Archive of Our Own

Xie Lian spent the first few years after his second banishment getting accustomed to living life alone on the road. Previously, as a prince and as a god, he had never been alone. He had always had Feng Xin and Mu Qing by his side, and his father and mother were always within arms reach. As a god, he had brought his attendants to heaven with him and he could still hear the prayers of his parents and know they were close. Even during his first banishment, he wasn’t truly alone until the very end and even then a loyal wrath ghost had found him and sworn himself to Xie Lian.

Now however, Xie Lian truly was alone.

He was at peace with what happened. There was no way for him to change the past. And with his two shackles, he could only live out his penance hoping that the dispersion of his luck and good fortune might help someone who needed it. He had failed to save the common people, but he had learned that just one person was enough, so now he traveled, never staying in one place too long, offering his services to help those in need, helping one person at a time.

It wasn’t long however for the loneliness to overtake him. Moving from one place to the next frequently to avoid his bad luck affecting those around him prevented him from forming any lasting relationships. Never having stable shelter made his days long and his nights longer. It didn’t help that he was frequently plagued by nightmares about his past mistakes.

He saw his parents, swaying from the rafters, in his dreams he often ran into the room right as they performed the deed, always too late to save them. He saw Mu Qing laughing at him with the other heavenly officials, only too happy to scorn the upright master he once served who resorted to thievery. He saw Feng Xin, turning his back on him never to look back. Walking toward a brighter future that awaited him - one without Xie Lian.

Worst of all though, he saw his last believer consumed by the vengeful spirits. In his dreams he could hear that anguished scream as Wu Ming’s being very soul was ripped to shreds. The pain that Xie Lian should have bore himself since it was by his hand the spirits were released.

He could rationalize his parent’s decision to leave this world - after all Xie Lian had given them nothing to live for. He wishes he could have been enough.

He understands Mu Qing and Feng Xin finding their way back to heaven. They were destined to ascend. They deserved the praise and accolades of mortals and heavenly officials a like. He was even a little bit proud of them as he watched their temples increase and their followers grow.

There was nothing he could rationalize about the young ghost general that sacrificed his existence for Xie Lian.

Xie Lian should have taken the brunt of spirits. He should have endured the pain of having his body and soul ripped a part. He deserved to be the one to have his existence snuffed out. It would have only been right for him to bear the burden of the choices he made.

Several hundred years passed slowly. Xie Lian continued his training, continued his cultivation, and continued his penance. He didn’t want to ascend again. He just wanted to be that one person. Because after all just one person was enough.

He learned many things on his travels, skills for repairing and trading the scraps he collected, techniques for building shelter, (he tried to learn to sew but he seemed to never get the hang of it), and he learned new cultivation techniques. He had stumbled upon ways to summon the souls of the dead. Some methods righteous for bringing peace to those that passed, others demonic that wished to control the dead. He wanted to use those techniques to summon Wu Ming, to apologize, to fulfill any final wishes for the ghost, but Wu Ming’s soul had been dispersed. There was nothing left for Xie Lian to summon and Xie Lian couldn’t stand the thought of completing a summoning ritual only to have his greatest regret confirmed - that his loyal ghost was truly no more.
-
Xie Lian was spending that summer in a mountain village in the north. He had assisted with ridding the village of a group of Binu that had infested the forest surrounding the village and had stayed to assist with spring planting. With the Binu gone, the forest sprang to life with greenery and fresh flowers. Each little white wild flower a mocking reminder to Xie Lian of that ghost and his final offering. The daily reminder was overwhelming to Xie Lian. Day in day out, walking to the village farms, meditating in the forest, the wild flowers are watching him, whispering to him about his greatest failure,
and finally he couldn’t bear it any longer, he had to at least try.
-
Xie Lian spent the next few weeks gathering the appropriate materials for a summoning ritual and saving his meager funds to purchase high quality cinnabar.

Over the course of several days he gathers as many of the white wild flowers as he could, he laid his only blanket in a sunny spot next to the abandoned shrine in the woods he’s turned into a home and arranged the flowers in a single layer on the blanket to dry over several days. He sleeps in only his outer robe at night and shivers in the cool mountain air. When the flowers are dry he gathers them into a clean pouch.

He travels to the larger village at the bottom of the mountain and spends his last penny on high quality cinnabar and gold foiled paper and oil.

He returns to the small shrine and places his treasures in a safe spot.

Now that the spring planting is over, Xie Lian recluses himself from the village activity and spends most of his time close to the small shrine meditating to build up what little spiritual power he can maintain with two cursed shackles in preparation for the summoning.

He waits until the hungry ghost festival, when the deceased will be more inclined to visit the living and the veil between the two realms becomes weak, to perform his ritual.

He burns the flower petals with the golden notes and oil in bowl until it chars completely to a deep black powder, he then adds it to the cinnabar, mixing and grinding until it is fully incorporated.

