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The Paradise Manor was bathed in a soft, hazy golden light, as if the sun itself had been caught in the lazy charm of the afternoon. The large purplish red silk curtains danced slowly in the breeze, and the rustling of the garden leaves barely reached inside. The air smelled of jasmine tea and freshly fallen flower petals.
It was amazing how accustomed Xie Lian had become to it all. Ghost City, the manor, his life with Hua Cheng while juggling his new status as a god. It must have only been a few decades since his ascension. He led a more stable life thanks to Hua Cheng. And even though they had the Paradise Manor, that didn't stop them from going on trips from time to time. One day, they came across a small village, Puqi, where Xie Lian had decided to settle. Hua Cheng had insisted that the place would be a shrine to his image, and he hadn't dared say no. Anyway, to have disciples, one had to start with a temple so it wasn’t really as he had the choice.
Tonight, however, he was in Ghost City, on his way to meet Hua Cheng at the Gambler's Den. The ghost had spent most of the day there, and Xie Lian had missed his company.
He entered the Den through the main gate. Some ghosts bowed, others gave him a broad smile. The ghosts had wasted no time getting used to his presence. Of course, he was already well-known before while he was recovering from his injuries. However, he had become even more well-known after his ascension, which had shaken the entire ghost realm. They still spoke about it sometimes.
The place was particularly crowded tonight. Xie Lian had no doubt that Hua Cheng's presence had something to do with it. His breath caught when he saw the large silhouette behind the large red curtain.
He would definitely never get used to the sight.
He approached with confident steps, climbing the few steps that led to the elevated area from where Hua Cheng supervised the gaming tables. No sooner had he crossed the curtain that Hua Cheng's expression transformed from one of mortal boredom to that of a puppy who had just been given the most beautiful gift. The ghost got up from his lying position and patted the spot next to him, inviting Xie Lian to sit down.
It had become quite common for Xie Lian to come to the Gambler's Den. Sometimes, he did nothing, just laying on Hua Cheng's lap. Other times, he accepted certain bets. Especially since he had ascended a third time. With his new position as the god of love and healing, the Gambler's Den had seen an increase in requests for a prosperous marriage or good health. Typically, these people would leave with the blessing of Xie Lian or Hua Cheng when their beloved wasn't around to secure such bets. This newfound popularity had emerged after the citizens of Ghost City began worshipping Xie Lian and Hua Cheng together, proclaiming wherever they went that it brought better luck if people prayed to them together.
Xie Lian liked them to be worshipped together. It was a good idea despite Hua Cheng always saying that he wasn’t worth this blessing.
As usual, he took a seat on the couch, kissing Hua Cheng on the forehead as if in greeting before interlacing their hands.
Soon, the first request for a bet came in. With a single glance, Xie Lian could tell this man would lose to Hua Cheng. He asked for help in sinking his enemy's business. The fool bet five years of his daughter's life on it.
Hua Cheng's face turned calculating and cold.
The dealer announced in a loud, clear voice, "The highest number wins." The man had a four and a five. Xie Lian knew he'd already lost. He'd seen Hua Cheng play enough times to know what was coming.
On the first turn, the man won.
And of course, he wanted to play again, exclaiming that luck was on his side.
This time, he asked for his business to prosper worldwide for the rest of his life. He bet his wife's next child.
Hua Cheng's voice rose from behind the curtain.
"I'm afraid that for such a request, you can't bet on something that doesn't belong to you. But if luck is on your side, as you so aptly proclaimed, then you should have no trouble betting on yourself." This declaration only made the soon-to-be loser's smile grow wider.
"Very well, I'll bet ten years of my life and half my fortune."
Again, the dealer announced that the highest roll would win the round. The man did even better than the first time with two fives and started celebrating.
Hua Cheng then rolled his dice.
Unsurprisingly, the dealer announced a nice pair of sixes.
The man began to scream in rage at his defeat, and the Gambler's Den guards had to intervene to get the man out as he hurled a string of curses at the Ghost King.
