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It all started with a single question.
An innocent idea that had sparked one of the most challenging situations Hua Cheng and Xie Lian had found themselves in!
“San Lang, has E’ming ever cultivated a human form before?”
Hua Cheng had hummed, stroking Xie Lian’s hair as he absentmindedly replied. “Yes, but I don’t allow it to be in human form.”
“Why not?” Xie Lian had asked with a laugh, curious.
“Even though it takes the form of a child, it’s rather… disastrous .”
Xie Lian sat up from where he was lying on their bed, looking back at Hua Cheng with a grin. “Aw, but I bet it’d behave now. Ruoye has a human child form too, but I believe it’s not too fond of it. I wonder if it’d be different now.”
Hua Cheng brushed back Xie Lian’s hair as he raised an eyebrow, “gege, you look like you have something on your mind.”
Xie Lian had looked away, barely containing his smile. “I just think it would be nice to see them play together! Like two children, I mean.”
Hua Cheng grinned. “Like our children?”
Xie Lian coughed. “Y—yes. It would be for a while, not permanent, of course.”
Hua Cheng had smiled widely, grabbing his husband’s face and kissing him on the forehead. “As gege wishes. Should we tell them tomorrow, then?”
Xie Lian is currently contemplating his whole life decisions.
He believes himself to be good with kids, really! He’s patient, soft-spoken, and kind. Back when he was taking care of Guzi, he believes he did a good job, overall.
But these kids… the right word for this truly is disastrous!
Xie Lian is staring at a mess in the kitchen of Puqi Shrine. There are dumplings scattered on the floor, a suspicious substance covers the table and two little kids are playing sword-fight with chopsticks while their faces are covered in flour.
Xie Lian doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“Ruoye… E’ming… I said no playing in the kitchen…” he covers his face with his palms, groaning in defeat.
The two kids pause their game when he enters the kitchen, looking up at him with bright eyes.
Suddenly, Xie Lian hears giggles and hands clutching at his robes, covering him in flour and other ingredients as the kids hug his legs.
Xie Lian can’t help the smile that spreads on his face. The little boy in red is grabbing his left leg firmly, baring little fangs as he smiles up at him, his only eye visible curling into a crescent as the kid can barely contain his joy. His red robes and silver jewelry make him almost look like a young master from a prestigious house, much like the one who gave him life. Xie Lian’s other leg is in between the hands of a little girl, whose white hair and white clothes mix with the white powder on her face. Her eyes are round and her face is pale, with a calm smile that betrays her previous behavior. She’s jumping up and down in an attempt to gain more attention than the boy next to her.
“O—Okay, okay…” Xie Lian laughs and bends down to pick both children up in his arms. E’ming immediately wraps his little hands around his neck, while Ruoye plays with his hair. “San Lang?” He calls for his husband, who was doing some work in the garden. “Can you lend me a hand here?”
A tall man clad in red soon peeks from the door, “sure gege, is everything alr…?” He pauses when he sees the mess the two kids have caused.
Before Hua Cheng can scold them, Xie Lian intervenes. “Everything’s fine! It’s just… I think they need a bath.”
Hua Cheng shoots the kids a disapproving look. “You two, didn’t his highness tell you to behave?”
The kids in Xie Lian’s arms look at each other before turning away from Hua Cheng, like ignoring him completely.
“Hey! I’m talking to you!” He says, almost indignated at the two little kids acting like they can’t hear him.
Xie Lian can’t help but laugh. “It’s fine San Lang, this is how kids are.” He leans in and quickly pecks his husband on the cheek. “I think.”
Hua Cheng extends his arms so Xie Lian can pass E’ming to him, despite the boy’s complaints. “No worries. This one will help gege clean them up.” Then, he points at the two kids. “And you better listen to his highness, or else you’ll be grounded.”
Hua Cheng ignores how E’ming frowns at him, crossing his little arms. Xie Lian nods. “If you want time to play in these forms, you have to do as we tell you, okay?”
