Chapter Text
It had been a few months since Hua Cheng reformed.
Xie Lian had clung to him for a solid month. The two of them spent the majority of their time in the cottage—and a few whole days together in bed. Hua Cheng was unsure at first, but Xie Lian was no longer concerned about his cultivation. He had started a new method while he waited for Hua Cheng to return. So, they made love again and again.
Eventually, Xie Lian had to return to his duties in the heavenly realm. He had a lot more to do these days, with everyone looking to him. Hua Cheng busied himself in Ghost City in the meantime.
One evening, Hua Cheng arrived at home after Xie Lian, who was making dinner.
“San Lang!” Xie Lian greeted with a smile as he stirred a pot.
“Gege,” Hua Cheng gave him a kiss on the cheek. “How was your day?”
“Busy,” Xie Lian sighed, before launching into a tirade. Hua Cheng listened attentively, cleaning after Xie Lian as he cooked.
“Shall this one tell the other gods to leave gege alone?” Hua Cheng asked when he was done.
“No, no,” Xie Lian shook his head. “I want to help. It’s just the little, petty disagreements that could be worked out themselves that really bother me.”
“Mm.” Hua Cheng envisioned Mu Qing and Feng Xin bickering over something as trivial as a square foot of land.
Though Xie Lian had expressed Hua Cheng need not do anything, he couldn’t help but feel he could be more useful to his god. And the more that he thought about it, the more he felt as though he had been awfully selfish lately. Xie Lian had been doing a lot for him—cooking, cleaning, amongst other things. Plus, Ghost City hardly needed his attention lately. He checked in often but the place had learned to manage itself while he was absent. Not like it ever came before Xie Lian, though.
The only problem was that Hua Cheng had much, much less spiritual energy after reforming.
He had enjoyed being able to give Xie Lian copious amounts of energy before this. It made him feel helpful. And he always had more than he needed anyway. Now, however, Xie Lian had plenty and it was Hua Cheng who didn’t have much. He knew it would come back over the next several months, but for the time being he had to hide his weakness. If Xie Lian knew he was less powerful now, there’s no telling what he might do. He may cling to Hua Cheng again until he’s back to full strength. Or worse—
—Make Hua Cheng hang around the Heavenly Realm with him.
Xie Lian plated up their meal and sat down with Hua Cheng, eating in a comfortable silence. Afterward, Hua Cheng cleaned up the remainder of the mess while Xie Lian pored over some scrolls.
“Gege,” Hua Cheng wrapped his arms around Xie Lian’s waist from behind.
“Hm?”
“You’ve been working too hard,” Hua Cheng stated, bringing his nose to his neck.
“Impossible,” Xie Lian stated without looking back. “I’m a god.”
“Even gods need rest,” Hua Cheng pulled Xie Lian closer, his back pressed up against the ghost king’s torso.
Xie Lian smiled as he noticed a particular familiar sensation pressed against him.
“Well,” Xie Lian began as he set down the scroll he was holding. “You make a convincing argument.”
Hua Cheng promptly picked Xie Lian up and carried him away to their bed.
He laid the god down, as tenderly as possible, kissing his way up and down his neck. Xie Lian slid a hand between Hua Cheng’s robes, feeling the smooth chest underneath. As he did, the ghost nibbled Xie Lian’s earlobe, eliciting a small gasp. Then he reached his hand up and pulled out the pin in his hair, letting the bun fall out and his long brown hair fall free. Hua Cheng ran his hand through the soft hair, untangling any small knots.
In the meantime, Xie Lian was undoing his lover’s belt and sliding off his outer robes. It didn’t take long for Hua Cheng to do the same. Before long, they were both bare, chests pressed together, the god lying on his back staring up at the ghost.
Hua Cheng rubbed oil onto his fingers and reached down to that special place Xie Lian so loved to feel his beloved in. Neither broke their gaze. The ghost moved slowly, taking his time to prepare Xie Lian who made little sounds here and there. By the time Hua Cheng finally had three fingers in, the god had definitively lost their staring contest and was squirming intensely.
“Please!” Xie Lian cried.
Hua Cheng continued to tease.
“San Laaaaang!”
“Just a little longer, gege.”
Xie Lian kept bucking his hips, nails digging into the other’s skin, desperate for more. Finally, finally, Hua Cheng pulled his fingers away and lined up his member before gently thrusting his way inside.
Soon they were both panting. It was as if that despite this obvious connection, they wanted to somehow be even closer together. Impossibly close. They held on tightly to one another, a mess of hair, sweat, limbs, and more were tangled in a heap on the bed. If they possessed the same height and skin tone, it would be hard to differentiate one from the other.
“I’m close,” Hua Cheng groaned.
“Inside,” Xie Lian gasped.
Eventually, they both climaxed—one after the other—pressing their foreheads together and whispering sweet nothings between kisses.
They were tired and, perhaps, if they were not god and ghost they would have fallen asleep shortly after. But Xie Lian grabbed hold of Hua Cheng and rolled him over onto his back. They were insatiable and one proclaimed that the night was far from over.