Hua Cheng watched him leave with a contemptuous look.
Xie Lian briefly wondered what it would be like if he were on the other side of the curtain with Hua Cheng looking at him coldly. Although, he had already experienced it a little in the past when Hua Cheng came to taunt and tease him. Since then, the ghost had apologized for his undignified behavior. Xie Lian reassured the calamity that it hadn't bothered him at all. Indeed at the end, Hua Cheng had seen him for what he was. He had understood him. His flaws, as well as his qualities.
As soon as the man was out of sight, Hua Cheng's attention immediately returned to Xie Lian, his good humor restored.
There were always those kinds of people you could occasionally encounter at the Gambler's Den. You never really got rid of them. The best thing was to let them think they had a chance, just so you could make them lose the next moment.
The rest of the evening went smoothly. Xie Lian ended up swinging his legs over Hua Cheng's lap, the latter running his hand over his thighs in a slow, repetitive motion.
A question suddenly crossed Xie Lian's mind.
"San Lang, do you ever gamble for fun?"
"What does gege mean by that?"
Xie Lian scratched his head.
"I mean, without being a Gambler's Den player. Just playing for yourself."
"Why is gege asking?" Hua Cheng had obviously noticed Xie Lian's nervous tic. The god was having something in mind. “Well, I often see you playing, and I'm thinking maybe we could play against each other? If San Lang's interested, of course. I just find it so different, your expression when you're looking at someone other than me.”
Xie Lian felt his cheeks heat up.
“Oh?” Hua Cheng raised a questioning eyebrow. “Would Gege like to experience that thrill for himself?”
Xie Lian gave him a small, agitated smile.
“Maybe?”
“Very well, but we'll have to do it our way then.” Hua Cheng began to lay down the rules. “And to make it interesting, I say we can bet. I propose the winner gets to ask the other person a question, or a request. Anything.”
“Kind of like truth or dare?”
“That's right, but with dice. And before each game, gege will announce whether he prefers the lowest or highest number to win.”
The god began to pout.
“But with San Lang's luck, I'll never win!” he exclaimed indignantly.
“In that case, I'll just have to share a little of my luck with Gege to make the game fairer.”
Hua Cheng stood up from the couch, extending a hand toward him.
“What would Gege say if we went to play in a less tumultuous and a little calmer environment?”
Xie Lian nodded, and within seconds, they were back at the Paradise Manor. Hua Cheng had taken advantage of their intertwined hands to transfer some of his luck.
They sat down opposite each other, with a small round table between them that already contained a board with two red dice. Xie Lian experimentally rolled the dice between his fingers.
“Does gege want to start?”
The god spread his knuckles, dropping the two dice into the cup before tipping it over and shaking it. He decided to play a little and slowly lifted the cup for added mystery.
Across from him, Hua Cheng began to chuckle softly.
“Didn’t gege forget something before he started?”
“The betting!” he exclaimed. He had been so focused on the dice that he had forgotten to establish the rules and the question. “I’m betting on the highest number. If you lose, you must tell me if you have a favorite citizen in Ghost City!”
“And if gege loses, he’ll owe me a kiss.”
Xie Lian was finally able to lift the cup. Two and three. His eyes widened.
“I usually only make snake eyes!” He handed the cup to Hua Cheng, who carefully brushed their fingers together. He shook it and let the dice roll, landing on two sixes.
"Even though I see it often, I'm still amazed at how many double sixes you can roll."
"Gege owes me a kiss now," Hua Cheng reminded with a smirk.
Xie Lian stood up to walk around the small table and placed a kiss on the ghost's forehead.
"Gege didn't kiss this one on the lips," He pouted.
"San Lang never specified."
"All right, then, next round: if I win, I'll get a kiss on the lips."
"Same request as before."
Xie Lian rolled a five and a six.
Hua Cheng rolled a five and a four.
"I won!" Xie Lian exclaimed. "So?"
He leaned forward, waiting for the answer.
