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A savage rank ghost was usually nothing to write home about when two martial gods were the one dealing with it. This time though, this time things didn’t exactly go the way they should’ve. It had started with Mu Qing ignoring Feng Xin, which had been happening much less frequently after the events of the previous heavenly emperor, but today Mu Qing was already having a bad day before Feng Xin got involved.
He was pestered all morning by Pei Ming who had asked for help with a matter he certainly could’ve handled alone. Which Mu Qing only realized after agreeing to help him, and once the ghost was disposed of the Northern god had insisted they stay in the mortal realm to ‘grab something to eat.’ That ended with them of course in a tavern with a drunk Pei Ming.
Mu Qing wasn’t exactly keen on hanging out with any of his fellow gods, ever. But in an attempt to make ‘friends,’ which was more like convincing people he didn’t hate them he’d ended up on missions or getting food with way too many people. Which is how hanging out with Pei Ming had finally pushed the limits of his socializing and why he hadn’t said anything since accepting the mission from Ling Wen.
Of course he’d only realized that this was a two person mission after he’d accepted, he really should’ve listened to all of the details before he did. So here he is silently following Feng Xin, and he has been following him silently for almost three incense time.
He didn’t realize Feng Xin had stopped until he was rather roughly shaken by the shoulder by the other god. “Why won’t you say anything?! I didn’t fucking do anything today! Why are you being so difficult?!”
In all honesty if Feng Xin had been talking or asked him anything he wouldn’t have noticed. He was very busy replaying almost all of this mornings events in his head wondering when he’d really gotten so tired. Said tiredness was also the reason he was slow to react when he noticed a bright flash of an array glow beneath their feet, and he did the only sensible thing that no other god would likely do. Roughly shove Feng Xin off of it.
Unfortunately the array was a teleportation array, cause that was simply the kind of day Mu Qing was having. He only briefly saw the surprise on Feng Xin’s face before he ended up in some form of dark room. Mu Qing raised his hand allowing a small ball of fire to emerge in his hand. A cave, he had been transported to a cave.
Sighing Mu Qing reached a hand to his temple, right as he entered the communication array his palm torch went out. That would only mean he’s low on spiritual energy. Dropping his hand he checked his meridians and frowned. Whatever this place was, was draining his spiritual energy, and it was doing it quickly.
Quickly he entered Feng Xin’s private communication array. Feng Xin, in some cave, no a tunnel system, its siphoning off my energy. As far as I can tell I’m somewhere deep in the cave there’s no light anywhere. You should call for backup.
Stay where you are I’m going to- Mu Qing felt the array disconnect and frowned, that was the last of his spiritual energy.
Hesitantly he stepped forward with his hand out and let himself find the wall. Once he found it he allowed himself to lean on while he waited here. Should he really be waiting for Feng Xin? If the ghost was down here he needed to leave, fighting a savage level ghost without spiritual energy is not a good idea.
Keeping his hand on the wall Mu Qing started to walk, he went slow wary of any noises other than the ones he made. He turned when the wall he was on turned and he quickly found himself at a dead end. So it was a tunnel system, which was fine, he’d simply keep following the wall and he’d make it out soon enough.
~•~
It had been a long time, long enough Mu Qing couldn’t keep track. His legs burned with the simple exhaustion of moving so much without his spiritual energy. He had both hands pressed against a new dead end and cursed letting himself fall against the wall. He needed a break from his hours of wandering through the never ending cave.
He had slumped against the wall allowing his knees to come up to his chest. It was increasingly difficult to stay awake, but he couldn’t afford to sleep, especially since he still didn’t know if the ghost was down here with him. He let his eyes close but they snapped open again when he saw a faint light coming from further down the tunnel.
With a hand on his sword he dragged himself up and slowly moved forward. The closer he got the easier it was to make out the shape of armor that sat behind the small ball of fire. That had to be Feng Xin, he actually came to look for him.
“Mu Qing!” Feng Xin ran closer to him seeming to scan him for injury.
Mu Qing tried to pull his hand away while the other checked his meridians. “I don’t have any spiritual energy, it sealed.”
