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One of Hua Cheng’s famous trademark, aside from Eming, was his Deathly Spirit Butterflies.
Silver, translucent and ethereal even. Those sparkly and shimmering creatures were truly a sight to behold. However, they often struck fear into the hearts of people who came across them, rather than awe. For wherever they went, Hua Cheng’s presence loomed and chaos would ensue.
The only exception to this was Xie Lian. The only one the butterflies wouldn’t harm, and the only one to not fear these adorable little creatures.
Initially, the martial god believed that Hua Cheng simply had this unconscious habit of releasing his butterflies wherever he went. Since he would always find him surrounded by them even when there was completely no need for their presence.
But Xie Lian eventually realized it wasn’t the case at all.
There were instances where the butterflies were clearly absent. Especially when he interacted with others. Whether that be working in the ghost city or when he left him with Feng Xin and Mu Qing for a bit.
Not a single butterfly was in sight then.
And so, Xie Lian came to a newfound realization: Hua Cheng may have conjured the butterflies only when they were together. Since Xie Lian was always elated to see them, perhaps Hua Cheng intentionally did that for his sake. To see him smile, adding a magical touch to make the moments they spent together just a bit dreamier.
It didn’t feel odd that his romantic husband would go to such lengths.
One thing’s he learned after all these years, was that there isn’t a single thing Hua Cheng wouldn’t do for him. And it would do him more good to not underestimate his love for him.
Xie Lian kept this observation to himself, finding his husband’s antics to be extremely endearing. However, he soon realized he may have jumped to conclusions far too soon again. As one time he found his husband working on a new sculpture of his god, all by himself, and yet the butterflies fluttered around him.
The martial god put on his detective cap, noting down all the instances he saw Hua Cheng with his butterflies and eventually connected the dots. All these years of solving mystery cases definitely helped.
This habit of Hua Cheng didn’t necessarily occur only when he was around Xie Lian. It happens when he goes through an overwhelming amount of emotions. Whether that was Hua Cheng being happy, flustered, feeling loved or even jealous.
Oh, the ghost king feared by all three realms, making thousands of gods, humans and ghosts alike tremble at the mere mention of his name – had a surprising habit of spawning butterflies whenever his emotions go a little out of control.
The day Xie Lian realized that, he rediscovered just how adorable his husband really was. Even after spending several decades together, Hua Cheng still surprised him with how deep his love is for him. And that till this day, he hasn’t stopped feeling endless joy whenever he’s around Xie Lian.
When they first met, there were fewer butterflies than now, perhaps as a result of Hua Cheng holding back his desires and wants. It made Xie Lian’s heart swell with immense love, knowing his husband had became comfortable enough to let these habits show.
Hua Cheng’s butterflies were like an extension of his emotions, an unconscious way of expression. And they do a really remarkable job at conveying his feelings.
When they cooked together, it would set off a playful whirlwind with ticklish breezes. Savoring Xie Lian’s cooking causes the butterflies to mellow down, silently melting from the love infused in each dish.
When they cuddled and snuggled together, a gentle cascade would wrap around them in a comforting manner. The butterflies buzzed whenever Hua Cheng laughed heartily at Xie Lian’s jokes, mirroring the genuine joy he felt within.
For their daily routine of Hua Cheng offering a flower to Xie Lian, the butterflies would flutter delicately around the bloom. Much like a dance, making the act of offering even more special than it already was.
One of Xie Lian’s personal favourites was whenever Hua Cheng turn flustered.
Perhaps from an unexpected show of love from Xie Lian, or most effectively the showering of affection and reassurance in the form of words. The butterflies would then stir around them in a flurry of uncoordinated movements. Mirroring their master’s emotions, fluttering around in a frenzy to cope and even almost running into each other, creating quite the comical display.
Xie Lian admits to himself that he sometimes gives his all to get his husband flustered just to see that sight. All poised and calm on the outside when in reality, he was all over the place like his butterflies.
There were also tender moments that Xie Lian held dear to his heart, where Hua Cheng leans into his embrace instead of shying away, fully taking in the intensity of his love for him. It was indulging, but it was also healing. Something the ghost king needed but never openly asked for. They’d be enveloped in the butterflies, both finding comfort in their embrace.
Aside from playful, lighthearted moments, there were of course, other sides to Hua Cheng as well.
The butterflies are just as creative as his husband. Their display of emotions was near to endless. Drooping wings and unenergetic flaps when Hua Cheng sulked. Frantic yet territorial when he gets jealous. Buzzing aggressively with sparks in all directions like a storm when he got angry. Mostly, whenever Xie Lian puts himself in harm’s way.
And on nights that felt a little quieter and sad, as they look back at their pasts filled with pains that couldn’t be rid of that easily, a few lone butterflies would stay perched on Xie Lian’s shoulder and hand. As if showing how attentive they were listening to him, how desperate they were to comfort him too.
The grandest sight to behold and the biggest reaction Xie Lian could elicit from his husband, however, would be kissing Hua Cheng without him seeing it coming. Oh, that always triggered a burst of butterflies out of nowhere.
Xie Lian came home from the heavenly capital one day, managing to conceal his presence without being noticed. He surprised Hua Cheng from behind with a kiss on his cheek. And poof, an explosion of butterflies occurred, followed by a subtle tint of blush creeping up the ghost king’s ears.
Hua Cheng may have a way with words and others might even say it’s hard to tell what’s really on his mind, but Xie Lian thinks that Hua Cheng is rather honest with his emotions. Although, that was obviously reserved only for him alone.
It was a little mean of Xie Lian not to tell Hua Cheng about this, but he quite enjoyed watching his husband not have a clue about his endearingly cute habit of his. After all, it wasn’t often he got to see Hua Cheng act so vulnerably.
However, the secret might be out soon with Hua Cheng’s butterflies putting on bigger shows of his emotions, one after another.
One time he had cracked a joke so funny, Hua Cheng laughed so hard that a burst of butterflies that could equal the previous ones, happened. Such a genuine laugh that was, without a care, truly from his heart.
Both of them were drowned in an insanely ridiculous number of butterflies, struggling to even dig their way out of there. The shimmers from them were so bright, it almost blinded them.
Xie Lian blinked slowly while sitting on top of a pile of butterflies that felt like soft clouds before spiraling into a fit of laughter himself, laughing so hard that even tears came out.
“Gege?” Hua Cheng stared at him, confused, as he tried his best to disperse the butterflies.
Oh, perhaps it’s time to finally let his husband know.