Chapter Text
“I just don’t get who would want to marry that fucking bastard.” Feng Xin mutters.
“That’s what we’re here to find out, idiot,” Mu Qing snips, “It has to be coercion. We’re here to find out who she is and get her out of this hellhole.”
They dodge through the clamoring crowds of the main street of Ghost City, disguised as mortals. This is actually safer for them, because the governing terror seems to object to the wanton dismemberment of random humans. The wanton dismemberment of the southern generals, however...
The city seems to be in high spirits today, everything decorated with even more red than usual. Feng Xin squints at a banner supposedly bearing the names of the betrothed, but most of the ghosts here led rough lives and never had a chance to learn to write. He supposes one of the characters might be “Cheng” but beyond that he has no fucking idea.
“What if we just asked somebody? Everyone seems excited about the wedding.” He asks, turning towards Mu Qing.
“Are you trying to blow our cover?”
“No, asshole, we’re supposed to be mortals! How would we know who the bride is?”
Mu Qing’s eye twitches the way it does when Feng Xin makes a good point.
“Fine,” He sighs, because he’s clearly the world’s most put upon being, “We’ll just ask. But not here.”
He tugs Feng Xin into a tea shop by the wrist, releasing him like he’s been burned the moment they’re inside.
“Don’t just grab me, asshole! But if you do, don’t act so fucking disgusted about it!”
“Idiot, you think I like grabbing you? I wouldn’t touch you with a ten foot pole if I could help it but you’re too prone to wandering off for me to trust that you’ll follow when I tell you to.”
“Because you don’t get to fucking order me around!” Feng Xin yanks Mu Qing’s ponytail once, just to drive his point home.
“Are you fucking five years old-”
Before the squabble can get out of hand, the shop owner yells at them to sit down or get out. They sit, chastised in a way that only grandmothers can manage. She huffs, folding her arms over her chest. She’s a small woman, mostly human in appearance except for the cat tail and ears, the same pale grey as her hair. The tail lashes behind her in displeasure.
“I would think gods like yourselves would know how to behave by now.”
Both gawk at her.
“Your aura flares when you fight.” She smiles, sharp teeth really selling the ‘cat that got the canary’ look.
“Idiot, we wouldn’t have been caught if you hadn’t pulled my hair like a damn child!”
“If you didn’t fucking grab me-”
“You’re doing it again. Sit the hell down and buy tea or leave.”
They order something off the menu that promises to suit mortal tastes and try not to make more of a scene. When a server (very obviously a ghost, somewhat translucent like fog and just as wet) brings the tray, both are loathe to admit it, but the tea is very good. The cat lady smirks at them like she knows anyway. They sip at it angrily, both wishing this place wasn’t in the ghost realm because they’d really like to come back, preferably with different company.
There’s a commotion outside, breaking them from their begrudging enjoyment of the tea and forcing them to remember why they came here in the first place. Just as Feng Xin opens his mouth to ask what’s up with the wedding, the groom himself walks in. He’s accompanied by someone in white, almost a head shorter than him, who Feng Xin presumes to be the bride. Her hair is brown and soft looking, not the rat’s nest of a captive. He supposes she’d have to be well kempt if Crimson Rain is parading her around, showing off his newest conquest. She’s facing away from him to greet the shopkeeper, but the moment she turns-
“Your Highness?!” Both Feng Xin and Mu Qing shout in unison.
“Ah?” Xie Lian says, blinking a few times at them before the recognition hits him, “Feng Xin, Mu Qing, what are you two doing here?”
Hua Cheng glares at them with more ferocity than they’ve ever seen before. His arm is around Xie Lian, hand splayed in the dip of his waist, the grabby bastard! For his part, Xie Lian looks totally at ease to be tucked against that monster’s side and he must be cursed or enchanted or duped or-
“Your Highness, get the fuck over here! We came to save you!” Feng Xin shouts, fully letting go of his disguise and reaching for his bow.