The ghost smiled.
“I'm surprised Gege asked that question. My favorite citizen is gege, of course.”
“What?! But that's not fair, I'm not a citizen!”
“Well, you live at Paradise Manor, which is in Ghost City, so as a consequence, you're my favorite person.” Hua Cheng replied without a hint of apology and with a satisfied smile.
Xie Lian looked outraged.
They continued to play a little longer, the evening proceeding pleasantly. Hua Cheng had trays of food brought to the side so they could eat without stopping the game. Nothing too formal. Just some fruit and some still-warm jiaozi. Xie Lian was now sitting on the four-poster chair where Hua Cheng was, leaning back against one of the armrests with a cushion behind his back so he could always face Hua Cheng.
“You’re cheating, gege, I’m sure of it,” he growled, arms crossed but his eyes shining with mischief.
“I never cheat,” Xie Lian replied, shaking the dice in the small jade bowl before throwing them. They rolled, coming to rest on a six and a four.
Hua Cheng narrowed his eyes. “Ten. That’s the third time you’ve won.”
“Perhaps the Heavens are smiling on me,” Xie Lian said, placing his palm against his cheek with exaggerated innocence.
“Or perhaps I gave gege too much of a chance?”
The bets were merely pledges: an awkward question, their preferences, or a stolen kiss.
Clearly Xie Lian had won too many times in a row, because his luck reversed, and he lost the next round.
“Your token, San Lang?” Xie Lian asked, leaning toward him, a quiet smile on his lips, but his eyes glittering with amusement.
Hua Cheng stared at him for a long time. He raised a hand, hesitated, then lazily placed it on Xie Lian's hip. "Tell me what you thought the first time you saw me in Heaven when I challenged the gods."
Xie Lian blushed. "That's not fair."
"That's the game."
He sighed. "I thought you were impressive. And also..." he sighed, knowing he would be teased for this, "that you were incredibly handsome."
Hua Cheng laughed, low and grave, his hand gently squeezing the god's waist. "So gege is challenged by an evil ghost and his only thought is 'how handsome he is?'"
"San Lannnng! You know what I meant," he groaned.
"No gege, enlighten me please."
He knew perfectly well that Hua Cheng was looking for compliments, but for once, he let him.
“Well, I remember your hair was wildly loose and covered your eye patch. It gave you a slightly mysterious look. Of course, I can't forget E-Ming, who immediately caught my attention!”
“Gege, you're going to spoil him again, and he'll keep asking for cuddles,” he complained. “I'm going to end up thinking you prefer E-Ming to me.”
Xie Lian sighed. “E-Ming is a part of you,” he scolded.
“Yes, yes, I know, gege tells me that often.”
New round. They rolled the dice again. As usual, Xie Lian started.
Two fives. He gave the dice to Hua Cheng, who rolled them, his eyes half-squinted. “A six. And a five. Eleven. Win.”
It seemed that having started winning several times in a row early in the evening hadn't suited his luck. And besides, it was almost impossible to beat Hua Cheng. Luckily for him, the ghost had shared some of it with him.
Xie Lian arched an eyebrow. "What do you want to know?"
Actually, Hua Cheng had an idea for a question. Something he was very curious to know. Hua Cheng's smile became thinner, almost imperceptible. He straightened up, moved closer, so close that Xie Lian could feel his breath against his cheek. "Tell me... what really happened the night Mount Tonglu opened."
The silence thickened.
Xie Lian blinked. "Are you sure you want to know?"
This only piqued Hua Cheng's interest.
“I just remember waking up in the hut on your straw mat. I had to leave in a hurry because the energy inside me was becoming very unstable. I imagine I came to retrieve my ashes, but I don't think I was in the best frame of mind at the time to ask you courteously.”
Xie Lian sighed. “I was walking quietly back to my hut when I saw you. I didn't have time to do anything before you attacked me. I immediately knew something was wrong. Your energy seemed…” He searched for an appropriate word to describe what he had felt that day. “Unstable. As if you were under tension.”
