Archive of Our Own ^beta

The wind had come to a stop, the air felt colder, and all creatures of the forest had fallen quiet. It was as if the world was holding its breath, fearful of what had appeared.

Yin Yu was afraid, but he did not scream, did not even try to stand up and run out of the nook he had settled in for the night, half-hidden by a few bushes. His campfire had gone out as he slept, and with the crescent moon hidden behind the clouds, the only source of light was the faint glow of Jian Yu's ghost fire.

There was no way to see what was hiding in plain sight, but even without spiritual energy it would take a fool to not realize what kind of creature had shown up.

Or maybe it would take something worse than a fool, for Yin Yu was one, and even he was well aware of what was lurking there, watching him.

Ready to strike.

Although he could not detect any murderous intent, the chill and power emanating from the creature was enough to tighten his nerves. He was prey that had caught the eye of a predator, one that may delight in his fright, waiting for him to panic and attempt a hopeless escape for its entertainment.

But Yin Yu would not do that. He was ready to stay and face his end head-on.

“Who goes there?!” He demanded, his voice quivering. “Show yourself!”

To anyone looking, his demands would have been seen as brave. But he wasn't. When one had nothing left to lose, bravery and cowardice were meaningless notions.

Yin Yu knew he wouldn't ever get a chance to ascend again. His ascension had been a joke, a fluke, and there was no way fate would give him another go. He had never been meant for greatness or glory. His youthful ambition had withered away and died, as had Jian Yu. There was nothing left but a mundane, worthless life, one that would soon come to an end.

But if he was to rot away in the mortal realm until the end of his days, he would rather have them be cut short. At least he would be murdered by a supreme.

However, no movement was there to be seen. No sound to be heard.

“Didn't you hear me?” Yin Yu yelled again. Jian Yu flew to his face, as if he was reprimanding him. Yin Yu shooed him off, his eyes darting around, useless as it was to try and see in the dark.

“I'm not in the mood to play games!”

Still no movement. But sound, this time. A deep, cold voice.

“You won't find me playing games. That's more of Crimson Rain's style.”

Yin Yu shivered, fear gripping his heart in a stronger hold. If this wasn't Crimson Rain Sought Flower, then there was little doubt who that voice belonged to, as the other two Calamities were either dead or insignificant.

“Black Water Sinking Ships,” he said to the darkness.

The elusive Ghost King, that was who he was dealing with. If Crimson Rain was terrifying thanks to his reputation, Black Water was just as intimidating by his lack of one.

There was no telling what he could do, or how he would react. Yin Yu almost wished for a deadly scimitar to appear and take his life on the spot: Hua Cheng wasn't known to be a patient man.

“Your Highness Yin Yu, Martial God of the West,” the darkness greeted back after a pause that had felt much too long.

Something moved. Yin Yu  heard danger approaching with slow and refined steps, ones that reminded him of some wise scholars he had met in his prior life.

“I have no title anymore.” Yin Yu said as he bowed his head, still determined not to flee from the threat, even weak and exposed as he was. He only hoped Black Water was not the sadistic type.

Once upon a time, Yin Yu would not have thought himself as defenseless. But after his humiliation, his banishment and Jian Yu's death... he felt worse than useless.

What good were his subpar martial arts? Even if he could, and if he hadn't deteriorated to a worthless husk of what he once might have been, what good would have come from using them?

He was a nobody, and nobodies did nothing of note. Nobodies lived and died without a trace.

Black Water stayed silent, so much so that Yin Yu thought that the supreme ghost might have found him too pathetic to taunt anymore. But when he looked back up, he was met with a sight that had him forget how to breathe.

The supreme ghost was standing still, arms crossed. He was silent because he was observing him. That icy stare of his sent a shiver through Yin Yu's body, and it was not out of fear alone. Still, feeling more exposed and vulnerable than before, Yin Yu fiddled with his scarf, tugging it up until his neck was fully protected.

He observed the threat in kind. The moon had freed itself from the veil of clouds, and the dim light from its waning crescent was enough to illuminate the features of the ghost, and they were breathtaking. Black Water had surely mastered the arts of discretion and deception, for it would be otherwise impossible for people not to fawn about such a face and body everywhere the supreme ghost would show up, and then he wouldn't have been able to stay so elusive, would he?

His was a cold and elegant beauty, one that Yin Yu had rarely seen in his life, or paid attention to. But this time, he could hardly look away.

It was surely because Yin Yu envied him; no one could ever pick him out of a crowd, save for a pesky exception.

“Very well, Yin Yu,” Black Water eventually said and broke the spell, his tone flat. “No matter your title or occupation, I ask that you follow me.”

Where he said 'ask', Yin Yu perfectly understood 'demand'. When Black Water turned around and started walking, Yin Yu took a deep breath and did as he had been told, ignoring Jian Yu's obvious panic as the ghost fire circled him in a frenzied dance, until he gave up and took refuge under Yin Yu’s scarf.

The walk through the forest was slow, silent and sorrowful. Yin Yu tailed Black Water, exuding calmness, his outward appearance betraying none of his nerves.

In truth, he felt resigned and terrified. Was this how criminals felt as they walked to their executions? He tried to empty his mind, to mold it into the same placid state as his body. Unfortunately, he had too many questions to swat away at, and the more he let through, the more appeared. Before long he had worked up a hefty amount of anxieties, while none of his numerous questions went answered.

But among them all, one of these was most pressing, and he could not stop himself from asking it.

“Why did you come find me?” he stammered, well aware who he was demanding answers from.

Black Water did not turn to look at him, nor did he stop walking. But, surprisingly enough, he did not ignore him.

“Hua Cheng requests your presence.”

Crimson Rain Sought Flower. To say this did not ease Yin Yu’s nerves was an understatement.

But if he was being sent to him...

Yin Yu chanced a look at Jian Yu, half-hidden inside his scarf.

Maybe he could ask to gamble for Jian Yu's spirit to be released. The fact he could not do so on his own was shameful enough, so he figured he could make the effort to stoop even lower than he had so far and mingle with the unsavory sorts, if it would allow him to right that offense.

“What could he want out of me?” Yin Yu asked again, because if it came down to it, he supposed he could still go gamble as a ghost fire himself. “I am banished from the heavens, I hardly see what worth I could have.”

No matter if that worth came from using him or killing him.

Black Water paused in his steps, and Yin Yu would almost have dared say he looked confused when he turned around.

“You have a set of skills that are of great interest to him. Not to mention your current...” he grimaced, “Circumstances… make him favorable to your cause.”

“He wants me in his service?” Yin Yu could hardly believe what he was saying. Someone out there valued his skills? Cared about his fate? Hua Cheng, of all the beings in the three realms?

He felt a surge of pride that quickly had to contend with shame and disappointment. When he really thought about it... being at the beck-and-call of Crimson Rain Sought Flower, an enemy of the heavens... would he be ready to tarnish his reputation any further? Besides, how could he trust that this was the truth? With how outlandish the notion was, it was difficult to believe it.

“Of course he does. Wasn't that clear?” Black Water deadpanned, turning back around to keep walking. Yin Yu scrambled to follow after he had blinked a few times to make sure all of this was not a very strange dream.

“But,” Yin Yu couldn't shut up to save his own life, his mind reeling from confusion, fear, and excitement he was trying to quell. “Wouldn't that pose a risk to Crimson Rain?”

