Chapter Text
Opening his eye Hua Cheng looks down at Xie Lian.
Even though Gods doesn't need to sleep, the events of yesterday took a toll on his mind and he slept soundlessly.
Outside the window, the sky was lighter than a few hours before.
Being that the Ghost City was at the border of the human and ghost realms,
Its sky mirrored that of a polar night¹.
Hua Cheng slowly gets up trying not to disturb Xie Lian. When he successfully gets out of bed, he sends a communication array message to his subordinates, to clear his schedule and not to disturb him.
Then he sends another message to the cook to prepare a light meal for two and to make it suitable for human or God consumption.
With those minor tasks finished Hua Cheng looked over to the portrait still sitting on top of the nightstand and put it inside the drawer of the nightstand not wanting Xie Lian to see it again and walked to the small sitting area in the room.
The room itself isn't large or extravagant, especially considering that Paradise Manor is brilliantly decorated.
It was simple and modest, everything was wood from the wardrobe, writing desk, and nightstand to the large bed and chairs in the sitting area.
If there was fabric it was a simple white cloth, no patterns in sight.
This contradicted how Hua Cheng wanted to shower Xie Lian in luxury.
Though the room looked plain, everything in there was made of the highest quality, from the bedpost to the rug that was under Hua Cheng's feet as he crossed his legs on the small padded chair.
Hua Cheng's mind was a jumble of thoughts when a maid knocked on the door announcing their arrival with the meal.
Hua Cheng watches as they place the food on the small table,
that they placed in front of him in the sitting area; Jasmine tea, a plate of steam buns, and two bowls of light soup noodles quickly filled the table.
With this site an idea came to Hua Cheng that might just help.
With the smell of food in the air Xie Lian finally rose from his slumber, rubbing at his eyes and stretching his back. Hua Cheng looked over with a strained smile on his face as he walked over to the sleepy prince.
"Good morning, Gege."
Xie Lian looked over at Hua Cheng with drowsiness clouding his eyes and mind,
"Morning, San Lang-" he answers back with a cough, suddenly remembering what occurred the night before, his expression changed
"What happened last night." He said in a low voice, trying not to cough again.
His throat was dry and sore still with a prickling pain around his neck from where the rope burned.
"A lot of things," Hua Cheng replied, "and we'll talk about them later. But first, let us eat, you didn't have dinner last night"
Hua Cheng's cold hands held Xie Lian's warm ones and led him to the sitting area.
Pulling out a chair Hua Cheng places Xie Lian in front of the food, the steam wafting up towards their faces and enveloping them in the delicious smell.
Taking his seat Hua Cheng started to serve them food. The entire time since coming out of bed Xie Lian has been watching Hua Cheng with hesitant eyes, worry coloring his face.
Xie Lian tried touching his neck but what greeted him was newly healed skin and a searing pain.
Having served them their food and pouring their tea, Hua Cheng leaned back in his chair, looking at Xie Lian with a complicated look on his face.
Feeling like he needed to do something with his hands Xie Lian
Looks down at the table, picks up a steam bun, and starts eating, bit by bit.
Some time passes and Xie Lian moves on to start eating the noodles when Hua Cheng finally speaks.
"Gege,"
His voice was low
Startled Xie Lian looks up, a noodle hanging from his mouth.
Swallowing the noodle he answers back
"Mn?"
Hua Cheng was looking down at his hands
"I don't know how to help you Gege,
If you need me to hurt someone I can
If you need me to exact revenge for you I will. But this…I- " He looks up at Xie Lian with love and sorrow In his eye, his voice cracking every few words. "-I can only give you, my love, and my ear to hear you out, to listen to your problems and I promise to never judge you for them"
By the last word Hua Cheng was already kneeling by Xie Lian's feet and holding his hands "Gege, this ghost is sorry for not being of better help. Please let me help you carry the burden of your pains"
Xie Lian was so shocked that Hua Cheng was kneeling, he stood up and started pulling him up "San Lang! Oh please get up" not wanting him in that position.
He held Hua Cheng in a hug, getting him off his knees.
"San Lang, you never need to say sorry to me for my actions." By now they both had their arms wrapped around each other in a tight embrace, Xie Lian's head tucked under Hua Cheng's chin. Though the ghost didn't have a heartbeat Xie Lian still felt his body shaking
"Thank you. Thank you for saying that you will help me carry this pain" Xie Lian pulls away a bit to look up at Hua Cheng, tears spilling out from the sides of his eyes.
"Please don't mind that I'll take you up on that offer often"
Hua Cheng looks down at Xie Lian with a small smile, tears trailing down his eye.
"I wouldn't mind at all"
He pulls Xie Lian in and hugs him tighter.
***
After they held each other for some time, they went back to their meal, discussed small trivial things, and then decided to go out on a walk in the bustling city outside.
They went to the market and looked at the stalls and the goods they sold, they even watched a young busker twirling a leaf between his fingers as he sang ;
~Blow me a tune, from that leaf you took that noon.
And I'll dance in my lover's arms as we dance under the city's charm~
"Come on, Gege"
Hua Cheng pulled Xie Lian into an open space between the onlookers.
He places his hand on Xie Lian's hips
The others holding their hands up, Xie Lian moved his hand to Hua Cheng's shoulder.
"San Lang…"
Smiles appeared on their faces as they danced to the soft melody from the leaf the lady was playing.
Not caring of the crowd surrounding them, simply existing for each other at that moment. They twirled and danced in each other's arms 'till the end of the song.
