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Chapter Text

***

Of all the things Hua Cheng pictured himself doing on his first morning back with his beloved, doubling over laughing at him while steam practically erupted from Xie Lian’s ears was not on the list.

“Gege-”

“It wasn’t meant to be that funny! Don’t laugh, San Lang!”

“I would never laugh at His Highness,” he gasped, crinkling his eye at Xie Lian in the sunshine. It was a cold morning, but bright and fresh, and Xie Lian was fretting in that way he found irresistible. 

“You won’t tell anyone, will you? I don’t want to be seen as disrespectful.”

Hua Cheng felt the muscles of his new body spasm in delight.

“The only person who could be offended definitely wouldn’t be. I’m sure the Rain Master would find it very amusing,” reassured Hua Cheng.

“Really?” Xie Lian asked hopefully.

“Hasn’t she come to visit? Did you tell her?”

Horror bloomed on Xie Lian’s face. “She only visited once. And I hadn’t saved enough for the ox at the time, but I could never tell her now! I really did mean to come up with another name, it just kind of…stuck.”

Hua Cheng blinked at him, straightening up. Saving his money to buy an ox.

Something the Rain Master would have probably provided with a click of a finger. Money Xie Lian in no way needed, given the million-odd merits he had from gold bars stuffed into Puqi shrine. What a gorgeous, flawless, stubborn fool.

“I see,” he said. “Well. Your secret is safe with me.”

Xie Lian sniffed, watching the ox, who was happily buried in his morning meal of mixed grains. “Alright then,” he said, stalking over to begin brushing the ox’s hide.

The silly beast grunted and made appreciative noises. Clearly he enjoyed a nice brushing, which- judging from the shine of his hide- he got every day.

Hua Cheng stifled another laugh, leaning back against the fence, listening to the ox’s happy puffs and bellows when Xie Lian scratched him in a particularly good spot. 

“Aww. There’s a good Grain Master,” he murmured.

Truly an exceptional name.

***

Hua Cheng had mostly behaved himself since his return the previous evening, assisting Xie Lian with the morning chores and barely teasing him at all. Xie Lian graciously avoided the topic of where Hua Cheng had been, or rather, what he’d been.

He would prefer never to speak of the past year with anyone; least of all his beloved. But it had not been entirely… pleasant.

It didn’t matter now. He was back right where he should be: standing between his beloved and any who could ever wish to hurt him. 

Still. He was ashamed. 

He had felt the time passing, but he was unable to do anything about it. He was not a patient man. He never had been. But feeling his spiritual power return so slowly, every atom of his body regenerating so infinitesimally, was more than frustrating. It was agony. 

He had taken far too long. Xie Lian had to wait an entire year for him. Long enough that he had painful dreams the first night where he thought he was alone again. He’d not slept a wink after that happened. How could he? He’d let him down.

Another year of idiotic, condescending Heavenly Officials making snide comments, insulting him, making fun of him, backstabbing him. He knew their ways.

They’d be cautious of Xie Lian now, after what he did. Who he defeated. But they didn’t respect him. They’d be making up reasons why it was Jun Wu’s slip-ups, not Xie Lian’s power, that finished it.

In reality, he knew regenerating after he’d been obliterated as Wú Míng had taken him…well, he couldn’t say exactly. Many more years. Centuries, perhaps? But that was then. This was now.

He was one of the only two remaining Supreme Ghost Kings not currently suppressed under a mountain. And while he knew a fight with Black Water would at least be interesting, both of them knew who’d win. 

Jun Wu, either as himself or as White No Face, was closer to Hua Cheng in power, but still not a match. Hua Cheng could have done a better job at making him regret his existence when they fought on Mount Tonglu, but truthfully, he was saving his energy.

He never intended to defeat Jun Wu. His priority was the shackles. His beloved would never be safe as long as he was imprisoned by them.

And of course, once they were gone… Jun Wu never stood a chance. After all, that’s why he put them on Xie Lian in the first place.

He wasn’t arrogant. It was a basic fact that there was only one being in the world who could take him on at full strength and win, and that was his beloved.

What could the second most powerful being in the world do, then, but serve and protect him? Those useless idiots who called themselves ‘Martial Gods’ could hardly do so.

Lang Qianqiu was far more pompous than he was capable. Pei Ming was too busy chasing women (as long as they weren’t smarter than him, which was to say they had barely mastered object permanence). 

And the others…Quan Yizhen could lose a debate to an eggplant with a mouth drawn on, and Hua Cheng would rather cede control of Ghost City to Cuo Cuo than ever rely on Mu Qing and Feng Xin.

All in all, the Martial Gods were a five-person rebuttal of the idea that only exceptional humans ascend, because all of them were so laughably mediocre it was a wonder they didn’t accidentally sit on their swords. Though Quan Yizhen had definitely done that at least once. 

And in any case. He still had a score to settle with Mu Qing and Feng Xin. 

He had at least made it clear to the ghosts of the City that they should keep an eye on Xie Lian, and look in on him, should he be away for some time.

Not that they needed encouraging. But ultimately, he could rely on no one else but himself. Which is what made it so much worse that he’d failed his beloved. Yet again.

“...San Lang? Are you alright?” came the question, as Xie Lian paused in his brushing.

Hua Cheng pulled himself together. “Of course, gege. I’m with you.”

There it was. That shy smile, that embarrassed blink, that scratch of the head, just to have something to do with his hands. It only added a stalk of hay to his hair. 

Xie Lian was the most beautiful human who had ever, and would ever, live. “You were off away somewhere,” he said, eyes flickering back up to him curiously.

Hua Cheng forced himself to stay nonchalant. “Apologies, gege. I am fully present with you.”

