Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The abandoned city sprawled out in a heap of crumbling rubble and broken glass. Long grasses sprouted from gaps in the ruins and swayed in the late summer breeze.

A dead horse lay in the middle of the decrepit market square. The trio stood in a semi-circle around it, inspecting the gashes rippling across its ashen grey coat and the flurry of tracks covering the cobble street.

The smell of rot overwhelmed Xie Lian. He brought up the collar of his black tangzhuang to cover the lower half of his face. It muffled his voice when he asked, “How long do you think it’s been here?”

Feng Xin, similarly, covered his mouth with his hand. He mumbled out, “Four days- at least.”

Mu Qing crouched down to survey the intricate pattern of wounds over its body. His thin eyebrows furrowed as he said, “It was attacked by wolves,” while his finger traced the air above a series of punctures in the throat. He connected the marks like they were constellations in the horse’s skin, revealing the outline of a wolf’s mouth.

Xie Lian wasn’t scared of a potential pack of wolves. He was more than confident enough in his abilities to fight with the sword on his back, and he knew Feng Xin was just as lethal with his bow, as was Mu Qing with his saber.

No—what really worried him was the fate of the horse’s riders.

“If it was wolves, then Ayi and Qi Rong could have escaped,” he said. “We should keep looking.”

Mu Qing rose to his feet. “I don’t see any human tracks here,” he replied, crossing his arms over his chest. “They might not have escaped on her horse. We could have tracked the wrong thing.”

If it was true, it would be devastating. They’d been tracking the horse for three days with barely any sleep, and it was their only lead.

Feng Xin bristled. He’d been the one to suggest they follow its tracks, after all. “There was nothing else to follow,” he snapped. “Either they escaped on the horse, or they were captured.”

Sensing a fight rising, Xie Lian clapped his hands together. The tension in the air dissolved as they both looked away from each other.

“Let’s not jump to conclusions so fast,” he interjected with a patient smile. “Ayi’s journal said she was researching a legend in this area. For her horse to run in this direction on its own accord would be too much of a coincidence.”

Mu Qing frowned. “But why would they run this way? Wouldn’t it make more sense to run back to your family’s manor? That was in the opposite direction.”

Xie Lian’s smile fell. What he said was true—it was hard to make sense of his aunt and cousin’s actions.

For generations, his family had served as prominent monster hunters. After noticing a rise in vampire attacks, Xie Lian’s aunt and cousin had left the family manor to research anything that might mitigate their power. However, almost a week ago, the hotel they’d been staying in was attacked.

Xie Lian and his friends had scoured the scene for clues and compiled the scattered remnants of his aunt’s research notes, but they still couldn’t explain what type of monster would have ripped apart their hotel room with the fury of a tempest, or why.

Xie Lian tapped his chin. “There are two options,” he stated. “One: she was close to a discovery so big, they ran this way to continue to pursue it despite the danger they were in. Or two: whatever monster attacked them was so strong they feared bringing it to our doorstep, so they ran toward a legend that might still be able to help them.”

“What monster could be strong enough to be a threat to the Xie Manor?” Mu Qing muttered.

Feng Xin’s eyebrows furrowed as he looked about the sprawling ruins. “And what could possibly be here that would help?”

“I don’t know,” Xie Lian admitted. He swung his pack off of his shoulder and pulled out what remained of his aunt’s journal. The papers were loosely contained in a roll of leather; it was the best they could do after the book’s binding had been ripped apart.

He thumbed through the pages, hoping to find a detail that would make sense to them now that they were in the city the legend talked about. “Three hundred years ago, there was a fight here between the White Vampire King and some hero in red,” he summarized.

It was the clearest scenario they could make out in her notes.

“After the fight, it says that the hero went to sleep,” he continued. “Was she interested in that…?”

Mu Qing shook his head. “If the legend says he went to sleep, then that’s probably a euphemism for death.”

“True,” he sighed. Xie Lian shuffled through a few more pages. “She wrote that the fighting was so intense it destroyed the city,” he recited, “as both parties wielded weapons of tremendous power.” He paused. “She could have been after whatever he fought with—she wrote extensively about his sword. It looks like she was trying to figure out why it was so powerful.”

“What difference does his weapon make? If he died, it must not have helped that much.” Feng Xin sighed. “Those notes are useless. We just need to keep looking for your aunt and Qi Rong. And there’s been a lot of disturbance from the hunt here—their tracks might have been covered up, or it’s possible they were separated from the horse before it was attacked by wolves.”

Xie Lian wanted to argue. The notes were all his aunt had left behind and it hurt to think of them as useless. But they weren’t helping now, so he had to agree. He put them back into his pack. “Alright. We should split up. We can cover more ground that way.”

“Isn’t that begging for trouble?” Mu Qing chimed in. “And how will we tell each other if someone finds their tracks?”

“If it were night, then being alone in this city might be a little dangerous,” Xie Lian replied, “but we still have half a day of sunlight left. Let’s split up and search until the sun is close to the horizon. We’ll all meet back here before the sun goes down completely.”

“That’s still risky. We don’t know anything about this place,” Mu Qing argued.

“What’s your problem?” Feng Xin snapped. “There’s nothing here.”

“I’m saying that we don’t know that.” Mu Qing rolled his eyes. “Are you even listening?”

“Alright-“ Xie Lian tried to interrupt, but they weren’t listening to him anymore.

“Of course I am—and it sounds like you don’t even want to find his family.”

Mu Qing’s expression froze over. “What are you implying?”

“You hate Qi Rong. I guess it makes sense that someone like you wouldn’t risk anything to help him. Why did you even come on this trip?”

“Feng Xin,” Xie Lian hissed.

The damage was done. Mu Qing’s lips parted and he let out a bewildered laugh. “That's what you think of me?” he muttered. The muscles of his jaw twitched. “I’m sorry I don’t kiss the ground he walks on just because his blood is better than mine."

Feng Xin reeled. “That’s not what this is about-“

“That’s enough, both of you.” Xie Lian cut in. “We’re here to find Ayi and Qi Rong, and I don’t want to waste anymore daylight arguing about it. I’m going this way,” he stated, pointing down a street leading north. “You two can follow me, or go the opposite direction, or split up. It doesn’t matter. But they could be injured, and the longer we take finding them, the longer they’re in danger.”

The two silently glared at each other.

Feng Xin broke the silence first. “I’ll go west.”

Mu Qing’s expression was foul and his posture was still closed off and tense, but he replied, “Fine. I’ll go east.”

They had come from the south, so they had every direction covered.

Xie Lian nodded. “We’ll just look for a bit, and then we’ll meet back here before the sun’s set. Alright?”

Feng Xin sighed. “Yeah.”

Mu Qing didn’t reply. He just turned and started walking east.

Xie Lian resisted the urge to follow him. As much as he wanted to talk to him after that outburst, they all needed a chance to cool their heads. It would probably be best to settle any hard feelings tonight after they all had some space.

It wasn’t like it was abnormal for them to argue, anyway. They’d been a bit more venomous this time, but if there was ever a day that passed without his friends saying one harsh comment to each other, he’d die from shock.

Xie Lian waved to Feng Xin and then turned down the street. He heard their footsteps recede until there was nothing but the sound of his scabbard and pack clunking together.

He let out a sigh. The tension he’d been holding relaxed in the silence.

For a long while, the only things he found were the ancient traces of people long gone: a child’s doll left beside a collapsed wall, a faded restaurant sign advertising longevity noodles.

He continued down the chaotic mess of clearly unplanned streets as the sun dipped in the sky.

The north side of the city bordered a verdant green forest that was taking over the ruins. Trees sprouted out of the desecrated husks of houses and the cobblestone was littered with leaves and pine needles.

Xie Lian finally picked up a trail on a wide street. A line of cracked branches and the edges of footprints continued in the direction of the forest. Someone had been here recently, and Xie Lian’s chest filled with hope.

He thought of turning around and waiting until tomorrow to follow the trail with Mu Qing and Feng Xin, but he still had a few hours of light left. How could he turn away when his family might be in danger?

He followed the trail. The trees grew denser as signs of the ruined city fell away, and the shade was cool on his skin as he stepped into the deep shadows of the forest.

A steep incline thrust upwards, and he had no choice but to pant and wrestle his way past the trees and up the slope, following the scalloped marks in the mud where feet had slipped on the incline.

The earth evened out. He stopped to place his hands on his knees and catch his breath, sweat dripping off the point of his nose.

Why had this person chosen such a difficult path? If there was only one set of footprints, could it even be his aunt or cousin? Otherwise, why would they be separated?

Xie Lian wiped his face. He took another step forward as something caught his eye between the trees.

It looked like the forest was thinning out. His steps quickened as he rushed to the edge of the tree line, chasing the brilliant colors that waited just beyond all the green.

His breath stuttered.

A palace cleaved the very sky in two. Each outer wing erupted into towers with roofs like spears, their gilded tips gutting the clouds. It shone in the golden hour just before sunset, more magnificent than anything he’d ever seen.

Xie Lian edged his way out from the line of the forest. He followed the tracks to where a piece of the outer wall had collapsed and clambered through the broken opening. A barrage of floral sights and scents greeted him as he stumbled into a garden.

There were flowers of all shapes and colors. White roses trailed along the rubble and wild grasses decorated a few of the paths, giving an overgrown and abandoned look to most of the garden.

However, as Xie Lian walked on, he discovered sections that were obviously maintained; a peony bush had been cut back recently and orchids bloomed in a greenhouse, their roots trimmed to perfection.

He adventured further—out of the lattice arch interlaced with wisteria and down a gravel path. He lost the trail at this point, but if he had to venture a guess, whoever he was following was in that palace.

It must have been an imposing seat of power when it was in its prime; it would have taken five men to hug the huge red columns and still touch. A grand staircase preceded the massive main gate with two stone lions guarding the base.

Xie Lian ascended the marble stairs. The door on the right had been inched open and it swayed with the wind. He stepped into the stone yard inside. The main building of the palace towered in front of him, the stately tiered roof casting jagged shadows across the stone. He quickened his pace as he neared the large red doors that led inside; like the gate, the right one had been left open.

Inside was a darkened chamber. The ceiling was cloaked in complete shadow and every footstep echoed in the desolate space.

“Hello?” He called out into the silence. “Is anyone there?”

There was no answer. Xie Lian inched further inside, past the rows of ornamental vases, both shattered and whole, and the dilapidated furniture pushed against the walls. Once his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he noticed paths cut from the swaths of dust that lined the white marble floor. One trail led from the door to an enormous staircase; another branched off towards the right and down the east wing of the palace.

The largest path looked the most recent. It cut from the main door to the left, where it disappeared down a set of spiral steps that led below the palace. Xie Lian’s stomach dropped as he assessed the abnormal patterns on the edge: handprints clawed at the edges of the dust. It looked like someone had been dragged.

His steps quickened as he followed the path and started down the stairs, his fingertips tracing the cool stone wall.

The darkness of the staircase was all-consuming, so Xie Lian took a small pearl from his pocket. It glimmered in the dark with a bluish-white aura, illuminating the enclosed space. He liked it better than a flashlight. Its light was unwavering and lasted for years.

Loose stone crunched beneath his feet as he reached the end of the stairs. A short hallway stretched out, surrounded by iron prison cells on both sides. Someone across the room made a small noise of discomfort and then started coughing—it sounded like a woman.

“Ayi?” Xie Lian called out. He rushed to one of the prison cells at the very end and fell to his knees.

“Xie Lian!” His aunt’s voice was hoarse and her face was pale, but she crawled forward to snake her arms through the bars of the cell. She clasped her freezing hands over his own. “How did you find me?”

“We found your horse in the ruined city south of here—Ayi, what happened to you? Are you alright? Where’s Qi Rong?”

His aunt shuddered with another coughing fit. It was too cold in the cells for her. The chill had already pierced Xie Lian’s bones, and he couldn’t imagine being stuck in here.

He wore a thinner white shirt beneath his tangzhuang, so he shook off his pack and scabbard to remove the outer layer and shoved it through the bars.

It landed in his aunt’s lap, but she barely acknowledged it. “You have to go,” she coughed, pushing his hands away from the bars. “I followed a legend to find this place—to save Qi Rong—but there’s no hero here, Xie Lian. You have to go before it finds you. It’s old and strong. You should never have made it this far.”

“What do you mean? I’m not leaving without you.”

The chill intensified.

“I’m old?” The low voice echoed from the base of the stairs as a shadow separated from the dark. “That’s not a very polite thing to say.”

A buzzing sensation filled Xie Lian’s head and he whipped to the side.

A man with a pale and elegant face stood at the end of the hall. His red robes could have easily been from the later Ming dynasty, and the round collar was pinned open to reveal more of the white inner robe beneath. His black hair was loose and cascaded well below his shoulders, giving a wild look to him.

Xie Lian should have noticed him earlier. This deep into what must be his home, he should have noticed the insane amount of power that thrummed beneath the vampire’s skin.

But he didn’t—that meant this vampire had enough skill to control the way his power projected and that—that was practically unheard of, even in the top class of monsters.

The silver jewelry adorning his neck and boots chimed as he walked closer in long strides, his hands folded casually behind his back. His carefree sneer caught Xie Lian off-guard and pinned him to the floor.

Fear had never affected him like this before. His training had hard-wired him to make quick deductions and then act; freezing up got hunters killed. But he’d never met a monster this powerful before.

He thought of the wooden stake in his pack, but he couldn’t take his eyes off of the vampire, and he didn’t dare move.

“Xie Lian,” his aunt hissed, her hands crushing his. He barely registered it.

The vampire seemed to preen at the way Xie Lian stared. His wicked smile widened to reveal the large fangs pressing against his thin lips.

“Where is my cousin?” Xie Lian asked, his voice breathless.

The vampire cocked his head to the side. “I haven’t seen a cousin,” he replied in a humored tone.

Xie Lian was already overcome with terror; it seemed impossible that he could feel any more of it. However, he couldn’t tell if the vampire was lying or not. The reality of how little control he had over the situation hit him like a tidal wave.

This vampire was too strong for him to defeat on his own. His aunt was also a hostage at this point. He needed to tread very, very carefully here.

“Alright,” Xie Lian murmured under his breath. “Why have you imprisoned my aunt, then?”

“She tried to steal something of mine,” the vampire answered. He leaned against a stone column separating the prison cells and played with the inner straps to one of the silver vambraces decorating his arms.

Xie Lian squeezed his eyes closed momentarily. “I apologize,” he whispered.

It was difficult to form the words in front of his aunt. If they escaped this, then there was no doubt he would face punishment for bowing his head to a monster he was supposed to slay.

He could already feel her silent protest in the way her fingers dug painfully into the backs of his hands.

However, his appeasement seemed to catch the vampire’s attention. His expression lit up with interest, and quicker than he could blink, the vampire was crouched in front of him.

Xie Lian’s heart pounded in his chest.

His crimson eye blazed with more intensity than a wildfire. This close, he could see beneath a frock of messy hair that his right eye was covered by a black eyepatch. “I’m not unfair,” the vampire murmured, his voice low and soothing. “I would be willing to trade for her freedom.”

Xie Lian pressed his lips together as he fought to keep his composure. His hands did not feel like they belonged to him as he wrestled them out of his aunt’s iron grip. He picked up his pearl from the floor and offered it, palm up. “This is a night pearl,” he explained. “Its light should not fade for another decade.”

The vampire picked it up like it was a mere pebble. “Expensive,” he commented, sounding bored. “But not enough.” He dropped it between them and it clattered on the stone floor.

Xie Lian swallowed as that steely gaze was turned back to him. He thought of the coral earrings he wore or the sword lying near his feet, but he already knew the answer to those, too.

“Xie Lian!” His aunt pressed her face against the bars, her eyes wide with fear. “Do not offer anything else! Beg forgiveness and ask to leave!”

He clenched his fists against his thighs. Forgive me, he pleaded silently.

“My freedom for hers,” Xie Lian whispered.

The vampire smiled the widest he’d seen yet, his teeth gleaming in the light of the night pearl. “We have a deal.”

The bars of the prison cell disappeared and his aunt fell forward. Xie Lian barely managed to catch her before she was pulled out of his grasp by the vampire. His hand latched around the back of her neck and he yanked her upwards like she was a weightless doll.

“Ayi!” he cried out, his hands reaching for her. A boot kicked him square in the chest and he sprawled backwards into the prison cell. Before he could react, the bars had reappeared.

Xie Lian lunged forward, but the bars were solid. He could only watch as the vampire dragged his aunt up the stairs while she hit him mercilessly. Her string of insults grew fainter until Xie Lian could hear nothing but the echo of his own breath in the empty space.

If the vampire honored his word, then his aunt would be set free. She could make it back to Feng Xin and Mu Qing, or at least back to his family’s manor. Help would come eventually.

But how long would that take? Could Xie Lian survive for that long?

His sword was unreachable from inside the prison cell, but he could reach one of the straps to his pack.

He dragged it close to the bars. Even though it wouldn’t fit through, he didn’t need it to. All he wanted was the wooden stake inside.

When he finished shoving the stake into his sleeve, he put his tangzhuang back on and retreated to the far wall of the cell.

Xie Lian sat with his back against the stone and curled his arms around his knees, waiting in the cold.

💀

A male voice rung out from the direction of the stairs. “It’s this way, Xuan-xiong! I know where I’m going!”

Xie Lian picked his head off of his knees. He hadn’t heard any footsteps.

The prison grew brighter with a bluish-green glow, and then a ghost fire danced into view. He blazed brighter when he came in sight of Xie Lian. “Hello!” he called joyfully.

Xie Lian clutched his trousers and blinked. “Hello,” he answered in a dull voice.

“You poor thing. Isn’t it cold down here?” The ghost fire asked in a sincere tone.

Xie Lian didn’t respond. He craned his neck to see past the side wall of his cell—the ghost fire had sounded like he was talking to someone else.

He didn’t seem to mind his silence. “Xuan-xiong, let him out already! He’ll freeze to death down here, and we have enough ghosts already.”

A man in black robes walked into view. It was another vampire.

Xie Lian’s arms tightened and he pressed back against the wall.

This vampire had mid-length black hair pulled back in a tight ponytail, heavily contrasting against his pale skin. The color of his dangling gold earrings matched his dead eyes, and he looked just as suspicious as Xie Lian.

“That isn’t my problem,” he responded dryly to the ghost fire.

“Xuan-xiong!” The ghost fire flared.

A moment of tense silence passed between them, and then the vampire relented with an exhausted sigh. “You’re dealing with the consequences when he finds out,” he grumbled.

“It’ll be fine,” the ghost fire quipped.

Instead of making the prison bars vanish like earlier, the vampire took a key from his sleeve and unlocked the cell door. He opened it wide and studied Xie Lian’s reaction with a sardonic look on his face.

Xie Lian didn’t move. His eyes darted between the ghost fire and the vampire.

The ghost fire said, “We’re not here to hurt you. I just want to help.”

“You can’t help me. I made a deal with him. If I go back on it-” he stopped himself, trying not to think of the grisly possibilities.

“We’re not freeing you,” the vampire corrected. “This fool thinks a room instead of a cell would somehow make everything better.”

Xie Lian swallowed. “Won’t he be angry if I leave here?”

“It’s not like you’re running away,” the ghost fire reasoned. “And he’ll be able to find you anywhere in the castle. But it’s terrible down here. Why make a bad situation worse?”

Xie Lian weighed his options and found that a lot of them could end in death. The ghost fire’s words made sense; if he was going to die, he’d rather be warm. “Where would you take me?” he asked.

“There are bedrooms in the east wing. You can have your pick of them.”

Xie Lian slowly rose to his feet. “Alright,” he murmured. “I’ll follow you there.”

This delighted the ghost fire. He twirled a circle around Xie Lian as he stepped out of the prison cells and collected his things scattered over the floor.

“Perfect! The rooms are huge! I’m sure you’ll love them!” The ghost fire raced towards the stairs before freezing in place.

He hovered over the first step and said, “I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Shi Qingxuan, and my friend’s name is He Xuan.”

“I’m not your friend,” the vampire snapped.

The ghost fire laughed and zipped up the stairs.

Frightened of being left alone with He Xuan, Xie Lian raced up the stairs to keep up.

He almost ran through the ghost fire when he reached the top of the stairs. He skidded to a halt just before they could touch with a sharp exhale of breath.

“What’s your name?” Shi Qingxuan asked, unfazed by the almost run-in.

“It’s—I’m Xie Lian,” he stuttered out, already having to run forward again as the ghost fire raced in the direction of the east wing.

“It’s nice to meet you!” He exclaimed.

Xie Lian sighed, unable to keep up with him. He wondered if it was rare for people to stumble into the palace.

He glanced behind before he turned the corner. He Xuan stood at the beginning of the stairs, his arms crossed over his chest. He was watching them go with a frosty expression.

Xie Lian’s pace quickened as he ran from his hard stare.

Even if Shi Qingxuan forged far ahead, he still waited for Xie Lian before turning down a different hallway, which made him easy to follow.

They arrived at a long hallway of opulent doors.

Shi Qingxuan hovered in the middle of the hallway. “You can pick any of these!”

Xie Lian began peeking in the rooms one by one; some of the bedrooms had been converted to storage and were cluttered with beautiful statues, covered paintings, and barrels and boxes of all sizes. Another had been ripped apart completely. However, a few stood untouched by time.

They were opulent spaces filled with swaths of silk and gold. The beds were massive and fanciful furniture decorated the corners. Xie Lian chose one with a wood-burning stove against one wall and an empty bookshelf on another. He collapsed on the fourposter bed shoved into the corner and let out a long sigh.

The white silk sheets were smooth and cold beneath his hands, strangely clean. Shi Qingxuan zipped between the gilded accents on the ceiling.

“This one,” Xie Lian said.

“I like it!” Shi Qingxuan commented.

His eyelids fell closed. “What time is it?” he murmured. Exhaustion dogged every muscle in his body.

“Oh,” Shi Qingxuan exclaimed. “It’s the middle of the night. You’re probably tired, aren’t you?”

Xie Lian nodded his head.

“I’ll leave you to get comfortable and sleep, then,” he said. “You should find me tomorrow if you get bored! A lot of us ghost fires like to hang around the main courtyard.”

A sinking feeling enveloped Xie Lian. “How many ghost fires are there?” he asked.

“Who knows?” Shi Qingxuan answered. “A lot. We like meeting new friends, though!” With that, he zipped through the closed door and left Xie Lian in peace.

He wondered how many people had died here.

Xie Lian shrugged off his pack and sword and dropped them at the foot of the bed. Then he placed his night pearl on the table beside the bed and lay back.

The bed felt heavenly after days of brief naps on dirt. However, his thoughts still strayed to his family. His cousin was annoying, but he worried about where he could be. If he hadn’t been with his aunt, then what happened to him? Why did his aunt mention saving him?

He also worried about his friends. If they found out Xie Lian was trapped and came to rescue him, would the vampire trap them, too?

His mind drifted as he thought of what the future could hold, and before he knew it, sleep had claimed him.

💀

Xie Lian woke with a start.

He scrambled up, his messy brown hair obscuring his vision. The top half had come out of his ribbon. His hands shook as he straightened his hair and surveyed the room, a crawling feeling of being watched prickling his skin.

His night pearl cast a small aura of light, the blue glow reflecting off the stove at the other end of the room. Xie Lian followed the dying gradient of light and studied the shadows. Finally, something moved.

The vampire in red shifted from where he leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest.

Xie Lian jumped, alarm coursing through his body. “Where did you take my aunt?” he asked, trying to hold on to some semblance of sanity before fear wiped his mind clean.

Now that he'd been noticed, the vampire stepped forward, the night pearl illuminating him from the right side. The light glimmered off his silver vambrace, the metal detailed with butterflies. His left eye was cast in shadow, but the red iris burned like the lit end of a cigar. “I took her to the edge of the palace, where the forest begins,” he said. “Our deal still holds.”

Xie Lian recoiled as he drew closer. His back hit the cool stone wall as he scrambled away from him on the bed.

The vampire's expression remained blank, but the corners of his lips twitched as Xie Lian retreated.

“Don’t be afraid,” he murmured, moving closer to Xie Lian. His weight shifted the mattress as he pressed his knee onto the bed.

“What do you want?” Xie Lian whispered, his breath catching as the vampire reached forward. His nails were long, sharp, and painted black. Xie Lian flinched as he cupped the side of his face and traced his cheekbone with his thumb.

“You already know,” the vampire replied, his voice silky and hypnotic. His hand strayed further, collecting his messy hair and pushing it behind his ear to clear his neck.

Xie Lian shut his eyes for a moment, repressing a full-body shudder. He did know.

The vampire paused. His eye had been half-lidded, but now it widened with interest as he rolled Xie Lian’s earring between his fingers. “You didn’t offer this,” he murmured.

“You wouldn’t have taken it,” Xie Lian whispered.

A puff of exhaled air and a crooked smile were the only signs of the vampire’s laughter. “No, I wouldn’t have,” he agreed.

He finished clearing his hair away from his neck and then his hand strayed lower, his nails digging into the top cord of the frog buttons on Xie Lian’s tangzhuang. He popped off the first two and then drew the collar of his shirt to the side.

Xie Lian shivered as cold air settled over his skin. “Are you going to kill me?” he asked in a hollow voice.

His fingers traced the wooden stake tucked into his sleeve.

“No,” the vampire said in a humored tone. “What a waste that would be.”

Xie Lian’s hand tensed; he wanted nothing more than to kill this vampire for daring to touch him. His heart hammered in his chest as he thought of the mechanics of it: what angle he’d need to stab, how fast he’d have to move.

He wasn’t sure if he could do it.

This vampire exuded power like nothing he’d ever seen before, and he hadn’t forgotten how quickly he’d moved down in the cells.

But his low voice echoed in his mind: What a waste that would be.

As much as he loathed the thought of being a blood bag for a monster, Xie Lian had to admit that if the vampire wasn’t planning on killing him, then a half-baked attack would just be foolish at this point.

His hand relaxed. Feng Xin and Mu Qing weren’t here right now. If he could figure out a way to escape, then he didn’t have to tell them about this.

Despite his resolve, shame coiled deep in his gut like it had made a home there.

The vampire leaned in, his hand firmly holding his shoulder in place. His other hand snaked through the hair on the side of Xie Lian’s head and guided him to expose his neck.

He flinched at the feeling of the vampire’s breath on his skin.          

“Shh,” he soothed, his thumb rubbing a small crescent on Xie Lian’s shoulder. “Your heart is beating so fast,” he marveled. “I promise it won’t hurt that much.”

Xie Lian closed his eyes and swallowed.

He froze as lips pressed against the side of his throat, soft and dully warm. Two sharp points pressed against his skin.

There was a frozen moment where time fractured. Xie Lian felt as if he stood on the precipice of a great cliff.

The vampire bit into his neck.

Xie Lian’s eyes shot open and he grunted from the sharp bloom of pain. He flinched back, his legs kicking out as he tried to wrestle his way out of the vampire’s grip. He pressed his hands against his chest and pushed, but it was useless. The vampire’s hands were like iron, and his fingertips squeezed bruises into his skin as he drank from Xie Lian’s neck.

After a few moments of fighting, Xie Lian gave up with a whimper. Despite what the vampire said, it hurt. His neck ached from the force of the vampire’s bite and he held him with crushing force.

He could only ball his fists up in the vampire’s robes and try to regulate his breathing to ignore the pain: in through his nose, out through his mouth. He counted the seconds.

Next to his ear, he could hear lewd gulping as the vampire swallowed. At some point his mouth fluttered and he dug deeper, ripping agony into Xie Lian’s throat.

He groaned in pain and slapped his hand over the vampire’s face, trying to push him away again. But he could feel himself growing weaker and the fidgeting only jolted the teeth in his neck. “Stop,” he pleaded, his voice tinged with panic.

A low growl came from the vampire’s throat, savage and inhuman.

Just as Xie Lian’s mind was enveloped by a cottony fog, the vampire relented.

He gasped as his neck was released abruptly, the sharp pain dulling to an uncomfortable ache.

The vampire’s breath was ragged against his skin as he hovered above Xie Lian. His hands shook against his shoulders as he seemed to hesitate, caught in between two desires.

A sinking feeling settled in Xie Lian's gut and he gripped the stake tighter.

Regaining control of himself, the vampire's hands released. Then he jerked back as if touched by fire and fled the room.

Xie Lian stared at the door as it slammed shut behind him. His brain was fuzzy and he felt dizzy; instead of trying to think about the sudden departure, he lay back down on the bed, his hand snaking up to cover the bite wound on his neck. It throbbed with pain, the ache foreign to him.

He breathed shallowly against the sheets as sleep came for him. His thoughts were a muddy swirl of pain; at some point he lost the line of where his memories ended and his nightmares began.

Chapter Text

Xie Lian woke to a dry mouth and an aching headache.

He grimaced as he rose from the bed, his muscles sore and screaming in protest. He could already tell that the vampire had taken an egregious amount of blood, and on top of traveling for so long, Xie Lian’s body was practically abused at this point.

When he pulled back the covers, his wooden stake fell to the floor with a clatter. It must have rolled out of his sleeve in his sleep.

He kicked it into his pack. As much as it would be a comfort to carry it on him, he didn’t want to be caught with it and invoke the vampire’s anger or suspicion.

His legs shook as he got up from the bed and a dizzy spell washed over him. Disoriented, he tried to think of what time it could be, but eventually gave up—the bedroom’s only window was covered with heavy cloth and nailed over with slats of wood. There was no telling whether the sun had risen yet.

His stomach growled and his thoughts shifted. He needed to find the kitchens and figure out how he’d be getting food here. Without it, he had a feeling he wouldn’t last very long.

Xie Lian fixed his hair and then hesitated before buttoning his tangzhuang. His fingers skirted over the sore spot on his neck, and he winced from the scant pressure. He probably sported a pretty nasty bruise there.

When he remembered the pain of last night, his body prickled with an uncomfortable shiver. The thought of having to subject himself to that again was horrifying.

More than that—he shuddered at the physicality of it: the warmth of his mouth, the strength of his hands… Xie Lian had never experienced anything like that before.

Best not to think of it.

Xie Lian shook his head and finished fixing up his appearance. Then he opened the door with the hope he could find something edible in this place.

To his surprise, someone had already taken care of it. A tray of food was placed on the floor right outside of his room, the plates topped with fancy silver covers. Xie Lian looked both ways down the hallway, found that he was completely alone, and then took the tray inside.

He ate on the bed. The meal consisted of some sort of game bird in an orange sauce, fresh peaches, and rice. There was also a beautifully carved clay teapot filled with a type of black tea.

He finished it and left his empty tray out by the door. If he found the kitchens while he explored today, then he’d take it back later.

Xie Lian walked through the empty halls of the palace and found that it seemed to be a very lonely place. He discovered more bedrooms, entertaining halls, and large galleries, all with vast, echoing ceilings that only served to affirm just how quiet it was.

Darkness enveloped everything as well. If a room had windows, they were covered with thick black drapes or boarded up with planks. Xie Lian found his way through the labyrinth of shadows with his night pearl, but he felt eerily similar to a ghost fire wandering hell.

He didn’t know how long he’d been walking; he heard the sound of running water, and then beneath it, laughter.

It caught him by surprise. Xie Lian turned a corner in its direction and was blinded by sunlight. He walked down the hallway and stopped just before a low stone wall with red pillars holding up the eaves.

Beyond it, a courtyard burst free, the grassy clearing colorful and vibrant. The laughter came from ghost fires flitting between plum trees, a few chasing each other in blurring lines of fire. Another group hovered by a large pond at the far end of the courtyard.

He stepped closer, enamored by the palace’s sudden beauty. Sunlight fell across his face, warm and welcome after his dark walk through the chilling hallways of the palace.

“Xie Lian!” a voice cried out.

A bright ghost fire zipped in his direction.

“Shi Qingxuan,” Xie Lian answered with a small smile. He lifted his arms as the ghost fire did a loop around him.

“Did you sleep well?” Shi Qingxuan asked politely.

Xie Lian grimaced, so the ghost fire switched topics.

“I’m glad you found this place! I wasn’t sure when I’d see you next,” he chattered as he floated toward the courtyard.

Xie Lian followed him. He stepped off of the stone floor and onto a dirt path twisting through the grass. It winded through a few flower beds of azaleas and hyacinths before arriving at the pond.

“I didn’t realize something like this could exist here,” he commented.

Shi Qingxuan’s flames flickered in a passing breeze. “Oh,” he murmured absent-mindedly. “Hua Cheng likes gardening, so he usually comes by here at night to weed and make sure the flowers are alright.”

“Hua Cheng…?” Xie Lian echoed in question.

“The vampire that owns the palace. The one in red.”

Surprise bolted through him like lightning. To hear Shi Qingxuan talk so casually about the monster that trapped him here made his stomach knot. It was strange to consider that he had hobbies. “That’s what he goes by?” he murmured, rolling the name over in his mind.

“Yeah,” Shi Qingxuan hummed. “But others call him Chengzhu. I think he has a lot of names.”

It made sense—vampires’ names tended to change over generations. “He’s probably been around for a while,” Xie Lian commented.

“Mn,” Shi Qingxuan agreed.

They stopped near the edge of the pond. Xie Lian sat down at the bank and stared at the surface of the water. It was disturbed by a small waterfall at the opposite end and the ripples gleamed blue from the ghost fires hovering overhead. A few carp swam by in lazy circles.

“Did he trap you all here?” Xie Lian murmured.

“What?” Shi Qingxuan replied flatly. “Who?”

Xie Lian’s eyebrows furrowed. “Hua Cheng.”

Shi Qingxuan snorted, which was odd to hear coming from someone that didn’t have a body. “No, none of us here are trapped.”

Silence permeated their conversation as the ghost fire seemed to realize his error. He dimmed as he muttered, “Well…”

Xie Lian let out a dry sigh. Everyone here was free except for him, then. “So he doesn’t make a habit of trapping humans, killing them, and keeping their souls?”

Shi Qingxuan laughed. “No, no. That’s so far off. All of us ghost fires are here because the humans would destroy us. Those monster hunters are merciless! Even if we’re harmless, they disperse us anyway.”

Xie Lian froze.

Not because he disagreed, but because he knew it was the truth.

He’d never heard it from that perspective before. Monster hunters were taught to disperse any spirits they came across for the good of the people; time was inevitable and yet unstable. No one could predict whether a ghost fire would eventually morph into a dangerous ghost. It was best to eliminate any chance of harm before it could occur, especially while it was too weak to fight back.

However, seeing the ghost fires in front of him laugh and play with such joy shook that principle inside his heart.

It hadn’t been unusual for someone to ask him to disperse ghost fires when they disgruntled the people close by. He often complied, though he hadn’t really enjoyed it. At the time, his reluctance felt like a weakness that needed to be tramped down and snuffed out.

This sudden shift in perspective left him feeling like he’d been submerged by a giant wave, knocked down and not knowing which way was up or down.

“Why are you still here, then?” he murmured, hoping to distract himself from his warring conscious.

Shi Qingxuan dimmed. “My brother.”

Xie Lian said nothing and only watched how the tips of Shi Qingxuan’s flames flickered.

“He—he’s not alive,” the ghost fire continued in the following silence. “He’s dead. But he’s here, too. He can’t let go of how he died. And—and who did it.” Shi Qingxuan stuttered to a stop. “That’s him on the other edge of the pond.”

Xie Lian looked up. He was surprised to see a ghost resembling a person sitting on a rocky outcropping close to the water; if he was strong enough to take human form, then Xie Lian should have sensed some power coming from the ghost. However, he seemed oddly dormant.

The ghost’s blue robes were cut in the former Qing Dynasty’s style and expensive-looking. The top half of his long, black hair was drawn back into a twisting silver hairpiece that looked like a work of art all on its own. But as beautiful as he was, his face seemed vacant. His deep black eyes stared emotionlessly ahead while his pale hands rested on an open fan in his lap.

“Why is he so still?” Xie Lian murmured. He’d never encountered a ghost like this.

Shi Qingxuan’s voice was so quiet he almost missed what he said. “Ever since he died, the only thing that seems to keep him here is his revenge. When… when that person is here, or he encounters something that reminds him of them, he goes into a rage. But any other time, he’s like this. Like he’s just waiting.”

He was haunting his murderer, then. Xie Lian frowned. “Doesn’t he recognize you?”

Shi Qingxuan went silent and his flames dimmed, so Xie Lian knew his answer.

“Wouldn’t it be better if…” he wanted to say if he was dispersed, but he couldn’t finish the sentence. That was exactly what a monster hunter would think, wasn’t it?

Shi Qingxuan caught his meaning. “No!” he exclaimed, burning brighter than ever. “Even as he is right now, he still has a chance to heal. It might take forever, but one day he’ll remember me. Then we’ll go back into the reincarnation wheel together.”

Xie Lian’s heart squeezed at the determination in his voice. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

The height of Shi Qingxuan’s flames shrunk as he seemed to cool down. “It’s okay,” he responded. “I know you didn’t mean any offense.”

His last words pierced Xie Lian’s heart even more. He opened his mouth to say something else, but what was there to say? He wanted to comfort the ghost fire, but he was out of his depth. His body felt weighed down by all the emotions passing through him; guilt over his helplessness, sadness for Shi Qingxuan’s situation, and shame over his role as a monster hunter.

He stared at Shi Qingxuan’s brother across the pond and felt his own powerlessness tear at his insides.

Xie Lian stood and brushed the grass from his trousers. “I’m going to keep looking around the palace. Is there any place I should know about, or stay away from?” he murmured.

Shi Qingxuan flared brighter the minute the conversation shifted. “I can give you a tour of what I know!” he exclaimed.

Xie Lian nodded and let him lead the way.

💀

Shi Qingxuan was zipping around the columns of a large entertainment hall when a man in black robes entered. His face was obscured by a white demon mask with curled tusks protruding from the lips.

It caught Xie Lian off-guard and he stepped back, but Shi Qingxuan floated over happy-as-could-be and greeted him. “Hi, Yin Yu!” he called out.

The man nodded to Shi Qingxuan before bowing to Xie Lian. “Chengzhu has asked me to take care of your needs during your stay here,” he announced, his voice mild and contrasting heavily against the aggressive tone of the mask. “I’d like to show you the kitchens, as well as the bath, if you’re willing.”

Xie Lian forced himself to relax. Yin Yu wasn’t the reason he was here, so he didn’t want to come off as impolite. He pasted a smile on his face and replied, “Shi Qingxuan already showed me the kitchen. But I’d appreciate it if you showed me where the baths are.”

Yin Yu nodded his head and rose.

As he looked up, Xie Lian froze.

Underneath the mask, Yin Yu’s eyes were the same bright, incandescent red as Hua Cheng’s.

He was a vampire too, then. And one turned by Hua Cheng.

Shi Qingxuan’s voice cut into his panic. “Will you come by later?” he asked, still hovering by Xie Lian’s side.

“Maybe,” he answered.

Even the possibility made the ghost fire happy. He flared brighter as he zipped from the room. Darkness settled over them as his light disappeared.

Xie Lian took his night pearl from his pocket. Yin Yu didn’t comment on the light and turned, motioning for Xie Lian to follow. His braided hair swung across his back with each step.

“…Would we be able to stop by my room first?” Xie Lian asked. “I have fresh clothes in my pack.”

Yin Yu stopped momentarily and turned to Xie Lian. The tusks of his mask glimmered in the light of the night pearl. “As you wish,” he murmured. Instead of waiting for Xie Lian to lead the way, however, he turned down a hallway toward his bedroom.

Did everyone in this palace know where he slept? The thought made his skin prickle.

Then he remembered that someone brought him breakfast this morning. If Hua Cheng had told Yin Yu to take care of him, then that was probably his cooking that he ate.

He felt guilty for immediately assuming the worst. His steps quickened as he tried to close the gap between himself and Yin Yu. “Were you the one that cooked for me this morning?”

Yin Yu’s steps slowed. “Yes.”

Xie Lian smiled. “Thank you! It was really delicious. But I don’t want to burden you. Now that I know where the kitchen is, I can cook, so you have time to do… whatever else you do.”

Yin Yu looked over his shoulder. “It’s no burden,” he answered. “Chengzhu has tasked me with your care.”

Xie Lian scratched the side of his head. There didn’t seem to be any room for argument here—especially if he wanted to remain polite. “Alright,” he acquiesced. “But let me know if you get too busy.”

Yin Yu nodded and they fell into silence.

They stopped by Xie Lian’s room so he could grab his pack. After leaving it unattended, he checked the contents to make sure everything was accounted for. Then he threw the pack over his shoulder and followed Yin Yu to the baths.

They were located in the western wing. Yin Yu opened the door to a large room with vaulted ceilings and stone walls carved with reliefs of nature. Pale marble columns lined a large pool at the back of the room. Steam wafted from the surface, curling over the blue tile floors and snaking around a large folding screen.

Yin Yu took a box of matches from his pocket and lit the oil lamps lining the walls.

Xie Lian followed him inside, taking his time to gawk at the beautiful architecture. The room smelled like peony and rosemary, and he felt some of the fear he carried with him everywhere relax a bit.

Yin Yu cleared his throat. “I’ll leave you to bathe in peace. You can come here whenever you need,” he murmured.

Xie Lian turned his head and nodded. “Thank you. Is there a time I need to be finished by, or…?”

Yin Yu shook his head. “Take all the time you’d like.”

He left, the door closing behind him with a gentle snap.

Xie Lian released the sigh he’d been holding and threw his pack down by the edge of the pool. If Hua Cheng had delegated Xie Lian’s care to Yin Yu, then that probably meant he was only interested in keeping him alive so he could drink his blood at night. Daytimes might be safe for him.

He frowned as he disrobed, the scratch of fabric echoing in the silent room.

Maybe he could find a way to send a message to Feng Xin and Mu Qing; if they could coordinate, then it was possible that they could figure out a solution to this whole mess. Even if he had made a deal, Xie Lian wasn’t interested in being stuck here as a blood bag forever.

He scrubbed his body clean with soap on a ledge beside the bath and then cleaned his hair. When he was finished, he rinsed by throwing a bucket of water over himself. He also took the time to shave away the scruff on his face that he'd grown while traveling.

Xie Lian waded into the pool via a set of stairs carved into the left side. He lowered himself slowly, letting his body adjust to the temperature before fully sinking in.

The warm water coiled around his aching muscles. Xie Lian swam to the edge of the pool and relaxed against the wall. He curled one of his arms over the cool tile floor and rested his head on his bicep, content to rest in the water.

Then he closed his eyes and let his thoughts melt away.

Lulled into a peaceful drowse, he wasn’t aware of how fast the time trickled by.

The sound of the door unlatching caught his attention.

Xie Lian inhaled a deep breath and jerked his head up. Panic dimly spiraled in the back of his mind. The folding screen hid the door from his view, but he quickly decided that whatever was happening, it couldn’t be good.

His pack was right next to him. Xie Lian sprung out of the water and scrambled to put on a fresh pair of trousers. “Yin Yu?” he called out.

A low voice replied, “I didn’t mean to startle you. But what kind of host would I be if I didn’t make sure you had clean clothes?”

Xie Lian scolded himself for letting his guard down just because it was daytime. He’d seen how every window had been painstakingly covered already—of course Hua Cheng could come for him whenever he wanted to.

He shook a bit of water from his hair and shrugged on a white shirt. “Thank you, but I already have clean clothes,” he murmured as he finished with the ties.

“I see,” he replied, voice flat. “You’re decent, then?”

Xie Lian furrowed his eyebrows. “Yes,” he said hesitatingly.

Boot heels clicked against the tile as Hua Cheng rounded the folding screen. He looked the same as the night they met, right down to the jewelry, though his smile now carried a mischievous angle. He did hold a pair of clean robes in his hands, but Xie Lian felt it was an excuse of some kind. Yet, he couldn’t think of why he’d use it to come here, or what he really wanted.

Water ran down his back in rivulets from his wet hair. Xie Lian gathered it to one side and squeezed his fist down the length of it, casting a large splash of water onto the floor. “Sorry for the wasted trip,” he commented, trying to fish for what Hua Cheng was truly here for.

However, he had misjudged the severity of the situation.

Hua Cheng’s posture went rigid and his hand tensed around the robes as he watched Xie Lian’s every movement, his gaze eventually landing on his exposed neck. He looked like he was trying to keep his expression carefully blank, but his eye shone with the hunger he couldn’t hide.

Xie Lian swallowed.

Hua Cheng looked like he was starving.

The fresh robes fell to the tile floor as he took a step forward.

Xie Lian’s mind raced as he took a step back, his hand stretched out in front of him. “You just fed last night—shouldn’t you be fine for another few days?” he asked, panicked. Even the most bloodthirsty of vampires could last a week before feeding again. So why did Hua Cheng look like he wanted to devour him?

“I’ve been sleeping for a long time,” Hua Cheng murmured. His next steps were so fast that Xie Lian didn’t have time to react; before he knew it, Hua Cheng had seized his hair in one hand and pushed him against the wall.

He loomed over Xie Lian, his shadow falling across his face. He'd never realized just how tall the vampire was.

The cool stone carvings dug into the muscles of his back as he tried to push Hua Cheng away, but to no avail.

Hua Cheng pulled his hair to the side, forcing him to bear the uninjured side of his neck. Lips brushed the shell of his ear as the vampire lowered his head to whisper, “Unfortunately for you, I woke up very hungry.”

Xie Lian shivered at the hot puff of air it sent over his neck. The water on his skin was rapidly cooling down and his heart hammered in his chest, the pace still quickened from his time in the pool.

He tried to fight against Hua Cheng’s grip, but his hands were like iron. “Don’t-” he mumbled, but he was cut off as fangs sunk into his skin.

Pain flooded his senses as Hua Cheng bit into his neck. He gasped and fisted the back of his red robes, desperate to keep his thoughts from the pain.

Xie Lian’s eyes strayed to the reliefs on the far wall. He analyzed the designs as he tried to shift his focus away from his body. How many leaves were on each tree? Was that a bird or a bat?

The reliefs blurred. His eyes crossed as a dizzy spell overcame him. Xie Lian gripped the back of Hua Cheng’s robes as that same fog from last night entered his brain, turning his thoughts to molasses and making the room spin.

“I can’t-” he whimpered, feeling his knees buckle.

Hua Cheng leaned back and drew his fangs out of Xie Lian’s neck.

He gasped and quickly slumped towards the floor.

Hua Cheng caught him. One of his hands wrapped around Xie Lian’s bicep and his other arm coiled under his armpit. The cool metal of his vambrace bled through the thin linen of Xie Lian’s shirt as he adjusted his hold.

A small sigh escaped his parted lips as Xie Lian’s head fell against his chest. He barely had the strength to keep his eyes open, much less recoil.

His head swam as Hua Cheng leaned down, confusing Xie Lian’s already watery sense of balance. Then his feet were lifted into the air as Hua Cheng picked him up in a bridal carry.

Moments flashed before him as he struggled to stay conscious: the cold silver of Hua Cheng’s necklace brushing his nose, boot heels clicking down an empty hallway, a sudden feeling of weightlessness as Hua Cheng lowered him onto a bed.

Xie Lian’s breaths were shallow against his pillow as he blinked and followed him with his eyes, straining his last bit of consciousness to keep his attention on the vampire.

Hua Cheng noticed his gaze and tapped a sharp nail on his cheek. "What are you fighting so hard to stay awake for?" he murmured. "Go to sleep."

As if a spell had been cast, Xie Lian’s eyelids slid shut and the darkness swirled up to meet him.

💀

“No, put it on the point to the left.”

Xie Lian moved the stone over one intersection. “Here?” he asked.

“Yeah,” the ghost fire answered. “Take that, Fei.”

A ghost fire on the other side of the go board flared. “Shut up, Bu! You didn’t even take any of my pieces.”

Caught in between the two, Xie Lian sighed.

He hadn’t planned on spending his evening moving go pieces for the ghost fires in the courtyard, but he’d been holed up in his room all morning with a terrible headache. After waking up, he hadn’t even gotten out of bed to check if Yin Yu had left breakfast out for him.

Yin Yu came in to check on him around mid-day. He convinced Xie Lian to at least eat half of the stew he’d made him for lunch, but he could barely stomach it. He just wasn’t hungry.

Yin Yu had also retrieved his dirty clothes from last night and cleaned them. He placed them on the table beside his bed before leaving.

Though he was from a high-class family and used to this treatment, it still felt odd to have such service in the palace. Xie Lian was a prisoner and an enemy, though he didn’t know if Hua Cheng had realized the full extent of that.

If the vampire knew anything about the human world, then it was possible that he had already realized Xie Lian was a monster hunter. His surname didn’t do him any favors in hiding his occupation, and Hua Cheng had already heard his aunt call his name.

But why would he let Xie Lian have full run of the palace, as well as Yin Yu’s service, if he knew who and what he was?

Hua Cheng couldn’t know. He’d said it himself—he’d been asleep for a long time. He probably wasn’t up to date with current world affairs at all.

Likewise, Xie Lian knew nothing about the vampire. Someone as strong as him should’ve inspired fear and invoked many infamous tales, he was sure—but he’d never heard the name Hua Cheng before.

It made him wonder. Would Xie Lian recognize him by a different name?

It was a frustrating turn of events. As well-trained and well-read as he was, it wasn’t often that he encountered an enemy that he knew virtually nothing about.

Shi Qingxuan had barged in not long after. He said that some time outside would help, and even though Xie Lian didn’t really believe him, the ghost fire’s tone was so concerned that he got up on his shaky legs anyway. He’d practically collapsed when he reached the courtyard.

However, the warm air and sunlight really had done him some good, and after a few hours he felt well enough to sit up, roll up his sleeves, and help the ghost fires play go.

Xie Lian exhaled a sigh of relief when Fei and Bu’s game ended. As they flew off bickering over the conclusion, Xie Lian began sorting the black and white stones back into their respective pouches.

Shi Qingxuan floated over. The board’s lacquer shone under his blue flames. “You look like you’re doing better,” he commented. “You’re not as white as your shirt anymore, at least. How are you feeling?”

“My headache is a little better,” Xie Lian answered him. “And my fingers aren’t so numb.”

“That’s good!” He flared.

“Mn,” Xie Lian hummed. He fell back onto the grass. The grass was cool and a passing ant tickled the skin on his arm. His voice quieted as he asked, “Shi Qingxuan, do you know anything about a woman that was captured just before I was?”

Shi Qingxuan hovered just over Xie Lian’s chest, generating a small chill over his heart. “How early before you were captured?”

“I’m not entirely sure—maybe a few days before? She was my aunt, so I took her place here.”

“Oh,” Shi Qingxuan murmured. “I didn’t know that. I guess it makes sense in hindsight—I didn’t really know why we had so many guests in so few days.”

Xie Lian snorted. “You consider prisoners to be guests?”

Shi Qingxuan sighed. “It might sound crass of me, but it’s hard to think of you as a prisoner here. I’ve seen what Hua Cheng does to the people and vampires who truly anger him. You’re being treated like a prince in comparison.”

Xie Lian fell silent for a moment. “What does he do?” he whispered.

Shi Qingxuan didn’t answer him.

Grimacing, Xie Lian moved onto a different question. “Was it just my aunt that he captured? My cousin is missing, too, but I didn’t see him in the cells.”

“I didn’t hear about anyone else coming here—I can ask He Xu-” The ghost fire cut himself off. “I can ask my friend.”

Xie Lian looked towards the pond. Shi Qingxuan’s brother was still perched on the same rock, unmoving. He hadn’t been alerted by the ghost fire’s near slip.

“Don’t trouble yourself,” he responded. He scratched his head as he thought of the embarrassment that could arise if Hua Cheng heard of Xie Lian poking into something he’d already given his word on.

“It’s no trouble,” Shi Qingxuan said. “Oh—I did hear about why your aunt was captured,” he continued, remembering Xie Lian’s original question. “Apparently, she tried to steal Hua Cheng’s sword.”

Xie Lian furrowed his eyebrows. “A sword…?” he murmured, thinking back to his aunt’s notes. “I’ve never seen Hua Cheng carry one.”

“He doesn’t like his sword, apparently.” Shi Qingxuan answered. “It’s a high-class spiritual weapon, so I can’t imagine why, but he treats it like dirt.”

The wheels started turning in his head. Now that the ghost fire mentioned it, Xie Lian had heard of a vampire who carried a cursed scimitar. Monster hunters everywhere knew the infamous tale of how Crimson Rain Sought Flower, the Red Vampire King, had brought the Ming dynasty to its knees because the emperor personally insulted him.

But that was centuries ago. Most assumed that he’d been killed; otherwise, why would such a powerful and wicked monster remain quiet for so long?

“I’ve heard it’s cursed,” Xie Lian responded absently.

“How so?”

He shrugged his shoulders.

“You’re a fountain of information,” Shi Qingxuan deadpanned.

Xie Lian sighed. “I’m not the one who found this place. It was my aunt—she was doing research about a legend Hua Cheng seems to be involved in. I just followed her here, so I don’t know anything more than a few pieces of it.”

“What legend?” Shi Qingxuan asked, his voice full of interest.

Before Xie Lian could respond, a loud crash reverberated in the air—it sounded like metal hitting stone. At the same time, dark clouds drifted across the sky.

A chill passed over his skin as the sunlight disappeared. Wind whipped through the plum trees, scattering leaves over the courtyard and bringing the scent of rain.

“What’s going on?” Xie Lian murmured. A storm had blown over the palace, but it was too rapid of a change for it to be natural.

Shi Qingxuan shrank into the shade of a plum tree, though he only succeeded in chasing away the shadows with his light. “It’s Hua Cheng’s doing. Something’s really pissed him off.”

Metal clanged in the distance and a terrible feeling sank in Xie Lian’s gut.

He stumbled up from the ground.

Even though he’d been hoping to connect back with Feng Xin and Mu Qing, he knew subtlety had never been their strong suit. He hadn’t thought of a way to contact them discreetly about his situation, and now he worried he was too late.

“Where are you going?!” Shi Qingxuan cried as he ran off toward the sound of swords clashing.

Xie Lian didn’t answer him. He tried to focus on where the sound was coming from—it seemed to be concentrated on the western wing of the palace, but knowing that was little help. The hallways all looked the same to him, and trying to remember how to get there was difficult.

He kept running. A hallway dumped him into the garden that sat at the western part of the palace, but it was in a section he hadn’t seen before. He stumbled over wild-growing vines as he ran towards the sounds of fighting.

Sure enough, he could make out Feng Xin shouting above the din of clanging metal.

“WHERE IS HE?!”

It started to rain. Droplets plunked against the earth in a few sparse patches, only contributing to a light drizzle.

Xie Lian caught sight of his arms and his heart twisted with horror.

Red spots bloomed against his white shirt.

The sky was raining blood.

Despite feeling better than this morning, Xie Lian still wasn’t fully recovered. His heart hammered in his chest, his lungs were on fire, and he felt disconnected from every muscle in his body. The uneven path proved difficult to run on and he tripped over a patch of overgrown weeds.

He picked himself up as another loud boom echoed close by, accompanied by the ground shaking.

The garden path led to a low-walled terrace overlooking a small clearing and a lake that stretched out north of the palace.

Below the terrace, Feng Xin was struggling to stand up as he extricated himself from a crater in the stone wall. Mu Qing hovered by his side to guard him, his saber raised towards Hua Cheng.

The vampire stood on the other side of the clearing, twirling a silver scimitar in his right hand. It pulsed with a malicious aura and emitted a slight red glow in the darkness of the storm.

Not even a hair looked out of place on him.

In contrast, both of his friends were panting heavily, but the blood rain disguised any injuries that they might have sustained. He could already tell how personally they were taking this fight—instead of fighting in their normal saber and bow combination, Feng Xin was using a sword to attack alongside Mu Qing.

Before anyone could make another move, Xie Lian cupped his hands to his face and shouted out, “Feng Xin, Mu Qing! Stop fighting him! That’s Crimson Rain Sought Flower!”

It seemed impossible, but the blood rain made it an undeniable fact.

His friends didn’t dare take their eyes off of Hua Cheng, but their postures visibly tensed. “Xie Lian?!” they both cried.

The fight was clearly in Hua Cheng’s favor, so he had no such qualms. His eye flicked up to Xie Lian. The frosty expression he wore was replaced with a crooked smile, his fangs gleaming against his lips. “I haven’t heard that title in some time,” he commented.

Xie Lian leaned over the terrace wall, blood wetting his hands as he gripped the stone. “It’s me,” he said. “Stop fighting—let’s talk this out.”

His last sentence took Mu Qing and Feng Xin by surprise. They looked up, their faces stricken with anger and shock.

“Do you even hear what you’re saying?” Feng Xin demanded. “I don’t care who he is—we’re going to kill this monster and bring you home!”

Xie Lian’s lips parted and his eyebrows furrowed as he tried to parse out a suitable response to that nonsense. They were fighting a vampire king, looking wholly unprepared and probably without backup, if he had to guess. Didn’t they see how futile it was?

During their argument, his friends turned their backs to their opponent.

Hua Cheng lunged.

Xie Lian didn’t have time to cry out in warning.

Mu Qing must have sensed his killing intent, because he turned just in time to throw his saber up in a defensive position.

Hua Cheng’s scimitar struck his sword from above. The saber shattered.

Silver shards flew into the air, cutting into droplets of blood rain. A piece sliced Mu Qing’s cheek as Hua Cheng’s scimitar continued its arc downward, the tip carving into Mu Qing’s chest and abdomen in one long strike.

“Mu Qing!” Xie Lian screamed.

Mu Qing collapsed against the ground.

A howl of rage erupted from deep in Feng Xin’s throat. He lunged forward with his sword, aiming to slash Hua Cheng’s neck.

In a move that was almost faster than the eye could track, Hua Cheng had raised his scimitar to bat away Feng Xin’s blow. Then he punched him in the face.

Feng Xin fell back into the crater in the wall as Mu Qing was just beginning to find the strength to rise to his knees.

Hua Cheng disappeared from his vision.

Wind stirred Xie Lian’s hair and clothes as a powerful presence suddenly stood behind him.

Xie Lian already knew who it was, so he didn’t flinch as an arm wrapped around his chest, drawing him back from the wall.

Hua Cheng pulled him close, his warmth bleeding into his back. The silver jewelry hanging across his chest dug into Xie Lian’s shoulders.

A thunk sounded overhead, and then the feeling of rain stopped. Xie Lian looked up to see that Hua Cheng had opened up a red umbrella over both of them.

Feng Xin and Mu Qing fell silent as they recoiled from the shock of their injuries.

The rain picked up, splattering against the stones of the terrace. The flowers of the garden had all turned red, their petals dripping crimson.

The blood rain soaked the shoulders of Xie Lian’s white shirt. “You went too far,” he whispered, his voice full of quiet anger.

“They challenged me,” Hua Cheng replied. “It was their stupidity that led to this.”

Xie Lian’s hands curled into fists by his side. “To strike while their backs were turned was dirty,” he protested. The words tasted like ash in his mouth—he knew how naïve it sounded, but that didn’t erase the sense of injustice he felt on behalf of his friends.

“I’ve never fought honorably in my life,” Hua Cheng laughed, his breath puffing against the shell of Xie Lian’s ear. “Besides, this lesson and their lives are both a mercy I won’t give twice.”

Xie Lian didn’t respond. His eyes were glued to his friends below. Feng Xin recovered first and then helped up Mu Qing, who had to lean his weight against him to stand.

Their expressions were desolate and filled with anger when they saw how Hua Cheng held him.

Hua Cheng seemed more than happy to emphasize Xie Lian’s position as a hostage. His hand dragged across his chest and then he curled it possessively around Xie Lian’s throat. The nail of his thumb caressed his jaw.

“After that utter shit show, why don’t we talk about what will actually save your friend?” Hua Cheng called down, his voice drowning in arrogance.

Feng Xin and Mu Qing seethed with so much anger that their faces turned red.

Xie Lian had a hard time meeting their gazes. Shame coiled deep inside of him—he’d let himself become a hostage, and he wasn’t sure if they could make out the bruises on his neck. He desperately wished the blood rain was enough to disguise it.

“I have good intelligence on the artifact collection of the Xie family,” Hua Cheng sneered. “You two fools will go to their manor and bring back the Jade Emperor’s Ring. Without it, I’m keeping him as my personal toy.”

…

Fuck.

Hua Cheng had known who he was this entire time.

He wasn’t just a blood bag—he was a bartering piece.

And for the Jade Emperor’s Ring—Xie Lian’s heart sunk into his stomach.

Out of all the treasures his family had collected over generations, the Jade Emperor’s Ring was the rarest and most powerful artifact they owned. It was heavily guarded, and no one outside of the family and their close associates were even supposed to know of its existence.

Hua Cheng could level cities with it.

His family would never hand it over.

From Feng Xin and Mu Qing’s expressions, he could tell that they were thinking the same thing. They were drenched from the blood rain, which only compounded how miserable they looked.

“You can’t demand that!” Feng Xin shouted.

“Why not?” Hua Cheng laughed. “You don’t think your friend’s worth that much?” He lowered his hand and pulled Xie Lian into a tighter embrace. His chin rested on the top of his head. “Should I consider this your official relinquishment of him?”

“No!” Mu Qing screamed. He panted from the pain of his wound and every breath looked like it took an enormous amount of effort. “But… we’ll need time to convince his family.”

“I don’t care how you get it, or how long it takes,” Hua Cheng replied. “I have all the time in the world. However, you might want to remember: the longer you take, the longer he’s left alone with me.”

Their face crumpled in disgust.

Xie Lian felt something black and putrid coil in his stomach.

Feng Xin snarled, “If you lay a hand on him-”

“Already have,” Hua Cheng interrupted. He removed his hand from Xie Lian’s chest and wiggled his fingers, clearly misinterpreting their words just to rile them up.

Xie Lian swallowed his despair. “Mu Qing, Feng Xin,” he called, trying to draw their attention.

They looked at him immediately, their eyebrows pinched together.

He didn’t want to think that this would be the last time they saw each other. Even if his parents wouldn’t give over the ring, there was a slim chance that Xie Lian could find a way to escape, given enough time.

And as much as he didn’t want to name any good traits about Hua Cheng, he had to admit that he at least seemed capable of reason, to have thought out this entire plan. If he could find out what his goals were, maybe Xie Lian could convince him to make another deal that would lead to his release.

“I’m okay,” Xie Lian said. “Go back home. Tell my parents that I understand, and not to worry about me.”

It was obvious that they didn’t want to comply, but what choice did any of them have in this?

He smiled, though it felt like it would break him. “Take care of yourselves.”

Feng Xin took a step forward. “Xie Lian-”

“Scram,” Hua Cheng interrupted. “It only takes one person to deliver a message. Get out of my sight before I decide which one of you won’t make the journey.”

Feng Xin’s face screwed up in anger, but before he could respond, Mu Qing jostled him. They had a silent conversation with just their eyes, and then they both turned to stumble toward the Xie manor.

Exhaustion overcame Xie Lian as he watched their silhouettes disappear into the tree line. Then numbness enveloped his emotions, and he welcomed it, preferring that over the grief that would consume him otherwise.

Hua Cheng released his tight embrace, but then he was prompting Xie Lian to turn. With silent, feather-light touches, he steered him towards the garden. They walked side-by-side back to the manor, Hua Cheng’s hand at the small of Xie Lian’s back as he continued to hold the umbrella over both of them.

The blood rain felt cool against his skin. He had to fight back a shiver as they entered the icy darkness of the palace, stepping into a small mud room.

Hua Cheng stopped to close the umbrella and lean it against the wall.

Xie Lian stood in the middle of the room, watching him.

Hua Cheng straightened and met his gaze. They faced each other in silence.

The vampire’s expression gave nothing away, but it was the first time he didn't look hollowed out by hunger.

“Why did you let me trade my freedom for my aunt’s?” He whispered. He felt as if he were missing some great piece of information-- he hadn't seen any bite marks on her. Yet looking at him now, it was clear that the vampire had been starving. Why didn't he feed on her?

Why didn't he just keep them both?

Hua Cheng cocked his head to the side. His eye scanned him up and down, clearly studying Xie Lian just as much as Xie Lian was studying him. “You surprised me,” he answered.

Xie Lian hadn’t expected that. Any other questions he had died on his tongue.

Hua Cheng had shielded him from the rain fast enough that he wasn’t entirely soaked, but his hair felt wet. He pressed a strand between his fingers and watched a droplet of blood separate and fall to the floor.

“If I’m a hostage, then you need me alive,” he murmured. “Leave me alone tonight. My body can’t sustain itself if you drink every night.”

One of Hua Cheng’s eyebrows arched. Then he replied, “Fine. But that means I’ll expect you to take care of yourself as well—don’t try to skip a meal again.”

Xie Lian wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. Of course Yin Yu had told Hua Cheng.

“After you clean up, Yin Yu will have dinner ready for you. Eat all of it,” Hua Cheng continued.

“Alright,” Xie Lian exhaled.

An awkward silence descended between them.

Hua Cheng didn’t seem like he was going to move, so Xie Lian turned away first and disappeared down the hallway without another word.

He’d never retrieved his pack from the baths after last night’s ambush, but as he entered the room, he found that it was still in the same place. He sighed in relief as he opened it, but his breath caught in his throat as he looked inside.

His wooden stake was gone.

Chapter Text

Dust scattered in the air, sparkling faintly in the glow of his night pearl. Xie Lian tossed the heavy canvas sheet to the side. It crumpled to the ground with a fwump, falling away from a glass cabinet filled with instruments.

He pressed his palm to the cool glass as his heart fluttered with excitement. The small room had bookshelves full of music sheets and a few instrument stands, but until now, he hadn't been sure he'd find anything he could play.

The guzheng inside the cabinet glimmered as he slid open the glass door. Light danced over the strings.

Reverently, Xie Lian heaved it from the case and laid it over his lap. The strings were real silk and soft against the pads of his fingers. A few had snapped from age- it seemed no one had touched the glass case or the instruments inside for decades.

It was no matter. Xie Lian could fix it. He liked fixing things, actually.

He lowered the guzheng onto the floor and continued to dissect the room. A few scattered boxes in one corner had supplies for the instrument's upkeep; he removed a blue sachet of silk and a set of ivory picks for playing.

Xie Lian dropped both in his trouser pockets and carried the guzheng outside. Its large size made it unwieldy to carry, but he was used to the shape and pressed it close to his side as he walked.

His parents had been surprised when he asked to learn the instrument. Normally, families like his taught their children to play one of the new western instruments, but he liked the sound of the guzheng better. There had been a street player on the corner he passed to go to the market, and unbeknownst to his family, he'd often stand there to listen to him play.

Despite arguing with him for a little while, they found him a tutor. He was spoiled as a child.

A light breeze tempered the building heat of the morning sun, carrying the sweet scent of flowers. The wind twisted down the hallway and strengthened as Xie Lian neared the courtyard.

He stopped in the shadows of the eaves. Sunlight cut across the stone tile, carving a line in front of feet.

Ghost fires danced in the midst of the falling plum leaves. Their laughter echoed in the darkened hallway, shrill against the stone.

Xie Lian stepped forward and all movement ceased.

"Wait-" he murmured, reaching his hand into the sunlight, but it was too late. The ghost fires scattered.

After Hua Cheng exposed who and what he really was yesterday, he expected this to happen. Expecting and watching it were two very different things.

His heart sunk in his chest as he watched the courtyard darken and fall silent. Wind tossed the leaves into the empty air.

He shouldn't be having this reaction. Xie Lian should have exorcised all of them his first day here, like he was trained to do. But he was lonely and scared and he'd never met such kind ghosts in his life.

The pond gurgled in the distance. There was one ghost that hadn't fled.

Shi Qingxuan's brother was still perched on the same rock, eyes staring empty and glassy ahead. The breeze toyed with a few strands of his hair.

Xie Lian had seen and exorcised more than his fair share of ghosts, but he'd never encountered something like this before. Vengeful ghosts would destroy anything on their path to revenge- it didn't matter if it was an innocent person or an unrelated dwelling. Nothing would stand in their way.

Yet, here was an exception.

Xie Lian stopped in front of the ghost, studying him. His energy output was even lower than the weakest of ghost fires- the fact that he could maintain a human shape in this state should be impossible.

He itched to get to the bottom of this mystery, to know. How long had he chased his murderer, before falling into this meditative state? Ghosts remained in this world with a single purpose- how could his soul remain intact after so obviously failing it?

Did Hua Cheng have something to do with this?

Xie Lian kneeled in the grass and set the guzheng before him. He wiped the dust from the wood and its pearl inlays. He replaced the broken strings and wiped them all clean, giving the instrument the love and care it had clearly been devoid of for so long.

It sparkled in the sunlight when he was finished. Proud of his handiwork, he set the ivory picks onto his fingertips, heart singing at the prospect of playing again. He'd gone a week without practice, and he'd originally thought he might never play again until he escaped this place. It was nice to be proven wrong.

The first note was woefully out of tune. Xie Lian adjusted the bridge and then plucked it again. It sounded moderately better. He repeated the process, again and again, even completing a few scales, until he was finally ready to play.

Xie Lian looked up at the ghost. Throughout all of his preparations, he never so much as twitched.

He strummed a cord as he watched him, debating. There were certain methods of using music to influence ghosts, though Xie Lian wasn't trained in these- his family focused on exorcism as being the main goal. He preferred to avoid that for Shi Qingxuan's sake.

Just music, then. Xie Lian would play and see if it elicited any sort of reaction, and then investigate from there.

The first notes rung out beautifully- Xie Lian was used to playing with steel strings, not silk. The reverberation was different, more full-bodied. He loved it, and his excitement grew as he played.

He wasn't even a quarter way through the song, however, when he was interrupted.

"What are you doing with that?!" A voice called out on the other side of the clearing.

Xie Lian paused to look over his shoulder. Shi Qingxuan was flying towards him at a speed he hadn't seen before- he was across the clearing as quick as he could blink.

"I was just playing," he replied, confused at the steel in the ghost fire's tone. It warred with the friendly personality he'd grown used to.

"Why?" Shi Qingxuan pressed. He hovered directly in front of his brother, flames brighter than ever.

Blocking him.

He thought Xie Lian was going to hurt him.

"It's not like that-"

"You're a monster hunter, aren't you?" Shi Qingxuan spat. "That's why you wanted to disperse him."

Guilt flooded his senses. "I-yes, before." Xie Lian stuttered. "But I wasn't trying to disperse him. I wanted to help. I thought-"

Shi Qingxuan laughed. It was a bright, cutting sound that pierced through his skin like a thorn. "You're much too late for that," he said. "We don't need your help. Go away."

The gentle sound of the gurgling pond was punctuated by the intense crackling of flame.

A memory rushed to the forefront of Xie Lian's thoughts, leaving a sting of remorse in his throat. The day of his graduation to a fully recognized hunter, the crowd had cheered for him. Their applause sounded like the crackling of Shi Qingxuan's flames. He'd never seen his father so happy as he had been that day.

Xie Lian burned with the shame and anger of it all. He became a monster hunter to save people, to continue his family's tradition and bring them honor, but all of his reasons were turning to ash in his mouth.

"Right," he muttered, picking up the guzheng and standing sharply. He wanted to say something, anything, just to have the final word. To feel like he wasn't walking away defeated.

Xie Lian couldn't think of anything.

He retreated from the courtyard, the sound of crackling flames echoing behind him.  
  

💀  
  

Xie Lian dropped to the gravel with a grunt. Tiny stones skittered around the impact of his body and his sword clattered somewhere on his right, fallen from his hand.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead. Sunlight dappled his skin and birdsong filtered through the small clearing; a robin had made a nest somewhere in the rafters of the gazebo he trained near. It was a peaceful afternoon.

Xie Lian took a deep breath. Training always cleared his mind, though he had exhausted himself with it the past few days. Playing the guzheng only kept him occupied for so long, and he'd read his aunt's notes so many times that he had memorized them.

There was little else to do, especially now that all of the ghost fires avoided him. Even Shi Qingxuan would have nothing to do with him anymore.

A cloud passed over the midday sun, puffy white against crystal blue. Anytime now... he thought.

Like clockwork, footsteps sounded over creaking wooden panels. Xie Lian sat up, his muscles screaming in protest.

Yin Yu stood at the wooden landing bordering the graveled courtyard, a tray in his hands. The darkness of the eaves concealed him from the sun. "I've brought lunch," he called.

He was so punctual with Xie Lian's meals that it was one of the best ways for him to measure time in the palace. Even if he never saw the sun again, he'd know when it had risen or fallen just from Yin Yu's schedule.

Xie Lian sheathed his sword and got up from the ground, dusting himself off. He walked toward the wooden landing and took the tray from Yin Yu's hands. "Thank you," he said. He sat in the tepid shadows of the eaves to eat.

Yin Yu retreated further down the hallway, but he remained in view. He sat against the wall and pulled out a sheaf of papers to read. He stayed to ensure Xie Lian ate everything- or almost everything- before taking the tray back to the kitchen.

As awkward as the silence could be, Xie Lian had grown to enjoy having someone sit with him during his meals over the past few days. It helped to stave the loneliness off, somewhat.

A slight breeze mussed the ends of Xie Lian's hair, throwing a few strands over his shoulder. They must have come undone from his ponytail during training. He placed his chopsticks in his mouth as he redid his hair, now putting only the top-half in a bun.

Before he began eating, he looked at Yin Yu again, trying to determine his mood. Now that he was further in shadow, the tension had dropped from his shoulders. "Yin Yu..." Xie Lian called, still testing the waters.

Yin Yu's face tilted up, his eyes glowing in the sockets of his white mask. 

"Has Hua Cheng left the palace?"

He shuffled the papers in his hands. "Why do you ask?"

Xie Lian squeezed a dumpling with his chopsticks. The doughy skin ripped, sending out a rush of broth. "It's been three days," he said. "And I haven't seen him once. He hasn't even come to feed."

"It's normal for vampires to go days or weeks between feedings," he responded in a flat voice. "You'll see him again when he's hungry."

"That's just it," Xie Lian murmured. "He said he'd been asleep for a long time, and it seemed like he'd woken up with a need to... gorge. I thought he'd be back by now. So, did he leave? Has he been feeding on people in the surrounding cities, all this time?"

Yin Yu sighed and lowered the papers.

Xie Lian remained silent as he watched the vampire down the hall. At every meal, he'd been pushing Yin Yu to tell him something; it looked like this time, his pestering had finally won.

"Hua Cheng is here. He's created his own methods for surviving the centuries without gorging on the masses."

Xie Lian winced- it was clear from his tone that he'd offended him. "Is sleeping one of those ways, then? Is that how he recovered from that fight with the White Vampire King three centuries ago, and why no one saw him after?"

"He sleeps intermittently," Yin Yu huffed. "But he's not in a coma. If you disturb him, he'll wake, and you'll regret it."

"...Is that what happened to you?"

The papers snapped with force as Yin Yu shook them into a neatened pile. "What's happened to me is none of your concern," he said sharply.

Xie Lian pressed his lips into a thin line and turned his attention back to the food in front of him. He regretted angering him; he was the only one in this castle he had left to talk to. But he needed to know more about Hua Cheng. His survival depended on it.

After finishing his lunch, Yin Yu took his tray back to the kitchens and Xie Lian went to wash off in the baths.

He'd been wary to return after his first visit, but the sound of the water and scented soaps helped ease his anxiety. There hadn't been any more interruptions, either.

He washed off the sweat from training and slunk into the large pool to soak. In the calm, warm waters, he felt his body finally relax. Tension drained from his shoulders as he leaned against the side, his head cushioned on his arms.

If only his mind could relax as much. He opened his eyes to check that his pack was still beside him, his thoughts whirling.

Hua Cheng had shown his hand when he stole the wooden stake from it. At first, Xie Lian had brushed it off as a prank, or a thinly veiled threat- why take the stake, yet leave his sword? But the stake was easily concealed. If Hua Cheng was worried about that, then he might be weaker than he appeared.

Xie Lian suspected that the battle from three hundred years ago had scarred him. He put on a good show of acting powerful, but he wouldn't need to use Xie Lian as a hostage and barter for the Jade Emperor's Ring if he was as strong as he used to be. If that were the case, he could attack the Xie Manor outright.

So, why didn't he?

He frowned and flicked the surface of the water. All the unknowns irritated him endlessly.

A silver glint reflected off the ripples.

Xie Lian looked up. A butterfly crested through the air, it's gossamer wings shining pale silver. His lips parted as he stared, awed by its graceful beauty. He held his finger out for it to land.

To his delight, the butterfly descended and perched on his hand.

"Where'd you come from?" he asked it. He smiled as it's proboscis stretched out and tickled his skin. 

The butterfly began walking and he turned his hand to keep it upright. "Did you follow the scent of flowers? I'm afraid you were tricked," he murmured to it. With his other hand, he reached up to pet it's back- it had white hair covering its thorax like a coat of fur.

Just as he reached for it, a flash of pain burned through his finger. He flinched back.

The butterfly took off, leaving him to stare wide-eyed at the blood spotting from a cut on his finger. Had... it's wing done that? Did he really see that correctly?

Xie Lian's eyebrows furrowed as the butterfly came back and landed on his injured finger. Then his gut twisted with horror as its proboscis stretched out again, this time lapping up the blood from his cut.

He shook it off and jumped out of the bath, the splash resounding against the tile. As he reached down for his pack, however, his horror only intensified.

His pack was gone.

It had just been there, right beside him. He'd seen it only a minute ago.

Xie Lian scanned the room, feeling a bit crazed. He pulled a towel around himself and he looked behind the folding screen.

Everything was where he'd left it. He raked his hand through his wet hair, clearing it from his face as his eyes darted back and forth. Then he spotted it: pink robes, neatly folded and left out on the cabinet for the bathing supplies.

He grabbed the shoulder of the robe and shook it out. Another piece of it fell to the floor, along with a silken scarf.

Xie Lian frowned as he looked over the cut of the robe, then picked up the fallen pieces. He unfolded the second piece and realized it was a skirt.

Someone had stolen his pack and replaced it with women's clothes.

And he was pretty sure he knew who.

Xie Lian thought of just wearing the towel, but surely that could only lead to more embarrassment, too. I'll go get my sword, he thought as he threw the clothes on haphazardly, hands shaking with anger, and I'll take off his head.

He slammed open the wooden door of the bath, only to be greeted by a blinding glow. Xie Lian quickly covered his eyes against it.

A low hum came from the hallway. "Hm... you did the ties wrong."

Laughter quickly followed. When his eyes adjusted to the light, he realized he was staring at a sea of ghost fires clustered in front of the door. Hua Cheng leaned against the wall opposite, his arms crossed in front of his chest. A sardonic grin curled his lips, baring his fangs.

Xie Lian had scarcely ever felt a rage that deep. His veins scorched with it. Unable to utter a single word, his jaw snapped shut and he grabbed both sides of the door.

He yanked with all of his strength- and with a loud bang, the iron hinges broke from the wood. He heaved the door sideways and looked at Hua Cheng.

The smile wiped from his face and his eye widened, the dark slit of his pupil contracting to a thin line. Shadows darkened his form as most of the ghost fires began to flee down the hallway.

Xie Lian took a step forward, his muscles tensing as he winded his arms back, and the vampire finally found the wit to move.

With a grunt of immense effort, Xie Lian chucked the door at his head.

It crashed into the wall and erupted into a mess of broken planks and splinters. When it all clattered to the floor, however, Hua Cheng was no where to be found.

The light dwindled as the last of the ghost fires and a few butterflies fled the hallway. Xie Lian was left heaving ragged breaths in the shadows as he chanted sutras in his mind to try and soothe his anger.

That fucking vampire.

Was this what he'd been planning the first time he'd interrupted his bath?

He marched back to his room, skirts clutched awkwardly in his hand. He found his bag neatly placed on the bed, his clothes wrapped inside. It did little to staunch the white-hot anger in his chest.

Xie Lian wasn't just going to take Hua Cheng's head off-

He'd light his corpse on fire, too.

  
💀

  
Xie Lian slept with his sword that night. The thought of having to endure the vampire's pranks until he died horrified him, and he decided he would rather die fighting him than wait any longer.

It all seemed hopeless to him in the dark. His family would never accept the vampire's deal, and Xie Lian couldn't see a way forward to reason with him, not when he only saw him as a plaything.

Besides. A vampire and a monster hunter: really, how could they ever see eye to eye on anything?

He was disappointed to wake alone that morning. He rolled over to re-read his aunt's journal until Yin Yu came with breakfast. His eyes were trained on Xie Lian's sword as he handed it over.

Xie Lian said nothing about it and took the tray offered to him. They didn't converse today- he was sure that Yin Yu was still angry over his words from yesterday, and he didn't want to add more fuel to the fire. When his meal was done, they went their separate ways: Yin Yu to the kitchens, and Xie Lian to the graveled courtyard to train.

And so passed the day.

And the next.

And the monotony grew so suffocating, Xie Lian was almost relieved when he finally heard news regarding Hua Cheng.

Almost.

"He wants me to what?" Xie Lian asked, even though he'd heard it fine.

"He wants you to join him for dinner," Yin Yu murmured, his voice flat and watery, like even he hated saying it.

Because it was a joke.

Xie slid the ivory picks off of his fingers and stepped away from the guzheng. "Now?"

Yin Yu nodded his head.

He sighed and strapped his sword to his back. "Very well."

Yin Yu paused, staring at him. He took a deep breath, then murmured, "I wouldn't-"

"I'm bringing it."

The vampire sighed. "This way," he said, and led Xie Lian to the dining hall.

It was a large room, but darkness caged the corners like the vignette of a photograph. The only light within came from an oil lamp on the long oak table in the middle. A place setting had been made up on the far side, the silver plate already laden with food. Unfortunately, it also happened to be on the right-hand side of Hua Cheng. He sat at the head of the table with his chin propped on his knuckles, waiting.

