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When Xie Lian had gone to sleep, he felt sated and happy, content to lay in his husband's arms after another night together.

When Xie Lian opened his eyes next, he felt worn out in a way he'd been slowly forgetting after he and San Lang got married. The heavy tightness around his neck and ankle that he'd carried for so long was also back for some reason.

Had breathing always been this hard with the shackles on? He pondered in a detached sort of way. 

But more important than that- Is this all a dream?

He doubted it. For one, he rarely, if ever, dreamt after San Lang worked him so enthusiastically and for two-

No dream of his had ever been this vivid. Leaving aside the shackles, he could feel a couple of wounds that had yet to heal fully tug at his senses- he had really lost practice ignoring them considering the way they made him want to lay on a soft bed and rest some more. Then there was the hunger. Not the worst he'd endured but definitely bothersome after years of regular meals.

That his bottom felt sore after sitting on hard wooden planks for an undetermined amount of time was just the final blow. Xie Lian couldn't help but let out a sigh. He'd become so terribly spoiled during his marriage- he already missed his husband.

Thinking of that prompted him to get a better look at his surroundings…

Only to find himself in the middle of a familiar scene. From the dirt road flanked by maple trees on both sides, to the cart slowly but surely making its way forward, and even the scroll he'd been reading back then. A theory had begun to form itself in Xie Lian's mind. He focused his senses, heavily dulled as they were, and then he smiled, bright and relieved.

Though a lot less imposing than when he showed himself as a Ghost King, San Lang's presence could still be felt on the other side of the pile of hay. It was indeed that day when they'd spoken again for the first time in eight centuries.

Regardless of what had happened for him to end up there, the god found himself very much at ease. His San Lang was there after all. Even if they hadn't lived through their shared future just yet, Xie Lian knew that everything would be okay.

Since he couldn't know for sure if he was the only one that had somehow gone back in time though, Xie Lian decided to act just as he had that day, schooling his features into a calm mien.

Looking down at the scroll, he tried to recall just what he’d said that day.

The Prince of Xianle, ascended thrice as: a Martial God, a Misfortune God, a Rubbish God. Read the first few words on the page.

Ah yes, I was trying to reacquaint myself with worldly matters at this point.

“…Well, all right,” Xie Lian said out loud. “If you think about it, a martial god is no different than a rubbish god. All gods are equal. All beings are equal.”

A familiar snicker came from behind before San Lang’s youthful voice spoke.

“Is that right? People naturally love saying that all gods are equal and all beings are equal, but if that were true, then pretty much all those different gods wouldn’t exist.”

Xie Lian looked back at the young boy casually lounging about without a care in the world, unable to keep some of the immense fondness he felt from slipping into the smile he gave. There was no recognition in those dark eyes however, only the slightest twitch of surprise quickly covered by an air of nonchalance. 

So only I’ve been sent here, I see .

“You’re probably right.” He agreed before returning to the scroll.

Further down the line read: Many believe that, as the God of Misfortune, any paintings or writings of the Prince of Xianle have the powers of a curse. If placed on the back of a person, or on the main entrance of a household, then the cursed person or household will run into all sorts of bad luck…

Right.

Xie Lian had also forgotten, after years of being worshipped alongside his husband, just how poor his reputation had once been. He did not wish to recall it either so he simply moved on, stopping at a familiar name.

The Water Master Wudu: controls water and simultaneously wealth. Most merchants have a Water Master shrine in their stores and homes to guarantee their wealth.

It was odd to read about Shi Wudu in present tense- it also made Xie Lian realise just how many dreadful events had yet to pass at that moment. But the god would rather not think of those- he could deal with them when they became more pressing. Right then, his only thought was to meet his husband for the first time again.

“Why would a God of Water control wealth?” He echoed his own words from a lifetime ago, inserting a convincing amount of curious confusion into his tone.

“When merchants transport goods, their cargo is mainly sent on the waterways, so they always go to the Water Master Temple and light up a tall incense to pray for a safe journey, promising this or that when they return. After a while, the Water Master gradually came to control wealth.” Came the immediate answer.

Xie Lian turned to the youth once more.

“My friend, you look young, but you know a lot.” He said with a smile.

The youth replied, “Nah. Just bored. I read whatever when I’m free, that’s all.”

“Then, since you’re knowledgeable about gods, could you also tell me some things about ghosts?”

“Which ghost?” the youth asked. 

Xie Lian replied, “Crimson Rain Sought Flower, Hua Cheng.”

He hadn't noticed back then, or better said, he hadn't known what to look for, but it was adorable the way his husband perked up at the mention of his own name. A mischievous thought, very much unlike him, crossed Xie Lian’s mind. He remembered another time when, between him and Hua Cheng, one had memories that the other did not. Sure, one could argue that the circumstances were very different, but that did nothing to drive away the desire to tease once it had become apparent.

“What do you want to know? Ask away.”

Xie Lian tried to keep any trace of excitement from his face as he chose his words carefully.

“His name evokes quite the imagery. How did he get it?”

The youth finally sat up, propped an arm up on a raised knee, and fixed his sleeves.

