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Xie Lian, much to his husband’s chagrin, had become quite attached to the red eyed saber that accompanied them everywhere-E’ming. Hua Cheng watched with crossed arms, (totally not jealous) as Xie Lian coddled and pampered the cursed weapon, showering it with praise for its skills in battle. Xie Lian had always found it endearing, both his husband’s and the weapon’s reaction.
While Hua Cheng had once told him how the scimitar came to be -one night after he came back, where the two conversed in Puqi Shrine- he never said anything more about it apart from its origins. Xie Lian, thinking he didn’t want to talk about it didn’t pry.
A few months had passed since their wedding, and their honeymoon was spent traveling and lounging around together for a few months, turning off their arrays and focusing solely on each other. However, all good things must come to an end, and after three blissful months, they both had to get back to their respective duties. Upon returning, Xie Lian had found himself with quite a large amount of prayers to take care of.
Usually, he’d wait until morning to tend to them, along with his husband (nights were reserve for lying tangled in his husband’s embrace, too occupied to focus on anything else. But, that night, a frantic prayer jolted him awake.
He startled from his comfortable position in his Hua Cheng’s arms, sitting up abruptly. Immediately, Hua Cheng’s eye snapped open, scanning the room for any danger- an unnecessary habit, considering the security of Paradise Manor- before settling on Xie Lian, checking if he was alright.
“Gege…?” He murmured, voice low and husky from sleep.
Xie Lian´s heart skipped a beat at the sound, but he tried his best to push the distraction aside, lifting his hand and silently mouthing prayer before focusing on the issue beforehand.
Hua Cheng raised a brow, a small, childish pout forming in his lips as he sneaked an arm around Xie Liam’s waist and resting his head on his shoulder.
From what Xie Lian had gathered, it was a prayer from a young child. He spoke in an almost frantic manner, his words rushed and jumbled, but the gist of it was that his father had been acting a bit strange these past few days, and he linked it to the appearance of a woman in town. That night he’d invited her over for dinner, but instead of the beautiful woman his father had told him about, he’d seen something else- a woman with sharp claws and teeth, eyeing his father the way he himself looked at the delicious moon cakes his granny made. Terrified, he’d escaped and fled to the nearest shrine, praying to the benevolent god he’d heard of from the stories in his village.
“Gege, isn’t it too early to be answering prayers?” Hua Cheng murmured, nudging Xie Lian gently with his head, still perched on his shoulder.
Xie Lian patted his head. “Hm, it sounds urgent. You know I can’t ignore something like this, San Lang.”
Hua Cheng sighed, nuzzling his face into Xie Lian’s neck. “I know, but sometimes I think gege spoils his believers far too much.”
“Then, isn’t San Lang the most spoiled one of them all?” His god teased.
Hua Cheng pulled slightly, pretending that he had been hurt. Xie Lian chuckled, turning his head to press a soft kiss to his cheek. “You know you’re the only one I truly-and happily- spoil.” He said before gently pulling away from his husbands embrace. As much as he longed to return to bed for a bit longer, the urgency in the child’s voice had worried him.
“Then, would gege want me to accompany him?” Hua Cheng asked, laying back on the bed with his head propped on one hand, watching Xie Lian closely.
“It’s alright San Lang. I know today you were going to be quite busy with a few projects in Ghost City, right? I can handle it.”
Hua Cheng groaned. “I can leave it to Yin Yu. He’s capable enough.”
Xie Lian shook his head, tying up his hair and preparing to leave. “San Lang, the poor man already had to take over all your work for our honeymoon. Let him take a break once in a while.”
He moved to the bed while his husband grumbled, with quite a cute expression, he might add, and Xie Lian couldn’t help but lean in to kiss the top of his head. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
Hua Cheng sighed but smiled softly, pulling him back into a proper kiss this time. “Alright. I’ll miss you, gege. Call me if you need help- or even if you just miss me. I won’t mind, in fact I’d be quite happy if it’s the latter.”
