice. He hesitated for a moment while the
words he needed came to him. “It had to do with something I asked you before. Gege. Gege,
let’s just ditch them. Let’s elo—”

Once more, he couldn’t finish. The porters lowered the litter in what Xie Lian calculated
would be the middle of the main street. At that exact moment, loud cheers erupted from the
outside and Hua Cheng’s words became a sigh that turned into a grunt at the end.

Xie Lian leaned forward for a peck.

“Come on. They’re waiting for you.”

Hua Cheng took a moment more to look into Xie Lian’s face before nodding. Next, hand in
hand, they left the litter and headed into the celebrations.

Xie Lian having a hand in the festivals was the only reason Hua Cheng agreed to submit
himself to it. He had, indeed, skipped the bullshit every time in the past years. All those
ghosts and beasts were just as persistent, though. He’d have to give them that. Ever since
they found out the actual date a few centuries ago, they hadn’t stopped. Not even when the
most they got was half a second of Hua Cheng’s displeased face before he had Yin Yu close
the main door of the manor on their faces. Regardless, they kept the party going with the
music, the food, and the drinks. Then again, this lot needed only the slightest excuse to fall
into depravity.

“They will behave,” Yin Yu replied over the spiritual communication array at Hua Cheng’s
inquiry. “They know better than to offend you or His Highness.”

“Good,” Hua Cheng replied and cut off communication.

He wanted nothing but to be alone with His Highness, to have the chance of repeating his
question. This time, he was more certain than before that Xie Lian would say yes. He hated
thinking of himself as afraid, but that’s what he’d been all this time. Afraid that Xie Lian
would laugh on his face for daring to think he had a chance of marrying him. However, this
trip had made it seem possible that he would agree. Yet, Hua Cheng was not going to propose
in public.

At the moment, they were sitting down on matching thrones, which had in turn been placed
on a high dais. They were away from the general population. Not enough not to hear them,
but at least enough so no one bothered them. At the bottom of the dais, Yin Yu received the
gifts and placed them on piles he would later take to the manor. The chances of finding
anything worth his while in there was minimal, so they’d all probably end up in a pyre.

“I wonder what they gave you,” Xie Lian asked.

Of course, the presents could also survive thanks to His Highness’ mercy.

“They’re yours as much as mine, gege.”

“San Lang, I wouldn’t— It’s your birthday…”

Hua Cheng grinned.

“Which would mean nothing if you weren’t here with me. So yes, we can go through them
together when we get back home.”

“Thank you, San Lang,” Xie Lian said, with a smile that was in equal measure pleased,
loving, and thankful.

Hua Cheng smiled back, and he kept it in place even when his butterflies alerted him of a
couple of new arrivals. He had known about them days in advance, after all.

Black Water and the lady Wind Master had gone through with their threat, then: they had
come to the festivities. The first thing the Wind Master did when she spotted His Highness
was wave to call for his attention. She seemed to be enjoying the visit much more than He
Xuan, but since when had he enjoyed anything that wasn’t food?

It didn’t take long before Xie Lian noticed them and waved back. Then, he turned to Hua
Cheng.

“San Lang, those two are the heavenly officials I told you about.”

“I see. I’ll keep track of them. Thank you, gege.”

Xie Lian’s smile grew.

“Also…”

“Would you like to go say hello?”

“Yes.”

“Go ahead. I’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“I won’t run to hide in the manor, gege. I promise. Don’t worry.”

Xie Lian covered his mouth with a sleeve to hide his giggle.

“Alright, then.” He squeezed Hua Cheng’s hand. “I’ll be right back.”

From the distance, Hua Cheng observed that He Xuan had been right: Xie Lian and the Wind
Master had hit it off. They greeted each other as if they had been friends for years. Once the
three of them were done exchanging pleasantries, the fake Earth Master sneaked away. Hua
Cheng decided he would let him come closer if he wanted. A few moments later, just as he
had predicted, the Black Calamity appeared behind his throne in his true shape.

“Where’s my present?” Hua Cheng asked without turning back.

He Xuan clicked his tongue.

 “On its way. I tried to send word ahead, but I found out that you gave orders not to be
bothered. How was your trip, by the way?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but it was fun. We might do it again and I will again give
orders not to be bothered.”

“Good. However, if I were you, I wouldn’t plan it soon.”

Hua Cheng frowned. His first instinct was to say He Xuan wished he could have fun too, but
those words and the tone made him take it seriously.

“What do you mean?”

“You’ll see in a moment. But let’s just say that your prince will have the chance of getting rid
of those shackles as you wanted.”

“What?” Hua Cheng asked although Black Water’s implications weren’t that difficult to
understand.

“Right there,” He Xuan answered, looking ahead.

Hua Cheng did so as well. Due to their nature, both Ghost Kings were the first ones to notice
the change in the atmosphere, the one that signaled that a Heavenly Calamity was, without a
doubt, approaching Ghost City.

End of Part 3

Chapter End Notes

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 Part 4: "Ascension" | Chapter 1
Chapter Summary

In which gods throw tantrums.

“It was the most wonderful sight!” exclaimed Shi Qingxuan in the spiritual communication
array for everyone who wanted to hear him. Which was most everyone, since he was one of
the most popular gods. “It will be a legend to be told for generations to come! You should’ve
been there! I’ll always be thankful I got a front seat when the Heavenly Calamity came forth.
The first thing our soon-to-become-a-god did was run to meet Crimson Rain Sought Flower,
who was on his way down the dais. They held hands and pressed their foreheads against each
other’s, whispering sweet words we may never know.”

“I was apologizing for this happening on his birthday…” Xie Lian murmured, but his voice
was drowned by Shi Qingxuan’s, who continued, relentless.

“Then, Crimson Rain Sought Flower held his beloved tight and gave him the sweetest kiss
before sending him to meet his destiny. Aw, I wish I had someone who would kiss me like
that. Anyway,” the Wind Master continued after a dramatic pause, “that was not the best
part.”

“Must you tell that too?” Xie Lian asked. “I think there’s no need—”

“Everyone in Ghost City witnessed it and I’m the one telling the tale!” Shi Qingxuan said.
“Now shush!”

“Alright,” Xie Lian murmured, resigned.

“Where was I? Right, the best part! Just as His Highness was mid-Ascension, he yelled, ‘Yes!
My answer is yes! I will marry you as soon as I come back!’ To which Crimson Rain Sought
Flower answered, ‘I will wait for you for as long as I have to!” Shi Qingxuan sighed with
longing. “It’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever seen! Your Highness, you’re so lucky!”

“Ah. Yes. Yes, I am.”

When the conversation reached this point, Jun Wu stopped listening to the spiritual
communication array in disgust. He was pissed. He had been pissed since those two generals
returned with the news. They began acting suspiciously from the moment they came back to
the heavenly capital after their mysterious mission. Normally, that pair wasn’t able to tolerate
each other’s presence for more than a minute without a fight blowing up. Now, their heads
were pressed together, whispering in what seemed to be good spirits. There was only one
thing that could unite them like that, and that was why, as soon as Jun Wu noticed, he called
them to the throne room.
To say that distress overcame him when he heard the story would be an understatement. At
that moment, he allowed himself only a deep frown to show dignified concern as it befitted
the heavenly emperor persona. However, as soon as he was left alone, one of the rooms in his
quarters paid the price. Centuries worth of art were turned to shreds in minutes by a rage that
wouldn’t be quenched so easily.

Xie Lian kept betraying him time and time again. He kept doing what he wanted, following
his own unpredictable path, and, yet, in the end, a Supreme Ghost King did manage to seduce
him. To corrupt him. However, it had been the wrong one. Despite that, Xie Lian’s third
Ascension was unavoidable, and it was coming. It wouldn’t arrive soon enough on its own,
though. Thus, Jun Wu gave it a push, timing it to happen at the worst time, according to the
information he had gotten out of the two generals.

The idea of dispersing the Heavenly Calamity that would meet Xie Lian did cross Jun Wu’s
mind at first since the ungrateful boy didn’t deserve it. However, in the two thousand years
Jun Wu had reigned he hadn’t found a way to do such a thing. If he had more control on
whether and when the Heavenly Calamities happened, plenty of the fools up here wouldn’t
have made it. Fortunately, there were other ways to appoint gods—along with ways to get rid
of them.

Then, Xie Lian found a way to destroy his plans yet again. The quaint little story the Wind
Master had told several times now in the spiritual communication array was spreading, and
not only among the Upper and Middle Courts. It had the makings of a nice folktale. It had
spread faster than a plague and the couple’s worshipers multiplied with every iteration. Every
fool in the three realms with the slightest romantic inclination expected to hear the news that
they had reunited and gotten married to join in the celebrations. The reason why Jun Wu was
doing his best for that not to happen.

The heavenly emperor kept Xie Lian busy with all kinds of menial work. He had him help
other gods doing things well below his station, and he kept finding excuses not to see him, in
part because he didn’t think he’d be able to pretend he wasn’t furious. As soon as Xie Lian
stood in front of him, Jun Wu ran the risk of letting his guard down and out himself as the
White Calamity either by his tone or his body language.

Yet, regardless of his feelings, he’d have to talk to Xie Lian at some point, and then the topic
of Crimson Rain Sought Flower and their relationship would be unavoidable. At some point.
All at some point. Jun Wu would do everything in his power to stall that conversation for as
long as possible. To make it the last thing they talked about. But first, he’d have to keep his
temper in check, and the conversation in the spiritual communication array had him upset
again. Thus, the heavenly emperor grabbed a sword again and got to destroy another room
full of priceless treasures.

***
Xie Lian had been feeling troubled for a while. It had been days—long, long days—since his
ascension and he hadn’t had the chance to communicate with Hua Cheng. He didn’t even
have the means to do so. Since he hadn’t had access to the spiritual communication array
before, he hadn’t thought of asking him his password, and he doubted anyone here would
have it. The mere idea was ridiculous.

Furthermore, Jun Wu had gone into seclusion just days before, which he broke only to send
welcoming words to Xie Lian followed by a series of instructions, all given through Ling
Wen. Xie Lian didn’t want to make the civil god uncomfortable by imposing, so he had been
following said orders to the best of his ability and without protest, even though said orders
turned out to be nothing but busywork that made no difference to anyone.

The one good thing about this mess was that he had been gifted a palace in the heavenly
capital for an unspecified reason. Since it would’ve been bad manners to question it, he
didn’t. He accepted it and he even sent a thank-you note for getting a place where he could
hide from time to time.

The palace was beautiful, built with a grandiosity very much like the one he’d had the first
time he ascended. More than a few details betrayed that it wasn’t the case, though. Like the
location of certain rooms and the distribution of the ponds. The room assigned to be the
armory sat empty, gathering as much dust as it was possible to gather in the heavenly capital.
Yet, what hurt the most about the armory wasn’t that Xie Lian missed the former glory of
what it had been, but because it made him nostalgic about Hua Cheng’s vast sword
collection. No, he didn’t envy it. He knew that a single word would prompt the Ghost King to
find a way to send all of his swords up there—with the possible exception of E’Ming—so
they would hang on those walls. But now, that wasn’t the point. Yes, he liked swords. Yes, he
enjoyed a good collection. Yet, what he missed the most was the owner of those swords.

Nonetheless, at worst, the new Xianle palace gave Xie Lian a place to take a breath whenever
things became overwhelming, like right now.

Every time he finished one of his tasks and sat down where anyone could see him ponder on
whether he should go back to Ghost City, a new set of orders came in. Besides, he was a god
now, and a third banishment would mean a third shackle and he wasn’t sure he wanted such a
thing. To be honest, he wanted to negotiate with Jun Wu the removal of the ones he carried—
at least the second one—, and for that, he had to behave. He knew what he had done—
everyone knew what he had done. The part where he fought against the heavenly emperor,
anyway.

Xie Lian didn’t care about the opinion of the other heavenly officials, but he wanted to do
things right. They were obsequious in front of him, but he knew they talked viciously behind
his back due to his relationship with Hua Cheng. Right now, he could say that his only true
friend up here was Shi Qingxuan, who kept talking highly of him. Even Feng Xin and Mu
Qing were away from the heavenly capital.

In an unfortunate coincidence, both his friends’ territories got heavily under attack to the
point they had to intervene themselves the same day the heavenly calamity reached Ghost
City. They had, however, sent a quick congratulatory message through the heavenly
communication array, adding that they’d talk more upon their return. They weren’t able to
say more, which showed how dire the situation was—and also that they hadn’t heard about
his engagement yet. Xie Lian had wanted to help them, but he wasn’t allowed to leave the
heavenly capital without Jun Wu’s authorization. And, well, Jun Wu refused to see him.

Was the heavenly emperor that upset because Xie Lian promised that he would marry Hua
Cheng? Well, tough luck. He had given his word to marry the Scourge of Heaven when he
returned to Ghost City, not when he got permission. He didn’t need anyone’s permission to
do what was nobody’s business. Not Feng Xin’s, not Mu Qing’s, not even the heavenly
emperor’s. He would marry his San Lang because he wanted to. Because he loved him, not
because he wanted to scorn anyone. If anyone felt scorned, that would be their problem.

Was Hua Cheng a Supreme-level ghost? Yes. A feared Calamity who made Heaven itself
tremble? Also yes. But, for Xie Lian, he was, most of all, his beloved, his lover. His husband-
to-be.

The person whose password he had forgotten to ask.

The way Xie Lian missed Hua Cheng and how much he wanted to be with him, was
overwhelming. With how much time they had spent together back in Ghost City and their trip
to the mortal realm, anyone would’ve thought they needed to take a break. But nothing was
farther from the truth. On the other hand, they had been together less than two months,
nothing when compared to the centuries Xie Lian had walked the land. Yet, he couldn’t
remember what life was before Hua Cheng. He knew now, though, what life was after Hua
Cheng, and he didn’t like it.

At the moment, he was weighing the pros and cons of barging into Jun Wu’s palace to talk to
him when he heard someone coming up the road and calling his name in singsong. In the
heavenly capital, only one person would do such a thing. Coming to see him voluntarily, that
is.

“Lord Wind Master,” Xie Lian said with a smile, an honest one. It was always nice to see a
true friend.

“So, how are things going?” Shi Qingxuan said, inviting himself to sit down next to Xie
Lian.

Shi Qingxuan changed to his male form and remained like that ever since he came back to the
heavenly capital. It had taken some getting used to but, just like Hua Cheng and San Lang,
Shi Qingxuan continued to be the same person in a different frame. That made it easier.

“The same,” Xie Lian replied. He allowed himself a sigh.

Said sigh earned him a teasing elbow poking his ribs.

“You miss him, right?” Shi Qingxuan whispered, leaning forward.

Xie Lian pouted.

“Of course I do. I’ve been trying to leave, but there’s always something to do.” He groaned.
“If a decade or so ago you had told me that, one day, I would find the heavenly capital dull, I
would’ve laughed in your face.”

“That would’ve been both hurtful and rude,” Shi Qingxuan said after musing for a moment.
Then, his frown became a sheepish smile. “So, what would you say if you knew I can find
you a way to go back to the mortal realm?”

“You have a way of convincing the heavenly emperor?”

Shi Qingxuan snorted.

“Oh, no. I don’t. I just have an affinity for sneaking away and I always have an excuse ready
if anyone notices.”

Fine. That was intriguing, and the opportunity of seeing Hua Cheng again made Xie Lian
eager enough to listen to the rest. Besides, politely paying attention to Shi Qingxuan’s plan
didn’t mean he had to agree to whatever it was.

“What are you proposing?”

“Isn’t your current task to offer assistance to everyone who needs some help? Well, I need
you to help me with something very important!”

“I’m also forbidden from leaving…”

“For how long, though? I might have misunderstood and you just went along with it because
I insisted!”

“Would that be enough?”

“I’m that irresistible!”

“Well, you are quite the force of nature.”

Shi Qingxuan began laughing.

“Oh, so wonderful! Force of nature! I’m the Wind Master! What else was I going to be?
Good one, Your Highness?”

Xie Lian forced stiff laughter, which became coughing that he covered with his fist. He
hadn’t intended the pun—he hadn’t even realized it! But, ah, at least Shi Qingxuan found it
amusing.

“Come on, then,” Shi Qingxuan said, winking. “We need to get you ready.”

“You mean like getting a weapon?”

“That too, I guess. But I didn’t mean that. I meant going over your shapeshifting abilities.
Have you done that before?”
Xie Lian was starting to get nervous and all but ready to go back on the word he hadn’t given
yet about helping Shi Qingxuan.

“No, I haven’t. Why would I need to?”

“Because it’s fun! Although, right now, because in order to get out of here, you’re going to
need to do it in disguise.”

“Weren’t we supposed not to know I no longer have to stay put?”

Shi Qingxuan’s grin intensified.

“That’s the beauty of it. Our mission needs those disguises.”

“Now that you mention it, you haven’t told me what this mission is about.”

“Well, Your Highness, we’re going to save some brides.” Then, he began laughing while
ignoring Xie Lian’s eye twitch as he desperately tried to think of a good argument for
refusing the mission. However, something must’ve gotten through because Shi Qingxuan
added, “Anyway, this is your chance. We might even run into your groom!”

Those words demolished all of Xie Lian’s arguments, even though they didn’t get rid of his
hesitation. Because, yes, he wanted to see Hua Cheng that much.

***

If Shi Qingxuan had anything to say about Xie Lian’s need of borrowing spiritual energy, he
kept it to himself. Instead, he let him get as much as he needed—or more like as much as Xie
Lian dared to borrow, not wanting to impose, even though the Wind Master was as powerful
as his title implied. Once that was done, Xie Lian got a crash course on how to shape-shift.

For a god, changing the shape of their body wasn’t difficult by itself. The problem was to
overcome the awkwardness. It helped Xie Lian to remind himself that this opened the door
back to Hua Cheng. Besides, Hua Cheng didn’t have to see him like that. Xie Lian would be
able to return to his original form, get married, and then decide whether he wanted to come
back to the heavenly capital, risking punishment. Thus, at the moment, the way things were,
he wasn’t sure he would. He’d rather spend a mortal life with Hua Cheng than an eternity
alone amidst this meaningless luxury.

“What’s on your mind, Your Highness?” Shi Qingxuan asked as she adjusted the veil on Xie
Lian’s head. It was a lovely veil in the colors of the Wind Master’s palace, an extra layer of
protection in case anyone tried to pay too much attention to Xie Lian’s face.

“Nothing much,” Xie Lian lied in a voice that sounded strange to his—her—ears even though
it had come out from his— her —mouth. She went on to another topic trying to make it look
like this had been in her mind all along. “I keep saying that you’re you no matter what you
look like, and Hua Cheng is Hua Cheng no matter what shape he decides to use. But when
it’s about me—”

Shi Qingxuan stood in front of Xie Lian with an understanding smile.

“It’s fine. I don’t know how it is for Crimson Rain Sought Flower, but for me, it’s all the
same. I do get that it might be more difficult for some than for others. Martial gods seem to
be especially adverse to the idea, but I’m a firm believer that everyone should try this at least
once. Maybe they’ll discover something about themselves and then all the inconveniences
would’ve been worth it.”

“What if they don’t? Discover anything new about themselves, I mean.”

“Well, that’s a discovery in and of itself, don’t you think?”

Shi Qingxuan punctuated her speech with a wink.

Xie Lian sighed.

“I guess.”

Shi Qingxuan laughed, pleased.

“Fine, Your Highness. We’re all set and you look gorgeous. Are you sure you don’t want to
see yourself in the mirror before we go?”

Xie Lian felt a blush spreading all over, which prompted her words to come out tripping on
one another.

“I—I trust your judgment. Let’s go now.”

And let’s put an end to this as soon as possible.

“Alright, alright,” Shi Qingxuan said. “Stay behind me and don’t say a word. If there’s any
talking to be done, leave it to me.”

Once more, Xie Lian agreed to all the terms and did as told. Fortunately, the pair didn’t find
anyone who dared to impede the brisk pace of the lady Wind Master and her maid.
 Part 4: "Ascension" | Chapter 2
Chapter Summary

In which there a bride and a bridesmaid walk into a teahouse.

Xie Lian’s first impulse upon leaving the heavenly realm was to run back to Ghost City,
straight to Paradise Manor. However, she had to honor her promise to Shi Qingxuan and help
her with this one task. At this point in life, Xie Lian didn’t particularly care about her
reputation. She cared about her friend, and that meant that they had to finish the mission
before going home.

Home. This wasn’t the first time Xie Lian thought of Paradise Manor and Ghost City as
home. However, it was the first time she yearned for it. When they were away on their
journey to the old man’s village, Hua Cheng had gone with her so, in a way, it was as if home
had come along with Xie Lian. Unlike now. Ever since she had arrived at the heavenly
capital, she had felt lonely and sad, the complete opposite of her first ascension—the second
one she hadn’t even made it to the city.

As they approached a small village, a light hand patted Xie Lian’s head.

“It’s fine. We’ll solve this soon and then you can go see him,” Shi Qingxuan said.

“Ah— That’s—”

“Exactly what you want, I know. You’ve sighed like ten times in the past few minutes!”

“I’m sorry. I should be more focused on the task at hand. By the way, what is the task at
hand, exactly?”

“Right. I got so excited about our escape plan that I forgot to tell you the details.” Shi
Qingxuan giggled behind her fan. “Come on, let’s find a teahouse first.”

The village, as Xie Lian had assessed from the start, was small. Few people were out and
about. The rest of them should be working in the fields, Xie Lian thought. It didn’t escape her
notice either that the people here also avoided looking at them too much.

Both Shi Qingxuan and Xie Lian wore expensive clothes and the first conducted herself with
confidence. On the other hand, Xie Lian moved more meekly, both because that was her
character and because she was still getting used to this form. Besides, she had discovered that
being able to look around from behind the privacy of the veil was freeing in a way. She could
see while not being seen, thanks to a charm embroidered on it. Perhaps she could convince
Shi Qingxuan to lend her the veil later—or she could ask Hua Cheng to find her one so she
wouldn’t have to bother her friend.
The teahouse they found, although humble, was cleaner and more put together than any of the
teahouses in Ghost City, and the server didn’t go around offering human thumbs as snacks.
The two gods sat down on a table in the back, away from prying eyes, asked for some tea,
and began to talk.

“So, Your Highness, this is the deal,” Shi Qingxuan said. “There have been rumors of brides
being stolen in the area, that’s why it’s important we keep these forms for now. I’ll be honest,
I normally bring Ming-xiong along for these missions, so it would’ve been the three of us,
but he said he was busy. I hope that’s not a problem.”

Xie Lian wasn’t sure where to begin, so she just said, “It’s not.” In any case, the sooner they
fixed this, the better. “Do we know who’s been stealing the brides?”

Shi Qingxuan held her cheeks in her hands.

“Nope. Only that they’ve been disappearing as they cross the mountain.”

And yet, they kept using that road, Xie Lian thought but didn’t say. Sometimes, customs were
hard to get rid of, even when doing so would improve people's quality of life.

“I guess that part of the plan is to disguise ourselves as brides.”

Shi Qingxuan grinned.

“Your Highness is so bright.” She got something out from her sleeve and set it on the table. It
was a pair of dice. “Having spent time at the Gambler’s Den, I’m sure you know how to play,
right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Very well, then. Let’s use them to decide who’s the bride and who’s the bridesmaid. Then,
we’ll hire people so we can go in a proper procession.”

Swallowing a sigh, Xie Lian grabbed the dice. She didn’t feel anything weird in them—and
then she felt disloyal for having checked, but it had become a habit. However, if Shi
Qingxuan noticed, she didn’t comment on it.

A few moments later, the lady Wind Master, in endless glee, dragged Xie Lian to an inn to be
dressed up as a bride. While with the help of some maids Xie Lian figured out the nuptial
robes that Shi Qingxuan placed on the bed, the Wind Master went out to hire a litter and
some porters. She came back soon, ready to take her place as a bridesmaid.

In a female form, Xie Lian was shorter than Shi Qingxuan, just as they kept the same
proportions when they were both males. Therefore, once Shi Qingxuan was in full attire, the
result was that she looked more like Xie Lian’s bodyguard in fancy robes than, well, the
bridesmaid she was supposed to be. Given the situation, this shouldn’t be that much of a
problem, however.

Shi Qingxuan squealed when they were finished.

“You make such a beautiful bride, Your Highness.”

Despite everything, Xie Lian felt a blush spreading under the makeup.

“Thank you. You don’t look bad yourself.”

Shi Qingxuan pouted.

“Is this how you flirt? How did you ever make Crimson Rain Sought Flower fall in love with
you?”

Xie Lian waved her hands between them.

“I—I wasn’t flirting!”

“Why not? Am I not pretty?”

That was definitely not the answer Xie Lian was expecting. To be honest, she didn’t know
what she should have expected.

“Of—of course you are,” she replied as a reflex while she thought of an excuse. “It’s just that
I’ve never flirted with anyone who’s not Hua Cheng.”

Shi Qingxuan tapped her lips with a finger while she examined Xie Lian.

“Really? Interesting.”

“Besides, I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to flirt, since, you know—”

“Since you’re engaged for real! Right!”

Since you and I are friends, was what Xie Lian tried to say. However, this worked and she
didn’t contest it. On the other hand, she really didn’t want to flirt with anyone else, even
though she wasn’t sure that what she and Hua Cheng did was flirting. At least, on Xie Lian’s
part, it was more like awkwardly answering the Ghost King’s advances. Granted, most of the
time, the answer was yes. A very embarrassed yes, but a yes nevertheless.

“Maybe I should send a note to Hua Cheng so he’s waiting for you on the other side of the
mountain,” Shi Qingxuan said, “since we’ve bothered dressing you up as a bride. And he’s
already wearing red all the time. His robes probably need some adjustments, but we can say
he’s already dressed as a groom, don’t you think?”

The thought had fleetingly passed Xie Lian’s mind before, and she had brushed it aside
without paying much attention to it. But now that Shi Qingxuan brought it to the front,
sending it to the back of his mind became impossible.

Shi Qingxuan snickered and leaned closer to Xie Lian.

“Say, do you think he wears red not to hide the blood of the people he kills but because he’s
always wanted to marry a beauty like you?”
The more Shi Qingxuan leaned forward, the more Xie Lian moved backward. But the first
was relentless and held complete disregard for the latter’s personal space.

“I—can’t really know.”

“Don’t you want to ask him?”

“No.”

Because it would’ve meant that, given their history—which Shi Qingxuan ignored—Hua
Cheng had been specifically waiting eight hundred years to marry her, and Xie Lian wasn’t
sure which was worse and which flustered her the most: that Hua Cheng had that intention all
along when he chose his colors or that it was a coincidence.

“What a shame.” Shi Qingxuan sighed.

Before the Wind Master could proceed with the interrogation, there was a knock on the door.

“We’re ready to leave, my lady,” said the leader of the group she had hired to escort them.

“So are we! Let’s go!”

Xie Lian sighed in relief and let Shi Qingxuan lead her outside to the litter that awaited them.

As they got on it, Xie Lian couldn’t help but notice the pitiful look the townspeople sent in
their direction.

“How is that they keep going through the mountain?” one of them whispered.

“You’d think they’d learned to avoid the area by now,” whispered another.

Xie Lian swallowed a sigh since she couldn’t explain what their mission was about. Thus, she
said nothing and took her place making room for Shi Qingxuan even if there was no need.
The Wind Master had made sure that the litter was comfortable and spacious. It made sense,
too. Xie Lian didn’t think Shi Qingxuan would’ve ever experienced discomfort in her life.

“I’m a little surprised,” Xie Lian began, “that you didn’t bring Middle Court officials to
escort us.”

“I only ever take Ming-xiong to missions,” the Wind Master replied. “Besides, for this kind
of thing, too many people in the know can be counterproductive. Not to say, just as your
friends in Ghost City proved, officials from the Middle Court can also have their agendas. I
wonder how they are doing. Generals Xuan Zhen and Nan Yang can be quite temperamental,
and they hate each other. I was so surprised to see those two working together like that.”

“I’m sure that Nan Yang and Fu Yao are doing well. Besides, Feng Xin and Mu Qing are too
busy cleaning up their territories to think about punishing random people.”

Shi Qingxuan tilted her head while looking at Xie Lian before realization dawned on her
eyes.
“Ah! That’s right! They used to be your retainers centuries ago! I was doing some research,”
she said with a big smile on her face. “That’d explain a few things. Except that—Um. Hold
on. Those junior officials claimed to be your friends and they were acting so suspiciously.
Could it be that—?”

Xie Lian began flailing her arms again, not quite daring to cover Shi Qingxuan’s mouth.
Smudging her lipstick would’ve been rude.

“Please, don’t say anything! They put a lot of effort into their disguises…”

“I’m not sure they put any effort at all for anyone with passing knowledge of them.”

“I know them. I can tell you they did try. Um,” she added after a sigh in which she looked out
the window. “Did they really say they were my friends?”

“The word they used was acquaintance, but no one goes to those lengths for less than a
friend. Poor guys weren’t expecting you to have fallen in love with the fearsome Crimson
Rain Sought Flower for real.”

“You enjoy that idea, don’t you?”

“It’s so romantic! In all these centuries, despite the kind of place Ghost City is, Crimson Rain
Sought Flower has never taken a lover, and then, here he is, engaged to a heavenly official. Is
that why you ascended? Because you tamed him?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Either way, yours is a beautiful story and you should be proud of it, Your Highness.”

“Thank you.”

Xie Lian sighed again and looked out the window once more. They had been going back and
forth on the mountain road for a while. The sun was setting, and nothing out of the ordinary
had happened.

She closed her hand around a fistful of the red nuptial robes. At times, she couldn’t believe
she was getting married, and to someone she loved so much. Once upon a time, a queen and a
king had put a lot of effort into convincing their heir to get married or to take a concubine,
but he hadn’t been interested. The candidates were beautiful women, but they didn’t make the
prince feel… well, the way everyone told him he should feel.