“It’s nothing that impressive really. Once, after clearing out another ghost’s lair, he noticed a flower that was getting battered by the blood rain and held his umbrella over it to shield it.”

Xie Lian thought of such a whimsical image and then remembered the origin of another moniker of his husband’s- the burning of thirty-three gods’ temples in one night.

“Does Hua Cheng get into fights often?” He asked, though he knew the answer already.

“Not often. Depends on his mood.”

“And what would sour his mood enough to bet his ashes against thirty-five heavenly officials?”

San Lang clearly hadn’t expected that question because he chose his words a lot more carefully this time.

“There’s all kinds of rumours about that- that he wanted to consolidate his power in one swift move, that he did it out of madness, that he simply despises the heavens that much or that those gods had trampled something he greatly cherished.”

He paused for a moment. “What does gege think?”

“Gege” already huh?

Xie Lian set the scroll aside and raised his hand, counting on his fingers.

“Out of all these rumours, madness is the easiest to rule out. If a Supreme was prone to bouts of that, the world would tremble with it and the Heavenly Emperor would have to intervene. The next is that he did it because of his feelings towards the heavens. I’m sure someone like him must not favour gods at all, however, if it was because of that, he would’ve kept challenging more of them across the centuries.”

Two fingers down and San Lang was already looking at him with barely hidden glee.

“The one about consolidating his power might seem the most obvious, but from what little I’ve heard about him, Hua Cheng wouldn’t have needed to rely on something like that.”

Xie Lian ignored the blatant hint of smugness on the youth’s face, secretly delighting in it.

“That leaves the last rumour- that it was because they’d gone against what Hua Cheng cherished.”

“Doesn’t that sound ridiculous considering his reputation?”

“It does, but if you think about the reasons why ghosts linger, then it ends up making the most sense. It could all be conjecture, yet it could also be that they trampled on his very reason for existing.”

Xie Lian was cheating- if this could even be considered a game- yet he was beginning to understand the appeal of it all as he watched his husband try to control his reaction and hide the sheer surprise from his face. The god gave his ghost husband a few moments to compose himself.

“Gege has a unique way of seeing things.” His voice was almost back to that drawl he’d initially taken with Xie Lian “That being said, why do you think he lingers?”

As much as Xie Lian wanted to say "You stayed for me, and selfishly, I thank my younger idealistic self for that every day” it would be a bit too blatant, so he went in a round-about way.

“I don’t know.” He turned towards the road again, as if pondering the matter deeply, watching San Lang only from the corner of his eye. “Most ghosts cling to this world out of resentment, but I once met one that wished to stay for the sake of his beloved.”

He didn’t miss the way the youth’s entire body seemed to jolt, the question “Do you really remember me?” so clearly at the tip of his tongue.

“And what did you think of that ghost?” He asked instead, all traces of the young lordling disguise gone from his voice.

What did Xie Lian think of his husband? There was no combination of words that didn’t feel too shallow or like they wouldn’t fall short. Even before their shared past had been brought to light, Xie Lian had looked up to Hua Cheng and sought out his company. The year that he’d spent waiting for his beloved to return was possibly the hardest one of his existence and after that… San Lang was just everything .

The god had fully grown to understand what his husband felt when he said that, should the hiding place of his ashes be destroyed, there was no reason for him to remain in the world anymore.

Ah , he missed the familiar weight of the ring against his chest-

“One of a kind.” Eventually, once realising he’d begun to lose himself in his thoughts, he answered, allowing just the tiniest bit of affection and admiration into his voice and the smile on his face.

“Gege is quite the romantic.” Was that wistfulness in San Lang’s voice? The corners of Xie Lian’s mouth curled up slightly further.

That wasn’t entirely correct though. The god had never been interested in romance before Hua Cheng after all. 

When he was still Crown Prince, his mind was entirely focused on martial arts and the people of Xianle- he refused to so much as think about marriage and matters of love. After that, during his long centuries of wandering, the left side of his chest had carried nothing but a shrivelled up, dead piece of viscera. His heart had only begun to start beating in earnest again the moment he’d offered his hand to a mysterious ghost at Mount Yujun.

“Not really. I just think that such rare and pure sentiments are worth remembering.”

For the next few moments, silence fell over the pair as they watched the maple leaves drifting gently in the breeze. Xie Lian would sneak a peek at San Lang, only to see his face scrunched up in focus, likely trying to figure out what to say to him next. The god couldn’t help but delight a little bit in the very rare feat of leaving the Crimson Rain Sought Flower speechless.

Still, he took pity on him rather quickly.

“But let’s get back to the topic at hand. What does Hua Cheng look like?”

“What do you think he looks like?” San Lang countered, still not fully out of his reverie.

Once again, Xie Lian took a moment to make it seem like he was pondering the question.

“A ghost as strong as him must have a lot of forms he takes, but if I had to guess what his true self looked like…” he paused for effect. “I’d say he must be very handsome.”

Xie Lian chose not to look at San Lang, knowing he would give himself away if he did, but he could just about imagine the face the ghost was making.

“Gege, for someone trying to find out more about him, you sure seem to have a strong opinion of Hua Cheng already.” The very same ghost said, trying to deflect and hide the choked sound he’d inadvertently let out upon being called handsome by his god of all people.