There was no use in stalling. Xie Lian thanked Yin Yu and then walked toward the long table, his sword a comforting weight on his back.

Hua Cheng's eye followed him, liquid red glow flickering against the lamp-light. The corner of his mouth ticked up when Xie Lian evenly matched his gaze.

The silence was punctuated only by the soft rasps of his footfalls on the marble tile, then the scrape of chair legs.

Xie Lian sat in the chair to the right of the prepared setting, creating a seat's worth of space between them. A cloth was placed beneath the plates and utensils- he used that to slide everything in front of his new seat. When he reached for the glass, however, Hua Cheng was faster.

His fingers fanned over the rim as he held it to the table, sharp nails clacking against the sides. "What do you think you're doing?" he asked. His tone was pleasant enough- Xie Lian seemed to have humored him more than angered him.

He knew well enough not to find comfort in that.

Folding his hands in his lap, Xie Lian sat with the straightest posture he'd ever composed in his life. "You said to come to dinner," he said coldly. "So I came to dinner."

They stared at each other. Then Hua Cheng exhaled a puff of laughter and leaned back in his chair, letting go of the glass. He made a dismissing motion with his hand.

Hovering at the threshold, Yin Yu bowed his head and left. He shut the door behind him.

A weight sank in Xie Lian's stomach. There really was no turning back now.

"You're not still angry over the other day, are you?" Hua Cheng purred. "It was only a light-hearted prank."

Xie Lian turned his attention back to the vampire. "Do you spend all your time thinking of ways to terrorize your guests?" he asked. He finished moving the glass in front of his plate and picked up the chopsticks next to it.

Hua Cheng barked out a laugh. "Terrorize?" he repeated.

Steam wafted up from the cooked fish on his plate, smelling like lemon and pepper, with pickled radishes beside it. Xie Lian pulled apart the soft meat and brought it to his lips.

"And you're hardly a guest," he added, a single nail tapping on the arm of his chair.

"Hostage, then." Xie Lian said.

Hua Cheng smiled, his lips stretching crooked over his fangs. It accentuated the gauntness of his cheeks. "You seem to forget: you're the one that offered."

Xie Lian narrowed his eyes as he glared at him, then turned back to his food. Arguing with him about it would lead nowhere.

More tapping- it seemed that Hua Cheng wasn't going to let him eat in peace. "I'm still a bit annoyed at the door," the vampire said. "This is my palace, after all. I'll get angry if you destroy things."

He finished chewing and swallowed, barely holding back an exasperated sigh. "Why?" he asked. "What's the difference between that and the rest of the palace? There's broken furniture and sculptures everywhere."

"I'm an old vampire, so it's only fitting I own old things," he said. "And weak things break with age."

Xie Lian picked through the fish, avoiding the bones. "I guess it would be hard to maintain, sequestered away like this. The closest village is miles away- at least a few days' ride for a normal person." He ate a sliver of meat. "Do you really make that journey every time you need to feed?"

"Maybe I send Yin Yu." Hua Cheng crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Why do you care?"

"Except, my aunt stayed in that village," Xie Lian said. "And she didn't record any kidnappings or strange deaths. Just a child's story about a sleeping legend."

Hua Cheng sighed. "So you have theories?" he asked. "If they're interesting, go ahead and ask a few questions. I might tell you the truth."

He savored the lemon on his tongue, thinking. Hua Cheng lied like it was a personally cultivated skill of his, but it was possible the vampire could slip and divulge a detail he thought nothing of.

"Why did you sleep for so long?" he asked.

"You humans bore me."

"Did you lose to the White Vampire King?"

His eye twitched. "I'm still here, obviously, in my own territory. I won."

"But you didn't kill him. He's grown stronger and become a nuisance. Yet, no one's heard of you for centuries." Xie Lian bit into a slice of pickled radish, the flesh snapping under his teeth. "You call that winning?"

Hua Cheng's lip curled. "Funny, I don't remember you being there," he murmured, tone low and sharp. "It's truly a sign of ignorance to be so sure of your own perspective."

Xie Lian set his chopsticks down. "And what massive pride it must take to ignore your own cowardice. How long have you hid here, rotting away?"

Hua Cheng's jaw tensed. It was the only warning before he kicked the table to the side and out from between them, the legs scraping over the marble.

Xie Lian stood and drew his sword. He leveled the point in front of Hua Cheng's face, just in time to stop the vampire from advancing closer.

"Losing your temper already?" he asked, his head cocking to the side as he analyzed Hua Cheng. He kept his expression carefully blank again, though he slightly angled his good eye away from the sword. Xie Lian tightened his grip on it. "What's so wrong about calling yourself what you are?"

He didn't answer, but his eye glinted with malice.

Xie Lian didn't feel that his hatred was entirely directed at him. He frowned as he stared at his expression. "No," he muttered. "Not hiding here. A vampire of your reputation doesn't do that. You'd fight until you won or were destroyed."

"You think so?" he said. The smile that stretched across his face was no longer humorous, but a sharp, cold thing that didn't reach his eye. "Is that what you intend to do?"

He ignored him. "You said you won. Let's say you weren't lying- that meant the White Vampire King fled, and you didn't follow, nor did you leave this place, after three hundred years."

A beat of silence followed, and then Xie Lian's eyes widened.

"You're stuck here."

A flash of silver exploded from the wall and slammed into his sword, sending a shockwave through his arm. Xie Lian jumped back.

Hua Cheng grabbed his cursed scimitar from the air and twirled it in his hand. "So you think you've figured everything out?"

"Wouldn't you have corrected me if I was wrong?"

He scoffed. "I only said I might tell you the truth."

"And yet, you raced to correct me when I said the White Vampire King won in your fight." Xie Lian said. He adjusted his grip on his sword. "Is something about my perspective ignorant? Please, educate me."

Hua Cheng's expression darkened. "You're quite an annoying little hunter."

He stepped to the side, tensed for a fight. Hua Cheng followed suit, his eye analyzing his form as they sized each other up. Xie Lian continued, "That's why you took a hostage. You need the Jade Emperor's Ring to break whatever's holding you here, but you can't leave to go and get it." 

Hua Cheng lunged. He laughed as Xie Lian deflected and ducked to the side, retreating a fair distance back. He faced him, scimitar raised high. "Not bad. Did your aunt write all that out for you in her notes?"

"You've been in my pack enough times by now, I'm sure you've looked. You know the answer to that." Xie Lian dodged his next attack, the wind from his scimitar blowing past his cheek. He held his sword low and swung up, aiming a strike beneath his armpit on the side of his bad eye.

Hua Cheng stepped just out of range, then kicked out at his knee. "Maybe," he huffed, his eyebrows furrowing as Xie Lian caught his foot with his free hand and twisted.

Xie Lian aimed his sword to pierce his stomach while he was off-balance, but Hua Cheng deflected the blow and pulled his foot free. "You're wrong on one account, however," he said, then charged forward, his scimitar aimed at Xie Lian's heart.

Xie Lian absorbed the blow with his sword, the metal edges grating down with a shower of sparks before they interlocked at the pommels.

He grabbed Hua Cheng's wrist and tried to carry his momentum to the side in a disarming move, but the vampire was too strong. With brute force, he held his form true and backed Xie Lian into the table, then shoved him down against it.

"Where- am I wrong?" He grunted, back hitting the wood with a dull thud.

"You've gotten this far. Figure it out," Hua Cheng sneered above him.

The tip of his scimitar was getting dangerously close to Xie Lian's face.

He ducked his head to the side and kicked his knee up, straight into Hua Cheng's crotch.

His strength didn't relent, but the shock gave Xie Lian an opening. He tilted his sword to the side and Hua Cheng's scimitar bit into the table, burying the pointed edge a hair's width from Xie Lian's ear.

With his own sword freed, he punched upward with the pommel, striking Hua Cheng in the face.

In the moment his weight lifted, Xie Lian scurried fully onto the table, intending to fall to the other side.

He wasn't fast enough.

Hua Cheng's hand grabbed Xie Lian's ankle and yanked him right back in place. He'd learned from his earlier mistake and stood in between his legs, now, as he pinned him with one hand on his shoulder, scimitar forgotten and still buried in the table.

Xie Lian swung his sword at his neck, but Hua Cheng caught his wrist with his other hand and pinned that to the table, too. His grip tightened until Xie Lian groaned, pain flooding his system. His thoughts screamed out, It's gonna break!

"Is this your best?" Hua Cheng laughed above him, blood pooling over his teeth from his split lip.

Xie Lian awkwardly kicked at his legs, but the vampire was unmoved. His helplessness only made the fear set in faster. It chilled his veins as he watched the blood roll from Hua Cheng's mouth and down his chin.

He flinched as the first drops landed on his face. His head dug into the wood as he physically recoiled. "Just get this over with and kill me. My family will never accept your deal and you know it. You'll rot here forever," he spat at him.

A red grin spread across Hua Cheng's face, horrifying to witness. "You think death is the worst thing waiting for you here?" he murmured, leaning closer. "Little hunter, do you know how vampires are created?"

His heart froze in his chest. Xie Lian stared up at his face, wide-eyed, as dread slowly filled him.

"It's simple," he laughed. "I drink you to the point of death, and then I feed you some of my own blood. You die- agonizingly, of course- and then you're something entirely different. Immune to aging. Immune to disease. You'd live here as a toy until I grow bored. But then I think I'd lock you in the dungeon until my interest piqued again."

Hua Cheng waited, eagerly gauging his reaction. His first instinct was to hide it- but Xie Lian was terrified. He'd never considered the possibility that it wasn't death awaiting him, but an eternity of this. Overcome by panic, his chest tightened and he closed his eyes, shuddering in the vampire's grip.

"That's it?" he snapped. "You're giving up?"

"What else do you want?" Xie Lian murmured. If Hua Cheng was truly stuck here, he had to be going crazy. Xie Lian was already bored out of his mind just by being here for a week.

If his family wouldn't accept the vampire's deal- which Hua Cheng had to know by now, after a week of no response- then he must be keeping him to assuage his boredom.

He would rather die. If Hua Cheng turned him, then he would kill himself to spare his family the indignity.

The last thing he would do was listen to him any longer.

"Fight!" he snarled. He released Xie Lian and stepped back, ripping his scimitar out of the table to ready himself again. "Try to kill me. Try to escape. Do something. Make it worth my while."

Xie Lian rose to his elbows and stared at him numbly. The vampire looked serious, with his fangs bared and scimitar raised, but his expression seemed more desperate than angry.

He swallowed, steeling himself. "No," he said.

Hua Cheng stared, his eyebrows furrowing the longer Xie Lian refused to move. "Do you think I won't torture you?" he asked, bewildered laughter catching on the edge of his voice. He held his sword out further, the steel point now floating mere inches from Xie Lian's face.

"You could," he murmured. "I've seen enough hunters killed to know a kind death doesn't await me. And if what you've said is true, and you won't even allow me that-" Xie Lian threw his sword at Hua Cheng's feet. "So be it."

His nose wrinkled, yet the shock was still prominent on his face. "You're throwing away your last chance at peace," he growled.

The longer he stalled, the more Xie Lian's confidence grew: he wouldn't carry through with his threats. He was bluffing.

Xie Lian glanced at the sword in his face, and then he looked back at Hua Cheng. "I won't entertain you like this," he said. "Kill me, turn me, do what you will. But I'm done fighting with you."

Hua Cheng lowered his sword.

Xie Lian couldn't discern the look on his face. The lines on his forehead disappeared as his eyebrows relaxed, yet his eye narrowed, studying Xie Lian's gaze.

He took a step forward, testing it- Hua Cheng didn't move.

Xie Lian passed him silently and fled the dining room. He walked through shadow, unknowing where he was going.

Eventually he stumbled out into the garden, his hands still shaking. It was like his body couldn't understand that the fight was over, that Xie Lian had somehow talked his way out of death or worse- undying.

Images from the fight washed over him in brief flashes of picture, never playing out fully, just still lifes of panic and anger.

He paused in the middle of a gravel path and brought his hand to his neck. His pulse thrummed beneath his fingers and his breath scratched through his throat. The sensations calmed him. He was human.

He was alive.

Xie Lian took another deep breath, inhaling the night air. The scent of roses and sweet aster mixed with the richness of the soil. Crickets chirped in the bushes. He opened his eyes again and took in the stars- so far removed from the cities like this, the milky way streaked across the navy blue sky, gleaming silver.

The moon hung low over the trees, sharpened to a crescent. There wasn't much light to see by.

Xie Lian ambled through unkempt paths, his feet often snagged by roots and vines. He wasn't sure where he was going, or why he kept walking, but the deep sense of dread in his chest abated the longer he explored.

In a meandering circuit, he eventually came to the large stone wall that encircled the entire palace grounds. He stared at the great darkness of its silhouette for a moment, then found a low bench to sit at.

Escaping, dying, killing- it all spun through his head like a never ending wheel. He was tired of thinking about it, tired of everything. Collapsing inward, he rested his head on his knees for a moment. He stared at the ground, willing himself to stop feeling so pitiful.

A white rose had fallen from it's bush and laid under the bench, just near his heel. Xie Lian picked it up and leaned back, his thumb caressing one of the soft petals.

He stared at it for a moment, and then a soft light fluttered into his field of view.

Frozen, Xie Lian watched a silver butterfly glide towards the rose in his hand. It landed on the delicate inner petals and gave a serene beat of its wings.

He hadn't forgotten what had happened in the baths, but the longer he looked at it, the cuter it seemed to him.

"Are you... the one from the other day?" he asked it, voice hushed in a conspiratorial whisper.

It's wings twitched.

"I'll take that as a yes." He sighed and relaxed his shoulders, lowering the rose to his lap. "I'm sorry I tried to pet you," he said. "You just look so soft. But I won't try again- so don't cut me again, or do that, okay?"

He felt a little silly after talking- it was just a butterfly, after all. It couldn't understand him. 

With a flutter of its wings, the butterfly took off and rose into the sky, swaying over a passing breeze.

Xie Lian watched it disappear into the night, looking like a traveling star.

A stick popped further down the path, followed by the soft tinkling of silver. He had another visitor.

Hua Cheng ambled through the garden, his hands behind his back. He looked put together after their fight- nothing was askew with his clothes and his lip was healed.

Several other silver butterflies accompanied him, lighting the surrounding bushes like wandering lanterns. He glanced at Xie Lian as he walked, but didn't incessantly stare him down as usual. Instead, his eye drifted over the garden as if he really were just out for a stroll.

Xie Lian tensed and reached his hand back for his sword. A jolt buzzed underneath his skin as his palm met empty air- he'd left it in the dining room.

Hua Cheng stopped a few paces away and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "So it was just all talk, earlier?" he said, raising his eyebrow.

Xie Lian lowered his arm.

The vampire's lips thinned as he looked away from him, then studied the dirt. "I don't care. I didn't come to keep fighting."

With a blink, Xie Lian looked from him to the wall, then back again. "You thought I'd run?" he murmured.

Hua Cheng reached out and watched a butterfly twirl a slow circle around his arm. "It doesn't seem that way, now," he answered. He wiggled his fingers and it beat its wings around his hand, looking strangely like they were playing.

Xie Lian shot him a grim look. "I know better than to be so obvious."

A puff of air escaped his lips, similar to the silent way he laughed, but Hua Cheng's expression remained devoid of any emotion. "I believe you," he said.

"Then why did you follow me? Why did you show yourself?" He spat out.

Hua Cheng shooed the butterfly away and finally turned his gaze back to him. "I know I deserve your anger," he said bitterly. "I've acted like the monster you think of me, and there is no excuse. I know." He sighed.

Xie Lian quickly noticed an apology was not attached anywhere in those few sentences.

"But you've discounted your family far too soon. No, I won't kill you, and I won't turn you. Consider yourself safe in that regard."

He stared at him, disbelieving. "You still believe they'll take up your offer?"

Hua Cheng leveled him with a flat glare. "Do you think so little of the love your family has for you?"

His teeth clicked as he shut his mouth, surprised. "Their duty- as hunters-"

"Pales in comparison to the loss of their only son," he said, nose crinkling in disgust. "Don't take this as a sign that I care about your miserable life, but it's pathetic to watch this. You don't know how lucky you are to have a family devoted to you."

Taken aback, Xie Lian lowered his gaze to his feet.

Hua Cheng shifted, his jewelry clinking together. "That aside, you are the only human around for miles. You said it yourself."

He frowned and looked back at the vampire, who stoically gave nothing away. "You can't have just waited for other humans to wander here, in all that time," he wondered out loud.

Hua Cheng shrugged and said nothing.

With a great sigh, Xie Lian reluctantly slid over on the bench, making room for two. He still held the rose in his lap and stroked the petals, ignoring Hua Cheng when he sat beside him.

Xie Lian pressed one of the petals between his fingers. "You lied," he blurted out. "The first night. You said it wouldn't hurt."

In his periphery, he could see Hua Cheng tangle his fingers together over his lap, fidgeting. "It doesn't have to," he murmured. "I... did lie. I wanted to scare you."

"And you thought it was funny," he muttered.

Hua Cheng shifted his weight on the bench. "Yes," he admitted. Then, softly, tone devoid of the usual mocking lilt he used, he said, "I'll be gentler."

His first instinct was to assume it was another lie- Hua Cheng had done nothing to earn his trust in the past week, preferring to get under skin with pranks and scare-tactics.

But in talking, they'd plainly spelled it out: Hua Cheng needed him, one way or another. His change in tune must reflect that.

Xie Lian swallowed and nodded. Fine. A little gentler would be fine, he thought. He could endure it, then. He brushed his hair away from his neck on the side Hua Cheng sat.

Long fingers settled over his wrist, stopping him. "Like this," Hua Cheng said, guiding his arm out. He turned his palm towards the sky and pulled back his sleeve.

Red lines blossomed over his skin- it was the wrist Hua Cheng had held so hard he'd thought it'd break. By morning, the bruises would likely be an ugly shade of blue and purple.

He paused, considering them. Then Hua Cheng ran his thumb over the inner part of Xie Lian's wrist, and the bruises slowly faded, healed by magic. Xie Lian recognized the spell as one Mu Qing specialized in- he hadn't realized the vampire could do it, too.

Hua Cheng brought his wrist closer to his mouth. He glanced at him as his lips parted, his fangs glistening in the moonlight. He hesitated, then, that unreadable expression crossing over his face again.

Xie Lian startled and then looked away, anywhere that wasn't Hua Cheng.

The touch of his lips was warm against the night air. When his fangs sunk into his skin, it was only a pinprick of icy pain that soon dissolved to nothing.

Really, to have made such torture out of this, Xie Lian thought, frowning. He suddenly understood why Mu Qing liked to roll his eyes.

As Hua Cheng drank, he grew curious again and snuck a small look to the side. The vampire's eye had closed and his expression transformed into one of bliss. He shifted one hand to hold Xie Lian's, cupping the back of his knuckles with a firm grip.

Cheeks warming, Xie Lian's gaze fell back onto the dirt in front of them.

His head started to feel cottony, but Hua Cheng released him before it grew too intense. Xie Lian drew his arm back and covered the bite with his other hand, a warm ache pulsing in the wound.

Crickets chirping filled the silence between them.

"I should take you back," Hua Cheng murmured. He stood and turned to Xie Lian, waiting for him to get off the bench.

Xie Lian blinked up at him. "I want dinner," he said.

Hua Cheng's eyebrows furrowed. "What?"

"I'm hungry. I barely got to eat anything."

He rubbed his forehead and stared down at him with an exasperated look. "Alright," he sighed.

Xie Lian swayed as he stood. Hua Cheng quickly grabbed his arms before he could right himself, and Xie Lian pushed him away. "I can walk," he grumbled.

Hua Cheng's lips pulled back in a thin frown, but he held his palms up in a defeated gesture. "Fine," he said, then waited for Xie Lian to start walking.

He took a deep breath as he centered himself, then started towards the kitchen. Hua Cheng walked closely beside him. Though they weren't touching, Xie Lian knew he held his hand behind him, ready to catch him if he stumbled.

Silver butterflies flew low to the ground, illuminating the path. It made leaving a much easier walk than he had wandering through before.

They arrived at the kitchen, and Xie Lian hadn't stumbled once. Six days of exorcise and recovery from Hua Cheng's first few days of torture had done him good, and he had a feeling that the vampire drank sparingly this time.

So when Hua Cheng hovered by the door instead of leaving, even after Xie Lian had lit the oil lamps and started a fire for the stove, it felt odd. He stared at him.

"What?" Hua Cheng snapped.

"That's what I'm wondering," he said, irritated by his sharp tone. He tossed a few more sticks into the clay cubby and then stood. "Do you think I need supervision for this?"

Hua Cheng's lip pulled back in a sneer. "Whatever," he muttered. "Clean up your mess when you're done," he said, then turned and left. He slammed the door closed on his way out.

Xie Lian stared at it and sighed.

  
💀

  
Cooking the night before gave him confidence. Xie Lian woke in the morning with a minor headache but a general urge to be productive, so he threw on a clean uniform and left his room before Yin Yu came with breakfast.

Why should it matter if he cooked his own meals? It felt good to decide what to make, and the routine of it helped clear his mind. He'd have to find Yin Yu today and ask him to leave it to him from now on.

The scent of cooking oil filled the hall as he neared the kitchen, and there was the sound of movement inside. Had he beat him there...?

He opened the door, but it wasn't Yin Yu standing in front of the stove. A teenager in ancient red robes looked over at the noise, his long ponytail swaying to the side. His dark eyes widened with surprise, and then he curiously looked Xie Lian over.

"Hi," he said. A crooked smile lifted his lips.

Chapter Text

The teenager turned, his face half-lit by the fire in the stove. His surprise melted into a friendly expression as he studied Xie Lian with interest. "I don't think we've met yet," he said, voice smooth and ringing in the small room. "I'm San Lang."

Xie Lian stood frozen in the doorway, taking in the stranger. He looked young; despite the sharp angles of his face, there was a certain roundness to his cheeks that hinted he hadn't fully grown out of his teenage years- he must be somewhere around eighteen. His red robes were an ancient design, but well-kept, and certainly not laborers' clothing. The stitching held a shine to it.

With a jolt, he realized he'd been silently staring at him. Xie Lian brought his fist over his mouth and coughed. "Sorry," he said. "I didn't know anyone else was in the palace. I'm Xie Lian."

San Lang smiled, the corners of his eyes curling up. "It's such a big place, it's hard to run into anyone here. But I guess we both got hungry at the same time?"

He nodded. "I can come back later, if that's better."

"There's no need," he laughed. "It's actually quite lucky. I made a little too much. We can split this, if you want."

Curious, Xie Lian strayed from the door, lured in by the smell of chili oil and garlic. "If it's not a burden... what did you make?"

"Eggs with some tomatoes," he said, and waved at him to come look.

Xie Lian stepped closer until a few feet remained between them, and then he peeked in the pan. It didn't look like extra at all- it really seemed like a portion for one person. But maybe San Lang was used to eating less. He did look a little skinny.

He'd rolled up his sleeves to cook. Xie Lian glanced at his forearms and the sinewy muscle there. Skinny, but hard working, he thought. He leaned back on the counter next to the stove and crossed his arms over his chest, still studying San Lang.

The firelight glinted off his black hair, pulled back in a slim ponytail that ended at his shoulders. He picked up a ladle beside the counter and stirred the pan, careful not to burn the eggs as they solidified.

"How'd you get the eggs?" Xie Lian asked. "Are there chickens around here?"

San Lang shook his head. He glanced at Xie Lian, but when their eyes met, he looked back at the pan. "Just a wild bird," he said.

"Oh," he exhaled. Silence followed, broken only by the metal scrape of the ladle.

"...Have you been here for long, San Lang?" He ventured asking.

San Lang hummed. "A few months," he said.

"Were you captured?"

"I ran away from home," he said, a mischievous smile stretching across his face. He looked furtively at Xie Lian like he was telling him a secret. "I was looking for adventure, but ah, wouldn't you know it," he sighed dramatically, his eyes closing and head falling back like he was beseeching the heavens. "I fell upon a vampire palace. And so my woe begins."

His insides twisted, a dark feeling curling through his gut. It was obvious to him that San Lang was trying to make a joke, but he found little humor in it. "Your woe?" he repeated, eyebrows ticking up. Though he tried to temper his emotions, there was a darkness to his tone.

San Lang cracked open his left eye, and then his posture quickly relaxed and he gave up his act. "Mn, my woe," he said, stiff smile falling from his face. "I've had no one to be miserable with."

Xie Lian looked down and messed with the sleeve of his tangzhuang. "Wouldn't you want your goal to not be miserable? Besides, what if you find me boring?"

San Lang stirred the pan with quick motions, the susurrus of scraping metal filling the small kitchen. "Well, since misery loves company, then even being around another miserable person is better than being alone. But I don't think gege will be boring. We could have fun."

Xie Lian fell silent, his mind alight with the casual way San Lang said gege.

San Lang put aside the ladle and dug around the cabinet overhead for two porcelain bowls. "Its done. Let's eat and not be miserable, then." He held a bowl out to Xie Lian.

He paused, considering it. Briefly, he thought of simply walking away; no matter how nice he might seem, making a friend in this palace would be a risk. There was no way of truly knowing what he wanted.

But his voice rang out in his mind: Let's eat and not be miserable.

Xie Lian was tired of being miserable. He took the bowl.

As he held it closer to the pan, San Lang ladled out a large spoonful for him. However, it quickly became obvious that he was giving him a much bigger portion than he was saving for himself.

"San Lang," he murmured. "Really, this is..."

"What, gege?" he said. "I don't need much."

Xie Lian shot him a withering look, but he couldn't find anything else to say.

They sat at a table on the other side of the kitchen. Scratches and stains marred the surface of the old wood, marking it as well-used. The fire in the stove crackled as it slowly died out, casting the flickering shadows of their bodies on the wall.

Xie Lian took a set of chopsticks from San Lang and then picked up a cube of tomato and egg, steam wafting from it in the low light. He took his time to blow on it.

Across from him, San Lang shoveled a large bite into his mouth. Then his face screwed up in pain and he sucked air in through his lips.

A sharp laugh bubbled from Xie Lian's chest, surprising him. He clapped his hand over his mouth, eyes wide, and then said, "You need to let it cool down."

San Lang swallowed loudly, his nose crinkled in a grimace. "I forgot," he said sullenly. In the firelight, his black irises held a dull, crimson shine.

Xie Lian sighed, and then he brought his chopsticks to his lips. He immediately savored his first bite. The chili oil coated his tongue with zinging heat, complementing the egg and tomato. It was a little overpowering, but it was completely different from the way Yin Yu cooked- he never added this much spice. Xie Lian liked it.

"This is good," he mumbled out, then swallowed. He quickly took another bite.

San Lang perked up. "You think so?"

"Mn," Xie Lian hummed. "I like the spice."

A crooked smile stretched across San Lang's face. It looked genuine, Xie Lian realized, as he studied the tilt of it. One side seemed to just naturally curl up further than the other- perhaps he was born that way, or had been in too many fights. Even though his nose was straight, a broken nose could heal correctly if it was set fast enough.

"I'm glad gege likes it," he said.

Xie Lian dropped his gaze back down.

It didn't take long for a familiar weight to squeeze his stomach. Xie Lian sighed and placed his chopsticks over the rim of the bowl, frowning at how much food was left.

San Lang looked up at the soft tap of porcelain. "Finished already? Are you sure the spice wasn't too much?"

"It really is good, San Lang. I just..."

"It's no insult if you don't like it, gege. I could make you something else," he said, all smiles, and Xie Lian crumbled.

"No- there's no need. I-" he scratched his jaw and looked at the weathered table. "One of the vampires drank from me last night, and I always feel a bit nauseous the next day. I just need to eat it slowly."

Xie Lian swallowed, shame settling over him. It was one thing for it to simply happen to him, yet it was different to speak it aloud.

The smile fell from San Lang's face. "If it makes you feel sick, then don't eat it."

Xie Lian didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "He said he wants me to eat everything- I think if I skip meals, he'll take it that I'm trying to starve myself."

He shrugged his shoulders and said, "If you don't want to eat, then you shouldn't." Reaching across the table, San Lang took his bowl, his thumb holding the chopsticks to the rim. "It's not like the kitchen moves places. When you get hungry later, you can come back and eat something, and then he can't say you're starving yourself."

A bit dismayed, Xie Lian watched as he took the bowl and emptied the contents into a wicker basket with the rest of the trash. "You worked hard and shared it... and it was good."

San Lang was so pale, the slight red tinge to his cheeks was unmistakable. "It's nothing," he said, putting the bowls off to the side to clean later. "I can always make it again."

Xie Lian let the matter drop. The food was already in the trash, anyway. "Did you get enough, San Lang? It looked like you didn't eat much."

"Gege worries too much," he laughed. "I ate enough."

He nodded, then rested his jaw on his hand as he traced one of the table's scratches with his fingernail. All that was left to do was to find something to waste the day doing, and Xie Lian felt discouraged already.

"San Lang... you said you've been here for a few months. How do you make the time go by?"

He shrugged. "I do whatever I feel like doing."

Xie Lian dropped his head. "Is it that easy?" he groaned, feeling a little jealous.

"Why don't I show you?" he said.

Xie Lian chanced looking up. San Lang had such an easy smile on his face, it didn't seem like he had any stake in Xie Lian's answer- if anything, he found it a little disarming. "How?" he asked.

"Well, I was thinking of painting today. Maybe gege wants to join me?"

He mulled it over for a moment. He really hadn't tried it too much before- his family had him focus on calligraphy. It couldn't be too different, could it?

"I'll join," he agreed.

San Lang's smile grew. "Alright. Have you seen the studio yet?"

"Studio?" he asked as he stood. He pushed in his chair. "I didn't know there was one."

"Mn. It's in the west wing. You can follow me," he said, and held the kitchen door open for him.

They used his night pearl to light a path through the long stretch of hallways. After ascending a few stairs, they arrived at a large room that smelled like an odd mix of parchment, chemicals, and flowers. San Lang struck a match and lit a few sconces on the wall, slowly brightening the space.

There were large stacks of paper everywhere and art tools covered every available surface. A few canvases were leaned against the left wall, their faces hidden. The wall itself was covered by a large, heavy curtain. As Xie Lian looked closer, he recognized the skeleton of a large grid- there must be a massive window beneath the curtain, but the edges had been set in place with nailed planks.

It was a pity- he thought the cluttered room would breathe easier with a little sunlight.

The center of the room had been cleared for a still life setting; an intricately painted vase had been set on a small, wooden box, next to a whorl of fabric and dried flowers.

Xie Lian walked over dried paint stains as he drew closer to the easel set in front of it. A painting of the still life had been left there to dry, and though it was unfinished, he lips parted in open shock at the level of detail and realism it captured. "San Lang, you painted this?" he asked, turning around. "It's a masterpiece."

He twirled the end of his ponytail, bringing it to rest over his shoulder. "It's nothing, gege. Just a study."

"Just a study?" he gaped at him. "San Lang, it's beautiful. I hope you don't expect much from me."

San Lang laughed. "It's only what I do to pass the time. There's no expectations." He went to a nearby cabinet and started assembling a few brushes and ceramic palates.

Xie Lian meandered the room, surveying the completed works that were left in misshapen piles. There was a decent focus on still lifes, especially flowers, but he noticed scenes of a city scattered throughout. From the architecture, it seemed to be the same one in all the paintings. There were figures as well, but they were always dark silhouettes without any details or faces to them.

What he mostly noticed was that all of the paintings could have been done by a master's hand.

"Here, gege," San Lang called. He was placing a set of paints on a table at the far edge of the room, just on the other side of the still life setting.

Xie Lian walked closer and pulled a stool over to sit at. "You specialize in water color?" he asked, looking at the assorted little cubes of pigments on the table.

"It's what I've focused on recently," he said, and placed a few rough pieces of parchment in front of Xie Lian. Then he pointed to two small dishes of water by the paints. "One's for cleaning the brush, the other's for wetting the paints, so you don't mix pigments."

"Thanks," he said, and looked thoughtfully at the arrangement as San Lang walked back to the cabinet. His hand hovered over the brushes- there were so many different shapes and sizes, he had no idea which to use first.

The candlelight flicked shadows across the paper. Xie Lian snuck a look at San Lang. He had his back turned to him as he assembled the paints and brushes he'd need for his own project.

Silently, he stood and approached the curtained wall. The planks boarding it shut were old and weathered, with rust coloring the nails.

Fitting his fingers beneath a long plank that nailed the whole right side, Xie Lian braced his foot on the grid beneath the curtain and yanked. A quick succession of pops echoed in the room as the wood splintered and the nails came loose from the wall.

"Gege?" San Lang called. The friendly lilt to his voice was strained, a sharpness lying beneath it.

Xie Lian looked over his shoulder and smiled. "I just wanted a little more light to see by," he explained. He dropped the plank to the floor with a loud clatter, dust rising where it fell.

San Lang's hands clenched a few brushes with a white-knuckled grip. "I can light a few more candles," he offered, expression carefully shuttered.

"Hm," he hummed as if he were considering it. "I think sunlight would be better."

He threw open the curtain.

Scant light rushed into the room; dark clouds were drawn over the sky as if it were about to rain. Xie Lian held the curtain as he stared at them, rolling across the land like a thick veil. However, his gaze soon drifted down, and he paused. The surrounding forest was a vibrant, dark green that shone through the haze of shadows. Pinpricks of color dotted the garden beneath, and its intricate paths were revealed to him from his high vantage point. He noticed a water fountain that he had never seen before.

"Oh," he exhaled. "I keep forgetting how beautiful this place can be."

San Lang's boots scraped the floor, then there was a creak as he sat down on a stool. Xie Lian turned, and their eyes met over the easel. They studied each other for a few moments, and then San Lang looked down at the painting in front of him. "Paint it, then," was all he said, his tone indecipherable.

He left the curtain as it was, opened just enough for him to see out from his seat at the table.

Xie Lian pulled a piece of paper in front of him and started painting the sky with dark strokes. He quickly discovered how difficult it was to keep the paint from muddying on the canvas, the water blurring together everything that touched.

He noticed San Lang would often stop and fan his artwork to dry it, so Xie Lian began to take frequent breaks, too, thoroughly cleaning his brushes and even starting another painting.

Xie Lian broke the silence first to ask a technical question, and San Lang answered with a smile, back to his friendly tone. After that, they shared an easy quiet, broken every so often when Xie Lian had another question or when San Lang would ask about his progress. Once, he called Xie Lian over to demonstrate how to build depth to the colors, his slim fingers holding the brush with an elegance that spoke of years of skill.

Xie Lian couldn't recreate his methods even half as well, but at least by his third painting, he'd improved.

"Gege learns fast," San Lang said as he inspected it. He hung it on a line to dry with the others.

"You're a good teacher," he said, and meant it. "Have you finished the still life?"

San Lang blinked at him, then turned his eyes towards Xie Lian's pieces, all drying on the line. "I didn't work on the still life."

"Oh?"

"Someone changed the lighting," he said, then side-eyed him.

Xie Lian felt a twinge of heat rush to his face. "Oh-" he exhaled, an awkward smile plastering his face. "Sorry, San Lang. I wasn't thinking."

"It's fine, gege," he said, followed by a puff of laughter. "I'll finish it some other time."

Seeing that it truly didn't bother him, a small smile curved Xie Lian's lips. "What did you work on, then?"

San Lang paused. "Well-" he stopped, then ran his fingers through his ponytail. Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked toward the easel.

Xie Lian watched him, curious, as he took the paper from the easel's clip and came back. He'd put it aside earlier when he gave Xie Lian a few pointers, but he hadn't thought it was because he was nervous to show it.

San Lang hung the painting on the line next to his.

Xie Lian's eyes widened. "Me?" he murmured.

"I hope you don't mind," he said. "But I'd been running out of subjects. Painting you was a nice change."

"I don't," he said, staring at the painting. It was like he'd been suspended in time; San Lang had captured the dramatic contrast of stormy light streaming into the dark room perfectly. Where it fell across his hair, the brown shone gold- he didn't know how he managed to paint such an effect.

What he stared at most of all was his face: he looked so calm in the painting. It felt like proof that Xie Lian wouldn't forever be tortured in the darkness of the palace. "Thank you, San Lang," he murmured.

His gaze was heavy when it fell on him. "No need for thanks," he simply said.

An awkward silence descended over the room. Xie Lian went back to clean up the rest of the paints on his table. "I had fun painting, San Lang, but I think I'll go find something else to do. I wouldn't want to bother you all day," he said as he found where to replace the brushes and paints.

San Lang had gone back to the easel, but he hadn't sat down yet. He clipped the still life back up and looked from the painting to the setting, his fingers pinching his chin. "Gege isn't a bother. I had fun, too," he said. "But I understand. Hopefully we'll run into each other again, soon."

Xie Lian closed the drawer. "Mn," he said. "I hope so too."

San Lang smiled and looked back at his work.

He finished cleaning up the table and then walked to the door. With his hand on the knob, he paused and glanced back.

San Lang stood in front of the uncovered window, his arms crossed over his chest. He stared at the plank on the floor, then looked to Xie Lian. When he caught his eye, the corner of his lips tugged upward and he shut the curtain.

Xie Lian quickly opened the door and retreated down the hall.

As he walked, he decided he should at least try to train a little today. He'd like to make it a routine, and so long as he didn't push himself too hard on the days after Hua Cheng drank from him, he should be able to keep up with it.

He stopped by the kitchens for a snack, then grabbed his sword from his room and walked to the graveled courtyard. The sky was still swallowed by dark, grey clouds, but it didn't smell like it was about to rain. Xie Lian leaned his sword against the gazebo and took off his tangzhuang, hanging it over the railing.

A flash of silver caught his eye- there were butterflies on the other side of it.

Xie Lian walked around the gazebo. A cluster of butterflies chaotically fought to reach something on the ground, their wings all beating together in a glimmering wave. As he kneeled down to look, most of them took to the air. He flinched back, avoiding their wings.

He needn't have worried. The butterflies passed around him peacefully, then dispersed. What was left on the ground was a dead robin.

He frowned as he looked it over. A myriad of tiny cuts littered its body, deep enough to have strewn severed feathers all around the gravel. A few butterflies clung to its corpse, still probing some of the cuts.

Xie Lian drew back, leaving them to their meal.

Vampiric butterflies, he thought, shaking his head. He'd never heard of such creatures.

A distant call caught his attention. He furrowed his eyebrows, listening to the oppressive quiet of the palace. It had sounded like...

"Xie Lian!" The voice called again.

A blue light emanated from the courtyard opening. All at once, a ghost fire burst forth from the palace and raced across the gravel.

"Shi Qingxuan?" Xie Lian said, bewildered.

The ghost fire came to a screeching halt in front of him. "YOU-!" he called loudly, then stopped. "You look alright?"

He blinked. "What?"

A soft step came from the covered walkway. Xie Lian looked up to see Yin Yu standing beneath the eaves.

"The clouds- they rolled in so fast-!" Shi Qingxuan's flames crackled as he seemed lost for words. "Maybe... it was nothing?"

Xie Lian rubbed his forehead, confused. "Were you worried for me?" he asked.

"...Yin Yu heard you and Hua Cheng fighting last night, and then the storm clouds today..." he trailed off. "We thought the worst might've happened."

His throat tightened as he realized they were looking out for him, despite what he was, despite how he had angered them both over the past week.

"Oh-" he exhaled, his hands splayed awkwardly by his sides. "It's nothing, really- I'm fine. I think we worked things out," he explained. "But... I'm sorry. To the both of you. I'd been prying into your situations without thinking, and without care. I'm truly sorry."

Movement caught his eye- Yin Yu rubbed the back of his neck.

"I'm sorry," Shi Qingxuan blurted out. "I snapped at you without thinking that day. You'd never had any ill intentions, and yet when I found out-"

"It's alright," Xie Lian smiled. "I know it must have been a shock, and finding me next to your brother probably didn't help things."

"No," Shi Qingxuan sighed out. "Then, we can be friends again?"

He nodded. "Of course."

Shi Qingxuan darted into a haze of movement, the little ghost fire running in an excited circle around the courtyard.

He watched him with a smile, then looked back to Yin Yu. As he stepped closer, the tension in Yin Yu's shoulders rose, surprising him. Had his words really hurt him so much?

Xie Lian stopped moving, then cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, Yin Yu. I said some awful things to you without thinking. I wish I could take them back."

Yin Yu's weight shifted. It was clear he was uncomfortable, but with his face covered by the mask, Xie Lian couldn't tell anything more than that.

"It's alright," he said in a soft voice. "I know your first week here... it's not been pleasant. I understand why you said it."

He breathed a sigh of relief. "I wanted to talk to you- I'd like to cook for myself again, if that's alright, but I could do other chores around the palace, too. You might need to show me how, but I'd like to help you."

The red glow in the mask's eye-sockets stuttered as he blinked. "Why?" he asked.

"To make up for it," he answered. "I don't have any animosity towards you, but I've treated you badly. And I'd like to know more about what you do here."

"...If that's what you want," he said.

Xie Lian nodded.

They left the courtyard. Yin Yu offered to show him the chores and daily tasks he did to keep the palace in shape, as well as take care of Xie Lian. Before they turned the hallway, however, he looked back toward the courtyard. His sword was still leaned up against the gazebo, next to his tangzhuang.

He followed Yin Yu down the hall. It would be fine there for a few hours.

💀

Night fell while Xie Lian ate dinner with Shi Qingxuan. Afterwards, they walked in the garden. Xie Lian told him about the water fountain he'd seen earlier, and they were both interested in trying to find it.

"You said it was by the western wing?" the ghost fire asked.

"Yeah," he said, stepping over a clump of vines. "You didn't show me around that wing as much, if I remember right. Was there a reason?"

"It's sort of Hua Cheng's place," he said. "It's not like he's forbidden anyone from going there, but... it feels wrong to intrude. And he's not the friendliest." His flames dimmed, and the shadows of the garden drew closer around them. "I'm sorry I left you alone. I didn't realize the extent of how he was treating you until we argued, and then I heard about the bathroom..."

Xie Lian's face tinged scarlet. "Were you there?"

"No. But- really, why would he find that so funny? There's nothing wrong with wearing a skirt!" As he fumed, his flames grew brighter again, illuminating a large circle around them.

"Well..." Xie Lian let out a nervous laugh. "Most guys don't like to wear skirts."

"Only because other people make fun of them for it!" he said. "I don't see the issue."

Looking over a large hedge, Xie Lian spied a flash of stone. "You seem like an open-minded person," he said. "Other people think of it differently."

Shi Qingxuan muttered something as he walked closer to the fountain. He could see the top of it just over the hedge, the stone carved into a lotus flower.

Before he could find an opening to the clearing, a hunting horn bellowed into the night air.

His steps faltered as his eyes widened. A swell of emotion rose in his throat, and Xie Lian turned in its direction, the bugle slowly fading.

"Shi Qingxuan," he murmured. "That's my family's horn." The sound might as well be engraved in his heart.

"They're here?" Shi Qingxuan asked.

"It came from the main gate," he said with certainty. "I have to get there before Hua Cheng." He took a step, then looked back at the ghost fire. "You should probably stay within the palace, for now. Just to be safe."

Shi Qingxuan's flames crackled. "Trust me, I won't argue," he said. "But good luck."

He raced into the palace, pulling his night pearl from his pocket to light the way. He knew where to turn, now, and made it to the entrance hall in no time at all. Xie Lian threw open one of the massive, red doors.

In the center of the stone courtyard was Feng Xin. Astride a white horse, he still held the horn to his lips, blowing a second time. The sound died when he saw the door move.

"Feng Xin!" Xie Lian cried happily, racing into the courtyard.

"Xie Lian!" he shouted, and then dismounted into a run. They embraced in a bear-hug when they met in the middle.

Xie Lian's chin dug into the armor on his shoulders. He drew back, holding his arms as he looked him over. He'd dressed in full armor, the leather and dark metal almost blending into the night. A few gold embossments shone in the moonlight. "Feng Xin, what's going on? Why are you here?"

Feng Xin's face screwed up into an ugly look. "Someone has to bring messages to this bastard. We're not abandoning you, Xie Lian. I swear."

He smiled, and it was the happiest he'd felt in weeks. "I'm glad," he murmured.

Boot heels clicked over stone. "How touching," Hua Cheng said, mockery dripping from his tone. 

Butterflies swarmed around him, incandescent in the moonlight and bringing a shine to his robes and jewelry. With a flick of his finger, they dispersed around the group, illuminating a small circle around them.

Eyes glued to their glimmering wings, Xie Lian could see them for the threat they posed.

Feng Xin's face twisted in a snarl, his eyes snapping onto the vampire. Wrath danced in his gaze, and Xie Lian knew what he was thinking even before his hand touched his sword. He grabbed his wrist just as his palm wrapped around the hilt.

"Feng Xin," he hissed as they strained against each other. "I'm alright, see? Look at me, I'm not even injured." Then, when Feng Xin didn't relent, "Please. Let it go. You're here to bring a message, remember?"

Finally, Feng Xin stopped trying to unsheathe his sword. His eyes met Xie Lian's, and then he looked him over. "You're not hurt?" he whispered. His eyebrows furrowed. "You look pale."

"I'm really okay," he murmured.

He studied him for another moment, but a sliver of tension eventually drained from his face. Then Feng Xin's gaze turned to Hua Cheng, who stood just out of reach with a dark expression on his face. "I bring a message from the Xie family," he said.

Silently, Hua Cheng stepped closer. His hand wrapped around Xie Lian's shoulder, and then he pulled him out of Feng Xin's arms. Hua Cheng drug him back to stand behind him, like he was reminding both of them what the situation truly was.

As if they could forget. Feng Xin's eyes glittered with anger, but he held his temper this time.

Hua Cheng crossed his arms. "Go on," he prompted.

Feng Xin slowly walked to his horse, though it was obvious he kept his attention steadfastly on the vampire. He pulled two bundles of parchment from the saddle pouch and returned. He handed the first to Hua Cheng.

With a black nail, he snapped the seal and opened the letter, reading it while they waited. Because he was so tall, Xie Lian couldn't look over his shoulder to see what was written, but he tried to at least peek around his arm. While he caught bits and pieces, it wasn't enough to understand anything.

Feng Xin saw his efforts and summarized. "The Xie family doesn't have singular control over the Jade Emperor's Ring anymore. A decade ago, Mr. Xie recognized its power and called upon four other prominent hunter families to seal it away. We'll have to convince them as well."

Xie Lian fought back a sigh. It was a relief that they were even willing to try, but he doubted the rest of the families would agree to something like that.

Hua Cheng hummed his acknowledgement, but kept reading.

"Feng Xin," Xie Lian murmured. "Is Mu Qing...?"

"We made it back. He'll survive," Feng Xin said with certainty.

A heavy weight lifted from his shoulders. He smiled and said, "Good. Please, will you take care of him? You two focus on your differences so much, but you can actually be quite alike."

Feng Xin grimaced. "How are we anything alike?" he muttered, then said. "I'll keep him alive. At least until you get back."

A soft laugh escaped his chest. "Thank you, Feng Xin."

His fist tightened around the second bundle of parchment in his hand, and then he stepped closer, holding it out to Xie Lian. "I have other letters for you as well-"

Hua Cheng snatched the bundle from his hand; the red glow of his eye in the darkness sharpened his glare.

Feng Xin returned it, his lips raised in a snarl as he said, "It's just news from home."

"We'll see," Hua Cheng answered. He folded up the letter he was reading and stuffed both bundles into the front of his robe. "This changes nothing. He stays here until you bring the ring."

"We're working on it as fast as we can," he said.

"Not my concern," he said haughtily. "I'm sure you remember what I said last time?"

Feng Xin's face screwed up.

"Good," Hua Cheng sneered. Xie Lian caught the remnants of a mocking smile on his face as he turned. His gaze then settled on Xie Lian, and his face wiped clean of any expression. He placed his hand on his shoulder again, urging him to turn back.

Xie Lian grabbed the cold metal of his vambrace, pushing back against him. "Wait," he said.

Their gazes met, and then Hua Cheng relented with a sigh, though he didn't take his hand away.

Xie Lian looked to Feng Xin, who eyed them with a deep frown. "Please, will you tell my parents I'm okay? And thank you for the letters."

He nodded. "I will. Take care of yourself."

"Mn," he smiled. "You too."

Feng Xin mounted his horse, and then looked back. He studied Xie Lian for another moment, a look of hesitation crossing over his face. His lips parted- and then he closed his mouth, silent. He snapped the reins and took off at a gallop, the slap of hooves resounding like thunderclaps in the courtyard.

When he left the main gate, complete silence fell over the night.

Xie Lian inhaled deeply, and then sighed. His hand fell from Hua Cheng's wrist as he relented and started to walk back.

The butterflies followed them back into the palace, lighting the main entrance hall even better than Xie Lian's night pearl had. Hua Cheng let go of his shoulder to close the door.

When he turned back, Xie Lian stood silent in front of him, waiting.

The vampire lifted one eyebrow.

"My letters," he prompted, holding his hand out.

Hua Cheng's eye narrowed, but he reached into the front of his robes for the bundle that was meant for Xie Lian. Instead of handing them over, he snapped the seal holding them shut and unfolded them to read.

Xie Lian let out a quiet huff as he crossed his arms over his chest.

It could have been a trick of the light, but he swore that Hua Cheng's lips ticked up, just for a moment. Then he looked bored, his eye scanning through the four pages rapidly.

When he got to the last page, his eyebrow twitched.

"What is it?" Xie Lian said immediately, focus glued to the vampire's reactions. Let him try to lie. The more he did, the more of a chance Xie Lian would learn his tells.

Hua Cheng's eye snapped to him, emotion warring behind it. His lips thinned and he passed the bundle to Xie Lian.

He could hardly restrain himself from snatching the papers from his hand. Xie Lian flipped them to read and was met with the familiar handwriting of his mother.

His heart stalled in his chest as he read it, the pleasantries right next to the aching. He knew the risks when he became a monster hunter, but he never meant to hurt her like this: getting kidnapped by a vampire and held for ransom against the one thing they could never possibly hope to give.

Of course, she was dignified in her pain. She reminded him to stay strong and to take care of himself, in all ways possible. She told him a few things that had happened at home. And at the end of the letter, she mentioned his aunt.

That Ayi was alive, thanks to him. But she had come home sick.

He blinked, reading the sentence over again.

A week ago, he'd wondered why Hua Cheng didn't just keep them both.

His eyes snapped up, and from the look on his face, Hua Cheng knew.

"You lied," he snarled.

"About what?" he said smoothly.

"My aunt. You said you let her go because I surprised you," he said, hissing the word. "I can't believe I bought that. But you know something about this." Memories clicked in place, his uncertain feelings aligning together. "You never drank from her- she didn't have any bite marks on her in the prison cell. But you were starving. Tell me why."

Hua Cheng's face darkened. "I don't think you're in a position to be giving me orders," he growled.

"I'm the one person who can," he snapped. "Because unless you want the deal rescinded, you can't harm me-"

Hua Cheng lunged forward and grabbed the front of his shirt, hauling him to the tips of his toes. Then he slammed his back against the wall, the impact jarring his bones. He dropped the letters in surprise and the papers scattered across the floor. 

As Xie Lian gasped for breath, he leaned forward and whispered, "Do you think all tortures leave a mark on the skin?"

Gritting his teeth, he grabbed Hua Cheng's vambraces, fingernails dragging uselessly against the metal. "Feng Xin wasn't just here to deliver those messages. He was here to see me. To verify my condition, as part of the deal. If you hurt me, I will find a way to tell them, and I will self-destruct us both."

Hua Cheng analyzed his face, considering. "You would do it, wouldn't you? Even after everything I've said I'd do to you."

Xie Lian tilted his chin forward. "Try me."

They glared at one another, breath hot between their faces.

Then Hua Cheng abruptly released him. "I can't tell if you're stupid or just stubborn," he commented.

Xie Lian let go of his wrists to straighten his shirt. "I don't care what you think of me," he said tersely. "Tell me about my aunt. You said vampires can't catch diseases, so you would have still drank from her if she was sick. It's something else, isn't it?"

Hua Cheng sighed and clasped his hands behind his back. He turned, though he didn't walk fast enough for it to be a retreat- he seemed to be pacing.

He stopped in the middle of the hall and looked into the darkness of the west wing. "She's cursed," he said. "One of Bai Wuxiang's specialties. It will look like a disease, until the moment small faces begin to appear on the skin. Her death will come soon after that."

Xie Lian burned with the need to read the rest of the letters, but he put that need aside. He slowly picked them from the floor and stuck them inside his shirt. "Bai Wuxiang," he repeated. "The White Vampire King?"

"Whatever you humans call him, these days," Hua Cheng answered. A savage smile appeared on his face, his eye tinged by anger. "It's been his joke, these past centuries, to send cursed humans to me. If I drank from them, I would develop the curse as well."

Xie Lian paused, staring at the sharp line of his profile. "He's been mocking you," he murmured. "Is he the one that sealed you away?"

Hua Cheng exhaled a puff of laughter, sardonic. "Wrong again," he said, and then walked down the hallway.

"Wait-" Xie Lian called, running to catch up to him. He grabbed the crook of his elbow. "There has to be a cure."

Hua Cheng whipped around, his eye wide with surprise and glued to Xie Lian's hand.

He recoiled as if stung- he must be out of his mind, to be grabbing the vampire like this. "A cure," he repeated. "Did you ever find a cure?"

Straightening his posture, Hua Cheng crossed his arms in front of his chest. "She'll die," he murmured.

"No," he exhaled. "There has to be a way. What did you do when you found them?"

His expression tightened.

"You just killed them, didn't you?" Xie Lian gaped at him. "Did you even try?"

"Tell me, whenever you came across an injured monster, did you ever try to save it? Or did you just kill it?" he snapped.

Xie Lian's teeth clicked as his jaw shut tight, ice shooting through he veins. Of course he had killed them- there had never even been a doubt in his mind against it, before.

With a knowing look, Hua Cheng turned away and kept walking.

Dismayed at the sight of his back, Xie Lian pressed his fist over the letters in his shirt. "I won't beg you for your help," he murmured. "I know you don't care. But my family is everything to me. Let me send a letter telling them the truth, at least."

Silence echoed down the hallway- Hua Cheng had stopped. His shoulders heaved upwards, and then the faint sound of a sigh brushed the air. "Follow me," he said, then started down the hallway again.

Eyes widening, Xie Lian trailed after him, butterflies streaming behind in their wake.

Hua Cheng led him to a library. He opened one of the double doors for him, dozens of butterflies streaming in overhead to light the oppressive darkness. They fluttered between the bookshelves, illuminating the tiered room. Even his family's library didn't have a second floor.

He stood in the threshold, feeling like he could scarcely breathe. Instead of walking in, he looked to Hua Cheng.

His red eye was half-lidded as he studied him, but his face gave nothing away. "If there's anything to be found on how to cure it, it should be here," he murmured. "If."

Xie Lian looked back to the massive room. "Is it organized?" he asked.

Hua Cheng nodded, then pointed to a stand in the center of the room. A large book rested on top. "That's the index. It will list every book and its author in the room, and what section to find it in," he said. "If you need help finding something, ask one of the butterflies."

His eyebrows raised. "The butterflies?" he asked, a slight huff to his tone.

"They understand more than you know," he replied.

With a small frown, Xie Lian stepped into the room. The enormity of the project hit him, then, and he was already behind. He stared at the rows of shelves, reading the section labels.

"If you find something, I'll have Yin Yu bring a letter to your family," Hua Cheng said.

Xie Lian turned to face him, a myriad of emotions circling his heart. But he couldn't deal with it now. He'd need to focus, if he had any intention of saving his aunt.

Still, he formed a tentative smile on his face. "Thank you, Hua Cheng," he murmured.

Hua Cheng blinked, and then his face wiped clean of any emotion at all. He nodded his head, and with a sweep of the door, he was gone.

Chapter Text

The shadows of the library were tepid blue and ever-moving as the butterflies made slow circles about the shelves. They animated the room, giving it breath. As Xie Lian stood in the middle of the marble floor, his neck crooked to take in the full scale of the space, it felt as though he'd entered a living thing.

He took a deep breath to settle his nerves, his hand coming to rest over the hard lump of letters in his shirt.

The last thing he liked doing was arguing with Hua Cheng. The vampire was deceitful, volatile, and clearly only cared about whatever scheme he'd conjured up. Xie Lian could hardly tell which threat was a bluff or a confession of what he was planning.

But then, without catalyst or clear motive, he did this: he relented.

Xie Lian's eyes traced the shadows of the shelves, his shoes scuffing the floor in soft breaths of sound as he turned, looking for a trap. One minute, he said he'd torture him, and the next minute he allowed Xie Lian to access a trove of knowledge so he might cure his aunt. Where was the sense in that?

Was he testing him?

He didn't know- he really didn't know. But nothing lurked in the moving shadows. It was just Xie Lian and the butterflies, and his silent sentries were peaceful watchers as they glided through the air.

If this was truly an olive branch, then Xie Lian would take it. For the sake of his aunt, if nothing more.

The index Hua Cheng had pointed to was on a lectern in the middle of the room. The bookshelves spiraled around it, the ends labeled with punched metal plates to mark the sections. Xie Lian approached the index and lightly brushed his palm over the leather cover, removing a film of dust.

Wrinkling his nose, he wiped his hand on his trousers and then opened the book. The yellow pages were blotted from age and filled with tiny, cramped handwriting he couldn't read in the darkness.

He reached into his pocket for his night pearl, but then thought of what Hua Cheng had said to him earlier: they understand more than you know.

"Um... excuse me..." he murmured, looking to the butterflies that made slow circles around the room. "Could one of you help me? I need a little more light," he said, feeling a little silly.

A glint of silver fluttered down. A butterfly glided to the index and landed on the front page.

His eyes widened as he stared at it. "You really understand me?" he murmured.

The butterfly gave a serene beat of it wings.

A small smile grew over his lips. "I'm glad to have some company while I study," he said to it. "But could you find another place to perch? I'll have to turn the page."

With a graceful flutter, it rose into the air and circled Xie Lian once. Then it came to rest on his shoulder.

"Thank you," he murmured. He looked over the index, the butterfly's glow illuminating the pages in a soft, white light.

The butterfly hung from his shoulder with a heavier weight than he'd expect of something that flew so delicately through the air. As it occasionally beat it's wings, he couldn't help but feel that he really did have a friend accompanying him.

"I think I have two questions I have to answer to find this cure," he murmured to it, his finger skimming the titles and authors of the index. "I'll need to understand more about curses, and I need to see what Hua Cheng has collected about the White Vampire King."

Xie Lian noticed that the library's collection seemed to be a massive project that had taken hundreds of years to amass. As he flipped towards the end of the index, the pages grew whiter, newer. He guessed that the index had been rebound several times, and with the several different styles of handwriting spanning the pages, that multiple people had contributed to organizing it.

He rifled through the pages, trying to familiarize himself with the general subjects that were collected in the library. From the massive size of the index and some of the absurd book titles he came across, his hope diminished. He might be looking for a needle in a haystack.

He sighed. "Well. I guess I just have to start reading," he told the butterfly on his shoulder. "I think I saw a section on magic mentioned in the index. Could you lead me there?"

There was a small tug on his shirt as the butterfly took off, and then it fluttered towards a spiral staircase at the back of the library.

Xie Lian followed it up the metal stairs. The second floor was shaped in a horseshoe; he could see the lectern and the doors from the railing. To make up for the lack of floor space, the bookshelves towered overhead. Combined with the massive, raised ceiling, he felt like an ant.

"I think I'm beginning to understand how you feel, being so small in such a big world" he muttered with a sigh, his neck craning to see that there were books stored at even the tops of the bookshelves. At least there were ladders scattered here and there.

A group of butterflies joined them in the magic section, filling the dark crook with light. As they perched on various books, Xie Lian exclaimed, "Oh! That's so helpful! Thank you!"

Several of them took off at his voice. Worried he'd gotten too loud and scared them, he opened his mouth to apologize, but then he was utterly swarmed.

He froze, ice spiking through his veins as he felt the flutter of so many wings next to his skin. But as the butterflies settled over his body, he realized none had harmed him. They seemed to be happy.

A relieved laugh escaped his chest. "Do you like being praised?" he asked, breathless. He was answered by the soft beating of dozens of wings. "Alright," he laughed again. "You're all very pretty and very helpful. But please be careful- I wouldn't want to hurt any of you."

As he went back to looking through the shelves, some of the butterflies slowly dispersed to help light the titles for him, but the tug of small feet on his hair and shirt told him that several continued to cling to him. He let them be- he found it cute.

It wasn't soon after entering the section that he'd amassed a giant stack of books in arms. He balanced the top one against his cheek and shuffled out from between the shelves. "I think I saw a table somewhere," he murmured.

The butterflies quickly rallied to his side and led him to a cozy niche that was tucked into the back of the second floor. A low table was centered over a very expensive, foreign-looking rug woven with red and hints of tan. Pillows of all shapes and sizes surrounded the space, along with a few wooden arm rests and blankets.

The niche was settled in the corner of two walls. On both sides, massive curtains draped over the skeletons of four distinct grids- it seemed to be same situation as the studio.

Xie Lian deposited the books at the table and left the curtains alone. It was night, and he had dozens of little helpers, anyway.

He pulled a few cushions over to sit on and took the first book from the stack. Several butterflies landed over the table, turned towards him. "If I go through this methodically, then I'm bound to find something," he said to them, and opened the book to the first page.

Time became a watery thing. One moment, Xie Lian was skimming through pages and taking notes in a concise manner. The next, he had dozens of books open across the table and multiple scrolls completely unfolded behind him.

His notes were turning into a blotted mess of ink and he lamented for the thousandth time that he could only find calligraphy brushes. It was the turn of the 20th century; why on earth weren't there any pens or pencils in the palace? These vampires couldn't be that secluded.

Xie Lian raked his fingers through his hair as he reread a paragraph for the fifth time, the characters disintegrating in his mind the moment his eyes looked away. He was reading something about the transfer of magical energy. Or was it perfusion?

He blinked and dragged his palms over his eyes.

The soft stirrings of the butterflies caught his attention. The tiny feet clinging to him tugged and then flew away all at once, and those butterflies were quickly followed by the ones on the table. They alighted into the air and flew in circles overhead, just like before he'd asked for their help.

Xie Lian watched them, his eyebrows furrowed.

"Gege," a voice called on his left.

He nearly jumped out of his skin. Xie Lian's head snapped to the side as he grabbed the book in front of him, his elbows slamming into the wooden table before he raised it in front of him. He froze when he realized it was just San Lang.

Standing with his hands resting behind his back, he peacefully raised a single eyebrow at him. He was dressed in wine-red and black robes, and instead of a ponytail, he wore his hair in a loose braid. It softened his face.

"San Lang-" Xie Lian exhaled, then put the book down. What was he about to do- clobber him with paper? he thought, feeling a bit manic. He rubbed his forehead. "I didn't hear you come in."

San Lang's laugh was a low rumble of sound. "I see," he answered. "Have you been here all night?"

Xie Lian's eyes widened. "All night?" he gasped.

"Mn. The sun's rose by now," he said.

"I- oh no," he mumbled, looking across the cluttered table. "I haven't found anything- the time's going so fast-!"

San Lang kneeled beside him. "Breathe, it'll be alright."

His throat tightened and he said, "No- San Lang, my aunt's been cursed, and I don't know how much time she has left. If I don't find a cure soon-"

Warmth settled over his back as San Lang lightly placed his hand behind his shoulders. "Don't panic," he murmured in a smooth, low tone, like he was talking to a spooked animal. Xie Lian hated being reduced to such a frazzled state that he found comfort in it. "If you've been looking all night, then you must have learned a few things. What have you read so far?"

Swallowing his nerves, Xie Lian pulled a disorganized clump of papers out from under an open book. Dried ink stains smattered his hands, a few spots even going so far as his rolled up sleeves. "I've been trying to understand the difference between magic systems," he said. "Despite using the same energy, there's so many different applications and techniques involved in using it- it seems like labeling something a curse or an exorcism or a charm is more pedantic than anything..."

In his periphery, San Lang's head dropped. He looked over at his shaking shoulders. "San Lang?"

Soft rushes of breath escaped his mouth as he laughed. "Gege, I think you started on the hardest possible thing."

Eyebrows furrowing, Xie Lian retorted, "I've only ever been taught in exorcisms! I had to start with the basics to understand the principles of invoking versus revoking a spell-"

"You went past the basics and got into one of the most hotly debated topics between scholars," he said, then reached for the papers in Xie Lian's hand. "May I?"

He handed him his notes and then looked out at the spread of books across the table. Maybe he had gotten a little lost while researching. With a sigh, he closed the book in front of him and put it to the side.

"You researched all of this? Just last night?" San Lang asked, his eyes widening as he scanned the papers.

"Mn," Xie Lian hummed and rested his hands in his lap. "I love my family. And knowing that they still want to help me, even when I can't see how it's possible- I want to do whatever I can for them."

San Lang's expression seized; his lips parted and small lines creased his brow. He seemed to mull something over for a moment, his jaw twitching, and then he said, softly, "You've gotten so far already, gege. If you can't do it, then I don't think anyone can." He put the papers on the table and met Xie Lian's eyes. "But you should take care of yourself, too. Your mind will be sharper after you've slept and eaten something."

Xie Lian shook his head. "There's no time."

"Gege," San Lang sighed.

"There isn't. It would have taken two days on horseback for Feng Xin to get here from the closest village, not to mention the time from the Xie manor. If she was already weakened in the letter, then I need to work as quickly as possible. Especially since it would take time for Yin Yu to travel back- he can't walk in the sunlight."

San Lang studied his face, his sharp eyes narrowed. "You'll strain yourself like this," he said.

"I'm not delicate," Xie Lian muttered. "I've had to stay awake for long periods during difficult missions, before. This isn't different." He dragged over a book he'd started reading and put aside when he'd been derailed by a sudden question. "But I understand what you're saying. If I haven't found anything by tomorrow morning, then I'll rest."

A soft huff of air left San Lang's chest. "Don't you mean by tonight? So you can sleep when you normally do?"

"No. By tomorrow morning. I can make it that far."

San Lang pressed his fingers against his lips, concealing whatever expression he couldn't keep from his face. He watched Xie Lian sort through more half-read books on the table and said, "You haven't eaten since last night, I'm guessing."

Xie Lian slowed. "I haven't," he murmured. "I just- San Lang, I can't stop. I can eat later- like you said, it's not a big deal."

"I didn't mean it like that."

He twisted his head to the side and breathed through his nose, trying to control his emotions, his frustration. He knew his exhaustion amplified everything he felt, but it didn't make it easier to deal with. "I know," he whispered.

San Lang tapped his fingers on his cheek, a wave of motion. "Alright," he murmured as he stood.

Xie Lian's gaze followed him and he clenched his hands together in his lap.

"I'll bring you something," he said.

His eyes widened. "What?"

"If the problem is stopping to make breakfast, then I'll make it and bring it to you."

A sudden pressure filled his chest. "San Lang- I don't want to make you do that-"

"Gege isn't making me do anything," he said and walked towards the stairs. Before he left, he cupped his hand on the edge of a bookshelf and looked over his shoulder, a crooked smile on his face. "If I didn't want to do it, then I wouldn't."

Xie Lian stared at the empty space when he disappeared from view. I think that's the most honest thing you've said to me, he thought.

While San Lang made breakfast for him, he recouped his thoughts and went through the books he still had on the table. A few of them were ones he'd gotten off track with, so he put those to the side, along with books that just reiterated points he had already learned. He gathered the whole pile and filed them back onto the shelves. 

He asked the butterflies for help finding sections again, and to his surprise, they could locate books on specific topics- even if he wasn't asking for the exact title.

"Are you all so well-read?" he laughed to himself as he reached for the book a butterfly had guided him to. It was a small, white pamphlet with a spine so thin it didn't have space to print the title on. The front read, Children's Stories of the North.

He looked quizzically at the title but put the book on the stack he was collecting, anyway.

The soft vibrations of footsteps on the metal staircase rung out in the quiet library. "San Lang?" Xie Lian called out, hopeful.

"I'm back," San Lang answered.

Xie Lian hurriedly scooped up his collection of books and joined him back at the library's niche.

San Lang stood by the table and held a porcelain bowl in hands. His eyebrows shot up when he saw the amount of books Xie Lian carried back. "Are you planning to read the whole library?" he asked.

Xie Lian smiled as he set the books down. "I think that would take at least a decade," he said.

"Not at the rate you're reading," San Lang said and set the steaming bowl on the edge of the table. "Here, gege."

Xie Lian sat down and reached for it eagerly. The smell was familiar to him, and as he looked inside, he understood why.

"San Lang," he exhaled, his smile growing on his face. "Thank you." He took a set of chopsticks from him and scooped up a large bite of egg and tomato.

"Is it as good as last time?" he asked, settling next to Xie Lian at the table.

"Mn," Xie Lian hummed, savoring the spice on his tongue. "Better." A bundle of tension released in his body as he swallowed.

San Lang smiled and rested his jaw on his knuckles, watching him. "Good," he murmured.

A happy sigh left his chest after he practically inhaled the bowl. He set it on the table when he was finished, his chopsticks laid over the top rim.

While he ate, San Lang had leaned over the table and scanned through a few of the books he still had open.

"Are you interested in magic, San Lang?" he asked.

He blinked and looked over at him, and then a small smile formed over his face. "I've just read a few things about it, that's all," he answered.

"Oh? What kinds of things?"

San Lang sat back and shrugged his shoulders. "All kinds. Was there something you wanted to talk about in particular?"

He thought for a moment, then said, "Actually, something caught my eye earlier," and reached for a book he'd put to the side. "Do you know anything about self-sustaining spells? Magic that feeds off of itself?"

The expression that passed over his face was quicker than lightning, but Xie Lian caught the subtle frown there all the same.

"Why do you ask, gege? Do you think it has something to do with the curse?" San Lang asked, his lips curling up in a pleasant smile.

He flipped through the pages. "I'm not sure," he answered. "I need to do more research on the White Vampire King to figure out what method he might be using to curse people, but this technique caught my attention because of it's potential to be so powerful."

When he finally reached the chapter on it, he summarized, "Self-sustaining magic takes root in a physical anchor that is the casting's unique opposite- the magic feeds off the anchor, just as the anchor feeds off the magic. The opposite also occurs, where the effects of the magic strengthen the anchor, while the anchor protects the magic. Unless the system is destroyed, then this technique will engage itself forever, with the potential of becoming stronger overtime."

He stopped and looked at San Lang, who had a blank expression on his face. "Hua Cheng mentioned a very specific curse with set stages- one I've never heard of before. Do you think a method like this could be used to bring it out, especially if it was an unbalanced use of technique?"

San Lang shook his head, and then he reached forward and closed the book. "No, I'm certain it's not this technique," he said.

Xie Lian blinked in surprise. "How're you so sure?"

"Bai Wuxiang was using his curse technique before self-sustaining magic was invented," he replied, and then started looking through the stack of books Xie Lian had brought to the table earlier. "Ah- here," he said, and carefully pulled a book from the middle of the stack. "You haven't read about it yet, but there have actually been times that he used this curse to spread a massive a plague. Instead of combing through magical theory, it might be better to look at his recorded history."

San Lang handed him the book. The title read, The Fall of the Ming Dynasty.

His eyes widened. "You mean, the White Vampire King- or rather, Bai Wuxiang contributed to the end of the Ming Dynasty? I thought that was Hua Cheng's doing." He glanced up, and then withered in his seat. "I mean, that's what I was taught."

The laugh that escaped San Lang's chest was loud and quick, a deep thrum of sound. "There's no inch of history that hasn't been corrupted by rumors. Even the truth is more myth than fact; men's perspectives will always be at odds with each other. So maybe Hua Cheng did have something do with the fall of the dynasty, but so did Bai Wuxiang."

San Lang rose from the table and disappeared into the bookshelves. "Not only did he have a hand in the Ming dynasty, but the Tang as well," he called, his voice echoing under the large ceiling.

Xie Lian let out a small huff of laughter as his voice rung out all around- it felt rebellious to be so loud in a library, but San Lang clearly had no qualms about it.

He quickly returned with another book in his hand. "Here, gege, so you know I'm not just spouting nonsense."

He smiled as he took the book from him, Diseases of the late Tang Dynasty. "I don't think you're spouting nonsense, San Lang. It sounds like you're the one that's read every book here."

San Lang waved his hand in a dismissing gesture. "Of course not. I haven't been here long enough. I've just read a few."

Xie Lian laughed and shook his head, then added the book to his pile.

"What is it, gege?" San Lang asked.

"Oh- nothing," he said, and turned to the books in front of him. "I'm glad you came, San Lang."

He smiled and settled back at the table next to him. "Me too," he replied. "You're definitely smart enough to find this cure for your aunt by yourself, but would you like some help looking? We could find it faster that way."

Xie Lian's lips parted in surprise as he stared at San Lang. "You- I wouldn't reject it," he said hastily. "But I wouldn't expect it, either. Are you sure?"

"Mn," San Lang hummed, then picked a book off the stack, Children's Stories of the North. He opened it to the first page, his eyes scanning through the text quickly. "Gege has good questions. I think if we talk things through, you'll find the cure in enough time."

There was that tightness in his chest again- the hope that he could save his aunt was blinding, and the thought of giving into it's belief and then failing was terrifying. Xie Lian swallowed the feeling and reached for The Fall of the Ming Dynasty. "And San Lang is surely more well-read than he admits. I think we can find it quickly together, too."

With a shared smile, they both set to work. Having San Lang to help him look didn't halve the work load, exactly, but it streamlined the process. It seemed like he really had read every book in the library; whatever Xie Lian's question, he had an answer to. As they studied, they guided each other over dead-end topics and rabbit holes that would have taken Xie Lian precious time to come back from.

With the sun hidden behind the curtains, it was hard to measure how fast the time was passing. But just as he began to grow hungry again, a familiar face entered the library.

Xie Lian looked up at the sounds of footsteps, and then called out, "Yin Yu?"

The vampire approached the table with a silver tray in his hands, laden with lunch and a teapot. He nodded in greeting and then set the tray on a spot of the table San Lang quickly cleared off for him. "Your friend told me about your situation this morning," he stated.

He looked to San Lang, who smiled at him. "I wasn't sure how long you'd be," he said. "So I asked Yin Yu to bring meals here until we were finished."

Xie Lian smiled at both of them, "Thank you," he said emphatically, then to Yin Yu he said, "I'm sorry I told you just yesterday I could make everything myself, only to rescind that today. But thank you for your help."

Yin Yu shook his head. "Hua Cheng tasked me with your care. Whatever you need, I'm here to provide."

He tried to keep the frown from his lips- he wanted Yin Yu to be his friend, not his servant. But Hua Cheng's orders seemed to have a deep hold on him.

"Thank you," he repeated awkwardly.

Yin Yu nodded his head and left.

San Lang passed a plate of stir-fried tofu to him and then laid fully back on the floor, his book held up in front of his face.

Xie Lian smiled as he watched him. "If you're getting bored, you're free to leave. I know we've been studying for a while- the library must be getting old to you by now."

"Who's bored?" San Lang murmured, then slowly blinked up at the book.

Despite himself, he let out a small laugh. He'd caught himself doing it more this morning than he had in the past two weeks- Xie Lian attributed part of it to being in such a sleepless, lucid state, but he knew San Lang played a part in it as well.

As he ate lunch, he decided they deserved a break from studying. "I have a few questions," he said.

"Ask, gege," San Lang replied. He laid the book over his chest and looked to him, expectant.

"So, Hua Cheng and Yin Yu both reside in the palace, right?"

San Lang nodded.

"But when I first arrived here, there was another vampire- I think his name was He Xuan. I haven't seen him since. Are there more vampires here? Are they all working together?"

"Working together to do what, gege?" San Lang asked with a small huff of laughter.

Xie Lian tilted his head to the side in thought. "I don't know... working together to live, I guess is what I mean. Recently, I've imagined that being a vampire is a lonely thing. Most of the ones I've encountered lived by themselves."

"That's one way to look at it," San Lang commented, then stretched his arms up and behind his head to use as a cushion. He stared at the ceiling and said, "Living alone is normally a necessary thing. Too many vampires in one place means there are too many human deaths in one place, which will always bring unwanted consequences. A lone vampire can feed without drawing too much attention."

"Hua Cheng drinks from me without killing me, though. Shouldn't others be able to do that, especially if they want to avoid being detected?"

"You're forgetting about their hunger, gege," San Lang said. "Once vampires taste even a drop of blood, their instinct is to drink their prey empty; it's not something that's easily overcome, and most vampires don't care to try. He Xuan is one of those vampires that will drain a person dry. You won't see him again in this palace."

Xie Lian blinked at him. "I won't? He won't come to feed on me?"

"No, Hua Cheng has ordered him to stay away from you," San Lang said easily. "Yin Yu is ordered not to touch you as well. Besides- it's considered rude to touch a person that's already been claimed by another vampire. It'd be a messy situation if they killed them on accident."

"Claimed?" Xie Lian sputtered. Without thinking, he covered the still-healing bite mark on his wrist. "I'm not claimed."

San Lang laughed, his eyes creasing into crescents. "A figure of speech, gege. Hua Cheng has fed from you without killing you- any vampire that detected the traces of him still on you would be wary of biting you."

His head swam with embarrassment- to think, he wasn't just being fed on, but marked in a way other vampires could identify. "Traces? San Lang, what traces? Why are you so sure of this?"

San Lang closed his eyes and shrugged his shoulders, nonchalant. "Vampires sustain themselves by consuming the mana present in blood- when they drink, trace amounts of their own mana are left on their prey. I know all this because we're in a vampire's library- of course it's filled with books written by vampires about their own culture. I've read a few."

Xie Lian fell into a deep silence as he considered what San Lang had said. He'd never considered that vampires could have a culture. The realization carved a series of emotions through him: first denial, then shame at his own reaction.

Vampires lived on the fringes of society, but that didn't mean they don't have a certain identity. Shouldn't they have their own culture?

"Gege?"

Xie Lian glanced at him. "Hm?"

"Ran out of questions?" he asked.

"I'm sure I'll think of more," he murmured. "I'll get back to studying for now."

San Lang hummed, then picked up the book on his chest and started reading again as well.

Yin Yu brought dinner and night fell before they made any breakthroughs; however, Xie Lian clutched his head in his hands as he told San Lang his discovery.

"Those who lived through the plague often had a violent nature; soldiers departed from the front lines to become bandits, and thrived during the chaos of the time. Entire villages would be decimated, while the worst prisons in cities would be left untouched by sickness. In all my time as a physician, I have never seen an illness spread so wantonly as this. Soon, it is not the meek who will inherit the earth, but the murderers," he finished quoting the physician. Then, in a pleading whisper, he said, "San Lang, it can't be."

"It's a curse, gege. Bai Wuxiang can add whatever stipulation he wants to it," San Lang murmured as he hovered by his side, reading the same text over his shoulder.

"I can't save my aunt with this. She would never- my family would never agree to any solution like this. We're sworn to protect humans." He absently raked his fingers through his hair, his ribbon coming undone and falling to the floor behind him. "But this proves that the curse can spread- what if it infects my family?"

Horror flooded his body at the thought- his veins turned to ice and his stomach flipped on itself, squeezing with nausea.

A warm hand landed on his shoulder, but Xie Lian couldn't stand it. He shook off San Lang and stood, pacing back and forth by the table. "None of them could ever agree to something like this- and what if it gets into the city- what if it infected the people she passed on her journey back- Feng Xin, Mu Qing-"

"Gege," San Lang called out, his voice sterner than usual. His tone tempered as he said, "We should take a break, you've been here for a full day, now."

"I can't take a break now," he snapped. Then, even more venomously, he said, "Hua Cheng allowed this to get out into the world- I have to clean up his mess before he destroys another government. The Republic is barely even a year old," he muttered and collapsed back in front of the table, shutting the book they'd been reading and pulling over a new one.

He felt more than saw San Lang recoil from his side; silently, he laid back down on the floor again to read. After a moment passed, Xie Lian said, "Weren't you leaving?"

"I said I would do this together with you; if you aren't leaving, then I won't, either," he murmured.

Xie Lian bit the inside of his cheek and turned away.

Now that they'd exhausted their research into Bai Wuxiang's history, they were forced to go back through books on the theory of magic to see if there was a way to reverse the curse.

They argued. A lot. Despite becoming so subdued at Xie Lian's last outburst, San Lang was not afraid to tell him when he thought he was wrong. It never grew so heated as yelling, but they both were witty enough to twist in subtle jabs.

Another few hours easily passed this way, if Xie Lian had to guess. Finally, they narrowed down a few reversal techniques, but there was no way to know if they would work without testing them.

"You could curse me," Xie Lian muttered, his head pillowed on his arm as he leant heavily against the table. His eyes were so sore, he felt like he sported twin bruises on his face. "We could try the techniques then."

"Gege, aren't you forgetting something?" San Lang said, his voice ringing out somewhere in the haze next to him.

"Oh, that I'm a hostage?" He shifted his face further into the crook of his elbow. "Doesn't matter; I'll die here anyway."

A light touch pulled back the hair from his face, exposing his temple to the cooler air of the library. "Why do you say that?"

"Forget about my family- the other four families would never agree to release the ring. It goes against the duty of monster hunters," he sighed. "And do you really think Hua Cheng would release his only leverage when he doesn't get what he wants?"

"Hard to say what Hua Cheng would do then," San Lang admitted.

Xie Lian grunted his agreement.

In the following silence, Xie Lian almost drifted off to sleep right there.

"...I'm not cursing you, gege," San Lang said.

