Lian awoke tucked underneath Hua Cheng's arm. Their room was still dark, lit only by a few candles and not any light from outside the window. The candles cast shadows across gauzy curtains that separated the bed from the rest of the room. It made him feel like he was a prince again. He was married to the King of Ghosts after all.
Though his body wasn't mortal, Xie Lian could still feel a mild headache from all the loud music still throbbing in his ears and an ache to certain points of his body. There were two inner robes draped across the footboard that had been discarded from the night before. He wasn't too enthused about having to get up and dress again.
The man on top of him shifted when he felt the other wake up. "Mn…Gege?"
"I'm here," answered Xie Lian quietly, though he couldn't have gone anywhere still pinned underneath his husband's arm. "We slept in."
All Hua Cheng did was tighten his hold. Neither of them really wanted leaving the warmth of their marital bed, but their week of festivities should have come to an end a week ago. If they lingered any longer that morning, the crowds would gather outside of Paradise Manor once more and make leaving that much harder. Again.
After detangling limbs and blankets, Xie Lian stood and checked what he had checked every morning since their marriage night: his spiritual reservoir. And just like each morning—Well, he was positively overflowing with it, but it wasn't his. Every drop of his own power had dried up. He had spent a better part of 800 years shackled from the ability to cultivate, so he wasn't a stranger to the feeling.
The emotions he felt towards it were more like grieving a family member you never knew. It had been a part of him, but… Well. Life was a constantly flowing river, wasn't it? Xie Lian tugged his robes back over his body and glanced back to the bed. His husband was watching him.
"Is Gege sore at all this morning?" Hua Cheng asked, voice husky since it was so early. His top half was completely bare above the blankets. Flawless skin, sharp muscles, a few marks the god had accidentally left.
"The hot bath helps." If Xia Lian answered 'yes,' it would've just ended with even more pampering than he'd already been through the last few days. They had enjoyed themselves, but he still had duties to attend to. "We should go soon if we want to avoid getting bombarded again. I can't leave Puqi Shrine unattended for too much longer." Or else the villagers might take too many liberties with his décor.
Each time the two of them left the shrine for more than a few days, they would always return to tacky banners hung on the fence or signs nailed to nearby trees announcing the greatness of their god. It all was much too tacky for Xie Lian's modest taste.
Once his inner robe was snug, he turned to the wall mirror and made sure Ruoye covered any marks on his neck. It nearly looked like nothing had changed at all.
"I can send the ghosts all off if Gege wants. We can stay here, someone else could take care of Puqi." Hua Cheng appeared behind his husband's reflection. He was already dressed immaculately, not looking like he had been in bed just a minute ago. Any time he whined for Xie Lian to help dress him was just for the attention.
Xie Lian gave in to all these whims ever since he returned from the undead. Every time.
The ghosts in the city would definitely be heartbroken if their Chengzhu forced them to stop celebrating, though. Xie Lian put on the rest of his robes. "They worked hard on this. Let them have it."
He turned and put his hands briefly on Hua Cheng's chest. Their height difference was incredible; he never thought of himself as small until they stood close like that. There was a whole head of difference between the two. Hua Cheng definitely seemed to enjoy the difference, though, and he leaned down to press a kiss into Xie Lian's hair.
"Ready to be on our way?"
"Mhm."
A dice through towards their bedroom door later—and the door opened to Puqi Shrine.
Cold was the first sense to hit them.
All was quiet at first. The morning was too early to allow any sunrise through their windows, so all that came through was chilly autumn wind and the smell of the forest. It was hard for Xie Lian not to shiver at the change in temperature.
"Gege must allow me to purchase him some nice robes this winter," Hua Cheng said cheerily, knowing his husband resisted being spoiled too much. He knelt down by the stove to work on getting a fire started. "Ah, but It looks like a lot of prayers came through while we were away."
He was right. The altar table was overflowing with notes and offerings. Xie Lian sat down on the chair next to Hua Cheng and began picking through them one by one.
Puqi villagers cared a great deal for Xie Lian, just as Ghost City did, but in a different way. Offerings came from them in the form of food, hand-sewn linens, and incense that made the shrine smell genuine. The remodeled building now felt like a proper temple. And with it, Xie Lian felt like a proper god again. It made his heart swell with pride.
The last year without his partner had been hard on him. There was no denying this. But everything he felt in these little moments made it all worth it.
Hua Cheng filled the kettle and placed it onto the stove top. When the water was simmering, he pulled apart a plump orange to share for breakfast. "These villagers have excellent taste in whom they worship."
"It almost sounds like my San Lang is jealous," Xie Lian teased, smiling over a sheet of parchment.
"Of course not. I believe Dianxia is the most wonderful person of all the three realms; everyone needs to see this. Worshipping you is the proper thing to do."
His cheeks glowed with the compliment. Even if it was a little over-the-top. Most everything that Hua Cheng said about him these last few weeks had been like that, showering him with love and praise at any chance, like he was trying to make up for being gone a year. Xie Lian would never blame him, but he enjoyed the attention after being without.
They ate their breakfast and drank their tea in silence for a while.
Most of the prayers he received over the week were typical of Puqi. This was the main source of prayers he got (so far, he told himself). Helping with the fall harvest, hauling water for a father with a broken foot, repairing a broken window. All requests they could easily fulfill.
At least no one is asking for fertility or wealth, Xie Lian thought to himself in amusement. He tucked the prayers into his sleeve. It was hard to believe it's already that time of year to harvest, though, with winter right around the corner.
There was a small portion of the earth behind Puqi Shrine that he and Hua Cheng tilled, and he was excited to be producing his own food next year. Though he wouldn't be there full-time, the garden should be large enough for the beggars and vagrants to feed themselves. They even procured a pair of hens for the shrine that would be old enough to make eggs in the springtime.
Just two years ago there was truly nowhere he could call home, but Xie Lian couldn't say that now. He had Puqi Shrine, his cottage up in the Taicang Mountains, Qiandeng Temple deep in Ghost City, and of course Paradise Manor where they spent the last week. He felt like he belonged.
It was more than he felt he deserved.
As the morning crept on, Puqi came to life around them. Birds began calling from outside, waking their chickens which clucked in tune. Xie Lian was fixing to stand up and start his day when—
-Good morning, Your Highness.- Ling Wen's voice entered into his communication array.
He put his fingers to his temple. -Good morning, Ling Wen.-
-Reports of your celebration have even reached the Heavens. It sounds like quite the party. Will you be back to duties soon?-
-I returned today, actually, just catching up on what I missed- When he looked up, Hua Cheng had changed to his San Lang form, hair tied into a crooked ponytail and looking blindingly handsome. They smiled at each other. -What can I help you with?-
-I have an incoming prayer for you.-
Xie Lian sat up at this. He couldn't help but be a little surprised. Prayers that came from outside Puqi Village were few and far between, since he didn't have many followers outside the village yet. Those few prayers might have come directly to him when he had a functioning spiritual core, but this time…
He would've been able to hear the prayer if he was really concentrating. Since he was now limited by his damaged spiritual core, someone (Ling Wen) had to facilitate this prayer getting to him. It would have been easier if borrowing power brought him up to complete original functionality, but it just didn't work like that. He couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed at this.
-Thank you very much for passing it along, I appreciate your help. What is it?-
Did that mean the entire Heavens knew that he broke his vows now?? Everyone? Feng Xin and Mu Qing would probably rather jump off a cliff than accept it. Especially with the infamous Crimson Rain Sought Flower. Maybe Ling Wen had the decency to keep it to herself.