To be honest, Xie Lian hadn’t experienced that desire, that inescapable hunger before she met
Hua Cheng. Here was someone she could see in the eye and believe him when he told her she
deserved better than a piece of stale bread a day and a leaky roof over her head. Here was
someone who welcomed her touch—and whose touch Xie Lian welcomed—, and who was
always willing to look for any excuse to spend time together. After the longest of times, Xie
Lian felt worthy of existing thanks to her beloved. To her betrothed.

Perhaps, the two of them meeting when Xie Lian was wearing this disguise wouldn’t be so
terrible.
“Your Highness, did you hear that?” Shi Qingxuan asked suddenly.

“What is it?”

She had been so lost in thought that she hadn’t noticed what was going on outside. That
didn’t bode well for the mission; she had to do better.

“That,” Shi Qingxuan repeated just when Xie Lian was able to hear a faint cracking in the
distance. A cracking that repeated rhythmically and was getting closer and closer.

The noise was too low and too distant for mortal ears. They were only able to listen to it
thanks to their divinely enhanced senses, which meant they had to warn the rest of the
procession. First, though, they had to find out if it was something that warranted being
warned about.

“Ruoye, go,” Xie Lian said, getting her arm closer to the window.

Making use of how thin he was, Ruoye slid through the bars, staying close to the wooden
wall before taking flight over the porters’ heads. Everyone was so nervous and busy looking
around that they didn’t notice the piece of silk moving above them. That was a problem
because there was always a chance that whatever it was that took the brides came from
above.

“Was that your spiritual tool?” Shi Qingxuan asked.

“Yes. You can say what you’re thinking. Ruoye doesn’t look like much, but he’s strong and
dependable.”

Shi Qingxuan blushed and hid an awkward smile behind her fan.

“I was not going to say that…”

Whether she did or not, it didn’t matter to Xie Lian. She knew Ruoye’s worth and she trusted
him with her life. In fact, she had done so several times before, and the piece of silk had
never disappointed when it mattered.

The cracking noise grew louder and louder, getting closer and closer. Less than a minute
later, Ruoye came back dragging the corpse of what looked like a humanoid being.

The procession stopped and both bride and bridesmaid got out of the litter. It was night
already. What little light there was came from the moon, the stars, and the torches they
carried, and it brought forth an eerie and ominous feeling from the trees around them in the
form of always-changing shadows. Complete darkness would have probably been better.

The creature Ruoye carried wasn’t uglier than half the Ghost City denizens Xie Lian had
grown accustomed to seeing, but if her spiritual tool broke its neck, it had to be for a good
reason. Either way, it scared everyone to see the emaciated thing, all gray, with pointy teeth
and nails, smelling as if it had been dead for months.

“Is that what was making the noise?” Shi Qingxuan asked, her mouth twisted in disgust.
“The noise hasn’t stopped, so maybe it’s part of a group,” Xie Lian said. “Well done, Ruoye,”
she added, petting him when he was done wrapping around her wrist.

“Ladies, you should go back inside,” said the leader of the group, a big man with a thick
beard. He had only noticed them when he heard them speak, just as the rest of the men, a big
sign of how creeped out they all were.

“It’s fine,” Xie Lian began, but the man interrupted.

“It’s not fine. Can you not see that thing? You hired us to protect you and that’s what we’re
going to do. Go back inside.”

Xie Lian thought of protesting that they were now in a territory where the two heavenly
officials were more apt to take care of the men than the other way around, but to expose the
whole procession as a smokescreen for their mission before they had a plan on how to
proceed sounded impolite. Thus, she shrugged and gestured to Shi Qingxuan to follow her
back to the litter.

However, as soon as they closed the door, all hell broke loose.

The cracking noise had come to a halt around them. Whatever relief they may have felt lasted
less than a second. Before anyone could ask what was going on, a group of creatures that
looked just like the one Ruoye brought came from every side, surrounding them. Their
deafening screeching caused terror in the hearts of the men, who did their best to run away.
Or tried to.

Xie Lian sent Ruoye to open a path for them. Just because they weren’t prepared to fight
supernatural threats didn’t mean they deserved to be eviscerated under those claws.

The few men who stayed drew their swords and began defending themselves.

“Lady Wind Master,” Xie Lian said, “I have to apologize. I should’ve done this sooner, but
all of this caught me by surprise. Could you lend me some more spiritual power? I promise
I’ll pay it back.”

“No need, Your Highness.”

The Wind Master extended her hand to meet with Xie Lian’s. When their fingers made
contact, the latter drew a small amount of spiritual power from the first. Yet, it was enough to
carry on the fight through the night if necessary. Next, she took a step forward. It was time to
remind everyone that, once upon a time, she had been a revered martial god for a reason, and
that, despite everything she had lived in the past few centuries—or maybe because of it—,
she hadn’t grown rusty.

Xie Lian called Ruoye back and began laying waste on the creatures. Behind her, the Wind
Master yelled encouraging words while her fan sent an enemy or two flying away with a flick
of her wrist. This shouldn’t have been fun, but it was, and it was more challenging than
fighting mortal bandits on the road. It didn’t take long before the area around the litter was
covered in the bodies of their enemies.
“It had been a while…” Xie Lian mused, looking at the enemies at her feet.

Then, when she raised her eyes again, she found the pale and surprised faces of the men
staring at both heavenly officials.

“You— you— My ladies, are you— gods?”

“Yes, we are, thank you for asking,” Shi Qingxuan replied, fanning herself now, the character
in her fan on clear display.

“This is the Lady Wind Master,” Xie Lian replied with a nod.

“And my friend here,” the Lady Wind Master said, ignoring Xie Lian’s sudden panicked
glances, “is the Ghost King’s Bride, newly ascended and due to get married to Crimson Rain
Sought Flower as soon as they get reunited again.”

Xie Lian covered her face with her hands, only then realizing that she had lost the veil during
the fight. Then, she remembered that she was still in her female form, and she had no idea
whether that made things better or worse.

Regardless, the result was the men dropping to the ground to kowtow to them.

“We’re sorry!”

“My lady, we have seen your face!”

“Crimson Rain Sought Flower, please, don’t kill us! I will build you a temple!”

“For you and your wife!”

“She’s not his wife yet, you idiot!”

Xie Lian groaned in embarrassment while Shi Qingxuan folded her arms and pouted.

“Mortals have never reacted that way to me. I guess my brother is not as scary as your
betrothed, Your Highness.”

Either way, that was done. Xie Lian would’ve preferred to keep that part of her story from
spreading out while she was like this. However, there was no helping it now.

She took a step forward.

“Please, stand up. I prefer it when people don’t kowtow to me.”

They hurried up to follow Xie Lian’s instructions, but they remained with their heads bowed
down.

“That’s better. Thank you.”

“Well, I guess you’re done here,” Shi Qingxuan said, fishing out a big bag of money out of
her sleeve. “You can go back home now. We’ll take care of the rest.”
“My lady, how could we?” the big man said, although he did take the money. “We can’t leave
you on your own devices like this, in the middle of the mountain! The Ghost King’s Bride
must be delivered to her groom safe and sound. Otherwise— Otherwise, well, we fear for our
families.”

A chorus of agreement ensued.

Xie Lian and Shi Qingxuan exchanged a look.

“ I hired them just to call the attention of whoever was behind this and I thought they’d be
gone by the time it started getting dangerous,” the latter said through the spiritual
communication array. “It seems I underestimated the fear Crimson Rain inspires. If they
come, we’ll have to babysit them all throughout. ”

You brought this to yourself by blowing up my cover, Xie Lian thought but not said.

“We can take care of ourselves,” Xie Lian said out loud instead. “Actually, you can help us
more if you go back home and say a few prayers in our names. It’ll make us stronger.”

The men looked at each other and then back to the bride and bridesmaid, keeping silent for a
long time. It was easy to tell what they were thinking. To disobey Xie Lian might bring
trouble, but to leave her on her own could also mean trouble. She didn’t envy their position,
and she didn’t want to speak in Hua Cheng’s name about what he would and would not do,
especially about a subject they hadn’t discussed.

“It’s better if we do as the ladies told us,” said the oldest man in the group. “After all, they
are gods. They know better.”

There was one last round of the men exchanging looks before they agreed to take the money
and promised to leave offerings for the Wind Master and the Ghost King’s Bride—and also
for the Ghost King himself and the Water Master, just in case.

“Mortals,” Shi Qingxuan sighed when they were out of sight. “As you said, Your Highness,
they’re always going to do what they want. It’s a good thing we have some authority
regardless, though, don’t you think? Besides, there’s another thing we should be grateful
for.”

“What would that be?” Xie Lian asked, cautious and, to be honest, a little worried.

“You have plenty of followers in your female form! That means that it’s how you’ll be
stronger when you’re in this area of the mortal realm!”

“I—have no idea what to answer.”

However, there was little she could do about it and they were in a hurry, so she did her best to
make Shi Qingxuan move on from that topic.

“Where should we go now?”

As in answer to Xie Lian’s question, a long line of green ghostly lights formed along the
road, signaling a path.

“I’d say we can start from there,” she said. “Just one second, Your Highness.”

“What is it?”

“This!” Shi Qingxuan answered. She picked Xie Lian’s veil up from the ground, dusted it,
and was now putting it back on her head. “We can’t forget that. We’re still a bride and a
bridesmaid.”

“Of course,” Xie Lian answered, swallowing yet another sigh.

There was nothing else to say, so they began walking, following the lights that led them even
further into the wilderness and away from all traces of civilization.
 Part 4: "Ascension" | Chapter 3

The ghostly lights, although small, were multitude. They overcame the faint light coming
from the stars and the incomplete moon, covering everything around the heavenly officials
with a greenish tint. The wind creeping through the treetops didn’t help the eerie feeling. Yet,
during her years wandering through the mortal realm, Xie Lian had seen and experienced
much worse. Besides, this once, she had the Wind Master for company, most of the spiritual
power she had borrowed, and she was a heavenly official. More importantly, she had a clear
mission ahead of her with a sweet reward waiting at the end.

The Wind Master moved as if they were taking a walk in her garden on a sunny day. Of
course, she was as attentive to her surroundings as Xie Lian even when she pretended she
wasn’t. They would be just an unassuming pair on their way to a wedding if only this road
didn’t pass through a cursed mountain.

“Any idea of where we’re going?”

“No. But my guess continues to be that a Wrath-level ghost is behind this. We just need to
find it. However, all this green… Your Highness, what do you know about the Great
Calamities? Other than Crimson Rain, I mean?”

“Not much. I know Black Water visits Hua Cheng once in a while, although I have yet to
meet him. Then, there is the—”

Xie Lian shivered. The mere idea of mentioning the White Calamity made her ill. With her
breathing threatening to get out of control, she had to stop in order to calm herself down.

“Your Highness?”

Shi Qingxuan stayed on Xie Lian’s side, wanting to help, but unsure of how.

Fortunately, time and need had taught Xie Lian how to put herself together to avoid
disturbing others. This involved, among other things, keeping her feelings bottled up in the
back of her mind. Since this tactic had always served her well, she resorted to it, forcing her
body to stop trembling and her face, to smile.

“I’m fine. Sorry about that.”

“You don’t have to apologize. I mean—” Shi Qingxuan pressed her lips into a thin line and
said nothing else, but she didn’t have to. She knew, then. She had truly done her research and
she was aware of the events that had transpired in the past. The public, official version,
anyway. The idea brought relief to Xie Lian because then she wouldn’t have to explain
anything. “The heavenly emperor got rid of one of them, and there’s another one, the Night-
Touring Green Lantern. However, this is too clean for him. He’s normally vicious and gross.”

“A copycat, then.”
“Could be. We’ll find out when we get there.”

Thus, they kept walking. Every step of the way, Xie Lian went back to regretting not having
asked Hua Cheng’s spiritual communication array password.

About an hour after separating from their entourage, they heard some huffing and puffing
behind them. Their pursuer was a mortal man, and thus they saw no need to prepare for a
fight. Instead, they wordlessly agreed to wait for him to send him back home as they had
done with the others.

“Ladies! My ladies! Wait!” the man called as soon as he was able to see them. “I beg you!
Stop walking! Don’t go any further!”

“That voice… it sounds familiar,” Xie Lian murmured. She got closer to take a better look
and got a surprise. The man, indeed, turned out to be a familiar face. “Zan Chow?”

The man gasped.

“Do you know me?”

“Do you know him?” Shi Qingxuan asked at the same time.

“Yes. He used to be Feng Xin’s junior official.” Then, she turned to address Zan Chow. “How
have you been? You look—”

Xie Lian didn’t finish that phrase. On the one hand, haggard would be the best word to
describe him, and saying it wouldn’t have been kind. On the other, well, she might have
forgotten her manners when she babbled the information just like that. A couple of weeks
prior, back in Ghost City, Xie Lian had asked Feng Xin about the fate of his subordinate.

“I kicked him out because he was useless,” he replied and then refused to revisit the subject.

However, Zan Chow was too preoccupied with problems of his own to add getting upset
about his past as an official of the Middle Court.

He took a deep breath before he began sniffling.

“Oh, my ladies! After nearly one hundred years of faithful service, a couple of months ago I
decided to part ways with my general because I found true love. She was a mortal woman
who wanted nothing but to live her mortal lifespan in peace. Thus, knowing that I wouldn’t
be able to bear existence in a world without her, I decided to become a mortal man again so
we could get married.”

Well, Feng Xin hadn’t said anything about that. Then again, he was not known for being
sentimental. Besides…

“Was?” Shi Qingxuan asked before Xie Lian could, her worried face hidden behind her fan.

Zan Chow turned to her so he could answer but, as soon as he saw the fan, he gasped and
hurried to bow, thrashing around with his arms in a way that forced Xie Lian to intervene and
grab his torch before he set everything on fire.

“Lady Wind Master! Please, forgive my rudeness! I was only now able to recognize you!”

Shi Qingxuan waved her hand.

“It’s fine, it’s fine.”

“I’m sorry for interfering when you were on your way to take your maid to her groom. But
that’s what I was trying to warn you about!”

“I wish that’s what I was doing.” A long-suffering sigh followed Shi Qingxuan’s words.
“Never mind that, though. Carry on with your explanation. Was your bride also a victim of
this curse?”

Zan Chow’s face contracted. He sobbed, and then he began crying out loud, the very image of
the deepest sadness and despair.

“Yes!” he wailed, rubbing his face with his hand.

Impossible not to feel sorry for him. He was in pain, his bride had suffered an unknown fate,
and Xie Lian felt that he owed him, somehow. If Zan Chow hadn’t lost that bet with Hua
Cheng, it probably would’ve taken them a lot longer to find each other. They would have, in
the end, there was no doubt in Xie Lian’s heart about it, but it wouldn’t have been this soon.

“Don’t worry, Zan Chow,” Xie Lian said, taking a step forward. “If your bride is to be found,
we will help her come back to you.”

“Thank you, my lady,” he blubbered, still wiping his face. “I’m sorry. I still can’t remember
your name.”

“Don’t you remember Ghost Ci… ty…?”

It was at that moment that Xie Lian remembered, once more, that she wasn’t wearing her
usual form. In a panic, she was about to make up an excuse but Shi Qingxuan spoke faster.

“Ah! You may know the Ghost King’s Bride in a different aspect.”

It was as if fate had decreed that Xie Lian’s face would never stop burning.

“Ah! That was you!” Zan Chow gasped again. “Were you traveling under the guise of a
young man back then? I’m sorry! If I had known—”

“No! That was my real face! This is the disguise!” Xie Lian said, but it seemed like Zan
Chow had already made up his mind.

“Then, is it true that you found true love with the Red Calamity? The way everyone talks
about him, it’s like there’s no space in his heart for the warm sweetness of love. Thus, if
you’re trying to escape, I’m willing to help. After all, I don’t only owe you my life. It’s
because of me that you’re in this position and, therefore, I’m responsible.”
Xie Lian pressed her lips to avoid cringing at the corniness—even though she agreed with the
part about love being warm and sweet.

“Thank you, Zan Chow, but there’s no need. I’m very happy with Hua Cheng, and I don’t
want to escape him. You might not have heard about it, since it was very recent, but I’ve just
ascended. The Lady Wind Master and I are going on a mission to discover why so many
brides have disappeared in this area.”

Xie Lian let that out in a single breath hoping to divert the topic back to the matter they
should be taking care of.

“Zan Chow, when was your bride stolen?” Shi Qingxuan asked.

“Three days ago. I’ve been looking for her ever since, and I was about to start praying to
general Nan Yang for help.” At this point, he frowned and looked around. “There used to be
an army of walking corpses around here blocking the way. This is the first time I’m so close.
Where are they?”

“We defeated them,” Xie Lian answered.

Zan Chow’s eyes shone with hope for the first time.

“Now, before we get ahead of ourselves,” Shi Qingxuan said, “maybe you were an official for
the Middle Court once, but this is no place for you now. We don’t know what we’re going to
find, only that it’s dangerous. It’s better that you go home and pray. We’ll find your bride and
send her back to you.”

Zan Chow straightened his back and steeled his face.

“My lady, I’m afraid I can’t. It isn’t just that my beloved’s life is on the line or that I have a
debt to pay. I grew up in this area. I used to play here when I was a child, before all of this
started. I can be your guide.”

He looked so resolute that, for a moment, Xie Lian was about to give in. However,
remembering Zan Chow’s speech about love changed her mind.

She offered the man his torch back.

“Go back home,” Xie Lian said with her softest voice. “Think of how your bride would feel
if anything happened to you.”

Zan Chow took the torch. Yet…

“My lady, I’m more afraid of what she would do if something happens to you and I wasn’t
there to help the best I could.”

Xie Lian and Shi Qingxuan sighed at the same time, having reached the same conclusion at
the same time.
“Fine,” Shi Qingxuan said. “But at the first sign of real trouble you can’t handle, I’ll send you
flying back to town with my fan.”

Zan Chow beamed.

“That’s a deal, my lady.”

That settled, the group resumed their way, now with an actual guide and his torch adding to
the ghost lights. Not that it made much difference to godly eyes, but sometimes heavenly
officials had to make these kinds of concessions to mortals.

A handful of meters ahead of them, a second row of ghost lights appeared, creating an even
clearer path for them to walk in. At the same time, the mountain grew darker and more
sinister, until they were unable to see anything that surrounded them beyond the green lights.

“They’re not ghosts, but they are sustained by resentful energy,” Xie Lian mused out loud.
Her companions had probably figured that out already. However, she had gone through long
periods when it was only she and Ruoye so often that she had gotten used to muttering
obvious things. It helped her think better, sometimes.

“Which means we’re likely getting closer to the one causing this,” Shi Qingxuan said. “Let’s
go!”

Half an hour later, they reached the entrance of a cave. The lights that had guided them there
began to flutter. When they looked back, they noticed that the path had disappeared behind
them.

“Only the bride is supposed to get here,” said a female voice coming from inside. “I could
make a concession for the bridesmaid. But that man is not allowed inside!”

Then, a ghost, a Wrath dressed as a bride, charged against Zan Chow. He would’ve been able
to dodge if he had still been a heavenly official, but not in his current status as a mortal. Xie
Lian and Shi Qingxuan moved fast. The first sent her spiritual tool to wrap the Wrath’s feet
while the Wind Master stood between her and Zan Chow with her fan in full view.

“What are you doing? Let me go!”

“Is it you causing all the brides to go missing?” Shi Qingxuan asked. “Where are they?”

The Wrath stopped wiggling and stared at the fan. Then, she began wailing as loudly as only
a ghost full of rage could.

“A heavenly official!”

“It’s two of us,” Xie Lian said. “Answer the Lady Wind Master’s questions.”

The Wrath wailed again.

“None of your business!”

“It is, actually. That’s why we’re here.”

Xie Lian had Ruoye wrap around her and tighten his coils a little, an order that the piece of
silk did with more glee than was warranted. Xie Lian shook her head, but let him do it. The
important thing was that the ghost felt the spiritual power of the ones who had captured her.
Regardless, even though she was in pain, the only thing the ghost did was howl. She had
started the conversation as a coherent individual, but she spiraled down into the complete
opposite in a matter of seconds.

“Bring general Pei! I won’t say anything to you! He’s the one I want to see!”

“Ew, no,” Shi Qingxuan said. “I’m not dealing with him and that means you’re dealing with
us.”

The ghost wailed again and tried to jump at Shi Qingxuan, but she couldn’t move at all.

Xie Lian got tired from the screaming and Ruoye covered the ghost’s mouth.

“Thank you. Now I can think again.” Next, Xie Lian addressed the lady Wind Master. “Why
don’t we ask general Pei to come? Maybe she will really talk to him.”

Shi Qingxuan’s made a face.

“If she wasn’t the one responsible, waiting would be a waste of time.” She looked for an
empty bottle from her sleeve, uncorked it, and, in seconds, she sealed the Wrath inside it,
releasing Ruoye from his current duty. “We can give this to him when we’re back,” she said,
corking the bottle back. “Right now, our focus should be on exploring the cave and finding
the brides.”

“I agree that should be our top priority,” Zan Chow said.

“Yes, of course,” Xie Lian said, patting Ruoye as she welcomed him back around her wrist.
“One more thing before we go in, though,” she added.

“What is it?” Shi Qingxuan asked.

“The torch.” Xie Lian made a gesture so Zan Chow brought his torch closer. When he did,
Xie Lian put a simple spell on it to keep the fire burning bright without consuming the branch
it was on. “There you go,” he said when he was done. “I doubt we’ll find more wood inside
the cave.”

Shi Qingxuan clapped.

“That’s so clever!”

Xie Lian smiled and scratched the side of her nose.

“Ah. That’s the kind of skill you pick up when you’re trying to survive.” Or more like: things
she would’ve loved to be able to do back then. “Either way, I think we’re ready. We should
continue.”

With the Wrath out of the game, the group was free to follow the green lights floating toward
the interior of the cave.

After taking a peek inside, Shi Qingxuan hugged herself and exaggerated a shiver.

“It’s so dark in there. Would anyone care if people trip down? I would hate to be in this place
as a mortal.”

“Yes, that’s probably the point,” Xie Lian said.

Besides the darkness, the only sound came from the crackling of the torch fire, the echo of
their steps, and their breathing. The whole thing was designed to drive whoever transited this
path into despair.

Back when she was young and easy to impress, this would’ve made Xie Lian feel that
despair. The anger born from that helplessness would have impeded her judgment, worsening
her situation in a most vicious cycle. Now, she found this villainy tacky and little else. Of
course, the idea behind it was outrageous, but she was able to keep a clear mind. Thus, she
felt confident: the three of them would bring this mission to a successful and satisfactory
conclusion.

About ten minutes later, they encountered actual ghosts. Low-level ones, who stared at them
with a blank expression. None of them seemed like they wanted to be there, unlike the
boisterous ghosts who thrived in Ghost City. Before getting engaged to a Ghost King and
spending her life among the unliving, Xie Lian wouldn’t have cared. Now, she felt kind of
responsible. If there was anything she could do to help them, she would find a way.

“Have you noticed?” Xie Lian said. “All of them have a green light over their heads.”

“Oh, no,” Zan Chow whispered, leaning toward Xie Lian and Shi Qingxuan. “I’m afraid this
might be the Night-Touring Green Lantern, my ladies.”

“That’s the one you were talking about, right?” Xie Lian asked the Wind Master.

“The Green Calamity, yes,” Shi Qingxuan replied. “He uses those things to mark his
followers. Or his victims. Or both, depending on who you ask. On the other hand, judging by
the way Your Highness doesn’t know about him, we can safely conclude that he doesn’t have
the support of the other Calamities.”

“Well, Hua Cheng doesn’t even talk about other Supreme-level ghosts.”

“The Night-Touring Green Lantern isn’t a Supreme-level ghost just yet. He’s just a high-level
Wrath. They only wanted to round the number of Calamities to four when they were updating
the catalog—or so it was explained to me by one of the junior officials in charge of it.”
“I see…” Xie Lian answered, half wishing to be surprised by the heavens being more
preoccupied with appearances than about an accurate description of reality. “Then, if it’s not
an actual Supreme, we should be able to handle it.”

“Yes, we should,” Shi Qingxuan said. “Although… The Green Lantern is known for trying to
become a Supreme, imitating what the others do. Which means…”

Her eyes opened wide as she stared at Xie Lian.

At the same moment, Xie Lian understood her meaning.

Well, she didn’t expect this to be her fault but, to be honest, she shouldn’t have been
surprised in retrospect.

“What’s going on?” Zan Chow asked.

“If the Night-Touring Green Lantern is imitating the other Calamities,” Xie Lian explained.
“Then he’s looking for a bride because Crimson Rain Sought Flower has… one.”

To be honest, admitting it out loud didn’t hurt as much as she had thought at first.

“But why so many?” Zan Chow exclaimed. “Does he mean to upstage Crimson Rain by
getting himself a harem?”

“Either that or he hasn’t found one he likes,” Shi Qingxuan said.

“Only one way to find out,” Xie Lian said while looking at the ghost lights ahead of them.

The other two agreed with him and resumed their way to the chamber they were guided to.
Behind them, the other ghosts were left dumbfounded, having realized that there was
something wrong about the ones who had just arrived since those weren’t the usual weepy
bride and bridesmaid. Well, let them wonder. Depending on what they found inside the dark
chamber, Xie Lian would know what to do about them, whether to free them or leave them as
they were.
 Part 4: "Ascension" | Chapter 4
Chapter Notes

Qi Rong appears in this chapter, so there is a lot more foul language. Also, things will
get a little... bleak.

The last part of the journey was uneventful, with no surprises and only a handful of rocks
sprinkled on the ground where a careless person could trip. Or a scared one. The lights
showed very clearly which path the group was supposed to take. Yet, Xie Lian couldn’t help
the temptation of trying to get her hand in the space between two of the lights, which moved
to block her. She got the same result every time she tried, regardless of whether she did it
over or under them.

“We can dissipate them if you really want to go off trail,” Shi Qingxuan said.

“I know.” Xie Lian replied. “There’s no need. I was just curious. Let’s continue so we can
end this.”

About a quarter of an hour later, they arrived at the innermost chamber of the cave. A huge
space with old bones and other trash scattered around. Some of the bones had teeth marks on
them. Human teeth. Xie Lian didn’t know what was worse: that they were there or her being
able to recognize them as such.

The Wind Master wrinkled her nose.

“This is just getting tackier and tackier,” she whispered.

Both Xie Lian and Zan Chow nodded in agreement.

At the end of the chamber, there was some kind of improvised throne where what looked like
a young man sat in a most ungraceful position. Of course, he wasn’t human but a ghost, and
one that didn’t particularly care about hiding it. The bad lighting and the shadows didn’t let
Xie Lian get a good look at his face, but the object he used as a stool was clear enough. The
ghost had his feet up a kneeling statue that Xie Lian recognized with ease despite centuries of
not having seen one. She did her best to control her shivering, grateful for the veil that
covered her face.

What a horrible, horrible—and eerie—coincidence.

“Yes, that is the Night-Touring Green Lantern,” Shi Qingxuan muttered. “Let’s first confirm
our suppositions before making a move. Just follow my lead.”

Famous last words, Xie Lian thought.

The three of them, then, moved closer to a point where the Night-Touring Green Lantern
could see them. As soon as he caught a glance of them, the ghost yelled, rude and crass. To
her surprise, Xie Lian also found that voice familiar.

“Xuan Ji! I’m fucking bored! How long are we going to keep this up?”

“Xuan Ji must be the ghost we captured,” Zan Chow whispered in Xie Lian’s direction.

That Shi Qingxuan captured, Xie Lian thought again, but there was no point in correcting the
man.

“Xuan Ji-jie has other business to attend to, so she tasked me to take care of things,” Shi
Qingxuan answered without missing a beat. “It’s only us. The bridesmaid, the bride, and our
escort.”

“Your escort should’ve fucking been Xuan Ji! What do you mean other business? This was
her idea!”

The Wrath kept going with the crassest and most creative expletives Xie Lian had heard of,
even after eight hundred years of walking the mortal world. That was so in character for him
that Xie Lian didn’t have it in her to be upset. At most, a vague feeling of confusion went
past her numbness when she discovered that, of all she had lost, this was the one thing to
return to her. There were Feng Xin and Mu Qing, of course, and, in a way, Hua Cheng
counted too. But how had he been able to endure all these centuries?

This was her life. Her bad luck was coming back and it had decided to condense in the shape
of the Green Calamity.

Sure, why not.

As Xie Lian considered that, Shi Qingxuan had moved to stand behind her and grab her by
the shoulders.

“So, when are you going to marry my mistress, lord?” she said, gently pushing Xie Lian
forward, her voice in the most cheerful tone she had used thus far in their mission. “She’s
eager to find a nice groom of whom she can take care of the rest of her existence!”

“Maybe we shouldn’t exaggerate,” Xie Lian mumbled, but was ignored.

“I don’t fucking want to get married!” the Night-Touring Green Lantern said in a bratty tone.
“That dog-fucker Hua Cheng isn’t married either! He just has a concubine like a trophy!”

“That’s not what it is…” Xie Lian muttered between her teeth.

Qi Rong didn’t even know who he was talking to and, yet, he had managed to make it
personal. Xie Lian was not going to let such a boor talk behind her San Lang’s back.

Just as Xie Lian’s fists were closing up tightly, Shi Qingxuan elbowed her ribs. It was for the
better, really. Even Ruoye was starting to get agitated, and this would’ve ended badly.
Xie Lian took a deep breath, reminding herself that they had a mission. There were people in
danger here, and she had to put her priorities in order.

“My mistress is the most beautiful bride you’ll find,” Shi Qingxuan continued. “Besides,
she’s of royal birth, just like the Red Ghost King’s Bride. Actually, you’ll find a lot of
similarities between them,” Shi Qingxuan added, ignoring Xie Lian’s groans.

The Night-Touring Green lantern’s mouth twisted.

“Lift her veil,” the ghost said after another avalanche of insults. He didn’t look very
interested, though.