“Ah, not particularly, but I’ve met him before!” He finally turned back to face his husband.

“You have?”

It was hard to keep his mirth under control as he watched San Lang try to act like his interest was only surface-level- the reaction of any youth who heard such a tale accompanied by the expected amount of suspicion. He proceeded to tell his husband about the events of Mount Yujun. To keep up their current pretences, Mu Qing and Feng Xin were referred to as two other cultivators that Xie Lian had worked with before, and nothing about gods was mentioned.

“… So there I was, alone in the bridal sedan after I’d just subdued the binu with my spiritual tool, when someone walked up to it and held out a hand for me. I couldn’t see much because of the veil. At first, I thought he was the ghost groom so I had my guard up, but he was so gentle and courteous. He even helped me break through the array of the actual culprit before leaving. I only learned of his true identity after talking to the other two who were with me.”

“Crimson Rain seems to have made a good impression on gege.” Some of that previous smugness was back in San Lang’s voice, cutely intertwined with hope, as he grinned at Xie Lian

“Oh, certainly. But I don’t think it was mutual.” He sighed theatrically.

“What makes gege say that?” San Lang sounded slightly panicked.

Xie Lian almost felt sorry. Almost.

“I was rude in my suspicions and tried to capture him for questioning with Ruoye. He disappeared in a swarm of butterflies the next moment.” He started, looking appropriately troubled and dejected, as if he’d offended someone he wished to befriend.

“I’m sure he understood, given the circumstances.” San Lang rushed to reassure.

“It's really a shame, I would’ve loved to talk to him after we cleared up the misunderstanding about his identity.” Brushing over the reassurances, Xie Lian continued, looking at the trees with a dismayed expression on his face.

“You really would?” 

“Why not?” He looked at San Lang. “An individual like Hua Cheng is rare to come across.”

“Isn’t gege worried about associating with a Ghost King?”

“That doesn’t matter to me. Beggar or king, what matters to me is that I like the person.”

Once again they fell silent as Xie Lian let his husband ruminate on the conversation they’d just had. He could almost see the gears in his mind twist and turn, trying to make sense of Xie Lian’s too friendly attitude towards his fearsome persona. 

Adorable.  

Xie Lian was enjoying himself a bit too much if he were to be honest.

“Ah, but we’ve been talking for so long yet I don’t even know your name, friend.” He spoke up eventually.

Finally, some semblance of the Ghost King’s usual confidence and charm resurfaced as he smiled at Xie Lian.

“Me? I’m third in my family. They call me San Lang.”

The god nodded in acknowledgement before pointlessly offering his own name.

“My family name is Xie, given name is Lian. Are you heading to Puqi Village too?”

San Lang lay back into the hay, put his arms behind his head, and crossed his legs, regaining back some of his previous ease from before Xie Lian’s questioning. “Dunno. I’ve no destination in mind.”

You're here to follow me after all. he thought fondly.

“What’s the matter?”

San Lang sighed. “My parents were quarrelling and kicked me out. I walked for a long time but had nowhere to go. I almost passed out from hunger on the streets before finding somewhere at random to lie down.”

Despite knowing it was just a ploy for sympathy, Xie Lian still searched his bag for the steam bun he remembered he had. Splitting it in half, he offered one part to the ghost.

“Let’s share this then.”

San Lang quietly took it and started munching on it obediently.

The ox cart drove slowly over the rugged hills as the sun gradually set and the two chatted in the back. The more they spoke, the more Xie Lian had to hold himself back from acting too familiar. Still it was worth the trouble. San Lang, as always, was such a witty and charming conversationalist. The god simply let himself enjoy the moment, committing to memory all the subtle ways his husband’s true personality shone through his disguise- not that he’d ever been dishonest with Xie Lian. No, San Lang simply tried to take everything slowly so as to not frighten him.

But I think I would’ve adored you eventually, regardless of how you came to me. Xie Lian felt his heart swell with fondness for the hundredth time since he awoke in the past.

Eventually, the conversation turned to Puqi Shrine when Xie Lian admitted to being its master.

“Puqi Shrine? Sounds like there are plenty of water chestnuts to eat; I like them. Which god is it for?”

Xie Lian scratched his cheek, and smiled sheepishly. Only part of it was theatrical.

“The Prince of Xianle. You probably don’t know him.”

San Lang smiled but before he could answer the ox cart shook, jerking the two men around. 

“San Lang!”

Xie Lian's first thought was to reach out and grab his husband's arm to make sure he wouldn't fall. Perhaps it was the obvious concern on his face as he'd called out his name, but this time San Lang didn't draw back his hand. He stared back at Xie Lian with slightly wide eyes before mouthing “Thank you” .

Xie Lian gave a small nod and stood up, turning to the driver.

“What’s going on?”

The old driver responded, “I don’t know! Old Huang, why aren’t you moving? Go on, now!”

The sun had set, and the ox cart was still in the deep woods, now filled with darkness. Old Huang the ox just stood there, stubbornly refusing to move no matter how the old driver urged it. It kept mooing, wanting to dig its head into the earth, and flicking its tail like a whip.