-The request comes from a nobleman residing in a town near Mount Yujun. His daughter is wedding a young lord across the mountain and he wishes for your blessing of safe travels.-
Once again, Xie Lian was baffled at Ling Wen's words. His very first task upon his third ascension was to take care of the ghost haunting Mount Yujun, making it unsafe for marriage processions to cross. This was several years ago. Even the ghost, Xuan Ji, had dissipated in her prison not long after Jun Wu's defeat. There hadn't been a reason to fear Mount Yujun in a while.
Ling Wen knew what the other god was thinking and continued: -There hasn't been any instance of missing persons on Mount Yujun since Xuan Ji was dispersed, but this is the nobleman's only daughter. He knows the Palace of the Crown Prince took care of the issue the first time, and he wants to assure his daughter is well guarded during her journey. He spared no expense in this prayer, Your Highness.-
People would truly go to great lengths to protect the ones they loved. This was very similar to the original prayer. If Xie Lian had been a more prominent god with many more prayers flowing in, he might not have heeded one like this.
However, he had no need or desire to refuse.
Ling Wen shared all the necessary information regarding the excursion. As she did so, Hua Cheng left to go tend the chickens. There was much they still needed to do in Puqi…but there was just enough time to finish it before needing to leave again.
Life never slowed down.
When Hua Cheng first reappeared at the Taicang cottage, they had spent days huddled inside the cabin, crying and holding onto each other and talking and confessing their love over and over. The week following that was spent working tirelessly on Puqi, where Hua Cheng had asked for his hand in marriage. The following week was their wedding celebration, and the rest was history.
It was nice getting back into the normal routine of things if only for a bit. Back to tending to his homestead shrine, making rounds across the village, responding to prayer summons. This was the perfect life, he decided; he had never yearned for the lives other heavenly officials led.
San Lang didn't once complain about accompanying him on these errands. His charisma and charm had won over the entire village long ago, so everyone was delighted to see him back in the fields. It was enough for them to almost favor the ghost over their resident god.
San Lang is very handsome, Xie Lian thought to himself while working in a villager's field together. The long-sleeve tunic looked very good on him, and his messy hair made him look even more enchanting. Fresh-faced, strong arms. Along with the woven basket of vegetables strapped to his side that he carried easily… What a capable husband he's found himself.
Hua Cheng caught Xie Lian staring and raised his eyebrow.
-I recognize that look,- The communication array opened with Hua Cheng's teasing. -The shrine's bed won't be as comfortable as Paradise Manor, but we could always-
-No, no, no- Xie Lian immediately interrupted and hid his face within the basket of leeks he carried. Hopefully no one saw. -I wasn't thinking that! You are terrible, San Lang. We still have much work to do today. Stay focused.-
Hua Cheng threw a devilish smirk in his direction, which he dodged.
They didn't say anything else. The rest of the time harvesting was spent in silence, with Xie Lian busying himself with the task at hand. In fact, they worked so diligently that he developed a sheen of sweat despite the cool weather. Such was the glorious life he chose.
After assisting with this harvest, the two of them had several other prayers to answer, which were simply errands to run. There was nothing a pair of immortals couldn't accomplish for the simple townspeople. It was a marvel how many prayers could pile up within just a week of absence. Perhaps it was the season.
Dusk already began to set in when their last job was finally complete. This meant layers of grime and sweat that desperately needed to be washed off.
"San Lang, would you start on dinner while I gather wood for the bath?" Xie Lian asked as they dragged themselves up to the shrine steps.
Hua Cheng opened the door for the two of them, but he made a despondent type of noise before answering. "I haven't had Gege's cooking in so long. Can we not trade chores tonight?"
It hadn't even been two weeks since I cooked for him. Maybe if Xie Lian didn't always give in immediately, his husband wouldn't be so spoiled.
It was hard telling him no when he looked so genuinely sad at something so silly. "I'll indulge you," Shaking his head, he looked fondly up. "There is truly only one person in this world who would miss my cooking. It's fortunate I married him."
Of course Hua Cheng's frown vanished immediately. It turned completely around into a smile at the mention of their marriage. "I'm the fortunate one." He stole a kiss before leaving the shrine to get firewood.
Insufferable.
Xie Lian started on dinner. They had gotten all sort of fresh produce from helping villagers harvest, so their stir fry was going to be plentiful tonight. It was hard choosing just what to use so he chopped up a little bit of everything. A rainbow of colors simmered in the wok; purple eggplants, bright green bok choy, red radishes. The added spices gave everything a hint of yellow as well. This should be edible, he stirred it around.
The food was horrifying, as expected. Hua Cheng ate two bowls and even finished the last bite of his husband's straight from his spoon. Next time, they won't cook it long enough for the roux to burn.
Dinner was over just as the bathwater reached the perfect temperature. What luck to have timed things so perfectly. Xie Lian was starting to really remember how sore he was, so it was a blessing getting to slip right into a hot bath once the day was at its end.
"Thank you for getting the water ready, San Lang." He sank into their tub all the way up to his nose and closed his eyes. "You take such good care of this old god."
He was definitely the fortunate one. There was no arguing. From a homeless scavenger to taking a bath after a day of answering prayers. From a god of misfortune to the happiest god in all the realms. From unwanted to cherished.
"What a nice look on Gege's face. Do I get to know what is giving my beloved such a smile?" Hua Cheng sat against the side of the tub and leaned his arms over the edge. Back in his true form, his one dark eye sparkled so sweetly. This tub wasn't big enough for the two of them to share, otherwise he would have joined immediately. "Do you prefer this little bath over the one we have in Paradise Manor? I can have a new one put in."
Laughing, Xie Lian lifted his hands out of the water. "Aha no, San Lang, that's not it. I'm just reflecting. It's funny how we'll be returning to Mount Yujun, where you met me as my ghost groom. Now you really are my ghost groom."
This made the ghost's eye sparkle even more. "I suppose I am. Does that make you my…god bride?"
"Do you truly think the title of bride suits me?" Another laugh.
This question was meant as a joke, but Hua Cheng seemed to take it seriously. He crossed his arms on the edge of the bathtub and propped his chin up on them. "Bride, groom, husband, wife. All of that is Gege. There is no difference to me." When he noticed his husband turning pink, he grinned. "One to love and protect unconditionally. And you're more beautiful than any bride I've ever seen."
Xie Lian cheeks were growing so hot he could have heated the bath without a fire. Luckily, this could easily segue back into the topic at hand, so he turned away. "Speaking of bride, have you heard of anything unusual happening again with Mount Yujun? Wedding caravans have crossed it with no problem for the last two years."
"Mm I don't think our presence is necessary, no. There hasn't been any true evil since then. A few armed guards could handle any wild animals or potential bandits. Even the chance of a Binu attack is much lower now that there isn't all that evil qi drawing them in."
The god brought soap into his hands and began washing his hair. "It's Pei Ming's territory. I'd imagine crossing brides would pray first to him for safe travels, but he doesn't usually respond to such menial requests."
"They didn't want Pei Ming's protection." Hua Cheng helped rinse the other's hair. "Wise choice. They wanted the one who vanquished the wrath originally."
"It makes sense, I suppose. I have time to spare and no deputies to send on my behalf."
"Gege will do a better job than anyone else."
The two of them talked and flirted until it was time for bed. Thanks to the ghost's attention to it, the fireplace remained stoked. All they had to do was towel Xie Lian off and dress down for the night.
They settled onto the bed (a marked improvement from Puqi Shrine's previous straw mat), wrapped their arms around each other, and let the crackling sounds of the fireplace lull them. In a way, this was more comfortable than Paradise Manor.
It had been yet another long day. Tomorrow, they would have to set off on a few days' journey with the bridal caravan—the destination a town they hadn't been before. A town he'd never been to, with his new husband, the start of a whole new chapter to his life.
Just before sleep took him, Xie Lian peeked one of his eyes open. "San Lang?"
"Yes, Dianxia?"
"Thank you for waiting for me."