Xie Lian glances around the small shrine at the area he prepared for the ritual. The floor is clean and clear of debris and he found a section free of rot large enough for him to draw the array. He looks over to the small altar where the deity of this shrine stands, he turns the small red figure around so it can’t watch him.

He draws the array. Carefully, tenderly, with all the hopes and regrets poured into it. He checks every corner, every detail, every sigil for errors and finds none.

It’s time.

Zhong yuan only lasts a night and Xie Lian cannot waste this chance.

He kneels in the center of the array and uses both of his hands to infuse the array with the remainder of his spiritual power, the toll it takes exhausts him to the point where he almost blacks out - but he holds on - he has to hold on for his last believer so he grits his teeth and forces his eyes to stay open concentrating on the mid point of the array.

And he waits.

The ritual is complete the summoning done but the night is silent.

No one appears.

“No” Xie Lian chokes out in a hoarse whisper.
“No!” Xie Lian shouts again in an anguished scream pounding his fist on the floor.

His cries continue until he loses consciousness. Too weary to hold on.

When he awakes it is dawn and he is alone.
-
Hua Cheng knows he has mortal believers. Some he saved from the jaws of mount tonglu, some worshipped him after he defeated those 33 imposters who called themselves gods.

For the most part Hua Cheng chooses to ignore them. They can keep worshipping him if they wish. He doesn’t need worshippers to maintain his power but it doesn’t hurt to have a few. Hua Cheng is mercurial by nature, caring only for his god, and only assists these mortal worshippers when the whim arises or it aligns with his goals.

Hua Cheng, however, has never encountered a prayer he couldn’t ignore - until now.

Considering Hua Cheng has largely ignored his believers, he doesn’t realize what is happening to him at first. He feels his soul being pulled out of his body and desperately fights against whatever has taken hold of him.

When the whirlwind ceases he can only look ahead to see the rotted walls of a dwelling. He blinks several times unsure of what to make of it. No being in all three realms should be capable of capturing a supremes soul. The only suspect he can think of his Jun Wu but even then Hua Cheng should have been able to fight it.

A sound suddenly breaks the silence coming from somewhere around Hua Cheng. It is a devastating noise that Hua Cheng had hoped to never hear again - the sound of His Highness in anguish. A feeling of fear and hopelessness rush through Hua Cheng, he hasn’t felt this way in centuries, not since before he emerged from the kiln of Mount Tonglu as a supreme. Has some sick creature and captured him here to play his worst fears?

For a long time Hua Cheng is unable to move. Unable to comfort his highness in his cries he’s brought back to the feeling of impotence he had as a weak ghost fire and a worthless wrath unable to save his highness from pain.

Slowly, over several hours Hua Cheng begins to feel the bond weaken. Gathering all of his hatred, anger, resentment, love and devotion inside of himself, he sends out a burst of evil qi so profound it breaks him free from what has captured him. As his soul begins to drift back to the place he left his physical manifestation of his body he sees His Highness slumped in the middle of a summoning array, splinters scattered around him and he realizes this wasn’t some nefarious plot to capture a ghost king, but a the last ditch effort of a god to summon their last believer.
-
When Xie Lian awakes he is alone.

Truly alone.

As dawn breaks over the forest he slowly gathers himself and begins to tidy the shrine. The icon of the deity of the shrine had shattered in the night and left splinters across the floor of the shrine. Xie Lian sighs to himself, obviously a god would have been angered at the summoning of a ghost inside their shrine.

He gathers his things together, securing his bamboo hat to his head and slinging his pack of scraps over his shoulder. There was nothing left for him in this village. He plucks a final wildflower from beside the dirt road and gently examines it as he begins to stroll away from the shrine. From the corner of his eyes a flash of silver crosses his vision. He looks up to see an ethereal silver butterfly flap their wings towards him gently alighting on the flower held in his hands. He admires it briefly, smiling at the unusual spirit, the butterfly flexes its wings for several moments then flutters off disappearing into the tree branches above.

Xie Lian is suddenly filled with a sense of hope. He could not summon Wu Ming but there are still beautiful things left in this world for Xie Lian to see, and even if it took 800 years of penance, Xie Lian would spend every moment living on for the ghost that sacrificed everything.

As Xie Lian begins his departure he is suddenly interrupted by the sound of voices. Two men arguing in the direction of the shrine where he had just came from.

“These are the directions Pei Ming gave us. Nothings here. We can go back now” said a voice in a sharp tone.

“Are you serious? We all felt the evil qi in this area surge and there are rumors of Binu present here” said another voice “we need to conduct a through investigation and report to Ling Wen”

Xie Lian sighed, he could just move on and leave these heavenly officials to their own devices but he was the one who could provide a thorough explanation to them and let them be on their way to more important matters. After all, the chances of him being identified by heavens current generation of gods was pretty slim. There were only three gods that he had a close enough relationship to that they could identify him, but two of them had their territory in the south and rarely ventured this far north and Jun Wu would be wasting his time on an expedition like this.