Xie Lian had nearly forgotten the day, what with enjoying his time with San Lang so much. 

“Today is Zhongyuan.” He uttered just as the old man at the front pointed ahead and started screaming.

“Ghosts!”

In the span of ten seconds a few things happened in quick succession.

Xie Lian let Ruoye out, commanding it to form a protective circle around the ox-pulled cart.

He jumped to the front of the cart, and, after uttering an apology towards the old man, proceeded to knock him out by pressing on a point on his back. He laid him down in the cart and assumed the driver's seat for himself.

“San Lang, come here.” He called, but barely a moment later Xie Lian felt his husband settle behind him.

“Gege, cultivators are so cool. I want to become one too.” The Supreme Ghost King said, sounding just like an excited awe-filled teen.

Xie Lian couldn't help but snort.

“If we don't go down the wrong path at the fork, I'll teach you a few tricks.”

San Lang seemed to perk up.

“Do you mean that gege?”

“Yes. But be quiet for now, the ghosts are approaching and we can't have them noticing us.” Of course, all of this stern instruction was merely for show. With the most fearsome ghost of them all at his back, Xie Lian knew they were completely safe.

San Lang quietly hummed his agreement as Xie Lian picked up the reins and urged the cart forward at a slow pace.

Dealing with the ghosts ahead of them went about as well as it had the first time. The ghosts were initially confused by the invisible force keeping them from walking down the middle of the road. Then they became alarmed when ghost fires started being dissipated which unfortunately led to them surrounding the ox cart, having smelled the scent of the living and THAT led to Xie Lian having to flee as he threw talismans at the band of chasing ghosts. 

But when they reached the fork in the road, Xie Lian could not for the life of him remember which path had been the correct one the last time they’d gone through this ordeal. 

Not that it matters much.

“San Lang, what’s your luck like?” He finally spoke.

“Pretty great gege, why do you ask?”

“Mine’s beyond awful and I haven’t been in this area long enough to know the right path. You should pick which way we turn.” Xie Lian didn’t see the need to bother with the fortune shaker this time around.

“But what if I choose wrong and we end up in the Ghost Realm gege? Will you be upset with this San Lang then?” 

Of all the times for his husband to get up to mischief…

“San Lang, pick.” Xie Lian insisted, on a tone he rarely used with anyone. He felt the body behind him slump in resignation.

“Let’s go to the right gege.”

So Xie Lian did, but the ghosts still caught up to them. Just as Xie Lian was about to throw the talismans hidden in his sleeves at them, he felt it- the aura of a Ghost King. It was only a short few moments, yet it still sent a pleasant shiver down his spine- only because this time he’d known to watch out for it. Then the ghosts scattered like petals in the wind, leaving the cart alone on the path once again.

He turned to look at San Lang.

“Daozhang, you’re amazing! You scared all those ghosts away.” The youth gushed.

Well aren’t you a sly one. The god mused before awkwardly scratching his cheek.

“Ah, San Lang, that wasn’t me.” He said with as much humility as he could summon.

“But if not gege, then who else?”

Xie Lian turned back to the road, knowing that otherwise he’d give himself away with a grin. He kept his voice even.

“Perhaps there’s an even scarier ghost around. I’m almost certain I felt something just a bit ago.”

Someone with normal senses wouldn’t have been able to catch the way San Lang tensed up. Xie Lian didn’t have normal senses, even when they were dulled by two shackles.

“Then we have to go. I didn’t want to say anything while gege was busy protecting us, but I was really scared.”

Xie Lian said nothing more, urging the ox down the road once again. An hour later, they were emerging from the forest onto an open mountain path. Down below the hills, the warm glow of lights illuminated Puqi Village.

The god turned back to his companion, seeing that San Lang had lain down, watching the moon with his hands pillowed behind his head. He looked ethereal in the moonlight and the image brought a smile to Xie Lian’s face.

“My friend.” 

“What is it?” San Lang replied.

“Have you ever had your fortune told?” Xie Lian asked. 

“No?” San Lang replied, turning to face Xie Lian.

“Do you want me to give you a session?”

San Lang looked at him and smiled. “Do you want to give me a session?”

“Considering that you picked the path which brought us here safely, I must admit I’m curious. Let me read your palm.”

Hearing this, the corners of San Lang’s lips curled. Xie Lian now knew his husband well enough to tell that the ghost had figured out his intentions. But he was wrong. Back then, he had indeed been trying to check San Lang for signs that he was not human. This time he simply wanted an excuse to hold his hand.

San Lang sat up, leaning close enough to the god so that he could offer his left hand comfortably. Xie Lian took it, carefully fighting back every urge for more affectionate touches like squeezing it or running his thumb across it. Later he told himself, trying to remember the kind of bullshit he’d spouted the last time, as he admired the flawless disguise of a Ghost King.

“So?” San Lang asked. 

“You’ve got a good hand.”

 “Oh yeah? How so?”

Xie Lian raised his head and said warmly, “You have a strong character, extremely stubborn, but whenever you run into obstacles you remain true to yourself and manage to transform the bad into good. You have a limitless well of good fortune, my friend. Your future is bright and full of success.”