All things considered, he was showing a lot of restraint. Xie Lian would’ve expected him to
call his goons to take care of them. Two heavenly officials would’ve had no problem taking
them down, but it would have exposed them sooner, taking away their current advantage. In
short, if Xie Lian had to give away her identity, it had better be for a good reason, and this
wasn’t it yet.

“Isn’t the groom who should do it?” Shi Qingxuan asked.

“Xuan Ji always does it!”

“I’m not Xuan Ji-jie.”

“I know that, you—” More insults. “You’re testing my patience! Do you know who the fuck I
am?”

Funny. He had spent his mortal life testing Xie Lian’s patience ever since they met, and he
never showed any sign of regret.

The Night-Touring Green Lanter left his throne and came to them in an instant. Even though
his face was distorted with rage, there was no denying there was more than a passing
resemblance between them. Xie Lian hoped her remaining luck lasted enough to stop Shi
Qingxuan from noticing it. After all, what were the odds of her being acquainted with two
Calamities before she even knew it?

What were the odds, asked the heavenly official with the worst luck of them all.

Denial gave way to panic, prompting Xie Lian’s body to move on its own. She had spent the
last centuries striving to do the right thing regardless of the consequences, and this seemed
like the best course of action in this situation.

Her fist closed again and, this time, it kept a clean trajectory toward the Night-Touring Green
Lantern’s nose. At the same time, Ruoye picked up one of the jars on the ground and, taking
advantage of the chaos and using most of the spiritual energy she had left, she put her ghostly
cousin inside.

Xie Lian sighed when she put the cork back on the jar. She was tired and she had no face left
to ask for more spiritual energy. At least not until she gave back what she had borrowed.
Which would happen. Some day.
“Sorry. I panicked,” Xie Lian offered with a bow.

“I can tell,” Shi Qingxuan said.

She didn’t seem upset, and Xie Lian sighed in relief. She wouldn’t have known what to do if
her one friend had gotten upset about what she just did.

“My lady! That was impressive!” Zan Chow said. He had come closer to look at the jar. “But
we didn’t get to ask him where the brides are…”

Where my bride is, he meant, Xie Lian realized. And he deserved to know. In any case,
whatever worked to stall any explanation about her reaction toward the Night-Touring Green
Lantern was welcome. Especially when this had been the main objective of their mission
anyway.

“We can ask one of the Green Lantern’s underlings,” Xie Lian offered. “Go get one,” she told
Ruoye who, obedient, left the chamber and returned moments later dragging one of the
ghosts they had seen outside.

“Master! Master! I didn’t do it! It wasn’t me!” the ghost cried. “I haven’t done anything but
work for your glory!”

He still had that green light over his head, and, even with his clothes in tatters, he looked like
he had been a well-off farmer in life.

“Your master is gone,” Xie Lian said. “But before we go into details, we need you to tell us
where the stolen brides are.”

“He—he’s gone?” The ghost stared at the three of them for a long moment with wide-open
eyes and a wide-open mouth.

Shi Qingxuan raised Xie Lian’s hand, showing him the jar.

“He’s been captured.”

Slowly, the ghost raised his hands, getting them around the jar but not quite touching it.

“He’s—gone? He’s gone…” Then, he began first to laugh and then to dance. “He’s gone!
He’s gone!”

“Let me guess: you didn’t like him much,” Shi Qingxuan ventured.

The ghost kept laughing.

“Wait until everyone finds out!”

Xie Lian had Ruoye tighten his hold on the ghost to call his attention.

“They’ll find out in due time. First, where are the brides?”
“Move that rock over there and you’ll find them. The master was supposed to build a palace
for the one he liked, but he hated them all, and he was hated by all.”

“I don’t blame them,” Xie Lian said.

“You don’t have to call him master anymore, you know?” Shi Qingxuan said.

“I know!” the ghost exclaimed, still jumping around them. If he had been still a mortal man,
it would have been a wonder that he kept his balance, with Ruoye having his arms tied
against his body.

While they spoke, Zan Chow beat them to the boulder covering the entrance. It was huge and
heavy, chosen so even a group of mortals working together wouldn’t be able to move it. What
hope had Zan Chow to do it on his own, now that he was not a heavenly official anymore?
His hurry to see his beloved prevented him from considering this fact but, to help him save
face, neither Xie Lian nor Shi Qingxuan pointed it out. Instead, they each stood on every side
of the boulder and pushed. The two gods were able to take it out of the way with ease,
although they decided to share the credit with Zan Chow, who was now calling his bride.

The women inside the cave reacted in different ways. They were all too thin and pale due to
having been deprived of enough food and sunlight for weeks or even months, but they were
alive. Some of them sat on the ground, their backs against the stone wall and their knees up to
their chins. Others stood next to the door, glaring with different degrees of fierceness. They
had picked up rocks and were ready to throw them at whoever dared to come in.

A glance told Xie Lian that, although improvised and showing a lack of experience, the
formation was efficient and would cause the maximum damage possible with the weapons
they had. Whoever thought of it had good instincts—and leadership skills, given what she
had done while they were in the dark. Chances are it would be the one standing in front of the
group, the one who held her rock the highest over her head and sported the most ferocity on
her face.

Regardless, they all softened their expressions when they noticed Xie Lian stepping in with
her bridal garments, thinking her another one of the Night-Touring Green Lantern’s victims.

Confusion followed when Zan Chow came in.

“Xu Yan! Xu Yan! Where are you? It’s me! Your future husband!”

The leader of the group dropped her rock to the ground and covered her mouth with her
hands before throwing herself into Zan Chow’s arms.

“My dear Zan Chow!” she exclaimed. After their hug, the first thing she did was to examine
him, looking for wounds. “Are you alright?”

“Yes, my love! I am! I’m here to rescue you!”

“You’re here to rescue us?” repeated another woman. She sounded younger and close to
tears.
Xie Lian turned to her, thankful for the distraction. Looking at the lovers reunited made her
miss Hua Cheng even harder than before.

“We are,” she said.

Never letting go of Xu Yan’s hands, Zan Chow addressed the women.

“Everyone, allow me to introduce the Lady Wind Master and the Ghost King’s Bride.
They’ve defeated the Night-Touring Green Lantern and helped me get this far.”

Well. Those words had been said and there was no way to make them go back.

Xie Lian wasn’t ashamed of the moniker, all things considered. In the end, she had promised
herself to a Ghost King, hadn’t she? Besides, it made her proud that her beloved—her
betrothed—was so popular in the human world, judging by the way everyone was so excited
about their relationship. Besides, on the practical side, Xie Lian needed followers and it
seemed that she had gained a few already. It didn’t matter in which form they worshiped her,
as long as it was her.

As the now larger group found their way out from the cave, they found that all the ghosts
previously in service of Qi Rong were leaving as well, and they all looked in a better mood.
Once more, Xie Lian didn’t blame them. However, she couldn’t keep comparing them to the
ghosts she had become accustomed to seeing and interacting with in Ghost City. Being in any
place of your own free will really made a difference, no matter who you were.

It was still dark when they reached the exit. Yet, Xie Lian was sure that it wouldn’t take long
before, when mortals told this tale, they timed it so they came up along with the sun rising
over the horizon.

“Thank you very much for helping me find the love of my life,” Zan Chow said, bowing to
Xie Lian and Shi Qingxuan.

Xu Yan and all the other women did the same.

“We won’t forget your kindness and courage,” she said.

“I’ll tell my family to build you a temple,” said another.

“My family doesn’t have the means to build you a temple,” began a third one. “But…”

“An altar in a corner of your room is fine,” Xie Lian said.

“My husband already worships yours,” a fourth bride chimed in. “We’ll get to worship the
two of you together!”

That was enough to start a fire. The whole group began to talk about how that should be the
proper way to worship Xie Lian and Hua Cheng.

“Thank you very much,” Xie Lian said. “I appreciate that. But I think it’s time you go back
home and to your families.”
“I’ll escort them back to town, my ladies. From there, we can contact their families,” Zan
Chow said.

That settled, the group said their goodbyes, bowed one last time, and left the two heavenly
officials alone once more in the middle of the mountain.

“Do you think we should’ve gone with them?” Xie Lian asked, turning to Shi Qingxuan only
to discover she was pouting. “What is it?”

“Everyone was so focused on your involvement in this mission that they forgot about me,”
she said.

“Ah… I’m sorry—”

However, Shi Qingxuan began laughing all of the sudden.

“It’s fine. Some of them will remember at some point. I just have to make sure of one thing!”

“What would that be?” Xie Lian asked, already nervous.

“That we’re still friends!” Shi Qingxuan replied, hugging Xie Lian and rubbing their cheeks
together. “When Ming-jie is back, then it’ll be the three of us! A trio of powerful officials
doing their work! For the moment, though,” she continued as she adjusted Xie Lian’s veil,
“let’s go back to the heavenly capital.”

“You can go, of course,” Xie Lian said, taking advantage of her friend finally making a
pause. “But I would like to make a stop in Ghost City first.”

“Oh! Right!” Shi Qingxuan laughed. “The whole point of bringing you out. I can’t believe it
slipped my mind. How are you going to get there?”

“Don’t worry. I have a way.”

“Oh! A mysterious way given to you by your beloved?”

“You can say that,” Xie Lian said, reaching for a couple of dice inside her sleeve. Just to feel
them between her fingers brought her comfort and the joy of anticipation. They would work
since they used Hua Cheng’s spiritual energy. “I will see you later.”

She didn’t say that he’d be back to the heavenly capital because she wasn’t sure she would.

“Of course,” Shi Qingxuan replied when Xie Lian began to walk away. “Have all the fun you
need!”

Xie Lian didn’t have to see her to picture her face. Either way, Shi Qingxuan’s words almost
made her trip on nothing. She managed to keep her balance, though—as a martial god, things
happening otherwise would’ve been a grave loss of face—and kept going.

At first, Xie Lian thought of using the dice at the entrance of the cave. After all, Hua Cheng
had said that any threshold would do. However, there was a constant trickling of ghosts still
coming out, each of them giddy at the very least. If Xie Lian activated the distance shortening
array, she ran the risk of one of them accidentally coming with her, and that wouldn’t be the
best idea. Thus, she gave up on that and decided to use something else as a threshold.

With almost a spring in her step, she began to walk away, down the mountain. She
remembered where the litter that had carried them lay. It had two doors, so chances were that
it would work, saving her a trip back to the town. Not that she was afraid of walking, but
because of how strongly she wished to see Hua Cheng. The sooner, the better.

However, as she yearned for Hua Cheng’s smile, the twinkle in his eye, and the warmth of his
embrace, she heard leaves rustling behind her.

That hadn’t been an animal and it had sneaked right behind her. Frowning, she turned around,
looking.

“Who’s there?”

The answer came when someone stepped on a stick to his left, breaking it.

Xie Lian got into a defensive stance as she kept looking. Nothing, she saw nothing. Nothing,
nothing…

And then, just as the sun began to come up, Xie Lian saw it. Saw him . The nightmare she
had spent so much time bottling up in the innermost depths of her mind. The Calamity
dressed in white wearing a half-smiling, half-crying mask.

“Ah, my dear Crown Prince,” he said in an affectionate tone. “Did you think that just because
you look different I wouldn’t be able to find you?”
 Part 4: "Ascension" | Chapter 5

Jun Wu took longer to calm down than he would’ve liked. To be precise, until the need to see
Xie Lian became stronger than his fury. Besides, at this rate, he would soon be out of things
to break. Thus, as his sword landed on the floor with a loud clunk, he ground his teeth for one
last time. Then, without bothering to clean his mess, he worked out the wrinkles of his robes,
put all the stranded hair on his head back in place, and headed toward Xianle’s palace,
forcing a regal step that wouldn’t betray his impatience.

All of this only to find said palace empty. A quick check revealed that the former crown
prince had gone as far as to disobey his imperial decree and dared to leave the heavenly
capital.

Jun Wu glared at the walls. His blood reached the boiling point again. Xie Lian didn’t have
anything in his palace for Jun Wu to break—he didn’t have anything at all. Thus, closing his
eyes and tightening his fists was all Jun Wu could do.

How had this happened? The heavenly emperor didn’t only have complete control over the
entrances and exits in this city. Xie Lian received clear instructions. One would’ve thought
that, after last time’s fiasco, he would comply. Even back in the days of his first ascension, he
went down to his kingdom only after receiving permission. Jun Wu remembered covering his
eyes with heavy eyelids as he sighed, pretending to be moved by Xie Lian’s pleas, agreeing
to let him go after warning him several times about the consequences. The little brat hadn’t
cared, and it had fallen onto Jun Wu to school him. Yet, the student hadn’t learned the lesson.

After eight hundred years of tribulations, he should have learned it already. Xie Lian should
have been humbled and eager to return to the heavens—eager to return to Jun Wu and all the
luxuries he could have provided him with. Instead, he disappeared at the first chance he got.
Maybe he went back to the Red Calamity? The thought made Jun Wu shiver in disgust. He
checked with the disguised clone he sent to Ghost City when he first heard about this from
Feng Xin and Mu Qing. The mood over there hadn’t changed, and the Red Ghost King
continued to be somber, locked in his house.

So, the disobedient little thing hadn’t gone back to his lover…

The only thing left to do was to ask Ling Wen directly. She was the very image of efficiency.
It would’ve been out of character to have neglected to notify him about the one thing he told
her to keep an eye on. However, not even her palace was above making mistakes, and
perhaps there would be some deputy for Jun Wu to discharge his ire on.

However, in the end, there was no need to point any fingers at random members of the
Middle Court. While Ling Wen ignored Xie Lian’s current location, when asked if she had
noticed anything out of the ordinary, Ling Wen volunteered that the Lady Wind Master had
gone to the mortal realm with a maid no one had ever seen before. ‘No one’ had to mean Shi
Wudu, who doted on his only blood relative enough to notice that kind of thing. Not
important, though. The important thing here was Shi Qingxuan taking to the mortal realm
someone who wasn’t the Earth Master, which would only happen if Shi Qingxuan had found
a new toy. As it happened, the Wind Master had indeed found a new toy recently.

Except that, by right, that was Jun Wu’s toy, and the heavenly emperor wasn’t sharing.

After that, it didn’t take long for Ling Wen to figure out where the pair had gone. Jun Wu
thanked her and stopped all communication. Next, he went back to the depths of his palace to
retrieve an old set of white robes and a half-smiling, half-crying mask. It pained him to see
that Xie Lian had forced his hand like this, but the boy had to learn, and Jun Wu—no, Bai
Wuxiang—, would make sure the lesson stuck this time around.

***

“The heavenly emperor took care of you,” were Xie Lian’s first words. She could, at least, be
glad that they were something intelligible.

Her eyes were wide open, her jaw almost locked in place, and she could feel her blood racing
and her heart thumping with a force it hadn’t displayed in ages. In centuries.

In eight centuries, to be exact.

Why didn’t I ask San Lang for his password? Why didn’t I?!

It was true then. Her luck had run out. She had become too complacent. She had dared to be
happy and here were the consequences.

Among all the things that went through her head at the same time, Xie Lian focused on how
she wished to be able to take Bai Wuxiang’s mask from his face. Unsure of why, she just
knew that to see the smirk and the cruel expression underneath in full display would make
her feel a little better. It couldn’t be worse than just imagining it.

She didn’t bother to think of a way to get away. There was no point. Once the White
Calamity showed up, there was no escape. He would go after her, relentless, hurting everyone
who had dared to be kind to her. Even in this panicked state, Xie Lian was not willing to
allow it. She would not risk her new followers, and she would not risk Hua Cheng’s city.
Thus, she stood there waiting for—waiting for judgment? For pain, at least.

Then, a thought appeared in her mind, reminding her that she was once again a god.
However, hadn’t she been a god the first time they encountered each other? She had been a
proud martial god, so confident in her abilities, so naive. So stupid. Time had shaken away
the idea that she was invincible but, in her adventure with Shi Qingxuan, she had believed
herself capable. Now, in front of that being, even that notion had been disabused out of her.
Just standing in front of him, she felt as helpless as when she had been tied up on that altar.

Xie Lian pressed her nails into the palm of her hands, hoping the pain would distract her from
that memory. That scene was the last thing she wanted to remember even on her best days
and, to get lost in there at this moment, would only make everything worse.

The White Calamity moved forward, closing the distance between them.

“What a good girl,” he murmured. When he stopped next to Xie Lian, he reached to play with
the hem of the bridal veil. “I heard the news about your betrothal and of your third ascension.
Are congratulations in order, I wonder?”

Xie Lian did her best to cover her terror with contempt.

“Don’t count on an invitation to the wedding.”

The White Calamity laughed.

“Why? Will I not be welcomed? I would like to hear about that from your groom. Where is
he?”

“None of your business.”

“Ah, dear child, don’t be like that. Since you don’t have a father, I am the best next thing.
Crimson Rain Sought Flower should’ve come to talk to me. Regardless, the wedding hasn’t
happened and, despite myself, I’m fond of you. Thus, I’ll let it slide this once.”

Xie Lian didn’t reply. She didn’t let any of her thoughts show on her face, not even when Bai
Wuxiang grabbed her by the chin to lift her face up.

“You make a beautiful little bride. If you wished to marry a Calamity, why didn’t you call me
first?”

“No, thank you.”

Xie Lian could’ve said that Bai Wuxiang could never hold a match against Hua Cheng, that
he was much less important than Crimson Rain Sought Flower, but she wasn’t going to. She
was not going to fall into any of his provocations. Yet, he had made her angry. More than
that, she was furious. This worked to get her out of her stupor and make her realize that she
needed to get away. At this point, her mind began to strategize.

She had to find a way that wouldn’t end in a cat-and-mouse game, one in which she wouldn’t
lead the White Calamity to any place where she could take refuge.

“Is that all you wanted, then?” Xie Lian said, moving her head to force Bai Wuxiang to let go
of her. “A marriage counteroffer?” She turned away. “You’re wasting your time. I’m already
promised to someone worthy. Go back to whatever hole you came crawling off.”

The White Calamity made an exaggerated pained sound.

“You’re hurting me, little one. What did I ever do to you to deserve such treatment?”

“In alphabetical or chronological order? Or maybe in order of magnitude?”

“It’s all right. I’ll forgive your mockery—on one condition.”

Xie Lian said nothing and kept walking. Despite it, Bai Wuxiang’s voice came to him as if he
whispered in her ear.

“Listen, as things stand now, yes, you are a god, but a lowly one. Those around you only
respect you for who Hua Cheng is.”

“That’s how I like it.”

“Don’t you think one day he’ll get tired of having to stand behind you?”

“That’s between him and me.”

“Maybe one day he’ll get tired of you. What would the little princess do, then?”

“The little princess will be glad of having had the opportunity to have shared such a happy
time with him, no matter how long or how little it lasted. You’re not telling me anything I
haven’t heard before. If you have nothing new to offer, then leave. You’re boring me.”

Xie Lian heard an exasperated grunt behind her.

Good.

However, in the blink of an eye, the White Calamity was, once more, blocking Xie Lian’s
path.

“I can tell your shackles haven’t been removed yet. Did you misbehave so badly that your
emperor refused to take care of them, or are you worth so little he can’t be bothered?”

Once more, Xie Lian remained silent, arms folded inside her sleeves as she looked at the
horizon, her face blank.

Bai Wuxiang continued.

“Wouldn’t you want to wield power of your own? It’s been so long. Don’t you miss it?”

“As I said, if you don’t have anything new to say…”

“Am I still boring you?” The White Calamity grabbed Xie Lian’s wrist in an iron-like grasp.
He tightened his hold until it hurt. “Am I?”

Xie Lian tried to pull her hand back, but she couldn’t make Bai Wuxiang move even a
centimeter. He was as strong as she remembered him to be. Just as powerful.

She realized it then. Escaping was a fool’s dream. She wouldn’t be able to. She had tried
before, and no one had helped. No one had come. Xie Lian was all alone with him again.
Helpless. Like the last time, this wouldn’t end until the White Calamity grew bored and let
her go.
If he was willing to let her go his time.

Xie Lian would have to give him nothing. She had to make herself dull, control her
responses. Control her breathing, her pulse.

“There it is,” Bai Wuxiang said, leaning forward. “The terror in your eyes, shining through.
We’re going to have fun.”

With that, he dragged Xie Lian closer to him. Desperate, Xie Lian used her other hand to
send Ruoye forward, hoping the spiritual tool would buy her precious seconds to free herself
and think of something else.

Bai Wuxiang grabbed one end of the piece of silk with his other hand and did something that
made Ruoye go as stiff as a board, although not before he got hit on the face. The half-crying,
half-smiling mask cracked. The White Calamity was forced to let go of Xie Lian’s wrist to
keep it in place.

Xie Lian didn’t waste any time trying to figure out what was behind the mask now. She
turned around and ran.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered in his mind to Ruoye for leaving him behind, although sure that it
hadn’t been the end of the spiritual tool. Ruoye was stronger than that, and he would find a
way back to Xie Lian. However, stripped away from her long-time friend, she felt more
helpless than before. Yet, it was as if her feet had decided to take charge. She ran and ran and
ran and…

Suddenly, a hand held her by the shoulders, and a broken mask got placed against her face.

She screamed.

“Why do you keep thinking that you can get away from your real soulmate? We are meant to
be and it’s time you realize that.”

***

Of course, Hua Cheng was worried. For weeks on end, his only source of news regarding Xie
Lian was Black Water. Even though his informant was reliable, it was different from hearing
his beloved’s voice going on about his day, from seeing him, touching him, having him in
bed, being close enough so he could protect him the way he had yearned for his entire life
and beyond. Yes, he was willing to wait for him for as long as it took, and if it took another
eight hundred years, so be it. However, to have had him and then lost him made things more
difficult. It made Hua Cheng more impatient. It made the whole thing more painful.

It was the little things he missed the most. The way Xie Lian would ask about his day when
he came back to their room those days he actually bothered with governing Ghost City. How
he sat on his lap to cuddle and listen to everything Hua Cheng had to say. Hua Cheng always
told him about some of the affairs he had engaged in. Only the more suited to his ears,
though. The ones that wouldn’t sully them. He would have told him everything, even the
things he censored if asked, but Xie Lian seemed to trust his judgment and contented himself
with what Hua Cheng offered him. He wrapped his arms around Hua Cheng’s neck and
rested his head on his shoulders. Once Hua Cheng ran out of things to say, it was his turn to
ask Xie Lian about his day, and then he’d be rewarded with the minutia of everything his
beloved had done. Everything he had thought about during the time they’d been separated.
Xie Lian always had a plethora of ideas and stories to share.

Hua Cheng missed that. He wanted it back. He wanted Xie Lian back. If he didn’t know
better, he would storm the heavenly capital to bring him back. Sadly, though, he knew better
and, therefore, he had to wait. Xie Lian was the only being in the three realms Hua Cheng
could be patient for. That he could be tender for—sweet for. Everyone else got nothing but
his contempt, and none of them could move fast enough to satisfy the Ghost King’s whims.
No one except Xie Lian. Xie Lian could take his time and proceed at his own pace. He was a
god once more, and he had business to attend to. Besides, this also meant that he could show
His Highness the temple he built for him without making him feel self-conscious. Hua Cheng
would’ve loved to do it before, but it would have been to rub in his lack of godhood. Now
that Xie Lian had ascended for a third time, that wouldn’t be a problem.

The problem that would have kept Hua Cheng awake had he been able to sleep was that now
Xie Lian returned to the heavenly capital, what if he didn’t want to come back to Ghost
City?

Hua Cheng had gone to the heavenly capital before, that one time he defeated those gods. He
remembered it being grandiose and pretentious, elegant and bright, very different from the
den of perdition named Ghost City. Xie Lian had seemed happy during his time here, but that
didn’t mean he would prefer it. In any case, if he wanted to live up there and ask Hua Cheng
to move into his palace, the Red Calamity would do it gladly, happy to be allowed in His
Highness’s presence—with the perk of annoy and mock all other gods to their faces. As long
as they could be together, it would be fine.

And what if Xie Lian didn’t want him there with him? He had said yes to his marriage
proposal right before he left, but he could always take it back. And then Hua Cheng would
accept his fate without complaint, happy to have been blessed with his time with His
Highness, and to have received all that had been bestowed upon him. And if Xie Lian never
wanted to see him again, then…

“Crimson Rain,” he heard behind him.

“What?” he snarled, turning around in a quick motion.

Black Water stood behind him, unfazed and with his hands behind his back. To be honest,
even if Hua Cheng had known it was him, he would’ve reacted the same way.

“I have news,” He Xuan said.

Hua Cheng folded his arms and waited. The last time He Xuan came here, he told him about
how the heavenly emperor’s last order before going into some bullshit meditative seclusion
was to forbid Xie Lian from leaving the heavenly realm. He hadn’t even bothered to see him
or to remove his shackles. Jun Wu was a disgusting waste of time. Hua Cheng didn’t
understand how Xie Lian could have him in any regard, but the fact was that he did, and, at
least according to He Xuan, His Highness seemed to want to obey this time around.

The right corner of He Xuan’s mouth raised in a way that made clear how much he’d enjoy
saying his fresh piece of news. However, he was wise enough to speak before Hua Cheng
punched him in the face.

“In the end, your prince did disobey.”

Hua Cheng’s eye widened and he felt his jaw drop. He was giving He Xuan what he wanted
but, right now, he didn’t care.

“Go on.”

“The Wind Master dragged him to the mortal realm to fulfill some task or another. The idea
was that he’d come here when it was all done.”

“How long ago was that?”

“Not that much. Knowing Qingxuan, it’ll take them the whole day.”

Hua Cheng could have struck back by pointing out Black Water’s use of the Wind Master’s
given name, but there were more important things on his plate at the moment. He had to
decide whether to go looking for Xie Lian or…

“So, he’s coming.”

“That’s the idea.”

“Fine.”

He didn’t dismiss He Xuan with words. He didn’t need to. Black Water caught the idea, as
always, and turned around to leave.

“I’m attending your wedding, by the way.”

“Eat more than your share and I’ll charge you,” Hua Cheng replied, which was as good as an
actual invitation.

After He Xuan left, Hua Cheng began pacing from his study to the bedroom and back again
while he waited.

And, for two whole days, he waited.

 Part 4: "Ascension" | Chapter 6
Chapter Summary

In which there is a lot of cursing.

On the evening of the second day without news from Xie Lian despite his pestering of He
Xuan every hour, Hua Cheng began to worry for real. It was one thing if Xie Lian regretted
his decision of coming back to Ghost City, but he hadn’t returned to the heavenly capital
either when Shi Qingxuan did. Jun Wu left seclusion for about five minutes before going
back in, as far as everyone knew, which didn’t surprise Hua Cheng at all. That useless
emperor had always amounted to nothing. As far as he could tell, Jun Wu did less actual
ruling in the heavenly realm than Hua Cheng did in Ghost City.

The Supreme Red Ghost King locked himself in his room—their room—, and he stood with
his back against the door for hours upon hours. Arms folded, eye fixed on the bed where he
and His Highness had taught each other so many things. He missed him. He had missed him
all those centuries he was lost, but now… Now, it stung even more. Now he knew what it was
to be held tenderly, looked at with love, with passion. To be asked about his opinion on every
single thing. What it felt like when someone wanted to cook for him. He didn’t need to eat,
but that wasn’t the point. The point was that he’d found himself reciprocated and that, to be
able to experience such intimacy, to share this time with His Highness had turned this into his
best of lives.

Even if Xie Lian chose to never come back, Hua Cheng would cherish the memory forever.

If he chose to…

What if he did choose not to return? Xie Lian had been so happy and at ease when they were
out on the road, picking up scrap. Maybe that was what he wanted to do, and nothing else.
Not feeling trapped inside a disreputable city and a tasteless manor.

Hua Cheng should burn it all to the ground and set off to find Xie Lian again and ask him
how to build the next house to his liking. Not a single window pane would be installed
without his approval. Hua Cheng was even willing to forgo all the treasures he had gathered
and replace them on the shelves with His Highness’ favorite pieces of scrap.

When his internal babbling reached this point, Hua Cheng froze, his eye widening in panic.

The treasure room and everything he had in there appeared like a flash in his mind’s eye. A
particular object, one with which he had developed a kind of relationship, lingered.

He had forgotten all about the teapot. He filled it with spiritual power before they left, and he
meant to do it again once they came back, but with the stupid festival and then Xie Lian’s
ascension, it completely escaped his mind. How could this be? How could have he been
so…?

Hua Cheng threw his dice to open the door directly to the treasure room, realizing that even
he didn’t know an insult suitable enough to call himself. What he found there didn’t make
matters any better.

The box with the teapot was on the ground, opened. The teapot, next to it, was on its side and
the lid, removed, tossed aside. Worse yet, the little spirit, almost transparent, used its tiny
hands to drag itself toward one of the sacks of scrap Xie Lian had brought with him. When
they came back, he gave them to Yin Yu for safekeeping, and he brought them to the treasure
room. Hua Cheng didn’t remember Xie Lian giving any specific instruction as to where
exactly his scrap was to be taken, so this must’ve been a liberty taken by Yin Yu.

Hua Cheng hurried to pick up the spirit. Once he held it in his hands, he passed spiritual
energy to it, hoping to be able to undo whatever damage his lack of vigilance might have
caused His Highness… or even to prevent it.

“Not… enough,” the spirit gasped. It pointed at the sacks. “In there… Proofs of love. I need
them.”

“What?”

Hua Cheng wasn’t in the mood to be disrespected, but he didn’t want to let the spirit die
either. Besides, this had been his own fault, and if Xie Lian suffered because of it…

“Proofs of love!” the spirit repeated, snapping Hua Cheng out of it. “Old! Seasoned!”

Hua Cheng couldn’t help but feel vaguely offended under the panic, the guilt, and the
uncertainty that overwhelmed him. Every single thing around them was a proof of love.
Hadn’t he built everything to honor His Highness? But he didn’t have the time to argue about
this. After uttering a quick prayer apologizing for his transgression, Hua Cheng opened the
sack the spirit pointed at and rummaged inside with one hand while holding the spirit with
the other.