Feng Xin only nodded and released him. “The entrance to the cave, it’s no-“
Mu Qing could feel himself tense as he followed Feng Xin’s gaze. A sword had gone through the weak points of his armor and was impaling his chest. Drawing his sword Mu Qing tried to get around him. Before he could move the sword in Feng Xin moved and slashed through the armor up and out of his shoulder.
The sound of two swords hitting the ground was the only noise as Mu Qing grabed hold of Feng Xin to stop him from falling. He couldn’t care less about whatever was behind Feng Xin he had to help him. He had to do something.
“Feng Xin! K-keep your eyes open! Please- you can’t-“ Mu Qing applied as much pressure on the wound as he could.
Feng Xin was just watching with his head on Mu Qing’s lap and he gently pulled Mu Qing’s hands off his shoulder. “It’s ok.”
Mu Qing shook his head, “Y-you can’t die here, you can’t die, please Feng Xin,”
Feng Xin’s hand fell from where he had grabbed Mu Qing. His eyes were closed now and he stilled. Mu Qing could only shakily put a hand to the pulse point on Feng Xin’s neck.
He screamed after that, he screamed until he couldn’t anymore. He pulled himself into a ball next to Feng Xin and tried to close his eyes.
After a moment a ball of fire appeared in the distance and Mu Qing opened his eyes squinting at the figure. Feng Xin appeared in the cavern quickly coming over to Mu Qing grabbing his wrist and completely ignoring the dead copy of himself next to Mu Qing.
Mu Qing tried to pull his arm away. “W-what the fuck.”
~•~
Feng Xin stared at the array in-front of him, his patience had run thin while waiting for backup, Pei Ming was supposed to join him, well he was supposed to be here already. Ming Guang if you don’t get your ass-
He was cut from the array as someone walked up behind him, “Relax, relax, I’m here, now let’s go get lost in some cave system!”
Feng Xin could only glare at Pei Ming from where he was. He walked onto the array drawn on the ground and watched as it lit up once Pei Ming was with him. He had tried several times to just go ahead on his own but the array seemed to only respond when more than one person tried to use it.
When they had gone through they were met with darkness. Pei Ming was first to light a palm torch and begin looking around. Feng Xin followed afterwards.
“Once he was down here his spiritual energy began to waiver. We shouldn’t waste too much.” Feng Xin looked to Pei Ming who shook his head.
“We don’t need to worry, haven’t you noticed? The array is designed for two people, because we’re both here it’s not affecting us as much.” He was walking towards some sort of writing as he spoke and Feng Xin could only follow, he had no clue how he figured it out.
“Based on the writing I’d say it’s not just one ghost you’re dealing with. Everything seems to be based off of two people down here.” Pei Ming was now facing Feng Xin again seemingly to want him to have some input.
“What about those who end up here alone?” Feng Xin couldn’t care less about what ghost made this, his priority was finding Mu Qing.
“Ah it doesn’t say, we should probably find Xuan Zhen though. Being without spiritual energy for long can’t be good.” Feng Xin wanted to add on that it was in fact Pei Ming’s fault that it’d been so long but opted to not start a fight, he had more important things to focus on.
They began their journey through the cave in relative silence, only Pei Ming ever really broke it to ask some sort of too personal and prying question about Feng Xin’s life. Feng Xin ignored him though and brushed him off as nicely as he knew how, simply for the fact that the other god seemed to have a better grasp of the array they were in and he didn’t want to risk loosing that by starting a fight.
After a while though, Feng Xin couldn’t take it. “Could you stop fucking asking shit like that?! I’m not going to fucking tell you so quit it!”
Before Pei Ming could tell Feng Xin to calm down someone shuffling further in the cave caught their attention. They weren’t close enough to see them yet but they could hear the scrape of metal and cloth against the cave wall. Making eye contact they both drew their swords given a cave wasn’t an ideal place to try and use a bow.
Feng Xin moved forward first just to step on something or someone? He quickly looked down only to see what looked like himself lying there with a gash carved across his upper body and blood pooled everywhere. He looked up towards the noise and back at Pei Ming having no idea what was happening. Pei Ming only nudged him signaling to another copy of himself, they seemed to be walking right in the middle of a field of copies of himself, and they were all dead in various gruesome ways.