Xie Lian turned around and made his way back towards the shrine.

“Might I …” he started to speak as he walked into the clearing where the shrine was but suddenly tripped over a tree root stumbling in front of the heavenly officials.

“Your highness!” They both called in unison.

Xie Lian grimaced at the address as he rose back up to his feet “I’m sorry, might I have my lords names?” Xie Lian asked as he dusted dirt from the front of his robes. Suddenly remembering to be polite he belatedly gave them a short bow.

“You don’t have to…”

“His Highness has tarried in the mortal world for too long. It’s no wonder he doesn’t recognize us.”

The sharp comment allows Xie Lian to place the heavenly official in front of him “Ah Mu Qing, this one apologizes for not recognizing you.”

“Don’t apologize! He’s disguised as a mortal, how were you supposed to recognize him?” Said the other man who Xie Lian now realizes must be Feng Xin.

“Your highness, are you ok? you look…” Feng Xin stalls as he fails to come up with an adjective that isn’t an insult to Xie Lians dignity.

Xie Lian scratches his cheek awkwardly. Just his luck that he would run into his former subordinates during these circumstances. Not wanting to watch Feng Xin suffer he chooses to change the subject “um I believe you were discussing an investigation. I might be able to help with it.”

“Did you notice any suspicious activity in the area?” They ask “Any signs of ghost activities?”

Xie Lian rubs his face with his hand like he’s trying to rub the awkwardness away “There were Binu in the area earlier this year but I eradicated them. There shouldn’t be any left.”

Feng Xin and Mu Qing look at Xie Lian waiting for him to continue

“And the summoning of evil qi last night .. umm I may have… inadvertently been involved… “ he trails off not wanting to give all the details.

”…”

Both Feng Xin and Mu Qing stare at Xie Lian blankly for several moments.

“You were trying to summon a ghost?” Mu Qing says cautiously.

“Yes” Xie Lian answers not offering any additional information about the ghost in question. “But I don‘t know how it caused such a fuss that it was felt by the heavenly realm. You see I don’t have much spiritual power hahaha” Xie Lian tries to laugh it off.

Feng Xins brow furrows but Mu Qing jumps right to the next conclusion “but why were you summoning Hua Cheng?”

“Hua Cheng?” Xie Lian looked at them questioningly “who’s Hua Cheng?”

“You don’t know who Hua Cheng is?”
Both Feng Xin Mu Qing say in astonishment
“Crimson rain sought flower?”
“Ruler of ghost city?”
“Destroyer of gods?”
“Supreme ghost king?”
Xie Lian could only shake his head in denial - he had never heard of such a being!

“Then just how did Hua Cheng end up being summoned here? All of heaven felt a surge of evil qi here and this is a shrine to Hua Cheng, who else would have been the culprit?”

“I wasn’t summoning this Hua Cheng, I don’t even know who he is” Xie Lian denies again “I didn’t even know the shrine belonged to a ghost king….” Suddenly the events of the past evening seem to piece themselves together. Xie Lian rushes past the two heavenly officials back into the shrine to the corner where he swept aside the debris left from the summoning.

Xie Lian sifts through the pieces of the shattered icon until he’s able to assemble a face. The small deity looks back at him, wild black hair covering their right eye and their left gleaming with a spark of bloodlust, a smirk gracing their lips. Xie Lian brushes his fingers over the icons face which is about the size of his palm. Feng Xin and Mu Qing have followed him into the shrine watching him silently, put off by his odd behavior. “Is this… is this him?” Xie Lian asks.

“Yeah that’s Hua Cheng” Mu Qing answers “but why do you want to know, I thought you didn’t know who he was?”

“Where… where did he come from?”

“No one really knows, some say he was born deformed and bullied from birth, some say he was a soldier lost in battle” Feng Xin answers.

There’s even more ridiculous tales about him” Mu Qing continues “like he was a fool tormented by the death of his love” he says that part with an eye roll “and an even more far fetched story is that he ascended as a god but refused godhood and jumped back down - all we know for sure is that he entered Mount Tonglus domain as a wisp of a wrath some three centuries ago and against all odds emerged as a ghost king from the kiln within ten years. Since then he’s been an endless headache to the heavens.”

“Where.. where can I find him?” Xie Lian asks in a strained voice clenching his hands into fists at his side.

“I dunno” Mu Qing answers “ghost city is his seat of power - that’s in the east but I don’t know why you’d want to find him. Wait! Your highness where are you going?”

Xie Lian had dashed out of the shrine and made a mad scramble towards the dirt road that led down the mountain ignoring Feng Xin and Mu Qings confused shouts behind him.