Xie Lian cocked his head, stalk of hay waving in the breeze. “If you need to go-”

“No. And if I do go, you’ll come with me.”

Xie Lian chuh’d in disbelief. “Oh, will I now!”

“I insist.”

“And what if I have my own things to do?”

“Then this wretched knave will wait, lonely and forsaken.”

Xie Lian closed his eyes in exasperation. Oh, Heavens and Hells. He loved it when he did that. To others, he was always so unfailingly polite and kind. Visible annoyance was an immeasurable privilege to see on his face.

“Gege, there is nowhere I need to be more than-”

Xie Lian moved very suddenly. Hua Cheng watched him stumble towards him, barely understanding what was happening until-

Chu. Warm lips pressed against his for a fraction of a second, and then it was over. Xie Lian lowered himself back down from his tiptoes and fixed his gaze on Hua Cheng’s neck, cheeks reddening.

Hua Cheng opened his mouth, and closed it again.

“I-”

“Mghhh,” said Xie Lian, covering his face.

“Your Highness?” he asked in wonder.

“Don’t call me that,” he whimpered through his fingers.

Hua Cheng felt another spasm in his chest, but he really shouldn’t laugh at his beloved like this-

“Gege,” he choked. “You wanted to kiss me?”

“Frnghhh,” replied Xie Lian.

It was a good thing that Hua Cheng did not actually need to breathe.

Stifling his chuckles, he raised his hands to pull Xie Lian’s away from his face. He didn’t budge. He really was exceptionally strong when he wanted to be. Or rather, when he let himself be.

Xie Lian’s ears were very pink. 

“Gege?” he laughed. “I liked it very much. Why don’t you take your hands off your face and do it again?”

An embarrassed little exhale.

“I… I’m no good at it,” came the muffled voice.

Hua Cheng raised his eye to the heavens. Was he being tested? Because it felt like it. He narrowed his eye at the sky. The heavens could fuck off.

“Well, I don’t think so, gege. But if you would like to put in your practice hours, I am, as ever, at your service.”

Xie Lian mumbled something that sounded like “blarg,” which he took to mean that he was open to the idea.

Hua Cheng tugged at his hands again. Xie Lian let him this time.

Hua Cheng surveyed his face. Sheepish and chagrined and that shade of pink that tortured him.

He was greedy, before. Any opportunity to taste Xie Lian’s lips, under any circumstances, he’d seized upon it again and again, convinced at any moment that Xie Lian would figure out his secret and banish his unworthy, depraved self forever anyway.

But now, things were different. Xie Lian knew. He’d seen the Cave of 10,000 Gods and, impossibly, still not turned away. 

Hua Cheng still wanted Xie Lian, in any way he could get, but…he couldn’t think about this from a selfish perspective anymore. No desperate fulfilment in the face of certain obliteration needed.

He was back, so now, his desires were unimportant. He had to do what was best for Xie Lian’s safety. Which meant not taking his trust for granted. And, however difficult, that meant taking things at Xie Lian’s pace, not his own.

Perhaps, in another 800 years time, Xie Lian would finally let him squeeze his-

“San Lang?”

“Mmm? Are you wanting to try again? I’ll stay very still this time, now that I’m prepared.”

Xie Lian grimaced up at him. Perfection.

His little pink tongue darted out, moistening his bottom lip. Hua Cheng held his gaze. Very slowly, Xie Lian seemed to square his shoulders, gather his courage, and start raising himself up on his tiptoes- 

“Your Highness?” came the shout.

Hua Cheng felt instant irritation rise in his chest. He knew that voice. He would very much like to punch the owner of that voice.

Hua Cheng reluctantly dropped his hands as Xie Lian looked beyond his shoulder in horror, eyes widening and instantly becoming more…formal. People pleasing.

Hua Cheng admired his commitment to always being a far kinder person than almost anyone deserved, but he liked the real Xie Lian. Who was difficult. And pig-headed. And refused to bend to anyone’s will but his own.

“Mu Qing! Feng Xin!” sputtered Xie Lian, leaping away from Hua Cheng.

Hua Cheng kept his back turned stubbornly, rolling his eye. It sounded from the crunching along the dirt road as if they were hurrying up the hill. Which meant they would have seen him by abooout-

“Your Highness, what are you…. ah,” said Feng Xin.

-now. Yeah. They’d seen him.

“San Lang,” whispered Xie Lian, eyes flicking between his face and the two idiots over his shoulder.

Hua Cheng sighed and turned, leaning on the fence post with his forearms. There they were. Still existing. How unfortunate.

They looked the same. Haughty, uppity, and far too in love with being heavenly officials for two people who didn’t deserve to be in the slightest.

“Fu Yao, Nan Feng! To what do we owe the unwelcome interruption?”

Their eyes narrowed identically, arms folded identically. Honestly, if there was a way to just consolidate these two into one person, it would save time-

“So it’s true then,” muttered…one of them. Who cares.

Hua Cheng waited, stony faced. He really couldn’t pick which one of them he hated most. The uppity broomsweep who’d abandoned his beloved first, or the holier-than-thou one who abandoned Xie Lian when he needed him most for a wife and kid who wanted nothing to do with him anyway.

Which was, objectively, the only funny part.

“Ah, yes, San Lang is back,” said Xie Lian briskly. Hua Cheng caught a shadow of a stifled smile on him as he said the words. "He’s…uh, well, we’re feeding the ox,” he finished, gesturing at Grain Master, who was now ears-deep in his trough.

Hua Cheng’s lips twitched. 

Mu Qing and Feng Xin glanced at one another.

“You turned off the communication array,” said Mu Qing, accusingly.