But now that Xie Lian thought about it, had it really been all lies that first time? The banished god had somehow been able to come up with a frighteningly accurate reading of his beloved. He was tempted to laugh, joy bubbling up in his chest.

San Lang watched him unblinkingly the whole time, sitting through his nonsense with an intrigued smile, chuckling under his breath.

“Got any more? Hm?” San Lang asked when he noticed the god had quieted down.

Xie Lian didn’t stutter as he did in the past. He looked San Lang right in the eyes as he spoke softly.

“Your devotion will be fully reciprocated one day.”

He meant the words, from the bottom of his heart, letting that sincerity shine through his gaze.

The Ghost King froze completely, mouth opening and closing repeatedly around words that refused to properly string together into speech. For a second time in just one day, Xie Lian had rendered his husband speechless.

He allowed himself to enjoy the moment. After all, it was usually San Lang that turned him into a blushing, stuttering mess. Even years after they got married, the god was still not immune. Not that it truly bothered him. But he had to admit to himself that it was nice to be on the other side of the fence just this once.

Perhaps it was a bit mean, yet Xie Lian reasoned that he could allow himself one day of abusing his knowledge.

Yes, I’ll tell you everything tomorrow . He thought, amusedly watching as San Lang remained in a daze even once the ox card had pulled into Puqi Village and stopped moving all-together. Xie Lian got down from the cart, taking his bag of scraps and sleeping mat and setting them on the side of the road.

He gently nudged his husband, who still seemed halfway gone, down as well before waking the old man and advising him not to share what had happened. Having witnessed what Xie Lian was capable of, he easily agreed.

Then, as the old man directed his cart towards his home, it was just Xie Lian and San Lang left on the road.

“San Lang, do you have any place to sleep tonight?”

“Not really. I was thinking I’d find somewhere on the streets or a cave.” Eventually the ghost king seemed to snap back to the present moment, giving Xie Lian a carefree smile.

“You can come to my shrine if you’d like.” 

 “Is that okay?”

Xie Lian explained, “The place wasn’t originally mine anyway, and I heard it housed a number of passersby before. But it’s probably much shabbier than what you’re used to. I’m afraid you wouldn’t be comfortable.”

You will eventually have to fix most of it after all . Xie Lian thought, not without an ounce of embarrassment. San Lang said nothing more, bending down to pick up Xie Lian’s sack of scraps before urging.

“Then let’s go.”

The god quickly grabbed the sleeping mat and followed in his footsteps.

Nearing the crooked, shaky shack that was Puqi Shrine, San Lang lowered his head and puffed out a laugh, as if seeing something amusing. Xie Lian approached, saw that he was looking at his sign requesting donations, and cleared his throat. 

“As you see, that’s it really. That’s why I said you might not be comfortable here.”

“It's not too bad,” San Lang said.

You’re too kind San Lang. Though Xie Lian knew that the ghost would be fine even sleeping in the dirt so long as they were together, he still felt a bit bad. He’d really forgotten just what kind of shabby conditions he’d been accustomed to.

Lifting the drapes that he’d placed in stead of the long-rotted door, he invited San Lang to enter.

“Come on in.”

And so, they found themselves in the small, almost barren space. When San Lang amusedly asked after a bed, Xie Lian simply unrolled the straw mat he’d brought with him and presented it to the youth.

San Lang quirked a brow. “There’s only one?”

Xie Lian hadn’t expected he’d have company back then so he’d only bought one mat. “If you don’t mind, we can squeeze a bit for the night.”

“That works,” San Lang agreed.

Another idea struck Xie Lian, but he decided to keep quiet for the time being. Instead, he picked up a broom and began sweeping the floor while San Lang looked around.

“Daozhang-gege, aren’t you missing something in this shrine?”

Xie Lian had just finished sweeping and was kneeling on the ground laying out the mat when he heard him. He answered as he patted their bedding, “Other than followers, I don’t think there’s anything missing.”

San Lang crouched down too, a hand propping up his chin. “What about a divine statue of the god?”

Oh. That.  

“I bought some paper and ink today. I'll paint a portrait tomorrow.” He waved his hand dismissively.

“A portrait? I know how to paint one. Need my help?” 

Xie Lian wanted to smile. He patted the bedding, beckoning San Lang to sit down next to him, before he began getting ready for sleep

“Do you know how to paint the Crown Prince of Xianle then?”

San Lang replied, “Of course I do. Weren’t we talking about him earlier on the cart?”

Xie Lian feigned surprise. “Don’t tell me you actually know him, San Lang. He’s been mostly forgotten by the world.”

“Isn’t gege seeing to a shrine in his name?” San Lang countered, brow raised.

The god let out a good natured laugh.

”Fair point, fair point. What do you think of this old god then, San Lang?”

The youth seemed to ponder for a bit before he said with utter certainty.

“I think the Heavenly Emperor doesn’t like him very much.”

Xie Lian wanted to chuckle, remembering that once before he’d found this logic to be childish. Knowing all that he knew now, he would be tempted to argue that the Heavenly Emperor liked him a bit too much for anyone’s good.

He completely shoved down the mess of feelings that arose with the realisation they would have to defeat Jun Wu once more. 

San Lang is here, he told himself, and this time I won’t let him get dispersed again.