Both heavenly officials follow Xie Lian down the mountain trying to get answer from him about why he wants to go to ghost city but Xie Lian won’t answer them. Wu Ming is his and his alone. A heavenly official wouldn’t understand why a long lost ghost general would be worth the pain and suffering of centuries of banishment. If Hua Cheng has some connection to Wu Ming, however tenuous it might be, Xie Lians only hope right now is finding this Hua Cheng.

When Xie Lian reaches the village at the bottom of the mountain, he slows to a walk and begins following a road towards the east.

Feng Xin and Mu Qing soon catch up to him. Their mortal forms holding them back from their true potential. Feng Xin finally within arms reach of Xie Lian pulls him aside “your highness! Just what are you doing?”

Xie Lian pushes Feng Xins arm off of him “I have to find him. Hua Cheng might know where he is and I have to find him”

“Who are you searching for?”

“A friend. Someone who helped me when” Xie Lian looks from Mu Qing to Feng Xin “when I had no one else.” Feng Xin brow furrows and he looks away. Mu Qings face remains blank.

“So if you’re not going to help me find him then just leave.” At the words ‘leave’ Feng Xin protest “your highness!“ Xie Lian clenches his jaw readying Rouye “and don’t try to stop me” when he sees neither Feng Xin or Mu Qing are going to make a move he turns and continues making his way eastward.

“Just let him, if his highness has fallen so low that he wants to collude with the ghost realm why stop him?” Mu Qing remarks snidely

“Fuck You!” Feng Xin shouts at Mu Qing “obviously we’re missing some information”

“What are we missing? He tried summoning Hua Cheng and when that failed he’s going to seek him out in person!”

Xie Lian could hear Feng Xin reply with his fist but Xie Lian continues in his steps undeterred by their scuffle.

As the sounds of the two enraged heavenly officials fade behind him, Xie Lian spies another silver butterfly on the road ahead and runs to catch up to it. It stays just out of reach enticing Xie Lian to follow it along the road. However it suddenly flits out of his view right as he hears Feng Xin and Mu Qing end their brawl and run back over to him. “Alright, your highness. If you’re insistent on going to ghost city I’ll draw a teleportation array for you. But we’re coming with you to make sure nothing happens”

“Not sure if that’s necessary haha” Xie Lian laughs awkwardly “you know very well I can handle myself.”

“Hua Cheng is dangerous. We’ve encountered him several times and each time is less pleasant than the last.” Feng Xin says

“We’d at least be able to get you out of ghost city before he eats you alive” adds Mu Qing “that’s all we’re offering.”

“I don’t know if he’d actually hurt me” said Xie Lian casually “after all, what can he possibly do to me that hasn’t already been done?”

“…”

neither Feng Xin nor Mu Qing can muster a reply.
-
Feng Xin draws a teleportation array on the side of a barn door on their way out of the village. Once they step through they find themselves in a dark forest around dusk. “Any path we follow here should take us to the gates of ghost city” Feng Xin instructs.

“What’s your plan?” Mu Qing asks “just waltz into ghost city and announce you have some questions for the city lord?”

“Pretty much” Xie Lian answers truthfully. At this point Xie Lian is almost giddy at the idea of encountering Hua Cheng. If he had known a ghost city existed he would have come here much sooner to seek out any sign of Wu Ming.

He knows better than to hope but finding out that the previous evenings summoning was not a total failure has lit a spark in his heart that had been dimmed for so many centuries.

They walk in silence as they approach the gates of ghost city.

“You don’t have to come with me” Xie Lian addresses the heavenly officials “ if ghost city is dangerous for you then you should leave. I don’t think the ghost realm sees an old banished god as much of a threat” he chuckles lightly before continuing “I really appreciate your assistance. I know you don’t understand but it really means a lot to me” he ends his speech by offering a polite smile to his former generals.

“No way I’m letting you into that cesspool of a city on your own! You’re way too naive, they’d eat you alive” Mu Qing said grabbing Xie Lians arm.

“Yeah I’m not going anywhere. You need some answers for something and I get that. Nothing made sense back then. I don’t get why it has to be him but I’m not standing by to watch another supreme chew you up and spit you out” Feng Xin says resolutely holding Xie Lians other arm.

Xie Lian smiles at them both his eyes turning to crescents “you can just leave if it becomes too much.” Xie Lian repeats himself “I don’t mind.”

“Why aren’t you getting this? I’m not leaving!” Feng Xin all but shouts.

“Yeah you’re stuck with us whether you like it or not” Mu Qing says with an eye roll but Xie Lian can see through him and knows he means it.

Thusly, they traverse the gates of
Ghost city together.
-
Ghost city, a city of the dead, feels more alive than any city Xie Lian has ever ventured in before. The perpetual dusk of the city skies are contrasted by the bright colorful decorations throughout the city. Lanterns light up the buildings and the inhabitants come in all different shapes and sizes. Xie Lian is mesmerized by the unusual beauty of the city while Feng Xin and Mu Qing seem more offended by its garishness.

