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The sound of bare feet fills the outdoor halls of Paradise Manor as Xie Lian embarks on his nightly stroll. Around him, the red lanterns and dark sky serve him well, creating a warm atmosphere to combat the chill Ghost City naturally carries. There was little noise at this time of night, being in Hua Cheng's private residence also aided this fact. However, Xie Lian didn't mind; he had found it most peaceful, especially after how busy he had been lately.
The two had returned to Paradise Manor two days ago, after spending a month in Puqi Shrine with Xie Lian having to deal with the prayers of all the his believers, still refusing to employ any junior officials. On numerous occasions, Hua Cheng had gotten frustrated with the influx of desperate worshippers, as it prevented them from having much alone time and it got to the point that even when they were blessed with a moment's peace, Xie Lian still found ways to keep them both occupied.
'Oh, San Lang, the entryway has come loose after yesterday's harsh winds.'
'I'm sorry San Lang, I need to finish this for Feng Xin...'
'It is getting quite late, you must be hungry San Lang. Let me make us something to eat.'
Looking back on it, Xie Lian could definitely understand why San Lang insisted they return to Ghost City for at least a short while; it had been a lot for them both. Xie Lian was quite happy juggling all his duties, it having been so long since he was last able to do so much and Hua Cheng would never prohibit him from doing as he pleased. But that did not mean he didn't try to persuade him to slow it down.
If he hadn't spent an entire week dropping subtle hints of his desire to return to Paradise Manor, then it was likely they would still be hunkered down in Puqi Shrine listening to prayers, aiding the people and most importantly, not spending any time actually together in each other's arms.
However, just because they left Puqi Shrine did not mean they also left all priorities behind, much to Hua Cheng's dismay. The second they had returned, Hua Cheng had been drowned in his own responsibilities as Ghost King and whilst he did have Yin Yu to complete most tasks, some things could not be placed in the hands of anyone other than him. Though it may also have something to do with the fact that Yin Yu has been permitted more and more time to himself lately.
This was mainly due to Quan Yizhen's insistent complaints, that is. Honestly, Xie Lian wasn't quite sure where the younger official got all his gall from, but it was such a humorous sight watching San Lang's face awkwardly contort as the other begged him to permit his partner yet another day off. Any other official would certainly be running for their lives at the sight of the Crimson Rain Sought Flower. Not Quan Yizhen, though; he was another beast entirely.
Perhaps what was more surprising is that Hua Cheng never seemed too offended by any of it, which is what Xie Lian had originally feared. He recalls the first time his highness Qi Ying had thrust himself onto Hua Cheng, going on and on about how his shixiong deserves time off. The elder had tilted his head ever so slightly and appreciated the request before his brows furrowed and he responded with a simple, "I will permit it this once"
It had not ended up being just once.
Quan Yizhen had thrown himself in the air a few times with a victorious grin and even dared to reach out to Hua Cheng. Now, Xie Lian had not quite seen what he was reaching for because he had taken much more interest in the way Yin Yu, who had been tucked away in a corner, seemingly collapsed in on himself. Any light left on his face had drained and he pushed his back further against the wall behind himself as though he had anticipated it swallowing him whole.
'Such juxtaposing spirits, ' He had thought to himself.
That night, when curled under crimson silks and buried in San Lang's arms, he had asked why the man hadn't just clobbered Quan Yizhen for his audacity and denied his request. The response he received was, in his opinion, lacklustre. San Lang had simply told him that he had found the young general amusing, a half truth Xie Lian had noticed, but he said nought.
Instead, opting to appreciate the peculiarity of a Heavenly Official begging for a Ghost King to allow his Waning Moon Officer to have a moment's reprieve from his never-ending duties, on a bi-monthly basis.
And this is exactly the reason Hua Cheng had not been much more present in Paradise Manor than Xie Lian had been in Puqi Shrine for the past two days. Xie Lian can't say it is not a little annoying, though he supposed this could be his bad karma for leaving the other for his own responsibilities; it wasn't something either of them could help.
So he let the thoughts go and continued down the corridor, his feet beginning to feel a bitter tingle from the cold. In the past, this wouldn't have been an issue; sometime, a few hundred years back, he had lost his ability to register harsh temperatures due to prolonged exposure.
It had been a winter's evening when he was stripped of almost all his mortal clothing by a gang of ruthless thieves, left to freeze. He hadn't fought them, taking note of the number of them and the fact that the whole day prior had been a particularly strenuous one, allowing them to steal items he was not quite sure belonged to him anyway wasn't too great an issue.
That night and the following seven days, he had been stranded by a ferocious snowstorm, which made travel near impossible, with that fraction of a possibility being more hassle than it was worth. So he resigned himself to an abandoned Shrine he'd found of an official he could name and waited it out inside. Near bare with only a damp cloth he had found and Rouye to tackle the cold.
After the worst of the storm had passed, a group of children had run into him whilst playing by the shrine. He had been almost frozen over at that point, icicles forming on his lashes and a ghostly blue plaguing his skin, rendering him completely immobile. The children had immediately rushed home and cried to their mothers about a monster hiding just outside the village.
The women, fearing for their children's safety, had all turned straight to the village chief, requesting he call for a heavenly presence of some kind, any kind. Luckily for Xie Lian, the chief had been a stubborn man, one could say delusional by his own sense of self-worth, and he chose not to call a Daoist; instead, was bringing himself and the two strongest men in the village to see for themselves what the children had that morning.
Of course, what they stumbled upon was Xie Lian, cold but not shivering, his body much too numb at that point to really feel much at all, dirty but not unkempt. At first, they too had believed him to be a malevolent spirit, then after one swift hit to the head with a wooden pole, they had realised that the being was not a ghost in any respect, but instead what they deemed a man.
Kindly, they had given him proper shelter for one extra day and clothed him in a cheap material the local seamstress had pieced together; the proportions had been a little off, considering they were originally intended for a lady. Xie Lian did not complain, though, and was more than grateful to make do.
All that to say, the cold was certainly not something Xie Lian paid any mind to in the recent past. Now, living an actual life rather than a dead existence in an immortal husk, he had become much more attuned to changes in temperature, such as in this moment. Largely due to Hua Cheng's persistent care, which may be described as pampering, they would not be incorrect.
Ever since Hua Cheng had returned to him, the two had, unsurprisingly, been inseparable outside of Xie Lian's brief trips to the heavenly capital to keep up with the official's happenings. This meant they had been able to spend their time together to come to know each other on a level so intimate one would have assumed they were bound by some form of soul-tied spell. The constant closeness also allowed Hua Cheng to learn about each and every one of the Crown Prince's quirks, right from the mundane to the baffling.
One such attribute being how much he detests walking around indoors with anything on his feet. It was such a strange thing to take issue with and there wasn't any real reason for this preference; it just happened to be a quirk of his and of course, Hua Cheng took it into account. No more than a fortnight had passed from when he found out about this fact before Paradise Manor had every interior room fitted with a soft, dark maroon carpet that staved off any chill the old floorboards contained.
Xie Lian takes a step indoors and hums as he feels the cushioning against his soles; the cold had become more apparent now that he experienced luxury once again. Originally, he insisted Hua Cheng had done too much for him and that it really wasn't necessary to change his own home for the sake of another's comfort. He was brushed off as quickly as he'd uttered the sentence, with Hua Cheng telling him it was no issue and that he didn't need to concern himself.
They had left it at that and Xie Lian was eternally grateful for San Lang's stubborn nature because he could not imagine the Manor without its carpets these days. It had become a selfish need for him, walking around without the confines of footwear, being able to take in the feelings of his surroundings from toe to head.
Pulling away from the thought of how nice it was to have carpet beneath his feet, Xie Lian lifted his head and looked around the room as if it were his first time in here. Obviously, that wasn't the case. Xie Lian had every room memorised at this point and knew exactly where he was, the eastern side of the Manor in a room that, like many others, didn't have a majorly significant purpose and was more so an extra room to flaunt the wealth of a King.
On the furthest wall, there stood two expensive-looking bookshelves, lined with specific hand-carvings that reminded him of the type of furniture engravings he would see in the palace of Xianle. He thumbed through the numerous scrolls and books alike, all of which varied in importance and interest, deciding to find something he hadn't yet read to fill the time before Hua Cheng returns.
Amongst the wide selection, he came across one that didn't quite fit the space in the way the rest of them did. The shelves had mostly informative pieces on murky history or lost relics, as well as works of fiction dotted in between, poems taking up a large portion of that genre. However, the one he picked out did not embody the regal genius that the manor so easily provided; instead, it felt more like he was reading the title of a children's novel.
'The fox and the ferret.' Simple and neat across the book's title card. The book was thin and only seemed to contain around 30 pages, much like a child's book.
Curious why San Lang would house such a thing, Xie Lian ran a hand over it to check for any spiritual residue, but his hand came out entirely clean, so it couldn't be a hidden artefact. He then gently pulled open the first page to find out why exactly this had been kept alongside more significant works.