Anyone could guess that he still felt bound to the heavens, despite it all, and he doubted the creature who had terrified the realm of the gods for centuries would make such an oversight.

“Either you can keep your mouth shut, or you die.” Black Water explained with a disconcerting nonchalance, “Your continued existence will hinge on whether you can prove trustworthy or not.”

Yin Yu gulped, wringing his hands together. “Understood, my Lord.”

Now that his demise was not imminent, Yin Yu found himself clinging to the idea of staying alive. He was ready to sacrifice whatever shreds of dignity he might have had left if it meant a chance to stay in this world.

He had always been a coward, hadn't he? Agreeable to a fault. Another one of his many flaws.

“We can start with an easy test,” Black Water said as he stopped walking. “Would you be able to keep this to yourself?”

The voice was nearly the same as the one he had been listening to up until now, but it sounded a bit warmer... though not by much. More curious was the fact it sounded eerily familiar.

When Black Water turned around it was no longer the recluse Ghost King Yin Yu was facing, but someone he knew. Someone everyone in heaven knew, though few had been able to spend a significant amount of time around them.

“Lord Earth Master?!”

The lips of the ‘Earth Master’ twitched in something that could have been a smirk. “Surprised, are we?”

“I don't understand...” Yin Yu muttered, and before him the supreme ghost changed into a few different forms. All of them people he knew, junior officials he had spoken with, some who had helped him out more than a few times. And he'd been none the wiser.

Yin Yu's blood ran cold.

“They're... all this time they've... they've all been you?”

Black Water turned back into what Yin Yu could only assume was his true form, and nodded. Yin Yu's legs were surely about to give out.

Terrifying. The Ghost Kings' power, their hold on the heavens, from both intimidation and deception, it was terrifying. His thoughts must have shown, his mask crumbling down, for Black Water smiled.

“Scared, are we?”

Yin Yu gave a nod. The sight of that smile paired with the words made for a confusing mix.

“Why?” Black Water asked, his face going back to its disinterested, natural expression. “I told you, as long as you don't tell anyone who's not already in the know, there's nothing to fear.”

Yin Yu nodded again, mouth dry. There was actually more than a little to fear, but he let it slide for the sake of his countenance.

They walked again, in silence this time, though this one felt strangely calming. In fact, now that he had exchanged more than a few words with Black Water, Yin Yu almost found his presence soothing.

Perhaps he was starting to lose his mind. But a look to the side showed him that even Jian Yu had mellowed out, which was a feat in and of itself.

They walked for so long that Yin Yu's feet started to hurt, although he dared not complain. The moon was not far from setting, and it wouldn't be long before the sun would start to rise.

Black Water's pace started to slow just as Yin Yu realized the sounds he had been hearing for the past hundred steps or so had been those of the waves. The dirt of the forest soon gave way to sand, the trees becoming sparse until there was none left.

Nothing to see but a beach, and the wide expanse of the sea.

“You're wondering where we're headed?” Black Water said.

Yin Yu nodded.

“To my territory. Hua Chengzhu is otherwise... occupied, at the moment.” He scoffed, and Yin Yu couldn't have ignored the mocking of the title if he had tried. “So I'm afraid I will have to host you for the time being.”

“It's no problem... I can manage on my own.” Yin Yu argued with a clear lack of vigor.

“Not in Ghost City you don't. You'll be eaten alive.” There was a pregnant pause before He Xuan added, “And I do mean you will be eaten. Cooked, if you're lucky.”

This sounded like a wonderful place, Yin Yu could hardly wait to get there.

“I'm eternally grateful for Lord Black Water to be hosting me.” And sparing him this fate.

He thought he might have seen an amused smile on the supreme's face, but that surely must have been a trick of the light. In fact, faint moonlight was streaming through the sparse clouds, the crescent reflected by the water that was lapping at the shore they had reached.

Yin Yu looked around for any way forward, but found there to be none. Not until Black Water whistled.

Suddenly, a gigantic mass broke through the water, sending waves after waves onto the shore as it came closer. Even in the night, Yin Yu could make up its shape, though believing in what he was seeing was an arduous task.

Coming toward him was an enormous creature, made of nothing but bones. Long horns protruded from its head, and it opened a mouth large enough to eat a man whole, filled with far too many fangs. Its empty sockets, lit by the glow of wild ghost fires, stared intently at Yin Yu as it hoisted itself up on land with legs adorned with long and sharp claws. Filled with terror at the sight, Yin Yu had half a mind to actually run for the hills for a third time that night, although he once again stood his ground to spare himself the useless humiliation.

Nonetheless, that instinctual feeling stayed with him, tensing up his muscles to prepare for a fight, until he heard the Ghost King speak to the monster.

“Gugu^[1], down.”

Maybe it was because he was tired. Maybe it was the tension that had been building up inside him, far before Black Water had come. Or maybe it was something else entirely.

But the fact was that he laughed. A strained laugh, one he was desperate to silence, but a laugh nonetheless.

In spite of Black Water's earlier assurances, Yin Yu thought, This is it. I'm going to die.

As silly as the name was for an intimidating creature such as this one, it had still been given by a supreme ghost. To mock it could spell death.

But once he had managed to take full control back on his body, he found he was still alive. And Black Water looked as close to mortified as Yin Yu thought he might be able to.

“Damn it,” Black Water hissed, “Not you too...”

Yin Yu chose not to make any comments or ask any questions, eager to let the matter slide much as water slid off the bones of this... thing. This thing that seemed quite interested in him, gurgling and trying to get closer.

Black Water frowned and clicked his tongue in annoyance. “I said down!”

But the creature did not listen, pushing itself a little more out of the water to shorten the distance. Yin Yu felt his heart skip a beat, old instincts kicking in, but before he could land a hit Black Water had shielded him.

“Gu! Seriously!”

The creature laid its large head on the sand, looking much like a dog that had been reprimanded by its owner.

Before Yin Yu could say or do anything, Black Water had looked at him and said, “My apologies. This one used to behave but there's been a... bad influence interfering with my training.”

Yin Yu nodded, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from the pathetic pile of bones on the ground. The skeletal creature that he debated calling a fish or dragon was looking at him in a way that could only be described as pitiful. Without thinking, Yin Yu reached out as the creature lifted its head...

...And clicked happily at the touch of Yin Yu's hand on its bony muzzle. Nonplussed, Yin Yu pet the area, the creature's clicks getting louder and turning into something close to a purr, until a hand yanked Yin Yu's off it.

“Please don't,” Black Water groaned, “They're spoiled enough as it is with the nuisance.”

“Very well, Lord Black Water, I won't do it anymore.”

Black Water huffed, and gestured to the back of the bonefish.

“Take a seat.”

With wide eyes, Yin Yu took a long moment to look into Black Water's bored ones to confirm that, yes, he had heard right. Only then did he go mount—climb, rather—the creature that he decided by its size alone was more befitting of being called a bone dragon than a bonefish. Said dragon got excited again.

“Gugu I swear if you don't calm down I will not feed you.”

The dragon whined but relented, and as the supreme ghost came up to sit down in front of Yin Yu, the latter heard him mumble under his breath.

“Bastard's doing it on purpose... just because his stupid scimitar is out of control...”

Yin Yu couldn't hear any more of it over the sudden rush of wind and water, for the dragon had gone back into the sea, speeding toward the horizon at lightning speed, so fast that Yin Yu couldn't keep in a shriek, holding on tight to the first thing he could grab.