Xie Lian chuckled, pulling away as he fished a pair of dice from his pocket. “Mhm. Don’t give Yin Yu too much trouble, alright? See you soon!”
Thankfully after their, ahem, heated night together, Hua Cheng had made sure to restore Xie Lian’s spiritual power, given that he had just started a new path of cultivation. Xie Lian quickly made his way to the boy’s village. After comforting the frightened child, he was led to his home- a large house surrounded by towering, stone pillars. There, he discovered the woman the kid was talking about was a young huli jin- a fox spirit. Judging by its unstable form, the spirit seemed to have just recently acquired their human form, which is why the boy was able to notice oddities in the woman’s appearance.
The fight was over before it had even begun. Defeating the fox spirit was as easy for Xie Lian as swatting a fly, although he received a minor scratch, allowing a trace of huli jin poison to seep into his system, he barely noticed.
The real trouble began when another ghost joined the fight.
Xie Lian didn’t know where the ghost had come from- but as soon as he identified it -confirmed by Ling Wen, who was still working at this ungodly hour- his expression darkened. It was a Wrath- one that had been terrorizing countless villages.
Before he could react, the wrath struck.
Xie Lian was sent crashing into the pillars, with enough force to shatter them- along with a few of his bones.
Usually this wouldn’t have been a problem. As a god, his body would have healed within minutes- bones snapping back into place immediately. However, that week Xie Lian had depleted a considerable amount of power on some prayers that involved dealing with a few menace and even another Wrath ghost. To make matters worse- the huli jin’s poison was now taking effect, slowing his healing process and making his head spin. He was exhausted, caught of guard and for once, vulnerable.
Xie Lian’s hand trembled slightly as he reached up to his temple, and, flushing in embarassment as he said the password, called for Hua Cheng. Before he had even finished his sentence, his husband stepped out from the teleportation array in an instant, shoving his dice back into his pockets as he scanned the area. The moment he caught sight of Xie Lian’s state, his eye darkened and he rushed over to help him get out from the rubble.
The Wrath, emboldened by having caught the god off guard, didn’t seem to care about it’s life at all and wasn’t willing to let him recover. It lounged again, not giving Hua Cheng’s butterflies a chance to heal Xie Lian. But, having his husband by his side Xie Lian felt an instant surge of strength. It wasn’t that he was confident before- but Hua Cheng’s presence always made him stronger.
Together, they fought, striking in perfect harmony. As Xie Lian blocked an attack, he saw noticed movement from the corner of his eye. Hua Cheng swung E’ming, slicing deep into the Wrath’s chest, his strike laced with fury-aiming to inflict tenfold the pain the ghost had inflicted on his husband. As he moved to slice again, a clawed hand lunged forward.
He didn’t have time to react.
The Wrath moved to attack too; aiming for a killing blow.
Then he heard a voice. Desperate.
“San Lang!”
He heard a sharp intake of breath.
Hua Cheng beheaded the Wrath in one swift motion. But he felt no satisfaction as his body crumpled. He turned-
And felt his stomach drop.
In front of him, Xie Lian had already dispersed the huli jing. A few moments ago, it was about to take an opportunity attack on Hua Cheng. He had stepped in between, feeling the sharp claws dig into his side.
For him.
“Dianxia!” Hua Cheng called out, rushing to his side.
Xie Lian barely winced- of course he didn’t. Through his 800 years he’d been used to far worse, and had llong since built a pretty thick skin, a habit Hua Cheng countless times to break.
Xie Lian sighed in relief.
“San Lang, are you okay?” He asked, making the ghosts freeze in his tracks.
His shaky fingers reached up hesitantly, brushing against Xie Lian’s bloodied face.
“Dianxia…I should be the one asking you that,” he whispered, trailing his touch over every wound, channeling spiritual energy into healing him. Hua Cheng’s gaze darkened as it landed on Xie Lian’s side, where deep crimson blood seeped through his white robes. He clenched his fist, wishing he could bring that damned fox spirit back to life only to make him suffer a hundred times more.