'Once, in the long dark, there lived a fox spirit. The fox spirit was not of renowned strength, nor was it wise with age; instead, it was but a pup, fragile. Currently, an endless winter plagues the fox's homeland and it has found itself stuck under a tree stump, alone and scared, missing a family that had long since left it behind. The fox spirit was utterly alone, unable to call for help, resigned to its pitiful existence. Death was certainly on the horizon, no hope in sight for the little spirit as it scrounged for food that it did not deserve.'
Xie Lian tilted his head; he couldn't help but feel as though this was written by someone much younger, though the sentence structure and language certainly wasn't that of a child. He skipped ahead a few pages.
'The fox spirit had now lost both of its eyes to see with and its fangs to fight with. White snow quickly turned crimson, an unsightly view the useless fox spirit had created. Those who stole parts of him had returned to their lofty abodes and laughed as the little spirit whimpered. Helpless, a helpless spirit that was no good for anyone. Lying in the snow, blood congealing quickly in the freezing temperatures and its body quaking.
However, amidst the throes of excruciating pain, the fox spirit heard a rustling in the distance, then a squeak and another until eventually a little ferret popped out of the nearby foliage. The fox spirit, in its weakness, could not see the other being, but it could sense it, the warmth it radiated and the divinity.'
A child certainly had not written this; what sort of child would write something so absurdly unsettling? Still, he could not grasp why the book had found its way here. He skipped ahead once again.
'A pair of eyes were bestowed upon the fox spirit and once again it could see. It jumped up and down for just a moment before burying its muzzle in the snow, silently thanking the ferret for assisting its unworthy self. The ferret was as white as the snow surrounding them, its eyes beady and black yet not unfeeling like the foxes, instead containing a benevolence no mortal nor immortal creature deserved the sight of. The fox wished for its eyes to be removed once more, as it were not worthy of the one before it. Contentedly, the ferret turned away from the little fox beckoning it to follow. The fox didn't hesitate.'
Perhaps San Lang had an affinity for this short story in particular. Xie Lian must admit he sees the allure, so strange yet so clear, so crafted yet so heartfelt. He let out a little chuckle before turning to the final page of the book, wondering how it would end, presuming it would be something pleasant based on the contents of this page.
'The fox spirit, once again alone. The fox spirit did not deserve the ferret spirit and so it disappeared from its sight. The fox spirit could never be angry at its beloved; the fox spirit knew it was not worthy of the ferret's gaze nor kindness. And so the fox spirit tore out the eyes gifted to it, curling up in a pool of its own dirty blood as it had done once before. The fox spirit despised those who had scorned it, but accepted its fate, knowing such a fragile being does not amount to anything in these fickle plains.
The little fox spirit would stay in its position, freezing over and waiting for its blood to run dry. Dreaming of the little white ferret.'
An 'O' shape formed on Xie Lian's mouth, but no noise escaped. What a bitter ending for a book he had originally believed to be targeted at children, the types they would be lulled to sleep with by exhausted mothers. Now he wasn't entirely sure who the audience for such a book would be, not scholars nor academics, not ghosts nor cultivators and certainly not heavenly officials. Though he began to wonder if it were perhaps a tribute to a god he was unfamiliar with.
He went back and read a few more randomly selected pages before gently closing it and observing the blank cover once more. Perhaps he would recognise the author. Xie Lian had read many pieces of literature throughout his life and the old Xianle library held many of the names of acclaimed novelists, although it isn't very likely that the author would be that old. Usually, the writer's name would be noticeable, not front and centre, but clearly presented to their audience so they were known, yet on this cover, he could not immediately spot this one's mark of ownership. That was until he looked at the very bottom corner.
When pulling the book off its shelf, he had noticed the splotch of red ink at the bottom and ignored it, assuming it was some accidental ink transfer from something else on the author's table, not an uncommon occurrence. With further inspection, he was able to make out specific characters, realising that the splotch was indeed the author's stamp.
It read, 'The Little Red Fox'
His eyes widened and he squinted to ensure he had not misread. The calligraphy would've offended any level of writer, so it was possible he wasn't reading it correctly and there was an actual name provided. After trying out a few different characters, it could be that none were a name and none other than 'The Little Red Fox' made any sense, so he could only conclude that the person who wrote this just chose a strange pen name. It wasn't strange for authors to use a fake name, though, from Xie Lian's knowledge it was often those who were writing something they shouldn't that did as such.
There was nothing outwardly wrong with the book and the writing, albeit not perfect, was not so bad that one would not want to be associated with it, which had Xie Lian utterly confused. He read the name two more times before something clicked, which probably should have clicked much sooner, but he was still recovering from a month of non-stop work. The author did not include their name because this piece must be a biography of sorts. Clearly, it was not word-for-word a real person's life, but it certainly depicts struggles in a way only possible by a person with that experience, not to mention the fact that they literally spell it out for the readers by calling themselves the fox.
It made sense now. The name was not voided due to fear of punishment, not at all; instead, they did so to ensure their privacy whilst still getting their life onto paper and so, Xie Lian went back and read a few more pages. Isolation, persecution, abandonment, hope, despair, all themes the author displays a level of understanding towards that one would not have unless they themselves experienced them. A part of Xie Lian couldn't help but feel his heart tug at some of the similarities he could draw from his own life.
They wanted to be heard, not seen. Heard by someone in particular? Perhaps, but above all, they wanted their story to stay in this world, immortalised on paper. This mystery author that no one will ever know beyond wanted to be known in some way; it was strange, and Xie Lian couldn't quite make sense of it; he supposed that was intentional. But, he still felt a little bad for the author being unable to get recognition for such a piece.
Curiosity still crept up his spine and he ran his hand over the cover again, though this time he wasn't looking for signs of spiritual energy; he was searching for a feeling, not one he dared place a name onto, that would be too presumptuous, too-
Sliding the book back onto the shelf, he let the thought fade from his mind before he could finish it. He took one last moment looking over the shelf, running his finger down the spine as if reluctant to leave it behind, before deciding there was nothing else for him here and he tore himself away, heading towards the door opposite the one he entered through. This one instead leading to a much shorter hall, not outside, with an open end rounding into a large room fitted with a lone round table surrounded by four chairs.
Xie Lian stepped over the threshold and under the intricate arch, the scent of fresh, warm food filling his nostrils and overwhelming his senses until his brain could catch up with what his eyes were seeing and nose was smelling. The round table had a wide range of steaming foods placed in its centre, with the outer part holding four plates equally spread across it.
He swivelled his head, wondering who had set this up and why he hadn't been informed of a small-scale banquet taking place. Had San Lang organised something without him? Unlikely, Hua Cheng was always concerned with Xie Lian and if he could, would tie them by the hip, which meant that being left out was an unreasonable conclusion for him to have come to. Another thing he noted was that San Lang had not returned home yet; he would have known if he was, as he would have been greeted politely before ultimately being pulled into a tight embrace and passionate kiss.
Racking his brain, Xie Lian attempts to figure out where on earth all of this appeared from. Though his chances to produce any more guesses were cut short by the door on the back wall abruptly flying open.
"Your highness! You're here!" A loud, overly excited voice calls out, and Xie Lian turns to see a sizable figure with wildly unkempt hair. Just behind them, carrying another warm plate was a man of similar height, but a much paler complexion.
"Ah, Qi Ying and your highness Yin Yu." Xie Lian's confusion settles as he realises those two are behind the feast.
It shouldn't be surprising, as this was not a first-time occurrence, the two frequented Paradise Manor often, with Yin Yu having his own room and Quan Yizhen, not wanting a second away from his shixiong, followed like a puppy. After the final battle with Jun Wu, Yin Yu had been stripped of all power, bringing him to such extreme exhaustion that it would seem like death to the untrained eye, but to those knowledgeable, he had not necessarily died.
Instead, the exhaustion of his power shattered his soul into fragments that would need to be recovered from his spirit and mended. It was messy and complicated without making much sense to Xie Lian; he was a god, not a ghost, so it's not terribly shocking that he is not as well versed in these types of things as Hua Cheng is.
Quan Yizhen had been absolutely devastated, for a while, not many people saw him nor what remained of Yin Yu, not that many went looking, considering almost everyone was picking up pieces and trying to glue themselves back together after the disaster that befell them, all paired with the realisation of what had been left behind. It wasn't until five months after Hua Cheng returned that Quan Yizhen showed up at Puqi Shrine with two bags full of gold bars, begging Hua Cheng to teach him how to reassemble soul fragments.
One would expect a Ghost King to outright deny helping a heavenly official, or at least tease them a little before giving them what they're looking for. However, Quan Yizhen received an immediate yes from the other and Xie Lian had watched the serious expression on his face whilst doing so, contrasted by the pure elation on Qi Ying's. However, San Lang did make him promise to stop dumping his golden bars on Puqi Shrine's doorstep every time he needed help.
For months, Quan Yizhen diligently sat with Hua Cheng, their sessions lasting hours on end, practising his technique and mastering the skills needed to bring Yin Yu back to the real world. At the time, he was with the two of them almost as often as they were with each other, to the point that Hua Cheng let him take up residency in one of the rooms in Paradise Manor.
