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It was true that Xie Lian had terrible luck, but no matter how dire a situation was, he always found a way out.
How many times he’d been stuck in a net, starved and battered from his hopeless trashing? And what about the fishermen that tried to rip his scales from his tail, because the scales of a merman were priceless?
In the end, it’d been his fault: Xie Lian was fascinated by humans and wished to know more about them, maybe take a glimpse of that forbidden realm that was the dry land. However, he’d been too daring that time and ended up too close to the coast, where he was easy prey for skilled hunters.
He didn’t know that there were merfolk hunters, how could he when he lived in seclusion, banished from his homeland? Nobody would bother with the prince of a fallen country, and Xie Lian had made peace with that a long time ago. Besides, he had friends: the little crab that lived near his dwelling, or the old shark that was kind enough to share his spoils with him.
So, when Xie Lian was captured near the shore, he thought that he could still have a chance to escape. Those fishermen were no match for his strength, after all. It was only after he’d seen the spiritual weapons they carried, and the fine silver trimmings weaved on their robes, that he knew something was different from last time, the situation more severe.
Before Xie Lian could break free of his restraints, someone stuck a talisman to him and his body succumbed to oblivion.
There were shouts and excited murmurs, eyes roaming all over his body with hunger and curiosity. Xie Lian had just woken up, so his mind was still hazy and sluggish, refusing to catch up with the reality in front of him.
He had an inkling of where he was, they had those kinds of establishments even in his old kingdom. This one wasn’t too different, clearly, it was somewhere where goods were auctioned off, no matter if it was a person or some kind of rare weapon.
The hall was bathed in crimson, as if blood was coating the entire place, and from the looks of it, it was an expensive place, with plush carpets covering the ground and golden carvings on the pillars. There were three floors, the first one consisted of scattered tables with a stage in the center, while the other two floors were divided into private booths, with red silk curtains obscuring the patrons’ faces. A plaque hung across the hall, with the writing Gambler’s Den in all its atrocious glory.
Xie Lian was quick to realize that he was in an auction house, the prized main attraction that was placed in the center of the stage. He felt like the offering on an altar, the eyes of those people like hundreds of swords piercing his skin, watching as he bled dry to sate their lust for entertainment.
He was being restrained with some sort of magical binding that prevented him from moving or using the power in his voice, and more than half of his body was exposed to the frigid air. Luckily, they were merciful enough to dump him in a wooden tub- it felt cramped, with half of his iridescent white tail hanging out, but he didn’t mind. He’d been in worse conditions.
He couldn’t understand what was happening at the moment, just that people were shouting and shaking pieces of wood with numbers on them. It could be money or years of their life, Xie Lian had no way to know. He looked at that crowd and wondered why so many people didn’t look human: there were ghosts, animals who could talk, any sort of oddity. Not that he could judge.
Suddenly, the noise in the hall stopped.
Xie Lian looked to his side, where the moderator was gaping at the sword that was stuck in front of him, a majestic scimitar with a red eye blinking on the hilt. Someone had thrown it from the third floor, a man clad in the same bloody color as the walls and with a black eyepatch covering his right eye. He jumped down with effortless grace, and Xie Lian had to admit that he looked even more striking up close.
“Hua Chengzhu, please have mercy!” the moderator shrieked, falling on the floor.
Hua Cheng barely glanced at him, making his way towards Xie Lian.
Xie Lian felt hot under his gaze, and his traitorous body decided to react to it: a bluish flush immediately stained his face and his slitted eyes dilated. Still, he had enough decency to bow his head.
“Is gege feeling uncomfortable anywhere?” Hua Cheng crouched in front of him so that they were the same height, a worried frown on his elegant face.
Xie Lian tried to answer, but then remembered the magical restraints. To tell the truth, he was starting to feel faint, even though it had more to do with Hua Cheng’s proximity than anything else. He shook his head, hoping that it was enough.
“I’m glad, then.” The man still looked worried, but didn’t press further. “I’m Hua Cheng, and you’re currently in my auction house, but please gege, believe me when I say I have no intention to harm you.”