This sack was the very first Xie Lian had filled back in the village by the mountain. One by
one, Hua Cheng brought out all the items until the spirit began to gesture again.

“There! That one!” He meant the old wooden box Xie Lian had rescued from the well, the
one rejected because it contained letters instead of jewels. “Give it to me!”

They had to be love letters, Hua Cheng thought, placing both the open box and the spirit on
the closest table. Once there, the spirit, using the strength taken from the Ghost King’s
spiritual power, grabbed the letters and began eating them without opening them. It devoured
them mouthful after mouthful, making pleased and relieved sounds at every bite. Anxious,
Hua Cheng stared at how the spirit became more and more solid with every passing moment.
When it stopped, after having eaten only one third of the letters, the spirit was just as he had
been before. It lay on its back on the table, licking its lips and patting its now-inflated belly.
His Highness would have undoubtedly found the image cute.
“And?” Hua Cheng grumbled, restraining himself to avoid threatening the spirit by squashing
it right then and there.

“Put me back in my teapot and I’ll take you where you need to go.”

***

Xie Lian opened his eyes to discover that he still couldn’t see a thing. He was lying on his
side, tied up with God-Binding rope, tight enough for it to dig into his flesh. Being tied up
like this wasn’t new—by then, he had gone through so much that only a handful of things in
the three realms could claim to happen to him for the first time—but anyone bothering to use
this kind of rope on him was a novelty. Pointless too. Xie Lian’s borrowed spiritual power
had been depleted, with the result that even his body returned to his original male form. He
still wore the same bridal robes as before, though.

With a little effort, he rolled around so he could be on his back. His hands were tied in front
of him, which was a bit of a relief and it helped his balance. He vaguely wondered if Bai
Wuxiang thought he was inflicting some kind of new and scary punishment by keeping him
here however long. If that was the case, the old fart was losing his touch.

Absolute darkness engulfed wherever this was. Xie Lian changing his position didn’t allow
him to discover any flicker of light that could point him to an exit. This meant he was deep
underground or deep into a mountain, which was pretty much the same, really. The stone
underneath him—all around him—was cold. Not freezing, but uncomfortable. Xie Lian had
gotten used to the pampering he had received in Paradise Manor, yes, but not enough that his
body had forgotten how to deal with discomfort: ignore it. Pretend it wasn’t there, and it
would pass. It might take a few decades—perhaps even a century—but it would pass.

There was nothing for Xie Lian to smell either, other than a degree of humidity and moss.
Maybe if he stood up he’d be able to feel a breeze coming down from somewhere. A shame
his legs were also tied up. On the other hand, if he wiggled with enough determination,
maybe he’d manage to push himself up against the wall. It would take some time and the
scope of whatever he might find would be limited, but it was also something to keep him
occupied.

However, before he tried to stand up, just to say he had done it, Xie Lian tried to break the
rope. He pulled and stretched it with all his might—and failed. A handful of attempts later, he
got the same result. Not surprising, but, as he thought before, he could tell himself that he had
made the attempt.

He was also unable to reach into his sleeves to make an inventory of whatever assets he
might still have with him. He knew Ruoye wasn’t anywhere close, which to a point was a
relief. He had grown to love the piece of silk and he didn’t want Bai Wuxiang threatening to
cut it into pieces. It would’ve been low, but Xie Lian didn’t put anything below the White-
Clothed Calamity, Supreme Ghost King of Pettiness. Xie Lian just hoped Ruoye found his
way back to Hua Cheng. Worst case scenario, Hua Cheng would know how to take proper
care of the spiritual tool.

In all honesty, Xie Lian began to wonder, as he pushed himself upward, whether this was all
Bai Wuxiang had in store for him. He doubted it. Then, in a fit of panic he was barely able to
control, very slowly and gently, Xie Lian pressed his hands against his chest. He repressed a
sigh of relief when he felt the little lump against his skin. Hua Cheng’s ring was still there, in
its chain around his neck, safely buried underneath his robes. He didn’t want to give away
that anything on him was important in any way since it could be used to hurt him. Xie Lian
still didn’t know what the ring was about, but he hoped it was imbued with some subtle
magic that would let Hua Cheng track him. Besides, it was a physical reminder that he had
been loved, and he could cling to that love as a board that wouldn’t let him drown in the time
to come.

In any case, if Xie Lian still had the ring, that meant that there was a chance that everything
else he had in the depths of his sleeves remained there. Which in turn meant that he wasn’t
alone: Qi Rong was there too.

Joy.

Of all people—of all his relatives—, for him to be the one to remain all these centuries… It
was definite proof that Xie Lian’s bad luck had returned in full force. It couldn’t have even
been some distant cousin he had been indifferent toward. Of course not. It had to be fucking
Qi Rong.

Funny how Xie Lian hadn’t felt the need to curse in months, but now it flowed like the most
natural thing in the world.

Fucking Qi Rong and his fucking need to be like Hua Cheng. The Night-Touring Green
Lantern was an ant compared to Crimson Rain Sought Flower. No, scratch that. That was an
insult to ants, which were hardworking, useful insects, and Xie Lian would tell him as much
if he ever got around to letting his maternal cousin out of the jar. Besides, he had other, more
important things to think about. He took a deep breath and redirected his thoughts to trying to
find a way to break the God-Binding rope. He couldn’t remember a story or legend about
anyone being able to do it. Which was the whole point of the thing, to be honest. But he
could always be the first.

On the plus side, his anger had helped him propel himself up, so now he was standing against
the rock wall. On the other hand, however, the place he stood also lacked all kinds of breezes,
and, worst yet, it seemed like the grunting he hadn’t been able to repress had alerted his
captor. His hearing, naturally good and enhanced even further by the darkness, caught steps
getting closer and closer. Soon, as Bai Wuxiang took a turn in the tunnel, the light he carried
with him showed Xie Lian what he had already surmised: he was in some cave. So
pedestrian.

Either way, by the time Bai Wuxiang got inside the chamber, Xie Lian had flopped back
down on the floor and made sure to wear a bored expression.

“Turn that off. It’s disturbing my sleep,” Xie Lian said in the flattest tone of voice.
Bai Wuxiang, who had either repaired his mask or gotten a new one, clicked his tongue.

“It’s already morning! Or have you gotten so used to a life of luxury you won’t rise with the
sun anymore?”

“Jealous?”

“Happy, because I don’t have those distractions. Come on, then, we need to work on that
discipline.”

The White Calamity untied Xie Lian’s legs and had him stand up. Immediately, Xie Lian let
himself fall down again.

“Sorry. My legs are numb. They happened to be constrained overnight, you see?”

“My dear crown prince, you’re not that useless. I know that for a fact. But, since you insist on
being a brat…” With that, Bai Wuxiang bent down to pick up Xie Lian over his shoulder like
a sack. “Here we go. You see how good I am to you?”

Xie Lian didn’t respond, but he took the chance of looking at everything around them from
that different perspective. Maybe that could help to give him a better idea of what he should
do to free himself.

Now more than ever, he wished Hua Cheng had a way to track him. Perhaps, being a
Calamity himself, he’d be capable of doing something to free him—or to stop Bai Wuxiang
for good. On the other hand, if even Jun Wu hadn’t been able to destroy him…

Was this a good moment for him to wonder who was stronger, Hua Cheng or the heavenly
emperor? Everyone said that the heavenly emperor at least respected the Red Ghost King.
Would there be any chance for the two of them to work together against the White Calamity?
That was unheard of, and Xie Lian probably should not think about himself like this, but if
both of them held him in enough high regard to overcome their differences…

Yet, he had no way to let any of them know about that plan. He had no idea if anyone was
looking for him—he didn’t even know if he’d been absent for enough time for him to be
considered missing. Shi Qingxuan thought he was on his way to Ghost City. Hua Cheng
thought he was in the heavenly capital. Jun Wu was in seclusion. Mu Qing and Feng Xin
were still fighting for their territories.

He was alone.

He was…

“Stop that,” Bai Wuxiang said, startling Xie Lian as he put him down on a rock fashioned as
a chair.

“Stop what? I’m not doing anything, even when I could have kicked you all the way here.”

“Thinking so loud. You’ve always thought so loud. It’s annoying.” He kept going when Xie
Lian didn’t answer. “Let me tell you what you were thinking about: you want to contact your
groom.”

“Now you want to officiate the wedding?” Xie Lian said, his head held high.

Bai Wuxiang chuckled and grabbed Xie Lian’s chin, forcing him to look at him.

“Cute. Sadly, though, that’s never going to happen. You know why?”

“Because you’ll never let me go see the light of the day again,” Xie Lian replied, pulling
himself away from that hand and averting his eyes. “Can you be more boring and
unoriginal?”

The White Calamity clicked his tongue again.

“Listen, little prince, having you break your vows was going a bit too far, maybe, but
whatever worked to lower your guard.”

Xie Lian bit his tongue. But he couldn’t help furrowing his brow.

Bai Wuxiang chuckled in response and Xie Lian cursed himself for reacting.

“You weren’t expecting that, were you? Did you think that us Calamities weren’t in speaking
terms? Why would your Crimson Rain Sought Flower and I not work together?”

***

The teapot gave Hua Cheng precise instructions on where to go by pointing its snout in the
right direction every step of the way.

It had better be the right direction, the Ghost King thought, as he moved swiftly through the
mortal realm. Hua Cheng and the teapot spirit hadn’t exchanged more words than the strictly
necessary, in great part because he was terrified of what it meant that the little thing had been
in such a bad state when he found it. Had Xie Lian been captured as the spirit predicted?

The hatred in Hua Cheng’s heart toward the heavenly emperor grew. That useless bastard
couldn’t do a thing right. First, he had failed to destroy the White Calamity when he had the
chance, and then he had gone into seclusion, neglecting to undo the shackles he had placed
on His Highness in the first place. How much Hua Cheng hated those things. He wanted to
see them broken, the pieces scattered at Xie Lian’s feet while he rose, free and unhindered, to
the power that was his by right.

That would still happen, even if Hua Cheng had to drag Jun Wu out of his meditation room
with E’Ming pressed against his throat. Although, to be honest, he hoped to be able to do that
at some point.
The teapot’s lid shook when they reached the side of a mountain that was a known nest of the
Night-Touring Green Lantern. According to Hua Cheng’s sources—which knew better than
to mislead him—, he had moved there shortly after Xie Lian’s arrival to Ghost City, which
was why Hua Cheng hadn’t come here to harass him yet.

“Is this what His Highness has been dealing with?”

“Can’t tell you for sure, but we need to make a stop here before we continue,” the teapot
spirit said. It had come out to point at the ground near the broken trunk of a dead tree. “Check
what’s behind there first.”

Any other being—except Xie Lian, of course—, would’ve long been destroyed by this
insistence in telling him what to do. However, there was a purpose to this, so Hua Cheng did
go check what was behind that trunk. His face grew darker when he leaned down and picked
up what was there.

Ruoye. His Highness’ spiritual tool. The usually soft and flexible piece of silk had been
cursed into becoming as hard as a wooden plank. Gritting his teeth, Hua Cheng undid the
curse and, as soon as Ruoye found himself free, he shook frantically, looking for his master.
For the first time, Hua Cheng wished those damn things were able to speak. That way, he’d
know for certain what had happened here, instead of going on assumptions, even though he
was sure he had to be correct.

Suddenly, one of the ghostly presences that Hua Cheng felt roaming, curious about him but
too afraid to call his attention, moved in a little closer. This ghost, a low-level one, peeked at
them from behind a tree.

Hua Cheng looked at Ruoye.

“Bring him,” he said. “I’ll interrogate that worm about your master’s whereabouts.”

Ruoye darted away and, in an instant, he came back to drop the ghost at Hua Cheng’s feet.
 Part 4: "Ascension" | Chapter 7

Xie Lian’s ongoing quest to look bored and uninterested had been now compromised. This
was, without doubt, the most offended he had felt in centuries. Bai Wuxiang obviously didn’t
know the first thing about Hua Cheng if he thought his claim of the two of them having any
kind of positive relationship was believable.

“What? The shock froze your tongue?” Bai Wuxiang asked.

He sounded surprised by his prisoner’s lack of response. Well, if he was disappointed, it was
his problem.

Xie Lian kept his eyes fixed on the monster’s mask. He had a lot of things to say—mainly, a
long string of insults—, but he would stop wasting his time and energy amusing Bai Wuxiang
any longer.

Once more, Xie Lian’s anger and indignation gave him something to hold on to and helped
him focus his thoughts. His mind went back to the idea that he was alone here, yes, but
Ruoye knew who took him. The spiritual tool would, without doubt, go to Ghost City and
inform Hua Cheng and then the Red Ghost King would know how to find Xie Lian. He had
his ways to learn about things, he had his informants. He would be the one to vanquish Bai
Wuxiang for good and Xie Lian would make sure everyone knew about it. Because Jun
Wu… The heavenly emperor… This might sound heretical and disrespectful, but perhaps the
heavenly emperor didn’t deserve the glory.

The White Calamity grabbed Xie Lian’s chin and forced him to raise his head. The sudden
touch made him feel ill and, this once, he couldn’t control the twitch on the corner of his
mouth.

“Ah, there it is,” Bai Wuxiang said in a gentle and soothing tone that caused the opposite
effect. “I was starting to worry you were broken beyond repair before it’s time.” He moved
his thumb to stroke Xie Lian’s cheek. “There’s no need to be this stubborn, you know?”

Fine, then. If he didn’t have to be stubborn, then Xie Lian would be at his worst behavior.

“Fuck off.”

Bai Wuxiang gasped. It might have been a real reaction, and the idea of him gaping behind
his mask brought Xie Lian a sense of victory.

“What a naughty mouth. Who taught you those words? The Red Calamity? Such a terrible
influence. We need to correct that.”

“What we need to correct is your face. Why else would you insist on wearing that mask when
no other Calamity does? Really, did you suffer the human face disease on top of being
already ugly—?”
The slap, which echoed on the rock walls around them, didn’t get him by surprise. Xie Lian
just thought he’d be able to go further into his tirade.

“Respect your elders,” Bai Wuxiang began to say, but Xie Lian cut him short by spitting the
blood in his mouth right to the half-smiling, half-crying mask, from where it slowly dripped
to the ground. What followed was a tense silence, and the temperature took a dive so deep
that Xie Lian was sure he’d be able to see frost forming on their clothes.

Xie Lian let a smug smile emerge on his face and said, enunciating every word as clearly as
he could, “What? The shock froze your tongue?”

After learning about Xie Lian’s fate, Hua Cheng's first impulse was to disperse the ghost who
told him about it. However, it crossed his mind that His Highness would not see this with
good eyes, so he stopped himself. He even went as far as to toss a handful of gold lumps at
the trembling mess kowtowing in front of him.

“That’s your reward. Now get out of my face.”

“Y-yes, my lord,” the ghost replied, obeying as fast as he could—although not before he
gathered all the gold in his hands.

Hua Cheng remained glaring at the empty spot. In truth, he was frightened. To know that His
Highness had been taken prisoner by Bai Wuxiang again for days now despite Hua Cheng’s
boastful claims that he would protect him…

He was useless. Useless and worthless.

But he wasn’t the only useless one here. Hua Cheng would deal with that incompetent
heavenly emperor, but once Xie Lian was safe at their home and the White Calamity had
been dealt with. First of all, then, he had to put himself together and decide his next steps. He
needed to find Bai Wuxiang’s lair and then…

A flash of white called his attention. It was Ruoye, who had retrieved the teapot Hua Cheng
left in a safe spot behind him.

Right. That thing could lead him to His Highness the same way it had brought him here.
However, when he extended his arm to grab the teapot, Ruoye moved backward.

Hua Cheng glared and showed his fangs.

“ Give that to me! ”

He hadn’t forgotten that this was Xie Lian’s spiritual tool and not his, but he had no time to
waste playing games. Hua Cheng’s intent was so clear that E’Ming trembled in his master’s
waist, red eye moving frantically as if begging his counterpart to comply.

Ruoye, however, seemed determined to taunt Hua Cheng by keeping the teapot just out of his
reach, floating in front of him, moving backward with every step forward Hua Cheng took.
The teapot’s lid popped up and the spirit’s head showed up. It looked impatient.

“He’s right, you know,” it said, pointing at Ruoye.

Hua Cheng replied with a harsh growl.

Unimpressed, the teapot spirit shook its head.

“Yes, I can take you there and I will, but we need to do something else before that if you want
to succeed.”

This was becoming more and more infuriating by the second. So much that Hua Cheng had
to throw spiritual energy to the nearest boulder, making it crack, to avoid blowing up the only
creature at hand that could lead him to His Highness. Besides, reuniting lovers was its sole
reason for existing and it couldn’t help itself once it began. Thus, Hua Cheng did his best to
calm down and continue the conversation with actual words.

“What would that be?”

“Getting backup.”

Hua Cheng’s eye widened.

“No.”

“Yes.”

“There is no time.”

“There’s no other way.” The teapot made a short pause in which it kept defiant eye contact
with Hua Cheng, something not even He Xuan dared to do. “Supreme Red Ghost King
Crimson Rain Sought Flower, are you or are you not willing to let go of your pride just for
one day for the sake of your beloved?”

To such a direct statement, there was, of course, only one possible answer.
Long days of fighting wave after wave of wraths, ghouls, and other assorted creatures to
protect their territories pushed Feng Xin and Mu Qing to do it back to back. Their deputies
also did the best they could around the many villages and towns, but they were running out of
steam. To be honest, the generals were too. They could not afford a break, though. There was
too much at stake. They would have to endure. And maybe call for help, but not while they
still had any energy left in them.

Then, without warning, several of their enemies flew away, leaving a path open for a frantic
Wind Master, who went straight to them. Given that the last Mu Qing saw of her was her
happy re-telling of Xie Lian’s love story in the open spiritual communication array—which
Mu Qing immediately exited, thank you—, this was a bit of a worrisome contrast.

Before either Mu Qing or Feng Xin could ask what brought the Wind Master to the
battlefield, she all but yelled at them.

“Have you heard from His Highness? Do you know where he is?”

“He escaped from the Heavenly Capital?” Feng Xin asked.

“It took him a while,” Mu Qing replied, rolling his eyes. He would’ve folded his arms too,
but he had to push some enemies away with his sword.

The Wind Master covered her smile with her fan.

“I might have helped him escape. And he was supposed to go to Ghost City, but I have it
from a good source that he never made it there.”

“From a good source?”

“A ghost I bribed.”

“So trustworthy.”

“It is! But that’s not the point!” the Wind Master said, punctuating every word with a wave of
her fan to get rid of the attackers around them. Then, she took a deep breath. “I take it that
you don’t know where he is.”

“We don’t. Are you sure he’s not with Crimson Rain? Maybe they met elsewhere.”

The Wind Master stared at Mu Qing tilting her head.

“I hadn’t considered that. Could you check? It’d make me feel better.”

“Why don’t you do it? Weren’t you supposed to be friends?”

“We are! I just got distracted and forgot to ask for his password.”

Both Mu Qing and Feng Xin grunted at the same time and exchanged a quick look.

“Fine,” Mu Qing said after a sigh.

“At this point, it’d make me feel better too,” Feng Xin murmured, as Mu Qing thought he
would, and he was already on it.

Mu Qing and the Wind Master cleaned a circle around Feng Xin while he contacted Xie Lian
through the spiritual communication array. A few moments longer than it should’ve taken
him to get an answer, he still kept silent, and the way his brow kept furrowing didn’t spell
good news.

“What is it?” Mu Qing and the Wind Master asked at the same time.

“I’m getting nothing.”

“Maybe he doesn’t want to talk to you,” Mu Qing said, in part trying to make himself feel
better. “Let me try,” he added before Feng Xin could reply and took his place inside the
circle.

He didn’t get any response either. But it wasn’t as if Xie Lian didn’t want to answer. It was
more like trying to go through a wall. Exactly like how it was before they found him in Ghost
City. Because yes, Mu Qing might never admit it, but on some nostalgic night—or two—,
under an overwhelming feeling of loneliness, he had tried to reach Xie Lian through the
spiritual communication array only to find a cold vacuum. Like right now.

Then, the three heavenly officials were surrounded by the biggest killing intent they had ever
felt in their long centuries of life.

“All of you, scram! I’m not in the mood to deal with you right now,” they heard in the voice
of Crimson Rain Sought Flower.

“Does he mean us?” the Wind Master asked.

However, he hadn’t addressed the gods. In answer to the Red Ghost King’s order, most of the
creatures and ghosts and monsters going against Mu Qing and Feng Xin disbanded in a
second. One of the biggest—and most stupid, to be honest—monsters took offense at being
interrupted and tried to charge at Hua Cheng. The Ghost King’s mouth twisted and he clicked
his tongue. Then, his demonic sword unsheathed on its own and received the monster,
destroying it in one movement, and did the same with the three behind it for good measure.
That was enough for the rest of the creatures lingering to scamper away.

Hua Cheng’s sword returned to its sheath while its master folded his arms and stared at the
gods for long enough to make them even more uncomfortable. Then, Hua Cheng’s mouth
twitched but nothing came out of it. Then again. And again. Mu Qing was on the verge of
asking what happened when someone—or something—else came into the scene.

“As the herald of the honorable Hua Chengzhu,” called a tiny spirit inside a tacky teapot that
Xie Lian’s spiritual tool carried around, “allow me to take it from here.”

Hua Cheng just folded his arms and looked away while maintaining a most frightening
scowl, but he didn’t stop the spirit. Which, again, was riding on Xie Lian’s spiritual tool
while Xie Lian was nowhere in sight. Perhaps listening to what it had to say would be the
smart thing.

The awful news struck the three gods hard. Two of them remembered first-hand the White
Calamity and the devastation he was capable of and, although the third one only knew him by
reputation, she immediately agreed on jumping into action—although she was the first to
recognize they’d need more backup.

“I’ll contact my brother. The heavenly emperor will listen to him.”

However, just like when the martial gods tried to get in touch with Xie Lian, she got nothing
from the spiritual communication array.

“I don’t understand…” the Wind Master mumbled. “Fine. Fine. Don’t panic, I’ll try with
someone else.”

The Wind Master made a few more unsuccessful attempts before Ling Wen finally answered.

“There seems to be a problem affecting communications so they shut everything down except
for hers. But she has her entire palace working on finding a solution and she’ll do what she
can to contact the heavenly emperor. He’s still in seclusion.”

Hua Cheng gritted his teeth.

“Figures. Useless emperor, useless court.”

In all honesty, the gods should have defended Jun Wu right then and there, but they tacitly
decided to pretend they didn’t hear that for the time being.

“This is a waste of time!” Feng Xin said. “We should go find Bai Wuxiang’s lair, storm it,
and take Xie Lian out. The rest can join us on the way.”

“Fine, but how?” Mu Qing asked.

Hua Cheng glanced at the spirit in the teapot.

“I can track His Highness,” the spirit replied.

“Why didn’t you lead with that?” Mu Qing exclaimed.

“I thought you needed us to find him!” Feng Xin yelled at the same time.

Hua Cheng turned to point at the two generals with a finger, his face clouded with rage.

“What use are the ones who lost him for eight hundred years? I’m the one who found him,
and I’ll find him again!”
Mu Qing’s entire field of vision became as red as the Ghost King’s clothes and every drop of
blood in his body reached the boiling point.

“You were never looking for him! You probably didn’t even know he existed before he
wandered into Ghost City!”

Hua Cheng’s face twisted with hate and venom dripped from his words. “And you did?”

“That’s none of your business!”

“Stop, the three of you!” the Wind Master exclaimed, waving her hands although not quite
daring to get herself in the middle of the argument. “Let’s find His Highness first and then
you can fight all you want. How does that sound?”

That didn’t sound good at all, whispered the part of Mu Qing’s brain where rationality had
gone to hide.

However, instead of exploding into violence or going back to yelling, after the Wind Master’s
plea, the Red Calamity snatched the teapot from Xie Lian’s spiritual tool.

“I’m leaving. Come or not. That’s your problem.”

Without missing a beat, the Wind Master grabbed Mu Qing and Feng Xin’s arms.

“Come on! We have to follow him!”

“I’m not following him! ” Feng Xin said as he squirmed trying to get away from her grasp.

“We have no choice!” the Wind Master continued. Her grip was like made out of iron and she
wasn’t willing to let go of her prey. “Not if we want to help His Highness. I’m guessing you
don’t know what artifact that is.” She didn’t wait for an answer before explaining. “That
teapot leads you to your true love if you hold it. It makes sense—”

She had to stop because Feng Xin tripped on his feet, and he would’ve dragged the other two
down if Mu Qing hadn’t acted as a counterweight.

“You can’t be serious!”

“I am! I’ve seen the pictures and read the scrolls. Everyone who knows their spiritual
artifacts wants to get a hold of that one, but it has a way to vanish and resurface when one
least expects it. Such as now.”

Mu Qing grunted. He didn’t even try to roll his eyes; there was no way he could do it as far
as the situation warranted.

“True love, then,” he said.

“Unmistakably so,” the Wind Master said, picking up the pace. “And I called it. Remember?”

“I wish I didn’t,” Feng Xin grumbled under his breath.

“Everyone in the spiritual communication array remembers,” Mu Qing said.

The Wind Master didn’t take any of those comments with the animosity they were intended,
which worked in the martial gods’ favor.

“Besides, now we have confirmation,” she insisted.

“What? That Crimson Rain wants His Highness back in earnest? That doesn’t mean— A
teapot that takes you to your fated love? That’s nonsense!”

“If it’s nonsense,” Feng Xin said with a low voice, “why are we still going after him?”

“See? That’s a great point,” the Wind Master said.

Mu Qing gritted his teeth and kept quiet from then on. He could’ve said that they were
following Xie Lian’s spiritual tool, but that wasn’t the point. Hua Cheng kept walking ahead
of them at a fast pace, holding the teapot with one hand while Xie Lian’s piece of silk floated
over his head.

Were his feelings toward Xie Lian sincere?

Another thing Mu Qing didn’t want to admit out loud was that he was half convinced that Xie
Lian’s feelings toward the Red Calamity were true. But that they were requited beyond a
whim…

Mu Qing didn’t know how to take it, and thus, he rejected it all.

“He’s gone!” the Wind Master exclaimed. “Crimson Rain Sought Flower is gone!”

The two martial gods looked around and found nothing.

“He was just there!” Feng Xin said. He ran to the place where he last saw Hua Cheng. “Right
next to these rocks—” Feng Xin interrupted himself when he touched the rocks.

“What is it?” the Wind Master said, getting closer as Mu Qing followed her.

“It’s a distance shortening array,” Feng Xin replied. “And it’s still open.”

“Let’s go, then!” the Wind Master said, already disappearing into it.

“This is a terrible idea,” Mu Qing said, but he crossed it anyway.

“Agreed,” he heard Feng Xin say when he followed.

End of Part 4
 Part 5: Liberation | Chapter 1
Chapter Notes

The last part of the chapter is Qi Rong's POV with a lot of Qi Rong-ness. Fun to write
but kinda disturbing, fyi.

After crossing the distance shortening array, the gods found themselves at the base of an
unfamiliar mountain. Fortunately, the figure in bright red they followed was easy to spot.

Hua Cheng walked several meters ahead of them, moving with severe confidence and he
didn’t bother looking back as the other three caught up with him. Not knowing where they
stood raised both martial gods’ defenses, keeping them as tense as Feng Xin’s bow. This
might still be a trap, a way for Hua Cheng to get rid of them and whatever influence they
could have over Xie Lian… Although, if the former prince was as stubborn as he used to be
when the three of them were young, this ploy was all but pointless. Harsh facts that almost
brought a small, nostalgic smile to Feng Xin’s mouth.

On the other hand, the Wind Master had thoroughly swallowed the tale of the love teapot
despite knowing, like everyone did, that ghosts were nothing but condensed resentment given
a shape. Such creatures couldn’t hold a feeling this pure in their hearts, could they? At this
point, Feng Xin might be willing to buy that Xie Lian was not under a spell, but that he was
reciprocated? However, it wasn’t only Xie Lian. People in the mortal realm had started to fall
for it too. A sizable chunk of Feng Xin’s believers had stopped praying to him to redirect
their offerings to the Ghost King’s Bride, Xie Lian’s new moniker, when their aim was a rich
and powerful husband, true love, or both. Not that he minded. To be honest, Feng Xin wasn’t
exactly on board with that part of his cult, and this was a good chance to shake it off and take
hold exclusively as a martial god.

Feng Xin wasn’t sure he wanted to ask Xie Lian how he felt about that title. He hadn’t even
been able to congratulate him on his new ascension, not knowing if he should. On the one
hand, there was the series of incidents in Ghost City, but also Feng Xin’s only public
comment on the matter had been something related to Xie Lian’s luck about not getting the
worst title in the heavens which, Mu Qing pointed out, had sounded like an insult despite not
having that intent. Hence, his confusion.

Either way, now he had an opportunity to do things right. He only wished it hadn’t been
because of the White Calamity. Those were two out of four Ghost Kings interested in a prince
that had faded into obscurity centuries ago. Then again, Xie Lian seemed to always be in the
middle of a hurricane whenever he showed up. For better or worse, he ended up at the front
and center of things—though the tendency seemed to be for the worse. At least, this once,
whether it was because someone stole his new toy or because the Wind Master was right, one
of said Ghost Kings was on his way to rescue the former prince. Furthermore, two martial
gods and one elemental god also tagged along. No matter how much time passed, Feng Xin
and Mu Qing still came running to His Highness’ aid, unable to help themselves.

“If I don’t know where we are,” the Wind Master whispered, sounding much less concerned
than she should have, “how am I going to tell Ling Wen where to send help?”

“This is Mount Tonglu,” the teapot called from the front.

“Thank you!” the Wind Master called and got in contact with the civil god again.

Hua Cheng stopped at a cliff from where they could see the entrance to a cave. The way he
did, so abruptly, and with how his killing intent intensified, he had to have seen guards. Bai
Wuxiang was known for using high-level monsters to do his bidding, but those shouldn’t be a
problem for Hua Cheng. This had to be something else.