It was a little strange seeing the way in which Hua Cheng would treat Qi Ying in comparison to every other official. Xie Lian wouldn't call it gentle per se, though he was not sure there was a correct word to describe the way Hua Cheng kept his tone stern yet lower than how he would command underlings and how he guided Quan Yizhen like his own student. There was no real responsibility for Qi Ying, and Hua Cheng did not owe him anything, but he still showed up on almost every free day he had just to show the other how to bring Yin Yu back.
Xie Lian had praised Hua Cheng a couple of times, on the late evenings where they sat in the small pavilion together, the only response he'd get was a smug grin and a simple, "It is nothing, Gege." And that had been that.
"Your royal highness." Yin Yu politely bows his head, placing the last dish on the centre of the table, "I have made us a meal for the evening at Yizhen's insistence."
Quan Yizhen nods along, his hair bouncing as he does so, clearly unbothered by the fact Yin Yu completely disregarded any effort he put in. Xie Lian doubted it would be very much. Whenever Yin Yu did make them a meal, Qi Ying was made to do menial tasks such as cutting vegetables or heating the stove because otherwise the kitchen would descend into chaos, the general having no experience in the kitchen, or at least if he ever had done it was a skill long forgotten.
"Chengzhu has been so busy since you got back, so I asked Shixiong to help." Xie Lian observed the way Quan Yizhen buzzed as he spoke and smiled at how far he had come. In the past, the young god wouldn't have thought about doing something nice for anyone unless it somehow benefited him, like drowning Xie Lian in gold.
"I see, that was very nice of you both, thank you."
Yin Yu hums, standing by his chair, not yet sitting down, as he didn't want to disrespect Xie Lian and, in turn, Hua Cheng by doing so. On the other hand, Quan Yizhen sits down without batting an eye. Xie Lian follows suit, picking his own seat and glancing over the spread. Even though he did not actually have to eat, none of the four did; it was still nice to indulge in the simple pleasures of life now and again, especially when his taste buds were still functioning.
"I am sure San Lang will be grateful when he returns."
Quan Yizhen rapidly looks between Yin Yu and Xie Lian as they fall into a simple conversation, his frown deepening as he does so, neither take notice straight away. He then abruptly stands up and moves his chair around the table, dumping it right beside Yin Yu's and sitting back down. Yin Yu shakes his head and glares at the other, but keeps his mouth shut as Quan Yizhen grabs his plate and cutlery as well.
However, he does speak up when Qi Ying attempts to start filling his plate, "Yizhen. Don't be disrespectful, we are waiting for Chengzhu!"
"Oh, I'm sorry Shixiong." Quan Yizhen places the mantou currently in his chopsticks back where he got it from, with Yin Yu grimacing at the sight.
"Do you have no patience?" He questions, making a mental note of where the bun is placed so that when they do start eating, he can take it before the other two accidentally do.
The other shakes his head aggressively, "I'm just hungry, I love eating the food you make."
Yin Yu's grimace deepens and he looks towards Xie Lian, "I am so sorry your highness" He apologises, sincerity coating his tone.
Xie Lian raises one hand to wave him off, "Please, it is no issue."
One would think Yin Yu, after all this time, would have gotten used to both Quan Yizhen's brash nature and Xie Lian's lack of care for it. Though he supposed the worries lay in Hua Cheng's possible reaction to the disrespect.
Now they were sitting in relative silence with Quan Yizhen resting his chin on his hand, longingly watching the food, Yin Yu rubbing his temple, still fretting over Yizhen's behaviour and Xie Lian scrambling to think of something to return the cosy atmosphere they had fostered.
His eyes lit up as he thought of something, "Pardon me." He waits for Yin Yu to turn his attention to him, "I found this book on the shelves next door. It was quite interesting."
"A book?" Yin Yu's face relaxes.
He nods, "Yes, yes. The title was The Fox and the Ferret." Xie Lian waits to see if Yin Yu reacts at all.
And luckily, he does, his brows furrow slightly and he tilts his head back the relaxation fading just as quickly as it had come.
"I wasn't familiar with the title and assumed it was a child's novel when I picked it up. However, the writing was too particular for anything suitable for children. I was wondering why San Lang owns such a thing."
"I know the book you are speaking of, your highness." Yin Yu trails off as if deciding whether or not what he said was okay. He then looks over to Quan Yizhen, who's absentmindedly twirling a lock of hair around his finger before continuing, "Chengzhu has had it longer than any book or scroll in his possession."
"Really?" Xie Lian's eyes sparkle with curiosity.
"Mhm." He takes a sip from the cup to his right, "Indeed, I believe he has had it significantly longer than the time I have been with him."
"Fascinating..." Xie Lian isn't content with the answer, but it wasn't Yin Yu's fault that San Lang had gotten the book before they met. "The author, do you know who the author is or if they have any other works?"
Yin Yu stiffened and almost choked on an invisible nothing, his eyes widened and his pale hand visibly trembled. Had he said something wrong? Maybe, but he couldn't find it in himself to care when the reaction indicates that Yin Yu does in fact, know something about the mysterious writer.
Eventually, the other man composed himself and found a reply, "They do not have other works."
A simple response which made Xie Lian internally deflate, he had been hoping there would be at least one or two more pieces out there. Truly, this person had captivated him.
"Not even one?"
"Not even one your highness?" Yin Yu shakes his head.
"How can you be so sure? You must know this person, correct?" Circling back to his original question, feeling a little guilty as he watched Yin Yu's face contort into an expression which was likely fear.
"I... I am-" He stutters, "Well, you see..." Normally so composed, yet right now nothing came to his mind, his tongue locking and refusing to spill any semblance of the truth.
"Shixiong, are you okay?" Beside him, Quan Yizhen snaps out of his boredom, taking note of the others' panic and moves to remove the hand that Yin Yu had unknowingly pressed against his face.
"I am fine, Yizhen." He insists, but that was a blatant lie. At least this time, he could actually force one out.
"Never mind me!" Xie Lian's curiosity is overridden by guilt and he pulls back. Yin Yu was already a rather fickle man when it came to certain subjects; Xie Lian didn't want to perpetuate anything negative. Especially when his goal with this conversation had been to lighten the mood.
They sit in silence once again, this one more uncomfortable than the last as Quan Yizhen grips Yin Yu's wrist and stares into his eyes as if searching for the problem, with Xie Lian awkwardly averting his eyes in an attempt to forget what he'd said. After a few minutes, Yin Yu manages to compose himself, straightening his back and clearing his throat.
"My apologies your highness, but I believe that would be a question better suited for Chengzhu." He pulls Quan Yizhen's hand off his wrist and the other immediately brightens at the act, glad his shixiong is fine.
Better for San Lang? He guessed that made a lot of sense; it was Hua Cheng's belongings, so why ask anyone else? Seeing Yin Yu's reaction was also a reason to ask San Lang instead; his breathing had only just returned to normal.
The three slip into a steady conversation, Xie Lian doing his utmost to avoid any further mention of the novel and Yin Yu clearly being grateful as he goes on to detail a curious ghost he had to deal with a few nights ago. Meanwhile, Quan Yizhen listened intently to the story, though it was hard to ignore the way his eyes kept flicking towards the food that was growing cold and how his fingers twitched every so often.
It hadn't been long after Yin Yu finished his story that Hua Cheng finally joined them. The door swung open and Xie Lian could feel his presence before even turning to look, the warmth that rushed over his skin, the airy jingle of the King's silver jewellery and the gentle rattle of E-Ming. Yin Yu politely greeted him and forced Yizhen to do the same, not that either got much back as he had been so focused on greeting Xie Lian.
"Gege..." As he neared the table, Xie Lian stood up to greet him, "My apologies for being so late." He shamelessly wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled him close, burying his face into his neck and taking a deep inhale.
Xie Lian shivered but stayed mindful of their company, "It's okay San Lang, we did not mind the wait." He smiles, placing his hands on the other's shoulders as he begins to feel lips planting chaste kisses up and down his throat, gently pushing Hua Cheng off.
"Chengzhu! Sit down, the food shixiong made is getting cold" Quan Yizhen, thankfully, broke the intimate moment with a puff of his cheeks and stamp of his foot.
Yin Yu's face turned an unnatural shade of purple and he smacked the god's arm, shushing him without actually saying anything, certainly terrified of the punishment they could face for his actions. Xie Lian had to hold back a laugh at the sight. Yin Yu still refused to see that it is unlikely San Lang would take offence at such a thing and as he looked back to Hua Cheng, seeing his upturned lips, he knew that he was correct in his assumption.
"I wouldn't want Gege to eat anything cold." He quickly took his seat, Xie Lian following suit.
Quan Yizhen smiled victoriously and without a moment's hesitation began filling his plate with food, a mountain rapidly forming before Yin Yu could even let out an utterance of a scolding for taking before Xie Lian and Hua Cheng.
Unsurprisingly, the meal had been delicious, though Hua Cheng had made sure to drop in the fact that it couldn't compare to the food Xie Lian makes; nothing could. Quan Yizhen took the award for eating the most out of the four, continuously stacking his plate like he was starved and Yin Yu sat back to watch in embarrassment, forever unable to move past his audacity.