Which happened to be Black Water Sinking Ships.

But before he could sputter out embarrassed and scared apologies, the supreme ghost's voice rose above the din, as calm as ever.

“Good call. I forgot to warn you.”

So Yin Yu kept his arms around Black Water's torso, and made not another sound. He looked down into his scarf to check that Jian Yu's soul was still with him, and when he confirmed that was the case, he relaxed. So much so that he felt disoriented when he noticed they had arrived at another shore, lit up by the soft glow of the late morning sun. It took a few moments for him to realize he had fallen asleep against Black Water's back.

He wondered if Crimson Rain's Sought Flower's infamous luck extended to those he had under his claim, because this would be the only reason that could explain how he had survived so far, and how Black Water did not chew him out for his insolence.

Instead, the supreme helped him dismount the dragon, who was shooed back into the depths to be greeted by three others of its kind, to Yin Yu's amazement.

“Welcome to my territory.”

“Is this an island?” Yin Yu asked, taking in the much denser forest and the complete lack of any man-made structure in sight.

“Yes, one that hosts my lair.”

The Black Water Demon Lair. Many would have fainted upon learning of this. Yin Yu should have been one of them, but all he did after what he had gone through during the night was to say, “A lovely place.”

“No need to suck-up to me, save that for Hua Cheng.”

“Lord Black Water, I wasn't-”

“While we're at it, call me He Xuan.”

Yin Yu knew this was impolite, but he gawked. He dared not ask if that name was a fake, but, real or not, he was not about to go against that request. Especially not on the supreme's own territory.

“As Lord He Xuan wishes.”

He Xuan stared at him in silence for an uncomfortable amount of time, and Yin Yu was transported back a few hours ago, in that forest, having accepted that he would die.

When He Xuan next spoke, Yin Yu thought he may as well have died.

“You're cute,” he said, and had the audacity to smile a little. “Let's go.”

He strode off into the thick of the forest, leaving Yin Yu to follow him as a flustered mess. He tried to fight off his blush when their steps met with those of ghost minions who greeted their master. He had failed, but by the time they arrived at a lake, his blush had been more out of frustration than anything else.

He looked at the surface of the lake, rubbing at his eyes to make sense of what he was seeing. The still waters were reflecting things that were not there, most notable of them all was a creepy and uninviting building that looked like a prison.

Next thing he knew, he was shoved into the cold water. He trashed around in search for air, unprepared as he had been to take the plunge. When he finally broke through the surface, he sputtered out, disoriented and heaving, desperate to grab onto anything, until he felt the ground under his feet and made it back safely to the shore.

Shocked, drenched, cold and scared out of his wits, he managed to send a confused glare He Xuan's way when he passed by him, strolling out of the water while Jian Yu's ghost fire was spinning in angry circles around him. The man in question was unperturbed by Jian Yu's attempts at attacking him. He side-eyed Yin Yu, shrugged, and said, “I'm hungry.”

Yin Yu barely had time to gather his bearings that He Xuan was already walking toward a building inside the forest, one that Yin Yu was sure hadn't been there before.

Begrudgingly, he followed suit, sparing a curious glance to the prison on the other side of the lake.

He Xuan picked up on his internal questionning. “Personal project,” he called out. “It's a work in progress.”

Yin Yu chose not to ask, and hurried after him as best as he could with his wet clothes. As they got closer to the gloomy building, Yin Yu realized it was a manor, and quite a splendid and elegant one at that.

“Is this the Nether Water Manor?” He asked with a bit of awe.

“You've heard of it, I see,” He Xuan said, not without some pride.

Yin Yu decided it would be best not to remark the only reason he had heard of it was that its owner had told nearly all of the heavens himself, under one of his many guises.

“Who hasn't?” He said instead, looking around some more until they reached the gates that He Xuan opened with a notable lack of flair.

“Please go in, honored guest.”

Yin Yu couldn't tell if this was genuine or sarcasm, but he bowed his head in thanks as he stepped into the entrance hall of the palace. The title of “Ghost King” was very fitting, because this was, indeed, a palace. He almost felt bad for dragging water inside it, no matter that it was his host's fault, until he realized his clothes and hair were no longer wet.

He spared a glance at He Xuan, who shrugged again and invited him further in.

Yin Yu was glad to have He Xuan as a guide, because he was sure he would have become lost otherwise. The Nether Water Manor was definitely hammering in that it was not a humble abode, as it held many, many chambers of various sizes and uses.

They eventually arrived in what Yin Yu identified as a dining room, with a long table at the center. Yin Yu wondered how often He Xuan made use of it as someone who did not seem the kind to have guests over, if ever.

“Take a seat,” he was instructed, “I can tell the cooks to prepare something to your liking?”

“Won't you mind?”

“I'll eat anything.”

He sounded serious, but even then Yin Yu chose to play it safe with his request, and did not ask for much. So he was fairly surprised to see the amount of food that ended up brought to the table. He waited until He Xuan had taken some food for himself before he dared put anything on his own plate. As he soon discovered, for every bite he would take, He Xuan took three.

There wasn't much room for talking as they ate, and Jian Yu was a less than ideal conversation partner, which meant Yin Yu was left alone with his thoughts.

These thoughts were more akin to a buzz in his mind, a jumbled mess of words and images, as memories of his time as a god—including his encounters with each of He Xuan's clones and disguises—mixed in with the quiet despair of his purposeless existence as a mortal and the whirlwind that had been the day he had just gone through.

From thinking he would be killed by one of the most powerful and terrifying creatures this world knew, to learning he had been essentially scouted out by another one of the most powerful and terrifying creatures this world knew, to being treated as a guest inside the lair of one of the... Well, all in all, that very day had gone in a direction he never would have guessed possible, one that could prove quite pleasant compared to what he thought he had been meant to face.

While they had been waiting for the dishes to be served, He Xuan had told him that Hua Cheng had come back, but that it would be best to wait until the next day so he would have time to calm down. His tone had suggested something quite sinister, betraying a knowledge gained out of experience, and Yin Yu had found he had full faith in his judgement.

But this had not eased the nervous thrumming under his skin. Not at all.

While He Xuan had proved to be amiable, albeit in a cold and detached way, Hua Cheng's personality was not a mystery to any god who knew what was good for them, and therein lay the root of Yin Yu's apprehension.

He did not have his divinity to bet, nor did he have any of his small number of temples left to burn, but Crimson Rain was a creative and cunning man, one he was afraid to face on his own. All Yin Yu could picture in his mind was a harsh, unfeeling monster who would no doubt work him to the bone and double the rate at which he aged. Or maybe he would quickly realize how worthless Yin Yu was, and rid the world of his pathetic excuse of an existence.

Yin Yu's left hand came to rest atop his right wrist, his fingers tracing the bumps of the cursed shackle, as he wondered how his life had come to a point where he was actively debating whether he was ready to beg a Ghost King to act as protective measure against another Ghost King.

He Xuan seemed familiar with Hua Cheng, nonchalant in the way he spoke about him, which would imply a somewhat close relationship even if it was only for business, although Yin Yu doubted it strictly was.

And he had to admit, He Xuan's presence had become comforting in the short time they had spent together thus far, though he knew his desire for companionship was clouding his judgement.

But how could he ask for this with a straight face? What right did he even have, a banished god, to request a Ghost King's help and support?

“Something's on your mind. Spill.” He Xuan demanded, startling Yin Yu out of his anxious thoughts. “You're trembling so much you're gonna make me nauseous.”

