Work Text:
“I am so happy that you came this time! You guys!” Xie Lian happily exclaimed as he held two plates of purple goo.
Mu Qing gripped the table so hard his knuckles were turning white and Feng Xin looked like he was praying to someone, despite being a god.
Hua Cheng sat by the table, leaning his head on his supporting hand, and gave Xie Lian a smile along with heart eye.
“Um yeah, glad to be here or something…” Mu Qing muttered as he eyed the…thing that Xie Lian had created. It did NOT look like human food. Actually, it did not even look edible. Deadly even.
Xie Lian set the plates down and went back to retrieve more. Feng Xin stopped his weird prayer and took a long look at the plates. “I have lived a long life…” he finally said after keeping quiet for an awfully long time.
Both Mu Qing and Feng Xin had been quiet when they entered the shrine. They looked very nervous too.
But the strangest of all was that they looked like they got along just fine!
“Gege, it looks delicious as always! You really outdid yourself.” Surprise surprise. Hua Cheng said as he continued staring at Xie Lian.
“I am so glad you think so, San lang! I spent extra long on these since we have guests today.”
Oh, now that put even more pressure on the two.
He sat down once everything was on the table and smiled at them all.” Go on. Take as much as you’d like!”.
“Don’t mind if I do.” San lang said as he started to fill his plates with all the different ‘food’ from the plates. All of them had a weird color but that didn’t stop him. It never did. It never will when it comes to his Dianxia.
“Thanks for the food.” Both Feng Xin and Mu qing said in unison and grabbed as little as possible. Sure their lives aren’t the best but they still want to live.
The first bite was…eventful. But Mu Qing started to hallucinate and Feng Xin started to hear voices.
“Oh, I think something is wrong with them, San lang!” Xie Lian stood up and was about to go check their pulses when Hua Cheng grabbed his hand.
“Gege, don’t worry about them. They’re fine. They just love your food so much they couldn’t handle it. Their bodies are too weak.”
Xie Lian smiled and sat down. “Alright, if you say so. By the way, what do you think?”
Hua Cheng took a bite and moaned thoughtfully. “It’s very flavorful and delicious although I’d recommend using less water next time, gege.”
Ten minutes had gone by before they snapped out of it.
“Augh! I can’t feel my legs! Your Highness, is there any water?” Mu Qing said with a shiver. He gave Feng Xin a look and saw him frantically rubbing his eyes.
Did. Did Feng Xin lose his eyesight?!
Before he could speak up about it Xie Lian handed him a cup of…black liquid?!
“What”
“Aah well, you know how my luck is. Earlier I accidentally burnt the water and now this is all we-“
“You burnt water?”
“Well yeah but-“
“How?!”
“Do not interrupt his highness” Hua Cheng said while giving Mu Qing the dirtiest look he’d ever seen.
Feng Xin finally regained his sight and looked at them all. “I can see!” He said, surprise evident in his voice. “I'm still alive!” Even more surprise.
“Of course you’re alive, Feng Xin. Why wouldn’t you be?” Xie Lian asked his old friend. Said friend just froze up.
“Gege, I think it’s time for these two to leave. Unless you have anything else to give?” Hua Cheng leaned his head into both hands and stared deeply into his gege.
“Actually, I do have one more thing. Dessert!”
Mu Qing decided to do what Feng Xin was doing earlier and started praying to every god he knew. Normally, he would never do this but this situation was just too…
Hua Cheng rolled his eye at them in annoyance. “If you can’t even handle some food then why call yourselves gods? Weak. Useless.”
Now that motivated them to not run away and stay for dessert at least. They were not weak.
Five minutes later, they were both hunched over the table with drool coming out of their mouths.
“Ah! San lang, I seriously messed up this time! Do you think they’ll be okay?” He asked as he guilty bit his thumb.
A hand landed on his shoulder to comfort him.
“As I said earlier. Do not worry for them, your highness. They simply aren’t worthy enough of your cooking. Plus, if no one else eats your cooking I get it all for myself!” Hua Cheng grinned evilly and Xie Lian sighed but patted the hand on his shoulder.
“Alright but you better not go back on your word, San lang!”
“Never, gege.”