On unsteady arms, Xie Lian jerked himself up and blinked in the silver light of the butterflies. He needed to write all of this in a letter- it wasn't the sure solution he'd hoped to give to his family, but it was better than nothing.

He rifled through the strewn-about mess on the table. "The brush and ink," he muttered as he looked for them, one hand gesturing absent-mindedly for the brush. Then, louder, he said, "San Lang, why aren't there any pens here?"

San Lang watched him with his jaw perched on his knuckles, his eyes half-closed. "I wouldn't know, gege," he said.

"I thought you knew everything," he replied as he fished out the brush and dried ink palate from under a collapsed pile of books.

"No one knows everything. If they say they do, they're lying to you," he muttered.

Xie Lian snorted and then pulled over a clean stack of papers. Now that he was tasked with actually writing the letter, the rest of his brain seemed to shut off all at once. He stared forlornly at the blank sheet, his hair falling in thick swaths over his shoulders.

He swept it back and started looking blearily around himself for his ribbon- he'd lost it a while ago. A minute passed of him shuffling through the books, scrolls, and pillows by his side, but he still couldn't find it.

San Lang reached up to his braid and pulled the black ribbon from the end, loosening it. "Here, gege," he said, handing it to Xie Lian.

"Thank you," he said and quickly tied his hair back with it. As he went back to staring at the paper, he murmured, "Have you ever written a letter to your family as a hostage? I don't know what to say."

Slowly, San Lang leaned back and laid on the ground. "I've never written a letter to my family," he said. "I won't be of any help with this. Sorry, gege."

His eyes widened, but he bit back the questions on his tongue- it felt wrong to invade his privacy. "It's alright. I suppose the only thing to tell them is the truth."

As he began writing, Xie Lian discovered he actually shied away from the truth in his letter. He didn't want his family to know that he suffered at all, though he was sure they guessed as much. In the end, he kept anything he wrote about himself succinct, and instead filled six whole pages explaining his aunt's curse and the reversal techniques he and San Lang thought might work.

He grimaced as he spread the pages out on the table to dry. His calligraphy work was abysmal, but he was exhausted, and the letters needed to be sent out as soon as possible.

San Lang looked over his explanations as Xie Lian massaged his aching wrist. "You added the technique I found," he said, looking at the paper with narrowed eyes. "We argued for half an hour over that one."

"If it works, I'll admit that I was wrong," he said. "But I still doubt it will."

A crooked smile stretched across his face. "Really?" he laughed. "Are you willing to bet on it?"

Xie Lian dropped back onto the pillows with a sigh, his eyes closed. "What do I have to bet on?" he asked.

The lobe of his ear slightly twisted as San Lang messed with his earring. "These," he said simply.

A puff of air escaped his chest- he was too tired to even laugh properly. "Fine," he answered. "What do I get if I win?"

San Lang hummed next to him, still messing with his earring. "I guess I'd give you jewelry of mine. I've collected some that were left around the castle."

"I don't get to see it first?"

"I'll let you choose from the collection, but to make it fair, you don't get to see it first."

He smiled, his nose crinkling. "I think I'm being swindled."

"Are you backing out?" San Lang said, his sweet tone taking a mocking lilt.

"Hmm," he hummed, thinking. "No. I'm confident."

San Lang tugged his earring once, and then he let go. "It's a deal," he said.

Before he could doze off on the pillows, Xie Lian rose and checked the ink again. It was still a bit damp in a few places, but he decided it would be legible even if those little sections smeared. He folded the papers into a bundle and then untied the ribbon in his hair to give back to San Lang.

He blinked up at him, unmoving. "I have more, gege. You can keep it."

"So do I," he yawned, barely having the forethought to cover his mouth. "After I give the letter to Yin Yu, I'm only coming back here to clean up before I go to bed. You can have it back."

San Lang took the ribbon and smiled. "Fine, but don't come back here- just go straight to bed. I'll clean up."

"San Lang..." he murmured.

"Are you going to argue with me again?" he asked, his arms crossed over his chest. Despite his posture, he had a crooked smile on his face, and if Xie Lian didn't know better, he'd almost say he looked fond.

"No," he muttered. "Goodnight, San Lang. Thank you for your help."

"Goodnight, gege," he replied, and began straightening the table.

Xie Lian asked a butterfly to lead him to Yin Yu. When he dropped off the letter, he thanked him profusely and waved goodbye as he left.

He hardly knew how he got back to his own room. As soon as his head hit the pillow, he was asleep.

💀

Time morphed into a slippery creature he could never quite hold on to after the library. Staying up so long had severely impacted his sleep schedule, and as the week drew on, Xie Lian was liable to fall asleep at all times of the day.

Not that he knew when, exactly, he was falling asleep. He didn't venture out into the courtyard much; even if he had amended things with Shi Qingxuan, the rest of the ghost fires were still scared of him, and he spent most of his time with San Lang inside, anyway.

The days passed quicker with him. They read in the library together, walked the palace, and San Lang even showed him how to harvest the now-blooming chrysanthemums to mix into water color paints they later used in the studio.

But as much as Xie Lian tried, he couldn't distract himself from his worry. He'd lay in bed thinking of his family and the crisis a disease-like curse would spread, and prayed to any god who could hear him that at least one of their reversal techniques would work.

Finally, Yin Yu returned on the sixth day.

The vampire found him and San Lang tucked away in the library's niche. Xie Lian sprung to his feet as soon as he saw him, his nerves vibrating with a cold mix of excitement and worry.

Without a word, Yin Yu nodded to him and handed over a bundle of letters.

The seal was already broken, but he ripped open the letters without complaint. As he hastily scanned through the pages, he stumbled back and clumsily settled on the pillows by the table.

He could feel San Lang's heavy gaze on him as he read, waiting with just as much excitement as he did.

"San Lang," he exhaled, and then a relieved grin broke over his face. "It worked. The reversal worked."

A similar smile stretched San Lang's lips. "I'm glad, gege," he murmured.

He rested the letter in his lap and looked up. "Thank you, Yin Yu. It means so much to me that you would take my letter to them. Thank you- and I tried to keep up with palace's chores while you were gone. I hope it makes things easier coming back."

It was hard to pick up any expression behind Yin Yu's mask, but if he wasn't mistaken, the eye sockets of the mask grew brighter as his eyes comically widened. "It's nothing- anything you need," he murmured brokenly, then turned and left.

Xie Lian wilted as he walked away. When he heard the library doors shut, he said, "San Lang, do you know anything about Yin Yu? I feel as though I can never say the right thing to him."

"Why are you worried about saying the right thing?" he asked, head tilted slightly to the side. He wore his hair in a ponytail today, and it curled over his bicep as he moved.

"Well... I'd like to be friends, if that's not too much to ask," he admitted, looking down at his lap.

San Lang stilled beside him. "Really? Why?"

Xie Lian laughed. "Do I need a reason?" he asked.

For a rare moment, he seemed at a loss for words. Then he replied, "I guess not," with a shrug. "I can't speak on Yin Yu's behalf. That's something you'd have to work out with him."

Xie Lian sighed. "Alright."

San Lang nudged his knee with his. "What reversal technique did they use?" he asked, a glimmer in his eyes.

A puff of laughter escaped his chest and he brought the letter up to read again. "Let's see," he said, and a moment of silence settled between them as he read. Then he murmured, "No."

An excited look crossed San Lang's face; his fingers grazed Xie Lian's hand, silently asking permission to read the letter as well. Xie Lian handed the letter to him and collapsed into the pillows behind him.

San Lang's eyes scanned the pages quickly. "Gege, I'm starting to think you just have abysmal luck," he laughed as he handed the letter back to him.

"I wouldn't call that bad luck, San Lang; I admit that I was wrong about the technique," he sighed dramatically into the pillows. Then he removed his earrings and held them out, palm up. "Here," he said. "Deal's a deal."

San Lang scooped them from his hand and held them up to the shimmering light of a butterfly on the table. "Well, in this instance, you could call it luck. We narrowed down the techniques he could have used to invoke the curse, but that didn't mean we could pinpoint which reversal technique would work against it. It really was just luck that I found that one."

"It wasn't luck that convinced me to write it in the letter. It was you," he replied, a bittersweet smile on his lips. "Thank you, San Lang. You saved my aunt."

A hint of red colored his cheeks. "I'm glad you don't have to worry over it anymore, gege," he murmured, then turned back to the book he was reading on the table. He still held the earrings in his hand, twisting them against each other.

With a small smile, Xie Lian went back to reading as well.

His worry for his family didn't diminish entirely, but knowing his aunt was cured took a weight off his shoulders. As time hastened on, boredom still crept up on him every once in a while; but now all Xie Lian had to do was look to Shi Qingxuan or San Lang, and he found it easily swept aside. His smiles came easier, now, and his laughter too.

When he tried hard enough, he could almost forget what had horrified him so much on his first week in the palace.

💀

Xie Lian threw his tangzhuang at the foot of his bed, but missed. With a sigh, he stared at it for a long minute, and then collapsed on the bed, too tired to care about hanging it up. 

For some reason, he'd agreed to race Shi Qingxuan that evening by the pond. In the dewy, sweet-smelling grass under the full moon, it had seemed like a decent idea, but once they started, Shi Qingxuan didn't want to stop. He'd said something about testing a monster hunter's speed and endurance against his own.

At least San Lang had been there, cheering him on. He never joined in, but they'd had a good amount of fun for a few hours.

After a quick wash, he was ready to sleep until the next week.

He was pulling back the sheets to his bed when there was a knock on his door.

His first thought was that San Lang had forgotten something; they'd spent some time in his room earlier that morning, when he claimed he wanted to hear Xie Lian play the guzheng.

Deciding that was probably all it was, he sang out, "Come in."

The knob jiggled as the door opened, and then Hua Cheng entered.

Xie Lian's face fell and his eyes widened as the vampire stepped through the threshold. Since when did he knock?

Hua Cheng's own expression withered at Xie Lian's look. "It's been two weeks," he said in lieu of a greeting and shut the door.

He blinked in surprise. Hua Cheng was right, but he hadn't noticed how quickly the days had gone by.

"Oh," he exhaled. The silence stretched on. Xie Lian awkwardly turned and smoothed the sheets back onto the bed, then sat on top of them.

Hua Cheng's shadow lengthened over the floor of the room as he walked closer to the bed, the night pearl on the table casting his right side in a stark, blue glow. He stopped in front of Xie Lian. "Your wrist again?" he asked.

Xie Lian stared up at him. "As opposed to...?"

"Your neck."

His eyebrows furrowed at how calm the interaction was, and that Hua Cheng was even asking what he wanted in the first place. He felt like snarking off just to return some sense of normalcy, but he let the idea go with a small sigh. It could only backfire on him.

"Or I could just bite you," Hua Cheng said impatiently, tired of waiting for a response. He stepped forward and pushed Xie Lian back onto the bed by his shoulders, his large figure looming over him.

His stomach flipped as his back hit the cool sheets. He mirrored Hua Cheng as he held him back with both hands on his shoulders. "My wrist! Fine- my wrist!" he shouted.

Hua Cheng's inky hair pooled down, curtaining Xie Lian's view of the rest of the room. The only thing to focus on was his face. As he stared, heart hammering in his chest as they strained against each other, Hua Cheng's steely expression broke with a small twitch of his lips.

He was laughing, Xie Lian thought, mortified. He pushed upwards with all his strength. "I told you, my wrist," he grunted again. "Move off."

With immense effort, since Hua Cheng seemed to play into being a dead weight, he shoved the vampire to the side.

Once he was pushed far enough away, Hua Cheng sat on the bed beside him on his own accord. "Your wrist, then," he stated, a lilt to his tone.

Xie Lian sat up and glared at him, but he still held his hand up between them, his palm turned towards the ceiling.

Hua Cheng gingerly took his hand in his and drew it closer to his side. With a large palm, he slid his sleeve further down his arm and held it there, then brought his wrist closer to his mouth.

Familiar with the process by now, Xie Lian looked away, his fingers twitching only momentarily at the sharp twinge of pain from the initial bite.

It dragged on longer than last time. Xie Lian blinked as he felt his sense of balance turn watery, and then he placed his other hand on the bed beside him, his fingers curling against the sheets.

Hua Cheng released him soon after his eyelids began to droop.

"You took more," he murmured.

"I waited two weeks," he answered, then curled his hand around Xie Lian's waist as he swayed forward.

"Ugh," he grunted, unsure if it was from how weak he felt or how Hua Cheng manhandled him into bed. He pulled back the sheets from under Xie Lian and then roughly shoved him against the pillows.

"You're so mean," he complained, turning onto his side. He shut his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to push away the cottony feeling in his mind.

"If I gave you an inch, you'd take a mile," Hua Cheng answered somewhere above him.

"No I wouldn't," he said despondently. Cool sheets pooled over his skin. "You're projecting."

Hua Cheng barked a quick laugh. "I hope you have nightmares of me."

Xie Lian rolled over to face the wall and tugged the sheets closer to his face. "I have enough awake," he muttered.

A strong grip seized his wrist and pulled.

Xie Lian's eyes snapped open. Hua Cheng stared him in the eye as he licked the inside of his wrist, his tongue collecting a stray line of blood that had fallen from the bite wound. "Wouldn't want to waste any," he said when he finished.

For a second, he was lost for words, his tongue tying up in his mouth as he gaped at him. Then he ripped his arm out of his hand and hissed, "Heal it next time, then!"

"Stop snatching your hand back so fast, then," he grumbled and reached for Xie Lian's arm again.

He glared at him as he healed the bite wound closed.

"No thank you?" Hua Cheng sneered.

"Go away," Xie Lian said, then fully turned to face the wall.

A huff of laughter echoed overhead. Then the bed lifted as Hua Cheng stood, his boots jingling in the heavy silence. Xie Lian listened to him cross the floor and the door snap shut behind him.

He pressed his face into the pillows, holding back the urge to scream.

💀

The next morning, Xie Lian woke with a pounding headache and the feeling he'd swallowed a whole cotton tube down his throat. On shaky legs, he stumbled to the kitchen to make something small to eat. Afterwards, he walked to the courtyard, curious about the time.

He found that the sun hadn't even risen yet. The only light came from the ghost fires, frolicking and blissfully unaware of his presence.

With a sigh, he let them be and retreated into the darkness of the hallway. He'd walked through it so much that all he needed was his hand on the wall to guide him, now, and only took his night pearl from his pocket when he felt like it.

He decided to doze off in the library. The large doors opened with only a whisper of a sound, but it disturbed the butterflies inside all the same. Xie Lian wasn't sure why they'd become a permanent fixture. Hua Cheng seemed to have some type of control over them- maybe he had ordered them to stay, or maybe they just liked the space to begin with.

Either way, he found them comforting companions as he nestled into the pillows of the small niche on the second floor.

"I don't think I'm going to read," he laughed as he felt a few tiny feet pull at his hair and his shirt. "I just came for a change of scenery."

The butterflies soon settled, and true to his word, Xie Lian started to drift off into sleep. However, he was interrupted by a bright light entering the library. He blinked open his eyes.

Shi Qingxuan hovered in front of him, his flames sullenly crackling in the air. "Xie Lian?" he asked.

"Mn?" He hummed, eyes half-lidded.

"I think- I want to ask for your help with my brother, now. If you'd still be willing."

Chapter Text

Xie Lian stared wide-eyed at the ghost fire. The blue glow from his flames licked over the library niche, drawing sharp, black lines where the shadows flickered.

"You're sure...?" he murmured, taken aback. He'd never thought Shi Qingxuan would ever let a monster hunter near his brother again, Xie Lian included.

He flared a little brighter. "I'm sure."

With a yawn, Xie Lian sat up on the pillows and blinked in the light. His headache rose to a crushing roar. "Alright," he said, rubbing his temples. "I can try. But why now?"

A chill intensified in his thigh as Shi Qingxuan hovered closer to his leg. His flames crackled in the silence, the echoes layering over each other until the whole room sounded ablaze.

Because of his somber attitude, Xie Lian wanted to reach out and pat his flame, hold him, anything- but he was a ghost fire, and his touched would only go right through him.

"I've been content to wait out the years," Shi Qingxuan started, his voice low and devoid of the cheery tune that normally rung within. Now he just sounded... hollow. "We died almost two hundred years ago, but nothing has changed in all that time. I'd hoped my brother could heal on his own, and didn't want to rush the process. But if Hua Cheng really has a plan to leave the palace, then he can't trap my brother here anymore."

"I never asked," he murmured, "What's your brother's name?"

"Shi Wudu," he answered, and even that sounded like a blow.

"It's a nice name," he said. He played with a fraying thread at the end of his sleeve. "Can you tell me more about what happened to you?"

The ghost fire dimmed until he gave off the light of a small candle. "Our parents died early," he said, voice barely above a whisper. "My brother took over the business- we were a merchant family, and he had a knack for risk. But then- my friend- I..." he stuttered and then fell silent.

"It's alright if you can't tell me more," Xie Lian said, his heart squeezing. He let go of the string. "I'm sorry for pushing you."

His flames shuddered. "You didn't- it's been two hundred years, you'd think I could tell the story by now. Hahaha," he said.

Xie Lian shook his head. "Everyone takes their own time," he murmured. "Do you want longer to think about this? I've only ever exorcised ghosts before- never guided them. I'm not sure I can do this."

"If he becomes a wrath again, he'll get exorcised, anyway," Shi Qingxuan replied, grimly honest. "But... I trust you. There were so many things you could have done to us ghost fires when you first came to palace. But you treated us all like we're human. I really believe that you'd do the best you can without exorcising him. And if it ends that way... then maybe I'll just have to accept that it was always inevitable."

Xie Lian swallowed and outstretched his hand, beckoning to one of the butterflies that flew through the library. "I'll try. I promise," he whispered. "You mentioned that Hua Cheng trapped your brother here. Do you know how?"

"He can warp the palace," he said. "I don't know how, and I don't know why, but when my brother chased He Xuan here, he changed the hallways so that Shi Wudu would always run and never find him. After a while, he'd go into the dormant state you saw, until something triggered his anger again."

A memory popped to the surface; Xie Lian remembered how the prison bars had disappeared when he'd traded his own freedom for his aunt's. Spatial manipulation wasn't unheard of, but Xie Lian wondered how Hua Cheng did it. As a spell, warping the hallways until a wrathful ghost grew tired would take an unfathomable amount of energy.

Quietly, Shi Qingxuan said, "I'm sorry to ask this of you."

Silver light stained the niche as a butterfly glided down and alighted on Xie Lian's hand. With a small smile, he held it closer to his chest. "You know, I became a monster hunter because I wanted to help people," he admitted, voice soft. "I'm not sure I've done a good job at that. But of course I want to help you. I think of all of you as human."

"All of us?" Shi Qingxuan repeated. Without a face to read, Xie Lian couldn't understand the strange tone in his voice. "Even the vampires?"

The butterfly's feet tickled his skin as it walked across his palm. He turned his hand with its movements as he studied it's pearlescent wings. "At first, no," he admitted. "I was raised to think differently. But my time here... has made me question a few things."

A sticky feeling rose in his stomach, thick and churning. Xie Lian shook his head, pushing it back down.

He whispered to the butterfly, "Will you lead me to books on ghosts? Especially those that haven't been written by monster hunters?"

The butterfly alighted into the air.

"I think questioning's good," Shi Qingxuan stated.

Xie Lian smiled. "I know you do," he said in a half-laugh and stood.

The tips of his flames crackled with a loud pop. "I should leave you to it," he said. "Two hundred years of waiting and I haven't found one useful thing about guiding wraths back to their natural selves. But if you have more questions... I'll try to answer."

He nodded to him. "I'll let you know."

Shi Qingxuan flew down to the first floor, the shadows slithering across the floor as he moved. When he left, the light receded to the dimmer, silver glow of the butterflies. There were less in the library today.

Xie Lian rubbed his temples, trying to forget the ache in his head. The butterfly circled above him. "Sorry," he murmured to it. "I'm ready now."

It led him to a few interesting books that he dissected back at the table. Curious of the authors, he flipped to the back of all of them. The first book was a set of poems written by a high-level ghost, and then he checked two novels and a compendium of monsters, all written by vampires.

Interest piqued, Xie Lian settled into a pile of pillows and fanned through the compendium with his thumb; it was a hefty tomb bound in maroon-stained leather. He stopped when he got to a page titled, Humans.

Due to their savage nature, humans have decimated most populations on Earth and continue their slow extermination decade by decade. During the last few centuries, their progress has exploded as they develop new technologies for pillaging the lands. Unless culled, they will continue-

Footsteps sounded on the metal staircase. Xie Lian finished his sentence and looked up.

A moment later, San Lang appeared around a bookshelf, carrying a clay teapot in one hand and two small cups in the other. His black robe cut a sleek silhouette in the silver light of the butterflies, accentuating his height, and his hair was tied back in a low ponytail. Xie Lian's earrings were a pop of color next to his pale cheeks.

"Good morning, San Lang," he chirped in a happy greeting, book forgotten. He looked over his outfit again- San Lang was so extravagant in expressing himself, always wearing a new style with different jewelry and a hairstyle to match.

Xie Lian admired it. Since being sworn in as a monster hunter, his wardrobe had mostly reduced to his uniform- and given that he'd only brought three with him to travel, they were becoming increasingly thread-worn with every wash. Laundry was a daily chore for him.

In fact, the shirt he wore today was the same one he'd covered in ink stains while studying the curse. He toyed with his sleeve as San Lang approached the table, rolling it back to hide the dark marks on the edge.

"Good morning, gege," he said, mirroring his smile. He set the teapot on the table and sat next to him. "Are you feeling alright? You look a little pale."

A nervous laugh escaped him. "Ah, I'm alright. Just recovering a little this morning."

San Lang's dark eyes moved back and forth minutely, studying him. "He bit you again?" he eventually asked. Xie Lian couldn't decipher the expression on his face. "Here, I brought tea, gege. It's good for energy and relieving headaches," he said and poured tea into one of the cups. He set it in front of Xie Lian.

A small smile stretched his lips as he reached for the cup. "Oh! Thank you," he said, the porcelain warming his numbed fingers. He glanced between the two cups. "Did you know I was here, then?"

"The ghost fires told me," he said, then poured his own cup and set the teapot down on the table. "It's no problem at all. Is there anything else I can get you? Did you already eat?"

He ducked his head, looking into the cup. Nervous energy built in his chest- it had been so long since he let anyone fuss over him. "I'm fine, really," he laughed.

"Gege," San Lang called, his voice sounding genuinely disappointed.

Xie Lian looked up, heat rising to his face. Why do you want to take care of me? he thought- until he saw his expression. San Lang's mouth was a thin line and his eyebrows were furrowed as he studied him.

His lips parted; he had so many thoughts racing through his mind and he wanted to say something, but he couldn't choose.

San Lang wasn't like Mu Qing or Feng Xin. He knew what to expect from them- Mu Qing always had something sharp to say and he was never one to coddle someone, despite being their party's official healer. But whenever Xie Lian was injured, he'd never let him hide it or overlook it, caring for his wounds with strict determination.

And while Feng Xin had a warmer disposition, he'd never been one for overt affection. Sure, he liked throwing his arm around Xie Lian's shoulders, but he reserved showing the true extent of his care in quiet; since they were childhood friends, he could anticipate Xie Lian's needs and left things out for him. If he needed more bandages, they were there. If he needed food or medicine, he'd find them at his bedside later.

With a clawing sense of guilt in his heart, Xie Lian suddenly felt he had never thanked them enough, and worried he'd never get the chance to.

But now someone else wanted to take care of him, and he wasn't sure how to let him.

"San Lang," he murmured, holding the warm cup closer to his chest. "I'm just feeling tired today, that's all. But... I would like it if you stayed here with me. I'd like the company."

He leaned back and blinked at him, his frown settling into something more neutral. "Really?" he asked.

Xie Lian smiled, but he couldn't feel it reach his eyes. Now that he'd thought about his missing friends, his mood had soured into something even worse than it was before. Loneliness squeezed his chest, worsened by the thought he might be using San Lang to fill it.

At war with himself, Xie Lian took a sip of his tea and tried pushing away his darker thoughts with the sutras his teacher had taught him. "Mn," he hummed.

San Lang settled, some of the tension draining from his shoulders as he relaxed against the table. "Alright, gege. I'll stay," he murmured. "What have you been reading?'"

Xie Lian placed his cup on the table and pulled the monster compendium between them. "Well, I'd just started reading this book-"

Once he saw it, San Lang's expression soured. Then he grabbed the book and tossed it to the side. The pages fluttered as it flew through the air, going so far as to fall over the railing to the first floor.

Xie Lian stared at him, slack-jawed. A distant thunk rang out as the book hit the floor.

"This book is trash, gege, I don't even know why it's still here-"

"Go get it," he ordered.

"What?"

They stared at each other, faces tensed and slightly shocked.

Xie Lian considered reneging, but then he crossed his arms over his chest and scowled. "San Lang, even if you don't agree with it, you shouldn't just throw it out. I wanted to see what they had to say on ghosts."

"The author's a narcissist that thinks vampires are an evolved species," he spat, mockery lacing his words. "You'd find better information just by asking the ghost fires."

His headache pulsed behind his eyes. Exhausted, Xie Lian leaned against the table and rubbed his temple. "Someone told me recently that it's a sign of ignorance to be so sure of your own perspective," he said.

San Lang stilled.

"So I'd like to read it, even if I think the perspective is trash, too," he continued. "Would you go get it? Please?"

San Lang's hand curled into a fist over the table, his expression screwed up as he weighed how to respond. There was something deeply satisfying about the conflicted look in his eyes; it seemed that his first instinct was to reject him, but the longer he stared at Xie Lian, the more his resolve crumbled.

Xie Lian covered his mouth with his hand, trying to hide his smile.

San Lang noticed anyway, his eyes widening as they darted from his hand back to his eyes. He stood in a jagged wave of motion, earrings shaking next to his face. "Fine!" he spat, then sharply turned toward the staircase. Before he completely disappeared, Xie Lian thought he saw a slight tinge of red on his cheeks.

He muffled his laugh into his hand.

When he returned with the book, he tossed it onto the table. "There, gege, I got the trash book," he grumbled.

"Thank you, San Lang," he said with a smile and reached for it.

San Lang dropped into the pillows next to him, a scowl still on his face. "Why're you suddenly so interested in ghosts?" he asked. He laid on his back and stretched his arms up, then folded his hands beneath his head.

Xie Lian opened the book and smoothed out the pages. "Shi Qingxuan asked if I could help his brother," he answered.

His expression tensed even further, his eyes narrowing. "That situation's a hornet's nest, gege. He shouldn't get you involved."

"He asked and I accepted," he replied. Slowly, he flipped through the book, looking for a page on ghosts. "He's worried about what will happen if Hua Cheng does manage to free himself from the palace. If he's not around to trap Shi Wudu anymore, then he'll escape and wreck havoc elsewhere. It will only be a matter of time before someone exorcises him."

"That's not what you plan to do?"

Xie Lian's hand froze over the page. He felt like he'd missed a step- he thought San Lang understood by now that exorcising the ghost fires was the last thing he wanted to do. He shook his head to snap himself from the thought.

"No," he answered. "Exorcism risks destroying the soul. Shi Qingxuan wants to go back into the reincarnation wheel with him."

"He's a wrath ghost for a reason. The only thing keeping his soul tethered here is because he wants revenge. Do you plan to help him?" San Lang's expression was steely; he seemed especially ready to argue over this topic. Xie Lian wondered what bothered him so much about it.

"No," he repeated and went back to flipping through the book. "I have to convince him to give up on revenge."

The tension released from San Lang's expression, and then he laughed, low and deep.

A dark feeling settled in Xie Lian's stomach. "You don't think I can do it?"

He shook his head, eyes crinkling with a smile, "Why are you always so determined to do the impossible? If anyone else had said that to me, I'd laugh them out of the palace. But you? I might be willing to bet on it."

"Don't lie," he muttered. "If you think it can't be done, then what difference does it make if I try it or someone else does?"

San Lang sat up and dragged himself closer, his ponytail swaying over his shoulder. "Gege," he cooed, smile evident in his voice, "It makes all the difference."

Xie Lian scowled at the book, refusing to look at him. "I don't get it."

He reached over the book and began flipping large chunks of pages for Xie Lian, stopping when he reached an entry on ghosts. "Let me study with you," he said, then leaned back and rested his jaw on his knuckles.

"So you can remind me its impossible?"

"If you get discouraged," he said. "But I don't think you will. I want to watch you figure it out."

He withered. "I might disappoint you. I've never tried this before."

San Lang shrugged. "How can you disappoint me if I already think it's impossible?"

"How motivational," Xie Lian muttered. He wrinkled his nose and started reading the entry on ghosts.

San Lang dramatically collapsed. "You know what I mean," he sighed.

Xie Lian stared at his back, curled over the lip of the low table. His shoulder blades protruded as two sharp ridges beneath his robes, pulling the fabric taught, as he stretched his arms out over the other side.

"I know," he admitted. "And I'd be happy if you joined me. I just worry that you'll be bored. I don't know how long this will take, or even what I'm looking for."

San Lang turned his head, one eye peeking at Xie Lian over his shoulder. "I'm never bored with gege," he said, voice muffled against his robes.

Xie Lian's lips parted as he met his assured gaze. "...me neither," he whispered.

The corner of his eye crinkled up.

💀

Like he'd expected, Xie Lian didn't make progress quickly.

The only way to guide a ghost back into the reincarnation wheel was to make it give up on it's final wish. This could be done with an exorcism, but if the ghost was particularly stubborn, it would shatter it's soul if it refused to give up.

He was certain if he attempted an exorcism on Shi Wudu, it would result in the latter. So that was completely off the table.

But how could he guide someone he had never met into giving up on revenge?

The answer continued to stymie him as the breeze developed a chill. The leaves yellowed, then turned fiery, and thick fog often enveloped the garden in the mornings.

Autumn broke across the manor in a brilliant blaze of red.

💀

Xie Lian's eyes shot open, his breaths coming in short gasps.

He grabbed fistfuls of his shirt, just over his heart, as he fumbled for whatever was pressing on his chest. It was so hard to breathe.

There was nothing there.

His lungs felt so weak. Air scratched his dry throat, filling the room with a rough gasping sound as he turned onto his side. The blankets tangled around his legs and he had to lie still for a moment, gathering his strength to properly free himself.

Fingers twisting in the sheets, Xie Lian pushed himself away from the bed to sit up, his arms shaking with effort. Everything felt numb against his skin and his thoughts were slow as molasses.

It was as if his tether to the world had loosened, like he was puppeting his body from afar.

Fighting to stay awake, he blinked his eyes and tried to focus his blurry vision. He was in his room, alone. Nothing looked out of place.

Like a jagged strip of lightning piercing the night, his foggy mind resounded with a single thought: He fed on me.

Numb nausea crawled over his skin. He didn't remember it happening. Hua Cheng must have come while he slept, and despite having a vampire enter his room and feed on him, Xie Lian hadn't woken up.

Had he grown so comfortable in the palace?

With cold fingers, he rubbed his forehead and then he shook his head. He needed to focus on one crisis at a time. 

He lowered his hand and glanced at his wrist, but the skin was unmarred. Frowning, he checked his other wrist. It was the same.

He felt his neck, but he couldn't feel a bite mark anywhere on his skin.

Dull panic laced through his veins. Was he wrong? Was there something else causing this?

He scrambled to the edge of the bed. As he tried to stand, his sense of balance utterly evaporated and his knees failed. His stomach flipped as he fell, his arms thrown awkwardly out to the sides.

The nightstand swirled closer in his vision.

Crack.

Xie Lian curled in on himself when he hit the floor, one hand cradling his head. He shivered with pain as searing light exploded behind his eyes, then slowly faded as the ache grew more intense.

While he writhed, he thought, You idiot. He healed the bite wound closed, just like he normally does.

Xie Lian wanted to cry. He wanted to laugh. He wanted to throw up.

Distantly, he registered the chill of the floor creeping through his clothes.

Weird. His hand was hot.

Xie Lian blinked his eyes open against the pain, then drew his hand away from his head.

Red. His hand was covered in blood.

No. He shuddered, his heart stalling in his chest. The floor speckled with blood as it began to rush down the side of his face. No no no no, not now.

Smeared handprints covered the sheets as he struggled to stand. Walking was worse- he swayed with every step, his breaths coming in short gasps.

It was hard to think through the panic. Xie Lian leaned against the wall as he caught his breath.

He prodded the side of his head with his fingers, trying to piece together what had happened. He found a sore spot near his temple, and then the shallow gash near his hairline. From the blood on the nightstand, he'd split his head on the corner of it.

In normal circumstances, it wouldn't be alarming beyond the concussion risk. But head wounds were serious bleeders, and Xie Lian didn't know how much he could spare in his current state.

He grit his teeth and flattened his palm against the wound, applying pressure even as his eyes watered. There were bandages in the bathroom- he could wrap it up there.

Xie Lian opened the door to the yawning darkness of the hallway. His night pearl was back on the nightstand, but he didn't want to waste the time to fetch it. Instead, he set out into the black, his hand dragging on the wall as he used it to stumble forward.

Blood continued to drip down the side of his face, curling around his jaw and down the curve of his neck. Unease crept over his skin as it spread to his shirt, sickly warm against the cool shadows of the manor.

Finally, he felt the heavy curtain he'd replaced the bathroom door with. He brushed it aside and entered the dark room. The heat of the pool emanated within, warming him as he kneeled in front of the low cabinet and fumbled inside for the bandages.

A smooth packet slipped from his hands and he felt blindly for it on the floor. He regretted leaving behind his night pearl.

Silver light slowly illuminated the floor, the bloodied packet gleaming white. It was a package of masks- not the gauze he'd been hoping for.

With a sigh, he looked up. A butterfly glided to rest on the counter of the low cabinet above him. "Thank you," he murmured to it in a rough voice.

He continued to dig through the cabinet. Footsteps sounded in the hallway, growing closer. Someone was running.

The curtain swung open violently, San Lang crashing into the room with a panicked urgency. He ran to Xie Lian and kneeled beside him, holding him still by the shoulder. "Gege?" he gasped, his other hand coming up to hover by the side of his head. "What happened?"

As Xie Lian stared at him, taking in his messy hair and worried expression, warmth spread in his chest. He distantly realized it was relief. He leaned back against the open cabinet door, the hinges creaking with his weight.

"San Lang," he murmured, eyes falling closed as a wave of tension left his body. It hurt to breath; it hurt to talk. His mouth was so dry that his throat felt raw. He blinked open his eyes, trying to stay focused.

San Lang found the package of sterile gauze and ripped it open. Xie Lian removed his palm from his head and silently pointed to where the gash was.

As he pressed the gauze to the wound, Xie Lian grimaced against the pain.

"I know, gege. Bear it just a little longer," he said, tone shaking on the last word. The blurry image of his face swam just above him.

Xie Lian blinked, willing his eyes to focus. San Lang's face was pinched with worry, his eyebrows furrowed and his eyes wide as he studied him. He met Xie Lian's gaze. "Still here with me, gege?"

"Mn," he hummed.

"Good," he exhaled, then applied another piece of gauze. "Are you alright? What happened?"

His throat clicked as he swallowed. Then, roughly, he said, "Dizzy, this morning. I fell. Hit my head."

San Lang's expression screwed up even worse. "I'm sorry, gege," he breathed out.

"What for?" Xie Lian murmured, eyes fixed on his face.

San Lang blinked, then said, "That it happened to you."

He studied him for a moment longer and then closed his eyes.

"Gege?"

"I'm awake," he murmured. "Just tired. Cold."

San Lang didn't answer. Xie Lian felt him move, and then he was wrapping bandages around his head.

His headache swelled from the pressure, the ache becoming a dull roar. His nose crinkled as he shut his eyes harder against the pain.

San Lang finished tying off the bandages. "All done," he murmured.

Xie Lian opened his eyes, San Lang hovering in front of him. "I'm going to clean the rest of the blood off, and then I'll take you somewhere more comfortable, okay?"

He gave a weak nod.

As quickly as he blinked, San Lang was gone. There was the sound of water, and then a warm, wet rag dragged across his face, gently swiping down his cheek. Xie Lian tilted his head to the side to give him better access.

The rag dipped lower, over his jaw and down the line of his neck. After a moment of hesitation, it followed one of his collarbones and briefly raked beneath the collar of his shirt.

San Lang threw the rag to the side. It hit the tile with a sharp slap.

Xie Lian took a deep breath, gathering his strength to stand. As he moved to sit up and stop leaning on the cabinet door, a hand rested on his shoulder.

San Lang kneeled beside him. "Hang on, gege."

He stared at him, confused. Then San Lang picked him up in a bridal carry, his arms slotting beneath his knees and back.

With a gasp, Xie Lian fisted the front of San Lang's robes. "I can walk!" he cried, voice strangled and weak.

San Lang settled him against his chest and gave him a withering look. "Really?" he asked, deadpan.

Xie Lian stared at him, his lips parted as he thought of an argument. It died on his tongue as San Lang continued to hold him in the air effortlessly, his arms not even quivering.

"This is fine," he eventually muttered. Xie Lian dropped his head onto his shoulder, his forehead tucked against his neck. The bandages separated their skin, but he could feel his warmth bleed through.

San Lang carried him out of the bathroom, but he didn't walk far. He got Xie Lian to open the door to a storage room in the same hallway. The butterfly had followed them and flew inside, revealing boxes and barrels piled high to the ceiling.

He furrowed his eyebrows. "Why here?" he asked in a dry rasp.

"It's close," San Lang answered and kicked the door close. "And there's more to it." He shimmied them through a thin passageway left between the boxes. It dumped them into a small, cluttered alcove at the back of the room.

A brick fireplace stood against the far wall, the mantle covered with various trinkets and porcelain sculptures. In front of it was a low table and western-style couch with wooden claw feet.

San Lang laid him on the couch. The shimmery green linen was thread-bare, revealing white canvas beneath. Xie Lian tilted his head up. Balanced on a side table by the arm of the couch was a stuffed, exotic cat, its glass eyes slightly crooked. It's mouth was open in a pitiable attempt to recreate a snarl.

"What is that poor creature?" he asked.

"I think it's supposed to be an ocelot," he said. "Something from the western world."

He reached up to feel the fur. It was bristly and stiff, which he assumed reflected more on the chemicals used to preserve it.

San Lang rummaged through a few of the crates before pulling out a thick, grey blanket. He snapped it into the air to unfold it, then let it gently float down over the couch.

Xie Lian pulled the woolen blanket closer to his chin, settling in. It smelled strange, like someone had tried to wash away the scent of a barn animal but couldn't quite get it out.

San Lang rested his hand on Xie Lian's shin, prompting him to look up. "I'll go fetch a few more things, gege. I'll be back soon."

Xie Lian blinked at him. "What else do you need?"

"Some firewood, so you're warm, and I'll make tea. Or do you want to rest somewhere else?"

Tea sounded heavenly. Xie Lian shook his head. "Thank you, San Lang- I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble."

The corners of his eyes tightened, giving him a somber look. "Not at all, gege," he whispered, squeezing his leg one last time. Then he was gone, engulfed into the shadows of the passageway.

The butterfly remained in the room, perched on the mantel of the fireplace. Xie Lian untucked his arm from the blanket and held his hand out to it.

With a short pump of it's wings, it took off from the mantel and glided to his hand.

He rested on his side, staring at it with half-lidded eyes. "Did you tell San Lang I was hurt?" he asked it, voice barely recognizable as a graveled whisper. "He came so fast..."

His thoughts muddied, swirling together as his eyelids fully dropped closed. When he dreamed of San Lang, his eyes were red.

Chapter Text

The first thing he noticed was the pain- or rather, the lack of it. Instead of the slick, knife-sharp ache behind his eyes, Xie Lian was met only by the occasional dull throb.

He let out a sigh as he stretched, gradually taking in the sensations of his body. It was incredibly warm beneath the wool blanket, and he didn't feel as awful as he'd expect. He kicked a firm lump at the end of the couch.

His eyes snapped open.

San Lang stared at him from the other end of the couch, a book balanced loosely between his fingers. The brick fireplace crackled with a roaring fire and the amber light spun gold through his mussed hair. Despite being pulled back into a braid, thin sections had fallen loose and framed his pale face. They swayed as he spoke. "Gege?" he asked, voice soft. "How are you feeling?" He placed his hand over Xie Lian's shin, who had unknowingly shoved his feet into his lap.

Embarrassed, he moved his legs back and sat up against the stiff arm of the couch. His head squeezed once, the pressure intensifying for a brief moment, before it broke and fizzled away. "Better, I think," he rasped, throat dry.

San Lang sprang from the couch. He laid his book on the table face-down to preserve the page and said, "That's good, gege." He crossed in front of the fireplace and took a small cloth from the inside of his robe; he used it to grab the handle of a teapot hanging from a metal stand close to the fire. Then he brought it to the lacquered tray on the low table and prepared tea for them.

Xie Lian relaxed against the couch, his eyes falling half-lidded. He flexed his fingers in thought. While he still felt a bit weak, his symptoms aligned more with how he felt the day after Hua Cheng drank from him. It was almost like he'd never hit his head at all.

San Lang finished and stepped around the table to hand him a small, white porcelain cup. "Here," he murmured.

Xie Lian cupped it from the bottom with a whispered, "Thank you." He blew over the top, disturbing the steam that energetically wafted over the lip.

A resounding thunk echoed through the room as the wood on the fire shifted. San Lang retreated back to fix it and add another log, and then he returned to perch on the corner of the table, the fire haloing his form in gold. He remained quiet as Xie Lian drank down his cup, burning his tongue at first but unable to stop, blissful relief filling him as he finally wet his dry mouth. When he finished, San Lang refilled his cup.

Tension drained from his shoulders as Xie Lian held the cup to his chest, warming his fingers. "How long was I asleep?" he asked, voice considerably smoother.

"A few hours," he answered, leaning back with his palms flat on the table. "You should take it slow today. You probably have a concussion."

Xie Lian reached up to feel the bandages around his head. He felt little pain as he pressed over his temple.

"Careful-" San Lang warned him, eyebrows furrowing.

"You changed the bandages?"

He hesitated, his eyes darting over Xie Lian's face. "Mn," he hummed. "I wanted to check the bleeding."

He had done more than that, Xie Lian knew. He'd healed him.

In his line of work, miracles didn't exist. Sustaining such a blow to the head should have meant waking up to the feeling of a dagger behind his eyes, nausea that had him puking his guts out, and an awful lump on his head. He knew this intimately from experience.

But now? He felt well enough to run a lap around the palace.

There was only one possible explanation for this, and San Lang wasn't admitting to it.

Xie Lian focused his attention on drinking his tea, unsure of how to broach the subject. If he didn't want to tell him, then Xie Lian didn't want to force him, but why keep it a secret in the first place?

When he emptied his cup again, San Lang silently refilled it.

Xie Lian stared into the tea, his distorted face reflecting over the ripples. He looked paler than he remembered.

"Hua Cheng drank from me in my sleep," he murmured.

Tension filled the air beside him. San Lang set the teapot onto the tray with a dull clack, his movements slow and measured. "That's why you fell?" he asked, crossing one leg over the other.

"Yes and no. He healed the bite mark. When I couldn't find it, I panicked and tried to stand up too fast," he explained. "But... I think he took too much, too. I'd never felt that weak before- it was so hard to breathe."

San Lang swallowed, the gulp of his throat audible over the fire. "He shouldn't have tried that," he said. "It was stupid."

"Mn," Xie Lian hummed, then took a sip of tea. "It's not like he listened to me when he drank before, but- maybe there were certain signs he looked for to know when to stop. Signs that weren't there while I was sleeping."

A beat of silence passed between them, punctuated by the sharp crackling of the fire.

"I'll talk to Yin Yu about it, gege. He can tell Hua Cheng not to try it again."

Xie Lian nodded his head. The air between them had grown incredibly awkward; they usually never spoke about this beyond passing mention.

Their friendship had been built on the unspoken agreement to distract one another. After helping him cure his aunt, they'd thrown themselves into various hobbies, acting and talking like two people who were on vacation in the countryside and not hostages in a vampire's castle.

After all, if you can't bear to look at an approaching storm, why not just close your eyes?

Xie Lian ran his thumb over the smooth lip of the cup. He'd wanted to forget his fear of the palace so much, he'd buried it deep within his chest, hoping things had changed when he found San Lang. But as much as he enjoyed his company, it couldn't take away everything that ate at his heart.

"I wonder what he was thinking," he murmured.

San Lang twined his fingers together in his lap. "Who?" he asked. "Hua Cheng?"

"Mn," he hummed. "He was horrible to me the first week. But then he reclused himself so much I barely saw him, and now he doesn't even want to wake me to feed."

"I don't know, gege," he replied in a thin voice.

When silence descended over them again, he let the topic drop. San Lang was clearly uncomfortable, and for his own part, Xie Lian couldn't clearly explain anything he felt on the matter.

He picked at the collar of his shirt. Blood stained part of it, stiffening the fabric. "San Lang, are there any extra clothes in the palace I can borrow? I keep ruining mine."

San Lang perked up at this. "Closets-full," he answered. "But there are actually some stored in here. You can have your pick."

Xie Lian blinked at him. "Really?" he murmured. "Are there that many?"

"This is a palace, after all," he laughed. "It would have needed enough clothes for the servants, and the visitors, and the advisors, and not to mention the ruler, who was a bit materialistic."

San Lang hopped up from the table and moved between the boxes. He climbed to the top of one of the stacks.

"Be careful," Xie Lian called. He curled his knees to his chest and threw one arm over the back of the couch to watch him.

"I will," he sang. He cracked open the lid to the top box and made a face. The lid fell with a puff of dust as he dropped it back, and then he pushed the box from the top of the stack. It fell to the other side of the room with a loud crash.

"San Lang!" he laughed in shock. "What are you breaking?"

"Just junk, gege, don't worry about it." He pulled open the lid for another box. "Ah, here," he muttered, then began to pull out a few robes.

Since they were in a palace, Xie Lian worried what junk it might be. But he couldn't think about it for long- San Lang started throwing some of the robes down to him.

He almost spilled his tea cup as he hurried to set it on the table, then readied himself to catch the rest.

He lost count of how many San Lang threw down- it seemed endless. Underneath a large pile, he asked, "How many are there!?"

"Just a few more," came a muffled response. The next few robes covered the last of his vision.

Whoever had stored the robes had placed dried herbs and flowers in the box to keep out insects. The scent had turned musty with time, giving the robes a truly unpleasant smell. "San Lang," he whined.

A fwump sounded next to the couch, and then the robes were pulled away from his head.

He blinked in the light. San Lang hovered above him, his face breaking open in a crooked smile. "Hi, gege," he laughed.

Like it was contagious, Xie Lian couldn't stop the smile that spread across his face, too. "Hi," he whispered back.

San Lang helped pull the robes off of him. They moved the tea set and piled them on the table, but there were so many that a few spilled onto the floor.

Xie Lian picked through the pile, overwhelmed by his choices.

San Lang looked slightly disappointed. "There's prettier things in the west wing- these might all be servant clothes."

"I don't mind," Xie Lian replied. A white robe caught his attention. He pulled it from the pile and held it up to the light of the fire. It was completely plain- like San Lang had noticed, it must've just been a servant's robe. But perhaps this servant had been higher ranking. The robe was made of good-quality cotton and had held up well against time.

He threw it on over his clothes, testing the fit. The sleeves would need to be taken in a bit, but he didn't need to hem it.

Beside him, San Lang also tried on a robe. He turned to Xie Lian and splayed out his arms dramatically.

"What is that?" he gasped.

Tassels of all colors had been sown into the collar and hems of a rather gaudy robe. San Lang shook, making them swing back and forth wildly.

Xie Lian doubled over with laughter. "That can't be a servant's robe," he said between gasps.

"Maybe the court jester," he said.

They took their robes off and tried on more. Xie Lian found a few he liked, and luckily discovered a few pairs of trousers and shirts he could use beneath.

Later on, San Lang climbed back up to the top boxes and found a needle kit they could use to hem the robes with. Xie Lian had seen Mu Qing stitch his clothes plenty of times before, so he was excited to try it.

It was not as easy as he made it look.

"San Lang," he cried, looking at his messy line of stitches.

Sitting beside him on the couch, San Lang looked over and laughed.

Heat rushed to his face. "It's really that bad?"

"I'm sure you'll get better with practice," he chuckled.

Xie Lian heaved a sigh.

He did not get better with practice.

💀

Xie Lian's footsteps echoed through the hallways as he ran, quick and thunderous. His sword thumped against his back and he clutched a sheaf of papers closer to his chest. He called out, "San Lang!"

He couldn't find him in the studio or the library, and now he was running out of places to look. Normally, he didn't have to go searching for him; they would meet by chance, or San Lang would find him with the help of the ghost fires. They didn't avoid him like they did Xie Lian, and they gossiped enough to know who was where and what was going on in the palace at all times of the day.

He headed into the gardens. It had been windy that day with the remnants of a storm blowing through. Now that night had descended, the breeze carried a chill and the clouds broke across the sky, allowing twinkling patches of stars to shine through.

The moon gleamed like a round mirror above, marking the end of the third month he'd been stuck at the palace.

A soft breeze stirred the hem of his white robe, carrying the scent of begonias. Xie Lian rolled the papers in his hand as he settled into a walk to navigate the tall hedges.

"San Lang?" he called again.

A fair distance away, he heard "Gege?" shouted back.

Smiling, he rushed over.

He found San Lang crouched over a blooming patch of chrysanthemums. He'd pulled off the top of his outer of his robe and it hung from his waist, the red pooling against the dirt as his white inner robe sparkled in the moonlight. Clumps of pulled weeds and dirt lay at his feet.

"San Lang!" he called with a grin, and then crouched next to him in the dirt.

His hand stilled over another weed. He turned his head, his ponytail sweeping across his back like spilled ink. "Gege," he said, a small smile curling his lips. "You look excited. What happened?"

Xie Lian held the papers out. After his earlier manhandling, they were a little wrinkled. "I found this in the music section of the library! It's a song spell. One that let's you enter people's dreams!"

San Lang wiped his hands on his robe and took the papers. He quickly scanned the pages. "Who's dreams are you interested in, gege?" he asked, then offered them back.

"Shi Wudu's!"

His eyes widened, and then he blinked, clearly thinking over all the implications of the spell. "It's risky, gege," he murmured. "We can't know what state of mind Shi Wudu's in. If this works, then the minute he sees you in his dream, he might mark you as an enemy."

"I know, San Lang. I'm prepared for that," he said, gesturing to the sword on his back. "But in order to make him give up on his revenge, I need to talk to him. If he really has retreated into a dream state, then we could talk there without the threat of anyone else getting hurt."

San Lang ripped up another weed as he thought it over. "Do you have a plan to leave if the dream turns dangerous?" he asked.

"If someone breaks my concentration on the spell, it will end, and I'll be pulled out," he answered. "I was going to ask you to watch over me while I cast the spell. If I get hurt in the dream, the same injury will appear on my body. I'd leave it up to you to decide when I need to come out."

He pulled up the last of the weeds he could reach and then said, "Alright, gege. You want to try it now?"

Xie Lian nodded. "That's why I came to find you."

They stood and left the garden. San Lang pulled the top of his robes back on and resecured his belt. The sash was decorated by a thin, silver chain that jingled as they walked.

Xie Lian pulled his night pearl from a pocket in his sleeve when they entered the palace. However, he smothered the light in his hand once the courtyard came in sight, throwing the hallway into darkness.

"Gege?" San Lang called, his footsteps halting beside him.

Xie Lian whispered, "Can you ask the ghost fires to bring Shi Qingxuan here? I haven't asked him if we can try this yet."

"You don't like talking to them?" he asked, frown evident in his voice.

"They don't like talking to me," he groaned. "Ever since they found out I was a monster hunter, the only ghost fire who will talk to me is Shi Qingxuan."

"Oh," San Lang exhaled.

"It's fine," he said. He found his arm in the darkness and patted it. "I don't blame them- I know how most monster hunters are with ghost fires. Of course they'd be scared."

"But you're not like that."

Xie Lian's grip tightened on the night pearl as he stared into the shadows. He wanted to let go and see San Lang's expression, but the ghost fires' laughter drifted down the hallway in their silence. If they saw him, they would all scatter.

However, the darkness also gave him courage. "I'm not sure what I'm like," he whispered. "I've done it before- exorcised them outside of the palace."

There was a beat of quiet. San Lang asked, "Why didn't you exorcise these ghost fires?"

He took a breath, and then said, "I hate it."

"You hate it?"

"Yes. If they don't give up on their last wish, their souls shatter." His voice thinned, sickness scraping his guts. "Have you ever heard that? They scream, sometimes, and it sounds so painful. I really... I hate having to do it."

"Why did you?" San Lang asked.

"I didn't get to choose my jobs. My father managed the assignments for the hunters under the Xie family," he answered. "...If I had told him about that, he would've sent me on more exorcising missions. Monster hunters aren't supposed feel guilt. They're just supposed to protect humans."

A firm grip squeezed his shoulder. "I understand," he whispered.

Despite the chill of the shadows, warmth filled Xie Lian's chest. His guilt was never something he could talk about- not even to Feng Xin or Mu Qing. He could barely admit it to himself, sometimes.

Tongue-tied, he stared into the void where San Lang would be.

The hand fell from his shoulder. Footsteps echoed in the hallway as San Lang walked to the courtyard, the dark silhouette of his form gradually growing stronger in the light. When he stepped into the moonlight beyond the eaves, the ghost fires immediately crowded in a circle around him.

Concealed in the darkness, Xie Lian was too far away to hear what he said. His mouth moved silently as he crossed his arms over his chest, his expression falling into a steely look.

The ghost fires scattered. San Lang looked back to him and shouted, "Gege, you can come out."

Xie Lian stored his night pearl in his sleeve and walked into the moonlight, dried leaves crunching beneath his feet. "They'll fetch him?" he asked.

San Lang nodded. His hair swept across his shoulder with the breeze.

Xie Lian resisted shivering. "I'll get set up," he said. "I don't think Shi Qingxuan will be opposed to this plan."

He fetched the guzheng from his room. By the time he returned, Shi Qingxuan was floating in the courtyard next to San Lang.

Xie Lian smiled as he stepped into the grass. "Shi Qingxuan! I think I've found a way to talk to Shi Wudu!"

"San Lang was explaining it to me!" he said, flaring brighter. "You just need me to break the spell if you're in danger?"

His steps faltered.

San Lang looped his finger through the end of his ponytail. "The paper did say that multiple people could enter the dream," he stated.

"It does," he admitted. He stopped by the pond and set the guzheng in the grass. Shi Wudu sat just before him, graceful and empty as ever. "Are you sure you want to enter as well? If we're killed in the dream, we won't just die- our souls will be shattered, and we won't be able to enter the reincarnation wheel."

"So you admit it now that I want to help you, but not when you were explaining it earlier?" He sighed. "I know. All the more reason you should have someone with you."

"What?!" Shi Qingxuan exclaimed. "That sounds dangerous."

At that, San Lang raised his eyebrow and looked at Xie Lian expectantly.

He smiled nervously, then looked to Shi Qingxuan. "That's why we'll have you to look out for us, right? You'll pull us out if we're injured too badly?"

Shi Qingxuan flared brighter, chasing away the shadows beneath the eaves. "Yeah!" he yelled.

Xie Lian settled onto his knees before the guzheng with a sigh. "Alright, San Lang. Come sit beside me."

With a crooked smile, San Lang kneeled beside him in the grass.

He focused his attention on Shi Wudu as he placed the ivory picks on his fingers. "Ready?" he murmured.

San Lang nodded. 

Shi Qingxuan came to hover at his other side. "Don't worry, I won't take my eyes off of you," he said.

The first note warbled through the air, drowning out the crickets and frogs croaking along the bank. It was quickly followed by half-notes, and then the tune grew faster, staccato notes chasing into the night air.

Xie Lian's fingers danced across the strings as he felt his senses narrow; it was as if he was being taken by vertigo, and then his vision blacked out completely.

The tune followed him into the darkness.

💀

They stood in a neatly cultivated courtyard. Gravel paths separated garden beds overflowing with exotic flowers and white walls enclosed the space. Circular doorways were carved out at each cardinal point.

Xie Lian tilted his head up. Above them shimmered the sky, absent of any sun, moon, or stars. It continually shifted between navy and purple hues, unlike anything he'd ever seen before.

Gravel crushed beneath San Lang's feet as he walked forward. "I don't see anyone here," he said. "Is there a certain way you wanted to approach him?"

He pinched his chin between his fingers. "Well, I don't think I'd really know how to handle it until we see what state he's in."

"We'll stick close together, then." he replied.

"Mn," he hummed.

Xie Lian followed San Lang as they walked towards one of the circular doorways. Before they could leave the courtyard, however, someone walked into view.

San Lang immediately placed himself in front of Xie Lian. He had to rise to the balls of his feet to see over his shoulder, his hand going to his sword.

The person who entered the courtyard didn't spare them a single glance. His form was a soft, faded blue that rippled like water. He passed them without a sound, his footsteps never disturbing the gravel.

San Lang turned and met Xie Lian's gaze.

"Part of the dream?" Xie Lian guessed.

San Lang shrugged his shoulders.

They continued on, exploring the manor slowly. The hallways were a mixture of rich, lacquered wood work and painted ceramics. Embroidered silks hung from the ceilings, billowing in a non-existent breeze. They encountered a few more people, but like the first man, their images were always faded out, and they never seemed to notice them.

"Gege," San Lang called. "Look at this."

Xie Lian closed the heavy doors of an entertainment hall and rounded the hallway corner. San Lang leaned against a window, his hand balanced on the lattice grid. He quickened his step to fall into place beside him.

The earth fell away in chunks outside of the manor. Beyond it lay the strange sky, which stretched down endlessly into a black void.

"If this manor's all that exists, then at least we don't have to search a whole world for Shi Wudu," he said optimistically.

San Lang laughed, the corners of his eyes crinkling up. "Mn. Who knows how long that would take." He drew away from the window.

They walked side by side down the hallway. An arched bridge formed at the end of it, connecting to another building within the manor's compound. The river beneath them rushed past and fell into the sky, separating into a fine mist.

Spotting a set of double doors, Xie Lian rushed forward to open them.

Inside was a magnificent library. There was only one floor, and even that was half as large as the palace's, but the dark bookshelves were completely filled with neat lines of white books. Oil lamps and small paper lanterns cast a warm glow over the space, and expensive incense was lit somewhere within.

It was so tidy and organized, Xie Lian thought it must never be used. He stepped closer to one of the shelves, wanting to read the book titles.

"You there," a sharp voice rang out.

On the left wall of the library was a small, open door. A large desk took up most of the view inside the doorway, stacked high with papers. Half of a man's face was just barely visible overtop of them, his narrowed black eyes staring Xie Lian down in such a venomous glare he froze to the spot. His hair was tied back and decorated by a beautiful silver guan.

Shi Wudu.

He beckoned him closer with a quick wave of his hand.

Xie Lian glanced at San Lang, curious if he'd take the chance to hide- Shi Wudu hadn't seen him yet. But he followed Xie Lian into the small study, and Shi Wudu's expression seized into a terrible snarl.

"What are you two doing, wandering around out of uniform? This manor isn't some museum for you to gawk at," he snapped, mostly glaring at Xie Lian.

He blanched and straightened his posture. Beside him, San Lang kept his hands clasped behind his back and his eyes down, but his jaw clenched.

Shi Wudu looked at them both analytically, like he was appraising their worth.

He thinks we're servants, he realized.

Xie Lian bowed. "Apologies," he murmured. "We're new, and couldn't find the head servant to lead us to the right place."

"That's no excuse," he hissed and stood from his chair, his palms hitting the desk so hard the papers shook. He wore the same opulent robes as his ghost form in the courtyard. "You should have waited in the yard. Did Qingxuan hire you?" He'd grown so angry that he snapped his fan open and waved it in his reddening face. "I should fire you both."

Around them, the manor began to shake. Shi Wudu didn't seem to notice, but some of the scrolls on his desk began to lift into the air and the oil lamps flickered.

Xie Lian dropped to his knees on the hardwood floor and kowtowed. "It was a mistake," he pleaded. "Please, we're hard workers, we'll make up for it tenfold."

Silently, San Lang dropped to a kowtow beside him.

The manor settled and the oil lamps resumed burning as normal. He exhaled his held breath in relief.

Shi Wudu snapped his fan closed. The room was deadly silent as he glared at the both of them, his gaze as heavy as steel, but the pressure faded as he sat down in his chair. "Fine," he muttered. "I'll allow you to make up for it. If you slack in any way, I'll throw you back out in the streets. Get up."

They rose to their feet, eyes cast at the floor.

"The servant's quarters are attached to the western building. Do not enter through the main hall. There is a doorway for you in the back. It leads to the kitchens and where you'll sleep. You," he pointed to Xie Lian, "will clean the main hall, the kitchens, and prepare dinner. And you," he said, pointing at San Lang, "will clean the bedrooms in the eastern building. The guest rooms need to be aerated and completely free of dust- the General of the North will be staying with us next week. If I see a speck of dirt anywhere, you're both fired."

Xie Lian nodded, his head whirling. He'd never been spoken down to so venomously in all his life.

"Go," Shi Wudu dismissed them.

Silently, they fled back into the hallway and walked to the western building. There was a small courtyard behind the servant's quarters. A stone well sat on a grassy knoll and a laundry line stretched from one pine tree to another, the bark bubbling around where the line was tied.

Xie Lian took a deep breath as they stopped in the shade of the pines. "Let's go along with this for now, okay?" he murmured. "I think he's created his own reality- if we break it, who knows what could happen."

San Lang nodded. "I don't mind. You'll learn more about him this way, right?"

"Mn," Xie Lian hummed. He rubbed the back of his neck. "Although..."

Leaning against the wall, San Lang crossed his arms over his chest. "Re-thinking whether you want to save him?" he asked, a crooked smile stretching over his face.

Xie Lian sighed. "Shi Qingxuan loves him. There must be a good reason."

He laughed. "Sure, gege."

The servant's quarters was comprised of two tiny rooms. The kitchen on the left, and a bedroom on the right. Narrow beds lined the walls in varying states of mess.

The uniforms were stored in a small closet in the bedroom. They turned away from each other to dress, the sound of fabric slipping across skin overtly loud in the small space. Xie Lian didn't know why he felt so nervous; they were both men. He'd seen plenty of other monster hunters in various states of dress, especially when it came to bandaging wounds. Both Feng Xin and Mu Qing had seen him naked, and it wasn't a big deal.

So why was there an electric current under his skin?

He hurried to finish dressing. The outer robe was a faded blue color and patchy at the elbows; he had to roll up the sleeves to manage the fit. He fixed his hair into a bun and then considered what to do with his sword.

Had Shi Wudu even seen it, or did he only see what he expected to in his dream?

Deciding it ruined their disguise, he laid it under the covers of one of the beds that looked like it hadn't been touched in a while.

San Lang cleared his throat, and Xie Lian finally turned. The blue robe was a little small on his figure. His wrists stretched out of the sleeves and a portion of his collarbones were visible. He splayed his arms wide and said, "Do I look like a servant, gege?"

He gave him a wry smile. "Until you start talking," he said as he walked back over to him. Then he pulled his robes tighter over his chest.

"Why?"

"Servants don't normally sound as educated as you do," he answered.

The shock on his face was evident- San Lang's eyes widened as he looked down at him. Xie Lian paused, his hands still on his robe as he studied his expression. "You didn't know?" he murmured, then pulled away.

"I sound educated?" he repeated.

"Mn," Xie Lian hummed. "And maybe a little mean, sometimes. That definitely would ruin the servant disguise."

"But I'm always nice to gege," he whined.

Xie Lian smiled. "Not when you argue with me."

San Lang pouted in response. "So no talking?"

"Just to Shi Wudu," he said. "Thank you for following my lead earlier, San Lang. I really want to avoid having to fight him."

"Of course, gege. I'll tell you what the rooms look like when I'm done cleaning; I'm sure there'll be more clues about his personality there."

"Good! We can talk about it tonight and set up a better plan."

San Lang nodded. "Be careful, gege. I'll be listening out if you need help."

They went their separate ways: Xie Lian to the main hall, San Lang to the eastern building.

He just hoped they could keep on Shi Wudu's good side long enough to plan an end to this.

💀

Xie Lian curled his hands into fists as he desperately tried not to shift his weight, but his legs were beginning to go numb. Pain radiated up through his knees and he counted his breaths, trying to detach himself from the sensation.

The door opened with a bang, and then, "Gege?"

He looked up from where he kneeled on the kitchen floor. "San Lang," he sighed.

San Lang furrowed his eyebrows as he approached him, dropping a heap of laundry to the floor. "What are you doing?" he asked. He face seized into a dangerous expression as he registered the uncooked rice grains Xie Lian had been forced to kneel on. "Who told you to do this?"

Xie Lian reached out, a nervous smile on his lips. "Well- you know-"

"Shi Wudu?" San Lang asked.

He sighed and dropped his hand back to his thigh. "Yes," he admitted. "He didn't like the dinner I cooked. But I think a little char is good on chicken!"

"He's not here, gege. Why don't you just get up?"

"What if he finds out? Then he'll get angry and the manor might shake again. I don't know what could happen if he completely looses his temper."

San Lang's eyes darted back and forth as he considered the situation with a frown. Then he rolled up the trousers of his uniform and came to kneel beside Xie Lian.

"San Lang?"

"He'd said he'd fire us together if we made a mistake, right? It only makes sense to also punish us together."

Xie Lian wilted. "It doesn't make sense at all," he muttered.

A loud bang echoed through the room as the door opened again. Xie Lian's back snapped ram-rod straight as he thought, Thank the buddha I didn't get up.

However, it wasn't Shi Wudu at the door. A young woman hovered in the doorframe. She wore a light teal robe with a cloak overtop of it; the hood had been pulled over her head.

Xie Lian blinked- it was the first person he'd seen that wasn't a faded-out echo, besides Shi Wudu.

"What are you two doing?" a familiar voice asked. She pushed the hood from her head- except it wasn't a woman's face beneath the hood. It was a man's.

Xie Lian balked, eyes darting between the robes, which were definitely meant for a woman, and the prominent Adam's apple of his neck. "Shi Qingxuan?" he asked. Then he cleared his throat and quickly tacked on, "Young lord."

Shi Qingxuan hurried into the room, the door falling shut behind him. "Did Dage punish you for something?" he sighed, pulling them both up from the floor. "I'm sorry, he's been so high strung with planning for that General's visit."

He practically spit the word General.

"I'll talk with him- he shouldn't take it out on you two," he continued, swiping stuck rice grains from Xie Lian's knees. He tried to do the same to San Lang, but he sidestepped his hand. Shi Qingxuan didn't take it to heart; instead, he offered them both an extra gold piece. "Here, for your trouble. Especially because I need your help."

He stared at the gold in his hand- it was certainly a generous offer. "What do you need?" he asked.

"Help me sneak out again?" Shi Qingxuan pleaded.

He shared a glance with San Lang.

"Of course, young lord," he replied.

A brilliant smile broke across Shi Qingxuan's face. "Great! Help me keep a lookout!" he said, then took Xie Lian's hand in his own before he rushed from the servant's quarters. Xie Lian looked back once- San Lang followed behind them at a close pace, and he let out a sigh of relief at the sight.

They raced across the arched bridge and then sneaked behind the eastern building. A small orchard stretched before them, and Shi Qingxuan ran beneath the blooming cherry blossoms, robes clutched in one hand as he pulled Xie Lian with the other.

The white wall of the manor loomed before them. Shi Qingxuan ducked into the shadow of the wall and then glanced around the orchard. "Quickly, help me over," he whispered.

Xie Lian and San Lang laced their hands together to make a small foothold for him. Shi Qingxuan stepped back to get a running start, and then he vaulted to the top of the wall. He smiled down at them as he straddled the wall. "Thanks!" he whispered, then fell to the other side.

Muttered voices came from the other side.

"You're dressed like that?" A deep voice asked.

"Xuan-xiong!" Shi Qingxuan laughed. "It's a disguise! Dage has too many friends in the city."

Xie Lian met San Lang's gaze as they remained kneeling by the wall. "He Xuan?" he whispered.

San Lang nodded.

Shi Qingxuan and He Xuan's voices drew away as they left.

"Why did Shi Qingxuan have to sneak out with He Xuan?" Xie Lian wondered aloud as they walked back to the servant's quarters.

"They seem high-class; it might be that his brother didn't approve of their friendship."

"He Xuan was lower class?"

"Mn," San Lang hummed. "He was a sailor employed by the Shi family."

Xie Lian stroked his chin in thought. "Huh," he exhaled.

The sky remained the same navy and purple color overhead as the water clocks marked the time as deep into the night. A few faded echoes of servants laid in the beds when they returned.

Xie Lian settled into the bed he'd originally placed his sword. San Lang chose the bed next to him, and they faced each other as they retreated under the blankets.

"Did you find more information about Shi Wudu from his room, San Lang?" he asked. Xie Lian pulled his ribbon from his hair and placed it on the nightstand between them.

"Only that he's meticulously organized and follows the ascetic of a saint," he sighed, folding his hands beneath his head as he stared at the ceiling. His dark hair fanned across the pillow.

"You don't believe that," Xie Lian said and laid his head on his bicep.

San Lang smiled. His eyes glittered as he looked at Xie Lian with approval. "No. But he covers his tracks well."

"The study," Xie Lian blurted out. "There were papers everywhere in there. If we can find anything on the Shi family, it will be in there."

San Lang turned onto his side, mirroring Xie Lian. "What do you think you'll find about Shi Wudu, gege? That he's embezzling funds? Embracing too many vices?"

Xie Lian sighed. "I don't know. But Shi Qingxuan couldn't talk about what happened between them; all I can think to do is collect evidence while we have access to Shi Wudu's memories of this manor."

"Alright. We can figure out how to sneak into the study tomorrow," San Lang murmured. His eyelids lowered. "Goodnight, gege."

Xie Lian shut his eyes. "Goodnight, San lang," he whispered back.

The manor was absent of all sound, even that of crickets and the wind.

Chapter Text

Thunder pealed over the manor and rumbled through the air so loudly it seemed to echo in the small room.

Xie Lian turned his face into the pillow, chasing the remnants of sleep as the sound faded. The sheets were warm around him and smelled like jasmine; he was sure if he could just relax, it wouldn't be too long until he was asleep again.

The bed next to him rustled. "Gege?" San Lang whispered, and then there was the short thump of feet hitting the floor.

He knew he needed to answer- they were technically working a case, and there was a thread of urgency in his tone. Xie Lian blinked open his eyes, briefly taking in the burlap texture of the pillow, but his eyelids were so heavy. He made a strange noise at the back of his throat, trying to sound like he was listening. Mostly he sounded like he was seconds from falling back asleep.

The mattress dipped with extra weight and a warm hand curled over his shoulder. "Gege, can you wake up?"

It was the politeness in his tone that spurred warmth in Xie Lian's chest. With a little more effort, he turned towards him on the bed and looked up, his breath stalling.

San Lang leaned over him, his eyebrows furrowed and loose black hair falling over one shoulder. The collar of his white robe had pulled to one side as he twisted, revealing the sharp line of his collarbone.

Xie Lian swallowed, tempering the surprise that bolted through him. He'd just never seen him look so... defenseless before, if that was the right word for it. San Lang normally held himself with a certain aloofness, like there was no threat that could ever concern him. Now, his cautious demeanor combined with his lack of finery left him looking oddly stripped of armor.

The only other time he'd ever seen him so worried was when he'd busted his head open on his nightstand. He'd been too out of it to truly appreciate the gravity of it then, but seeing the same tense expression on his face made him pause, now.

He rested the back of his hand on the one San Lang used to lean on the bed, their knuckles softly knocking together. "What is it?" he murmured, voice still husky from sleep.

San Lang lifted his hand so he could capture Xie Lian's. He lightly squeezed his fingers and said, "Time isn't moving right- the water clocks are malfunctioning. I think something's happened while we slept."

Unease crept underneath his skin. If it was enough to worry San Lang like this, then it must be a sizable threat. "The thunder," he whispered.

San Lang nodded. "This is a dream, right? His subconscious will be reflected here. And if he's dreaming of a storm..."

"Let's get ready," he said.

San Lang pulled back to let him rise. His fingertips skated over his palm as he slipped away.

They put on the blue uniforms Shi Wudu would expect them in, hopeful that he could still be appealed to in whatever state he was in. To prepare for the worst, Xie Lian tied his sword onto his back.

The manor looked starkly different when they stepped outside. Pine needles littered the yard outside, like someone had stopped cleaning, and there was a salty taste in the air.

Xie Lian looked worriedly to the sky as another peal of thunder quaked the ground, but there weren't any clouds. The sky gleamed and warped with the same dark hues as before.

San Lang was carefully scanning their surroundings as well, his eyes tense in the corners. His now-braided hair swung loosely behind his back with each step.

"Do you know anything about what happened to the Shi brothers, San Lang?" he murmured, suspecting he already knew the answer to the question.

He blinked once, and then his eyes locked onto Xie Lian. His dark irises held an intense, piercing quality to them. Without his usual friendly expression to mellow it, his gaze turned somber, like he'd been shouldering some exhausting weight for as long as he could remember.

It was disconcerting to see such an old look on a youthful face.

After a moment of hesitation, he said, "Shi Qingxuan dislikes talking about it."

Xie Lian glanced down at his feet, disappointment settling over him. He really... hadn't expected him to dance around an answer.

San Lang cleared his throat and then said, "Can you stop the spell at will, gege?"

It was difficult to fight the urge to react- he was sure San Lang knew more than he was willing to tell, now. Xie Lian shook his head. "No. While we're here, we have no way to move our bodies outside of the dream. It's really up to Shi Qingxuan to pull us out."

They reached the bridge that connected the west and eastern buildings. Xie Lian reached out and gently tugged San Lang's sleeve, pulling him to stop. "Are you rethinking this?" he asked.

The river roared beneath the stone as it rushed into the deep void. It covered the sound of San Lang's breath as he sighed, his shoulders dipping. "I wasn't sure what he'd be dreaming about," he admitted, voice raised over the waterfall. "I thought it might be something as simple as continually fighting He Xuan in his dream. But this... I think he's reliving his memories, gege. And what happens next might hurt you."

Xie Lian's eyes widened. He wanted to ask for details again, but stopped himself. If San Lang didn't want to tell him, then there likely wasn't any force that could make him.

Instead, he lightly patted his arm. "Okay," he said. "Then I'm glad San Lang decided to come with me. If you're here, then I can get through it."

It didn't have the effect he intended- if anything, San Lang's expression turned even more painful. He jerked his head in a nod, face screwed up in a grimace.

Xie Lian wished he could understand it, but he didn't know how to break through the ominous wall San Lang seemed to hide behind.

There was one thing he was certain about, however: he trusted San Lang to keep him safe.

He smiled softly at him, warmed by his own certainty. "We'll stick close together," he said, echoing the prior day.

Finally, San Lang agreed without any hesitation. "Of course," he murmured, voice almost lost beneath the waterfall.

There were more signs of time passing on the last leg of their walk. The numerous people who seemed to linger like echoes had all vanished, and the manor no longer gleamed like it did at their arrival. Weeds grew through cracks in stone and a few cobwebs clung to corners of the ceilings.

As they neared the doorway to the library, a conversation within caught their attention.

"How could you!?" Shi Qingxuan screamed.

Xie Lian's hand froze on the doorknob.

"He's a sailor, Qingxuan! I never forced him-"

"No, you only ordered him-"

A weight settled in Xie Lian's stomach at the tension in the two brother's voices. Between their argument and the thunder, the disrepair of the manor- this must be the inflection point of the dream.

He pulled the door open.

A gasp left his chest as he froze to the spot.

It was as if he'd opened a portal to the other side of the manor, and it was a long way down. San Lang rushed close and grabbed his waist, anchoring him in place as they watched the brothers argue from above.

They stood below in the graveled courtyard, but the scenery was strange. Bookshelves lined the walls around the garden beds and scrolls spilled onto the gravel. Some of the plants flowered, while others were barren, like it was winter. 

Shi Qingxuan threw his hands in the air, his expression screwed up with so much anger he looked close to tears. "You knew he was my friend! You targeted him!"

"I just had him do his job, Qingxuan. You're blowing up over nothing-" Shi Wudu took a step closer, exasperated, but Shi Qingxuan retreated from his every step.

"Nothing?! You sent him on the most dangerous route the company sails!"

"Because he's one of the best we have-"

"I told you to stop using that route!" Shi Qingxuan screamed. "It shouldn't have mattered how good anyone was! Too many ships were getting lost-"

"Why don't you understand? That route accesses the most lucrative markets-"

The scene flickered. The brothers abruptly changed positions in the garden. Shi Qingxuan stood with his arms crossed in front of his chest, looking much calmer than a mere second ago. Shi Wudu stood close to him with a letter in his hands, his eyes flicking quickly over the words.

Xie Lian could make out San Lang's profile in his periphery as he peered over his shoulder. "You said the water clocks were malfunctioning?" he asked him.

San Lang hummed an affirmative. "Do you think he's reliving multiple moments at once?"

He nodded his head. "Whatever's coming, it'll be here quickly," he warned, looking back over the scene.

Breath puffed over his ear as San Lang drew closer, his fingers tightening at his waist. The tension in his body practically radiated into the air.

Below them, Shi Wudu's expression fell. "Shi Qingxuan," he murmured, looking to his brother. His eyes softened with dread, dulling the sharpness they had seen of his character until then.

Shi Qingxuan seemed to catch on quickly. He shook his head, shoulders slowly tensing. "You can't-" his voice caught.

"Another crew found the ship," he said. "No one was onboard."

Something behind his eyes collapsed. Shi Qingxuan swayed, his chest folding in as he gasped for air.

Shi Wudu reached out to steady him- only to have his hand slapped away.

"I told you!" Shi Qingxuan shuddered, a sob wracking through his body. "Why couldn't-" he stopped and covered his mouth with his hand, tears rolling from his eyes. He fell to his knees.

"A-Qing," Shi Wudu whispered. He kneeled beside him and tucked a fallen lock of hair behind Shi Qingxuan's ear. "I'm sorry. I thought an experienced crew could make it."

Shi Qingxuan shook his head again. "No- you- you planned this."

Shi Wudu froze. "What are you talking about?" he responded, voice punched out and breathy.

The ground shuddered.

Xie Lian gripped the doorway tightly as he swayed. Panic laced beneath his skin as he felt his balance tilt, but San Lang curled his arm around his waist and held him to the spot.

"When it stops, move back," San Lang ordered in his ear.

Just as he finished nodding, the earth stilled. San Lang's hand was locked to his waist while he guided him away from the door.

Xie Lian pressed his hand over his. "San Lang..." he murmured, but his voice died in his throat as San Lang clutched him to his chest. His chin gently knocked his temple as he scanned their surroundings.

"YOU PLANNED THIS!" Shi Qingxuan screamed.

The manor roared with the force of the next earthquake.

Thunder pealed through the air as Xie Lian and San Lang struggled to stay on their feet, their respective grips tightening hard enough to leave bruises.

All around them, the manor screamed out with a grating noise. Loose pebbles clacked over the stone walkway, and then a deep rift spiderwebbed down the stone to their left.

"We need to- somewhere safe," San Lang gasped out.

Xie Lian wordlessly took his hand from his waist and clutched it tight. Then he bolted down the walkway, away from the rift hastily forming behind them.

An open field lay just beyond the eastern building. Xie Lian let go of San Lang's hand and jumped over the low fence of the walkway. The earthquake seemed even worse when he landed, and he stumbled to his knees.

San Lang landed just behind him. He kneeled and grabbed Xie Lian's bicep, guiding him up and working as a counterweight as they tried to run across the field.

It seemed like the safest place for a moment- and then the far edges crumbled. The ground separated, clumps of dirt and sod falling into the void as islands pulled away from the manor.  Large sections of the clay walls fractured and tumbled into nothingness.

Behind them, the eastern building groaned under the strain.

Xie Lian lost his footing and fell to his knees again. "San Lang!" he called, voice warbling with effort.

San Lang latched onto his outstretched hand, firmly holding him close. They stumbled away from the eastern building, trying to get clear before it inevitably collapsed, but even standing had grown almost impossible.

A thundering crash filled the air. Dust and shrapnel rushed forward, enveloping them both in a white cloud that obscured anything more than a foot in front. They fell to their knees and San Lang wrapped himself around Xie Lian's back, protecting him from any other flying debris.

He choked in the dust cloud, the taste of sawdust and dirt clinging to the back of his throat. The weight of San Lang's chest lifted as he coughed, replaced by his hand on his back. "Can you move?" he asked, voice tinged with urgency.

Xie Lian nodded and rose to his feet, his lungs burning. He clung to San Lang's arm as they lurched forward, the air slowly clearing as the dust settled around them. The orchard was holding together the best, the roots likely creating a stable matrix within the earth. If they could just make it a little further-

"WHAT'S BEST FOR ME? I THINK YOU MEAN WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU!" Shi Qingxuan's voice carried all the way over from the other side of the manor, sharpened with venom.

Shi Wudu's response was quieter, blending into the rumble of the chaos around them. In the distance, the western building let out a shrieking pop of wood as the roof collapsed in on itself. The walls sheared apart as half of it crumbled into the void below.

The darkness beneath the manor surged forward, creeping into the ever darkening sky. Instead of lightning, the dream flashed with bright surges of green and purple above.

A rough, exhaled gasp puffed over Xie Lian's ear. Then San Lang's fingers dug painfully into his arm as his entire weight dropped.

