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Xie Lian, or rather as he was currently, Fang Xin, was used to his very presence carrying an air of intimidation. He was after all, the State Preceptor of Yong’An. He was a man wrapped in poise and mystery, his face unknown but his faint downturn of lips enough to cow even the Crown Prince.
He did think however, that the open blindsided astonishment and shock to such a degree that the man before him dropped what was presumably all of his requests and research, was a bit over the top. Drawing himself up in one of the small meeting rooms just inside the palace gates where such requestors were situated while they waited official word, Fang Xin folded his hands inside the wide sleeves of his ceremonial robes, and gave the slightest downturn of his chin to indicate he was clearly looking at the sprawl of papers.
He fought the urge to wince behind the mask as the man who should be the one named as Zhao Lian by the paperwork followed the indication and paled considerably.
Really, Zhao Lian shouldn’t have been this flustered. Not only was he clearly well off by his richly red robes and the amount of silver he wore, he was also quite good looking. Tall and perhaps a bit roguish, with fine features and a hint of wildness from the dark eyes to the darker hair kept neatly in a ponytail.
Zhao Lian fairly flung himself to the floor. “Forgiveness, this lowly one didn’t…. he…” Fang Xin undid his position slightly, enough to hold up one hand to halt the words. Not that he really wanted the man to stop speaking. In truth he had a deep voice that was very pleasant on the ears, even if currently it was a bit shaky. Truthfully it was really the subject matter, and that seeing the man kneel like that unsettled something in Xie Lian. He knew better than to kneel to help however. Firstly, it would break Fang Xin’s character, and secondly it would probably fluster the man even more.
It was curious though, Zhao Lian snatching up the papers at blazing speed was quite at odds with what Fang Xin had expected to find.
Truthfully, it had been entirely coincidence that Xie Lian found out about the proposal at all. Really, it was to the point where he was waiting for his bad luck to strike in retaliation.
Fang Xin had just been entering the king’s study to give a report on the prince’s progress; the king standing as he reviewed a proposal and started to suggest that if the proposer got the permission of the Xianle descendants and an official cultivation sect’s sign off, then he would allow it.
His interest piqued, Fang Xin had requested to know what the proposal was and had been exceptionally grateful for his practice in remaining poised no matter what.
The documents he’d been given were quite the bold proposal really, detailing with utter certainty how an excavation and preservation of the Xianle Royal Cultivation Pavillion would go from the entrance gate to the stones at the bottom of its well. There had been no hand wringing or simpering, nor even suggestions of if the crown would be willing to fund a bit more extravagance.
Actually, the budget was simply written as ‘personal with no need for outside assistance’. The labor force had been much the same.
Really, the entire thing had read less as a request for permission and more of a warning of what would be happening and that the proposer was only pretending to give the crown face by letting them know beforehand.
That alone would have inclined Xie Lian to take interest in someone so bold, and had it been anywhere else he might have been quite inclined to even suggest letting them. Because of the location however… because it was the Xianle Royal Cultivation Sect and far, far more importantly the Royal Tomb of Xianle, he needed to ensure that it was stopped before such a secret could be discovered.
He resolutely ignored the tugging at the back of his mind, the laughter that throbbed in the cursed shackle around his ankle, whispering that the only reason he had found out was so that he could watch all of his plans to stop it fail.
The man in front of him, who literally chimed softly with each movement, suggesting he might normally be as bold as his proposal had suggested he would be, straightened though he still remained slightly hunched. As a tall man, it put him more or less at Fang Xin’s height.
“Stand up straight.”
The man jolted slightly, before he rolled back his shoulders and straightened. Fang Xin gave a sharp nod, that looked better. With the acknowledgement, hints of tension started to seep from the man’s shoulders and he relaxed. His stance became the unconscious confidence of someone quite powerful and rich, used to looking other nobles in the eye, and a faint smile graced his lips.
Xie Lian felt his own lips twitch in response. Much better. Curiously, this man stood in the way that military did, though Xie Lian knew no one like this was or had been in the Yong’An army recently.
“Forgive this one his unbecoming behavior, State Preceptor. He truly did not expect such an honorable person to see this one’s request, or give this one such precious personal time.”
Pretty words, which in some circumstances he would have easily dismissed. He heard similar from plenty of nobles. Interestingly though, he couldn’t shake the sincerity that laced every word… except perhaps State Preceptor.
Truly, in any other situation Xie Lian would have been enamored by this man.
Feeling some whipser of warning that could still be his knowledge about how his luck worked, he regarded the Zhao Lian. “Why?”
The man stared back at him for a moment, Xie Lian finding the swings absolutely fascinating. Almost as fascinating as he found those dark eyes carefully taking him in, clearly considering. There weren’t many who would so openly meet his gaze.
Eventually, the man glanced down. “Forgiveness, State Preceptor May this lowly one-“
“Are you?”
The man opened his mouth, and then closed it. “Am I?”
“A lowly one? Your clothes indicate that you must be quite well off, and your proposal was quite confident and assured in tone. Even the handwriting was clear and controlled.”