Said something else revealed itself as soon as they got close enough to peek. The Green
Calamity, the Night-Touring Green Lantern, was right there, picking up rocks and examining
them with an expression mix of boredom and disgust.

“What’s he doing there?” the Wind Master asked. “His Highness caught him!”

“He did what?” Hua Cheng said, looking back at her.

“He was behind the disappearances we set out to investigate,” she continued, “and His
Highness attacked him by surprise to put him in a jar. The Night-Touring Green Lantern
must’ve broken loose… or someone let him out…”

“Did His Highness say anything about that worm’s identity?”

“He’s the Green Calamity, obviously,” Feng Xin said. “What else?”

“Are you really this stupid?” Hua Cheng said between his teeth. However, after the insult, he
explained. “He didn’t even change his name, and you, of all people, should remember.”

It took a moment, but Feng Xin froze at the realization. A quick look at Mu Qing told him he
felt the same.

“You’re shitting us.”

Hua Cheng didn’t reply, but it was clear that it wasn’t a good moment for jokes.

So, the little bastard had made it all the way there and then, under their noses, and they hadn’t
noticed, free to be as cruel and sadistic as he had wanted to be while he was alive. Because he
had always been like that. Feng Xin had the scars—physical and mental—to prove it.

“How long has Xie Lian known?”

Hua Cheng ignored the question and kept staring at the Wrath with contempt. Was he
offended for having been bundled in the same group as Qi Rong by the heavenly scholars?
Had that been why he got interested in Xie Lian in the first place? A plethora of new
questions flooded Feng Xin’s brain, giving him a headache as he did his best to sort them out.

“Would anyone care to explain what’s going on?” the Wind Master asked.

After taking a deep breath, Mu Qing answered, “In life, Qi Rong was His Highness’ maternal
cousin.”

The Wind Master gasped.

“Wow! Then, His Highness is betrothed to the Red Calamity, related by blood to the Green
Calamity, and the White Calamity is his personal enemy?” A brief pause, in which she tapped
her lips, followed. “Does he have a relationship with the Black Calamity too?”

“No,” Hua Cheng replied in a dry voice. “Black Water—”

“Hey, I got your message,” said a calm voice behind them. “What’s going on?”

“Ming-xiong!” the Wind Master exclaimed, running to cling to his arm, which she twisted in
all kinds of ways. “Ling Wen gave you my message!”

While the Wind Master explained in detail the issue at hand, the Earth Master’s eyes traveled
through everyone gathered there, lingering on Hua Cheng a little longer. Hua Cheng held his
gaze for a tense moment, but in the end, the Earth Master sighed in resignation and didn’t
question Hua Cheng’s presence. He was that used to the Wind Master’s antics.

Once more, though, that wasn’t that important in the grand scheme of things.

“Lord Earth Master,” Mu Qing began, “since you’re the last one to come, are there any news
from the Heavenly Emperor? Is he out of seclusion?”

Feng Xin took a step forward. “Will he come to help?”

A low growl came out from Hua Cheng, who tightened his folded arms against his chest and
looked away.

The Earth Master wrinkled his nose before answering, “The heavenly emperor is not in the
heavenly capital. He hasn’t been for days.”

“How do you know? Has there been an announcement?”

“No. He left in secret. I just found out today when I went to his palace.”

“Ming-xiong, do you know where he went?”

The Earth Master shook his head.

“Only that he left soon after you came back from your latest mission and that he left alone.”

“Ah! Do you think he realized sooner than us what happened to His Highness and came to
help?”

“That, I don’t know,” the Earth Master replied.

“I doubt it,” Hua Cheng said.

“That’s it!” the spirit from the teapot said. “This is what you needed to hear. I feel it in my
guts!”

Without changing his expression, Hua Cheng gave the rest his back and walked away toward
the entrance at the base of the mountain. The teapot spirit hit his face with his palm while Xie
Lian’s spiritual tool came and went between the Ghost King and the gods so fast he looked
like a whirlwind.

“Hua Chengzhu,” the teapot spirit said, “we talked about this.”

“If you think I’m willing to spend one more second with those clowns—”

The spirit glanced back at the others, eyes wide and pleading, as if asking them to hurry up
and tag along. The first one to gather enough resolve to do so was the Wind Master but, to
everyone’s surprise, both of them included, the first step was given at the same time by Feng
Xin and Mu Qing. Behind them, the Wind Master cheered for them and pulled the Earth
Master behind her.

The god procession calmed the flying piece of silk down. It stopped spinning around and
moved forward, keeping his place between Hua Cheng and the others. As for Crimson Rain
Sought Flower, he said nothing and he didn’t try to stop them. Which was, on its own, a
good-enough start.

One moment, Qi Rong had been in his lair looking for a proper bride. The next, he had been
stripped of his dignity and cowardly trapped inside a filthy jar. Now, he found himself in
front of Bai Wuxiang without knowing how. He hadn’t wanted to get married, to be honest,
but his servants had talked him into not letting Hua Cheng be the first Calamity to do it. In
the end, he had relented because of that and because it had been a while since anyone was
obligated to pamper him to the degree a wife would have to.

Anyway, the more he looked around in the cave, the clearer his situation became.
Bai Wuxiang was not the only other individual there. The bride who had dared to catch him
hung upside down from the ceiling. That’s how the jar containing Qi Rong came out from her
sleeve, rolling down until it clashed against a rock, calling the White Calamity’s attention.
Curious, he had opened it and freed its contents.

“Well, that’s interesting,” Bai Wuxiang said with an amused chuckle. “You little sentimental
boy, carrying family around like this.”

“I didn’t have time to go to a proper landfill before I ran into you,” said the figure hanging
upside down with enough disgust in his voice to last a millennium.

Just the first part of the exchange should have narrowed down the bride’s identity. Sadly,
though, before processing the idea, Qi Rong threw a round of his best insults and bolted,
hands raised to dig nails and teeth into the flesh of the one who dared imprison him.
However, before he could, he found his back crashing against the cave wall so hard he
cracked the rock.

Then, Bai Wuxiang grabbed his throat and pressed down in a way that would have broken Qi
Rong’s windpipe had he been alive and had his windpipe worked. But Qi Rong was dead, had
been for a long time, and he had won countless battles, eaten so many of his enemies in raw,
bleeding chunks of flesh he tore from their bodies, all while he laughed, enjoying himself,
basking in their suffering. Even then, even being feared by the living and non-living alike, Qi
Rong was not a Supreme-level ghost yet, and he was painfully aware of it. This meant that
every encounter with one of them ended in disaster. For him.

Granted, he had only met with Crimson Rain who, for some reason, had decided to hunt him
down every chance he had. Black Water was too much of a recluse, and Bai Wuxiang had
been destroyed long ago by the heavenly emperor. Or so Qi Rong thought before having the
White Calamity’s hand around his neck.

“He’s mine. You’ll do well remembering that,” Bai Wuxiang whispered to Qi Rong’s ear.

“Hadn’t that dog Jun Wu dispersed you?” Qi Rong muttered between clenched teeth. He
didn’t need to breathe, but the White Calamity’s spiritual pressure hit him way too strongly.
This, of course, didn’t have any repercussions on the respect Qi Rong chose to show.

Either way, as those words escaped his mouth, the ones he had heard about Bai Wuxiang’s
prisoner clicked into place.

He probably shouldn’t have done it—he probably shouldn’t have done nearly half the things
he had done in both life and death—, but he began laughing. Cackling. As loud as he could,
throwing his head backward until it pressed against the wall of the cave.

“That’s my cousin the Crown Prince, right? Right?” he said, the words barely intelligible
between the bouts of laughter. “Serves you well, cousin. Indeed, serves you well. You dared
to trick me, you dogfucker!”

“Crass,” Bai Wuxiang said, throwing Qi Rong to the side.

Whatever faint trace of survival instinct Qi Rong had told him to pretend he hadn’t heard
that. However, when he stood up again, he went straight to the upside-down figure. His
cousin faced the opposite direction, which meant that Qi Rong could only see his back and
his neck.

“Why are you wearing that, Cousin Crown Prince? Was that only to fool me or because you
finally found someone to take in your sorry self?” He caressed the back of Xie Lian’s neck
with one of his long, sharp nails. “Say, what if I stick one of my nails in there, just to see
what happens? Or maybe take a bite. I’ve done so once or twice before, when we were
children, remember? But I’ve never taken out a chunk.” He giggled. “It’s not like you can
die. And there’s no one for you to tell on me! Get it? Because you’re all alone!”

Qi Rong’s laughter intensified, and his nail left a red line on Xie Lian’s skin, which must’ve
stung. However, Xie Lian didn’t move. He didn’t even twitch. This passivity infuriated the
Night-Touring Green Lantern. He knew his cousin was alive and awake; he could hear him
breathing.

“Answer, you fucker!” Qi Rong hissed, “Or I will open you up, grab your intestines and eat
them where you can see!”

Qi Rong pulled his hand backward so he could act on his threat. It was exciting to know that
in a moment he’d have his cousin’s warm blood running through his fingers, that he’d be able
to hear the crushing of his bones, to feel them crack. Qi Rong licked his lips to savor the
moment, raised his hand, and, twisting it into a claw-like form, he…

…received a slap that sent him back against the wall. If he had been alive, it would’ve been
Qi Rong’s bones the ones crashed into dust.

“Didn’t I say he’s mine?” Bai Wuxiang said. “Get out of here. If you want to be useful, go
guard the entrance.”

Qi Rong scrambled back to his feet, even angrier now, and even more offended. The words
escaped his mouth before he realized. However, to be fair, he would’ve said them regardless.

“You’re nobody to tell this ancestor what to do, pig!”

In slow motion, Bai Wuxiang turned around, and, if Qi Rong thought he had felt the White
Calamity’s spiritual power before, that had been nothing compared to the pressure he suffered
now. It was like the entire mountain and all the force anyone could summon from the depths
of the earth got a hold of him and pushed him up, down, left, right, in every direction, making
him feel like he was about to implode. It was the most pain he had felt ever since he died. He
didn’t like that. He hated it. He hated it and he couldn’t fight it which meant he only grew to
hate it more. He did his best to resist it, but he didn’t last long.

This once, then, Bai Wuxiang didn’t need to touch him to have Qi Rong fall to his knees,
staring back in utter horror. If that was what the Night-Touring Green Lantern was missing to
become a Supreme-level ghost, he still had a long way to go, and this was what struck him
the worst.
“Why are you children so difficult,” Bai Wuxiang said with a resigned sigh. He let go of the
spiritual pressure as if he had tucked it back under his sleeve. His voice sounded reasonable
now, warm even. “Go guard the entrance now and I might reconsider sharing.”

Qi Rong, dizzy and unable to gather any thoughts except the one that told him it’d be in his
best interest to get out of there, hurried to the exit shrouded in a terror the likes of which he
had never felt. Not even when he was alive, or at the worst of the war, or when he was killed.
Yet, not even this was enough to frighten him into submission for long. His horror faded into
resentment and hate after a few steps as he became aware that fighting the White Calamity at
his level would be impossible. Soreness came when he realized not even Crimson Rain
Sought Flower, with all the contempt he showed him, had treated him like that.

Qi Rong had walked only a few steps when a small ball of light appeared floating in front of
him to guide him outside through the twists and turns of the long hall. His first instinct was to
yell again that no one told him what to do. Yet, Qi Rong could feel the confounding spells
around him. They activated as soon as he got into the hall. It would be impossible to leave
without a guide. He would only need it this time; once he learned the twists and turns of the
right path, the spells wouldn’t affect him anymore. That said, he wouldn’t want to be in the
skin of whoever was stupid enough to come into the White Calamity’s lair uninvited—or
maybe he would, provided he’d be the one to rip away said skin from its owner.

Thinking of piercing screams of pain helped soothe him, even though the resentment didn’t
go away. Then again, it never did. As a ghost. Qi Rong was literally made out of resentful
energy, so the more he accumulated, the better. One day, he’d go beyond being a Wrath,
become a Supreme Ghost King, a real one, and be stronger than the White, Red, and Black
Calamities put together. Then, they’d know him. Even the heavens would fear him more than
they feared Hua Cheng. He would do with the three realms whatever he felt like and feast on
the flesh of the gods!

Meanwhile, however, he felt a familiar killing intent coming his way. Too familiar. It came
heralded by the sound of silver bells just in case Qi Rong hadn’t been able to tell who it was.
Before he could decide what to do, he felt Hua Cheng’s arm going down his throat all the
way to the shoulder, making him feel the pressure of his spiritual powers against his innards.
A furious eye burned itself into Qi Rong’s at the same time he heard a very dangerous growl.

“You will tell me everything you know.”

Hua Cheng didn’t bother saying what would happen otherwise. He didn’t need to.
 Part 5: Liberation | Chapter 2
Chapter Notes

Warning: There is some dismemberment and more gore in this chapter. Skip to the notes
at the end if you want more details before proceeding.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Xie Lian opened his eyes when Qi Rong escaped the chamber. Should he be ashamed of his
glee at the image of his little cousin fleeing in terror from the monster that had haunted him
for so long? Well, Qi Rong had to face the consequences of his actions at some point, having
spent centuries bringing that to himself. Realizing that, Xie Lian went ahead and enjoyed his
glee with a clear conscience. He would need that for what was to come.

The jar where he captured his cousin fell from his sleeve shortly after Bai Wuxiang had hung
him from the ceiling. This meant he still had it in him to do this all day for the next… ah,
several years. Eight centuries of wandering the mortal realm hadn’t gone by without leaving
their mark.

Once the Night-Touring Green Lantern’s steps faded down the hall, Bai Wuxiang leaned
toward Xie Lian and caressed his cheek, prompting him to close his eyes again. The White
Ghost King was gentle. Warm, even for a ghost, and by now Xie Lian was familiar with the
touch of a ghost.

Although remembering he was loved served as comfort, Xie Lian didn’t want Bai Wuxiang to
corrupt the best thing he had. Not that he hadn’t tried when he lied about his and Hua
Cheng’s working together.

“Did you hear what your cousin wanted to do with you, dear Crown Prince?” Bai Wuxiang
whispered to Xie Lian’s ear. “I won’t let him. I will protect you.” He made a pause in which
he gave some playful taps to Xie Lian’s cheek. “As long as you behave.”

Before he moved back, Xie Lian took the opportunity to spit at him again, opening his eyes
to smirk at the sight of Bai Wuxiang’s soiled mask.

“You disrespectful brat!” Bai Wuxiang hissed, aiming a punch at Xie Lian.

Now, being hung upside down from a long rope came with a few advantages. Namely, a
martial god with enough flexibility and control of his body would be able to swing himself
out of the way of an easily predictable, ill-advised blow. Xie Lian knew that he was only
angering his captor further, but any frustration he could cause him would be worth it. He
managed to do it twice before the White Calamity recovered enough sense to hold him still.

“You seem intent on forcing my hand, Xie Lian.”

“What happened to be respectful? How dare you use my name just like that?”

Bai Wuxiang sighed, and it sounded loaded with fake regret.

“My patience is growing thin.” He grabbed Xie Lian’s leg and pressed it down. And kept on
pressing, adding increased pressure every second. “You’re a terrible student, but maybe I’ll
waste my time with another lesson. How about I crush your legs and make you walk to the
nearest cliff so you can jump and break the rest of your bones?”

Xie Lian knew well what it felt like when his bones were about to break. His leg was close to
that point. He prepared mentally for it, for the pain that would be coming. It wouldn’t be the
worst he’d suffered, and he would recover from it. He had to keep his mind focused on that
thought: he was fine. He would be fine. No matter what, this would be over and he would
have survived.

He just wished Bai Wuxiang would hurry and get over with it.

However, before the ghost was able to cause anything beyond a fissure, Bai Wuxiang raised
his head toward the entrance of the chamber. He immediately let go of Xie Lian, pushing him
and making him swing.

“This is the last time I show you mercy. Appreciate it.”

After that, he left.

Qi Rong was probably causing problems outside, but Xie Lian didn’t have time to spare to
think about the disgrace he had for a relative.

Swinging upside down while being a prisoner was not fun, even less so with a throbbing leg.
Yet, it was a pain he could ignore, that he could tuck away in the back of his mind. Now,
without his captor looming over him, he had a wider range of movement. Better yet, Bai
Wuxiang had released his hands to use the entire God-Binding rope to hang him from the
ceiling.

Xie Lian wondered whether Ruoye had found Hua Cheng yet as he reached upward to the
rope around his ankles. Funny how the White Calamity seemed to think he was the first one
to do that to him. Xie Lian’s first time hanging upside down had been on a pirate ship early in
his third banishment. Back then, he was confused and scared. Nauseous, he had thrown up all
over the lower deck. The pirates laughed at him and made him clean up after a whipping. So,
yes, this was an improvement.

Either way, by the third or fourth time he had gone through this, Xie Lian had come up with a
way to escape, as demonstrated now that he was able to untie the rope and land on his feet.
Of course, his leg didn’t appreciate that, but he decided to keep ignoring it—even though it
was already swelling up—to celebrate a victory that, although small, was a beginning.

All he needed now was to get out of there. If he was smart—and lucky—, he would definitely
have a chance. Just in case, though, before stepping out, he grabbed the God-Binding rope
and put it inside his sleeve.
Almost a millennium had passed since the first time Jun Wu laid eyes on Xie Lian and
realized his potential. Seeing him and wanting to mold the boy after him, to make him his
successor, happened in unison. They had so much in common it was only natural. However,
when Xie Lian came up with that corny, stupid phrase, the one who would be known as the
White Calamity, the first one to be cataloged as Supreme Ghost King, knew that he’d have to
break the little prince first.

The Crown Prince of Xianle was always going to become a god. This fate was inevitable. So
inevitable that he had ascended three times already. Eight hundred years, three banishments,
and he still hadn’t learned anything. The way things stood now, Jun Wu didn’t have a good
excuse to banish him a fourth time, and it’d probably take some time to break him again.

The way to get to the boy’s head was through the destruction of his bond with his loved ones
—or destroying said loved ones. Or both. Regrettably, all of them had been dealt with long
ago. There were still those generals, though. Yes, Jun Wu had been saving them for later. He
needed to probe how deep those bonds ran these days. There was also the mutual sympathy
Xie Lian had with the Wind Master, but that was a more delicate issue. Yet, it was there.

However, Xie Lian’s strongest bond nowadays was with Crimson Rain Sought Flower. Of all
the possible outcomes Jun Wu had considered through time, this one hadn’t even been on the
list. Out of necessity, he had played it as if the White Calamity had been dispersed, and
therefore he never made any attempt at contacting either the Red one or the Black one, and
now he saw this might have been a mistake. If he had taken control of the situation back
when those two were newly minted ghost kings, if he had taken them under his wing, things
would’ve been very different right now.

Since he and Xie Lian shared the same cultivation method, and Jun Wu didn’t concern
himself with such mundane affairs, having him seduced by anyone would have never crossed
his mind. Maybe if he were trying to break someone else, but not Xie Lian. The mere idea
made the heavenly emperor furious. Had Xie Lian given up his virginity before during his
banishment? Or was it a new development? Had he given himself freely or had the Supreme
Red Ghost King forced himself upon the prince? Those questions tormented Jun Wu.

Hua Cheng was strong. Fighting him wouldn’t be easy, which meant that perhaps he
shouldn’t have taken his toy away before he discarded it, but Jun Wu had been unable to
control his impulses, and Xie Lian had been his toy first. Either way, there was no undoing
what he had done. All he had to do now was to keep Xie Lian hidden for as long as necessary
until Hua Cheng forgot him and got a new lover. Maybe Jun Wu could arrange something a
few decades down the line.

As for keeping Xie Lian hidden, well, this was his territory. No one had more power on this
land than Jun Wu, and he controlled everything that happened in and around the mountain.
Besides, no one except for the ridiculous boy and that annoying Wrath knew he was back.
He’d keep it that way, and he would start correcting his mistakes by taking control of the
badly named Green Calamity. Those idiot gods had decided that they needed four Calamities
and had chosen this embarrassment. The Green Night-Touring Lantern was far away from
becoming a Supreme. He probably wouldn’t be able to become one in one thousand years. To
become a Supreme Ghost King, the candidate needed to have a focus, a plan, a purpose that
pulled them forward. Qi Rong simply lacked that. He was too scatterbrained and chaotic.

Xianle and the Green Calamity being related didn’t take Jun Wu by surprise. He had known
about it since the Green Night-Touring Lantern rose to notoriety and the heavenly scholars
began to discuss what to do with him. One day, he had been bored and left the heavenly
capital to take a look, see what the fuss was about. Seeing him and reaching the right
conclusion was the same step. The child hadn’t even bothered to change his name, and the
family resemblance was there. For someone who had spent too much time studying Xie
Lian’s unblemished features—untouched by the human face disease—, it had been easy to
tell. However, everything Qi Rong was and did was nothing but a perversion of his cousin.
Unable to stand it, Jun Wu had let him on his own.

Anyway, as Bai Wuxiang was in the process of breaking Xie Lian’s legs to further his
lessons, he felt how the fire sent to guide Qi Rong outside got extinguished. That wasn’t
right. Upset at having to leave his prize alone, he went to check. On the other hand, that
would give the boy some space to reflect on what he had done. Bai Wuxiang hadn’t gone all
the way through shattering the bone, but even if that brat didn’t show it, he felt the pain. In
that position, it would only get worse.

Good. He deserved that for being so inconsiderate to his elders.

On his way out, Jun Wu checked on his confounding spells. They were working as they
should. At first, he didn’t think it would make a difference whether he put them there or not,
but they were there as an extra precaution. He didn’t expect to find any big surprises outside,
other than Qi Rong throwing a tantrum and stomping on the guide he had been given. He
should have noticed that he wouldn’t need it to return, but that didn’t mean it was right for
him to be so ungrateful. He should learn that Bai Wuxiang only ever gave gifts to Xie Lian,
and this was an exception. A big exception.

Then, as he exited the mountain, he realized he had made another big miscalculation since the
fire guide hadn’t been extinguished by Qi Rong.

Sticking his arm in Qi Rong’s mouth had to be the grossest thing Hua Cheng had ever done.
Yet, it was the first thing that came to his mind when he saw him. Making this bastard suffer
was high on his priority list, at the moment ranking in third place. “Making the White
Calamity suffer,” was the second and, the first, “getting His Highness back home.” If he
wanted to get back home. Worst case scenario, taking him to a safe place would do.

As he debated whether he should just pull Qi Rong’s tongue out and force him to write his
spiritual array password on the floor with his blood for Hua Cheng to interrogate him—which
was only into question because that’d take a lot longer than just making him talk—, the
White Calamity himself showed up. Even with his mask on, judging by how he stopped so
suddenly, it was obvious that he didn’t expect to find Hua Cheng.

Before the White Calamity took a second step outside the cave, Hua Cheng bolted to attack
him. Not with E’Ming—not yet—and not with his spiritual powers, but with Qi Rong’s
tongue, ripped off without consideration when Hua Cheng brought his hand back out.
Dripping with blood and other fluids, the thing landed square on Bai Wuxiang’s face from
where it trickled down all over his robes.

While Bai Wuxiang processed the idea of his white garments being covered in ghostly blood,
Hua Cheng yelled at the useless gods who were just catching up with him.

“Get in and find him!”

He would’ve wanted to be the one going into the cave for his beloved, but he also knew that
he was the only one with a chance of keeping Bai Wuxiang entertained. Well, he and He
Xuan, but Black Water was still undercover and they had their agreement. Hua Cheng had
given his word and he would stand by it, not revealing a thing before He Xuan himself
decided to do so. Besides, chances were they would need him inside. Who knew what traps
had been laid within, even if Bai Wuxiang wasn’t expecting them.

The gods and the disguised Calamity, led by Ruoye and the teapot spirit, went toward the
entrance of the cave. They ignored the kneeling Qi Rong, who pretended to choke on his own
blood as if he hadn’t been dead for centuries already. Although, even if he hadn’t, he
deserved that.

At that moment, Bai Wuxiang reacted. He tried to block their way, but Hua Cheng was faster
and blocked him in turn, this time with his saber, making Bai Wuxiang jump backward
several times in a row, pushing him away from the cave.

The advantage of surprise didn’t last long, though. Bai Wuxiang soon recovered and came
back to his preferred weapon: mental warfare. He was strong, yes. Powerful. But he had done
his worst by eating his enemy’s mind with his words. Well, that wouldn’t work. Bai Wuxiang
didn’t have anything on someone he didn’t know and who was used to hating and thinking
the worst of himself all the time. Hua Cheng had, to all effect, trained himself for this.

“I must say,” Bai Wuxiang began, “I’m impressed. You replaced the god I took with the other
four. Who would’ve thought you were so greedy?”

No. Never a replacement. Ever. Hua Cheng’s entire being belonged to Xie Lian, his heart, his
mind, his corporeal entity. At most, the other gods were a sacrifice he was willing to make.
They had volunteered to come despite Hua Cheng’s obvious thoughts on the matter. But he
wouldn’t bother to tell him that. He wouldn’t bother speaking at all. Hua Cheng just kept
pressing and pressing the White Calamity away, buying time for the others to get Xie Lian
out of the cave.

Bai Wuxiang, on the other hand, kept on talking.

“I understand you’re angry because I deprived you of your little toy. It is pretty, isn’t it? Very,
very pretty. But he was mine first. I can find you something else. Same body type, or maybe
you’d want to try a different one. Or many! What will it be?”

Hua Cheng’s repugnance manifested in the way his eye narrowed down, but he continued
fighting nonstop.

Bai Wuxiang clicked his tongue.

“Is this how it’s going to be?”

He punctuated his question with a hiss, and he flicked his wrist, producing an old sword that
fit into his hand perfectly. Just by seeing that motion, Hua Cheng understood that this sword
had served the White Calamity before, and it would follow his every command. However, as
Hua Cheng parred and pressed against them, he realized that his opponents didn’t share a
bond as tight as the one he and E’Ming had. It was hard to reach that point when your
spiritual weapon had not been forged by your blood and pain.

From where Hua Cheng stood, he still had the advantage. Even when Bai Wuxiang switched
tactics.

“I will rip that little boy prince’s arms and legs off,” Bai Wuxiang said when they were
pressing their swords against each other, so close that Hua Cheng could appreciate the detail
with which the mask was carved. “And send it to you in a box tied with his intestines. He’s
immortal and a god; he can grow them back.”

The White Calamity spoke as calmly as if he discussed the weather, and Hua Cheng
discovered that he got closer to losing control when that kind of language was directed at His
Highness instead of him. However, he managed to remember that the intention was to rile
him up. That helped.

So, instead of blowing up, Hua Cheng forced himself to keep calm and smirk.

“Now you’re getting your ideas from that piece of shit?” He pointed at Qi Rong, who was in
the process of using his spiritual powers to create a new replacement tongue. “Fitting, being
an uncreative piece of shit yourself.”

“Uncreative?” Bai Wuxiang jumped backward one more time. “All you children are called
Calamities because of me!”

Hua Cheng was not going to let him get away, though. Although he didn’t want a
conversation, he needed to buy time. Thus, he launched forward again.

“So what? We didn’t choose it!”

“Neither did I. It was those gods. Don’t you hate them? Don’t you want to get done with
them? If we joined forces, we’d be able to topple the heavenly realm and make it ours!”

“I don’t care about the heavenly realm. Whatever they do is of no concern to me!”
 The only god he cared about was Xie Lian, who had looked more thrilled than disgusted
when faced with his third ascension. Thus, Hua Cheng would only work to overthrow the
heavenly capital if and only if Xie Lian wished to do so. Otherwise, as far as he was
concerned, the heavens would stand as they were. Fuck it, he’d even protect them for Xie
Lian’s sake.

Chapter End Notes

Warning: Hua Cheng rips out Qi Rong's tongue and throws it to BWX.

Xie Lian is fine. Except for a broken leg...

 Part 5: Liberation | Chapter 3

The teapot spirit, riding on Xie Lian’s piece of silk, led the god procession toward the
entrance of the cave. They marched with resolution despite not knowing what horrors they
would find. However, without warning, right before they crossed the threshold, one of them
stopped abruptly, digging his heels to avoid being dragged any further.

“Ming-xiong?” asked the Wind Master without letting go of him.

“I’m staying out here. You keep going.”

The Earth Master pointed not at the two Calamities engaged in a fight, but at the third, the
one kneeling on the ground, currently occupied growing a new tongue. He would be done
soon and he would be pissed. Someone had to take care of him so Crimson Rain could focus
on Bai Wuxiang.

The Wind Master sighed and released his arm.

“Be careful,” she said, staring at him as he turned around. “After we finish here, we’ll go to
some fair and I’ll treat you to those snacks you like!”

The Earth Master shivered from head to toe. He didn’t turn around and he didn’t make any
noise, but he nodded before he walked away.

That done, she went back to face her two remaining companions, all determined and serious.

“Let’s continue.”

The group, then, resumed their rescue expedition.

“He’ll be fine,” Mu Qing whispered in a sharp tone that didn’t bother with offering comfort.
It was more of a statement.

The Wind Master smiled and nodded.

“I know. Ming-xiong knows what he’s doing, and he’s very intent on continuing to live. I
have faith in him.”

Feng Xin lit up a ball of fire on his hand that allowed them to see where they put their feet.

“Don’t you need Crimson Rain holding you to connect with His Highness?” Mu Qing asked
while they walked, their steps echoed all around them.

The teapot spirit waved his hand.

“Not really. I can handle up to three relationships at the same time without mixing them up.”

“How many do you have at the moment?” the Wind Master asked.
“Just the one.”

“How long were you Hua Cheng’s prisoner?”

The teapot spirit gasped.

“I’ve never been his prisoner! I’m just doing my job! Fulfilling the noble purpose of my
humble existence!”

“Fine, we get it. You don’t have to be so dramatic,” Mu Qing said.

“Look who’s talking,” the teapot muttered.