Hua Cheng flicked Xie Lian a look of interest. He knew he’d turned it off last night, but he assumed he’d have turned it back on by now, being the dutiful God he was.

“Ahaha, yes well… I suppose I forgot, we’ve been busy…”

“With feeding an ox?” asked Feng Xin dubiously.

Hua Cheng liked to stare at them, one at a time, for just a little too long. They always noticed. And just as they’d start to get huffy and look like they were about to say something, he’d switch. It was endlessly entertaining.

“Ah yes, well, I wanted a little time, um, to ourselv- why, is there something happening?”

Another shared glance. Slightly guilty this time. Ooh. Good.

“Well, no, we just… thought we should check on you…” Mu Qing said, trailing off, eyes flicking back to Hua Cheng every few seconds.

“Weren’t you wanting to check on me? I’m the one who disintegrated. I’m better than ever now, thanks for asking,” said Hua Cheng lightly, drumming his fingers on the fence post.

A muscle in Mu Qing’s jaw leapt as Feng Xin coughed. 

Xie Lian, as ever, broke the tension with a gracious smile. “Well, we are both well. As you can see.”

“You should turn the array back on. So you’re reachable,” said Feng Xin, eyes also flicking to Hua Cheng.

“Ah, Feng Xin. I’m not in it all the time anyway, it gets very overwhelming to have it on all the time! I’m only a scrap God after all; I don’t have too many prayers to deal with, just a nice, comfortable amount,” said Xie Lian humbly.

“If you were so worried about Xie Lian, why didn’t you come last night?” asked Hua Cheng, raising an eyebrow.

Mu Qing sputtered for a moment as Feng Xin’s eyes widened. Excellent.

“We… we didn’t want to see…” said Mu Qing, trailing off and looking at the ground.

“See what, Feng Xin?” asked Hua Cheng innocently. 

Mu Qing’s fists clenched. “You!-”

He also liked to mix them up. It conveyed just how deeply he did not care about their existence.

“I told you they’d be fine!” came the airy voice of Pei Ming strolling up the hill, looking somehow casual despite his full body gilded armour, as if it had just occurred to him to pop out for a bit of sunshine and fresh air.

Hua Cheng closed his eye and sighed.

“Ah, General Pei! I…well, I didn’t mean to cause any panic,” said Xie Lian, looking caught off guard and swivelling his head between them all. “I probably should have given a bit more detail in the array,” he muttered to himself.

Pei Ming strode happily over and nodded at Hua Cheng, hands on his hips and squinting in the morning sun.

“You’re back then.”

“Astute as ever,” drawled Hua Cheng.

Pei Ming ignored him, craning his neck around the yard with interest, nodding in greeting to one of the chickens as it pecked near his feet.

“I told them not to come you know, figured they’d be getting an eyeful if they did, but they didn’t listen. But you’re up and around! And dressed!” he said, nodding approvingly at Xie Lian and Hua Cheng’s adequate level of clothing.

“I- we- it’s not-” gasped Xie Lian.

“Can’t let the ox go hungry now, can we?” said Hua Cheng.

Pei Ming blinked at him. “Must admit, I’ve been around but I’ve never heard that one before,” he said, a baffled but appreciative look on his face.

Xie Lian looked between them. “General Pei, what do you mean?”

Pei Ming opened his mouth, but stopped as Hua Cheng pointed lazily behind him.

“Oh! You meant there’s an actual ox!” Pei Ming said in surprise. He chortled to himself. “Sorry, thought you were for sure talking about your reunion night. But I stick to women as you know, so I suppose there probably are a few expressions I wouldn’t have heard…” he said, eyes glazing over thoughtfully as he stroked his chin.

Hua Cheng shook his head in disbelief. These three people were prayed to. Daily. For help.

“Anyway,” said Pei Ming lightly, turning his gaze to Feng Xin and Mu Qing. "Best we get on, isn’t it? We're busy, important meetings and such,” he said, jerking his thumb at the sky.

“What important meetings are those?” asked Hua Cheng innocently. He had also been ‘busy.’ ‘Feeding the ox.’ Hadn’t checked in with Black Water, or Yin Yu, or any of his other sources for spies in the Heavens.

He really didn’t care what was happening right now, but these three interloping into their otherwise peaceful morning was an unfortunate reminder of the fact that the world still turned, and was largely still being turned by idiots.

“Ah…well, you know,” said Pei Ming awkwardly, looking askance at Mu Qing and Feng Xin. Hua Cheng smirked. He could perhaps imagine what the sudden meetings in the heavens were about.

“Anything I can help with?” he said, with his most winningly helpful smile. He couldn’t wait to start stretching his legs with the terms the Heavens agreed to on Mount Tonglu. He was going to ring that bell constantly.

“I think you’ve done quite enough,” muttered Feng Xin.

“Quite right, Mu Qing. I did do quite enough. To help you quite literally save the Heavens,” said Hua Cheng sweetly. “And I must say, it’s so nice to see you and Feng Xin getting along so harmoniously together. Obviously you two must have really made up in the year I’ve been gone!”

Both of them jerked as if burned, avoiding eye contact at all costs. 

Hua Cheng was aiming at getting them to physically fight within the next five minutes. Shouldn’t take many more nudges.

“Now now,” said Pei Ming vaguely, eyes fondly back on the chicken. “Genuinely, best we be off. No need for us to see what else these two are going to get up to throughout the day.”

“Oh, Rain Master, what an enjoyable surprise!” exclaimed Hua Cheng, looking over Pei Ming’s shoulder. Predictably, Pei Ming flinched and jerked around, to the sight of no one. 

