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Before the war broke out in Xianle, Feng Xin and Mu Qing didn’t get along. 800 years later, they still didn’t get along.
Xie Lian knew that. Though he wished his friends would make amends and settle their difference, they never did.
It technically wasn’t his business. Ever since he ascended as a god for the third time, he had tried to stay out of their enemy affairs. If they had the willpower to become civil with one another during the 800 years of godhood, they would’ve done so already.
But recently, something in the air had shifted between them. He wasn’t sure what had happened and he couldn’t confirm that something had changed, but Xie Lian had a gut feeling that something was different.
Every time they visited him, they would avoid eye contact with each other. Mu Qing would shift his seat as far as he could from Feng Xin. It wasn’t an unusual action, given that he hated Feng Xin, but what was strange was Feng Xin’s reaction. He would get a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it sad look on his face every time Mu Qing moved away from him. Sometimes, they’d stare intensely at the other, unblinking. One time, Feng Xin and Mu Qing started viciously insulting each other in his house, getting so close to one another that Xie Lian thought they were about to get into a physical fight. Before that happened, Hua Cheng kicked them out.
Xie Lian was worried that his friend’s hatred of one another had worsened. It seemed like they were barely able to tolerate each other anymore. Though he hadn’t heard any reports of palaces collapsing, which made him think the issue was something deeper and more important.
He had to do something. Even if it meant meddling in their business.
But first, Xie Lian had to know the problem.
He had tried to ask Feng Xin and Mu Qing separately, but all he got was a “Don’t worry, Dianxia!” type of response. While he knew neither of them was an adept communicator, he had hoped he’d get some sort of information. Nonetheless, he had a plan to find out what had caused the new rift between the two.
Eavesdropping.
He knew it wasn’t the most honest plan, but Feng Xin and Mu Qing weren’t being honest either. He was doing this for the greater good—getting his friends to at least tolerate each other as they did before.
So, he got a junior official from the South to tell him when and where Feng Xin and Mu Qing were together.
At first, they were hesitant to tell him. But when Xie Lian told them the reason, they reluctantly complied.
The Xuan Zhen heavenly garden was a strange place to meet one’s rival, especially at night, but Xie Lian didn’t judge.
So, one day while Hua Cheng was busy managing Ghost City, Xie Lian ascended to heaven and snuck into the garden. He found a suitable hiding spot behind a bush where he could see the main portion of the garden.
It wasn’t long before the sound of bickering voices met his ear.
“Didn’t I tell you to not go on that mission? Now you got hurt!” Feng Xin’s voice rang out.
“What was I supposed to do? Leave the villagers to die? I’m a martial god for goodness sake, but you treat me like a child! It’s only a cut, it’s not a big deal,” Mu Qing huffed.
“It could’ve gotten infected,” Feng Xin said.
“And it didn’t, so it doesn’t matter,” Mu Qing responded.
Xie Lian peeked between the leaves of the bush. He saw Feng Xin and Mu Qing walking towards the garden’s middle, side by side. Their posture wasn’t as tense as Xie Lian expected.
Also, their conversation confused him. It sounded like they were arguing, but at the same time, it sounded… caring? But Feng Xin and Mu Qing despised each other. Xie Lian must’ve been imagining it.
He refocused on them as Mu Qing and Feng Xin stopped next to a tree. The leaves obscured them from plain sight, but Xie Lian had a clear view from his position.
“That’s not what we came here for anyway,” Mu Qing said, arms crossed.
“Are you sure it’s okay with your injury?” Feng Xin asked.
Mu Qing rolled his eyes. “I’m not injured. We don’t have much time before someone notices we’re gone, so get on with it.”
Xie Lian held his breath. This was where he’d find out.
He watched his two friends glare at each other. Feng Xin’s left hand twitched by his side. Mu Qing’s hands balled into fists. The tension between the two could only be described as venomous.
They’re going to start fighting, Xie Lian thought. They didn’t have swords on them, so they were going to do it with their bare hands. Oh god. Xie Lian had to stop them.
Xie Lian prepared to jump out of the bushes and stop his friends from fighting each other, closing his eyes to not see the first blow. However, the sound that met his ears wasn’t the sound of a punch. Or a kick.
It almost sounded… wet. Xie Lian opened his eyes, confused.
Once his eyes focused on the figures in front of him, he stifled a gasp.
There stood Mu Qing and Feng Xin… kissing.
He blinked twice, wondering if he was seeing things. Nope. They were still there, kissing. He pinched himself, wondering if he was dreaming. Nope. He was in reality.
Feng Xin had pinned Mu Qing against the tree, a leg slotted between the other’s legs. Mu Qing's hands dug into Feng Xin’s robes as their tongues moved against one another. It was a sight Xie Lian would’ve never expected in all the years he’d lived and all the years to come.
Xie Lian was in shock. The reason behind Feng Xin’s and Mu Qing’s strange behavior was that they were… doing that in secret. Are they dating? Xie Lian thought. He felt like he was intruding on a private moment. He wondered if he could pretend like they were simply exchanging spiritual powers.
He looked back at his friends, still lip-locking. No, he thought remorsefully, I can’t unsee this.
Xie Lian closed his eyes. He hoped it would be over soon.
When he heard the distinct pop! of two pairs of lips parting, he thought they were done. He opened his eyes in relief.
Spoiler alert: they were not done.
Xie Lian watched in horror as Feng Xin’s lips moved from Mu Qing’s face to the crook between his neck and shoulder. He looked away quickly—he wasn’t about to watch their activity escalate.
When he heard a moan drawn out from one of them—he wasn’t sure which one and he never wanted to know—he knew he had to make it out of there as soon as possible.
He covered his ears and shut his eyes, counting the seconds until they wrapped up. He got up to 812 seconds before they removed themselves from each other’s grasp as the inappropriate sounds ceased. To Xie Lian, it felt more like 812 years. Thankfully, they never made it past first base. Xie Lian would’ve cried if it went further.
He was happy that his friends were no longer enemies, but at what cost?
Feng Xin and Mu Qing left the garden shortly after, arguing on their way out. Xie Lian stood up from his hiding place and promised himself he’d never eavesdrop on anyone again.
He went home. When Hua Cheng came home and went in for a kiss, all Xie Lian could think of was what he had witnessed minutes prior. He made up some excuse about having sore lips to avoid kissing, much to Hua Cheng’s sadness. Xie Lian would make it up to him some other day, but today, he’d seen enough kissing.
The next time Feng Xin and Mu Qing visited Puqi Shrine, things were different. Instead of his friends avoiding one another, he avoided eye contact with them. They asked if he was feeling alright many times, all to which Xie Lian lied. He didn’t know how he could face them, much less tell them after what he saw.
Xie Lian just prayed he’d never see it again.