Work Text:
There was a light breeze blowing as Feng Xin hiked the path up to Puqi Shrine. He had been sucked into work as a mission had gone south in, well the South that resulted in quite a few of his deputies becoming injured.
The problem had transcended to the borders of Mu Qing’s territory resulting in the other Heavenly official becoming part of the issue and it had taken an awfully long time to solve the problem between their arguments (he would never admit that it was in fact no more than childish bickering) and the wrath who had hidden himself among civilians.
After dealing with the issue he left the paperwork to Mu Qing, who agreed with a suspiciously little amount of prodding, it should have surprised him but the other general had been far more agreeable lately and Feng Xin did not intend to ruin the fragile way things were at the moment with his blabbing.
Afterwards, Feng Xin had immediately set out for Xie Lian’s.
Ever since the Crimson brat had returned Feng Xin had started bi-monthly visits to Puqi shrine; the current ghost fiasco made him miss his usual visiting day.
He had spent ages looking for His Highness and he would be damned if he let one creepy ghost get in the way of seeing his best friend. It was also a little bit to reassure himself that His highness was back and wasn’t going anywhere.
(He knows he was the one who left but the orders had come from Xie Lian. Truthfully, he felt like Dianxia had left him long ago when he started seeing things, which he now knows were true, and acting bizarrely)
Autumn leaves decorated the floor outside of the humble abode as a figure clad in white robes sweeping and gathering them came into view.
Feng Xin couldn’t help but smile at the sight. It was unbecoming of a prince to be seen doing chores but Dianxia was beyond just a prince and he always seemed so at peace - in his own little world - whenever he did chores.
Xie lian smiled brightly once he noticed the South-Eastern general approaching the shrine and set the broom to the side.
“Feng XIn! I didn’t think you would show up today, you missed our last visit,” he exclaimed pulling him into a hug.
“Apologies Dianxia, I can leave if you’re too busy?”
“Nonsense,” Xie lian said, shaking his head. The shorter man then led him inside to the familiar table where Hua Cheng sat with a plate of what was definitely one of Xie Lian's concoctions.
“Crimson Rain,” Feng Xin uttered coldly, his smile dropping immediately. Regardless of whether or not he made His Highness happy Feng Xin just couldn’t bring himself to place his trust in Hua Cheng.
However, he was willing to compromise on mutually ignoring each other's presence, if only for Dianxia’s sake.
Feng Xin recounted the past week’s events to Xie Lian who continued to work on something under the table not noticing that Hua Cheng had slipped away to complete some work in ghost city. He only realised when the ghost king returned and he heard the soft thud of the door closing behind him.
Time flies so fast these days huh he immediately thought before feeling like a sentimental old man warning children to value the “good old days”.
Although now, as an eight hundred plus year old entity, he found that there was genuine wisdom in the words.
He shifted his focus back to the happy couple.
Right away Hua Cheng had rushed to His Highness to plant a kiss on his cheek. Xie Lian, with pink cheeks,put down whatever he was working on and while laughing sweetly, lightly swatted him away but the ghost king persisted peppering multiple other kisses onto his husband’s face.
Hua Cheng apologised but he didn't seem very sorry at all. The wide smile on his Highness’s face made Feng Xin doubt the prince minded either.
Dianxia then took the ghost King’s face into his hands, squishing his cheeks slightly and chiding him for being mischievous.
The whole scene unfolded in a matter of just a few moments but Feng Xin felt like he had seen something that he shouldn’t have.
Making a quick excuse about an emergency with his deputies Feng Xin removed himself from the situation and gave his regards to Dianxia who absentmindedly waved goodbye at him.
His mind was a flurry of some form of envy and a gnawing feeling bubbled in the pit of his stomach.
He wasn’t completely unfamiliar with the concept of love, it was just that he hadn’t had much luck in the field. His relationship with Jian Lan was is a hot mess but he does firmly believe there was a time that he loved her.
However, times change and people do too, whether or not she ever reciprocated wasn’t an answer he was entitled to give.
Still it had been a good eight centuries since he had really had any partner and whenever he saw couples around him; too enamoured with each other to have any other care in the world, he couldn't help but feel a little jealous.
Was it … wrong for him to want it too?
Some small part of him said yes. After all, everyone got sick of him eventually. He knew he was overbearing - too much. It acted as a repellent toward anybody who might feel something, anything for him.
Sighing, he entered his palace, nodded at his deputies, marched into his room, and buried himself in work answering prayers.