“Am I in danger?” He asks, but not addressing Feng Xin. No, he asks that of his very captor, “I find it hard to believe that my San Lang would let anything hurt me.”
“They think you’re in danger from me.” Hua Cheng snarls, grip tightening just slightly on Xie Lian’s waist. It’s like he’s daring them to try and take him!
“Oh! Then this all must be a misunderstanding,” Xie Lian says, leaning into the demon’s hold, “Would you two mind if we went somewhere more private to talk?”
“Where did you have in mind?” Mu Qing says cautiously.
“The manor, if that’s alright with you,” He again addresses Hua Cheng, and Feng Xin grinds his teeth a little, “I know you aren’t particularly fond of them.”
“It’s your home too, gege. Invite whoever you want.”
Dastardly fiend, acting so polite in public. He must think he has everyone fooled but not Feng Xin or Mu Qing! They are going to break whatever spell Xie Lian is under and save him!
“We’ll go.” Mu Qing says through gritted teeth.
“Excellent! And if everyone could please take their hands off their weapons, that would be great.”
Shockingly, Hua Cheng obeys without a moment’s hesitation. Feng Xin and Mu Qing follow suit, albeit much more apprehensively. Xie Lian apologizes to the shopkeeper for disrupting her business, promises to return at a later date, and leads everyone out the door. The walk to the manor is... odd. For one thing, Hua Cheng is not trying to kill them. For another, all the ghosts seem to adore Xie Lian. The way they express this is alarming, because mostly they seem to be offering to kill the gods bothering their beloved granduncle. How he got that nickname, Feng Xin has no idea. This whole thing is so fucking confusing. Thankfully, the offers are rejected. Xie Lian laughs and tells them not to worry, that he isn’t being bothered.
[So what the fuck is going on?] Feng Xin asks Mu Qing in their private array.
[Your guess is as good as mine.] And he can hear the eyeroll.
[What is your guess?]
[Xie Lian was bewitched somehow, and everyone here is either too blind to realize he would never willingly marry a monster like that, or more likely views Hua Cheng as deserving of bewitching anyone he wants.]
[Yeah, that’s what I think too. So how do we get him out of here?]
[We brought that talisman to break love spells, remember? This is what we thought we were walking into, idiot. Nothing’s changed.]
[Okay, yeah, but instead of releasing some fair maiden back to her family, we found fucking Xie Lian. What do we do with him after?]
[Release him back wherever he wants to go. He’s a grown man, he can make his own choices once he isn’t bewitched.]
Feng Xin supposes that’s true, but it feels wrong to just dump him somewhere. His family is long gone, like Feng Xin’s own.
The inside of Hua Cheng’s house is as gaudy and red as everything else about him. If Xie Lian wasn’t bewitched, surely he would’ve said something about it. He was the prince of a nation known for its taste and beauty; no way would he ever live here by choice. They are led to an equally awful receiving room, and Feng Xin can feel the disgust rolling off Mu Qing. He’s such a prissy thing, of fucking course he’d be extra bothered. Feng Xin smirks at him and Mu Qing glares like he’s trying to explode Feng Xin with his mind.
“Okay! Let’s all sit and try to clear things up.” Xie Lian says, sitting at a low table and gesturing for everyone else to do the same.
Hua Cheng sits way too fucking close to him, arm draped over his shoulders. The nerve of him! So fucking possessive! If Xie Lian wasn’t under a spell, he’d never be leaning in like that. Mu Qing sits first, across from Xie Lian. That means Feng Xin will be across from Hua Cheng.
[You fucking bastard.]
[You should’ve sat down faster.]
Feng Xin sits, alternating his scowl between Mu Qing and Hua Cheng. The calamity is staring them down, but neither flinch until one of those terrible fucking insects flutters into the room. Feng Xin and Mu Qing both draw their weapons to bat it out of the air before it can get to Xie Lian.
