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Chapter Text

“Hah- Ah, Gege!”

“Ngh, San Lang-”

Xie Lian woke up with a gasp. It had been nearly a week since Hua Cheng had to return to Ghost City. Ever since he left, Xie Lian’s dreams had been plagued by images of the night they spent together, flashes of his face contorted in pleasure, their bodies intertwined on the floor of Puqi Shrine. That night was no different, and like every other morning for the past week, Xie Lian woke up to find himself hard and leaking into his sleep pants.

Usually he ignored it and recited a few sutras until it went away, but the longer he went without hearing from Hua Cheng again, the more curious and impatient he grew. This morning he gave in. Slowly, delicately, he reached down and slipped his hand under the waistband of his pants. He hesitated for one more moment, working up the courage, then he gently wrapped his hand around his length.

The sensation was just as overwhelming as he remembered. He moaned and threw his head back, ignoring the impact of his head against the ground as he tried to figure out the best way to maneuver his hand. It took some time, but eventually he found a rhythm that sent spark dancing across his vision.

Naturally, his thoughts drifted to Hua Cheng. Memories from their night together, as well as flashes of more. Xie Lian wasn’t very knowledgeable about sex, but he had stayed in a lot of shady places over the centuries and had accidentally heard and even seen a few things. He couldn’t help but draw from those things now, imagining Hua Cheng in their place.

His hand sped up. He was panting and gasping as he stroked himself, toes curling from the pleasure. Remembering Hua Cheng’s reaction, he tentatively brought his free hand up to play with one of his nipples, sending a jolt of pleasure through his body. Soon enough, Xie Lian felt a tension in his body, building and building until surely something would give and he would explode into a million pieces–

Xie Lian quickly snapped his hands away from his body, scratching for whatever purchase he could find on his sleeping mat as his hips thrust into the air with the removal of the stimulation. His body protested the denial of his release, but he told himself it was better than the alternative. He had been so vulnerable and out of control the first and only time he’d crossed that ledge, and this time, there was no Hua Cheng to hold him and clean him up and promise to stay afterwards. The thought of being in that state alone frightened him.

So, he lay still, panting up at the ceiling and reciting sutras in his mind until he relaxed enough that his legs were no longer shaking and he could drag himself outside to take a cold bath in the river.

It was as he was cleaning up from breakfast when the voice arrived in his Communication Array. ‘Your presence is required in Heaven immediately.’

‘Ling Wen,’ Xie Lian greeted. ‘Is this about Banyue?’

‘Yes. Please report to the Grand Martial Hall.’

So, Xie Lian made himself presentable, or at least as presentable as he could given he only owned plain cultivator’s robes, and departed for the meeting.

As soon as the meeting began, Xie Lian found himself confronted by a man he quickly identified as Pei Ming, or General Ming Guang. Over the past week, he had read up on many of the current Heavenly Officials, including Pei Ming, and was therefore aware of the man’s reputation as the most powerful martial god (other than the Heavenly Emperor, that is). He was also aware of his reputation for being rather promiscuous, and had discovered the collection of scrolls he picked up about Heavenly Officials contained several of a more indecent nature that starred Pei Ming. Out of curiosity, he had ended up reading a few, since it wasn’t as if he was still sticking steadfast to his cultivation path. Plus… he wanted to have a bit more knowledge the next time he and Hua Cheng encountered each other. Just in case.

However, he hadn’t considered that, as a martial god in his own right, he would likely end up meeting Pei Ming face to face, and he was finding it difficult not to lose himself to embarrassment while they spoke. Especially when the conversation turned towards ‘San Lang’ and how close he and Xie Lian had appeared during the trip to Banyue Pass.

Xie Lian couldn’t help the small blush that crept up on him as Pei Ming spoke, because he and Hua Cheng had actually been avoiding each other during the trip, so if they’d seemed close then…

He sobered up once Feng Xin and Mu Qing were called in to identify the injuries on Pei Xiu’s clone as coming from Hua Cheng. He was aware of Hua Cheng’s reputation in heaven, and he didn’t want Pei Ming to be able to scapegoat him as the mastermind behind what was going down.

Luckily, a cultivator he didn’t recognize jumped in to defend him, butting heads with Pei Ming until Pei Xiu spoke up and accepted responsibility for his crimes. The meeting was dismissed shortly after, but Xie Lian was called to stay behind by Jun Wu.

Jun Wu regarded Xie Lian but waited to speak until everyone else had cleared out of the hall. Once it was just the two of them, he descended from his throne until he stood in front of Xie Lian.

“So. Crimson Rain Sought Flower.”

As soon as he was addressed, Xie Lian felt his spine straighten. A wave of shame washed over him. When he had ascended the first time, Jun Wu had personally taken an interest in him, shown him the ropes, and acted as a mentor to him. Standing in front of him now with the memory of what he and Hua Cheng had done together so fresh on his mind, Xie Lian felt like a child being scolded by his father rather than the eight century old god he was.

It wasn’t that he regretted what happened—like he said to Hua Cheng he enjoyed it and hoped it would happen again—but with the way Jun Wu was scrutinizing him in this moment, it seemed like every piece of him was exposed, like the Emperor would know somehow.

“What is going on, Xianle?” Jun Wu asked. Immediately Xie Lian dropped to his knees. Or, he would have if he wasn’t stopped by Jun Wu grabbing his arm and preventing him from lowering himself. “Xianle,” he sighed.

Xie Lian straightened up but kept his head bowed. “I’m sorry.”

“Are you acknowledging your wrongs?”

“I am.”

“And what wrong is it that you’re acknowledging?” Jun Wu pushed.

A million possible answers flashed through Xie Lian’s head. Failing. Disappointing you. Turning my back on my cultivation that you praised so highly. Any number of things that I’ve done these past 800 years, take your pick. He didn’t say any of it out loud.

Jun Wu shook his head and Xie Lian somehow felt that he was more disappointed in the lack of an answer than he would’ve been about any response Xie Lian could have given. He inclined his head to indicate Xie Lian should follow, then began to walk towards the chambers at the back of the hall.

“Xianle has grown up,” he commented as Xie Lian fell into step slightly behind him.

Xie Lian’s shoulders instinctively tensed up as the thought ‘He knows!’ raced across his mind, but he forced himself to relax. There was no way Jun Wu could just ‘know’ that Xie Lian had sex, he reasoned with himself, and even if he did, why did it matter? It wasn’t like Jun Wu was actually his father, and even if he was, Xie Lian was over 800 years old, he was certainly old enough to make those kinds of decisions for himself! What was it about talking to Jun Wu that made him feel like the seventeen year old prince who had been so eager to prove himself? Wasn’t he just frustrated with his old friends for seeing him like that?

Xie Lian took too long to respond, so Jun Wu continued, “Ah, but what’s the point of reminiscing on the past? We must look to the future now, and there is much we need you for.”

“Xianle is merely a scrap collector with no power now,” Xie Lian replied, keeping his eyes down. “What could Your Majesty need me for?”

“There is an urgent matter I was considering asking Xianle to investigate for me, however…”

“What is it?”