Xie Lian shook his head. “I’m fine San Lang. I’m just glad you’re not hurt.” He smiled, and Hua Cheng’s heart clenched painfully at the sight. Silently, he gently placed a firm hand on Xie Lian’s side and healed him. Once the wound stopped bleeding, he pulled away, slipping his hand into his robes and retrieving two dice. Once the array was open, he gently lifted Xie Lian up.
A moment later, the two of them stepped into paradise manor, where Hua Cheng silently led Xie Lian into their room. His grip was steady, but his silence was telling.
“Dianxia should rest.” He said without looking at Xie Lian.
Xie Lian frowned, reaching out, “San Lang…”
Hua Cheng’s hand twitched- but then he clasped them behind his back.
“I asked Yin Yu to prepare the bath. Please, Dianxia, relax while I make some breakfast.”
Xie Lian hesitantly nodded, watching as his husband turned on his heel and left. His expression was unreadable, but something about the way E’ming trembled at his side made Xie Lian pause. He wanted to call Hua Cheng back- but before he could, he was already gone.
Sighing, Xie Lian slipped into the bath, the warm water easing his tense muscles, washing away all the blood and dust from the fight. However, he still felt like something was…missing.
He one eye open and raised a brow.
Strange. E’ming usually joined him in the bath, splashing around like an over enthusiastic puppy- but it wasn’t here.
Trying to brush the thought off, Xie Lian emerged from the bath, drying himself off- then he paused, towel in hand.
San Lang always did this part. With gentle fingers, he would comb through his hair, his other hand carefully patting it dry with a towel. A quiet, intimate routine Xie Lian hadn’t realized he had grown so accustomed to. Xie Lian quickly began to dress.
He had pulled on only his trousers, before the door opened and Hua Cheng walked in. His gaze was instantly drawn to Xie Lian’s white skin peppered with red marks from the night before, which he usually gazed at with satisfaction. But then, his eye locked onto something else, and he froze.
Xie Lian followed his gaze, looking down at his sid. The scratches from the huli jing were now gone, but there were still remnants of its energy left behind. A large, purple mark appeared on its stead.
The plate in Hua Cheng’s hands trembled.
Before Xie Lian could speak, he set the plate down on top of a large dresser and, without a word, turned on his heel, leaving the door slightly ajar.
“Ah- San Lang?!”
Hurriedly, Xie Lian threw on his robes, fumbling to tie his belt as he dashed after his husband. His heart pounded loudly against his ears, panic starting to creep in. A fear that never left, no matter how much time had passed. Hua Cheng had vanished before- right in front of him, and even now, even after spending so many nights together with his arms wrapped around him, Xie Lian couldn’t shake off the fear that he would disappear again.
He bit his lip. Paradise Manor was a big place, and since they’d been away for their honey moon, Xie Lian wasn’t familiar with the place yet. How was he supposed to find Hua Cheng now?
He stopped and looked down at his hand.
The red string!
He took a deep breath, and looking at his finger, he followed the thin, red thread to guide him to his husband, twisting and turning along the vast halls, until it led him to a pair of large doors, opening to the outside. Xie Lian stepped trhough.
A garden stretched out before him, growing all kinds of flowers and plants, some- Xie Lian was sure, were lands far from these. Butterflies drifted and lay on top of flowers and flew gracefully around the air, with one perching gently on Xie Lian’s shoulder. He noticed that at the center of the garden, a patch of white blossoms swayed in the breeze.
The same flowers Hua Cheng always offered him when he prayed.
Every day without fail. Showing just how devoted he was to his husband. His heart skipped a beat, a smile finding its way to his face but quickly fading. He had the feeling that something was bothering his husband, deeply.
And he needed to find him. Now.
Eventually, he spotted a red figure leaning against one of the trees, his back turned. Xie Lian quickly walked towards him, stepping around the tree.
“San Lang?” He called softly.
Hua Cheng stilled on the spot, his hands twitching as if on instinct before dropping back down.