The man winced. “Forgiveness, the proposal is not in this one’s hand.”
Oh? Fang Xin gave the faintest tilt of his head. “It isn’t your proposal?”
“It is. Just… this one’s handwriting is not… terribly suited to be presented before someone such as State Preceptor. He would no doubt find it quite lacking.”
Fang Xin hummed, wondering if the man before him was aware of one of Fang Xin’s primary areas of tutoring. “So it is not your handwriting, but it is your proposal?”
“Yes, State Preceptor. I dictated it to a servant.”
“So it was the servant who wrote as if this matter was already set and done and the proposal was only a courtesy notice.”
The man winced, opening his mouth, and then shutting it. He hung his head slightly. “This one was perhaps… too arrogant in his dictation.”
“Then pray tell, how are you a ‘lowly one’?”
The man’s jaw worked, and several times he glanced up, before he gave a shuddering sigh. “Forgiveness, this one will refrain from referring to himself as such.”
“Good. Now my question. Why are you interested in this site?”
This at least, the man appeared to be prepared for. “It is an incredibly important historical site, which currently stands abandoned, neglected, and succumbing to the elements. This one seeks to preserve its great significance.”
“Significance to who?”
His mouth opened, and then closed. For a long moment he looked to be considering something exceptionally hard. “Well, that is… it was…”
Fang Xin waited. He had gotten quite good at waiting without reaction while the prince squirmed. Still, given the matter and that well, he felt a bit odd watching the debate and discomfort flit across the face of the man before him. “The site you propose has been abandoned and neglected, because the people it is significant to, are the people of Xianle and the reason for its significance they no longer hold dear.”
The man’s gaze snapped up, and for a split second he almost seemed to bristle before swallowing it down.
Xie Lian found himself staring at the reaction, some odd emotion he wasn’t used to curling in his gut. “Are you a descendent of Xianle?”
The man blinked, before some complicated expression passed behind those eyes. He quickly looked away. “Not… quite.”
Not quite?
The man ducked his head further. “The matter is… complicated. State Preceptor does not need to bother himself with such things.”
Hmmm, but phrasing it that way really made it seem like he should bother with it. Already his mind had been sorting through various ways it could be a family affair.
“Do you mean to desiccate it?”
The gaze shot up, eyes wide. “No!” He visibly swallowed back his reaction. “No. This one seeks above all to preserve it.”
“Why? If you are not quite a descendent of Xianle, then why do this?”
The man looked down, his fingers creasing the paper in his hold before he very slowly and deliberately breathed out. “It’s for my beloved. It’s important to them.”
“Are they a decedent of Xianle?”
The man gave a mirthless laugh. “Not quite.”
Xie Lian gave a sharp nod. “Your proposal is denied.”
The man startled badly. “What? Why?”
“It was the people of Xianle who decided it should be abandoned. Who are you, who is not quite a descendant of Xianle, to override that?”
The matter resolved, though he felt a bit unsatisfied, he turned away towards the door.
Paper crinkled. “What if…” Fang Xin stopped, canting his head back slightly. “What if the not quite part is because I’m not a descendant, but someone from Xianle?”
Fang Xin turned back to the man. “Xianle has been no more for centuries. Either you are a descendant, an immortal, or a ghost.”
The man stared at him for a long before letting out a quite huff. “The last, State Preceptor.”
He stared, rather taken aback. Zhao Lian was admitting he was a ghost? To him? The State Preceptor was known to be an incredibly powerful cultivator. Even accounting for how powerful a ghost he must be to pass so readily as living, that was still too much!
Zhao Lian’s jaw flexed, and with his eyes closed he almost looked like he might be in pain. Then, with an apparently unneeded breath, the skin rippled.
The form that replaced it was paler, with faintly pointed ears amid raven dark hair and where two dark eyes had watched before, there was now only one, the other hidden behind an eyepatch. Taller, but still clad in rich red robes and adorned with even more jewelry. The figure bowed. “This one hopes State Preceptor is not too horrified by this one’s hideous appearance.”
Horrified and hideous were most certainly not the words Xie Lian would use to describe what was presumably the ghost’s true form.
He’d stepped forward before he even realized, a hand out to stop the bow, to correct… he didn’t even know. His fingers met incredibly high quality silk, curling in the cool material. His voice, when it came was almost a hiss. “What are you doing?”
The ghost stared at him blankly. “Proving that this one is from Xianle.”
Xie Lian breathed out a slight groan, bringing his other hand up to his forehead. “Zhao Lian, you are clearly very intelligent and are a very powerful but you shouldn’t just openly reveal that you’re a ghost in the royal palace and to the State Preceptor. What if I attacked you?”
“That’s fine.”
He had no idea if it would still be considered in character or not. Either way, Xie Lian stared at the ghost with a dumbfounded expression. “Do you want to be dispersed?”
Zhao Lian gave a slight shrug. “Ah, also Zhao Lian is an alias.”
Xie Lian let out a slow breath, closing his eyes and rubbing his temple. “What does a ghost gain from going to the Cultivation Temple?”