At this point the two entered the chamber at the back of the hall where a large glittering map stood. Jun Wu indicated a point in the east. “Seven days ago we received reports of the Ascending Fire Dragon spell being cast in this area. An area that happens to be extremely close to Ghost City. My initial thought was to have Xianle descend and investigate in secret, but considering the master of the city…”

Xie Lian understood. “It’s Hua Cheng, isn’t it.”

Jun Wu nodded. “You see my hesitance considering what happened at the meeting earlier.”

It was only centuries of practice controlling his body’s reactions that allowed Xie Lian to keep his body language neutral. He tried very hard not to think about how the timing of the Ascending Fire Dragon lined up with when Hua Cheng suddenly had business to attend to. “My lord must know I’d never willingly collude with the Ghost Realm. It’s like I said earlier, San Lang is just an interesting character I happened to meet on the road. I didn’t think that much of it.”

“A chance encounter with a Supreme Ghost King…” Jun Wu shook his head. “It would seem you have a rather good relationship with him. I won’t comment on who you choose to make… friends with, but I also wouldn’t want to make things awkward for you if he is involved.”

Xie Lian was determined. “Your Majesty, send me to Ghost City. I don’t believe Hua Cheng is a disingenuous person.”

Jun Wu looked at him for a moment. “Very well. I hope Xianle doesn’t let his guard down completely, however. Hua Cheng and that wicked blade of his have earned a fearsome reputation for a reason. The scimitar E’ming is a blade of misfortune that was surely forged through a bloody sacrifice. To touch it can only lead to disastrous consequences.”

Sounds like we’d get along well then, Xie Lian thought wryly. Out loud he simply bowed his head and said, “Xianle understands, my lord.” He didn’t believe that Hua Cheng would raise such a weapon against him, but it was easiest to agree to dissuade the emperor’s worries.

So it was decided Xie Lian would descend to Ghost City with the help of the Wind Master, whom he had met at Banyue Pass… and, as it turned out, at the meeting that morning in a male rather than a female form.

After that initial confusion, however, Xie Lian found that he got along with Shi Qingxuan rather well, and they made easy conversation as they traveled to the outskirts of Ghost City. Unfortunately, they were separated shortly after entering the city itself, and Xie Lian found himself alone in an unfamiliar city.

In Hua Cheng’s city.

The thought was more comforting than it probably should have been as he wandered down the streets. The stalls lining the edges of the road were filled with a wide variety of strange and fascinating objects, and he found himself hoping he could come back someday to take a closer look. As it was, he was on a mission, and he continued along looking for any sign of the Wind Master or the missing heavenly official.

As he walked, he felt a hand grab onto his arm and whirled around to see a woman dressed in very revealing clothing, makeup caked on her face.

“Hey there, Gege, what do you say you come with me and have some fun?” she tempted.

Xie Lian tried to gently pry his arm out of her grasp, but she held firm. “Miss, please,” he tried.

She snorted and redoubled her efforts, unlacing her already revealing top. “Come on, don’t you like what you see? Aren’t you a man?”

Xie Lian sighed. “I am, and it’s not that you aren’t good looking, it’s only that I–” can’t get erect was on the tip of his tongue. It was his go-to excuse when he had ended up in situations similar to this in the past (which yes, unfortunately had happened enough that he needed a go-to excuse) but considering that just this morning he had been pleasuring himself, the words got stuck in his throat. What came out instead was, “...prefer men.”

It had the same effect, fortunately, and she abandoned him to instead go harass the butcher down the street. Xie Lian quickly escaped the area before anyone else got any ideas.

He ended up in front of a big red building that seemed to be the center of a lot of commotion. On closer inspection it appeared to be a gambler’s den. Signs hung to either side of the door reading “Money Over Life” and “Gains Over Shame.” Above the door a matching banner simply read “HA HA HA HA,” all three written in the most demonic calligraphy Xie Lian had ever laid eyes on.

Something drew him to the building, however, and he made his way inside. The ruckus was much louder in here, and he was nearly overwhelmed and swept up in the crowd except for the attendant that met him inside the door.

“Here to play?”

“Ah, I don’t have any money on me right now,” Xie Lian explained. “Is it alright if I just watch?”

The attendant laughed. “We don’t bet with money here,” she told him, “but if you just want to watch for now that’s fine. You’re in luck. Our Chengzhu is in tonight.” She left him with that, off to find someone who was actually there to gamble, but Xie Lian’s attention was elsewhere.

Down in the center of the room, at one of the main tables, a man was shouting, “I bet my arm!”

In response, he got a low chuckle that somehow resonated through the entire crowd, heard over all the noise. It sent a shiver down Xie Lian’s spine, because he recognized that voice.

“Never mind that. Your arm, even your life, all of that is worthless here.”

“San Lang,” Xie Lian whispered. His gaze followed that voice up to a platform at the front of the hall, surrounded by red gauzy curtains that only gave the impression of a figure behind it, sitting on a throne overlooking the crowd of gamblers.

“Fine!” the man shouted. “Then, I bet ten years of my daughter’s life!”

“Very well,” Hua Cheng allowed. The man rolled, and to Xie Lian’s relief, he won, sparing his daughter’s life.

“Your Highness, you’re here!” a relieved voice sounded behind him. It was Shi Qingxuan, back in his male form.

“Lord Wind Master? What are you doing here?”

The man at the table was shouting about making another bet. “I want all of my business competitors to drop dead! I’ll bet twenty years of my daughter’s life! And her fate in marriage!”

The bet was accepted and the man began to shake the dice. Xie Lian glanced up at where Hua Cheng sat. He trusted him, but this man…

“This is where Lang Qianqiu is supposed to meet us,” Shi Qingxuan said, drawing Xie Lian’s attention back.

“He’s meeting us here?”

“It’s so crowded, surely it’s the best place to meet inconspicuously–”

Just as Shi Qingxuan was saying that, a loud noise rang out as someone burst in and slammed both the dice cup and the hand of the man at the table.

“You dare to bet your daughter’s life like that?! If you’re going to gamble, at least have the decency to bet your own life rather than another’s! You’re not fit to be a man, much less a father!” Lang Qianqiu stood over the man, practically radiating righteousness.

Xie Lian leaned over to Shi Qingxuan. “You did warn him to keep a low profile, didn’t you?”

“Of course I did,” Shi Qingxuan replied helplessly. “But he… well…”

Xie Lian knew what he meant.

Behind the curtain, Hua Cheng chuckled and a wave of killing intent swept over the room. “You must have some nerve, starting trouble in my territory.”

Shi Qingxuan gasped. “Is that who I think it is? Crimson Rain Sought Flower?”

Xie Lian nodded, his own gaze fixed on the silhouette behind the curtain. “It is.”

“You’re certain?”

“I’m certain.”

Shi Qingxuan gulped. “We’re dead.”

Xie Lian was about to reassure him, but he paused. While he was positive there was no way Hua Cheng would hurt him… the same didn’t necessarily go for two other gods caught trespassing in his city. “Let’s just hope Lang Qianqiu doesn’t reveal his identity.”

Counting on Lang Qianqiu to make smart decisions may not have been the best course of action, unfortunately. He was all fired up, shouting insults at anyone around. “Running a place like this, what kind of scum are you? It’s inhumane!”

Hua Cheng seemed amused, saying, “There’s a path for you in heaven, yet you’ve abandoned it to barge into hell. Which, of course, begs the question: what should we do with you?” The word heaven caused both Xie Lian and Shi Qingxuan to wince. Of course Hua Cheng already recognized what Lang Qianqiu was!