It was something that he'd thanked Hua Cheng for many many times. It hadn't even been a full moon cycle since Hua Cheng had returned to him. Xie Lian waited dutifully for a year, but Hua Cheng waited 800 before that. He never gave up on finding his god, never once wavered in his love or devotion.
To say thank you was more than simple gratitude.
It was a promise of forever.
Hua Cheng had the same answer as he always did. "I'm eternally yours," he responded drowsily. "Sleep now, talk tomorrow."
"Sweet dreams, San Lang."
--
It was a shame he'd had to leave Puqi Shrine so soon, Xie Lian thought sadly. He sat, not in his shrine, but at a table in a teashop, looking out across the misty forest through the window. This was the same teashop he had sat in for the original Mount Yujun prayer, and the owner was quick to ask him not to break anything.
It certainly felt quieter without Mu Qing and Feng Xin to bicker and punch things.
He continued to gaze out the window. Early morning fog clung heavy to the earth like a quilt. While it wasn't as cold as the day previous had been, leaves that were still on the trees were completely red and gold for the season.
"I have a question." He turned to his company, who was sitting across the table and drinking a steaming cup of tea.
Hua Cheng brushed his fingertip across the rim of the cup. "What is it?"
"When I was here the last time, in this tea house, I remember seeing a silver butterfly through the window." It was across the room from where they sat now, but Xie Lian remembered it vividly. "I'm certain it was yours. Was that the moment you found me? Had your butterflies seen me before then?"
"Mm. I had many butterflies out searching, but that was the first time one found you. I can't begin to describe the feeling." The ghost closed his eyes thoughtfully. "This believer has been to the Heavens before, but seeing Dianxia again after so long... It felt as though I took my first breath of air since dying."
The simple question had turned into another chance to worship.
Xie Lian was used to it, but he still covered his cheek with a hand. "I…I was just remarking how things have changed, but here we are in the same place." Almost like fate. "If only I had known sooner—"
"Apologies for interrupting." The owner of the tea house appeared in front of the table, bowing his neck. "The bridal caravan has arrived outside. Would you like me to tell them to wait?"
"No need, our tea is finished. Thank you." Xie Lian stood up and dusted invisible dust from his robes.
Bridal sedans were typically lavish, and the parade anticipating the cultivator's arrival was no exception. It sat in the fog like a grand red city high in the clouds. Red silks draped across the palanquin, heavy with the morning dew, gold trimmings and looking every bit as expensive as expected. A heron family crest decorated the very front.
Eight massive guards were stationed at each corner of the palanquin. Another dozen armed men stood around the sides of it as the remained of the precession. It was a smaller group than the one that accompanied Xie Lian when he first traversed the mountain, but this wasn't much of a surprise since they weren't going out to vanquish a wrath-level ghost this time.
All of the guards turned to look at Xie Lian and Hua Cheng as they left the tea house. Xie Lian bowed to the guard who appeared to be in charge when they approached.
The guard bowed back. "Greetings, Daozhang. We trust you haven't been waiting for us long?"
"We only just arrived as well."
"Master Qin Shi sends his utmost gratitude to the Palace of the Crown Prince for responding to his prayer." There was yet another deep bow, this time from the entire group accompanying the sedan. "If there is anything we can do to make the journey more comfortable, please let us know."
The group exchanged pleasantries and names (Xie Lian assuming the identity of Hua Lian, to Hua Cheng's delight). It was during this time that the future bride stepped out to greet everyone as well. She kept her veil on, as per tradition, but the red robes were as elaborate as expected of a wealthy family.
"Hua-Daozhang." Her voice was soft, shy, perhaps what a flower would sound like if it could speak. "My name is Qin Mengying. Thank you very much for accompanying the caravan. My father is an overly cautious man, and my fiancé's town had a rough year. You can never be too safe."
"No you cannot," Xie Lian agreed. "Marriage is a joyful time, so I am honored to provide a sense of security."
He had just gotten married himself. He wore a set of his own elaborate (much too elaborate) wedding robes and rode his own grand palanquin (it was impossible to persuade his husband against it). He genuinely was honored to be a part of someone else's happy time.
It didn't take long to debrief Xie Lian and Hua Cheng on their schedule.
The journey was estimated to be two days. It would take them across Mount Yujun, but the groom's town on the other side of the mountain was a sharp eastern turn that Xie Lian hadn't visited before. It was a little exciting and felt similar to the nomadic part of his past life— Camping materials strapped onto guard's backs, water skins swinging from belts, talismans of safe travel.
Hua Cheng stayed dutifully by Xie Lian's side while the group made their preparations. He only assisted Xie Lian, which suited them just fine, since no one had counted on an additional person accompanying their party. He was only there for his own bride. It only took a bit of convincing for Xie Lian to allow him to carry all their own supplies.
Cold sunlight filtered through the trees overhead as the caravan trekked through the forest. It had only just barely warmed up enough to lift the fog even by noon. While he was good at regulating his temperature, Xie Lian was glad they stayed on the move to keep his blood pumping and feet moving.
The bamboo hat strapped around his neck did provide resistance to the slight breeze.
There wasn't a lot of conversation at first; most everyone was on their most dutiful behavior and focused on the mountain path ahead of them. Every rustle of wild animal had them gripping the handles of their swords. However, nothing was ever worth Ruoye leaving Xie Lian's sleeve. All was quiet.
The first night that they stopped and set up camp, Hua Cheng produced a red scarf seemingly out of nowhere and draped it across Xie Lian's. The mountains certainly drew a chill that they hadn't felt in Puqi.
"I must ask again," he kept his voice low while nailing down a corner of their tent, "are you certain you want to sleep outside in the cold? I would be delighted to summon something better for Gege to sleep in."
By "better," he probably meant his own luxurious palanquin fit for the gods twice as large as the one they were watching. It would've been terrible manners to outshine the bride on her wedding march.
Xie Lian shook his head. "Don't worry about me. I've slept in worse weather without a tent over my head." After securing the rest of their shelter, he stood. His husband did not seem pleased to remember that fact. "So long as it's next to you, wherever I sleep is the most comfortable bed. I doubt you'll let me get cold."
Hua Cheng still didn't look satisfied, but his frown softened. "As my god pleases."
"As your husband pleases."
The frown vanished.
A few of the party went to gather firewood and the rest of them focused on preparing dinner. It was a lively scene. The only person left idle was Qin Mengying, wrapped in layers of furs on an upturned box. She would continue to wear her bridal robes and veil until her wedding ceremony. Sleeping in those clothes surely would be unpleasant…
Xie Lian procured several logs from the forest and arranged them for seating around the campfires. As long as they stayed stoked, the fires should keep any animals from wandering too close to camp. And as long as Hua Cheng was there, any curious ghosts would steer clear as well. They were certainly safer with him.
Once tea was ready, Xie Lian poured two cups and handed one to Mengying. "Are you settling okay, Mengying-jie? These mountains can sometimes be frightening at night if you're not used to them."
"I'm certainly not used to them, but I've settled well." The bride parted her veil a bit to the side to blow on her tea. "This world will always have its surprises. I haven't found anything to be frightened of out here quite yet other than my own anxieties."
This was an insightful take on things. Allowing a reassuring expression to rest on his face, Xie Lian sipped from his own cup. "Often our greatest enemy, it's true. Have you known your suitor for long?"
"Four years. He lived in my town for a brief time, but he had to move back recently to tend to his ailing mother. I hadn't planned on living so far from my family, but his mother may not have long left. We will be staying there for now."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
Mortal lives were…fleeting. Fragile. Some of the gods, though having once been mortals themselves, thought of shorter life spans as less rewarding. Xie Lian thought the opposite. With less time in your bodies, every action mattered so much more. It was so much more precious. He wasn't sure what his own life would hold, but he was just grateful he didn't have to worry about either him or his husband having to die and leave the other behind so soon.
