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Hua Cheng’s self-restraint made him proud and caused him endless anguish at the same time.
Mere moments after Xie Lian defeated the White Calamity, he ended up reduced to the lesser of his forms: an undignified ghost fire, closer to the soul of a recently deceased than to a Supreme Ghost King. By then, he had won his beloved over. His feelings had been accepted and reciprocated, and Xie Lian had become aware of all the shapes Hua Cheng used to interact with him over the centuries, even the ones he had never wanted him to find out about. The prince was as kind and understanding as he was clever—as he had always been. He wouldn’t reject him now, not even when he looked like this. He knew that. Then, why?
Why was Hua Cheng, Crimson Rain Sought Flower, Supreme Red Calamity, pacing around, deep in a cave at the base of Taicang Mountain? Well, besides this being his most pathetic form, it was also the one in which he had failed Xie Lian the hardest, the one he was trapped in when the White Calamity had those mortals defile and humiliate his beloved. The one he had when he was unable to provide Xie Lian warmth when he needed it the most.
Being a ghost fire made him remember how useless he had been.
And this was why: if he was bound to be useless, at least he didn’t want to be a burden.
He would be back as soon as he regained his full strength. It wouldn’t be long now. A couple more weeks and then he’d be able to retake a proper human shape. Then, he and Xie Lian would be together and happy for as long as His Highness wanted Hua Cheng by his side.
Thunder echoed outside the cave. Hua Cheng pictured in his mind’s eye Xie Lian sitting in his shrine in Puqi, drinking tea and resting while the storm lasted. As long as he was fine, Hua Cheng would be too, even when his biggest tool against boredom was seeing how far into the darkness of the cave he could float.
He had yet to explore it in its entirety, but his intuition told him it was massive. He didn’t worry about getting lost. In the unlikely case that ever happened, he could push his way out through the cracks of the walls. One of the advantages of lacking a rigid mortal form.
After a series of random turns, the air around him thickened. It was as if Hua Cheng had started floating through soup without warning. He tried to go back, but his attempt proved pointless; the thick air had spread all the way back to where he had come from. All Hua Cheng could do now was to continue forward, so he did. That worked. After a few moments, he went through the last of the abnormality and the air returned to its normal consistency.
“That made no sense,” he murmured. “I have to—”
He interrupted himself when he noticed light coming from the tunnel ahead of him. Whoever carried it was of short stature and the echo of their hesitant steps made it clear that they were in possession of a mortal body.
Hua Cheng would have ignored this person if he hadn’t been so bored. As things stood, he followed the light just to have something to do, dimming his own, careful not to be seen. However, when he got to take a proper peek, he struggled to repress a gasp.
After a second look, however, he realized that he hadn’t been a victim of a misguided sense of longing.
Right in front of him, holding a dish with a candle on top, there was Xie Lian. But not the Xie Lian he had last seen in Mount Tonglu. This was the prince as a child. He wore the same kind of robes he would back when he was a young crown prince, and he did look scared the way he wouldn’t have as an adult.
This was impossible. Xie Lian had surely chosen to adopt this form to fulfill some mission. Yes, that had to be it.
Regardless, even though his resolution hadn’t changed, Hua Cheng felt happy at having a chance to see Xie Lian if only for a moment. Therefore, he followed the child carefully so as not to be seen.
What could his mission be? Hua Cheng wondered. There aren’t any monsters or ghosts here… Other than myself, in any case.
So maybe Xie Lian was looking for the Red Ghost King?
No. That was impossible. Even in the case that he had found out his location, what reason could he have not to use his adult form? Hua Cheng scolded himself for having felt half-hopeful about it. There was no doubt in his heart and mind that, if Xie Lian knew where he was, he would come straight to him, calling his name.
How terrible it was to realize that his plan was working as intended.
A moment later, Xie Lian’s breath became more labored. He began to pant as if he had either done strenuous exercise all of a sudden—which he hadn’t—or as if he had grown more scared. Which made even less sense. This cave was safe and Xie Lian was not the kind of man who would be scared of the dark. Besides, although Hua Cheng loved him dearly, there was no denying he wasn’t that much of an actor, and there was no one here to perform to.