Enraged, he slammed his hand on the table and sent it flying at Hua Cheng, who sent it back with a mere flick of his wrist. The force overwhelmed Lang Qianqiu, and with one more lazy flick of Hua Cheng’s finger he was restrained with his powers sealed, dangling in the middle of the hall.

“I’m feeling generous,” Hua Cheng called out to the crowd. “What do you say we make a bet for him?”

“How’s your luck?” Xie Lian asked, turning to Shi Qingxuan as a new table was brought out for betting.

“I don’t know, average?” he answered. “What about yours?”

Xie Lian shook his head. “Terrible. The highest I could ever roll is a two.” Shi Qingxuan’s eyes lit up with an idea, and suddenly Xie Lian found himself approaching the table.

“Could we change it up and bet on the lowest roll?” he asked.

The croupier agreed, so Xie Lian accepted a dice cup and shook it. The result, disappointingly, was a pair of sixes. He sighed. He should have expected this. He was about to back away to try and find another way when the croupier stopped him.

“Chengzhu says your posture isn’t quite right. He has invited you to come up so he can teach you.”

Xie Lian looked up to the platform. The figure was standing now, right behind the edge of the curtains. A hand reached through towards him, and Xie Lian had to fight back a laugh as he recognized the gesture from when Hua Cheng had met him in the bridal sedan. He walked up the stairs.

At the top he looked up. With the curtains parted slightly, he could see Hua Cheng, and he couldn’t help the small gasp that left him at the sight. If he had thought San Lang was attractive when he met him on the ox cart, Hua Cheng was all that and more. It was the same face, only slightly more defined, features a little sharper, and one of his eyes was covered with a black leather eyepatch. His other eye was twinkling as it took in Xie Lian, and he abruptly realized that he had to crane his neck higher to make eye contact since Hua Cheng was taller in this form. His robes were the same shade of maple red, but were fancier, befitting a city lord, and he was adorned with silver jewelry that chimed when he moved.

Hua Cheng was the one to finally break the silence. “Would you like to bet high or low?”

It didn’t matter which one Xie Lian picked, so he said, “High.”

“Very well. I’ll roll first then.” He held out his hands. Xie Lian went to place the dice up in them, only to be surprised as instead Hua Cheng placed his hands around where he was already holding it. He allowed the ghost to guide his hands to shake the cup, and pulled up the top at the end to reveal a five and a six.

“Now you,” Hua Cheng instructed. Xie Lian mirrored his movements, but he had only shaken the cup twice when Hua Cheng shook his head. “Not like that.” He reached out and placed his hands back over Xie Lian’s, guiding him once again.

At the end, Xie Lian lifted the lid and was shocked to see a pair of threes rather than the expected result of two. Still, it didn’t beat Hua Cheng’s result of eleven, and he said as much, admitting defeat.

Once again, Hua Cheng shook his head. “This was only a practice round since I’m teaching you. It doesn’t count. Try again.” He placed his hands back over Xie Lian’s and guided him to shake the cup again, this time revealing a pair of fours.

“See? Didn’t it get bigger that time?”

“It did…” Xie Lian said, though he was beginning to suspect Hua Cheng was messing with him.

Sure enough, after Hua Cheng encouraged him to keep going and the next result was shown to be a pair of fives, it was similarly dismissed as a practice round. Xie Lian covered the dice again and prepared to shake, but Hua Cheng stopped him.

“By the way, what is Gege betting if he loses?”

“Um…” Xie Lian hadn’t really considered that. “I don’t know if there’s anything on me really worth betting for.”

Hua Cheng’s grin grew sharper. “Then, might I suggest something?”

Xie Lian nodded, though he wasn’t expecting the ghost king to suddenly lean in and whisper in his ear.

“This San Lang would love the chance to pleasure Gege with his mouth,” he whispered. His boldness made Xie Lian squeak. He glanced around to make sure no one overheard, though there was no one who could.

“Would–” He swallowed, trying to steady his nerves. “Would that really be a reward for San Lang?”

“This San Lang would like nothing more,” Hua Cheng said. The sincerity in his voice made Xie Lian’s heart skip a beat. “Besides,” he continued, the more familiar teasing tone appearing, “Gege seemed to enjoy it when he did it to this one…”

“San Lang!” Xie Lian hissed, glad he was facing away from the crowd so no one could see how red his face was.

“So? Does the bet sound fair?”

Xie Lian bit his lip and nodded.

“Then roll.”

The result, somewhat predictably, came out to be two sixes. Hua Cheng admitted defeat easily, but called out to Xie Lian as he was leaving with Lang Qianqiu and Shi Qingxuan in tow.

“I’ll give Gege some time to get settled, then I’ll send someone to pick you up to fulfill your side of the bet.”

Xie Lian turned around, cutting off Lang Qianqiu who was about to start arguing again. “I thought you said those were practice rounds earlier. Surely Hua Cheng isn’t taking back his word?”

“Of course, this one would never,” Hua Cheng agreed, “however, Gege is forgetting, there was that initial round at the table that he lost…”

“Hm, so there was,” Xie Lian conceded. They were both grinning as they spoke, ignoring the crowd of onlookers who were enraptured by this back and forth. “I suppose I’ll be seeing Chengzhu soon, then.” He didn’t miss the effect using his title had on Hua Cheng.

“I suppose so.” Hua Cheng sat back down in his throne and picked up a cup of wine that had been sitting on the table next to it. He took a sip, his tongue darting out to catch a drop that was left behind, and Xie Lian gulped, his mind replaying that sultry voice… This San Lang would love the chance to pleasure Gege with his mouth.

“I look forward to it,” Hua Cheng said with a devious expression that proved he knew exactly what he was doing.

Xie Lian was quick to turn away, his face red, prompting Lang Qianqiu and Shi Qingxuan to run to catch up since they were both frozen in a mixture of shock and terror as Xie Lian… bantered? With Hua Cheng???

Once outside, however, Shi Qingxuan decided that could wait, and instead whirled on Lang Qianqiu, berating him for being an idiot and blowing his cover.

“I’m sorry, I was too rash,” Lang Qianqiu admitted. “But those gamblers were crazy!”

“It was noble of you to step in, but let’s try and keep a low profile from now on,” Xie Lian said. “You were lucky to get away that time.”

“I’m sorry you had to step in like that!” Lang Qianqiu apologized, bowing his head to Xie Lian. “What did you have to bet against Hua Cheng? I’m sure we can get out of here since he didn’t collect yet!”

Xie Lian shook his head. “That’s alright. My bet…” He certainly wasn’t going to tell them that! “Actually, as it turns out, Hua Cheng and I do know each other. He was saving me some face by making it a bet, but really I think he was just taking the opportunity to invite me to visit.”

“Oh.” Shi Qingxuan considered that for a moment. “Well then that’s perfect! You can go to Hua Cheng and tell him you came to visit him and that you brought a couple of your friends from the heavens!”

Before Xie Lian had a chance to say anything to that, Lang Qianqiu spoke up. “No! Your Highness, you and Hua Cheng are friends, right?” Xie Lian hesitated. Honestly, ‘friends’ didn’t feel exactly right after everything, but Hua Cheng had seemed reluctant to declare them as anything more when he asked and he didn’t want to push. He nodded in response to Lang Qianqiu, realizing he’d gotten a little lost in thought. “Then you shouldn’t take advantage of that! One should never deceive their friends!”