Good. The likes of this clown parade should never presume to embarrass His Highness. Pei Ming turned back to glare, though Xie Lian, who was still bright pink, snorted a little and then pretended it was a cough. 

“You sure you don’t want to check in?” asked Mu Qing, jaw set as he eyed Xie Lian. “There’s a lot going on, you know. You might want to pay more attention.”

Hua Cheng stiffened. How dare he-

“I am comfortable with how I’ve chosen to do my work, Mu Qing,” said Xie Lian lightly, but in that firm tone he used. Hua Cheng’s fingers flexed. Good. They should be told.

Honestly, what he would give to just quickly strangle these two patronising, condescending, concerned-out-of-sheer-guilt phonies. Pei Ming would probably let him for at least a minute or two before stepping in.

But no. He had not even been back a full day. He needed to be on his best behaviour.

Feng Xin wore his usual sour scowl. “I really would recommend coming up for a day or two to catch up…soon. As soon as you can.”

“Are the Heavens really so helpless without the Crown Prince to sort everything out, every time?” asked Hua Cheng mildly. “I would have thought in the vacuum of Jun Wu that perhaps the three of you could step up and dazzle everyone with your capabilities.”

“You -” twitched Feng Xin.

“Alright, alright,” said Xie Lian, waving his hands placatingly. “If you all really think it is an issue, then I can go up for a little while.”

Hua Cheng’s brows twitched, before smoothing his face. Feng Xin was watching him, looking slightly smug. 

“Gege, if you don’t want to go, you don’t need to go,” said Hua Cheng quietly.

Xie Lian made a face. “I…I’ll just go for a few hours. Check in on the fuss and calm everyone. After all, who can better vouch for you not being up to any mischief than me?”

Hua Cheng sniffed and folded his arms. He would much prefer to be making mischief.

“Alright then, shall we?” said Pei Ming briskly, straightening up after leaning down to try to pat the chicken, unsuccessfully.

“Yes,” said Feng Xin and Mu Qing in unison, before frowning at each other in unison. Ooh. Maybe the fighting could even start within two minutes, if he could just get in one more nudge-

“Alright, let's go,” said Xie Lian. He looked up at Hua Cheng, lips parted in question.

“Oh, don’t you worry yourself gege. I’ll keep myself busy.”

Xie Lian nodded, relieved. “I…yes. I figured you would. I’ll be back soon. For dinner?”

“Of course. But you should be the artist over the stove, of course. I could never compare.”

Xie Lian gave his embarrassed little smile, scratching his head and looking at him in that way he did when he seemed to forget that looking at anyone else was an option. Hua Cheng felt a fizzing in his stomach.

Pei Ming coughed. “We won’t be joining. Just to be clear.”

“Why would you think you were invited?” said Hua Cheng smoothly, still holding Xie Lian’s gaze.

“Hmm. Well that works out then,” said Pei Ming, beginning to rise into the air on his sword. “Until we meet again, then, Crimson Rain Sought Flower.”

“Do feel free to take your time on that,” said Hua Cheng as the rest began to ascend. He winked at Xie Lian as he rose and ignored the rest. They disappeared quickly enough, leaving swirling dust and some ruffled chickens. Grain Master gave a slightly mournful moo.

Hua Cheng glanced at him. “Me too,” he agreed.

***

Hua Cheng did keep himself busy. He could hardly mope around, after all. He was a Supreme Ghost King. With a terrifying, carefully cultivated reputation. He was being talked about in hushed whispers in the halls of the Heavens at that very moment.

It would be extremely sad for him to just sit and stare sulkily at the chickens and kick stones waiting for Xie Lian to come back.

For longer than the two hours that he did that, at least.

So he did his own check ins.

“You’re back,” nodded Yin Yu, striding in after a silver butterfly summoned him to Qiandeng Temple. 

“You’re alive,” replied Hua Cheng idly, flipping through his sheafs of paper on the desk, covered in handwriting practice. Yin Yu hadn’t moved them. Good. He very much enjoyed handwriting practice.

“Shall I arrange for a party?” asked Yin Yu. “A celebration at the Gambling Den, or perhaps a street festival for the city?”

“Both,” said Hua Cheng decisively. “In a few days. Though I’ll likely just send a clone. I have more important places to be,” he said, mind on a dusty sleeping mat.

“Should be sufficient.”

“Anything interesting here while I was gone?”

“No one would dare to be interesting while you were gone,” said Yin Yu, face impassive.

Hua Cheng nodded curtly. “Good.” He looked around the temple, the red walls and bright, ornate gilding. "I expect I’ll be bringing His Highness to Paradise Manor soon enough. Make the arrangements. His comfort is the priority.”

“Of course.”

“Now. Catch me up,” he said, turning to sit on the throne.

“As you say.”

“Black Water?”

“Lying low. Subdued. Even for him. Seems a little forlorn after the fruit borne of his plans was not quite as delicious as he’d hoped.”

“Mmm. Predictable. And where is that remaining fruit?”

“Shi Qingxuan is still...well.”

“Head of the Tramp Union?”

“Indeed,” replied Yin Yu. “They can’t be unpopular even with no shoes on.”

“Mmm,” said Hua Cheng, staring into the distance.

He’d underestimated Shi Qingxuan, airheaded as they were. They were not capable of cunning, but…influence was its own form of cunning, and Shi Qingxuan was still the best at it, even in banishment. If anyone could ever ascend twice again, it would be them.

Only twice though. His beloved was the only one capable of three times. He would be keeping a close eye on Shi Qingxuan. Xie Lian quite liked that vacuous idiot, and Hua Cheng tolerated Black Water, so for now, both should stay alive.