Thus…
Could it be? Could the one in front of him really be Xie Lian as a child?
As Hua Cheng reached this conclusion, Xie Lian tumbled. Having tripped over a rock, he fell on his knees. The dish he carried slipped from his hands. The child did his best to grab it, but he wasn’t fast enough. He could only fumble helplessly while the melted wax burned his delicate hands and the candle hit the ground, extinguishing the flame.
“No!” he exclaimed, sobbing as he patted the rough floor of the cave, looking for the candle. However, even if he found it, unless he had something to light it back with, it would be for naught. “It’s so dark now! I can’t see! I can't see!”
Hope for getting the candle back flickered out soon after the flame and the prince began sobbing. In tears, Xie Lian pressed his injured hands against his chest. The damage had been minor but, at that age, the crown prince was not used to pain.
At this, Hua Cheng’s resolve crumbled. His heart couldn’t take it anymore and he flew, as fast as he could, next to Xie Lian. His light shone brighter and he dared to touch his hands, sparing a little spiritual energy to soothe him.
“Your Highness, don’t be afraid,” he said.
Although he gasped when he saw the ghost light, Xie Lian didn't recoil. Tears stained his face, but they stopped coming out when he got distracted by the newcomer.
“Hello,” Xie Lian said with a small, tentative voice. “Are you a ghost?”
The lack of recognition hurt Hua Cheng. However, now that he saw into his eyes, he knew that this was Xie Lian. The real one, beyond doubt.
“That I am. But don’t be afraid, Your Highness. I would never hurt you.”
Xie Lian looked at his hands and then back at the ghost.
“Did you heal me?”
Hua Cheng’s entire ghostly self bobbed as an affirmation.
“Are you feeling better?”
Xie Lian wiped his face and nodded, a shy smile appeared on his face.
“I am. What’s your name?”
“You can call me San Lang, Your Highness.”
Once more, there was no recognition, just a nod of acceptance. But once the first sting passed, acceptance from Xie Lian was all Hua Cheng needed to be happy.
“San Lang, I’m lost. Can you help me go back home?”
“I would be honored to be your escort.”
“Thank you,” the young prince said, standing up and looking a little braver.
This is how Hua Cheng found himself in the middle of a double mission—which might as well have been the same one: get His Highness back home safely and find out how this situation came to be. If anyone had dared to put a block on either of their memories, they would face the Red Calamity’s wrath—as soon as he could show it in a way fitting for his stature.
Right now, he made sure to shine brighter and floated toward the exit. Or, at least, where he thought the exit would be. After the incident with the thickened air, he got a little more disoriented than he would’ve wanted to admit even to himself.
Behind him, the prince trailed with steady steps.
“San Lang, have you been lost here for a while?”
“I’m—not lost,” Hua Cheng replied, trying to keep the pout away from his voice. “I came to explore this cave because I was bored.”
“I didn’t know ghosts could get bored. Then again, I don’t know much about ghosts.” The prince punctuated the phrase with a soft, apologetic laugh. “My teachers say that it’s in a ghost’s nature to be evil, but now I see that’s not true.”
“Actually, Your Highness, it is true. All ghosts are evil, including me.”
“No, you’re not.”
“But I am.” The ghost fire floated closer to the child. “I would never hurt you but that doesn’t mean I’m good.”
Xie Lian frowned and pouted at Hua Cheng with his fists tightly closed at his sides.
“I refuse to believe that.”
Hua Cheng startled—although, in hindsight, he shouldn’t have. So, His Highness had always been this adorably stubborn. As for his naivety, at this age, it was easy to forgive. Just because of that, Hua Cheng decided not to push the point the way he would have if Xie Lian had been an adult. He had long years ahead of him to learn better.
“San Lang, what did you look like when you were alive?”
The ghost fire did the equivalent of tilting his head.