“Stubborn!” Shi Qingxuan complained. Xie Lian was about to agree with Lang Qianqiu, when a commotion rose up around them, the result of which being Lang Qianqiu and Shi Qingxuan caught up in a brawl while Xie Lian ran off to try and track down the bandaged kid at the center of the chaos, knocking down quite a few stalls and creating a general mess as he did. He didn’t manage to catch the child, but he did run into a man dressed in black with a demon mask that the citizens referred to as the Waning Moon Officer.

“Your Highness? Chengzhu sent me to escort you to Paradise Manor.”

“Oh!” Xie Lian glanced around for his companions, but he had lost them in the chaos. Hopefully they would realize where he was and not do anything too drastic.

“This way, please,” the officer gestured. The citizens of the city parted easily around them as Xie Lian fell into step behind the masked man.

“I’m sorry about the mess back there. I hope I didn’t make anything too difficult?”

“You didn’t,” the officer replied.

“That’s good,” Xie Lian said, focused on keeping up. This man walked like he wanted to disappear into the shadows, and he was obviously very familiar with the city’s chaotic streets, so it was taking a lot of attention to keep up with him without tripping over anything.

“Although…” the officer started, then shook his head. “Nevermind.”

“What is it?” Xie Lian asked.

“It’s inappropriate.”

Xie Lian assumed they were still talking about what happened on the street, and didn’t see how he could be offended by anything relating to it, so he shook his head. “Whatever it is, just say it. I won’t mind.”

The officer hesitated. “Really, I wouldn’t say anything, but… He Xuan doesn’t believe me, even though he saw proof and I’ve never won a bet with him before, so I have to ask–did you and Chengzhu actually, you know, do it?”

It took Xie Lian a moment to figure out what he meant. When he did, he tripped and was too thrown off to catch himself in time. He ended up sprawled across the street of Ghost City to the glee of many onlookers and the horror of the man he was walking with.

“Your Highness! I’m so sorry!” A frantic pair of hands reached down to help Xie Lian up, and in the chaos, his sleeve was pushed aside, revealing a cursed shackle around his wrist.

Xie Lian couldn’t really process that, however, still reeling from the question. “It’s alright, I’m alright,” he reassured, dusting himself off absentmindedly.

“No, I’m sorry, I really shouldn’t have… please just forget I said anything!” the officer begged, bowing deeply to Xie Lian once he was situated back on his feet.

“Yes, I– I think that would be best…” Xie Lian agreed shakily. The rest of the walk was filled with awkward silence between them.

“We’re here,” the Waning Moon Officer muttered once they arrived outside a large, resplendent manor. He then slipped away, leaving Xie Lian alone to follow the sounds of music and chatter inside to find Hua Cheng.

Chapter Text

Paradise Manor was breathtakingly beautiful. Xie Lian passed through a curtain of beads into a large hall which surely would have rivaled the palace he grew up in for its decoration and architecture, if he could have focused on anything other than the man sitting at the back. He only noticed the group of dancers because occasionally an arm or leg would drift into his field of view while his vision locked on to Hua Cheng, leaning back casually as he built a palace out of golden foils.

As Xie Lian watched, he placed one last foil, took a moment to admire the completed structure, and then knocked it down with a simple flick of his finger. Paying no mind to the mess he’d just created, he stood and made his way over to where Xie Lian was still standing in the entrance. As he did, the dancers bowed and parted, then left the room at a nod from Hua Cheng.

“Gege! You made it! Come in, come have a seat.” He gestured for Xie Lian to follow him inside, so he stepped fully into the room.

Despite the situation, with Xie Lian having been sent to potentially investigate Hua Cheng, it was nice to see him again, and Xie Lian found himself examining this new form as they walked across the room.

“I hope I didn’t cause any trouble for you earlier,” he said.

“Gege’s presence could never trouble me,” Hua Cheng dismissed easily.

“I doubt that,” Xie Lian muttered, earning himself a quick glance from Hua Cheng, though he didn’t comment on it.

“I hope I didn’t cause any trouble for Gege either,” Hua Cheng said instead. “I didn’t want to put him in an awkward position by acting too close in front of his companions.”

“Which is why San Lang invited me to his home in front of the entire Gambler’s Den?” Xie Lian asked pointedly, raising an eyebrow.

Hua Cheng shook his head. “Not a home, merely a residence. And besides, who could blame me when Gege looks so irresistible?”

Xie Lian’s face flushed, and he glanced down to his worn, slightly dusty robes. He knew Hua Cheng was likely just teasing, trying to fluster him again, but he couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed about his appearance, especially next to the lavish one of the ghost king.

“San Lang looks nice too,” he replied a little nervously, glancing up in time to see Hua Cheng’s lips part slightly in surprise and the tips of his ears (which he just now realized were pointed!) turn pink. “This is your true appearance?”

For a brief moment Hua Cheng seemed to stiffen, but then he relaxed and answered, “I did say I would greet you with it the next time we met.”

Hearing that, Xie Lian smiled. “It’s good. I like it.” Hua Cheng gave him a small smile back, and this time it appeared to be genuinely relaxed.

Conversation lapsed into a comfortable silence as they arrived at a large divan and sat down together. Though, the longer it went on, the more restless Xie Lian became. After all, back at the Gambler’s Den, Hua Cheng had stated his intent to collect on his wager, “to pleasure Gege with my mouth,” but now here they were, alone, and he had made no mention of it.

To be fair, it wasn’t exactly the easiest thing to bring up out of the blue. It’s not like Xie Lian was going to blurt out “so remember when you said you wanted to suck my–”

Even thinking it was too much! His mind quickly leapt away and landed on a safer topic. “What did you mean when you said this wasn’t a home?”

“Simple,” Hua Cheng answered. “A home is somewhere one lives with a family. To live somewhere alone… that isn’t a home, merely a residence.”

“Oh.” By that definition, Xie Lian hadn’t had anywhere to call home in eight hundred years. His heart ached to think that Hua Cheng knew that same loneliness.

“Something wrong, Gege?”

Xie Lian shook his head. “No, just… this is a big house to live in alone.”

“Ah.” Hua Cheng’s smile turned a little sad. “It is. I guess Gege will just have to come visit me more! Whenever you like!”

Xie Lian let out a small laugh. “Alright,” he agreed easily. “And of course the same offer is open to San Lang to visit Puqi Shrine, though it isn’t nearly as nice as this.”

“Nonsense! Puqi Shrine is lovely! Though Gege should be careful about making such offers, he’ll grow sick of me if I’m allowed to invade his space whenever I like.”

“Never.” The sincerity of the declaration threw even Xie Lian off, and for a moment they were silent, staring into each other’s eyes.

Hua Cheng broke away first, getting to his feet. “One nice thing about a house this large is that it allows me plenty of space to indulge in various hobbies. There’s one room in particular that I believe Gege would enjoy, if he’d like to see?” He extended a hand to Xie Lian.