Hua Cheng was working towards the tree line, dutifully piling furs and blankets inside of their tent to ensure they wouldn't feel the cold that night. Hopefully no one would realize these items were being pulled out of thin air. He looked very much like a busy mama bird making a nest for her eggs.
Some of the men began dishing out dinner into bowls and passing them around. Xie Lian accepted a bowl for him and a bowl for the bride. "If I may ask," he gave it to her, "you mentioned that your fiancé's village had a rough year."
"Yes. He talks of a nearby plague, but I just believe it to be a plague of bad luck."
Plague? Regardless of bad luck or true illness, his interest was piqued. He was no stranger to misfortune.
"This year was terrible for their crops, and his family lost a few of their cattle. It doesn't seem entirely related to me," Mengying's head tilted, "but his mother wasn't the only one to fall ill in these few months. Illness, poor crops, livestock deaths? Unfortunate, but every village has those kinds of years. What do you think, Daozhang?"
As quick as it had come, Xie Lian's curiosity waned slightly. "It's hard to say for certain, but if it's causing concern, I'd be glad to take a look around while I'm there."
"The nightmares too, I suppose..."
His spoon of rice stopped right before it got to his mouth. It lowered. "Nightmares?"
"According to my fiancé. He's one of the officials of the town. He hasn't talked much about it, but it seems that a few villagers have lost sleep due to continuous nightmares in the last few months. Not many people are eager to talk about simple nightmares, though."
Well, nightmares weren't anything entirely abnormal. All this was just hearsay since the bride wasn't from the village herself, but Xie Lian decided to poke around when they got there. He'd see what he can find out.
Dinner lasted long enough for the sun to disappear completely behind the tree line. He insisted on helping wash up so they could be done before it got too dark. All of the cast shadows spread into nighttime in no time, thus marking the very end of their first day.
"Gege." Clearly restless, Hua Cheng grabbed onto Xie Lian's sleeve when he was finally done helping. "Come see if the tent is comfortable. After working so hard, you must be exhausted."
Well, Xie Lian couldn't lie; his feet did hurt a little. Gone were the days of walking for weeks on end as a nomad. "It looks lovely. I'm very thankful we won't have to sleep on the bare ground. Will San Lang come lie with me?"
He didn't even have to ask. Bidding goodnight to the rest of their group turning into their own tents, they helped one another out of their outermost robes and wriggled under the blankets. It was too dark at that point to see past tent walls—Xie Lian pressed his hands on either side of his husband's face and kissed him.
The kiss was short and gentle. It was their only one they had gotten to share since that morning. Xie Lian found himself craving so much more, but he forced himself to put these personal feelings aside to focus on the journey.
"I haven't noticed anything too strange so far," he yawned. "Other than the presence of lingering animals and spirits. Have you?"
A small silver butterfly fluttered up from Hua Cheng's sleeves and landed upside-down on the tent crease. It illuminated his thoughtful expression. "Nothing. I've had butterflies scouting ahead, but all is quiet. This area does seem to be recovering from quite a monsoon season, though."
Nothing too unusual, then. Xie Lian reached up and pet the butterfly's little wings before settling up against his husband. He wished they could have more time like this. Selfish, he thought, not minding at all his thoughts were greedy.
"Ah, Dianxia, I am having such a hard time sharing you." Hua Cheng's words came out as a sigh. He pulled them close together under the blankets and sighed again. They both had the same thought. "I think I got spoiled having you to myself for so long."
"These few days will go by fast. It's nice you've decided to accompany us rather than returning to Ghost City, so at least we have this time together."
"Mm. I am surprised I haven't heard from Yin Yu since we left. I ought to give him credit for leaving me alone as long as he has. There must've been an uproar when the city saw we left without telling anyone."
Xie Lian smiled, thinking how much those ghosts adored their Chengzhu and his new spouse. They might've been an odd bunch, but they were nearly family. He rolled to his side and dipped under the curve of Hua Cheng's neck. "You have your own duties, so if he calls you back you should go."
"Hmph."
In his role, Hua Cheng had a lot of duties to see to other than keeping his husband company. He was the kingpin of the entire Ghost City. It would be much too selfish to want them to spend all of their time together. Only a few weeks had passed since they reunited again, though… He wanted to be a little selfish.
"Perhaps we can take a little more time to ourselves once we get back home." Xie Lian closed his eyes and felt the arms tighten around him. They could pretend they were back in bed in Paradise Manor rather than in the middle of the forest. "Yin Yu is fully capable of handling things while you're gone."
Hua Cheng's chest moved as he laughed. "I thought you just told me I should go if he calls."
"I'm talking about after everything has settled. I can't keep you all to myself forever. You've spent more time with me than you have running your city after coming back."
"You know I'd much rather spend time with you."
"I do know this, but we both have our separate responsibilities. You're the capstone preventing Ghost City from dissolving into chaos. They're all lucky they held out for a whole year." Something sad settled into Xie Lian's throat without warning. He swallowed, hard. That year without him… He didn't want to give him up again so soon. Why couldn't he be selfish? It was a long year.
"Don't be sad, Gege." Hua Cheng noticed the change of mood, sounding genuinely worried. He propped himself halfway up on an elbow. "I expect to be called upon soon, but say the word and I'll shut off my communication array to stay with you."
"There's no need, really. I'll be fine." It was truly embarrassing how easily Xie Lian's husband saw straight through him. It was even more embarrassing how he considered taking him up on the offer. "It comes with the territory of being with the King of Ghosts. I must learn to share."
"You don't have to. I wouldn't argue."
"I know you wouldn't. But we both have duties, and yours is an important one." Xie Lian couldn't worry any more. It was dark, and they were tired, and tomorrow was going to come regardless. He adjusted the blankets over both of them. "Now hush. My San Lang needs some rest if he's going to be shared."
They would be fine. Hua Cheng may leave for a while to take care of things in Ghost City, but he would always return.
It didn't take long for the ghost and the god to drift asleep.
Sharing his husband came the next day, as expected.
The caravan had set out at first morning light, and only shortly after did a summons come through Hua Cheng's array. Looking irritated, he pulled the two of them out of the guards' earshot.
"Are you sure you're alright with my absence today?" he asked. He had his hand on Xie Lian's back as they walked. "I should be back tonight, barring any additional trouble."
"My husband is popular." Xie Lian smiled. "Don't rush back for my sake. Just…be safe." The smile flickered briefly, but he tried to control the twist of his emotions. Things like this were no longer easy for him as they had once been. The man well-accustomed to loss was scared of being alone again. He just told the most powerful creature in the three realms to be safe.
Of course, this powerful creature saw the worry creasing Xia Lian's brow. Their hands found each other and in their private communication array he said, -I'll return to your side soon, Dianxia.-
Xie Lian nodded, doing his very best to brush the anxiety away. He watched as Hua Cheng slowed his steps to fall behind the group. Between blinks, dawn shadows swallowed his figure whole. All that was left was the quietly marching procession and a lone cultivator. There were a few minutes where he almost convinced himself to call out into the communication array—but no. The ring against his chest and the knot on his finger both stayed perfectly intact. There was no need to worry.
He took a deep breath and caught up to the side of the palanquin where he should be.
The trek was quiet for a while. Light from the sun filtered through to the floor of the forest path creating dappled. Xie Lian was fond of the red autumn colors for all the nostalgia for a red-clad boy it brought him. With incredible arm strength, the carriers walked sturdy and didn't call for a break until it was midday and time for lunch.
Yet again the group declined any of his help for getting lunch together. This just meant that Xie Lian had to stand idly waiting, admiring the colors of the forest. He reached out and caught a leaf.
"Daozhang."
