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Let it be known that Xie Lian definitely had tried to bring up the literal elephant in the porcelain shop several times.
He's sure with his rotten luck, he would've been enough in the porcelain shop already, and yet…
It's been 200 years since he accidentally found his way into Ghost City and met his husband.
…Yes, husband.
Because after their first (third… fifth??) meeting it didn't even take them half a year to fall head over heels in love.
Well, him– because Hua Cheng had been madly in love with him for 800 years.
…well, not even him because he once fell in love with his most devoted believer– only realizing it after Wuming dispersed because of his own awful decisions.
So maybe it truly had been fate.
…maybe those scamming ghosts hadn't tried to scam them and had been truly fortune tellers??
Ahem.
The point is, Xie Lian has ascended for a third time.
Yes, a third time, who would've even thought?
He doesn't know whether to laugh or cry, really! It seems heaven isn't done with him yet.
The problem is, that Xie Lian has been happily married to the scourge of heaven for almost 200 years.
And he hasn't found a good moment to tell anyone yet– well, if anyone would actually listen because so far everyone seems to be avoiding him like a plague.
But this windmaster seems to be a very bright person and Xie Lian really hopes they can become friends!
After the mission.
You might think now, what mission?
… The mission to investigate the missing heavenly official in Ghost City.
Right now, Xie Lian has reached the Gambling Den and steps inside.
He's made sure to wear his veiled bamboo hat, so the people won't recognize him.
After all, Xie Lian is well known in Ghost City as their Chengzhu’s wife and also as the second ruler of Ghost City. Hua Cheng had made that fact clear very early on.
And it would only, ah, endanger their mission if the Ghost City residents would make a fuss.
The Gambling Den is packed with visitors, so Xie Lian slinks through the throngs of patrons and into a staff-corridor.
The staff needs to move quickly through the halls and those corridors make it possible.
It's not that Xie Lian truly wants to hide, but Ghost City can get a bit much.
The residents are well meaning and kind, at least to him. But they forget personal space is a thing and so Xie Lian embraces the calm and quiet while he can.
One staff-member walks past him and gives him a curt bow, recognizing him on the spot, despite wearing his hat, before they leave through an open door into the bustling gambling den.
Relishing the peace and quiet for a moment longer, Xie Lian thinks back of the past 200 years with his San Lang.
It had been wonderful and almost dreamlike.
Hua Cheng was an excellent conversationalist and also really listened to him. He liked him for who he was and didn't care what other people said about him.
Just a day before he ascended for a third time, they had been walking through villages and collecting scraps– a habit Xie Lian kept even as he lived with Hua Cheng.
He didn't need to collect scraps for a living anymore but Hua Cheng went along with his whims happily, because he enjoyed a calm day with his husband, doing simple things.
His San Lang, his Wuming and his Hong-er–
his most devoted believer.
Being back and up in the heavenly realm felt like falling into ice cold water.
And Xie Lian always thought his face was thick and that such behaviour towards him wouldn't bother him, but…
Hua Cheng had spoiled him. Even Ghost City had spoiled him.
Before his thoughts could err into a worse direction, Xie Lian feels hands sneaking around his waist.
200 years ago he might've tried to shake them off, but now he knows the gentle yet firm touch of his husband.
“San Lang,” he breathes and Hua Cheng hooks his chin over his right shoulder.
“I missed you,” Hua Cheng says in a low voice and Xie Lian can't help but lean back against the solid frame of the Ghost King.
“It's been only a day,” Xie Lian teases half-heartedly– because he shares that sentiment. Even a day is too long.
“Doesn't matter. I miss Gege as soon as he's out of my arms,” Hua Cheng says, petulance tinting his voice.
Xie Lian laughs softly and carefully turns around.
Ah… Hua Cheng is in his true form.
“Beautiful,” Xie Lian mumbles and cups Hua Cheng's face in his hands.
The ghost's eye is wide and suddenly he moves even closer to Xie Lian, effectively crowding him against the wall of the corridor.
“San Lang?” Xie Lian yelps and then there's lips on his own.
Oh.
Oh.
The kiss starts out gentle, lips moving gently against his own.
Gently, until Hua Cheng opens his mouth and takes Xie Lian's lower lip between his teeth.
Truth be told, Xie Lian always had a weakness for Hua Cheng's fangs and feeling them now–
He can't help but let out a breathy moan.
This had been Hua Cheng's goal all along and then there's a tongue flicking against his own.
They lose themselves there, in the wet slide of lips and tongue and distantly Xie Lian is very aware of how close they are to the next exit and the patrons of Ghost City right behind, but it just feels so right. It feels so good to have Hua Cheng's large body pressing him into a wall and kissing him like there's no tomorrow.
Suddenly familiar voices get closer to their hiding spot.
Xie Lian freezes–
It's the windmaster.
They don't seem to be alone, nervously chattering with someone else and suddenly, Hua Cheng grows even broader and bigger, effectively shielding him from view.
Then the tongue is back in his mouth and–
Oh.
Xie Lian finds that he likes this a lot, especially when Hua Cheng's hand slides down his robes and he roughly grabs a fisful of butt.
A high pitched moan leaves his lips and he feels the heat in his cheeks. He's about to push Hua Cheng back a little, when there's a mortified yelp.
“We're so sorry!” The windmaster yells and hastily their steps retreat from their hiding spot.
Only a moment later Hua Cheng turns back into his true form.
Xie Lian resolutely stares at the wall next to them, ignoring his flaming cheeks.
“Gege,” the ghost purrs and if possible, Xie Lian's cheeks grow even hotter.
“You liked when I turned bigger and rough with you,” he says. He doesn't ask, he knows.
“Maybe a little,” Xie Lian says curly, still refusing to meet his gaze.
Hua Cheng crowds him again, nuzzling his nose with his own.
“I think we both won.”
“Eh?” Xie Lian asks, confused.
“Well, you want to keep this evil Ghost King a secret for a while longer and we succeeded in that. And I learned something interesting for our next night together.”
“San Lang!”
A moment later a veiled cultivator leaves the corridor, leaving a cackling ghost back in the shadows.
Xie Lian is glad for the veil, so no one can see his furious blush.
… He looks forward to their next night together in Paradise Manor though.