I better get it over with , Yin Yu thought, even as he gritted his teeth.

“I was thinking, well... wondering if you would, that is...”

“Out with it,” He Xuan managed to say between two hurried bites.

Yin Yu winced as he said in one breath, “Could you accompany me to see Crimson Rain Sought Flower?”

He Xuan stopped chewing for a moment, and Yin Yu was almost convinced he had been pushed into the cold lake again with how many shivers ran through him. The supreme ghost resumed eating as if nothing had happened, but once he had swallowed down his food he put his chopsticks on top of the dish, his hands still holding them.

“Hua Cheng doesn't like to have me around very much,” he said, “he tolerates me only for business.”

“Wouldn't this be business?” Yin Yu noted.

“Mh,” He Xuan mused, clicking his chopsticks together as if he was actually grabbing food. The action was oddly cute to Yin Yu. “It would... and his pompous ass would want to host you properly to flaunt his wealth and power... which means...”

He brought the chopsticks to his mouth, and bit down on nothing, though he didn't seem to mind. In fact, his mind seemed elsewhere, at a banquet from the looks of it.

When he focused back on reality, it was to stare at the moderate spread of dishes left between them.

“You've barely eaten,” he remarked. “Are you not hungry?”

“I am. But I've never been a big eater...” Yin Yu confessed and, to his surprise, He Xuan's eyes lit up, something he hadn't been sure could even happen.

“Perfect.” Before Yin Yu could react, he added, “I'll come with you.”

After their meal He Xuan gave Yin Yu a proper tour of his manor and its surroundings, Yin Yu becoming acquainted with the ghosts that worked under He Xuan's orders, all of them lost souls who had drowned after attracting the ire of the Water Tyrant. They spent the evening discussing literature, and at dinner Yin Yu felt bold enough to request his favorite foods, ones that He Xuan gulped down with his boundless appetite.

The next evening, after Yin Yu had taken an awfully long time to rest and relax, much more than would have been acceptable back in his disciple days, He Xuan had informed him Hua Cheng was ready to see them, and led him to a small side room with markings worthy of the Earth Master's title on every door. Teleportation arrays of masterful quality. He told as much to their creator.

“I told you not to suck-up to me,” He Xuan scolded, though it held no real bite.

“I'm doing no such thing.”

“Whatever, they’re not even mine, you know?”

Yin Yu felt as if the ground had disappeared under his feet. “They’re not? But then, whose incredible work is this?”

“A friend of mine, he lives here sometimes but he’s currently away. You might be able to compliment him directly one of these days,” He Xuan looked very amused in a really odd way when he talked about that friend of his, as if he and that friend were both in on a very good joke. Yin Yu would have liked to know more, but He Xuan put a hand on his shoulder and said, “Enough dawdling, let’s go.”

He dragged Yin Yu through the door, and they found themselves under a city's gates. Yin Yu's prior mental state was wiped clean as his senses were assaulted right away: smells, sights and sounds, a disorienting cacophony of stimuli. It was as if the city itself was testing him, daring him to take a step further in.

Had he been alone, had he stumbled into this chaos like such things happened to lonesome travellers in many tales that had been spread over the centuries...Yin Yu hated to admit it, but he wasn't sure that he would have been able to brave it, or its Lord.

But he hadn't stumbled in, and he was not alone. He was a guest in this demonic lair, flanked by the only other being in existence who could claim to be an equal to Hua Cheng.

There was movement in his scarf, so Yin Yu tugged it down to check on Jian Yu. His spirit was restless, and Yin Yu could guess how he was feeling: after all, he felt the same.

“It's going to be alright,” he said, trying to convince them both.

He tugged his scarf back up and looked around, breaking in a cold sweat when he realized that He Xuan was no longer by his side. He took a deep breath to try and calm himself, centering his focus away from the chaotic energy weighing down on him. Looking around again, he spotted the familiar, impassive face of He Xuan.

He hurried to his side, trying to slow down his pace to not appear panicked. He winced as he had to shove through dozens of ghosts, one of his sleeves coming close to getting covered by a bubbly ooze, and apologizing to the angry insults of many of the spirits he bumped into.

He Xuan did not wait for him, though he did walk ahead at a slower pace. Yin Yu couldn't tell if he was doing so on purpose, or if he was simply forced to by the sheer density of the crowd.

“Keep up,” were the only words he said to Yin Yu when the latter finally managed to catch up. Yin Yu chose to keep his mouth shut even if his tongue was burning with the need to talk back, turning his attention to their surroundings.

The city was close to how the legends and his former fellow heavenly officials had described it in hushed conversations: a den full of filth, a haven of chaos and depravity. He dared to look at what the many stalls had on offer, and swallowed back bile at the sights. He had known He Xuan had not been joking when he had warned Yin Yu would be eaten alive, but to see proof of his claims was another thing.

His staring caught the attention of a group of ghosts, whose deformed mouths morphed into a leer, their eyes glinting with harmful intent. Yin Yu prepared himself for a fight.

“Look at that one, tasty, you think?” he heard one of the smaller ghosts say.

“Only one way to find out!” another laughed.

They made their way over, and Yin Yu took a step back, assuming a defensive stance, trying to ignore Jian Yu's nervous jitters. That was when he bumped into someone, who turned out to be He Xuan. He looked unbothered, perhaps he had not registered the contact... which would also explain why he had not done anything to step away.

He sneered at the group, who retreated on the spot. Once they had been left alone, he tilted his head to look at Yin Yu.

“Don't worry, this lot knows who I am. They won't risk anything that could provoke me.”

Yin Yu put some distance between them, as he said, “Because they're afraid of Crimson Rain's reaction?”

It was only when he had said the words aloud that Yin Yu realized how they sounded. But he could not take them back, and felt blood drain from his face.

“That hurts.” He Xuan said, showing not a trace of emotion. “I didn't think you were capable of cutting so deep into someone's self-esteem with so few words. Looks like even the city carries his rotten influence.”

“But you made an astute observation,” he continued, “Here, Hua Cheng is at the top of his power, as I am on my territory. My own powers are currently suppressed but our arrangement means if anyone tries to mess with me, they'll face the consequences of pissing him off.”

He glanced at Yin Yu and added, “Perks of your future job, even more so when there's no power to suppress.”

Yin Yu did not know if that jab was meant as a covert retaliation for his earlier clumsy words, but he accepted it as such.

“Also, you should probably wear this,” he said, shoving a mask in Yin Yu's hands.

“Couldn't you have given this to me before?”

“Slipped my mind.”

Yin Yu had to satisfy himself with that explanation, and diligently put the mask on as he tried to keep up the pace with He Xuan's long and assured strides through the crowd.

“Where are we going?”

“Now you ask.”

Yin Yu said nothing, waiting for the answer.

“We're going to the Gambler's Den.” He Xuan said in a tone that marked his disinterest. He paused, and his next words had a bit more energy to them. “He has a whole residence, mind you, but it's off limits to anyone but servants, the prick.”

“So you've never been?”

“I have. I can get in... sometimes. On a technicality. As a servant, you're gonna have the privilege of spending a lot of time there.”

“I can hardly wait.” Yin Yu said, if only to say something. While he would not go so low as to lie to himself and pretend that he would not be more than alright with spending the better part of his days in a lavish residence when faced with the alternative of ditches and barns, the circumstances that would allow him such a thing in the first place were still hard to take in.