He twirled the leaf once and then dropped it. Mengying the bride was approaching him with a set of meat buns on a large leaf wrap. It wasn't customary for the bride of a caravan to assist so much with these tasks, but she seemed more welcome to help out than Xie Lian was. Better than whatever he would make for lunch; he didn't want to poison her on the way to her own wedding.
"Thank you." He accepted the food. The two of them sat down on the steps of her palanquin after dusting a spot off.
"If I may ask, where did your companion run off to?"
This made him pause. They were out in the middle of the mountains, and the closest town was the one they were heading to. It did look a little odd. Xie Lian scratched fiddled with his hat string, unprepared for the question.
"He had to head back to meet someone. This person has, ah, a carriage they will take to meet me at the village I'm sure." Easier than explaining transportation arrays. "We've never been there, so we'd like to look around. Maybe your fiancé could recommend an inn for us to stay?"
Surprisingly, the bride put her hand up under her veil to cover a laugh. "You say 'we' and 'us' like you two are very close. It's charming."
Pink automatically crept over Xie Lian's cheeks, and it wasn't because of the chill. He hid his embarrassment behind a big bite of lunch. Even Ruoye wriggled against his arm like it felt embarrassed too.
"You're from the Palace of the Crown Prince, correct? The one my estate prayed to."
Something like that. He nodded, chewing.
"Your companion doesn't appear to be from that same palace."
"Ah, well," he swallowed, "he's not. He's from the Palace of the Supreme Ghost King, Hua Cheng the Crimson Rain Sought Flower." To avoid too many questions, Xie Lian chose his words concisely. "The Ghost King and the Crown Prince are very close. Their palaces work very close together, so San Lang and I work close together, too."
"I see. I feel very fortunate that he had decided to accompany us as well, even if it was only for the first half."
Me, too.
When lunch came to an end, the group began packing up again. They were less than a day's journey away- just one more night sleeping outdoors, and they should arrive at their destination tomorrow morning. Without offending his luck, Xie Lian cast silent gratitude to the mountain for not causing them any trouble so far.
Autumn leaves continued to rain down in the mountains, blanketing the ground with their color. It was beautiful, he thought, and it made his heart ache. This created the one problem plaguing his mind on the trek.
He missed his husband. More than missed him— He could feel his heart beating uncomfortably hard in his throat, mind buzzing with worries, hoping the shifts he heard in the forest were the footsteps of his beloved. Of all the centuries he'd spent alone, the last year without his San Lang was the loneliest he'd ever felt.
Will he actually come back? He worried all year. His ashes were intact and the string was unbroken, but still… It plagued his waking and sleeping thoughts.
It wasn't fair of him to miss Hua Cheng. The ghost always kept his promises. Always.
Walking along the path, he allowed his mind to wander but not too far. Wandering to what his beloved was doing in that moment without worrying he will take too long to come back to him. The dull hours passed smoothly entertaining himself by chatting with the guards. Some of them told him about how destructive the end of this monsoon season had been. Others had small rumors to share regarding the destination's "bad luck."
More and more he wanted to poke around this town and figure out what was going on. And more and more he wanted his partner to return to his side.
The first sign of trouble came at dusk, around the time they would be considering taking up camp. Xie Lian was still chatting with some of the guards when something around them shifted. He didn't notice it immediately. Evening birds stopped chittering, and a sudden frosty breeze came through the path to sweep up leaves and carry a scent of decay.
Xie Lian didn't even catch the change until he felt Ruoye tighten around his wrist. In this instant, he set his feet and sent out a blast of spiritual energy through the ground. The energy pulsed out from their point and detected a mass of bodies a few dozen meters away.
"Wait." His words made the entire caravan halt. Every guard snapped their eyes immediately to him.
Footsteps halted. Swish of palanquin fabrics stilled. Everyone held their breaths—and that's when they heard it. It started as a single noise deep behind the wall of trees. The noise grew louder and became a cumulative groan of something hungry, brainless. Familiar.
Xie Lian flicked his sleeves back and put himself between the caravan and the direction of the noise. Whatever it was, he was between it and them.
"It's just Binu," he said calmly. Releasing completely from within his robes, Ruoye unraveled itself and poised in the air like a cobra. "They aren't much of a threat, but please be on your guard."
Some of the men seemed to know about monsters, and they muttered amongst one another. It was true they weren't much of a threat, but they didn't yet know how many they were dealing with. They weren't drawn to any savage ghosts like Xuan Ji so there couldn't be that many. Xie Lian wasn't worried. Truthfully, he was just ashamed he hadn't sensed anything sooner.
The dozen men who hadn't been carrying the palanquin dropped their packs and grabbed weapons. One of them drew a short silver sword. "We can take care of them, Daozhang. Binu aren't even fierce rank, right?"
"Very good," Xie Lian couldn't help but compliment. Some of these men were well-learned. "They're not much trouble but can often accompany other ghosts. Often, but not always. Please stay back."
They braced themselves, waiting, until the first creature appeared. It limped towards them from the direction they were headed, unable to stand and walk for more than a few seconds at a time. Xie Lian dispatched it effortlessly.
Two more appeared, then three more to his side, all moving as slow as expected. It still took hardly any effort to disperse them. They moved as slow as always, reaching for him desperately in slow motion. Not a single one of them were able to get close.
One of the guards standing in front of the palanquin had his saber gripped in two hands. "What do they want?" he asked, watching as Ruoye snapped another Binu's neck.
"What any monster wants," Xie Lian responded. "To eat. There aren't enough, and they're not strong enough to harm us, though. Hardly coordinated in their attacks." Once he finished off the last one that had crawled from the forest, he kneeled and placed another hand on the ground to feel if there were any more enemies nearby.
If Hua Cheng were there, no monsters would be within kilometers of their group. His aura alone would be a deterrent. Xie Lian might not have a powerful killing aura, but he should've at least been able to sense them coming before Ruoye . He was rusty and it made him frustrated at himself.
There didn't seem to be any other monsters close enough for his spiritual power to detect. No other Binu, no ranked ghosts, nothing. He withdrew to preserve the remainder of the energy. "We're safe. We should make camp for the night."
A few of the guards shifted on their feet and looked at one another. One of them stepped up. "We'll take shifts watching the camp. I'll go first."
"I appreciate the initiative, but there's no need." Xie Lian set his bag down. The attack made him much too restless, and he wouldn't be comfortable at all letting someone else do the guarding. "I will be up. The rest of you should sleep. It's what I'm here for, after all."
There was little arguing. Eight of the men had been carrying the palanquin all day, and the remaining dozen didn't seem inclined on arguing with the cultivator who had just saved them from a slow-motion Binu attack. They all muttered in agreement and went about setting up their campsite.
Bonfires, tents, dinner.
Xie Lian kept Mengying company while stew boiled in pots. When everyone ate their fill and it was time for bed, he didn't even bother making up his own tent. No need. The others bid him goodnight without trouble. No one wanted to be up in the chill any longer, since the sun setting took away their only semblance of warmth.
He did a small trick on the bonfire to make it last longer and then sat on a fallen tree by the campsite to wait.
And wait.
His eyes scanned back and forth. A small stream of spiritual energy coursed from where he sat to "see" what he couldn't see with his eyes. It would be gone before long, but that was fine. No creatures would be able to sneak up on them.
Nothing around but wildlife. He closed his eyes in a semi-meditative state to focus on what his energy sensed through the ground. San Lang would've never let them get close, even if they weren't deterred by his aura. It had been much easier than his first time on Yujun when hordes of Binu attacked them on the ghost bride's command. Still. Still.
A few hours passed like this. Enough for the moon to rise above the tree line and the cold sharpen to a fine point. No cloud cover usually meant stars, and he was right. Stars were out, freckling the sky in all of their vast glory. It was strange to think the Heavenly Realm was beyond that sky. He sometimes felt like he belonged more under the stars than among them.