Xie Lian approaches a food vendor and watches a vat of eyeballs stewing in a purplish liquid. He is suddenly filled with a sense of confidence for his own cooking abilities. “Doesnt look so bad” Xie Lian mentions to the two gods “look there’s chicken soup over here!” He exclaims as he wanders off towards another stall. He hasn’t had anything to eat today and suddenly feels his stomach rumbling. He approaches the man sized chicken running the stall “one bowl of chicken and noodles please!” He orders with a smile.

“Don’t eat that!” Feng Xin exclaims. “It could be tainted”

“Yeah how do you know if it’s safe for mortal consumptions?” Mu Qing adds.

“It smells pretty good!” Xie Lian says excitedly “and I’ve definitely had worse!”

“…” this doesn’t appear to help his case as Feng Xin and Mu Qing deride his definition of “good food”.

The chicken man comes back with the requested food sitting it down before Xie Lian and stands next to him waiting for something.
“Ah” Xie Lian begins to make a show of digging through his sleeves for spare coins. He turns to chicken man when he comes up empty “ah sorry it appears I can’t-“

“Here”

Feng Xin says as he slaps a few copper coins on the table. “Is that enough?”

The stall owner begins to count the coins looks up at Xie Lian and with a gasp thanks him quickly for the payment and dives back into the kitchen.

“What was that about?” muses Xie Lian out loud but when he looks over to Feng Xin and Mu Qing both of them are staring at Xie Lian oddly.

“What do I have something on my face?” Xie Lian lifts a hand to wipe his face but instead finds that the flash of silver has returned and a small silver butterfly lands on his chop sticks “oh you’re back!” Xie Lian says “did you follow me here?” Xie Lian tries to raise his chopsticks to his mouth but the butterfly seems to be upset by this and begins fluttering around his face and hands preventing him from reaching his mouth with the steaming noodles “shoo shoo” says Xie Lian as he brushes the butterfly away “I’m hungry - let’s find a better spot for you!” Xie Lian picks the butterfly up and places it in his hair sternly commanding the butterfly to “Stay there!” Before returning to his soup.

“Your highness you need to be careful” whispers Feng Xin “hmm why?” Xia Lian replies innocently “that’s a ..” Feng Xin points to the butterfly but he doesn’t want to say it out loud thinking someone else might be listening.

“The butterfly is a servant of Hua Cheng” Mu Qing says in quiet voice eyeing the thing in Xie Lians hair suspiciously. “Oh really!” Xie Lian said excitedly “you’re such a good servant!” Xie Lina coos to the butterfly “Now let me eat” Xie Lian is finally able to take a bite of the steaming mouth watering noodles when suddenly the door to the kitchen of the food stall swings open revealing the chicken owner sitting in a massive bowl of steaming broth scrubbing himself. Xie Lian gapes the noodles falling from his mouth.

“I don’t think I’m hungry anymore “ he states pushing the bowl away from himself.

“Really?” Mu Qing rolls his eyes “we’ll find you something else to eat when we’re done here”

“Oh no need!” Xie Lian exclaims waving his hands. He catches Feng Xin pulling a silver leaf from his sleeves and trying to pass it to him. The awkwardness was just too much for Xie Lian “Let’s go! We have more to explore.” He rises quickly and rushes out of the stall.

The butterfly in his hair takes flight at Xie Lians movement and begins to flutter around him moving back and forth in a specific direction. “I think it wants me to follow it” Xie Lian says excitedly and sets off in the direction the butterfly is traveling.

“Wait your highness!” The two martial gods try to pull Xie Lian back but it was too late - he had already disappeared into the crowded streets.
-
Xie Lian followed the trail of the butterfly through crowded streets and narrow alleys before coming out on an opening in what felt like the center of ghost city. A magnificent building looming before him. Xie Lian tries to read the entrance couplet to identify what kind of establishment it is but the hand writing is so offensive he can barely make out a single character. The butterfly circles in front of the entrance to the building several times bringing Xie Lians attention back to it before disappearing inside. Xie Lian takes a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever he will find inside before taking steps towards the entrance. Rouye nervously twitches in its place around his wrist causing Xie Lian to reach out and stroke the silk band subconsciously comforting both it and himself.

To his surprise upon entering, Xie Lian finds himself in a gamblers den. Maybe he had been wrong about the butterfly leading him to Hua Cheng. Xie Lian scanned the crowd looking for a man that resembled the pitiful icon in that mountain shrine but he puts that idea out of his mind. Rarely did gods (or ghosts) resemble their effigies.

As Xie Lian looked around the room taking in the sights a croupier approached him “Has Daozheng come to play?”

“Ah I’m sorry!” Xie Lian said waving his hands “I don’t have any money on me. I hope that’s ok”

“No worries” the croupier reassured “money is not the only thing accepted here. The gamblers den accepts many types of collateral”

“Might I just observe?” Xie Lian asked again.

