Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Over the years, he'd seen many places. He'd seen palaces and hovels. He'd seen barren wastelands and populus cities. He had seen quite a lot of places in his hundreds of years.

But there was nowhere quite like the Ghost City.

Ghost City was sprawled in multiple directions - including up. There were colorful banners and signs over the various shops that lined the streets, but if one paid attention, they would start to notice that beyond those, there were further shops and streets and walkways made of other materials, piling up, up into the night.

The Ghost Market was a bit labyrinthine and easy to get lost in, moreso if you didn't realize you'd somehow gone up or around. In a sea of masks or monstrous appearances, one could become even more disoriented. In this place, most who lived there were dead, and the most frequent visitors were also dead - or may soon be, if unfortunate. Those who came here were usually here for specific purposes, usually powerful cultivators or even gods in disguise. Usually those who came in by mistake were led to their deaths. That was the way of fortunes in these places.

Xie Lian was someone who had very poor fortune, so his first foray into the city had been completely by mistake. He hadn’t even quite realized where he had stumbled until he’d found his way to some stall and, on looking closely, realized the soup being ladeled out appeared to be primarily made of writhing hair. He distinctly recalled a story about that happening to someone in the Ghost City, and that was when he’d managed to really take stock of the place and start seeing past its illusions.

To him, one place was as good as any other - he collected scrap after all, he didn't get to be choosy. So long as he was cautious and polite, then the Ghost City could be as hospitable as any city would be to a random traveller who dealt with trash for a living. He was definitely going to have to be extremely careful about his food selection though. There had to be places that mortals could eat while visiting and whatnot, he just had to find them. That might take some doing, but it wasn’t a horribly impossible task.

Xie Lian had sat himself upon the ground outside of an alleyway to try and get his bearings and look over the area better. This is where he’d gotten a proper view of the city’s vertical elements. He tried to size up what he could of shops on the upper paths, the sorts people could be lured to when getting lost. He knew he could handle quite a lot of things in a fight, so something that may be a very dangerous trap to another could be within Xie Lian’s skill level, so long as he chose carefully.

He eventually found a restaurant run by a proprietor who neither licked the tables nor was physically part of the food nor included living materials, and he managed to acquire as plain a meal as possible. This was both for safety reasons - the simpler the creation, the less likely for strange ingredients - and so he didn’t order anything he couldn’t afford. Xie Lian didn’t dare run up a bill with the sorts of folk who’d just as soon make an offensive customer part of the next dish.

While sitting at this stall, Xie Lian was able to watch and listen to other patrons and visitors of the city. He lowered his hat over his face and tried to not draw attention to himself. At least he didn’t have a giant bag of scrap on his person just yet so that was one less thing for others to notice about him. So long as he was quiet, he was of very little interest.

In a place like the Ghost City, all sorts of discussions could be heard and quite plainly too. A mortal was a guest or a trespasser here, so naturally the actual residents could talk about whatever ghoulish subjects were of interest to them freely, rather than having to hide the more grotesque parts of their personalities. This was their territory and they could speak as they liked in it.

Traveling groups of ghostly women chattered about the quality of the skins they’d purchased, about whether their faces were starting to fade or not. They discussed whether or not they needed to kill someone to get a better one - and plenty probably would kill for a nice enough face.

A group of burly guys were having arm wrestling matches at another stall. One of them had six arms so was having several matches at once, to varying degrees of success. A few other ghosts were laughing and cheering over the spectacle, drinks being passed among them. There were apparently regular favorites for this.

Various groups were also discussing local groups and politics. The lord of Ghost City was a frequent topic in the conversations Xie Lian could hear. He was apparently out clearing up the nest of some interloper who kept wanting to take the city over from him - which really, that was the nature of these things wasn’t it? Whoever controlled it had to deal with bids to take over that control, and make displays of power to keep up their own prestige.

The populace in a place like Ghost City needed to be kept some mix of afraid, in awe, and loyal. That was the case in many kingdoms, but one beyond the living was bound to have more takers and more dramatic means. A ghost could do a lot more to a ruler they disliked than a regular citizen could - and ghosts in mass, just like ordinary people in mass, were even more powerful. To add in the mix of groups that worked and lived in this place, the amount of money and power that could be traded here, it took a lot to hold it and keep it.

From what Xie Lian could hear, the current lord had to be a force of personality as well as of power. A ghost in red who the Heavens feared to cross and many spoke of in hushed tones. There were all sorts of topics that circled back to him - conversations on new skins would come back to how fine his were or how varied. Topics on strength would sometimes pick up with how strong he was without always looking it, yet all present were in agreement he looked imposing. Current events, of course, brought up where he was or what he was currently doing or had recently done, and what was being done with him being away from the city.

It seemed his systems were so good that this Hua Chengzhu could go away on business for long periods of time and his home would remain safe. The ghosts were all more than sure of it - even if some would chuckle at the idea of fools trying something. It was apparently a running joke to the residents.

For Xie Lian, it wasn’t much of a deal. He wasn’t local, and he didn’t intend to stay long enough to be of notice to the lord or any of his business. He had no interest in trying to cause trouble in the Ghost City either so it was just intriguing topics of gossip to listen to and get a feel for the area as he sorted himself out. The sights and sounds were more than enough to occupy the tired scrap collector, and he ate and drank slowly as he took this all in. There was no one who seemed interested in bothering him either. Those around were too busy with their own matters to even look in his direction.

From where he sat, there was a decent view on the street below of the Gambler’s Den. It’s wildly written verses were a bit of an eyesore to him at first, but with time to get used to seeing them, Xie Lian was rather getting to think he was growing fond of the horrifying style of caligraphy. There was something unique to it, and there was something about just seeing ‘HAHAHAHAHA’ in the most frightful writing ever that matched the grotesque nature of the place.

It was while he watched this area that he noted something odd. He’d seen a few different cultivators, masked and surreptitious, meeting then parting, meeting then parting, in a little area of stalls near the entrance to the Gambler’s den. They were trying to act casual, seeming like they were bumping into each other at random while shopping, but it all felt very staged. Xie Lian kept a watch on them, mostly for interest’s sake. One of their original ‘group’ disappeared into the Gambler’s Den for a time, and the rest continued their maneuvering. They weren’t quite shopping, but making enough pretense of it to be believed as browsing customers and the like.

A commotion eventually broke out with one of these cultivators starting a fight with a shopkeeper. Another pushed over a stall, and a third separately seemed to nick something from a passerby. All the events seemed disconnected if one hadn’t been watching the members as a group and instead took them as individuals. The pattern and setup and timing were too precise to be random acts taking place at the same time, and Xie Lian was off at once, realizing just what was happening.

The street the stall he was at had been on one of the vertical streets. Armed with that knowledge and a good view, Xie Lian took off running and took a well timed leap. He landed in range of the fray just as the last of this group rushed out of the Gambler’s Den, attempting to get away while his cohorts caused various distractions. With enough mayhem, they seemed to think they wouldn’t be caught.

It was complete chaos. The actual authorities were on the way, but getting caught up in the crowd of rowdy and angry ghosts, which had been the real reason to cause such different diversions. If the ghosts had no idea where the actual perpetrators were, or that they were connected, they could be distracting into fighting each other. Some had joined in purely because a fight was a fight, and sometimes locals just wanted to get in on a screaming match in progress or throw some hits of their own. Other stalls were being pushed around in this process as well.

With quick moves of a trained body, Xie Lian managed to grab each of the cultivators to pull together. He had to yank one from where he was pulling on and shaking a shall, which fell with him, but he let it go after. The next had to be yanked from where he’d been about to be picked up by a surly ogre he’d seemingly tried to pickpocket. It took a little doing but he managed to grab all of them.

In the end, Xie Lian found himself sitting on a pile of masked cultivators who were all cursing their plan going awry.

The upside was, when the actual authorities for the city arrived, led by a masked man in black who others moved aside for swiftly, all of the responsible parties were caught, unable to escape. He had rounded up this entire group of cultivators before any could make off with anything or try to pass stolen goods off.

On the downside, there had been a lot of destruction in his wake.

The stalls that the cultivators had been at were damaged - possibly moreso from Xie Lian’s quick grabs of them. There was a mob of angry ghosts - some had been shopkeepers, some had just been riled up by the cultivators… and some Xie Lian had run through or accidentally shoved while apprehending the cultivators.

And right at the front of the group, quickly coming towards him, was the owner of the stall he’d been eating at…

Whoops.

Chapter Text

“The log of your debt will be kept in the Lord’s offices for safekeeping. As you work for the various businesses in the area, you will be paid a certain portion for your own general needs and expenses, but the majority will be put towards your debt. Record of good work and exemplary behavior will be noted and you may be asked back to jobs. At the end of the week I will tally any progress towards your debt. Any further...mishaps, will be added back in to your total owed.”

Xie Lian adjusted the mask on his face and nodded quietly, listening to the explanation closely.

After his disastrous attempt to help stop a crime that was really none of his business, Xie Lian had racked up a sizeable debt. What he owed for the meal he’d accidentally skipped out on was the least of his problems. All the damages and riled up ghosts had been quite a hassle for the local authorities to handle. But then, so had the cultivators he’d pulled together.

The main person on the scene had been someone called the XiaXianYue Officer, a man in dark robes with a mask that smiled woefully. He seemed like the sort of person who could just disappear into a crowd with ease, but held authority of the Lord’s main administrator and gopher.

He was nothing if not efficient in handling business and the ghosts clearly knew to fall back in his presence. He had soundly rounded up all of the cultivators and Xie Lian, and got some semblance of an orderly list of grievances from the mess of ghosts, and showed them along to a particular dark building in the city that seemed to house any necessary holding cells for business. Not the most high security, but enough for the job.

It had taken half a day of sorting through everything and statements before Xie Lian had been called out to have his situation discussed. There, he’d been given food and asked generally about his business in the city, his identity, and what he’d thought he was doing. After that he was sent back to his cell to finish his meal and await sentencing.

For all intents and purposes, the sentence was far lighter than it could have been - that was certainly something to be grateful for. However, he was a little worried about how long it would keep him in Ghost City and the ability to add more to his debt if any more incidents occurred. With his luck, he’d find a way to double it purely by accident. It was a situation that could be good or go south very easily.

Still, it was nice for now, and that was something. Those cultivators had actually been trying to steal and got far worse for that. They wouldn’t be getting the chance to repay their debts - or if they did, it would not be in such generous working conditions. For Xie Lian, who had had far nastier punishments in his lifetime, this wasn’t so bad at all!

The mask he’d been given, necessary for continuing to live and work in the city, was also rather nice. It was a bright and warm mask with a soft smile and features that made it look quite like a sun. The warm yellow and orange hues were friendly and happy, and there was a sparkle of gold paint to it that he liked. It wasn’t some fine and expensive piece, just painted up to stand out and be bright - and it would certainly make Xie Lian easily able to be picked out of a crowd. As opposed to his current warden, in his dark colors and plain mask who could blend and appear when needed, Xie Lian needed to be picked out - he was the one on probation, after all!

“This mask is very cheerful, thank you for it.” Xie Lian commented, just to say something so he didn’t seem like he was being sullen about the whole business.