“We need to keep moving, whatever is moving clearly isn’t one of these things.” Pei Ming was right but Feng Xin couldn’t help but let his eyes wander across the fake corpses as they moved.
Pei Ming had moved in front now clearly preparing for a ghost, a ghost with some sort of sick hobby. It only took a few steps before the god in front stopped and hesitantly turned to face Feng Xin.
“This is, definitely something you should handle.” Pei Ming snuck another glance behind him before he nodding decisively. “Yeah, that’s all you.”
Feng Xin struggled to see around him in the narrow cave and looked up at Pei Ming’s face trying to figure out what the fuck could even be behind him. “Fine, then fucking move.”
Pei Ming slipped past him and was suddenly very interested in the copies of Feng Xin on the floor and not whatever was happening behind his back. Feng Xin only glared at him before stepping forwards with the palm torch to see what he was supposedly dealing with.
On the floor next to another version of Feng Xin was what at first glance seemed to be a mass of bloodied cloth and armor. The only problem was that said clump of cloth was shaking and had a head of black hair that had been tangled and freed of its normal updo. Feng Xin sheathed his sword quickly stumbling to kneel in-front of Mu Qing unsure of whether or not he should even try and touch him.
“Mu Qing, what the fuck- what the fuck happened? Are you ok?” Feng Xin was roughly shoved back when his hand got too close to Mu Qing’s arm.
Mu Qing looked up at him and could only begin to sob again. “Please- please not again! I-I don’t want to see it again!”
Feng Xin winced and looked back hoping Pei Ming would try and help him but the other was facing towards them but looked freaked out and like he was seeing something he shouldn’t have been, which to be fair, they both were. Feng Xin turned back and grabbed Mu Qing’s arm before he could attempt to grab the sword lying next to him.
“Mu Qing listen- you need to listen to me, whatever it is you think I am, I’m not. I’m real.” Mu Qing was trying to pull his arm back and repeatedly kicked at Feng Xin.
“W-why can’t you just fucking kill me! Kill me instead! I-I don’t want to watch him die again- please.” Mu Qing was slowly giving up his fight and falling back into himself trying to shield his eyes.
Feng Xin turned again to Pei Ming who had gotten closer but still kept his distance. “Draw an array out of here, I’m just- I’m just going to pull him with us.”
Pei Ming looked as uncertain as Feng Xin felt saying that but complied and began to set the array up on the caves wall. Turning back Feng Xin shuffled closer to Mu Qing and began to pull him towards himself as well. Mu Qing had given up struggling but didn’t move from his spot unwilling to look at Feng Xin.
“It’s done, you need to just grab him if you’re going to. I mean- I will help but that’d definitely make him, um more upset.” Pei Ming stood next to Feng Xin now looking down at the two of them.
“Ok Mu Qing, I’m going to move you, just don’t hit me until we’re through the array.” If Mu Qing had heard Feng Xin he made not live to acknowledge he had and didn’t struggle when Feng Xin lifted him up.
Once he’d gotten them off the floor Feng Xin went and crossed the array stumbling into the middle of Puqi Shrine. After catching himself and preventing Mu Qing from falling from his hold he turned back and glared at Pei Ming who crossed after.
“Sorry, it just seemed like the best place. Who knows how angry he’d be if he found out all of Heaven saw him like this.” Feng Xin opted to ignore Pei Ming as his eyes landed on Xie Lian who was unfortunately having his hand at cooking.
Xie Lian had turned to greet them but paused upon seeing how they had come in. “Mu Qing!”
The burning mess that was un top of the stove was forgotten as Xie Lian rushed over grabbing on to Mu Qing’s wrist. “Feng Xin what happened?!”
Pei Ming excused himself from the shrine narrowly avoiding crashing in Hua Cheng as he left and promised to return at some point to help with the ghost. Feng Xin realized Mu Qing had fell unconscious when they went through the array and frowned.
“There was a ghost- and then he fucking went through the array- and Pei Ming took for fucking ever to come help! We didn’t know where he had gone and then there were other versions of me! And he was panicking and screaming and I don’t why-“ Xie Lian was leading him to lay Mu Qing on the bed in the shrine while Feng Xin rambled.