“Right this way.” The croupier instructed leading Xie Lian to a table in the center of the room “Daozheng is lucky tonight, our Lord is in residence tonight and is taking bets.”

Xie Lian startles at this news “Hua Cheng is here?”

“Yes indeed Chengzhu is here” the croupier replies glancing at a spot beyond the gambling table. Xie Lian follows her gaze to see a raised dais with curtains hiding its single occupant from full view, only allowing for a hazy outline of a seated man to be visible.

Xie Lian watches as several bets are placed against the house. Some won but most lost. Xie Lian watches the man behind the curtain silently signaling to the croupiers the bets he was taking. The croupiers seemed to know what to do and the Lord of the gamblers den seemed to not have to interfere. That was until a mortal man approached the table and requested a truly outrageous bet.

The ghost behind the curtain let out a chuckle in amusement , like the man at the table was a toy at his disposal “No.” a deep voice sounded sending a shiver down Xie Lians spine “you could bet your shit life and it would be worthless to me.”

Xie Lian gasps at the sound of that voice. Mesmerized by its timbre, Xie Lian closes his eyes picturing the deep voice coming from behind a smiling mask.

Lost in his own thoughts, Xie Lian misses the negotiating between the mortal man and the ghost king only coming back to himself when the gamblers den erupts in shouts and jeers as the results were called.

He watches the mortal man win his bet and walk away leaving a gap at the front of the table. Before Xie Lian knew what he was doing he approached the table “I wish to make a bet” the croupiers were all silent at Xie Lians announcement and to the shock of all present, the Lord of ghost city replied to his petitioner “what does my honored guest desire?”

The gamblers den fell silent at this address.
Xie Lian could feel the eyes of ghosts, spirits, and mortals a like fall on him.
“honored guest?”
“Who is this Taoist?”
“Why would our lord address a priest this way?”
The voices tittered around him.

“I wish..” Xie Lian paused taking a deep breath in “I wish for information.”

“I will gladly grant whatever information you desire. Although I know a great many secrets” at this many beings in the gamblers den cheered their Chengzhu’s superior knowledge “I cannot guarantee I know what my honored guest desires, what information do you seek?”

Xie Lian could do this “I wish to know what became of the ghost named Wu Ming” if Hua Cheng *was* Wu Ming or at least knew what had happened to the ghost then this is the moment Xie Lian would find out. Xie Lian watched Hua Cheng signal to the croupier below “our lord will take your bet. What does Daozheng offer as collateral?”

Xie Lian didn’t have much on him at the moment and he couldn’t offer a ghost king scraps as a bet. As an immortal the only thing he really possesses is time and lots of it “I owe the ghost Wu Ming my life, I would offer my life in servitude to my Lord” Xie Lian replies thickening his face for rejection.

“The ghost Wu Ming was a weak and pathetic, worthless wrath that failed in its purpose to protect the one it loved” the ghost kind said in a voice that bordered on anger - or was it regret - Xie Lian couldn’t parse the tone “I’m sure Daozheng has something else on him he could bet”

Xie Lian reached in his sleeve and remembered he had the reminder of the cinnabar ink he had created “what about a proprietary mix of yin energy infused cinnabar capable of summoning a ghost king?”

“Deal” Hua Cheng answered with a wave of his hand. “Highest wins”

Xie Lian laughs internally at his odds. He was bound to lose but perhaps Hua Cheng would be willing to grant him an audience now that Xie Lian had caught his attention. Xie Lian picked up the dice cup shaking it vigorously before throwing the die. To his astonishment he rolls a one and a two. Still a terrible roll , as those observing on the side lines are eager to point out, but better than Xie Lians usual luck.

“Three” the croupier announces and then Hua Cheng makes his move elegantly tossing the dice on the table. They roll to a stop in front of Xie Lian. Snake eyes.

“Two” the croupier announces “the honored guest wins” the croupier then turns to Xie Lian “our lord wishes for you to approach” as she directs him towards the dais.

Xie Lians heart is hammering in his chest as he takes the steps towards the top of the dais one at a time. He wants to rush in there and grab the ghost and tell him everything but he still has doubts piercing his heart.

When he reaches the top of the stairs, the ghost king greats him on the other side of the curtains, slowly he parts the curtain holding his hand out for Xie Lian to take. Xie Lian meets Hua Chengs gaze, gentle and reassuring, and he takes the hand offered to him all hesitation banished from his mind.

“Your highness” Hua Cheng whispers as he pulls Xie Lian through the curtains and Xie Lian realizes he must have activated a teleportation array because they are no longer in the gamblers den but in a private, much quieter, room.

“It’s you” Xie Lian says in a whisper as he cups Hua Chengs cheek with his hand “My Wu Ming.” Xie Lian states it as the fact it is as tears prick at the corners of his eyes.