No, this time Xie Lian had the advantage of time and knowledge on his side. If he could find Guoshi before Jun Wu got to him, he might even be able to free himself of his shackles without the terrible cost it had taken the first time.

But that was neither here nor there. Xie Lian refused to let any thoughts of the upcoming challenges dampen this moment. Right then, all that mattered was being with San Lang.

“Perhaps not.” He agreed with a surprised ghost king. “But we can talk more about that tomorrow. We should go to sleep after such an adventurous day.”

San Lang nodded, laying down on his back, hands pillowed behind his head.

Xie Lian made to blow out the candle, but just before he could plunge them into darkness, he stopped, a sheepish look on his face.

“Gege?”

“Ah it’s nothing much San Lang.” He looked away from the ghost, the perfect picture of shy and demure.

“Please tell me.” San Lang insisted in a gentle tone.

Got you.

“Well you see… It gets rather cold here at night, so I was thinking- o-only if San Lang is okay with it too of course! But you see… I was thinking we could huddle for warmth. I’m worried you might fall sick after what you went through lately.”

Xie Lian laid it on thick, unable to recognise this shameless version of himself for a moment, but when he looked at the kaleidoscope of emotion flashing in San Lang’s eyes uncontrolled he thought it worth it. They even flashed red for a single second.

Ah, if only I knew how to paint as well as you do, then I could immortalise your face in this moment.

San Lang didn’t say anything, just nodded.

The god smiled, and before the Ghost King could even realise what was happening, Xie Lian had already extinguished the candle and thrown himself onto Hua Cheng’s waiting chest. 

Xie Lian fell asleep in the very stiff arms of his husband that night, a wide smile on his face.

Hua Cheng had finally lost it.

Eight centuries, countless rumours, thousands of places investigated, hundreds of near misses and more breakdowns than he’d like to admit to… It would seem that this was the limit for his sanity.

How else could he even begin to explain the current position he found himself in?

When Black Water had let him know that his god had ascended for a third time, Hua Cheng felt his mind settle in a way it hadn’t ever since he stood by Xie Lian’s side as Wuming.

When he sent a silver butterfly at Mount Yujun and saw his god for the first time in eight hundred years, all of the weight that pressed down on his chest with the heft of a mountain finally lifted.

When his god actually took his hand and allowed him to lead him towards his destination at the peak of the mountain, the Ghost King had to use every fibre of his self control to maintain a calm facade because finally…

Finally!

He had found his god. He could stand by his side and protect him the way he’d so desperately wished for so long…

But unfortunately for him, it was nothing but a fever dream- it had to be. Mount Tonglu must’ve opened again while he wasn’t paying attention, single-mindedly focused on his search instead.

How else was he to explain his god sleeping in his arms as comfortable and trusting as if they’d been lovers for years? Or the way Xie Lian had spoken so warmly about him- had even said he wanted to talk more to him, Hua Cheng, scourge of the heavens and fearsome ghost king of ill repute. 

And what was that line about his devotion being reciprocated?!

Xie Lian couldn’t know- there was no possibility in this world that he’d recognized him in that way. As Wu Ming, or even worse, as Hong-hong’er.

…

Needless to say, Hua Cheng was simultaneously having the best and worst time of his undead life. Just as he pondered over that, Xie Lian nuzzled his face deeper into his chest, softly mumbling his name.

Ah, but of all those madness induced hallucinations, this one might just be the best .

Hua Cheng lay awake, serving as a personal heater and pillow to his god, trying to convince himself that this was real. Even in his worst moments, his mind had never perceived those visions so wholly. Touch, smell, sight, hearing and even taste- all of his very sharp senses told him that it was not another cruel dream he’d regret allowing himself sleep for. 

He almost succeeded in his endeavours sometime between the first rays of the sun and the roosters in the village starting their morning “song”.

And then Xie Lian tried to kiss him first thing after the god woke up.

Xie Lian felt warm and comfortable when he woke up the next day, so much so that he may have forgotten that the San Lang holding him at that moment wasn’t the same San Lang he could kiss whenever he pleased. Not yet at least .

So when he opened his eyes and drowsily gazed at the ghost with the look of a love-sick puppy, it was no surprise that San Lang became very confused.

Then, when a barely-half-awake Xie Lian leaned forward, ready to kiss his husband good morning, it was a rather jarring reality check when said husband’s eyes went wide and he pushed Xie Lian away slightly.

“Your Highness?...” He questioned, likely not even realising he’d completely slipped up.

Now, fully conscious and in the moment, Xie Lian felt like chuckling at the sheer shock that seemed to radiate from San Lang. Though he didn’t really want to, he disentangled himself from that warm embrace instead.

Both men stood up.

“Ah, forgive me San Lang.” He apologised as he stretched his limbs, pleasantly surprised to find that most of his aches from yesterday had gone away. “Force of habit.” Xie Lian mindlessly added, before realising what it all sounded like.

Seeing his husband’s face twist as if he’d been struck over the head with a sledgehammer three times in a row made it hard for the god to hold back his laughter. It wasn’t hard to guess what path his thoughts had taken.

He decided it was time for this farce to come to an end.