“My purpose was true. I wish to preserve the entirety of the mountain, restored to its glory as possible, and maintained as such.”
“Why? You are not from the temple.”
The ghost was clearly debating for a long moment again. “My beloved was, and at one time I spent some time there.”
Xie Lian breathed out, only then realizing he’d never actually let go of the fine red fabric. He dropped it, straightening to brush down his robes. “The answer is still no.” Though if this was a ghostly obsession, it probably wouldn’t end so easily.
The ghost reached back towards him, pleading on his face. “Please, State Preceptor. At least allow me to erect a barrier.”
“And attract attention to it? Absolutely not. Also, you may wish to don your disguise again in case anyone checks in on us.”
A hint of tension rippled through the ghost before he smiled wanly. “Yes, of course, State Preceptor.” A shimmer of red blurred the features and swiftly they returned to the mortal skin.
Xie Lian only thought about how improper it was after he had silken strands of hair slipping through his fingers. The ghost’s hair truly was impressive; the skin truly could pass as mortal so this ghost was clearly at least a middling wraith. A little stiffly, Xie Lian drew back.
Zhao Lian smiled, holding out his hand with the palm up.
Xie Lian felt himself flush at his attentions being so easily called out. Still… he took the offer, the palm in his warmer than a ghost’s typically would be, although still a bit on the cool side. The lines on the palm were exactly like that of the living. Curiously, the ghost also had quite a few callouses, Xie Lian tracing his fingers over some of them. “Do you use a saber?”
“I do.”
The little thrill at the idea of this ghost being both quite powerful and possibly quite skilled with his weapon of choice sent a flicker of excitement through Xie Lian. It really was too bad that the subject between them couldn’t be set aside.
He sighed, stepping back. “Zhao Lian must be an exceptionally powerful ghost, but the answer is still no. I pray that you can find yourself able to accept that.”
The man inclined his head. “Very well. Then… then if this one could be so bold, since he has the State Preceptor’s attention on him… would the State Preceptor indulge this one in a spar?”
Xie Lian tilted his head, smiling serenely. He’d been told by the crown prince that it was exceedingly unnerving when he did that. “Zhao Lian, are trying to gauge if you can beat me in a fight?”
The man smiled. “This one already knows, State Preceptor is both more skilled and stronger, but that’s exactly why he’d like to.”
He chuckled. “Ah, flattery won’t help you much.” But it would be fun, and he supposed there wasn’t much to be lost really. “Hmm, alright.”
The ghost smiled, and for a moment Xie Lian was struck by the brightness of it. “Is there a good time for the State Preceptor? This one has suddenly found himself with a very open schedule.”
“Hm, now would probably be best.”
The ghost nodded. “Of course, of course, though maybe the State Preceptor may grant this one even more?”
“Ah? And what does Zhao Lian want now?”
“A bet, on the outcome of the fight.”
He made a chiding gesture. “You, regardless of what name you go by, may not do anything with the site.”
“Of course, State Preceptor already said no. This one won’t continue to ask. He was thinking about something else.”
“Then what was Zhao Lian thinking?”
The grin was back. “Whichever of us loses, must treat the other to dinner.”
Xie Lian felt an eyebrow raise behind the mask. “Zhao Lian, didn’t you already say you expected to lose?”
“Mhm, I did.”
This bold ghost! Xie Lian found himself chuckling. “Ah, so it’s less a bet and more a request to treat me after?”
“Does State Preceptor accept?”
“Hm,” He made a slight show of considering it before he felt the smile slightly crack through. “Only if we raise the stakes a little.”
“Oh? Do tell.”
“If I win, then Zhao Lian should introduce himself properly, with his more known name.”
The smile shifted, “The State Preceptor need not win for that. This one’s most known name is Hua Cheng.” There was a beat of silence, the man clearly watching carefully for a reaction.
Xie Lian found himself smiling. “That’s a very lovely name.” Especially considering the kind of names ghosts often ended up with.
A hint of surprise flashed across the ghost’s face before he seemed to relax. “Though maybe, State Preceptor would indulge this one, and call him less formally.” Xie Lian’s slight tilt of the head was read correctly as a request to continue. “Well, this one was the third of his family, so San Lang would be fitting.”
Was he now? Xie Lian felt his lips twitch. “Alright, but San Lang must also call this one familiarly if he wants to be like that.”
The ghost froze for a split second, surprise flicking across his face and then awe before he grinned. “Eh, Gege.”
Xie Lian laughed. “Ah, San Lang, San Lang… how can you call me Gege?”
“Does Gege not like it?”
He quickly waved his hand. “Surely as a ghost, San Lang is older.”
“Ah, but Gege, who would ever believe I was the older if we were beside each other? Besides, Gege is a very advanced cultivator, he could be unageing or even immortal.”
He shook his head. “Alright, alright. I guess its fine. Come, I think there is a field a bit away from here we could spare in.”
“And dinner after.”
“Yes, yes, and San Lang can pay for dinner after.”