Cold nights always looked a little different to Xie Lian. It wasn't even quite winter yet, but he could taste it just around the corner. Grass would be frosted over in the mornings within no time. Nearly all the trees were barren, and he would have to make sure his two cabins were ready for the snow. So much to do.
Something fluttered at the edge of his vision. He turned just in time to see a flurry of silver butterflies burst out from darkness. They shone brighter than the moon and gave off an indescribable warmth.
"San Lang," Xie Lian sighed. Thick relief made his throat numb.
Hua Cheng in his San Lang form had materialized on the fallen tree next to him. He looked like he hadn't left at all, sitting with his legs crossed casually. "Gege. I'm sorry I was away for so long. I didn't mean to be."
"It's okay." You're back. The relief didn't fade. It seemed to make Xie Lian's heart beat a little faster than normal. He reached over and took hold his husband's sleeve for comfort. "It wasn't too long. How did everything go in Ghost City?"
"Chaotic. As expected." Hua Cheng made a non-committal noise. Totally unbothered. "I may need to return for a longer period of time sometime soon, but…"
But…?
A tinge of guilt replaced relief as Xie Lian realized he may be the reason. He'd taken Hua Cheng's initial return fairly well, he thought, but there was no doubt it was difficult. Just the partial day apart stoked a fire under Xie Lian's anxiety. He chewed on the inside of his lip and didn't answer.
"But I don't want to go back to working so soon." Hua Cheng, in an attempt to help his husband not feel bad, sighed dramatically. "I'm going to keep my business trips as short as possible. No one there is half as interesting as Gege."
The corners of Xie Lian's mouth lifted in a weak smile. Again, he was ashamed to feel so relieved. "San Lang…" I missed you. "We encountered some Binu today. Not enough to cause any trouble but," I should've seen them coming, "I hope there aren't more out causing trouble for other travelers."
"Is that so?"
He described their brief encounter, and allowed himself to frustratingly add, "It was my fault I let them get so close. I've gotten too complacent; my bad luck will always draw conflict, even without the shackle. I should have been more prepared."
"Gege was perfectly prepared," Hua Cheng soothed, taking the cold hand that gripped his sleeve and rubbing it between his own. Though he didn't create any body warmth, it helped. "You took care of them just fine. They didn't manage to get close to anyone, did they?"
"Well…no, but—"
"Don't be so hard on yourself. You noticed them and defeated them before they could harm any humans. You did perfect."
It was too easy for Xie Lian to be hard on himself. Defeated, he shook his head and sighed from the bottom of his lungs. It created a cloud of frosty breath around them. "San Lang is gracious."
"Let's go to the fire. You're shivering."
The night was too cold for only a scarf, so the god allowed himself to be led away back to the smoldering fire. The energy he'd infused in the logs was nearly worn out. Only small orange flames glowed amongst coals, hardly enough to stave away the cold for the entire campsite.
Xie Lian added some more wood and coaxed the roaring flames back. Only by the warmth did he realize that he was indeed shivering. Even if it wasn't cold enough to snow yet, it was very close.
"I'm staying up tonight on watch." He sat down in front of the fire next to his husband, welcoming a fur blanket around them. "Don't feel like you have to do the same if you'd rather sleep."
Ghosts didn't exactly need sleep, and they both knew this, so Hua Cheng shook his head while smiling. "If that's the case, I'm staying with you." This was obvious. "You know my butterflies can keep an eye on things while we're sleeping. We could just go to bed together, Gege. You must be tired."
"I'm okay, truly. I told them I would so I will. Thank you for staying up with me, though."
The two of them sat together like that for a while, leaning back on their arms and pressing the sides of their bodies together. Shoulder to shoulder, knees knocking and feet tapping as the fire warmed them up. It was this kind of intimacy that he had truly missed the most. Just existing together. Just being together.
They were quiet for a long time. Long enough for the moon to travel up above their heads and start its slow descent to the other side of the horizon.
When Xie Lian finally spoke, he held his hands together uncertainly on his legs. "San Lang, I must admit something to you."
"My love can tell me anything." Hua Cheng's term of endearment was sweet and soft, like he was confessing something of his own. Spoken with eyes that were writing endless love stories without any words at all. Like nothing at all had changed.
It made Xie Lian's guilt squirm a little more in the pit of his stomach. "I…" Maybe it's not fair to tell him. He chewed on the inside of his cheek. "I'm ashamed to say, but today was…challenging without you. I think I owe you an apology."
An apology was the last thing Hua Cheng expected. He did an abrupt double-take, face twisting in confusion. "What for?? You owe me nothing, Gege, please don't apologize. It's my fault that I—"
"No, no, let me finish talking." Knowing the reaction he was going to get, Xie Lian was prepared to cut the other man off before he crumbled into self-deprecation. "You offered to stay with me, but I told you to go, so you're absolutely not at fault. I'm not saying I wish you hadn't gone."
"Gege."
He lowered his voice so it was closer to the volume of the crackling fire. "I wasn't sure if I should tell you, because I know you would only put yourself down because of it. But I…"
There was a pregnant pause. Xie Lian, despite having decided what he wanted to say beforehand, had the words stuck to the back of his throat. He was grateful that Hua Cheng didn't try to interrupt again so he could gather his thoughts.
It might be embarrassing for him to admit. He certainly tried to play it off.
"I thought it would be easier to pretend like nothing happened." Xie Lian continued to speak quietly. "San Lang spent centuries waiting for me, so I thought that I could wait as long as I needed until you came back. I knew you would come back, but…" He held a hand up to the ring around his neck. "But I clearly don't have San Lang's strength or patience. And I didn't feel it so terribly until today."
Being without him hurt. It felt like someone had hollowed out the organs from his chest and left him for dead again, like his heart was replaced with a hot coal and he walked for hours trying to pretend he wasn't burning from the inside out.
He wasn't brave enough yet to look up, so he instead remained staring into the fire. "I thought I would be fine with you needing to go back to Ghost City for the day."
Still wordless, Hua Cheng reached over and grabbed onto his hand, holding it tight. It was a gesture of comfort. I'm here, it said.
Xie Lian pressed the hand to his lips and kissed it. "This god is ashamed to admit he needs more time to recover. I wasn't the one who died, so I feel unworthy of asking this of you, but please allow a little while longer, San Lang. I'm afraid I'm not good at being alone anymore." He punctuated the end of his speech with a sad smile.
For a few seconds, it was hard to tell exactly what Hua Cheng was thinking. There seemed to be a dozen emotions cycling through his face in just an instant. Then, he freed his hand and wrapped one arm around Xie Lian's shoulders and used the other to pull his legs into his lap. They melted into one another.
"Dianxia, my sweet god," Hua Cheng whispered against his hair. "I'm so happy you're not good at being alone anymore. I'm endlessly grateful Gege wants my presence. I never, never want you to feel unworthy. Perhaps I need to apologize to you." When he laughed, it shook them both. "This shouldn't make me happy."
Happy? This confused Xie Lian but he knew this was Hua Cheng's character. Ever-devoted to his beloved god, how much he loves being loved. It didn't surprise him, but happy wasn't the word he would have expected.
Xie Lian, holding close to his husband, let out a breath that crystallized. "I never doubt that you will return to me whenever we're apart. I believe in you with everything I am. Maybe this makes me San Lang's most devoted believer." Saying that elicited another quiet laugh. "I don't want you to put aside your duties, though. Promise you won't."
"Mm we'll see how much I can promise, Gege. I may put aside some for you. You know I would drop everything to stay by your side until the end of time."
"I do know, and that's why I don't want you to drop anything for my sake. Maybe I will come to Ghost City with you and keep you company while you work. Or would that be too distracting?"