Xie Lian’s brow furrowed. Something was off- Hua Cheng never got startled, he could sense someone approaching from miles away, let alone a few steps.
“San Lang…?” He tried again, moving closer towards his husband.
“…Dianxia.” Hua Cheng lowered his head, his fists clenched at his sides.
Xie Lian came to stand in front of him. With the tree pressed behind his back, Hua Cheng had nowhere to retreat. His posture was rigid, gaze averted. Hua Cheng opened his mouth to reply, but no sound came out.
Instead, a loud jingling rang through the air.
Xie Lian looked down and saw E’ming trembling violently at Hua Cheng’s waist. The red eye on the scimitar was wide, glossy and frantic as if it was seconds away from bursting into tears.
Hua Cheng’s hand shot out, smacking it. “Stop it.”
The scimitar quieted down, but it’s eye stilled looked at Xie Lian distressed. Then, Xie Lian noticed- just like how E’ming was shaking- Hua Cheng’s other hand was shaking too.
His heart clenched. He finally looked into his husband eye, and Hua Cheng finally met his gaze. Xie Lian saw the same, raw emotion in his eye that was reflected in E’ming’s.
“San Lang, could it be that you…are you…feeling the same way E’ming is right now?” He asked softly.
Hua Cheng stiffened. The scimitar did the same. Then, slowly, he ducked his head down, and gave a small, reluctant nod.
Xie Lian felt his chest tighten. How could he have not noticed it sooner?
Hua Cheng had forged E’ming using his own eye. The connection between them was deep-after all, it had been a part of him. Xie Lian had always known that, but he had never truly considered what it meant.
Thanks to his expert poker face 800 years in the making, Hua Cheng was great at hiding his emotions, and even if he was less guarded around Xie Lian, he still kept up his suave persona, his husband never knew what he was truly thinking.
However, E’ming was an…emotional weapon- could it be because it reflected Hua Cheng’s feelings?
Xie Lian slowly reached up and cupped Hua Cheng’s face gently. “San Lang, is this about earlier?”
Hua Cheng bit his lip. E’ming started trembling again. He glared at it and smacked it down. “Useless trash.”
Xie Lian caught his hand. “San Lang! Don’t…” he sighed and softly pressed his lips against Hua Cheng’s knuckles. “Please don’t treat E’ming like that.”
His husband gritted his teeth. “But it’s because of that worhtless trash that Dianxia was hurt.” His voice was low, but his words weren’t meant for the scimitar-they were for himself.
Xie Lian’s eyes widened in understanding. “No! Why…why must you speak of E’ming-why must you speak of yourself in such way..? “
Hua Cheng flinched. He lowered his head again. “It’s the truth. I was unable to protect Dianxia, and because this useless San Lang you got hurt.”
“What’s useless?! San Lang, please don’t say that! It wasn’t your fault- I was the one that decided to stop the huli jing’s attack.”
“And the only reason Dianxia did so was to save me!” Hua Cheng’s voice rose, frustration slipping through. “If only I had been paying more attention, if I had been faster-”
“San Lang!” Xie Lian called out, gently gripping Hua Cheng’s collar. “Listen to me! I stepped in because I wanted to protect you. It’s not fair for you to be the one who always saves me. If the huli jing had hurt you, how do you think I would have felt?! The useless one is me-”
“Dianxia-”
Xie Lian shook his head. “And Wrath ghost appearing? That was a surprise for both of us! If you want to blame someone, blame me! I was careless with the both of them and had to call for your help…the least I could do was make sure you didn’t get hurt due to my mistake…”
Hua Cheng fell sillent.
Then, suddenly, he pulled Xie Lian into his arms.
“Dianxia…!”
Xie Lian melted in his embrace, wrapping his arms around him tightly, missing the touch and smell of his husband since they had made it home. He nuzzled into his chest. “San Lang please…please let me protect you too.” He whispered.
Hua Cheng held him tighter. After a moment, he nodded. “I’m sorry, I was wrong. Please, just…promise you won’t get hurt.”