He only hoped it was not decorated in the same way the building he could see ahead was. Overcrowded with people and details alike, the further they approached, the more gaudy it looked. Yin Yu was thankful for the mask covering up his grimace as a pungent smell wafted out the entrance, almost as disgusting as the horrendous attempt at calligraphy that was put on display at the entrance.

He Xuan went up the stairs, so Yin Yu followed, stepping over splatters of fresh blood that some ghosts were eagerly licking at, fighting each other like dogs over the crimson drops. In an effort to keep up with He Xuan, who the crowds parted for, Yin Yu braved the uncomfortable contact of rough or slimy skins—and some ugly sores—on his clothes, and tried not to gag as he passed a ghost whose scent could only be described as a wet fart.

The Gambler's Den, for that was all that this place could be, hosted many ghosts and only a few humans, yet it somehow managed to feel hot and stuffy. The loud patrons all reeked, from their own scents and alcohol, adding to Yin Yu's discomfort. He felt his head spin, breaking into a sweat as he realized he had lost sight of He Xuan yet again.

“Watch out,” he heard, and found out He Xuan had been walking by his side the whole time. Before he could ask what he had to watch out for, He Xuan yanked him into his arms, and Yin Yu sent up a prayer to whoever might be listening, thanking the heavens for his mask.

He looked down, and away, in hopes to control the flush that had crept up his face, and understood He Xuan's actions: Yin Yu had almost stepped into a puddle of...

Honestly, Yin Yu would be content never knowing what this puddle was.

“Wouldn't want you getting dirty before meeting your boss.” He Xuan breathed near his ear before he had finally let him go, trudging back into the crowd as if nothing had happened. For the sake of his own mind, Yin Yu did the same and cleared his thoughts as he went.

Besides, he needed to stay focused. After all, he would soon meet Crimson Rain Sought Flower face-to-face.

It did not take long before they had crossed the main hall of the building, He Xuan opening a door and guiding him through winding corridors that would easily disorient common mortals.

The walk felt both too long and not long enough, for Yin Yu stood very soon after in front of grand and ornate doors, more refined and tasteful than anything else he had seen in the building so far, save maybe for the dais he had spotted a bit earlier.

“This is it,” He Xuan said, “Nervous?”

Yin Yu did not think himself to be able to fake confidence, let alone in these conditions, so he nodded.

He Xuan chuckled, “Don't be.”

He went to open the door, but stopped and looked at Yin Yu right through his mask, “Seriously, don't be.”

Not for the first time, Yin Yu wondered if He Xuan realized that a former god turned very much mortal had a lot more to be nervous about when it came to Hua Cheng than another Ghost King ever would. But, since he could do little else at the moment, he nodded once more.

The doors opened wide, just then. Their host must have grown impatient. He Xuan shook his head, maybe a bit harder than was natural, and went in without a trace of fear or doubt. Yin Yu envied him terribly, desperate to keep his stance and his pace poised as he took the invitation and went through.

The doors closed with a loud and definitive bam, and Yin Yu thought his heart might have burst with fright had he not been just as shocked at the sight of the room: lavish decorations and exquisite furniture everywhere his eyes could see, huge paintings hung from all four walls, each representing an area of the mortal realm. At the center of it  was a table fit for meetings and banquets, adorned with engravings and tiny sculptures, no doubt the work of a true master of the craft.

“Welcome. Please, take a seat.”

The man who had spoken was already seated at the head of the table, wine cup in hand, and didn't deign to get up. He looked to be in his fifties, with greying hair and a beard, both well groomed. He was dressed in silvers and reds, from jewelry to silks alike.

There was no mistaking who this was. Thirty-three , Yin Yu's mind unhelpfully supplied him. Much aware of his place, he took a deep bow.

“Greetings, Hua Chengzhu.”

He stayed bowed until he was told to stand back up, and let out a shaky exhale when Hua Cheng turned his attention to He Xuan.

“Well? Aren't you going to show your respect?”

He Xuan muttered something that suspiciously sounded like “fuck off,” and walked to the head of the table as if he owned the place.

“You're a wise old lord tonight, really?”

“Am I not, compared to you?” Hua Cheng said, sloshing his wine around.

“Don't make me laugh, you're far too bratty to sell the act for long. That does not suit you. At all. You wouldn't convince anyone in a hundred years.”

Hua Cheng lifted an eyebrow, drank his wine, and changed his appearance as quickly as it took Yin Yu to blink.

He looked like a tall and slender young man, with long, dark hair. His right eye was hidden behind a dark leather patch.

Yin Yu gulped. He had only heard descriptions of this form, but he had had nightmares of it, like every heavenly official that valued their life. He felt a hand on his shoulder and almost yelped. Before he could do anything embarrassing, he realized it was He Xuan.

“Don't worry, he looks dangerous at first, but give it some time and you won't be intimidated anymore.”

“I can hear you.” Hua Cheng said.

“I know.” He Xuan said, putting an emphasis on each word and nudging Yin Yu toward the table.

Hua Cheng had the final say in where they were seated, so Yin Yu ended up at Hua Cheng's right, while He Xuan took the seat at his left, which meant he would stay in Yin Yu's line of sight at all times while he was conversing with Hua Cheng.

Yin Yu had no idea if this had been done on purpose, but he allowed himself the comfort of thinking it was.

The moment they were seated, Hua Cheng clapped his hands, and a small army of servants flooded into the room, each carrying a tray of food. Yin Yu's eyes went wide, even in the heavens he had not seen that kind of opulence. He Xuan's eyes went wide as well, and so did his mouth, a sight that had Hua Cheng raising an eyebrow in judgmental exasperation.

Although musicians must have remained, for Yin Yu could hear music playing, the servants disappeared as quickly as they had come, leaving the three of them to their devices and their food.

Well, the four of them, Yin Yu remembered. He opened his scarf just wide enough that Jian Yu would pass through. His ghost fire floated about, a bit disoriented, until Yin Yu guided him to the empty seat to his right with a gentle nudge.

He felt the weight of Hua Cheng's stare on him, and did not dare meet it. He tried instead to find He Xuan's for any hints at what was proper conduct from then on, but the other supreme was in his own world, devouring what looked to be his second or third serving.

Apparently there was no need to wait when it came to eating the food.

“You can remove your mask if you'd like,” Hua Cheng said, startling Yin Yu out of his musings.

Yin Yu had forgotten about the mask, and now that he was made aware of it, he dreaded losing its meager protection. Alas, not only would it be rude to keep it on, it would make him unable to take a bite out of anything.

He took it off, slowly, as careful as if he were approaching a dangerous beast. He put the mask aside, and kept his gaze locked on his plate.

“You're not eating?”

“Apologies, Chengzhu, I’m...”

“Take your time. We can talk business after you have eaten.” Hua Cheng said, although he barely put anything on his own plate, which Yin Yu noted had a clear lack of vegetables. “And I'd suggest you do so before that vortex siphons everything down.”

Indeed, when Yin Yu looked, he could see He Xuan was already putting some new food on his plate, the fresh servings already running out on his side.

Yin Yu decided to follow Hua Cheng's advice and, as he ate, the situation fully settled in. Before long, he found it was getting easier to convince himself that he was dreaming, or hallucinating. After all, he was mortal, and this all could very well have been an elaborate creation of his dying mind, and with the way he had been surviving lately, death was not out of the equation. By far.