Xie Lian slammed into a newly-formed ledge and clutched anything he could grab, barely holding up San Lang as his feet kicked uselessly in open air, the ground formerly beneath him falling into the darkness.

"Gege-"

"I've got you!" he yelled, grabbing the front of his robes to pull him up. San Lang clawed at the earth, leaving long, scalloped scars in the dirt.

Once his knees hit solid ground, he wrapped his arms fully around Xie Lian. His chin dug into his collarbone as he gulped air, his shoulders heaving.

Xie Lian clung to him just as tightly, watching with dread as a rift separated the ground they kneeled on. Their little island broke from the manor with a wracking shudder and swirled over darkness, drifting higher into the air.

Beneath them, the manor was utterly destroyed. None of the buildings remained standing. Instead, their crumbled and unrecognizable ruins were scattered between floating islands. Quiet settled over the dreamscape when the manor was finished ripping apart.

Their island stilled. Xie Lian rubbed slow circles over San Lang's back, trying to calm him; he shook with adrenaline as he clung to him, his hands twisted tightly in the back of his robes. He could feel each of his heavy breaths as if they were his own.

"...Why did you save me?" San Lang whispered. With his face pressed into his robe, his voice came out muffled and small.

Xie Lian's first instinct was to hold him tighter. He opened his mouth to answer, but another voice cut through the air before he had the chance.

"You never cared about my life! It has always been about impressing everyone in this damn city!" Shi Qingxuan shouted below.

Their island had drifted above the graveled courtyard. The Shi brothers stood between the garden beds, still arguing like the manor hadn't collapsed all around them.

"I have always cared!" Shi Wudu snarled, his voice finally raising over the chaos. "Who do you think gives you this life? Who pays for it?"

San Lang raised his head, his grip loosening around Xie Lian. His eyes darted around awkwardly, like he didn't know where to look as he pulled away.

Worried he'd send himself back over the edge, Xie Lian grabbed his wrist before he could go too far.

"Sorry, gege," he whispered, the words caught between the screamed argument from below.

Xie Lian shook his head. "Just stay close," he murmured.

With a light nod of his head, San Lang stopped trying to pull away. He settled beside Xie Lian and they looked over the edge of the island.

The darkness beneath the manor had begun to undulate. White-capped waves crashed into the lower islands, showering them with sea foam before slowly devouring them into murky, black waters.

Dread filled him at the sight. Xie Lian hung closer to the edge, his fingers twisting into San Lang's sleeve. "What's happening?" he murmured.

"I think we're reaching the end," San Lang whispered, voice punched out. His eyes tensed in the corners as he watched the unfolding scene. "Look," he said, sharply nodding his head at a clump of islands past the Shi brothers.

A dark shape surfaced in the sea.

The figure moved slowly as it beached onto a low island, like every motion took extraordinary effort. Darkness clung to it's shape, ripped away only as it clawed itself out of the water.

Birthed from black waves, a man stood on the beach. When he looked up, his eyes pierced the shadows in two points of gold.

"He Xuan," Xie Lian breathed.

San Lang hummed beside him.

He Xuan's image flickered as he walked between islands, simply disappearing with one blink before appearing at the next, rising ever higher as he approached the graveled garden.

Shi Qingxuan was still yelling. "I never asked for any of this!" he said, hands thrown in the air.

"No, but you enjoyed it. Don't you dare tell me-"

"I would've been happy without it! Without the parties, without the snobby dinners! I never even see you anymore- you're always working!"

He Xuan was almost to the garden.

Xie Lian leaned closer, a sharp inhale hissing past his teeth as he prepared to call out-

San Lang curled is hand over his shoulder, gently pulling him back. "This has already happened, gege," he murmured beside his ear. "Shi Wudu's just reliving the echo of it. You can't change it."

Shi Qingxuan continued, "We could have been happier if you'd just let it go! The business, the manor- we don't need it! Why did we have to keep up appearances for so long?"

"You can't be serious- you have no idea what it entails to live below our means. And I'd never let my own family go to the slums-"

"I wish we weren't family!" he screamed. "I wish we were never brothers! It's my life, why do you think you get to control it!"

Shi Wudu's eyes widened and he flinched back, his hardened composure falling apart like a snapped string.

Fists trembling at his sides, Shi Qingxuan stared straight ahead as his shoulders heaved up and down. "I'd rather have my best friend than all of this."

Shi Wudu's jaw stuttered. "You- you really-"

Thunder rolled over the dream, shaking the islands from the force of the sound alone. Finally, the brothers noticed something was wrong. They startled and looked warily around the garden.

Darkness soaked one of the garden doorways.

Their reactions were profoundly different as He Xuan stepped forward. Shi Qingxuan's chest rose with a sharp breath, the sound of it rasping in the back of his throat. "Xuan-xiong?" he cried.

Shi Wudu paled and his face dropped into a look of sheer dread. "What are you doing here?" he demanded, fear staining the edges of his voice.

He Xuan's focus snapped to him, disregarding Shi Qingxuan completely. "I came to settle a debt," he murmured. Faster than the human eye could track, he surged forward and grabbed Shi Wudu by the throat. He lifted him from his feet with one arm, blankly staring at his contorting face as he choked the life from him.

Shi Wudu made a gurgled noise as he clawed at the hand around his throat, his blue robes billowing in the air with every kick.

"He-He Xuan!" Shi Qingxuan gasped. He lunged closer and grabbed his arm, trying to pull it down.

Without looking away from Shi Wudu, He Xuan backhanded him.

Shi Qingxuan fell to the gravel, stones skidding in the impact. Numb surprise hung on his face as he slowly touched his hand to his lips.

When he pulled it away, his fingers were stained with blood.

Shi Wudu let out a sharpened whimper as He Xuan's fingers dug harshly into his neck. But he was no longer the vampire's main focus.

He Xuan's eyes fell on Shi Qingxuan.

Xie Lian clasped his hand over his mouth. "No," he whispered.

San Lang's hand tightened on his shoulder. "You don't need to watch," he murmured.

He shook his head, his stomach twisting into knots. How could he look away? His friend-

Shi Qingxuan hardly breathed as he stared at He Xuan. "Why-?" he whimpered, horror taking over his face as he finally seemed to see the difference in his friend. "He Xuan, your eyes-"

His voice cut off with a scream when He Xuan dropped Shi Wudu and descended on him. He pinned him to the ground and sunk his teeth into his neck, unfazed as Shi Qingxuan thrashed beneath him.

Warmth pricked Xie Lian's eyes as he listened to his screams. His skin crawled with terror and his hands shook as he watched, remembering so vividly how it felt the first night Hua Cheng fed from him.

"Gege," San Lang murmured beside him, sounding sick to his stomach. He pulled Xie Lian closer, his arms wrapping around his shoulders as he held his trembling body to his chest. "Don't- don't look at this."

Xie Lian could barely move, could barely breathe. He didn't blink, his tears warping his vision as they collected over the lower lids without falling. "You knew this would-?" he rasped.

Screams punctured his silence, growing weaker by the second.

"I'm sorry," San Lang whispered.

Shi Wudu gagged for air as he stumbled to his feet, his hands locked around his throat. Even in the midst of a coughing fit, he reached for the closest object to defend his brother with. He pulled a discarded hoe from the garden bed, the metal scraping the gravel as he dragged it by his side.

He lifted it over his head and swung down. A wet thwack rung through the air as it landed in He Xuan's back, the metal tool spearing between his ribs.

He Xuan didn't acknowledge the blow, only grunting as Shi Wudu removed it to deliver another one, again and again, cleaving his torso open with gashes that chipped bone.

Shi Qingxuan's screams quieted. A low whimper escaped the back of his throat before his body stilled.

"Let. Him. Go!" Shi Wudu screamed, each word punctuated by another strike of the hoe. His voice was graveled and torn, barely recognizable as human. His arms shook with desperation as he lifted the hoe high into the air.

The descending blow crunched.

The head of the tool got stuck in his spine. Shi Wudu pressed down on his side with his foot and adjusted his grip on the handle. He spit spattered blood from his lips and heaved the tool out, stumbling backwards and falling to the ground after he yanked it loose.

Only then did He Xuan remove his fangs. He rose to his knees, cradling Shi Qingxuan's limp body close to his chest. "Hey-" he rumbled, voice shaking with alarm. "I'm sorry. I stopped. I managed to stop. Don't-"

Shi Qingxuan's head lolled to the side, his face waxy and pale, lips blue.

Bloody tear tracks marred He Xuan's face. They rolled down his nose and chin as he leaned forward, rocking Shi Qingxuan in his arms. "I'm sorry- I didn't mean to-"

His head snapped to the side with a crack, the handle of the hoe shattering at the force of the blow. The tool head flung to the gravel and skidded across the stones.

Like a switch had flipped, He Xuan stopped crying. His head slowly turned towards Shi Wudu, his crooked neck shivering at the movement. He cracked the bones back in place with one hand.

Shi Wudu blanched as he dropped the wooden handle. Panicked, he looked around for another weapon-

Shi Qingxuan's body fell to the gravel as He Xuan charged him, a sharp cry rising into the air.

Xie Lian couldn't look anymore. He turned his face into San Lang's chest, drying his tears on his robes.

He didn't know what to do. The full wight of his impossible task finally sunk in, but he couldn't stop thinking of how to solve it- now more than ever, he wanted to help the Shi brothers, to absolve them of the haunting trauma of their end.

His shoulders shuddered with the force of his next inhale. San Lang's scent filled his awareness, sweetly floral from his time in the gardens and the slight chemical smell of the binders he used to mix paints.

The dream spell still seemed like the best method. He suspected Shi Wudu was playing this scene over and over again, stuck in a revolving wheel of grief and terror. It would explain why his soul hadn't faded, and why he had a human form; all of his energy and resentment was pointed inward, fighting the echo of his enemy in a never-ending nightmare. When he died, it would probably start from the beginning.

That was Xie Lian's chance. If he could break the rhythm of his trauma, then it might give him space to rethink the situation.

He flinched as Shi Wudu's scream pierced the air.

San Lang rubbed circles over his back. He must've had the same theory as Xie Lian, because he murmured, "It should be over soon."

Xie Lian nodded. "We can jump in next time, before it gets to this."

The gentle squeeze of hands on his biceps pushed him back. San Lang stared down at him, shocked. "Gege, are you sure? This might happen again. Are you sure you can listen-" his voice died out as Xie Lian patted his knee.

His sniffle betrayed the confident air he tried to put on, but he smiled through it. "I can," he murmured. "I don't want to leave him like this."

San Lang's lips parted as he seemed to struggle around his words.

"Do you still think it's impossible?" Xie Lian murmured, his eyebrows ticking up.

His expression softened. "I think you can do whatever you put your mind to," he said.

Xie Lian's smile widened.

A voice like thunder rumbled over the dream, shaking the islands. "What the fuck is he doing?"

It sounded like He Xuan. Xie Lian snapped around to find him, but he was still curled over Shi Wudu below, drinking from his neck.

"I asked him to help!" Shi Qingxuan's voice cried out, equally as loud. "Don't touch him!"

"You never asked me. And that bastard needs to keep his blood bag on a tighter leash," He Xuan growled.

San Lang's face darkened.

The navy painted sky flickered.

"He's waking up," Xie Lian gasped, pain shooting through his head.

With the sound of ripping paper, the dream imploded in a burst of white light.

💀

The back of his throat flooded with a metallic taste as the spell shredded apart, his consciousness slamming back into his body with disconcerting weight. A sharp gasp ripped through his chest as he inhaled a deep breath, as if he'd come up from underwater.

He blinked in the harsh moonlight, orbs of blurred light and shapes lashing his mind with pain.

Before he could get his bearings, a hand curled in the front of his robes and yanked him off his feet.

Xie Lian fought to make out the face swimming just inches in front of his own, but his blood went cold when he recognized gold eyes. "You're sticking your nose where it doesn't belong, monster hunter. There's consequences for that," He Xuan said, voice dangerously low.

He reached for his sword. In the same moment, a storm of silver rushed around him, stirring up a great gust of wind.

The silver butterflies were so bright, a new pain stabbed behind his eyes. He Xuan released him as he staggered back, but instead of falling, Xie Lian landed in firm arms.

The scent of flowers surrounded him as he was lifted into a bridal carry. "San Lang," he murmured, turning his face into his robes to escape the bright light.

"Are you alright?" he asked, chest rumbling next to his ear.

Xie Lian nodded. "Spell backfired," he said weakly. "It'll fade in a minute."

The clearing darkened as the butterflies lifted into the air.

"I should have fucking known," He Xuan spit.

Blinking through the pain, Xie Lian managed to crack his eyes open. He Xuan stood on the other side of the courtyard, his face littered with dozens of small cuts. His posture was clearly tensed for a fight, however, he didn't take another step.

San Lang didn't respond, holding Xie Lian closer to his chest as he glared at him.

Movement between them caught his attention- for the first time since he'd entered the palace, Shi Wudu stood from the rock.

Xie Lian tapped his arm. "San Lang- put me down," he rushed to say.

Shi Wudu's attention locked onto He Xuan, and then he lunged forward with a snarl.

San Lang retreated to the shadows of the eaves while they were distracted. He let Xie Lian down gently. "Stay here," he whispered.

Xie Lian tightened his hand in the shoulder of his robes before he could dash off. "But- Shi Qingxuan-"

He shook his head, eyebrows pinched together. "It's too late, gege-"

A figure slammed into the wall just to their left. He Xuan coughed as he rolled onto his front, shattered wood falling around him.

"Are you that fucking useless?" San Lang snapped.

"What exactly are you accomplishing?" He growled back.

A dark shape blocked the moonlight. Shi Wudu stood in the center of the courtyard, a massive wall of water rising into the air behind him as he pulled it from the pond.

They scattered before the wave crashed into the covered walkway. Drops of flung water sprayed Xie Lian's calves as he narrowly escaped, flanking Shi Wudu from the shadows. He pulled his sword from its sheath in a languid flash and jumped forward, aiming to slash the back of the ghost's knees. If he could just incapacitate him, then maybe they could still solve-

Shi Wudu blocked him with his folded fan.

His figure was still slightly blurred as they traded blows, but Xie Lian didn't need his full vision to fight. He could read the twitch of a shoulder, the receded step before a counter offense just as easily in blurred forms, his soul singing with what he did best.

Just before he could disarm him, a hand grabbed the back of his neck and flung him.

Xie Lian dropped his sword as he rolled across the grass, trying to avoid stabbing himself with it.

"The only one that gets to kill him is me," He Xuan roared.

I'm not- he thought uselessly, torn between the urge to laugh or cry.

"Don't fucking touch him," San Lang snapped in response. A loud thud rippled through the air, accompanied by the earth shaking.

Xie Lian slowed to a stop in the grass, landing on his back. Maybe if he laid still long enough, they'd all solve it by themselves.

Then again, the situation had stalled out for two centuries.

He staggered to his feet, his ribs aching. In the middle of the courtyard, the three were locked in a grueling fight. A silver sword gleamed in San Lang's hand as he twirled between opponents, taking on both He Xuan and Shi Wudu at once. His form blurred with the rush of his movements, but Xie Lian knew without seeing it clearly-

He was fighting with a scimitar.

Xie Lian swallowed and looked for where his sword had fallen.

Before he could find it, a voice screamed out in the night.

"Dage!" Shi Qingxuan gasped, rushing forward. "Stop! Stop fighting!" he sobbed, hovering dangerously close to the fighting.

Instincts sharpened in the midst of the fight, it was nothing for Shi Wudu to aim a slash of his fan behind him.

The little ghost fire stilled, his flames dulling as he slowly drifted toward the grass.

"Shi Qingxuan!" Xie Lian cried. He rushed forward to scoop him up in his hands, but he fell through his fingers with an icy shudder.

A whimper escaped him, the same sound he made when he died the first time.

Above them, a thunk rung into the air.

The fight stopped, San Lang's scimitar sunk deep into Shi Wudu's side. The ghost didn't seem to notice- his gaze was locked onto the falling ghost fire. Recognition sparked within his eyes.

"A-Qing?" he whispered. With a shivering lurch, he pulled himself off of the sword and dropped to his knees.

San Lang and He Xuan traded a glare, but neither moved against the other.

Shi Wudu knelt in front of Xie Lian and scooped Shi Qingxuan into his hands. He held the failing flame to his chest. "A-Qing, is that you?" he asked.

"I've been waiting," Shi Qingxuan sobbed. "I knew you would-" his voice died out.

"I'm here," he whispered. "I'm here, it's going to be okay," he murmured, his form slowly crumbling into specks of yellow light. They lifted into the air, swirling in the moonlight.

"It's going to be okay..."

When the last of the lights lifted, the brothers were gone.

For the first time in hours, tension drained from Xie Lian as he inhaled the night air. He scrubbed his face with his hands, callouses dragging sharply over his skin. It was done.

Footsteps rustled the grass.

"I don't want to see your face for another decade," San Lang snarled, his scimitar leveled at He Xuan's throat.

His golden eyes narrowed, flicking between him and Xie Lian. Then he held his hands up peacefully.

San Lang lowered his sword. "Fuck off."

He Xuan didn't waist any time. With a stormy expression, he turned on his heel and slunk into the darkness of the palace.

Second threat dealt with, Xie Lian let out a sigh and continued looking for his sword. He found it a few feet away, laying flat over the grass.

As he reached for it, a low voice called out, "What do you intend to do with that?"

San Lang stared down at him, his now-crimson eyes glowing beneath the moonlight.

Like he was dealing with a frightened animal, Xie Lian's movements were slow and careful. He slid his fingers underneath the hilt of the sword, the grass tickling his skin, and then tilted it towards the sky. With the smooth assurance of doing it a thousand times, he sheathed his sword behind his shoulder. The metal rasped against wood, then clicked into place at the lip.

San Lang's expression relaxed, morphing from a tense scowl to a frown. "You've known," he stated, eyes flicking over Xie Lian's calm demeanor. In the blink of an eye, the lanky teenager disappeared before him, replaced by Hua Cheng's true form. "What gave it away? When?"

He was taller, in this form, and his glowing red eye certainly looked menacing. But his fingers loosened minutely on his scimitar, the point of the sword falling ever so slightly. It was such a tiny adjustment, it should have been inconsequential- but Xie Lian lived and breathed sword fighting, and he knew a relaxed stance when he saw one.

He smiled, then, internally laughing at Hua Cheng's question- that the first thing he wanted to know was what gave his disguise away.

To him, a better question would've been, What didn't give it away?

Hua Cheng tensed as Xie Lian walked closer, his grip now tightening around his sword again. "What?" he snapped, his eye narrowing as he leveled a glare down at him.

It had been a while since he was met with that look. With his chin pointed up, Hua Cheng had perfected the art of looking down his nose at others. His height certainly helped.

However, his scimitar didn't move at his side- even as Xie Lian stopped in front of him, well within the length of the sword. Freakishly long, it curved past his hip and stuck out at least another half-foot beyond his back. He could only imagine how much it weighed.

Instead of responding to Hua Cheng, he continued to stare at the sword as he gathered his tired thoughts. He hadn't gotten to see it up close the last time he used it, and he was captivated by the strange eye forged into the hilt. As he looked down at it, the eye widened and the scimitar began to shake.

He blinked, first thinking it was Hua Cheng's hand that was shaking- but then he threw his sword into the air and smacked it, hard, with a snarl on his face. The scimitar continued to float in the air as the eye welled with tears.

"Knock it off," Hua Cheng growled, incensed.

Xie Lian studied his face as he was distracted by his sword. He liked to think he could read him better, now, even if he'd spent much more time with his form as San Lang. But despite the different shapes and muscles moving his face-

His eye was the same. Maybe a different color, but pinched at the corners, tense.

"Why did you disguise yourself?" he murmured, hands clasped in front of him patiently.

Hua Cheng stilled, his face falling carefully blank as he turned back to him. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and asked, "If you knew, why aren't you angry?"

He smiled at the deflection, a bit rueful that he wouldn't answer. "Who says I'm not?"

His shoulders tensed. "Are we going to fight?"

"No."

Like he'd been dismissed, Hua Cheng turned to leave.

Xie Lian grabbed the crook of his elbow. They struggled against one another for a moment as Hua Cheng tried to shake him off, and then he gave up, his crimson eye glaring down at him silently, waiting.

"Do you know why monster hunters wear a uniform?" he asked.

Silence filled the courtyard. Hua Cheng arched an eyebrow, expectant.

"It's so we can be easily identified if people need our help," he answered. "And when I met a teenager in this palace while I was in uniform, he didn't ask for my help to escape, or how to kill the vampires here- he just said he was miserable without company."

Hua Cheng closed his eye tightly. His expression twisted as he seemed to reflect back on the moment. "You're fucking kidding," he grumbled. His eye snapped back open, the pupil contracting to a sliver in the moonlight. "From the very first moment?"

Xie Lian couldn't help but smile. "I suspected from the very first moment," he agreed, and then released him.

With a scowl on his face, Hua Cheng fixed where his sleeve pooled out of his vambrace after Xie Lian pulled his arm. "I wondered... after the curtain stunt," he admitted. "I thought maybe you were just checking- you admitted later on that you didn't know how many vampires were truly in my palace. But you relaxed, after. Didn't that dispel your suspicions?"

A puff of laughter escaped him. "There were clouds covering the sky. Of course I know that powerful vampires only burn in direct sunlight."

And, he'd noticed San Lang only walked outside when it was cloudy.

"Why continue with a farce, then?" Hua Cheng snapped. Using a burst of freakish speed, he stepped closer into Xie Lian's space and glared down at him, his fangs flashing as he snarled, "Did you enjoy laughing to yourself so much? Do you understand what I could've done? I had the chance to sabotage the cure for your aunt- I could've pushed you into that void and ripped your soul from your body, and all I would've had to deal with was an empty doll."

On instinct, Xie Lian raised his hands between them, but he hesitated from touching Hua Cheng.

"I know," he murmured, refusing to back away. "I know."

Xie Lian's experience as a hunter lurched to the surface as Hua Cheng loomed closer, his heart racing as another round of adrenaline filled his body.

But he took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm, even as his hands slightly shook. "I argued so much with you over that reversal technique because that's what I was scared of," he admitted. "I was suspicious you were a vampire, and I knew if that was the case, it had to be you, Hua Cheng. But I still couldn't understand why you would disguise yourself in the first place. So I added your reversal technique to my letter, and then it worked."

Hua Cheng studied his face with a narrowed eye.

Xie Lian continued, "That didn't end my suspicions- those only stacked with time, the longer I came to know you. But... I was miserable without company, too," he said, voice dropping to a whisper.

His throat tightened as he stared into his eye, sickly aware of his quickened pulse thrumming beneath his skin.

The thought of ending his time with San Lang... genuinely saddened him. Even when the signs became too loud to ignore, he'd still chosen to pretend the teenager was nothing more then he appeared to be. He was scared to face the truth that it could all just be an act.

Because it was so easy to be happy around him.

The days went by faster. His terror subsided, so much so that Hua Cheng could feed from him in his sleep- which he wasn't actually okay with, but it hadn't happened again, and he was willing to table that discussion until later. So long as he would just tell him:

"Why did you disguise yourself?" he asked again. "The line you drew, between how you acted before, and how you acted as San Lang- which one was your true self?"

Hua Cheng flinched back like he'd been burned. "It's not that simple," he muttered. "And if you can't understand that, then there's nothing left to talk about."

"Wait," Xie Lian called out.

He actually froze in place.

Xie Lian chewed on the inside of his cheek as he carefully considered what to say, painfully aware of the dangerous edge Hua Cheng seemed to be balanced on.

He didn't think he was acting earlier, when they witnessed the tragic deaths of the Shi brothers. And if that was the case, he must be feeling some sort of guilt- some sort of horror at himself that made him lash out, expecting the same in Xie Lian.

"I can understand it," he murmured.

If Hua Cheng could feel guilt- if he really meant it when he said sorry every time before- then Xie Lian really was ready to hear him out.

"You treated me different as San Lang," he stated. "I liked it. I had fun. I thought we had fun. And as I slowly confirmed who I truly thought you were... I was only saddened by the thought that the wonderful friend I had made never existed at all."

Xie Lian took a deep breath. "So that's what I'm asking. Was it all an act?"

Hua Cheng's fingers twitched at his side. His pupil looked blown out as he stared, wide-eyed, and only after an awkward, stretched silence did he reply, "At first."

The words came out mumbled, so Xie Lian repeated, "At first?"

He dipped his head, staring at the ground. "When you traded your freedom- all I wanted was to fight you," he said. "You weren't like the rest of the rabble who struts in here, who take one look at a monster and stupidly decide to throw their life away for their duty, or some chance at making themselves a bloody legend," he spit, rolling his eye as his composure straightened. He met Xie Lian's gaze.

"You decided you couldn't win an immediate battle, so you decided to make a deal. And that caught my attention."

Xie Lian's lips parted at the look in his eye- he was almost tempted to call it respect.

"I realized it wasn't because you were weak," he said, a crooked smile forming over his lips, "But because you recognized what you were up against. So you decided to plan. And that's-" the smile slowly fell from his face. "That's where I made my mistake." Hua Cheng's shoulders tensed as he straightened fully and faced Xie Lian with his hands clasped behind his back.

"I'm sorry," he stated. "For how I treated you. I wanted to antagonize you into a fight, but... at the end of it all, the only thing I had done was terrorize someone completely innocent to any of my struggles."

He blinked, a thousand words falling onto the tip of his tongue but none of them feeling correct. "San L- Hua Cheng," he stuttered out.

"I prefer it when you call me San Lang," he murmured, his eye downcast.

"San Lang," he called out, more assured this time. Xie Lian stepped forward, his hand reaching out- and then he faltered, unsure of what he meant to do next. But with that half-step closer, he looked up and asked, "Do you really mean it?"

Hua Cheng nodded. "I mean it," he whispered. "I'm sorry."

A smile broke across his face. The tiniest feeling of worry reared it's head inside his chest, telling Xie Lian he could still be lying, but he pushed it down. There was nothing he could do about it now, and he wanted to believe him so badly it hurt.

"Then, when you said it was an act at first...?" he asked.

Hua Cheng looked away and shrugged his shoulders. It was a blasé move, but it felt more like a front than genuine apathy. "I approached you with every intention of befriending you and learning more about your family, so I could threaten them more precisely," he said smoothly.

Xie Lian blinked. "You don't ask me about my family."

He raked his fingers through his hair, refusing to look at him. "You proved wrong all of my worst assumptions about you," he murmured. "I can't... let you go. I need the ring your family has. But... I don't think torturing anyone is really necessary."

A rumbling laugh echoed from Xie Lian's chest, the force of it hurting his stomach.

Across from him, Hua Cheng stared down with a widened eye.

He clutched his abdomen. "You're just... so casual about it," he gasped. "It's ironic."

"I'm serious," Hua Cheng retorted. He almost looked like he was pouting.

Xie Lian grinned and shook his head, but he dropped the subject.

He walked closer to the scimitar still floating in the air. His eyes brightly traced the sword's curves, though he clutched his hands behind his back in the effort not to touch it without permission. "This is the sword that's mentioned in your legends?"

"Legends?" Hua Cheng scoffed.

Heat rose to Xie Lian's face. "Well- you know, there are stories about you," he stuttered. "And your sword."

Hua Cheng crossed his arms in front of his chest. "It's the only sword I fight with, so I suppose it is," he said. "It's name is E'Ming."

The red eye swirled in the hilt, but when it landed on Xie Lian, it narrowed into a happy-looking crescent.

"It's so cute!" he laughed. He glanced to Hua Cheng. "May I...?" He reached out to touch it.

Hua Cheng nodded.

The scimitar floated down into his open palms. He ran his thumb along the curved length, the eye whirling and then falling shut. However, his smile fell as his gaze locked onto the wicked-sharp edge.

This was the sword that had almost killed Mu Qing.

He swallowed, the memory's gravity weighing over his shoulders. It didn't feel right of him to be holding the sword with so much reverence, but...

Wasn't it a complicated situation? Mu Qing and Feng Xin had attacked first, but only because Hua Cheng had taken Xie Lian captive.

He couldn't wrap his head around which was right or not. Instead, he plastered on a smile as handed the scimitar back to Hua Cheng. "The craftsmanship is amazing," he murmured.

Hua Cheng looked at the sword coldly. "Better exist," he said tersely, taking the sword from him and sheathing it.

Xie Lian shrugged. "I haven't heard of any," he replied, walking towards the palace.

Hua Cheng fell into step beside him. "I'll have to find some, then. There might be a few here."

He smiled, actually looking forward to it.

Chapter Text

The daylight laid bare the damage done to the courtyard during yesterday's fight.

Most of the garden beds were ripped apart, scattering crumpled petals and loose dirt all over the sodden grass. Large branches had been ripped from the plum trees and lay in clumps of shattered splinters. And worst of all: a rancid smell filled the air from dead fish baking under the harsh sun.

Xie Lian held back a gag as he pinched the tail of a large koi and threw it into a wicker basket a few feet away. It landed with a wet slap.

He found the next one, a silvery, fat carp, between the branches of a plum tree. A knot a guilt coiled inside his chest as he extricated the poor thing and then threw it into the basket, too. They had probably died after Shi Wudu threw that wall of water from the pond. He hadn't noticed just how many fish had been strewn about after the fight, though he doubted any were still alive by then.

There was another dead carp beneath the wooden walkway that enclosed the courtyard. Xie Lian dropped to his knees and stretched to reach it, grimacing as water soaked through his robes.

He drew back to throw the fish in the basket. It hit the rim and then slipped off onto the ground.

With a sigh, he pulled on his robe to examine the two dark, muddy stains now blotting over his knees. Really, he thought, chiding himself, You ruin everything you get. He stripped it off so he was only left in his underclothes, a white shirt and matching pants.

If it had been months prior, he wouldn't have had the confidence to do such a thing. However, Yin Yu and Hua Cheng were the only ones here, and both had already seen him in similar states.

He washed the stains off with the small bit of water that remained in the pond and threw it over a plum branch to fully clean later. Then he rolled up his sleeves, hoping he could at least keep his shirt moderately clean while he tidied up. The pants were already a lost cause.

Xie Lian found the guzheng amongst the stones of the pond. The wooden instrument had been broken in half, the strings snapped and limply trailing over dirt.

A low breath punched from his chest. Looking at the splintered chips of wood, he knew immediately it was something he couldn't fix, and it felt like his heart shattered with it.

Slowly, he collected to broken halves and placed them in the waste baskets. There was nothing more he could do. 

He continued to clean up the courtyard, gathering loose debris in wicker baskets and looking forlornly at the garden beds. Fall was in full swing, and with winter well on its's way, he doubted anything would grow well if it was planted now.

His fingers were numb by the time he finished. The sunlight warmed him a little, at least, but there was a nip in the air and handling wet fish and sodden grass made it worse. Xie Lian cupped his hands together and breathed over them.

Three wicker baskets full of fish and ripped up plants stood in the middle of the courtyard, the sum of his efforts. He looked over the courtyard with his hands on his hips, waiting. He'd thought cleaning up would give him some sense of fulfillment, but no spark of accomplishment or joy leapt up at him.

Watching the Shi brothers' tragedy had unhooked something within him; it was like the little stopper he'd put over his horror and loneliness had come free, and all of the emotions he'd ignored for so long had run rampant in his nightmares last night. He'd dreamed of all of his teeth falling out, only to be replaced by fangs; of an endless, dark ocean where no one could hear him screaming. He'd woken up in a cold sweat, adrenaline spiking through his veins.

Xie Lian shook his head, trying to dispel the echoes of panic and helplessness that coursed through his body. There was work to be done.

He stacked the wicker baskets overtop of one another and heaved them up with a strained exhale. Then he hobbled into the palace, heading for the kitchen. It had a door to a small compost pile outside the attached mud room.

On his way through the hallways, he didn't have a free hand to use his night pearl, so he walked in darkness. The wicker baskets were stacked tall enough to completely obscure his vision, anyway. He occasionally brushed the wall with his shoulder to help orient himself.

He hadn't walked for long when voices sounded further down the hallway.

Xie Lian stopped in his tracks, surprise bolting through him. Had travelers wandered into the palace?

Blue light haloed the baskets in front of his face.

Not travelers. Ghost fires.

Their voices grew louder- it sounded like they rounded the corner of the hallway.

"Goodness, Yin Yu! You're working yourself into an early grave," one ghost fire called, her voice rough and graveled from a lifetime of smoking.

Xie Lian blinked. Yin Yu...?

"A hard working boy is destined for great things in life. Don't bother him." Another responded. This ghost fire sounded like an old man, a slight wheeze underpinning his words.

The light grew stronger.

Two ghost fires hovered into his view, stopping just beside him.

For a moment, no one moved. And then one of the ghost fires flared so brightly, it turned almost white. A green spot carried in Xie Lian's vision as he winced and looked away.

"You- you're not Yin Yu! How dare you sneak up on us!" The ghost fire with a smoker's voice said.

The older-sounding ghost fire burst into laughter. "Miss Li, how can you say he snuck up on us?" he asked.

"He covered his face!" She argued. "So of course he was sneaking. He should've spoke up."

Xie Lian opened his mouth, about to point out that Yin Yu also technically covers his face, but it didn't seem worth it to argue. Instead, he sighed and said, "Oh. Sorry. Well, please excuse me," and continued walking.

Silence permeated the hallway, broken only by his soft footfalls.

The ghost fires followed him. They didn't speak, but their blue glow illuminated the rest of his journey to the kitchen.

That's quite nice of them, he thought. He set the wicker baskets by the door of the mud room so he could open it, then hefted them back up to dump out their contents outside.

Both of the ghost fires were still in the kitchen when he returned.

The tips of one of their flames flickered a moment, and then the old ghost fire said, "Aren't you that hunter we heard all about?"

Xie Lian shucked the empty wicker baskets to the side. "I suppose so."

This time, it was the woman with the smoker's voice that said, "Why don't you try to disperse us, then?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't want to."

Xie Lian washed his hands and went to prepare breakfast. He hadn't been hungry when he woke this morning, but after cleaning the courtyard, he was famished.

To his surprise, the ghost fires lingered.

"Well, pardon me for asking, but if you don't dispel ghost fires, then what happened to the Shi boys yesterday?" The old ghost fire asked.

The knife hung loosely between his fingertips as he froze, a half-shredded onion on the counter below. "That... was complicated," he answered, words slow to form. "I didn't disperse them. But Shi Qingxuan asked for my help in getting his brother to move on. When Shi Wudu recognized him, they both passed into the reincarnation wheel."

"...So you're helping ghosts with their final wish?" The woman rasped.

He slowly nodded his head. "I can do that."

Neither seemed keen on asking for help in that regard, and instead launched into a debate that settled in the background as Xie Lian cooked breakfast. It was a nice change; he hadn't realized how much the silence had been bothering him.

When he sat at the table with his breakfast, their conversation slowly trickled over him as he ate.

"Youngsters these days have no respect for their homes!" The old ghost said.

The woman hummed an affirmation, and then he continued, "We used to honor where we came from- not let it fall into such disrepair," he grumbled. His voice warbled like he needed to cough at the end of his sentence, and the ghost fire shook a bit in the air.

"And we knew how to fix them!" The other ghost fire rasped.

"Exactly," he said.

"I thought Yin Yu keeps up with the palace pretty well," Xie Lian interjected.

They both hovered closer to him. "Of course he tries," the woman said, "But honestly, would it kill our Chengzhu to show just a little restraint? Yin Yu fixes one wall only to have the opposite destroyed the next day," she groaned.

Xie Lian held a hand over his face as he choked back laughter.

"Now, if I could manifest-"

"If you could manifest, you'd be at the nearest gambling hall," the old ghost fire said with a creaking laugh.

She flared brightly. "I would be fixing up this place! Honestly," she tsked, "No wife would ever let this manor fall so low. The clutter at the entrance alone-" she stopped with a shiver, her tone horrified.

Xie Lian rested the ends of his chopsticks on the rim of his bowl. He was sure the ghost fire meant that Hua Cheng was in need of a wife's hand in the palace, but her comment spurred his curiosity. "Wife?" he asked, voice low. "Did Hua Cheng ever have a wife?"

"Oh ho," the old ghost chortled. "Since time immortal, our Chengzhu has been untouchable. How many hearts do you think he broke in the old days, Miss Li?"

"Nearly all of Ghost City," she answered, smile evident in the curl of her voice.

He ducked his head low with the ghost fires, conspiratorial and hanging onto their every word. "What was he like back then?"

"Powerful!"

"Respected!"

The old ghost flared brightly. "Why, I watched him cut down an entire horde of monster hunters when they threatened our city-" he stopped, his voice choking as he seemed to remember his company. "Beg your pardon, but these hunters had been- been-" he stuttered into silence.

Xie Lian shook his head. "You don't have to apologize," he murmured. "They were threatening people in his care, weren't they? Of course he should protect them."

Both ghost fires moved like leaves caught in the wind, twirling around the kitchen in a cascade of light. "You really do understand!" the woman rasped.

They excitedly launched into a series of tales about Hua Cheng, each one more outlandish than the last.

"So... he captured a god?" Xie Lian asked, eyebrows pinched together in disbelief.

"The earth god! It's how he learned spatial manipulation!"

His chopsticks clacked on the bowl as he laid them overtop and then crossed his arms over his chest, a bit exasperated as he asked, "Why would a trapped god teach him something?"

"So he'd spare his life, of course," the woman rasped.

"Aren't gods immortal?"

"From aging," the old ghost fire wheezed. "But powerful entities can kill them. Didn't they teach you anything to become a hunter?"

He sighed. No, learning to kill gods was not part of his training. "So, he wasn't turned by another vampire but miraculously changed, he invented a new branch of magic, he founded an entire city, and he learned spatial manipulation from a god?" he summarized, his hands splayed out in front of him as he gave them both a look of, isn't this a bit much?

There was a beat of silence, and then the woman rasped, "Yeah," like she was waiting for an accompanying question.

His shoulders dropped as he leaned back in his chair. "I see," he conceded. If he were to argue, he'd sound like he was accusing them of lying, which wasn't his intention- but surely they were exaggerating a little. Probably about the god.

Especially about the god.

"You've spent more time with him than anyone recently, how can you not have learned all of this?" The woman asked.

The old ghost fire bobbed in the air as if he were in agreement. "Together day-in and day-out-"

Nervous laughter bubbled from his chest. "It's not like that-" he said, though he wasn't sure what exactly he was defending himself against. "And he doesn't really talk about himself."

No, he was too busy trying to convince him that he was anything but a centuries old vampire.

"Our lord is very humble," the woman rasped.

Xie Lian had to make a considerable effort not to burst out laughing. Instead, he covered his mouth with his fist and coughed once.

"And wise!" The old ghost fire added. "Why, when a riddle monster came to live in the city, it started to terrorize the residents, and when he faced it-"

"I answered all of it's questions correctly. When it granted me one wish, I asked that it never return," a low voice echoed from the kitchen doorway.

He turned in surprise. Hua Cheng leaned away from the door and stepped forward, his boot heels clicking over the stone floor. He curled his hand over the back of Xie Lian's chair and looked down, his loose hair falling around his face. "Good morning," he murmured.

It was the first thing they'd say to each other when he was still disguised as San Lang. Xie Lian's lips quirked up in a smile at the normalcy of it. He relaxed back and responded, "Good morning."

Hua Cheng's eye roamed his face for a moment, half-lidded but analytical, and then he said, "Are they pestering you?"

He exhaled a quick puff of laughter. But before he could answer, the ghost fire with the smoker's voice flared brightly and said, "We are educating this young man! How can it be that he knows nothing about Ghost City and-"

Hua Cheng's face hardened. "Scram."

Immediately, the ghost fires fled. As soon as they disappeared into the hallway, a thick, impenetrable darkness cloaked the room.

Xie Lian froze in his seat, listening to the dead silence. "San Lang?" He whispered. "I'm sorry, I'm the one that started asking-"

"I'm not angry with you," Hua Cheng interrupted him with a squeeze to his shoulder.

Tension slowly drained from him. "Oh," he exhaled.

Hua Cheng's hand fell from his shoulder. Jewelry clinked and his robes rustled as he moved somewhere towards Xie Lian's left. "I'm glad the ghost fires are talking to you," he explained, "But they weren't educating you on anything. Hardly any of their stories are true."

Xie Lian laughed, then. "So you really didn't capture and blackmail a god?" he asked.

He groaned like the topic disgusted him, and Xie Lian's smile grew.

A match stuttered and then flared to life with a hiss. Hua Cheng lifted it to the oil lamp in the middle of the table and warm light danced through the kitchen when he fitted the glass back over it.

The light licked off his high cheekbones. He shook the match out, smoke rising in coils around his hand. "You're up early," he stated, eye flicking back to Xie Lian.

He curled his hands together in his lap. "I just seemed to wake early," he murmured.

Hua Cheng hummed and then flicked the match into the waste basket in the corner. "And felt like cleaning the courtyard, too?" He leaned his hip on the table.

Xie Lian swallowed and turned his head to the side, fighting to keep his composure calm. He felt like he was being torn in two- on one hand, he wanted to confide everything to him: his nightmares, his doubt, his aching heart.

On the other hand, hadn't Hua Cheng suffered more? How could Xie Lian tell him about being tired of the palace, of wanting to finally be home again? Of missing his family? Certainly there were things that Hua Cheng missed, being stuck here for three hundred years.

Lost in his thoughts as he was, Xie Lian had no idea how to answer, and the silence stretched on.

Hua Cheng leaned forward. He murmured, "Are you alright, gege? I-"

He stopped, voice punching out just after his mistake.

A wry smile curled Xie Lian's lips. "You called me that so much," he murmured. "Must be a habit, now."

Hua Cheng exhaled a short puff of air as he drew back- whether it was a sigh or laughter, he didn't know. "Sorry. I'll get it under control."

He shook his head. "You don't have to," he said, and then heat rose to his face. Was he really bold enough to tell an ancient vampire to call him gege? "I mean, it's funny," he added. "In a good way."

Head cocked ever so slightly, Hua Cheng seemed to consider this. "I like it, too," he said. "Then will gege tell me how he's doing?"

Xie Lian's smile froze and then fell from his face. He picked at his cuticles. His body suddenly felt so much heavier, as if thinking about everything weighing on him dragged him further down. "I'm just-" he said, voice choked. "Didn't sleep well. I'm tired."

Hua Cheng pulled out the chair next to him and sat down. He reached for Xie Lian's hands and wrapped them in his, effectively stopping him from shredding the skin around his nails. "I see," he murmured.

His breath caught in his throat as he stared down at their hands. Hua Cheng's long, pale fingers guided him, pulling his hands further apart and turning them up. He stroked his thumbs over the callouses decorating his palms, quietly exploring, his nails tickling his skin.

In the following silence, Xie Lian broke.

"I miss my family," he admitted. Unable to meet his eye, he continued to look at their entwined hands. "But I can't... bring myself to blame you for this. Being trapped here for three hundred years- I can't even imagine-" he shook his head. 

Those slim fingers squeezed his. "I'm sorry," Hua Cheng replied, sounding strained. "I'm sorry for how I yelled at you last night. I'm sorry I involved you in this- and that all I can do is apologize," his voice deepened to a growl.

A low sound escaped Xie Lian's chest- something between a sob and a laugh. "You don't have to-"

"You won't be here forever, I swear."

Xie Lian's gaze snapped up. Hua Cheng's eye radiated with wild determination, pinning him in place.

"However it works out. I won't keep you here. I couldn't." His expression softened, a look of dread crooking his eyebrows. "But... you're the first chance I've had at freedom, for the longest time..."

He curled his fingers around Hua Cheng's, squeezing them in turn. "You'll get out of here," he whispered.

His eye widened, the slitted pupil shrinking. Xie Lian didn't know if it was right of him to say such a thing- he hardly had any power over the deal, and it should be his goal to stop it anyway he can. But hope bloomed across Hua Cheng's face, and he was consumed by the wish for it to come true.

"You'll get out," he repeated, "And you'll get to go everywhere you've wanted. And if the world's changed too much, then maybe- I could show you..." he trailed off, voice caught in his throat. 

What was he saying? Why would Hua Cheng want anything more to do with him? Why should Xie Lian?

But a selfish part of him wanted their friendship to continue, if there really was an end to being trapped here. Because after all of this, who would ever understand him again? Did anyone even understand him before? There were so many parts of himself that he had to push down to continue as a hunter. Would he actually be able to return to that?

"What would you show me?" Hua Cheng asked.

Xie Lian pushed his worries from his mind and thought of what he missed most. "There's a lotus garden on the edge of my city. And they're putting in electric lights all over the main streets- at night, the glow is beautiful. Oh- and the opera house... there's this crystal chandelier inside the lobby that reflects all over the room."

The corners of his eye crinkled. "That sounds lovely."

His attention was caught by the movement. Hua Cheng's face was so different from the form he'd crafted to be "San Lang," like he'd taken extra care to create a face that would look friendly even with a neutral expression. His true face was different- even subtly pleased, he still looked close to murder. It was something about the sharpness of his eye and the curl of his brow, the thin line of his lips- all of it gave the effect of permanent displeasure.

But Xie Lian was learning, and he thought Hua Cheng seemed genuinely pleased that he would show him around his city.

"You'll have to stop me if I ramble about it, San Lang," he murmured.

"I wouldn't," he answered. "Gege sounds like he misses many things."

"Mn."

They slipped into a short silence, and then Hua Cheng asked, "...Would you like to see them?"

Xie Lian searched for his meaning in his expression. "What do you mean?"

"Your family," he answered slowly, fingers loosening over Xie Lian's. "I can show you them, if you'd like."

His heart stuttered in his chest. Before Hua Cheng could pull away, he tightened his grip on his hands. "How?" he asked, breathless.

Despite the intensity of his look, Hua Cheng continued to meet his gaze. "It's part of a spell that allows me to see outside of the palace. I can share it with you," he said, slowly pulling one hand away from Xie Lian's tight grip.

He flushed and let go entirely. "That's how you knew the deal would work," he stated, remembering how confident he'd been while Xie Lian had slowly given in to hopelessness.

Hua Cheng nodded and tapped his silver vambrace. After his nail hit the metal, it pulled back with a wispy quality. A translucent, silver butterfly formed from the mist.

Xie Lian's eyes widened as the butterfly took to the air. He'd known they had some connection to Hua Cheng, but had never quite figured out the entire truth of it. The butterfly flew in a low circle around their heads.

"Ready, gege? It will be disorienting at first."

Xie Lian nodded and set himself rigidly in his chair. "Ready."

The butterfly gently glided towards his face. It landed on his forehead with a tickle of feet, and then the right side of his vision twisted brightly with color.

He winced and closed his eyes, but it only blocked out what his body, his real body, was seeing. His senses coalesced around a jarring weightlessness and his stomach flipped with vertigo. He turned on instinct, trying to find which way was up, for something to hold onto- he was enveloped by warm arms.

A low voice echoed in his mind, sounding like it was all around him, "Relax, gege. It's not your body moving, its the butterfly's. Don't fight it."

He inhaled a deep breath, and then let himself fall.

The feeling didn't last for long. A force buffeted him, lifting him higher into the air. His arms- no, wings- caught the wind and rose higher.

Xie Lian began to understand the flashes of bright crimson and yellow in a sea of darkness. The butterfly darted underneath the shadow of a tree, skillfully avoiding the dappled sunlight that streamed through the leaves.

Still within the shade, it launched into a window, its wings slicing through the paper covering. It flew up to the ceiling just before a servant turned, narrowly avoiding detection.

The view it gave made his heart lurch. The Xie Kitchen.

He stared down at the table he'd sat on as a boy, kicking his feet while his favorite cook worked around him. A fairly large woman, she'd dwarfed everything around her. Sometimes she'd let him sneak snacks or help her knead bread on that table, his eyes glued to the way flour stuck oddly to the burn scars on her arms.

The door opened as another servant stepped into the kitchen, and the butterfly took the opportunity to slip through the threshold before it closed.

A loud and familiar voice shouted in a nearby room. Xie Lian's heart lurched.

"You idiot! You can't be going out on jobs like this yet!" Feng Xin yelled.

"What, you think I'm going to refuse?" Came the sneering response.

There was a muffled sound. The door to the room was closed, but the transom window above it was cracked to allow air flow. While he couldn't control the butterfly, it seemed to understand his wishes, and balanced within the opening to give him a view of his friends.

The room was mostly bare. Feng Xin was in full gear as he paced next to a low bed, like he'd just gotten back from a mission. He either held his hands on hips or threw them in the air as he scolded Mu Qing, who was leaned back on the bed in his underclothes. Bandages were visible underneath the collar of his shirt.

"What happens if you need backup? Mr. Xie has spread the force too thin as it is!" Feng Xin finally stopped to take a breath, his face tinged red.

Mu Qing's eyes flashed and he snatched Feng Xin's sleeve, pulling him closer to the bed. "Keep quiet," he hissed. "You might've gotten away with comments like that when he was here, but you need to watch your mouth now. You're only a servant."

Xie Lian furrowed his eyebrows. Mu Qing had entered the household as a servant, but when he'd shown the aptitude necessary for a hunter, Xie Lian had vouched for him to enter training under the Xie family. Neither Feng Xin or Mu Qing should be considered servants- they really shouldn't have a need to be in the servant's quarters.

A sinking feeling landed in his stomach. After he'd been kidnapped, were they demoted in the household?

Feng Xin's lips thinned as he collapsed on the bed, throwing himself next to Mu Qing on his back. He looked so tired- shadows crested beneath his eyes and stubble coated his jaw. His eyes closed and he let out a long sigh.

In a rare display of gentleness, Mu Qing swiped a few fallen strands of hair from his face. "You're back for good this time, right?" he asked.

He shook his head. "I leave tonight. There's been more attacks up north."

Mu Qing's expression darkened. "You just got back."

Another sigh. "Who else can go?"

"Anyone else. This is bordering harassment."

"The other hunters are busy convincing the remaining families. They finally got approval from the Lang family, so they're concentrating their efforts on the Huang's, now."

The family names sparked recognition in Xie Lian's mind. The Lang and Huang families were both part of the five great hunter families in China.

A scowl covered Mu Qing's face. "It's not right," he whispered angrily.

Feng Xin reached for his hand and brought it over his mouth. After setting a kiss against his knuckles, he murmured, "We're making good progress. We'll get him back soon, and things will be normal again."

Beneath a foggy haze, Xie Lian could feel his real body stiffen in surprise.

Had they always felt this way about each other? Did he never notice, or was this a recent development?

His face heated as Mu Qing curled closer to him in the bed- he looked so unguarded, his eyes softening in a way that made him appear so much younger. "Don't get yourself killed before then, or I'll drag you back from hell to kill you myself," he muttered.

That sounded like the Mu Qing he knew, at least.

Feng Xin laughed. "Of course," he murmured, and pressed another kiss to his hand.

Xie Lian wanted to close his eyes against his own intrusion. He awkwardly willed the butterfly with all of his might: I'm done looking. Please fly anywhere else.

The butterfly left its perch and flew back into the hallway.

Well, I did ask Feng Xin to keep an eye on him, he thought. He'd laugh if he could, just to relieve the strange mixture of happiness and embarrassment that coiled so strongly in his chest.

As the butterfly carefully flew through the manor, Xie Lian was struck by passing memories everywhere he looked. After being away for so long, his homesick feelings pulled the ghosts of his childhood into every room.

The parlor where he built golden palaces. The library where he studied so hard to become a perfect hunter- who wouldn't be killed by a lack of knowledge in his foe. Oh, how he couldn't have known then that he'd never be perfect, and that it would be alright in the end, anyway.

The butterfly passed a glass window as it traveled through the main house, its muted silver light reflecting off the waved imperfections. The window looked out at the training grounds, sending another shock of nostalgia through him.

Finally, the butterfly alighted on a window sill overlooking the Xie gardens. A large rhododendron bush blocked most of the view, but through gaps in the leaves he could see his mother and aunt sitting beneath the veranda.

They looked like warped images sitting next to each other. Both had dark hair and eyes, but his aunt had pointier features and a willowy frame. His mother was slightly taller. She dressed well that day, in a silken yellow qipao with painted red flowers, which meant she looked normal. Fine hairpins dangled in the breeze.

He couldn't hear them from inside, but his eyes drank in every detail he could find. The lines in his aunt's face seemed more pronounced than he remembered, and his mother hadn't tinted her lips red like usual.

The image was blocked as another figure walked in front to greet them; it was his father. He recognized him by the set of his shoulders.

Now, he willed the butterfly to get closer, desperate to hear what they could be talking about.

It responded quickly, proving that it really could listen to him. The butterfly found a cracked window nearby and glided through the opening-

A screech echoed through his mind. Xie Lian covered his ears as he slammed back into his body, a terrible burning sensation lighting through his nerves. Then it was gone as quick as it came, along with any visions of the Xie manor.

As he came back to himself, he realized Hua Cheng had wrapped his arms around him to prevent him from falling out of his chair. Their positioning made it worse- he was practically stretched into Hua Cheng's lap. His face flushed with embarrassment, but in a fit of selfishness, he didn't move away. He was shaken from the way his connection broke to the butterfly, and his touch grounded him.

Hua Cheng rubbed his hand up his back. "Take it slow," he whispered.

Xie Lian closed his eyes and turned his face into his shoulder, smelling begonias and other autumn flowers. After a few seconds, he asked, "What happened?"

He tugged on the ends of his hair, gently pulling out a few knots. "It flew into the sunlight."

Bitterness struck him- he was the one that had urged the butterfly to get closer. "I'm sorry, San Lang, it was my fault."

"It was your first time using the spell- you shouldn't feel sorry about anything. I can always create more," he said, and a rush of silver filled the room. A dozen butterflies now flitted around them in lazy circles.

He held his hand out. One of the butterflies descended to perch on his finger. It couldn't erase the sadness he felt over the burned one- that truly was such a horrible way to die, and he could still vividly hear it's death scream in his mind. But seeing the rest flutter gracefully through the room lifted his spirits a little.

"San Lang," he called, fingers twisting into the front of his robes as he leaned back. Not enough to sit fully back in his chair, but enough to clearly see his face. "I have a question."

Hua Cheng's expression was hard to read, but his gaze roamed his face as he pulled back. It lingered at the bottom of his face for a moment, and then his eye met his when he answered, "Anything, gege."

The butterfly tickled his skin with its proboscis. "What was your intention when you put a butterfly in the bathroom on my first week?"

His eyebrows ticked up as his eye widened- practically a full blown look of surprise on such a controlled face. He clearly hadn't been expecting that question. Much to Xie Lian's pleasure, a faint tinge of red ghosted his cheeks. "It wasn't like that, gege. I wasn't looking. It was only to distract you- I know the prank was crass, but it wasn't anything like that-"

It was difficult to keep his face stern- Hua Cheng looked properly cowed, and even the way he said gege carried a whining tone, like he was pleading for Xie Lian to understand him. He wanted to laugh, but he forced himself to keep his composure as he slightly patted his chest. Hua Cheng fell utterly silent.

"If it really wasn't like that, then there won't be anymore butterflies in the bath, will there?" He calmy asked.

"Absolutely not," he answered, as grave as if it were a new law.

Xie Lian believed him. He'd never seen another butterfly there since the first time, anyway- the time he cracked his head open was a slight exception, since it had followed him in afterwards, and he'd clearly been hurt. A small smile cracked his facade and he finally leaned fully back in his chair. "Alright, San Lang."

Was it just a trick of the light, or did he slump in relief, just a little?

A second butterfly jumped to Xie Lian's arm. It's wings flapped with greater urgency than the first and its proboscis extended against his sleeve.

He watched with mild interest as a third jumped to his other arm and behaved the same. "...San Lang?" he started to ask.

His voice cut off when Hua Cheng's expression twisted with anger. With a flash of his eye, the butterflies dispersed from Xie Lian and flew wildly around the room.

Eyebrows furrowed, Xie Lian reached forward and lightly touched his knee. "What's wrong?"

When Hua Cheng's gaze fell back to him, his lips twisted in a grimace. "It's nothing."

Nothing sounded like quite a stretch, especially if it elicited such a reaction from him. Xie Lian's head cocked to the side as he studied him. After a moment of thick silence, he murmured, "You're hungry, aren't you?"

Hua Cheng looked toward the floor. "I'm fine. It's my condition."

"I'm the only human around," he said, repeating his words from so long ago. "I know it hasn't been a full two weeks, but you were in a fight yesterday. Shouldn't that mean-"

"You're tired," Hua Cheng threw back at him. "You said you didn't sleep well."

Xie Lian's hand fell to the side of his knee as he ran his thumb over the sharp line of bone. "San Lang," he called, gentling his voice as much as possible, "I have the resources I need to recover. You don't. It's okay."

"It's not," he retorted, voice slightly weak. His hands still reached for him, though they shook a little.

Xie Lian rose from his chair and placed one knee next to Hua Cheng's thigh. He hovered slightly over his lower legs, unsure of how to position himself. "I know you try to be gentle. It barely even hurts anymore," he said, placing his hands on his shoulders.

Hua Cheng's lips thinned as he looked up with a desperate expression, but then he wrapped his arms around Xie Lian's lower back and pulled him down. He buried his face in his neck as Xie Lian let out a small gasp and adjusted to the embrace. "Gege, I don't want to hurt you," he whispered into his skin.

He combed his fingers through the long hair falling down his back in a silky wave. Hua Cheng's heart beat against his own. "I know," he answered. "I don't want to hurt you, either."

The arms around his back tightened. Liquid lighting scorched his veins as Xie Lian leaned into it. He didn't quite understand it, but the way Hua Cheng held him now felt different than earlier. Tightly locked together like this, he was intimately aware of every breath he took- the slight twitch of his hands as his fingers dug into his shirt.

Xie Lian swallowed and pulled his hair to the side.

A heavy breath puffed over his throat as Hua Cheng sighed. He readjusted so his lips were pressed against the side of his neck.

He paused there, just resting against him. Xie Lian wrapped his arms around the back of his neck and whispered, "It's okay. I'm ready."

"Thank you, gege," he breathed against him, heat bathing his skin, "And forgive me."

Xie Lian closed his eyes. To him, it was all forgiven.

He widened his mouth to press his fangs against the side of his neck. They dragged over his skin as he looked for the vein, making him shiver.

Hua Cheng rubbed his hand up Xie Lian's back and laid it between his shoulder blades. It was a comforting weight as he sunk his fangs into his skin.

As he began to drink, his small gulps set a steady rhythm. Xie Lian carded his fingers through his hair again to pass the time. It was luxuriously silky.

His head sagged against Hua Cheng's as fatigue melted over him. His chest tightened and his heartbeat grew stronger, pounding harshly in his ears.

Hua Cheng slipped his fangs out of his skin with a final swallow. When Xie Lian didn't immediately pull away, his arms tightened around his back. "Gege?" he whispered.

Xie Lian hummed, feeling distant from himself. Hua Cheng's touch was his only anchor, so he leaned his full weight into him and wrapped his arms tighter around his shoulders.

A hand rubbed small circles up and down his back. "Was it too much?" he murmured, breath fanning over his ear.

"No," he answered quickly, sounding winded. "...I'll get up," he added, thinking he needed to prove it.

Hua Cheng's arms locked over his back. "You don't need to push yourself," he said, and then his weight shifted.

Xie Lian lost his sense of balance as Hua Cheng stood. Panic flooded through his veins and he hurriedly wrapped his legs around him. "What-" he yelped, clipped and broken.

"I'm not going to drop you," came the chuckled response. Hua Cheng turned and let him down on the chair.

Xie Lian sunk back slowly, his half-lidded eyes finding Hua Cheng's face as he pulled away. He looked better, the tension around his eye now missing.

Hua Cheng swiped his thumb across his brow, pulling back a lock of hair. "I'll make you some tea," he murmured. As he pulled out the kettle, he asked, "Do you have a favorite?"

He scrunched his nose to consider it, his thoughts slow to form. It came to him when he remembered the Xie kitchen and the cook who always liked to have a warm pot of Silver Needle going as she worked.

"White tea," he muttered, then rambled something about the leaves and the company that made it. How he liked the tin as a kid. He wasn't really thinking as he did, more so just trying to talk his way through the fog of his mind. Every now and again, Hua Cheng nodded.

When it was finished, he brought the kettle to the table and pushed his chair next to his, the legs knocking together with a wooden clunk.

He poured his cup for him and then sat close enough that their knees touched. Whether he was scared Xie Lian would suddenly slump over or thought it was comforting, he couldn't say.

He blew over the rim of the cup, disturbing the even surface of the water. "San Lang," he called, his thoughts slowly roaming as he waited for the tea to cool, "How do you know when to stop?"

His head cocked to the side. "Stop what?"

"Stop drinking," he answered. He tried to take a small sip of his tea and grimaced as he burnt his tongue.

Xie Lian froze as Hua Cheng reached towards his face. He hooked his finger on the bottom of his chin and swiped his thumb over his lips. Instantly, the prickling discomfort faded from his tongue. "It's more of an art than a science," he answered.

He moved his hand away and then touched the side of Xie Lian's neck. A trickle of warmth bled into his skin as he healed the bite wound closed.

Xie Lian swallowed, the sensation of his thumb running over his lips still echoing in his mind.

"There are certain fatigue signs to look for- I can feel you grow heavier when you start to loose your balance and lean. And your breathing changes," he continued, drawing his hand back. "But it can be unreliable sometimes."

His tea was a better temperature on his next sip. "I see," he said.

They fell into a small silence as Xie Lian recovered. Hua Cheng seemed to busy himself with his butterflies- now that he knew they were actually spells, he assumed that when Hua Cheng stilled and closed his eye, he was actually looking through another one.

After a long moment, Hua Cheng said, "Gege, is there anything you'd like to have here? A caravan is coming to the palace, soon."

Xie Lian blinked. "Really?" he asked, intrigued. Usually, Yin Yu handled supply runs by going to the nearest village or foraging food for Xie Lian in the empty country surrounding them.

"There are materials I use for painting that Yin Yu can have a hard time finding. And they bring interesting things, sometimes," he said. "I can have them pick up something for you."

Suddenly, it felt like Xie Lian had never wanted for anything. Of course it wasn't true, but because he was being asked, he couldn't think of what he'd missed recently. "Thank you, San Lang. But I don't need anything."

He hummed. "Tell me if you do think of something. It won't be an issue."

Xie Lian nodded, a bit touched.

"And one more thing: the traders are vampires, gege. I don't think that's an issue for you, but I don't want to surprise you with it."

"That's considerate, San Lang. Thank you," he murmured. "I'll be on my best behavior, I promise."

A short puff of air escaped his lips. "I'm not worried about that with you," he said.

Xie Lian smiled. "Oh? Should they be worried about your behavior?"

"I can be polite. Aren't I taking care of you now?" Hua Cheng retorted, curling his arm over the back of his chair as he refilled the tea in his cup.

He made a noise like he wasn't completely convinced.

Hua Cheng sighed. "I guess I'll just have to take care of you for the rest of the day to prove it," he said playfully. Then, his voice dropped into a more serious tone as he murmured, "Whenever I drink from you, I'll take care of you."

His fingers tightened around the cup. His first instinct was to refuse- he was a grown man, what was a little blood loss to a hunter like him? But it did feel fair, and even more selfishly, he was beginning to discover that he liked it.

"Alright," he whispered. "I'm in your hands."

Chapter Text

Xie Lian eagerly awaited the caravan's appearance. His curiosity grew the longer the weeks drew on, and he was excited to get a glimpse into Hua Cheng's world. Apparently, the leader was an old connection of his. They'd known each other even before he'd come to be trapped within the palace.

Disappointingly, Hua Cheng was reticent to say more on the matter.

Xie Lian didn't press him. Their friendship had clearly complicated his plans for negotiating with the hunter families, so it seemed he found comfort in holding his cards close to his chest.

He could understand where his anxiety stemmed from. Hua Cheng had been trapped in the palace for three hundred years, and now there was a light at the end of the tunnel. How despairing would it be to have that ripped away at the last moment, all because he made a wrong move?

So, he did his best to show patience, even when his own worries reared their heads.

Hua Cheng told him he wouldn't be trapped in the palace forever, but that promise was agonizing in its simplicity. From what he gathered, Hua Cheng had lived over four centuries, possibly more. How did someone like that conceptualize time?

For him, the changing seasons were enough to make him lament at the amount of time going by. This felt like the longest period of his life; he was caught between staving off boredom and horror while waiting on the edge of his seat for any news from his family. It was almost maddening.

How long did Hua Cheng expect him to endure it? A year? Ten? Fifty?

He was scared of the answer, and so he didn't ask. The knowledge couldn't change anything.

After three weeks of waiting, the caravan finally arrived.

It was a chilly night. The moon waxed half-full and wispy clouds drifted high above. They framed the milky way like thin fingers of frost upon the sky.

As he waited in the stone courtyard, Xie Lian tightened his cloak around his shoulders. Pale white and trimmed with fur, it was a gift from Hua Cheng a week ago when the first cold spell of the season froze the lake to the north of the palace.

Immediately, he'd adored it. Something about the old-fashioned nature of it appealed to him, giving it a flair of drama that disconnected him from the world he knew, the world he was growing apart from.

The wind scattered a swirl of dry leaves against the main gate. Tightly shut, it denied him any view of the caravan beyond. The occasional snap of items and murmurs of the vampires carried in the quiet night air, however, enticing his curiosity further.

He was reverently stroking the soft fur of his cloak when the door to the palace creaked open.

Xie Lian's head snapped up with a smile. "San Lang!" he called.

Hua Cheng emerged from the palace with his hands clasped behind his back. His jewelry faintly chimed like evening rain as he strode forward. No inch of his person was absent of it- silver chains decorated his boots, his belt, and even his hair.

His red robes were more extravagant than usual, too. Scrolling embossments of shiny thread caught in the moonlight as he moved, creating a shimmering effect.

Xie Lian was frozen to the spot, spellbound. With E'Ming on his hip, he looked every part of the lord from the ghost fires' stories.

Hua Cheng's face softened as he neared him. "Gege," he greeted him, a slight lilt to his tone. He took great amusement in using the nickname, still. "Ready to go?" he asked, looking him over.

Xie Lian nodded his head and eagerly turned towards the gate. However, a strong hand on his shoulder stopped him.

Hua Cheng's head crooked as he asked, "Where's your sword?"

He blinked, taken aback. "I thought it would be rude to carry it." Then, "Don't you trust them?"

Hesitation bled into him- Xie Lian had looked forward to the caravan as a chance to see things differently from how he was raised. He'd thought if he approached without such clear lines as hunters and monsters, he'd discover something new waiting underneath all the bloodshed he'd come to know so well.

Hua Cheng frowned. "Liu has a habit of hiring whatever scavengers he meets on the road, so I don't know the rest."

Liu, the head merchant.

His eye closed for a long moment- perhaps looking through a butterfly. "He brought more than usual."

Xie Lian resisted the urge to touch his neck. "You said other vampires would be wary of touching me," he murmured, his tone slipping into a question. Because you've marked me, he thought silently.

Hua Cheng opened his eye, his expression hard to read. He sighed and said, "Truth be told, gege, that's more of an older sentiment. These new vampires lack any decorum." His nose wrinkled. When he spoke next, he seemed to be considering each word carefully. "Would you expect a starving man to have manners?"

Xie Lian's lips thinned. "No," he breathed out.

He squeezed his shoulder. "Vampires do not get full. We are always hungry," he murmured. "Some of us learn to live with it better than others, which is why that unspoken rule was created- it's a goal for any that want to exist together. But at the end of the day, a starving man will eat whatever he can get his hands on." His eyebrows twisted, a solemn expression appearing on his face. "...And a vampire's usual preference is humans."

"And you don't know what these ones are like," Xie Lian added, understanding.

Hua Cheng nodded and reached into the front of his robes. "Liu should've already warned them, but I don't trust them to keep themselves in check." He pulled out a slim dagger. "I don't mean to scare you; I'll be by your side the entire time. But if there's an emergency-" he flipped the blade between his fingers and offered Xie Lian the hilt.

He took it, the leather-wrapped handle sitting smoothly against his palm. "Did you always have this?" he asked, tone airy with surprise.

The tension broke from his face and Hua Cheng flashed a crooked smile. "Depended on the day."

A puff of laughter left his lips. Of course.

The dagger was beautifully sleek, the middle bowing out in the shape of a willow leaf. Xie Lian flicked the blade into the air and then twirled it between his fingers, testing the balance. It would make a good throwing knife.

With a slight arch to his brow, Hua Cheng looked a little impressed.

A shy smile stretched over his face. Xie Lian wasn't trying to show off- he just loved sharp things. He quickly stowed the blade in the front fold of his robe, concealed. It fit snugly beneath the taught line of his belt.

Elbow crooked, Hua Cheng silently offered his arm to Xie Lian.

He reached forward slowly, scared he'd misinterpreted the gesture. He hadn't; Hua Cheng pulled him close to his side, and Xie Lian wrapped his hands more securely around him. One on his forearm, the other on his vambrace, his nail skimming the butterflies carved into the metal.

Hua Cheng lifted his other hand and snapped his fingers.

The main gate swung back with a groan. Red light opened over them, emanating from a train of carts and covered wagons below. The merchants had parked them in a half-circle at the base of the stairs. Xie Lian clung to Hua Cheng's arm as they descended, allowing him to gawk at the dazzling scene.

Red lanterns were strung in chaotic, zig zagged lines across the tops of the carts, illuminating a tremendous amount of wares hung and balanced precariously from every surface. There were rugs and grandfather clocks, gleaming pallets of jewelry (the owner must really know Hua Cheng well), hangers full of opulent clothes, and even fully-grown plants preserved in wrapped clods of dirt.

In the shadows and dips of the stalls, the vampires lingered, their eyes piercing the darkness. Xie Lian made a quick count: five, all in various colors.

A basic rule was that vampires inherited the color of their eyes from the one that turned them. When the vampire population surged, it grew difficult to distinguish infection lines, but a color that grew more common could denote a powerful vampire that was intent on making more.

The most common color was red. Xie Lian had long since given up on suspecting Hua Cheng of being a contributing factor- he was trapped in the palace, and the way he talked about vampires carried a somberness to it. He didn't think he would turn a person without a good reason.

But copper was rare, and Xie Lian had only fought a vampire with those color eyes once before. So the pair of copper eyes floating in the darkness caught his attention. The vampire himself was folded within the shadowed dip of the arched roof of a wagon, making it difficult to discern his face.

As they neared the circle, a different vampire stepped forward. He was a large man dressed in clashing styles of clothing. He wore a blue hanbok, like those of the Korean peninsula, but his fur shoes and curved hat were Mongolian.

With a fanged smile, he bowed deeply and said, "Crimson Rain. A pleasure as always."

Hua Cheng dipped his head. "Liu. Where have you come from this time?"

Liu straightened, his green eyes glowing in the night. They alighted on Xie Lian for a moment, a cursory glance, before looking back to Hua Cheng. "We've just returned from the far south. Lovely place- though the summer there was terrible," he said, nose wrinkled in distaste.

Xie Lian wondered if he meant they encountered more trouble than just the weather.

"Ah, but that's behind us," he continued with a sigh. He splayed his arms open wide and welcomed them towards the booths, a winning, easy smile spread across his lips. "The ports are shipping in more goods from the west every day, exotic, baffling, even..."

Their conversation muted in Xie Lian's mind- he was focused on looking for the vampire with copper eyes. However, he'd disappeared while he wasn't looking.

He sighed and let it go.

Hua Cheng had never introduced him, so he felt barred from his conversation with Liu. He wasn't sure if it was protective or forgetful- Hua Cheng himself seemed distracted, his eye occasionally raking over the wagons like he was looking for something. He had to be excited, too- the caravan offered a rush of unfamiliarity amongst the mundane.

Deciding he ought to look around as well, Xie Lian stepped towards the pallets of jewelry. He couldn't go far- Hua Cheng had covered one of his hands with his own, like a silent request for him to stay close. However, the moment he moved, Hua Cheng's attention turned to him.

"Something catch your eye?" he asked. He dipped his head towards the carts. "Look at anything you'd like. I'll get it."

His face warmed. The caravan had quickly diverged from any expectations he'd had, and he thought he might just simply fade into the background of the whole interaction.

A buzzing sensation crawled underneath his skin.

No, not quite- he was never going to fade into the background with so many eyes on him. He could feel the vampires staring from the dark, focus pinned to his every move.

A plastered smile rose to his lips as he ignored his own uneasiness. "The earrings," he said softly. "I think my piercings are closing up."

They stepped toward the booth together. Wooden racks displayed glittering gemstones and beaten metal, gorgeous rings and jade bangles. There was almost too much to look at.

As Xie Lian looked over the pallet, Hua Cheng and Liu continued their conversation.

"Yin Yu's offloading the rest of your orders," Liu stated, his hands straying to his belt to readjust it. He was trying to use it to hide his large belly, but it often slipped and made it look even more prominent. "Why the ox, anyway? You starting a rice field?"

Hua Cheng sighed. "The country is getting scarce for food, and winter will be here soon. A harsh one, at that."

"I forgot you drink animals here," Liu said, his lips pulled back in a grimace. "Too gamey for me. And their mana is too low. No wonder you both look half-starved all the time." He gave a short, wet laugh.

Xie Lian's movement's slowed in surprise, a detail that didn't escape notice.

He could feel the weight of Liu's curious gaze turn to him. "But I'm glad to see you looking decent again. I hadn't thought the rumors would be true. Is this really...?"

Hua Cheng's hand tightened over Xie Lian's. "None of your concern," he stated.

Liu's expression never changed. He breezily continued, "My dear Crimson Rain, you haven't picked up another pet, have you? And you were so attached to the last one."

All at once, the atmosphere turned icy. Hua Cheng stiffened beside him.

Warning bells rung out in Xie Lian's mind. This conversation was starting to feel like more of a sparring match than a pleasant catch-up.

"Careful," Hua Cheng warned, his voice steely.

"What was his name?" Liu wondered aloud, finger tapping his fleshy chin. "Fangxin? It's been a few centuries, my memory isn't what is used to be-"

"San Lang? What about these?" Xie Lian interrupted.

The tension coiling beneath Hua Cheng's skin released with a long, controlled exhale. Then he turned away from Liu and leaned into Xie Lian's space, bending forward to see the earrings he held up to the red lantern light.

"Very pretty," he hummed, reaching for the silver hoops. They were staggered with sharp serrations, reminding him of something Hua Cheng might wear rather than himself, but they proved a fitting distraction.

He didn't know Liu or what his goal could be. But purposefully trying to antagonize Hua Cheng had to be bad news.

Their fingers brushed as he took the hoops for a moment to examine them, and then he folded them back into Xie Lian's hand. He reached into a pouch at his side and flicked a few coins to Liu.

The merchant caught them, but looked down in disappointment. "Those are pure silver. And made from gifted artisans in the valley it's mined-"

He flicked him another coin, expression narrowing into a pointed look, as if daring him to try for more.

Xie Lian held his fist close to his chest, the metal hoops warming in his hand. The ease with which Hua Cheng had decided to buy them just because he pointed them out made him slightly dizzy.

Now that Xie Lian had made his presence felt by interrupting Liu, it was as if some unspoken rule had been broken, and the merchant addressed him directly. "Are you interested in more? We have robes of the finest silks, or suits if you prefer something western. We could even tailor them tonight," he said, sweet and cloying, as he beckoned them over to the next cart and pulled on dramatically colored fabrics.

Xie Lian had access to all the clothes he needed in the palace- he really didn't want to stand and listen to Liu try to guess what color he liked best or sell a gaudy robe that looked like it never saw the sun even when it was in style. But if he allowed the merchant's attention to stray from him, would he go back to angering Hua Cheng?

The weight of Hua Cheng's gaze was also heavy on him. Xie Lian worked harder to keep his true emotions from his face: the winding disappointment that this was nothing at all like what he'd expected.

This was probably one of the things Hua Cheng looked forward to the most- he didn't want to ruin it.

He continued to nod along to Liu's long explanations of each robe and suit, only providing polite answers like, no, he didn't like that fabric, but he was sure it was very nice, and no, not that one either...

Xie Lian increasingly looked to his surroundings to find a way out of this long conversation. And he noticed something odd.

The horses used to pull the carts were saddled yet untethered. They remained next to their respective owners and carts, all five of them, with their reins safely tucked in their saddles. Without wandering or grazing, they waited in place with their heads hung low.

The more he turned the details over in his head, the more it bothered him. First, if they were going to be detached from the carts, wouldn't they keep their harnesses on, if anything? The saddles were for riding, not for pulling the wagons. They would've had to switch them out.

Hua Cheng had told him the caravan was visiting, not staying. And surely he wouldn't let a group he didn't trust stay within the palace, especially if he seemed so worried for Xie Lian's sake that even an inch apart was too much distance.

Second, Liu was purposefully trying to antagonize Hua Cheng.

Third, he knew who he was. Liu had mentioned a rumor, and then tried to have Hua Cheng tell him his name.

The pieces fit together all at once, and he went rigid with realization.

What if they were here to take Xie Lian?

If they'd heard rumors that Hua Cheng was using him to blackmail his family for a powerful artifact, what was stopping them from doing the same? They had better numbers, and from the ring of horses stationed around them, it seemed like their plan was to take Xie Lian and get out of range from the palace as quickly as possible.

Liu had to know that Hua Cheng was trapped within the grounds and could only follow them so far. If just one vampire could make it past the wall with Xie Lian, then their plan would be successful. Hua Cheng, on the other hand, would have to fight off five healthy vampires while also trying to protect Xie Lian.

He squeezed his arm to get his attention. But when Hua Cheng looked down at him, his jaw clicked shut, a new thought dawning on him.

Hua Cheng had given him his dagger earlier. He didn't know how powerful these vampires were, but if he was left alone with just one, then it'd likely be much better odds for him than one Vampire King. If he let this play out, it was possible that he could escape.

The weight of such a decision settled over his shoulders, making his hands and feet feel heavy.

He wanted to escape- of course he wanted to be free from here. But since when did he want that so strongly for Hua Cheng as well?

Xie Lian shouldn't care. He was a Vampire King, capable of terrible destruction. With the Jade Emperor's Ring? He'd be capable of calamities.

And he'd seen first hand how cruel he could be.

But Xie Lian had faced worse monsters. Not ones that just played mean pranks out of boredom- ones that derived pure joy from torture, whose only art form came from inflicting suffering in others.

Hua Cheng wasn't like that. When faced with the opportunity to do the same to Xie Lian, even for the sake of freeing himself, he'd balked. Sure, he'd threatened a lot of things the first week to scare him out of his wits. But most of those were said with the intention to make him fight back. 

He'd still made sure he was fed. That Yin Yu took care of him.

Although he did fight and injure his friends, he didn't kill them. And he really could have. He didn't need to leave them alive to send a message to his family- he could have easily killed them both and sent Yin Yu.

And when all of this had started, he'd never needed to barter for Xie Lian. He could've taken him captive the moment he'd entered the palace and put him right next to his aunt, just so he could watch her die from the curse in the cells. Except, he'd let her go. And then he helped Xie Lian find the cure.

At every step of the way, Xie Lian could see how much crueler he could've been. And most importantly, he could remember how Hua Cheng changed. How he slowly recoiled from his worst ideas, how he tried, stumbling, to make things better.

Xie Lian stared up at Hua Cheng as if he were mesmerized by a painting. Laughably, his poor friend's expression was growing more confused by the minute, but still-

He wanted to see that face under the opera lights. He wanted to take him to the lotus garden and night market and even beyond the city, to see him marvel at trains and traveling art galleries and anything else he'd been ripped apart from for so long.

"San Lang," he murmured, mind working seriously to solve the situation. After all, what if he was wrong? What would happen if he accused Hua Cheng's long-time friend right in front of his face? Liu seemed slippery- surely he could talk himself out of any accusation leveled his way, and then they'd loose any advantage of knowing his plan.

"Can I pet the horses?" he asked.

Hua Cheng blinked, and then looked from him to the closest horse. It was standing on the far side of the cart, a chestnut with a white starburst on its forehead.

"If you want," he answered.

Liu paused, rich fabric dangling from his fingers. He'd been describing the long and costly technique of making it, or something like that. "What?" he called.

"He's just going to pet the horse," Hua Cheng said smoothly. "It's not a problem, is it?" His tone sounded mocking at the last part, like he was saying, are you really going to make a big deal of it?

Without waiting for an answer from Liu, Xie Lian let go of Hua Cheng and walked to the horse. Its large, dark eyes followed his slow movements. When he reached out to pet its shoulder, it heaved a great sigh and relaxed, its head lowering.

Despite the situation, a small smile curled his lips as he pet its neck, dirt and road dust puffing from its coarse fur. He'd learned to ride early in life, and so he'd always had a soft spot for horses.

It's tail swished.

"I'm afraid we need those for the carts," Liu stated, unsure. He clearly didn't like that Xie Lian was interested in them.

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the long figure of a vampire leaning against the cart. It was the one with copper eyes.

This was a precarious position. He was putting himself right where it would be easy to scoop him up and mount the horse to escape- except, Liu hadn't been able to distract Hua Cheng, and he'd followed Xie Lian like a shadow.

Hua Cheng stopped behind him, his hand resting on his shoulder. "Gege?" he murmured in his ear. He'd clearly noticed the change in Xie Lian's composure earlier.

"You too, San Lang," he said blithely. He took his hand from his shoulder and locked his fingers overtop his, then practically forced him to pet the horse's neck.

Hua Cheng's eye slid over him, wide with a mixture of confusion and surprise.

Xie Lian met his gaze and guided his hand over the horse's reins, willing him to understand.