“What did you say?” Mu Qing exclaimed out loud.

“Nothing,” the teapot replied as the Wind Master and Feng Xin snickered in the back.

Mu Qing folded his arms and glared. That didn’t work to intimidate anyone.

“Still, Crimson Rain Sought Flower and the crown prince of Xianle,” the Wind Master said,
tapping her lips and ignoring the conflicted faces of the two generals. “That’s an unlikely
match, don’t you think?”

“It’s not,” the teapot spirit answered. “It’s been brewing for a while, and—” he stopped
himself and looked around, frowning. “Huh.”

“What is it?” Feng Xin asked.

The spirit scanned the area.

“I’m—I’m lost. This has never happened before. I don’t know where I’m supposed to go…”

They had stopped at a point where the hall forked in three ways, all of them as dark and as
unappealing as the other.

“What do you mean lost?” Mu Qing asked.

“Maybe all of them converge to where His Highness is,” Feng Xin said.

“I should be able to tell if that were the case!” the teapot exclaimed. It looked close to tears.
“Not even when people die—!”

“His Highness is dead?” the Wind Master yelled, taking a step back.

All three gods took that step back, but she was the only one with enough presence of mind
for yelling.

The teapot spirit closed its fists and yelled back. Tears went down its cheeks when it closed
its eyes.
“Let me finish! I was saying: not even when people die I feel a void like this! The more we
advance, the less I can tell what’s the right direction. That makes no sense! Love is the
strongest force there is!”

“All spirits say that,” Mu Qing said.

“What is that supposed to mean?” the spirit continued. “That if I were a back luck spirit I’d
be arguing that bad luck is the strongest force there is? Well, that’d be wrong! I’ve been
actively working against His Highness’ bad luck shackle and I’ve won at every turn!”

“Until you lost.”

“I haven’t lost! I’m just lost! A temporary setback!”

“You haven’t lost yet .”

“ Yet? What side are you on that you seem so intent on making me lose my focus?”

“What should we do, then?” Mu Qing said, folding his arms and rolling his eyes. “As I see it,
we have two options: stay here for who knows how long or choose where to go ourselves.”

“There’s three of us and there are three entrances,” the Wind Master said. “On the other hand,
this place is a Calamity’s lair. Splitting would put us in great peril.”

“All options are bad, but doing nothing is the worst one,” Feng Xin said.

“Running headfirst into the darkness would be so on brand for you,” Mu Qing said.

Feng Xin narrowed his eyes and hit the wall with his fist.

“Staying out of this while His Highness is in danger is on brand for you !”

That took Mu Qing out of balance, and he went paler than usual.

“You! How dare you say that! Weren’t we tied up together in Crimson Rain’s dungeon?”

It looked like the two of them would literally be at each other’s throats while ignoring the
Wind Master, who was now considering the wisdom of using her fan in a tight enclosure to
calm them down. The teapot spirit, meanwhile, kept floating on Ruoye, ignoring everyone
and making its best effort to go through the dense spells in this place and pick up in which
direction Xie Lian could be.

Not knowing what was happening outside, how long it had passed, or whether anyone had
noticed he was missing, Xie Lian walked through the corridors engulfed in complete
darkness, and the only sounds that reached his ears were the rustling of his robes and the
beating of his heart. He didn’t have enough spiritual energy for the smallest ball of light to
show him the way. The palm of his hand pressed on the wall served as the closest thing he
had to a guide. He was forced to walk slowly, and the way he had to drag his feet to avoid
tripping didn’t help with the throbbing of his leg.

Ah. At least this once he didn’t have anything piercing his heart and he could move.

The downside: he didn’t have any idea how much he had walked nor how much he had left to
reach an exit. Even less where he was in relation to… anywhere. But he didn’t plan on giving
up. He was immortal, after all, and it would be better if he reunited with Hua Cheng after his
leg healed. To see Xie Lian like this would only worry him.

Even though physical pain was easier to push to the back of his mind, the pain of being
separated from Hua Cheng was more difficult to ignore. Mostly because he couldn’t stop
thinking about him. Even when he was with him, he filled his thoughts. Funnily enough, it
hurt more now that he didn’t have Bai Wuxiang in front of him because he had nowhere to
redirect his distress to. All he had ahead of him, besides endless blackness, was longing.
Longing that went deep, wrapping around his heart, constricting it cruelly.

In any case, Xie Lian knew that Hua Cheng was… No. Not alive. What a terrible choice of
words. But he was out there. He existed, and he was just as immortal as Xie Lian. Thus,
they’d be able to get reunited no matter how long it took. This was why he had to keep going.
Each step might have been agony, but, at the same time, it brought him closer to relief. To
salvation.

Xie Lian’s chuckle echoed around him. When had he become so sentimental? He was
supposed to have left that side of him behind when his naiveté had been shattered. But now it
was back, and it made him feel young again. Not even Bai Wuxiang managed to make it go
away. Even now that he walked into the darkness, he also walked toward his love, and that
gave him courage.

The second thing he’d do upon meeting again with Hua Cheng would be to ask him for the
password of his personal spiritual communication array, because the first thing would be to
hug him tight. Then again, before they could exchange a word, never mind a whole
password, Hua Cheng would probably insist on kissing first, something Xie Lian had nothing
against. Which meant that the passwords would have to be pushed to third place.

As he smiled, picturing the scene—imagining the pressure of Hua Cheng’s lips against his—,
it came to him a way in which he’d be able to contact his beloved. Gods heard prayers from
their followers when they were paying attention. Even now, in the core of the White
Calamity’s territory, Xie Lian could, if he really tried, catch faint whispers from his own
believers. On the other hand, Hua Cheng was also worshiped. He had been for a long while.
Centuries now. Mortals wouldn’t have done it if there hadn’t been stories about him
answering at least once or twice. Yes, sometimes things worked out on their own, yet—

Yet, Xie Lian wanted to believe Hua Cheng answered in his own way sometimes. If only
because he was going to take the chance now to pray to him. He looked for a nice place to sit
down. Once he was ready, he took a deep breath and began, putting his entire heart and soul
into that prayer.
“Wait! Wait! I’m getting something!” the teapot spirit said, getting in the middle of Feng Xin
and Mu Qing’s screaming match.

Said gods didn’t look at the spirit but both of them grabbed the teapot at the same time
intending to toss it aside. How dared it interrupt them! Next thing they knew, they crashed
against each other with their arms held high, since the spirit ordered Ruoye to go up as fast as
he could while they were gripping it. Ruoye, who was also fed up with his master’s friends’
antics, complied with enthusiasm.

“Well, that was easy,” the teapot spirit said, dusting its hands off as the gods separated,
rubbing their noses and cursing. “As I was saying,” it continued, “I picked up something.
Longing and yearning from His Highness toward Hua Chengzhu coming from that
direction,” it said, pointing to the left.

The Wind Master stopped giggling and raised a fist in the air and followed the spirit.

“Let’s go!”

The martial gods looked everywhere but each other and went after the others.

“It’s getting stronger,” the teapot spirit said. “He’s close.”

Feng Xin and Mu Qing pretended they weren’t relieved, even though they weren’t sure who
their act was for. Xie Lian’s spiritual tool, the teapot spirit, and the Wind Master were too
busy walking to pay attention to them.

Either way, only a few twists and turns later, they ran into Xie Lian meditating in the middle
of the tunnel. He was kneeling, supporting himself on his heels, back straight, eyes closed,
his profile as noble as Feng Xin and Mu Qing remembered it despite the dirt covering both
him and his bridal robes. Most importantly, though, he was alive and in one piece.

“Your Highness!” the three gods exclaimed, hurrying next to him while the teapot spirit
surveyed everything from above.

The spirit’s smugness lasted only until the spiritual tool dived toward his master, rubbing
himself against him like a very long, limbless, and loving cat. However, it did take care of
depositing the teapot gently on Xie Lian’s lap, as a thank you for the favors rendered.

Xie Lian’s eyes took a moment to adjust to the incoming source of light. Once he did and
took a good look at them, his face went from incredulity to mild disappointment to delight.

“Yes, we’re not him,” Mu Qing said, pouting and rolling his eyes again—which was why he
missed the moment tears appeared in Xie Lian’s eyes.

Feng Xin didn’t, but he stayed on the side, unsure of what to do.
The Wind Master, after an exasperated groan, grabbed both generals’ sleeves and pulled them
in for a hug with the prince.

“What—?”

“Just hold each other tight now and thank me later!”

They tried to pull away but gave up when they felt Xie Lian’s strong arms holding them tight.
It only got worse when they heard the sobs.

“You… It’s twice now that you’ve risked your life for me. I— Thank you,” Xie Lian
murmured in a low but earnest voice.

That was enough to forgive him anything.

The group let go after a long moment. Shi Qingxuan was radiant. She and Xie Lian were the
only ones openly wiping their tears away. The two generals, on the other hand, did their best
not to be noticed as they rubbed their faces on their hands. For once, everyone was polite
enough not to point anything out.

Xie Lian found a nice distraction on the object Ruoye dropped on his lap. He didn’t dare to
pick it up nor touch it since he recognized it as soon as he had a moment to spare.

“Why do you have the bad luck teapot?” he asked, frowning slightly.

Had they been stealing from Hua Cheng?

A small and lively spirit stuck its head up from in there, huffing and puffing.

“I’m not a bad luck teapot!” it exclaimed. “If anything, I’m good luck! I help those who
touch me find their true love!”

Xie Lian opened and closed his mouth a couple of times before settling on, “Well, that
explains Zan Chow.”

“Of course it does!”

“I’m not even going to ask where that oaf fits in,” Feng Xin said.

“I’ll tell you the story later,” Xie Lian said. “The gist of it is that he’s happy and now I
understand why. And also why I ended up in the ghost realm that day. Does Hua Cheng
know?”

“He does!” the spirit proclaimed, proud of itself. “That’s why we’re here.”
“But where is he?” Xie Lian asked.

“Outside,” Mu Qing offered. “Fighting the White Calamity.”

“What?” Xie Lian exclaimed, standing up in a hurry.

For a moment, he had forgotten about his broken leg, but the fractured bone made itself
known by sending a jolt of pain that made Xie Lian stumble forward. Feng Xin and Mu Qing
hurried to catch him and helped him stabilize.

“Careful,” Feng Xin said. “All that time sitting down numbed your legs.”

Xie Lian laughed awkwardly as he stood up upright, thankful for the excuse.

“Ah. Yes. They’re numb. I’m sorry.”

Coming out with the truth would only worry them needlessly and would make them fuss over
him when they should focus on the result of the fight outside.

Xie Lian grabbed the teapot with both hands. By then, Ruoye had already wrapped himself in
his usual place, around his wrist, pleased to have found his way back.

“Will you help me find him again?” he asked the teapot.

The teapot spirit shone brightly.

“That’s what I’m here for. Hold me tight and follow my instructions. It’ll help if you think of
him.”

Xie Lian smiled.

“I’m always thinking of him.”

With that, he began to walk, doing his best to limp as little as possible.

The way through the corridors was just as dark and cold as before, but now it felt less hostile
and more hopeful with three more sets of steps echoing behind him. Like Xie Lian would get
to see the real light at the end of the tunnel, a light that belonged only to him, and that was
brighter and warmer than the sun. However, he couldn’t help being worried. He didn’t doubt
Hua Cheng’s strength, but the White Calamity’s tendency to treachery had him tense.
Besides, he didn’t know where his cousin—

“Qi Rong!” Xie Lian exclaimed. “He’s on the loose! He is…”

“The Night-Touring Green Lantern. We know. We ran into him outside,” Mu Qing said.

“Did he cause you any trouble?” Xie Lian asked.

“Crimson Rain ripped his tongue out before he could,” Feng Xin said.

“Oh. Good.”
“Your lover ripped your cousin’s tongue out and that’s your reaction?”

“It’s just a tongue,” Xie Lian replied, waving his hand as if he were talking about a child who
had scratched his knee instead. “What’s the worst that could happen? He won’t die from it.
Besides—” he interrupted himself before going into unrequested details about his eight
hundred years of banishment. “Besides,” he repeated after a convenient cough, “there are
records of mortals surviving such a wound. Why wouldn’t he?”

Feng Xin and Mu Qing stopped arguing, which meant they agreed with his stance on the
matter. After all, they were the only two other people who knew his cousin’s horrible temper.

Which was another reason for them to quicken the pace.

“Was he fighting alongside Bai Wuxiang? Qi Rong, I mean.”

“Not yet. He was growing his tongue back when we came in.”

Xie Lian nodded. He hoped Qi Rong had been enough of a coward to escape.

“Ming-xiong is out there too,” Shi Qingxuan said, leaning toward Xie Lian. “He said he’d
help Crimson Rain Sought Flower.”

Xie Lian nodded. It was good that Hua Cheng had at least one ally with him out there, but
gods were afraid of Calamities for a reason. However, even though he suspected that a lone
heavenly official wouldn’t make that much difference in those circumstances, Xie Lian took
note of thanking the Earth Master properly once this whole thing was finished. As things
were at the moment, he just walked faster, ignoring the swelling on his leg. He could already
see the faint light and the sound of swords clashing against each other just a few meters away.
 Part 5: Liberation | Chapter 4

This scenario, the four Calamities together in the same place, had for sure caused nightmares
to the gods bold enough to imagine it. Even if they never pictured Red fighting White, and
Black wondering how much he’d give himself away if he ate the useless one. So useless it
had taken him this long to finally realize his theatrics wouldn’t get him anything.

Meanwhile, every other time he had faced Bai Wuxiang flashed with loving detail in Hua
Cheng’s mind. He remembered every instance, how helpless he had felt—how helpless he
had been—, how worthless, so incapable of protecting His Highness. Seeing that half-
smiling, half-crying mask was also to see all the blood and wounds in Xie Lian’s body, to see
his sadness and his despair without being able to do anything about it.

Yes, Hua Cheng hated the White Calamity the most, in orders of magnitude above the
heavenly emperor, that worm who hadn’t been able to finish what he had started and yet he
got—and continued to get—all the credit while Xie Lian fell into obscurity. This would end
today. One way or the other, this would end, both the creature and the legends around him,
and Hua Cheng would make sure everyone knew who they should remember and praise.

With this in mind, he took a step forward. E’Ming, happy to be wielded by his master,
shivered with the excitement of being granted the honor of avenging His Highness. Which
was the least he could do, this lousy thing, to repay the undeserved kindness his god often
bestowed upon him. A second step and the Red Calamity surrounded himself with a flock of
Wrath Butterflies, a flock as thick as a wall, shimmering in the air like the purest silver as
their wings caught the light around them, amplifying it in a spectacle as beautiful as it was
deadly.

In his third step, the White Calamity laughed. It was a loud and annoying laughter, full of
malice and mockery.

“Are you really this fond of that trash god, or are you just using him as an excuse to come
against me and get more power for yourself?”

Hua Cheng gritted his teeth. His Highness would never be an excuse. He was a reason. Hua
Cheng’s one reason for existing.

He clutched E’Ming tighter in his hand. In response, the saber stopped trembling and got
ready to attack. The eye on his hilt remained still, focused on his target. On their target. Just
as they shared the same love, spiritual weapon and master shared the same hatred and they
would act accordingly.

“I’m the one who should be mad at you, boy,” Bai Wuxiang continued in a performative,
scandalized tone. “You’ve dared to seduce His Highness the Crown Prince away from the
path of virtue he swore to follow to the end of his days.”

“His Highness has more virtue in one nail than the rest of the gods put together,” Hua Cheng
replied.
“Including the heavenly emperor?”

Hua Cheng scoffed.

“Especially him.”

Bai Wuxiang gasped in surprise, but the effect was ruined when he cackled at the end.

“Even if that had been the case before, you’ve ruined it. I hope you had fun taking his
innocence apart. How did you do it? Did you drag him to your bed right after you captured
him on the road? Did he struggle much?”

This was what the White Calamity did to people. His words were nothing but pure targeted
poison. Hua Cheng knew it, and yet, the offense ran deep. He would never force himself
upon His Highness. Never. He had been willing to live in a chaste marriage when Xie Lian
first mentioned his chastity vows. Of course, he had been ecstatic when Xie Lian chose to
break them, but he would have done it. All he needed was to be close to his god. Nothing
else. Sharing a room was enough of a blessing, and it would have been even in a timeline
where Xie Lian hadn’t reciprocated his feelings. But he had in this one, and he had also
chosen to give himself to Hua Cheng, and he had accepted his marriage proposal.

This fight was for Xie Lian’s sake, but also Hua Cheng’s. Vermin such as the one in front of
him would not keep them separated for long.

Hua Cheng raised his arm and sent the Wrath Butterflies forward. At the same time, he
summoned more, which took the place of the first batch as a line of defense. The ones sent as
an offense crashed against the White Calamity’s energy barrier, which dispersed them into
specks of light. Hua Cheng sent a second wave, which he followed to press against the barrier
with both E’Ming and his spiritual power. Although this forced Bai Wuxiang to take a step
back, the strength of the barrier didn’t diminish.

Hua Cheng pressed on harder. And harder and harder. Until he broke it.

Bai Wuxiang jumped backward again, yelling a series of creative insults.

Not even trying to suppress a smirk, Hua Cheng charged again with both saber and Wrath
Butterflies, not letting the White Calamity recover from the surprise, forcing him to keep
retreating. The couple of times Bai Wuxiang managed to create his barrier again, Hua Cheng
broke it, making his opponent angrier and angrier. He was clearly not used to being matched.

An independent group of butterflies flew above them, giving Hua Cheng a clear picture of
their surroundings. In the early days, when he first came up with the Wrath Butterflies, it was
difficult to keep track of everything. However, the years in the kiln had given him enough
practice to differentiate between what he saw, what the butterflies saw, and, yes, what E’Ming
saw. Because even after clawing that damned eye out of his face, he had been unable to get
rid of it completely.

This was how Hua Cheng learned about He Xuan in disguise facing Qi Rong with the Earth
Master’s shovel. Hua Cheng had used spiritual tools not created by him before, and he knew
that they were harder to control when one’s will wasn’t strong enough. But He Xuan was not
a Ghost King for nothing, and he had subdued even a tool that was aware of its real master’s
fate. Such determination had to be respected, if not admired, although Hua Cheng would
never admit it out loud.

Qi Rong fought with his usual viciousness. All claws and teeth and no class. That disgusting
mess was a powerful ghost in his own right. However, although strong for a Wrath, enough to
bully other lesser ghosts into obeying him, the Night-Touring Green Lantern didn’t hold a
candle against the true Supreme-level ghosts. There was a reason he kept running away
whenever Hua Cheng found him. Unfortunately for him, though, he had no way to know who
he was facing. Black Water’s fame was that he never strayed away from his territory. Qi
Rong wouldn’t believe it was him until He Xuan began eating him and, even then, he was
stupid enough that he’d never realize it.

In any case, knowing that the little pest was being taken care of, Hua Cheng was able to
forget about him and focus on his fight.

An object fell from the sky and landed right on Bai Wuxiang’s hand.

Seeing that he wouldn’t get away with this so easily, the White Calamity summoned another
sword. A beautiful sword with a dark blade that Hua Cheng had also seen before. He knew it
well. He had wielded it.

He hated it.

He could still see Xie Lian’s blood dripping from it. Drop by drop covering the floor of the
temple with a deep red while Xie Lian screamed until he couldn’t anymore, all while Hua
Cheng had been too weak to do anything but watch, himself a prisoner. And now…

And now, how was he any better? What was the reason they were here, again?

Look at him, so strong and powerful, and yet he still couldn’t spare His Highness from
suffering when it mattered.

He was worthless.

Worthless, worthless, worthless…

So worthless and disgusting, unfit to do the one task he was supposed to.

However, before those thoughts swamped his mind, flooding it completely, he heard Xie
Lian’s voice coming to him as a faint whisper. It came through the same means as those
prayers from his followers he always ignored.

“San Lang, oh, my dear San Lang. I love you. I love you so much and I miss you. Have you
found out yet that I’m not where I’m supposed to be? I don’t know where I am either, but I’m
alive and… I am well, given the circumstances. Bai Wuxiang… He—he’s back. He got me. I
don’t know where he took me, as I said, but I managed to escape the restraints he put me in.
I’m hidden, but also a little lost. Please, come find me. If there’s anyone who can, it’s you,
and I know you will. Be careful, though. You’re strong but so is he. But it’ll be fine. Now that
I’m talking to you, I’m not scared anymore. You’ll find me, and I’ll be here, waiting. I trust
you. I love you. I miss you. I need you. I can’t wait for us to be married. Find me. Come here,
San Lang. Come to me. I love you. I love you so much.”

“Yes!” Hua Cheng muttered. “Yes, of course I’ll find you, Your Highness! I’m already here!
I’ll come to you no matter what it takes!”

Listening to this, hearing that Xie Lian was fine, that he trusted him, and that he would wait
for him renewed Hua Cheng’s strength. It reminded him that he wasn’t a weak and pathetic
ghost fire anymore. He was Hua Cheng, Crimson Rain Sought Flower, the scourge of the
heavens, Supreme Ghost King, the Red Calamity himself. He had earned all those titles and
he was about to prove why.

With a roar, Hua Cheng charged against Bai Wuxiang, who was prepared for the clash but not
for the ferocity.

Hua Cheng pressed forward with both E’Ming and the Wrath Butterflies, unwilling to give
the White Calamity even a second of respite. Bai Wuxiang hit back with both power and
dexterity. With elegance, even, now that he had a more compatible sword. He received every
blow from E’Ming and kept dispersing the butterflies. But that didn’t matter; Hua Cheng
could always summon more.

They kept going like that for a while, jumping up and down the side of the mountain until,
thanks to the Wrath Butterflies, Hua Cheng spotted the worthless heavenly officials coming
out from the cave. After them, Hua Cheng’s god came out. He was covered in mud and
grime, his clothes torn, and his hair tangled. Yet, for Hua Cheng, it was the most wonderful
sight.

The Red Calamity charged once again against Bai Wuxiang, using his shoulder to knock him
into the side of the mountain, creating a big hole in his shape. Then, he sent the butterflies to
cover it by mixing rocks and debris with their silk to make it difficult for Bai Wuxiang to
escape. Knowing that his orders would be carried to the letter, Hua Cheng let the butterflies
do and hurried down, landing between Xie Lian and all the others. Saber in hand, his one eye
wide open, he stood there feeling like the child he had been the first time he saw the crown
prince eight hundred years earlier.

An instant later, Xie Lian jumped to him, wrapping his arms around Hua Cheng’s neck. Hua
Cheng dropped E’Ming to the ground so he could hug him back. He hid his face in Xie
Lian’s neck, trembling with all the emotion he had been holding back inside him.

“Gege…” he murmured.

Xie Lian rubbed his face against Hua Cheng’s chest the way he did whenever he was
overwhelmed.

“Oh, San Lang! I missed you! I missed you so much! Let’s never get separated again!”

Hua Cheng tightened his embrace.

“Never, gege.”

He felt Xie Lian shifting his weight to support himself on Hua Cheng better. This made the
Ghost King replay the moment when Xie Lian got out of the cave and realized he had been
limping all along.

Without letting go of him, he asked, “Gege, what happened to your leg?”

Xie Lian stiffened in his arms, but when he looked up at him, he wore an awkward smile and
his eyes shone with tears unshed.

“I—I’m fine. There are other more important things to worry about.”

Hua Cheng picked Xie Lian up in his arms.

“There is no one more important to me than you, gege. Let me check.”

“How’s your leg still asleep?” Feng Xin asked.

Xie Lian’s hands tightened around Hua Cheng’s sleeves, but the latter chose not to
acknowledge the unsolicited comment. Instead, he focused on Xie Lian, having him sit on a
rock, where he started checking on him.

“San Lang, it’s fine. I’ve had it worse. There’s no need to make a big deal out of—”

He interrupted himself when Hua Cheng’s shoulders tensed up and he turned around to glare
at the two generals and the elemental god.

“How is it,” he growled in the most terrifying way he knew how, “that the three of you have
the nerve to pass yourselves as gods, and yet you didn’t realize that his leg is broken?”

The relief of getting out of the cave had nothing on Hua Cheng being the first thing Xie Lian
saw once he was outside. Joy overwhelmed him as he jumped into the arms of his lover, of
his beloved. Of his betrothed. Then, Hua Cheng embraced him back and all worries and pains
disappeared. It was like life itself came back to Xie Lian and only now he was able to breathe
again.

The downside of this was that it made him lower his defenses and, as a result, after being
perfectly content for a moment, Hua Cheng tensed up.

“Gege, what happened to your leg?”

Right. His leg. He had forgotten about it. Now that Hua Cheng brought it up, the pain also
returned in full force. It caught him by surprise and threw him out of balance in more than
one way. He tried to push the pain back where he had suppressed it, but it was harder now.
Either way, he did the best he could and raised his head.

“I—I’m fine. There are other more important things to worry about.”

Yet, before he could ask about Bai Wuxiang and Qi Rong, Hua Cheng disarmed him with his
next words.

“There is no one more important to me than you, gege. Let me check.”

He meant it, and, although it made Xie Lian’s chest warm up, he didn’t know if he felt better
or worse about it.

“How’s your leg still asleep?” Feng Xin asked.

Oh. Right. He had settled on that. He’d have to issue an apology but, first, he had to ease his
way into calming everyone.

“San Lang, it’s fine. I’ve had it worse. There’s no need to make a big deal out of—”

He had been too late to speak. Before he could finish explaining, Hua Cheng stood up
surrounded in full by his Ghost King energy. He looked ready to slaughter a thousand armies
and, for an instant, Xie Lian forgot about the pain in his leg again but now for a very different
reason. Now he had to ignore his sudden need to jump on Hua Cheng so he could keep him
from murdering his friends.

“How is it that the three of you have the nerve to pass yourselves as gods, and yet you didn’t
realize that his leg is broken?” Hua Cheng took a step forward raising an arm to protect Xie
Lian behind him. E’Ming flew to his other hand. “When you saw him limping, why didn’t
you stop to check?”

Feng Xin, Mu Qing, and Shi Qingxuan were appalled and not all of it was because of the
treatment they were getting from Hua Cheng.

“You said your leg was just asleep!” Feng Xin exclaimed to Xie Lian.

“You insisted on walking!” Mu Qing said.

“Your Highness!” Shi Qingxuan finished with a betrayed look.

To be honest, all of them looked betrayed. Xie Lian would’ve wanted to hide behind Hua
Cheng, but he had to face him as well.

The killing intent had lessened noticeably by the time Hua Cheng set his eye back on him.
All that was left was distress and worry. This stung even worse than his leg and now Xie Lian
didn’t have anything—nor anyone—to hide behind. He had brought this to himself.

Xie Lian was no stranger to public humiliation, to being pushed into the mud and laughed at.
In time, he had developed a tolerance to the point of being able to shrug everything anyone
threw at him. Now, Hua Cheng’s intention could not be further away from that, Xie Lian
knew that. Yet, the grief shining in his eye was enough to bring Xie Lian the kind of shame
he hadn’t felt since the first years of his second banishment.

“Your Highness,” Hua Cheng murmured, which was enough to make Xie Lian avert his eyes.
But then he brought them back to look at Hua Cheng.

“I didn’t want anyone to worry,” he said. “There are more important things to address at the
moment.”

“Gege,” Hua Cheng said, throwing E’Ming to the ground again as he knelt in front of Xie
Lian, holding his hand. “There is nothing more important than you. There is no need for you
to hide your discomfort, not anymore.”

Xie Lian’s first instinct was to push his hand away and run to hide. Instead, he overcame his
embarrassment and intertwined his fingers with Hua Cheng’s.

“I’m sorry…”

Hua Cheng tightened his grip and kissed the back of Xie Lian’s hand.

“Don’t worry, gege. Just take better care of yourself.”

Xie Lian nodded, reaching out with his other hand to touch Hua Cheng’s cheek. He couldn’t
stand seeing him like this, and he was angry with himself for worrying him so much. Him
and his other friends. But Hua Cheng was right; Xie Lian wasn’t used to taking care of
himself. He hadn’t for a long time, and no one had cared about him for even longer. It was a
strange feeling.

“I will.”

As they spoke, Hua Cheng placed a hand on Xie Lian’s leg to pass spiritual energy to him
and help him heal faster. Freely given, freely taken, full of love and dedication, it was an
offering to a god from his most devoted believer, and it brought Xie Lian to the brink of tears
again. Soon, the swelling of his leg decreased, and the pain disappeared for real this time. Xie
Lian was sure that if the fracture wasn’t healed by now, it would be in a couple of days.

“Thank you, San Lang. That is much better.”

Hua Cheng stood.

“Don’t apply too much weight on that leg just yet.”

“I’ll be careful, I promise.”

This happened not a moment too soon. A rock came out from a hole in the mountain. It
landed about a hundred meters from them with a loud noise, raising a heavy curtain of dust as
it did. The worst, though, was what came crawling behind the rock.

“So, I’m no longer wondering where Bai Wuxiang went…” Xie Lian murmured, tightening
his grip on Hua Cheng’s hand.
Hua Cheng responded by rubbing Xie Lian’s fingers with his thumb.

“Don’t be afraid, gege. Now we are together.”

That closeness helped Xie Lian find the strength to put on an honest smile.

“Yes. Together.”
 Part 5: Liberation | Chapter 5

Jun Wu lay in the crater Crimson Rain Sought Flower forced him into covered with several
tangled layers of silk and rocks. He took advantage of the moment to ponder where things
had gone wrong, where they had twisted to this degree.

Life had never gone his way. No matter how hard he tried, no matter how much effort and
careful planning he put into it, nothing ever turned out as it should. He was cursed and he
hated it. He hated it just like he hated all in the three realms. He hated the inane gods
amongst whom he lived. He hated the ghosts he commanded and the ones he didn’t. He hated
the circumstances that brought him here. But, most of all, he hated Xie Lian. That unruly
child who never did what he was told and insisted on doing things his way, throwing away
centuries of careful preparation. Even now, he resisted accepting his punishment with his
head low.