He glanced at Jian Yu, who floated around from plate to plate, in a way that showed he was frustrated beyond belief. Yin Yu felt a pang of sympathy for his old companion: being so near all this mouth-watering food but unable to taste any had to feel close to torture.

“I meant to ask, is that ghost fire a friend of yours?” Hua Cheng asked.

“Yes, Chengzhu. This is Jian Yu, he's... he was one of my deputies back when I...”

Yin Yu bit down on his cheek. Admitting to his banishment was a struggle, even with the phantom weight of the shackle at his wrist and his notable lack of spiritual energy.

“When you were Martial God of the West.” Hua Cheng finished for him, and it stung, even if his tone was neutral. “I'm sorry to hear about his passing. Was it his choice to remain?”

“No, Chengzhu.” This, too, was hard to admit. “He was unable to find peace, and I have been unable to grant it to him.”

Because trying to pacify a resentful soul when you were little else but regrets and frustrations personified was as easy a task as bringing someone water when you were parched yourself.

“Don't worry, I'm sure your new boss will help you with it.” He Xuan said, mouth half-full. “I mean, he was gonna do it anyway.”

“Who allowed you to open your mouth for anything but food?”

“Hey I got him there in one piece, I get a say in the negotiations.”

Yin Yu was stunned, less by their exchange and more by Hua Cheng's intentions, if what He Xuan had said was true.

“You would... But, Chengzhu, what exactly is it that you want of me?”

“Didn’t He Xuan tell you? I want to make you my right-hand man.”

Yin Yu choked on his breath.

“Your... your right-hand man?”

“One who will manage various affairs within my territory and report any important matters to me,” Hua Cheng explained, “As well as outside, should circumstances call for it.”

Yin Yu could do little else but take a bite out of his food, too stunned to speak.

“You would also have to handle petty scuffles, which I know you've come across on your way here.”

“Whatever could you be talking about, Chengzhu? Everyone knows your lair is a haven of serenity and culture, fit for the fairest of nobles.” He Xuan commented.

“Go back to stuffing yourself.”

“At least I know a thing or two about stuffing.”

Yin Yu was thankful he had nothing in his mouth just then. With his scholarly and detached air, he would never have expected He Xuan to be able to be so crass and provocative. Maybe there was some truth in his claims of Crimson Rain Sought Flower having a bad influence...

Speaking of that particular supreme ghost, Yin Yu observed him, wondering how he would respond to this umpteenth slight. He did not have to wonder for long, as Hua Cheng frowned and snapped his fingers.

“Choke.”

Yin Yu could see He Xuan try to retort, but his voice was gone. Undeterred, he flipped Hua Cheng the bird but the other Ghost King had turned to Yin Yu, hiding He Xuan from his sight.

“As I was saying, I would need you around to act as my messenger and bring back... as much order as is possible whenever trouble arises.” Hua Cheng explained, glaring at He Xuan from the corner of his eye. “Whatever form you pass my message under, words or fists, it doesn't matter.”

“So I would be some kind of enforcer?” Yin Yu asked, “I don't know if I could be enough of an intimidating presence for the task...”

“Good, that's not why you're here. In fact, your lack of presence is very valuable as an asset.”

It was strange to have one of his main flaws be presented as something useful... not only did it feel insulting in the strangest of ways, but Yin Yu wasn't sure he would ever agree with this way of thinking.

He must have hidden his discomfort pretty well, for Hua Cheng kept on speaking without faltering. “Leave the intimidation to me, you are meant to blend in and work from the shadows, and act as a constant reminder when I cannot be there.”

“Like the moon reflecting the light of the sun?”

Hua Cheng smiled and it was the strangest sight, both playful and sinister.

“Something like that.” He said, before the room was plunged into a silence that was only filled with faint music. Before Yin Yu could spiral down in anxious thoughts, however, Hua Cheng spoke again, looking between He Xuan and Yin Yu. “Say, the moon is in its waning phase, isn't it?”

Yin Yu saw He Xuan scoff, and to his surprise found that he looked... flustered.

“It... is, Chengzhu.” Yin Yu answered.

“Perfect. Don't you think so too, He Xuan?”

He Xuan said nothing, and not because of the spell, scarfing down even more food than normal while Hua Cheng took another sip of his wine, a mocking spark in his eye.

Before long, he went on to list some other tasks and missions Yin Yu would be expected to fulfill. Yin Yu was nervous to learn he would be put in charge of a group of subordinates he could select and have vetted by Hua Cheng, but he was relieved to learn he would be able to leave Ghost City on recon missions or as needed.

What he was most surprised to learn were the accommodations, such as the fact he would get a wage. And days off. And private quarters inside Hua Cheng's residence.

It was all so generous that Yin Yu wondered why he would be getting paid at all, if not for Hua Cheng to flaunt his power.

And that was the crux of it, wasn't it? The reason Yin Yu had a hard time even entertaining the thought of accepting the position, ever since He Xuan had informed him of Hua Cheng's interest in him.

A pet. He was going to essentially become a Calamity's pet, a former god ordered around by the enemy. 

Hua Cheng reached the end of his spiel, and looked at Yin Yu with an expectant eye.

“Would you agree to those terms?”

“I—my Lord,” he risked, because something inside him pushed him to find a reasonable way to deny this offer, whether it was the morsels of pride he had left, or the strict education he had been raised with. “Are you not wary of having someone tied to the heavens in your service?”

“You're not much of a threat,” Hua Cheng smiled, and Yin Yu had to grin and bear that truth. “Besides, I've done a thorough background check. I wouldn't have wasted my time with just anyone.”

Those words... Those words shook Yin Yu's very core, disorienting him like a punch to the face. He tried to keep his composure, and started to wonder if he had misheard. He was ordinary, a never-do-well who had failed to make good on his unbelievable chance at becoming a god. He had proven himself to not be stable and trustworthy, driven mad with anger, filled with as much resentment as the ghost fire who haunted him.

And yet…

No, this was too good to be true, wasn’t it?

He Xuan coughed, like he wanted to say something, catching Yin Yu's attention. Hua Cheng did not release him from the spell, however he must have communicated through an array, for Hua Cheng let out an exhale that betrayed his annoyance, and frowned.

As he watched the subsequent private exchange between the two Calamities, Yin Yu wondered how much was known about him, but he did not have to wonder for long.

“I know of your past, of your story, your abilities... and your mistakes.” Hua Cheng told him. “While I don't understand how someone skilled and efficient would demean themselves as much as you do, it matters little to me. I only care that you possess qualities that I require.”

Yin Yu thought that was as close to a heartfelt compliment he would ever get from Hua Cheng, and that fact almost brought tears to his eyes.

“I understand, Chengzhu. But... what if I don't accept?”

Hua Cheng smiled. “You will.”

Yin Yu was close to huffing out in exasperation: this centuries old powerful ghost acted much like a child at times, cocky and self-assured. He hoped he would not have to deal with much of this.

“But what if I don't?” He insisted.

Hua Cheng was amused, or at least that is how Yin Yu chose to interpret his smile. “I'll show you the door, plain and simple.”

“Even with what I know?”

Confusion settled on Hua Cheng's face. “What do you know?”

“Lord He Xuan,” Yin Yu said, and Hua Cheng frowned, “I know his role as a spy in the heavens.”

Yin Yu watched with a sense of awe as he realized Hua Cheng had frozen at his words, surprise overtaking him. However, that invasion stayed brief, for his face turned darker, brows furrowed as he turned to glare at He Xuan, snapping his fingers to undo his spell.