The two kids hesitate before nodding. Hua Cheng stares in adoration at his dear husband, feeling his chest swell with love and pride for his god. He firmly believes there’s nothing Xie Lian cannot do, even if it’s dealing with two troublemakers like these children.
Ruoye goes back to playing with Xie Lian’s hair, while E’ming tugs at Hua Cheng’s braid, who pays him no mind as he speaks to Xie Lian.
“Gege is a great dad.”
Xie Lian’s eyes widen and he blushes before replying. “San Lang is too.”
Xie Lian smiles back in a way that makes Hua Cheng’s eyes widen a little bit too. A thousand years could pass and Hua Cheng’s love and adoration for his god would never fade out.
How his god returns the fervent love he’s been harboring in his heart for almost a millenia, how his god has decided to gift him his love and now stands next to him, calling him a good parent…
These are things he never even dared to imagine, content with only following his god as his humble servant. That bit has not changed at all, but Hua Cheng now finds himself endlessly devoted not only as his servant, but as his lover .
He wouldn’t have it any other way.
Hua Cheng decides to reply with a kiss on his husband’s cheek. “It’s because I’m with you, gege. This one can only hope to be good for gege and his family.”
Xie Lian’s eyes widen again, and he smiles sweetly at him.
“San Lang…”
The two are broken from their bubble by the kids making gagging noises at the display of affection, like two embarrassed children who just had to witness their parents being all sweet and lovey-dovey. Hua Cheng shoots them a glare but Xie Lian only laughs.
“Let's bathe these two.”
Hua Cheng and Xie Lian were not supposed to take a bath. But the kids had other ideas.
The two of them are currently struggling to keep E’ming from splashing, while Ruoye makes bubbles with her face half under the water. Their clothes are soaked from the chaos that was trying to get them into the water, not to mention scrub them without them trying to get away.
They certainly look like they’ve taken a bath too!
“Stay still, will you?” Hua Cheng tries to get E’ming to stay in one place as he washes his hair. The boy keeps spinning in the water, splashing with his little hands as he moves.
“San Lang, let me do it.” Xie Lian signals the boy to come closer to the edge of the wooden tub as Xie Lian gathers water on his palms. E’ming immediately smiles at him, giggling as Xie Lian pours water on his head.
“Little E’ming is so obedient!” Xie Lian congratulates, making the boy smile even wider. Hua Cheng complains.
“Your highness, you’ll spoil him.”
Xie Lian raises an eyebrow, teasing. “There’s no harm in it. I spoil you too.”
Hua Cheng pouts playfully. “But gege, I’m your husband .”
Xie Lian smiles at him with a roll of his eyes. “Okay, okay, I know. My husband San Lang is really good too.”
Now both E’ming and Hua Cheng have content smiles on their faces.
Hua Cheng looks towards the girl swimming with her head half-submerged under the water, speaking with a softer tone of voice that only Xie Lian has ever heard him use.
“Ruoye, you need to wash your hair too. Come here.”
The little girl widens her eyes at his voice, nodding and moving closer while still being half-submerged. She begins blowing bubbles underwater when Hua Cheng starts washing her white hair, detangling the knots that had formed now that she doesn’t have it put up. Hua Cheng hums.
“Seems like Ruoye’s hair tangles itself easily, it’s best to keep it up.” He pours water on her hair carefully.
Xie Lian sighs, pensive. “Yes. Even as a spiritual device, she’s scared of tangles and knots.”
Ruoye nods and frowns, agreeing to Xie Lian’s words.
“Don’t worry, gege. This one will braid her hair so it doesn’t get tangled.” He gently scrubs the girl’s hair, careful not to hurt her.
Ruoye stops blowing bubbles and smiles under the water.
E’ming spins around in Xie Lian’s hold, pointing at himself and then Ruoye.
“You want your hair braided too, E’ming?” Xie Lian asks with a smile.