“It seemed to suit you.” the officer agreed with a nod, “No one else we picked up then was trying to be polite or smiling awkwardly the whole while.”

“Ah,” Xie Lian laughed nervously, putting a hand in front of his mouth, despite it being hidden already. “Well it was my own error so of course, I am responsible for being brought in. Though really, if you’ve been caught stealing in such a place, would it not be the best idea to not compound the error by being rude to your captors?”

“You’d think.” There was something admirable about how he managed to sound so very tired yet disinterested and resigned all at once.

They continued down the hall to a desk, where the XiaXianYue Officer took his seat and read over a few more notes and rules. Designations of where he’d be living, where he could get basic food - there were apparently other mortal workers in the city, though not for probationary reasons at present. It was interesting to learn and added some more flavor to the city in Xie Lian’s mind.

“You’re going to have to actually give me something we can call you.” The officer continued on, filling out the paperwork he needed to for this matter, “You are not required to give us your actual name if that’s an issue, but preferably no obnoxiously long titles - it doesn’t make for easy calling you when you need to do another task.” It was a little amusing that needed to be stated, but it probably was a very real concern, especially with some ghosts that liked to go with ridiculous titles like ‘Life-Obliterating Ruler of Blood and Destruction’.

Xie Lian blinked, tilting his head to the side as he considered. What should he even call himself here?

In the Ghost City, there were likely to be old enough spirits or demons that might just remember a little fallen god that had disgraced himself and destroyed his own nation. So his real name was out. Besides, it was probably a bad idea to use that for such a position too. Too many chances to have yet more trouble added to his name just left a bad taste in his mouth.

His second consideration was one of his many randomly thrown together aliases, but here of all places, they would be far more obvious and his craftsmanship would probably also be under judgement. When people actually took time to think of their fake names, his would stand out too starkly as badly chosen or hastily done. So that really wasn’t a good thing to do either. He didn’t have the skills to make up a better name with more time to pick either. This was quite difficult!

After a short time considering, not wishing to leave the XiaXianYue Officer waiting, he gave a helpless shrug. “You’ve given me the sunny mask, why not just Sunshine? Will that suffice?”

A beat of silence. Another. Then finally, “It’s as good as anything else we have people using.”

So with that, the final notes were signed, the paperwork was filed, and off they went to Xie Lian’s new living area.

Most workers of this sort shared a living area, a comfortable dorm sort of situation that had separate little areas with mats so those staying for simple jobs would have somewhere small and comfortable to stay, without having to worry about more expensive accommodations. The bathing and eating facilities were separate, so it was really just to sleep and store one’s clothes.

“It’s not much but it’s a place to stay,” one of his fellow workers explained to him as they filed in for dinner. She was a slight, maidenly sort with a large toothy grey mask on her face and a lot of pinpricks on her fingers.

“It’s certainly one of the better accommodations I’ve had.” Xie Lian agreed with a nod, feeling optimistic as he looked over the simple spread for their meal, “It beats a cave and nothing to eat.”

“I guess that’s a way to look at it.” She filled her bowl ahead of him and hummed consideringly. “I don’t think I could quite get to that desperate, or endure it if I did.”

“It takes some time to get used to those sorts of things, especially if you’re used to better.” Xie Lian agreed, adding to his own bowl next. “When I was younger, even different forms of employment felt hard to adjust to.”

“And now you’re a criminal!” a chubby older ghost said, laughing as they took a seat to start eating.

“Ah, yes, I am then.” It was not his first ‘crime’ nor his most intentional or even his worst, but he was a criminal and facing the punishment. That was alright, he was doing pretty well so far!

Getting used to his new roommates was interesting but short, as most went off to work after dinner and he had a rest to get to.

Real work for Xie Lian started the following day. He woke a few times trying to sleep there - not due to any sort of distress sleeping, but more due to a backwards schedule. He first woke naturally in the morning, but no one present was awake and the city felt still and quiet, fewer ghosts up to business at this hour. It wasn’t till around early afternoon that he actually saw someone during one of his bouts of consciousness, and the person was heading his way.

This was when he was finally collected for work.

"You were apparently pretty agile during your scuffle outside the Gambler's Den. We'll see today. There's roofs in need of repair in the western part of the old residential district." Xie Lian's foreman seemed incredulous and very put upon to be dealing with some probation case. "For your sake, I'd say watch your step up there. You don't want to end up trapped in someone's den. You might not leave with the same number of limbs."

"I could probably find a use for an extra limb if I received one," was Xie Lian's only response.

"That's not what I-nevermind…" the foreman shook his head.

Xie Lian only smiled, before remembering he was wearing a mask. Oh well, force of habit. It wasn't like his mask didn't smile anyway. Perhaps it was best to still smile under it - if he didn't, he might start seeming creepy or fake for wearing mask that didn't ever match his mood. He was awkward enough as it was.

The section of the city he was shown to housed older buildings and lairs of demons that had probably been in the city for some time. It was a point where the verticality of the city was more visible - many of these homes were built like they were stacked upon each other or squeezed between other houses. Up and over and out, while the walkways no longer followed standard patterns, and instead appeared to be made of other materials - from parts of houses to pure webbing.

“The most stable walkway up is by Madam Xi’s but don’t let that fool you. She’s still crafty at her age, and if you get stuck in her web she may eat you. Only chance it if you think you can get away.”

“Stop scarin’ away all the workers. It’s their fault if they take too many shortcuts.” The elderly spider demoness was out on her woven terrace, and though her many eyes looked to have gone bad with age from how she had them closed, she still clicked her pincers at the foreman in such a chilling way, he rushed ahead to avoid her.

Xie Lian gave a quick polite bow of his head to her as he darted along after the foreman to not lose any vital job information on his first day. He could at least be polite to the various residents rather than treating them with undue suspicion. He wasn’t near enough to her to be in danger, so best to just be nice and stay with his boss to learn what he should.

The foreman finally showed Xie Lian to some solid areas of ground where one could climb up to the roofing areas and get to work. There was a large part of him that wondered if he was being given non-standard methods to get to work as a test. He was the one living person on crew, from what he could see, and he was new, so a bit of teasing was expected. The intent was usually to scare weaker folks off, get someone to show their limits and stand up for themself, or poke a bit of fun for camraderie’s sake.

Whatever the reason, it really didn’t matter. Xie Lian could cope even with strange methods to get to work. So he hopped up and dove right into his tasks. The rooves really were in quite a state, so he had to be careful going between them and starting repairs. But once he had an idea of the layout, it wasn’t so much to just focus in and settle himself in a spot to work, only moving on when he finished it. He’d found over the years that was the best way to not fall.

It was getting towards late evening when Xie Lian stopped paying attention to his tiling work, standing up to stretch and crack his neck. It was then he saw the exasperated foreman gesturing for him.

“NOW you look at me. Took you long enough! I’ve been trying to tell you, you’re done for the day!” he called. “You aren’t gonna get extra points off your debt by overworking, you know. The Lord don’t like shady stuff like that here.”

“Oh, apologies. I just forgot.”

“Forgot to NOT work? You’re a weird one aren’t you?” The foreman looked at him incredulously.

Being told by the undead that he was the strange one was quite funny. Xie Lian covered a soft laugh with his hand before being reminded of his mask again.

The grumble of his stomach made it clear he’d forgotten quite a lot of things in his focus on the task, so Xie Lian thanked the foreman for the work, and headed back through the city to his lodgings for a meal. Along the way he got lost several times, but he made it there eventually.

By then, many of his roommates were either returning or getting up to start their nights, and teased him about his disheveled state and getting lost, but it was easily seen as in good fun. Although, now that he saw them all, he realized he had to look even more of a fright from working all day, certainly in no state to go to the mess hall.

The maiden with the bunk nearest his bunk, the one with the toothy grey mask, shook her head, “Go have a wash, Sunshine. I’ll fill you up a plate. I’m going to get food before my shift anyway. You look like you could use the time to unwind anyway. What were you even doing all day?”

“I was retiling a roof and forgot I was up there,” he admitted, giving her a thankful bow before scurrying to go clean up.

On returning, there really was a plate of food for him on his bunk, and Xie Lian sat down to eat it gratefully before passing out for a few hours. He managed to wake up for another meal later, and took a little time to spend with his fellow residents, but was mostly too tired to function for a bit.

Settling into a routine here was actually hard that way. The jobs changed, the areas changed, but the routines weren’t bad. He was also getting to know various people in the city pretty well either by sight or conversation.

The maiden who bunked next to him was Sister Fangs, and they usually had opposite shifts. There were many mornings Xie Lian would be fetching breakfast, and would grab her some as she’d be coming in from a long night at Gambler’s Den and need to relax and sleep. Just as much, she’d usually leave him a plate of dinner for when he got in from working.

There were a few others in the dorms Xie Lian got along with - a couple of young men who joined the work crews with him, or who would drag him over to play cards with them on their bunks after discovering he always lost. The chubby older ghost that was the main one in charge of their rooms also seemed to like him since he stayed out of trouble.

After his first few days of working, Xie Lian realized he had to start forcing himself to take breaks to eat. He took this time to go sit on the ledge by Madam Xi’s place. Once she realized she probably couldn’t eat him anyway, and he was consistently polite and asked her about her day, she warmed up to him. On top of being too elderly to easily catch prey outside of her web, she also didn’t get a lot of company, so just having someone to chat with about her several hundred children and grandchildren was nice for her.

Job rotations at the end of each week was when Xie Lian tended to learn about new places he’d be sent during the following week. These were handed out by the XiaXianYue Officer and usually discussed over dinner by the residents of the dorm. There were all sorts of places one could work, and as Xie Lian was more specifically open to wherever there was space, he got some of the most varied ones.

“They’re putting you on kitchen duty at the manor? That’s a tall order. How’s your cooking, Sunshine?” Sister Fangs was lounging on her mat and looking over her next shift schedule.

“The Manor? Have you worked up there before?” He carefully stepped over that question, instead just examining his schedule with interest. They’d rearranged his shifts the day before and after so he could be up for that night.

“Only once, I can’t cook and usually Chengzhu doesn’t need anyone outside his most trusted staff. It’s only when he has certain business visitors there that he requires extra help.” Sister Fangs shook her head. “When it’s like that, they’re always getting as many extra hands in advance as possible. But that’s pretty rare happening anyway.”

“Luckily, I don’t think that’s the case this time.” The chubby ghost in charge of them was trying a new wig of curls and looking in a mirror to decide if they looked suitable. “There’s just a bit of a flu that’s hit a few of the regulars and they want to have someone extra or so on hand for Chengzhu’s big return. He’s been away for a while - the city’s going to celebrate his return too, but never on the first night.”

“Why not the first night?” Xie Lian asked, curious already. He was always curious when the city’s Lord was brought up.

“He doesn’t like it - gets super antsy with everyone for kicking up a ruckus. He usually wants to come rest for a while before he lets us make a fuss. And even then, it’s rare if he joins.” the curls were decided to be suitable and set in place to be worn. “Anyway you’ll probably just be helping wash dishes. Just do your best - follow instructions and it’ll be no big issue.”