“Tall,” he replied. “Ugly. Malformed. Everyone feared getting in my way.”
Since he didn’t have a way to refute this, Xie Lian extended his hands to wrap them around Hua Cheng, who didn’t move out of the way.
“They did? Well, even then I wouldn’t have been afraid of you because you’re helping me. Were you a cultivator? Or a swordmaster?”
Hua Cheng chuckled. Now that Xie Lian had found the courage to start asking questions, they just kept coming. Endless curiosity was another endearing trait the prince had carried with him throughout his life.
“I was never a cultivator. However, I used to be a soldier, with a scimitar as my main weapon.”
The child gasped.
“That sounds amazing! I wish I could see you fighting with it!”
As soon as Xie Lian said that, Hua Cheng felt glad that said scimitar was not here right now. Otherwise, that cursed thing would’ve hogged His Highness’ attention as usual. Or even worse than usual.
Either way, it was nice to be the recipient of that admiring gasp for once. Hua Cheng leaned into Xie Lian’s hands, who giggled and patted him the way one would a cat. The ghost could barely refrain himself from purring.
He also took advantage of the fact that he was closer to probe for any magic surrounding Xie Lian. He found nothing of the sort, and he wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or not. On the one hand, Xie Lian wasn’t suffering, but, on the other, he still had no straightforward answer to the current problem. His next best guess was to get him outside the cave and see if the sunlight made any difference.
However, the solution could still be a lot of things. He just had to think a little harder. But he would fix it, one way or the other. If he had no other choice but to ask for help from the heavens… Well, for Xie Lian, he would do even that.
“Come on, Your Highness.” He had just recognized a patch of moss to their right. “We’re getting closer to the entrance.”
Xie Lian nodded and let go of him so he could lead the way again.
“What will you do when we’re out?” Xie Lian asked. “Will you come back to explore the cave? Or…?”
Hua Cheng chuckled to himself again. Subtlety was another subject his dear prince could work on improving. At this point, though, the ghost decided to pretend he didn’t know what Xie Lian meant.
“Or…?”
“Mmm. Maybe… Maybe you’d like to stay with me in my palace? You can have a room next to mine. We can see the sunrise from the window! The garden looks very pretty! You’ll love it!”
“So, His Highness wakes up on time to see the sunrise? That speaks of a healthy lifestyle.”
Xie Lian laughed, pleased by the compliment.
“But, also, do you like to talk with me that much?” the ghost fire continued.
Xie Lian nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes, you’re very kind and patient, and I want you to be my friend.”
That statement hit Hua Cheng right in the most tender spot in his heart.
“I think I would like to have a room of my own in the Crown Prince’s palace.”
Xie Lian’s face lit up.
“Yes! You’ll like it, San Lang! I promise! We can stay talking until late and you can tell me all about yourself!”
Hua Cheng floated back to him.
“Nothing would make me happier, Your Highness. But what will the king and queen say?”
“You’ve saved me! I’m sure they’ll want to reward you as you deserve.”
“In that case—”
Hua Cheng interrupted himself because he felt strong resentful energy coming from the end of the corridor. Out of instinct, the ghost fire moved between the prince and the incoming threat.
“Your Highness, stay behind me,” he said, painfully aware of his uselessness. Yet, this was the only thing he could do.
For once, Xie Lian did as he was told, though. Despite doing his best to keep a brave front, he remained huddled behind the ghost fire.
Soon, the source of the resentful energy made itself known. The creature coming toward them walked on its two rear legs. It looked like a giant pale lizard, bigger than a full-grown man. The area where its eyes should have been didn’t even show a bulge, which made sense; its species wouldn’t need them in an environment such as this. Unfortunately, this also meant that its other senses must be heightened. For example, judging by the way it sniffed the air, walking straight to them, it had caught their scent.
On the other hand, although unsettling and nasty to look at, it was a low-level monster. If Hua Cheng stood firm, he might be able to chase it away. That kind of creature answered to willpower as much as it did to physical or spiritual energy.