The little boy nods enthusiastically as his single eye curves into a crescent once again, joyful.
“Sure, we can braid your hair after the bath, okay?”
“But please stay still so his highness and I can finish cleaning you two up.” Hua Cheng’s voice is not harsh, nor does he scold the two little children. He frowns at them to issue a warning, but Xie Lian knows his expression carries endearment. He smiles at him.
The two kids pout, but they manage to miraculously stay mostly still for the rest of their bath.
Soon, it’s time to dress them up and brush their hair.
This is one of the toughest fights Xie Lian and Hua Cheng have had to win.
Two kids are running around the room, clothes half-done and hair still damp. Their laugh fills the air as they chase each other in circles, making their two masters — parents , sigh in defeat.
“Gege, just say it and I’ll tell E’ming to behave.” Hua Cheng says, suddenly.
Xie Lian laughs with a hand on his forehead. “No need, no need. We can do this.” Xie Lian encourages.
Hua Cheng pouts. “Gege…”
“We can do this!” Xie Lian grabs his husband’s face and repeats, like a war chant. “ We . Can. Do. This. ”
Hua Cheng chuckles at his encouragement, kissing his palm before repeating. “We can do this.”
Xie Lian pecks him on the lips before speaking to the kids. “All right! No more playing in these forms if you two don’t let us finish with you. After this, you’ll get to play outside!… Plus, a delicious snack!” He offers, trying to negotiate with them.
Sure enough, the two children stop and consider his offer, looking at each other with squinted eyes. Finally, they walk towards them with their heads lowered.
“Good, such obedient kids!” Xie Lian says, secretly wiping sweat from his forehead. Hua Cheng gives him a thumbs up.
Soon, the ghost king and the god manage to get the two kids dressed up in clean, fresh robes. Hua Cheng is tying a belt around Ruoye’s white clothes, similar to Xie Lian’s cultivator robes. The girl has her arms raised, allowing Hua Cheng to finish while following him with her wide, round eyes.
“Okay, let’s put on your shoes now.”
Hua Cheng goes to pick the girl up to sit her on a chair, but she folds her arms tightly around herself before pointing at her hair.
Hua Cheng raises an eyebrow. “Ruoye, I’ll braid your hair after putting on your shoes. Come on.”
But the little girl frowns, refusing to unfold her little arms. Hua Cheng draws in a breath to gather some patience.
He then crouches down to be on eye-level with her, before speaking an idea. “How about this? If you let me put on your shoes first, I’ll do your hair just like his highness has it. Would you like that?”
Ruoye seems to think for a moment before smiling up at him, nodding enthusiastically. Hua Cheng lets out a sigh, finally picking the girl up to put on her small, white boots.
Xie Lian flashes an amused smile at his husband. Hua Cheng returns it with a raise of his eyebrow.
Xie Lian, on the other hand, is finishing putting E’ming’s silver decorations around his neck, smoothing the wrinkles on his red robes as he carefully finishes putting the butterfly necklace on. Xie Lian smiles quietly as he thinks just how similar the little boy looks to Hua Cheng, the only difference being his uncovered right eye instead of the left one.
“All ready!” Xie Lian announces. The boy spins around to show off his outfit, jumping up and down when Xie Lian claps. He then hugs Xie Lian’s leg with a happy grin.
Ruoye looks at E’ming and then stares up at Hua Cheng, pouting while pointing at her hair.
Hua Cheng smiles. “Alright, alright.”
Xie Lian chuckles as he sits E’ming on a chair to work on his hair too, who gestures to him that he wants all of his hair in a long braid.
The two of them begin working earnestly on brushing and braiding the children’s hair. Hua Cheng does a half updo on Ruoye’s white hair, similar to Xie Lian’s style. However, he adds little braids on both sides of her face, delighted in the way the girl looks up at him with a smile on her face every time he combs her locks. Hua Cheng chuckles quietly, smiling at how much the girl’s gentle smile resembles Xie Lian’s.