As it turned out, it was actually quite an issue.

What Xie Lian found out when he showed up for his shift in the kitchens, was the dire state of the staff. He arrived to an almost empty kitchen and a frantic young ghost in a uniform running around looking for people.

“You! You’re Sunshine?!”

“Yes?” Already, it seemed like a very empty kitchen for so much that needed to be done.

“Good! You’re the only one of the extra staff that showed!” the frazzled young ghost flailed a bit.

“The only one?” That was strange, wasn’t he just an extra helper to bolster the regular staff missing a few people. “Are you the one in charge?”

“Not usually! I’m just the assistant to the head chef, but even she’s been taken out with this curse flu! It’s hit a lot of the staff and those who weren’t hit are afraid of getting it - even the substitutes we asked for!”

“Well, I’m sure if we work hard we can get things done anyway. Panicking won’t do any good, ah?”

“You haven’t even heard the half of it, of course you aren’t panicking! The request was originally for extra hands because Chengzhu’s bringing home an important business guest! Things didn’t get communicated right with all the absences and now we are double short and need to make way more food than normal!!!” The assistant head chef was going to run themself into the ground at this rate.

Xie Lian pat their shoulder and rolled up his sleeves, “Let’s get to work then!”

There was quite A LOT to make - was this business guest an entire party? Or perhaps a whale? It was kind of fun for Xie Lian to imagine that and he hummed to himself while he cooked thinking of it. He had been left alone in the kitchen while the Assistant Head Chef ran to go pass out for a few minutes. The poor young ghost had been looking green around the gills - which wasn’t good as they hadn’t even had gills before - and Xie Lian had just had to shift for himself.

At the very least, he’d made food for entire groups before! It wasn’t impossible! Not hard in the slightest to just follow the simple tasks and do as needed, right?

The problem was that he was the only one here and focusing on everything, and it was so hard to do things correctly when focused on everything, and therefore focused on nothing at all! He was trying his damndest though! The kitchen had to look good for their Chengzhu, and right now he was the one representing them.

Upstairs, Hua Cheng had returned to his city with Black Water in tow for a meeting and some hospitality he didn’t really feel like giving but would as a formality.

The other Supreme had only held the title for twenty years at most, and was still building up his powers and domain, so Hua Cheng was having to keep up ties with him. As the more established of the two, it was necessary to make whatever overtures he could to keep this person on his side rather than have an enemy on his level. Heaven was enough of a headache for him, so keeping the only other living Supreme as an ally of sorts was good.

However, they weren’t very fond of each other’s company. It had sort of turned into a game of being inhospitable and unfriendly while in keeping with the accepted rules of their interactions. Black Water couldn’t necessarily be a bad guest, but he would be unpleasant to deal with if he wasn’t fed enough - so Hua Cheng was obligated to let the other demon scarf down as much food as he wanted. In turn, Hua Cheng would host, but he certainly wouldn’t be a friendly or pleasant one.

They were each subtly trying to maneuver the other into quitting first - Black Water couldn’t make demands but could make sure his wants were met, Hua Cheng couldn’t kick him out but could make him want to leave. So long as it was all within those rules, it was all fair.

Still, he’d very much wished he didn’t have to feed him for every visit. Black Water ate a ridiculous amount, even to Hua Cheng’s eye. Sure, it made sense with how starved he’d been, but Black Water’s manner and method were excessive and somewhat offputting to watch. As someone who had starved before, Hua Cheng might feel more for empathy, but this exceeded his limits for that by a long shot.

Did he unhinge his jaw to do that? Seriously.

“Your gullet is really turning into a dark maelstrom from which there is no escape,” Hua Cheng commented after sending the order to bring up food to the kitchen. He stretched at his seat in the dining room, jangly boots up on the table. It was his table and he hadn’t been out in a while, and he wanted his guest to leave, so he’d lounge how he pleased at that table.

“Did you get more gaudy since we last met?” Black Water returned, one of the few times he’d grace his host with any speech when hungry - once he started eating, the other demon would be useless for conversation until after.

Soon after, trays upon trays of food were brought up, and Hua Cheng raised his brows, noting a hint of some scent that seemed off to him, and an odd twitch to Black Water’s face told him he’d smelled it too. It didn’t really stop the other Supreme from dishing up his plate immediately though. He probably noticed something seemed odd but he was too hungry to care.

For Hua Cheng, though, there were plenty of details he could see that were off about this. Usual techniques or garnishes his staff liked to include were missing. Were they short handed? He’d sent word ahead. Or perhaps just the people in charge were out and so the lower staff were handling this?

Black Water was an absolute fiend about being fed, and might take a hand off if someone got too close while he was chowing down. So it wasn't like Hua Cheng could actually just stop him - and nothing seemed to be poisoned or cursed, just...off.

As his companion set to scarfing down his first helping, Hua Cheng filled his own plate more carefully and sampled the meal. He picked up the issue very quickly and tried not to smile as he realized how bad it was going to hit Black Water at once.

It hadn’t been poisoned or interfered with, it just generally tasted like the work of a chef with more zeal and creativity than focus or sense of how the ingredients mixed together. It didn’t hit every dish the same, but it was noticeable in a way Hua Cheng could pick out. He’d had to eat far worse in his life, and while it might not be a preference to eat like this, there was something warm and amusing to it.

He’d already wanted to meet whoever was in charge of cooking tonight after his own tastes. He really wanted to meet them after Black Water collapsed face first against the table.

Hua Cheng raised his brows and sat back in his seat again. “Quite a reaction. I had thought you’d eat just about anything. So no call for seconds?”

Black Water barely glanced up from the table, but his face said ‘Fuck You’ clearly - well, for as long as it was visible. He face planted again immediately.

Yes, Hua Cheng needed to meet whoever had done this.

Chapter Text

Given the lord’s guest had been rendered near unconscious from his meal and the lord himself had commented that the quality of the food had changed, his main subordinate was required to investigate. This meant Yin Yu, the XiaXianYue Officer, had to head downstairs to see if it was something to do with the extra staff members or recent absences. Even with the head chef out, usually the assistant head chef could handle running a meal, so this was a troubling state of affairs.

What he found was the assistant head chef curled in a ball by a stairwell with a bucket in hand. They looked green and very sickly and that didn’t bode well, but it was obvious, at least, that someone had made them tea. The assistant was in no state to be making it themself, after all.

“What happened?” Yin Yu tried to inquire, crouching down to look over the young ghost, but they just groaned, unable to speak. It certainly seemed like the same thing that had hit the head chef so recently.

Getting no further information from this person, Yin Yu simply had to proceed straight to the source...and found himself standing in the kitchen, looking with dismay at the single person within.

“Sunshine...what are you doing?”

The soft smile on the mask coupled with the nervous laugh from behind it was quite a combination.

“Ah, hello. This was on my schedule for the week, I was to help in the kitchen tonight?”

“Yes...I remember that part.” Vaguely, anyway. Yin Yu had been sort of desperately scrambling to rearrange whoever could be spared to help here. “Where is everyone else?”

“Well when I came in, it was just me and them.” Xie Lian gestured in the direction Yin Yu had left the sick ghost. “Apparently everyone else was either ill or refused to show up because they were afraid of getting sick. And since there was work to do...I did it?”

Yin Yu fought the urge to just bury his face in his hands. This person really was the epitome of well meaning but bumbling, wasn’t he? He’d seen how powerful of a fighter Sunshine could be, but he also just ended up in these baffling situations that really did make it seem like he’d be in debt forever. He’d really thought the worst of it was just the falling off roofs, but how did this person manage to be so unlucky as to have kitchen duty the night the lord returned, bringing the bottomless pit that was Black Water, and no one else around to cook? Unbelievable.

“Sunshine...please shut everything off. Chengzhu wishes to speak to you about the...state of tonight’s meal.” Yin Yu did his best to sound professional, which was his usual state so a good default. But he was so very tired and so very baffled.

“...I take it that’s bad.” Xie Lian made sure to safely put out the stoves and move anything that might burn. It took a while since he’d been monitoring everything in the stove, but it wasn’t so bad.

“Hm - just a moment.” he had been about to say he could go upstairs but took the time to go make a bit more tea for the poor assistant head chef. The poor ghost was very sick so best to make sure they were taken care of. “Ok, NOW I’m ready.”

“This way please.”

The pair headed along from the kitchen up to the main floor of the building and along through a set path that Xie Lian really couldn’t track well - the doors seemed very odd here - but soon enough he was brought before two people that the XiaXianYue Officer treated with a great deal of deference.

Both were very pale and neither wore masks, their power was made more obvious by the respect they were shown. But their demeanors and style of dress painted two very different pictures in terms of people. One was more recognizable than the other too, at least by reputation.

The one in black looked sick, with his head pressed on the table, but more importantly he looked absolutely livid. He glared in Xie Lian’s direction with his face half pressed into the table, his entire figure hunched in on itself. His hair hung about him and seemed almost wet - which could simply be a trick of how sick he was, but overall he really seemed concerningly moist, just as a person overall.

In most situations, self preservation would suggest Xie Lian should focus on the person who was glaring at him, and probably quite capable of making his displeasure at the meal very violently known. But how could Xie Lian bring himself to care about that person at all when the lord of the city was present...and cut a devastatingly striking figure.

He was tall, that was obvious, even with him just sitting down. His legs had been up on the table when they walked in and Xie Lian had definitely noticed them - long and lean, with boots that hugged his calves decorated by silver jewelry that jingled as he moved. And he moved very fast too - sitting up and setting his legs back before him on the ground when the offending cook was brought in. His new position was no more ‘proper’ than his previous one, but this one was more authoritative, less open and casual.

Even if he hadn’t been so notably long and lean, the rest of him would have caught Xie Lian’s eye too. Everything about him had something worth noting, from the sharp cut of his jaw to the wildness of that single visible eye, to the vibrant shade of his robes - redder than the maples and contrasting beautifully with his black hair and pale skin. His expression was cold and calculating, and he was probably vicious when angry - of the two, something told Xie Lian he was by far the more dangerous right now.

But then, of course he was - it was his home after all.

The master of the house was here and intent on finding out just what was happening in his territory while he was away, of course he was more deadly of the two right now. The other demon may be personally affronted, but this wasn’t his house and his workers. His stakes were more personal than professional - but Hua Chengzhu’s stakes were both.

He said a great deal with very little, a simple raise of his eyebrows at the sunny masked worker, then glance to his subordinate and back to Sunshine.

“Chengzhu, there appears to have been...an issue...with the entire kitchen staff.” Yin Yu spoke carefully, “The state of tonight’s meal is due to us having...a single temporary worker on the entire meal.”

Those eyebrows raised a fraction higher, and Hua Cheng spoke with a hint of amusement mixed with something else, “Really now. How strange. The entire staff down at once?” he kept his tone casual but there was an icy note to it that was as sharp as his jawline - which Xie Lian was still tracing with his eyes.

“I don’t think I even recognize this worker. So how was he assigned here?” Hua Cheng continued, still addressing Yin Yu, even as he sized up the brightly masked worker.