Xie Lian had the impression that he was going to be sold off, but he could’ve been wrong. He tilted his head to the side, lifting his brows in silent question: then what am I doing here?
“I’ll explain everything to you, but first let me take you away from,” he looked with disdain at the crowd, “this.”
Hua Cheng stepped into the tub, uncaring of the water drenching his robes, and slipped a hand around his waist and under his tail to lift him up in a bridal carry. Xie Lian had no choice but to rest his head on Hua Cheng’s chest, his whole face now flushing in shades of blue he didn’t know existed.
Hua Cheng tossed a dice on the ground, and the scenario around Xie Lian morphed into something entirely different within seconds. He’d never seen anything like it, he didn’t even think it was possible to travel like that.
He didn’t realize he’d closed his eyes, but when he opened them the scene in front of him was vastly different from the auction hall.
In front of him stood a large pool carved out of marble, with crimson petals scattered on the surface and every kind of oil and soap placed neatly in baskets. Xie Lian was mesmerized by the floor-to-ceiling windows that ran along the wall and the floral patterned stained-glass dome that dominated the entire room, creating a kaleidoscope of colors and patterns on the water.
He was lowered into the water with the utmost care, like something precious. “This is part of my quarters, I hope gege won’t mind the shabbiness.” He almost sounded self-conscious, preferring to undo the magical ropes on his body rather than looking at him.
After what felt like decades, Xie Lian was finally free. He was so relieved that he let out a thrill, swimming around the pool to stretch his limbs out. He realized what he did only after he felt Hua Cheng’s eye on him, full of wonder and something else he couldn’t place.
“Sorry...” he blushed, lowering his eyes.
“San Lang.”
“What?”
“You can call me San Lang.”
“Oh, I’m Xie Lian.” Xie Lian placed his hands in his lap, “aren’t you afraid of me, San Lang?”
Hua Cheng seemed amused by that question. “Why, is gege planning to hurt me?”
Xie Lian started to frantically wave his hands, looking alarmed. “Not at all! It’s just...people are wary of us because of our voice.”
“Well, I’m not like most people.” He really wasn’t, even Xie Lian could tell.
“Not everyone would save a merman without asking for anything in return. What do you want?”
For once, Hua Cheng hesitated. He took off his boots and rolled his pants up, then sat by the edge of the pool. After what felt like a long time, he decided to speak. “I had a debt to repay towards my savior, one that I met when I was a child and saved me from drowning. I think that gege is familiar with this story?”
Xie Lian’s eyes widened. He swam closer, wanting to see for himself the child that had grown into a man. “It was you.”
A beat passed, then he realized something. “But it was centuries ago, how is it possible?”
“I’m a ghost, gege. I haven’t been alive for a long time.”
For some reason, Xie Lian’s heart squeezed painfully- what kind of life must someone have to become a ghost? He closed the distance between them, sitting on one of the steps submerged in the water. He clasped San Lang’s hand in what he hoped was a comforting gesture, “it doesn’t matter what you are as long as you have a kind heart.”
Hua Cheng snorted, “I’m not a good person.”
“That’s what San Lang says.” Xie Lian arched his eyebrows, a soft smile on his lips. He decided to change the subject, feeling his heart speed up under San Lang’s gaze. “Also, why does San Lang have a pool so big?”
“Would gege believe me if I told him I’ve been searching for him?” Hua Cheng squeezed his hand, caressing the back with his thumb. “I’ve never forgotten you.”
At that point, Xie Lian was sure that his blush had extended to his whole face. “Oh, San Lang.” He brought his other hand to Hua Cheng’s face, cradling it.
“Will gege give me a chance to court him?” he asked, almost looking fragile, as if a negative answer could shatter him.
“Of course, San Lang.” He closed the distance that separated them, resting his forehead against Hua Cheng. Their lips were brushing, but Xie Lian wasn’t quite ready to close that gap.
And so, that day two lonely souls were brought together by a twist of fate, binding them for as long as they lived.