-:-:-:-:-:-
It was a summer day but in the mountains of the South-West the weather was pleasant enough for him not to need any spiritual energy to maintain his body temperature.
There was a new problem to look into so Ling Wen had dispatched Feng Xin and Mu Qing to deal with it together claiming it would need quite a bit of mental power to solve.
(Feng Xin suspected it was a way to get him and Mu Qing out of the Capital for some peace and quiet but they had been on somewhat friendlier terms recently so he might be wrong about that.)
He'd spent the last few weeks completely buried in paperwork (yes Mu Qing was wrong and he was not as incompetent as implied) so he was bone-tired and hoped he could coerce Mu Qing into completing the paperwork for this mission as well.
He didn't mean to exploit Mu Qing's good mood but he already had a splitting headache and paperwork would likely make it explode.
Once the mission was done Mu Qing immediately went onto complaining about Feng Xin’s - in his words - ‘unsatisfactory performance’
“And you pulled multiple strands of my hair out while running past me idiot,” he complained,
“I know you have no care for looks but if you've suddenly decided to become self conscious, making me bald isn't enough to make you look better standing next to me” he muttered with a sideways glance at Feng Xin before he stared him up and down in judgement.
Feng Xin disguised his snort as a cough before he started promptly choking at the attempt to hold in his laughter.
The image of a bald Mu Qing would consume his every waking thought from now on.
“If being humble was a sport I'm sure you'd win first prize” he quipped sarcastically once the coughing ceased.
“I don't need any silly prize to know I am,” Mu Qing replied, throwing his hair over his shoulder and bringing out a silent chuckle from Feng Xin.
He enjoyed this new dynamic they had.
The Southern Generals still got aggravated with each other leading to parts of their palace needing repairs more than once.
But now most times it was over trivial things rather than the serious hurtful fights they'd had before.
In fact most fights merely consisted of light hearted jabs and playful teasing.
They continued like this for a while till the town came into view.
Just then, he felt a slight light headedness. Ignoring it he trekked on only to slip out of consciousness later. The last thing he remembered was Mu Qing's panicked? - was that right or were his eyes deceiving him? - expression staring back at him.
-:-:-:-:-:
He woke up in some unfamiliar place. Eyes struggling to adjust to the light and a slight throbbing of his head due to the light hitting his face directly from the window.
Once he could get a clear view of things, Feng Xin examined his surroundings.
He seemed to be in some inn and was alone in the room on the bed.
And while being alone in a foreign place wasn't the best scenario to be in. Feng Xin didn't feel the heaviness that hung over him all day yesterday.
Maybe all he really needed was a good nap?
Ever since Ascension Feng Xin had been too busy worrying about other things and duties to ever take out time for sleep. Besides as far as he was aware it didn't affect him as a heavenly official.
But if it undid the effects of constantly working and headaches maybe he should invest in sleeping quite a bit more. He hadn't felt this fresh in a long time.
Recollecting his thoughts Feng Xin realised he should probably figure out exactly where he is.
Finding his outer robes on a stool in the corner he quickly made himself presentable before heading out.
When he reached the reception desk at the inn he found a young girl working there. The girl seemingly recognized him and immediately blurted,
“ Oh good morning! It's great to see you awake. You've been knocked out for almost three days. We were worried your friend was actually a kidnapper keeping you asleep with medication.”
Feng Xin had no idea how he was supposed to respond to that but he did latch onto one word. “Friend?” He asked.
“Oh yes, he brought you in and stayed here till yesterday night, said you would be fine and then left in the morning. He said his name was Fu Yao, black hair, black eyes”
Feng Xin didn't know where to begin with that.
How naive was this girl to let a stranger bring an unconscious body into the inn?
Then his mind wandered elsewhere. Mu Qing? He had brought me here? And he even stayed till he confirmed I was better?
As crazy as the idea sounded, a part of it made Feng Xin’s stomach feel fluttery for some reason.
Feng Xin then remembered the girl said Mu Qing had left, which was normal; wasn't uncharted territory. As he asked the charges the girl informed him that Mu Qing had paid for him before leaving too.
Feng Xin couldn't think straight. The most reasonable explanation was that the confession on Mt.Tonglu had been enough to completely flip a switch in Mu Qing. But even then this felt absurd.
Ignoring the nagging feeling in the back of his head he moved to leave but suddenly the young lady manning the desk jumped over the counter and ran toward someone who had just entered through the door.
A small but pretty girl had walked in. She was tan and had dirt on her robes indicating she probably did farm work.