“We had a slowly increasing rash of absences, so in addition to requesting backup for the...visitor, we also needed to replace those who were out. We went through a great deal of help very quickly.”

“And when did this person come to start working for us? We don’t have a lot of regular living workers.” Hua Cheng’s gaze remained focused on Xie Lian - which was mutual, really, Xie Lian hadn’t been able to take his eyes off his host, especially not once he’d started talking.

“Sunshine is…” here, Yin Yu was stumped how to explain without feeling even more stunningly awkward.

“I’m working off a debt to the city.” Xie Lian answered.

“Yes. This is the person from the incident I mentioned to you, Chengzhu.” Yin Yu agreed, trying very hard not to sigh. “We’ve mostly had him on physical labor but with the worker shortage…”

“You tested him in the kitchen, I see.” Hua Cheng nodded, mind as quick as his tongue, and catching on the mess before them. “Have you investigated the cause of the epidemic among our staff?”

“Not as of yet. It was previously not affecting the staff quite as...drastically.”

“Maybe they were poisoned by this one.” This came from the other demon at the table, drawing Xie Lian’s gaze back to him for a brief moment.

“If he were poisoning the whole staff to get a chance to poison myself and my guest, he skipped a crucial step. The food was merely...interestingly cooked.” Hua Cheng had tasted it, after all.

“I didn’t see evidence of tampering in the kitchen when I went. I investigated while Sunshine made the assistant head chef more tea.” Yin Yu agreed. “The assistant is still here and I can have them looked over for if they were given anything.”

“Check into that that. Even if this one didn’t poison them, there’s still the possibility that someone did or that something else is afoot. Report back to me when you’ve finished your investigation. I want to speak to this one.” Hua Cheng was still looking at Xie Lian, sizing him up.

Nervously, Xie Lian fiddled with the sleeve of his robe. He wasn’t sure quite how to take this incident. He’d cooked poorly for the city lord’s big guest but...said lord did not seem too put off by it. Considering was a better word. Quiet, careful, gaze sharper than completely fit the youthful face he had - but then, he was a ghost, this was likely a skin. What he was thinking wasn’t clear, and that made him even more dangerous than if his thoughts were obvious..

“Tell me, what did you think you were doing?” Hua Cheng asked at last, tone deceptively relaxed and uncaring.

“I thought I was doing the job I was assigned to the best of my ability.” Xie Lian’s response was cheerful enough, trying to maintain a pleasant tone. Getting defensive wasn’t going to help anyway, best to maintain his composure. That’s just how one dealt with powerful beings.

“Is that so? Despite the complete lack of assistance? Why?”

“It’s not my place to make excuses for avoiding my work.”

Hua Cheng leaned nearer, peering at him, as if reading him through the mask, judging his very soul for truth.

Eventually, he sat back with a low laugh, “I think I’ll keep you around to cook whenever this one wants to visit. It might get him to leave sooner.”

“I hate you.” He Xuan groaned, and after one last glare to Xie Lian, turned his face back into the table. It was a clear slump of ‘you win this time’.

“According to plan then.” Hua Cheng snorted, turning back to Xie Lian. “For tonight, I will have Yin Yu put you in a temporary room. If there is an illness going around, I will want to see it doesn’t hit you or that you don’t expose the rest of your dormitory to it.”

“I will probably be easier to find and question if I’m here.” Xie Lian offered with a good natured little laugh.

“Exactly.”

That night, Xie Lian was able to sleep in a nice room at the manor, one of the many spare ones. Hua Cheng seemed to think of them like an extra, but then, he was a phenomenally rich ghost and this manor was his domain. Adding extra rooms was probably nothing for him, more like an afterthought in some ways.

It was still comfortable, and had any amenities he needed while he was stuck there, but Xie Lian was pretty sure he’d rather just be back in his dorm right now. He was getting used to having company at night, and it made him feel a little less alone after a long day of working. It’d been a very long time since he had regular company and having it, however briefly, was always nice.

He was very relieved to see Yin Yu first thing in the morning. For one thing, he hadn’t known if he should continue to his next jobs, and for another, he was glad to see the man wasn’t taken ill suddenly. He was a familiar sight so Xie Lian was as attached to him as he was to his roommates.

“Chengzhu has said you’re free to return to your rooms, now we’ve managed to find the source of the situation.” Yin Yu stated plainly.

“Already? You work very quickly.” Xie Lian was surprised at first, but quite grateful. “Am I allowed to return to working as well?”

“Chengzhu has high standards and we aim to meet them.” Yin Yu assured him. “As for your work, I will issue you a new schedule. Due to your being held here overnight and into today, I had to reschedule your current work and will have new placements for you.”

He was relieved to head back to his dorm, though it did mean that when all of his fellows were home, they swarmed him, full of questions. After all, rumor had gotten around that he’d been held at the manor, or that Hua Chengzhu had personally reprimanded him!

“Sunshine! Are you alright?” Sister Fangs was very glad to see him safe.

“We heard you were thrown in a dungeon by our lord!” one of the guys said, with an enthusiastic gossiping tone.

Xie Lian gave a shy laugh. “No, I wasn’t thrown in a dungeon or anything of the kind. I’m perfectly alright, I promise. I was just held a little longer to be sure I wasn’t going to get you all sick. There was something that made a lot of the kitchen staff ill and our lord wanted to be sure I didn’t go spreading it.”

His fellows were all happy he’d survived and gotten out unscathed, but all demanded various details and further information about his meeting with their lord and stay in the city. It made him a celebrity for just that night - afterwards, it was back to the usual, and he was just fine with that.

The only deviation from the norm that Xie Lian noted in the coming days was more ghosts becoming ill in some manner. He and Sister Fangs, among a few others, had become more in demand as various different ghosts were all becoming ill, but the living humans were still just fine. This seemed to impact everyone differently and no one was quite sure what the true situation was. He’d seen the assistant head chef at the manor sick, but that had been different from others he saw get sick.

“Are you feeling any better today, Madame Xi?” Xie Lian asked as he moved down the edge of her web to get off a nearby roof. He stopped to check on the old demoness, who had been the latest to get the mysterious illness. While one might think this was a ploy to get food to come nearer, Xie Lian had felt safe checking on her as he could handle the fight if she did - but also suspected her feeling ill was very genuine.

“No, still so terrible. Has it been so many years already? That will never do.” She gave a long-suffering sigh. “Fix my cushions for me, will you?”

“Of course, Madame.” Xie Lian moved and plumped the cushions on the web for her to settle her old, many-legged body against. “I hope you feel better, Madame.”

“Thank you, Sunshine. Sometimes you’re the only one who cares to be polite to your elders.” She settled into her nest of pillows and tried to rest again.

Xie Lian shook his head and moved to get off the roof, work finished for today. He needed to get back so he could head to his next shift, which was cleaning at the manor. He’d not been invited to cook again - other than in jest - but he had been given other jobs there now. Perhaps a show of trust or interest from those in charge? He couldn’t be sure.

He weaved through various backstreets on his way to the manor. Just a way to be able to stop and check in on some of the residents he got along with, making sure they were all well. As he came out of one backstreet, however, he had to detour upon spotting something in an alley.

A small boy had been climbing out of a hatch above an alley but fell hard and was curled in a ball, as if he’d been hit with a bout of sickness. Quickly, Xie Lian rushed to his side and crouched by him.

“Ah! Are you alright?” he was careful touching the boy, pulling him away from the wall and any broken things and supporting him.

The boy seemed to be no older than six or seven years, skinny and small, with messy black hair. His features were very cute despite being scrunched up in pain. He made a quiet whine of pain, still doubled up. He seemed to be feeling unwell and had been hit by a bout of it as he climbed down. Though in him, it seemed to come with nightmares, or something of the kind.

Gently, he picked the boy up in his arms to hold, a careful and protective embrace. He couldn’t help with how unwell he seemed to be, but something like nightmares he could try to soothe.

“Shh, it’s alright. It’s going to be alright. I have you. You’re safe.” he rubbed the boy’s back, a tender repeated motion to try and ease him. It took some time but slowly the boy went from just curled in on himself to clinging to Xie Lian’s front and relaxing in his arms, burying his face against his chest.

“Are you alright? Do you have anywhere to go? You seem very ill...” Xie Lian asked him quietly once he felt the fit had passed and the boy might be more coherent.

“No, gege. I was wandering.” the boy’s voice was very quiet as he hid against his robes.

“Are you lost?”

“En.”

Considering the situation, Xie Lian stood, holding him securely with one arm. “Given how unwell you’re feeling, I think I should keep you close. Is that alright?”

“Yes please. Don’t go, gege.” the boy clung a little tighter to his front.

“I won’t. You’re going to have to behave yourself when I go to work but we’ll be ok.” he told him, rubbing his back again and getting back to making his way to work.

He returned to his route to the manor, scurrying there with careful but swift steps. He had a child in his arms now so had to be sure he didn’t step incorrectly or anything. He was already running a little late since he’d detoured for so long to help the boy, but he would just have to apologize to his supervisor of the day and get on with his tasks.

“Sunshine! Where have you been?” the bird faced manager of the day screeched at him - though this wasn’t her nastiest tone, more just how she talked when worked up. Her feathers were very ruffled. “I was worried something had happened, you usually get to jobs on time if nothing goes wrong!”

“Ah no, no, I’m alright, ma’am! I was checking on some of the locals who haven’t been feeling well and lost track of time. It won’t happen again.” He gave a polite bow to her, still holding the boy.

“You soft hearted idiot. That’s not going to get your debt gone faster you know.” She swatted at the side of his head with one wing - nothing hard enough to hurt but a rough brush of feathers, and not on the side he was carrying the boy. “What are we going to do with-y- y-”

She stopped abruptly speaking, looking quite afraid.

Xie Lian looked down and saw the boy in his arms had started glaring at her with a very cold gaze. He bounced him in his arms and pulled him nearer. “Now now, stop glaring at Madame. She’s the boss today and I did wrong by being late. It’s just harmless scolding.”

Soon as he’d turned back into Xie Lian’s chest and clung again, she settled. “You’ve picked up a little demon to cart along, Sunshine? Be careful, he’s definitely a ghost.”

“If he is, if he’s not, I don’t think it really matters. He was in distress and I was able to help, that’s the only important part.” Xie Lian assured her.

She huffed and rearranged her feathers, “Well come now, let’s get him put down so you can get to work. If he can stay put, I won’t chase him off or anything. He’s with you.”

“No!!” the boy clung tighter suddenly, whole small body shaking.

“Ah, little one, are you alright? Afraid of another fit or something?” Xie Lian asked him quietly, holding the boy in both arms again so he could hold him near and comfort him.

“I - I don’t want to be away from gege yet.” he admitted with a mournful little noise, hiding against his front. “Gege feels safe.”

“Ah, how can I leave you then?” He rested his cheek on the boy’s head and bounced him in his arms. “Madame, I’ll just carry him. I can get my work done still with just one hand, I promise.”

She sighed and hid her face in her wings, “If you must, Sunshine. Just get it done!”

So for the rest of the day, Xie Lian worked on cleaning at the manor under her guidance, all the while carrying the boy in one arm. Sometimes he’d stop and just give him a cuddle or rub his back when it seemed he was starting to feel bad or upset again, but overall, he managed to work just fine even with just one arm. He even managed to finish on time, despite that and despite having arrived late.