“Show me.” Xie Lian took the hand, allowing Hua Cheng to help him to his feet. Once he was up, however, he didn’t let go. If Hua Cheng noticed or cared, he didn’t say anything, just led Xie Lian through the manor, hand in hand. They ended up in front of a large pair of steel doors, carved with the images of various beasts. Hua Cheng pushed them open and they walked inside.

When the contents of the room were revealed, Xie Lian gasped and ran out into the middle to take it in better. It was an armory, filled with all manner of rare and powerful weaponry that had Xie Lian dying to get his hands on it. He looked back to Hua Cheng, who was leaning in the doorway watching with an indulgent smile.

“May I touch?”

“Of course,” Hua Cheng nodded. Immediately Xie Lian was in front of a rack of weapons, running his hands along each one that caught his eye and praising the craftsmanship and abilities as he went.

“I take it Gege likes them?” Hua Cheng’s voice cut in after what was probably way too long listening to Xie Lian ramble.

“I really do!” Xie Lian agreed.

“Any one in particular that catches your eye?”

How could Xie Lian possibly choose?! “All of them!”

Hua Cheng chuckled. “I was going to say since Gege doesn’t seem to have a suitable weapon he could take one, but if you like them all so much, then I’ll just give them all to you.”

Taking it as a joke, Xie Lian shook his head. “Don’t be silly, San Lang. What could I possibly do with so many weapons? I wouldn’t even have anywhere to put them!”

“That’s easily remedied,” Hua Cheng said, clasping his hands together behind his back and striding up to Xie Lian. “I’ll give you the room as well, and you can come visit your collection whenever you like.”

“San Lang, really…” Xie Lian flushed under the sincere gaze of Hua Cheng. He glanced away, and caught sight of a saber, which suddenly reminded him of Jun Wu’s earlier warning about Hua Cheng’s cursed scimitar. “None of these weapons are San Lang’s preferred one, right?”

Hua Cheng went along with the change of subject easily. “E’ming? No, I don’t normally keep E’ming in here.”

“Then I wonder, could I possibly be allowed to see such a fearsome blade?” Xie Lian asked.

“But, Gege, you already have!” Hua Cheng replied, gesturing to the scimitar attached at his hip. As he looked, a red eye opened and stared up at Xie Lian, squinting into a crescent as if it were smiling.

“Oh!” Xie Lian bent down for a closer look. “Hello there!”

“It likes you, Gege,” Hua Cheng said.

“It does?” asked Xie Lian, enchanted by the sword that was beginning to shake slightly with excitement.

“It does. E’ming won’t look at anyone it doesn’t like.”

“Well I like you too!” Xie Lian told E’ming, smiling when the sword rattled harder in response. “San Lang, can I touch it?” He glanced up at Hua Cheng to ask the question, only to freeze as he abruptly realized what that sounded like, given the position they were in. Hua Cheng had realized as well, judging by the pink tinge to his cheeks.

“Aha!” Xie Lian quickly stood up, his face bright red. “I’m sorry, San Lang, I– I–”

“It’s alright,” Hua Cheng said. His confident, commanding tone was gone, however, making way for the more breathy, awestruck voice Xie Lian recognized from their first night together. “Gege can touch whatever he likes.”

Xie Lian’s breath caught. That sounded like…

“San Lang…” He took a deep breath. He could say this. “San Lang, I think I owe you a debt.”

This time it was Hua Cheng’s turn to gasp. His hands reached out to take Xie Lian’s, his cool skin a nice contrast to where Xie Lian’s palms were beginning to sweat.

“Only if Gege is certain.”

Xie Lian bit his lip and nodded. “I am. I– I want this.” He ducked his head as he said it, unable to say it while making eye contact with Hua Cheng. “Unless San Lang doesn’t–”

“I do,” Hua Cheng reassured immediately.

“Then…” Slowly, Xie Lian brought a hand up to cup Hua Cheng’s face. For a moment he just rested it there, taking in the slight differences between this form and the one he’d worn at Puqi Shrine, but eventually he grew impatient and used the hand to guide Hua Cheng down to meet his lips.

For a moment when it started, Xie Lian was worried something would go wrong. Everything he’d done with Hua Cheng had been so spur of the moment, brought on by the excitement and frustration of his reascension. For eight hundred years prior, he hadn’t had any such desire, so part of him wondered if it would just be a fluke, or, if it wasn’t, there was still a chance he would somehow mess it up.

Then he kissed Hua Cheng again, and it was as easy as breathing. Why had they wasted all that time talking again? Xie Lian would much rather have been doing this, he decided. He wasn’t sure how long they spent like that–he only reluctantly pulled away when he started to go lightheaded from a lack of air.

“Fuck, Gege,” Hua Cheng panted once they broke apart. Xie Lian nodded, a little unsure how to speak at the moment but fully agreeing with the sentiment. “I’ve been thinking about this all week,” Hua Cheng confessed.

“Me– me too,” Xie Lian admitted in a whisper, his blush reappearing.

Hua Cheng grinned widely. “Oh yeah? Gege’s been thinking about his San Lang? What kinds of thoughts, hm? Kissing? Touching?” He leaned closer to speak right into Xie Lian’s ear in a deep, suggestive tone. “Fucking?”

Xie Lian turned even redder, but he nodded. “Yes.”

It was barely audible, but Hua Cheng clearly heard if the low groan he let out was any indication. His head dropped to rest on Xie Lian’s shoulder. “Gege shouldn’t say stuff like that, or this ghost king might become greedy and demand his debt be paid immediately.”

“Why doesn’t he?”

Hua Cheng’s head snapped up, his single eye blown wide in a way that Xie Lian was quickly growing addicted to. “Fuck,” he said. “Okay, yeah.”

There was a chair towards the back of the armory, and Hua Cheng guided Xie Lian to sit in it before dropping to his knees in front of him. Xie Lian gasped instinctively because oh! Wow! He was still new to this whole having sexual desire thing, but with the sight before him he was really starting to get it.

“San Lang looks…” he breathed, trailing off because he really didn’t have the words to describe what a beautiful sight Hua Cheng was.

To his disappointment, Hua Cheng ducked his head, hiding his face. “This San Lang apologizes, give me a moment and I can swap my appearance back–”

“Don’t!” Reacting before he could think, Xie Lian’s hands flew out and landed in Hua Cheng’s hair, using the grip to tug his face back up.

“...Gege?”

“I like San Lang’s true appearance,” Xie Lian said. “I– I mean, if San Lang is really uncomfortable, he can change, but please don’t if it’s just for my sake.”

Hua Cheng studied his face for a moment. “Okay,” he said eventually. “I’ll keep my true appearance.”

Xie Lian smiled, and then abruptly realized his hands were still in Hua Cheng’s hair. “Sorry! Haha, I don’t know what came over me–”

He went to release his grip, but Hua Cheng’s hands covered his own and pressed them back down into his hair. “It was… I liked it,” he explained to Xie Lian’s questioning look. “Really,” he added when Xie Lian still seemed uncertain.

“Alright,” Xie Lian agreed, curling his fingers back through Hua Cheng’s hair, “but you’ll tell me if there’s ever anything you don’t?”

“I will,” Hua Cheng promised. “And Gege will do the same?”

Xie Lian nodded.

“Then,” Hua Cheng released Xie Lian’s hands and brought his own down to hover slightly above his thighs, “can I touch you?”