“Your highness I’m sorry. I wasn’t strong enough” Hua Chengs says in a broken voice.

“You were strong enough, you changed everything. How are you still here?” Xie Lian grabs at the front of Hua Chengs clothes verifying that there is a physical body before him and not a phantom.

“I wandered as a wrath on the verge of dispersal. I found mount tonglu and used its kiln to build my strength. I couldn’t … I couldn’t let go … I couldn’t leave. I tried to find you. I looked everywhere. And then last night … I didn’t know what was happening. It didn’t make any sense until I realized it was you”

“Wu Ming, Chengzhu -“
“Your highness can call this on San Lang”
“San lang - why do you choose to stay in this world?”
“Because I have a beloved who is still in this world. I wish to protect them”
Xie Lian had heard those words before and using his memory asked the same question he had asked that ghost fire all those centuries ago.
“But you won’t rest in peace?”
“I pray to never rest in peace!” Hua Cheng declared firmly and Xie Lian surged forward embracing the ghost king fully and covering the ghost king’s lips with his own.

“Your highness!” Hua Cheng exclaims in shock “how did you know?”

“That I was your beloved?” Xie Lian asked and Hua Cheng nodded in response. “Honestly I was always a little suspicious because why would a ghost follow me around while I was pretending to be a calamity when you could seek out your beloved” Xie Lian laughed a little awkwardly at the reference to his calamity era “and then last night when I .. when I… performed the ritual”

“Mn” Hua Cheng nodded in agreement “no one should have been able to summon a soul of a supreme unless..”

“Unless your soul was tied to me for some reason. Like the very foundation of your souls existence was inextricably linked to my own” Xie Lian reached down to grasp Hua Chengs hand interlocking their fingers. “I didn’t know who you were or that you were a supreme until -“

“Until your servants told you”

“Hmm” Xie Lian nodded “although they’re not my servants”

“They’re useless regardless” Hua Cheng snorted

“San Lang!” Xie Lian chided “so you were watching me with that butterfly?”

“I’m sorry your highness, I tried to come as soon as possible but by the time I broke free and could summon a physical form your servants were already there and … and finding you was enough. I didn’t need to interfere.”

“Although I wasn’t expecting your highness to rush to ghost city right away” he said with a chuckle.

Xie Lians face went red at the realization that San Lang must have witnessed his desperate attempts to make his way to ghost city as soon as possible.

“This San lang is just happy you’re here. Now, your highness, please humor this San Lang and accompany me for a meal?” He said with a small smile “after all I don’t believe your highness has eaten yet”

“Oh San Lang is too kind” the events of the noodle shop came rushing back to Xie Lians memory “San lang! That was you? With the butterfly?”

“I couldn’t possibly let your highness eat that trash! Not when I can serve your highness the finest foods in all three realms” Xie Lian laughed, thankful once again for his San lang for saving the day.

“You know calling me “your highness” is much too formal especially if we’re like this?”

“Like what?” Hua Cheng asked in an innocent tone

“Like -“ xie Lian couldn’t bring himself to say it.

Hua Cheng let out a laugh, a real one this time “how about Gege? After all your highness is older than me”

Xie Lian smiled. “That’s perfect”
-
The next day:

“Oh Feng Xin and Mu Qing! Where are they?” Xie Lian suddenly exclaimed over breakfast the next day “I lost them on my way to the gamblers den and should make sure they made it out of the city alright”

Hua Cheng sighed like he was greatly put upon to expend any energy on the erstwhile heavenly officials. “No gege, they’re still in ghost city”

“Oh San Lang, we should probably let them know I succeeded in my mission coming here and that they can leave with peace of mind”

“Fine Gege but don’t blame me”

Xie Lians looked questioningly at Hua Cheng but all Hua Cheng did was toss a set of dice up in the air. A moment later Feng Xin and Mu Qing dropped in - literally- to the dining room where Xie Lians and Hua Cheng were eating.

“The generals Nan Yang and Xuan Zhen my lord” came a voice from behind the heavenly officials and Xie Lian saw another man with a mild presence in a woefully smiling mask.

“Thank you waning moon” Hua Cheng motioned for his officer to be dismissed and the man left the room.

“Your highness!” Feng Xin and Mu Qing shouted in unison “Hua Cheng what have you done to him?”

“Nothing nothing!” Xie Lian replied placatingly rising from his chair and approaching Feng Xin and Mu Qing to ensure they’re ok “he hasn’t done anything!”

“Hasn’t done anything?” Feng Xin was livid. “We’ve been stuck in a maze array for the past six hours!”

“Well you did try to break into my house” Hua Cheng answered with a glare.

“Because you kidnapped his highness!” Feng Xin exclaimed

“Oh no oh I am here willingly! I won a bet!“ Xie Lian interjected as if that cleared everything up “San Lang and I were just catching up”
“San lang?” Feng Xin Questioned
“Catching up?” Mu Qing echoed
“Yes um” Xie Lian looked to Hua Cheng unsure of how much he was willing to share.