“Feng Xin it’s ok, you need to calm down too.” Xie Lian wiped a tear from Feng Xin’s face after Mu Qing had been laid down.
“It’s not ok-“ Xie Lian only shook his head trying to get Feng Xin to sit down.
“It’s ok, Mu Qing isn’t hurt as far as I can see he’s just low on spiritual energy. As for the panicking we can’t help him if you’re panicking too.” Feng Xin frowned looking at Mu Qing’s sleeping form. “Why don’t you go wash up, there’s a bath house outside now behind the shrine. I can give Mu Qing some energy and find him some new robes, ok?”
Feng Xin nodded walking out of the shrine and to the bath house that was next to it. Once he had walked out Xie Lian looked to Hua Cheng who lingered in the door way.
“San Lang- would you mind?” Xie Lian smiled sheepishly at him hoping he hadn’t offended his husband by asking him to leave.
Hua Cheng came forward handing Xie Lian some robes and a cloth. “Of course not Gege, tell this San Lang if you need him back.”
Xie Lian nodded and kissed his husband’s cheek before Hua Cheng left. Once he was alone with Mu Qing Xie Lian carefully took off his outer robe and replaced it with the one Hua Cheng had given him. After he wiped the blood from Mu Qing’s face trying to be as gentle as possible to not wake him.
Mu Qing however was a light sleeper regardless of how tried he was and he began to stir. Xie Lian set the cloth down and sat on the bed’s edge worried about how Mu Qing would react when he woke up.
Mu Qing sat up rather silently taking in his surroundings with a blank face. “Dianxia?”
“Mu Qing, how do you feel?” Xie Lian was quick to check his meridians and put a hand to his forehead after he was sure Mu Qing knew where he was.
“How did I get here, what-“ Mu Qing cut himself off while staring at his lap.
“Well I don’t know what exactly happened but Feng Xin and Pei Ming they-“ Xie Lian was cut off when Mu Qing very hesitantly laid his head down on Xie Lian’s shoulder. “Ah, Mu Qing are you-“
“H-he’s dead.” Xie Lian could feel the wetness of Mu Qing’s tears on his shoulder as the others body began to shake. “I-I let him die.”
Xie Lian turned quickly enveloping the other in a hug. “Mu Qing whatever you think happened, no one died. I promise everyone’s ok.”
Mu Qing only shook his head beginning to sob for real. “Y-you weren’t there. You didn’t see it. I-I let him die.”
Xie Lian did his best to calm Mu Qing down and began to gently pet his head with one hand. “Mu Qing, I don’t know who you think died but everyone is ok.”
“You don’t get it! I sat there and I watched Feng Xin die! I-I couldn’t help him! I didn’t-“ Mu Qing pulled away from Xie Lian curling in on himself.
Xie Lian didn’t move to touch him again and instead looked to the door where he could hear Feng Xin coming back. Standing Xie Lian went to intercept Feng Xin keeping him hidden from Mu Qing’s sight.
“I think I know what happened.” Xie Lian had used himself to block Feng Xin from walking back into the shrine. “You said something about other versions of yourself?”
Feng Xin nodded trying to look inside the shrine. “They were all bloody and looked dead.”
“Then I know what happened, Mu Qing saw you die, more than once if my theory is right. He thinks you’re dead and he won’t listen to me.” Xie Lian poked his head back into the shrine to make sure Mu Qing was still there.
“What- shit, I need to go in there then!” Feng Xin tried to get around Xie Lian again before being stopped again.
“You need to be careful, he isn’t exactly trusting at the best of times and certainly won’t be now. Just be nice to him ok?” Feng Xin frowned at Xie Lian’s implication of him starting a fight but nodded.
Xie Lian went further out to one of the gardens outside Puqj shrine intending to give them time alone. Feng Xin hesitated by the door but went inside anyway looking over to the bed in the corner. Mu Qing was curled up at the head of the bed his hands wound tightly into the sheets.
In order to hopefully not scare him Feng Xin stopped a little ways from the bed before he spoke. “Mu Qing?”
Feng Xin could see Mu Qing stiffen when he spoke. “I-I’m not actually out of the cave, a-am I?”