“Madame, I’m finished.” he said, stopping to sit and shift the boy to his other arm, rubbing his back and giving a soft laugh at the way the boy inched more to the side so he didn’t have to unbury his face to move.

“I’ll go check your work, you stay put Sunshine.” His supervisor ruffled her feathers and went to go look over the areas he’d cleaned.

Xie Lian, meanwhile, just rubbed on the boy’s back and hummed. “How are you feeling, little one?”

“My head hurts.” The boy admitted, staying hidden against him. “Being held makes it better.”

“I’m sorry your head hurts.” Xie Lian said sympathetically and gently stroked the boy’s hair to ease him.

For a moment, the boy’s entire body tensed, then he relaxed into the gentle petting of his hair..

Xie Lian was startled, “Ah! Did I pull? I’m sorry.” He pet the spot in his hair very gently a few times.

“N-no. Gege didn’t pull. Don’t pull. It’s very sensitive.” The boy whined, looking up at him with soft pitiful eyes.

“Of course, I’ll be very gentle. I’m sorry your head hurts.” Xie Lian pressed his face to the boy’s forehead, just a simulation of a kiss since he couldn’t give a proper one with the mask. Just a gentle show of affection before leaning back to just hold him.

The boy stared up at him, stunned, for a moment or two and gave a shy smile before clinging to him again, happy with that result.

Xie Lian ended up carrying his young companion home with him from work. Where else could he take him? He was still concerned about the boy being ill or left alone, and he was still clinging very tight to Xie Lian’s robes. No, best to just do what he could for him.

When he came in, he took the boy with him to get food, making sure to get extra portions for him. After all, even if he was a ghost or something, a growing boy needed food, and it was probably a comfort to have things to eat. He’d stopped hiding quite as much and was even able to help hold the plate for Xie Lian as he walked.

“Who’s this you have here, Sunshine?” Sister Fangs asked, looking up from her own plate. She was grabbing things in a rush, with another shift scheduled soon.

“Ah, the little one is just someone I found. He wasn’t doing well with the sickness going around so I’ve been taking care of him.” Xie Lian explained with a soft, nervous laugh.

“You’re going to get in trouble if you keep up things like that. Are you even allowed to have a guest?” she asked, mostly concerned.

“Don’t worry about it. If there’s any problem, I’m sure it can be discussed, or if not, I’ll deal with the punishment. There’s really nothing worth worrying about, and he’ll stay in my space.” Xie Lian assured her. He quickly took their food and headed back to his mat with the boy.

“You should have just told her the Lord gave you permission.” the boy huffed, sitting with him when he was set down.

“Little one, I don’t want to get in trouble.” Xie Lian laughed, “I’d be in far worse trouble lying about having permission than I would for just having you around. Lying about our lord especially would be a bad idea.”

“Why’s that?” the boy asked, dark eyes bright with a mysterious glimmer.

“Because...from what I’ve seen of Hua Chengzhu, he’s not a stupid ruler.” He suggested, making sure the boy had enough to eat in his portions.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” the boy asked, taking up some of the food to eat.

“It means...well, the only kinds of rulers who pointlessly harm or kill their subordinates are stupid ones. Now, he could be stupid for other reasons I don’t know, but I’d like to think he’s not. Anyway I’m pretty sure he’s not stupid in this sense. So any punishment I’d receive for a reasonable offense wouldn’t be so bad. I might be made to do other work, or given a reprimand or sent away, but nothing very serious.”

“So why worry about lying about him then, if he won’t do those things?”

“Because that one is not a reasonable offense. That’s betraying the trust he puts in his workers and his citizens. Betraying his trust is a far different crime than something simple. That could very deeply offend him and be worth far worse punishments. So I’d rather not make any error worse in that way. He can punish me if he needs to for reasonable offenses and I’ll deal with what comes. There’s no need to worry about this, ok Little One?” He tapped the tip of his finger on the boy’s nose and hummed.

“You’re not afraid of him at all, are you?” the boy asked with wonder.

“Should I be? I don’t think it’s really worth being afraid of him for me. I’d rather just do good work and not have him bother with me.” He laughed softly and went back to eating, his mask only partly lifted off the bottom of his mouth so he could eat. He returned it to its place after wiping his mouth off.

“Do you sleep with that mask on, gege?” the little one asked, stretching out on the mat as Xie Lian took their dishes to go wash up.

“Yes. It’s easier if I’m needed for sudden work. And it’s easier to not forget it this way.” Xie Lian explained. He pat the boy’s head and went to wash up.

The little one was already snuggled up to rest by the time he got back, but eagerly curled into Xie Lian’s arms as soon as he laid down. He’d given the boy cuddles, so clearly there was going to be no denying him them now.

Unbeknownst to him, Xie Lian did have the permission of the city’s lord. Snuggled up in his arms, Hua Cheng wondered how he’d let himself get in this position. He’d intended to just sneak out in this form and try to avoid anyone till he was better. He’d instructed Yin Yu to say he was on urgent business and away from home, and he’d intended to be away, but when the waves of pain and the bad memories hit him, he’d been helpless.

Sunshine had been kind to him, had comforted him when he needed it, and Hua Cheng had realized that he was far more helpless in this form than he’d realized. And he had desperately clung to that source of hope and comfort.

What a strange person he had working for him. Far more unafraid of him than most, but also so very open and kind hearted. It made him feel very cared about, and he made a note to try and reward Sunshine when this was all over.

Chapter Text

“Gege, why do we have to get up so early?” Hua Cheng whined, the little boy seated in Sunshine’s lap as his hair was brushed into some sense of order.

“Little one, it’s almost noon.” Sunshine laughed fondly, and pulled him near to snuggle briefly before letting him sit again to finish brushing.

“The rest of the city isn’t up yet,” he pointed out. “So why do we have to be?”

“You’re welcome to sleep in if you want, little one.”

“No! You’re going out, I need to go with you.” The boy pouted firmly. “I don’t want to be left alone.”

That got a soft hum from Sunshine who pulled him close again, picking the boy up to snuggle with properly and comfortingly. It was really nice how willing he was to just shower Hua Cheng with affection like this - not that Sunshine knew it was Hua Cheng. He wondered very much if he’d be this easily affectionate knowing the truth.

“What’s on your mind? You’ve got all quiet.” Sunshine asked. “I wasn’t going to leave you alone unless you asked me to, I promise.” He tried to be reassuring, not knowing for sure what had the boy thinking so hard now.

“I know, gege, I’m sorry. I’m just thinking lots of things.” He turned in his arms to bury his face against Sunshine’s chest and hold him. Hua Cheng hated this helplessness and insecurity, but he hated more how much he wanted to hold onto it, so he could keep clinging to this source of comfort.

Sunshine put away the brush and picked him up, carrying him as he gathered his own things to go on whatever planned trip this was. Hua Cheng tucked himself up against Sunshine’s chest, and tried to stop arguing with himself about his feelings for awhile. He couldn’t help the worries, especially being unsure how long this opening would last and keep him needing to hide out like this.

For his part, Xie Lian was trying to take care of him and treat him well - it was very obvious he needed the positive attention. He didn’t have a lot he could provide, and he was lucky this work allowed room and board so generously or he’d not even be able to feed them both. Xie Lian wanted to do what he could, even if they were only together for a short time.

He was already deeply attached to his companion, and it seemed quite mutual. The boy refused attention from them, but absolutely thrived on it from Xie Lian. His housemates had all recognized it and teased him for it when they got the chance.

“I still don’t get why you have to go out so early.” The boy nestled himself against Xie Lian’s chest to be carried with him.

“Because I have work soon and I was asked if I could drop by to test for certain other duties when I had time. It’s easier for me to get there before my other shifts rather than after. And if I can take on some different duties, I can settle my schedule a bit.”

The boy pouted but said no more, the pout clearly for theatrics. It was something Xie Lian found rather adorable about his little one - he liked to be emotive as possible on minor things. He was far more restrained on serious topics. It made smaller things just a tad more fun.

That debate settled, Xie Lian headed for the manor to meet with the XiaXianYue officer. They hadn’t seen each other in person since the city had been sealed, both having too many separate duties for that. Assignments and notes were sent in Yin Yu’s neat, clean handwriting, and tasks were done accordingly.

As such, Yin Yu also had not seen and did not know about his companion. It was really no wonder - he was keeping businesses afloat and maintaining a city going through waves of sickness, on top of all of his duties. What time did he have to spare for one of the city’s more trustworthy workers toting around a kid while he still got just as much done as usual?

It wasn’t like it was being reported either - Sunshine was well liked by his supervisors and housemates. So even if they liked to make jabs at him in play, ask him if he knew what he was doing or if it was a good idea, they weren’t going to snitch. There was a lot to be said for the reputation he’d garnered among the residents, that he could just do strange things like that without a word being said.

This did mean that when Sunshine showed up to meet with him, Yin Yu was completely surprised by the child in his arms. Especially since he, of course, instantly recognized his boss. That was the plan after all - Hua Cheng would change and sneak away for a bit to meander the streets in disguise, and come back as he saw fit. He got too restless being cooped up during these city sealings to just lock himself inside. The word he was away on business was an excuse.

Instead of coming and going as he pleased, isolating himself during this time, he’d apparently latched onto Sunshine and was being doted on. It was bizarre for Yin Yu to see Hua Cheng in such a state. Letting someone get close to him when vulnerable was already a big deal, but he didn’t seem to have revealed his identity either. So he was just getting carried about and cuddled like it was nothing this whole time?

“Ah, sorry, you must not have heard then. The little one has been in my care for a bit. I’ve been getting my work done fine with him along, please don’t fret. He stays out of trouble.” Xie Lian set the boy down and pat his hair, taking Yin Yu’s staring to be questioning the boy’s presence or something of the kind.

After the first while of being together, the little one had settled down about being carried everywhere, wanting to run around and stretch his legs, but he did still tend towards coming over and leaning on Xie Lian or wanting to cling on him. He was quite starved for affection, and it was curbing his natural wildness a lot.

“You had tasks you wanted to test me for?” Xie Lian inquired, drawing attention back to that. It wasn’t like they were actually going to discuss his little companion’s presence. He was going to be here either way.

Yin Yu shook himself, “Right, yes. Sunshine, how are your maths and writing skills?”

Xie Lian cocked his head to the side, thinking on it, “My maths are not terrible but nothing noteworthy. I can do what I need to survive with money. My writing is fine, quite readable. Should I demonstrate?”

“Please do. I will set you up to practice.” Yin Yu looked relieved, even with his mask in place hiding the expression on his face. He ushered them to an office room and laid out paper for Xie Lian to demonstrate his writing. He even thoughtfully provided a chair next to the main one for the boy.

Hua Cheng hopped up into the seat and leaned on the desk to watch him writing, kicking his little legs below. “Do you have so much writing work to do?”

“Normally it’s more manageable but with the city how it is right now and-” Yin Yu gave an awkward cough, “-Chengzhu away at present.”