“We met previously” Hua Cheng succinctly filled them in.

“You’re the ghost he’s been searching for?!?” Feng Xin shouted angrily “Xie Lian is this true?”

“Uh yes. We met before San Lang became a supreme so I didn’t recognize him. Everything is fine now. I appreciate your help on finding ghost city but as you can see .. well.. I’m planning on staying with San Lang for the time being seeing as we just reunited”

Hua Cheng smiled adoringly at Xie Lian much to the consternation of the heavenly officials “Gege can stay forever if he likes” Hua Cheng said casually as he leaned back in his chair toying with the red bead in his hair.

“Gege?” Feng Xin and Mu Qing gape at the familiar address

“Ah San lang “ xie Lian waves him away blushing.

“But you hate the gods!” Feng Xin exclaims “how do we know you won’t abuse him as soon as we leave?”

“Ahhahah Feng Xin have you forgotten I’m not a god-“

“His Highness is the one true god, the only god worth worshipping. Unlike those imposters you call heavenly officials.” Hua Cheng states narrowing his eyes at them.

Feng Xin opens his mouth ready to rise to the bait when Mu Qing interrupts him “it’s you!”

Feng Xin, Xie Lian, and Hua Cheng all turn to look at Mu Qing who is pointing a finger at Hua Cheng “you’re the brat who fell during the parade!”

Xie Lian looks to Hua Cheng confused “San lang?”

Mu Qing catches on looking to Xie Lian “You didn’t know? See, how can you trust him when he keeps secrets”

Hua Cheng bristles at this but Xie Lian collects himself and breezily replies “like I said we were just catching up. It’s been several centuries, we have a lot of ground to cover.”

But Hua Cheng doesn’t let it go, rising to his full height he approaches Mu Qing, “and just what else might the honorable Xuan Zhen recognize me from?”

Mu Qing gulps before he says two words “Beizi Hill”

“That’s right, Beizi Hill, the day before you kicked me out of the Xianle Army.”

“Mu Qing” Xie Lian gasps in a whisper hearing this story for the first time.

“He was a child and had no place being in the army, soldiers were dying every day.”Mu Qing turned to face Hua Cheng “I did you a favor. Is this grudge you’ve been holding against me for 300 years?”

“Not the only one” Hua Cheng answered “I seem to remember you ascended right after you found a plot of blessed land to cultivate in. Lucky for you, blessed land is hard to come by, difficult to ascend without the boost it gives your cultivation.”

Mu Qings pale face went three shades paler. “The other gods - you murdered them, do you know about this Xie Lian?” Mu Qing said turning to Xie Lian.

Xie Lian really wasn’t interested in airing anyone’s dirty laundry right now, especially not his own.

“Yes, they made a bet and lost” Xie Lian said simply, many pieces of his past were finally coming together but he managed to keep a composed face.

“We could make another bet” Hua Cheng said smirking at the martial gods and both of them shrink back.

“Now that you see I’m fine and that San lang isn’t a threat to me. You can return to the heavens. I only asked San Lang to summon you here because I had promised that to you earlier.”

“But” Feng Xin begins to protest steeling himself “you’re highness I’m not leaving”

“Why not?” Hua Cheng asks sarcastically “after all you did such a good job of leaving his highness some three hundred years ago.”

“You!” Feng Xins face turns red and he pulls his bow out “I don’t see how you’re any better considering we found his highness impoverished and alone on the mountain.”

Xie Lians rubs his face with his hands“Ahaha that’s not ..” he trails off with a sigh “Feng Xin could you not fight about me like I’m not standing right in front of you?”

Feng Xins looks at Xie Lian again and this time notices some changes. Xie Lians hair is brushed and clean, he’s wearing new robes, simple ones but obviously made of fine material, he still has the bamboo hat secured around his neck but Xie Lian also has a silver chain around his neck that wasn’t there before.

“Now if you’re not leaving, you’re welcome to stay for breakfast” Xie Lian offers with a smile his eyes crescents “but I’ll have to prepare some more food for us so if San Lang could show me to the kitchen-” before Xie Lian can finish both Mu Qing and Feng Xin make their move to depart
“We’ll be on our way your highness”
“No need to prepare food for us”
“We’ve over stayed our welcome” as both gods begin to ascend, bright heavenly light surrounding them, Feng Xin turns back towards Hua Cheng “I’ll be back, if you’ve touched touch a hair in his head…” Feng Xin says with a threat but Hua Cheng just glances at him innocently.

Once the martial gods have ascended, Xie Lians once again rushes to Hua Cheng and embraces him “San Lang!” He exclaims “you really have followed me all this time?”

“Your highness” Hua Cheng replies returning the embrace “I am forever your most devoted believer.”