His expression morphed slowly. First, an odd look appeared in his eye as he studied the reins and saddle, finally separating that little detail in the midst of Xie Lian's strange behavior. And then anger twisted through him, tense and coiling. His posture stiffened behind Xie Lian's back as his eye narrowed dangerously, his pupil contracting to a fine slit.

Xie Lian's breathing stuttered. He couldn't identify the emotion that suddenly swirled beneath his skin as he watched Hua Cheng grow furious and know that it was on his behalf.

For a moment, he wondered if he'd doomed the caravan. He didn't even know if his suspicions were correct.

But Hua Cheng had caught on quickly. Did that mean he'd felt something was off about the caravan, too? When he'd been distracted earlier, was it because he was excited, or because he noticed something strange?

Hua Cheng's head dipped lower and his lips brushed the shell of his ear. "Ready?" he whispered, the low rumble of his voice barely audible, even this close.

Swallowing, he nodded. 

His hand slipped from underneath Xie Lian's as he turned. "Liu," he called, the lilt of his voice dredging old memories. That was the tone he used when he was going to play with his food.

Xie Lian tucked his hand into the fold of his robe, his fingers cresting the edge of the dagger.

"Crimson Rain?" he heard Liu answer. Footsteps sounded as he walked away to confront him- and then a new presence was behind Xie Lian.

He turned, already expecting the vampire with copper eyes. His hand tightened over the hilt.

What he didn't expect, however, was that his face would be so familiar.

"You-" they said in unison.

Swirling currents came to mind, the taste of ash in his mouth; Xie Lian had met the vampire four years ago, on a bridge called Nanyi.

His vivid memories vanished in the following moments as they grappled for one another, vying to take the other hostage. The horse naturally grew skittish and bolted during their brawl, effectively removing the next step the vampire needed in his plan if he really was trying to take Xie Lian.

They ended up in the dirt, Xie Lian's knee pressed into his ribs. The vampire snarled as he twisted the front of his robes and kicked, but he couldn't dislodge him, and with every frantic movement, Xie Lian secured his hold over him. He shoved the dagger against his throat.

A thin line of blood trickled from his neck and began to pool in the dirt. The vampire swallowed and stopped moving, his breaths coming in harsh pants as he held up his hands.

Across the clearing, Hua Cheng was just about finished with Liu. When he backhanded him, his hat went flying, and then he snapped Liu's head up by grabbing his hair.

He stood behind him and forced him to look at Xie Lian. "See? It's truly amusing that you thought you could take him hostage," he laughed, a wolfish grin revealing his fangs.

Silver butterflies swarmed the other vampires, blocking them from interfering. 

"C-Crimson Rain," Liu pleaded, stammering, "Haven't we known each other for so long? I've brought you everything you asked for-"

"I always knew you were an opportunistic coward," he interrupted him. Hua Cheng leaned forward, his face getting dangerously close to Liu's neck. "Your only good quality was that you never crossed me. What a pity this is."

Nervous, tinny laughter leaked from Liu's throat. "No- no, this is just a misunderstanding-"

"Then why did I smell chloroform on your vampires?" he asked, voice dropping to an icy octave.

Liu froze.

It was the final confirmation that Hua Cheng needed. He sunk his teeth into his flesh, biting hard enough that blood bubbled around his lips as he practically mauled into him. Liu screamed, but no matter how hard he fought, he couldn't escape.

The vampire beneath Xie Lian shook with new-found energy, clearly understanding that if Hua Cheng wasn't going to be merciful to Liu, then the rest weren't getting out alive, either. His nails sunk into Xie Lian's bicep and chest as he tried to claw his way out from underneath him, but Xie Lian grit his teeth and sliced the dagger into his neck.

Vampires could recover from most wounds that were fatal for humans. However, decapitation or running a stake through their heart were the best methods to kill them.

That, and what Hua Cheng seemed to be doing. Xie Lian had never seen a vampire kill another vampire, but he supposed having their blood drunk was an ironic way to die for them. Maybe that was another reason why most of them were solitary.

For Xie Lian, the dagger could decapitate the vampire beneath him, but it was a bloody, laborious process. He managed it with a bit of sawing, his face grimaced with effort, and ended up covered in tacky, warm blood.

When the vampire finally stilled beneath him, he tried to wipe his face on his sleeve, only to discover there wasn't really a clean place to do so.

Disgusted, his eyes traveled to his cloak. It hadn't been spared, either, and his shoulders fell as he sighed. That had been the one good thing about his uniform- the black hid blood stains easily.

He used the back of his cloak to wipe his face and then stood. He tucked the dagger back into his ruined robes.

Hua Cheng threw Liu's body to the dirt and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Blood smeared across his face, stark against his pale skin. His red eye glowed incandescent in the moonlight.

It was frightening, how beautiful he was. Xie Lian swallowed as he approached him, his chest and arm burning lowly with pain.

His sharp-nailed hand reached out to him when he was close enough, his fingers slowly pressing over his injuries. Wherever he touched him, the pain faded.

Xie Lian let out a relieved sigh. To have his fight's injuries instantly healed like this- he'd suffered enough to feel intensely lucky for Hua Cheng's skill in healing. "Sorry," he whispered. "About your friend."

Hua Cheng scoffed. "What scum. I can't believe he was foolish enough to try this," he muttered angrily, kicking Liu's body to the side. It flopped over disturbingly.

"San Lang," he started to admonish him, then caught himself. Who was he to scold him?

However, Hua Cheng deflated easily. "Sorry, gege," he murmured, then wrapped his arm around his shoulders to lead him back to the palace stairs.

Xie Lian glanced behind them. Weren't there three vampires left, after all?

But the vampires were already dealt with. They lay unmoving in the gravel, covered by swarms of butterflies. It was a bit pathetic- Hua Cheng had never unsheathed E'Ming.

A few of the butterflies occasionally drifted back to Hua Cheng, where they were absorbed into his vambraces.

He blinked, glancing between Hua Cheng's face and then the vambrace over his shoulder. He tripped over the first step.

"Gege?" Hua Cheng called, catching him.

"I'm fine!" he responded. Xie Lian recovered quickly, but Hua Cheng held his hand over his lower back as they walked up the rest of the stairs.

So that was how he'd survived for so long! His butterflies were vampiric- he must send them outside of the palace to feed, and then he reabsorbed them when they returned. The butterflies were small, too, so they couldn't carry much blood. Even if a person was fed from, they probably wouldn't notice anything was amiss except for an odd scratch.

Sheepishly, his jaw clicked closed. He'd almost praised him for such an idea.

Yin Yu was waiting for them at the top of the steps. He sat on the landing, a shovel balanced in his lap.

Hua Cheng motioned towards the carts. "Take whatever you want."

He nodded and rose to his feet.

Xie Lian blanched at the idea that he was the one who would clean up their mess. "Sorry, Yin Yu," he murmured. "Do you want help?"

He shook his head. "I left you clothes in the bathroom. You should clean up."

Despondently, he looked down at his gore-covered hands and heaved a sigh. "Thank you."

Xie Lian let Hua Cheng escort him towards the bathroom. The shadows of the palace quickly cooled the blood on his skin and his movements went rigid with discomfort.

They stopped in front of the curtain. A few butterflies circled them, providing a haze of silvery light.

Hua Cheng spun him around so he could see his face. "Gege," he gently called. "Are you alright after that?"

Xie Lian rubbed his fingers together, his skin crawling as the blood dried to them. "It was nothing new to me, San Lang."

He nodded, but he didn't pull away. Instead, he hooked his finger beneath his chin and pulled his face up.

"San Lang?" he called, eyes widening. He was leaning forward, closing the gap between them. For a crazed moment, he thought he was going to kiss him.

His heart shot into overdrive and heat surged his face. Shock wiped his mind clean as he completely froze- he didn't know what to do with his hands.

Hua Cheng didn't kiss him. He dipped his face into the crook of his neck and licked the blood coating his throat.

Xie Lian didn't move, his eyes plastered uselessly to the dark ceiling.

Despite his non-reaction, Hua Cheng drew back, his tongue flicking over his bottom lip. "Sorry," he murmured. "That was all I wanted to do. But if it frightens you, I won't."

At a loss for words, and possibly his mind, Xie Lian said nothing.

A distant memory tugged at him, from the first time Hua Cheng fed from his neck:

"Shh," he'd murmured into his ear.

"Your heart is beating so fast."

Hua Cheng turned away from him.

"Don't-," he said, stammering. 

He paused, then, the sound of his boot clipped on the floor.

"Would you-" Xie Lian swallowed. His face was still dizzy with heat and his heart was a sick weight in his chest. "Would you leave a butterfly? Out here? So when I'm done- I could find you."

Hua Cheng arched his brow as he studied him. He didn't seem to know what make of his composure. "Sure," he murmured.

Xie Lian nodded, as if he were reassuring himself. "Thanks," he breathed out, and then he retreated into the warm darkness behind the curtain.

Chapter Text

Xie Lian stood in the dark, his hands curled into fists by his sides. They shook as he breathed, in and out, in and out, melding with the familiar rhythm of a sutra on his tongue.

A minute ago, he thought Hua Cheng would kiss him. And his first reaction had been to let him.

The blood on his skin was tacky, pulling on his hair as he moved. He couldn't see anything, but for a brief, hysterical moment he stared down at himself and thought, What's happened to me?

Then, like a separate voice whispered in his ear: Maybe it was a fluke. He shook his head to clear it and fumbled for the match box in the drawer.

Just a fluke. His heart had pounded because he'd never kissed anyone before- of course he would panic. And he froze because Hua Cheng was his friend, and it wouldn't do well to react to baseless assumptions without cause.

And it had been the right move, because he hadn't kissed him. He'd just been hungry. What Hua Cheng had done was no different from when he drank from his neck. Xie Lian was the one who reacted strangely.

Right. It was nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

He lit the oil lamps on the wall in a slow circle, unveiling the blue tiled bath in a warm glow. Then he stripped off his bloody clothes, sometimes having to peel sections away from his skin.

The ruined robes landed as a heavy lump by his feet. As he threw cold water over his head and scrubbed his skin, the swirling puddle around the drain turned sickly red.

Xie Lian didn't soak in the warm pool. Once he was clean and dried, he pulled on the clothes Yin Yu left for him. The robes were made from soft silk and pure white- both vampires seemed to remember his preference for the color. It felt silly, now. He was so prone to dirtying it.

He retrieved the dagger and earrings from the messy lump of clothes. First, he cleaned the dagger and slipped it into his belt, unconcealed. Then he debated over the earrings. He'd really thought more of Hua Cheng when he'd picked them up, wanting to distract him- but the more he stared at the silver hoops in the palm of his hand, the less he wanted to let them go. Hua Cheng had bought them for him. They felt special.

There was a slight twinge of pain as he inserted them- his piercings had tried to close up in the last few months. But the ache was gone as soon as it came, and the heaviness felt familiar in a way he missed.

When he pulled back the curtain, a butterfly lifted off the opposite wall and glided down to meet him.

He smiled at it and held up his finger. Like always, it perched there with a tickling sensation.

"Take me to San Lang?" he asked it.

With an energetic beat of its wings, it took off from his finger and fluttered down the hallway.

They walked for sometime through the palace, having to go to the west wing. Then the butterfly made a sharp turn and they arrived at a pair of glass doors. It was the grand entry to the parlor room. Xie Lian had seen it a few times before- Hua Cheng liked to read in here.

His guide flew past the wide-open doors and slipped back into Hua Cheng's vambrace.

He was standing with his back turned to him and his head cocked to the side as he examined a grandfather clock against the wall. It looked like one from the caravan.

Xie Lian slowed as he stepped into the room, unsure of what to say. He clutched his hands behind his back and cleared his throat.

Hua Cheng looked over his shoulder. The chains in his hair were gone and E'Ming no longer sat on his hip. "Gege," he greeted him warmly. "Feeling better?"

"Yes," he murmured, looking at his feet. He still felt guilty over how he reacted earlier. He didn't want Hua Cheng to think he was scared of him.

But Hua Cheng didn't seem concerned at all. "Good," he stated. He turned away from the clock and walked nearer, close enough to reach out and touch his bicep. The healing spell zinged through his skin with a low, tingling heat. "Were you injured anywhere else? Did I miss anything?"

Xie Lian's lips parted with a low puff of air as he drew back- Hua Cheng hadn't missed anything, and the spell tickled his skin with nothing left to do. "It's all healed," he said breathlessly.

Hua Cheng let his hand drop.

Xie Lian finally looked up from the floor and met his gaze. A shared silence passed between them- a quick intake of breath, as though they both wanted say something and yet had nothing to say at all.

Then they were laughing. It bubbled from Xie Lian's chest, worsened by the fact that Hua Cheng also ducked his head with a snicker.

He couldn't explain what, exactly, was funny- only that a shared look had passed between them that seemed to encapsulate how ridiculous and exhausting the whole night had been.

The fit passed quickly, and then Hua Cheng gestured to the low table and couch. "I made tea. Do you want some?"

His lips curled in a smile. "That would be nice," he murmured.

The couch was stiff-backed, ornate, and red. He folded himself next to the arm rest as Hua Cheng poured tea for him.

"Here," he said and passed him the small porcelain cup. Blue reliefs of a quaint village scene were painted across the white in delicate strokes. He traced it with his thumb as warmth bled into his fingers.

"Thank you, San Lang." He dipped his head to drink it.

Floral accents bloomed across his tongue: white tea. And the blend-

It was Silver Needle.

Hua Cheng sprawled out next to him on the couch, his eye fixed to his face.

"San Lang," he murmured, unable to keep his smile from widening. "Thank you- I hope it wasn't too much trouble."

"Of course not," he replied, voice low and silky. "If there's anything that would make you more comfortable here, let me know. It's the least I can do."

Then he reached into the front of his robes and pulled out an oblong, wooden box. His expression tightened- perhaps he was nervous? He slid the top from it and tilted the box in Xie Lian's direction.

"These are for you as well," he murmured.

It was a set of fountain pens. The metal was shiny and luxurious, the lamp light glinting off the pearl enamel inlays.

Xie Lian leaned closer, his hand hovering over the box with guarded hesitancy. "You-" he breathed out, at a loss for words.

Hua Cheng laid the box on the cushion between them and retreated back. "I thought you could use them to send more letters, if you'd like."

His mind blanked with surprise, then wandered- he knew he'd complained about the lack of pens in the palace, but that had been months ago, when he'd practically first arrived.

"San Lang," he whispered, finding his voice again. He curled his fingers over the box and brought it to his lap. "Thank you- I feel like that's all I can say-" he let out a weak laugh.

Hua Cheng's smile was a small thing, barely a twitch of his lips. But the way his eye creased softened his entire face. "I hope they're useful to you."

Xie Lian nodded his head and carefully closed the lid over the box. "They will be," he said, already excited by the prospect of writing more letters. He took a breath, his lips parting with a question- and then his jaw shut. Hua Cheng had given him so much. How could he ask for more?

However, Hua Cheng noticed this and leaned closer, his arm sliding over the back of the couch. "Yes?" he murmured.

Xie Lian took a sip of his tea, a little embarrassed that he was so easy to read. "Perhaps I could write the letters small enough that you could send them with your butterflies? I wouldn't want to tire Yin Yu."

Hua Cheng laughed, a low chuckle that echoed in his chest. "He'd be touched to hear you say that."

He ducked his head with a small smile. "He isn't struggling out there, is he?"

"He's fine," he said with a wave of his hand. "This is part of the deal."

Xie Lian blinked at him, curious, so he continued. "Yin Yu doesn't like to fight, so I let him hide here from hunters and other vampires. In return, he does small tasks for me."

"Oh," exhaled. "Have you let many other vampires stay here, because of that?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Not many vampires, but some spirits grow tired of humans and just want to live apart. That's how Ghost City started."

By now, Xie Lian was familiar with the name from the ghost fires' stories and had connected it to the legends his aunt had researched. There were many tales about it, told by human mouths- the most common one being that it moved through the world, and any unlucky traveler could accidentally stumble into a strange and spectacular world of monsters in the blink of an eye.

However, Ghost City was destroyed. One only had to look through the highest windows of the palace to see the ruined framework on the outskirts.

"The city scenes you paint- is that what you remember of it?" he asked.

"Mn," he hummed. "I never thought it would get so big. But as humans expanded and cleared more forests, the natural spirits there were displaced. They needed somewhere to go."

He smiled at the way Hua Cheng spoke so nonchalantly about it, like it wasn't an act of goodwill at all.

And perhaps it didn't seem that way to him- Hua Cheng reminded him of a great shark that tended to collect schools of small fish beneath its fins. Since they were so weak, the shark left them alone, and they were able to gain its protection in return.

His memories wandered back to the caravan, then, and Liu's mentioning of someone else Hua Cheng used to be close with. He was hesitant to ask, but it sounded like it may have loosely been the same time frame, and his curiosity won out.

"San Lang..." he murmured, tone gentled. "Who's Fangxin?"

Hua Cheng stiffened, his face falling into such an open look of sadness that Xie Lian immediately startled and said, "I didn't mean- I was only curious- I'm sorry-"

He shook his head. "Don't be. You can ask me anything," he murmured, gathering his composure. He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, his hands laced together as he looked across the room, eye distant.

"It was a long time ago, before I was stuck," he started. "A hunter wandered into Ghost City."

Xie Lian sipped his tea, his eyes glued to him. The bow of his shoulders, the way he fidgeted with his fingers.

"He was looking for a vampire that had slaughtered an entire village and then tried to take refuge, to gain my protection. He wasn't breaking any rules- humans were allowed- but it was obvious what he was. Despite that, even when he was singled out and threatened by a mob, he still remained so polite." A small puff of laughter escaped him.

He swallowed and looked at Xie Lian. "I saved him because I was curious. And we... became friends," he said, tone flat and vacant of emotion, as if he were imagining someone else's life.

Hua Cheng continued, his nails sinking into his own skin as he talked. "He was incredibly smart, and one of the strongest hunters I'd ever met. But he disliked fighting without good cause. If there was a peaceful path, then he would always take it." His voice lowered to a faint murmur as he added, "...you remind me of him."

He blinked, astonished. Hua Cheng clearly held his friend in high regard; the unspoken praise from being associated with him wasn't lost on him.

"The way you describe him- I wish I could meet him," Xie Lian said as he placed his empty cup on the table.

Hua Cheng's expression dropped with poorly concealed grief. "You'd have gotten along too well. I would've gotten teamed up on and lectured day and night."

Xie Lian let out a low laugh. "For what? Playing pranks on your hostages?"

A smile broke through his expression, the faintest tilt of his lips. "That, and having hostages in the first place."

As his words hung in the air, the small humor they'd scraped out evaporated, leaving a heavy silence that was almost too sad to bear.

Xie Lian frowned as Hua Cheng remained stiffly bowed over on the couch, like his grief had taken on a new weight as he talked about it. He was sorry for bringing it up if it hurt so much, but he felt satisfied to see this new side of him. To know he'd been such good friends with another hunter opened a new dimension to him, giving rise to the same hope that they would remain close once he was freed from the palace.

But for now, his friend was sad, and Xie Lian had nothing left to say. He didn't want to ask him another question, but to let him sit with his grief alone felt too cruel.

His heartbeat quickened as he closed the distance between them on the couch. Quiet, he begged it stupidly, and then he slowly wrapped his arms around Hua Cheng's middle, his face pressed against the side of his shoulder as he lightly hugged him.

Hua Cheng straightened as soon as he touched him. Xie Lian recoiled, an apology on his lips and ready, but he froze when he saw the shocked and lightly dazed expression on his face.

They stared at each other for a few moments. When Xie Lian confirmed that he wasn't angry, he reached forward again and wrapped him in a hug. Now that he'd sat up straight and turned, his face pressed into his collar bone.

Arms hanging loosely by his side, Hua Cheng was still too shocked to respond. Xie Lian was about to pull back when he finally did move, his arms wrapping over his shoulder blades and upper back. Then his weight turned heavy, like the invisible strings holding him up had snapped, and he practically sunk into Xie Lian's embrace.

Xie Lian caught him. His arms tightened around his back and his face was pulled more tightly into his chest, in part due to how strongly Hua Cheng now held him.

His body heat bled through his clothes and the scent of autumn flowers washed over him. He began running his hand in low circles over his back.

Hua Cheng shuddered and held him impossibly tighter.

Xie Lian's heart ached for him. When was the last time someone had hugged him for no other reason than to provide a sense of comfort?

They embraced for a long time, the low-toned ticking of the grandfather clock padding the silence.

Hua Cheng was the first to pull back, his arms slipping from Xie Lian with the sound of fabric rustling. His throat clicked as he swallowed.

Xie Lian also drew back, though he remained in the middle of the couch. He was hesitant to look at his face. If he'd been crying, he didn't want to embarrass him by making it obvious he saw. He reached forward and poured himself another cup of tea to busy his hands.

"Thank you," came a low murmur by his side.

Xie Lian hummed. "I can understand if you don't like talking about it- but if you ever want to, I'll listen."

Hua Cheng nodded his head in a jerking motion.

The grandfather clock chimed. It was a low, quiet bellow of sound that marked the hour: 2AM.

Xie Lian sighed. It really had been a long night, but time itself seemed to exist in fits and starts in the palace.

"Gege," Hua Cheng called to him. "I have a question, too."

He hummed to acknowledge he was listening.

"That vampire in the caravan- it sounded like you recognized each other," he stated. "Had you met him before?"

Xie Lian swallowed another sip of tea, the sound resounding in the small room. "Oh- yes," he answered. "It was one of my first solo missions: young girls were going missing in a village out west. I discovered that vampire was the cause, but..." he was embarrassed to explain the next part. It had landed him in so much trouble with his family.

Hua Cheng's head tilted slightly as he studied him. "What, gege?" he asked, a lilt to his tone. His smile was evident in his voice as he said, "You can tell me."

With a small laugh, Xie Lian shook his head. "What do you think I'm going to tell you?" he asked, cradling his cup closer to his chest.

He shrugged. "I thought I was the only vampire you didn't kill outright on first meeting them," he said. And was that a pout on his face?

Xie Lian scoffed and rolled his eyes at his antics. He thought it was a little performative- Hua Cheng seemed the type to compartmentalize his sadness behind humor.

He would indulge him, then.

"I didn't kill Yin Yu, either," he said. "Jealous?"

Hua Cheng's eye flashed as he sprawled back against the couch, looking delighted that Xie Lian would play along. "Maybe," he answered. His fingers strayed to his dagger tucked into Xie Lian's belt, his nails running over the sharpened edge. "What if I want gege to make it up to me?"

His lips curled up as he watched him. "And just how would I do that?"

Fangs flashing, Hua Cheng grinned as he said, "Spar me."

Xie Lian blinked, and then he was laughing, his hand covering his mouth.

Hua Cheng was taken aback at first, and then his expression fell into a frown. "You don't want to?"

He shook his head, composing himself. "San Lang, you just watched me decapitate another vampire, and now you want me to spar you?" he asked, eyebrows tilted up. "Are you crazy?"

"Yes," he answered.

His laughter fizzled out, but his smile remained stuck on his face. "Fine. I'll spar you," he said. He didn't add that he was actually excited by the idea- Hua Cheng had been the strongest opponent he'd ever had. He would look forward to a rematch.

Xie Lian's hand strayed to the hilt of the dagger at his belt. "Do you want this back?" he asked.

Their fingers met over the metal.

Hua Cheng hummed, considering. "No. Keep it and stay safe if something else happens in the future," he murmured. He pulled his hand away.

It was his fourth gift this evening- Xie Lian didn't know how he was ever going to pay him back. 

Or maybe this way Hua Cheng's way of paying him back, for keeping him in the palace for so long.

If that was the deal, then he had no complaints. In fact, he was worried he might be getting a little spoiled.

Silence drifted over them- Xie Lian lowered his tea to his lap and watched the ripples calm. "That vampire was one of my biggest mistakes," he murmured, resuming their earlier topic. "I confronted him while he was hunting a new girl. He grabbed her and threw her over a bridge, but she couldn't swim. Instead of pursuing him, I jumped into the water. I couldn't find him when I got her to shore."

Hua Cheng frowned. "How was that a mistake?"

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Because he got away, who knows how many more people died? I should've followed him instead," he stated, repeating the same scolding he'd received. "They almost told me I couldn't be a hunter anymore, and that it was time for me to study under my father's role."

The threat was enough to make Xie Lian promise to do anything, so long as he could stay a hunter. He loved traveling and meeting new people; although he knew he would eventually be expected to become the head of the manor, he hadn't thought the role would be sprung on him so suddenly.

"I managed to convince them to let me continue," he said, his voice growing quieter. "But after this... it's hard to imagine that they'll let me hunt at the same capacity that they did before."

He was the only son, after all. If he died, what would his family do? What would happen to their legacy? They'd pass it to Qi Rong? He would laugh at the thought if it didn't make him shudder. Qi Rong had enough power as it was.

"What do you want after this, gege?" Hua Cheng asked. He reached forward and played with a lock of his hair, curling it around his finger.

Xie Lian's smile was a defeated thing that didn't reach his eyes. "I don't know," he said. He couldn't imagine anything he wanted that he could have.

Then, "Well... maybe if San Lang would write to me, or if there was a way he could visit..." he whispered, unsure. "I think I'd like that."

"Gege is going to show me around his city, right?" Hua Cheng reminded him.

He let out a small puff of air, a sad excuse for a laugh. "How could I forget?" he said. "I'm looking forward to it."

"Me too," Hua Cheng murmured to him, his thumb stroking his hair.

Xie Lian wondered if he was the worst hunter to ever exist.

The thought didn't sting him like it used to.

💀

The next few days passed slowly. Xie Lian wrote and rewrote his letters in a never ending cycle, always unsure of what to tell his family.

Could he really explain to them how close he'd become with Hua Cheng? How desperately he wished for them to convince the other families to unlock the ring's seal so he could be free?

After writing one such letter, he crumpled it up and threw it away. If they received something like that, they would think Hua Cheng forced him to write it.

Perhaps he could explain something about his time here? He started writing about how he helped the Shi brothers, but eventually threw away that letter as well. His family would be startled that he didn't exorcise both ghosts outright and wash his hands of the whole ordeal.

He sighed and pressed his forehead against the low table. Butterflies flew in low circles around the library nook, but their numbers were so little that the room was darker than usual.

Propping his jaw on his hand, he watched their slow movements for a while. Then he called out, "Can one of you help me?"

Immediately, a butterfly broke ranks and glided down to the table. It perched opposite to him, as if they were about to start a conversation.

He smiled at it. "I was wondering if I could see my family again. Is that something you could do without San Lang around?"

The butterfly gave a serene beat of its wings and then took to the air. It fluttered to his face, where it perched a little clumsily on his nose. He flinched as its wing brushed his eyelashes. "Please be careful," he murmured to it, but his smile returned as it crawled the scant space to reach his forehead. It seemed so terribly eager to help him.

His vision shimmered as another point of view slid next to his own. The butterfly's projection shook as it fluttered through the Xie manor.

Xie Lian closed his eyes to stabilize himself and watched the evening scenes of the manor play out. Mu Qing and Feng Xin were out on missions. His parents had dinner with a few guests, and then they all retired to the parlor room for drinks.

The conversation grew crueler than he had the stomach for- his father began speaking of eradicating the fox spirit population, something he'd always thought would help usher in modernity. Xie Lian had never truly grasped how awful that sounded, but his skin crawled with the thought of it, now. The guests all nodded their heads like it was an incredible goal.

Perhaps we could look for someone else? He thought to the butterfly. Then, We didn't see Qi Rong last time. Why don't we look for him?

He didn't exactly like his cousin, but it intrigued him that he hadn't seen him at all during his last glimpse of the manor.

As the butterfly made circle after circle of the grounds, slipping in and out of the shadows and staying out of the sight, it became clear to him:

Qi Rong wasn't in the manor.

Xie Lian frowned. He knew he'd been separated during the attack on the hotel, but with his aunt freed and returned to the manor, wouldn't they be able to find him? His family's resources were practically unlimited, and it'd been months since the attack.

Maybe he was just overthinking things- Qi Rong could be out in the city, doing god knows what. Accosting citizens, visiting the local brothels and pestering the poor girls there (Xie Lian has had to retrieve him from such places before). He shook his head with a huff. The memories made him recoil from the curiosity he'd had over his cousin.

Never mind, he told the butterfly. He's probably creating havoc in the city. You don't have to look for him.

Xie Lian opened his eyes and looked over his messy pile of half-written letters, a deep sigh carving out of his chest. The image layered over the butterfly's projection of his family in the parlor room, laughing and drinking while they considered the best way to kill a fox spirit.

I'd like to be done looking, he told the butterfly. Thank you for your help.

The image and chattered conversation cut out, leaving him alone in the silent library. With a ticklish beat of its wings, the butterfly took off from his forehead and resumed circling overhead.

Xie Lian curled his arms over the table and dropped his head, his face pressed into his sleeve.

He stewed in his loneliness for a while. Then, footsteps sounded on the metal staircase.

Xie Lian turned his head just as Hua Cheng passed the shelves. He was wearing a black robe today; diamond patterns were sown into the shiny fabric and a high-collared, red inner robe peeked out underneath. A familiar set of red pearl earrings shook with each step- the pair he'd won from Xie Lian had seemed to become his favorite to wear.

He really does look like a king, he thought as he watched him approach, his cheek still cushioned on his arm.

"San Lang," he mumbled when he was closer.

"Gege," Hua Cheng replied as he sunk to his knees beside him. He swept a lock of his hair from the side of his face, curling it back behind his ear. "Still no luck?"

His nails felt heavenly over his scalp- not that Xie Lian would ever have the face to admit it. He shook his head.

Hua Cheng hummed. "Maybe you should take a break. We could walk through the garden."

Xie Lian agreed and cleaned up the table. He slipped the pens back into their box and gently closed the lid.

Hua Cheng glanced over his letters. "Gege's penmanship is beautiful," he commented.

With a small smile, Xie Lian said, "I'm sure San Lang's is better." He could only imagine what the penmanship of a master artist must look like.

Hua Cheng's brow arched. "How're you so sure?"

"You're so talented," he murmured, a tinge of heat rising to his face. "So of course you must have nice handwriting."

A low puff of laughter left him. Then he kneeled beside Xie Lian and took one of the pens from the box. He uncrumpled a tossed letter, found an empty space on the half-written page, and smeared a couple lines.

Now, Xie Lian thought smeared, because the shapes formed by his hand were so illegible they could hardly be considered words.

"San Lang," he said sternly. "You're playing with me."

Hua Cheng let out a long-suffering sigh. "I'm really trying my best."

"Write out the heart sutra," he challenged him, arms crossed over his chest.

Ink flew in wild strokes across the page. The only reason he could recognize some of the characters was because he knew what they were supposed to say.

He narrowed his eyes, unsure whether to give in yet and believe him. Hua Cheng was capable of long running pranks, he was sure.

Hua Cheng looked at his disbelieving face and sighed again. "It doesn't matter- I don't need to write, anyway," he stated and stood from the table.

Since he was giving up on convincing him so quickly, Xie Lian started to think it was true. "San Lang," he said, a small laugh underpinning his words as he looked up at him. "How could it be true?"

Hua Cheng shrugged his shoulders. He scuffed the floor with the toe of his boot and said, "I never had a teacher. It was only through persistence over many years that I learned to read. The writing just never came."

Xie Lian's smile fell. He sounded like he'd had to teach himself.

Considering the scrawl across the page, Xie Lian said, "...It looks like the stroke orders for the characters are mixed up. Maybe the flow would improve if they were written in the right order. If San Lang would like, I could show him a few characters?"

He'd been afraid of offending him, but he needn't have worried. Hua Cheng smiled at him, his eye creasing. "I'll look forward to it," he said.

They left the library and walked to the garden. However, as Xie Lian opened the door to the mud room, he paused in the entryway, stopping Hua Cheng from going any further. "The sun hasn't set," he warned him.

Hua Cheng's lips twitched. "It's not a problem, gege," he murmured, then reached for his red umbrella that was leaned against the wall.

He unfurled it past the eaves and walked into the garden, his crooked smile flashing a hint of his fangs as he looked back towards Xie Lian.

It was a true show of strength- not many vampires could walk in the diluted shadows of the day. Xie Lian let out a small laugh as he joined him by his side.

Since the temperature had dropped, the last blooms had died out. However, the garden was still a beautiful place in the golden hour before sunset, the remaining foliage ringed with gold and smelling sweetly in the chilly air.

Xie Lian clasped his hands behind his back, mirroring the way Hua Cheng so often walked. "San Lang, can I ask you something?" he murmured.

He blinked, and then subtly shifted the umbrella so it covered them both. "Anything, gege."

Something about the small adjustment deeply pleased him. The sunlight seeped through the red crepe and burst through a diluted crimson, bouncing off the elegant angles of Hua Cheng's face. His red eye shone through the stained shadows, adding to the striking image.

He tightened his grip over his own fingers, nervous. "Is the ring the only way to free you?" he asked.

Like the swoop of a wing, the cheerful atmosphere that had grown between them vanished. Hua Cheng stilled, his eyebrows first tilting up with surprise before quickly furrowing. His tensed eye fell on Xie Lian, studying him.

Xie Lian had nothing to hide. He stared back, his expression painted with all of the worry he felt for him. "Even if they manage to convince everyone to unseal it, the five hunter families won't just hand you the ring," he murmured. "If you had taken an entire city hostage, they still wouldn't. They have to be planning something."

With a small sigh, Hua Cheng finally relaxed, his shoulders dropping. "I know," he whispered, his hand coming up to rest on Xie Lian's shoulder. He squeezed it. "You don't have to worry about that."

Xie Lian shook his head, ready to argue.

Hua Cheng continued before he could. "I won't hurt your family," he said. "I don't want to hurt anyone you care about. I just want to be free. And the ring... its the reason I'm stuck."

His face glowed crimson underneath the umbrella, washing his sad expression with an unearthly light.

"The ring used to be mine. I created it," he said.

Xie Lian's mouth fell open in shock, his words uselessly hanging at the back of his throat. When he'd finally composed himself, he asked, "What do you mean?"

Hua Cheng blinked and looked over the garden, the charged surprise slipping away from between them. He twirled his umbrella on his shoulder in thought and then said, "I had such high hopes when I was younger- I didn't like to feed on people. I didn't like to feed on anything. But I was so tired of the constant hunger-" He paused, breathing through his frustration. "I thought I could change things- I hadn't lived long enough yet to know the steep price for trying to meddle with nature."

Memory had carved him out, his eye creased with some distant anger and grief. Xie Lian reached forward and touched his hand- he was holding his umbrella so hard, his knuckles had turned starkly white, the color of frost under the full moon.

His fingers wrapped around his, and then he lightly held his arm with his other hand, his thumb moving in slow, comforting strokes.

Hua Cheng looked to him and sighed, his hand relaxing over the umbrella. The wooden handle creaked,

"Do you remember when you asked me about self-sustaining magic? You thought Bai Wuxiang used it," he said.

Xie Lian nodded.

"Fangxin and I- we theorized that there could be a way for vampires to exist without having to feed on people. Its not blood that they need- its the mana in the blood."

"With that in mind, we started experimenting with generative magic- we needed something that could create mana, but all of the spells we tried could only use mana to generate another effect. But it gave us the start we needed."

"San Lang," Xie Lian murmured when he paused for breath. "Are you telling me that you're the one that invented self-sustaining magic, too?"

"It was a joint effort," he said. Then he leaned closer, pulling Xie Lian nearer with the grip he had on his arm. "But if gege wants to praise me for it, I'll happily accept."

Xie Lian's face flushed as he leaned closer. He pushed him back by his forehead, making sure to cover his eye as he did so. "Who wants to praise you?" he muttered as he ducked his head, trying to control the blush that surely showed on his face.

Hua Cheng laughed, not just with a puff of air but with a ringing echo in his chest. "Fine, fine," he acquiesced. His tone sobered as he said, "It's my fault you're here, after all. I really am terrible for making you suffer for my mistakes."

Xie Lian could see the shape of his jaw flex, the apology sitting there on the edge of his tongue- before he could continue speaking, he cupped his face with his hand. As he'd predicted, Hua Cheng immediately fell into a shocked silence.

"I'm glad it was me," he said. "I'm glad I spent so much time here and learned so much, that I met ghosts who linger for the people they love and the joy of telling stories. That there are vampires who hate fighting and spirits who just want to live in peace."

Xie Lian looked into his wide, red eye. "I'm glad I met you," he murmured. "I didn't know before that it was such a simple thing to be happy with someone."

They were close enough now that Xie Lian could feel the heat of his breath on his face. Hua Cheng had reached up and cupped his shoulder as he spoke, holding him as if he didn't believe he was really there, or might turn to mist and vanish the moment he looked away.

The umbrella cloaked them both in warm, red light, creating the effect that they had stumbled into some other dimension where nothing else existed. Just the smell of autumn flowers and the heat of Hua Cheng, his skin warm and soft beneath his palm.

Xie Lian's eyes strayed to his lips.

His heartbeat quickened and his entire body froze, because he realized-

When he thought Hua Cheng was going to kiss him that night, it might have been because he wanted him to.

He'd never had this desire before: the need to know what the shape of someone else's mouth would feel like against his, to crave his arms wrapped around him.

Shocked by the intensity of his own wishes, Xie Lian dropped his hand and stepped back. Looking at his feet, he asked, "So you created the ring with self-sustaining magic?"

Hua Cheng didn't answer immediately, his gaze resting over him as a heavy weight. Xie Lian couldn't bring himself to meet it and see his face.

He'd probably heard the uptick of his heartbeat. Cursing his thoughts, Xie Lian clasped his hands behind his back and curled his fingers overtop one another in a tight grip. What if he thought he was frightened of touching him, or worse, that he was lying?

"...Yes," Hua Cheng answered slowly. "The ring was forged with my blood and Fangxin's, as well as plant material from these gardens."

Xie Lian looked over the dense, cluttered paths. "The plant mana feeds the human blood, the human mana sustains yours, and then the natural decomposition of both feeds the plants," he murmured, amazed.

Hua Cheng nodded. "It doesn't produce much mana in the grand scheme of things. It was only meant to sustain me enough that I wouldn't have to drink anymore."

His eyebrows furrowed. "But it's one of the most powerful artifacts that my family has. It was sealed for a reason."

The sun began to slip behind the tree line. The last rays of light ringed the forest with red and gold; it looked as if the trees had caught fire. And then it was gone, the pink-tinged sky darkening to navy with every passing moment.

Hua Cheng let the umbrella fall from his shoulder and closed it. "Its been kept in the dark for three hundred years," he murmured. "Without anyone to absorb it, the spell has continually produced and stored mana within itself, growing stronger- strong enough that its backfired, and I can't leave this palace for any reason."

His face twisted with a grimace. It must be an ironic cruelty, to be trapped here by his own unknowing design. 

"I had hoped your family might just destroy it, if they knew I was after it," he said, looking disappointed. "But they love you. How frustrating."

Xie Lian snorted. He could understand why he couldn't tell his family to just destroy it, too- that would have been completely showing his hand. If they had questioned his motive and suspected at any time that the ring was what trapped him here, then he would never get the chance to escape. They would seal it away forever and throw away the key.

"The last I saw my family through your butterflies, they seemed happy," he murmured. "I know it's slow, but I think they're making progress."

Hua Cheng's face softened. He hummed and kicked a low branch out of the path as they continued walking.

Xie Lian wished there was a way for him to remove the looming threat on the horizon- the families had to be planning to fight Hua Cheng. But how could he show them that he wasn't the monster they all the thought he was?

No one had come to check on him in a while- probably to prevent provoking Hua Cheng, as well as keeping everyone else safely out of reach. However, if only someone would come, they could see that Xie Lian was being treated perfectly well.

But who was crazy enough to enter a Vampire King's palace when summoned?

Feng Xin would come if I asked, he thought with such unwavering certainty that it made his eyes sting.

"San Lang," he murmured. "Maybe it would help if the families knew I was being treated well. Could I invite my friend back here? Just to visit, so he could see me."

Hua Cheng's chest stilled with a held breath. "Gege..." he murmured, sounding unconvinced.

"You can be there the entire time- I'm not trying to escape. I just thought they should see you aren't hurting me. You're a perfect gentleman. And my family wants me back no matter what- this won't make them abandon me. It's to send the message that if you're holding up your end of the deal well, they should do the same."

Sadness creased his eyebrows as he stopped and turned to him. "I don't think you'd try to escape. You could've at the caravan, but you didn't," he said.

Xie Lian's eyes widened. He hadn't realized Hua Cheng had the same train of thought he had.

"You can invite anyone you want here," he continued. "I know you must miss them. I just worry... they might not understand why you'd think you're treated well, or believe that you're happy here. They might suspect I've done something worse."

He frowned, a tinge of frustration crawling beneath his skin. He knew why they would think such things- he'd been the same way months ago, never thinking it was even possible to be friends with a vampire. "You may be right," he admitted with a sigh. "But I want to try."

Hua Cheng dipped his head. "If you want to ask them yourself, I'll send your letter whenever you're ready."

Xie Lian smiled at him, feeling his heart swell. "Thank you- Feng Xin's my oldest friend, and he knows me well. I'm sure I can get through to him."

He pushed away his doubts. If he could convince Feng Xin that Hua Cheng wasn't the monster he thought he was, then maybe he could open the door to a more peaceful resolution to this whole mess.

The bloody alternative that would come if he failed was too horrific to think about.

Chapter Text

"San Lang..." he murmured, trailing into laughter.

"It's getting better." Hua Cheng said. There was the hint of a question in his tone.

Xie Lian surveyed the wobbled line of characters falling down the page. "...It's good," he answered, trying not to grimace.

"Gege, don't placate me. I can take criticism," he whined.

"No- really-" Their shoulders touched as he leaned closer. He pointed to a character in the poem Hua Cheng had chosen to copy; he had surprisingly romantic tastes in literature. Xie Lian still didn't know how to process that tidbit of information.

"Look," he murmured. "It's still a bit wild, but since you're following the correct stroke order now, you're leading the reader's eye through the character-" he traced the paper beside it, copying the flow of ink. "You just need more practice in getting the muscle control of your hand down."

Hua Cheng's head was turned to look at him, his blurred profile resting on the edge of his periphery. Xie Lian sat back on his heels and his gaze followed him. He felt oddly studied today, like his tiniest movements were all being analyzed.

"Maybe you could help me?" Hua Cheng murmured, his voice low and silky. "You keep mentioning fine muscle movements, but I'm not sure I quite understand..." He held his hand up, the pen clutched loosely between his fingers, bordering on the wrong way to hold it.

Hesitantly, Xie Lian leaned in again and wrapped his hand over Hua Cheng's, firmly fixing his fingers into the correct place. They were slightly cold and soft, free from the callouses that decorated his palms.

Xie Lian's other hand hovered awkwardly at his side; it would feel more comfortable to place it over Hua Cheng's back to help him balance, but they were already touching enough that his heartbeat had started to quicken.

It's just holding hands! he silently cried to himself, feeling ridiculous.

The nervous energy that zipped beneath his skin begged to differ- it was holding hands with the very same man he'd thought of kissing multiple times over the past few days.

He'd wondered what had brought on such strong feelings within himself. Was it just the fact that it felt forbidden to him? But there were so many things Xie Lian could list that endeared him to Hua Cheng: the crooked slant of his lips, his eclectic, fanciful sense of style-

"Would gege guide me though the poem?" Hua Cheng whispered beside him, his breath puffing over his ear.

Perhaps at the top of the list was his low-toned, smooth voice. It was having a devastating effect on his composure today.

"O-Okay," he stammered. He lowered their joined hands to the paper and started to guide Hua Cheng through the movements for forming the characters. However, Hua Cheng's strokes really were wild, and it began to feel like he was fighting him.

"San Lang," he called. "If you're playing with me, I'm leaving."

"Gege is just so skilled," he whined. "How can I compare?"

Xie Lian didn't know what he wanted to do more: to physically throw him from the library nook or tell him he would never help him again. He was sure Hua Cheng was messing with him, now.

He let go of his hand and leaned back, his arms crossed over his chest. "I had to copy for hours a day over many years," he said. "Maybe San Lang needs to do the same. On his own. No distractions."

Hua Cheng's shoulders sagged. "I've been trying to learn alone forever," he complained.

"Try harder."

Unable to repress his laughter, Hua Cheng balanced his forehead on his hand and shook with rumbling gasps. "Gege," he started.

Properly incensed now, Xie Lian wouldn't even look at him. "I'm not your gege," he muttered. "Find someone older to teach you, if that's what you want. Maybe they can deal with you."

He turned his back to start picking up some of the scrolls and poetry books they'd chosen to copy.

The answering silence should've alerted him to be on his guard, but he was so intent to ignore Hua Cheng that he didn't even register there was an arm wrapping around his waist until it pulled him back.

Xie Lian froze as he was pressed against Hua Cheng's warm chest, his ornate necklace digging into his shoulder blades.

"Did I anger you?" he murmured in his ear. "Forgive me- I don't want someone older."

He had to be doing this on purpose- he had to know the effect he was having. Xie Lian's heart was a sickly weight in his chest and his face burned like a thousand fires.

Did he think it was funny that he'd developed a crush? Was he trying to goad him into admitting it, just for the joy of shooting him down? If there was one thing he hadn't forgotten over the past few days, it was that the ghost fires had called him untouchable.

His eyes pricked with warmth. He really thought Hua Cheng wouldn't find joy in his suffering anymore, even if it was just for one of his pranks.

A slight cough came from behind them.

Immediately, it was as if a massive cold front had rolled into the room; Hua Cheng stiffened as he whipped his head around, his jewelry clinking from the force of it.

Xie Lian turned as well, embarrassment coiling into a thick knot in his stomach.

Yin Yu stood near the railing, about as far away from them as he could get without leaving eyesight.

The glare Hua Cheng was sending his way was terrifying- he was sure he hadn't even looked at Liu like this. Unfortunately, he also clutched Xie Lian much more tightly.

He sighed and resigned himself to his loss of dignity. "Yes?" he asked.

Yin Yu's focus was locked onto Hua Cheng- he was frozen to the spot, like a small animal trying not to incite the prey drive of a predator.

After a long silence, he murmured, "...Your friend is here."

Xie Lian blinked, his dejection slowly evaporating and overcome by excitement. "Feng Xin?" he whispered.

Yin Yu nodded.

A smile curled his lips and he grabbed Hua Cheng's arm to peel it from his waist. It was resolutely glued there, so he clicked his tongue and sternly said, "San Lang, let me go."

His arm loosened and Xie Lian jumped up on the spot. He walked towards the staircase with Yin Yu, who was quickly retreating as if his life depended on it.

The absence of footsteps behind him was noticeable.

Xie Lian stopped and turned his head. Hua Cheng was watching him go with a complicated expression on his face. He was still holding the pen in his hand.

"Aren't you coming?" he asked.

He placed the pen on the low table. "Yes," he sighed. Then he took his time to straighten and brush off his red robes, as if the immaculate thread had been dirtied somehow. It definitely wasn't. Only after thoroughly checking his appearance did he begin to follow them.

Feng Xin had been directed to wait in a rarely used sitting room in the east wing. The furniture there was in the best shape out of the whole palace; unfortunately, the fireplace on the far wall had long since crumbled into a heap of disintegrated brick. Cobwebs and dust clung to the oil lamps as well, throwing odd shadows over the room.

Yin Yu had run off as soon as he could, so Xie Lian was the first to walk through the door. Feng Xin stood by the fireplace with his hand on his sword, the lamp-light glinting off the gold accents in his armor. There were quite a few new dents and scratches in the metal and leather.

He whipped around at the sound of the door opening. When his eyes met his, his face broke open with relief and his chest sharply rose like he could finally take a full breath. "Xie Lian," he called out.

"Feng Xin," Xie Lian answered. They met in the middle of the room and pulled each other into a strong hug- Xie Lian all but melted into his arms.

Then, he felt him stiffen and his fingers tighten in his robe. His other hand flew to his sword.

Xie Lian caught him by his wrist. "Feng Xin," he hissed in his ear. "Stop it."

He didn't take his hand away from the hilt, but he stopped trying to unsheathe it. Xie Lian decided to call it a win and pulled away.

Hua Cheng was leaned in the doorframe as he expected, his arms crossed over his chest. His expression was sharp and unreadable, that natural scowl of his hiding anything he could be thinking.

He motioned for Xie Lian to come closer.

On his first step, Feng Xin caught his arm.

Xie Lian looked back at his sullen face. "It's alright," he murmured. As he pulled away, Feng Xin reluctantly let go.

Hua Cheng's expression barely changed as he stepped closer; the only marked differenced was a slight softening around his eye. Xie Lian smiled in return- that was practically a warm greeting from him.

He flicked his wrist and a butterfly flew from his vambrace. It circled Xie Lian once and then landed in the corner of the room.

"Shout if you need me," he murmured. He reached forward to squeeze his shoulder once, and then he turned and left.

Xie Lian watched him go from the doorway, expression falling. It was probably for the best- if Feng Xin's first reaction was still to try to kill him, he doubted they'd make much progress if he lingered in the room. However, he was saddened that he couldn't have two people important to him share a single space.

He pushed it from his mind. This wasn't about forcing them to be friends- he just needed to convince Feng Xin that his family should respect their end of the deal as Hua Cheng had respected his.

And, perhaps a little more selfishly, Xie Lian was bursting at the seams with everything he wanted to tell his best friend.

A long grin stretched over his face as he turned and beckoned Feng Xin to sit at the couch. Yin Yu had left them tea, so he started preparing some for the both of them.

"Feng Xin," he called again, just for the joy of saying his name. "How are you? What's happening at the manor? I have so many questions-" his voice was punctuated by breathy laughter. "It's good to see you again."

Feng Xin's dark eyes darted over him- the bags underneath them weren't so pronounced as the last time he saw him. "I'm fine," he said dismissively. "How are you? Are you injured somewhere?"

With a small smile slanted across his face, Xie Lian shook his head and handed him his cup of tea- but Feng Xin immediately put it back on the low table and took his hands in his. "How has he been hurting you?" he asked with such serious gravity that they might as well be talking about the end of the world.

His lips parted silently, voice slow to come as he struggled to think of how to respond- Feng Xin looked so concerned, and he knew why; it wouldn't do well to dismiss his fears. However, he really couldn't think of the best way to address them. He'd already met him face to face in a calm manner. What other proof could he give?

"Feng Xin, I'm really okay," he said, squeezing his hands in turn. "San-"

He stopped himself before he called Hua Cheng by the name he knew him best by. For one, Feng Xin didn't know him as San Lang, and for another, wasn't he the only one who called him that? He suddenly disliked the thought of sharing that nickname with anyone.

"Hua Cheng doesn't hurt me. Look- I'm completely fine." He splayed his arms out, inviting him to see the truth of it.

Feng Xin's face remained in disbelief. "You look pale," he said.

Xie Lian's shoulders slumped. "Well- he's a vampire. We spend a lot of time inside."

His expression contorted into a grimace, his eyebrows furrowing harshly and lip curling. "So he won't even let you leave his side?" he whispered furiously. "Tell me that bastard doesn't take you to bed with him."

A faint heat rose to his face- the mention of going to bed with him had embarrassment coiling through his stomach, though not for the reason Feng Xin would think. "No- don't call him that, Feng Xin. He's not like that," he stammered. "He's good company."

At his last statement, Feng Xin fell abruptly silent and studied him.

Xie Lian reached forward to squeeze his hands in his. "I know it might be hard to believe, but I'm safe here. Hua Cheng and I worked out our differences and he treats me well."

"Xie Lian," Feng Xin said carefully, "Is he watching us right now?"

The amount of self control it took to avoid looking at the butterfly in the corner was enormous. Xie Lian was reticent to tell him the truth- of course Hua Cheng had to be watching them. There was too much on the line for the this conversation to be private. But Feng Xin would never understand that.

"He isn't forcing me to lie to you," he said instead. "Feng Xin, I know we all got off to a bad start, but-"

"A bad start?" he repeated, incredulous. The fact that he wasn't even yelling sent an icy shiver of apprehension through Xie Lian.

Feng Xin stood from the couch and paced in front of the fireplace. He crossed his arms over his chest, then raised his hand to cover his mouth- nervous energy filled the room as he took his time to think. Xie Lian clutched his tea cup in his lap as he watched him.

He stopped in the middle of the room and rounded on him. "Have you forgotten what he did to Mu Qing?"

A puff of air escaped his loosened jaw like he'd been punched. "Of course not," he murmured, his voice breathless and choked.

However, Feng Xin wasn't done. "Do you really think I didn't see the bruises on your neck that day? I've replayed that moment in my head, over and over again- ever since I failed to protect you," he said, voice falling to a whisper. "I see it in my sleep. So how can you sit there and act like this all okay? That you aren't being held for ransom by some monster and we all just got off to a bad start?"

"Oh- Feng Xin-" his cup rattled and spilled as he dropped it on the table and stood. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry- you never failed me. But Hua Cheng isn't like what we thought. He can be harsh, but he has a reason for everything. Can't you trust me on this?"

"A reason for trying to kill our friend?"

His eyebrows furrowed as he responded, "Don't act like you two weren't trying to kill him, too."

Like he was possessed, Feng Xin walked forward and grabbed his face, slanting it towards the light and holding it inches from his own. Xie Lian froze as he stared into his eyes.

After a few moments of staunch silence, Xie Lian whispered, "What are you doing?"

"Checking if you're bewitched," Feng Xin answered.

It really was too much- Xie Lian pushed him off. The table shuddered as he stumbled back into it. "I'm not bewitched," he said, tone sharp. "I know how it looks. And I'm sorry it seems so sudden to you, but I've been here for five months."

He scraped his fingers through his hair, causing a few strands to fall from his ribbon. "And I know that's not your fault, it's mine. I'm the one who tried to investigate the palace alone- I made a deal with Hua Cheng to free my aunt in the first place. I don't blame you for any of this, Feng Xin. None of it was your fault. I just-" his voice broke.

"I've missed you. I wanted to tell you about my time here- about the friends I've made-"

Feng Xin threw his hands in the air. "Xie Lian, there's nothing in this place but ghosts and vampires!"

"I know!" he shouted. "Of course I know!" He ducked his head and took a deep breath, trying to lower his temper before it got the best of him. Then, he murmured, "Hua Cheng let me invite you. I'm unharmed, and you're unharmed, and he'll let you go without a fight. Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

Feng Xin scoffed. "You think he deserves something for that? He's a monster. What do you think is going to happen at the end of this?"

The fiery atmosphere sobered and the silence crawled forward with lurching stillness.

Xie Lian dropped back to sit on the couch. "He's not a monster," he whispered brokenly.

Reality was crashing back into him with startling clarity- any hope he had of showing Feng Xin that things might not be so black and white as they were taught had left him, and he sagged under the empty space it carved out. 

"I'm sorry for the worry I've caused you, I just-" he crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes downcast on the dusty floor. "I don't know. We always told each other everything. I thought this could be the same."

Feng Xin took a single step towards him, and then he stopped. "What are you talking about?" he asked. "What did you want to tell me?"

Xie Lian shook his head, but Feng Xin wouldn't leave it be. "What is it?" he asked again, louder.

Frustration nagged at him, and in the heat of their argument, Xie Lian whispered-

"How long have you been in a relationship with Mu Qing?"

Feng Xin froze. "What?"

Xie Lian didn't repeat his question. He looked up from the floor and met his shocked gaze, waiting.

"We-" Feng Xin clutched the hilt of his sword like he could fight his way out of the conversation. "How long have you known? Where did you see us?"

Something snapped within him- if he was asking questions like that, then they must have been together even before he was kidnapped.

How had he never noticed? Was he really so clueless about the people closest to him?

And since when did Feng Xin stop wanting to tell him everything?

Xie Lian turned his head back to the floor. "I guess it doesn't matter," he whispered. "Thank you for coming to see me, Feng Xin. If you follow the butterfly, it'll show you out."

"What?" he shouted. "I'm not- no! He's not even here!"

With that said, Feng Xin grabbed his wrist and yanked him from the couch.

Xie Lian grunted, his shoulder snapping with pain as he planted his feet on the floor, fighting him. "Feng Xin, I can't-"

"Can't what?" Feng Xin yelled at him, still fighting to drag him through the door. "I knew it- something is off! He's cast some sort of spell! I'll kill him!"

The butterfly took to the air in wild circles, fluttering near the ceiling in a crazed manner. Xie Lian's stomach dropped.

"I'm not under a spell!" he screamed. He pried his fingers from his wrist and they both stumbled backwards. "Get out of here, Feng Xin! Just go!"

Feng Xin scrambled to his feet in the doorway. "How can you ask me that?" he whispered, breathless and expression twisted with sorrow. "I'm supposed to fight for you- It's what I pledged-"

"We were just kids, then!" he shouted. Then, quieter, "I don't need you to protect me anymore. Get out."

Butterflies collected around the doorway, crawling over the frame and header in a mass of silver. Xie Lian launched forward to push Feng Xin away by his shoulders. "I'm handling it, I'm handling it!" he cried.

They stumbled out into the hallway.

"Xie Lian!" Feng Xin yelled as he grabbed for his wrists again.

He shook him off. "I'm fine here, Feng Xin! And I will be until the families bring the ring, okay?"

Panting filled the glimmering hallway as they stared at each other. The walls undulated with butterflies, the horde amassing on either side. Feng Xin blinked and finally looked at them, his nose wrinkling with disgust. "What the hell-?"

"I told him not to come," Xie Lian murmured. "But I think he's angry. You should really go."

Feng Xin stiffened. "And leave you alone with him? While he's angry-?"

Xie Lian sighed, his shoulders dropping and face falling towards the floor. "I don't think I can explain it any clearer," he said, voice empty. "Hua Cheng doesn't hurt me. Do I have bruises on my neck, now?" he asked, his eyebrows ticked up.

His dark eyes studied him, crestfallen.

A few butterflies landed on him, crawling over his shirt and hair. Xie Lian let one crawl onto his finger and watched the rhythmic pump of its wings.

"Just go, Feng Xin."

There was an exhale of a broken breath across from him, like Feng Xin's chest had collapsed in on itself. He reached forward-

Xie Lian took a sharp step back. "Don't," he said. "They'll hurt you."

"But they won't hurt you?" he asked, a sardonic expression covering the wounded look that had flashed through his eyes.

"No. They won't," he whispered.

Feng Xin curled his hand into a fist. It dropped by his side.

"Take care of yourself, Xie Lian. We still have to convince the Quan family, and you know how the head of that one is," he said diplomatically.

Xie Lian hated that tone- Feng Xin sounded like he was talking to an utter stranger.

He swallowed back his hurt and said, "Good luck, then. Take care of yourself, too, and Mu Qing."

Feng Xin's gaze fell to the floor. "Right," he whispered. Then he turned and left, a few butterflies flanking him to lead him out of the palace.

When he was gone, Xie Lian's shoulders dropped and his head snapped back as he stared at the ceiling, his expression contorting as he tried to fight back the heat in his eyes. He covered his face with his hands, his callouses dragging roughly over his skin.

The moment Hua Cheng appeared in the hallway, he knew. There wasn't even the whisper of sound from his jewelry, but the feeling of his presence had somehow marked itself on his soul- he could pick him out of the dark just by the sound of his breathing.

Xie Lian dropped his hands and turned to him. "San Lang," he whispered, his voice roughened by the tears he held back, his throat tight and tasting like metal.

Hua Cheng said nothing in return, his expression stony. Then he opened his arms, beckoning.

Xie Lian fell into his arms in an instant. "San Lang," he repeated into his robes, his fingers twisting in the soft fabric behind his back. "I really thought-" he voice choked off.

"I know," Hua Cheng murmured. His arms wound tightly around him, pressing him close to his chest.

They stood like that until Xie Lian composed himself. When he pulled back, the hallway was considerably darker. Most of the butterflies were gone.

Xie Lian still clung to him, his arms loosely slung around his middle. He looked up as Hua Cheng's hands moved to cup the sides of his upper neck, his fingers threading into his hair.

"What can I do for you?" he asked, his thumbs tracing the lines of his jaw.

He felt blindsided by the question. "What?"

A small puff of air escaped him- perhaps laughter, though everything seemed too serious for it to be. "I want you to tell me something you need," he rephrased.

His voice was stuck in the back of his throat, alongside his heart. Xie Lian pressed forward into his arms again, his face curled into his warm chest. Hua Cheng embraced him, his nails scraping his back as he ran his fingers through his hair in slow movements. It was tender enough that the tears he'd fought off so hard threatened to come back, his eyes prickling with heat.

He tilted his face so his forehead pressed against his neck. Like this, he could hear his steady heartbeat ringing next to him. "I don't know," he murmured. "Isn't this enough?"

Hua Cheng hummed. "You tell me," he whispered.

He swallowed. "Will you just-" he stopped, the sound of his rough breathing scraping through the hallway. Hua Cheng waited for him to collect his thoughts.

"I want to cook something," he murmured. He needed the do something, anything else to stop thinking about the way he felt cracked into a million pieces.

"Okay," came the rumbling reply. Then Hua Cheng leaned down to pick him up in a bridal carry.

A short gasp escaped him, but not in protest. Xie Lian's arms wound around the back of his neck and he pressed his face into his shoulder, hiding from everything. He was embarrassed that his heart leapt so readily at the gesture, so he remained silent, determined not to give away his feelings.

Hua Cheng carried him to the kitchen. A few butterflies perched in the corners, illuminating the small space in a silvery haze of light.

He gently set Xie Lian down in the middle. "Would you like help?" he asked.

Xie Lian hesitated, his hands falling to his shoulders. "If you want," he murmured. Then, "I'd like the company."

It was all he had to say- Hua Cheng did anything and everything he asked, from pulling out the pots to helping him chop vegetables. Caught in the natural rhythm of it, Xie Lian slowly began rambling about whatever came to mind.

When they were done, Hua Cheng stole the wooden spoon from him to taste the stew he'd made up on the spot.

"It'll make you sick," he warned him, still trying to hold it back from his mouth.

"What an honor," he answered, leaning forward. His lips closed around the spoon.

💀

Moonlight streamed in through the parted curtain in Xie Lian's room, illuminating the white sheets and the pages of his book like fresh snow. He turned the page with a soft flutter of sound, his fingers gingerly smoothing it over.

He was interrupted by a gentle knock on his door.

"Come in," he murmured, his book falling to his lap.

The knob twisted and Hua Cheng entered, his burning red eye alighting on him instantly. He ducked a little as he passed the threshold, as if he'd hit his head on the header (he wouldn't). Xie Lian found this tick rather endearing.

"Are you getting ready to sleep?" he asked, studying him. He stopped just beyond the door and clasped his hands behind his back.

Xie Lian shook his head. "I slept a little, earlier- I don't think I could fall asleep easily now." Returning back to a normal sleep schedule would be an enormous task for him whenever he was freed from the palace.

The answer seemed to please Hua Cheng. The corners of his lips twitched and he said, "I'd like to show you something, then. If you're up for it."

Cautious, Xie Lian closed the book with his fingers marking his page. "Show me what?"

"It's a surprise."

His eyes instantly narrowed. He was intrigued, but wary- Hua Cheng had given him space for the last few days, ever since Feng Xin's visit left him hollow. However, he hadn't forgotten how he'd acted in the library that morning, and he was reticent to walk into whatever scheme he'd been holding in his head that day.

Hesitantly, he said, "San Lang, you're not trying to prank me, are you?"

Hua Cheng's head cocked to the side and his eye moved minutely back and forth, searching his face. "When did I give you that impression?"

The confused expression on his face really seemed genuine- it made Xie Lian freeze up, his nails pressing against the paper. Had he been imagining things? Maybe his insecurities were getting the best of him and Hua Cheng really had no idea of the dawning realization that had crept over him during the past few weeks.

He shook his head. "Never mind," he murmured, slotting a feather between the pages of his book. "I'd love to see San Lang's surprise."

Hua Cheng remained silent, watching him- the intensity of his gaze always made Xie Lian feel like he was looking into him, seeing the things no one else could.

Normally, it was comforting. But right now? It felt like he'd taken a pen and written right on his forehead, Your smile makes my knees weak.

His room was suddenly too quiet- too still. He slid from the bed and threw on his outer robe, the white cotton settling smoothly over his skin. It helped warm him against the chilly air that crept into the whole palace. After putting on his shoes, he looked to Hua Cheng and murmured, "I'm ready."

Xie Lian followed him to the west wing. He didn't know what to feel as they winded through the maze of hallways, his focus scattered over the disappointments of the last few weeks.

First, the caravan had been nothing like he'd expected, and as much as he thought he would be feeling guilty over the resulting blood bath- it was his presence that had caused it, after all-

He didn't.

Xie Lian hadn't had any hand in their attempt to kidnap him. And try as he might, he couldn't find any sympathy within himself for them, either.

It wasn't that he'd never felt such emptiness for the death of monsters before- but he'd thought he resolved it within himself to see them all as human beings, too.

He worried over his own callousness- had it been there the whole time? Those times when he thought he was simply taking pride in his duty, had there been a thread of cruelty in him already, waiting to grow?

If that was the case, how could he have gotten so angry with Feng Xin? His poor friend had only wanted to protect him, and he spit on his feelings simply because he hadn't come to know Hua Cheng like he did.

He closed his eyes and thought, I'm so sorry, Feng Xin, with such force it might as well have been a prayer. His nails dug into his fingers as guilt washed over him, and suddenly Xie Lian wanted to be somewhere else in the world, out of his body and unrecognizable, someone that no one knew or thought twice about. He'd ruined so many things recently; how could he have ever thought he could actually help Hua Cheng?

The footsteps in front of him stopped. Xie Lian barely registered this before he barreled right into Hua Cheng, who had stopped before a pair of double doors. His hand rested on the silver doorknob as he turned back to look at him.

"Gege? What's wrong?" he asked, eyebrows furrowing.

Xie Lian staggered back and quickly cleared the dark expression from his face. "Oh- nothing- its nothing. Sorry, San Lang."

Hua Cheng's face tightened- tension lingered behind his stare, and Xie Lian felt a stir of feverish energy to clear it, to prove that everything was fine.

He held up his hands and laughed, "Really! I'm just so clumsy-"

Hua Cheng reached out and touched his face, his thumb sliding over his cheekbone. "You don't want to talk about it?"

It isn't fair, Xie Lian thought morosely. It wasn't fair that his touch could bring him to a standstill like this, his lips parted but his voice died out- that he could look at him with such concern, like Xie Lian was something precious. He wasn't- he was a botched monster hunter stuck in the middle of the country side.

He squeezed his nails into his palms. "No," he finally whispered and looked to the floor.

Hua Cheng's hand dropped. "That's okay," he murmured. "Then I hope this will help cheer you up."

He pulled the door open, revealing a mass of glittering shapes that reflected the moving lights of dozens of butterflies.

Xie Lian walked into the room in a daze. Weapons of all kinds hung on the walls and racks, decorating the large, high-ceiling space in gold and silver. It was almost too much for him to comprehend. He stood near the doors and stared, mentally noting every weapon type he saw: the fans on his left, next to a curio cabinet of daggers; the swords on the far wall, the collection subtly shifting from double-edged to single, then to scimitars and sabers. On his right were staffs and foreign weapons he couldn't even name.

Hua Cheng shifted next to him and Xie Lian's awareness that he'd been standing there silently for so long snapped into place.

"San Lang!" he said breathlessly as he turned to him, his robes spinning with the force of it. "You own all of these?"

A faint smile curled his lips. "Mn," he hummed, and then he stepped closer, his jewelry clinking. "But if I'm going to be free from this palace, I can't take all of it with me. I thought gege might like to choose some to keep."

He gaped at him. "But- I couldn't possibly! San Lang, these are so beautiful-"

As if he'd known he'd say that, his smile grew wider and his eye crinkled. He stepped even closer and rested his hand on his shoulder. "You can't choose?" he asked, mirth in his tone. "I can understand. Then you can have all of it."

His thoughts flatlined. Xie Lian's head emptied of anything but a white flash of total surprise. It took him a moment to say, "San Lang, how could I take all of this? You've maintained them so well- isn't it important to you?"

He shrugged. "Once I leave, I never want to see this palace again. Maintaining these just helped me stay sane. But if I knew gege kept them, it'd make me happy."

Xie Lian swallowed, the weight of his hand ever-present in his mind. His thumb was rubbing small circles near his collarbone.

As he looked him in the eye, Xie Lian once again thought, You're doing this on purpose.

But it didn't feel like a joke, now.

Xie Lian looked to the double-edged swords on the wall. He hadn't forgotten about their promise to spar.

Hua Cheng followed his gaze. "You can go try them," he encouraged, letting go of his shoulder and beckoning him forward.

He crossed the lengthy room and picked one from its hanger. The blade was wide and heavy, the pommel thickened and elongated to create the proper balance. His nose wrinkled after he spun his wrist a few times- he disliked the weight.

Xie Lian put it back on the hanger and then selected a sword next to it. This one was thinner, with gilded accents swirling the hilt. After picking it up and checking the balance, he ran through a few sword forms, finding that the blade felt like a perfect extension of his arm.

He turned to Hua Cheng with a smile, his spirits lifting. "How did you come across so many weapons, San Lang? Do you remember where this one's from?"

Eye creased to a crescent, Hua Cheng walked forward. "This was the work of a master blacksmith in the north. He made it on commission for a lord during the chaotic era before the Ming fell, as a gift for his son's wedding."

He glanced over the rest of the collection. "It fell into my hands during the start of Ghost City. I ran a gambling hall there; the lord's son eventually came to barter for the death of a local rival. He lost, and I gained this. The other swords are similar stories."

A small laugh echoed in Xie Lian's chest. "No wonder you love to make deals," he teased, secretly pleased to have learned this.

He scoffed. "I like them the normal amount."

"You make them at every chance you get," he said and rose to the balls of his feet. He flicked one of the red pearl earrings to prove his point.

Hua Cheng's eye widened, and then a crooked smile spread across his face. "Fine. It's fun," he admitted.

Xie Lian fell back on his heels. His fingers tightened around the sword as he said, "And I think there's a deal you're forgetting to collect on."

His fangs glinted in the silvery light. "Oh? What deal is that?"

"San Lang said I owed him a spar," he recalled.

Hua Cheng was standing quite close to him, so he raised his sword between them and laid the flat of it on his chest, the metal tapping sharply against his necklace.

"You haven't conveniently forgotten that, have you?" he asked, head cocked to the side and eyebrows raised.

His red eye burned with intensity as he stared down at him, a wicked grin stretching across his face. "I could never," he murmured.

"Where's E'Ming?"

"You think I need that trash to beat you?" he asked in a low voice, the lilt in his tone practically purring. "Let me educate you." He placed the tip of his finger to the point of the sword and slowly moved it to the side.

Xie Lian let it fall, his smile widening. "Oh, you intend to educate me now?" he laughed, breathless with excitement.

His eye glimmered as he sauntered to the racks of scimitars. "Consider it giving you another perspective, if you prefer," he smirked. There was barely a pause in his movements as he chose which one to use; his fingers curled around the hilt of the largest one, the severe curve twisting into a deadly point.

He couldn't wait any longer- Xie Lian darted forward, his steps silent and precise against the stone floor. Hua Cheng raised the scimitar just in time to parry his stab upwards, and then they melded into a dance of gleaming silver and ringing metal, footwork mirrored and evenly matched.

Even within the first few seconds of the match, it was clear how much had changed. For one, Xie Lian had trained every day; first it was to prepare for another fight, and then as their friendship grew, it was simply because he enjoyed the routine.

Secondly, he was no longer fighting in fear. As much as he'd been taught to overcome it, it was still a burden to work through the panic that came from knowing one was near death. Now, though? His movements were light with joy, his sword singing in his hand as it cut through air.

What hadn't changed was the skill of his opponent. Hua Cheng's fighting style was wild and unrelenting, showing openings and then caging Xie Lian in when he tried to take advantage of them.

Every blow was fiercely powerful; Xie Lian never made the mistake of trying to block them outright, but even a deflection left his whole arm ringing.

As the fight drew on, it became clear that he was at a disadvantage. Vampires were notoriously difficult to kill because of their stores of mana- meanwhile, humans tired much more quickly.

Xie Lian tried to sidestep more of his blows, taking a defensive route with bouts of aggressive swings whenever he caught an opening. However, this only made Hua Cheng press him harder, backing him into the corners of the room and against the walls.

His lungs burned with the need for air and his arm ached, but his spirits soared. He didn't have space in his mind for doubts or worries- the only thing that existed in the moment was the quickness of his feet and the precision he needed to face his opponent.

Xie Lian's cheeks were sore, too, but that was only from the force of his grin.

Hua Cheng looked just as exhilarated, his red eye pinned to him as they twisted through the room. A flash of victory pierced his gaze as he caught the cross guard of Xie Lian's sword and used the curve of his scimitar to leverage it from his grip.

Expecting this, Xie Lian let the sword drop completely from his hand. Then he rushed forward, his ankle hooking Hua Cheng's as his sword swept to the side, carried by the momentum of his swing.

He barreled into his chest and sent them sprawling to the floor- meanwhile, his hand dipped into the front fold of Hua Cheng's robe.

They ended up in a panting heap on the floor, Hua Cheng on his back while Xie Lian straddled his waist.

Hua Cheng had recovered during the scant second of their fall. The edge of his sword hovered near Xie Lian's side, a blow that could've likely ripped through half of his abdomen. However, he remained frozen as he stared up at him, his eye wide with surprise from the press of a stolen dagger to his throat.

Xie Lian laughed above him. "How can you look so surprised? You showed me where you hide them yourself."

His head hit the stone floor as he completely relaxed, a low chuckle rumbling through his chest. The scimitar clattered to the floor next to him. "My mistake," he muttered, breathless.

Xie Lian set the dagger on the floor but didn't move back just yet, catching his breath. He hadn't really won- he couldn't have killed Hua Cheng with a blow to his neck like that, especially not with the successive move he'd planned. But he found the naked surprise on his face intensely satisfying, anyway.

Hua Cheng's gaze met his, a tired smile growing over his face. Their breaths mingled in the space between them as they recovered.

If there was ever an appropriate time to move away, it was now. However, Xie Lian couldn't bring himself to back off, and Hua Cheng's fingers threaded tightly into the sides of his robe.

His eyes flicked to his mouth, and then Xie Lian leaned down.

He had only planned to quickly press his lips against his, but Hua Cheng's arms wound across his shoulders and held him there as he kissed him back with force.

Their lips slotted together, and just as soon as Xie Lian drew back to take a ragged breath, Hua Cheng had guided him back down again.

His face burned with so much heat, he felt dizzy with it- that and the way Hua Cheng slid his lips against his, making every nerve in his body alight like fire. Xie Lian twisted his fingers into his robe, his mind blissfully vacant of everything except the feeling of his mouth against his.

Their kisses slowed, and then Xie Lian pulled back with a harsh gasp, his fingers numb.

He stared down at him as he caught his breath. A tangled knot of embarrassment and desire pooled in his stomach, searing him with heat.

"San Lang," he rasped, then quickly wiped the wetness from his mouth. "I-"

His voice died out as Hua Cheng's hands cupped his waist.

"What, gege?" he murmured, his head tilted back against the floor and dark hair fanned out behind him. A terribly satisfied expression had washed over his face as he studied him, his lips still shining.

Panic crawled through him suddenly- he couldn't believe he'd done that, practically jumping his friend on a dime.

Xie Lian lurched to his feet, forcibly dislodging the grip on his waist. His hands flew to his head as he began to stutter, "I'm sorry- I'm so sorry- It was- I just-"

Hua Cheng was up in an instant. He pushed Xie Lian against the wall, making his stomach flip as his back fit between hung sabers. Then his lips were on him again, his hand cradling the back of his head.

"Did I make you think I didn't like it?" he rumbled when he pulled away next, his breath fanning over his cheek. "Let me fix that."

Xie Lian couldn't speak, couldn't think; all he knew was Hua Cheng's weight pressed against him, his height forcing him to crane his neck upwards to meet him.

He winced as his fang accidentally caught his lip, and Hua Cheng finally pulled back long enough that he could collect his scattered mind.

"Did I hurt you?" he rasped, his red eye looking over his face as he pulled his lip back with his thumb.

He shook his head. "No- San Lang-" he took a deep breath and placed his hands on his chest, holding him back from leaning in again. "This is okay?"

Hua Cheng paused. "For me? Yes," he murmured, his hand caressing the side of his face. "Is this too much for you?"

Xie Lian took a moment to answer, his awareness of himself muddled like his thoughts. He adrenaline high was starting to come down and his shoulders sagged.

"No," he replied after a short silence. "Well- I just. Hadn't expected it to be so intense," he said, trailing into an embarrassed murmur.

Hua Cheng's eye slowly widened. "Didn't expect it to be so intense...?" he repeated in a mutter, his smile slowly falling. "Gege- this isn't- you don't mean this is your first time...?"

He lifted his hands from his chest. "Is there something wrong with that?"

Hua Cheng gaped at him. "Of course not! I hadn't realized-" his voice choked off, and then he murmured, "I'm sorry- I would've been gentler if I knew."

He leaned down and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips, lingering only for a moment before he pulled away. "Like that," he whispered.

Xie Lian smiled up at him, a fond puff of laughter escaping him. "San Lang, it was good," he said, and then he rose to the tips of his feet. "I liked it," he whispered just before he kissed him again, his hand wrapped firmly around the back of his neck.

Hua Cheng gave in and pressed him to the wall once more, but their kisses were slower this time, devoid of the feverish urgency from earlier.

They pulled away with a wet noise that made his ears burn. Then Xie Lian whispered, "This doesn't get you out of sparring with me."

Hua Cheng laughed, his chest ringing with it.

In the end, they made out on the floor more than they sparred.

Chapter Text

Moonlight pierced through the stable walls in bands of pale silver. It sparkled off of the dust motes and dirt specks tossed into the air, forming a glittering cloud that sunk to the hay-strewn floor.

Chestnut reached for more hay, pulling away from Xie Lian as he swiped a soft brush down his neck. The quiet mouth-sounds of his chewing provided a peaceful rhythm that melded with the chirping crickets outside.

He let out a soft breath of laughter as he chased him, the ghost of it shining in the cold moonlight. "You'll get too fat to ride if you keep eating," he murmured to the horse. "I only have one girth. Is this your silent protest to retire?"

One of his brown ears pinned back to listen. Then it swiveled forward again, his attention caught by the movements of the white horse in the stall over. Across the aisle, the ox stood in silent slumber, unused to a nocturnal schedule like the caravan's horses were. The stall closest to the door was empty, but it practically felt like a full house.

It wasn't supposed to be. All of the horses from the caravan were supposed to be sold in the village over; because of that, Xie Lian had avoided the stables, not wanting to get attached. However, Hua Cheng had caught his longing gaze one morning and decided they could stand to keep two.

And not only had he kept the horses- he let Xie Lian have total, unsupervised access to them.

It was insane. Xie Lian knew just how much he wanted to escape the palace. How could he possibly put so much trust in him? It would be so easy to act like he was going for a ride and then trot right out of the gates.

And yet, he couldn't take advantage of it.

His hand stilled, and then he lowered his forehead onto Chestnut's warm shoulder, curling into the heat the horse exuded against the frigid night air.

"Chestnut," he murmured. "Do you know what being in love feels like?"

His tail swished.

Xie Lian sighed, the white mist of his breath sparkling. He didn't think he could ascribe the word to his own feelings- everything was too new and emergent. Surely some months of friendship and a few kisses didn't measure up to an immediate blossoming of love.

But Hua Cheng was different, somehow. He'd been so focused on his well-being recently, so ready to give. The speed at which he'd slipped into such easy devotion was dizzying.

Or maybe Xie Lian was the slow one. Was it possible that Hua Cheng had developed a crush on him while he was disguised as San Lang, only to think he'd never reciprocate his feelings?

The thought was electrifying. A wide smile slanted across his face as he continued to brush Chestnut's neck. "You should have seen him back then," he muttered to the horse in a conspiratorial whisper. "He was so scary at first, but then he acted the total opposite when he had a proper mask," he laughed. "Do you think he just wants to look tough? Or does he only warm up to those closest to him?"

Chestnut gave a him a slow blink, listening to him reminisce with a peaceful air. Then he froze completely, mid-chew, and his ears pricked forward.

Xie Lian followed his gaze and turned his head towards the stable door. He caught a glimpse of red, and then Hua Cheng ducked through the doorway, his silver necklace refracting the moonlight into tiny, dancing spots of light across the wall.

The brush slipped from his fingers as his back snapped ram-rod straight. "San Lang!" he chirped, an awkward smile plastered to his face. He really hoped he hadn't heard him talking to Chestnut just now. "Are you out for a walk?"

Hua Cheng's gaze fell on him; the tension around his eye eased and his lips curled up from his natural frown. "I came to find you, actually," he answered and came to lean over the stall border.

Chestnut lowered his head and continued eating.

"Oh," he hummed as he bent down to pick up the brush before he could get his teeth on it. Xie Lian left the stall and put the gate back up. Then he stuck the brush in its bag and leaned on the wall beside Hua Cheng. "What for?"

A twinge of hesitation passed over him, and then he looked to the stall next to them. "Have you thought of a name for the other one, yet?"

He spied the white mare over his shoulder. Her ears were permanently pinned back like they were glued there. "San Lang... I don't think she likes me. Maybe you should name her."

"It's only been a few days," he said. "She'll come around. It's impossible not to."

He ducked his head, a little embarrassed by the open fondness in his voice, but he couldn't stop the smile that grew on his face. "San Lang," he repeated in a shy murmur, trailing off.

Hua Cheng looked pleased by this. He leaned closer and pushed a few strands of hair behind his ear, his warm gaze lingering on his face.