Xie Lian kept his head down and wrote out the practice words he was asked to and sat back. “Is this sufficient?”

Looking over his shoulder, Yin Yu nodded vigorously. “Yes, excellent. I can rearrange your other work and you can help me get these documents under control again.”

With an affirmative hum, Xie Lian stayed put as more documents were brought to him to be able to work on. Various letters that had to go out, notices that needed approving, all sorts of things. There was also a tray of snacks brought and set nearby, that the little one immediately grabbed a treat from and began to eat.

“So many letters need to go out?” Xie Lian inquired, just interested.

“Even away on his own business, Chengzhu’s regular matters need to be handled. There are those who owe debts, or agreements which need to be followed up with.” Yin Yu explained. “Any sort of word ahead from Hua Chengzhu, whether he personally sends it or not, carries a great deal of weight. So I don’t dare lag behind.”

“I understand. I’ll do my best.” Xie Lian bowed politely and got to work on writing these out, trying to keep as neat as possible and to the style requested.

Eventually, the little one got bored and leaned on him, “Gege, gege, you haven’t taken a break in a while. Gege you have to take breaks.”

Of course he couldn’t deny the boy, so finished the one he was working on and set aside his pen, turning to pick him up to hold. “Alright, alright, a break then. I’ll pay attention to you.”

“Good. You aren’t supposed to just write all day. Let’s find somewhere to play. I’m boooooored.”

Xie Lian giggled and hugged him, “We will have to ask for permission. This isn’t our home and we’re supposed to be working.”

“Let’s ask then, let’s let’s!” the boy wiggled out of his arms again, grabbing his hand and dashing off to find Yin Yu, heading for another office in the hall.

With a fond smile hidden under his mask, Xie Lian followed after at a moderate pace, his own longer legs making it easy to keep just behind the dashing child. He trusted him to lead them to the right spot and gave Yin Yu a polite nod on spotting him in the office.

Yin Yu looked up from his own work. “Yes? Is there something I can help you with?”

“Gege needs a break and I want to run around. Can I run around somewhere here?”

With his own mask off to see better, the odd half-smile on Yin Yu’s face was visible. “Of course. The training room should be free. As long as you don’t break anything I don’t think Chengzhu will object if you run around in it?”

The boy nodded firmly, “There, we have permission. Come on Gege!” And once more they were off and running down the hall.

They chased around and played for a while and Xie Lian quickly lost track of time. He was out of breath and flopped on the floor laughing and hugging his companion to him loosely, when Yin Yu poked his head into the room.

Immediately, Xie Lian looked up from where he lay on the floor, breathing heavily into his mask. “Ah, yes, this was too long of a break wasn’t it?”

“I actually came to mention that I was going to have lunch soon so if you needed to find me, I would not be in my office…” Yin Yu responded so very nervously, not looking at the pair much at all.

“Of course, of course.” Xie Lian sat up and shook his head. “Still, this was certainly too long a break. Little one, I have work to do you know.” He reached out and playfully tickled the boy’s middle.

Making a surprised giggle, he curled in a ball to escape it, flailing some. “Gege noo, not the tickles!”

Xie Lian ‘attacked’ his little companion with tiny soft tickles for a few more moments, until he finally gave mercy and pat his head gently, letting the boy relax. “Alright, you need to get settled, and I need to wash up then get back to work. Can you show me where the washroom is?”

“Yes, gege.” The boy stretched and got up, waiting for him easily.

Standing, Xie Lian joined him and followed along after him to the washroom. He had more washing up to do than the boy did - being a ghost - so he nodded to his little companion with another gentle pat on his head. “Can you find your way back to the room we were working in? I can meet you there.”

“Okay gege. I’m going to eat all the snacks if you don’t hurry back though!”

That got a soft chuckle from Xie Lian before he made his way into the washroom and closed the door behind him.

Taking off his mask and main robes, he worked to wash up at the basin so he could be clean and presentable. While it may be acceptable for a laborer to smell of sweat or grime for a while, it was not so when doing scholarly duties. Particularly doing those scholarly duties in the Lord’s manor.

Mind, when one was in such a state because of said Lord, it shouldn’t really count the same.

Xie Lian had long figured out his little companion was truly Hua Cheng. It had been a great number of little signs that were confirmed by other actions, all totaling up to that picture. Rather than being away on business, the city’s Lord had changed to a smaller and weaker form, perhaps one that required less energy to maintain?

Brushing his hair had told quite a lot, of course. Taking care of his hair and being so tender and delicate with it, he could see just how perfectly the strands were formed and cared for. So no matter what, he was a ghost of significant strength . Even in a weakened state, able to maintain such a small thing, he was powerful. In general, there would not be a ghost that powerful in this city without the city’s Lord being fully aware of it. Sneaking in while he was away was a possibility, but a very unlikely one.

Then, of course, there was the matter of how well his little companion knew the city, knew its residents and, especially, knew the manor itself. He’d gotten so comfortable, he hadn’t even hidden that he already knew there was a training room, or where the washrooms were. It certainly made it obvious he lived there.

But what had really confirmed it, was Yin Yu’s reactions - especially when the boy had asked him about his workload. The two had known each other and worked together likely so long that this was their way of speaking to each other. So while Xie Lian normally would not recognize any hidden meanings, they would. And he had known to bring his boss snacks or report in if he wasn’t going to be in the office.

There was the minor doubt that perhaps he was wrong, and Hua Cheng merely had a son he had previously kept concealed. But an actual child might not be as comfortable sleeping in lesser conditions than he was used to. Of course, the same possibility existed with the Ghost King himself - why bother putting up with Xie Lian’s accommodations? And why not tell him the truth?

He could be assessing Xie Lian’s trustworthiness or perhaps playing a game, but it felt like, with how he clung and schemed for attention, what he wanted most of all was to be cared for. If there were more reasons outside of that, it didn’t truly matter? He was enjoying the company no matter who he was, and Xie Lian didn’t have so much to hide beyond his face. But he wished for an end to this uncertainty.

He flailed, the excessive thoughts and doubts of his own intuition becoming too overwhelming. He cupped his own cheeks and tried to calm himself. Splashing more water on his own face, he finished up his wash. He took the time to clean the mask as well so it wouldn’t be gross or uncomfortable on his face. With that, he redressed and rejoined his little companion.

The boy was seated again and pouting, but when Xie Lian returned, he hopped up and ran to him. “Gege you had me waiting!”

“But I still see some snacks left for me. Thank you, little one.” He smiled beneath the mask and pet his cheeks. Going along with the boy, Xie Lian took his seat again and this time his companion took up a seat in his lap, wanting to be held.

Adjusting his arms carefully, Xie Lian let the boy snuggle close and cling, keeping one arm around him, while starting to write with his other hand.

“Ah, gege can write the same with both hands?” This time, the boy sounded truly stunned.

Xie Lian blushed beneath his mask and cocked his head to the side. “Ah, yes? I had to learn long ago.”

“When you were learning to write, they wanted you to learn with both hands? How strict!”

“No, no! I was only initially taught with my dominant hand. I learned to use my non-dominant hand for other reasons, and later on when I ended up injured for a time, I took to practicing with my off-hand to improve. It’s very useful, especially for when I am playing an instrument and need to take notes!” Xie Lian’s response was bright and happy - he had really been very proud of learning and all the uses he could get out of it.

“Gege knows music too? So skilled!” The boy flopped against his chest and snuggled up.

“Now you’re flattering to get more cuddles. You already knew I was musical - I sing for you when I wash your hair all the time.” Xie Lian chided, but not seriously. He couldn’t be seriously bothered by any of the cute ploys for his affection.

The boy pouted, “that’s not the same - gege sings but that’s not like learning an instrument. How many do you know how to play?”

“At least three now. I used to perform on the streets before I ended up working in the city.” Xie Lian returned to carefully writing letters of business for the one snuggling in his arms.

“Gege must show me sometime.” Hua Cheng mumbled with a sleepy sigh, snuggling into his embrace and settling down. He was lazy and comfortable and felt safe, and that meant time for a nap.

Xie Lian held the boy close to his chest, stroking his hair idly as he continued through the letters he was working on. It was steady work and he could get into a rhythm of it, just seated and comfortable with someone he cared for snuggled into his arms.

He wondered, idly, if when Hua Cheng took back his regular form, he’d still let Xie Lian snuggle with him sometimes. But that wasn’t a thought for now.

When he finished all of the pages, Xie Lian carried his still sleeping companion against his chest, heading to Yin Yu’s office to drop off the finished pages. He found the man asleep at his desk and gave a soft huff of a laugh.

His amusement woke Hua Cheng who looked at the man and frowned, making a soft grumble and burying his face against Xie Lian again. “Foolish.”

“Perhaps, but he’s dedicated.”

“Too dedicated. It’s silly. He doesn’t need to do that much.”

Xie Lian kissed the top of the boy’s head and held him steady as he leaned down to gently wake the sleeping second.

Yin Yu woke with a start and stared up at them.

“It’s time for a rest.” Xie Lian told him and helped the man stand, despite his weak protests. He kept the boy in his arms and Yin Yu half slung over his shoulder, supporting the man to a nearby futon to leave him.

“I’m done for tonight then. I will return tomorrow.” He said firmly once he’d left Yin Yu to rest, and turned away to head out.

The boy was snuggled in against him again and waking again, about ready for a proper meal. “Gege worked hard while I was asleep, huh?”

“I tried. That way when you’re awake I can focus on you.” He gave him a little nuzzle and carried the boy right into the house, heading to find what was made for them to eat. He could see Sister Fangs already sprawled on her bed and sleepily munching on hers. He took her over an extra portion of her favorite while he let the boy snack, and finally went for his own plate.

“Gege focuses on taking care of everyone.” His little companion observed, eating a dumpling he’d been given.

“I like helping people, it means a lot to me. And it helps things feel more like home and community.” Xie Lian explained. He settled the boy down soon as he had his own food and sat across from him on the mat, tilting his mask up just a little at the bottom to start eating.

“You’re a very different person than most. Isn’t that how you got a debt to the city in the first place? Trying to help?”

That got a soft chuckle from Xie Lian, “Is it so very bad? Just because it goes wrong sometimes, it doesn’t mean you should stop helping! And the fact I didn’t stop, it means I got to meet you. I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”

This got the boy staring at him with wide, soft eyes and Xie Lian was very unsure of what to make of that, before he had the little ghost shooting forward to throw arms around his middle and hold him tight. Xie Lian was a tad stunned but reached down to wrap his arms around him and hug the boy tight, stroking his hair gently.

He held onto him for a bit before nudging the boy back to his food. “It’s alright, little one, I’m not going anywhere.”

“I know...I know. Sorry gege.” the boy sat back, sniffling and wiping his eyes.

“Shh, no need to apologize.” Xie Lian pet his cheek and offered him an extra dumpling. “Come on now, little one, eat up.”

He delighted in his time with his little companion, and work like this was very good to get into. It meant more chances for Xie Lian to spend with the boy, while not putting either of them in danger. He delighted in more nights like this. But of course, it could not last.