Breathing heavily as they came to a stop.
"Oooh! Chengzhu truly knows how to dance!" A store owner shouted
"Yeah! It was like I was being blessed as I watched them!" " A lady ghost replied
"Now kiss!" A rascal in the back called out
When he did so, the other ghost started to chant;
"Kiss"
"Kiss"
"Kiss"
The crowd cheered, and Xie Lian came back to reality.
When he listened to the chant
His face to his ears flushed red, and his neck felt extremely hot. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry, covering his cheeks as he looks up at Hua Cheng.
"San Lang" pleading for Him to do something.
But when he looked up he saw a cheeky grin on the Ghost King's face
"That wouldn't be a bad idea…right Gege?"
His face was so close it was mere inches from Xie Lian's,
If Hua Cheng moved any closer he would be able to kiss Xie Lian.
"Kiss"
"Kiss"
"Kiss" the crowds chanting, did not cease for a moment.
"Come on Gege…I'm waiting" That teasing smile grew even more.
Not wanting to lose that smile, Xie Lian wrapped his arms around Hua Cheng's neck and kissed him full on the lips.
He pulled back just as fast as he grabbed him. The crowd was so happy that they cheered on and on, saying their Chengzhu was lucky to have found his true love even after death.
When the merriment died down
Hua Cheng and Xie Lian took their leave, ears burning red.
***
For the next few months, they were simply living… they would sometimes go to the gamblers' den and watch the bets being played and sometimes they just go on walks around the city.
And other times they would go over to the Puqi shrine.
On one of the days that they were visiting, a worshiper came by and prayed for Xie Lian to attend The opening night of a newly built theater in the village.
With no prior plans for that day, Hua Cheng and Xie Lian decided to attend the opening night.
It was smaller than most theaters, which could hold up to nine hundred guests. But this one could hold a comfortable five hundred guests.
There were four sides to this courtyard-style building, at the front there was a door with a large plaque welcoming the guests in.
"a collection of the most famous short acts in the past hundred years," Says the youth clad in red; San Lang, as he reads out the sign standing by the entrance "Hm, Would Gege's heroic deeds be up there?" He teases as they walk in.
"Haha San Lang don't jest, I believe it'll be common stories of ghosts and gods. Nothing too specific" Xie Lian's flowing white cultivator robes swayed
as he pats San Lang's arm that was locked around his.
"Come, let's find our seats"
The farthest wall was a large stage with its roof curving up towards the sky and its pillars a captivating red.
Lanterns hung at the corners of the roof illuminating the bench seats down below.
Using the light of those lanterns Hua Cheng, Xie Lian, and the other guests moved to their seats and waited for the show to begin.
The performance started, and as the stories were told, actors and actresses flew about the stage, their beautiful costumes sparkling in the lamplight.
Xie Lian and Hua Cheng were captivated, especially during the scene when the main character enters the makeshift "ghost city" and all the "ghouls and ghosts" wore masks that looked close to the actual masks the real ghost citizens wore.
Since there was no yin energy coming from the actors, the fear one would feel if they encountered a real ghost wasn't there, and so these were just simple makes that were horrifying to look at.
These people wearing the masks of demons danced about the stage, telling a story of a bustling city of terror and sin.
Xie Lian turned to Hua Cheng and leaned over "They portrayed ghost city quite well, if I don't say so myself.
But what do you think of it, San Lang?"
a small smile appeared on his lips.
"They did well" Hua Cheng looked down at Xie Lian, then looked up again at the stage, his eyes narrowing "but they did portray me the worst I think"
Xie Lian turned toward the stage and saw the "Hua Chengzhu". It was a short old man wearing red robes, decked out in silver and gold jewelry, his long white bead trailing behind him.
"I am Crimson Rain Sought Flower! Hua Chengzhu of the Ghost City! What are you lowly travelers doing in my domain?"
The voice of the old man was not one you would expect, It was high pitched as though he never left adolescence.
It shocked Xie Lian so much that he had to bite his lips to not make a sound. His body was trembling from laughter.
But to his side, Hua Cheng's face was turning dark the more he watched.
"Ridiculous. I've never had such ugly skin before" he said with a huff.
Xie Lian's grip on his stomach tightened as he held in his laughter.
As the night carried on familiar stories were told from
"Adventures in the Kingdom of Banyue"
To stories of General Pei's philandering ways.
The air was filled with laughter and joy.
When the night came to a close, all the actors and actresses came to the front and bowed to the crowd.
Xie Lian, Hua Cheng, and everyone else stood up and clapped for the beautiful performances they witnessed.
~~~
"Aah"
Xie Lian sighed as he plopped down onto the bed in Puqi shrine.
"That was so fun! What do you think, San Lang?" He turned his head towards Hua Cheng who was leaning against the door frame of the room. His arms crossed and his eyes filled with warmth, He chuckles at the sight of the Prince of Xianle laying starfish on the bed with all his hair spread out behind him.
"Yes, yes it was truly fun to watch them perform" He walks over to Xie Lian, and sits down by the silly god.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it Gege."
"Oh yes, I did…"
Xie Lian sits up and slides up to Hua Cheng and lays his head against his shoulder.
"These past few months… I've been really happy. Thank you, San Lang"
Hua Cheng wraps an arm around Xie Lian.
"You're welcome Gege. I'm always here…"
~~~
That night as they slept…
Xie Lian wakes up to a dream,
with Hua Cheng nowhere to be seen.