Once the dishes had been eaten and the plates cleared, the four shared a simple conversation that lasted no longer than a few minutes before Yin Yu decided he wanted to call it for the night. Xie Lian had guessed he'd felt the question that had been asked prior slowly brewing from the moment Hua Cheng entered the room. He wouldn't be wrong, of course. Xie Lian was desperate to know why he reacted in such a severe way and what San Lang would be able to share with him.
Yin Yu's departure meant Quan Yizhen was also on his way out, following after the former from the second he stood up to the moment he left the door and it was highly likely that they would be retiring to the same bedroom for the night. Xie Lian couldn't help himself but feel happy for the two; they had worked through a lot for this.
"Gege" Hua Cheng draws his attention away, "I missed you." He looks at him with an innocent look, resting his hand on his palm and slowly blinks.
Unsurprisingly, Xie Lian crumbles, "I missed you too San Lang." He reaches out and takes his hand, running his thumb over his knuckles and warming his palm.
"Gege..." Hua Cheng leans closer, his breath ghosting over Xie Lian's cheek, "I've missed you so much."
With a laugh, Xie Lian places his free hand on Hua Cheng's cheek, feeling how his freezing cheek glows under the touch.
Hua Cheng abruptly stands up, bringing his arm out to help Xie Lian up too. They both rise and move closer to each other, easing into a comforting hug. The weight of their absence always became obvious once they reunited, as though a spark rekindled a flame which had yet to wane.
"Shall we retire for the night?" Xie Lian tilts his head, leaning into the face that comes to his neck.
"Of course." He can feel the low rumble against his jugular, painting a trail of faint pink.
Reluctantly, they pull away from each other and head through the door Xie Lian had entered through, passing back down the hallway, past the bookshelves, which Xie Lian took a subtle glance at, making a quick stop at the armoury to leave E-Ming behind and then towards the door of their shared chambers.
The flooring was noticeably different against the soles of Xie Lian's bare feet. Although the entirety of the Manor was carpeted with luxury fabric, the area surrounding their bedroom, which the god frequents most often, had thicker carpet, cushioning his feet more than rooms further out and satisfying his habit deeply.
His working assumption is that San Lang had purposefully done this because it would mean he would not only stay in these areas by choice, but he would also grow a preference for the more comfortable areas. Of course, San Lang had succeeded as Xie Lian much preferred this end of the manor to anywhere else. Though that could also be due to the fact it is where they both spend the most time.
Ensuring the doors are properly closed, Hua Cheng guides Xie Lian to their expensive rosewood canopied bed, the crimson chiffon adding a perfect sense of layered privacy to their room as they entangle limbs under the sheets night, after night.
They reach the foot of the bed and Xie Lian is spun round hastily, Hua Cheng cupping either side of his face with utmost care, pulling him into a passionate kiss. Their lips lock like second nature and Xie Lian brings his hands up to the back of his neck, toying with the little hairs at the base.
With a gentle hand, he's led over the bed's ledge up onto the soft mattress, the sheets bunching around him as he brings himself up towards the pillows to support his neck. Hua Cheng doesn't wait for him to get there before climbing on top of him and returning to his mouth.
Next, he reaches a slender hand up the parting in Xie Lian's robes, trailing the chain of his necklace before letting it fall back and moving his hand to caress the skin of his chest, letting it slip just below the hem a few times.
Xie Lian's cheeks flush and he tangles his fingers further into Hua Cheng's silky hair, pulling him ever closer. This action is taken as a request and Hua Cheng bites at his lips, waiting for them to part before passing his tongue through them to dance with Xie Lian's own.
They toyed with their mouths for a while, the hand under the robes becoming more and more daring, getting further down his chest and gliding over pebbled nipples for mere seconds at a time, nothing strong enough to set alight to the increasing heat just yet.
Eventually, Hua Cheng pulled away and visited his next destination, Xie Lian's neck. He began by placing loving pecks from his jaw to his collarbone, until he grew bored and turned those kisses into bites that grew harsher with each one sucked into his skin.
Xie Lian let out a breath and reached downwards to slip off the others' silver belt with practised ease. He then discarded it next to the bed and returned his attention to his husband's administration. However, a thought flashed across his mind, one that had been slowly scratching away for a while at this point and he knew that if he ignored it, then it was likely that in the throes of passion, he'd forget it altogether.
So he paused, placing his hands on either shoulder and nudging Hua Cheng away, "San Lang, wait a moment."
"Gege? Is something the matter?" Hua Cheng's eye traced over him, clearly concerned that something had upset the other.
"Actually, I just have a question I wished to ask." The shade of red on his cheeks grew darker than before, realising it was rather silly to stop what they were doing to satiate curiosity, "If you don't mind..."
Relief filled the other's face before he smiled, "Of course I won't mind, ask away." His hand moves from under Xie Lian's clothes and he can't stop his body from trembling at the one finger that intentionally grazes his areola.
"Well, I was looking through some of your literary collection to pass the time and I had happened to come across a book I took particular interest in. I wanted to know if San Lang knew the one who wrote it."
"Oh? And which book would that be? I would certainly know the creator of all the books I own." He placed one hand on Xie Lian's waist and the other rested just besides his head as he straddled him.
"I believe the title was The fox and the ferret."
Masking was something San Lang was an expert at; he could fool almost anyone with a fake countenance, the only exception being Xie Lian. So it was no surprise that he saw the way in which his one eye grew darker and a slight crease formed between his brows at the name.
Remembering Yin Yu's reaction, Xie Lian knew whoever this author was, they weren't a person either man was fond of, but he couldn't for the life of him guess why.
Hua Cheng had clearly been unsettled by this and responded plainly, "Gege doesn't need to concern himself with a nobody who passed away centuries ago."
Passed away? Xie Lian couldn't help but be a little disappointed that he'd never have a possible chance of bumping into this strange person who had somehow captured him with a few short paragraphs.
"Why do you ask? Did you like the book?" San Lang's tone came across cold, though tremulous at the same time.
"I did, I am not quite sure why, but it captured my attention." He said with a smile, attempting to reassure whatever part of San Lang was currently feeling uncomfortable, "Perhaps it was the unclear nature of it all."
"Ah gege, ever the intellectual." Thankfully, San Lang's usual velvety tone returned and he had managed to pull himself back together. "Unfortunately, there is not much to say about your writer, a useless life lived with nothing left behind beyond that sad attempt at a story."
Xie Lian frowned. He disagreed with the idea that the story was a "sad attempt", and he felt a pang of sympathy that whoever they were, not getting another chance to produce more, he could read, as the thought sprouted, he'd realised how selfish it made him sound and quickly disregarded it.
"Do you know their name?"
Hua Cheng laughed, "Why would gege care to know their name?"
"Curiosity, I suppose." He realised that it was a stupid thing to ask, a name that wouldn't mean much to him and one he would probably forget in less than a year's time.
"I do not know their name..." He trailed off, voice growing stiff and an awkward expression gracing his face, "I'm sorry, Gege." Something gave Xie Lian the impression he wasn't being told the whole truth. He chose to drop it, not wishing to ruin the moment any more than he had.
"No, no! It was a ridiculous question on my part and I don't really need the answer. I also should not have asked it at such an inopportune time." His brain reminds himself of the simmering desire beneath his skin.
"You could never ask me something at a bad time." San Lang reassures before leaning down and capturing his lips in another kiss, "So don't feel guilty."
A lopsided grin is all he could offer as he reaches back up to return the favour, clumsily bumping their teeth together as he does, earning a puff of breath from San Lang, who luckily let desire consume him and returned his hand beneath his robes.
This time, however, he moved beyond teasing and grew increasingly bold.
He knew the two of the fingers that previously grazed now squeezed and pinched, kick-starting rhythmic pants from the other's mouth.
Meanwhile, his lips began sucking deep red roses into the hollow of his neck, marking him as San Lang's, an action that made his cock stir beneath layers of white fabric.
San Lang began to tug at the sash which held his outer robes together, as well as undoing the small blue string enclosing his waist. Once they were both undone, it all fell apart. The outer layer was stripped entirely and his under layer was much thinner and significantly looser. This made it easy to be pulled off his shoulders, which San Lang made quick work of gifting markings to.
He continued alternating between both of Xie Lian's hardened nipples before eventually bringing his mouth to suck on one and Xie Lian can feel lust burning and impatience growing.
"San Lang..." He breathes, now moving to strip the other of his clothing, not wanting to be the only one undressed by the end of this.
Unless the smirk he felt against his chest counts, he did not receive a reply and Hua Cheng continued his fervent teasing, enjoying the reactions he was getting. His husband's sensitivity always got him hot and bothered, making him want to tease more.
Once, Xie Lian had managed to remove enough layers to expose Hua Cheng's chest, he ceased his teasing and moved back, pulling his white cloth completely apart and watching as he trembled at the cold air brushing over his flushed chest.
He leaned down and pressed their lips together once more, running his tongue across Xie Lian's swelling lips before pulling back and admiring the look on his face, the way his hair was sprawled out against the silk pillows and how his golden eyes were beginning to be overtaken by haze.
"Gege, are you comfortable?" Hua Cheng asked, running his hand from Xie Lian's neck to his groin, lessening the expanse in which his robes covered, feeling the buzz beneath his skin.