“San Lang can touch whatever he likes,” Xie Lian echoed Hua Cheng’s earlier words, his muscles tensing in anticipation of feeling those hands on him.

Hua Cheng huffed. “Gege is trying to fluster me.”

“San Lang deserves it,” Xie Lian answered.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Sure you don’t.” Absently, Xie Lian’s fingers messed with his hair, resulting in him scratching Hua Cheng’s scalp lightly. He let out a soft sigh at the sensation, and settled his hands on Xie Lian’s thighs.

“Good?” Hua Cheng asked, stroking his hands lightly up and down Xie Lian’s thighs.

“Mhm,” Xie Lian replied, his mouth dropping open with the touch that very quickly had him aching for more. “Keep– keep going.”

So Hua Cheng pressed his hands down a little harder and with every swipe grew closer to where Xie Lian’s interest was starting to make itself known.

“San Lang!” Xie Lian gasped when a hand brushed right by the bulge in his pants without touching it. “Don’t tease.”

Hua Cheng smiled. “Alright, Gege.” The next time his hand travelled up Xie Lian’s thigh, he kept going. He cupped his palm over the now visible tent and gently pressed…

Xie Lian saw stars. “Oh!” His hips bucked up into the touch, only to be pressed back down by Hua Cheng’s gentle yet insistent hand on his thigh.

“Relax, Gege,” he murmured, stroking over Xie Lian’s arousal softly. “Let your San Lang take care of you.”

Xie Lian threw his head back and moaned as Hua Cheng continued to tease him through the fabric of his clothing. It was good–it was so good–but it wasn’t enough. Eventually, he grew impatient enough to bypass some of his embarrassment. His hands tightened their grip in Hua Cheng’s hair, drawing his attention back up to Xie Lian’s face.

“San Lang…” he started. Then, “Crimson Rain Sought Flower. Claim your prize.”

He watched the command register with Hua Cheng, heard the soft moan he let out when he realized what he was being asked–ordered–to do. His hands lifted away from Xie Lian, and he almost complained, but then he heard the rustling of Hua Cheng working to untie his belt and push layers of robes out of the way. Long fingers curled around the waistband of his pants, and with one simple shift of his hips, Xie Lian’s cock sprung free into the air. He braced himself for the wicked pleasure he was certain was to come, but when he felt nothing, he looked down and saw that Hua Cheng seemed to be entranced, just looking at it.

“San Lang, don’t just stare…” Xie Lian scolded, flushing under the attention.

“The poets were right when they wrote odes to Your Highness’s beauty,” Hua Cheng said, and Xie Lian felt his mind shut down.

“I– San–”

But he couldn’t manage to string together a coherent sentence before Hua Cheng leaned in and closed his lips around the head of his cock. Xie Lian jolted at the sensation, and then again when he felt a tongue swipe over the head, collecting a drop of precum that had been gathering there.

Hua Cheng pulled back just long enough to say, “Gege tastes good,” before diving back in. He took Xie Lian’s length slightly deeper into his mouth this time, and started to suck and massage the underside with his tongue.

“Hah–!” Xie Lian cried, wholly unprepared for the onslaught of sensation. Seemingly determined to drive him insane, Hua Cheng took his length in deeper, and then added his hands to the mix. He used one to stroke over the base of Xie Lian’s dick that didn't fit into his mouth while the other came up to cup his balls. Xie Lian’s entire body was trembling with pleasure. It felt as if bolts of lightning were shooting up and down his spine, he– He couldn’t think! It was too much! He was going to break!

Responding to a signal Xie Lian hadn’t even realized he’d given, Ruoye slipped out of his sleeve and wrapped itself around Hua Cheng’s wrists, pulling his hands together behind his back. He pulled back and blinked up at Xie Lian a couple times. Thankfully, he didn’t seem angry or uncomfortable, just confused.

“Gege?”

Xie Lian took a few deep breaths and chanted a couple lines of the Ethics Sutra in his mind to calm down a bit.

“The– the bet only included your mouth,” he offered as an explanation. It was a shaky one, but Hua Cheng didn’t question it. He just smiled, a soft indulgent thing that somehow reminded Xie Lian of how it used to feel when he received prayers eight hundred years ago.

“If that’s what Dianxia wants,” he said calmly.

Xie Lian looked down at him. To have Hua Cheng on his knees like this, his hands tied, willingly at his mercy, it made him feel powerful in a way he really hadn’t since…

He pushed that thought away immediately. “I’m sorry, San Lang. I shouldn’t have just– I mean, this was supposed to be about you, so what do you want?” he stammered.

“I want whatever will bring Gege pleasure,” Hua Cheng answered. “I want Gege to tie me up if he wants to. I want him to pull my hair and hold me down and use me to make himself feel good.” Xie Lian blushed hearing him say the last part so openly. Hua Cheng’s ears turned slightly pink as well, proving even he wasn’t unaffected by the bold statement, though he seemed sincere in his desires.

“You really want that?”

“I do.” Hua Cheng paused. “Unless it makes Gege uncomfortable, we don’t have to–”

“No– it– I–” Xie Lian stumbled over his words. How was he supposed to just say “that actually sounds like the hottest thing in the world and I want to do that immediately?” Luckily, Hua Cheng seemed to have a talent for reading him.

“Gege looks interested.”

“I…” Why was he so embarrassed? It’s not like they hadn’t done anything before, and Hua Cheng had literally had his dick in his mouth not even two minutes ago! “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t.” Hua Cheng said it so confidently, but Xie Lian still was unsure.

“But what if I do? What if something happens though and you can’t tell me?” he pressed. “I… I’m not saying I’m not interested, I just want to make sure…”

“Hm.” Hua Cheng tilted his head slightly, pressing it into Xie Lian’s hand which was still resting in his hair. “If Gege is worried about me being unable to speak to him, he could tell me his communication array password.”

Xie Lian shook his head. “I wouldn’t be able to access it without spiritual power.”

“Oh, well that’s easy to fix!” Hua Cheng leaned forward again. He used his nose to slide Xie Lian’s pants down a little farther until he could press his lips directly to the skin of his thigh. When he did, a flood of spiritual power rushed into Xie Lian. Hua Cheng was much more generous in lending him power than Nan Feng and Fu Yao had been in the rare instances he’d borrowed from them, and Xie Lian gasped as he felt the sudden burst flow through his body.

“There,” Hua Cheng said. “Now Gege should be able to access his array.”

It took Xie Lian a few seconds to recover from the sudden influx of energy. Surely that was too much? But Hua Cheng just sat there and waited, looking up at him expectantly, so Xie Lian cleared his throat and spoke.

“Right, the password. Just– just recite the Ethics Sutra a thousand times.” He watched Hua Cheng’s lips curl up into a smile, and a few moments later that deep voice rang out in his head.

‘It’s just the phrase that one needs to repeat three times, am I right?’

Xie Lian couldn’t prevent the shiver that ran through his body as that voice filled every crevice of his mind, as if Hua Cheng were caressing his brain directly. Still, he nodded. ‘San Lang got it so quickly!’

‘I almost didn’t. It’s very clever, Gege!’ They lingered in that moment for a second, smiling fondly at each other, but then Xie Lian absentmindedly scratched his fingers on Hua Cheng’s scalp and he moaned. His eye widened, like he didn’t expect himself to make that noise, but it successfully drew the mood back to where it had been before Xie Lian panicked. His dick, which had been flagging as they spoke, twitched with renewed interest.