“I promise I’ll explain everything, but before that, will Hua Cheng show me his true form?”

When San Lang continued to stare at him with the wide eyes of a doe caught in a snare, Xie Lian urged softly.

“Please?”

A few more moments passed in stunned silence before Hua Cheng found his voice to weakly argue.

“But gege, my true form is-”

“Very handsome.” Xie Lian cut him off, speaking with the certainty one would use to state that the sun rose in the east and set in the west.

Whatever the ghost was looking for in Xie Lian’s eyes, he must’ve found it because he let out a resigned sigh soon enough.

“How can I ever say no to Your Highness? Please close your eyes for a moment.” So the god did, feeling the presence next to him change in the span of a few seconds.

“It’s done.” Spoke the hesitant voice of Crimson Rain Sought Flower. As much as Xie Lian enjoyed the lilt of San Lang’s youthful voice, his favourite would always remain Hua Cheng’s deep baritone. Ah, I’ve missed hearing the real you. He opened his eyes. Hua Cheng was holding himself very still, a cautious look in his eye as if he was waiting for Xie Lian to suddenly change his opinion on his true form.

This time Xie Lian didn’t bother to hide the full breadth of his affection. Smiling happily, he reached to cup his husband’s face.

“There you are.” He spent a few moments taking in the features he so much cherished, gently brushing his thumb beneath the eyepatch on the right missing eye.

“Your Highness, while I certainly don’t object to this treatment, you said you would explain the situation?” Hua Cheng spoke up once it became clear that Xie Lian wasn’t going to stop his ogling anytime soon.

“Ah, you’re right! Sorry, sorry!.” The god responded, but still didn’t let go of the other’s face.

“Hmmm. This will sound ridiculous no matter how I say it so I’ll be blunt. I’ve already lived through these moments once. To me, it’s already been over three decades since we met on that ox cart.”

Hua Cheng’s eye went wide, before his entire face shifted into deep thought. Xie Lian knew that he believed him, so he gave him a few moments to process the information.

“Your Highness has returned to the past.” He said absentmindedly.

“Only my consciousness.” It would’ve been far too easy to solve everything if his unshackled body had returned as well. Xie Lian couldn’t help but lament that a bit.

“But how?” Hua Cheng looked as if his mind was running a mile a second. A deep furrow had made its way between his brows and the god couldn’t help but shift one of his hands to smooth it.

“I have no clue.” He laughed. ”I suppose I should be more worried about the current situation, but I was just so happy that I returned to the day when I met my husband again.”

“Husband?” The ghost croaked incredulously.

“Husband.” Xie Lian nodded.

And then Xie Lian finally saw it, among the amalgamation of confusion and ten other tumultuous feelings in that onyx eye- hunger. Very familiar and very much welcomed hunger.

“Gege, you’ll have to forgive me, but I find it hard to tell whether I’m dreaming or not right now.” His hands finally seemed to find their place around Xie Lian’s waist.

The god moved to press the entire front of his body against Hua Cheng’s.

“Is that so?” He asked, unable to contain the playfulness in his voice.

“En.” Hua Cheng leaned down at the same time that Xie Lian lifted himself on the tips of his toes.

“We can’t have that.”

When Xie Lian’s lips touched Hua Cheng’s, it took a moment for the ghost to respond, but the moment he did, it was as if Mount Tonglu had opened again. In an instant, he was all over Xie Lian, kissing him with wild abandon, like a man starved for years who was finally offered a warm meal again.

At the back of his mind Xie Lian supposed it wasn’t too far from the truth and he couldn’t help but feel his heart ache for his beloved. He’d been waiting for him for so long…

In his enthusiasm, Hua Cheng bit on his lower lip, jostling Xie Lian out of his thoughts and drawing a yelp of surprise from him.

The sound was akin to cold water dousing the Ghost King’s frantic passion. He immediately drew back, still holding onto Xie Lian, full panic painted on his features.

“Your Highness, forgive me, I forgot myse-”

Xie Lian cut him off with a soft kiss.

“None of that.” He spoke against the ghost’s lips. “Come back.” 

Hua Cheng didn’t need to be told twice. They were kissing again almost instantly. 

It went on like that for an indeterminable amount of time- a blur of greedy mouths and heated touches. Xie Lian couldn’t tell when they ended up back on the sleeping mat, Hua Cheng leaning against the shrine’s wall as Xie Lian straddled him, arms tightly circling his neck, and quite frankly he did not care either. Surprisingly enough, it was San Lang who, gently this time, pushed a breathless Xie Lian back.

“Now that I have come to my senses-” he said, a bit breathless himself “I think we should talk more about the situation at hand.

It took a moment for Xie Lian’s brain to catch up with the words but when it did, he reluctantly agreed. Still he made no move to change his current position. He was very comfortable in Hua Cheng’s lap after all and the ghost made no move to dissuade him either. 

So Xie Lian started telling him about the jist of what had come to happen during the first year of their acquaintance. He told Hua Cheng about how they worked together during every problem that arose- Banyue Pass, Qi Rong’s lair, the case of the ghost child, Black Water’s revenge- all the way up to what happened in Mount Tonglu.