"Very comfortable..." He trails off, bringing his hands to the back of Hua Cheng's head, pushing him closer to his abdomen, "I do wish you would hurry though."
"Hurry?" Hua Cheng raises a brow, "Very well gege." He lets out a breathy chuckle and presses his lips to the outline of Xie Lian's muscles.
Cool lips trail the length of his abdomen, stopping every few paces to blossom more love bites in their wake, creating a pretty trail leading right to his naval before fading. A sign of Hua Cheng's change of focus.
"You're so pretty, your highness." And Xie Lian watched as San Lang brought the tip of his index finger up his hardening cock, letting out a gasp as he felt blood rush downwards.
From just the tip of his finger to the entirety of his hand, Hua Cheng holds his member, giving it a few experimental strokes, watching with a gleam in his eye as it grows in hue.
Not wasting any more time, he puts his mouth to work and kisses up and down the length, before settling on the tip and taking in the pearlescent substance that had begun to pool around the centre. After a couple of kitten licks, he took the entirety of the head into his mouth and Xie Lian's hand flew to his mouth on instinct.
A single black eye peered up and he and Xie Lian felt the smirk against his sensitive skin as San Lang took him deeper, reaching a free hand up to pry the one muffling sounds off. Hua Cheng always loved hearing how loud he could make his husband cry his name, taking a great pleasure in the gradual build in volume.
"San Lang..." Xie Lian trailed off as he felt Hua Cheng's grip tighten around his wrist, certainly leaving a mark underneath.
He watched with flushed cheeks and watery eyes as his cock was taken deeper and deeper until he could feel himself hitting the back of the other's throat and even though the man usually ran cold, Xie Lian registered the searing heat his mouth had been providing.
The hand that wasn't currently occupied made its way up Xie Lian's calf, stroking it lovingly before moving further up and doing the same to his thigh, sending a tingle which served to fuel the painful tightening in his balls.
Xie Lian could feel how his cock was purposefully ploughed into the other's throat, seeing how there was almost no reaction from him, as if he wasn't being stretched open from the inside. Though it was in times like these that Xie Lian realised how convenient it was to have a lover who did not need to breathe.
His attention returned to the moment as Hua Cheng now squeezed his thigh, digging his fingers rather harshly and grazing his teeth over a particular vein which stood out against the skin of his cock.
"San Lang!" He gasped and the other took it as a signal to keep going. He pressed his teeth down harder and sucked faster.
Xie Lian called out his name a few more times and braced himself by gripping the back of his head tightly. However, that act sent his length mere centimetres further and that had been his breaking point.
"San Lang, I can't-!" He wailed as Hua Cheng started rolling his tongue against him.
He came with a string of incoherent words being uttered and locked his shaky legs around the other's back as he did so to ensure he wouldn't pull away prematurely. Xie Lian felt hot spurts of cum leave his tip and coat Hua Cheng's throat, much to his delight.
Watching the sight before him, Hua Cheng felt himself harden painfully, growing desperate for some form of stimulation to the point he started absentmindedly rubbing his clothed length against the mattress and he swallowed the others' cum like a starved man, not wasting a single drop.
Xie Lian's legs relax slightly as he watches the other pull away with a string of his semen and saliva still connecting them before it is wiped away and a part of him mourns the sight.
"Gege-" Hua Cheng attempts to move back entirely, however Xie Lian has other ideas and he pulls him back down using whatever strength is left in his legs to keep them close together.
"I want more San Lang." He tilts his head back and lets out a whiny groan as Hua Cheng manages to pull himself from his prison and sit back on his knees to observe the mess they had made so far.
"Patience, gege, don't worry, we aren't finished."
Before Xie Lian can let another protest about their proximity slip, an arm encircles his waist and flips him onto his stomach with practised ease. A floral scent overwhelms his already haywire senses as his face is pushed into the pillows with his hips being urged upwards.
"Arch for me gege..." San Lang breathes against his back as he complies, spine curving into a neat slope as he raises his hips as high as they will comfortably allow him to.
"So pretty..." Is all he hears before lips once again meet his skin, this time peppering kisses across his lower back, whilst hands come to support each leg and Xie Lian knew he was in for something intense.
Teeth graze the tender flesh of his arse as Hua Cheng glides down them, his pace growing quick and giving away his impatience, just wanting to reach the prize at the end.
A cool puff of air hit Xie Lian and made him quiver as he felt the others' slender hands rise up his legs and come to rest on his cheeks, parting them agonisingly slow.
"Please, San Lang." He muffled the request, lifting his head, wanting a look at the other's expression.
"Very well."
He lets out a sharp gasp as one delicate kiss is placed over his hole, leaving a subtle flutter until a warm, wet tongue smothers it, leaving behind a chill as the trail is met by the air of the room. Next, he felt San Lang whisper something he frustratingly couldn't make out, but he stopped caring the second he felt his tongue probe his entrance as if requesting permission.
Although Xie Lian knew he was more so requesting his hole to open up than anything else, still, he couldn't stop himself from giving a curt nod in response.
"Ah! San Lang!" He cried as he felt the tongue break through his entrance and intrude on his insides.
It felt delightful as San Lang pushed as far in as he could, not wasting a great amount of time, as he knew Xie Lian was eager, saliva pooling around his lips and spilling down Xie Lian's taint as he lifted his hips higher for better access. Mere seconds passed from the start of the break through and Xie Lian's cock already stood proud once more, knocking against his naval as he writhed in Hua Cheng's grasp.
"San Lang, San Lang, San Lang." He slipped into a mindless mantra, not taking note of anything around him other than the tongue working its way through him, abnormally long yet deliciously fulfilling.
A jolt passed through him as San Lang hummed against his rim, pulling back, leaving Xie Lian feeling empty before thrusting straight back in, impossibly deeper.
Xie Lian's legs shook, and Hua Cheng moved a hand from one of his cheeks to support them from underneath. However, this also meant his bare forearm was now rubbing against his length at a ridiculously subtle rate.
Another gasp escaped his mouth, this one drowned out by a moan as he, with the other hand, moved to drag two fingers across his skin, gliding easily against the sweat that had coated his body in a thin sheen. The digits collected up lost saliva, painting themselves in it generously before also attempting to gain entry just beneath the tongue.
"I don't think I can hold it much longer." He choked on air as the two fingers found purchase on his rim and forced their way in, creating an almost uncomfortable stretch.
It took a few seconds to get used to the newly added pressure and dual stimulation he was receiving from the arm rubbing his front, becoming dirty with pre-cum. But once he had done so, he rocked back and forth to further the feeling and quicken the build-up to his climax.
Hua Cheng's tongue found the spot it had been searching for and pushed down as hard as it could, rolling over the spot which would eventually send Xie Lian over the edge once again, skilfully as his fingers scissored him open. He took note of the rapid breaths and desperate moans, taking the short stand of time he had left, to move the arm wrapped around his waist and begin stroking his cock in earnest.
"Mmmph-!" Xie Lian muffled into the pillows, tears pricking his eyes as he felt the pad of San Lang's thumb blend with the probing at his sweet spot to create a brutal wave of lust.
Cum spurted from his tip and he shook violently, the hand stroking him through the entire thing and the digits working his hole not stopping for even a second as he rode out his high.
Eventually, his body ceased its shaking and he ran dry, slumping into the mattress, no longer able to keep his hips up as they had been. He let out an embarrassing whine as Hua Cheng pulled out of him, but managed to find the energy to flip back over, allowing himself to catch the sight of his spend being licked off the other's hand.
Xie Lian wondered if the earlier meal hadn't been enough for him, but quickly remembered that San Lang had no need to eat and this was simply something he did for his own pleasure. Xie Lian preened at the sight.
"Gege, you taste divine. I am unworthy of such a delight." San Lang leant over him and placed a wet kiss on his cheek.
"San Lang, do not say such things. You are the only one worthy of such." He frowned as he spoke, always having a distaste for the others self depreciation, even if not wholly serious.
Hua Cheng chuckled, "I merely jest." He moved to kiss his other cheek, "No one could be worthy of my gege."
Oh, how Xie Lian loved it when he got to witness his husband's possessiveness flare, a guilty pleasure he wasn't all that ashamed of. He would intentionally inform the ghost king whenever he was entering the heavenly spiritual array just to see his face darken before he tapped in too. There were also a few times in which Xie Lian had spoken to heavenly officials whom Hua Cheng disliked the most, just to get a reaction.
Said reaction, usually being a long night tangled in sheets and no less than a day of not being able to walk straight. He relished in it every time.
He snapped out of his thoughts when Hua Cheng let out a groan as he slipped the rest of his attire off and revealed his aching cock hidden below. It stood to full attention at this point which was no surprise. Veins bulged and its head was an angry, red weeping so much that Xie Lian couldn't be entirely sure he hadn't already climaxed by himself.
"Gege." He starts, low, raspy, "May I?"
"Of course, San Lang, I don't want to be the only one enjoying myself." He shook his head, allowing the other to lift his left leg and run his lips across the sole of his foot.
"I was enjoying myself. I always enjoy pleasuring my husband." He spoke with a tinge of concern in his tone, unsure of whether or not Xie Lian seriously didn't understand how much he enjoyed giving as much as possible.