“No, don’t!” He shouts, reaching across the table and grabbing the damn thing bare handed, “Leave the poor thing alone. And stop provoking them, San Lang.”
Xie Lian coaxes the butterfly to perch on the top of his head, effectively grabbing a sword and pointing it at his own throat. Zero survival instincts! Mu Qing thought the prince would be more street smart by now but apparently not. Hua Cheng is still looking at them like he’s imagining feeding them their own entrails but does not summon any more butterflies.
“So, why did you think I would be in danger?” Xie Lian asks calmly.
“We didn’t know it was you,” Feng Xin starts, “We were sent to investigate the wedding, see if there was any coercion, given Hua Cheng’s history.”
“Hmm, I suppose I understand your concern. Heaven has a rather biased view of him.”
“He killed thirty three gods, Xie Lian!” Mu Qing says, rolling his eyes, “I hardly think it’s biased to view him as the loose canon he is.”
“But he isn’t a loose canon?” Xie Lian tilts his head, “He had his reasons, and he only held them responsible to the terms they agreed to.”
“It’s no use trying to debate him, Mu Qing. He’s bewitched; he’s not going to listen to logic.”
“You think I would stoop so low?” Hua Cheng’s lip curls into a sneer.
Feng Xin springs up and tries to slap the talisman on Xie Lian, only to be met with slashes from the little monster that had been sunning itself on his head. Hua Cheng starts to stand, as does Mu Qing, but Xie Lian grabs Feng Xin’s wrist, holding it away from himself.
“Sit back down, San Lang,” He says, and again, Hua Cheng does, though he seems more reluctant this time, “You too, Mu Qing. Feng Xin, I’m going to let you go. Please don’t lunge at me again. I know you all mean well but snapping at each other isn’t going to solve anything.”
Once everyone is seated, Xie Lian heaves a sigh. He leans against Hua Cheng’s shoulder again, and Feng Xin is surprised to see the crimson terror’s eye soften when he looks at Xie Lian. Huh. Feng Xin didn’t know he could make that expression.
[Did you see that?]
[Yes. It was unnerving.]
[It seemed really... real.]
[It seemed that way, yes. That doesn’t mean it was, or that whatever twisted version of love he has is any less dangerous.]
Feng Xin fiddles with the talisman on the table between them, watching the way Hua Cheng’s eye goes cold again the moment it turns to him.
“Would it make you feel better if you used that on me?” Xie Lian asks, “I’m not under any spells, I assure you, but I suppose that is also what someone under a spell would say.”
“Gege-” Hua Cheng starts, and Mu Qing wrinkles his nose.
“They’re just worried,” Xie Lian murmurs, patting Hua Cheng’s chest, “I don’t mind proving that I love you, sweetheart.”
“You’re going to pay for making him call you that.” Mu Qing spits, visibly recoiling.
“And what right do you have to say anything about-”
“All of you, stop that,” Xie Lian interjects before they can go too off the rails again, “Go ahead and break any curse I’m under. We won’t be able to talk until then, I don’t think.”
Hua Cheng calls off his horrible little attack insect, and Feng Xin puts the talisman over Xie Lian’s heart. It glows a brilliant, blinding pink, then turns to dust. Feng Xin and Mu Qing stare at the remnants as they drift lazily to the ground.
[Can he fake that?] Mu Qing asks faintly.
[I don’t fucking know! You’re the one who always acts like he’s so much smarter than me!]
[Who am I kidding, it’s Hua Cheng, he can probably fake anything.]
[But if it was real, should we really... I mean, the talisman only reacts like that to genuine love.]
[Maybe he’s been held here so long he really thinks he’s in love.]
“That didn’t convince you, did it.” Xie Lian murmurs, looking disappointed.
“It’s just a little hard to believe, Your Highness.” Feng Xin says.
“We’ve known him for centuries, Xie Lian, he isn’t a good person.” Mu Qing adds.