Hua Cheng's face twisted with guilt. “That's why you had an E-Ming wound on your cheek.”
“San Lang, that was a long time ago.” The god could absolutely see in which direction Hua Cheng's thoughts were heading.
Hua Cheng looked up and gently stroked the once-injured cheek. “I promise E-Ming will never hurt you again.”
Xie Lian only leaned his head into Hua Cheng’s hand.
“I know.”
The calamity cleared his throat, trying to get back to the original subject. “Then how did Gege beat me?”
“I used Ruoye. That’s when I saw your gaze seemed to be directed towards the ring around my neck. So I gave it back to you, and you lost consciousness.”
“I guess Gege must have carried that poor ghost home.”
Xie Lian nodded.
A gear seemed to click into place in Hua Cheng’s head, as he sat up from the couch. “Gege carried me all the way???”
“Yes.”
Hua Cheng felt his heart pound. Of course Xie Lian would take care of him and know how to carry him. He was a martial god.
"So what?"
Xie Lian gave a nervous chuckle, his cheeks starting to heat up.
"Ha ha, I'm not sure what happens next will be very interesting."
Hua Cheng raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Your reaction tells me otherwise, gege." He brought his face closer to the god's. "I'm dying to know more now."
"Well, when you woke up, I stopped you from fighting, so you had to find a way to get rid of all this energy." Xie Lian began to speak faster and faster. “And it turns out your outlet was… me, well, you kind of gave me your energy by putting your hands on myself, and you also tried to kiss me? Luckily, I put my hand over my mouth before that happened, because otherwise I probably would have fallen in love with you and—” he stopped, seeming to realize what he was saying. He slowly turned his head toward Hua Cheng, who was staring at him wide-eyed.
“His Highness is telling me that instead of fighting like a calamity would, I tried to kiss him?”
The way Hua Cheng described it only made Xie Lian more agitated. “Uh, yes?”
Hua Cheng groaned inwardly. This meant that even then, he harbored feelings for his god. Which wasn’t surprising. Come to think of it, it must have been fate. All roads would inevitably lead him back to him.
Fortunately, he quickly recovered and purred, “Could Gege show me?”
“What?”
“What could I have done that night?”
The years he had spent with Hua Cheng had given Xie Lian renewed confidence, and he now took the lead more often.
Xie Lian felt his pulse quicken as he moved closer to Hua Cheng until he was straddling his knees.
Hua Cheng’s hands automatically came to rest on his god’s thighs, but Xie Lian stopped him, repeating that night as his ghost had instructed.
With one hand, he took Hua Cheng’s two wrists and held them still above him. They were lucky the couch was large. Then he began to open the top of Hua Cheng’s robe.
“Gege is so confident tonight,” Hua Cheng moaned.
Xie Lian silenced him with a roll of his hips that made them both gasp.
The heat in the room increased considerably. “Could Gege show this humble ghost how he might have been kissed?”
Barely a second later, Xie Lian's mouth was on his. The god had released the wrists of the calamity, which came directly to wrap around his waist.
Their mouths opened, and Xie Lian tugged Hua Cheng's lip between his teeth. His fingers dug into Hua Cheng's dark hair, his knees gently squeezing his hips.
Hua Cheng trembled slightly beneath him, but he responded with a consuming warmth, his hands sliding down Xie Lian's back.
But Xie Lian didn't pull away. He deepened the kiss, surrendering completely, his forehead briefly resting against San Lang's as he shared a breath.
When they finally separated, Xie Lian smiled against his still-breathless lips.
It was then that he noticed Hua Cheng's gaze. It made him shudder, knowing they'd probably be spending the night there after that.
"Would Gege mind if we continue in the bedroom?"
"San Lang is welcome to join in any initiative."
That was all it took for Hua Cheng to reverse their positions, Xie Lian hooking his arms around the ghost's neck. With a roll of the dice and a few steps, they were in their room.
Maybe they should play together like this more often after all.