Xie Lian sighed and reached up to bring them together once more. Their foreheads pressed against each other, spirits merging and he whispered, "Why would I let San Lang loosen my hole if not to have him inside?"
Cheeks immediately went red at his utterance. Still, after all this time, all the nights they spent wrapped in each other's presence, Xie Lian still hadn't gotten used to saying such embarrassing things. How could he? Years of cultivating a path which demanded abstinence wouldn't dissolve so quickly.
Nervously, he lifted his attention from San Lang's chest to his face, expecting a smug smile, but instead, what he saw was widened eyes and furrowed brows, which he wasn't sure was much better.
"Um... San Lang, I didn't mean to say anything strange. Let me take it back!" He panicked and threw his arms in the air, attempting to pull away.
Though he quickly found he was being held in place with Hua Cheng's arm having made its way to the back of his head. He squeezed his eyes shut, unable to face his own embarrassment and awaited a response.
Instead, he was pulled into a fervent kiss, their teeth clacked together and awkwardness succumbed to the intimacy of it all. San Lang threaded his fingers into brown locks and tugged as he shoved his tongue past Xie Lian's lips greedily, bringing the faint taste of himself in with it.
Xie Lian, so caught off guard by the reignited passion, took a moment to compose himself and by the time he had done, his entire mouth was claimed by the other. His teeth, his gums, right to the back of his throat, all of it had been taken by his husband and he couldn't stop himself from sinking into the feeling.
Unfortunately, just as he felt himself being carried away, Hua Cheng pulled back.
"Your highness, I love you so much, you are perfect in every conceivable way and sometimes it is hard to truly believe you are here with me. Your highness, I will always have hold of you for as long as you let me..." He blurts, running his hand over every visible inch of the other's body as if scrambling to commit it to memory.
"I love you, I love you, I love you..." He descends into a frantic murmur, keeping his hand behind Xie Lian's head whilst using his knees to urge his legs apart.
They fall open without much protest, and the cold air still makes him shiver a little, though perhaps anticipation could also be partly to blame.
"Your highness..." San Lang's eyes squeezed shut and he helped his head back onto the supportive pillow, removing his hand so it could assist in lining himself up.
"San Lang." Xie Lian calls back, caressing his cheek and running his thumb over his eyelid, silently asking it to reopen.
And it did, not without a moment's hesitation, which didn't go unmissed, but he didn't say anything as he understood the other just felt the need to compose himself before continuing.
"I love you too... always." A gentle smile graced his face and he continued to stroke that pale cheek.
Hua Cheng nodded and leaned down to bury his face in his neck, perhaps to avoid showing him a particular facial expression. Though before Xie Lian could even attempt to lift his head, he had already positioned his tip against the stretched hole and began to push himself in.
"Ah..." He breathed out a weary sigh, his body already growing tired from its previous climaxes, yet not wanting to deny the other of his own.
However, he was willing to complain about the annoyingly slow pace at which San Lang chose to enter; they had done this way more than a dozen times at this point and yet his husband still insisted on caution as if he wasn't having sex with a literal martial god, one of the strongest at that, not that Xie Lian was a brag.
"San Lang, this is too slow." It came out a little more demanding than he'd hoped and he winced as he felt the movement stop altogether.
"So impatient." He felt a smile against his neck before something smooth and cold was pressed against his lips.
The ring he kept permanently around his neck out of fear of losing it whilst carrying out his duties was currently being pushed into his mouth. Was San Lang trying to shut him up?
Although slightly taken aback by the action, Xie Lian allowed it to happen and accepted the ring past his lips, feeling it slide against his tongue.
Finally, San Lang lifted his head to look at him, a half smile graced his face as he observed the chains that disappeared into his mouth, tracing it with a damp finger before he reached his parted lips and pulled away.
"So pretty for me." He groaned and returned his focus to his length, pushing it in further, this time a little faster than before.
Once the head was completely encased in the warm, wet heat, he paused yet again and assessed Xie Lian's expression to ensure he was comfortable. Seconds later, Xie Lian was overcome by an intense feeling as San Lang snapped his hips forwards and bottomed out; he'd almost choked at the sudden impact.
From there, it was a frenzy. His weak legs looped around the other and crossed against his lower back to keep him relatively close, his own cock was trapped between them trailing a pathetic amount of precum across both of their navels, his hands grasped at the bed sheets looking for purchase and his mouth open ever so slightly to both let out a symphony of sweet moans and give his husband a view of that glistening ring inside.
Meanwhile, Hua Cheng had one hand besides Xie Lian's neck whilst the other toyed with his swollen chest, his face was contorted into a look that couldn't be described as anything other than pure desire and his hips thrust back and forth at a rapid pace, bringing himself as close to the entrance as possible without fully exiting before slamming back in.
The cacophony that filled the room was obscene, wet slapping, moans that edged on sobs and grunts fuelled by primal need. If Xie Lian were in his right mind, he would have felt an ounce of shame. Luckily for the both of them, he was not in his right mind, which meant the noises leaving his throat were absurdly lewd and Hua Cheng committed each and every one to memory.
"Gege, gege." San Lang repeats himself, this time to get the others' attention. However, that was easier said than done, considering Xie Lian's head was throbbing and he could barely think a single coherent thought.
"Your highness." He tries once more, waiting for a response that doesn't come before he leans down and starts biting at the lobe of his ear, tongue savouring the little scar where once lived an earring.
When he accepted the fact that words were not going to work, he mentally entered their private communication array and mumbled, "Your highness, can you hear me?"
Xie Lian, just about lucid, notices the deep grumble inside his mind and responds out loud with no hope of saying the password in this state, "mhm...." It was shaky.
He tilts his head in the other's direction and arches his back as a particularly deep thrust registers in his lower back.
"I'm close, are you?" He blinks once, coming to press a kiss on Xie Lian's temple.
"Yes, yes, yes... Please, San Lang, I cannot wait much longer." Tears prick his eyes and droplets start to pool in the corners, which Hua Cheng immediately spots and leans in to run his tongue over them to prevent any falling.
The salty taste fills his senses and he watches the way Xie Lian squeezes his eyes shut and honestly, he wasn't sure if it were possible, but he just grew even more fond of his husband.
"Then we can do it together, yes?" His pace has grown sloppy, evident of his nearing limit and he doesn't wait for much of a reply, pressing their lips together, pulling away too soon and returning to Xie Lian's neck, leaving more blooming marks behind.
Amidst the waves of pleasure that crash over him, Xie Lian turned his head towards the pillows, tears falling into the crimson silks, darkening its hue. His blurry eyes flashed with realisation for just a moment as he forced his eyes back to Hua Cheng, who hovered over him, thrusting hard and fast before it was overcome by his need for release.
"San Lang! San Lang!" He moaned the other's name, the ring slipping from his lips, reaching over to grasp his chin and pull him into a passionate kiss they both melted into.
Hua Cheng's hips didn't once stop snapping into him, driving him exactly to his limit before all of a sudden stopping. The tight knot in Xie Lian's stomach loosened and he opened his eyes to give the other a questioning look.
However, he didn't say anything as he watched Hua Cheng pull his head back and look down at him with a sly smile. A grin that did not disappear when he spoke, "Come for me gege."
Xie Lian could've scolded him for making him wait just a second longer to say that if it wasn't for the immediate dam that broke when Hua Cheng returned to pistoning in and out of him.
His back arched off the bed and with a singular yell of Hua Cheng's name, he came fast, painting both their torsos in white and digging his nails into Hua Cheng's back, shredding skin raw as he did so.
They came in sync, Xie Lian coating their outsides in his fluids that had significantly lessened from the previous two loads and San Lang painted his insides, stuffing him full and not moving until every last drop had been squeezed out.
They stayed in place for a little longer before Hua Cheng slowly pulled out, his head coming free with a lewd pop and he watched with a proud look on his face as white immediately started leaking from Xie Lian's hole.
"Look at this, desperately trying to keep it all in gege." He watched as the muscle fluttered, attempting to prevent anything escaping and he then chuckled as he looked up to see Xie Lian's flushed face, part exhaustion, part embarrassment.
"San Lang..." He trailed off, drying his damp eyes with the back of his palms before doing the same to the sweat that lined his forehead.
"I know, I know." He helps him sit up, not missing the chance to slip his thumb back past his rim, pushing that which had slipped out back in, causing Xie Lian to quake. He then pulled away and they swiftly fell into their usual routine after tiring each other out in bed.
Xie Lian props up the pillows and leans back on them whilst stretching out his arms and looking down to assess the damage done for the night. As he does this, Hua Cheng gets off the bed and throws a loose bed robe over his shoulders, which he doesn't bother to do up, and heads out of the room to prepare their bath.
The room is quiet, aside from the pants still leaving Xie Lian's lips and he takes the moment to look around the room, centring himself. He then returns his gaze to the mess that is his body and sighs. They always did get so lost in the moment.
By the time Hua Cheng returned to their bedroom, Xie Lian had stood himself up and pulled his own lightweight robe over his shoulders, haphazardly making his way to the door, having stopped a few times due to the ache he felt from the waist down, whilst also trying to ignore the feeling of San Lang's spend rolling down his thigh.