There came a day, after a week or so of doing the indoor work with his little companion along, that the boy seemed to wake very sluggish. He whined when Xie Lian tried to wake him, so Xie Lian had just dressed him and carried him along, thinking he needed more sleep. While he worked, Xie Lian let the boy rest his head in his lap, and he’d stroke his hair while the boy rested.

After a while, he began to notice the boy hadn’t gotten up to try and feast on his usual snacks. “Little one? Are you not hungry?” He asked, taking a bite of fruit to offer him, but just getting a quiet whine in response.

Setting his brush and the piece of fruit aside, Xie Lian checked his head and felt the growing warmth there. In worry, he picked the boy up and tried to offer him some cool water, which was accepted but with yet another whine. It was becoming easy to see he was feverish. This wasn’t right and it made him afraid. His little companion hadn’t been sick this whole time and now he was!

Xie Lian picked him up and held him to his chest, standing and going to Yin Yu’s office. He was going to get a proper space to lie him down in, any pretense that he wasn’t Hua Cheng was not as important right now. He was visibly sick and needed to be somewhere comfortable and able to be cared for.

At his desk, Yin Yu glanced up to see what Sunshine needed, but soon as he saw the state of the boy in his arms, he leapt to his feet.

“What do you need, what can I do?” he asked quickly.

“A room, somewhere I can keep him comfortable and tend to him. He’s already running a fever.”

“This way.” Yin Yu agreed and swiftly moved ahead, down the halls, leading him to a guest room so they could settle the feverish Hua Cheng down and see to his care. It was too serious to waste time. If the Ghost King was getting sick again, there was a strong chance he was going to change back soon.

Xie Lian got him laid on the bed and directed Yin Yu to get a basin of cool water, while he worked on getting the boy’s shirt loosened so he’d be able to breathe easier through the fever. The next task needed was for Yin Yu to fetch herbs, while Xie Lian did his best to wash the sweat from Hua Cheng’s brow with cool water. Just something to ease the heat and discomfort of the fever before they could get him proper herbs and medicines to help soothe it.

With expert speed, Yin Yu returned with not only herbs but tea as well, helping to dish some out. Xie Lian sat the small form up on cushions and helped him drink a little. They fussed over and tended to him, Xie Lian especially, ensuring he was comfortable and soothed.

Once the initial fears calmed down, Yin Yu had time to consider the situation they were in. As far as he knew, Sunshine was fully unaware of the boy’s true nature as Hua Cheng. This meant if he changed back at the end of this, there would be a lot of awkward explaining to do, and he wasn’t sure how his boss would feel about that.

This put Yin Yu in the tricky situation of needing to separate the protective and doting Sunshine from his charge, who he’d been so attached to for some time now. And in turn, it meant separating his lord from a source of comfort he’d been clinging to all this time. He was miserable and sick, and Yin Yu was going to have to deprive him of something that would no doubt help him feel better, for his own good.

Steeling himself, he spoke firmly. “Sunshine.”

Xie Lian looked up from where he’d been brushing a hand coated in cool water through the boy’s soaked locks. “Yes? What is it?”

“You will need to return to work soon. There will likely be other cases of the sickness hitting - the ailment of the others in the city may be ending soon and having its last waves. You will need to be mobilized to help elsewhere.”

Immediately there was a soft whine of protest from the boy who clung to Xie Lian’s middle, and Xie Lian looked up in worry. He needed to work but - but he didn’t want to leave his companion.

Yin Yu flinched - he didn’t want to take this from his lord, but he had no choice. Hua Cheng was in no state to make decisions and this clinging was more from feeling than true understanding. He needed to be able to change back properly. There was a reason Yin Yu was trusted as his second in command, and his judgement was it. In most situations, it was very solid.

“I will see to your companion’s wellbeing, I promise,” he assured Sunshine quietly.

Xie Lian made a soft noise and hugged the boy to him. But he knew his duty - and he knew that likely, Yin Yu was doing this for a very specific reason. Hua Cheng hadn’t revealed himself, and this may be related to his physical state. So it only served to reason that if he changed back, he wouldn’t want Xie Lian there, not for such a reveal.

With a resolved sigh under his mask, Xie Lian nodded, giving the boy one last squeeze and settling him back in the bed, standing slowly.

“Please, take good care of him.” He said very quietly, and moved on from the room, out to take care of whatever duties suddenly needed him. “I will return after work…”

Chapter Text

It took hours of fevered tossing and turning, among other care rituals, before Hua Cheng was fully returned to his proper form and released from the awful throes of Mt. Tonglu’s latest opening. He was a mess and frustrated about it, glaring at Yin Yu when he first saw him before storming off to his private bath to clean up. Normally, the Ghost King didn’t even sweat if he didn’t will it, but this affected him so deeply even that was out of his control and his hair felt disgusting.

His second’s skittishness with him right now was warranted, for Hua Cheng was deeply upset and moody, and would be until he’d settled several matters. The first and foremost was always getting clean. He hated the feeling of being dirty, how it brought back the worst of memories, and greatest bouts of self-loathing.

Taking the time to wash his hair brought an aching, choked little sound to Hua Cheng’s lips, which he didn’t muffle in the privacy of his own baths. He had not been cared for so tenderly in his life, not with such tenderness, and now being himself again made him desperately miss it. He’d already missed having Sunshine nearby to comfort him during his fever, especially when he knew the man would have stayed. But Hua Cheng also knew Yin Yu had made the right decision - Hua Cheng would not have been able to cope with changing back and seeing signs of rejection in this person he’d come to be so attached to during such a vulnerable time.

He leaned on his arms, just soaking in his hot bath for a time and tried to chase away the worst of his thoughts. He would just have to meet with Sunshine later to explain everything and apologize for the deception. Or...something. His head was a mess and he hadn’t the foggiest idea how he was supposed to make up for having lied by omission just for the chance at being indulged in tenderness he didn’t usually get. It was right to say it was lonely at the top, truly. Especially when seeking his beloved god.

With some time to calm his mind and clean his form, Hua Cheng was able to get back to work. Drying himself off, he exited to his proper bedroom to dress and settle down to start circulating his powers again. Getting the city back up to strength, checking the defenses, and at last communicating with his various contacts and distant spying butterflies. He needed updates on the rumors of himself and the city as soon as possible to be sure he countered any necessary.

At least a distraction of this type could keep him away from the inevitable thoughts and worries. He’d have to let Yin Yu come talk to him eventually, but he needed to be alone for now. Hua Cheng needed his composure lest he completely lose it in front of his second or do something silly like go chase down Sunshine to beg for his forgiveness immediately.

For his part, Xie Lian was in an equally messed up and miserable state. He was very worried, even if the logical part of his mind tried to reassure him that Hua Cheng was far too powerful to be harmed by this. Even the idea of leaving someone he cared for so much to suffer without comfort he was used to, it was too much for Xie Lian’s heart.

He’d made a crucial mistake, forgetting a rule he’d made for himself through his years of solitude. Don’t get attached - don’t start letting others into your heart, for you will not be able to take losing them. And he really couldn’t take it! It was very scary to think of Hua Cheng being miserable, or the return to being alone after having him near so long either. They were both really awful thoughts.

Busying himself with dashing around the city on tasks Yin Yu had given him, Xie Lian tried to gather and settle several of the ghosts that were starting to go through their own fevers again, following the same pattern that it did at the start. Making sure various houses were secure so no one got attacked during a rampage, and making sure those who were in the throes of sickness were taken care of.

Poor Madam Xi was in a miserable state, unable to catch even weak ghosts with how sick she was. Xie Lian made a short trip to one of the factories making ghost candies just to get her something to tide her over, and fluffed all of her cushions again before the old demoness felt any better. She’d mumbled her thanks to Sunshine but just wanted to curl up in her pillow nest and eat her pile of trashy ghost candy to fill up.

He was all over the city for most of the night, hours of work and only short breaks. He ran into Sister Fangs a few times, and she was equally frazzled, being one of the others not totally affected, but at least more of their ghost companions were starting to recover enough to help. By the end of the night, as morning was dawning on the horizon, most of the city was either resting off illness or back to some semblance of normal.

Xie Lian collapsed against a wall for a short while, catching his breath. He needed to be quick about it, so he could make it up to the manor. He didn’t want to take chances assuming that his charge was well again - the sickness had hit the most powerful ones worst - and while Hua Cheng could be asleep and not want to see him yet, he had to be sure. He couldn’t just abandon him.

He took off running again as soon as possible, breaths still burning against his chest as he dashed back into the manor itself and along the path he’d burned into his mind. Seeking that spare room he’d left his little one in. Part of his mind tried to hold back, to reassure himself that it wasn’t as dire a situation as it felt like, but he couldn’t really be bothered with logic right now.

Reaching the little room, he opened the door and fell to his knees. As he’d expected, the bed was empty but clearly had been slept in earlier. On his knees he leaned into the wall and tried to catch his breath, bringing his arms up to hold his head and try to stabilize himself. He knew nothing was actually wrong - his charge was gone but likely just back to his own form. Back to...distance. To being the Lord of the city, not the close little circle they’d formed of just themselves.

He’d known the boy was older than he seemed so fast, from how they bantered together, how much he seemed to know that he shouldn’t. Realizing it was probably Hua Cheng himself said a lot. A part of his heart still doubted, still wanted to be misunderstanding the situation. Because what would his use be to a ghost who had everything?

A quiet cough at the door drew his attention that way. Yin Yu stood in the doorway, looking awkward and unsure, even with his mask down. His body language was so minutely fidgety but Xie Lian had come to recognize it rather well by now. The man carried nervousness in every line of his frame, tension was his outline most of the time, so seeing more of it was always a bit obvious.

Taking a deep breath, Xie Lian stood up again. There was no beginning the conversation properly. There was no helping it. So as he was used to, Xie Lian took the awkwardness on himself.

“Yes? Is there some business needed?” he asked, mildly.

Yin Yu jumped, unprepared for a direct question, “Ah. Yes. The Master has returned from his travels-”

“I have things to account for, I’m sure.” Xie Lian agreed. “Very well. Show me the way.”

They travelled in silence down the halls to a room that seemed more grandiose than others Xie Lian had been in previously. Likely some sort of throne room, given the placement and looks in the place. Somewhere Hua Cheng would meet guests not on his level to show his power and the opulence of his home.

Yin Yu left him at the door and left with a step speed he didn’t realize was just a tad too quick to be a proper walk.

Taking another deep breath, Xie Lian opened the door and stepped inside.

Hua Cheng stood in the middle of the room, rather than taking a seat on the throne set up in the middle. He seemed to be mid-pacing but the door opening had paused him. He was very quick to compose himself, Xie Lian observed.

Still, having seen him in child form, returned to adult form he could pick out some tells of his nerves. He showed it less than his second, but it was there.

As Sunshine entered the room, Hua Cheng had had his mind many places, unsure what to say or how to act in his presence. Turning back, he tried to slip back into the mask of proper Ghost King, despite how raw his nerves felt.

He opened his mouth before he'd finished deciding if he wanted to simply greet Sunshine or get right to business. It wasn't good that he hadn't decided that yet, because that decision was what he was using to delay deciding if he should tell the truth about the boy or not.