Just for the sake of it, though, Hua Cheng increased the amount of spiritual energy emanating out of him, which translated to a more intense light. Strong enough to illuminate half the chamber.
As soon as it felt Hua Cheng’s energy, the surprised lizard recoiled and stumbled. Xie Lian gasped in admiration again, and Hua Cheng took a moment to bask in it. However, for the first time in centuries, he got ahead of himself.
Yes, that one creature tried to go back where it came from but, at the same time, a large group of beings of the same species appeared behind it. They came charging in, not noticing their retreating comrade until they tripped over it.
While they screeched and snapped at each other and Hua Cheng considered his next move, Xie Lian wrapped his hands around the ghost fire for a second time. Then, he ran toward the other end of the hall as fast as he could. Another event that should not have surprised Hua Cheng, since Xie Lian was the kind of person who took charge of the situation whenever he could, aiming for a practical solution even within his limited experience.
“We—We need to find the exit now that—they’re—distracted!” the prince exclaimed between pants.
Hua Cheng held his praise for later, when he’d be able to express it at length. Right now, he had to do something. Xie Lian would never outrun those creatures. However, if it was the Supreme Ghost King carrying the child…
Hua Cheng was in desperate need of legs and arms. With them, he could carry Xie Lian out of danger in no time.
He did a quick check. He had enough spiritual energy to make himself a physical body, just not a proper one just yet. He would hate it if his appearance was not worthy of the prince.
Then, Xie Lian stopped running.
“No!” he yelled. “We’re trapped!”
In front of them, a wall of rock signaled that they had reached the end of the tunnel. Going back on their steps would’ve been impossible: the creatures were closing in.
Xie Lian hugged the ghost fire and sniffled.
“San Lang, you’re a ghost. You can leave through the cracks on the wall if you’re on your own, right?”
That statement shook Hua Cheng to the core. He tried not to show it, though. Right now, Xie Lian needed a firm presence to guide him and provide comfort.
“Yes,” Hua Cheng replied, as warmly as he could. “I am a ghost, Your Highness. And yes, I could pass through the cracks. But I won’t. Just as I will never hurt you, I will never abandon you.”
Xie Lian stared at the ghost fire. Tears streamed down his cheeks and he sniffled again. The little prince still had a long way ahead of him. A way much darker than he deserved. But even then, this was Xie Lian. He would always carry this part of him, no matter where he went or the events that unfolded in his future. If only because of that, Hua Cheng swore to himself that he would never let Xie Lian down or make him cry ever again.
The ground underneath them rumbled and both Xie Lian and the ghost fire looked back at the hall they had come from.
“They’re coming,” Xie Lian whispered.
“So it seems. Your Highness, do me a favor and get yourself behind that rock. Stay there and keep your eyes closed. Don’t be afraid; I’ll take care of things.”
“But—”
“Please, trust me.”
He added a hint of strictness to the last two words. Not enough to be disrespectful, just to be taken seriously.
It worked.
Xie Lian made an affirmative noise and ran behind the rock Hua Cheng had pointed at with a flickering of his light. Once the boy was safe, Hua Cheng allowed himself to shiver in excitement as he got ready to execute his plan.
By then, he could see the creatures. They crawled in, tasting the air with their tongues, oozing resentful energy.
Good. He had done this before and on a much larger scale. He would even dare to say he was going to have fun.
The first of the creatures caught the ghost fire’s scent and launched toward him. Hua Cheng jumped forward to meet it, in part to keep it and its brethren away from Xie Lian, and in part because he couldn’t wait any longer.
Hua Cheng darted straight into the creature’s mouth.
“San Lang!” cried Xie Lian, surprised and scared.
So he hadn’t kept his eyes shut. Well, as long as he did everything else and kept himself away from the action, it wouldn’t be that much of a problem. It only meant that Hua Cheng would have to work faster to spare His Highness from the uncertainty. So he did.