With a chuckle, Hua Cheng rushed to his side and swept him off his feet, "Gege, don't overexert yourself; this is my fault, so allow me to care for you."
"It is always your fault, San Lang." He huffs, folding his arms like a sulking prince, old habits die hard, as he's carried a few doors over to their lavish bathroom.
The scent of soap fills his nostrils, and he relaxes as he hears the door click shut. The room is lit by a low orange light, meaning he wouldn't have to strain his eyes and the large tub sat in the central point of the room with steam rising enticingly from over the ledge.
Xie Lian would never get over how ridiculous it was. Of course, he had seen baths this size before; in fact, Xianle likely had much larger baths than this one. Yet that was a long time ago now, and Xie Lian hadn't had such luxuries in over 800 years, so one look at San Lang's had him picturing the number of people that could fit in such a thing.
Hua Cheng placed him down, so he could help him out of the robe and gave him an unimpressed glance, "I do hope you aren't picturing strangers in our bath again, your highness"
Busted. Xie Lian chuckled and attempted to feign innocence, "Not at all, San Lang, why would you think- Oh!" He let out a surprised gasp as he was lifted into the air.
"Gege should know he can't lie to San Lang." He huffed and placed the other in the bath.
Xie Lian contentedly relaxed as the warm water seeped through to his bones and warmed him from top to bottom. Already, he was feeling significantly cleaner than before and cupped the water in his hands to bring it over his shoulders and drown out the sticky sweat.
San Lang slipped in just behind him, pulling him between his legs and tucking his hair over his shoulder to not get it caught between them. He takes in the comforting silence and then gets to work on wiping down Xie Lian, not intending on staying in the bath too long, considering the time.
"It feels like it has been so long since we were last together like this." Xie Lian relaxed further as he felt San Lang move to clean him out properly. It wasn't a comfortable feeling usually, but tonight he really couldn't find it in himself to care too much.
Neither spoke much more as they relished in each other's presence, still cooling down from their prior activities. Xie Lian closed his eyes as Hua Cheng finished up, thoroughly removing his essence and next moved to grasp the wooden dish, which he filled with water and poured gently into his hair, placing his hand on his hairline to prevent it getting in his eyes,
He then reached for the glass vial containing shampoo, Xie Lian dreaded to guess the price of, lathering it in his hands and then massaging it into his scalp with ease. The feeling of fingers digging in, circling, then pulling out would never get old for Xie Lian. It was a simple pleasure he'd derived from his early days, when it came to taking out intricate headpieces and hair styles, relaxing his tired scalp with warm water and soothing hands.
After he had confirmed it was cleaned to his standards, Hua Cheng loosely tied his hair with a neat ribbon just to prevent it from touching the water and getting in the way when he cleaned his body.
Which is what came next, Hua Cheng made quick work of smothering Xie Lian's body in soap bore washing away the suds alongside anything dirty. He also made sure to take greater care when it came to the parts of his body still tender, his hips, chest and thighs.
Xie Lian couldn't help but relish in how domestic it was, no matter how many times they would do something together, whether mundane or not, Xie Lian would always cherish it as though it were their first. How could he not savour these moments when there was once a time, not all that long ago, when he couldn't have imagined his life being anything other than monotonous and painful
Truly, he owed more to San Lang than he would ever know.
After they had both gotten thoroughly washed up, they'd both fallen into a restful position with Hua Cheng leaning against the ledge of the bath and Xie Lian tucked onto his embrace, laying his head back against his shoulder. And although Hua Cheng hadn't wanted to stay in the water for too long, he couldn't bring himself to disturb the peace.
However, Xie Lian soon broke the quiet as he spoke up from his place in his arms, unable to keep quiet for much longer.
"Thank you for the pleasant evening... Little red fox." His voice held a quiet volume paired with a gentle tone, a little weary of the possibility of an uncomfortable reaction from the other.
Hua Cheng inclined his head in his direction, brow raised and a conflicted expression beginning to form. Until he let out a long, drawn-out sigh and sank further into the water, burying his face into Xie Lian's neck for the hundredth time tonight.
"How did Gege guess?" He sounded like a child caught taking from the kitchen.
"I had an inkling from the start... perhaps the calligraphy of that signature. There were also many things you did that got me thinking." He chuckled, glad the mood wasn't ruined by his revelation, "Though San Lang should know he can't keep secrets from me forever."
A low groan is heard from behind him, "I knew I should have discarded that dammed book. Gege is too smart."
"Not at all, I am most glad I was able to read it." He reached over to grab Hua Cheng's chin so he could get a good look at the other's defeated expression.
"Gege...." He whined, but didn't make any attempts to pull back.
"It was beautiful, San Lang." He kissed him with as much gentleness as his soul could muster, "Perhaps you were meant to be an author instead of a Ghost King."
"Don't tease me" His pout deepens and Xie Lian's heart swells tenfold.
When he had read the novel, he'd felt conflicted and saddened by the ending. When he read the author's name, he'd felt curiosity well up inside him. When he asked Yin Yu about it, he had grown suspicious and when he had questioned San Lang, he'd felt sorrow for the young writer.
Once he realised the author was not entirely removed from this world and had seen first-hand how far they had come, who they had grown into, Xie Lian had felt overjoyed. Thankful that he had the opportunity to read it, even if he hadn't gone through it in its entirety.
Though he certainly planned to now. Not that he would tell the other that, in fear of the book disappearing from that shelf.
"Gege, let's go to bed hm?" Hua Cheng moved them along, for now, and stood up from the bath, lifting his husband into his arms and drying them before heading back towards the bedroom.
Xie Lian hadn't been able to recall the walk back as his eyes slipped closed and sleep overcame him that night. What he did remember was a blanket of satisfaction that had encased him and that feeling would not leave him any time soon.
Not for the rest of his life.
A few days had passed and both Hua Cheng and Xie Lian, not being busy, spent their time wrapped in each other's arms nonstop, both in bed and around Ghost City. They had been inseparable, key word: had.
Unfortunately, Xie Lian had been putting off his monthly return to the newly rebuilt heavenly capital and so he'd pried himself from Hua Cheng's grasp this morning and reluctantly returned.
"Your highness! It is good to see you after such a long time. Where have you been?" The familiar drawl of Pei Ming catches Xie Lian's attention and he spins round to greet the other official, bowing his head.
"General Pei." He says and waits for the other to catch up before continuing his walk, this time with company, "I have been quite busy, you see."
"Quite busy with Crimson Rain Sought Flower, I presume?" He rubbed his chin and a knowing smirk crawled across his face.
"Please, spare me. We have both been busy with our own separate duties the last month or so..." Desperately, he suppresses the memories of their nightly rendezvous to stop the flush that begs to crawl up his cheek.
"Very well, very well..." He throws him one last side glance before changing topics, "I hear Qi Ying has been spending an awful lot of time down in Ghost City."
Xie Lian deflates, thankful for the pivot, "Ah, yes, he has been spending the majority of his time with his highness Yin Yu, no matter how much the man begs him to get on with his other duties."
Pei Ming lets out a chuckle, but it certainly isn't a happy one, "That little brat off frolicking with his beloved shixiong whilst the rest of us are still picking up the pieces left behind."
Rarely was Jun Wu mentioned in any capacity, even just a hint at the fact that the heavens had nearly crumbled and most officials lost a lot was avoided altogether. Xie Lian knew better than anyone the feeling of not wanting to pick at a sore scab. Pei Ming, especially, had lost almost everything beyond his title and although Ling Wen was still around, she was confined to her palace, only permitted to leave for truly important matters, which were rare these days.
Xie Lian was glad that his spirits weren't crushed by everything that happened and a part of him had enjoyed watching the man squirm as he attempted to insert himself into different social groups, no longer having the familiar comfort of the tumours to back in his own egotistical glory.
"I can ask him to return for a little." Xie Lian's suggestion was a weak one; no one could get Quan Yizhen to leave Yin Yu's side now that he had him back.
"That's quite all right, I doubt-" He pauses, looking ahead.
Xie Lian does the same, their stroll coming to a complete stop when up ahead they see an aggressive swirl of dust and from inside comes debris of all kinds, raining down on anyone unfortunate enough to be standing near.
One particular brick comes flying out of the chaos and heads straight for Pei Ming, but is stopped by his blade before it can make a mark on his face. "Now what is going on here!" He grumbled.
A few more crumbled bricks, having been kicked up from the path, came hurtling towards them, but stopped just a few centimetres short of Xie Lian, whilst Pei Ming kept having to parry them, his annoyance growing by the minute.
Then, the yelling came and they immediately knew their culprits.
"Yeah, well if you hadn't stood in my way, YOU wouldn't have been hit!"
"ME? SO IT'S MY FAULT?"
"Yes, it is! Maybe next time don't be so slow."
"OH YOU BASTARD, YOU'RE IN FOR IT NOW!"
A vein popped on Pei Ming's temple and Xie Lian deflated, burying his face in his hands. Even after all this time, those two still couldn't get on with each other for too long. Though Xie Lian was grateful for their progress, nowadays the fights were every so often rather than every time they were in each other's vicinity.