Xie Lian caught his hand and entwined their fingers. It was such a small gesture, but his heart swelled as Hua Cheng easily complied. "Why did you want to find me?" he asked again, swiping his thumb in small circles over his skin.

The corners of his lips dropped into a frown. With a sigh, Hua Cheng reached into the front of his robes. "Your friend came back," he answered in a low voice.

"Feng Xin?" Xie Lian blurted out. "He's here?"

"Was." He handed over a thin piece of paper folded into three sections. "He left this by the gate during the day."

Xie Lian let go of his other hand to take it- this only made him look even more dejected.

He brushed his fingers over the solid wax seal and said, "You didn't read it?"

Hua Cheng shrugged. "It was meant for you."

A low puff of laughter escaped him. "Didn't stop you before."

"That was different," he muttered. Even so, he couldn't look at him when he said it. The moonlight glanced off of the swoop of his eyelashes, clashing with the slight red glow from his eye.

Gentle heat flushed Xie Lian's face as he rose to the balls of his feet, and simply because he could, he pressed a light kiss to the side of his jaw. "Sure it was," he murmured.

A low sigh heaved his chest and he grumbled, "Read your letter." But then his arm curled around Xie Lian's shoulders and pulled him tight against his chest. He pressed a lingering kiss to his temple.

"I'm reading, I'm reading-" he chuckled, even though he was only popping open the wax seal.

"Now I'm curious about what that idiot had to say so badly," Hua Cheng said as he rested his chin on his head. "He must've made it all the way back to the manor and then turned around to deliver it. You'd think he has something better to do."

He let out a small puff of laughter and then read-

Xie Lian,

I couldn't go back without saying this. I'll leave it by the gate and hopefully someone will find it.

I won't tell your parents about what you said. I don't think you'd want that, and I wouldn't want to see the aftermath, either.

I don't understand why things have changed, or what has changed for you. I know it's been five months, but I don't understand how you could talk about that vampire like that. I mean- it sounded like you two were friends.

What has that freak been telling you? You were trained by one of the best hunter families in the world. Don't let him get in your head and twist it up.

I remember the day we graduated. You had never looked so happy, especially when you talked about protecting the common people. Everyone in the family knew you'd become the next generation's leader.

I still believe that.

We're going to save you. I don't know if you gave up after so long, but I promise we're going to save you. I will get you out of that palace if it kills me.

Please hang on.

Sincerely,
Feng Xin

P.S, I'm sorry we never told you about us. It just felt... dangerous if anyone else knew. And I know Mu Qing can be pretty paranoid sometimes, but he thought that if your dad found out (not that we thought you'd tell him!), he might use us against each other.

I just thought you wouldn't want to feel like a third wheel.

I'm sorry we didn't tell you. I hope you can understand.

Xie Lian closed his eyes and pressed the letter to his chest. Of course I understand, he thought. We're best friends. One argument couldn't change that.

"So? Is there a method for breaking bewitchments in the footnotes?" Hua Cheng muttered above him.

He slipped the letter into the front of his robe and then patted the arm over his chest. "He just wanted to clear some things up," he murmured. "I think... he needs time to process everything. I hadn't realized how much I'd changed, and I threw it on him all of a sudden."

"Does it matter how sudden it is?" he grumbled. "It doesn't excuse grabbing you like that."

Is that what this is about?

Xie Lian turned in his arms so he could face him properly. "He was scared," he murmured.

Hua Cheng's eye moved minutely as he studied his face, a frown curling his lips. "Really," he commented, dead-pan, as he fit his hands on his waist. "How terrible."

He didn't mean to laugh, but Hua Cheng's sarcastic tone pulled it out of him, anyway. "Mn. He thinks we might be friends. He's terrified."

The corner of his mouth lifted. "Oh no," he breathed, leaning forward as he tugged Xie Lian closer by his hips.

With a shy smile, he curled his fingers into the front of his robe and rose to the balls of his feet, ready to meet him in the middle for a proper kiss.

Heat fanned across his face as Hua Cheng paused there, just an inch away from kissing him. His expression tensed as his eye glazed over.

"...San Lang?" Xie Lian murmured, his expression falling as he watched him closely.

Hua Cheng stiffened, and then he whispered, "Get to the palace."

Xie Lian didn't move at first- his fingers tightened in his robe.

When he blinked and looked down at him next, his face was steely. However, the tension in his eye lightened at Xie Lian's confused expression. "A vampire's ripping through my butterflies outside. And it's coming here," he explained.

He dropped down to his heels and said, "I can get my sword-"

Hua Cheng tightened his arms around him and dropped his forehead to his shoulder. "I know you want to help," he whispered in his ear. "But leave this one to me."

Xie Lian melted into his embrace and hid his cold-chapped face in his robes. He was so warm against the night. "Okay," he acquiesced- Hua Cheng asked so little of him. It was easy to give him this.

Then he asked, "You know who's coming?"

There was a pause. Hua Cheng nodded his head. "It's Bai Wuxiang."

Xie Lian froze. In response, Hua Cheng hugged him tighter. "Go to the palace," he repeated. "I'll send Yin Yu to you."

They drew back, but Xie Lian didn't let him go far, yet. He cupped his face with his hands, his thumbs caressing his slim cheekbones. "Be careful," he whispered.

His red eye glimmered in a thread of moonlight. "Mn," he hummed, and then he leaned down to kiss him. Xie Lian was becoming addicted; Hua Cheng kissed him like the world could end around them and it wouldn't matter at all. His hand wove through his hair as it deepened, his tongue tracing his bottom lip.

Xie Lian shuddered as he opened for him, his arms wrapping around his neck.

Too soon, Hua Cheng pulled away. He pressed a final kiss to his forehead. "I'll deal with this trash quickly."

And then he was gone, only a slight breeze whipping through Xie Lian's empty arms.

The stable seemed darker without him, even though he'd never brought any butterflies. Xie Lian pressed his fingers over his mouth like he could preserve the memory of Hua Cheng's kiss. Then he checked that the horses couldn't hurt themselves easily if they startled from the sounds of a battle.

Before he left the stable door, he turned his head over his shoulder. Chestnut was watching him go with his peaceful brown eyes.

"Be back soon," he murmured to him, and then he was gone.

The palace sat in eerie quiet, the hallways devoid of light or the soft flutter of butterfly wings. Xie Lian's nerves were alight as he crept through the darkness, wary of even the tiniest sound. And then-

Boom.

So, it'd started.

He swallowed and made his way to the library, the floor occasionally shaking beneath his feet.

When he opened the doors, relief flooded his senses at the sight of a single butterfly gliding through the cavernous dark of the ceiling. It swooped downward and he held his hand out to it.

"I'm glad you're still here" he whispered as it landed on his finger. He carried it with him to the small niche on the second floor.

The books shuddered against each other with every shake of the palace, but the bookshelves were bolted to the floor, so there wasn't a risk of them toppling over. Xie Lian nestled amongst the pillows and returned his attention to the butterfly, as well as the real reason he'd come here.

"Could you let me see San Lang?" he asked.

Without a moment's hesitation, it fluttered up to perch on his forehead. Then his vision swirled with the dizzying flash of white and red.

The moonlight illuminated the disheveled state of the gardens in cold silver, reflecting off of the shredded leaves and dirt cast into the air. Hua Cheng's movements were so fast they blurred, just like the clouds of butterflies he commanded by his side- it made it difficult for Xie Lian to determine what he was seeing beyond the hordes of silver wings and feet. But then the cloud of butterflies shifted, and he saw him.

Bai Wuxiang lived up to the fearful legends. He dressed in traditional white funeral robes and his face was covered by a half-smiling, half-crying mask. His long and dark hair fanned around him as he blocked Hua Cheng's blows with a funerary staff. Pieces of torn joss paper fell around them like snow.

"Come now, Crimson Rain," the vampire murmured, his hollow voice vacant of emotion, "What type of reunion is this?"

Hua Cheng snarled as he leveled a deadly slash with E'Ming. Bai Wuxiang dodged the blow, and the wind from the strike carried to the tree behind him. It obliterated on impact, sending a slew of splinters into the air.

"This is much more tame than what I wanted," Hua Cheng snapped, his voice low and deadly with anger. "I regret that I wasn't more prepared, but I don't exactly keep torture tools on hand."

Bai Wuxiang laughed, but the sound was devoid of any humor, like it was nothing more than the mechanical action of the body. "Really? I expected better of you."

He blocked a blow from E'Ming with the staff, and Xie Lian paled while watching the fight. Just how strong was this vampire? He was taking Hua Cheng's strikes like they were nothing.

"You haven't shown your face here for centuries, you coward. I thought I would have to free myself to hunt you down."

"I know- I've grown bored, waiting for so long."

Sparks flew as E'Ming glanced off the staff. A cloud of butterflies rushed among them as they swarmed Bai Wuixiang. In a swirl of white, he twirled his staff and when the butterflies met the joss paper, they caught fire.

Screams pierced his mind as he watched the battle continue, butterflies burning around him.

Xie Lian grit his teeth and raised a hand to his head, trying to focus on the fight instead of the blinding horror swimming at the edges of his vision.

Within the darkness at the other end of the library, the door clicked open.

"What's the point?" Hua Cheng lashed out in a flurry of fierce strikes, none of which made any meaningful impact. "After all this time, what is the fucking point?" he seethed.

Most of the butterflies had been reduced to ash- Xie Lian exhaled in relief as his senses quieted. Only then did he notice the approaching footsteps behind him.

"Yin Yu?" he asked, turning-

Something slammed into his neck.

The blow jarred him to the side, sending him sprawling to his hands and knees as he struggled against his own useless shock. His vision of the battle blinked out as the butterfly was dislodged from his forehead; it took off and flew overhead in erratic circles.

He reached back and caught a hand- it was holding something to his skin. He crushed it with his full strength and something snapped within.

The stranger screamed loud enough to rattle the windows. "AIYEEEEEE!"

And it wasn't a stranger at all.

Xie Lian dragged himself up off the floor to face him. A broken syringe fell to the floor as the man hopped backwards, clutching his hand to his chest as he screamed, "My hand! You broke my fucking hand!"

His western button-up shirt and brown trousers were speckled with blood from the glass embedded in his palm- it flecked onto the wooden floor, just as red as his eyes.

Something was going funny in his brain- the image seemed to swirl and take on new colors as Xie Lian swayed, his arms feeling like putty. However, he couldn't look away from his cousin.

The last time he'd seen him, he'd been peeling Qi Rong off of the floor of a brothel in the red light district. Plastered and reeking of cheap perfume, he'd had to carry him back to the manor through crowded streets, fighting the flush in his cheeks from the raking feeling of being seen with him. With how close they were in looks, it was obvious that they were related, too.

He'd thrown him on the day bed in his room and left him there to rot. On the day he'd left with Ayi to research a local vampire legend, he'd hidden on top of the upper beams in one of the entertainment halls to avoid a parting conversation, still too angry to speak with him.

Now, his words were caught in his throat as he stared up, his shock melding with the numbness that coated his senses like a heavy blanket. A dark tunnel squeezed his vision and his skin crawled with unease.

With a grimace, Qi Rong gave up on flexing his hand and pinned it to his chest. "You'd dare harm me? In the state you're in?"

Xie Lian tore his gaze away from the crimson glow of his eyes. He looked to the syringe on the floor before him, his slow thoughts sparking with recognition.

"You... drugged me," he slurred.

Qi Rong laughed, high-pitched and grating. "Yeah. I figured you'd take one look at me and try to put a stake through my heart- even though I'm here to help you."

He reached forward and grabbed a chunk of Xie Lian's hair, sharply yanking his head up. "I should just leave you here to be that asshole's blood bag- looks like you took to it pretty well," he laughed, his red eyes looking him up and down. "Do you whore yourself out to him, too? Is that why he lets you walk around freely? I bet that one-eyed fucker really has-"

Xie Lian punched him square in the mouth.

In his shock, Qi Rong let him go. Xie Lian swayed to his feet, his fists clenched by his sides. "Don't... you dare... talk about him..." he huffed, still reeling from how fast he stood.

Surprise lingered on Qi Rong's face as he touched his bloody lip, and then his head tilted back with roaring laughter. "FINALLY! Finally you admit how much you hate me!" he yelled into the air, his voice echoing in the darkness. 

He blinked. "I never..."

"You've always looked down on me!" Qi Rong screamed at him as he scrabbled to his feet. "But you were too busy being so fucking perfect that you'd never admit it. Now look at you!"

Xie Lian panted in the silence that hung there, most of his efforts going to making his body comply. He felt a million times heavier, like he might collapse on the floor any second.

"How does it feel to be the weak one?" He snarled, stepping closer. His new fangs flashed silver.

The low table bumped his calf as Xie Lian stepped back. It only made Qi Rong's grin widen.

"I'll still save you from here," he said, eyes burning, "You're lucky- Bai Wuxiang wants you. But he doesn't need you in one piece."

Xie Lian didn't feel lucky- if he was, the broken pieces of the syringe stuck in Qi Rong's hand would've started to affect him by now. But the drug wasn't that potent, and Xie Lian was the one stumbling back.

"Why?" he asked, breathless as he fell onto the table on his ass. "Why me?"

Qi Rong paused, his face twisting like he'd tasted a sour lemon.

"...The ring," Xie Lian whispered. "He wants the ring. And he can't trade you for it."

He surged forward with a snarl. His hand closed around Xie Lian's neck and he squeezed painfully, pulling him off of the table and to the tips of his feet. "Do you think I care? Do you think I want to go back to that stupid place?"

Xie Lian senses narrowed in on the pain as he choked for breath. He clawed at Qi Rong's hand, but he wasn't strong enough to remove it. Even if he'd had a fighting chance sober, he wasn't a match for a vampire's strength, now.

Silver flashed in his ebbing vision- the butterfly repeatedly slammed into Qi Rong and gouged his face with its wings.

He screamed with frustration and struck out, catching one of its wings with his claws. It spun outward and fell to the floor. Its silver light flickered. Darkness pulsed in and out as it lurched against the floor, strobing like the rhythm of a dying heartbeat.

Xie Lian gagged, but he couldn't free himself. Tears collected in his eyes from the pain as he locked gazes with Qi Rong- his cousin looked at him with such ferocity, he thought he might actually kill him.

The darkness surged forward, consuming everything.

Fighting its death throes, the butterfly pulsed silver. There was a flash of white.

Xie Lian didn't see it clearly, but he was horrified by the possibility that Bai Wuxiang could have defeated Hua Cheng. A panicked tear slipped down his cheek.

In the next surge of light, he caught sight of the shovel.

Dong.

The blow rung out hollow, echoing across the ceiling. Qi Rong's head snapped to the side as Xie Lian dropped to the ground. He hit the floor in a clumsy heap, but the pain in his throat still overshadowed everything. He coughed and rubbed his neck, trying to convince his crushed windpipe to take in air again.

Metal clattered to the floor as Yin Yu dropped to his knees beside him, his hand awkwardly patting the space between his shoulders.

"Y-Yin Yu..." he rasped, then fell into another coughing fit.

"Don't," he breathed. "I should've gotten here faster- but there were other intruders."

The tears in his eyes weren't from pain, then, but from the fact that Yin Yu- who apparently hid in the palace to avoid fighting- would step in to protect him.

Yin Yu reached into his sleeve and pulled out a glowing speck- it was his night pearl. He placed it on the floor next to Xie Lian and the flickering light around them steadied.

Qi Rong rolled on the floor in another laughing fit. "You hit this ancestor!?" he cackled, like he couldn't believe so many people had raised a hand to him.

Xie Lian thought he should get used to it. He was a vampire, now- his surname wasn't going to protect him anymore.

He swayed unsteadily to his feet, Yin Yu hovering by his side. "You should get out of here," he rasped to his cousin, the edges of his words still slurred by the drug.

This only made Qi Rong laugh harder. "You think some dog-fucker scares me?" he chortled, and then he jumped to his feet. He reached behind his back and pulled out a hunting knife. "I heard you eat like shit, here. Why don't you get a good taste of my cousin before I take him? It's not like Crimson Rain is going to last out there."

Yin Yu stiffened and adjusted his grip on the shovel.

"Enough, Qi Rong- what do you think working with Bai Wuxiang is going to do for you?" Xie Lian panted.

"Look at what he's already done, cousin," Qi Rong spat. "I'm stronger than ever. Stronger than you. And now it's your turn to be the trash our family tries to sweep under the rug." He launched forward, knife glinting in the glowing blue light.

Yin Yu stepped up to face him, shovel raised. And he was good with it- Xie Lian thought he could see the basics for some martial arts in his stances.

But Qi Rong was fast. He slipped in between Yin Yu's forms and then past him, heading right for Xie Lian.

The first cut he slashed against his forearm was shallow, his blood weakly staining the frayed edges of his robe. And then the second hit deeper, curling over his bicep in a flash of burning pain as it cut into the muscle.

Xie Lian gasped and stumbled to the ground, tripping over pillows. His body wouldn't listen to him.

Qi Rong grinned above him, avoiding another strike from Yin Yu. His red eyes burned with the singular intent to cut him up, to make him hurt, and Xie Lian shuddered with the knowledge that he had nothing to defend himself with- he'd grown so used to the stretches of nothingness in the palace, to the fact that he had the protection of a Vampire King, he'd never thought to carry the dagger Hua Cheng had given him at all.

The next time Qi Rong slipped past Yin Yu's defense, he stabbed the knife right into Xie Lian's thigh, and the pain and frustration had built into such a tight ball in his chest that he screamed.

He clutched his thigh after Qi Rong ripped the knife out, the serrated edges catching on the wound and sending shockwaves of fiery pain up his leg. His heartbeat roared in his ears, matched only by the grating sounds of Qi Rong's laughter and the shuddering gasps of his own breathing.

The drug had slowed his thoughts and twisted his instincts around- Xie Lian could hardly think of what to do. His focus lingered on the blood bubbling up from his thigh, slick and warm where it coated his leg. Panic seared his every nerve as he pressed his hands to the wound, trying to staunch the flow- only for Qi Rong to sweep behind him and cut a long gash over his back.

He flinched forward with a pained cry, bitter tears falling down his cheeks. There was another ringing smack- Yin Yu landed a blow on Qi Rong again.

But it wasn't enough. In his periphery, he could see Yin Yu's hands shaking, and he knew what Qi Rong was doing. He'd cut him up until Yin Yu lost control. If he drank his blood, he would be drugged, too, and Qi Rong could drag Xie Lian out of the palace without any resistance.

His hands slapped the floor as he lurched to the side, trying to find the strength to stand, to do anything- but his balance swayed and he barely caught himself before his face hit the wood.

A moment later, a hand grabbed the back collar of his robes and yanked him up. Qi Rong laughed as he pressed the knife against his throat, dragging it just enough to cut a thin line into his skin. "Time's wasting. You think you're gonna get this opportunity again?" he sneered to Yin Yu.

He sounded utterly drunk off power. Xie Lian's head lolled to the side as he tried to recoil, but the the drug mixed with the blood loss and he could hardly move anymore. His breaths came in shallow gasps as he watched Yin Yu shiver, his hands holding the shovel so hard the wood creaked.

Growing impatient, Qi Rong stabbed the knife into his shoulder and twisted. A low, broken sound whimpered into the air- it took Xie Lian a moment to realize that the noise belonged to him.

"What's so good about this piece of shit?" he snarled. "Stop trying to protect him- he's just a cock-sucking, worthless dog-fucker-"

A thundering crash filled the air.

Moonlight opened over them as wooden shrapnel fell from the ceiling, pinging off the floor in hollow rumbles of sound. A figure fell through the opening to the first floor and punched through a row of bookshelves, leaving a scalloped crater that rained a low cloud of debris. A broken funerary staff laid before it.

Then a shadow swooped over him, and Xie Lian was free.

He collapsed against the floor. His tunneled vision was watery as he turned his head, the edges pulsing in and out.

A dark, ragged form of a beast savagely beat Qi Rong into the floor, it's strikes so powerful that the whole library seemed to shake with them. Then the floor gave out and Qi Rong vanished below, falling with a pitiful whimper.

The beast turned it's head. It's face was elongated to fit the row of ivory teeth that protruded from its lips, gleaming and blood-stained in the moonlight. The rest of its body was cloaked in dark fur, causing the finer details to blend into shadow, but its silhouette protruded wrongly- its six limbs were long and lanky with too many joints.

But the eye- it's one eye burned red in the darkness, and Xie Lian knew.

He reached out, shaking. The name he uttered was slurred and unrecognizable, but the beast lurched forward, its hooked claws raking the wood as it came running.

Relief numbed him as those arms stretched around him, lifting him from the hard floor. His head rolled to the side and pressed against black fur. "San Lang," he breathed.

The darkness oozed- there was a smell of sulfur, and then the form melted like dripping tar.

When he blinked his eyes open next, red robes swam in his vision.

"Gege," Hua Cheng whispered above him, his voice shaking as he moved his hands over his wounds, healing him with every warm touch. Then, "Xie Lian. Forgive me- forgive me."

He couldn't find the strength to speak, so he curled his face into his chest and finally let his body relax, giving in to the hazy weight of the drug. His limbs were so heavy, like he'd been submerged under a waterfall. His senses narrowed down to the warmth beside him and the smell of autumn flowers.

Words floated over his head. The sounds rumbled and twisted, indistinct. Then he was lifted, his mind squeezing with vertigo until a familiar rhythm established itself: the steady footfalls of Hua Cheng's long gait.

Jewelry clinked somewhere. Xie Lian felt like he was being carried out to sea and everything he knew waited on the distant shore. There was the roar of waves in his ears...

His back pressed into something soft. Breath punched out of him as his head lolled to the side, his cheek falling against the smooth coldness of white bedsheets.

Hua Cheng had carried him back to his room in the east wing. Moonlight filtered past the parted drapes, illuminating his pale hands as he reached for Xie Lian's torn and bloodied robes.

He undressed him. The night's chill pressed against his skin and he shivered, goosebumps rising over his body.

When Hua Cheng had removed everything but his underwear, he paused, his fingers twitching with hesitation. Blood stained part of his white briefs, the aftermath of the stab wound to his thigh.

The cold had wakened him somewhat. "Please," Xie Lian managed to rasp. "Don't." His face was flushed with tepid heat.

In a jerking motion, he nodded. Then he took the basin of water Xie Lian used to wash his face in the morning and wiped the leftover blood from his healed wounds.

It was so quiet, like a night of freshly fallen snow, like the stillness of the early morning. Hua Cheng's movements were as gentle as a caress. If the blood was stubborn, he didn't scrub- he just added more water and would patiently swipe the rag over it until it came off.

The basin was tinged pink when he finished. He dried Xie Lian and then helped him into fresh underclothes.

Hua Cheng laid him back on the bed and tucked him into the blankets. Xie Lian shivered at the rush of cold air it brought, not yet warmed by his body-heat.

Nails scraped the side of his scalp as he pushed his hair back, and then Hua Cheng leaned down to press a kiss to his temple. "I can't heal a soporific; the drug has to work itself out," he explained, the heat of his breath fanning across his face. "Rest now. I'll guard your room."

He turned to leave. Panicked, Xie Lian's hand clumsily shot out, grabbing at anything he could. His middle finger hooked the silver chain on his belt. 

Hua Cheng stuttered to a stop, his eyebrows raised as he looked back.

Xie Lian's breaths were shallow and quick, rasping at the back of his throat. It made his voice hoarse as he whispered, "Don't go. I'm scared."

He needed Hua Cheng in his line of sight- he could feel his weakness all around him, closing him in. The way his body wouldn't work right made his skin crawl. Without him here, he felt his own helplessness would suffocate him.

His red eye widened, and then Hua Cheng ripped his necklace off over his head. Anything sharp, anything hard- it all fell to the floor as he sunk his knees onto the mattress. He kicked his boots off haphazardly and then slid into the blankets, his warm body coming to rest right next to his.

Xie Lian crawled into his open arms, his face slotting into the crook of his neck. "Please don't leave me like this," he murmured against his skin.

"I won't," Hua Cheng swore above him, his arms twining around his back. He pressed Xie Lian against his chest and curled around him so thoroughly that it wasn't the mattress he laid on, but Hua Cheng's body. "I won't leave. I'll be here when you wake," he promised.

Xie Lian felt a tug as his ribbon was pulled free, and then Hua Cheng raked his hand through his hair, gently combing the knots free.

He shuddered against him, body spasming as it gave up the fear and panic laced through his bones. Xie Lian's eyes slid shut and he stopped trying to fight the pull in his limbs.

Silence hovered over the room, but only for a moment- Hua Cheng pressed a soft kiss to his hair line, and then he started to sing.

The language was foreign to him, the rasp of vowels and consonants blending together like far away deserts. Warmth pricked his eyes as Xie Lian relaxed, the low timber of his voice a constant reminder of his presence.

That he was safe.

Chapter Text

He woke to the sensation of his head rising and falling.

Xie Lian's eyelids fluttered open. He'd dreamed; vivid, twisted memories of the attack coated his mind like a bitter aftertaste and icy shards of pain throbbed where he'd been wounded.

His thigh was the worst- it was as if he could still feel the muscle splitting around the knife. He reached down to rub the smooth fabric of his trousers against the unmarred skin, reminding himself it was healed. The feeling gradually dissipated.

As he stirred, the arms around him tightened. "Gege?" Hua Cheng rumbled above him, his chest vibrating with the name.

Xie Lian turned his face into his chest and breathed deeply, the scent of him washing away the lingering, violent flashes that clung to his mind. He grunted something.

Nails ran up and down his back, making him shiver. "Good morning to you, too."

His chest puffed out with a low exhale, part-sigh and part-laughter, and then his eyes widened and he looked to the window. The curtains had been pulled closed. Golden light ringed the white cloth. "How long...?" He murmured, his voice hoarse from sleep.

"A few hours," Hua Cheng answered.

Xie Lian groaned. He felt awful; his headache pounded in his ears and his entire body felt wrung out like a damp rag. Getting up sounded terrible, so he didn't. He played with the front edges of Hua Cheng's robe, who also seemed content to let him lie there.

In the solemn quiet, he could almost pretend that nothing had happened- that he had ended up in Hua Cheng's arms by some other miracle. But being wrapped in his embrace couldn't chase away his looming unease, so he worked up the courage to rasp, "Bai Wuxiang... what happened to him?"

Hua Cheng stiffened. "He retreated," he said, low and terse.

Guilt churned his stomach- Bai Wuxiang only had the opportunity to do so because Xie Lian had needed Hua Cheng's help.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, pushing himself up to sit in between Hua Cheng legs.

A hint of blue ringed the pale skin beneath his eye and his loose hair was slightly mussed around his shoulders, but his blank expression gave away little emotion. He reached forward and cupped Xie Lian's face, his eyebrows furrowing. "You have nothing to be sorry for," he murmured, eye tensed as he looked him over.

Xie Lian shook his head, displacing his hand. Embarrassment roiled through him- at his own weakness, his selfishness. "They got away because of me," he said. Not only had Hua Cheng diverted his focus to heal him, Xie Lian had begged him to stay while he slept, sealing off any chance for him to handle either vampire if they lingered.

And how pathetic had he looked, sitting there crying while Qi Rong sliced him open? He couldn't remember another time when he'd been brought so low.

The most frustrating part was that he had tried to move, to fight back, but the drug made it as difficult as wading through deep water.

Do I remind you of Fangxin, now? he thought ruefully.

"It was my fault," Hua Cheng spat out, and his tone was so full of rage and hatred that Xie Lian froze.

His nails dug into his robes over his thighs, the threads popping one by one as he shredded the expensive silk. "I should've torn that bastard to shreds, but I couldn't. So useless. All while you were suffering and I couldn't find an opening to get there," he snarled. "There's no excuse for that."

Xie Lian's breathing stuttered as he watched a mask of utter self-hatred consume his expression. "No," he whispered, and then he leaned forward to cup his face with both hands, his fingers sliding into his wild hair. "No, look at me. You were fighting another Vampire King. The one that gives every monster hunter in this country nightmares. And you defeated him badly enough that he had to retreat. You can't beat yourself up for that."

Hua Cheng's gaze was flat, but the worst of his grimace had fled. Xie Lian leaned forward and wrapped his arms around the back of his neck in a tight hug, their chests pressing close together. He swept some of his hair aside to whisper in his ear, "And I'd never been so relieved to see you."

The tiny flinch of a shiver ran through the body beneath him, suppressed but still noticeable. A small smile grew over Xie Lian's face and he kissed down the shell of his ear, the pearl earring cold against his lips.

Hua Cheng's hands curled around his waist. "How... did you know it was me?" he whispered, his words strained.

He shrugged. "I don't know. It felt like you."

His tone went dark with disapproval. "A monster felt like me?"

Xie Lian blinked, and then he laughed at his own mistake. "No," he murmured and pulled back. Hua Cheng's red eye was intently glued to him. He raised his hand and traced the soft skin under underneath it. "You show so much, here. And I've seen terrified monsters before, but not when they're winning."

For a brief second, his gaze wandered to his eyepatch. He wondered how he lost it, and when- clearly it had been before he'd learned his healing spell. Mostly he was saddened that someone would take such a beautiful part of him.

A long sigh heaved from Hua Cheng's chest as he relaxed against the headboard. Exhaustion overcame him; his eyelid drooped like he could barely keep it open. Yet his gaze never left Xie Lian, as if he couldn't bring himself to look away.

"Hey," Xie Lian murmured, leaning forward. "I forgot to tell you something."

"Oh?" he hummed, unmoving.

Xie Lian pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth. Then he whispered, "Thank you," in the scant space between them.

As if he'd never been tired, as if he'd never fought and kept awake to guard Xie Lian while he slept, Hua Cheng surged forward and slotted his lips against his. He cradled the back of his head as they twisted together, bumping noses. Then they broke apart to laugh at the uncoordinated mess of it all. The little puffs of air tickled his skin.

Xie Lian whispered it against his mouth again, just for the joy of it. Hua Cheng kissed him harder, his fingers curling into his shirt. He lost his balance and swayed to the side with a soft gasp.

Seizing his opportunity, Hua Cheng pushed him back against the mattress and straddled him. Then his lips were on his again and Xie Lian knew nothing but his weight and his heat, his hands running lower over his body and then up his shirt. Electricity buzzed through his skin as his fingertips wandered the dips in his ribs.

He didn't want it to stop; Xie Lian wanted to be touched like that forever, to have Hua Cheng imprinted on his skin. But his desire had pooled into a fierce inferno in his lower abdomen, making his body react, and he just... wasn't ready for that.

With a soft push to Hua Cheng's chest, they parted. Xie Lian angled his head away from him and panted, "Losing air."

Hua Cheng laughed at him, his eye curling into a soft crescent. Then he rolled off of him and sank onto the mattress by his side, one of his hands remaining up Xie Lian's shirt. His fingertips stroked slow circles over his stomach.

Xie Lian nestled against him, his eyelids falling half-closed as he savored his touch. It sent sparks through his nerves, still, but the blanket covered him and it felt good.

They laid in silence. Hua Cheng's hand stilled, so Xie Lian thought he might have fallen asleep. His eye was closed and his slow breaths puffed over his arm, his face pressed near his bicep.

He was only dozing. When Xie Lian pushed back some of the hair that had fallen over his face, he stirred with a low hum.

Xie Lian smiled and turned onto his side so he could comb his fingers through the length of it, gently taking out some of the knots that had collected. Hua Cheng pressed his face into his chest and his arm fell around his lower waist.

"You fought so hard, San Lang," he whispered over his head, and then he pressed a kiss to the part in his hair. "You must be tired. Do you need to sleep? Or..."

"No," he mumbled into his shirt.

Xie Lian blinked. He stroked his fingers through his hair and said, "...No, you don't need to sleep? I was going to offer-"

"No."

Ah.

"It's okay," he whispered. "You healed me and I've recovered enough by now. The drug is out of my system-"

"No."

"San Lang."

Hua Cheng finally drew back enough to look up at him, his eyebrows furrowed. "You've been through enough- and I couldn't heal the blood loss, just the wounds. I know you must still be affected by that, at least." Then he asked, "How's your headache?"

Xie Lian's lips parted for a moment, his voice caught in his throat, and then he muttered, "I've felt worse."

Hua Cheng huffed and then relaxed back on the mattress, his eye closing. "I have another way to recover," he said.

"Mn?" Xie Lian hummed, tracing the elegant slopes of his face.

"I can go to sleep for longer than usual. While I'm in that state, I'll send out my butterflies to drink from the animals surrounding us. It's a slower process, but I'll manage with that."

Xie Lian frowned, his fingertips straying to his lips. "How long will you be asleep for?"

Hua Cheng kissed his fingers. "It depends. I'm guessing a week, or a week and a half right now."

At Xie Lian's dejected expression, he lifted himself off of the bed with an elbow and leaned over to kiss his face. First his cheek, then his temple, and then in the middle of his forehead. "I'm sorry," he whispered against his skin. "But it's the best way right now."

Xie Lian rolled onto his back, his eyelids fluttering closed while his face was peppered with kisses. "I'll miss you," he murmured.

Hua Cheng kissed his lips, slow and gentle. "I'll be semi-conscious, so I'll miss you too."

He laughed against his mouth.

Hua Cheng pressed a lingering kiss to his bottom lip, and then he said, "I'm serious. And I'll be able to monitor our surroundings. If they come back, I'll know."

The giddiness in his chest sobered. "Do you think they will?" he whispered.

He let out a long breath. "I don't know, but it seems likely."

"San Lang..." he murmured. "Didn't their plan feel oddly similar to the caravan's? You don't think..."

His mouth screwed up into a thin line. "Almost four hundred years, and Liu never crossed me. I wondered what would make him turn so suddenly."

They shared a foreboding look. If that really was the case, then it wasn't a matter of if Bai Wuxiang would be back, but when.

Hesitantly, he began to murmur, "Shouldn't you prioritize regaining your strength, then? We don't know when..."

Hua Cheng shot him a hard look.

The words died on his lips. It was clear he'd resolved not to drink from him- and even though Hua Cheng called him stubborn, he obviously held the same quality.

"Right," Xie Lian sighed.

Hua Cheng kissed his cheek and then sunk onto his chest, his head falling into the crook of his neck.

A low breath punched out of Xie Lian at the sudden weight, but he coiled his arms around his back to keep him balanced there.

"...Gege," he whispered against his skin, tone hesitant.

"Mn?" Xie Lian hummed. He paused from working out the remaining knots in his hair.

There was the sharp inhale of breath, and then a moment's silence that lingered in the air.

Dread slowly filled him. "San Lang...?"

Hua Cheng's fingers tensed in his robes. "Before Bai Wuxiang left, he went to the stable, gege. And he..."

It was like taking a blow to the stomach. His breath stuttered in his chest as he stared up at the ceiling, his eyes tracing the golden reliefs carved there. "They're all gone?" he whispered, struck with disbelief.

"Chestnut is," he confirmed in a gentle murmur. "And the ox. The white one... she's trying to hold on, but I don't know."

Xie Lian shut his eyes tight and curled the knot of grief deep into his body, like stuffing it into a box in the back of a closet. "Please. Show me," he said.

They dressed. Hua Cheng took longer than him, having to recover his jewelry from the floor. Xie Lian helped him clasp some of it on, which felt almost as intimate as when he'd wiped the blood from his skin just hours before.

When they arrived at the stable, the outside appeared as if nothing was wrong. The sunlight gleamed off the straw roof and a few flies hummed through the air, wakened by a burst of tepid heat.

Hua Cheng curled his hand over his shoulder as he stopped to stare. "Here, gege," he whispered, pulling him towards a cluster of low trees. Tendrils of jasmine coiled over the bark, clustering the splotches of shadow with delicate white blossoms.

Before them sprawled a mound of recently disturbed dirt.

"Chestnut's here," Hua Cheng murmured.

Xie Lian's jaw tightened, but his emotions felt distant, as if his anger and grief lingered in some room apart from him. "Where's the white horse?" he murmured.

Hua Cheng watched him carefully, his face lit by the red glow of his umbrella. "In the stall," he said, jerking his chin toward the stable.

She was a sorry sight. Curled on her stomach in the corner, her legs were bent limply around her body and her head rested partly on the floor and wall. When they approached, her brown eye glanced their way briefly before it glazed over again. Her ears didn't even pin back.

Xie Lian frowned as he entered the stall. He kneeled down on the fresh straw beside her and checked her gums. They were pale white, almost the same color as her coat.

"I healed her wounds through a butterfly," Hua Cheng murmured behind him, "And Yin Yu did what he could before the sun rose. But she needs a lot of care- I'm not sure we have everything necessary."

He rose and turned to him. "I'll take care of it," he said, his anger catching up with him, now. 

But Hua Cheng came first.

He leaned heavily against the wall, his umbrella perched over his shoulder. Xie Lian left the stall and stroked his hand up his bicep, catching his tired gaze. "Do you need me to walk you back to your room?" he murmured. He felt guilty for dragging him out here- now that he was standing, it was obvious just how exhausted he was.

Hua Cheng shook his head. "I'll be fine," he whispered. "Are you alright? I can't send out anymore butterflies until the sun sets, anyway. Should I-"

Xie Lian rose to the balls of his feet and kissed his lips, cutting him off. "Go sleep, San Lang," he murmured against him.

His warm sigh fanned over his face. "I will," he whispered, but he remained hovering beside him.

A small smile spread across Xie Lian's lips and his hand trailed through his hair. "Actually, why don't you sit on one of the hay bales? I'll braid your hair so it doesn't knot."

Now, his response was immediate, and he collapsed onto a low hay bale by the wall. A tarp had been thrown over a stack of them, providing better shade than the rest of the worn, wooden walls, so he let his umbrella fall to the floor.

Xie Lian sat on a raised stack behind him, slotting Hua Cheng between his knees. "Does it get badly knotted if you sleep for long?" he asked, sliding his fingers through his silky hair. The strands flowed over his skin like spilled ink.

Hua Cheng murmured something lowly, unintelligible.

Fondness stirred his heart, and then Xie Lian fell silent as he worked. He was inexperienced with braiding and had to redo it a few times- most men avoided the style, still bitter from the queues required by the past rulers. Eventually, he managed a good plait and tied it off with his own ribbon.

He stroked Hua Cheng's hairline, disturbing some of the shorter strands that had already fallen out around his face. "All done," he murmured.

Hua Cheng had swayed a bit during the process. At Xie Lian's words, he completely fell back against him.

His chest echoed with a soft laugh and he leaned down to kiss his forehead, his brown hair falling around them. "Are you sure you don't need me to carry you back?" he whispered.

"No..." he intoned, his voice rumbling like he'd dozed. With an uncoordinated lurch, he rose to his feet and set his umbrella over his shoulder again.

Xie Lian fixed his hair back and walked him to the door of the stable. They lingered before the threshold, trading slow kisses.

"Focus on recovering, okay?" Xie Lian whispered against his mouth.

Hua Cheng hummed. "So I can see you again quickly- I will."

His smile warped their next kiss. "I'll look forward to it."

Xie Lian leaned against the doorframe as he watched him walk off, his shoulders sagging. He was sure some space apart was actually a good thing- they'd spent every day together for months. But unease curled his stomach. His absence was going to be hard to adjust to.

When Hua Cheng disappeared into the palace, he turned his attention back to the mare.

She was lethargic and unwilling to eat. Getting her up and walking proved a challenge, as she was more prone to biting than listening, but Xie Lian eventually managed to annoy her into moving out to pasture and into the sunshine.

He hung about the stable for the rest of the day, fixing up the walls with scraps and keeping an eye on the mare. She slept for the most part. When she woke, he'd try to coax her into eating and drinking with little success. It was only towards the end of the day that he discovered she had a bit of a sweet tooth and would accept peppermints.

He could hardly call it progress- she needed real food, not just sugar- but considering that all of his efforts had been in vain until then, he felt a burst of victory all the same.

The sun lowered in a wash of fiery oranges and pinks, coloring the clouds red. Then it dipped below the tree line and the sky purpled. Xie Lian led the mare back into her stall with a handful of peppermints, and despite her stumbling gate, her interest in the treats gave him hope that she'd pull through.

He was adding more hay into her stall when footsteps sounded over the grass outside.

Xie Lian turned to see Yin Yu walk through the door.

They both paused, staring. A curl of embarrassment shot through Xie Lian- the last time they'd seen each other, he'd been crying on the floor and incapacitated.

"Ha- Yin Yu," he stuttered. "How're you?"

The red glow in the divots of his mask blinked. "Fine," he murmured, his tone mild and a little hesitant. "...You?"

"Good," he said, then amended, "A lot better."

Crickets chirped, the beginning of the night's cacophony.

Xie Lian tossed the remaining hay in the stall. "Did you come to check up on her?" he asked in the following silence.

He nodded. "But if you have it handled, I can-" he stepped back.

"I don't," he said quickly, before Yin Yu could run off. "I mean- I still need to fill up her water trough in the pasture. If you wanted to help."

His fingers twitched by his side. "I can," he said.

They carried buckets to a pump nearby and walked them back to the trough, slowly filling the metal basin pail by pail. It gave Xie Lian time to work out what, exactly, he wanted to say to him.

He caught up to Yin Yu at the trough. "Thank you," he murmured. "For helping me with my cousin."

Yin Yu froze, and then he held the empty bucket to his chest. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I didn't do much, in the end."

Xie Lian vigorously shook his head. "You did a lot. I probably would've been taken if you hadn't come."

It was difficult to measure how Yin Yu felt with his mask on, but his composure tensed as he shrunk in on himself. His fingers scraped the pail as he said, "Chengzhu wouldn't have let that happen."

Despite the awkwardness between them, he smiled. "Maybe. But he was struggling, too. I'm sure he was just as glad as I was that you were there."

Yin Yu's voice drifted into the night so softly, he almost didn't catch it, "...Why would you be glad? I almost lost control." For the first time since they'd spoken, his mild tone of voice warbled, making him sound torn.

Xie Lian's expression fell into a somber frown. He dropped his empty pail to his feet and leaned against the wooden fence by the trough, his eyes straying to the stars that bloomed across the slowly darkening sky. "I don't think that was your fault, Yin Yu," he murmured.

"Of course it was," Yin Yu responded quickly. "Can you really trust a starving dog?"

His wide eyes snapped back to him. That wasn't just a self-deprecating line- that was a particular phrase often said by older hunters.

He swallowed, trying to temper his surprise at hearing it again. "You're not a dog," he answered. "You're my friend."

Yin Yu's voice shook. "Still?"

"Still."

Tepid silence fell over them again. Yin Yu also leaned against the fence to look at the stars with him. After a moment, he said, "You aren't like the hunters I've known."

He sighed. "I might be the worst one."

"Maybe," he answered, but there was the curl of a smile to his tone.

Fabric rustled as Yin Yu reached up. Without saying a word, he undid the tie for his mask and slowly lowered it in front of his chest.

Xie Lian glanced his way, drawn in by the sight of his face. He'd suspected a terrible scar there, or disfiguration of some sort- but it was only an average face, just like any he'd pass in the street. The only distinguishing mark was a small freckle beneath one eye.

Yin Yu seemed to be waiting for something- but when Xie Lian didn't respond, his shoulders slouched and he set the mask on the post beside him. "You've never seen my face, before?" he asked.

His eyebrows furrowed. To ask if he recognized him was one thing- but to phrase it like that was odd. "Not that I recall. Why?"

"The wanted pages," he answered, picking at the splinters on the fence. "I wondered if my face was still posted there."

He blinked. No wonder Yin Yu would know such a phrase- if he was in the wanted pages, it meant he had been a hunter himself.

And he'd been turned on a mission gone bad.

"Maybe," he murmured. "I didn't check those, often. I didn't really have the stomach... it seemed kinder to let those be handled by the people that knew them."

Yin Yu hummed. "I understand."

"...I'd assumed that Hua Cheng had turned you," he admitted.

Yin Yu didn't seem one for laughter, but there was a brightness in his tone when he responded next. "Oh. The eyes?"

"The eyes," he confirmed.

"Just a coincidence," he murmured. "It's pretty common with red."

Xie Lian was hesitant to ask more questions, scared of crossing some boundary he couldn't see. His lips parted silently, and then he finally took the jump and asked, "How long has it been?"

"Ten years," he sighed. "Not long at all."

To a vampire, it really wasn't. And that meant he still had plenty of hunters who'd know his face, who would want to kill him and wipe the stain from their family's doorstep.

No wonder he hid beneath a mask in the middle of nowhere.

"Aren't you worried I'll report you back?" he murmured. "Once I leave here."

Yin Yu shook his head. "Even if you did, I wasn't planning on staying without Chengzhu around."

"Oh," he hummed. "Are you thinking of traveling?"

He made warbled noise, sounding unsure. "Maybe just to find a territory of my own. One without a huge palace to upkeep."

Xie Lian snorted. "Not all vampires long for large manors and shiny things?"

"Some vampires just want to be left alone," he sighed.

The darkness had strengthened- it was hard to make out the details of his face when he spoke.

"Aren't you worried about the loneliness?" Xie Lian murmured.

Yin Yu was silent for a moment. "It's better than hurting others."

His words lingered in the air- Xie Lian wasn't sure he agreed, but he didn't know what to say in response, either.

Then, a thin spiral of silver rose into the night sky.

They both quieted to watch it pour from the tower of the west wing, climbing higher into the deep navy of the night until it shattered apart like falling stars. A cloud broke from the ranks, heading their direction.

Xie Lian smiled at the storm of butterflies knifing through the air. He laughed as they circled him, stirring up enough wind to toss his hair. 

Yin Yu looked less pleased and ducked beside the fence, clearly wanting to be left alone, as he said earlier.

Within the wild tornado of them, a butterfly landed on his lips, as soft and delicate as a kiss. And then it fluttered off, guiding the rest into the darkness outside the palace.

His eyes creased as he watched them go. "I don't know," he murmured. "Some hurts can be forgiven."

💀

As he'd expected, Hua Cheng's absence carved longing into his heart. He missed his easy companionship, his insightful yet snide remarks, his assured air. Sometimes he'd turn with some new thought to share, only to rediscover that his side was empty.

A week passed, and then two. He worried over the extended length- but the butterflies left behind to guard the palace showed no signs of trouble, so he could only assume that the cold had made it difficult for Hua Cheng to find animals to feed on.

Yin Yu reassured him that Hua Cheng would wake when he was ready, but the days dragged.

Taking care of the mare helped to take his mind off waiting, somewhat. He'd also finally named her. After an awful day of suffering four bites, one of which broke skin, he'd decided to call her Ruoye.

But when she recovered enough to be left alone, Xie Lian had to find new ways to distract himself. He began cleaning up some of the broken and dilapidated parts of the palace, fixing furniture and collecting scraps to reuse elsewhere. In a burst of curiosity, he also walked over the frozen lake. He'd had the idea to try ice fishing, but the butterflies swarmed him with such concern that he left it for another day. Perhaps Hua Cheng would try it with him when he woke.

Then winter truly erupted over the palace. A fast-moving storm whitened the skies and dropped about three feet of snow before whipping off. Xie Lian spent the next day shoveling snow with Yin Yu, his nose burning with cold. They mostly focused on the stable, trying to dig out enough space for Ruoye to walk while she recovered her strength.

It left him exhausted. Once he reached his room, he started a fire in the woodstove to warm up and pulled every blanket he could find onto the bed. However, there wasn't much wood left on the rack. He burned through it quickly and then ensconced himself in bed, hoping he'd fall asleep by the time the fire died out.

The embers hadn't even faded when a chill entered his room. He felt it his feet first- warmth drained from the bed, and no matter how tightly he wrapped the blankets around himself, it only grew worse.

I'm a monster hunter, he thought to himself with a huff. I've slept outside on journeys plenty of times before. This should be nothing to me.

The temperature continued to drop. Still unable to fall asleep, Xie Lian turned to his other side. A puff of cold air seeped underneath the blankets.

I really can't take it anymore!

Xie Lian threw the blankets off and shivered in the accompanying rush of frigid air on his skin. Then he pulled his robe tighter around his chest and slipped on his shoes. If he couldn't fall asleep in the cold, he'd just have to get more wood and restart the fire.

Hugging his arms over his torso, Xie Lian made his way to where they stored the extra firewood: the mud room.

He ran into a butterfly patrolling the palace on his way. "Good evening," he whispered as it descended onto his outstretched hand. "I'm going to get more firewood. Would you like to join me?"

The butterfly gave him a slow beat of its wings, the only answer it could offer. He smiled and kept walking.

But when he opened the door to the mud room, disappointment sunk in his stomach. It was empty. He'd forgotten he'd taken the last of the firewood earlier to cook.

The only other thing to do was go outside and chop more. He shivered at the thought.

A quick tug of feet drew his attention. The butterfly took off and fluttered close to his head in a frenzied state.

"What's wrong?" he called to it, eyebrows furrowed.

The butterfly flew towards the kitchen and hovered in the threshold.

"...Do you want me to follow you?" he asked.

It disappeared further into the kitchen, heading for the door into the hallway.

Xie Lian hurried to catch up with it, hope rising in his chest that it would lead him to another stash of firewood.

They walked to the west wing. Then the butterfly turned down a narrow hallway with a single red door at the end. The paint was so worn above the silver doorknob that the original wood shone through.

Curious, Xie Lian opened the door and stepped through the threshold. The butterfly glided past his shoulder to light the darkness.

He froze.

The inside of the room was bathed in red. The wallpaper was a deep crimson, interrupted only by a few sheets of water color paintings here and there. Black bookshelves lined one of the walls, matching the daybed and small lounge in the middle of the room. On the wall opposite, a large bed was sunk into an arched alcove. Sheer red curtains had been hung up to divide the space, but he could make out the silhouette of someone sleeping inside.

Xie Lian knew the shape of that of someone immediately- even if he was blind, he'd know whose room he'd entered by the familiar floral smell alone.

He gaped at the butterfly. "Why'd you lead me here?" he cried to it in a thin whisper.

The butterfly flew deeper into the room and landed on the sheer curtains, the silk glimmering as it shook.

Rubbing his forehead, Xie Lian began to back out and shut the door, but a sudden rattling caught his attention.

A space had been cleared off on the bookshelves for a sword stand; E'Ming rattled in place, it's red eye wide open and staring at Xie Lian.

"Oh, E'Ming!" he whispered and stepped into the room. He closed the door behind him and then rushed over to it, hoping to quickly calm it before it woke Hua Cheng. The sword was freezing against his fingers as he patted the handle. "Shh," he hushed it, "Everything's fine."

The sword closed it's eye and fell still again.

Xie Lian sighed and hugged his hand back to his chest. A small shiver wracked him as he looked to the butterfly still perched on the curtain, its wings beating serenely.

Hua Cheng hadn't moved at all inside.

Swallowing his nerves, Xie Lian approached the bed. "San Lang?" he murmured. If he's awake, maybe I should explain, he thought, and gently pushed the curtain to the side.

He was dead asleep. Laying on his right side, his still-braided hair trailed behind him and rested over the red sheets. He'd curled one arm beneath his pillow, but the other rested in front of his relaxed face, almost close enough for him to be nuzzling it. The loose fabric of his red underrobe had pulled open around his chest, revealing stark, pale skin.

Heat rose to Xie Lian's face as his heart squeezed. There were many adjectives he could use to describe Hua Cheng, but it was rare for him to think, cute, with such intensity.

"San Lang?" he called again. Hua Cheng looked like he could wake at any moment, and he really wanted to explain what had happened. He'd never invited him to his room before- it felt wrong to enter it without permission.

He never so much as twitched.

Now, Xie Lian was just worried. He didn't always sleep this heavily, did he? How he did he wake when intruders entered the palace?

He looked to the butterfly on the curtain. It's wings had stilled and it silently watched him.

...Hua Cheng had said he'd be semi-conscious, didn't he? If he noticed Xie Lian was cold, would he lead him here to warm him up himself?

A deeper blush rose to his cheeks. Of course he'd offer. Hua Cheng had proven his attentiveness time and time again. It didn't feel so odd for him to direct Xie Lian here if he was out of firewood.

"Forgive me," he whispered as he toed off his shoes. Then he climbed into the bed.

Xie Lian tried to be as gentle as possible as he crawled over the soft blankets. He brushed Hua Cheng's hair closer to his back so he wouldn't step on it, painfully aware of even his slightest movements as he breathed. But he didn't stir as he slipped beneath the blankets and sunk in behind him.

It was so much warmer next to him. Xie Lian let out a small sigh as he shifted into a comfortable position, mirroring Hua Cheng's. As he settled in, he inched slightly closer, not so much to touch but just enough that he could feel his body heat.

His face was especially close to his back, and his head swam with the sensation of being enveloped by his scent.

He worried he might be taking things too far, being this close- Hua Cheng was so selfless with him, but he couldn't remember if he'd ever slept around him. Had he actually fallen asleep in the Shi mansion, or did he pretend to because of his disguise?

Was he taking advantage of his kindness?

He rubbed his forehead and willed the thoughts to stop. He was already here. There was no point in worrying over it now.

Falling asleep was a slow process; he constantly fretted over any sign that Hua Cheng might be waking. But as he warmed, his body naturally relaxed, and darkness enclosed his mind like an embrace.

💀

The first thing he noticed was that he was so warm. He was wrapped in it, the pressure especially heavy around his waist and over one of his legs. Xie Lian exhaled a small sigh as he nestled closer to the smooth cloth against his face.

Surprisingly, there was little give to it, like he'd expect from a mattress. In fact, he was hugging something pretty solid.

Something pretty solid was hugging him back.

With a gasp, Xie Lian remembered the night prior and ripped himself away. A rush of cold air hit his face as he sat up, but a strong arm around his waist kept him from throwing himself out of the bed.

"Gege, you're letting in the cold air," Hua Cheng whined. He wrestled him closer by his waist and then twined his other arm around his shoulders, pulling him back down.

Xie Lian froze as he was manhandled, not even fighting as Hua Cheng momentarily let go to fix the blankets around them.

His cheek pressed against the warm skin of his chest as they settled back into place, his robe having been disturbed while Xie Lian tried to dislodge himself. He craned his neck upward, looking to see Hua Cheng's face, but all he could make out was his long neck and the sharp edges of his jaw.

"San Lang?" he murmured.

"Mn?" Hua Cheng hummed, his chest rumbling next to his ear.

"I'm sorry," he said, breathlessly launching into his explanation. "I forgot to cut more firewood yesterday, and then I ran out last night, and the butterfly led me here, and-"

He was interrupted by deep laughter. "Does gege think I got the wrong idea?"

What idea is the wrong idea? he thought madly.

Hua Cheng continued, "I'm glad you came to me. The last thing I want is for you to suffer in any way," he murmured, then bent down to kiss the top of his head.

Xie Lian slowly relaxed, relieved he'd read the situation right. He leant the weight of his head more readily on Hua Cheng's chest. "Thank you, San Lang. I'm glad you understand."

Hua Cheng hummed his agreement, and Xie Lian closed his eyes, taking comfort in the sensation against his cheek. Their legs tangled closer together as they both settled back in.

Curious, Xie Lian asked, "Did you tell the butterfly to lead me here, then?"

"Yes and no," Hua Cheng answered, his fingers threading through the ends of Xie Lian's hair. Gentle tugs pulled his scalp as he finger-combed a few knots out. "I can command each butterfly consciously, but it takes a lot of focus. Most of the time it's a subconscious type of control- because they're physical manifestations I've produced, they think like me, and will act in ways I agree with. However, it can be... unfiltered."

"It's always subconscious when you sleep?" he asked.

"Yes."

"So San Lang really was deep asleep?"

There was a slight pause. "Yes."

A wild grin broke out across his lips- Xie Lian turned his face into Hua Cheng's chest as he laughed.

"What, gege?" Hua Cheng asked, a slight whine in his tone.

"I finally learned how to tell when San Lang is lying," he said.

Hands splayed over Xie Lian's ribs, sending a shockwave of heat to his head. Before he could think about it too long, they started to tickle him.

He gasped with laughter and tried to wriggle away, but Hua Cheng locked his leg behind one of his knees to keep him close. Then he rolled on top, straddling Xie Lian and pinning him to the bed with his weight on his thighs.

Xie Lian couldn't stop laughing, even after he'd grabbed onto Hua Cheng's wrists and wrestled them away from his sides. "San Lang," he gasped, tears threatening to spill from his shut-tight eyes. "I can't anymore."

Hua Cheng stopped fighting against him, so Xie Lian relaxed his grip on his wrists, but he didn't let go entirely. He inhaled a deep breath and opened his eyes.

His heart stopped beating. Hua Cheng smiled down at him, his eyepatch slightly askew and his bangs messy. His red sleeping robe pooled around his abdomen as he slumped forward, revealing a long strip of defined muscle.

He leaned over Xie Lian, his hands coming up to rest on either side of his head. Dumbly, Xie Lian kept holding onto his wrists.

"Can't what anymore?" He asked, his voice a low rumble.

Xie Lian promptly choked on his tongue. "Well- I- San Lang, I mean-" He broke into a nervous fit of laughter and released his wrists, his hands coming up to cover his mouth instead.

A small, crooked smile grew across his face. Then Hua Cheng leaned down to press a kiss to his forehead. "Good morning, gege," he murmured.  

His chest swelled at the sweetness of it; before Hua Cheng could draw back too far, he cupped his face and guided him back down to kiss his lips. "Good morning, San Lang."

They traded a few slow kisses, and then Hua Cheng's expression twitched. He stroked Xie Lian's face and rose to get off of the bed.

Xie Lian was reticent to move. "San Lang?" he murmured.

"I'm just going to change, gege. Unless you want to stay in bed all morning," he said.

What if I did? he thought, heat rising to his cheeks.

Instead of answering, Xie Lian rolled over and pressed his face into the sheets. He didn't have the courage to say it. And besides- Hua Cheng had been asleep for over two weeks. Why would he want to stay in bed any longer?

The soft sound of fabric moving over skin was inescapably loud in their following silence. Even with his face pushed into the bed, Xie Lian closed his eyes, embarrassed at how aware he felt of Hua Cheng, like all of his senses were specifically tuned for him. 

Soon he heard the clinking of metal jewelry and he figured it was safe to look. After a few deep breaths, Xie Lian got up from the bed and slowly lifted the curtain.

Hua Cheng looked up at the movement, his hand pausing in the middle of putting on his vambrace. Then his face broke open in a crooked smile, the corners of his eye crinkling.

Xie Lian stuttered at that look, his chest tightening.

You're in his room, he thought to himself. Get it together.

"I guess I should go back and change, too," he murmured, slipping his shoes back on. "You're feeling better, then?"

"Much better," he said.

Xie Lian smiled. "Good." As he walked towards the door, he said, "I'm sorry for disturbing you last night. I'll be sure to cut more firewood today."

When he closed his hand around the doorknob, Hua Cheng said, "You didn't disturb me at all, gege. If you want, you could sleep in here until it warms up. We could conserve firewood that way."

He paused, his eyes widening. "You're sure?" he asked, a bit breathless as he turned his head to look at him.

"Mn," Hua Cheng hummed, fixing the clasp to his necklace. "Only if you want. I can understand if you'd rather sleep in your own bed-"

Xie Lian shook his head. "San Lang has the smartest ideas," he said, smiling. "Alright."

He ducked his head as he sorted though jewelry in a stand in front of him. "Yin Yu's noticed I'm awake- he's coming to talk, now. But I could find you later if you're not too busy."

"I'm never too busy," he laughed. "See you later, then."

"See you, gege."

Xie Lian opened the door.

Yin Yu stopped in the middle of the hallway, staring at him.

Xie Lian stared back, his tongue stuck in his throat. He hadn't realized he was so close.

With a quick nod of his head, Yin Yu unfroze and started walking forward again, slowly.

In a wave of motion, Xie Lian splayed his hands out in front of him. "Ah- Yin Yu!" he laughed nervously. "It's not- this is, I'm only-"

A hand landed on his shoulder. "Don't be embarrassed, gege," Hua Cheng said, smile evident in his voice.

His head snapped to the side like a crack of lightning. Don't make it sound like that! he wanted to scream, but from the mischievous light in his eye, that was exactly what Hua Cheng wanted.

Xie Lian glared at him. Then he swept his hand off of his shoulder and left without a word.

He knew he was only teasing- but Xie Lian was nervous about that aspect of their relationship. Hua Cheng hadn't pushed for anything yet, but would he be ready when he did? If he did?

He shook his head. It didn't matter. As punishment, Xie Lian would chop enough wood to burn the whole week through. He didn't need Hua Cheng's bed, or his warmth. He was a self-sufficient man who could take care of himself.

That night, all Hua Cheng had to do was smile for his determination to crumble. Xie Lian followed him back to his room.

Chapter Text

Having Hua Cheng back was like the rush of spring returning early.

Xie Lian had a million things to tell him: little stories from his time asleep, how Ruoye was coming along, how he'd fixed up the stables so he didn't need to use his umbrella inside during the daytime anymore. In his excitement, he'd bombarded Hua Cheng within the first few days.

He felt a little guilty for it, now. But Hua Cheng had seemed happy to listen. When they were cooking, when they cleaned up the gardens, as he took Ruoye on her first ride around the pasture. Part of the reason that he couldn't stop his slew of words was because Hua Cheng never looked bored or irritated; whenever he glanced his way to check, he was always listening with rapt attention.

Having the weight of his undivided focus was addicting. Xie Lian especially liked it during their new bedtime routine.

It always started with cuddling- and sometimes they'd read together, or look through the butterflies, or just talk.

At some point, it would turn to kissing.

And then nothing. Hua Cheng would leave a lingering kiss against his forehead before whispering Goodnight, and then Xie Lian had to lay in his arms with a still-quickened heartbeat until his body calmed.

Which wasn't easy. Especially since the person who'd caused his reaction was wrapped around him and often breathing against his skin.

In the back of his mind, he had thought their bedsharing would lead to something more. He'd worried he came off as too easy at first- he'd been so quick to agree, after all. And then as the nights passed uneventfully, he thought there was something about himself causing Hua Cheng to avoid it. Did he seem too innocent? Was there something gross about him?

He didn't know- but Hua Cheng also continued to tease him, which made his mind swirl as he tried to comprehend what he could possibly be thinking.

Whatever it was, Xie Lian hadn't worked up the courage to ask, yet. So he climbed into the bed like normal, dressed in his underclothes: a white shirt and trousers. Hua Cheng had offered him a few soft robes, but... he couldn't deny that he liked the feeling of his hands running under his shirt while they kissed. He'd blushed as he shook his head.

A moment later, Hua Cheng slid into the bed beside him, his red sleeping robe matching the sheets.

Their hands met under the blankets and Xie Lian instinctively crawled to his side, his legs pressing against his. Hua Cheng wrapped his arm around his shoulders and pulled him closer, nestling him against his chest.

With a sigh, Xie Lian relaxed into his warmth.

Hua Cheng reached for a book they'd both been reading to each other, back and forth: a fantasy novel written by a vampire. The main characters were vampires, too, which Xie Lian found incredibly intriguing- it gave him a glimpse into the smaller details of their lives that he hadn't thought of before.

It hadn't been long since Hua Cheng's low voice first rung through the air that Xie Lian's eyes started to drift closed.

Hua Cheng pressed a kiss to his hairline. Then he asked, "Tired, gege?"

Xie Lian shook his head. "Just... content," he said, a little surprised by the truth of it.

The corners of Hua Cheng's lips lifted as he put the book to the side. He caressed the narrowed edge of Xie Lian's jaw before prompting him to tilt his head up, his thumb stroking his chin. Then he kissed his brow and slowly trailed down his face, across his eyelid and the contour of his laugh lines, his lips as gentle as the soft flutter of a butterfly wing.

Xie Lian was smiling by the time his lips pressed against his. "San Lang," he whispered in between kisses, "I thought we were going to finish our book."

He hummed. "I can tell you how it ends," he offered.

"That's not the same," he laughed, but he was already pushing himself fully onto his chest and winding his hands into his wild hair. He slotted one of his legs between Hua Cheng's as he leaned down to trail kisses over his jaw bone.

Hua Cheng tried to move to meet his mouth, but Xie Lian pressed his head back against the pillows.

"Gege," he breathed out, sounding almost scandalized.

"Don't start," he murmured, humor softening his tone. He kissed down his neck. "You teased me so much today. You don't get to complain."

"Oh? How did I tease you?"

Xie Lian let out an exasperated puff against his pulse point. "You were touching me."

"We were sparring. Does that not involve touching?" he said.

Xie Lian knew he wasn't so dense- those touches had never been so intentional. Lingering on the inside of his thigh, his chest... To punish him, he did something that had been lingering in the back of his mind for a few nights: he dragged his teeth down his throat and nipped.

Hua Cheng went stock still beneath him.

He rose to his hands and knees, dull panic spiraling at the edges of his mind. Had he gone too far? He couldn't parse Hua Cheng's expression immediately- his eye was blown open, but there was little indication of what he could be thinking.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, drawing back further. "I wasn't-"

Hua Cheng grabbed fistfuls of his shirt and yanked him back down.

Their lips met in a searing kiss. Heat surged Xie Lian's face and his stomach flipped at the passion behind it.

"Do you know," Hua Cheng growled against him, "What you do to me?"

Even if he'd had a response, there wasn't room for words. Their lips slid together with bruising pressure.

And Xie Lian's body was reacting.

The tone of Hua Cheng's voice had skated over his skin, awakening a hunger inside of him that had been foreign and unknown to him for so long. Now it grew stronger with every touch, every kiss; it came faster with every passing night, as if his hunger was water carving out a deep groove within his soul.

He hoped it was. He wanted to be marked in a way that couldn't be undone, to carry Hua Cheng with him forever.

As his desire built, Xie Lian tilted his hips away from him. He'd grown hard during other past make out sessions, but he'd always managed to hide it from Hua Cheng. Despite his growing understanding of what he wanted, he couldn't escape the shame that clouded his actions.

Even now, his skin prickled with anxiety, like he'd turn to see someone standing at the foot of the bed, watching them, watching him. His primary reoccurring nightmare involved his teacher bursting into the room while he and Hua Cheng kissed.

He wanted it to end. The guilt, the shame; he wanted to be washed free of it.

Xie Lian sucked Hua Cheng's lower lip into his mouth and scraped it with his teeth. The stuttered sound it pulled from him reverberated between their bodies, caught in the sharp, panted breaths.

Hua Cheng lifted his shirt to run his hands over his chest, his nails skimming sharply over his nipples. Xie Lian gasped, his body shivering, and it gave Hua Cheng the opening to slide his tongue into his mouth.

Despite the heat of the kiss, he remained gentle, sweeping across the tip of Xie Lian's tongue before receding back. He was good at this, too, and gave Xie Lian the space to reciprocate in his own eager way.

He swiped his tongue against his lip, and then Hua Cheng stroked the flat of it with his. A groan escaped his chest, all wordless want, and their breaths quickened as the kisses turned desperate.

Xie Lian was desperate. As their tongues slid together, he thought, Tonight. I can do it tonight.

In the midst of it, Xie Lian accidentally strayed across the tip of a fang. He flinched as a copper tang welled in his mouth.

With a moan that made his thoughts combust, Hua Cheng surged forward and sucked his tongue into his mouth.

An inferno burst through his veins; his mind went numb with the force of it, his body alighting with scorching heat. He was so hard it hurt.

And then Hua Cheng lifted his leg a little too high. His thigh pressed against Xie Lian's groin.

All at once, his confidence fled. Shame boiled his guts as he ripped himself back, his face going scarlet. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry-" he muttered out, his hand shooting up to cover his mouth. It hadn't just been a graze, it had been a full press. There was no way Hua Cheng would've missed his reaction.

Was it normal to get that hard while they were only kissing? He didn't know. The fact that Hua Cheng suddenly knew how he was feeling was like being doused in ice water- his body felt disjointed, like it didn't belong to him, or worse, that it had betrayed him.

Head swimming with embarrassment, Xie Lian crawled off of Hua Cheng and turned away from him on the bed, his knees coming up as he curled in on himself. "I'm sorry, it'll go away-" he choked out. He went back to the comfort of his sutras, but they jumbled together unhelpfully in his mind.

For a moment, there was only silence. Then Hua Cheng moved closer to him with a rustle against the sheets. "Gege," he murmured, his soft voice coming from close behind, "What's wrong?"

"I-" Xie Lian's voice caught in his throat. He didn't know how to explain it without feeling like he'd pass out from the indignity. Besides- he wanted to be fine.

Nails stroked his mussed hair back from his face, tucking it behind his ear. Xie Lian couldn't stop the shiver that wracked through his body, his nerves still alight with his every touch. "I'm sorry," he murmured again on instinct, his eyes shut tight.

Hua Cheng hushed him. "Do we need to stop?" he whispered. "You don't have to apologize for that."

His breathing slowly settled, but his heartbeat remained lighting-quick. "I- I don't know," he weakly stuttered out. He was torn between wanting more and wanting to evaporate into the air.

He was met with another silence as Hua Cheng seemed to carefully consider his words. "...Is this about your cultivation? Or is it something else?" he asked, his tone curling darkly around something else.

Oh. He thought-

The grim suspicion surprised him; it drew him out of his mortified bubble. He slowly turned back to face him. "No," he muttered. "It's not like that."

Xie Lian's eyes darted from his face to the rest of the room. He couldn't hold his somber gaze.

Hua Cheng studied him, quiet. Then he repeated, "Is it about your cultivation? I would never expect anything of you that you couldn't give."

In his weakest impulse, Xie Lian thought of lying. It would be so easy. And if he gave up on overcoming his shame, which seemed hardwired into his body at this point, then they could sweep this under the rug and never talk about it again.

But Hua Cheng deserved better than that.

He slowly shook his head. "Those types of cultivation methods are outdated- I don't know anyone that still follows that path. So it's not required of me, but my family has always been traditional. They taught me to avoid these... desires."

His words lingered in the air as he struggled to convey more than that- the complexities of it- but his understanding of his reactions were choked and half-shoved down, much like the way he'd ignored his desires for his whole life.

"It was never a problem before," he said. Then, in an embarrassed whisper, he added, "I just hadn't met anyone like you." His cheeks stained red.

Hua Cheng's eye darted minutely back and forth, his gaze raking over his face. Carefully, he reached out and brushed Xie Lian's cheek with his palm, his thumb sliding over his cheekbone.

The familiar touch was a comfort. Xie Lian turned his head into his hand and pressed his lips to the inside of his wrist. He murmured, "I'm sorry I panicked. I don't even know why- I thought..." his face lit with even more heat. "I thought I was ready."

Hua Cheng's expression broke open, his cautiousness subsumed by fondness and a hint of sadness. "It's okay if you're not," he murmured, sliding closer to him. Their legs twined together and his arm curled around Xie Lian's waist, pulling him flush against his chest.

Xie Lian pressed his face into the slit of his robe, his skin warm and scent enveloping his senses. "I wanted to be ready," he murmured into his sternum.

Hua Cheng threaded his fingers through his hair. "Do you know what you thought you were ready for?"

His eyebrows furrowed as he looked up at him. "I'm not a child."

Hua Cheng huffed a snort of laughter. His hand curled beneath Xie Lian's jaw, forcing him to hold his gaze. "Then tell me what you imagined," he said.

Xie Lian's lips parted. No sound came out.

A knowing look passed through his eye.

"I'm not- no," he stuttered out. "We were..." he couldn't answer the question. Of course he knew how a man and a woman did it, but two men? The image blurred and stuck funny in his mind. He'd just assumed that Hua Cheng would take the lead and guide him, much like how he'd learned to kiss.

But he didn't want to admit defeat and say he didn't know, so he muttered, "We'd take our clothes off."

There was a beat.

Hua Cheng roared with laughter.

Xie Lian rose to his hands beside him, watching as he rolled onto his back with a pained expression. "San Lang," he groaned.

Hua Cheng's chest heaved with peals of deep laughter. Then he gasped, "You are my favorite thing in this world."

The comment brought his mind to a screeching halt. Wordlessly, he settled back beside him and waited for the end of his laughter.

When he was done, Hua Cheng wiped away tears that had collected over his eyelashes. Xie Lian stewed as he clung to his arm, his eyebrows furrowed.

Hua Cheng looked at him with a crooked smile. "What if I told you what I thought of doing?"

Xie Lian studied him, but he didn't see any trace of laughter, now. He nodded his head.

Wrapping his arm back around his shoulders, Hua Cheng pulled him against his chest and bent his head to whisper in his ear.

His lips grazed the shell of his ear every so often and his breath fanned his neck. Those sensations coupled with the things Hua Cheng spoke of, his tone low and smooth, caused Xie Lian's skin to erupt in goosebumps. He shivered as Hua Cheng's other hand touched him where he said he'd touch him, where he'd kiss him.

Xie Lian listened with rapt attention, his breath stuttering in and out of his chest.

"That's what I'd do, until you asked me to stop," he whispered finally, and pressed a kiss to his forehead.

Then he said, "Goodnight."

Xie Lian gaped at him, his fingers twisting in his robes so he couldn't turn away. "You can't just-!"

"You weren't ready tonight," Hua Cheng said, humor lacing his tone. "And you don't have to be. Take some time to sleep on it."

"I- I know I panicked a little, but still-"

"Maybe I want gege to think about what he'd do to me, too," Hua Cheng murmured.

Xie Lian fell silent. He knew a little of what Hua Cheng liked, but it was true that he wasn't thinking about how he'd reciprocate when he'd been explaining, either.

With a heavy sigh, Xie Lian whispered, "Goodnight, San Lang."

Hua Cheng pressed a kiss to his temple. His weight settled fully into the mattress as he relaxed, his breath slowing.

Xie Lian knew he wouldn't be falling asleep easily tonight. No- his mind would be too busy picturing everything Hua Cheng had told him. He turned over so that his back pressed against Hua Cheng's chest.

An arm wound around his waist, holding him close. Hua Cheng found his hand and threaded their fingers together. He squeezed it once, then stilled again.

They fell asleep like that, holding hands.

💀

The next day, Xie Lian convinced him to go ice fishing.

They walked out over the frozen lake with their supplies in hand after sunset. The glittering reflection of the stars on the surface was broken by the butterflies swirling around them, wandering to and fro as silvery spots of light.

"Does this look like a good spot, San Lang?" Xie Lian asked, stopping only part of the way in. The lake was vast and stretched on for another mile at least. He didn't want to find out how thin the middle might be.

"Not bad," he said, dropping the rods and the wooden boxes they'd brought to sit on. For some reason, he'd looked a little tired while carrying them. Xie Lian had tried to take them from his hands, but Hua Cheng had insisted on carrying everything and drove him back with kisses.

With a snap of his fingers, the butterflies descended to carve out a hole in the ice with their wings.

Xie Lian smiled as he leaned over their carving. Little flecks of ice flew into the air, hitting his cheeks in fleeting touches of cold. "Thank you! You all are doing so wonderful!" he told them.

The moment the butterflies were done, they flew up and swarmed Xie Lian. He laughed as their feet tickled his face.

A huff sounded nearby, and then an arm wrapped around his shoulders. "You spoil them too much," Hua Cheng muttered, but then he was the one pressing soft kisses to his face.

Xie Lian caught his lips. "They deserve it," he murmured against him. "And so do you."

He could feel Hua Cheng's smile in their next kiss.

They parted and he turned to set up the rods with the worms he'd dug from the garden.

By the time he was done, Hua Cheng had sat on one of the boxes and was looking down into the dark water below.

"Have you ever tried fishing here?" Xie Lian asked, stepping around him to sit on his own box. However, just as he passed him, his arms shot up and he took hold of his waist.

"Never," Hua Cheng said. Then he guided Xie Lian to sit down on his lap.

A vibrant blush rose to Xie Lian's face. "San Lang," he stuttered out, his body sitting stiffly over Hua Cheng's.

"Relax, gege. I just want you to be warm," he laughed into his ear, the brightness of his tone feigning innocence. The effect was lessened when he kissed the side of his neck.

Sure, he thought. But he couldn't deny that it was much warmer in his arms. He let himself meld to the line of his body. Hua Cheng wore a red cloak that evening, the inside lined with brown fur. He wrapped it around Xie Lian and rested his chin on his shoulder.

So, it definitely wasn't something to complain over.

Xie Lian cast the line into the water. The wind picked up, scraping frost against the icy lake with a rough susurrus of sound. The birds were asleep and the crickets had all died out, causing a hollow silence to linger like thick fog.

Above them, the moon was a narrow hook in the sky, sharp and curled as a scimitar.

Xie Lian swallowed and the click of his throat echoed in the empty air. Then he murmured, "San Lang... Can I ask you something?"

The arms around his middle tightened. "Anything, gege."

"You don't have to answer," he said.

"I'll always answer your questions." Hua Cheng kissed the shell of his ear. "It's one of my favorite things."

Xie Lian shook the bait in the water, stalling. Then he finally whispered, "Can you drink blood from a worm?"

Hua Cheng groaned loudly, sounding absolutely disgusted.

He couldn't hold back the laughter trapped in his chest. It trickled between his words as he explained, "Well, they have hearts, right? They'd only need those to pump blood-"

"Gege, let me ask you something. Do you regularly eat worms?"

"No," he laughed. "But are they so appalling to you? What about bugs?"

"What about bugs? How long have you been thinking about these things?"

He made a noncommittal hum in the back of his throat. "I don't know. I wonder a lot of things about you..." his smile faded as a seriousness entered his tone. "I want to know your everything, even if it's selfish of me."

After a beat of silence, Hua Cheng murmured, "Were you going to ask me something else just now, gege?"

He was, but he'd chickened out. Hua Cheng divulged so little of himself that asking about his past felt akin to trespassing.

"Mn," he hummed. Quietly he admitted, "You've been alive for so long and I know so little of it. Sometimes I'm jealous that I can't know you firsthand like others must know you."

Hua Cheng's smile was evident against his skin. However, his voice was melancholy as he whispered, "Very little of my life has been spent outside of the palace, now. I'm afraid there's not much to tell."

"Of course there's things to tell," he argued. "Where you were born, how you grew up- how you became the lord of Ghost City. I'm interested in it all. But..." Xie Lian's hands tightened on the fishing rod as he looked over the water lapping the ice. "I don't want to push you into anything. If you really don't want to talk about it, then you can forget I asked."

Warm breath fanned over his shoulder as Hua Cheng let out a heavy exhale. His hands rose to cover Xie Lian's, his fingers slowly falling in between the crooks of his as they both held the rod. Then he lowly murmured, "When I was a boy, I must've been beaten at least twice a day."

Xie Lian froze in his lap, utterly stunned, but Hua Cheng continued in a hazy voice, "When my father woke and he saw me, he'd beat me. And when he came home from the fields, he'd beat me again. I thought it was just a normal thing until I joined the army; then I met boys who were truly loved by their fathers. I'd never felt so stupid."

"...San Lang," he murmured, turning his face to him. But Hua Cheng hid in the crook of his neck.

"You don't have to say anything," he whispered. "I know it's ugly, but it was all so long ago. Even if I saw my father again today, I don't think I could recognize him. The only thing I remember is his hands- how dirt stuck to his callouses and nails. And that could be anyone."

His breath stuttered in the silence. Behind his shoulder blades, he could feel Hua Cheng's heartbeat; a slow and steady thing, as steadfast as the ground beneath his feet. He swallowed and asked, "Did you join the army to get away from him?"

"Mn," he hummed. Then he laughed and said, "I lied about my age."

A low puff of air left his chest, almost laughter.

"I was stationed in the north," he continued. "And gege, when I said it was all so long ago... I meant I can barely remember it. Like it was a story I was told while falling asleep. I can't remember how long I was there for, or how old I actually was. I can't remember the faces or names of anyone there. I just know I was a soldier, until..."

Xie Lian filled the silence for him. "The ghost fires said you turned into a vampire on your own... That wasn't true, was it?"

He shook his head gently, a piece of his hair falling over Xie Lian's collarbone. "No," he whispered.

Then, "I think it was snowing. It was cold, like tonight. And I was dying."

He let go of his hands and wrapped his arms around Xie Lian's middle again; he'd never been held so tightly. Hua Cheng's words poured out like something had cracked inside of him, his voice warbling every now and then with a breathless gasp for air. "There'd been a skirmish during the day- a group trying to scale the wall. We managed to hold them back, but at some point, I fell over."

"I laid still, so they'd think I was dead. But the pain was so bad that I passed out. When I woke again, it was night. And he was standing there, white as the moon." His fingers tightened in his robe. "He asked me if I was hungry, and even though I was confused, I said yes."

When Xie Lian turned his head this time to look at him, Hua Cheng didn't hide. His red eye met his gaze.

The same color as Qi Rong's.

"San Lang," he whispered, breathless. "Who...?"

"Bai Wuxiang."

Now, the name coupled with memories that made his veins turn to ice.

Hua Cheng looked away from him, his eyebrows softly arched and giving his face a somber expression. "I could never forget the pain. You feel your body die around you, and yet your heart starts again, feverish and too quick to breathe. And it goes on endlessly, until you think you might kill yourself just to be free of it."

It was too much. The water splashed violently as Xie Lian pulled up the line and tossed the rod to the ice. Then he turned in his lap and stroked his fingers through the sides of his hair, cupping his face and turning his head back to him. "Oh, San Lang," he murmured, his thumbs stroking his cheeks.

Hua Cheng closed his eye and leaned into his hands. "It's past," he whispered. "And the rest is such a blur. I think I followed him for a time... I needed to learn how to survive. But we argued and fought, so I set out on my own. And you mostly know the rest. As well as I can tell it, anyway."

He didn't know what to say; there was nothing in the world that could take away what had been done to him.

Xie Lian kissed his face: the spot between his brows, his nose, over his eyepatch. Hua Cheng shuddered against him and breathed out, "I never wanted to be like him, and yet... the way I treated you when you came to the palace. I was turning into him. I'm sorry."