It took Hua Cheng but a moment to consume the creature’s resentful energy. Then, once the monster became a husk of its former self, the ghost fire burst out from its side to do the same with the next one. And then the next, and the next…
After only a few moments, when there were but a handful of monsters left, one of them exploded to make way for Crimson Rain Sought Flower, the Red Ghost King, Supreme Calamity, in his true form. The silver in his boots jingled when his feet touched the ground, and it sparkled with the light from the magical fire he held in his hand, which also prevented the cave from falling into darkness.
When he turned back to the rest of the creatures, a simple gesture from his free hand was enough to take care of them.
“That’s right. Go away,” he told them, refraining from cursing at them only because Xie Lian was there.
Even though he hadn’t even raised his voice at them, the surviving creatures scrambled away as if their pathetic lives depended on it—which they did.
“San Lang?” Xie Lian exclaimed again, this time less scared but more surprised.
Hua Cheng turned around and knelt to welcome the young prince.
“Yes, Your Highness, it’s me. I took their energy so I could become this.”
Xie Lian stared at Hua Cheng and raised a finger to poke his face, fascinated with how real it felt. Yet, after that single poke, the boy stopped, panicking at his own boldness.
“Ah! Sorry! That was not proper—”
Hua Cheng chuckled.
“It’s alright.” He stood up. “Are you ready to go home? No one will dare bother us now.”
Xie Lian nodded and smiled.
“You’re really tall! As you said! But you’re not ugly.”
Hua Cheng laughed again as he started to walk.
“You really think so? I’m flattered.”
“But it’s true.”
“If that’s what you think… Ah. Your Highness, can I show you something?”
“Yes!”
Then, Hua Cheng called forth a flock of Wrath Butterflies to light their way to find the exit. With so many of them exploring the halls, they would find it in no time.
“Butterflies! They’re so pretty! And they shine!” Xie Lian said, laughing and extending his hands.
Hua Cheng made sure to have a couple of the silver butterflies land on those hands. The child’s delighted laughter echoed in the cave, announcing them wherever they went. Despite the difference in size, the sight and the sound were so familiar they made Hua Cheng’s heartache.
They were approaching the exit. The Wrath Butterflies had done their job well; they would be able to see the outside world after one more turn. At the same time, Hua Cheng felt the atmosphere growing denser, just as it had happened at the start of this adventure, and he knew it would be over as soon as they stepped out of the cave.
Since this would be his last chance, he knelt in front of the prince once again to look into his eyes.
“Your Highness, thank you for being so brave.”
Xie Lian shook his head.
“Thanks to you for helping me when I got lost and when the monsters attacked. You’re still coming to live with me in my palace, right?”
Hua Cheng kept on smiling.
“I’m afraid there is something I should do first. But, one day, I will return and, then, I’ll never leave your side again.”
Xie Lian grabbed Hua Cheng’s sleeve and tugged it.
“I don’t want you to go.”
Hua Cheng took the liberty of holding one of Xie Lian’s hands in both of his. It was so small and so warm.
“And I don’t want to leave. Unfortunately, sometimes, we have to do things we don’t want.”
Xie Lian looked down at the ground.
“Mother says that too.”
“The Queen is a wise woman,” Hua Cheng replied as he stood. “I’m grateful to have met you.”
Xie Lian managed a smile.
“Me too.”
Hua Cheng smiled back.
“Let’s go now.”
When they did, when they finished crossing the strange thick air that carried all the way to the entrance of the cave, it was like both of them really went back to where—or when—they belonged. The rain had stopped and the sun was coming out over the horizon, covering the mountain in the golden light of the promise of what was to come.
Alone in the forest and back to his strongest form, the pledge he had made resonated in Hua Cheng’s ears.
Just as I will never hurt you, I will never abandon you.
He still didn’t understand how or why any of this had happened, but he could investigate later. Right now, he had to be true to his word and go back to Xie Lian and compensate him for the time they had been apart.
Yet, he couldn’t show up with empty hands. Hua Cheng’s first stop would be, then, to get enough lanterns for Xie Lian to win the Autumn Festival for a second time. His beloved would never lose to those conceited gods ever again.