“Did you somehow manage to eat your brain from the inside?!”

“What? You said it yourself: he's harmless.” He Xuan huffed. “And you were going to keep him anyway.”

“Whatever, if things ever go south you'll be the first one to pay for it.” Hua Cheng snarked. “Speaking of, I'm doubling your debt.”

He Xuan groaned, in a way that told of centuries of suffering. “I didn’t even tell him everything! I only alluded to some things! And how am I going to pay you back at this rate?”

“Not my problem.” Hua Cheng waved his hand and looked back at Yin Yu. “And neither are you. I'll give you three days and three nights to make your choice, and on the fourth morning you will give me your answer, if not before. No matter what it is, I will see that Jian Yu's spirit is pacified.”

“I... Chengzhu, thank you.”

“No need.” Hua Cheng said, looking bored. “It's getting late, you'd better retreat to your quarters for now.”

“My quarters?...” Yin Yu said, surprised for a moment to learn he would get access to this accommodation right away, until he realized this was no doubt done so he would be more easily convinced to stay. “Right, Chengzhu.”

“Follow me,” Hua Cheng said, standing up and walking to a door, a pair of dice in hand. Yin Yu guided Jian Yu back inside his scarf, put on the mask, and hurried to Hua Cheng's side, who tossed up the dice and opened the door to a new location, away from the noises of the city.

“Here we are,” Hua Cheng said, “Call for a servant should you need anything.”

And with that, he went through the door again, but not before bumping into He Xuan and raising an eyebrow that could only mean “ What are you doing here? ”

He Xuan ignored him, looking at Yin Yu who was too busy losing himself in his musings, still wondering why Hua Cheng had deemed his disgraced self was worthy of being shown such grace, such an unbelievable offer.

To willingly fall into the ranks of Ghost City, as a Ghost King's right-hand man, with no one but Hua Cheng above him... he would be in a position of power he could have only ever dreamed of in the heavens. Yet, how could this compare to being one of the top ten gods?

To mingle with ghosts and demons was not something he wanted, this had never been something he had dreamed of and clung to all his life. In fact, to fall in this way felt even more pitiful than his banishment.

“Are you alright?”

“I... am.” Yin Yu said, unable to tell if he was lying. “It simply is, that this is all...”

“A lot to take in?”

Yin Yu nodded. He stood there, staring at the room... his room. Decently furnished, but bare enough that an occupant could make the place theirs. Jian Yu got out from under his scarf, floating away to inspect their surroundings, bobbing up and down as if he was satisfied with what he was seeing.

A flicker of a memory flashed in Yin Yu's mind, of his first day after his ascension, the overwhelming pride and hopefulness as he had first set foot in his divine palace. Jian Yu had been there too, alive. And there had also been...

Yin Yu bit his lip, refusing to let tears fall, let alone with He Xuan in the room. Still, he wanted to scream out, to wail, frustration and confusion fusing into one.

“I'd accept it if I were you,” He Xuan said as he lazily walked forward to stand at his side.

His voice low, Yin Yu snarked, “Good thing you're not me.”

“Would you look at that? You haven't even gotten the position yet and you're already acting like the perfect little right-hand man for that prick.”

With a groan, Yin Yu sped away from He Xuan, throwing his arms up as he said, “Great! Maybe that way he'll give me some treats!”

“You're not a plaything, you know? He wouldn't have bothered looking for you otherwise, and I certainly would have not played fetch if that had been the case, no matter what I might owe him at this point.”

Yin Yu whirled around, grabbing He Xuan's stare and not letting it go.

“Then why? Why did he have me in mind?! You can't tell me he really thinks of me as... Competent? Patient? Trustworthy? Respectable?! Would I have been banished from the heavens if that was the case? And how could I believe Hua Cheng’s words? A demon famous for despising gods? Deceiving them?!”

His breaths were coming in short, his chest raising and falling at a frantic pace, and he wanted nothing more than to calm down. He loathed himself for how easy it was to fall into this state, to lose all the self-control he clung to, and not only because it was this same loss that had led him to find himself here.

Moreso, he was infuriated with how impassive He Xuan was to his outburst, as if he was a child throwing a tantrum that would fizzle out in time.

“He has his reasons, ones I cannot disclose for the simple fact that they're not mine to tell. But if you don't believe him, then...” He Xuan frowned, looking away. “At least believe me?”

Yin Yu frowned in kind. “Believe you?...”

“I know how much your ascension meant to you, how you wanted to work hard, be the incarnation of what a god is supposed to be... someone working for their worshippers, protecting mortals from harm, keeping themselves away from the wayward paths, leading by example to pave the way for a better tomorrow...” He sighed, his cold eyes snatching Yin Yu's attention. “Yin Yu, trust me, these perfect gods you look up to, they don't exist. If anything, you were one of the few who ever came close.”

“How could I have ever come close if I'm here?” he said, clutching at his right wrist. “And how can you be so sure that the gods are not true to what they're supposed to be?”

But when he thought about it... he had been shown much more kindness by the two Ghost Kings than any of his former peers. He had been given trust in his abilities and was treated with respect... two things he had never experienced from gods.

He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. He couldn't think that way: gods would always be superior, rising above all imperfect beings of the mortal and ghost realms.

The perfection he had always dreamed of embodying, ever since his disciple days.

“You can’t know that,” Yin Yu insisted. “You can’t know that the heavens are rotten to the core.”

He Xuan's face grew dark, a wave of murderous intent hitting Yin Yu like a slap to the face. Much like a wave, it went as quickly as it had come, sharp and fast enough that he could guess this intent had not been aimed at himself. But who or what could have aggravated He Xuan to a point that so much had gone past his facade? He Xuan disliked the gods as much as Hua Cheng seemed to, but perhaps there was something more personal in his case.

“I think I know much more than you do...” He Xuan said, “But I realize I could be biased. Maybe you'll need to hear it from someone else.”

Yin Yu made a hum in acknowledgement, crossing his arms as he turned his back to He Xuan.

“I'll say it again: if I were you, I would accept. I mean, what could it hurt?” He heard He Xuan speak, and tried to ignore it. He Xuan pushed on. “I know he put the offer out as a position of power, an assistant, but that's not all there is to it. By working under him, he can also offer you protection. Trust me, you'll need it.”

Yin Yu froze. “What do you mean?”

“Quan Yizhen. He's been looking all over for you.”

The mention of that name was enough to pop a vein on Yin Yu's temple, but the fact he was looking for him was even worse. He held his head in his hands as he paced around the room.

“Why would he?... I'm banished! Can't he just leave me alone?!”

He Xuan shrugged. “Beats me. I don't care much to figure out what goes on inside his head.”

“You're not just lying so I will take the position, are you?”

“When have I ever lied to you?”

“You—” Yin Yu tried to object, but there was nothing He Xuan had said in their time together he could find that remotely fit the description of a lie. Sure, he had an infuriating habit of omitting crucial information, but none of what he had told Yin Yu had turned out to be falsehoods.

In truth, he had been nothing but helpful and understanding to Yin Yu thus far, and all Yin Yu had done was let out his frustrations and fears at his expense. Shame rose in him, a feeling he wished he had grown accustomed to by now, and he could not bear to let it simmer any longer.

He faced He Xuan, took off his mask, and bowed.