“Ruoye looks pretty, don’t you think gege?” He smiles proudly as he finishes braiding the last bits of Ruoye’s hair. The girl looks at Xie Lian with sparkling eyes.
“So pretty!” Xie Lian smiles warmly.
“Just as pretty as gege.” Hua Cheng adds.
“S—San Lang…” he laughs, after all this time still managing to feel flustered at how sincere Hua Cheng always sounds with his compliments.
Ruoye nods enthusiastically, hopping down from the chair and hugging Hua Cheng’s leg. Her eyes widen in surprise when she discovers little silver butterflies dangling from his boots, hesitant to touch the decorations.
Hua Cheng notices with a smile, crouching in front of the girl to extend his palm. When he opens it, a little silver butterfly extends its wings, fluttering towards the her.
“Do you like it, Ruoye?” He asks, already aware of the answer by the look on the girl’s face.
She nods and jumps to follow the little butterfly, who floats across the room like inviting the girl to play.
Seeing Ruoye occupied, Hua Cheng walks closer to where Xie Lian is finishing braiding E’ming’s hair.
“Gege did a great job with E’ming’s hair.”
“Thank you, San Lang.” Xie Lian smiles, reminiscing about something. “I remember seeing the servants braid my mother’s hair from time to time, and I always thought it looked pretty. Glad I remember a thing or two.” He looks down at E’ming, patting his head. “All done.”
The boy hops down and jumps in celebration, hugging Xie Lian before joining Ruoye in playing with the silver butterfly.
Hua Cheng’s eye focuses on Xie Lian, his gaze turning solemn, that of a devotee. “Gege truly is an amazing father.”
Xie Lian pauses before looking back with the same loving gaze, eyes glistening with hints of tears. He surges forward and hugs Hua Cheng tightly, hiding his face on his chest and breathing in the presence of his husband, his eternal lover.
His family.
“I love you,” he mumbles against his chest. Hua Cheng places his chin on top of his head, hugging him back with warm arms and kissing the crown of his head.
“I love you too, gege.”
The two kids notice the two of them together, and they look at each other before deciding to pause their game.
Xie Lian and Hua Cheng feel little arms circling their legs, hugging them too.
Xie Lian laughs contently and reaches down to pat E’ming on his back. Hua Cheng does the same, petting Ruoye’s hair.
“Your family won’t go away again, gege. It’s eternal.” Hua Cheng whispers lovingly.
Xie Lian nods and raises his head, looking at his husband. “Thank you.” He smiles with teary eyes. Hua Cheng kisses his forehead.
The kids tighten their hold around their legs, like comforting them. Hua Cheng and Xie Lian can’t help laughing at their gesture, and they crouch down so the kids can hug them properly.
“It’s okay.” Xie Lian reassures, E’ming dangling from his neck in a tight embrace, while Ruoye hugs Hua Cheng and plays with his braid.
“We’re okay.” Hua Cheng echoes, but it’s mostly to Xie Lian.
You have a family, gege, you are okay.
The kids don’t pull away from the hug, seemingly finding comfort in Hua Cheng and Xie Lian’s arms. It’s like they’ve finally forgotten their troublemaking; for the first time in the day, the kids seem to be calm and still. E’ming even manages not to scowl at Hua Cheng.
Xie Lian laughs at this thought.
This calm lasts, of course, until Hua Cheng hums and announces,
“I think it’s bedtime.”
The kids groan and look at Xie Lian. He laughs and shakes his head.
“San Lang is right! Time for bed.”
That evening, the two of them spend another hour trying to get the troublemakers to bed.
No wonder the ghost king and the god fall asleep instantly that day, tangled together in a warm, loving embrace.
And before falling asleep, with a peaceful voice, the god whispers to his ghost king with a smile.
“We did it, San Lang.”
The ghost king chuckles, smiling too.
“We did it, gege.”