Which meant…well, as entertaining as watching Black Water’s forehead vein popping would be, he might need to have a chat with him about his plans for a Shi Qingxuan second ascension eventuality. Other than Plan A of attempting to drown the Heavenly Capital in an ocean trench in one of his typical hissy fits. 

“What is Black Water’s tab up to, by the way?” 

“If we’re considering the favours you did him on his revenge tour, adding interest, minus when we drowned the statue in his waters, his debt is roughly the value of what Water Master’s coffers were.”

Hua Cheng raised his eyebrows. “Total?”

“Oh, no. Per month.”

“Yes, that makes more sense. And the vacancy left?”

“No one has been appointed Water Master yet.”

“And when you say no one…”

“Black Water has indeed been…cannibalising those prayers, predictably.”

“Naturally.”

Hua Cheng doubted there was a single devotee of Water Master left after the slight reputational issue of Black Water twisting off his head.

Hua Cheng did not admire many qualities in many people, but he had to hand it to He Xuan. His revenge really was quite the long game. Patience. A virtue he could recognise the value of, though not practice himself. 

“Well then,” he exhaled. “With all those offerings, seems Black Water may actually have the means to start his repayment plan again. I’ll send him a greeting. He’ll probably be in the Den by sundown spending it all once he hears there are games to be played.”

Yin Yu shifted. “He…owns the seas, now.”

“He always did. He picked Shi Wudu’s territory just so he could grow powerful enough to take it from him. He was just waiting.”

“Yes but…now it is known. And no one will take the position in Heaven. Even Earth Master is still vacant. They’re too scared of him. He killed two Heavenly Officials.”

“And we are all very pleased for him for achieving his deathlong dreams.”

“Do you think he will become greedy?”

“And by greedy, you mean overly ambitious in a way that should worry me? No.”

“Why not?”

“Motivation.”

“Your bargain together...now that the terms are fulfilled, it is over, no? You think he does not wish to expand?”

“I think he has no idea what he wants, now. And for that reason, he’ll never have a chance of beating me. I do know what I want,” he said simply, mind still on that sleeping mat.

Yin Yu nodded soberly. “Yes.” He took a breath. “But you know, as I do, that Heaven will not tolerate being this afraid of not one, but two Ghost Kings. Not for long.”

Hua Cheng said nothing. Yin Yu was right.

He nodded. “Now. The one I’m actually interested in,” he asked.

“Ah, Yes. Her.” Yin Yu took a breath. “She is still being punished with endless scrolls. Still knows everything.”

“Still underestimated?”

“Indeed. It’s known of course, that she was the one who unravelled it all. But most don’t seem to have quite put together just what that means.”

“Ling Wen is the Shadow Emperor.”

“She always was. That is how she prefers it. Pei Ming knows, of course. Rain Master, the other Martial Gods, they understand how powerful she is but…still.”

“I imagine the two remaining tumours are significantly less close than they were as a three. Can we trust that she has at least exhausted her scandal material, for now?” 

“Hmm. She’s damaged the main players, but she’s also made them impervious to blackmail now that everyone knows everything. If that was all she had, she’ll lie low for a while. If not…”

Hua Cheng nodded. Whoever dreamed up that her punishment should continue to involve unlimited access to information was clearly an intellect not fit to call a coin toss.

“This won’t last long. Someone will make a move soon. Our sources?”

“Numbers significantly dented, obviously, now there is no Black Water everywhere.”

“Mmm,” grunted Hua Cheng. Black Water had indeed been helpfully prolific with his ‘nondescript heavenly official’ clones.

"But…” Yin Yu hesitated.

“But?” prompted Hua Cheng.

“Your reputation, after Mount Tonglu. It’s resulted in plenty of new recruits, I’m sure you understand.”

“Ah. I see. So we have a new roster of the most quick to betray in the heavens, do we?”

“Of course. And those who don’t like the way the wind is blowing.”

“The wind is blowing in every direction at once right now. And no heavenly official who wants to trade me information can be trusted.”

“No. But some could be useful.”

Hua Cheng sniffed. “Trash.” 

“Speaking of which…”

“Oh, please don’t tell me…”

“Qi Rong is still…coagulating. Supervised by Lang Qianqiu. Gu Zi is growing well. Learning etiquette, cultivation, and swords. Lang Qianqiu treats him well. He is fond of the child.”

Hua Cheng pinched between his brows. The idiotic things that ‘honourable’ people do. Qi Rong really was the luckiest globule of vomit in the universe. 

“The other Savages?”

“Very low numbers after Mount Tong’lu, as you can imagine.”

“How many left?”

“I’m not confident of numbers, but no more than eight making themselves obvious, including Qi Rong.”

“Hmm. The eight strongest, elsewise they wouldn’t have survived.”

“Indeed. The Night Reapers are all alive, of course. Red Abacus is up to her usual tricks, and Wild Wail is particularly busy given it’s hunting season, though nothing much else of note. Ke Mo is still imprisoned by the Heavens, and of Banyue I’ve not heard a thing.”

He nodded, and eyed Yin Yu.

“And you?”

Yin Yu raised an eyebrow. “Me, Chengzhu?”

“The dust is settled. Which means time is ripe for someone to kick it again. What is it that you want, now?”

Yin Yu lowered his eyes. “Not the Heavens,” he said, only slightly bitterly.

“You are better than them,” said Hua Cheng, flicking his hand dismissively. “But I’m asking. Do you know yet? When you’ll betray me, and why?”

Hua Cheng knew Yin Yu rather enjoyed running a spy network comprised of former colleagues. Especially ones who had looked down on him.

Schadenfreude was still a powerful motivator for him, even in the aftermath of what appeared to be a embarrassing and public emotional breakthrough with Quan Yizhen, and the minor issue of being dead for a bit.