“What are you doing?” He Xuan said, a tinge of genuine surprise in his voice.

“Lord He Xuan, I thank you for your aid and your support. I apologize for my unseemly behavior. If there's anything I can do to make it up to you, rest assured it will be done.”

After a stretched silence, He Xuan asked him to rise. He was looking at anywhere but Yin Yu, a light dusting of pink on his cheeks, a baffling sight.

“I thought I told you to not suck-up to me… and drop the “Lord’, won’t you?” he grumbled. “It's fine, really. Your outburst was understandable, and a lot more manageable than some other people.”

Yin Yu did not have to ask who, and made a note of that, one that He Xuan picked up on.

“Don't worry about handling those, that task goes to the Waxing Moon Officer.”

“And who might that be?”

“Hua Cheng's left-hand man.”

“And a future colleague...” That conversation about the moon's phases made a lot of sense all of a sudden. “In that case would I be the Waning Moon Officer?”

He Xuan nodded, “That seems to be what he was aiming for. He loves to pretend to be a poet or whatever. He's probably giggling to himself about getting to have a set.”

Yin Yu tried to hide a laugh with a cough. Right then he decided that, despite appearances, the two Ghost Kings were definitely quite close.

“When would I meet the Waxing Moon Officer? If I'm to work with them, wouldn't it have been better to make their acquaintance?”

“You already have.”

Yin Yu's thoughts were thrust into a sea of confusion, but he managed to swim back up quickly enough–after all, there was only one person he had had a proper introduction to, and he highly doubted the bone dragon was this mystery partner. Its owner, however...

“So I would be working with you?”

“Sometimes.” He Xuan shrugged. “I'm not often around. Heavenly business and all that.”

“A shame.”

“If you take the position, I'll make some time for you.”

A blatant bait, meant to lure him in. Yin Yu may have seen right through it, but he couldn't deny the offer was alluring, more than any of the ones he had been shown thus far.

“And if you don't take it, you're welcome to stay at my place.”

This offer was another strong contender, and one that brought warmth to Yin Yu’s face. “Thank you.”

“I have one condition, though.”

Yin Yu grabbed his wrist in a nervous hold as he asked, “What is it?”

“As you’ve admitted yourself, you have to make it up to me for being mean and hurting my delicate feelings,” He Xuan said, the casual statement making Yin Yu feel as if he had been pinched. “As for how, I have an idea.”

“Which is?”

“We should exchange passwords.”

Yin Yu stared at him. “Passwords?”

“To our private communication arrays.”

“What for?”

“Communicating.”

Yin Yu gave him a look.

“Emergencies and business,” He Xuan explained, fleeing from Yin Yu's stare. “I don't want to have to go through him all the time. Besides, if we're to keep in touch...”

“I understand, but...” Yin Yu sighed. “He Xuan, not only am I not yet the Waning Moon Officer, I don't have access to spiritual energy anymore.”

He Xuan snorted. He uncrossed his arms and offered his hand.

“Give it.”

“Huh?”

“Your hand. Give it to me.”

Yin Yu did, and He Xuan held it. A surge of power ran through Yin Yu, familiar but so foreign. He Xuan gave him his password, and Yin Yu tried it out.

“Hello?”

He Xuan's voice sounded in his mind. “See?”

“But this power you lent me, it won't last.” Yin Yu said, using his mouth.

“Don't worry about it, I know for a fact Hua Cheng has access to plenty of food, pills and artefacts filled with enough power to supply you for countless lifetimes.”

“Again, I haven't accepted the posi–” Yin Yu covered his face with his hand. “Forget it.”

He Xuan huffed out a laugh, and Yin Yu felt compelled to chuckle. By the end of it, he felt as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, and the world looked a little brighter.

He Xuan's face had also lit up, staring openly at Yin Yu with a smile on his face.

“What?” Yin Yu asked.

“Nothing,” he shrugged, his lingering smile fading away only as he said, “I guess I better get going, I have some other business to get to, I'll let you settle in at your own pace.”

Yin Yu’s smile also faltered, an empty feeling settling in his chest.

“Very well. Thank you again, He Xuan.”

Yin Yu expected the Ghost King to nod and go on his way, but He Xuan made no move to leave.

“Is something the matter?”

“I still do not have your password.”

Yin Yu shook his head, “How forgetful of me.”

Once his password had been properly given, they tested it out, until He Xuan bid him goodnight and left.

Alone in the unfamiliar wing he had been assigned to, Yin Yu was starting to feel as if he was dreaming again. No matter where he walked and what he looked at, it was hard for his mind to make sense of the whirlwind of days he had lived through. Jian Yu chose this moment to make himself known, his ghost fire drifting left and right in front of Yin Yu's face.

“Jian Yu, sorry I haven't been paying much attention to you. It has all been overwhelming. I really wonder what I should do...”

Jian Yu moved some more, but it was so fast Yin Yu could not make sense of it. He urged his friend to calm down, and once he had settled on the bed that was meant to be his, tried to get through the ordeal of holding a conversation with a silent ghost fire. 

As expected, there was not much advice he could get from Jian Yu, but one thing was made clear: he would not be able to move on if he knew Yin Yu would go back to roaming the mortal realm and sleeping in ditches alone, least of all with the new information they were now privy to. If he was to meet Quan Yizhen again and be reminded of that day, Yin Yu had no idea how the encounter would go. The mere fact of imagining it made him nauseous.

This was yet another argument in favor of accepting the position. The list had been steadily growing and, in truth, was there anything working against the offer other than Yin Yu's own stubbornness?

He sat up from the bed and walked to a window, opening it to the night sky, a sight he would have to get accustomed to, should he stay. He, who had been longing for the light of the heavens his whole life...

His left hand reached for his right wrist and he traced the cursed shackle as he had done a thousand times since his banishment, the lowest and darkest moment in his life. The thought made him pause, as he observed a row of carefree ghost fires dancing and playing on the clear and still surface of a lake a short distance ahead.

His demotion, his humiliation at the hands of the other gods, could working under a Calamity in the Ghost Realm even come close to this debacle?

Furthermore, could he endure as he had so far, living out his sentence in the mortal realm, with the added threat of Quan Yizhen?

He recalled the way he had been ready to accept death when He Xuan had shown up. Could he risk falling back into that state?

“I'd accept it if I were you ”, He Xuan had said.  He could indeed take Hua Cheng's offer… 

Or he could go with He Xuan's invitation and live out the rest of his days on his island. But then, what would become of him? As drawn to He Xuan as he was, and as much as he had come to appreciate his company, Yin Yu knew there would be little for him to do in his lair, save from spending time with his dragons and that mysterious friend of his.

And at the end of the day, hadn't he always wanted to make an impact on the world, somehow? What good would it do to hide from it all?

While his eyes wandered across the scenery, he lost himself in thoughts of his possible future, weighing the pros and cons, his mind stuck in a circle of doubts. What would the heavens think of him, if they knew? What would he think of himself? What–

“Sleep well.”

The two words startled him to an embarrassing point. He looked around, then at Jian Yu, until he realized the voice had not come from the outside.

A gentle warmth spread in his chest, and he sent his thanks in their communication array, barely managing to hold back a yawn.

Rest did sound good.

He closed the window after one last sweep of the outside world, walking back to his bed, smiling all the way.

He still harbored a lot of reservations, and he was not sure his heart would ever be swayed away from his ideals, but...

He had three days and three nights before him.

By next morning, he had made up his mind.