It was right about now that Xie Lian wished the heavens had a main figurehead of authority to break the two up.
"Would you two..." Pei Ming reels his arm backwards, "Stop!" He then thrusts it forwards, hurling his blade into the fray, which causes the two in the middle of it to jump backwards in panic.
Xie Lian clasps his hands together, "Brilliant as always, General Pei."
The sound of his voice catches the attention of the two up ahead, "Your highness?" Feng Xin's anger dissipated as he spotted Xie Lian and he headed over to greet him, "It has been some time."
"Indeed, indeed." He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly and watched Mu Qing storm over, standing just a few feet apart from Feng Xin.
He doesn't speak directly to Xie Lian, but he does incline his head in a subtle greeting.
"I am glad to see nothing much has changed." He throws in an awkward chuckle and a lopsided grin, trying to ignore the way the two keep looking from himself to one another with a fire in their eyes.
"Next time you two idiots kick up a fuss in the capital, I'll make sure my blade doesn't miss." Pei Ming butts in, folding his arms over his chest and the other two finally realise he's there.
"General Pei." They speak simultaneously and then both nod before Mu Qing speaks up, "What are you doing with his highness?"
"No need to sound so accusatory." He scoffs, relenting as he witnesses Mu Qing's eye twitch, "If you must know, we were talking about Qi Ying."
"He's still in ghost city?" Feng Xin raises a brow, seemingly annoyed by the time Quan Yizhen has had to himself, too.
"Honestly, he should be demoted or something." Mu Qing speaks once again.
"That's a little harsh..." Xie Lian speaks up and immediately regrets it when three pairs of eyes turn to him, each barely containing their agitation, "Well, he worked incredibly hard with San Lang to bring his highness Yin Yu back and it's only natural he would want to spend time with him. He's likely worried about losing him again. Give him some time and I'm sure he'll return."
Pei Ming rolled his eyes and muttered a question not needing an answer, "How much more could he need?" Before relaxing and moving his attention away from Xie Lian.
Similarly, Feng Xin let his agitation go and gave Xie Lian a once-over, raising a brow as if debating something.
However, Mu Qing does not look away and in fact, his stare only grows more intense and more unsettling, as if he were inspecting him.
Feng Xin pulls the attention away from Mu Qing as he makes a decision on what he wants to do, "Your highness, what is that?" He extends a hand to gesture to Xie Lian's own.
"Oh?" Xie Lian tilts his head and raises his hand. In his grasp are two identical books, both small in density and wrapped in a deep vermillion cover with an elegant golden trim, "Just something I need to put in my palace."
"Both? But they look the same?" Pei Ming watches on with curiosity.
Xie Lian's grip tightens, "Ah, no not both, one of them I am taking to Puqi Shrine after I finish here for the day."
"What are they of?" Feng Xin takes his turn to ask, it was very rare for Xie Lian to leave any one of his belongings in his palace, as he rarely stayed for too long and his main residence being much too far away for there to be a point in leaving anything up here. So their pairs' questions were understandable.
"Just something I came across recently, simple literature." His reply is plain, purposefully not giving up much information, hoping the other two won't pry much.
"And you need one for both your palace and your shrine?" Pei Ming gives him a quizzical look.
"It is important to me that these are immortalised in each of my residences, that is all." He grimaces at his own reply, realising how odd it sounded. A martial god wanting to keep literature in both his palace and shrine for no reason other than immortalising it? They were bound to ask some more questions.
However, much to his surprise, neither said anything more and accepted his answer as if it were the most normal thing in the world. Feng Xin shrugged and turned to continue on ahead, and Pei Ming did pretty much the same; perhaps they had just lost interest.
The tension he hadn't realised had been building suddenly deflated, and he went to follow after them, as they all had the same destination. But unfortunately, life was never that simple and Xie Lian turned to face Mu Qing, who had been silent up until now.
His face had grown red and frantic, his eyes wide and his teeth chattering together in a fury unknown to man. He lifted his arm and pointed a trembling finger directly at Xie Lian.
"WHAT IS THAT?" He'd yelled as if a Ghost King had appeared before him and of course, it had to catch the attention of every nosey official within a ten-mile radius, which was... all of them, including Feng Xin and Pei Ming, who hadn't gotten very far ahead.
"Uh..." Xie Lian stands starstruck at the sudden burst of anger and shock. Directed at him without a reason.
"What are you doing, you idiot!?" Feng Xin grabs his shoulder, pulling him back to prevent a possible altercation.
"That monster!" He screeches, his finger still pointed at him.
Pei Ming appears behind Feng Xin and looks at Mu Qing, "Have you finally lost it?" A laugh threatens to tumble.
"What is that on your neck!"
All attention is brought to Xie Lian, who had started awkwardly rubbing at his nose. His neck? What could possibly be on his neck that causes Mu Qing to react so viscerally? He moved his hand from his nose to his neck, trying to feel anything off.
Next, he watches Feng Xin spot whatever was amiss, his brows furrowing and his eyes widening as if a sense of rage had begun to take over his mind. It was certainly a concerning sight, considering Xie Lian had no idea what they were looking at.
"What-" He's cut off.
"Ho- Ho!" That dreaded sound leaves Pei Ming's lips and life drains from Xie Lian's face, "So you have been busy with Crimson Rain..." He trailed off, smirk increasing and look as though he was about to start asking questions.
Questions Xie Lian could not bear now that he knows what they had been ruffled by. He knew San Lang enjoyed leaving marks all over his body, ones he'd once described as flowers, but he had no idea that one had been left on show after getting ready earlier this morning.
The mark in question looked like less of a reflection of Hua Cheng's adoration and more of an attempt on his life, to those not privy to the details of their relationship.
"He did this!?" Feng Xin raised his volume and Xie Lian mentally face-palmed as he felt more onlookers gather.
He knew the two of them were still not entirely comfortable with the idea of their old friend being so close with a Ghost King and didn't understand the depth of their relationship, which made the fact that they would grow wary whenever it was mentioned fathomable.
And this? Well, this wasn't going to help at all. Xie Lian couldn't deal with another cave ordeal right now.
"Please, it isn't as bad as it may look, I promise." He turned his gaze to Pei Ming, pleading for some kind of assistance, but by the look on his face, he was already lost in his own fantasies.
Both Feng Xin and Mu Qing looked just about ready to grab him, the former already mentally mapping out their route back to one of their palaces, when Xie Lian's panic was interrupted.
"Gege... you said you would be quick." A deep grumble sounds through their communication array, "Or do I have to come up there and take you back home myself?"
If his cheeks could grow any darker, they would and he quickly looked between the three who stood before him, realising this was his only chance to get away, "Well, it was nice seeing you all, must be off!" He blurted.
Without much thought, he broke into a sprint, heading straight for his palace before anyone could register what was happening and he reached the entrance in record time. He gently placed the book on the table by the entryway, which he could sort out next time he visited and then exited his palace, making a beeline for a ledge and jumped down from the heavens towards Puqi village.
"Hey!" Feng Xin had missed him by mere seconds, Mu Qing following behind and Pei Ming still stood by himself, now chuckling.
They looked at each other, wondering whether or not they should follow after him.
Xie Lian landed just before the Shrine's archway and let out a sigh, tempted to sink onto the grass beneath his feet; the soreness from the previous night's still hadn't completely recovered and that run had the feeling return in full force.
"Gege-" He was reminded of the one waiting for him back home in Paradise Manor and was soon restored with vigour.
Marching forwards he reached Puqi Shrine and pulled the door open, ready to leave the book on the table and head back to ghost city. However, upon opening the door, he was greeted by a young lad in simple red robes with a matching red ribbon, which held his black hair in a lopsided ponytail, and a sly grin graced his countenance.
Relief filled Xie Lian, "Oh San Lang, I didn't realise you would be here."
"I got bored." He confessed, skulking forwards and wrapping his arms around Xie Lian, pulling him into a pleasant embrace, "How long does it usually take one to drop something off at his palace?"
"San Lang..." Xie Lian groans, burying his face in his chest, "Mu Qing and Feng Xin happened to cause quite the stir.
"Oh really...?" He grit his teeth and tightened his hold.
"Nothing serious!" He reassured, "Just the usual, a petty argument."
He was thankful for the feeling of the other relaxing his hold and losing the tension that had started to build. Though he still found it in himself to complain, "I knew I shouldn't have let you have two more copies..."
Xie Lian laughed, patting his back, "I doubt you would have said no even if we were to go back in time."
"Hm." San Lang nipped at his neck.
Suddenly, two loud, consecutive crashes were heard from outside the shrine alongside two loud voices Xie Lian now feared for.
"Your highness!" They both called and Feng Xin reached for the door.
As he pushed it open, the two expected to see a guilty-looking Xie Lian. Unfortunately, they were instead smothered by a rush of silver butterflies that came out of the doorway in a never-ending torrent, forcing the gods back up to the heavens in sheer panic.
"San Lang..." Xie Lian groaned into his shoulder as he listened to fading yells and the airy laugh coming from his husband.
"Now let's leave this book here and return home."