“I’ve known him longer than you two. Since before he made a name for himself, since before- before he even had a name.”
Xie Lian pauses to take a deep breath, looking gut wrenchingly sad for just a moment. Hua Cheng, the bastard, rubs his shoulder and he does seem to relax, even going so far as to rest his hand over the ghost’s. It’s still deeply suspect, but Feng Xin is at least convinced that Xie Lian isn’t in any distress. Now whether he’s here of his own free will or has been bewitched into staying, that is still up for debate. Mu Qing glances over at him, clearly thinking the same thing. Both relax a little, allowing themselves to hear Xie Lian out and not attempt to separate him from his... fiance prematurely.
[If he isn’t bewitched, he’s even madder than we thought. Just godawful taste.] Mu Qing snips, and Feng Xin nearly pulls a muscle in his jaw to keep from laughing.
“So how did you meet?” Feng Xin asks, both genuinely curious and looking for any sign of foul play.
“I came to Ghost City to gamble.”
“What?!” They are still so alarmingly in sync when they’re mad at Xie Lian.
“It’s a funny story, actually. I heard about the city and wondered if there was any way someone I used to know ended up here. I asked for information on him if I won, twenty years of service if I lost. I figured I would lose, but if I got to stay here a while maybe I could find him on my own.”
“Is this marriage the ‘service?’” Mu Qing demands, slamming both hands on the table.
“No! No, absolutely not. And please don’t take your concern out on our table,” Xie Lian says, gently stroking over the wood like he’s apologizing to it, “When I started trying to explain that I wanted to know if a certain ghost was here, but I didn’t know his name or age or anything about him, really, I realized it was a bit of an insulting thing to ask for. I would be sending someone on a wild goose chase with no leads. Quite frankly, the odds of the ghost even still being around were almost zero. I just didn’t want to let him go without trying to apologize.”
“So, you came here with no fucking plan except to try and gamble your life away for someone who may or may not even exist anymore?” Feng Xin says, bewildered.
“Not even for someone, just for information on someone. Xie Lian, what the hell were you thinking?”
“I was desperate,” Xie Lian admits, “My original plan was just to wander the city and look for him. I only tried betting because one of the people I asked for help said that a lot of long shot wishes were answered there.”
“And a lot of desperate people lose their fucking heads there!”
“Which is why I didn’t bet my head!”
Mu Qing drops his head into his hands. Feng Xin isn’t far from doing the same.
“But anyway, I tried to back out, realizing that this was a bad plan-”
“You fucking think?!” Feng Xin shouts, unable to help it.
“-And then, well actually it’s all kind of a blur.”
“Wait, what do you mean, ‘blur?’” Mu Qing asks, lifting his head, eyes sharp.
“Ah, I just didn’t expect to win, or to have the ghost I was looking for be right in front of me,” Xie Lian says softly, wrapping an arm around Hua Cheng in a way that seems almost... protective, “I was so overwhelmed that I think I cried. The next thing I can remember clearly is waking up in the softest bed I’d ever been in.”
“In a bed?!” Feng Xin cries, “You fucking dog, how could you-”
“In a bed by myself and fully clothed!” Xie Lian interjects before things can devolve further, “I- ah- I had apparently passed out and hit my head on a table on the way down. San Lang brought me back here to recover. He even called a doctor in case the fainting was chronic and I needed something more than just time to relax.”
“And so, what, just because you knew him in the past and he was vaguely nice to you, you decided to marry him?”
“No, Mu Qing, it took a lot longer than that. I had to apologize like I said I would.”
Hua Cheng looks briefly uncomfortable, like he wants to contradict some part of that statement. But what part and why? A disgraced god grovelling at his feet seems like exactly the kind of thing he’d like.
“So I stayed here and tried to make things right,” Xie Lian says and somehow knows Hua Cheng’s discomfort has deepened without even looking, “I know you’ve never held it against me, sweetheart. I still wanted to apologize.”