"Shh," he hushed him. "It's past," he echoed. "It's forgiven."

Hua Cheng's hands raked up his back, his nails pulling against the fabric of his outer robe. He pressed his mouth to Xie Lian's in a desperate rush, but then he pulled back just as quickly, his eye wide as he studied his reaction.

Xie Lian traced his lips with his thumb. "What are you scared of?" he asked.

"I'm nothing," he whispered. "I'm worth nothing. When you see that, you'll want to leave."

Xie Lian shook his head. "You're my San Lang," he murmured. "You're everything to me. So where would I want to go, if its not by your side?"

The next kiss they shared was bruising. He curled his fingers into his hair, wanting him impossibly close. To know only his heat and scent.

They stumbled into the palace, unable to keep their hands off of each other. It was a miracle they made it to the bedroom at all, with how many times Hua Cheng shoved him against the walls.

Xie Lian gasped for breath as he fell back on the bed. The red silk swayed as Hua Cheng followed close behind, straddling him as he crawled onto the mattress.

He paused as he touched the ties to his robe. "Are you sure?" he murmured against his mouth.

Xie Lian kissed him. "Yes," he whispered, reverent. It continued to fall from his lips as Hua Cheng's hands roamed his skin, as his body built with waves of pleasure he didn't know could exist.

When he entered him, Xie Lian's rough gasp echoed through the room.

Hua Cheng kissed down his neck. "You're doing so good," he whispered, his movements slow. "Won't you take me? Just like you were meant to."

"Yes," he moaned, his heartbeat thundering in his chest.

"Yes."

💀

Xie Lian licked the sauce from his lips, his skin tingling from the spice. Hua Cheng's gaze followed the movement.

He laughed at him and pulled the red sleeping robe tighter across his chest. "Haven't you done enough to me?" he asked.

Hua Cheng leaned closer, his muscles rippling with the movement. "That was just the beginning, gege," he murmured, and then he dropped his head to press slow kisses over his exposed shoulder.

Despite the foreign ache deep within his body, Xie Lian's nerves lit with fire as he pulled the robe down his arm.

He shook him off. "Let me eat in peace," he muttered, his face searing with heat.

Hua Cheng made a wounded noise and fell back against the pillows. "So I've put out, and now you want nothing to do with me?" he moaned. "I never expected you to be so heartless."

Xie Lian snorted and swallowed the last bite of his breakfast- which had lovingly been made by Hua Cheng and brought to him in bed, who'd then decided to strip off his scant clothes again and act like he was being scorned.

He placed the bowl on the nightstand beside the bed and rolled over to this ridiculous man. "You are merciless," he said tersely, his hands pressing flat over his chest. "And cruel. And rough. And I am sore."

"So you liked it?"

Xie Lian pinched his nipple, making him squirm against the sheets.

"Fine, fine," he whined, batting his hand off. "I'll heal you. Come here-"

He flinched away from his hands.

Hua Cheng paused, and then one side of his lips began to tilt up. "So you did like it," he murmured.

Embarrassed, Xie Lian ducked his face into his chest. "I just need a little time to recuperate," he grumbled. Then in a softer tone, he whispered against his sternum, "But if you're good to me, I'll..."

He didn't finish his sentence. Instead, he reached below the sheets and placed his hand over him.

Hua Cheng gasped. "Gege," he whispered, his thighs twitching.

Xie Lian hummed and pressed a kiss above his heart. He continued to move his hand in slow movements, uncoordinated but eager to see Hua Cheng as he did last night, with his cheeks flushed and his lips parted around low, silky moans.

His hair tugged as Hua Cheng wrapped his fingers through the back of it and fisted, forcibly drawing his face up to kiss. Xie Lian laughed into his mouth, his chest swelling with the heady feeling of being so wanted.

Sharp nails pulled the sleeping robe down his back. "Gege," he murmured again, breath punched out, "You should be careful, promising such things."

"Oh?" he exhaled, the heat from their breaths trapped between their faces. "Why's that?"

"I'll just want more," he said, his hand running down and strongly squeezing his ass. "I might devour you- throw you down on the bed and fuck you until you cry. Don't you want to learn a few more positions?"

Xie Lian shivered, his body alighting with goosebumps. He should stop this if he still wanted to be able to walk today, but gods above, he'd never felt such heat and pleasure coiling through his stomach before.

And really- what did it matter if he could walk or not? Hua Cheng would take care of him. He always did.

"San Lang," his whispered, sweet and broken, and then their next kiss was a searing press of lips and teeth.

Just as Xie Lian was about to say, Yes, I want you- Hua Cheng froze.

His body went still beneath him, his hands letting go but hovering over his skin. Xie Lian met his gaze and found that the corners of his eye had tensed.

"San Lang?" he whispered again, slightly pulling away from him.

Hua Cheng blinked, and then he looked to him with despondent expression. "Believe me, gege. I don't want to stop," he sighed. "But you should see this."

Xie Lian cocked his head, confused. Hua Cheng gathered him in his arms and guided him to lay on his chest. With one hand, he beckoned a butterfly from his vambrace on the floor. It rose over the bed and came to rest on his forehead.

His vision shifted. A low-lit room appeared in his mind, the walls fuzzy with a dull, glimmering light. He realized it was pure magic- a barrier of floating characters creeped over every outer surface.

In the middle of the room was a long table. His father sat at the head of it- the shocking flash of his face ruptured the peace that had settled over Xie Lian and his nerves flared with anxiety. "What?" he whispered, then looked over the faces at the table, all seven of them. He knew them.

They were the heads of the four major hunter families of China and their close attendants.

There was Pei Xiu, often referred to as Junior Pei, due to his resemblance in character to an old ancestor. Lang Ying sat next to him, accompanied by his son, Lang Qianqiu, who was only sightly younger than Xie Lian. The head of Huang family sat across from him. And then alone, the only one without an attendant, was the young head of the Quan family, Quan Yizhen.

"San Lang," Xie Lian whispered. "How're you seeing this?"

"Cloaking spell on a butterfly," he replied, but his voice was strained. "They have a good spellcaster, though. It's difficult to hold."

His father cleared his throat and stood. "Thank you all for agreeing to meet with me today. I know you're all busy with your own schedules, but I believe we've come to the point where we can now focus on a sizable goal: killing Hua Cheng, the one also known as the Red Vampire King."

Xie Lian's breath stuttered in his throat. He'd known- of course he'd known it'd come to this. But his soul resounded with the word, No, over and over again, layering over the rhythm of his own heartbeat. No, no, no, no-

Their arms tightened over one another.

"Last summer," his father continued, "This creature took my only son, and he demanded the Jade Emperor's Ring in return. As you all know, this sealed artifact is the most powerful device owned by humans. We cannot allow it to fall into his hands."

His eyebrows furrowed and he curled his hands into fists, his knuckles knocking on the table as he leaned forward. "Nor can I forget my son."

A moment of pain clearly passed over his face, but his speech was interrupted by Quan Yizhen.

"What color are his eyes?" he said flatly. "I'm only here because I was told he may have a connection to my shixiong. Is it true?"

Shared looks of irritation flew around the table. Lang Qianqiu responded earnestly, "He only has one eye, but it's reported to be red."

This seemed to satisfy Quan Yizhen. He nodded and asked, "How do we kill him?"

"I'm getting to that," his father sighed. "I can't risk him harming my son, so we must appear to have the ring."

Lang Ying snapped, "Even having the ring on our person during the trade would-"

His father held up his hand, silencing him in one smooth motion. "We won't have the real ring, Mr. Lang. Mr. Huang is skilled in spellcasting- he is the one who sealed this room. We will unseal the ring only long enough for him to make a copy of it, and then we will reseal it before approaching the vampire's lair."

Finally, Pei Xiu spoke up. "Would it not be better to hold the trade in a more neutral location- one that we could manage to better ambush him?"

"No. The vampire sent a list of terms- he was resolute that the trade would occur in an abandoned palace north of here. It appears he's made it his residence."

"The arrogance," Lang Ying scoffed.

"Since you're providing much of the force behind our ambush, you may want to confer with a hunter employed by my family: Feng Xin," his father said, nodding to Pei Xiu in acknowledgement. "He's been to the palace multiple times, and he's the last to provide a report on the status of Xie Lian. He says he's alive and well."

"How long can we trust that will last?" Pei Xiu answered. "Would your son not fight back?"

"Of course he would," his father sharply answered. "But apparently he was acting strangely. I believe the vampire may have addled his mind, somehow." His voice twisted with sorrow.

An uncomfortable silence befell the group. Lang Qianqiu was the first to break it, his tone awkwardly gentle, "How strong do we expect this vampire to be?"

"He's a Vampire King," Lang Ying responded tersely, as if embarrassed that he had to educate his own son in front of others. "He is supposedly a master swordfighter and spellcaster; a wicked demon that brought the end of the Ming Dynasty and ushered in a broken era of foreign rulers. His only goal is to shame the country and drink it dry. He deserves nothing so peaceful as a quick death- we should capture him and burn him alive."

At this, his father nodded his head, his eyes burning. "We will get to the fine points of his death, soon. Mr. Huang, what defenses shall we need when you unseal the ring?"

The older man cleared his throat. "You said the ring was kept within a bank vault?" he confirmed. "I'll seal the building before we start, and add additional walls deeper within the bank. A few guards posted on the outside should be enough."

Pei Xiu nodded. "I'll have my men ready."

His father spread his hands over the table, his rings dragging over the wood. "We will unseal the ring during the Lantern Festival, when the bank is scheduled to be closed. The trade will occur a few days after, when we arrive at the palace."

They all nodded.

"We'll save your son, Mr. Xie," Lang Qianqiu said. "I remember how steadfast and strong he was. I'm sure he's holding out for his family."

The line of his father's throat waved as he swallowed. "Thank you, Qianqiu," he murmured. "Once he understands what is happening, perhaps he'll even try to kill Hua Cheng himself."

Xie Lian jerked upright, the butterfly falling from his face. It clumsily righted itself and then took off into the air.

He exhaled a shaky breath, the noise overtly loud in the hollow silence of the room. Distantly, he realized a chill had set over his skin- Hua Cheng's sleeping robe covered very little of him, now. He drew it back over his shoulders.

Hua Cheng watched him silently from where he laid over the pillows, his eye half-lidded. He looked exhausted.

Only one thought rung out in his head: They weren't bringing the ring.

He'd thought they'd at least have an opening if they brought it. But now it was going to be resealed without so much as a chance for Hua Cheng to touch it.

Swiftly, Xie Lian stood from the bed to pace in the room beyond the alcove. "We have to do something," he muttered. "I could send a letter? Or you could send a letter, threatening... threatening what? What would they listen to?"

"Gege," Hua Cheng murmured weakly as he sat up in the bed. "Come... come here."

He shook his head. "I need to think. There has to be a way."

Behind the sheer red silk, Hua Cheng slowly rose to his feet, using the mattress as a crutch. He walked closer to the edge, but when he stepped beyond the silk-

He fell.

Chapter Text

Xie Lian wasn't fast enough to catch him. 

Hua Cheng fell to the ground with a heartrending thump, the wind from his body tossing up the silk curtains. Then he laid there, still.

"San Lang?!" Xie Lian cried. He was by his side in the span of a single breath, hands sliding over his shoulders in useless panic.

Hua Cheng stirred with a groan, his nose brushing the floor as he turned his head and tried to sit up.

He could only do so with Xie Lian's help.

"San Lang?" he called again. With trembling hands, he swiped his hair from his pale face.

He looked absolutely exhausted. His eyelid drooped low and the tension in his face was slack, the same as when he was seconds away from falling asleep.

"Gege," he breathed out, his lips moving with enormous effort. "I'm sorry- the spell-"

His voice gave out with a low gasp, and then he took a sharp inhale of breath. He pressed his hand to his chest as his lungs heaved, as if he was beseeching his body to take in air.

Xie Lian's eyebrows crooked as he watched him, intimately familiar with that sign: of breathing in deeply, yet feeling choked for air.

But why would Hua Cheng feel like that?

Worry pushed the question from his mind. "Oh, San Lang," he whispered, brushing his fingers over his cheek. Hua Cheng met his gaze, pain simmering in the depths of his iris.

Xie Lian wrapped his arms around him and lifted him up, guiding him to sit on the edge of the bed.

He sunk into the mattress limply. Xie Lian couldn't let go of him without fearing he'd fall, so he picked him up and moved him closer to the headboard.

"Your hands- why are they so cold?" he murmured, hurriedly throwing the sheets and blankets back over him. He sat next to him and clutched his fingers, trying to press warmth into them.

Hua Cheng watched him silently. Pain lingered in his eye, but there was a new emotion there.

Nervousness.

Xie Lian paused as he met his gaze, his dread only growing as Hua Cheng's shoulders tensed up, like he was shrinking in on himself.

He couldn't believe it- no, he didn't want to believe it. But Xie Lian reached for his face all the same, his palm gently cupping his cheek. Then he pulled his bottom lip back with his thumb.

His gums were pale white.

Bloodless.

There was shock- it dimly fizzled through his nerves, and he stared at Hua Cheng silently, watching him shrink further back, watched as he pulled his face away from his hand and averted his gaze. For a brief moment, Xie Lian truly thought he felt nothing.

And then the anger came, a roaring wave of it. He tilted his head back and laughed, the sound ringing coldly through the room.

All this time, he'd never been better- never recovered from his fight with Bai Wuxiang.

He'd been faking it. 

When he spoke next, his voice carried a rough darkness to it. "So. You lied to me?" he asked, no louder than a murmur.

Hua Cheng's inhale cut the air. "Gege-"

"Don't." Xie Lian glared at him coolly. "You don't get to call me that right now."

He swallowed, his adam's apple rolling. Then he whispered, "I'm sorry. I did lie. There wasn't a solution-"

With a sharp movement, Xie Lian gestured to himself.

"No," he breathed out. "...I couldn't. And the situation after Bai Wuxiang left was worse than I understood. He didn't just attack the stable. He attacked and killed everything for miles. When I did send my butterflies out far enough to find something, the mana cost was too great. It only drained me more."

Xie Lian took a deep breath and closed his eyes. His words sunk in slowly, having to crawl past his overwhelming anger. Then he released a long sigh and locked his fingers together in his lap, clutching so hard it hurt. "How?" he whispered, his gaze locking onto Hua Cheng's pale and tired face. "How could he kill so many, so quickly? And in such a wide berth?"

"He's a Vampire King. One of the oldest, and one of the strongest spellcasters. I may be able to beat him in a swordfight, but he will always beat me when it comes to such destructive spells."

"I still don't understand," Xie Lian said sharply, rubbing his temples, "Why didn't you tell me this earlier? You only woke because I disturbed you, didn't you? Why couldn't you tell me this and feed from me, then?"

Hua Cheng's voice dripped with sorrow. "What I need would kill you," he whispered. "I could never trust myself to drink from you in this state. And I-" he reached for his hand. Xie Lian allowed him to take it, but he didn't squeeze back. "I lied because I thought I had more time to figure out a solution- for Yin Yu to go out and find some animals that we could buy and keep here. But even the village. He destroyed everything. And it didn't make sense to worry you with this-"

"I want to worry!" he retorted, voice rising. "I want to help you! If you won't drink from me, then Ruoye-"

"Ruoye is yours. I won't touch her."

"SAN LANG-" he ripped his hand from his. "Won't you do anything to save yourself?!"

"Not if it hurts you," he answered, resolute even in the midst of his exhaustion. Then he added, "And you'll need her to get back."

Xie Lian's breath stuttered in his lungs. "What do you mean, get back?"

"Take Ruoye," he whispered, "And go home."

A jagged silence fell over them.

"What?" Xie Lian blurted out. "Now? And just- you want me to leave you here to die?"

"You love your family," Hua Cheng whispered. "And you've missed them so much. I've ripped you away from them long enough-"

"You haven't-" he said, a low whine in his throat. They both knew it was a lie.

Hua Cheng shook his head and continued, "I'm sorry I never told you. But you looked so happy. And I was, too. I loved every moment with you-"

"Stop it!" he cried. He wanted to bang his fists on his chest, to go crazy, but they only landed with a small thump, no more than a gentle tap. "You sound like you're saying goodbye," he said, his breath rasping out.

With a somber look, Hua Cheng rested his hands over his fists. He whispered, "I am."

Xie Lian stared up at him, horrified. It felt like he'd taken E'Ming and ran it through his heart.

In another burst of anger, he shook his hands off and snapped up from the bed. "Well- I'm not leaving!" he yelled, raising his hands over his head. "Congratulations, the one time you tell me to leave, you're not strong enough to make me."

Hua Cheng blinked. "Gege-"

"I've heard enough from you," he muttered, sweeping out of the alcove. He let the red sleeping robe fall from his body as he walked to the dresser, and then he threw on clean underclothes and a white robe. Hua Cheng's red cloak was still on the floor from last night- he grabbed it and clasped it over his shoulders.

He drew back the red silk to see Hua Cheng again. He hadn't moved at all on the bed, but his hands tensed over the blankets when their eyes met.

Xie Lian was so angry with him. He licked his lips, hesitant to let his emotions get the best of him, but he had to say something. "I'm angry that you lied to me," he started. "But I'm even more angry with the fact that you'd tell me to leave. I can't believe that you thought I'd listen. After last night..."

His throat tightened. Like a supernova, his anger went from explosive to crushing, pulling back and strangling in his chest. "I thought you finally understood how I feel about you, last night. And to find out now that you've been starving, that you've been suffering without ever planning on telling me- it hurts. I feel used."

Xie Lian swallowed, his mouth tasting like metal. He couldn't continue talking about his own hurt anymore, not when he saw tears shining in Hua Cheng's eye. So he whispered, "I don't regret it."

It was the kindest thing he could think to say in his state. Because he didn't want to yell at him and hurt him- he just wanted him to understand.

"I don't regret you. If that's what you think I feel towards you- if that's why you think you need to send me home- I don't. I never will. I just wish you'd respected me enough to tell me everything."

He didn't wait for Hua Cheng to respond. He let the silk drop, and then he left.

It was a cold walk through the palace, and it was even worse outside. The sun had risen over the treetops, but it climbed lowly in the sky. Noon was still a ways off.

The fishing rods laid where they'd left them on the ice, but most of the bait was gone. Xie Lian gathered more worms from the garden and then hunched over on the wooden crate, waiting, watching the gleam of the fishing wire drift in the water. He'd seen the glint of scales last night, where the butterflies illuminated below the ice.

He didn't know what method Bai Wuxiang had used to kill everything surrounding them, but he was sure it didn't extend below the lake. Perhaps the ice had something to do with it?

His theory was proven correct when the rod curled downward. Xie Lian wrestled the fish to the surface, but where he expected to feel some sense of victory, there was only emptiness. He ripped the hook from its mouth and threw it in the crate beside him. Then he cast the line out again.

The quiet gave him space to think. And in between the rustle of his robes from gusts of wind, he knew:

Despite what he said earlier, he would have to leave. But he wasn't going home.

Xie Lian would go to the bank. And he'd steal the ring.

Right out from under the noses of the greatest hunter families of China.

Somehow.

Xie Lian spent hours fishing, mulling over that somehow. From spying on their meeting, he knew their defenses. He knew their guards. Maybe it was possible for him to slip past without alerting anyone.

The heat on his back reminded him of last night, of how Hua Cheng had held him, after- how warm it was to lay skin to skin. His heart ached, and while he was still angry at him, the emotion had largely lost it's sharpness. Now it was just a dull throb of pain that he cradled mulishly.

The sun passed its zenith in the sky, and Xie Lian lingered. He didn't know how much Hua Cheng would need to last until he returned, but he was determined to give him as much as he could. Especially if he was so determined not to drink from him.

Stubborn vampire.

But... Xie Lian knew it came from a place of care, and perhaps a little from insecurity.

Hua Cheng was good at hiding his hurts. Always turning his face away, always choking down the worst of his grief... Xie Lian tightened his hands over the rod, frustrated with him and feeling guilty that he hadn't noticed in equal measure. How could someone give as much as Hua Cheng, and yet refuse to take for himself?

However, Xie Lian also remembered the horror of Shi Qingxuan's death. He knew that same tragedy must haunt him- and he would've known that Xie Lian's immediate response would be to offer himself.

It didn't excuse it, but Xie Lian could begin to see why he'd lied.

When he couldn't possibly fit another fish in the crate, Xie Lian returned to the palace. His mind was scattered between what he would need to pack for the journey and how to talk to Hua Cheng, next. He didn't want to leave with an argument lingering between them.

The door to his room swung open with a small creak. Xie Lian hefted the crate higher on his shoulder as he stepped inside. A single butterfly rested in the middle of the room, perched on the low table in the lounge. The light it gave off was dimmer than usual.

He passed it with a murmured hello, and even before he reached the alcove, he heard Hua Cheng stirring inside. Xie Lian parted the curtain.

He struggled to sit up on his own, his face contorted in a grimace.

"Wait," Xie Lian breathed out. He dropped the crate at the foot of the bed and lurched forward to help him. Hua Cheng accepted his help begrudgingly, his cold fingers wrapping around his hands to stabilize himself.

When he rested back against the headboard, an awkward silence fell between them. Xie Lian reached back to grab the crate and sat it next to him on the bed.

Hua Cheng's eye hardened on them, but he reached forward and took one with a shaking hand, anyway.

"Thank you," he murmured. He bit into its side.

He drank from each fish quickly, his nose wrinkled with poorly-concealed disgust. Xie Lian almost wanted to pull them away, to tell him not to torture himself anymore- but if Hua Cheng wouldn't drink from him, then this was the only solution he had.

Finally, the last fish landed in the crate with a wet slap.

A trail of water glistened on his chin. Xie Lian reached forward to wipe it away, but Hua Cheng was faster, ducking his head and smearing the back of his hand over his face.

His gaze was pinned to the bed as he whispered, "You know..."

"I know," Xie Lian murmured. "It's nowhere near enough."

He nodded.

"But I need you to stay alive until I get back."

His red eye widened, and then Hua Cheng lifted his gaze to study his face. The pupil slowly shrank. "I never wanted to ask that of you," he whispered, dread filling his tone. "This kind of thing- if people find out, you can't take it back. Your family-"

"My family was going to learn about us sooner or later," he said, tapping his thumbs together over his lap.

Hua Cheng stared at him in shocked silence. His jaw twitched, and then he whispered, "I'm sorry that I lied to you. That I said I was better. I was so scared of the decision you'd face, of what you'd have to do. And I'm sorry I tried to take that choice away from you, by telling you to leave. I just never believed that you'd want..." he swallowed. "Gege, please understand- if you so wished, I'd bow my head and let you cut it off, to take it with you when you go back. So you could say you freed yourself."

"I'd never! San Lang-"

"I know, gege," he whispered. "I know."

Xie Lian closed his mouth, his teeth clicking. Then he reached forward to take his hands; his cool, slender fingers fit in his palms with such a familiar shape that his heart leapt with it. "You asked me what I wanted, a while ago..." he murmured.

Hua Cheng hummed.

"I didn't know back then- it really never occurred to me that I could do anything other than take over for my father in the household. But recently... I've wondered what it would be like to just travel. Maybe hunt. Maybe not."

Shyly, he ducked his head and looked at their entwined hands, his thumbs tracing Hua Cheng's fingers. "I'm sorry I haven't been very clear with what I thought of the future. But every time I picture it... I'm by your side. When I said there was nowhere I'd like to go, if you're not there... that's what I meant, San Lang."

His gaze flicked from their hands to his shocked face. "If- if that's what you'd want, too," he hurriedly tacked on.

"Gege, I'd follow you anywhere," he replied, voice punched out. "I'd join a monastery. I'd join a church. I'd-"

"San Lang, I don't think you're technically allowed in any of those places," he laughed.

"I don't care," he said, pulling Xie Lian into his arms. "I'd trespass heaven."

He fell into him easily and settled on top of his chest. "Luckily, I'm right here," he said. 

Fingers threaded through his hair, scraping his scalp and following the curve of his neck. "Mn," Hua Cheng hummed.

Knowing that this would be the last night he had with him before his journey, Xie Lian was determined to make the most of it. He traced his fingertips over Hua Cheng's collarbones and whispered, "...San Lang? How would you feel about taking a bath together?"

His hands slipped beneath his cloak and ran over his back. "That sounds lovely, gege," he murmured.

Xie Lian tilted his face up to meet his gaze. Their eyes locked, but even after proposing a bath, he didn't move to get up. He studied his face, his emotions warring in his chest. Yes, he still felt a little angry with him- but strangely enough, there was longing, too.

"San Lang..." he murmured. "Can I kiss you?"

"Gege-" he said, and then he let out a puff of laughter. "I just drank from raw fish. You don't want-"

Xie Lian rose to his hands and knees, leaning closer to him. "Oh, I don't care about that."

"It's gross," he protested, placing his hand over Xie Lian's mouth.

"It's not," he mumbled into his palm. "It's like sushi."

"Sushi?" he echoed, his eyebrows furrowing. "What's sushi?"

Xie Lian leaned back onto his knees, Hua Cheng's hand falling away from his face. "It's raw fish," he answered. "They eat it a lot in Japan."

He blinked. "How do you know?"

"I've been there," he said, shrugging his shoulders. "My family sent me there to study when I was younger. And I've been there to hunt a few times."

Shock plastered his face. "Since when did they allow foreigners again?"

"I don't know. Forever ago, you old man."

Hua Cheng's surprised expression wiped from his face and he clicked his tongue. "Don't call me old," he muttered, pushing him off.

Xie Lian laughed as he fell back, and then he slipped off of the bed, retreating. He grabbed Hua Cheng's sleeping robe from the floor and brought it to him. "Fine, fine. You're young and spry and full of vitality. Need help standing?" he asked with a mocking lilt.

Hua Cheng sighed and looked up from where he sat on the edge of the bed, clearly contemplating the same question. "Were you always this cruel, or is this my influence?"

"Definitely your fault," he said, a grin stretched across his face. He took his hands in his and helped him stand, and once he found his balance, he held out the robe for him.

Slowly, Hua Cheng slipped his arms into the sleeves. He tied the front of the robe while Xie Lian pulled his hair out from underneath the collar.

He threaded his fingers through the length of it as he smoothed it against his back, admiring the length. With how tired he was, he suspected Hua Cheng wouldn't fight him at all if he asked to clean it for him. Xie Lian stepped out from behind him and took his wrist in his hand, already walking forward as he asked, "Ready?"

His balance tilted as Hua Cheng didn't budge. "San Lang?" he murmured, looking back.

A fond look stretched across his face; the hint of a fang peeked beneath the edge of his crooked smile. "So eager?" he asked, bringing a flare of heat to Xie Lian's cheeks.

"Well-" he stuttered. He watched with baited breath as Hua Cheng reached forward to unclasp the cloak from his shoulders.

"I think we can leave this here, right?" he asked, a sultry heat mixing with the humor in his voice. He threw the cloak on the bed. 

Xie Lian hummed and turned back on the spot, trying to hide the flush on his face. It felt ridiculous to act like a blushing maiden now, of all times.

Hua Cheng wasn't going to let him hide. He slung his arm around his waist and pulled him closer, swaying a bit before Xie Lian stabilized him. "What are you so embarrassed about?" he whispered in his ear. "Were you picturing something indecent, just now? Should I be worried about this bath?"

"The only one picturing indecent things is you," he muttered, his eyebrows furrowing as he unlatched his arm from around his waist. Instead of dropping it, he prompted him to curl it over his shoulders, to help him balance as they walked. "Honestly," he huffed, "You can't even stand by yourself, but you're breathing in my ear like this?"

Hua Cheng nipped his earlobe, the tip of his fang gently scraping his skin. "Only because you blush so prettily."

Xie Lian covered his ear, his stomach swirling with butterflies. "This is just a bath," he grumbled. "Be good or I'll drop you in the hallway."

Hua Cheng sighed, but he behaved himself for the rest of their walk.

The butterfly from his room had followed them. It glided into the bathroom as Xie Lian shouldered past the curtain, coating the blue tiles and coiling steam with a silver tinge.

Xie Lian swallowed as he reached for the ties of Hua Cheng's robes. Helping him put it on was one thing, but taking it off reminded him of last night. It slid from his shoulders with a whisper of sound, revealing lean muscle and pale skin beneath.

Enamored with the sight, he stroked his fingertips across his chest, allowing himself a brief moment to admire him. Hua Cheng's grin sharpened. Before his mind could spin out too dangerously, Xie Lian murmured, "Sit down, San Lang."

Hua Cheng dropped onto the stool heavily, the illusion that he wasn't as tired as he seemed cracking for a moment. He looked on with a curious expression as Xie Lian grabbed the soap and a bucket. "What about you, gege?"

"I'll help you, first," he answered, sitting on another stool beside him.

"Gege-" he started to protest, but his voice gave out when Xie Lian pressed soft kisses to his shoulder.

"Let me take care of you, for once," he whispered against his skin. "Okay?"

Hua Cheng's eye widened, and then he nodded.

Before he started, Xie Lian brushed his bangs behind his ear, revealing the dark eyepatch covering his right eye. As gently as he could, he asked, "Do you want this to stay on?"

He froze. His eye moved minutely back and forth, studying Xie Lian's face. "...It's ugly," he eventually whispered.

Xie Lian cocked his head to the side, catching onto that non-answer. "It's okay if it is," he said. "If you don't want to show me, then I won't ask again. But don't you know me well enough by now? Something like that won't change how I feel about you."

Voice barely audible, he whispered, "I know." Then, averting his gaze, Hua Cheng reached for his eyepatch. He slipped his thumb beneath the strap and pulled it from his face.

The lid was sunken in, the eye beneath being completely absent. But there wasn't any visible scarring around it. Red shone in the hollow as his eyelid fluttered, matching the movements of his other eye as Hua Cheng finally looked up, gauging his reaction.

Xie Lian cupped his cheek. "Beautiful," he whispered, his thumb drawing half-circles over the delicate skin beneath. "All of my San Lang is beautiful."

Hua Cheng's cheek rounded as he pressed his face into Xie Lian's palm and closed his eyes, his eyebrows softly lifting.

His heart swelled at how cute he looked and he leaned forward to kiss him. At the last moment, however, Hua Cheng slipped his hand between their faces.

"The fish," he whispered.

Xie Lian let out an exasperated groan. "You weren't worried about that, earlier, when you were breathing down my neck-"

"I thought this was supposed to be a chaste bath."

In response, Xie Lian filled the bucket and dumped it over his head.

Hua Cheng's gasp echoed over the splashing water. "Cruel!" He intoned, but then he was laughing at Xie Lian's serious expression. "Gege-" he chuckled.

He hushed him. "Sit still, will you?" he grumbled, swiping the soap over his back.

Hua Cheng settled as he washed his back, and then he took the soap from him to wash his front as Xie Lian scrubbed shampoo through his hair. He played with it a little too long, prompting Hua Cheng to make another comment about wondering what his intentions truly were. Xie Lian dumped another bucket of water over him and dramatically banished him to soak in the pool.

This only gave Hua Cheng ample opportunity to watch him bathe, however. Xie Lian hesitated from taking his clothes off, the weight of his gaze ever-present and heavy.

"San Lang," he called, looking over his shoulder as he fumbled with the ties to his inner shirt. "Can't you just doze for a little bit?"

"And miss this?" Hua Cheng asked, his voice muffled from where he rested his chin in the crook of his arm. Only the top half of his face was visible, his eye gleaming red and predatory. His dark hair flowed over the surface of the pool behind him, making him look a bit like a water demon. "Never."

Xie Lian swallowed and let his shirt drop from his shoulders. A hungry look glittered darkly in Hua Cheng's eye, but instead of feeling frightened, it made his stomach coil with arousal.

Embarrassed by his own reaction, Xie Lian looked away and untied his trousers.

Hua Cheng remained silent as he bathed, but the weight of his gaze never left. It was still pinned to him when he turned, finished, and waded into the pool.

He held his arm out, beckoning him to rest on the ledge next to him.

Xie Lian slid right next to his side as his arm curled over his shoulders. He rested his head back on his collarbone and let out a heavy sigh.

There was a slight pressure against his temple- Hua Cheng rested his cheek on him. Smiling to himself, Xie Lian found his other hand beneath the water and squeezed it. Hua Cheng laced their fingers together and they relaxed in the warmth of the pool.

By the time his fingers pruned, Xie Lian had almost drifted off to sleep. He shifted his weight, disturbing Hua Cheng in the process.

"We should go back," he murmured.

Hua Cheng let out a low groan, his chest dipping inward with the force of his exhale.

Xie Lian huffed with silent laughter. Taking a little pity on his exhausted state, he curled his arms beneath his knees and back, and then he lifted him from the water.

Hua Cheng's arm coiled strongly around his shoulders. "Gege-" he gasped, his eyes flying open and locking onto his face.

"I've got you," he murmured, his tone soft.

The water rushed from their bodies as he stepped out of the pool. Hua Cheng's weight turned heavier in his arms, but Xie Lian easily carried him. He let him down on one of the stools and then fetched towels for them both.

Noticing that his movements were slow, Xie Lian helped dry him off. Hua Cheng tilted his head back as he dried his hair, his face relaxed and slack of any tension.

The image brought a smile to his lips. Everything had felt so serious today- he wanted to see that expression on Hua Cheng's face, more.

When they made it back to the room and changed into clean underclothes, Xie Lian grabbed a comb from the vanity and crawled onto the bed. He patted the space beside him.

"San Lang," he called. "Let me braid your hair again, before I go. You're just going to sleep, right?"

Hua Cheng didn't need any further convincing. He hummed as he sat on the space Xie Lian had pointed out, the ties of his sleeping robe already slipping- he'd tied them clumsily, too hurried to make it to the bed.

Xie Lian smiled, but he didn't fix it. He would always appreciate the extra glimpse of his skin.

It was quiet in the room. The comb barely made a noise as it raked through his wet hair; Hua Cheng melted under his ministrations, his balance swaying every now and again.

"San Lang," he whispered, "What was that song you sang to me, when I was falling asleep?"

There was the click of his throat as he swallowed. Then Hua Cheng murmured in a rasping voice, "It was nothing, gege."

"Really?" he prompted.

A tepid silence fell between them for a moment, and then he said, "My mother used to sing it to me... I don't remember what most of it means."

He hummed, stroking the comb through the ends of his hair. "Would you teach it to me, too?"

Hua Cheng let out a low exhale. "...Of course, gege," he murmured. Then his low voice lifted into the air, smooth and beautiful, carrying words that must have been carved into his soul for him to remember them without meaning. Xie Lian listened carefully, enough to catch on when he finished the song and looped to the beginning again. By the third reiteration, he'd joined in.

Xie Lian placed the comb on the bed and then braided his hair, his mouth clumsily shaping each word. But as Hua Cheng tired, his voice quieted, leaving Xie Lian to sing alone.

When he finished the song, Hua Cheng reached back and patted his knee. "Perfect," he breathed out.

Xie Lian tied off his braid with a black ribbon. "Thank you," he whispered. He wrapped his arms around his middle to pull him back, and then he pressed kisses over the side of his neck.

Hua Cheng covered his hands with his own. He turned his head to catch Xie Lian's mouth, his crooked smile evident against his lips.

"Finally," Xie Lian whispered as he broke away.

Hua Cheng laughed at him, but it was breathless punch of air from his chest. Then he crawled towards the headboard and slowly slipped beneath the blankets.

He reached for Xie Lian to follow him, and he slid in right next to his side. They faced each other, arms and legs entwined.

Hua Cheng's eyelids sagged low. "You..." he murmured, voice low and wispy with sleep, "Don't leave without waking me, tomorrow."

Xie Lian cupped his cheek. "I won't," he whispered, "I promise."

The corners of his lips twitched. Then, between one blink and the next, he fell asleep.

He must have fought with every once of willpower to stay awake for so long. Xie Lian traced the planes of his relaxed face, mapping the places he'd kissed and those he hadn't. He lingered on the latter, as if marking those spots for later.

A heady emotion swelled in his chest as he watched him sleep. The realization of its name was thundering- it reminded him of straying across an animal in the grim-dark of night, his heart hammering at a piercing alarm call or the burst of feathers in his face, panic sharp and bright and slow to peter out in the ghost of any known threat. The shock was violent and sublime; Xie Lian suddenly knew he would do anything for him, would turn his blade and betray anyone he once knew if it meant protecting him.

The word's weight laid heavy over his tongue, and it frightened him, a little.

He'd never felt a love so fierce before. 

Xie Lian closed his eyes and curled his head against his chest. My San Lang, he thought, slowly drifting into the darkness of sleep.

I love you.

💀

Hua Cheng stirred as he dressed. He could hear him shifting over the bedsheets, and then there was the telltale thunk of a foot on the floor.

He dropped the bottom frog button for his black tangzhuang and drew back the silk curtain. Hua Cheng had managed to sit up and was trying to stand, but he froze when the curtain moved.

His braid slipped over his shoulder as he relaxed. "I was worried you left already," he murmured.

Xie Lian smiled as he walked into the alcove. "I promised I wouldn't," he replied. He stopped in front of him and pushed his bangs from his face, searching for how tired he was. The skin around his eyes held a hint of blue and his eyelids drooped, giving him a defeated look. Xie Lian swallowed his worry and bent down to kiss his forehead. "Good morning," he whispered.

Hua Cheng cupped the back of his neck and drew him further down to kiss his lips. "Good morning," he echoed, his voice a little breathless.

"Do you want your eyepatch back on? Just in case Yin Yu needs to come in for something."

He made a grumbling noise in the back of his throat, but he slipped it back on after Xie Lian placed it in his hand. "That's an idea. If he comes in here, I'll bite him."

Nervous laughter caught in his chest. He didn't want that to happen, but if Hua Cheng was dying...

"I'm joking, gege. He's as worse off as me right now. I tried to tell him to leave, but he wouldn't get out of here."

"Oh," he exhaled. "Don't terrorize him while I'm gone."

"No promises," he mumbled. Then he reached forward to finish doing up the final frog button, his hands shaking slightly. When he was done, he pulled him forward by his waist and kissed his stomach.

Xie Lian tangled his fingers into his hair and scraped his nails over his scalp. The way Hua Cheng shivered beneath him and held him closer was addicting, but he couldn't stall any longer.

"I have to go," he whispered.

Hua Cheng groaned and pressed his face into his shirt. "Stay another night."

A smile slanted across his lips, but his heart panged. "Everyone will be traveling for the new year. I can't get stuck and miss the opportunity at the bank."

His chest heaved with a sigh. "Okay," he murmured, his fingers slowly unlatching from his shirt. "But I have something to give you."

He made a small noise in the back of his throat, curious.

With a strained expression, Hua Cheng leaned to the side and opened the drawer of his nightstand. It was absolutely filled to the brim: trinkets, jewelry, a leather-bound journal. But what he reached for was a slender, tapered piece of wood.

His stake.

"You..." he whispered, his eyes wide as Hua Cheng closed the drawer and centered himself before Xie Lian again. He gently guided his arm out so he could slide the stake up his sleeve.

"Bai Wuxiang will be watching," he murmured. "People are a game to him. He didn't just kill everything to starve me- he wanted to force my hand into either killing you or letting you go. He's probably curious about what I'll choose."

Hua Cheng took both of his hands. "I'm sorry for being so useless. But if he finds you, don't be too frightened, gege. You're strong. You can give him hell."

Despite his words, Xie Lian could see the fear in his eye. 

He caressed his cheek. "You'll never be useless to me, no matter what state you're in," he murmured. "You're my San Lang. I would do anything to get back to you."

That made the corners of his lips twitch upward, at least. Xie Lian ducked his head and kissed him again. It quickly turned passionate, and he pressed Hua Cheng back against the bed, his fingers sinking beneath his loosened robe and splaying across his chest.

"Gods," Hua Cheng gasped between kisses, "Stop teasing me."

Xie Lian laughed into his mouth. "You deserve it, for what you do to me."

Their kisses slowed. Hua Cheng's hands slowly rose to cup his face, his fingers sliding over his ears. Then he made a strangled noise and broke off, studying him. "You're wearing the earrings I bought you," he whispered.

Xie Lian pressed a chaste kiss to his lips. "Mn," he hummed. "And I'm stealing your cloak."

His eye creased as he smiled. "Take anything, gege."

They exchanged a few more kisses, but he could feel Hua Cheng tiring beneath him. "Come here," he whispered, pulling him back towards the pillows.

Hua Cheng suddenly latched onto his tangzhuang, his fingers tightened in a death-grip.

Xie Lian smiled and peppered his face with kisses. He pulled the blankets over him and then sat beside him on the mattress, his fingertips straying over his face. "Hey," he murmured. "You'll just go to sleep, and when you wake up, I'll be here again. Like no time passed at all."

"If I were younger, I might believe you," he muttered, cynical.

He swallowed, sharing the sentiment. There were too many ways for this plan to go wrong, too many bad actors he couldn't face at once. If he could, he'd bring Hua Cheng with him, so he could protect him in such a weakened state.

But he couldn't. He'd have to stay here, starving and solely guarded by another starving vampire.

Xie Lian furrowed his eyebrows as he kissed him again. Then he whispered, "Believe in me?"

Hua Cheng's expression softened. "I always will."

A small smile tilted his lips. He brushed his bangs from his face, and then Xie Lian started to sing.

Hua Cheng was already so tired; it didn't take him long at all to fall asleep. When his breathing deepened and he relaxed fully over the bed, Xie Lian leaned down and softly kissed his lips one last time.

He stood from the bed and gathered his things. He'd already packed while Hua Cheng was asleep- there wasn't much left to do. He belted his scabbard over his chest, and then he threw his red cloak over his shoulders and fixed the clasp. It would look a little strange in the city, but it still smelled like him. Xie Lian couldn't bring himself to leave it behind.

Finally, he threw his pack over his arm and looked back at Hua Cheng's silhouette behind the silk. With his hand curled around the cold doorknob, he paused.

"I love you," he whispered in the silent room.

Then he left.

The hallways were cold and dark as ever, but his heart grew a little wistful, knowing he was leaving them behind. Xie Lian brushed his fingers over the crumbling stone walls as he navigated the maze of them, heading for the stable.

What he didn't expect was to see was the blue glow of hundreds of ghost fires, dotting the fields in the navy-haze of the early morning.

They gave him a wide berth as he walked over the dirt path. But when he passed, some whispered, safe travels, hushed like low waves crashing at sea.

He ducked into the stable and paused, his eyes alighting on Yin Yu.

He was unmasked, his red eyes glowing in the soft dark. Yin Yu finished buckling the reins to Ruoye's cheek, and then he gently guided her down the center aisle, fully saddled.

Xie Lian's jaw twitched. He murmured, "...San Lang told you?"

He shook his head. "No. But the ghost fires saw you going to your old room for the first time in weeks... so I knew what was coming."

Slowly, he reached out and took the reins. "You know I'm coming back, right?"

Yin Yu's lips tightened. "I know you'll try," he said. "But what you're facing..."

Xie Lian reached into his pocket and pulled out a peppermint. Ruoye took it from his palm eagerly, her ears swiveling forward.

"Hunters are tight-knit," he said. "They never expect their own to betray them. I think I have more of a chance than it seems."

Yin Yu watched him, considering. Then he clasped his hands behind his back and gave him a slight bow. "I'll take care of Chengzhu for as long as I can," he said. "Safe travels, and good luck."

Xie Lian returned his bow. "Thank you, Yin Yu, for everything. Until we meet again."

They dipped their heads to each other, resolute in their respective tasks. Xie Lian led Ruoye outside and swung into the saddle.

He took a final look over the barren gardens of the palace. Snow stuck stubbornly in the shadows of the walls and in mounds around the paths. It was nothing at all like he remembered- though, neither was he.

Xie Lian spurred Ruoye forward.

He had a vampire to save.

Chapter Text

When Xie Lian arrived at the front gates of the city, he paused in the road.

It was evening- he'd made it just in time for the Lantern Festival tomorrow. Moonlight filtered over the clay-roofed guard towers and cratered shadows in the archer windows.

A strange mix of homesickness and trepidation curled in his gut, settling just beside the gnawing hunger. He swallowed and adjusted the bandages covering the lower half of his face, and then he spurred Ruoye forward.

The city was alive with celebration. Red paper decorations hung from the doors and eave corners, snaked across laundry lines and littered the ground where they'd fallen and were trampled. The roads were congested with travelers and stall vendors had set up everywhere, hawking down the alleyways and competing for the best spots.

He even passed a lion dance procession. Gold and elaborate, the performers jumped and swirled down the street, tinsel catching in the bursting light of overhead fireworks. Onlookers crowded close and passed lettuce into its mouth, cheering.

Ruoye pinned her ears back at all the noise, but she remained calm as Xie Lian guided her towards a rougher part of the city. He doubted many hunters who knew him would frequent this type of place, so it seemed the best spot to hole up in for the night.

The skyline closed in with powerlines and uneven roofs. Xie Lian snaked between hotels and inns, winding further down the roads in search of a vacant room. To his great disappointment, they were all booked up.

The tight streets and filthy alleys made his skin crawl just looking at them, but there wasn't another option. Xie Lian ducked into the shadowed narrow between a noodle restaurant and a tenant building.

He'd mainly chosen it because it was empty; that, and he was too tired to keep looking.

He slid out of the saddle awkwardly, his muscles sore and shins splinting in the cold. Then he took the bit from Ruoye's mouth and passed her a few peppermints for handling the trip so well. She eagerly nosed them from his hand, hardly looking like the mean mare that bit him at every chance she could get.

"There," he murmured. "Just another day here, and then we get to go all the way back. How does that sound?"

Ruoye snorted, perfectly encapsulating how he felt.

Xie Lian looped her reins around a pipe bolted to one of the walls so she couldn't wander, and then he tied a small string from her saddle to his pinky finger. It would wake him if someone tried to steal her while he slept.

The brick wall he curled against was crumbling and frigid. Trying his best to ignore it, he ate the meager remainder of his rations in silence: a single mantou that had grown hard and stale from being kept in his bag. Then, utterly exhausted, he tightly wrapped his cloak around himself and slumped forward, succumbing to sleep.

His wariness made him sleep lightly; the surrounding sensations trickled over him as muddy intrusions into his dreams. Hua Cheng's scent clung stubbornly to the cloak, so he dreamed that it was his embrace wrapped around him, his solid chest that he leaned against. However, when Hua Cheng dipped his head to whisper in his ear, it wasn't his voice- he spoke in the din of the alley, his low murmurs a melody of hawkers and the shrill laughter of midnight drunkards.

Like a ghost caught by sunlight, the dream vanished as he registered someone's hands slipping over his clothes.

He jolted awake and grabbed blindly in front of him. The pickpocket froze as he flicked the dagger from his sleeve and held it against his throat.

The man was grimy and covered with soot, but he didn't look very strong. Fear gleamed in his widened eyes as he held his hands up beside his head, shaking.

Xie Lian looked him over again, verifying that he hadn't taken anything. Then he let go of his shirt and said, "Get out of here," his voice slightly hoarse from sleep.

Needing no further prompting, the man scrambled out of the alleyway.

With a sigh, Xie Lian tucked the dagger back into his sleeve and leaned against the wall. Ruoye whinnied beside him, her ears pinned back.

"I know, right?" he murmured to her. "Rude."

He slept in fits and starts after that- it only felt like seconds passed between the moment he closed his eyes and when he would startle awake, next. But overhead, the small sliver of the sky gradually lightened.

Once the light pink of the sunrise tinged with blue, Xie Lian stood and stretched his aching limbs. Then he fed Ruoye, his hands moving absently as he thought over his plan. While the five families would release the ring today, they hadn't specified a time in their meeting. He would need to watch over the bank until they arrived.

Before they set out, he unsaddled Ruoye so he could give her a light brushing. "We have a lot of waiting to do today," he told her, swiping the curry comb over her neck.

She huffed.

The bank was on the other side of the city. It was a grand building, modeled after the northern temple styles and nestled between two recently-built office buildings. In celebration of the new year, red paper cut outs of dragons hung from the painted eaves.

It would look strange to loiter so close to the building, so Xie Lian had to find a different place to linger. There was a large alley down the street that gave him the best view of the doors.

Two beggars had already chosen to sit in the same place. He nodded to them as he passed, keeping Ruoye close to his side.

The larger of the two narrowed his eyes as Xie Lian sat against the wall further in. His hair was sheared short and his clothes were a dull brown, allowing for his animated face to stand out. "Look- passing through is one thing," he said, "But if you think you can set up in the same place-"

His friend nudged him with a bandaged elbow, his loose and tattered clothes hanging limply on his frame. The string for a hat was looped over his throat and it dangled behind his back. "Look at his earring, Jiu. He's not begging."

Their stares practically bored into his side.

"Just resting," Xie Lian murmured. "Sorry to intrude." He reached into his pack for coins he'd taken from the palace. They were old currency, but there were still offices that would exchange them. He flicked a few into the beggars' cups.

The tension in the alley settled as they visibly relaxed. "Well- if that's the case, I suppose it's fine," the second beggar said.

The crowds on the street thickened as morning turned to noon. Xie Lian tried to avoid eye contact with anyone and pressed himself against the wall, his gaze focused on the street in font of the bank. He was too far away to make out the details of the people that milled before it, but no one lingered yet. The families hadn't arrived.

However, hunters patrolled these streets in droves.

He caught glimpses of their black uniforms as they ambled up the street every now and then. The bandages over his face could only do so much- it wouldn't prevent anyone who knew him closely from identifying him. If Mu Qing or Feng Xin passed-

It would be over.

Xie Lian ducked further against the wall.

"Hey- kid-" the second beggar called out. "We don't care that you're here, but could you look a little less suspicious? You're gonna get us all kicked out of here."

He blinked, his eyes slowly widening as heat rose to his face. "Oh- I'm not-" he stuttered out, but his voice died in his throat. How could he explain everything?

The two beggars looked at each other, and then back at him.

The one named Jiu spoke up, next. "You duck down every time those hunters walk by- how's that not suspicious?" He paused. "And those bandages- you're not injured, are you? You're hiding."

Xie Lian let out a nervous laugh. "Well- I have a nasty scar-"

"Really?" The second beggar lifted one arm, revealing a stump where his hand should be. "We've seen it all. You can take them off."

Caught in his lie, Xie Lian only stared at them in silence. Well, I've gotten this far, he thought, and committed to telling the best story he could dream up.

"Alright, I am hiding from the hunters. I was kicked out," he said, opening his cloak to reveal his uniform. "But I left something important with one of them- a family heirloom. I can't go back home to my wife until I get it back."

His tongue had gotten away from him- his face flushed after he realized what he'd said.

But all the best lies were the ones closest to the truth, right?

They shared another look. "Okay, okay," the second beggar huffed. "We won't bother you anymore. But if you're gonna cause trouble, just make sure you go over a few streets, first. Leave us out of it." He took off the hat that rested behind his back and threw it to Xie Lian. "Use this."

It was a worn straw hat. Xie Lian caught it, his eyes wide. Then he placed it over head and pulled the brim over his eyes. "Deal," he murmured, the word making him smile. He relaxed back against the wall.

They shared an easy silence after that.

As the shadows lengthened with the mid-afternoon sun, the activity on the streets picked up. Stall vendors packed in wherever they could fit, preparing for the night's festivities. And finally, Xie Lian glimpsed hunters taking their places at the bank.

It was starting, soon.

He rose from the wall.

Jiu looked over. "Oh- you see that hunter?"

"Mn. I'll take him over a few streets to confront him. I need to leave my horse here, though. I can spare some money if you watch over her."

The second beggar shrugged. "Sure. We're not moving anytime soon- this is a prime spot for the festival. You should watch it after you get your heirloom back. They have a dragon parade through here."

Xie Lian smiled, but he knew full well that he wouldn't be able to linger after he stole the ring. "Thanks," he murmured.

He walked towards the bank.

The guards were just getting in place- two by the front doors, and two by the back door.

It was clear that the family heads hadn't arrived yet, but they must be on their way. There wasn't a better time- Xie Lian needed to break in before Huang could set up his barriers.

He lowered the brim of his hat as he walked by, recognizing the hunters guarding the front- they worked under the Xie family.

Sneaking into the back of the bank would work best, then. There were windows on the second floor he could climb up to.

The guards there leaned against the walls of the alley and chatted in low voices, but they remained wary- they stiffened as Xie Lian walked by. He needed to find a way to keep their attention from him.

He found the solution just outside of the alley. A meat stall had live geese in wicker cages- he tipped over the top stack of them as he walked by.

The cages were shoddy enough that they broke when they hit the ground. Crying out in alarm, the geese shook themselves free of the wreckage and darted off.

Xie Lian worsened the situation by loudly crying out, "Oh, I'm so sorry! I can't believe how clumsy-!" He lunged after the geese, chasing them into the alleyway.

The vendor caught his cloak and yanked him back. "Stop scaring them!" she snapped, and then she rushed forward, her arms outstretched as she bent low, slowly corralling them.

The guards took pity on her and helped block the geese from running past.

By the time they helped her return the geese to her stall, Xie Lian had already broken the lock to a window and slipped inside.

He emerged into a dim office on the second floor. Now, for the vault, he thought to himself.

There were a few hunters within the bank itself. Xie Lian took off his cloak and blended in with their patrols, avoiding those that knew him and casually slipping in beside those that didn't. Without incident, he made it down three floors and into the basement.

It was freezing. The stone hallway stretched on, evenly staggered with large, steel doors that led into the vaults.

Xie Lian's eyes glazed over the numbers as he walked: 3, 6, 8-

Vault 11.

His hands paused on the cold metal and his breath ghosted before him. As much as the guilt for what he was about to do churned his stomach-

Xie Lian didn't have time for remorse, he reminded himself. The rest of his family certainly wouldn't feel it for killing Hua Cheng, no matter what he had to say about the matter.

He entered the combination and the door unlocked with a heavy click.

Dust stirred over the floor as he passed the threshold, kicking up the smell of ancient stone. The darkness abated when Xie Lian struck a match and lit two of the sconces on the wall, and then he closed the door and locked it behind him.

Warm light licked over the cluttered room. It gleamed off of sword racks and curio cabinets, strange crystals and shelves of cursed jewelry- thanks to generations of hunters, the vault was a maze of trinkets, weaponry, and magic of all kinds.

The most powerful objects were locked into small boxes on the right wall, looking similar to an apothecary store. He knew the Jade Emperor's Ring must reside in one of them- but the Xie vault was a curious thing, layered with guarding and protection spells of all kinds. If he tried to break into those boxes without the right keys, the consequences would probably be deadly.

However, the rest of the vault yielded to him easily, recognizing his lineage. He scoured through the collection, looking for something that would help him distract five hunters long enough for him to steal the ring and escape.

Xie Lian's gaze landed on a shelf in the far corner of the room, weighed down by a stack of books listing heavily to side. His focus caught on the word talismans etched into one of the spines.

Before his time in the palace, the word wouldn't have meant much to him. He'd never been taught in anything other than exorcisms. But after all the research he did to cure his aunt's curse? That was practically a beacon in the dark.

The vault had a high ceiling, and the shelf was quite a ways up on the wall- Xie Lian reached for the nearest barrel and dragged it over to use as a stepping stool. He slapped it down on the floor with a huff. Only then he did really read the label on the top:

Warning: explosive.

He furrowed his eyebrows and tilted the barrel. It was quite heavy, but there wasn't another label. His gaze slid to the spot he'd pulled it from. Sure enough, it had been stored next to a collection of rifles and pistols. A quick sniff confirmed his suspicions: gunpowder.

Xie Lian still used the barrel to grab the book, but he was much gentler in moving it, this time.

He pulled the book from the shelf eagerly, disturbing a delicate cobweb in the process. He wiped the remnants with his sleeve and then leafed through the pages.

Relief swept over him when he found a stun talisman. It was perfect- and it could be set to affect multiple people in a contained area.

Xie Lian set the book on the floor as he wrote the necessary characters on the walls of the vault with a special ink. As soon as the symbol was completed, it would glow red, and then it faded from the eye.

While he wrote the symbols, he also stumbled across a box of night pearls. He smiled wistfully as he cast his fingers amongst them, thinking of his pearl back at the palace. Then, his fingertips brushed something larger beneath.

It was a cloaking stone.

Xie Lian had read about them before- the symbol carved into the top would activate once the user placed the stone in their mouth. They were exceptionally expensive, even more so than night pearls. He hadn't realized his family owned one. Though- looking around, he couldn't say he was surprised.

He placed it in his pocket and continued writing out the talisman markings.

In the end, Xie Lian drew eight symbols: four on the bottoms of the walls, and four towards the top, delineating the limits of the area. If he hid on the top of the ceiling beams, the stunning spell wouldn't reach him.

Anticipation buzzed beneath his skin as he wrote out the activating talisman on a yellowed piece of paper and closed the book. Then he placed it back on the shelf and tidied the artifacts he moved around in his search.

The worst part was that he still had to wait, and to make everything seem normal, he had to blow out the oil lamps and wait in the dark.

Xie Lian managed to climb up to the ceiling beams in the pitch black, having memorized where everything was before he plunged the room into darkness. To soothe his nerves, he clutched the talisman in front of him and rubbed the paper with his fingers, constantly reminding himself it was there.

The silence stretched on, broken only by his steady breathing.

It could have been thirty minutes- it could have been two hours. A low whine of screeching metal emanated from the door, and then the locking mechanism released. That was the only warning Xie Lian had before the vault opened, pouring in yellow light from outside.

He placed the cloaking stone inside his mouth, accidentally clacking it against his teeth. An earthy, slightly metallic taste coated his tongue as he watched the first man step inside.

It was his father.

Xie Lian stopped breathing. His fingers squeezed the ceiling beams, nails digging into the wood. He was right there, after all this time.

To see him in person was different from watching him through a butterfly. There was a certain weight to his presence, from the familiar cadence of his footsteps to the commanding sweep of his gaze, that just wasn't translated through the spell. He walked into the room and quickly scanned for anything amiss.

His father looked straight at him, then, as he assessed the vault. But it was a cursory glance- unseeing. The stone had done it's job.

Relief and disappointment bubbled up beside each other in equal measure, forming a swirling pit in his stomach. Xie Lian fully understood the gravity of what he was about to do: he was betraying his family, his duty, and the life he had once known.

But that life had been built on blood- the cold cruelty of slaughtering those who didn't fit inside the small box of "humanity." Were there terrifying monsters that killed humans for sport? Yes- Xie Lian had killed droves of them in return. But he'd come to learn that the world wasn't simply made of monsters and humans. He'd found a place for himself between those lines.

And if it meant saving Hua Cheng, then he would choose him, every time.

Despite his resolve, the decision still twisted like a blade in his heart. Deep down, he wanted to scream at his father, to plead with him to see his side of things.

After his last meeting with Feng Xin, Xie Lian knew not to make that mistake again. He covered his mouth with his hand, muffling the harsh exhale of his breath.

Below, his father ushered in the four heads of the other families.

Lang Ying was the next to step through the threshold, his hands clasped behind his back as he looked over the various chests and items shoved against the walls. He had an appraising look to his eye that Xie Lian didn't like- though he should hardly feel anything. Stealing the Jade Emperor's Ring was probably much worse than any thought Lang Ying held.

He was followed by Pei Xiu. The man kept a carefully blank face, much like a general who hid all his thoughts during battle. Next was Quan Yizhen, who simply looked bored. And then Huang finally stepped into the room. He turned back towards the door and with a few quick waves of his hand, a blue field of characters formed in the air and snaked across the doorway.

Xie Lian swallowed as he stared at the fuzzy barrier. If worse came to worst, he might have to kill Huang to make it out.

"It's time," his father said. "Your keys."

In one simultaneous motion, they all reached into their pockets and pulled out a matching set of skeleton keys.

There was only one box on the wall with five key slots. His father bit into his thumb and dragged a small spot of blood across the teeth of the key. Then he placed it in the first slot and turned it. He motioned for Lang Ying to do the same. One by one, they all unlocked their portion of the seal.

When the final key was turned, a booming echo rang through the room. The internal locks clicked open, a staccato wave of sound, and then the door yawned open.

A buzzing sensation washed over the room, drawing a sharp exhale from Xie Lian. He knew it was only from the aura of power that flowed from the ring- but it felt like Hua Cheng.

His heart twisted as his father pulled the ring from the box. It was a small, silver band that gleamed coldly under the yellow light, but the garnets crusted overtop were such an unearthly, vibrant red that it was difficult to take his eyes away from it.

The ring dropped into Huang's outstretched hand.

"Can you copy it?" His father asked.

Huang turned the ring over, his eyes squinting as he assessed it. "I can make an identical match," he murmured, "But I could never make it exude this much aura. The moment the vampire touches the copy, he'll likely know it's fake."

His father sighed. "It will have to do. We'll make adjustments in our plans," he said, nodding to Pei Xiu.

Huang shook a handkerchief from his sleeve and set it on a table in the middle of the room. Then he carefully placed the ring on top of it, as if he were handling a bomb.

Their attentions were scattered- Huang's on the ring, while his father, Pei Xiu, and Quan Yizhen talked about ambush strategies. Lang Ying looked like he was trying to scry what other powerful objects might be hidden away within the vault.

Xie Lian held the talisman out in front of him. There wouldn't be a better time than now.

He poured a trickle of energy into the paper.

Nothing happened.

He blinked, his breath freezing in his chest as he held his panic at bay. Maybe it just needs a little more-

The talisman sizzled, the ink briefly glowing red, and then the front of the paper flopped over.

His lungs tightened as he glanced between the failed talisman and his hidden markings. The paper was definitely spent- the characters were a dull, faded red. Only, nothing had happened.

The ring's aura. Was it really so powerful that it blocked the spell?

The talisman couldn't communicate with the markings!

Huang's skill seemed even more impressive, now- he was simultaneously making a copy of the ring and upholding his barrier, all while being choked by that aura.

Xie Lian silently folded the talisman into tiny, tiny pieces as he desperately thought of another plan. He couldn't just jump down and steal the ring- there were too many people, not to mention Huang's barrier.

He needed something else- something strong enough to stun five hunters-

As he stuck the folded talisman back into his pocket, his fingers brushed his matchbox.

Huang let out a heavy exhale and leaned his weight over the table.

His father noticed immediately, stopping mid-sentence to address him. "Mr. Huang. Is there a complication?"

The old man shook his head. "None at all," he answered, a slight breathiness to his tone. Then he moved out of the way, his arm outstretched as he waved towards the two rings that now sat on the cloth. "Will this do?"

A gleam of relief passed through his father's eyes and a knot of tension released from his shoulders. It was clear why- even Xie Lian couldn't tell the two rings apart, and he was practically overtop of them. "Well done," he said, the fragment of a smile audible in his voice. "Now, for the resealing-"

The match hissed to life in Xie Lian's hand.

His father abruptly stopped and snapped his gaze up, locking onto the sound.

But it was too late.

Xie Lian threw the burning match into the corner of the room. It glanced off the side of a rifle and nestled right into the crook of gunpowder barrels.

Every hunter tensed, reaching for their swords-

And then the room blasted white.

💀

Xie Lian gasped like he was coming up from deep water. His chest was tight with pain, his lungs heaving against the ache in his side. One of his ears was ringing- the other was simply silent, and his head pulsed with a deep, thrumming pain.

He blinked his eyes open, struggling to understand his surroundings. His vision was blurry; shapes and colors faded in and out in too-vibrant patches.

But his soul cried out deep within, screaming with the fervid instinct to move. Hua Cheng's survival depended on it.

The blast had thrown him from the ceiling beam. He lurched to the side; debris crunched beneath his body as he rolled over on the floor with a pained whimper.

His hand brushed something smooth as he struggled to stand- he blinked a few times, unable to recognize the object at first.

It was the cloaking stone.

Xie Lian curled his fingers around it and stood, staggering forward.

The room was veiled with plumes of thick, black smoke. He coughed as it scratched the back of his throat, disgustingly acrid and making his eyes water. The ring- he needed to get the ring-

Huang's body laid motionless in front of the upturned table. Xie Lian stepped over him and then fell to his knees when he spotted a glimmer of silver.

Panic seared through him the moment he touched it- this ring was the copy, not the real Jade Emperor's Ring.

Someone coughed behind him.

His eyes darted around the room. The smoke was beginning to settle, covering everything with a layer of black dust, like ash.

A cloud of it kicked back into the air as Pei Xiu stirred.

Xie Lian had never had a strong need to cuss, but curses filled his head, now, as he scattered loose debris to the side. He could feel his time running out.

And then he spotted it- that red gleam amongst the fading smoke.

Huang's handkerchief was still beneath the ring. Xie Lian threw the copy beside it and bundled up the cloth to keep them together, and then he threw it into his pocket.

As he stood, a hand wrapped around his ankle.

Xie Lian raised that same leg to kick whoever held him-

He met his father's gaze.

"Xie Lian?" he whispered, his voice harsh and gasping.

Surprise bolted through him, lightning-quick and blazing. The hat- the hat was gone. His lips parted as he stared down at the soot-stained face of his father, a thousand words rising to his tongue, but his throat tightened. He couldn't choke out a single thing.

Shock had loosened his father's grip. He ripped his ankle free and ran.

Huang's barrier flickered in the doorway- the man was still alive, then, but he was barely holding onto consciousness. The moment Xie Lian touched the fuzzy glow, the characters shattered apart around him.

Like dominoes falling, the barriers down the hallway started to shatter apart, too. Huang must have set them up every five feet.

Xie Lian slipped the stone back into his mouth just as the last barrier broke, revealing three hunters who immediately sprung forward.

One of them was Feng Xin. His face was contorted with worry as he ran faster than the rest, a haunting look of fear set deep in his eyes as he called out, "Mr. Xie!"

The wind from his body whipped Xie Lian as he ran past.

He stood in the hallway, frozen to the spot. The image curled within him, bright and sharp as a knife.

Layered shouts echoed out into the hall.

"There was an intruder-"

"-capture-"

"Xie Lian!"

The call of his name drew him from his stupor. Xie Lian shook himself and sprinted down the hallway. 

"I hear him running! That has to be him-"

He exited the bank the same way he came, leaving black smudges of gun powder on the walls and floor. But he couldn't stop to clean them, not when he could hear his pursuers just behind him, following the very same signs. The stone might keep anything on his person hidden, but once he left a mark on something, it would show.

Xie Lian leapt from the second story window. He rolled when he hit the ground, the landing jarring the aches from his earlier fall. Wincing, he stood and spit the stone into his hand. The guards by the back door were gone- they'd likely heard the commotion earlier and went inside.

He didn't have to wait long. One of the guards stumbled close to the open window. "Hey!" he shouted, "There he is!"

Xie Lian turned, letting them get a good look at his face. Then he took off down the alleyway.

He let them chase him for a while, heading north through the city. When he tired, he placed the stone back in his mouth and looped back towards the bank.

It was chaos in the streets. Hunters swarmed in droves, looking like a deployment of angry wasps from a kicked nest. Xie Lian kept to the lengthening shadows and, finally, slipped into the alleyway he'd waited in, earlier.

Both Jiu and his friend were there, though they huddled together anxiously. To his immense relief, Ruoye was tethered beside them.

Still out of view, Xie Lian slipped the stone from his mouth and coughed.

They both turned their heads, startled. Then Jiu's face contorted with indignation. "What did you do?!" he spluttered.

Xie Lian smiled awkwardly as he hastily readied Ruoye's saddle. "Well... I lied a little, earlier. Sorry about that."

"You- you seriously-" Jiu was so red in the face, he looked ready to faint.

His friend seemed to have a similar thought, because he worriedly clung to his arm. He glanced between his face and Xie Lian. Then he raised the stub of his arm, pointing to the side of his head. "Uh- your ear, kid..."

Xie Lian touched the side of his face, eyebrows furrowed. His fingers pulled away red and he still couldn't hear anything from his right side. "Oh," he murmured. He probably blew out his ear drum. Then he said, "I lost your hat. Sorry."

Both of them stared at him with wide eyes as he swung into Ruoye's saddle.

Xie Lian reached into his pocket and drew out a heavy bag. "Here," he said, and then tossed it down to them.

The second beggar caught it. His eyes widened impossibly more as he looked inside. "This is-"

The gold coins gleamed in the light of the sunset.

"Sorry for the trouble. Have a fun Lantern Festival!" he called, and then Xie Lian spurred Ruoye into the crazed and panicked streets.

Chapter Text

The city was a mess of bodies.

Everywhere he turned, Xie Lian had to scream his way through crowds. Panicked locals, reveling travelers, furious hunters- they coalesced into a jumbled sea that he could barely push through.

And despite his earlier stunt in leading the hunters north, he was quickly spotted fleeing on Ruoye.

He cursed as he spurred her through crowded alleys. Hunters tailed him everywhere: popping up from side streets, running across the roof lines. There was no end to them.

Xie Lian needed to loose them, and fast. Ruoye was already worn from travel- he wasn't going to win a battle of endurance in the city, not when they had fresh horses. But if he could get some distance between them, he might be able to gain some ground if he could throw off their trackers.

Frigid wind scraped his face as Ruoye galloped down the streets, her hooves slapping loudly over the cobblestones. His bandages were coming undone.

The city walls loomed closer.

"It's the Xie son!" A hunter screamed behind him. "Don't let him through the gate!"

The panicked cries were too late- Xie Lian was already thundering past the closing doors and into the fiery haze of the sunset. 

He couldn't ride like this when night fell; Ruoye was too likely to trip and break something, and then it would all be over.

Xie Lian needed to loose his pursuers now.

His answer came to him when he spotted a bridge in the distance.

The hunters were closing the distance behind him- he could hear the heavy pants of their horses, the pounding drum of five sets of hooves on dirt.

Ruoye reached the bridge, snorting with effort.

Xie Lian clutched his thigh, right over the pocket. He could feel the rings resting within, and more importantly, he could feel the waves of power emanating from the real ring, washing through the fabric.

The moment Ruoye stepped off the bridge, he raised his hand and pointed at the stone.

Blast apart, he willed it.

Pure energy tingled at his fingertips- without a moment's hesitation, the bridge shattered.

The screams of horses and hunters alike was sickening- two of them had fallen into the river. Xie Lian turned back towards the road and screwed his eyes to the horizon.

I'm sorry, he thought. But his guilt changed nothing.

He spurred Ruoye into the tree line, out of sight from the road.

💀

Xie Lian slumped in the saddle as they passed through the southern gate. He was so tired. Ruoye was, too. He'd pushed her hard to get to the city over, and her coat shone with frothy sweat as a result.

As much as he wanted to keep going, they needed to rest. That last thing he wanted to do was kill her.

He almost fell when he dismounted- his legs were so weak. Xie Lian pressed his face into the leather of the saddle, smelling sweat and animal hide as he composed himself.

Ruoye shook, dislodging him. He tried to smile as he patted her neck, but he couldn't screw his face into anything other than a grimace. She whinnied at him.

"I know," he breathed out, reaching for her reins. Quick as a snake, Ruoye bit his outstretched arm.

He flinched back, and then he sighed. "Alright," he muttered. Undeterred, he grabbed her reins again and pulled her forward.

He'd stopped at a hotel. He paid for a room for himself and a place in the stable for Ruoye.

Xie Lian had to take care of her, first. He settled her in the stable with a bath and a well-deserved meal, and then he finally trudged upstairs to his rented room.

The smell of cheap perfume and opium wafted over him as he opened the door, lingering from the last boarder.

He didn't care. Xie Lian immediately collapsed on the bed, the springs creaking loudly under his weight. Every muscle in his body ached- he was pretty sure this is what it felt like to be pummeled to death, or to fall from a great height, or... the list went on. The consequences were all fatal.

The idea of taking a bath briefly struck him, but Xie Lian could barely turn over on the bed.

He let his eyelids close. The rush of relief that fizzled through him was immense. Without even taking off his shoes, he sunk into the mattress and relaxed.

The cottony haze of sleep lingered just on the edge of his awareness, dulling everything- but he couldn't give into it just yet.

Xie Lian reached into his pocket. The shapes of the rings were obvious through the handkerchief, but it wasn't enough. He couldn't fall asleep until he touched them.

He pulled back the fabric and brushed his fingertip against the first ring. It was the fake: the metal was dull against his skin. He reached further in.

The real ring met his skin with a blaze of heat and buzzing energy. A sensation of power ran up his arm, white-hot, and then the darkness behind his eyes sharply twisted with flashing images too quick to understand. Screams echoed in his head as he was overcome by vertigo, and then voices swirled all around him:

"Where is it?"

"-stay safe-"

"Welcome to-"

"Fangxin."

Xie Lian opened his eyes.

Grand red columns spiraled out before him, holding up the high, vaulted ceiling of a large room. It was eerily similar to an entertainment hall in the palace, but the walls, the furniture, the decorations- they gleamed with life.

And Hua Cheng stood in the middle of it all. Xie Lian's heart quickened at the sight of his elegant face- of course he would dream of him. He missed him so much.

Not only that- he was resplendent. Dressed in red silk robes with a high collar, he had the air of a lord, and the fanciful butterflies embroidered across the fabric almost looked alive. And just like in meeting the caravan, he was covered in silver. His hands were clasped behind his back as he looked up from the foot of a raised dais, a familiar crooked smile on his lips when he asked, "Did you get lost again?"

Xie Lian wanted to break out in a silly grin and shake his head, to jump up and run to him.

But he couldn't budge.

"I think so. I'm sorry- I should've learned not to wander by now," a strange voice answered.

It was coming from his mouth.

In fact, Xie Lian had no control over his movement at all; like a puppet, he rose from a low chair and walked to the bottom of the dais.

"You can wander wherever you like," Hua Cheng said, holding his hand out.

"I'll just get lost again," the stranger answered with Xie Lian's mouth, half-laughing, half-exasperated. He took Hua Cheng's hand to step off the dais.

Xie Lian wanted to stare at that hand- it was strikingly uncomfortable to be attached to a body so unfamiliar. But the stranger's gaze focused on Hua Cheng's face.

"Then I'll always come find you," he murmured, his eye creasing to a crescent.

And Xie Lian's heart roared with jealousy.

This wasn't just a dream, and Hua Cheng wasn't talking to him. He was talking to this stranger that Xie Lian had somehow attached to.

He'd initially thought he'd just fallen asleep after touching the ring, but that didn't seem to be the case. Those images, the screaming... had he fallen into the ring's memories?

The stranger averted his gaze from Hua Cheng and gently pulled back his hand. "I-" he stuttered, "That's very... considerate. Of you."

Something black and putrid coiled in Xie Lian's gut as he was forced to watch this, as he felt the heat rise in this stranger's face.

With his gaze pinned to the floor, he couldn't see Hua Cheng's reaction, but he didn't seem to take the stranger's sudden shyness to heart. He simply beckoned him towards the doors of the room and guided him into bright hallways of the palace.

There were sconces lit on the wall every few feet. It was strange to see the palace so well-taken care of; he knew Yin Yu did his best, but he clearly didn't have the resources Hua Cheng did in the past.

"Hua Cheng-" the stranger called, finding his voice again. "I was thinking about the parameters of the last spell. Do you think it failed because we focused on limiting it too much? Living things- they need space to breathe. A generative spell might need more freedom to really thrive."

With his head cocked to the side, Hua Cheng mulled his theory over carefully. "You might be right. But if we give it too much freedom, it could spiral out of control."

"It'd involve more experiments, but we could loosen the parameters gradually. Perhaps there's a certain balance that's needed, or..." the stranger started to mutter, pinching his chin in thought.

Xie Lian couldn't make out his words, but understanding sparked like lightning. This was the process they'd used to create the ring.

He found it odd, then, that he could see memories the ring carried before it was even created. But they'd formed it with their own blood, hadn't they? Perhaps that was enough for it to keep memories of the creation itself.

And it would also confirm that this stranger was Fangxin.

A confusing jumble of emotion swirled in Xie Lian. He'd been curious about the man- after all, Hua Cheng grieved him so strongly, even centuries later. But he'd imagined him differently. Someone more confident, louder, a better match for Hua Cheng's personality. This man was soft-spoken and carefully poised- Xie Lian would almost call him dainty.

It made him want to wrinkle his nose in distaste. He hated everything about him. Especially the way Hua Cheng looked at him.

Oh, how he recognized that look. And deep within himself, Xie Lian knew he couldn't fault Hua Cheng for anything- this was centuries before they'd ever met, centuries before he was born. Whether he'd loved someone before him or not shouldn't matter, shouldn't affect Xie Lian in the slightest.

But it did. And Xie Lian was now forced to watch every moment of it.

They stepped into a grand laboratory in the west wing. He only vaguely recognized the shape of the room- he was pretty sure it was entirely destroyed in the present day. As the pair worked together seamlessly, all smiles and easy conversation, his dark emotions grew. The only good thing about it was that he got to see more of Hua Cheng- but even that carried its own ache.

He was so unguarded around Fangxin, so happy. Without the weight of three hundred years of isolation and slow starvation, there was an innocent, playful air about him. He made jokes more readily, and the casual cynicism he usually displayed was gone.

In this period of time, he had hope.

Xie Lian had never seen him look so free, and as much as he reveled in the beautiful image of it-

He knew it was all for Fangxin, and the sharpness of his jealousy gutted him.

Unable to bear the scene any longer, Xie Lian willed it gone with all his might.

To his surprise, the memory changed.

Elated in finding at least one aspect he could control, Xie Lian flickered through memories like thumbing through photographs. He wanted to know more about the ring's creation, but he could barely stand watching Hua Cheng and Fangxin grow closer over the months they worked on the project. And they were hardly ever apart.

Isn't San Lang a city lord right now? Do you have to bother him all the time? he thought, his anger growing. And it only grew worse when he began to notice small similarities between himself and Fangxin.

The way they tended to sit. How Fangxin tied up his hair, the way he spoke, his small mannerisms. Xie Lian wanted to grab this stranger and shake him, to do something to release his building frustration, but he could only watch and fear that he'd been this man's replacement.

He'd seen the strength of Hua Cheng's grief. Could it really be that he only loved him for how he reminded him of Fangxin?

Dread choked him; in a desperate bid to ignore his own suspicions, Xie Lian let a random memory bubble to the surface.

Fangxin looked down on a massive crowd of people from atop a raised platform. Red silk curtains gave the area some privacy, but the loud chatter from below echoed in the large venue.

His vision was cut off as Fangxin raised a flat cup to his mouth. The taste of rice wine flooded his tongue- sharp and unfamiliar, Xie Lian would've spat it out in shock if he was in control. Fangxin only swallowed and leaned back in his chair.

"Bored?" A low voice murmured close beside him. Xie Lian's heart fluttered with a confused mess of sorrow and joy.

Fangxin turned his head, his eyebrows rising. "Do I seem bored?" he asked.

Hua Cheng's lips twitched as they studied each other. "I don't know," he eventually answered. "You're quiet."

Fangxin looked back out over the crowd. His gaze lingered on the tables- it looked like a gambling hall. He shrugged. "You're working. I'm content to watch."

A low puff of laughter escaped Hua Cheng's chest. "Just admit you'd rather be reading a book back at the palace. I wouldn't blame you."

Eyes still glued to the wandering crowd, Fangxin stroked his thumb along the rim of his cup. "Then we'd be apart, and I'd miss..." he voice died in his throat and heat rushed to his face. "Forget- forget that. I've drank too much."

A tense silence coiled through the air as Hua Cheng leaned over, closing the small gap between their chairs. He reached for the cup Fangxin held; his warm hand wrapped over his and he raised it to his lips. 

Xie Lian could feel Fangxin's heart race as his gaze snapped to him. Their eyes locked, and Hua Cheng swallowed down the rest of the drink.

"I've forgotten how much I liked the taste of this," he murmured, letting go.

Fangxin slowly looked to the table beside him. "Oh. That's- I think that was the last of it-"

A thumb pressed into his bottom lip. Hua Cheng guided his face back to look up at him. "Let me taste it again?"

With a shaky, anticipatory exhale, he nodded and closed his eyes.

Xie Lian's heart writhed in his chest as he savored the kiss. Hua Cheng's tongue swiped over his lip, and even though he wasn't in control of this body, he felt at home in it as Fangxin gasped and curled closer to him, his hands clutching the front of his robes.

The wrongness of his intrusion wasn't lost on him- Xie Lian knew he had every power to move to a different scene, to give Hua Cheng privacy in this lost love of his. But he clung to the memory as the kiss strengthened, as their hands roved over each other.

He watched them leave the gambling hall and return to the palace. And when the door clicked close to Hua Cheng's room, he still didn't leave the memory. If Xie Lian had a body to inhabit in this room, his throat would be so tight he couldn't speak. Tears would prickle his eyes and fall down his face. But he let himself be puppeted by Fangxin and sunk to his knees.

His morbid curiosity had won out, and Xie Lian couldn't look away. When he told Hua Cheng he'd wanted to know his everything, even if it was selfish of him- he'd meant it wholeheartedly. So he watched this stranger pleasure his love in ways he didn't know how to, realizing that this couldn't even be their first time.

It was torture and ecstasy in equal measure. Xie Lian felt everything as if it were really happening to his own body- and while Hua Cheng had manhandled him a little during their first time, he was rougher with Fangxin. And Xie Lian liked it. He wanted it to be him, so he pretended it was. The fantasy only crumbled towards the end, when instead of calling out Xie Lian's name, Hua Cheng called out Fangxin's.

As they curled around each other on the bed, panting, Xie Lian finally pushed the memory away. His actions made him sick to his stomach. He'd violated Hua Cheng's privacy because of a little jealousy- how was that right?

Xie Lian wanted to escape the sea of memories floating before him, but as much as he tried, he couldn't find an exit. He was trapped in the swirling maze of the Fangxin's mind, and the only way out seemed to be through.