Feng Xin watched as the receptionist enveloped her into a crushing hug. It seemed as if she was fully intent on crushing all of the other's bones.
Turning to see the look on the farmer girl’s face Feng Xin found her smiling a small shy smile as she tentatively hugged the receptionist's lower back.
For the second time that week he felt a little like drowning himself on Black Water’s front lawn in the face of happy, adorable (not that he thinks Hua Cheng is adorable in any way ; he was complimenting His Highness alone) couples.
Even then he couldn't help but grin a little at the sweet young couple.
As he turned to leave He could've sworn he saw a flash of black behind a pillar but he didn't sense killing intent so he ignored it.
On the way back to the heavenly realm he found himself wondering what it would be like to be like those girls - one part of a whole.
-:-:-:-:-:-
After the “inn-cident”
[author and Feng Xin both think they're funny]
Feng Xin hadn't been able to swallow his pride enough to actually go thank Mu Qing.
His mind was already a mess and he was afraid of this new territory they were dipping their toes in.
Besides he doubted Mu Qing wanted a reminder since he had left before Feng Xin woke up anyway.
On another note ever since, he and Mu Qing had started meeting up for sparring sessions
Sparring!! they didn't just get into fist fights anywhere anymore! This of course in no way meant that they didn't get into fights at all.
Just last week Mu Qing had pummeled him into the ground for making a little joke when they were supposed to be having fun.
[ Author cannot think of a joke that would be funny to Feng Xin and unfunny enough to Mu Qing that he would get mad about it]
Today as per their schedule they had met in Feng Xin's palace grounds for a quick match.
Feng Xin had a bad week filled with paperwork and boring missions so this had to loosen the tension in his shoulders and the itch to fight.
Both generals had swords in hand as, while Feng Xin preferred the bow and Mu Qing would never go anywhere without Zhanmadao, they intended to fight in close quarters and for the sake of fairness both decided on swords rather than a saber.
Mu Qing’s feet staggered backwards from where his feet were (once) firmly planted in the ground. He reaffirmed his grip on the hilt of the sword and struck back at Feng Xin's chest hard enough that blocking it still made his hand twist badly.
Feng Xin coordinated his sword for the next attack. Mu Qing dodged and while Feng Xin's body moved to a different stance his brain remained blank.
He hadn't gotten the chance to really look at Mu Qing today but as he was ducked down under in a stance that Feng Xin knew meant he was going to attack upwards he looked as much of the ethereal deity he was.
Feng Xin felt his brain stutter to a stop. Mu Qing had sweat trailing down his neck which along with his face was thoroughly flushed and contrasted with his pale skin. His black hair was a wild mess unlike how it usually remained absolutely pristine at all times and today it was tied down into a braid instead.
Blank, his mind felt blank so all he did was stare. That is until he finally registered the sharp silver object coming dangerously close to his face.
He just barely dodged enough for it to hit his nose instead of his eyes. And he noticed Mu Qing had immediately stopped too.
“What in the world you idiot. Are you out of your mind even someone like you should know not to go off somewhere in your thoughts mid-fight!”
Feng Xin simply stared at him unblinkingly. In the meanwhile Mu Qing dragged him into the palace and wrapped his wound. Since they were in the heavenly capital it would heal fast and really there was no reason to stop the fight but Feng Xin didn't question it.
He was more focused on staring Mu Qing down intensely. He couldn't help but think about his earlier thoughts and wonder, what is wrong with me.
Mu Qing had gone back to his own place pretty soon after saying he's not worth fighting with if he's just going to be distracted the whole time.
And for some stupid reason Feng Xin's brain latched onto just the hidden 'you're worth fighting' part, ignoring anything and everything else. A slight flush grew on Feng Xin's face and he could feel the sweat beading down his neck but if anyone asked it was the workout.
-:-:-:-:-:-
Another joint mission he inwardly groaned. He preferred to deal with missions himself as they were easier when he didn't have to coordinate with someone else.
This time there was a problem right at the center of their territories’ boundaries. Apparently couples kept going missing for a day and returning with one missing and the other having no recollection of their spouse's existence at all.
The people of that village were dedicated believers of both generals and had already sent in two hundred prayers per week for a month begging for help.
So the well loved generals walked side by side in a rare moment of silence.
Mu Qing's long black hair had been tied into a neat ponytail as usual. Only today two small braids led into the ponytail from his hairline and got buried in the hair that cascaded down his back.
Feng Xin had a strange urge to run his fingers through the other man’s hair and find out where they had gone.
He could feel his face heating up at the mere thought and thanked Dianxia that he had skin thick enough to hide the redness.