Xie Lian shook his head. “Nonsense. San Lang was just worried. And I promise I’ll be more careful next time.”
They stayed like that for a long time, arms wrapped around each other beneath the shade of the tree. Eventually they sat down, their legs intertwined as Hua Cheng rested his chin on Xie Lian´s shoulder, arms wrapped securely around his waist.
“San Lang,” Xie Lian whispered.
“Mn.”
“San Lang and E’ming- you both…feel the same way don’t you?”
Hua Cheng was quiet for a long moment before he sighed. “Mn. Since I forged E’ming with my eye it makes us…connected somehow. It was a part of me for a long time. I guess it still is, in a way.”
Xie Lian thought for a moment before he turned to face him. “Then…if E’ming is still a part of you…why must you speak of it…of yourself in such way?”
Hua Cheng pulled Xie Lian close, their foreheads touching.
“E’ming shows a part of me I’m don’t like.” He admitted quietly. “No…in fact, I hate it. It reminds me of how weak, how useless I…Whenever I see it, all I see is him. The boy who couldn’t do anything for his god back then…who couldn’t protect him. Who could only watch.” His voice dropped lower, and his hnds trembled again. He gently squeezed Xie Lian’s waist to ground himself. “I don’t like feeling this way. It’s too emotional. Too weak. How could I dare to be beside gege if I’ve gone back to the way I was before?”
Xie Lian gently caressed his cheek. “San Lang, that wasn’t your fault. You weren’t weak- you were a child. And you did so much for me, even back then, even if I didn’t know. You protected me in so many ways, you’ve done so much for me-and you’ve protected me ever since.
“It’s not weak to feel San Lang. If you feel sad, if you feel angry, or scared or happy. I want to see all of it- I want to see all of you, no matter what. Remember what I told you? What matters is you, not the state of you. You don’t need to be strong all the time.”
Hua Cheng leaned into his touch. “But then what happens if I’m not able to protect Gege? What if you get hurt?”
“Then I’ll get hurt. And you will be there to help me. That’s enough for me.” His god smiled. “Besides, I feel no pain as long as I know you-my husband- are by my side.” He kissed the tip of Hua Cheng’s nose.
“San Lang, you can lean on me too. Let me protect you too-let me be there for you too, just like you’ve always been there for me. We can protect each other and we can support each other, on our good days, on our sad days. I just want to be with your through all of it.”
Hua Cheng stared at Xie Lian for a few seconds, a surprised expression on his face, before smiling brightly. A smile sp bright Xie Lian felt as if his heart was about to stop. Before he could react, Hua Cheng kissed him. Soft. Gentle. Completely, utterly, devoted.
“Of course.” He murmured into the kiss. “Gege is right as always.”
Xie Lian flushed slightly. “Ah! San Lang!” He shook his head. “Are you feeling better?”
Hua Cheng nodded, nuzzling Xie Lian’s neck and gently pressing soft kisses along his skin “How could I not be when Gege says such lovely things to me?”
Xie Lian smiled, gently pulling away just enough to pat E’ming at Hua Cheng’s waist. “And you too E’ming. San Lang won’t say those things to you anymore.”
The scimitar brightened, its red eye sparkling with delight- only to suddenly wiggle free and wedge itself between the two of them, pushing Xie Lian away from his husband.
Xie Lian laughed. “Mm, good E’ming. You’re such a lovely weapon aren’t you?” He cooed, patting it affectionately.
“Gege…” Hua Cheng groaned, a small pout forming on his face. “Don’t spoil it too much.”
“Why shouldn’t I?” Xie Lian teased. “After all, it’s another part of San Lang that I love. Am I not allowed to spoil all of my husband?”
Hua Cheng’s eye widened slightly, blushing (something Xie Lian hadn’t known ghost could do until recently.)
“Gege!”
Xie Lian laughed. Reaching out again. “Haha, alright, alright, you can come here too.”
San Lang hummed happily as he was pulled into his husband arms, wrapping his arms securely around him.
The safest place in the world.