"You're the only one I ever want to focus on." Hua Cheng pulled the god closer to him, all the way into his lap. The white robes fanned around both their legs. "But if this lowly one is allowed to choose, I would be honored to have Dianxia with me while I work."
Logs popped and crackled in the campfire. There in the dead of night with only the two immortals and the fire, it could easily feel like the center of the universe.
Throughout the past centuries, Xie Lian couldn't count how many times he'd had to sleep outside. There would be a bush or a dry patch of ground beneath a wide tree—sometimes just in the mud when it was raining and he was too tired to keep looking for shelter. Even a campfire was considered a luxury.
Now this truly felt like a luxury, getting to share a fire with Hua Cheng, curled in his arms.
It hadn't been a full moon cycle since reuniting. Somehow that day felt both years in the past and just a moment ago. They had talked about it during this time, processed a lot of the feelings they had, but it would take time.
Xie Lian knew it would take time. His heart had grown intertwined around Hua Cheng's like roots of a grand tree.
He reached up and took a lock of the ghost's hair in his fingers. If he'd been in his true form, the lock would've been his braid. "I'm glad you're back, San Lang. I missed you. So much."
Hua Cheng, who had been forbidden to apologize for his disappearance anymore, groaned lightly and dropped his forehead onto Xie Lian's shoulder. "I missed Gege, too. Every second of every day. I am the most fortunate being in all the realms, getting to return to my beloved. He makes it easy to want to live."
He makes it easy to want to live.
A lump settled into the back of Xie Lian's throat. It was just surprise at first, but it quickly turned into a heavy type of emotion he wasn't able to swallow. Xie Lian made Hua Cheng want to live. Just like when they met for the very first time in the Shangyuan Festival, his were the arms to catch Honghong-er. And again in the rainy temple those few years later, when a nameless child cried and pleaded for a reason to live.
Xie Lian himself craved an end on many occasions during his centuries wandering, unable to die but hardly living. Now that they were together… Hua Cheng made it easy for Xie Lian to want to live, too. He found a blinding sort of happiness with him. Like warm rays of summer sun, like a full belly and a quenched tongue, like fireworks of a thousand colors exploding overhead.
"Dear San Lang." Xie Lian tilted his head back, earning a kiss to the forehead. "Dear husband. Thank you for waiting for me."
Another small laugh. Hua Cheng's breath tickled the fine hairs over his husband's forehead. "I'm eternally yours."
The night didn't feel so cold anymore.
Nighttime turned into dawn in just a few hours. Once the moon disappeared under the horizon, the sky began turning shades of purple and pink to welcome the sun. It was a beautiful sight for those just waking up—and for the two men who'd been up all night by the campfire.
Hua Cheng, still in his San Lang form, had mysteriously procured a large basket of fresh fruits to gift the party. Somehow no one questioned where he had gone or how he brought back the food. Xie Lian was happy to assist the guards with breakfast, peeling and slicing the fruit as the one way he could help without poisoning anyone.
Sticky melon made their lips taste sweet when they kissed behind a tree.
The caravan expected to make it to the town well before noon. Just a few more hours of traveling and they'd reach their destination. Everyone seemed on edge after walking so far, especially the eight people carrying the palanquin. Even the bride opted to stay inside to try and rest some more before her wedding ceremony.
After the Binu attack the night previous, nothing came to cause them any trouble. Only a wild fox skittering across the path in front of them paid them any time. Perhaps it was Hua Cheng's aura, or perhaps there wasn't anything malicious on the mountain to cause harm, but the group made it in one piece.
The sound of running water greeted them before the gates.
The town, Yueguan as it was called, came into view as they turned a downward curve in the path. From that viewpoint they overlooked a valley between mountains and saw the town entrance. It was much larger than Xie Lian anticipated: hardly a town and closer to a city.
Though the entrance was just along the path from them, most of it was still down in the valley. They could see tops of buildings, temple spires, wide bustling roads. Running on either side of the town were two wide rivers. The closest river separated them from the front town gates, available to cross with a wide bridge. Definitely much more expansive than Puqi or any of the neighboring villages.
"Very nice," Xie Lian commented idly, tucking his arms into his sleeves and admiring the scene.
The sun was already risen at that point, above the mountains on the other side of the valley. It was a clear day, thankfully windless, but just as cold as expected. So many colors stretched out before them. As long as Xie Lian had lived, he would never get tired of the Mortal Realm's beauty.
"This is the journey's end, Lian-Daozhang." The main guard at the front had his eyes squinted against the bright, cloudless sky. "We will send a party in to alert the family of our arrival, and the family will take over the rest of the responsibilities. Your presence was greatly appreciated."
The whole group turned to the cultivator and bowed deeply with their hands together in respect
"We will ensure your palace will receive appropriate compensation in return, as promised."
Xie Lian courteously returned the bow. "It's been my pleasure to join you on this journey. Mengying-jie, I wish you the best fortune in your marriage. Please call upon the Palace of the Crown Prince if you need anything again."
After everyone bid their farewells, Hua Cheng took his husband's elbow and led him out of the forest path.
Yueguan was surprisingly busy for being the early morning. The cobbled roads announced footsteps back and forth, families out holding baskets in their hands, children wearing cloaks dashing across alleyways. Hardly a single shop window was free of a face out front. Not exactly the sickly town they expected.
Something did seem off, but he was entirely unable to put his finger on it.
"I'd like to find a place away from the noise to report in." He did his best to observe everything all at once, to take in whatever he saw. This led him to spotting a lone tea shop just starting to open its doors. "Why not here?"
Hua Cheng was happy to tag along wherever. It didn't seem like he noticed anything out of the ordinary. Still in his San Lang form, he just looked like a happy and carefree youth, holding his hands behind his back and humming alongside him. At some point, he had taken the travel bag from the other man's back and it conveniently disappeared.
Smells of fresh-cut wood and herbs flowed from indoors once the immortals stepped inside. It was a pleasant reprieve from the chill, having two stoves on either side of the shop, warming them from the moment they stepped inside. Steam rose from behind the counter and filled the air with fragrance.
The atmosphere reminded him of his own Puqi Shrine.
Xie Lian settled at a table in the corner while Hua Cheng got their tea. Hopefully he had enough spiritual energy left for this. He lifted his fingers to his temple.
-Ling Wen?-
It took a few seconds of silence before a response.
-Your Highness. I assume you made it to your destination in one piece?- On the other side of the communication array, Ling Wen sounded busy, like she was doing ten things at once. As always.
-Yes. We parted ways in Yueguan not too long ago. I thought I'd let you know.-
-Thank you for the update. I will make sure your merits get credited appropriately. Your voice sounds far away, Your Highness, are you well?-
Xie Lian knew what she was talking about. The last drops of his spiritual energy were draining quickly. -I'm doing well, thank you for your concern. Give my regards to the others if you get the chance, will you?-
-Of course. Until next time.-
Perfect timing: the communication array cut off with nothing more to power it, and Xie Lian was left sitting empty once again. The feeling wasn't an unusual one.
He looked down at his fingers and curled them into his palms. He'd spent 800 years without spiritual power to punish himself for causing such a terrible death to Wu Ming and nearly destroying another entire kingdom. Now, without the shackles, he had to rely on Wu Ming to give him the energy he'd sacrificed. Ironic? Perhaps. There wasn't one particular way he felt about it yet.
Maybe…disappointment.
"Here is Gege's tea." Hua Cheng came around the other side of the table and set down hot porcelain cups. He must've seen the expression on his face because he frowned too. "Is something the matter?"
There was no reason to ask for additional power unless he truly needed it. Xie Lian took his cup. "Nothing is wrong, San Lang. Thank you for getting our tea." It was delicious. Fruitier than he usually preferred, but it worked very well for a light brew such as this. "I can't believe I've never been here before. It's very nice, don't you think?"