Turning his face around he slipped into his Nan Feng form before entering the village and turned to find Fu Yao instead of Mu Qing.
Feng Xin didn't fail to notice that Fu Yao’s hairstyle had been the same as Mu Qing's earlier and a new pretty guan sat atop his head.
The pair asked around for information until Feng Xin found a shoe shop. The bell on top of the door made a sweet ringing sound as they walked inside to find an old lady hunched over a counter.
“Excuse me, Miss,” he started catching the lady's attention.
“Oh hello, what brings such handsome young men to this town. Hm, what can I do for you?” She answered sweetly.
“ah we were wondering if you knew anything about Hua Ling?” Mu Qing asked using one of the victims names most likely remembering it from the girl's poor parents’ prayers.
The light in the lady's eyes dimmed and her expression turned sour
“Oh that girl, are you friends of hers?she disappeared recently. She was betrothed to my son but he seems to have no memory of her at all.”
“Really weren't they due to get married did anything strange happen before hand”
“Oh I'm afraid not dear all they did was go on to the springs. They're considered a symbol of good luck for our town so all married couples must visit once before the wedding begins”
Got it
“What a shame it is. I thought they would've made a lovely pair. I truly wish you best in these trying times,” Mu Qing said in a fake honey sweet tone Feng Xin associated with his servent days in Xianle and meetings in the heavenly realm.
He'd come to recognize that was just how Mu Qing said things nicely enough that they seemed genuine even when they weren't.
Surely enough they found the ghost hiding in a cave behind the springs.
What they failed to assess was that it wasn't just one ghost. It seemed similar to their first mission when Xie Lian returned. This ghost had collected a band of other female ghosts in order to kidnap men who were to eventually be wed and were sucking all the energy out of them to become more powerful.
Feng Xin and Mu Qing, neither of whom had had the time to switch into their original forms, started warding off the supply of female wraths.
They were unfortunately weaker in these forms as they would be unable to access all the spiritual energy stored in their original bodies.
The two made their way through battling the ghosts until only two or three remained of the original thirteen. Feng Xin felt an odd delight in noticing how they fought together seamlessly.
They made it look more like a dance than an aggressive battle.
He also noticed how it made him feel more confident having Mu Qing by his side.
Fighting with not against him, attacking for not at him.
His mind subtly drifted toward thinking that he would like to spend eternity like this.
It was a dangerous thought.
The realisation that he might love that infuriating beautiful pyre raging in battle next to him was an initial shock but it brought some part of his mind peace.
Feng Xin, who had become distracted in his own head, found himself nearly getting attacked by a ghost in front of him and didn't notice when a ghost tried to attack him from the back.
Before he could comprehend what had happened Mu Qing had leapt from where he had been fighting off a ghost and jammed Zhanmadao between the wrath and Feng Xin.
Unfortunately, this led to him twisting his arm the wrong way as he hadn't had time to do a proper stance. And the ghost behind him had dug his claws into Mu Qing's side.
Feng Xin, although panicked, immediately took charge taking down the ghost behind Mu Qing with Fengshen then taking Zhanmadao out of Mu Qing's hands to attack the ghost who had tried to surprise attack him.
Once the ghosts had been subdued he sat down onto the ground Mu Qing unconscious and leaning on his shoulder
what the fuck was that why had he taken the hit?
In his Fu Yao form and out of spiritual energy from the fight Mu Qing wouldn't heal half as quickly as usual.
A part of this reminded Feng Xin of Tonglu of how Mu Qing could have, would have died in self sacrifice. He had felt a dreary drowning feeling then and that feeling was once again crawling up his spine and clawing into his heart.
Feng Xin hurried back to the heavenly realm and as discreetly as possible deposited Mu Qing on the aforementioned generals' own bed.
His heart raced and his mind was still a swirling tempest of confusion and worry but he stuck by My Qing’s side the entire night instead of escaping to his own palace like his body and mind kept silently urging him to do.
-:-:-:-:-:-
The next day when Mu Qing woke up, Feng Xin for a lack of better judgement decided to absolutely flame him. (After providing him with water and time to adjust to his surroundings of course)
“What the hell Mu Qing you know I can handle myself there was no need to jump in like that!”
Mu Qing blinked at him
Once
Twice
Something akin to disappointment flashed in his eyes as he replied,“The right way to respond when someone helps you out is thank you but I'm aware by now that you have no such courtesy
Especially! When you were the one who got distracted while fighting. New conquest taking up every waking thought of yours Ju Yang?”