Yin Yu breathed out slowly. “I have not yet selected a day nor a reason yet, Chengzhu.”

“Mmm. Still deciding then. Be sure to not overplay your hand when you do.”

Yin Yu bowed his head. “For now, I am strangely more content in your employ than I was in possession of my own temples.”

“Good. And keep in mind you wouldn’t like Black Water as a boss. Hopelessly maudlin, he will steal your food, and everything always smells of fish.”

“I have been warned.”

“Yes,” he said, eye now focused on the butterfly showing Xie Lian landing outside the cottage as the sun began to set. Xie Lian raised his fingers up to the butterfly, smiling. “Hi,” he whispered. “Aren’t you beautiful! I am very glad you’re alright.” The butterfly’s perspective was looking up at him, having clearly landed on his finger. Hua Cheng’s lips curled up.

“Places to be?” said Yin Yu.

“It would seem.”

“Then I’ll make the arrangements.”

“Enjoy the parties. Perhaps we’ll look in on them. And you should get yourself a drink or two. Loosen up for once, Yin Yu.”

Yin Yu sighed quietly. “Not really a strength of mine.”

“No. But a little hedonism has been earned, wouldn’t you say? You can bring Quan Yizhen.”

Yin Yu's expression changed instantly. "Why would I do that?" he said, expression careful.

"You didn't come back in one piece all on your own, right? He kept you safe?"

Yin Yu was very stiff. "We...I am still...having my issues, with him."

"Mmm," said Hua Cheng, dropping it. “Well, I’ll see you when something’s wrong, or when something’s right."

Yin Yu bowed, and took his leave.

Hua Cheng never needed a distance shortening array, anymore. He could use the dice, of course, but they didn’t quite speak to him as much. Every ghost always knew, sensed in their soul, exactly where their ashes were.

He’d spent so long looking for his beloved. So long. It was a relief, once Xie Lian put the ring on, to know he wouldn’t ever lose him again. 

As he stood, a wave of…something hit him, and he faltered. Staggered, almost. The feeling was overwhelming, pinching his senses into a narrow, suffocating tunnel.

He didn’t need to breathe, but this felt like running out of oxygen. Like it was all slowly being sucked from the room, tiny bit by tiny bit, until he was left gasping-

It ended as quickly as it began. He straightened, checking his meridians. Fine, all fine. E’Ming vibrated in concern. “Quiet,” he muttered, and E’Ming hummed in a manner that was slightly petulant.

His eye darted around the room, checking he was alone, relieved Yin Yu was not there to see that happen.

He tapped his body’s acupressure points, opening up to energy flows, hopefully allowing more spiritual energy to pool in him.

He ignored the feeling that he’d felt this before. The absolute last thing he was interested in on his first day back was anything to do with…no. That part of his life was done now. Thinking about Grey Guard tended to have an uncanny summoning effect, and they were not who he wanted to deal with right now.

He clenched his fists. He shouldn’t be surprised.

He hadn’t been feeling at full strength since he got back. His body consolidated over a week ago, but at that time he had to regain enough spiritual energy for walking, talking, travelling and the like. As soon as he did, he came home to his beloved. But he could have perhaps used a few more days.

He had been foolish. His power would return soon enough, naturally, but in the meantime, it was best that he not mention it to Xie Lian. So far, His Highness was pleased to have him back. He did not want to place any caveats on that.

He’d felt fine in the cottage. It was probably just this new body. There were always teething problems with maintaining a new form. He swallowed the panicked thought that perhaps, this time, this body would not recover the ability to hold as much qi as before. That was unthinkable. He focused instead on what he needed to do.

Calming his thoughts, he gathered his energy, and stepped towards the familiar energy of the ring, like a rope tugging at its anchor.

***

Hua Cheng still knocked at the door of the cottage, out of politeness. However, when Xie Lian wrenched it open with a hopeful expression on his face, the door gave an ear-splitting crunch and squeak as it wrenched right off one of the hinges and dangled as Xie Lian ‘Oh!’d and ‘Ah’d” and ‘Oh dear’d. 

Hua Cheng smiled wryly. “Looks like you need a new door, gege.”

“I-well, yes, this one isn’t very good, doors aren’t really my strong suit…”

Hua Cheng pulled the door off in its entirety with one hand, tossing it aside carelessly. “It will make good firewood. Nothing is a waste.”

“That’s what I always say!” enthused Xie Lian, eyes scrunching into crescents.

He got to work immediately, crouched over the door as Xie Lian hovered in the background.

“Good meeting?” Hua Cheng asked. 

“Oh, yes, that…well, they had some…concerns, but I tried my best to talk them down.”

“Do you think I should pop up? Reassure them?” he teased.

Xie Lian crossed his arms and tapped his foot. “Do you think you can behave?”

Hua Cheng’s lips twitched. “Well, that depends on how annoying they are.”

“I didn’t think so.”

“Mmm.”

He pulled off some of the better boards from the door. He could plane them off to have smoother edges, and reuse them. 

“And you?” asked Xie Lian.

“Me?”

“Well, you weren’t here when I got back…” he said, voice odd.

Hua Cheng looked up. 

Xie Lian was carefully inspecting the dirt.

Ghosts and Ghouls, he was such an idiot. One day back and he’d already hurt his beloved.

Hua Cheng opened their communication array, and spoke to him through it. “Gege. I should not have left without telling you where I went. I will not do that again. I won’t leave you.”

Xie Lian’s eyes flashed up to his, startled. “I… well, that’s alright,” came his voice through the array.

Xie Lian’s eyes went down again. His face was careful. Hua Cheng hated it. His heart sank. What was he thinking, only leaving a butterfly?