Well, that was going to end now.

Slowly, Bai Wuxiang rose. He had always been good at keeping his emotions under control
thanks to millennia of practice. It helped that he always carried a mask, either the half-
smiling, half-crying one, or the more natural-looking one with which he covered the… marks
on his face. Yet, at this moment, he was unable to stop trembling out of rage. During the time
it took him to stand up, he decided he didn’t want to stop it anymore. He would act out his
feelings and the rest would have to deal with the consequences. He’d finally be in total
control just as he deserved.

This had been the season of unexpected things. Xie Lian’s ascension had come earlier than
anticipated. Crimson Rain’s obsession with the former crown prince came out of nowhere,
and Black Water… Black Water bothering to participate in this farce had to be a way to pay
off his debts. For one moment, it crossed Bai Wuxiang’s mind to offer him an alliance to get
rid of Hua Cheng. He wouldn’t have to repay someone who no longer existed, would he?
However, when he saw Xie Lian and Hua Cheng holding each other so tenderly, the urge to
destroy everything overcame the White Calamity. To set everything on fire and start over, just
like he had done with the heavenly capital, although this time with the three realms.

Jun Wu came down the mountain with slow steps at the time he summoned every dark
creature who would serve him. Even those who feared Hua Cheng had to realize there was a
benefit to numbers. They were that sort of creature, treacherous and sly. Something Bai
Wuxiang could and would take advantage of.

To avoid being bothered as he called his army, he created a barrier of spiritual power around
himself. Those children might be stupid enough to try to attack him as he worked, and he was
not going to give them either the chance or the hope that they could succeed. This time he
would teach them, and he would teach them well. A shame they wouldn’t be around to reap
benefits from the lesson.
Bai Wuxiang walked down the steep mountain with the same ease as if he did it on flat
terrain, disturbing all the gods present. His robes billowed behind him as if a hurricane
surrounded him thanks to the spiritual power he emanated. A power so strong that even Xie
Lian, with his diminished capacities, was able to feel it from that distance.

Everyone around Xie Lian took a step backward except for Hua Cheng. Instead of backing
down, he took a step forward and placed himself in front of Xie Lian.

“Don’t be afraid, gege. I’ll—”

Xie Lian grabbed his hand.

“We,” he corrected him, soft but determined. “We will. We just agreed to that.”

Hua Cheng stood aback for a moment. Then, he softened his face and nodded. When he
spoke again, he did so with a grave voice, the one with that dangerous edge that made Xie
Lian’s heart quiver.

“I do. But if he dares to put one hand on you again, I’ll rip him apart.”

Xie Lian tightened his grip on Hua Cheng’s hand, his breath taken away more by his
declaration than by the figure descending from the mountain.

“Sorry to interrupt, but why don’t you rip him apart right now?” Shi Qingxuan said with a
nervous laugh. “It would save us a lot of trouble.”

“It’s not that easy,” the Earth Master said. He had joined them only moments ago looking like
he had come back from taking a stroll instead of fighting a high-level Wrath. “And it will be
less easy in a moment. Here, Your Highness, you should have this,” he added, offering Xie
Lian a deftly crafted green bottle closed with a cork.

Xie Lian hesitated a moment before taking it.

“Is this…?”

“Yes.”

Xie Lian swallowed a sigh before taking the bottle with his cousin inside and putting him in
his sleeve again. He’d figure out what to do with him later. On the plus side, Qi Rong
wouldn’t be bothering them when they least needed it.

“Now that’s settled,” Shi Qingxuan said with a burst of nervous laughter, “can we go back to
our other problem?”

True. The air and the earth around them had started to shake, and the tremors only increased
in intensity.
“We need a strategy,” Feng Xin said, adopting a defensive position.

“You don’t say,” Mu Qing said, rolling his eyes, but he followed Feng Xin’s example.

“Gege, do you have the dice I gave you?”

“I’m sorry, San Lang,” Xie Lian replied. “I lost them.”

Probably when Bai Wuxiang caught him. Otherwise, he would’ve used them to leave the
cave.

“It’s alright. I have a spare set.” Hua Cheng got the dice out of his robes, showing them
between his fingers. “Take them and go back to Paradise Manor.”

Xie Lian began to reach for them, but he stopped when he heard those words.

“What? You can’t expect me just to leave you! And we said—”

“Gege, I know what we said. But your leg is not fully mended, and the way he keeps
summoning—”

“No!”

As much as he hated being in Bai Wuxiang’s presence, and how frightened he had been as his
prisoner, Xie Lian only felt about to fall down the edge when he heard Hua Cheng saying
those things. Beyond the simple fact that he didn’t want to be separated from his love again,
that he didn’t want to be alone once more now that he could breathe, he loathed the idea of
leaving Hua Cheng and his friends with that monster. Yes, Hua Cheng was also a powerful
Ghost King, feared by the heavens just as much if not more than the White Calamity, and for
good reasons. But that didn’t assuage his mind. Instead, Xie Lian’s stomach revolted, and his
entire body and mind screamed in agony.

Despite being shivering, sweating cold, and on the edge of panicking, Xie Lian stood upright
and shook his head.

“No. That asshole can summon whatever he wants but I am not leaving . ”

Hua Cheng held Xie Lian’s hands and looked him in the eyes. Xie Lian felt how adoring his
beloved was, but also how resolute, and that created a hole in his heart.

“Gege—”

During that pause in which Hua Cheng struggled to find the words, the Earth Master sneaked
in and took the dice from his hand.

Hua Cheng growled.

“What? You—!”
But the Earth Master had gone back to stand next to Shi Qingxuan again. He lifted his hand
to show him the dice, unfazed by the Ghost King’s fury.

“Yes, I dared.”

To everyone’s surprise, although Hua Cheng kept his fists tightly closed and a spiteful
expression showed on his face, he didn’t make any effort to get his dice back.

“Make it worth my while,” he snarled instead.

The Earth Master barely nodded before shoving the dice into Shi Qingxuan’s hand. Then, he
whispered something in her ear before shoving her between a couple of trees.

The thud of her body hitting the ground never came. The Earth Master had successfully used
the Red Ghost King’s dice to send her away.

Xie Lian felt conflicted. On the one hand, they were now missing a powerful ally. On the
other, at least one of his friends would be spared, and knowing this put him at ease.

Xie Lian then turned to Feng Xin and Mu Qing. Although aware of their prowess and
bravery, he felt obligated to give them the option to leave if they wanted to.

However, they read his intentions on his face.

“Shut up,” Mu Qing said before Xie Lian could open his mouth. “You’re more stupid than I
thought if you believe that we’re leaving.”

Feng Xin just glared in agreement.

Even though he grunted at the insult, Hua Cheng said nothing to reprimand them. Which
meant that he agreed with the spirit of the message.

Their loyalty didn’t make Xie Lian’s tension disappear, but it eased him even more. Enough
to let him think.

“We still need that strategy,” Feng Xin said, and he looked at Xie Lian as if he expected
instructions from him.

Instructions from the crown prince like in the old times.

Shocked by the realization, Xie Lian looked at the people gathered around him. It had been a
while since the last time he led anyone into battle, and his long string of defeats—his
centuries-long string of defeats—didn’t exactly fill him with hope. Or with confidence.
However, unless someone else volunteered an idea, he might as well give some of his own.
After one last squeeze to Hua Cheng’s hand, he straightened up, tapped into the old general,
the prince, he used to be—and that maybe still was—and took a step forward.

The White Calamity’s army kept growing and soon they would be ready to attack, so they
had to hurry.
“Listen,” Xie Lian said and, to his surprise, everyone did. He recovered quickly, though, and
continued, addressing Feng Xin and Mu Qing, “I know that the last time we fought him it
was hopeless, but we didn’t have the power we have now. Four gods and a Ghost King
should amount to something.”

Three gods, he should have said. Xie Lian fought against the urge to touch the bandages that
covered the shackle around his neck. Thanks to that thing and the one around his ankle, he
wouldn’t be able to contribute much, and he wouldn’t dare to borrow any amount of spiritual
power from anyone. The smallest amount might mean the difference between life and death,
and he had no right to ask that out of them.

Hua Cheng touched the bandages with light and gentle fingers that nevertheless shook Xie
Lian to the core and made him take a step back. He felt like Hua Cheng had been reading his
mind all this time.

“Gege…”

“San Lang, no. Don’t you dare.”

“Gege, you need it.”

“You’ll need it more.”

Hua Cheng shook his head.

“If you decide to stay, I won’t leave you defenseless.”

“What are they talking about?” Feng Xin whispered in Mu Qing’s direction, but it was the
Earth Master who answered.

“Crimson Rain is offering His Highness spiritual energy,” he whispered. “The shackles—”

“You still have the shackles?” Mu Qing exclaimed, his eyes widening as he spoke. “I thought
you would have— Aren’t you a god again?”

Unable to stop himself any longer, Xie Lian raised a hand and touched the shackle on his
neck, and by reflex, he shrunk a little. Shame engulfed him. Being aware of its presence was
one thing. But to hear his friends talking about it made it a thousand times worse.

“It wasn’t that I didn’t think about it,” he said. “I just never had the chance.”

“The chance of what?” Feng Xin asked.

“Of asking the heavenly emperor,” said the Earth Master. He had crossed his arms and
volunteered the information without caring about Hua Cheng’s glare. “Who is in seclusion,
remember?”

“Whatever the cause, Crimson Rain is right,” Feng Xin said. “You can’t be without a means
of defense. If we all chip in—”
Xie Lian shook his head and took a step backward.

“I cannot ask you to do that! You’ll need everything you have.”

“And you have nothing!” Feng Xin insisted.

“Your Highness, just listen to reason,” Mu Qing added.

Reason. That was the problem. Xie Lian’s claim to reason had disappeared again. He thought
he had himself under control, but it took this little to push him back into a spiral of dread.

Shaking, he covered his face with his hands.

It took so little to undo him. He, who had lived through so many things, who had gone
through so much, enough that he thought nothing would faze him anymore. Worse yet, he
had dared to believe he had had a chance to guide them through this battle.

Useless.

He was useless and worthless.

His friends and his love would sacrifice for him and die, and it would be his fault.

“Gege,” Hua Cheng said, sweet and patient, but also firm and resolute.

However, just when it seemed that Hua Cheng would reach for Xie Lian and force spiritual
power into him, something hit Xie Lian’s back.

“This is my cue,” the teapot spirit said. Ruoye, who had gone to pick it up, placed it in Xie
Lian’s hands. “I keep saying that love is the strongest force of them all. It’s time we prove it.”

“What are you talking about?” Xie Lian asked.

“I’m talking about fulfilling the noble purpose of my humble existence.”

The spirit reached forward from the edge of the teapot and touched the skin of Xie Lian’s
wrist with its tiny hand. Immediately, it began to transfer a vast amount of spiritual power. It
happened so fast that Xie Lian barely noticed when both shackles shattered, the pieces falling
on the ground. He was focused on the little spirit, who depleted itself at high speed before
Xie Lian could do anything while it faded away with a smile until it disappeared. Soon, all
Xie Lian was left with was a lifeless and empty piece of ceramic in his hands.

“What…” he murmured.

“I wasn’t expecting that,” the Earth Master murmured, getting closer to inspect the teapot.

Hua Cheng hugged Xie Lian from behind, providing much needed and appreciated support.
His hands covered Xie Lian’s, which continued to hold the teapot.

“Your Highness,” Hua Cheng whispered in a warm voice, next to his ear. “Your shackles…”
It was then that Xie Lian felt the power coursing through his fingers and realized the
magnitude of what had happened. What it really meant to be unbound again. He closed his
hand in a tight fist. When he opened it again, a ball of bright light hovered over it, and it took
no effort.

He was back now. Whole.

After eight centuries, he was himself again.

Xie Lian’s vision became blurry. Tears fell from his eyes to land on the side of the teapot. He
hadn’t had the chance to get to know the little spirit and yet…

He closed his eyes and leaned against Hua Cheng for a moment before wiping his face with a
sleeve.

“Gege?” Hua Cheng repeated.

“San Lang, I’m fine now. I can do this.” He took a step in which he used his newly found
power to fix his leg for good. “ I can do this! ” he repeated, more confident than he had felt
since the first time he ever went to war. Then, after placing a protection spell on the teapot, he
put it inside his sleeve. The opposite of the one where he kept Qi Rong. He would see what
he could do for the poor thing later—in case there was something to do. Presently, he had to
honor its sacrifice.

“So,” Feng Xin asked after a moment. “What’s the plan?”

Xie Lian took a deep breath. When he looked at the figures gathering on the side of the
mountain, he realized that he felt only a fraction of the fear that had invaded him before.

“That is a great question,” he said.

And he got ready to answer it.

“San Lang, aren’t you and Black Water friends? Can’t you call him to help?”

Hua Cheng hummed.

“Let me worry about that, gege.”

Xie Lian accepted the answer even though he wasn’t sure whether it was a yes or a no.
Although Hua Cheng’s friends—or acquaintances or business partners—weren’t his to boss
around, not calling them in a situation as dire as this felt weird. Besides, after the Earth
Master sent Shi Qingxuan away, they were short one person.

“That’s right!” Feng Xin exclaimed, addressing Hua Cheng directly. “You’re a ghost king
too! Surely some of them will answer you.”

Hua Cheng’s expression hardened. Before he could answer, though, Mu Qing spoke up.
“Even if he summons other ghosts, who’s to say they won’t betray us? The White Calamity is
treacherous and could offer them a better deal, even if he doesn’t go through with it. Ghosts
are opportunists made of resentment and little else.”

Xie Lian shook his head. Yes, he felt offended on Hua Cheng’s behalf because those wouldn’t
be the words he’d use to describe him, and he had a lot to say about it, but he’d leave that
specific grievance for later.

“That’s not always the case. I’ve seen the ghost under Qi—under the Night-Touring Green
Lantern’s rule and the ones in Ghost City. Those who made Hua Cheng’s territory their
residence thrive and are, well, content. They’re there of their own free will. If anything,
they’ll be more loyal. Even if I agree that the ones answering Bai Wuxiang’s call seem more
vicious…” he added after a quick look up the mountain. He cleared his throat. “What I mean
is, could you try, San Lang? Call them, so the ones willing come to help.”

“Your Highness…” Hua Cheng replied, his face softening again now that he was looking at
Xie Lian.

As they talked, a group of ghosts approached them. They had deviated from the path to the
top of the mountain and Shu Hu, the cook of Paradise Manor, led them.

“Hua Chengzhu! Your Highness!” she called, waving her hand over her head. “We all heard
that calling. It’s promising revenge, so we said, why not? But now that I see you here… Is
that guy up there your enemy?”

“Yes,” answered everyone at the same time except for the Earth Master, who was busy eyeing
the basket full of vegetables hanging from the cook’s back.

“I see. Well, if I must choose, I’d rather help you.”

The ghosts behind her nodded with enthusiasm.

“We stand with Hua Chengzhu!” they exclaimed, raising their fists.

It was barely perceptible, but maybe because of how well Xie Lian knew his beloved, he
realized that slight twitching of the corner of his mouth betrayed the surprise caused by this
development. Hua Cheng covered it quickly, transforming it into a smug grin. Too late,
though: Xie Lian knew—and he felt proud for being privy to yet another secret belonging to
the feared Crimson Rain Sought Flower.

Xie Lian squeezed Hua Cheng’s hand.

“See? Give it a try, San Lang.”

“Only because you ask, gege,” he replied, sounding as confident as usual.

Then, he closed his eyes and concentrated. Xie Lian tried to let go of his hands, but Hua
Cheng wouldn’t have it. Crimson Rain let his spirit energy flow, allowing Xie Lian to feel it
too. Since he still had a great amount of the power granted to him by the teapot spirit’s
sacrifice, he added some of his own. Thus, they resonated together, calling the ghosts who
would be loyal to Hua Cheng like a beacon, while Xie Lian reached out to his own followers,
gently asking them to pray and leave offerings for him and his beloved, hoping it would be
enough to help in the upcoming battle.
 Part 5: Liberation | Chapter 6

Enough ghosts answered Crimson Rain Sought Flower’s call to form a sizable army. For
most anyone not in the know, seeing wave after wave of creatures and monsters coming
toward them oozing resentment and ready for battle would have been terrifying. For martial
gods, tasked with keeping the mortal realm safe from them, it should have been a desperate
call to arms. However, for Xie Lian, who had grown to love them as members of his soon-to-
be husband’s household, they meant as much hope as the prayers and offerings coming from
his followers.

Most of those ghosts had been on the way to answer Bai Wuxiang but, just like Shu Hu, they
changed their minds when they realized Hua Cheng needed them, separating themselves from
the others in a steady flow. Although Xie Lian didn’t know them all, he recognized several
faces as Gambler’s Den regulars, or even as ghosts he had seen walking down the street every
other day. He made a mental note to tell Hua Cheng that he should give himself more credit
when it came to inspiring and uniting his people.

On the other hand, the ghosts who kept going to Bai Wuxiang looked far more unhinged. Hua
Cheng’s followers were just as bloodthirsty and prone to violence, but they seemed to have
more control over themselves—at least, they did so while they gathered. Realizing this
brought Xie Lian some peace of mind. Said self-control would make it easier for them to
understand and follow an actual strategy. He doubted Bai Wuxiang would be able to do
anything with his army except send them to seek and destroy. That blind spot could very well
be the White Calamity’s downfall.

As Hua Cheng’s followers came along, they bowed to the Red Ghost King to congratulate
him on his upcoming wedding and praise his bride’s beauty. This mollified Hua Cheng
somewhat, but it also reminded Xie Lian about the clothes he wore. The beautiful robes Shi
Qingxuan bought for him were dirty and in tatters by then, thanks to Bai Wuxiang’s rough
treatment, but they were still pretty much bridal robes, as red as his entire face was right now.
However, there was no time for embarrassment. He’d be able to flail to his heart’s content
once this was all over.

“Your Highness,” Hua Cheng said, turning to Xie Lian and bowing to him, making sure
everyone saw and heard him. “This lot is not much but is what I have to offer. They’re yours
to command.”

Hua Cheng’s words made it all real and Xie Lian found himself facing the truth his mind had
been trying to avoid: every time he was in charge of an army, his side lost. Worse yet, he
wasn’t the only one who knew about it.

But everyone seemed so determined to follow him. Even Mu Qing and Feng Xin, who had
already gone through a war with him, didn’t indicate in any way to be against Xie Lian taking
charge. Only the Earth Master looked neutral about it, more interested in eating the
vegetables he had bargained away from Shu Hu than in the upcoming battle. Everyone dealt
the way they could, Xie Lian mused.
Besides, the Earth Master had been able to single-handedly put Qi Rong in a bottle, which
meant he was stronger than even some martial gods. Interesting but not that important at the
moment. Everyone’s focus should be on the fact that they had a powerful ally right there, and
they should take advantage of it.

Well, Xie Lian told himself, there’s nothing left but to try. Besides, they had no time for
anything else.

“Thank you, San Lang. I’m sure your followers will rise to the occasion.”

Hua Cheng bowed to him again, accepting the praise and, then, finally, Xie Lian got to work.
He turned to the other two people with experience commanding armies.

“Generals Nan Yang and Xuan Zhen!”

When he called his friends’ titles, they were startled. Those two had spent the past few
minutes seeing themselves surrounded by ghosts of all kinds of shapes and levels of strength
who hovered over them, staring at the gods as if they had never seen one up close. To be fair,
that was probably the case. While the ghosts were curious, the gods were nervous, although
they put on an act pretending they weren’t.

Fortunately or unfortunately for them, Xie Lian knew Feng Xin and Mu Qing well; eight
hundred years had changed them less than they thought. Xie Lian shook that passing thought
away and walked toward them. As he moved, the ghosts parted to leave a clear path for him.
Hua Cheng followed him at a respectful distance. When Xie Lian stopped in front of the
other two martial gods, they saluted him like they used to do in a long-lost past.

Xie Lian allowed himself half a second to stand there, marveling at the idea of everyone
around him waiting for him to speak, to listen to what he had to say—and he promised
himself he would not let them down.

He took one more breath and then, at last, Xie Lian felt himself becoming the military leader
he had once been.

“Generals Nan Yang and Xuan Zhen,” he repeated. “We’ll divide the ghosts into groups for
each of us to command.”

“Three groups, then,” Hua Cheng said.

Xie Lian turned to him, a bit surprised. He had, indeed, meant four groups, with Hua Cheng
in charge of one, but the Ghost King’s expression and tone of voice made it clear that he
wouldn’t have it.

“I won’t be separated from you again, Your Highness. No matter what.”

Xie Lian, moved, smiled despite himself. There was no time to argue, and he didn’t want to,
either.

“Fine. Three groups, then.”

With that, they worked dividing the ghosts into equal amounts. Despite being a ruthless,
chaotic gang, thanks to Hua Cheng’s influence and supervision, the ghosts were quick to
follow the orders of a god. Although impatient to start the fight, none of them dared to move
a muscle without Crimson Rain Sought Flower’s approval.

Xie Lian finished giving his instructions right on time. Bai Wuxiang seemed to have decided
he had called enough ghosts and creatures to his side and unleashed them all without
warning.

The ghosts, creatures, and beasts who chose to follow the White Calamity descended upon
their opponents rushing down the side of the mountain. Bai Wuxiang remained up there for a
moment longer. Despite having his face covered, Xie Lian knew where his eyes were fixed.
Even from the distance, he felt the pressure of those eyes, of the hatred that shone even
through the mask.

Not that long ago, panic had frozen him under those eyes. Now, it was different. Now, he had
Hua Cheng at his side. He had his friends, and he was free from the shackles. Today, Xie
Lian could achieve anything, and that included getting rid of that menace. One way or the
other, he would finish this before the next sunrise.

The clash between both armies was as chaotic as Xie Lian remembered those things to be. As
planned, he went for a frontal attack while Feng Xin and Mu Qing charged the flanks. Hua
Cheng moved like a most efficient bodyguard, wielding E’Ming to hit enemies left and right,
sending forth swarm after swarm of Wrath Butterflies. Meanwhile, Xie Lian used Ruoye to
great effect. Ruoye was a strong spiritual tool, able to follow his master’s orders even when
the latter lacked spiritual power. But now that Xie Lian had spiritual power to spare, Ruoye’s
strength multiplied tenfold, and he seemed as excited about it as Xie Lian himself.

While Xie Lian looked for his target—Bai Wuxiang—in the chaos, he caught Hua Cheng and
E’Ming with the corner of his eyes moving like one, with grace, confidence, and power,
opening a path for them. At times, the red ghost king’s mere presence was enough to send the
lesser ghosts running away, and the ones who stayed got to learn a harsh lesson.

It was a shame that Xie Lian had to look for another Calamity when all he wanted was to
spend time admiring his. But he couldn’t, so he wrote that down in the ever-growing list of
grievances caused by Bai Wuxiang and kept going.

Bai Wuxiang turned out to be easy to find since he was also looking for Xie Lian. He walked
down from his spot on the side of the mountain and, soon enough, he stood right in front of
his enemy on the other side of the battlefield. Tense, with his head lowered, shoulders
squared and sword arm extended to the side so he could drag the tip across the ground. Just
as with Hua Cheng, the ghosts parted to let a path open for Bai Wuxiang without opposing
him.

Xie Lian was perfectly capable of feeling the power emanating from the White Calamity,
feral and more reckless than Hua Cheng’s. That sword, as powerful as the hand that held it,
was also familiar. It brought horrible memories, but Xie Lian wouldn’t let himself be
frightened.

“Today, I can do everything,” he repeated under his breath, frowning and ready to face his
personal horror.

“Do you remember this sword, Your Highness?” Bai Wuxiang said in an affable,
conversational tone as if they had run into each other in a teahouse instead of a battlefield,
and if he hadn’t spent the last two days torturing Xie Lian. “Come closer so you can see it
better. I’m not sure if I already showed you everything it can do. For example, shredding that
piece of cloth you call a spiritual tool. After that, I’ll have it rip away your lover’s remaining
eye. It’s the least he deserves for daring to look at you the way he does.”

Ruoye shivered and coiled back around Xie Lian’s wrist, where his master patted it
soothingly.

“You keep saying words I don’t care about,” Xie Lian replied.

“Impertinent child,” Bai Wuxiang said, raising the sword above his head. “I should have led
with this and cut your head when I had the chance. Or cut your leg off instead of just
breaking it.”

“It’s not my fault that you can’t plan ahead,” Xie Lian replied. “What is your fault is that I’m
getting bored, though. Let me fix that.”

Then, he bolted at top speed, striking without giving Bai Wuxiang a chance to react. The
White Calamity expected none of that: the speed, the strength, or even the audacity. Ruoye
hit their target with ease, throwing him off balance. Then, Xie Lian’s kick that sent Fang Xin
flying away was followed by another one that hit Bai Wuxiang under the belt.

Crude? Yes. Ungentlemanly? Also yes.

Did it feel good? Absolutely.

Bai Wuxiang flew backward almost as far as his sword. He used his fingers to make himself
stop, leaving long and deep trails in his wake. He crashed against a group of ghosts and came
out scattering them out of rage regardless of which side they had been fighting for.

“You— You brat ! What happened to your shackles? How did you break free of them?”

“Did you want to break them yourself? So nice of you to finally do something for me.”

“Everything you are now is because of me! Everything you have! Even Crimson Rain Sought
Flower! I could have pressed him under my thumb when he first came out from the kiln!”

“Which means you can’t now,” Xie Lian responded, once again proud of his beloved.

At that moment, from the corner of his eyes, Xie Lian caught Hua Cheng sporting a smug
smile directed at him. He was doing fine, going in circles around Xie Lian and his enemy,
making sure they didn’t get interrupted. He seemed sure that Xie Lian could—and deserved
to—do this. So did Xie Lian, but…

Bai Wuxiang roared and jumped forward, his now empty hand extended like a claw. Xie Lian
smiled back at Hua Cheng, feigning a lowered guard. When Bai Wuxiang made a move to
grab him, Xie Lian pulled his arm back, seizing his attacker's wrist and hurling him towards
the mountain again. This time, Bai Wuxiang managed to regain his balance back and land on
his feet, creating only a small crater under his toes upon impact. The movement was graceful,
which annoyed Xie Lian. What right did Bai Wuxiang have to be graceful? Although to be
honest, that was part of what made him a monster: the contrast between his voice, his words,
his movements, and his actions and their consequences.

Well, all of that would end that night.

Xie Lian would not let his enemy settle and rethink his strategy. He continued to strike. And
strike, strike, strike.

Or, at least, that had been his plan.

Bai Wuxiang had also stopped playing, and he expected his opponent’s moves. Xie Lian
should have suspected it when he was able to land punch after punch after kick without the
White Calamity even trying to dodge. In Xie Lian’s defense, it did look like Bai Wuxiang
was trying to get away from him. Either way, the illusion finished when Bai Wuxiang
grabbed Xie Lian’s leg—the same one he had hurt before—and made it crack under his hands
with one quick movement.

A sound that Xie Lian had heard countless times. A pain Xie Lian had felt many times
before. It had just happened at a very inconvenient moment. Besides, now he had the power
to fix himself in an instant, something that Bai Wuxiang had surely forgotten out of habit.

Yet, despite Xie Lian shrugging this nuisance off with little effort, he heard Hua Cheng
calling his name.

“San Lang! I’m fine!” he called.

Yet, the next thing he knew, Hua Cheng was standing next to him, the hand that didn’t hold
E’Ming firmly wrapped around his waist, holding him in a way that would keep his weight
away from his hurt leg. He looked the most frightening Xie Lian had ever seen him, ready to
tear into pieces whoever crossed him.

And it was all to protect him.

“San Lang, I’m fine. I already fixed my leg.”

“Gege, I know. But didn’t I say that if he dared to put one hand on you again, I’d rip him
apart?”

Right. He had said that.

However, although the mere idea stole Xie Lian’s breath, Bai Wuxiang didn’t give them a
moment to enjoy it. He renewed his attacks with a sword he stole from one of the dispersed
ghosts. Hard to tell from which side of the fight the sword’s previous owner had fought for,
but the weapon, although of lower quality than Fang Xin, was sturdy and wouldn’t break at
the first clash.

Hua Cheng parried it with E’Ming.

“I apologize, Your Highness,” he said in a conversational tone, as if deflecting the attacks of

another Calamity required the same effort as chasing a fly away. “I know this is your fight
but—”

Xie Lian smiled and shook his head.

“It’s fine. I’d prefer it if we do it together.”

Hua Cheng smiled back at him and spared a moment to kiss him.

The contact electrified Xie Lian. He knew he had missed it, but only now that it was
happening he realized how much. It took all he had not to wrap his arms around Hua Cheng’s
neck, deepening the kiss and losing himself in it. He had to bring back all his self-control so
he could separate.

“San Lang! The fight!”

Hua Cheng chuckled and nuzzled him.

“It’s alright, gege. We’re covered.”

“What do you mean?”

But then he realized that another player had entered the game.

Clad in black, this new figure, even from a distance, felt extremely powerful. He moved fast
and efficiently, devouring everyone and everything that stood in his path—although no, not
really. This figure deliberately avoided those on Xie Lian and Hua Cheng’s side.

Xie Lian gasped.

“Is that—?”

Hua Cheng made an affirmative noise.

“Black Water Submerging Boats.”

“So you did call him!”

“I said that I would take care of it, didn’t I?”

Xie Lian’s smile grew bigger.

“And he’s here now. Your friendship is as strong as I expected.”

Xie Lian chose to ignore Hua Cheng’s pained expression and remained smiling.

“Either way,” Hua Cheng continued after a sigh when the Black Calamity got between them
and Bai Wuxiang, “let’s take advantage of this.”

Without exchanging any words—without Black Water turning to see what Crimson Rain was
up to—, Hua Cheng grabbed Xie Lian by the waist and pulled him close, as if they were back
at home in Paradise Manor instead of in the middle of a battlefield, and kissed him again.