“You are, I know that you think what you saw was real, but I’m fine. I didn’t follow you immediately like you said, I got backup.” Feng Xin haphazardly approached the bed waiting for Mu Qing to look up.
Mu Qing very slowly raised his head, he still had tears in his eyes as he scanned over Feng Xin. “You’re real? Actually real this time?”
Feng Xin sat down on the bed pulling Mu Qing into a hug. “I am, I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner. You were really fucking angry before and I figured I should do what you asked.”
Mu Qing let his head fall on Feng Xin’s shoulder willing himself not to cry anymore. “I thought, I mean I saw you,”
Feng Xin shook his head shushing him, “It’s ok, Pei Ming and I saw those things too. They were certainly, um, realistic.”
Mu Qing pulled back attempting to escape the hug he was being crushed by. “Feng Xin let go.”
Feng Xin quickly did realizing that Mu Qing would probably not like that, even while upset. Mu Qing looked away but didn’t attempt to move away and instead opted for staring at the ground. The next time Mu Qing spoke it was so quiet Feng Xin thought he may have imagined it.
“Just don’t, don’t leave m-me, ok?” Mu Qing was still staring at the wall but his side was pressed against Feng Xin.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Feng Xin smiled leaning slightly on Mu Qing as well.
“Good.” Mu Qing allowed his head to lie on Feng Xin’s shoulder hoping he’d be allowed to have this moment of comfort.
Once it became clear that Mu Qing was comfortable Feng Xin gently pulled him back into a looser hug. “Does this mean you wanna be my f-f-friend?”
Mu Qing scowled slapping Feng Xin’s arm as he sat up. “You really know how to ruin a moment.”
Feng Xin only grinned at him, “That wasn’t an answer.”
Frowning Mu Qing leaned on him once more reusing to make eye contact as he spoke. “Maybe I do.”
Feng Xin smiled putting some of his weight on Mu Qing as well. “Would it kill you to be straightforward?”
Mu Qing glared at the wall he was staring at. “It might.”
“Hm, well if you won’t be honest I will.” Feng Xin twisted himself so that he was in front of Mu Qing. “I care about you, like a fucking lot. So I won’t leave you, even if you don’t care about me.”
Mu Qing could feel his face heat up and looked away from Feng Xin again, “That was a shitty confession, but- I do, c-care.”
Feng Xin pulled Mu Qing against himself pressing their lips together. Mu Qin froze his hand instinctually grabbing Feng Xin’s arm. Feng Xin pulled away realizing his mistake as Mu Qing continued to not move or say anything.
“Fuck- wait, I’m sor-“ Mu Qing pressed a hand over Feng Xin’s mouth to stop him and lowered it once he was certain the other wouldn’t speak.
“Shut up and do it again.” Feng Xin wasted no time pulling Mu Qing back into a kiss.
Mu Qing held onto Feng Xin’s neck doing his best in his inexperience to kiss back. When they pulled away for air Feng Xin simply stared at Mu Qing, his face was red and bottom lip red from where Feng Xin had bitten. Tired of the staring Mu Qing pulled Feng Xin back in kneeling to hover over Feng Xin’s lap as they made out.
Not having heard anything for a moment Xie Lian hesitantly came back inside the shrine and gaped at the two. “Guys-“
Mu Qing shoved off Feng Xin falling over the edge of the bed onto the ground. “Dianxia! It’s not- we’re not!”
Xie Lian shook his head turning around, “It’s fine, ah, I’m going back out.”
Feng Xin began to laugh from his spot on the bed as Xie Lian left, Mu Qing stood up and glared at him. “I’m going to kill you.”
Feng Xin nodded pulling Mu Qing back to him. “I’m sure you will.”
Mu Qing rolled his eyes and held onto Feng Xin’s face. “You’re waiting until we go back to the Heavens.”
Feng Xin’s face lit up. “We can do this in the Heavens?”
“Yes, not in public! I-in our palaces- if you want to.” Mu Qing looked away again suddenly aware of red his face was.
“I want to, I want you.” Feng Xin grinned spinning Mu Qing around. “If you want me.”
Mu Qing smacked his shoulder. “Of course I want you. Idiot.”