He stood and went to him, taking his hands. “I was trying not to be…greedy.”

Xie Lian frowned, eyes still down. “Greedy?” He blinked. “You’re not being greedy. I always want to know you’re alright. I was just worried. I didn’t know how long you’d be gone,” he said faintly, still in the array. 

Hua Cheng sighed. 

He didn’t know why he cared so much more now. He was happy to be clingy and annoying before. Back when he assumed he’d be kicked away eventually, so he may as well try to see Xie Lian as much as possible.

It had been easy to justify, convincing himself it was just for Xie Lian’s protection. Now, the shackles were gone. His purpose felt less clear cut.

Hua Cheng pasted on a nonchalant smile, while cursing himself internally.

“It’s not a big deal. I saw the butterfly after all! So I didn’t worry much,” said Xie Lian, all false brightness.

Hua Cheng’s fingers twitched. False brightness was for other people.

“Gege, scold me.”

Xie Lian’s eyes shot up to his in surprise.

“Eh?” he said, out loud this time.

“Scold me,” said Hua Cheng out loud, matching Xie Lian. “I hurt you. I deserve a scolding. You should scold me.”

Xie Lian opened his mouth and closed it. “I- I don’t want to scold you. You explained and it’s alright. Anyway, can you maybe…show me how to do the door? I’d like to learn how to do them now."

Hua Cheng noted the change in subject. Which Xie Lian only had to do because Hua Cheng had made him uncomfortable. After he made him relive what he’d put him through by disappearing without a trace.

Because he was sulky and bored and too irritable to fully think through what he was doing, so he just materialised in Ghost City and winged it from there.

He showed him how to build the door. And fit it in the doorway. He didn’t bring anything else up. Xie Lian wanted to move on, so they’d move on. He pushed everything else away, and down.

Eventually, the sun was setting as they finished off the fitting. Xie Lian swung the door back and forth ecstatically. He walked inside, and closed the door, and then walked outside, and closed the door, and repeated this cycle several more times.

“Perfect!” he exclaimed from outside, voice muffled. Hua Cheng smiled indulgently. 

“What do you want for dinner?” he asked, reentering the cottage.

“Oh, whatever you concoct, gege.” 

“Excellent.”

***

The “Every New Door Is a New Beginning” pancakes were quite involved, even for Xie Lian’s cooking.

It took them an hour. He wasn’t sure they were intended to be pancakes, but that is how they turned out, and given they ended up in the shape of wonky doors, Xie Lian was ecstatic.

They ate companionably in the low light of the cottage. Ruoye and E’Ming had to be told off for being too boisterous, but other than that, it was a trouble free evening. Hua Cheng let Xie Lian take the lead on chatting. He seemed to have so many things he wanted to say. 

“It’s been so long since anyone listened to me talk,” he’d said once. 

Hua Cheng was used to being alone in his devotion. But what he never got used to was how little sense it made. 

How could anyone be so foolish as to not see what he saw in Xie Lian?

How could anyone not worship someone who was so clearly the most powerful being in all the realms, but more than that, the kindest, sweetest, and most good?

Who could ever not want to sit, chin in hand, and just listen to his voice? To all of his thoughts and musings. All of them were always good. Every single one.

Eventually, the evening wound down, and they settled facing each other on the sleeping mat. 

“I forgot what it was like to smile this much for this long!” Xie Lian remarked happily, massaging his cheeks.

Hua Cheng smiled right back. “Is there anything in particular pleasing Your Highness?”

Xie Lian pursed his lips. “It has been a good day,” he said.

“What about it, specifically, would you say?” he said, openly fishing.

Xie Lian fixed him with a look. “San Lang,” he warned, voice still indulgent.

Hua Cheng laughed through his nose. Xie Lian looked tired, and happy. Relaxed. Hua Cheng tried not to preen too much.

“I agree, gege. A good day. Started well, a slight dip in the middle, but finished strong.”

“Mmm,” said Xie Lian, eyelids drooping.

Hua Cheng tucked Xie Lian’s blanket over his shoulders more tightly.

Xie Lian’s eyes fluttered back open. “Thank you,” he murmured. 

“Quite alright.”

Xie Lian blinked at him. “I wish we had just the one cover,” he mumbled idly, eyelids drooping again.

“Done, gege,” said Hua Cheng. “I’ll sew them together tomorrow.”

“Mmm,” he said again, eyes fully closed. “San Lang?”

“Gege.”

“Let’s have another good day tomorrow?”

“I know I will. I’m here with you.”

Xie Lian smiled faintly, and was asleep.

Hua Cheng watched his face and the rise and fall of his chest for a while longer, before dropping off himself.

He jerked awake in the night. His usual. The Temple, the sword piercing his beloved over and over and over, one hundred people betraying him, Jun Wu taunting him. His screams, him begging for help. Being completely unable to do anything. Except to watch. 

Sometimes he was just a little ghost fire again, sometimes he was his Supreme rank self, only paralysed. It didn’t matter. It never mattered. He never needed to be too creative. The memory of it was infinitely worse than anything else the Dreamscape could ever conjure.

He was pleased, for once, that he didn’t breathe. Less noise.

Xie Lian hadn’t woken, so he clenched his fists and counted Xie Lian’s breaths for as long as it took him to remind himself that he was here with his beloved, and Xie Lian was alright. It took a while. 

But that was for the best. It wouldn’t do for Xie Lian to know about it, or to have his sleep disturbed. He looked peaceful. He deserved to sleep peacefully.

***

They did have another good day. And the next day. And the day after that.

Xie Lian woke up every morning and poked him in the face. At Hua Cheng’s own insistence. It was important they began the day right, and reassuring Xie Lian that he was in fact real and here was the best way. 