Knelt in front of him, Hua Cheng naturally noticed. He made eye contact with Xie Lian, almost pleading, “Gege…”

How was Xie Lian supposed to resist that? He gave in to what they both wanted and pulled Hua Cheng’s head back down to his cock.

True to his words, the ghost went along with Xie Lian’s actions eagerly. He seemed content to allow Xie Lian to move him however he wanted, leaving the control entirely in his hands.

At first he kept to a slow, gentle pace, both out of fear that he’d hurt Hua Cheng and of being overwhelmed again, but as he grew more comfortable, he allowed himself to sink into the pleasure coming from Hua Cheng’s mouth. He pulled his head down farther, relishing in the warmth surrounding his length, the friction as his cock dragged between Hua Cheng’s tongue and the roof of his mouth.

When the tip of his cock nudged Hua Cheng’s throat, the ghost moaned and the vibrations made Xie Lian’s toes curl. Fully lost to the pleasure, he threw his head back and teased that spot over and over, loving the way it drew choked sounds from the ghost below him, loving the way he could feel the walls of his throat flutter like they wanted to drag him in deeper, loving the way it felt like his whole world narrowed down to the sensation of Hua Cheng’s mouth around him, driving him higher.

“San Lang– hah! Feels so good!” Xie Lian gasped. Hua Cheng moaned again at the praise, even louder than he had before, though it was muffled. The increased vibration shocked Xie Lian enough that he accidentally pulled Hua Cheng down farther than he intended and the head of his cock slipped into his throat.

Immediately Hua Cheng swallowed, and that tight massage around his length nearly sent Xie Lian off the ledge. He was so close, too close–

He pulled Hua Cheng back almost all the way.

“Are you alright?” he asked. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to go that far–”

‘Do it again, Gege,’ Hua Cheng begged through the communication array. He sucked on the part of Xie Lian’s cock he could still reach, his tongue darting out to flick over the tip. When Xie Lian looked down at him, his eye seemed a little hazy, though his expression couldn’t be more content. ‘Fuck my throat.’

So Xie Lian pulled him down again. He worked himself deeper and deeper until Hua Cheng’s nose brushed against the hair between his legs. Then he pulled him back and did it again.

It only took a few more before he felt that edge approaching again. His hands trembled where they were fisted in Hua Cheng’s hair. His thighs shook under the building pressure, but right when he was about to pull away again, that voice slipped back into his mind.

‘Let go, Gege,’ Hua Cheng whispered. ‘I’ve got you.’

And Xie Lian was surprised to find… he trusted him. He really trusted Hua Cheng in a way he hadn’t let himself trust anyone for a long, long time. He let himself fall.

However, right when he felt his pleasure cresting, he abruptly remembered choking when they had done this reversed, and yanked Hua Cheng back harshly by his hair to avoid doing the same thing to him. As a result, his release ended up splattered all over the ghost king’s shocked face, much to Xie Lian’s dismay when he came back to his senses a few moments later after riding out his high.

“San Lang! I’m so sorry! I got you all dirty…”

“Gege…” Hua Cheng blinked up at him. Despite the state of his face, he looked extremely satisfied. As Xie Lian watched, he stuck his tongue out to scoop up some of the cum and taste it. “Believe me, this San Lang doesn’t mind at all. Though I am wondering if there’s a reason?”

“I…” Xie Lian had to shake his head to regain his focus after watching that. Though he’d initially felt bad, the sight of Hua Cheng covered in his release was incredibly attractive in a way he was still a little afraid to examine. “I didn’t want San Lang to choke is all.”

“Gege, I’m a ghost,” Hua Cheng pointed out. “I can’t really choke if I don’t want to. The thought is appreciated, however!” His shoulders twitched. “Perhaps I could have my hands back now?”

“Ah, right!” Xie Lian quickly commanded Ruoye to release him, and the bandage returned to its place on his arm. “Does– does San Lang want– I mean, if he hasn’t–”

“That’s alright, Gege,” Hua Cheng said, ducking his head slightly as he stretched out his arms. “I did tell you that this would be a reward for me.”

Xie Lian blinked. “You mean you… just from…?!”

Hua Cheng’s ears turned pink. “Gege is quite the sight when he takes charge like that.”

“Oh.” Xie Lian felt his face heat up as well. They were quiet for a moment, until Xie Lian’s eyes locked onto the mess covering Hua Cheng’s face.

“San Lang, isn’t that uncomfortable? Do you want me to help you wipe it off?”

“Cleaning. Right.” Hua Cheng seemed to jump into action, shifting until he could stand up. “Actually, Gege, you probably want to freshen up too.” Xie Lian looked down at himself and realized that he hadn’t been spared from the spray when he came. “I’ve got some stuff in my closet that I think would suit Gege if he wants to come see?”

“Okay,” Xie Lian agreed. Hua Cheng offered him a hand and helped him up. “But San Lang,” he realized, “can we really just walk around like this?”

“Don’t worry, Gege.” Hua Cheng held up his hand and displayed a set of dice like the ones they had used in the Gambler’s Den earlier. “We’ll take the direct route.”

He rolled the dice in front of the armory door and then pushed it open to reveal, not the hallway that they’d walked through before, but a bedroom. “Come on, Gege.”

Xie Lian stepped through after him, marveling at the ingenious modification of a transportation array. They made quick work of cleaning themselves up. The robes Hua Cheng provided Xie Lian were white, like his own, but made from a nicer material, and when he looked closely he saw small silver butterflies stitched along the hems.

Once he was fully changed, he perched on the edge of the bed and watched as Hua Cheng finished changing himself. As he did, a feeling of guilt began curling in his stomach. It had been so easy to fall back into the same kind of dynamic they’d had back at Puqi Shrine, but in reality Xie Lian was here to investigate him. It didn’t feel right.

“San Lang, I need to confess something,” he said.

“What is it, Gege?” Hua Cheng asked, still focused on the mirror where he was finishing with his jewelry.

“I didn’t come here just to see you.”

Hua Cheng turned around. “I know why you’re here, Gege,” he said softly. “I don’t mind. Whatever the reason, I’ll always enjoy your presence.”

“I don’t want to take advantage of our friendship.” Xie Lian fidgeted with his robes as he spoke, fingers rubbing over the butterflies sewn into the fabric.

“Gege, it’s really alright.” Xie Lian still hesitated, so Hua Cheng added, “If you’re really worried about it, how about we agree that you’ll owe me a favor in the future?”

That settled Xie Lian’s nerves a bit, so he agreed. Hua Cheng finished dressing himself up until he looked just as regal as he had in the Gambler’s Den earlier, with no sign that anything had happened other than a change of outfit.

“Let’s go see what Gege’s friends have gotten up to, hm?” Once again, he offered his hand to Xie Lian, who took it.

Hua Cheng rolled the dice again, and this time Xie Lian was able to glance that they landed on a pair of sixes. With a flourish, he pushed open the bedroom door, revealing a dark stone hallway.