This time, Xie Lian let himself go. He relaxed in Hua Cheng’s arms, rubbing his shoulders
and opening his mouth, giving free access to the man he loved. Hua Cheng took it. Their kiss
became fierce and it spoke of all the ways the Red Ghost King loved his god. When it ended,
Xie Lian was left breathless and his knees, weak.

“San Lang…” Xie Lian murmured between pants.

Hua Cheng kept eye contact and licked the corner of his mouth before he answered.

“Gege?”

“What’s your spiritual communication array password?”

Hua Cheng’s eyebrow raised.

“That’s right. We never had the chance to exchange them.”

Next, Hua Cheng leaned over Xie Lian and whispered his password, kissing Xie Lian’s
temple when he stood upright again.

Xie Lian’s face became instantly red. It was burning. No. His entire body was burning. He
opened and closed his mouth a couple of times without being able to articulate a full
sentence.

How was he supposed to fight now?

“That’s alright, Your Highness. If you don’t dare to say it just yet, I can use yours first. What
is it?”

Xie Lian shook his head, trying to regain composure. His password, on the other hand,
earned him a chuckle when Hua Cheng understood it.

Xie Lian chuckled right back.

“I’ll call you if I ever get in trouble again,” Xie Lian said.

“And I’ll get to you as many times as I have to,” Hua Cheng replied.
The loving tone in Hua Cheng’s words made Xie Lian’s heart melt. He believed it. He knew
that was true, and he felt supported and powerful. He felt loved, cared for. That someone
thought he was worth the trouble.

“Thank you. I promise that I’ll take better care of myself.”

“Thank you, gege,” Hua Cheng said.

One last kiss and god and Ghost King found themselves ready to leave their bubble and come
back to the fight. This time, it would be the two of them together.

Hua Cheng must have used the spiritual communication array to let Black Water know,
because he left the same way he came, eating every other ghost in his way, leaving the field
ready for Xie Lian and Hua Cheng to jump back into the game.
 Part 5: Liberation | Chapter 7

While the teapot spirit had granted him immense spiritual power with its sacrifice, Xie Lian
was burning through it quickly. However, his diminished cultivation, resulting from his
decision to break his chastity vows, found itself compensated for during battle with the
prayers and offerings from his followers, who had gotten his message. He could feel them
all.

Yi Guo, the girl whose debt he pardoned and was on her way to becoming a prosperous
merchant. All the people from Han Ping’s village, including the gossipy girls and the man
who expected riches coming from his well. The brides he and Shi Qingxuan saved from Qi
Rong and their families. All of them were helping him today when he needed them.

Xie Lian felt tears coming to his eyes. It had been so long since he had felt such support, and
he made a promise to himself to always be there to help his followers, best as he could, and
never let them down again.

As soon as he could spare a glance, Xie Lian checked on his generals. Feng Xin and Mu Qing
led their troops with learned efficiency, taking care of the hordes of ghosts who followed Bai
Wuxiang. Black Water did his part as well, devouring the biggest creatures in ways Xie Lian
couldn’t even begin to describe. However, during this roll call, he realized someone was
missing.

“Where is the Earth Master? He wasn’t supposed to be commanding anyone, but—”

“Don’t worry about it, gege. He’s doing fine, pulling his weight almost adequately.”

Xie Lian nodded. If Hua Cheng said it, it had to be true.

“Alright. Then, I won’t worry about him. Let’s deal with the one all of us should be the most
concerned with.”

“Yes, gege.”

Despite the meek tone, Hua Cheng’s smile grew predatory. It was as feral as the glint of his
eye, declaring that he wanted nothing but to cause real mayhem and demolish everything that
stood between him and his prize.

Xie Lian licked his lips before declaring, “Fine. I’m ready.”

Together, they charged, Xie Lian wielding Ruoye and Hua Cheng, E’Ming. They landed in
front of Bai Wuxiang, who was just shaking off whatever Black Water had done to him.
Neither of them wasted any more time with words and went straight to the attack.

Bai Wuxiang was vicious, finally abandoning grace for rage. He fought against both,
although his most brutal attacks focused on Xie Lian, who parried all of them while looking
for an opening to make a significant move.
At one point, one of Bai Wuxiang’s claws almost got a hold of Ruoye. Xie Lian was able to
call his spiritual tool back before it was torn. The piece of silk was shivering, so he pet him a
little and told him how incredibly brave he was.

“Just a little longer,” he whispered. “Then we all can take a break.”

Ruoye raised one of his tips and made an affirmative movement, something he had learned to
do over the centuries in order to communicate with his master. Said master petted him again
full of gratitude. This happened in a matter of seconds, but both of them needed it to muster
their courage before charging back in.

After a couple more tries, Ruoye found a way to wrap himself around the White Calamity’s
wrists, pulling them together and drawing a hiss from the mouth behind the mask. Hua Cheng
charged in, aiming E’Ming at Bai Wuxiang’s legs, but the latter jumped, lifting his feet over
his head. His back folded in an unnatural arch, made more unnerving by the way his hands
and upper part of his torso remained in the same place.

Xie Lian aimed a punch at Bai Wuxiang’s face. The latter seemed to have been expecting
that, since he dodged to the side, twirling as he tried to get rid of Ruoye while still dodging
Hua Cheng’s attacks. Not an easy feat, to do all three at once, and it couldn’t be said that he
was succeeding.

Bai Wuxiang surely hated not being able to rip Ruoye to shreds but, with his hands tied up,
he couldn’t sink his claws into him. He also could have tried to gnaw at it, but that would’ve
meant removing his mask and Xie Lian wasn’t sure anyone was prepared for such a thing.
Bai Wuxiang himself least of all. However, Xie Lian pushed the thought away; he had never
wondered how the White Calamity looked underneath that mask and he was not going to start
now.

“Gege,” Hua Cheng’s voice said through the spiritual communication array. He had kept his
word and began the conversation himself, sparing Xie Lian the embarrassment of saying his
password. Xie Lian was not the kind of person who would go as far as asking him to change
it but, really, what was he thinking when he came up with that? “Gege,” Hua Cheng repeated.
“He’s getting desperate. If we keep this up, I believe I’ll be able to behead him.”

There had been a point in Xie Lian’s life when he believed in mercy above all. In a way, he
still did, only not for the likes of Bai Wuxiang. Besides, he was a ghost. He was already dead.
Beheading him would only make it easier to capture and seal him somewhere he wouldn’t be
able to keep hurting anyone ever again. Exactly what Jun Wu should have done from the
beginning.

Xie Lian wrote that down on the list of things he wanted to do: have a long talk with the
heavenly emperor about how he had stilled his hand when it mattered the most. He had to
make sure this never happened again.

Thus, he agreed with Hua Cheng’s plan.

“Alright,” Xie Lian said through the spiritual communication array. “I’ll keep him
distracted.”
With that, Xie Lian went forth and began pummeling the White Calamity’s face—and every
other place he could reach—with his fists and sometimes with his feet. This not only helped
with the plan; it also did wonders for his mood.

He felt Hua Cheng’s chuckle through their open channel just as the Red Calamity got ready
to strike.

Hua Cheng adopted a most elegant and perfect stance, with E’Ming extended behind him. He
moved the saber forward at the same time Xie Lian got out of the way. Although Ruoye
raised his prisoner’s arms upward for the blade to go through his neck, Bai Wuxiang
managed to tilt his head to the side just enough for E’Ming’s tip to just grace his flesh. With a
growl caught between his teeth, Hua Cheng tried again. And again and again. It took three
attempts before E’Ming was able to bite, cutting the White Calamity’s arm off.

Well, it hadn’t been his head, but now he had one set of claws less to threaten them with.

Bai Wuxiang’s scream betrayed more rage than pain as a lucky ghost that was passing by got
a hold of his severed limb and ate it.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Ruoye twisted Bai Wuxiang’s remaining arm behind his
back to tie it to his ankles. The White Calamity lost his balance and hit the ground. However,
as he trashed about, Hua Cheng placed E’Ming’s tip on the back of his neck. Xie Lian hoped
it felt as humiliating as it looked.

Even though Xie Lian hadn’t dropped his guard, he realized that, around them, the sounds of
battle were dying down. It was over.

Or, at least, it was the closest to over than it had been in eight hundred years.

At that moment, the gates of heaven opened and an army of gods from the Upper and Middle
Court rained down from above, heralded by the most junior of officials.

Xie Lian grimaced.

“Oh, dear.”

“I wouldn’t have expected anything else,” Hua Cheng muttered.

Xie Lian’s chuckle got stuck in his throat when he realized that the gods’ arrival made Bai
Wuxiang tense up and gave him a second wind. Cursing everyone and everything around
him, he twisted and contorted himself without achieving anything. It would’ve been amusing
if Ruoye hadn't been straining to the point of making Xie Lian worry about him ripping apart.

However, as Xie Lian started to fret, the man in the ghost mask, Hua Cheng’s right-hand
man, showed up carrying a roll of God-Binding rope on his shoulder.

“Hua Chengzhu, Your Highness, please, allow me.”

Hua Cheng nodded and the man in the mask got to work, bounding the White Calamity as
tightly as Ruoye had done it and in the same way. Thus, when he was done, Bai Wuxiang
continued to be tied up and helpless, but he had gone silent.

A committee of gods approached. Among them, Mu Qing, Feng Xin, and even the Earth
Master argued in defense of the ghosts they had commanded, although most of them had
already left. Shi Qingxuan was also there, clinging to the Earth Master’s arm and obviously
taking his side, even when she hadn’t been here when the events unfolded. Xie Lian felt
proud of his friends and let them handle that while he dealt with other important things here.

“Where is the heavenly emperor?” he asked the new arrivals.

“He is still in seclusion. We couldn’t get through to him,” answered a man Xie Lian
recognized as General Ming Guang, one of the Water Master’s closest friends.

Shi Qingxuan had few good things to say about him, which might have predisposed Xie Lian
against him a little. However, they were discussing things here as professionals and he was
the only one who had dared to speak and pretend not to be intimidated by Hua Cheng’s glare.
Besides, his words brought forth a grave matter.

“How can that be?” Xie Lian exclaimed. “We’re talking about the return of a dangerous
enemy he himself was supposed to have disposed of many centuries ago!”

“So useless,” Hua Cheng muttered behind him, disgust oozing from his words.

“Hey!” called one of the other gods, emboldened by the supposed safety found in numbers.
“You’re talking about the heavenly emperor! Watch your mouth!”

“ You watch your mouth, filthy piece of trash! Aren’t we cleaning up a mess that wouldn’t
have happened if your precious emperor had done things right from the beginning?”

Every single one of Hua Cheng’s words carried strength and authority—and righteous anger
—that made Xie Lian shiver. His beloved took a step forward to stand next to him, his hand
tight around E’Ming’s handle and his eye shining in the most dangerous way. It was obvious
that he was making an effort to restrain himself in consideration of Xie Lian.

But Hua Cheng was in the right: if Jun Wu had finished what he started back when he first
fought Bai Wuxiang, this never would have happened. Which was why Xie Lian folded his
arms inside his sleeves and stared at everyone, making clear that he would not say a word in
favor of his fellow gods.

The heavenly officials around the one who challenged Hua Cheng took a few steps back,
leaving him all alone in the middle of an empty circle. They would probably do something if
Hua Cheng went against him, but they wouldn’t start by defending him. Xie Lian covered his
mouth and cleared his throat to stifle a giggle when this god ran back to hide inside the
group, trying to become anonymous again.

In any case, his escape served to break the tension, at least on Hua Cheng’s part, who just
smirked smugly and kept his saber pointing downward but still out of the sheath. After that,
he kept quiet and let Xie Lian take charge.
“Perhaps we should make sure ourselves that the heavenly emperor is doing well,” Xie Lian
said.

The gods gasped.

“Are you saying we should break into His Majesty’s palace?”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying.”

“You can’t do that!”

Xie Lian could have given a world-worth of reasons for why this was the best course of
action, but he was done with politeness and diplomacy. Thus, he kept his voice low and cold,
the way he hadn’t done in centuries.

“And who will stop me?”

As he expected, no one stepped up to the task.

However, something else happened.

During the conversation, the captured Bai Wuxiang had remained still. As still as if he
wanted everyone around him to forget that he was there, despite him being the cause of this
reunion. Yet, just as soon as Xie Lian announced his intent, the White Calamity bucked
himself upward with enough force to impale himself on E’Ming. The saber went cleanly
through his neck, with a visible length showing on the other side.

Hua Cheng’s surprised noise became one of disgust as he shook his spiritual weapon to
dislodge the White Calamity. At the same time, Bai Wuxiang shook himself from side to side
until his head came off and hit the ground in front of everyone’s confusion and abhorrence.

Xie Lian took a step backward to avoid sullying his shoes with the gore and to refrain from
kicking the head away.

Every single god unlucky enough to witness the scene exclaimed a variation of, “What?!” in
several degrees of surprise and crassness.

“Like that will spare him from punishment,” Hua Cheng mumbled, shaking E’Ming again,
this time to clean the blade.

“Maybe he did want me to kick him away,” Xie Lian whispered, hurrying to clear his throat
again so he could pretend he never said anything.

The head kept rolling until it stopped at the Wind Master’s feet, who then leaned down to
take a closer look at it. In the commotion, the lower part of the mask had broken, exposing
part of what was underneath.

“Ew!” Shi Qingxuan exclaimed. “What’s that behind his mask?”

“His face,” the Earth Master replied in a deadpan tone.

“Not that!” Shi Qingxuan continued, not quite daring to touch the fallen Calamity’s head with
her fan. “I mean, yes. I mean, is that a tiny face on his cheek?”

Several loud gasps were heard at the same time, the loudest coming from Xie Lian, Mu Qing,
and Feng Xin. Hua Cheng didn’t gasp, but his eye widened as it would go. Less than a second
later, all four of them surrounded the head, and Mu Qing used his sword as a lever to separate
what was left of the half-smiling, half-crying mask from the severed head. As soon as the
mask touched the ground, Bai Wuxiang’s head began to melt into an even gorier mess. But it
was too late. At least the first three rows of spectators had seen that face and the uproar
began.

“Was that—?”

“Did you see what I saw?”

“I can’t believe—!”

“It’s impossible!”

“You dumbasses! He’s getting away!”

Hua Cheng’s voice thundered over everyone’s and, once again, he was right.

While everyone was distracted, a small figure approached Bai Wuxiang to cut his ties. By the
time the gods realized, the figure was scampering away on all fours, holding a knife in its
mouth. Meanwhile, the headless body of the White Calamity ran toward the cave where he
had kept Xie Lian prisoner. It took a moment of stunned silence before the gods sprang into
action and chased after Bai Wuxiang, finally doing something useful.

Xie Lian, on the other hand, didn’t know what to do or how to react. He only managed to
lean against Hua Cheng when the latter surrounded his waist with his arm.

“Gege?”

“Was that real? Was that really his face?”

Hua Cheng rubbed Xie Lian’s shoulder.

“At this moment, I cannot say for sure. But it would explain a lot of things, wouldn’t it?”

“It would,” Xie Lian replied after a moment. “San Lang, I need to— I need to see for myself.
Let’s go to Jun Wu’s palace.”

Hua Cheng made an affirmative noise and guided him to the heavenly capital.

Overwhelmed with the implications, Xie Lian only noticed that Feng Xin, Mu Qing, the
Earth Master, and the Wind Master had come behind them when they all stood in front of the
greatest palace in the heavens.
For a moment, Xie Lian remained there, taking deep breath after deep breath, until another
friendly hand came to rest on his shoulder.

“Alright,” said the Wind Master, showing complete disregard at how close this gesture
brought her to the Red Ghost King—although, other than flinching a little and holding Xie
Lian more tightly, Hua Cheng chose to ignore her. “Let’s break into the heavenly emperor’s
palace.”

She was smiling and winking, as if ready to carry out her usual mischief instead of— well,
instead of facing Xie Lian’s new worst nightmare. His dreams could be terrible already, but
this had unlocked a whole new level.

To be honest, finding that Bai Wuxiang was strong enough to defeat and keep the heavenly
emperor captured sounded like a more palatable option. Jun Wu having grown selfish and no
longer caring about anything that happened outside came as a close second. Xie Lian knew,
though—and he hated that he knew—that Bai Wuxiang would have told him if that had been
the case. He would have rubbed it on his face, the same way he had wanted to make him
believe that Hua Cheng was his ally.

Why lie about that if he had a horrible truth at his disposal? Never mind the fact that he had
to have come into the heavenly capital without being noticed. Could a Calamity, strong as
they were, do such a thing?

Xie Lian remained in place, flanked by Hua Cheng, who was willing to wait for his beloved
to be ready, and the Wind Master, who kept the friendly contact on his shoulder while also
grabbing the Earth Master’s arm. Feng Xin and Mu Qing remained behind them—until they
didn’t.

Feng Xin was the first one to break the tension, going up the stairs with large, determined
strides. Mu Qing followed half a step behind.

“Let’s find out once and for all,” Feng Xin said between his teeth.

Mu Qing made an affirmative noise, as did everyone else when they followed the two martial
gods.

They didn’t find any resistance entering the palace. It seemed empty. The only noise came
from the newly arrived heavenly officials and Calamity. Once inside, they spread out,
looking, room by room, for signs of either Jun Wu himself or of anyone—or anything—that
could provide them with an explanation. Hua Cheng sent a flock of Wrath Butterflies that
dispersed all over, to make their search faster and easier.

“Hey, everyone!” called Shi Qingxuan all of the sudden. “Get here! We found evidence of a
fight!”

One moment later, the room was filled with martial gods who carefully examined all the
broken things on the floor.

“This is not from a fight,” Mu Qing said.

“What do you mean?” Shi Qingxuan asked, pointing at the bits and pieces scattered at their
feet. “What else could it be?”

“A fit of rage,” Xie Lian said.

“He had another one in the next room,” the Earth Master announced, peeking in.

Xie Lian looked at Hua Cheng, who nodded. His butterflies were there, confirming what the
Earth Master had said.

By then, it was clear that they wouldn’t find anyone else in the entire palace, neither dead nor
alive—or even meditating.

Xie Lian closed his eyes and took a deep, shaky breath before covering his face with his
hands. The gods who had chased after Bai Wuxiang’s body were yet to give their report, but
he knew they would only confirm it. He couldn’t deny it, and he couldn’t find words in the
heavenly emperor’s defense. He didn’t even have words to express the deep betrayal he was
feeling.

Hua Cheng hugged him closer.

“Let’s go home, gege,” he whispered. “Let them sort it out. You are owed explanations, but
you don’t owe them anything. You’ve done enough. You have gone through enough.”

With those words, Hua Cheng squashed Xie Lian’s last protest before he uttered it. He felt
responsible for all of this. It was only when he ascended for the third time that Bai Wuxiang
showed up again. But all the heavy lifting had been done already. It was time for the other
gods to act since they had shared with him the same city for centuries without even
suspecting.

Xie Lian needed a break. He needed to feel safe. To put it simply, he needed a change of
clothes and a nap in Hua Cheng’s arms and let the world crumble around him without feeling
the need of running around trying to fix it.

“Yes, San Lang. Let’s go home.”

 Epilogue
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Xie Lian’s nap lasted all night and half the next day. Hua Cheng held him tenderly all
throughout, caressing his hair and whispering sweet words whenever his beloved showed any
signs of distress. Other than that, he didn’t move, allowing Xie Lian to rest on top of him.

Yin Yu had been left with precise instructions to chase away anyone who wanted to bother
them. To drive the point home, Hua Cheng ordered E’Ming to guard their bedroom door. The
damned saber had protested. He had wanted to be on Xie Lian’s lap as well, but a couple of
well-applied punches while His Highness was taking his bath set him straight. As a result,
E’Ming spent the night floating in the middle of the hall, emanating a menacing aura that
would deter anyone from coming close.

When Xie Lian woke up, although he still felt sad and disappointed, he was also full of rage.

“I will not let that asshole take control of my life for even one second longer,” he growled as
his first words, not moving from where he was on top of Hua Cheng.

When Hua Cheng was about to answer, he found his mouth full of godly tongue. This was
enough of a cue for him to obey the implicit order and help Xie Lian to get rid of their
clothes. Xie Lian, then, took full control of the situation, eager to compensate both of them
for all the time they had been apart, and Hua Cheng wished for nothing but to yield to his
betrothed’s desires. They kissed and touched and became one again and again and again. A
martial god and a ghost king didn’t need to take breaks. They didn’t need to eat or sleep,
either. All they needed was each other.

Their lovemaking session lasted for over a week. They finally came out when Xie Lian
decided it was time to check whether the outside world had been set on fire.

“Besides, we need to check on our followers,” Xie Lian said as he put his boots on. Then,
smiling gently, he turned to caress Hua Cheng’s cheek. “Are you still surprised that you have
followers?”

Hua Cheng, pouting in a display of vulnerability that only Xie Lian got to see, pressed his
forehead against Xie Lian’s shoulder.

“I don’t want to share gege.”

“Ah?” Xie Lian's soft laughter betrayed how flattered he felt. “You wouldn’t be sharing me,
San Lang. Not the part that matters, anyway. First and foremost, I belong to you, no matter
where I am.”

Hua Cheng wrapped his arms around Xie Lian’s waist.

“Marry me, Your Highness.”

Xie Lian hugged him back tight.

“Yes, I will marry you. A thousand times over, I will marry you.”

Hua Cheng kissed him again, sweet and tender, before resigning himself to Xie Lian leaving
the room. He followed him, of course, but it was the principle of the thing.

Outside, Xie Lian was received by a very happy E’Ming, who got a hug and some petting
before being returned to his master. Hua Cheng, keeping his grumping inside, put E’Ming
back on his sheath, which he placed on his waist to keep a close eye on the saber.

The couple’s next encounter was with Yin Yu, who filled them up with the most important
news from the three realms. Hua Cheng’s assistant was efficient and knew his trade, so he
was succinct and concise—but also tactful. Not all his news was good.

First of all, the heavenly emperor had officially fallen in disgrace. It had taken all the gods’
efforts to recapture him and put him under the mountain for safekeeping until they could hold
a trial. They only managed because his head and arm hadn’t grown back yet and he’d
probably stay there for the millennia to come. As for the creature that aided him, no one cared
to go after it, but it must have been just a surviving member of his army and nothing to worry
about, according to them.

Next, Xie Lian’s friends showed up at the entrance of Paradise Manor asking for him some
days before. As instructed, they had been sent away, assuaged by the promise that Xie Lian
would get in touch with them as soon as he felt ready to do so.

Third, Shu Hu, the cook, had gone to execute her revenge against that bureaucrat and would
return in a couple of days. She had been the one who ate Bai Wuxiang’s—Jun Wu’s—arm,
which meant that her power had increased significantly. However, she had declared she
would be happy to come back to work in the kitchen at Paradise Manor.

“Give her a raise only if she requests one upon her return,” was Hua Cheng’s answer.

“I’m glad she is coming back soon,” Xie Lian said. “I would like her input for the wedding
banquet. Meanwhile, there are a lot of other things to plan.”

“You are to put yourself at His Highness’ orders,” Hua Cheng told Yin Yu.

Yin Yu bowed to both of them.

“Understood, sir. There is something else,” he added after a pause. “Would you mind coming
with me to Hua Chengzhu’s office?”

Xie Lian and Hua Cheng exchanged a quick look, but they knew that Yin Yu wouldn’t have
made such a request if it wasn’t important. Thus, they went after him to the office. Once
there, what Yin Yu meant became clear. Hua Cheng raised his visible eyebrow while Xie Lian
gasped.
On the other side of the room, on one of the few shelves with some space, there was the
teapot who had sacrificed itself in Xie Lian’s name. Yin Yu must have gotten it when he took
care of the tattered wedding robes Xie Lian had been wearing when they came back. But that
didn’t explain… well, the rest.

The teapot wasn’t blank anymore. Although faded, color was returning to it in the vague
shape of trees whose branches were sprouting leaves and flower buds.

“I did some research on its lore,” Yin Yu said. “All scholars agree that it feeds on
manifestations of true love. I found some old love letters in one of the treasure rooms, so I
put them inside. It seems to be working. Faster than I expected, too.”

Xie Lian didn’t dare to touch it in case he disturbed it, but he seemed happy about the little
spirit surviving. Hua Cheng couldn’t say he was displeased, despite his clashes with the
thing. Either way, what mattered was Xie Lian’s happiness. His peace of mind and his smile
were worth all the treasures in the world.

Which meant that he should give Yin Yu a raise—if he asked for it.

The next order of business was Xie Lian sending invitations for his friends to join him for
tea.

“We can get together in my palace in the heavenly capital,” Xie Lian offered.

Hua Cheng grabbed him by the waist to bring him close and kiss his temple.

“Gege, this is your house. I won’t get in the way.”

He wouldn’t have traded the smile he got as a reward for anything in the world.

However, that didn’t mean he had grown that fond of Xie Lian’s friends. So, while His
Highness was busy catching up with Mu Qing, Feng Xin, and Shi Qingxuan, Hua Cheng
went outside to see how things were going.

As soon as he stepped outside, everyone on the street began to cheer. The cheer spread,
bringing in more and more of Ghost City’s denizens to the entrance of Paradise Manor. They
seemed to think that their lord mayor was about to give some grand statement.

Problem was, the lord mayor didn’t have anything prepared. Never mind that he didn’t
particularly want to talk to them to begin with. He considered chasing them away, but Xie
Lian wouldn’t approve of that, and Hua Cheng wanted to make himself worthy of him. He
had already made an effort by allowing those gods in his house, but he could still do
something else. He could rise to Xie Lian’s expectations.

He motioned for silence by extending his hands upward and he immediately got it.

“You did well in battle. You served His Highness adequately. You—” He groaned, nauseated.
But he had to do this. It was one of the things Xie Lian had whispered about in the middle of
the night as they held each other, so Hua Cheng forced himself to go through with it, doing
his best not to gag at the last word. “You’ve made me proud.”
A heavy silence befell the audience. It was long enough that Hua Cheng considered sending
E’Ming to behead all of them and pretend this had never happened. But the ghosts had only
taken that time to process his words.

One of them began to cry, and then the rest of them followed suit. They cried and laughed
and sang praises for their lord mayor.

Hua Cheng stood there looking at them, not knowing how to react. His Highness would
surely be able to deal with this, but he was busy and Hua Cheng wasn’t going to call him for
something like this. He just stared at them, processing things, until his followers extended
their praises to the Ghost King’s manhood—because there was a reason why neither he nor
his beloved had been seen anywhere for a week, right?

Although the answer was affirmative, the comments didn’t sit well with Hua Cheng and it
was what he needed to get out of his shock. He grabbed E’Ming’s handle, although he didn’t
unsheathe him, and yelled at the ghosts.

“Scram, you worms! Or I’ll spread your ashes on the main street for everyone to step on!”

The ghosts screamed and left, but they laughed on their way out of Hua Cheng’s sight. The
Ghost King was in a good mood, so he let go of E’Ming and didn’t chase after them. Instead,
he kept going, walking down the street and surveying his territory.

A couple of streets later, he found He Xuan lurking in an alley.

“Nice speech.”

“Shut up,” Hua Cheng replied, going into the alley and leaning his back against the wall.
“Did the Wind Master drag you here?”

“What do you think? At present, the Earth Master is lost in your house after being left behind
by the other visitors when he got distracted admiring the disposition of the ponds.”

Hua Cheng scoffed.

“If you want to spend the evening in the dungeon, just say it.”

The Black Calamity showed his teeth.

Hua Cheng smirked in return.

“His Highness insists that you’re invited to the wedding. So be there.”

“The Earth Master is also invited.”

“Clone yourself, I don’t care.”

“I will postpone my revenge until after your wedding, as a gift,” He Xuan added after a
moment of silence.
 Hua Cheng tilted his head slightly.

“Noted.”

This was the closest He Xuan had ever given to a date for his revenge, but Hua Cheng
appreciated the consideration either way.

He Xuan made a face and pressed his temple with his fingers.

“I have to go. Qingxuan is yelling in the spiritual communication array.”

“Send a clone.”

He Xuan stared at Hua Cheng for a moment before turning around and losing himself in the
shadows of the alley.

Hua Cheng let him go—and he didn’t insist. He wouldn’t send a clone to do the important
things either.

Once the White Calamity had been taken care of, things proceeded smoothly. Few gods were
invited to the wedding, but they were busy reorganizing the heavenly realm anyway. On the
other hand, all denizens of Ghost City and the couple’s mortal followers got an invitation, the
latter via a dream Xie Lian sent them. Most of them did show up on the big day.

When that day arrived, the one that Hua Cheng had been waiting for since the first time he
saw Xie Lian in that parade eight hundred years ago, he realized that he was nervous. It was a
different kind of nervousness than when Xie Lian arrived at the Gambler’s Den willing to
exchange himself for that heavenly official. It was also different from the first time they made
love. This was a new, unique kind of nervousness mixed with happiness.

Ordinarily, Hua Cheng would have questioned why anyone would care about their business.
But this was not the world meddling in their affairs. This was a way to tell the world what
Xie Lian meant to him, to leave no doubts about his status. Hua Cheng had built his fortune
and his city in Xie Lian’s name and, thus, everyone should learn that he could also do with
them as he wanted.

Overwhelmed with the feeling of having finally achieved this goal, Hua Cheng left the room
to meet with his beloved. When he reached out for his hand, which Xie Lian offered with the
happiest and brightest of smiles, Hua Cheng knew they would never again let go of each
other.

Chapter End Notes

This is the end!

Thanks to all of you who came with me on this journey. This is the longest fanfic I'm
written (so far) and I'm very happy about it and very happy with it.

I've been moved by all the words of love and encouragement I received. Thank you very
much for your patience and for enduring with me because English is not my first
language.

--

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I would also like to send my appreciation to my friends in the discord server (you know
who you are) because they helped by giving ideas and corrections.

Everyone made this possible, so this is a result of teamwork.

Cheers!
Please drop by the Archive and comment to let the creator know if you enjoyed their work!