They fed Grain Master every morning, and the chickens, which Hua Cheng named Nan Feng and Fu Yao (“San LANG, you shouldn’t!”). Hua Cheng sewed the blankets together, and they curled closer and closer together each night.

Xie Lian showed him around the mountain more. It looked nothing like its previous days. It was just a peaceful, newly forested haven now. There was a stream, which deepened into pools here and there. 

Hua Cheng suggested they bathe together, flicking Xie Lian lightly with water in a moment of mischief, and Xie Lian splashed a good deal more at him for saying so, to his delight.

Hua Cheng said Xie Lian had bathed in front of him before and not been bothered, and then Xie Lian splashed him again for saying that, because that was when Hua Cheng was pretending to be Lang Ying, and it was very different now, obviously. 

Hua Cheng asked why, and dodged the answering splash.

Xie Lian indignantly pointed out Hua Cheng had never bathed in front of him, so he nodded very seriously and conceded that this was a very good point, and dove into the freezing water fully clothed as Xie Lian watched openmouthed.

He winked, feet touching the bottom. “You were getting me wet anyway, gege.”

Xie Lian’s eyes were wide. Until they turned determined, and he jumped in as well. Hua Cheng chuckled deep in his throat watching Xie Lian thrash towards him and shiver into his arms and wail at what a bad idea that was.

He watched him working up his nerve, and making up his mind, the pink blush dusting across his face and ears. It was a beautiful sight, watching Xie Lian decide to kiss him.

He did. Not just a peck this time. Still halting and unsure and over quickly, but wondrous. Hua Cheng restrained himself still, considering, but they clung to each other in the pool and Hua Cheng gripped his waist and held him close. It was ascension, every time, to kiss him, but to be kissed by him was something else entirely.

Xie Lian looked down suspiciously, panting as they broke apart.

“San Lang?”

“Gege?”

“Your…”

“Mmm?” he asked, fully aware of what he was looking embarrassed about.

“Are you heating your skin?”

Ah. Apparently he had instead noticed the other thing.

“Only because I’m ever so cold, gege. That’s why I need you close. Thank you very much for keeping this unworthy one warm.”

Xie Lian huffed and stifled his smile. “You’re a furnace.”

“I could turn this into a hot spring, if gege would prefer that.”

“That won’t be necessary,” he grumbled.

“Does gege prefer me warm? Or cold? Pick a temperature,” he teased.

Xie Lian fixed his gaze, suddenly direct. “I prefer San Lang however he is,” he said simply.

Hua Cheng closed his mouth. He would never get used to the way Xie Lian could wallop him with words sometimes.

***

They bathed in the stream each day, and Xie Lian kissed him somewhere new each day- under a tree, at the table, on their mat at night. They were still just split second pecks where he would pull back quickly and look embarrassed, but Hua Cheng didn't mind.

Xie Lian would get a strange look in his eyes when he did, like he was about to ask Hua Cheng for something, but thought better of it each time.

Hua Cheng let him keep his thoughts to himself. Xie Lian would ask when he was ready, and only then. No more pushy, whiny Hua Cheng. He was resolute about this. Mostly.

Xie Lian was also still sufficiently shy that he kept his undershirt and trousers on in the stream, but Hua Cheng was less so, and stripped off his shirt, noting with satisfaction that Xie Lian’s mouth went slack and eyes went glassy when he did.

On the fifth, perfect day, they ambled back to the cottage dripping wet. Hua Cheng could steam the clothes with a wave of a hand, but he was enjoying the clinging whites of Xie Lian’s robes just a little too much.

“San Lang,” he scolded.

“Hmm?”

“I just asked you what you wanted for dinner. Twice.”

“Buns,” he muttered, eyes on Xie Lian’s…

“Steamed buns? I have some, but we had that for lunch, are you sure? There’s nothing you’re craving?” said Xie Lian, distracted as they reached the cottage and he stroked the new door happily in greeting, and walking inside.

Hua Cheng paused in the doorway for a moment. 

Xie Lian noticed. “San Lang?”

“Well,” he said delicately. “There are some feasts and celebrations, taking place. In Ghost City.”

Xie Lian’s eyes widened.

“Why didn’t you say anything!”

Hua Cheng stayed quiet as Xie Lian fretted with his hands in the air. “We should be there, the sun has already set, we’re going to be late!”

“We cannot be late to something thrown in my honour. It will start whenever we arrive. But we do not have to go.”

“Why wouldn’t we go!? Your people want to see you!”

“I would always rather jump in a freezing stream with you than see my people.”

Xie Lian scoffed. “We can easily do both.”

Hua Cheng inclined his head. “Only as you wish. Let us take in the night air in the city, then.”

“Yes, let’s,” Xie Lian replied, beaming up at him. Hua Cheng returned the smile, winking at him and watching him blush. 

Xie Lian turned back to him. “Shall we?”

“Of course. After you, gege; I wouldn’t want to deprive you of using the door,” he said, gesturing. Xie Lian always looked a little crestfallen when he didn’t get to be the one to turn the new handle.

Xie Lian chuckled. “Alright then.”

He cheerfully opened the door and walked through it, already talking about the lanterns in the streets and the merriment and how it would be so much fun to see the ghost citizens again without accidentally setting anything on fire this time, he really was very sorry about that, won’t happen again. 

A feeling of warmth. He looked down in surprise. Xie Lian had taken his hand.

Xie Lian looked up at him, smile shy. He squeezed Hua Cheng’s hand, and they strolled down the mountain together as the stars slowly came out to shine, deciding without words to take a longer way there and let their clothes dry.

***