They stepped through and walked into a circular room with three people inside. Two of them, Xie Lian recognized as Lang Qianqiu and Shi Qingxuan, both of them looking somewhat worse for wear. The third man was lying slumped across Shi Qingxuan’s back. He had clearly just been freed from a pair of shackles binding him to the wall.

“You actually made it here,” Hua Cheng commented. His tone was completely different now/ None of the softness that came out around Xie Lian was present. “I’m impressed. I thought for sure someone would have to haul you out of the crocodile pit.”

“What is the meaning of this?!” Lang Qianqiu shouted, immediately drawing his weapon and pointing it at Hua Cheng. “Why are you keeping the Earth Master prisoner?!”

“Oh, is that who this is?” Hua Cheng asked, completely ignoring the threat. “I thought he was one of my subordinates, so imagine my surprise when I suddenly recognized him at Banyue Pass…”

At Banyue Pass? But the only ones there had been…

Oh. Huh.

Xie Lian studied the figure on Shi Qingxuan’s back, trying to connect his features to the woman that had been accompanying the Wind Master in Banyue. Even knowing the truth, he still found it hard to see, but apparently Hua Cheng had recognized the disguise immediately! As expected of someone with his talents!

“Normally I wouldn’t be so lenient,” Hua Cheng was saying when Xie Lian tuned back into the conversation. “But fortunately for you, His Highness and I have come to an arrangement.” He waved a hand dismissively. “Take him. Get him out of my sight. I really don’t care anymore.”

Lang Qianqiu and Shi Qingxuan both froze. It was clear neither of them were expecting it to be that easy.

“Your Highness?” Lang Qianqiu asked, turning his attention uncertainly to Xie Lian, who nodded at him.

“Hua Chengzhu is very generous,” Xie Lian said, stepping out slightly in front of Hua Cheng to try and defuse the tension a bit.

“Taizi Dianxia is very persuasive,” Hua Cheng replied. He squeezed Xie Lian’s hand once, teasingly, and then dropped it. “Now, I think you all have overstayed your welcome on my territory. Go, before I change my mind.”

Shi Qingxuan laughed nervously. “Right! We’ll do that then!” He paused. “Uh, you might have to help us find the way out of your scary dungeon first though?”

Hua Cheng sighed and rolled his dice, creating a door to the front of Paradise Manor.

“Thanks!” Shi Qingxuan squeaked before turning to go, the Earth Master still slung over his back. Lang Qianqiu went to follow, but paused and turned back after a moment.

“Your Highness, are you coming?”

Xie Lian blinked. Right. After all, this was his mission, so naturally, he should go back to report…

He glanced back at Hua Cheng, reluctant to just leave. The ghost king was standing impassively, but when he saw Xie Lian looking, his gaze softened.

‘I’ll see you soon, Gege,’ he promised through their communication array.

‘See you soon, San Lang,’ Xie Lian agreed. Then he turned to join his fellow gods as they ascended back to heaven, leaving Hua Cheng and Ghost City behind.

Bonus

Yin Yu left His Highness to go find Hua Chengzhu, kicking himself for his stupidity. Why would you just ask him if he fucked your boss?! Obviously that would make him uncomfortable! His only hope was that Xie Lian was too embarrassed to mention it to Hua Cheng, because if he said anything then Yin Yu was dead. Plain and simple.

He pondered the situation as he moved silently through the halls of Paradise Manor. Maybe there was some way to make it up to him? His job for the moment was relatively simple: keep an eye on Lang Qianqiu and the Wind Master and make sure nothing disturbed Chengzhu and His Highness, so maybe there was something he could do in the meantime to abate some of the anger.

It hit him then. The kid! When he’d found His Highness in the marketplace, he had been chasing after some kid with bandages on his face. If Yin Yu tracked him down, hopefully taking the initiative to be useful to His Highness would soften the blow from how disrespectful he’d been. Hopefully.

He checked in with the two gods one more time, still standing around arguing about what to do next, and then took off to track down the kid.

It wasn’t too difficult, thankfully. As Hua Cheng’s right hand, the ghosts of Ghost City tended to fall over themselves to be useful to him, and in turn, their lord. He followed their directions to a (relatively) quieter part of the city, where he discovered the boy tucked away behind some crates in an old storehouse.

“Hey there,” Yin Yu said softly, trying not to startle him. He could catch the kid if he decided to run, of course, but it would be a lot easier if he could get him to come on his own.

The kid looked up and flinched at the sight of him. Quickly determining the issue, Yin Yu reached up and removed his mask, dropping it to the ground.

“It’s alright, I’m not going to hurt you,” he reassured. He held his hands up in front of him to show that he was unarmed, and saw the kid relax slightly. “My name is Yin Yu. What’s yours?”

The kid shook his head.

“You don’t know?” Yin Yu guessed. It wasn’t uncommon for ghosts that were newer or who had faced more traumatic deaths to forget some of the details of their life. The kid shook his head again and looked down at the ground like he was ashamed.

“That’s alright,” Yin Yu said, inching a little closer. “Is there a nickname or something you’d like me to call you?”

The boy thought about it for a bit. “...Ying.”

Yin Yu nodded. “Okay. Ying-er then. Does that sound good?”

Ying-er looked up and nodded. His posture relaxed a little more, even as Yin Yu kept slowly getting closer.

“Do you know where you’re from, Ying-er?”

He fidgeted with his sleeve. “...Yong’an.”

“Yong’an, huh?” Yong’an hadn’t been around for a few centuries by now, but this ghost was acting as if he were brand new. “That’s pretty far away. Do you know how you got here?”

Ying-er shook his head. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Yin Yu was right in front of him now. “Hey, Ying-er, when you were out in the city earlier, did you see the big mansion?”

“Uh huh,” Ying-er mumbled. “It was cool.”

Yin Yu smiled. “Well, I happen to live there! Why don’t you come back with me and I can get you some food and get you cleaned up, and then maybe we can figure out what happened to you, huh?” He offered his hand to Ying-er to help him up.

The boy studied him, considering the offer for a while before he nodded. He reached out, but instead of grabbing on to Yin Yu’s hand, he held on to his sleeve. He kept holding it after he got to his feet, and Yin Yu started leading him out into the city. He stopped to pick up his mask before they left, and felt a tug at his sleeve when he did.

“Can I have a mask too?” Ying-er asked. Yin Yu glanced down at him. Nearly his entire face was covered in bandages, so clearly there was something he was trying to hide. He got that.

“Sure,” he replied. “Whatever you’d like.”

The kid stayed quiet as they walked through the city, and more than once Yin Yu found himself looking down just to make sure he was still there. It wasn’t until they had almost reached the manor that he felt another tug at his sleeve.

“For my mask…” Ying-er said once he had Yin Yu’s attention. “I think I want one that smiles.”

When Yin Yu had picked out his own mask, he had been in the worst state of his life. After nearly killing Quan Yizhen, getting kicked out of heaven, and then further betraying them by agreeing to work for Hua Cheng, he’d figured he might as well wear a demon mask so the outside would reflect the inside.

Now he looked down at Ying-er. The boy had clearly been through something awful. Even if his mind was blocking most of it out, he was still jumpy, barely able to speak, and not to mention his entire body was covered in bandages. To have been through all of that and still be choosing to show the world a smile…

“A smiling mask, huh?” Yin Yu grinned at him and bent down slightly to ruffle his hair. “Good choice!”