“Your Highness, can you please skip to the part where you decided to get married? Why the fuck would you want to do that?”
“Ah, that’s an easy question. I stayed here and fell in love, but I didn’t really think I had a chance. San Lang had said he had a beloved back when we first met and well... I will spare you the embarrassing details, suffice to say I was jealous of myself for the better part of a year. But we figured it out and now here we are!”
“Hang on a second. You knew him before we did, apparently. And he told you he was in love all the way back then.” Mu Qing starts.
“What the fuck? That was almost eight hundred years ago!” Feng Xin interrupts, and Mu Qing glares at him.
“You don’t find it at all creepy that he held on to that- to you- this whole time?”
“Why would I?”
Mu Qing puts his head in his hands again. Feng Xin resists the urge to do the same, instead glancing from Xie Lian to Hua Cheng and back again. Xie Lian looks... happy. His eyes are clearer than they were when last they met, gone are the bags that used to be beneath them. He looks well fed, cheeks no longer so dreadfully gaunt, the bones of his hands no longer quite so stark. His posture is relaxed in a way it hasn’t been since he was a child. And even then, the weight of responsibility as the sole heir to the throne sat heavy on his shoulders. Now, he looks light.
“Alright,” Feng Xin says with a shrug, “I can’t say I share your taste, but I don’t think you’re being forced into anything. Congratulations on the engagement, Your Highness.”
“Thank you, Feng Xin.” Xie Lian smiles brilliantly at him.
“Hua Cheng, if you hurt him I’ll cut your damn head off,” Mu Qing sighs, like shovel talk is some great burden that he is not actively choosing to do, “But as long as he’s good to you, Xie Lian, it’s not my place to interfere.”
“Thank you, Mu Qing. Really, it was so nice to talk to you both. If you ever want to visit, you know where I live now!”
“Xie Lian I will visit with you literally anywhere but here. It’s disconcerting to be in the house of someone who’s been trying to kill me for our entire lives-”
“If I had been trying to kill you, I would have succeeded.”
“-and his interior decorating skills are trash! Why is everything so red? We get it, you’re the red calamity, you don’t have to make your whole house look like it was caught in your blood rain.” Mu Qing ignores the obvious jab in favor of making one of his own.
“I like it, red is a nice color.”
“Well, there’s no accounting for taste.” Mu Qing huffs, but can’t fully conceal his fondness with the barb.
Xie Lian walks them to the city gates, telling them he’ll make sure the ghosts don’t give them a hard time if they ever want to stop by. He hugs both of them goodbye and starts to walk away before bolting back over.
“Do you want to come to the wedding?”
“Your fiance hates us.” Mu Qing says bluntly.
“We would like to come,” Feng Xin says, elbowing Mu Qing in the ribs, “But your fiance does in fact hate our fucking guts. Will that be a problem?”
“No, no, I’m sure it will be fine. He loves me more than he hates you, and I want you to come.”
“You have to promise he won’t dump us in a pit of worms again.” Mu Qing gripes. It was bad enough getting stuck in a pit of bugs, but stuck in a pit of bugs with Feng Xin of all people was torture.
“We are not going to have a pit of worms at the wedding so I don’t think you have to worry about that,” Xie Lian pauses, a small smile spreading across his face, “And he told me about that one. They were caterpillars, not worms.”
“Is that why they all fucking hated us with the fire of a thousand suns?”
“Does our misery amuse you-”
“No, he’s just so creative with some of the traps. Always made sure that you wouldn’t die. I still asked him to stop setting them, though.”
Both generals sigh, but agree to come to the wedding with the condition of no bug pits. And it is a beautiful ceremony. Hua Cheng doesn’t mess with them at all, too focused on Xie Lian to even notice they’re there. If they weren’t already convinced that the love is real, the undeniable softness in the way the newlyweds look at each other would seal the deal. No spell could ever fake something like this. Their friend is finally happy, and it would take a fool not to see it.