Hua Cheng hummed in agreement. "This town? I agree. I enjoy the sound of the rivers. Much better than the waters of the Ghost Realm."
It was hard to disagree with that. Nothing in the Ghost Realm was exactly calm and peaceful.
The two of them sipped their tea quietly and enjoyed the sounds of the town. Rumbling stoves, sounds of water, feet on the stone paths. There was something so wonderful about places like this. Xie Lian never understood why his fellow heavenly officials looked down upon the Mortal Realm like it was somehow lesser than the Heavens. They must never have experienced the magic of a teahouse.
The owner of the establishment came by their table after a period of time to offer refills of their drinks. His brows were so bushy and magnificent that they almost covered the crinkle of his eyes.
"Where are you travelers hailing from?" he asked, holding out his teapot. "Those robes of yours make me think you're a cultivator."
Xie Lian accepted a refill graciously. "Yes, we come from Puqi Village to the west. I'm the master of the shrine there." Across the table, Hua Cheng was looking lovingly at him. The expression must've been pride.
"Quite a long way to travel to end up in a quiet town like ours. What brings you so far from home?"
"We go where we're needed," he answered ambiguously. "I do actually have a question, if you have the time."
"Certainly, Daozhang." The owner pulled a chair from around the corner and sat it at a suitable distance from the table.
"I heard there may be a strange illness around. Have you experienced such a thing?"
The question seemed to puzzle the old man. "Illness? Daozhang, everyone gets sick sometimes. There's nothing abnormal. Healers may have their hands full this time of year, but I don't suspect it's anything that needs to involve a cultivator."
Just normal seasonal illness? Xie Lian looked over at Hua Cheng, who lifted a shoulder in a half-shrug.
"What about nightmares? Or dead livestock?"
"The east side of the town seems to have misfortune with crops and livestock this year, it's true. The fishing hasn't been good in that river either." Furrowing his bushy eyebrows, the man stood from his chair and moved it back into place. "However, I can only speak to what I've experienced myself."
A bit of silence fell over the table. Xie Lian drank his tea, thinking. "…So you haven't heard of any great misfortune or…supernatural presence? Any issues with ghosts or monsters?"
"Nothing. The noble family across town is celebrating a wedding today, and they hired prominent martial figures to ensure everything goes smoothly. We would have heard of any issues like that, I'm sure."
Hm. No one had prayed to him to assist in any sorts of matters involving this town. Maybe it truly was nothing. He tugged thoughtfully on the cord of his bamboo hat. "I see. Thank you for taking time to talk with me."
That seemed to be all they were getting from that first stop. Since he'd been successful in reporting back to Ling Wen and talking to a local, Xie Lian decided to be finished. Hua Cheng of them paid and headed out.
The ghost put his arm around his partner's waist as they left the teahouse. "Since Gege didn't sleep last night, would you like to find an inn and rest before exploring? I could always take us back to Paradise Manor or Puqi for our own bed."
Surprisingly, there didn't seem to be any naughty intentions with his offer. Even if he was just trying to reel Xie Lian back home.
"I've run on less sleep before. There's still so much to see, and I'd like to ask a few more people."
A fond squeeze to the waist. "As Gege wishes."
There was much to see in Yueguan. After spending so long in his cottage on Taicang Mountain (and being bombarded by every sense from every direction at Ghost City), Xie Lian wanted to enjoy this type of domesticity. Arm-in-arm, walking through busy streets, pointing to signs in shop windows.
String of ribbons and baubles hung from shutters to awnings. They complimented the colors of stone and planks that made up each storefront, turning the streets into colorful quilts. This place must look beautiful during festivals, he thought.
It ended up proving somewhat fruitful talking with some of the shops. The consensus everyone seemed to come to was that the east side of the town was having a much more difficult time than the west. Failing crops, sick livestock, illnesses. All on one direction of the town.
A commonality between many people was that there were heavy circles under their eyes. Like they hadn't slept well in a while. It seemed to be an easy association with the nightmares Mengying mentioned, or it could be the illness. If they didn't find the answers they were looking for, he could always ask Ling Wen about it.
While walking casually to the town center, Xie Lian couldn't help but peek into alleyways and junk piles. There was a lot to see. "I think it's pretty obvious that something is wrong with the water of the eastern river," he said while they walked. "I believe after taking a quick look upstream we'll find something of an answer."
Hua Cheng hummed in agreement. "I was thinking the exact thing. I can send out some butterflies?"
"Only if you're so inclined. I'd like to go later, perhaps once we're done sight-seeing."
Another hum. "We'll see." No butterflies left immediately. The ghost seemed very content to just follow along, one hand behind his back and the other around his partner. He was being so kind and supportive, Xie Lian thought.
It was hard not to feel at least a little guilty. Being the lord of Ghost City demanded endless work and devotion, and Hua Cheng so easily agreed to put Xie Lian first. He would always agree to that, would be happy to, so Xie Lian wanted to make sure it didn't go unappreciated.
There was no need to feel guilty as long as he made it worthwhile.
From the crack of a flagged sidewalk, Xie Lian plucked a white flower that had withstood the autumn so far. Its petals were wide, curling inwards into itself like fingers cupping its precious gold heart. He held it carefully before turning to his husband. "San Lang, would you bend down for me please?"
Hua Cheng eyed the flower curiously, but he did as asked and bent at the waist. Xie Lian threaded the stem through his husband's ponytail. Like that, he looked more like a beautiful god than a ghost king.
"…" Hua Cheng remained bending even after the flower was placed. There was an interesting look in his rum-colored eyes.
"It's about time I give my San Lang a flower in return, yes? He's given this god so many of them."
Slowly, the ghost raised back up. His lips were pursed, eyes wide, and he was clutching a hand to his chest. After another speechless second, he spoke. "Dianxia…Dianxia must warn me next time he does something like this."
"Why is that?"
"This lowly one might just die a fourth time."
"San Lang!" Xie Lian chastised. He hated jokes like that, absolutely hated. He grabbed hold of the other man's hand and yanked on it. Partly playful, partly serious. "Now that I have you back, I must keep you. Understand?"
"…Yes, my love."
His heart unintentionally did a little flip. Something as simple as a flower could produce this type of reaction from Hua Cheng. San Lang is so wonderful, he thought. I have to make sure not to take advantage of this. He brought their hands to his lips. "Let's find go find the center market. Maybe we can find out more about these rumors."
The town layout was easy enough to figure out. Side roads divided the area up into a grid, with the main street leading straight down between the twin rivers. Most of the shops up to that point were inside buildings. Once they reached the main market center, indoor shops became rows of outdoor carts and stalls.
Xie Lian made sure to cling tight to Hua Cheng's arm so they didn't get separated. Still, he kept unintentionally testing it by dashing to every bit and bauble that caught his eye. That town seemed to be full of collectors. Hoarders, nearly. Every free section of cobblestone was stacked with goods.
Maybe he could find supplies to help set his cabins up for wintertime. It could be any day that snow started flying on Taicang Mountain, and Puqi Village would certainly follow shortly after. Probably not even a half-moon away.
"Are you cold?"
Xie Lian slowed his pace. He hadn't realized he was adjusting the scarf around his neck until Hua Cheng said something. Ruoye wriggled around his arm like it was agreeing.
"Maybe a little," he responded honestly. Even all the walking couldn't stave it off forever.
"Let's stop and find something for lunch, then. Can I take Gege out on a date?" Hua Cheng spun around in front of the other man, halting him in his tracks. The way he tilted his head looked like a playful puppy.
Xie Lian held his sleeves in front of his face to laugh. In all his years, he never would've expected his life to be like this. Never expected to find someone who made him feel like this. "A date? With the Supreme Ghost King? How tempting, I accept."
Chuckling, he allowed his husband to take his hand and pull him in the direction of a nearby restaurant.