If only you knew. He thought. But his frustration at the whole situation made his words mould and come out differently.
“Thank you? For what nearly getting yourself badly injured? For not trusting me to handle myself?” He wanted to go on and on but Fortunately Mu Qing cut him off.
“Thank me for helping you out, but obviously that's an impossible dream considering you don't appreciate a thing I've been trying to do”
“Trying to do what? Is that why you've been acting so strange lately? I'll have you know that I don't FUCKING appreciate it!’ He yelled indignantly but as soon as the words had been left to hang in the air he realised he had said it wrong.
He didn't mean to say he didn't appreciate anything Mu Qing had done for him, he meant he didn't appreciate it when it was at Mu Qing's own expense. That he should put himself first.
For all he argued with Mu Qing saying the other couldn't say what he really meant. It seemed Feng Xin needed a lesson or two on the topic himself .
In the meanwhile a slight bit of hurt flashed in My Qing's eyes before he schooled his expression back into a neutral one.”If that's how you feel have fun doing all your stupid paperwork yourself,” he yelled back,
“And see if I ever help you when you're injured.
OR TIRED AND UNCONSCIOUS”
Mu Qing hastened to get up but the exertion caused his body to retaliate resulting in a pained hiss from the man and causing him to stumble.
Feng Xin rushed to his side and placed his arm around his own shoulder and his own arm at Mu Qing's waist before placing him back onto the bed.
Mu Qing scowled at him but the tips of his ears were burning a dark crimson.
Feng Xin didn't notice that however and scrambled to try and get the right words out of his stupid head.
“No!” He shouted, making Mu Qing wince again.
“Sorry, I meant to say that it's not what you think!” Mu Qing gave him a flat look but he took the silence as permission to continue
“I meant that you need to stop doing things for others that'll cause you pain,” he started. Then swallowed his pride (it was really difficult and he believes he deserves credit for the courage) and finally said,“Thank you, okay really for the paperwork and the inn and even yesterday as much as I hate to say it.”
Mu Qing's cheeks turned a light shade of pink. A ghost of a smile appeared on his face and Feng Xin felt a wave of guilt at not having thanked him before because even just the slightest smile made him shine so brightly and look happy the way he deserved.
It also seemed seeing the smile at the acknowledgement of his actions burst a dam in Feng Xin as he went on,
“Thankyou for the whole thing at Tonglu, and for trying your hardest for us back when things in Xianle went downhill even if your methods were questionable, for bearing with my horrible accusations while you were a servant because I was jealous but that's not an excuse and you definitely didn't deserve that”
Mu Qing's eyes widened, his face turning red as Feng Xin rambled on
“And thankyou for that time when I got stuck with a mission a couple hundred years ago and most importantly thank you for staying by me for 800 years I don't know what I'd do witho-”
He was cut off by a hand covering his mouth. He turned to Mu Qing who looked scandalized. His face was a bright red and his eyes wide as saucers. “Shut up!” He objected,” what are you going on about, I d-didn't do any of that for you and just what is that last part supposed to mean”
Now Feng Xin wasn't stupid. He had a pretty good read on My Qing's facial expressions at least and he felt like there was no mistaking the look on My Qing's face as something similar to hopeful expectation.
For the second time he gathered all his courage and blurted out,” I love you Mu Qing”.
He honestly didn't think Mu Qing could have gotten redder and he didn't but he did look like he was going to faint again.
“What The Fuck what do you mean by that”
“ I mean I love you,” he confirmed,“and even if you don't atleast feel some sort of attraction to me which I'm pretty sure you do, it's an absolute fact, something you can't get rid of.” At this Mu Qing went into silent thought
Silence engulfed the room and nobody spoke for at least four incense sticks time .
In an attempt to diffuse the awkwardness he continued ,“Even if none of it meant anything it made me feel.. loved. Because if I'm right and your idea of love is making life just a little brighter for the people you care about then that's the sweetest thing I've ever heard.”
Hearing the raw confession, Mu Qing's eyes widened again and he looked like a deer caught in headlights.
Silence again.
Feng Xin got more and more nervous as time passed and was really close to escaping and never showing his face anywhere again when…
Firm arms enveloped him in a crushing embrace. He was wrapped tightly while Mu Qing buried his face in Feng Xin's chest.
Endeared by the action Feng Xin huffed and ran his hands through that gorgeous ebony hair just like he'd fantasized of doing before.
My Qing mumbled something in his chest that he didn't hear clearly but Feng Xin understood anyway.
I love you too