At the mention of the cave of Ten Thousand Gods, the Ghost King seemed suddenly unable to look Xie Lian in the eyes.

“So gege has seen that.”

“En.” Xie Lian agreed mindlessly, confused for a second as to why Hua Cheng had suddenly become so tense. Then he remembered- this was a version of his husband who was not yet used to Xie Lian reciprocating his feelings, a Hua Cheng who thought that they might be unwelcome, that he might be turned down and cast aside. 

His heart ached.

“Oh San Lang.” He reached to turn his beloved’s face towards him. Reluctantly the Ghost King complied. “Receiving your devotion has only ever felt like the greatest honour to me, no matter the form it took.” Xie Lian shifted slightly, raising himself up on his knees so that he was at level with Hua Cheng’s forehead. 

“My brave Hong’er. My loyal Wu Ming. My beloved San Lang” For each of those names, he planted a kiss, and for each kiss he felt his husband’s body shudder as the gentle grasp his hands had on Xie Lian’s hips turned bruising.

“Even in the depths of my despair, the flowers you gave me were only ever beautiful.” He said, settling himself back down and gently brushing a loose strand of hair from Hua Cheng’s face. The next thing he knew was the Ghost King burying his head in the crook of Xie Lian’s neck, arms moving to embrace and hold onto his god tightly. 

Xie Lian let himself be crushed to near breathlessness. All the while he ran a hand through Hua Cheng’s hair, softly getting rid of any tangles he found.

Eventually, however many minutes later, the tension seemed to have finally fully bled from Hua Cheng’s body. He raised his head to look at Xie Lian again, looking a bit lost.

Xie Lian understood, as he remembered the awkwardness they felt after that first confession.

“Shall I tell you the rest, San Lang?” He offered and the ghost nodded.

Talking about Bai Wuxiang turned out to be easier than he’d anticipated. He described the events all the way to the point where he’d gone back to the heavens to see his Guoshi dragged in front of the entire court.

“That heavenly piece of trash… I should’ve burnt down all of his temples instead of the ones of those thirty-three useless phonies.” Hua Cheng spat venomously when Xie Lian eventually revealed the truth about Jun Wu. “I could still do it.” 

Xie Lian knew that his husband wouldn’t act so recklessly, what with everything that was at stake, but he still couldn’t help himself.

“We have to be careful San Lang. The last time…” It was silly, how so many years had passed for Xie Lian since that event yet he still had a hard time speaking about it. “In order to defeat Jun Wu, you had to spend all of your spiritual energy to break my shackles. You were dispersed for a full year before you returned.”

Hua Cheng didn’t seem surprised, in fact, Xie Lian would even hazard to say the ghost was rather proud of himself. 

“I understand Your Highness. I will not be careless.” Still he promised, running a soothing hand up and down Xie Lian’s back.

”But if it comes down to it-”

The god’s reaction was instantaneous. He tightly grabbed the edges of Hua Cheng;s robes, right where they parted above his chest. Whether he was shaking the ghost out of anger or if it was simply the tremor of his hands, he couldn’t tell.

“No! That will not happen again! No matter what cannot be changed this time around, that is the one thing I refuse to let repeat at all costs. Do you understand?”

“Gege…” Hua Cheng’s voice and face were full of wonder, as if he hadn’t just been slightly roughed up. Then he leaned forward once again to kiss Xie Lian. The god welcomed it, only too happy to melt into the touch.

He hadn’t meant to overreact but… San Lang was simply too precious to Xie Lian. He would rather be pierced by Fangxin a hundred times again than watch his beloved’s flickering form fade away into butterflies. 

Only half-aware of the turmoil going inside in his god’s mind Hua Cheng ended their kiss, leaning his forehead against Xie Lian’s and taking a deep breath he didn’t quite need.

“Ahh, this is so sweet I cannot bear it.”

“Find a way.” Xie Lian groused, still slightly upset.

Hua Cheng burst into laughter.

After the ghost laughter subsided, they proceeded to discuss more about the details they’d have to keep a careful eye on.

When Hua Cheng finally made a move to get up, he was slightly surprised to see Xie Lian protest.

“Gege?”

“Ah, San Lang- it’s just that, soon enough, that empty shell from Bayue will make its way here and all of the chaos will start again. I simply want to spend some more time with you like this before that.”

Hua Cheng smiled at him, wide and full of adoration. 

“As gege wishes.”

He settled back down, arms embracing his god once more.

Omake:

“Gege, how did I propose to you?” Hua Cheng asked much later, after they’d dealt with the whole incident at Banyue pass and returned to the shrine. They lay facing each other on the sleeping mat. One of his hands was idly playing with a strand of Xie Lian’s hair.

Oh San Lang, I really swore I was done teasing you that morning. I’m so sorry.

“Shall I tell you about the one that led to our marriage or the first one?” He asked, unable to contain a grin from spreading on his face.

The question obviously shocked his husband.

“I proposed more than once?”

“Only because you took it back the first time.”

The Ghost King went deathly still for a second before…

“I did what?!” He burst in outrage.

Hua Cheng sounded like he was ready to fight that future-past version of himself.

Xie Lian finally lost it at that, bursting into uproarious laughter.