The words never reached his lips. All thoughts were banished from his mind by the pair of strong arms thrown about his middle and the masked face pressed against his chest.

Oh.

Tentatively his arms came up, returning the embrace.

"How long did you know?"

"A while." Sunshine admitted, rubbing his cheek against Hua Cheng, even if the mask blocked the proper feeling.

"I'm sorry, I should have said." Hua Cheng admitted, the feelings of shame from earlier creeping back up on him.

Xie Lian shook his head, "I could have said too. We were both wrong or both foolish? Something like that."

"Something like that." Hua Cheng echoed.

He hugged him tighter to his chest. "I liked your tenderness so much, your care. I didn't want to lose it."

"I liked being able to freely care for you and actually be affectionate. I was afraid of when you'd change back and this would end."

Xie Lian pulled his face from Hua Cheng's face to look up at him before he continued.

"I hoped you would let me still hold you sometimes but I thought-"

"Please."

Hua Cheng's voice was all but choked with desperation and he rested his forehead against Xie Lian's shoulder.

"I can't just go back to normal, not when I let myself get used to regular affection."

Reaching up, Xie Lian stroked his hand through Hua Cheng’s hair, his other arm supporting the man’s back. “Being cared about, there’s really nothing like it, is there?” It was a rhetorical question and his heart hurt even asking. But he’d seen and felt the mirror of his feelings in this person. The crushing loneliness of a long lifespan and no one you were close to in it.

They stood together for a short time, just clinging to each other. It had been too much emotional strain to not need the time to be caught up in each other for a time. Having someone to connect with was truly an experience.

After a little, Hua Cheng straightened up and took a breath he probably didn’t even need, and composed himself. “If this is how it is, your debt to the city is null.”

Xie Lian was surprised and jumped at that. “Ah? But why?” Suddenly overcome with worry, he flailed, “Chengzhu I didn’t - I had no intent of just clearing my debt by being close with you! You don’t have to do that.”

Shaking his head, the city’s lord drew himself up and back to proper impressiveness, “I know you didn’t. But it’s my city, and I have the freedom to relieve your debt if I so choose, and I do. I don’t want you held here by anything but your own choice.”

“I have no issue working for my mistakes-”

Hua Cheng held a hand up to stop him and Xie Lian quieted.

“The point of giving you a chance to work off a debt instead of an outright punishment,” he explained in a much more relaxed tone than earlier, “was to give you a chance to prove your trustworthiness. You’ve already seen, Yin Yu’s judgement is solid. He may not be as willing to make permanent decisions on staffing without my input, but he knows enough to put checks in place to make the final decision easier.”

“If you truly didn’t mean any harm, then your skills and strength would be a valuable asset. A luckless traveller is the sort of person I could quite easily make a good bargain for employment with. There is a lot I have to offer you, and a lot you can do for me.”

Xie Lian ceased flailing now, tucking his hands into his sleeves now. Well, that wasn’t an unsurprising prospect. They’d tested him for plenty of work and skills, so that checked out. Still, what a strange way of introducing the subject? And now of all times? But before he could let his mind run away worrying about what this meant, Hua Cheng spoke once more.

“That was the intention, but nothing that happened after you started to work here was planned. From the work shortages, illnesses, and necessity to assist in business tasks at the manor, nothing about this was an intentional part of testing you for something. My situation wasn’t either - I want that clear. I already told you the entire reason I didn’t reveal myself to you. Any idea of testing your loyalty was thrown out rather soon after the city was taken by sickness. You more than showed your dedication, as did our few other living residents.”

“Had you worked off your entire debt, the entire payment would have been returned to you, unconditional of accepting any job offer. As I am relieving your debt, you may still have the full amount.” Hua Cheng fidgeted with his hair some, the hint of his remaining nerves showing here - he was trying not to look directly at Xie Lian, afraid of what he’d see even without a visible face. “I would be happy to have you work for me if you wished it, but I don’t want you staying under any obligation. I don’t want that between us. I...I would like it...if you stayed by choice.”

The weight of the words hit Xie Lian strangely. His skills and potential had been in consideration for work, but by the sound of it, Hua Cheng actually wanted him to stay...for himself? What a strange thought after so many years, but he’d already seen and felt the truth of it - they had both clung to each other that way, desperately wanting the warmth of affection between them.

“I can’t deny, I really would have accepted any job you offered, if it meant I could stay.” Xie Lian admitted sheepishly.

Hua Cheng looked up at him again and he really did feel stunned. Even after this, part of him couldn’t help thinking that this person wouldn’t stay if given the chance. That this couldn’t be real.

“Then stay, please. We’ll figure out what to do about work, I just want you close.” Hua Cheng kept finding himself being so very vulnerable in front of this person, but at this point he didn’t quite care. He’d had very few in his life he could be truly close with and any offering of it was a blow he didn’t know quite how to expect.

“Am I alright to take off the mask?” Sunshine offered with a tilt of his head. “It might make it easier for hugs.”

Hua Cheng let out a low chuckle, “Go ahead. I’ve been wanting to just grab it to be troublesome for a bit, but I didn’t want to upset you.” He straightened his clothes and hair a bit, trying to relax after the emotional ride that had been.

“I wouldn’t have minded. I’m mostly wearing it out of habit!” Sunshine’s voice really was so light and merry, it was always nice to hear unmuffled.

“You slept in it, gege.” Hua Cheng looked his way to give him a wry smile and stopped at once.

Xie Lian looked over at him with a bashful smile, “I did but I really didn’t know when I might need to get up and work! Mortals stand out so much, especially in dorms with ghosts!”

The way Hua Cheng was staring at him, it really was hard to understand. Even after the discussion they’d just had, there was no explaining that stunned, starry-eyed look.

“Ah? Is Chengzhu alright?” he asked, tilting his head to the side the way he’d gotten used to doing more visibly while masked.

“San Lang.”

“What?” Xie Lian blinked at him, not catching the meaning.

“You can call me San Lang.” Hua Cheng managed to say, though it was still clear articulation had become difficult.

“Ah.” That really was sudden. But why should he suddenly give him the change of address now of all times?

It was then that Xie Lian realized - in his time spent in Ghost City, he’d gotten the impression that Hua Cheng was actually rather old, and certainly quite learned. He had defeated not just martial gods but literature gods as well, in their own field! He was a devastatingly clever and well read man!

So was it too much of a stretch to think that perhaps...he might just know the face of a god who’s temples had once been in the thousands, now fallen from grace? It had been so long, but the oldest remembered these things - usually as cautionary tales.

Xie Lian looked down self-consciously and fidgeted with his sleeves. It was his turn to be unable to face the one before him.

“Ah.” he repeated, “I see San Lang has recognized me.”

There was a brief pause before Hua Cheng said in a very different tone, “There would never come a day where I wouldn’t recognize your face, Dianxia.”

To hear that title in such a context sent shivers down Xie Lian’s spine and he had to look up again just to see Hua Cheng, to show himself his mind wasn’t just making up the soft, reverent way he spoke. Seeing his face just made it worse, however, for there was no end to the depth of emotion in Hua Cheng’s single eye. He had just been overcome with emotion and yet this managed to hit even deeper than that.

He didn’t know which of them stepped forward first but they were chest to chest again in a moment and Xie Lian was easily leaning into the hand Hua Cheng had brought up to cup his cheek, bringing his own hand up to hold it there.

How many centuries had it been now? How long since he’d heard his own name and titles, had someone recognize him, and had it be in a positive way? The last person who recognized him in some fashion had been a young man so intent on power and title that he’d let the remainder of their people be trampled for his ambitions. Everyone else only remembered his name with disdain or as a tragedy. Someone who had risen so high to fall so far.

Once it had been most expected that he should be liked, he was very likeable and had everything to recommend him. Now every person who liked him was a treasure, even if it was just on a surface level. To like him even knowing who and what he was? That was a near impossibility. But here it was, caressing his face.

Looking up at Hua Cheng with soft eyes, Xie Lian felt his smile bloom more naturally than it had in years. With this person he’d truly started to know what it felt like to be happy again, over these past weeks.. “I’d like to know more about you sometime. About your past, your present, whatever you’ll share with me.”

“I don’t know if you’d want to know those sides.” Hua Cheng admitted, wincing, but leaning down to touch foreheads with him. “But Dianxia is welcome to anything he wants of me. I can’t deny you, not if you ask me directly.”

“It doesn’t have to be tonight.” Xie Lian assured him.

“It’s barely night anymore.” Hua Cheng agreed.

“I’m worn out. I think you are too.” Xie Lian admitted, smile becoming more self-conscious, but in a lighter way. “I rushed over here right after work. I could probably use a wash before I’m tolerable company.”

“I’d enjoy your company no matter what. I’ve clung to you a whole working day haven’t I?” Hua Cheng chuckled, “But let’s go. You can wash up and then we can sleep. I want a proper cuddle as myself.”

“I’d like to have a cuddle with you that way." Xie Lian bounced on the balls of his feet, excitement refusing to be contained.

The excitement was infectious and Hua Cheng grabbed his hand and dashed through the halls like he had when he'd been in the smaller form. They were both laughing as they ran, even as they passed a baffled Yin Yu.

Round and about, sometimes with more turns than necessary just for fun, they at last reached Hua Cheng's bedroom. They stood at the door for a moment, still laughing and giving Xie Lian time to catch his breath.

When both had composed themselves, Hua Cheng opened the door. He was so giddy the happiness tempered his self-consciousness at showing Xie Lian his bedroom. The large bed, the simple decor and finery haphazardly strewn in some places, the weird little touches that Hua Cheng usually didn't think about now wanted to make him nervous. But he shook it off to instead be enamored with his prince, just a little longer.

Xie Lian was very interested in the room from his expression, but the fatigue was starting to settle in at the edges of his eyes and in how his shoulders hung. Noticing this, Hua Cheng showed him to the connected room so he could wash up as promised.

It wasn't long before they were falling asleep. In truth, both were exhausted in too many ways to count, and it all hit at once when given the opening. As soon as Xie Lian had crawled into bed beside Hua Cheng and they snuggled up, both were drifting off.

Because of their reversed schedule, it was late afternoon by the time either woke. Hua Cheng was first, waking with a start to look around, hoping he hadn't been dreaming, and settled on seeing Xie Lian's arms securely around his middle. He wanted to roll back over and maybe watch him sleep a while but the grip was too strong and he didn't want to wake Xie Lian by moving.

Xie Lian woke on his own in time and rubbed his face into Hua Cheng's back. When he released his grip to stretch, Hua Cheng rolled over to drape an arm around him. This was no issue and Xie Lian was equally delighted snuggling against his front as his back.

They had breakfast brought up to eat together, just wanting to lie in and bask for a while longer. As the day finally gave way to night, they got up and dressed to take some time just walking around the city.

There was much to talk over and they took it at their own pace. There was still a newness to this understanding they had that made things rough at times, but they coaxed each other through.

Everyone who saw them walking together, side by side through the city thought their Chengzhu in amazing form. All was well if the city's Lord was happy, and the beauty beside him made it so.

They said that night that Xie Lian's smile was so free as to be dazzling, his light a bright beam of pure sunshine in the night.