Despondent, he drifted through scenes in Fangxin's body, forcefully silent. He watched them find success in their experiments with generative magic, then branch out and finally form the basis for self-sustaining magic. To his annoyance, there was a lot of celebration sex. He flicked through the memories briefly, the images and sensations washing over him in scattered pieces as he looked for the end of it.

And then they created the ring.

Hua Cheng and Fangxin were elated. Stuck as a faded-out phantom in the memory, however, Xie Lian could only look at it with dread. This little silver thing- this beautiful, deadly ring- it would cause them both to suffer, and he couldn't lift a finger to stop it.

Of course, they were happy for a time. It seemed impossible that any doom should linger on the horizon of their blossoming lives. Ghost City was expanding, the hunters were quiet, and their relationship had grown so steady that they were talking about marriage.

Spice filled his mouth as Fangxin bit into a roasted chicken skewer. The wind whipped coldly across his face, but with Hua Cheng's arm around his waist, the chill wasn't unbearable. They stood on a balcony overlooking Ghost City, the red lanterns casting their skin in an unearthly glow.

"-so, I think three thousand lanterns is a little excessive."

"It's our wedding. We can have whatever we want."

"I agree, but since you're the one stuck paying for it, I'm determined to be the voice of reason."

Hua Cheng laughed. "I was hoping you'd voice other opinions. You haven't mentioned a single thing you'd want for the ceremony."

Fangxin fell silent for a moment as he took another bite of chicken. In a small voice, he murmured, "...I already told you what I want."

Immediately, Hua Cheng stiffened. The atmosphere changed- instead of their normal, easy-going laughter, both figures looked out over Ghost City with somber expressions.

"Fangxin," he whispered. "I know you think you want this, but it isn't like anything you've known. And there's no going back."

With a small huff, Fangxin muttered, "So you've said. And my answer's still the same."

"How can you be so sure?"

Fangxin looked into Hua Cheng's worried gaze and caressed his cheek. "Aren't we about to pledge our lives to each other? How could I say I want to spend the rest of my life with you without wanting to be by your side forever?"

"Forever is a long time," he argued, cupping Fangxin's hand. "And you'd be giving up so much. You couldn't eat that anymore," he pointed to the chicken skewer in his hand. "Or feel the sun on your skin."

With a small smile, Fangxin flicked his hand and dropped the skewer from the balcony. "Okay," he murmured. "And you're warm enough for me."

Hua Cheng sighed and took Fangxin's hand from his face. "I'm serious."

"So am I," he retorted, a steely edge rising in his voice. Hua Cheng hadn't let go of his hand, so he squeezed it.

Then he said, "I didn't know before that it was such a simple thing to be happy with someone."

Silence permeated the memory as Hua Cheng's stony expression melted, his conviction weakening.

Through Fangxin's eyes, Xie Lian stared up at him in shock.

A few months ago, he'd said the exact same thing.

No matter how he tried to wrap it head around it, he couldn't understand why they would've uttered the same words. It wasn't just a simple phrase- it reflected how Hua Cheng had single-handedly turned his world around. Could it really be a coincidence?

Xie Lian's first instinct was to push it off as such- Hua Cheng hadn't breathed a word about it, and he would've been the first to catch it.

Then again- hadn't he told him that Fangxin was only a "friend?"

You stubborn vampire, he thought.

In the memory, the line of Hua Cheng's throat rolled as he swallowed. "On our wedding night," he murmured, voice small and unsure, "I'll turn you. If you still want it, then."

Fangxin smiled. "I will," he whispered, resolute.

Hua Cheng looked less enthused by the concept. "Tell me everything you want to eat," he said seriously. "And watch some sunrises. And sunsets-"

"Hua Cheng," he laughed. He raised their entwined hands to press kisses over his knuckles. "I promise I'll cherish my last moments as a human."

That made him relax, somewhat. "Good," he intoned.

Fangxin swiped his thumb over Hua Cheng's skin in small circles. His expression fell and he said, "I'm sorry to ask this of you. But I really can't bear the thought of leaving you alone."

Hua Cheng shook his head and pulled Fangxin into his arms. "I'd bear it," he whispered. "If I thought you'd reincarnate and come back to me, I'd wait."

Xie Lian couldn't breathe.

Fangxin could. He made a low noise in the back of his throat, upset. "Why should you take so much suffering onto yourself?"

"I'd take all the suffering in the world, if it was for your happiness," he said. "I love you."

Fangxin pressed his face into Hua Cheng's neck, his warmth sharp against the cold night air. "Don't take it all. Leave some for me to carry, alright?" he whispered against his pulse point. "I love you, too."

Could it really be true?

And did that mean Hua Cheng had recognized him as Fangxin's reincarnation?

Xie Lian was wary to believe it, himself. While he'd seen similarities between the two of them, he felt little connection. There was no recognizable spark, no moment where he thought, I remember this! The only tenable thing that prevented him from rejecting it outright was their earlier coincidence- but it didn't seem enough to confirm anything.

Oh, San Lang, he thought, finding comfort in the memory's arms. Please don't let me break your heart. Even if I'm not him... I love you, too.

He gently pushed away from the memory, suddenly terrified to know the truth. Xie Lian needed out- he clawed through passing scenes, wanting out of Fangxin's mind, to get away from these images and sensations he had no business knowing.

Reincarnation or not, he wasn't Fangxin, and he would never be him. He had his own family, his own friends, his own life.

Months of wedding preparations flew by, the scenes rustling past each other like pages caught on the wind.

Xie Lian was desperate to leave, but he couldn't help but pause on a memory of Hua Cheng fitting on his wedding robes for the first time.

He was so beautiful in red. Xie Lian wanted to cry, looking at the golden flowers embossed in the hems and sleeves. It felt unfair that he should be seeing this- he loved Hua Cheng, and he wanted to love him through his own memories, not this stranger's.

He tore through the memory. Faster and faster, the scenes whirled by.

And then he caught sight of Hua Cheng's stricken face.

"-stay safe. I'll destroy every last one of them," he said breathlessly, E'Ming gleaming in the air beside him. The scimitar practically radiated malice.

Fangxin tightened his hands around something. He clutched it to his chest as he looked down- he was mounted on top of a horse. "I won't go far. If something happens-"

"I'll come. I'll always come find you," he murmured. He reached up and grabbed the front of Fangxin's robes, and then he pulled him down for a searing kiss. "I love you."

Fangxin finally let go of what he was holding- the ring dangled in front of his face as he pulled back. He tucked its chain into the front of his robe. "I love you, too," he murmured. "I'll keep it safe, I promise."

"I care more about you than I care about the ring, Fangxin."

"But if he gets a hold of this- if he figures out how to make more... I don't want to imagine it." He sighed and pulled the reins tighter in his hands.

"He won't," Hua Cheng said. "Please, hide. I'll take care of him, and then we'll be just in time for our wedding, alright?"

Fangxin smiled, though it felt tense on his face. "Mn. Don't destroy the city."

Hua Cheng twirled E'Ming in his hand like he was considering it. "Go," he whispered finally.

Xie Lian knew he couldn't change anything, but he wished with all of his might that Fangxin would stay. That his reticent look behind would turn into reconsideration.

Because there was only one thing that could be coming next.

Fangxin turned and spurred his horse forward. Xie Lian watched him leave the outskirts of the city, chased by vampires with glowing red eyes. Before any of them managed to get too close, silver spun through the air- E'Ming descended in a fatal crescent, sweeping the heads from all of them.

With his pursuers dead, Fangxin focused his full attention on riding as fast as he could.

The memory passed in a blur. On the second day, Fangxin arrived at the village south of the palace.

It had been smaller, back then. Quiet. There weren't any hotels or fancy restaurants- just quaint houses and curious people. They watched Fangxin ride through the streets with wide eyes, immediately recognizing him for a stranger.

Fangxin stopped before a well, panting. He slid from the saddle and hurriedly pulled up the pail, his throat dry. He took a long drink, and then he poured the rest into a trough for his horse.

A few women hanging laundry nearby broke into whispers at the sight.

He turned to them, an awkward smile on his face. "Hi there- sorry, I'm just passing through. Would you happen to know a place I could rest?"

They stared at him with guarded expressions.

Fangxin rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't mean any harm- I'll be gone in a day or so. I just need some shelter. Perhaps there's a temple, here?"

One of the women nodded. "That way," she murmured, pointing east.

Fangxin smiled and bowed to her. "Thank you," he replied, and then he left to find the temple.

This is ramshackle at best, Xie Lian thought when he first saw it. The walls were cracked and parts of the floor were rotted out from where the roof leaked. But Fangxin only let out a relieved sigh and tied his horse to a tree beside it.

The statue inside was barely recognizable, the paint stripped and worn from lifetimes without care. Fangxin found a place in the back corner of the temple and curled up to sleep on the floor.

It was cold. Xie Lian didn't know how he managed to fall asleep- but from the blip in his memory, it was clear he did.

And then he was woken by a noise.

It didn't seem threatening at first- just the creak of the walls in the wind. But it was soon followed by another creak, and it became hauntingly clear: footsteps.

The hair on the back of Fangxin's neck prickled. With his breath caught in his throat, he rose from the floor to face the source of the noise.

Fear had silenced him- Xie Lian could feel the numbing haze of his shock. Fangxin couldn't utter single word as his gaze locked onto Bai Wuxiang.

He stood just inside the threshold of the temple, his white robes glowing in the moonlight, throwing light and shadow across the walls. "...You know who I am?" he murmured, the weight of his attention palpable despite his mask. It felt akin to the focus of a predator. "Good. You know what I've come for, then."

Fangxin swallowed. "You- You were going to attack Hua Cheng-"

"No. I only made him think that, so he'd send you away. Along with the ring." Bai Wuxiang stalked closer. "Where is it? If you tell me, I'll let you keep your life," he murmured, his voice turning cloyingly sweet. He'd gotten the tone wrong, though- it rung with a tight falseness, a slight hiss underpinning his words.

"It's gone," Fangxin whispered.

Bai Wuxiang pounced forward, his white form a blur. He grabbed Fangxin by the front of his robes and pulled him to his feet. "You're lying!" he hissed.

Fangxin reached for the chain around his neck. Without looking away from the mask, he pulled it free from underneath his robes.

It was empty.

Despite his shaking hands, a smile stretched across Fangxin's face. "I got rid of it," he murmured. "In case something went wrong, and you came to find me." He dropped the chain.

"No," Bai Wuxiang snarled. "You know where it is, and you will tell me."

Fangxin shook his head. "I won't."

Terror spiraled through their shared minds; Xie Lian flinched, just like Fangxin flinched, when Bai Wuxiang threw him to the floor. "You'll learn," he murmured, "Not to deny me."

He wanted to cry out when he saw the sword.

Fangxin didn't have the time to. Just as soon as Bai Wuxiang had unsheathed it, he lunged forward and stabbed him in the stomach.

A breathy exhale punched from his lips. Fangxin curled his hands around the blade as he stared down in shock.

"Where is it?" Bai Wuxiang demanded.

Fangxin let out a low whine of pain.

The sword was wrenched from his abdomen, cutting his palms in the process. It quickly returned, burying into a new spot in his stomach.

Xie Lian wanted to scream, to run from this memory. But Fangxin was all alone in this temple, and he couldn't bring himself to leave him there.

You really endured this, all by yourself? he thought, silent sobs wracking him.

By the tenth stab, Fangxin had curled up on the floor. Tears streamed from his eyes as he shuddered, shaking against the restraints Bai Wuxiang had tied his arms back with.

"Where is it?" his voice droned overhead.

Fangxin breathed heavily- he hadn't spoken since it'd started.

His mouth opened. Relief and fear struck Xie Lian; he wanted this to end, but he didn't want to watch Fangxin break, either.

"...My wedding," he rasped. "I'm supposed to get married, tomorrow."

Pain sliced his thigh. "Where is it?"

"Hua Cheng... I told him not to, but he's going to release three thousand lanterns."

Another stab.

"He's so ridiculous. Isn't he?"

Stab.

"I love him."

Stab.

"I love him... so much."

Fangxin quieted, and then he fell into a pattern of gasping wheezes and pained cries. His vision swirled, and Xie Lian had the harrowing understanding that this was the end.

This is where Fangxin died.

I'm so sorry, he cried silently. I see you. I know. I'll remember.

Thank you for loving San Lang when I couldn't.

I promise- I'll make him pay for this.

You have my word.

Fangxin's heartbeat roared in his ears. It drowned out Bai Wuxiang's questions as he continued his slow torture, the pain coalescing into a never-ending burn. Everything hurt. His lungs were on fire.

But a glint of silver caught his attention.

Fangxin's eyelids fluttered as he fought his failing body to look.

A single butterfly glided through the open window of the temple.

His strangled breath caught in his chest- Xie Lian could feel how hard he tried to call out, but he didn't have the strength, anymore. He could hardly even breathe.

The butterfly dropped to the floor.

It wasn't dead- it's silver glow illuminated the temple in a pale haze. But it's wings had suddenly snapped still, like it simply couldn't bear to move anymore.

Fangxin stared at the temple door.

Agonizing seconds passed. His face crumpled with confusion.

Oh-

He thought-

He thought the butterfly meant Hua Cheng was coming.

Xie Lian couldn't tell if the shaking was from Fangxin's body or his own barely contained emotions.

The ring had already backfired.

Fangxin couldn't know that, so he clung to every breath, watching the door.

All the while, Hua Cheng was trapped at the palace, watching his love die through a butterfly.

Fangxin's lips parted, his vision swirling with specks of light-

And then everything went black.

💀

Xie Lian rolled off the bed and was sick on the floor.

Tears streamed from his eyes as he heaved, his hands clutching his abdomen.

When he was done, he could only wipe his face and lean back against the bed in utter silence. He stared at the wall, unseeing.

His breathing wheezed in the empty room, reminding him uncomfortably of Fangxin's final moments. But to move seemed like an impossible task. He couldn't believe everything he'd witnessed, everything he'd just felt. Even now, he thought he might look down and see a sword protruding from his abdomen.

Images of Fangxin's ruined guts speared his mind, and Xie Lian was sick all over again.

In a burst of startling clarity, he thought, Oh. I'm going to have to pay extra to have the room cleaned.

Xie Lian let out choked peals of laughter, his raw throat burning with every breath. And then it turned to weeping.

He wrapped his arms around himself and rocked on the floor, feeling like his own mind was shredding apart. He'd never experienced such intense sorrow- nothing could abate the drowning grief and horror that flowed over him like tidal waves. It seemed like his whole body had become it, and he'd never know anything but the wetness coating his face and throat, his shaking arms, his mussed hair.

Despite thinking that his weeping should go on forever, Xie Lian grew exhausted quickly. He hadn't actually slept- the ring's intrusion into his mind had taken that from him. Or had he been the intruder?

It only occurred to him, then, that the ring hadn't been on Fangxin's person during his final moments. So, it really hadn't been the ring's memories he connected to, but-

A second round of sobs wracked him. He wasn't sure why he was crying, anymore, but he couldn't stop.

When he'd grown so tired he could hardly sit up straight, he dropped his head back on the mattress and stared up at the ceiling. His gasping breaths were broken by hiccups.

Xie Lian's eyes hurt. He wanted to close them and finally fall asleep- he didn't even care if it was on the floor, if he fell in his own puke- but every time he shut his eyes, images swirled up to meet him like aftershocks. There was a new horror with every blink: Bai Wuxiang's cold mask, his sword in his stomach, blood leaking over the wood, the smell of copper filling the air, Bai Wuxiang in his hotel room-

Bai Wuxiang was standing in his hotel room.

Xie Lian scrambled up from the floor, a gasp ripping from his throat. He unsheathed his sword and held it tightly in front of him, trying to hide how badly his hands shook.

He wasn't sure how it was more terrifying, but fear whited his mind as Bai Wuxiang only stood there, watching him. His long sleeves covered his hands- Xie Lian couldn't see if he carried a weapon or not.

The remnants of his sick coated his mouth. Xie Lian's nose wrinkled as he swallowed, disgusted and ashamed to be seen in this state. And yet, his anger roared to life within his chest, overpowering the rest in a comforting blaze of heat.

"What are you doing here?" Xie Lian asked, his voice hoarse. "Come for the ring already?"

Bai Wuxiang cocked his head to the side.

"Answer me!" he yelled, stepping forward, "Or get the hell out!"

"You saw something," Bai Wuxiang rasped, his voice hollow as wind through a bottle.

Xie Lian froze. He didn't understand why they were having a conversation- he'd expected Bai Wuxiang to attack him outright, just as he'd done with Fangxin.

Hua Cheng's voice echoed in his head:

People are a game to him.

Was he trying to figure out how to play Xie Lian?

He spit on the floor. "I saw a disgusting vampire," he said. "And now, here's another one."

"Really?" he asked.

Xie Lian snarled. "Are you so excited to die? I only wanted the ring to kill Hua Cheng, but I'll happily take your head as well."

Silence fell over the room.

And then Bai Wuxiang started laughing.

His wheezing breaths were an uncomfortable burst of noise, sounding more akin to a nasty coughing fit. When his shoulders steadied, he let out a long exhale. "If that's the case, little hunter," he said with a mocking lilt, "You should hurry."

Xie Lian blinked, staring at the bright outline of his white form. His face slowly fell. "...You're not here," he murmured.

Bai Wuxiang had wanted the ring for centuries, but he wasn't willing to risk his life if he thought the threat was too great against him.

His lip wrinkled as he raised his hand, the ring glittering on his finger. "Be patient. I'll kill you soon enough," he said.

Blast apart, he thought once more. Pure energy surged froward, filling the room with an overwhelming buzzing sensation. White light flashed, blinding him.

A metallic taste filled the back of his throat. Xie Lian blinked, shaking off the incredible waves of power that emanated from the ring. They dissipated slowly, reducing to a low tingle against his skin.

The sound of crumbling wood caught his attention.

His gaze snapped up.

Bai Wuxiang's clone was gone- but where he'd been standing, a giant hole now gaped in the wall of the hotel.

Faces stared up from the street outside, dumbstruck under the glow of the moon.

It was a group of hunters.

Shit.

They'd already caught up to him.

Chapter Text

Xie Lian burst through the hole he'd created and caught the edge of the roof. Grunting, he pulled himself up.

Panicked shouts echoed below, but the hunters had been confused by the blast.

Good; it'd give him more time to run.

He'd have to abandon Ruoye- there was no way she'd be fit to run with such little time to recover. That meant he would need to steal a horse, somehow-

His nails scraped the clay tiles as he scrabbled onto the roof. But just as he'd swung his leg over to push himself up-

A dark figure loomed over him, blocking the moonlight. They kicked him in the face.

Xie Lian reeled, losing his grip. Before his body could slip down, the front of his shirt tightened and he was yanked into the air.

His vision was watery as he clutched his bloody nose, but after blinking back the tears-

He met Qi Rong's savage gaze.

"Give me the ring, cousin," he spat in his face.

Are you serious? Xie Lian wanted to scream. And not just at Qi Rong- at the very universe itself.

"What ring?" he muttered, expression flat.

Qi Rong's lip curled up as he stared at him, bewildered.

Xie Lian took that slim second to punch him in the gut.

With a loud cough, Qi Rong dropped him. Xie Lian barely caught the edge of the eave as he plummeted, his fingers catching the lip at the last minute. His heart pounded at the near-miss and he rushed to pull himself up, practically throwing himself into Qi Rong.

He shoved his cousin back against the roof tiles, cracking a few from the impact.

Qi Rong snarled and grabbed at anything he could latch onto- he ended up with a fistful of Xie Lian's hair and yanked him to the side.

Xie Lian grunted as he was forced to follow, but Qi Rong was unused to pain. He slapped him in the face, hard, and it was enough to make him let go.

They struggled against one another, Qi Rong clawing to get out from underneath him.

Xie Lian pinned him to the roof by sitting on him and grabbing his wrists. He panted as his cousin thrashed, but he was able to hold him down.

"You dogfucker!" Qi Rong spit at him, devolving to the only thing he was good at: cursing. "You're just a stain on the Xie household-"

His insult pierced him in a strange way, like hitting his funny bone. Xie Lian shifted to hold both of Qi Rong's wrists with one hand- it wasn't like he'd ever done much work in his life, so his build was quite slender. "You really think you get to say that to me?" he asked, dark laughter seeping into his tone.

Qi Rong bared his fangs. "Are you finally ready to admit it, now? You never thought I was worth anything. To the family, to the world- I could've dropped dead and you would've been relieved!"

Xie Lian frowned as he stared into his red eyes, tensed and red-rimmed. "Yes," he murmured. "I hated you."

Because he'd done exactly what Xie Lian wanted to do, but didn't have the courage to.

He'd cast off their family's expectations and dreams to do whatever he wanted- gamble, whore, soak in wealth- and he hadn't cared about the consequences at all. Meanwhile, Xie Lian had pushed himself to be the perfect son, the perfect noble, the perfect hunter.

When, most of the time, all he'd wanted was to shrug off his responsibilities and laugh with his friends.

Victory flashed in Qi Rong's eyes. It was short lived- his pupils shrank as Xie Lian picked up one of the broken tiles.

"But mostly, you make me sick. I can't stand the way you act- the way you talk. So I'm going to fix that, and you're going to help me," he said, a cruel smile stretching over his face. It pulled at his loosened bandages- they were barely hanging on, now, and some had fallen around his neck.

He smashed the broken tile into Qi Rong's face.

It took a few blows to break his jaw. Then he spluttered beneath him, shivering and lips burbling blood.

Xie Lian released his hands to tighten the bandages on his face. Qi Rong only clutched his jaw, his eyes pressed shut against the pain.

When he was finished, he grabbed Qi Rong's shirt and hauled him to his feet.

The hunters had surrounded the hotel and a group of them stormed the broken room below.

Xie Lian dragged Qi Rong to the edge of the roof. He yanked his head up, exposing his face in the moonlight. "Look! The Xie son was turned!" he shouted out.

He cast a cursory glance over the shocked faces below. Good- he didn't recognize any of them. That meant they probably only knew what he looked like from photographs. Their resemblance should be enough to fool them.

He kicked Qi Rong off the roof.

His cousin fell with a pained yelp. A distant thud echoed a moment later.

Xie Lian ran to other side of the roof. The hunters surrounding the back of the building had been drawn off by the shouting, so he climbed down to the empty street and melded into the shadows.

Hoofbeats clapped against cobblestones, punctuating the shouts of, "Don't let him escape!"

Then, the quiet resumed. Qi Rong had led them away.

Xie Lian took a deep breath and walked out of the alley.

The second he stepped into the light, the rasp of a drawn sword rung out. Taken by surprise, he'd been too slow to react- Xie Lian froze, his lungs stuttering at the cold press of metal against his windpipe.

Lang Qianqiu stepped closer with the coiled tension of a crouching tiger, his bright eyes intently focused on Xie Lian's face.

The fierce anger in his gaze was so different from what Xie Lian was used to. His stomach dropped as they stared at each other, his mind spinning desperately to think of how to escape. He wanted to use the ring as little as possible and save its energy for Hua Cheng, especially since he wasn't experienced with using magic.

Drawing on its pure energy was one thing, but he'd be more likely to kill anyone if he tried to funnel that energy into a technique.

"Clever," Lang Qianqiu said, his tone sharp and clipped. "You've really caused a mess."

Xie Lian's lips parted as he hesitated over what to say. "Qianqiu," he murmured. "Please, listen-"

His voice cut off as the sword pushed harshly against his neck.

"Don't," Lang Qiangiu said lowly. "I only want to hear one thing from your traitor mouth."

Nervousness wracked him- in all the years they'd known each other, he'd never seen such a dark side of his friend and junior. His hands tightened to fists at his side. "What's that?" he murmured.

"It was you in the vault, wasn't it? You're the one that set off the bomb."

His eyebrows furrowed. "There wasn't a bomb, Qianqiu..." he whispered.

Lang Qianqiu's lip curled. "Really," he said, empty humor coating his tone. "Then tell me- what was it that killed my father?"

Xie Lian's eyes widened. Gods- had he really-?

His shocked expression was the confirmation Lang Qianqiu needed- the last bit of light faded from his eyes and he thrust his sword in a sawing motion.

However, Lang Qianqiu had never actually cornered him. Xie Lian threw himself back, narrowly escaping the worst of the blade's arc. Panic fizzled through his veins as he felt a slight burn against his neck; he clasped his hand around his throat.

Only a few drops of blood coated his fingers. It couldn't be more than a shallow wound.

He didn't have time to worry about it- Lang Qianqiu followed him step for step, already sweeping his blade down to catch the inside of his thigh.

Xie Lian dodged to the side and the point of the blade whistled just past him.

"Stop running and fight!" Lang Qianqiu snarled.

His mind was still reeling from the knowledge he had killed Lang Ying with that blast. But at Lang Qianqiu's command, his instincts rose to the surface- his hand closed around the hilt of his sword.

The blade rasped as he drew it from its sheath and knocked away his next blow. "I'm sorry about your father, Qianqiu," he murmured, his emotions settling as he found his resolve. "But I can't let you kill me."

"Quiet, traitor!" he roared, pressing forward. "You really- you had us all fooled. I thought you were a paragon for hunters- you were supposed to lead the next generation! We all believed in you!"

Xie Lian met his strikes evenly. They twisted within the shadows of the narrow street, blades glinting with flashes of moonlight. "I believed I was that person, too," he murmured between blows. "But I never was."

Lang Qiangiu had a habit of winding his arm back too far, trying to gain more momentum and power. It also made his attacks incredibly easy to read.

He threw his arm straight back, preparing to lunge forward and strike Xie Lian in the heart.

"What are you, then?" he asked. "A monster?"

"No," he whispered, throwing his sword up like he was preparing to deflect the blow. "Just someone in love with one."

The admission surprised him- Lang Qianqiu thrust his arm forward with wide eyes, too focused on his face.

Xie Lian side stepped the blade. Then he slammed the pommel of his sword into his temple.

Lang Qianqiu crumpled to the ground.

A heavy exhale escaped him in the following silence. Xie Lian clutched his chest, his heart hammering against his ribs. The fight had been quick, but he was exhausted- his body couldn't handle the adrenaline rush like it normally could.

Before his energy completely drained from him, Xie Lian sheathed his sword and raced out onto the main street. If Lang Qianqiu had followed him so quickly, that meant he had to have a horse-

There. The last one tied in front of the hotel. He even recognized the saddle as his.

It was a gelding, its brown coat so dark it was almost black. Xie Lian took a few deep breaths to calm himself before he approached it. He let it sniff his palm for a moment, letting it get used to him. Then he untied the reins and swung into the saddle.

He fled the city as a blurred spot of color in the night.

💀

His adrenaline rush didn't last long. Xie Lian made it out of the city, at least, but then he was slumped forward in the saddle, slowly being rocked to sleep by the horse's steady gait. His night pearl shimmered in his hand, illuminating a pocket in the darkness around them.

Dread and exhaustion attacked him side by side. He didn't want to stop to sleep- the miles of loneliness and silence made his mind spiral, and he couldn't help but worry over his last encounters.

Why hadn't Bai Wuxiang come to take the ring himself? He clearly still wanted it, yet he'd only sent a clone and Qi Rong.

Like a skipping record, his last words played on repeat in Xie Lian's head.

If that's the case, little hunter... You should hurry.

Xie Lian did, pushing his body to its absolute limit.

The first time he fell asleep in the saddle, he was lucky. The horse stopped dead in the road- Xie Lian wasn't pressing for it to move forward anymore. He woke when it dipped its head to graze, almost tumbling right over its neck.

He quickly righted himself and rubbed his face, trying to force himself awake. He couldn't stop- What if Bai Wuxiang was at the palace? What if he was hurting Hua Cheng-?

The second time, he fell to the ground.

He shuddered awake, his shoulder radiating with pain. Wincing, he stumbled to his feet.

The gelding nuzzled him as he swayed beside it. His heart panged- it was so sweet. It reminded him of Lang Qianqiu: the version of him he'd known before, and probably would never know again.

But enough was enough. He couldn't continue on like this.

Xie Lian reached into his pocket and drew power from the ring.

It wasn't the same as sleeping, but it worked. The energy buzzed beneath his skin, keeping him awake and moving.

He slipped in a few light naps when he stopped to rest the horse, but Xie Lian managed to keep a brutal pace.

The food he stole from Lang Qianqiu's bags also helped.

The miles and days blurred; his exhaustion and panic made him rush.

And he stumbled right into the ambush party at the edge of the ruins.

One moment, he had his eyes pinned to the distant spire of the palace's roof, relief rushing though him-

The next, his world upheaved as the horse tripped on a pulled wire.

Xie Lian jumped and crashed to the ground, narrowly avoiding getting crushed beneath the saddle. His sword knocked free from its sheath and fell somewhere past him. Dirt grit between his teeth as his jaw tensed- with effort, he shot up and started running, having to leave it behind.

The hunters chased after him, their footsteps echoing against abandoned and crumbling walls.

He was so close.

But he couldn't win a race with them. He was too exhausted.

He reached into his pocket for the cloaking stone-

It was gone.

Shit. He must have lost it when he fell.

Without it, there was only one thing left for him to use. He blasted apart the earth behind him, burning his own calves from the heat.

Xie Lian didn't want to kill anyone else, so it was all he could think off. The raining sod and stone gave him a little cover as he ducked into side streets, trying to sneak out of view. It was easy within the ruins, but when he reached the forest, there was nowhere to hide.

And since they knew where he was going, he wasn't fooling anyone.

The palace wall loomed before him- Xie Lian managed to throw himself past one of the crumbling sections and into the garden before they caught up to him.

There were six hunters- the first one grabbed at the back of his shirt as they ran, but it took him a few tries to get a good grip on it.

By the time he did, Xie Lian was barreling though one of the hedges marking the garden boundary.

Dead leaves and dirt flew into the air as they rolled, the sting of sharp branches dulled by traded punches.

Someone grabbed the collar of his shirt and yanked him back, giving another hunter the opportunity to grab his legs. Xie Lian kicked and twisted, his movements uncontrolled and messy. He wasn't thinking about strategy anymore; like an animal caught in a trap, he'd been whittled down to pure instinct.

He turned his head and latched his teeth onto the hunter's wrist. The taste of copper bloomed in his mouth, and then there was a sickening snap.

The hunter screamed and ripped his arm away. Xie Lian rolled over and managed to put one knee in the dirt to rise, but then he was tackled from behind, his arms wrenched behind his back.

Desperation screamed within him- the ring, he couldn't let them take the ring-

He wrestled one arm free, then elbowed someone- something. He couldn't tell anything apart in the writhing mass of bodies.

They pushed him onto his stomach. Xie Lian's head was pressed into the dirt as he was dog-piled, the moonlight receding in the shadows of so many.

It hurt to even breathe, and there was no way he'd survive setting off a blast with the ring, now.

Muffled shouts trickled beneath the crushing weight. Xie Lian could only see black; he couldn't turn his head, couldn't even roll his eyes far enough to make out anything different.

And then the weight started to lift.

He took a gasping breath, his lungs burning from the icy air. A slow ache crept over his body as the worst holds lifted, certifying the bruises that were already forming over his skin.

Finally, his vision cleared-

And he was met with glowing red eyes.

There were dozens of vampires: lingering at the entrance to the garden, across the wide gravel path circling the main palace, and at the foot of the grand marble staircase, which Xie Lian rose to his hands and knees at- they were completely surrounded.

His heart pounded as his gaze swept over the group. His worst fear- it was really true?

The ones closest pulled the hunters off of him and held their thrashing forms to the ground. However, none of them were trying to bite them, and none of them had stepped forward to try and take him.

Low, mechanical laughter rung out from the top of the staircase.

Moonlight reflected off of Bai Wuxiang's white robes, and yet the carved edges of his mask cast distorted shadows, accentuating the brutal cruelty of the half-crying, half-laughing expression.

"Well done, little hunter. You did hurry," he rasped, then cheekily clapped. The sound snapped across the courtyard and echoed off the walls of the palace.

Xie Lian held carefully still. He'd crashed through panic and ended up on the other side of it, staring up with hollowed out dread.

His robes fluttered in the breeze, and behind him-

The black silhouette of a chained man kneeled just out of view.

A choked noise caught in the back of Xie Lian's throat as he stood, his eyes pinned to that tall figure, the achingly familiar shape of his shoulders-

"Oh, all business?" Bai Wuxiang sighed as he noticed Xie Lian's attention shift. "Don't worry, he's still alive- and I think we have a deal to make."

He snapped his fingers and the chains screeched, shooting out to wrap around both columns on either side of the gate. It pulled Hua Cheng to his feet and forward into the moonlight.

He was still in his red sleeping robe, the collar yanked partly open. His long hair was loose and messy around his shoulders. Xie Lian fixated on those details, furious. You pulled him from his bed to parade him about like this, you-

Then he saw his face.

Hua Cheng's expression was carefully blank, shuttered with his natural scowl. But there was something about his eye- his gaze was distant. As Bai Wuxiang walked closer to him, he didn't react. He simply continued looking forward, like he wasn't even present.

You-

You did something to him.

Memories bubbled to the surface- at the time, the heat of Hua Cheng's breath so close to his face had made him recoil as he whispered, Do you think all tortures leave a mark on the skin?

...the way I treated you when you came to the palace. I was turning into him. I'm sorry.

Xie Lian's thoughts imploded, leaving only the searing demand of, What did you do?!

Rage coiled tightly in his chest as he stared, unable to move, unable to speak. All he could see was the wrongness in that eye, the way Hua Cheng looked out without paying attention to anything.

Worst of all, Bai Wuxiang interpreted his anger as entirely directed at Hua Cheng.

He let out another grating laugh. "Since you were so adamant that he should die by your hand, I thought we could come to an agreement. Hand over the ring, and I'll let you kill him."

It took Xie Lian a few seconds to collect himself. Right- he'd told Bai Wuxiang he wanted to kill Hua Cheng. 

He needed him to continue to believe that.

Xie Lian stumbled on his first step, his body screaming with pain. He took a deep breath to steady himself and stalked closer to one of the thrashing, trapped hunters, his eyes locked onto the sword buckled at his waist. In one smooth motion, he unsheathed it.

The silver blade shimmered as he turned, only to find his path blocked. A new figure had silently appeared at the foot of the stairs.

"Now, the ring," Qi Rong said with a fanged grin, his hand outstretched. His nails were dirty with blood and ash- he could only imagine how he'd escaped the other hunters.

It irked him that his face was already healed; the only mark left from their earlier fight was a few specks of blood on the collar of his shirt. Ignoring the impulse to comment on it, Xie Lian pulled the ring from his pocket. It glimmered coldly when it met the light.

He dropped it into Qi Rong's open palm.

A toothy grin spread over his face. He snatched his hand back and looked at it closely, blood smearing over the metal as he twisted it in his fingers.

He cackled and said, "Seriously? All this for something so ugly?"

Xie Lian tightened his grip on the sword, raising it at his side.

On instinct, Qi Rong flinched back a few paces, but he ignored him. He walked toward the marble steps.

The sudden thrum of hooves thundered into the night, and then a hunting horn pierced the air.

Hunters stormed through the front gates of the palace on horseback, but they were abruptly cut off from advancing to the foot of the stairs by Bai Wuxiang's spawn, pikes and other weapons in their hands. Xie Lian could see those in the front of the vanguard: Quan Yizhen, Pei Xiu, and his father drew their horses to a dead stop to avoid a fatal collision.

They'd been so close to catching him- the disappointment shone on their faces.

His father's expression tensed as their gazes met. He drew his sword to knock away a stray pike and shouted, "Xie Lian! What are you doing?"

He turned and put his foot on the first step.

Qi Rong cackled. "He's already betrayed you, old man," he shouted with glee. "Didn't you know? You're son was never the golden legacy you wanted. He's always been a good for nothing-"

He climbed the next step.

"-failure-"

"XIE LIAN!" called a voice above the rest. It was Feng Xin.

"-dogfucker-"

Halfway up the stairs, Hua Cheng's gaze finally lowered. His face paled- he seemed to suddenly come back to himself, his pupil contracting to a slit.

Xie Lian's heart ached as their gazes met. He tightened his grip on the sword.

"-blood bag whore-"

At the top of the landing, Bai Wuxiang moved aside with a flutter of his sleeve, his anticipation evident in his focused stare.

He stepped into Hua Cheng's looming shadow. With smooth, feigned assurance, he placed the silvered edge of the sword against his throat.

"-the worst hunter in history!" Qi Rong finished his tirade, devolving into maddened laughter.

Hua Cheng's expression had calmed. He looked into Xie Lian's eyes with utter devotion.

For a terrifying moment, he had the strongest impulse to break out into mad laughter, too, and it was only made worse by Hua Cheng's trusting gaze.

He surged forward and pressed his lips to Hua Cheng's.

The tensed atmosphere popped open with surprise.

In the space of that moment, Xie Lian pushed his tongue forward and slipped the real ring into Hua Cheng's mouth.

He dropped the sword. It clattered down the marble staircase as Hua Cheng snapped his chains and wrapped his arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace. Despite the rising thread of panic all around them, he continued to kiss him like nothing else in the world mattered, his fingers winding through his hair.

Heat rose to his face- they were being watched by so many people. But his journey had ripped his heart to shreds and Hua Cheng's arms had never felt so safe.

A savage snarl erupted from Bai Wuxiang's throat. "What-"

Hua Cheng broke the kiss with a rumbling peal of laughter. He stuck his tongue out, revealing the ring.

The air shuddered with a grating impact. In a burst of inhuman speed, both vampires had summoned their weapons and struck out at each other.

Bai Wuxiang went flying into the air.

Xie Lian closed his eyes against the image and burrowed his face into Hua Cheng's chest. The fight wasn't over yet, he knew- but for a moment, he let his exhaustion overcome him.

Hands slipped over his back in slow circles, and then some of his aches began to fade. "Oh, my love," Hua Cheng whispered with such tenderness it made his eyes water. To be offered such gentleness while he was so low felt like hammering the final chisel- any semblance of composure he carried crumbled, and Xie Lian sagged against him as he broke.

Hua Cheng's arms tightened around him. "I've got you," he murmured, pressing a kiss to the crown of his head.

Weak tears streamed from his eyes. And yet, Xie Lian hiccupped with laughter as well.

"San Lang," he muttered into his chest. Then he looked up and said, "San Lang, I'm home."

Hua Cheng's lips slanted into a crooked smile. "Welcome back," he laughed, and then stroked the side of his face. "My brave-" he kissed his nose, the healing spell activating with a bloom of warmth, "Beautiful," he gently turned his head and kissed his ear. The sounds around them evened out. "Noble-"

"San Lang," he whined, embarrassed. He curled into him and hid his face in his chest again.

Undeterred, Hua Cheng continued to heal him in warm touches. Then there was the snap of fingers; Hua Cheng's sleeping robe abruptly changed for one of his finer ones. The chime of his silver jewelry echoed in the air.

Now that his hearing had been restored to normal, he realized someone was calling his name.

Xie Lian finally turned his head, sniffling.

Feng Xin broke past the line of vampires, his sword glistening with their blood. Instead of dismounting, he spurred his horse to climb the stairs, his face twisted into a snarl.

Breath caught in his lungs, Xie Lian's throat hitched as he hesitated over what to say. Did he still think-?

Hua Cheng snapped his fingers again.

The ground pulled away from their feet.

Xie Lian gasped as he fisted the back of Hua Cheng's robes. "San Lang-" he rasped, tearing his gaze away from the falling ground. The quick spike of fear through his veins settled when Hua Cheng smiled down at him.

"It's alright, gege. I won't drop you," he murmured. Fly-away strands from his messy hair caught in the cold wind.

Seeing his confidence restored his ability to look down. The palace grounds swam beneath them, the garden paths contorting and actively separating hunters. Then the doors to the palace swung open and yawned forward, the black depths growing impossibly wide-

A metallic smell pierced the air.

"This is spatial manipulation," Xie Lian breathed out. He could hardly believe he was seeing it on this scale.

"Mn," Hua Cheng hummed.

They entered the darkness together.

Wind whipped his hair, and then his feet touched the ground again.

Butterflies poured from Hua Cheng vambraces. They took off towards the ceiling, illuminating the main entrance hall of the palace.

The enormous red doors pulled closed behind them.

Xie Lian exhaled his held breath, the sound echoing in the silent room. "What did you-"

Hua Cheng stroked his fingers through his hair. "Earned us a little time," he murmured. "Everyone should be lost in here or in the gardens, by now."

It was exactly as he'd done with Shi Wudu. And it meant they could deal with each of them one by one.

Xie Lian sagged with relief.

Hua Cheng embraced him for a moment, his arms pressing him impossibly close. And then he guided him back far enough that he could lean down and kiss him.

"Gege," he whispered against his lips.

Xie Lian hummed; he had missed him so much, he couldn't get enough of him. His scent, his touch-

"If you ever dare," Hua Cheng murmured between kisses, "Tell me you love me when I can't say it back again-"

His eyes shot open and he tried to pull away, but his grip had turned to iron-

He pressed another kiss to his lips. "I'm going to be mad with you."

"How did you-?"

"I still had a butterfly in the room, gege."

Xie Lian groaned and dropped his head back. He couldn't believe he had missed that.

Hua Cheng kissed his exposed throat. "Say it again," he whispered, his breath tickling his skin.

Xie Lian straightened and looked him in the eye. "I love you," he said, cupping his face with his hands.

He surged forward, pressing a bruising kiss against his lips. When they parted for breath, he murmured, "I love you, too," in the space between them.

Their foreheads knocked together as they rested against one another.

Xie Lian was the first to pull back, his thumb tracing beneath Hua Cheng's eye. He looked fine, now, but he would never forget the expression on his face when he saw him in chains.

"San Lang-" he murmured, unsure of how to bring it up. "I'm sorry I took so long to make it back."

He blinked, and then shook his head. "Don't- don't apologize for anything-"

Xie Lian dragged his thumb across his bottom lip, silencing him. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

They shared a knowing look, and then Hua Cheng dropped his head onto his shoulder.

Xie Lian wrapped his arms tightly across his back. "We'll kill him first, alright?"

He nodded against his shoulder. "Alright."

Then, he stiffened.

"San Lang-?"

He straightened in a jerking motion, his eye flashing. "I was watching him with a butterfly," he whispered with seething anger. "And he still managed to replace himself with a damn clone."

Xie Lian grabbed his hand and intwined their fingers.

A buzzing sensation grabbed his attention- Hua Cheng had placed the ring on his third finger, as if he were married.

His heart shuddered with the reminder, but Xie Lian didn't want to face that conversation, now. "We'll find him," he murmured.

Hua Cheng's scowl relaxed as he looked down. "Mn." He pulled E'Ming from its sheath and held it by his side. At the same time, more butterflies poured from his vambraces and scattered down the hallway.

They followed a group of them, hand in hand.

"Gege," Hua Cheng murmured. "I'm sorry to make you go on. But if it comes to fighting, you can leave it to me, alright?"

Xie Lian shook his head. "What are you talking about? Of course I'm fighting beside you."

His eyebrows furrowed. "You look exhausted. When was the last time you slept?"

Shoulders dropping, he muttered, "I took naps."

He leveled him with a flat stare.

"Alright. I get it," Xie Lian sighed. "But- have you really had the chance to sleep?" he asked, the question carving his heart out.

Hua Cheng was silent for a moment- he worried he'd made a mistake in bringing it back up. Then he answered, "Not for a few days."

He stroked his knuckles with his thumb. "Since you have the ring now, I'll let you do most of the fighting. But if there's an opening, I'll take it."

Hua Cheng nodded his head. "Okay, gege. Once you find a sword, I'm guessing?"

Xie Lian's eyes widened- he forgot he'd dropped it outside.

Silent laughter glittered in Hua Cheng's creased eye. "Arguing with me over nothing-" he huffed.

"You- you're the one that brought it up," he retorted, glaring at him. It lacked any heat, though, and only made Hua Cheng smile more.

Then, they both went rigid.

The door at the end of the hallway swung open, revealing a figure in white robes.

"Bai Wuxiang-" Hua Cheng snarled, raising E'Ming. He darted forward and slashed a wide arc, cutting through the middle of the figure. It burst into white mist.

"San Lang!" Xie Lian called out, racing forward to catch up to him. If that was a decoy, then-

Hua Cheng twisted. The last he saw of him was the shock in his widening eye before the door between them slammed shut.

"San Lang!" he cried again, running to the door. He beat his fists against the wood, cracking it and throwing small splinters into the air. Despite the damage, the door wouldn't budge.

And, in the midst of his panic, Xie Lian noticed that his clothing had changed.

A new weight registered around his face. From behind the carved holes of a mask, Xie Lian stared down at the white funerary robes covering his body.

His horror was held at bay only by his confusion. He tried to slip his fingers beneath the edge of the mask and pull it from his face, but it wouldn't move. A funerary staff had appeared in his left hand- it clattered to the floor as he desperately clawed at the mask, trying to shove his nails underneath the lip of it for leverage, but all he succeeded in doing was drawing blood from his own skin.

Heat simmered on his face as his breaths quickened, stuck beneath the mask.

And then the wall shattered.

Xie Lian barely escaped the silvered line of the weapon aimed for his neck. He threw himself to the floor and picked up the staff. With both hands, he raised it above his head to block the next savage blow.

The weight of it was all too familiar.

"You'd dare-" Hua Cheng snarled, his scimitar striking the staff in a shower of sparks. "I'll rip your fucking limbs off before I take your head."

Xie Lian couldn't withstand the force- the staff dislodged from one of his hands and listed towards the floor. It rasped against the stone as he backstepped, trying to put distance between himself and Hua Cheng as he screamed out, It's me! San Lang- it's me!

But as his lips moved, no sound came out.

Hua Cheng followed him step for step, raining down powerful blows that made his arms tremble with pain. Wrath gleamed in his red eye and his face was twisted with such searing fury that Xie Lian's stomach curled with fear.

San Lang, please!

If his voice had been audible, it would have sounded like a broken sob.

Hua Cheng grabbed the end of the staff with his free hand and threw him down the hall.

Breath punched from his body as he hit the floor. Winded, he struggled to get to his feet quickly, tears pricking the corners of his eyes. Even on a good day, Hua Cheng was a difficult opponent to face, but now-

The sharp clack of bootheels on stone followed him. Xie Lian narrowly avoided E'Ming's next strike, the scimitar sweeping the air just beside his face. As he stared into the sword's red, weeping eye, his panic coalesced into a single instinct: run.

Xie Lian twisted and dove out from beneath Hua Cheng's downward slash. The sword bit through the stone floor with a shrieking clang, causing the entire palace to shudder. He stumbled as he bolted towards one of the hallways, leaving the funerary staff behind.

"You think you can run from me?" Hua Cheng called, his voice as venomous as it was mocking.

E'Ming flew past his head a second later. The scimitar curled through the air as it arched and boomeranged back.

Xie Lian ducked into another hallway to avoid it's path, the blade gouging out a sizable hole in the wall and raining loose stone against the floor.

When he turned the next corner, it was utterly silent. The hair on the back of his neck stood.

He needed to get to the armory- only with a sword could he defend himself long enough to find Bai Wuxiang and shatter whatever spell he'd cast.

But did he really have the strength left to do that?

He couldn't see- darkness consumed the hallways. A wheeze entered his breathing as he tried to quiet it while he ran, needing to rely on his sense of sound to listen for when Hua Cheng found him again. But there was only the soft rustle of the funerary robes and his panicked heartbeat roaring in his ears.

Xie Lian hadn't even made it to the west wing when the palace warped. Carpet tugged out from beneath his feet and he fell, his body cushioned as it continued to coil around him like a snake and yank him back the way he came. He struggled and tried to right himself, but it's speed only increased as it pulled him down.

Low, sinister laughter echoed in the darkness.

Hua Cheng was playing with him.

Xie Lian's stomach flipped, his emotions tightening into a confused, quivering knot. He loved him for this: the dark tone in his voice, the way the sense of his power bled from the walls-

But he was so fucking terrified.

Light blinded him as his weight dropped into a free-fall. Xie Lian collapsed upon landing and rolled. His body screamed with pain from the force of the drop, but he managed not to break anything.

He rose to his knees, panting. And then his breath caught in his throat.

The bright light was from hundreds of weapons glittering on the walls around him. He'd been dropped into the armory.

Hua Cheng stood before him. A wolfish grin sharpened over his face as he stepped forward, his fangs pressing tightly against his bottom lip. E'Ming hovered by his side while he clasped his hands loosely behind his back.

"So many weapons to choose from, and you could never beat me with any of them," he laughed.

Xie Lian let out a shaky breath as he stared up at him, gauging his composure. While bringing his opponent to a room full of sharp weapons just to taunt them did seem like something Hua Cheng would do, something about it felt off.

It was too drawn out- too humorous for an enemy that Xie Lian knew he hated with all of his heart.

He didn't have time to think about it longer. E'Ming surged forward, carving into the floor just seconds after he dove out of the way. Hua Cheng summoned it back to his hand and lunged toward him with a burst of inhuman speed, his form blurring into a smear of red.

Xie Lian grabbed a sword from the wall, his sword- the one he always used when they sparred. He turned just in time to block E'Ming, their swords crossing with a grating noise between their chests.

Hua Cheng pinned him to the wall with the force of his blow. As they struggled against each other, his red eye flicked between the sword and his mask.

His expression never changed, but the intensity within his eye grew, as if he was trying to say something with his gaze.

In a burst of relief, Xie Lian thought, San Lang- do you know it's me?

His arms were beginning to shake under the force Hua Cheng applied. He kicked out at his knee, making Hua Cheng retreat back a step. It gave him enough space to lurch out from between him and wall.

Xie Lian deflected his next blow as he continued to retreat across the room. Hua Cheng followed him with a dizzying array of strikes, but the rhythm started to feel familiar. He'd used this attack combination while they'd sparred before.

Was it all an act? If Hua Cheng knew Xie Lian was the one behind the mask, did that mean he was only pretending to fall for Bai Wuxiang's trick? It would lower his guard until they found where he was hiding within the palace.

If that was the case, then Xie Lian wouldn't betray him.

Let them give Bai Wuxiang the best performance of their lives.

They danced around each other faster than ever before, swords glinting with silver light. Red and white blended together as their clothes met in the swirl of their movements.

Xie Lian continued to fight in a defensive position, constantly looking for an opening to run. Hua Cheng would always catch him by his wrist or a flowing sleeve, keeping him in place while he leveled more attacks. But the tremendous power behind them waned, just enough that he could continue to deflect them as he quickly tired.

You do know it's me!

They moved from the armory and into the hallway. E'Ming shattered the wall to a nearby room and Xie Lian ducked within, escaping Hua Cheng's grasp by mere inches.

The darkness was near absolute until a dozen butterflies followed him through the crumbling gap. They streamed into the room and circled the high-ceiling, illuminating the vaulted space.

It was one of the dilapidated entertainment halls. Torn and moth-eaten cloth hung from the ceiling beams and a broken dais took up the middle of the room, the wooden floor splintered and bowed inward.

Silence emanated within, broken only by the sound of Xie Lian's muffled panting. There wasn't another whisper of sound, but the moment Hua Cheng appeared in the room, he knew.

He whirled to face him, his sword raised.

Hua Cheng smiled, his red eye piercing the low-dark of the room's edge like a burning ember. "Nowhere left to run?" he asked, brandishing E'Ming.

Xie Lian had focused on his scimitar too much- when he heard the swish of fabric behind him, it was too late.

Hua Cheng pulled down one of the draped cloths from the ceiling and coiled it around him. The cloth lifted him into the air as he kicked, but it had wrapped around his sword arm, too. He couldn't cut himself free.

At the same time, Hua Cheng winded back his arm, and then he threw E'Ming.

The scimitar spun towards him, the red glow of it's eye blurring through the air. Panic spiraled through his nerves- he knew Hua Cheng wasn't actually trying to hurt him, but he really couldn't get out of the way this time.

Just as E'Ming was set to burrow into his chest, it changed course and ducked into the darkness behind him.

A low thunk echoed in the room.

"...You bastard," Bai Wuxiang rasped.

He stumbled from the darkness. E'Ming was sunk into his abdomen, the blade slowly twisting in the wound. A guttural sound escaped his chest as he tried to pull it out, but the blade wouldn't relent, the red eye glaring up with icy rage.

"Me?" Hua Cheng laughed, but there was little humor in his tone. "After what you just tried to do?"

Tension wound through the air like the pressure before a storm.

Bai Wuxiang barely twitched, and then the cloth surrounding Xie Lian began strangling him.

Hua Cheng leapt from the other side of the room and ripped it from his throat. By the time he landed with Xie Lian in his arms, Bai Wuxiang had fled, drops of blood trailing towards the open door.

Xie Lian coughed and tried to claw the mask from his face once more, but it still wouldn't come off.

"Shh, gege, it's alright," Hua Cheng murmured as he settled him onto his lap. Then he reached up and curled his fingers beneath the mask. It finally peeled away from his face with a brush of colder air. Hua Cheng let it clatter to the floor.

"San Lang," he wheezed, relief filling his chest when he actually heard his own voice. "San Lang- San Lang! You knew it was me?" he cried, his voice stabilizing the more he spoke.

Hua Cheng caressed his face, the slide of his nails over his skin making him shiver. "I was only sure after you left the staff behind. I'm sorry, gege, I was so rough-"

He shook his head and wrapped his arms around his neck, squeezing him in a tight embrace. All of his panicked fear and uncertainty drained from his nerves as he felt strong arms return his hug. "Don't be- my San Lang is brilliant," he whispered in his ear.

Hua Cheng's hands roamed his back as he looked for bruises to heal. While there were a few on his ribs, the healing spell quickly devolved into an overwhelming tickling sensation when there was nothing left to do.

"S-stop!" he laughed, his shoulders shaking with it.

The tickling slowly faded. Xie Lian drew back, his hands resting on his shoulders. "Bai Wuxiang- we need to finish him off before he gets away again."

Hua Cheng hummed as he beckoned Xie Lian to stand with him. "E'Ming won't let him get far. We earned another minute of rest," he said, pulling his waist flush against his.

Xie Lian couldn't keep the smile from his lips, even as he ducked away from his kiss. It landed on his cheek. Undeterred, Hua Cheng continued down his jaw and towards his neck.

"San Lang, I'm really not sure this counts as rest-" he laughed, but his breath caught in his throat.

The silhouette of an archer stood in the crumbling opening of the entertainment hall.

With a low thrum, they let their arrow fly.

Chapter Text

The arrow whizzed through the air, the sharp hiss like the intake of breath before a scream.

Xie Lian reacted without thinking- his hand shot up, covering the side of Hua Cheng's head.

It was the most likely place his best friend would aim.

With a sickening thunk, the iron head split flesh and cracked bone. A low gasp escaped his lips at the shock of the impact, and then the pain truly set in, licking up the nerves of his arm with a burning ache.

Blood flecked Hua Cheng's pale face as he turned, his pupil slitting with rage.

The arrow clattered to the floor as Xie Lian opened his trembling hand. With the other, he held tight to the front of Hua Cheng's robes. "San Lang- don't-" he breathed out, wrestling down the bubbling urge within his chest to cry out.

Across the room, Feng Xin lowered the bow, his mouth slackened in surprise. His head jolted a second later- Mu Qing smacked him from behind.

"Why did you hit him?!" he snapped.

"I didn't! He caught it-!" Feng Xin yelled back.

Hua Cheng let out a low breath of air, his face seizing into a stony expression. Then he curled his fingers around Xie Lian's wrist and lifted his aching hand.

Both of his friends tensed. Panic overtook them as they reached for their weapons- Feng Xin's hand was a blur as he knocked another arrow into the line, while Mu Qing reached for his saber with cold ferocity in his eyes.

But they both froze in place as Hua Cheng only kissed his bloody fingers.

The relief it brought was immediate- the pain subsided to a dull itch as the lacerations knitted back together, and then it faded entirely, subsumed by the soft warmth of Hua Cheng's mouth.

A faint heat rose to Xie Lian's face at his expression: he was so intensely focused on pressing reverent kisses to his fingers, it seemed as if he'd forgotten about the rest of the world.

And then his tongue darted past his lips.

Xie Lian's head imploded as he felt his tongue rake across his skin. A slow smirk spread over Hua Cheng's face, crooked and mischievous. Then he looked towards his friends, a challenging gleam dancing in his narrowed gaze.

Feng Xin's lip wrinkled as he pulled the line of his bow taught, preparing to loose another arrow.

"Stop!" Xie Lian cried. He ripped his hand from Hua Cheng's and lurched forward to stand in front of him, arms thrown wide. He still wore Bai Wuxiang's white funerary robes, so the billowing sleeves helped obscure him. "Stop it, Feng Xin!"

The bow line kissed Feng Xin's jaw as he held the tension stiff. "He's licking his lips like a dog, Xie Lian!" he yelled. "Get out of the way!"

"He's just messing with you!" he said, refusing to budge as Hua Cheng cupped his waist, also urging him to move aside.

Warm breath puffed in his ear as he murmured, "You shouldn't-"

"Aim for his fucking face," Mu Qing snarled, glaring daggers just above Xie Lian's head.

Right- Hua Cheng was much taller than him. Xie Lian threw his arms straight up and shouted, "I'll never forgive you if you hurt him!"

The truth of it clawed ugliness into his tone, making it ring coldly around the room. His friends stilled in surprise.

Hua Cheng guided his arms down and gently fixed his sleeves. "Gege- don't stand in front of me with this lunatic here-"

"-lunatic-?" Feng Xin gaped at him.

"Get behind me. He won't take me by surprise again," he continued, the corners of his lips dropping into a frown when Xie Lian still refused to comply.

He shook his head. "You don't have to fight with them, San Lang. I can handle this-"

The low sound of scoffed laughter made him pause.

"When Feng Xin spoke of the last time he saw you, I thought he'd been exaggerating," Mu Qing said, his tone smooth as honey. He leaned against the shattered wall and crossed his arms. "I guess not."

Xie Lian's heart sunk low in his chest as he met his cold gaze. "No," he murmured, clutching his hands in front of him. "He probably didn't. But I can explain-!"

"Not yet," Feng Xin said as he slackened his bow. "We brought a bewitchment cure. You're going to drink it."

Hua Cheng's hand tensed over his shoulder. "If you really think you can force him-"

"San Lang," Xie Lian whispered. He patted his chest, the silver charms of his necklace rattling beneath his fingers. "It's okay. It won't affect me, so there's no harm."

His frown tightened, but he didn't protest as Xie Lian walked towards his old friends, his hand slipping reluctantly from his shoulder.

Feng Xin narrowed his eyes, looking between him and Hua Cheng. Then he pulled back his arrow. "If you move while he drinks it," he announced, "I will shoot you in the face."

Hua Cheng scoffed and crossed his arms over his chest, but he remained standing a few feet away.

The atmosphere tensed as they traded glares, and then Feng Xin nodded to Mu Qing. "Come on- give him the cure," he muttered.

Mu Qing's thin eyebrows creased and he dug into his pack. Then he pulled out a small, blue vial. "Here." He casually tossed it to Xie Lian.

Panicking, Xie Lian caught it with hurried movements. This was the only way he could quickly prove to them that what he felt for Hua Cheng was real, and Mu Qing was going to treat it so carelessly-?

Oh.

A sardonic look crossed over Mu Qing's face as he uncorked the stopper.

He already knew that Xie Lian wasn't bewitched. This was entirely for Feng Xin's benefit.

The cure smelled strange, like a mixture of strong herbs and smoke. Xie Lian wrinkled his nose as he took a small sip, and then he gagged at the acidic taste that washed over his tongue.

"Gege-" Hua Cheng breathed out behind him, but Feng Xin flashed him a warning glare.

"I'm fine, San Lang," he coughed. "It just tastes awful."

Mu Qing rolled his eyes. "Sorry we don't have honey to wash it down with, your highness," he muttered.

Despite the retched taste still burning his tongue, Xie Lian huffed a small laugh.

He threw his head back and swallowed down the rest of the cure.

Afterwards, he coughed and wiped his mouth. The empty vial dropped to the floor.

"Alright," he murmured. "I've drank it all."

Feng Xin slowly lowered his bow. "And...?" he breathed out.

Xie Lian looked away from him- he didn't want to see the moment the hope went out in his eyes. He turned his head and held his hand out to Hua Cheng. "San Lang," he murmured. "Will you come here?"

Hua Cheng's face was darkly shuttered as he watched them, but when he was beckoned closer, his eye widened with surprise. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and took Xie Lian's hand.

He took a deep breath and then said, "Feng Xin, Mu Qing, this is Hua Cheng. He's been trapped in this palace for three centuries by the Jade Emperor's Ring, which is why he tried to ransom me for it. During my time here, we grew close, and..."

His words caught in his throat and low heat dusted his face- he'd never thought confessing his feelings for someone else could be so embarrassing, before, but the shocked look on Feng Xin's face only made it worse. Mu Qing simply watched them with a frosty expression.

He found the strength to finish when he met Hua Cheng's eye. The lower lid was creased with the hint of a smile.

"He's very dear to me," he murmured, "In a way I never thought I'd feel for anyone. I know it might be hard to understand, so I'm not looking for you all to be friends. You can view him however you'd like. But I am asking you to accept it- things have changed, and it's going to stay that way."

"Is that what you plan on telling your parents?" Mu Qing asked, his voice deceptively light.

"I- well," Xie Lian stammered. He had no idea how he was going to talk to his parents about Hua Cheng- of course he'd never say something so insolent to them.

Feng Xin had always had an expressive face, so it was easy to read the whirling journey of emotions that passed through him. His eyes shone with disbelief as he glanced between the two of them. "Xie Lian... he's a vampire. How-?"

Xie Lian squeezed Hua Cheng's hand tighter. "He's just as human as the rest of us."

Mu Qing's lips pulled back in a tense smile. "Right," he laughed. "How noble and flawless you are- you found humanity in a monster, and then you went and fell in love with it. What an inspiration to us all."

Hua Cheng stiffened beside him, but for once he remained silent. Xie Lian's felt nauseous as he watched the venom shine in his friend's eyes. "Mu Qing-" he murmured, but he shook his head in a jerking motion, his smile turning ferocious.

"Just how many people has he fed from? Has he killed? Did you ever ask him that?"

He tasted iron from biting the inside of his cheek. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I know he hurt you, but he was fighting for his freedom. If he was truly as cruel as you thought, he would've killed you."

Mu Qing's face seized into a cold mask, but he couldn't disguise the betrayal in his eyes.

Xie Lian stepped forward before he could say another word and took both of his hands in his. Mu Qing tried to pull away, but Xie Lian held tight. "I'm glad to see you doing well," he said. "I've really missed you, these past months. Both of you."

With his shoulders as high as his ears, it was obvious how uncomfortable Mu Qing was. His eyes darted across all the figures in the room, searching for what to do next. His gaze landed on Hua Cheng. "So- you have so little face that you'd let him apologize for you?"

The corners of Hua Cheng's lips lifted in the pale imitation of a smile. "I think you misunderstood," he said. "An apology followed by an excuse is meaningless, so he must have apologized for not coddling your pathetic feelings."

His nose crinkled in a snarl and Xie Lian immediately placed himself between the two of them. "Hey! Don't fight, don't fight-!" he cried. "We really don't have time to argue amongst ourselves."

"Why's that?" Feng Xin muttered. "You're fine and he already has the ring. I'd say we have plenty of time to hash out our feelings," he growled. His thumb stroked the cut feathers of the knocked arrow.

"No- there's another Vampire King here: Bai Wuxiang," he explained hurriedly. "We need to kill him. He's the one that attacked Ayi in the first place, and he turned Qi Rong."

Their eyebrows raised at that.

"Seriously?" Feng Xin muttered. "He's a vampire, now?"

Xie Lian nodded his head. "Please, will you help us? We can't afford to let Bai Wuxiang escape- who knows the damage he'll go on to do?"

His friends shared a complicated look while Hua Cheng whined behind him, "Gege, do we really need them?"

Xie Lian turned to him. "They're skilled hunters, San Lang. Can't you stop provoking them and try to get along for just a little bit?" He sighed and took one of the charms of his necklace between his fingers, stroking it with his thumb. "Please?"

His chest stalled with a held breath- Xie Lian could see just how much he hated the idea, but he wasn't about to backpedal. They needed the help.

After a low exhale, Hua Cheng whispered, "Alright, gege."

He smiled. "Thank you, San Lang." The urge to kiss him briefly crossed his mind, but he didn't quite have the courage. Instead, he took his hand in his again and squeezed it.

"Why does he call you gege?" Feng Xin cut in, sounding disgusted.

Xie Lian let out a nervous laugh. "Well- it's an inside joke."

His eyebrows only furrowed. "In fact, how old is he? Is this really appropriate-?"

"And why are you wearing funeral robes?" Mu Qing chimed in.

Xie Lian blanched. "You guys-"

"As fun as this is," Hua Cheng intervened, a mocking lilt dripping from his tone, "We have a vampire to kill."

Feng Xin gaped like he'd been slapped. "This is the type of guy you fall for?"

Xie Lian frowned. "He's trying to be nice. Don't bully him either, you too."

"Bully him?" Mu Qing snapped. "He's a Vampire King."

"How observant," Hua Cheng dead-panned.

The look Mu Qing sent him could have frozen an entire bay.

"Alright!" Xie Lian yelled, his hands thrown up. "You guys don't like him, he doesn't like you. Fine. We can split up and meet again when Bai Wuxiang is dead."

"Are you kidding?" Feng Xin said, his eyebrows pinched together. "Of course we're coming with you."

He froze, then, his gaze straying to Mu Qing. "You, too?" he asked, hesitant. "I wouldn't expect it- I know you must be-"

"Know what?" Mu Qing muttered. "You've been gone for months. And the bags under your eyes are almost dark enough to be bruises- you look like shit. You're not leaving our sight."

Xie Lian's face broke open in a warm smile. "I really missed you guys," he whispered. Then he looked to Hua Cheng. "San Lang- do you know where he is right now?"

Hua Cheng nodded. "He's trying to find an exit out of the palace. I can take us to him."

Xie Lian turned to his friends and explained, "Bai Wuxiang is a strong spellcaster. He might try to manipulate you- he tried it earlier with us. It's why I'm wearing this," he sighed, picking at the collar of his robe. "Just remember that Hua Cheng won't hurt you- Bai Wuxiang will."

Mu Qing drew his saber and inspected the edge of it with his thumb. "Sure. We totally trust him," he muttered.

Feng Xin remained silent, his expression pensive as he adjusted his grip on the knocked arrow in his bow.

Hua Cheng took his hand and tugged him towards one of the grand pairs of doors in the dilapidated entertainment hall. "I'll work the space to our advantage, but Bai Wuxiang isn't a stranger to spatial manipulation, either. Just like earlier, he'll try to supersede my control," he said and snapped his fingers. Across the room, Xie Lian's sword rattled on the stone and then flew towards them. Hua Cheng caught the hilt and offered it to him.

"Please," he murmured. "Be careful."

Xie Lian smiled as he took the sword, their fingers brushing. "I promise."

His eye moved minutely back and forth, studying him. "Are you sure-?"

"Anywhere you go, I'm going." He swallowed. "And I don't... I don't want to fight separate battles."

While the images were blurry, now, he could still feel the pain of Bai Wuxiang's sword cutting into Fangxin's stomach. No- splitting up would only play into his hand.

Hua Cheng's expression tensed. Instead of asking, he murmured, "Alright. We'll fight together... and I'm sure your friends will help protect you."

"Of course," Feng Xin immediately responded. "If you're too busy, that is."

They traded harsh looks.

Xie Lian squeezed his hand. "Thank you. And you be careful, too, San Lang. Don't get too reckless."

His eye softened as it turned back to him. "Mn," he whispered. Then, "Come here."

They were already standing quite close together, so Xie Lian cocked his head to the side, confused.

Hua Cheng's lips twitched as he tapped the underside of his chin, beckoning him to tilt his head up.

Heat dusted his face as he understood, and then Xie Lian rose to the balls of his feet to kiss him.

It was a chaste press- though the disgusted sounds his friends uttered made it seem otherwise. Before Xie Lian could break away with embarrassment, a searing warmth bled into his lips.

It was energy from the ring. Hua Cheng passed it to him in flowing waves, making his nerves tingle and his skin erupt in goosebumps from the force of it. He'd never dared to take this much even while running from the hunters.

"San Lang-" he gasped when they parted. "Isn't that too much? What about you-?"

"There's plenty, gege," he said, one of his fangs poking from his smile. "Humans can only handle absorbing so much; that should be be a safe amount for you. And just to make sure this doesn't get lost again-"

Hua Cheng slid the ring from his finger and held it in his open palm. Red light pierced the room as the ring wobbled upwards and began to glow. The aura expanded, creating a buzzing feeling that resonated through the air. Power and heat licked the walls in waves as Hua Cheng absorbed the rest of the mana in the ring, his eyebrows pinched with concentration.

When it was empty, the ring plopped back into his outstretched palm. He cracked his neck, utterly radiating with a sense of power; his eye blazed brighter than ever. Then he curled his fingers tightly over the ring. All that was left when he opened his hand was a shimmering, fine powder.

Wide eyed, Xie Lian cupped the underside of his hand. "Is that it? It's broken?" he asked.

"I won't know for certain until I try to leave," he murmured. "But I've completely destroyed the spell." With a somber expression, he tilted his hand and allowed the dust to fall to the floor.

It was the last physical connection he had to Fangxin. How much grief must he be enduring right now? How much sadness? Xie Lian curled his fingers into his palm. "Then we'll try, soon." he whispered. "Just like this."

Hua Cheng's lips slanted into a rare smile, relaxed and wholly unguarded. Xie Lian's heart melted at the sight of it. "Mn," he hummed, running his thumb over his knuckles. "Are you ready?"

He nodded, and then he looked back to his friends. "You guys, too?"

They both slouched in place. "We've been ready," Feng Xin groaned. "Are you guys done making out?"

Xie Lian's face burned like a thousand suns. "We were not making out-!"

"It sure looked like it from here-"

"You think that's making out?" Hua Cheng asked, one eyebrow cocked. "I don't know who to pity more."

"San Lang!" Xie Lian protested. He didn't want to discuss the finer details of making out with his two best friends.

He turned with a crooked smile. "Alright, gege. I'm sorry- don't scold me anymore," he murmured, his eye gleaming in a way that wasn't unapologetic at all. Then he raised his other hand and pressed his palm flat against the door. Cold seriousness took over his expression as he said, "I'll step out, first."

The doors swung open with a bang, revealing a chaotic kaleidoscope of swirling fractals made from the architecture of the palace. Rooms were torn apart and rebuilt in triples; staircases stacked themselves into oblivion and then melded into seamless hallways. It seemed impossibly lit, impossibly slotted together. Xie Lian couldn't wrap his head around where one space stopped and another began.

Hua Cheng squeezed his hand once, and then he let go.

Silver mist swirled his vambraces before a mass of butterflies exploded from the metal. They darted below, the open doors leading to a dead drop into the vast entrance hall.

Bai Wuxiang stopped slamming into the grand red doors and turned, throwing his staff up to meet the onslaught of butterflies. The swarm met the billowing joss paper and caught into a wall of shimmering flame.

Hua Cheng jumped into the open air. E'Ming burst from Bai Wuxiang's abdomen with a spray of blood, making him fall to his knees, and bolted back into Hua Cheng's outstretched hand.

He raised the scimitar above his head as he arced into a free-fall, his red robes billowing in the wind.

A cloud of sparkling ash swirled around Bai Wuxiang, the leftovers of the burned butterflies. It shook as he raised his staff to meet Hua Cheng's blow.

With a shuddering BOOM, the impact erupted over the entrance hall. The stone floor splintered into rubble and the walls shuddered with spiderwebbed cracks, going so far as to damage the nearby fractals.

Xie Lian struggled to keep his balance as the entire palace quaked.

"How the hell are we supposed to support that?!" Feng Xin shouted.

The rattling debris hadn't even calmed before both vampires were exchanging more blows, their forms smearing into red and white.

"What kind of archer are you?" Mu Qing spit.

"You try to hit something moving that fast!"

Xie Lian shook his head. "He's right, we can't keep up with them. But we need to make sure Bai Wuxiang doesn't have an opening to use more tricks. Look- he's making clones-!" he said, pointing to the swirling white mist appearing in some of the rooms. "Don't let them gang up on San Lang!"

The threshold before him elongated, and then wooden steps folded down towards the entrance hall's cracked floor. A butterfly swooped low over the stairway.

"He created a path for us!" he shouted. "Come on!"

Xie Lian rushed down the stairs, his sword raised. Feng Xin and Mu Qing followed slowly behind, wary of the moving space. But as the clones took shape and darted forward, they let go of their hesitancy and followed Xie Lian into the warped entrance hall.

He was quickly rushed by a group of clones, but they were weak imitations. Utterly colorless, the edges of their forms wavered like smoke in a dream. Their unnatural movements made their attacks unpredictable, but ultimately they dispersed into white mist when struck just once.

"You'd really let him fight?" Bai Wuxiang wheezed, his voice echoing strangely. The two vampires moved through the fractal rooms so quickly, their voices seemed to come from everywhere.

"Think you'll get the chance to touch him?" Hua Cheng snarled. "I could laugh."

The squeal of metal rang out, punctuated by a heavy boom. The floor quaked again. Just as a clone reached for Xie Lian, an arrow tore through the center of its mask. It melted into white mist and slunk to the floor.

Two more grew from the mist, never ending.

"I thought you'd learned from your mistakes," Bai Wuxiang hissed. "Sending him out alone-"

His voice was cut off by a savage crash.

"You controlling narcissist- he makes his own decisions. But you can't understand that, can you? Always weaving some game for everyone else to play, just so you can have two seconds to feel like you've come out on top."

"Is that what you think of me?" Fire flared in one of the distant hallways, the only mark of their location before it was gone again, reduced to ash floating to the floor. "Who taught you everything you know? Who trained you? I created you. Everything you have, everything you lost- you should thank me."

"You didn't create shit. Not like we did-" anger entered his tone, a low darkness. E'Ming's strikes grew louder, shaking the ground even more. "But you're right about one thing. Allow me to thank you for everything I've lost."

The entire palace glowed silver with the wave of butterflies that poured through it. Feng Xin and Mu Qing flinched as the tidal wave reached them, but the butterflies split around them, carving through the clones and dissipating the mist with the force of their numbers.

A lone wing brushed Xie Lian's forehead, delicate and gone before he could identify which one had touched him.

"Oh, is this about your pet?" Bai Wuxiang scoffed. "Stupid boy- you should've turned him if he was so important. But here's the funny thing-"

A sinking feeling tightened in Xie Lian's stomach. His muscles screamed with pain as he dispatched another clone; the blow was clumsy, distracted.

"Your new lover? He saw something, when he touched the ring," Bai Wuxiang said, his smile evident in his tone. "You know what that means, don't you?"

He knows. He knows, he knows- Xie Lian froze, searching for them in the maze of rooms.

Hua Cheng had come to a dead stop. His gaze landed on him, wide-eyed and blank with a surprise that bordered on joy.

"San Lang!" he screamed, pointing to the white streak barreling his way.

He didn't see the impact, only the cloud of dust and debris that flew into the air. The moment dragged on with aching slowness, his panic rising when Hua Cheng didn't immediately reappear.

The palace shuddered, and then the rooms buckled with new rhythm.

In the thin second Hua Cheng's attention turned, Bai Wuxiang took control of the space.

Doorways lengthened from cracks in the stairwells, in walls. They swung open to reveal his horde of vampire spawn, their red eyes glowing as they sprung forward.

Xie Lian's hands shook as he watched them pour into the warped palace. Sweat dripped down his face and his body burned with exhaustion, and yet their opponents had only grown in number and strength. There were too many of them. Feng Xin had already run out of arrows, and Mu Qing was panting heavily beside him. There was no way they could fight so many on their own.

He took in lungfuls of air, fighting the tunneling scope of his vision.

Dark figures followed the vampires into the dazzling fractals.

Xie Lian blinked, but no- they were real.

They were hunters.

Wherever the vampires streamed from, hunters pursued them. Bai Wuxiang could pull his allies into the fight, but he hadn't managed to seal the doors behind them.

Was Hua Cheng fighting his control?

A crowd of new voices and battles cluttered the air, confusing his already-warped sense of direction. "San Lang!" Xie Lian called, still looking for him amongst the spiraling wood and stone.

There was no answer- no clashing swords or shuddering blows.

Feng Xin caught his arm as he walked towards a random staircase. "Where are you going?"

"San Lang- Hua Cheng isn't answering-" he said breathlessly.

"...But you don't see Bai Wuxiang either, right?" he pointed out. "Give it a minute. You're not even in a state to help- I saw you missing some of your swings."

Xie Lian grit his teeth, wanting to argue. But he was right. He nodded his head and let Feng Xin lead him back.

With so many hunters entering the fight, it was actually rare for a stray vampire to attack them. The trio took a moment to rest, panting as they leaned against a wall. Mu Qing broke off first to call over injured hunters to heal.

A small group began to form around them- a combination of injured hunters and those guarding them.

When they'd both recovered a little more, Feng Xin bumped his shoulder. "Look," he murmured, then jerked his chin up.

Xie Lian's father had come to edge of the group.

He took halting steps forward, his grip white-knuckled on his bloody sword. Xie Lian couldn't stop looking in between that and his face as he drew closer. The urge to run bubbled up inside of him, knife-sharp and clearing his foggy mind for a brief moment. 

He had no idea what to do, what he was thinking. Ultimately, the only word he could utter was, "Dad."

The sword clattered to the ground. "Xie Lian," his father answered in a rush, the exhale deflating his high shoulders. Then he collapsed forward and pulled Xie Lian into a strong hug.

"You foolish, foolish boy," he whispered. "What have you done?"

Xie Lian huffed with hysterical laughter. "I'm sorry," he whispered, a thread of truth hidden behind the knee-jerk response. He was so, so tired- he leaned into his father's hold and closed his eyes. "I really made a mess this time."

His father sighed. "All this, and-" he cut off, his gruff tone settling into something more pleasant. "Alright. We'll clean it up."

They pulled away from each other. His father's eyebrows scrunched together and he brought the back of his hand up to feel Xie Lian's forehead. "You're burning up, son," he murmured.

He shook his head, but the movement made him dizzy. "I'm fine. Just a little tired."

"Mu Qing," his father called.

As if he'd been near them the whole time, a hand pulled on his shoulder, forcing him to turn. Mu Qing looked him over with the detached manner of any physician, but there was urgency in his eyes. "Your pulse is extremely high," he said. "And you look feverish."

Mu Qing pointed at the floor. "Sit."

"What?" Xie Lian asked. "Here?"

He rolled his eyes. "Is it not clean enough for you?" he spit out, pushing him down. "Sit. Right now."

Xie Lian had wanted to fight him on it, at least a little. Then his legs gave out.

He fell to his hands and knees, his balance swaying dangerously. "Mu Qing...?" he muttered.

"What's happening?" his father asked, his hands hovering awkwardly in the air.

"I don't know yet," Mu Qing answered. He pulled on one of Xie Lian's eyelids and studied his pupil, uncomfortably close.

"How can you not know?" Feng Xin cut in.

"I'm not psychic!" he snapped.

"Dad," Xie Lian panted. Then, "Dad-!"

He pointed behind them. A white figure streaked through the air.

He was truly a predator summoned by blood; Bai Wuxiang bolted towards them, Hua Cheng no where to be seen.

Xie Lian's heart stopped as father stepped in front of him. He pulled a stake from his coat pocket.

"No-!" he called out, but it was too late. Bai Wuxiang swept over the group like a sheet of suffocating snow, his hands outstretched before him.

Red spattered into the air- his father had tried to stab the stake through his chest, but Bai Wuxiang had covered it with his hand. It stuck uselessly though his palm as he used that same hand to partly lift the mask covering his face, revealing a monstrous, fanged smile.

His mouth opened and he grabbed his father, pulling his neck close to those fangs-

Fingers curled into his hair, wrenching him back.

"Really," Bai Wuxiang wheezed, that wicked grin still on his face. "All this for humans that would kill you?"

Hua Cheng looked down at him with utter disdain. Without saying another word, he cut his head from his neck.

Blood rushed into the air, spackling the floor red as the body crumpled at his feet. Hua Cheng dropped the head with a disgusted crinkle of his nose and then wiped spots of blood from his cheek. He stepped forward, his eye pinned to Xie Lian.

A dozen swords turned in his direction. He ignored all of them, but Xie Lian's father stood firm in his path.

They regarded each other with cold curiosity.

Hua Cheng spoke first. "He needs treatment. Something's wrong," he said stiffly.

His father let out an indignant laugh. "If you really think-"

Feng Xin coughed. "Mr. Xie," he murmured. "I don't like him, but... Xie Lian trusts him."

The entire room fell silent, absent of even a whispered breath.

Xie Lian exhaled, "San Lang."

In the blink of an eye, he'd kneeled before him. Everyone else in the room jumped, but Xie Lian curled closer to him on the ground, his hands dragging over the cold floor. "You did it," he murmured, his eyelids threatening to fall closed.

Hua Cheng's eyebrows pinched together as he studied him. "Gege- you-?" he whispered, and then he reached for his hand.

The moment their skin met, heat flooded him. It was followed by a dull tickle- the healing spell zinged through him with painful familiarity. But Xie Lian snatched his hand away, groaning. "It burns," he muttered, curling in on himself.

Whatever had been growing inside of him broke open- the room spun around him, warping into blurred color and shapes.

San Lang, he tried to call again, but his body wouldn't work anymore.

He had the sense he was spinning into a free fall.

Then, nothing.

💀

He woke to the sound of someone gently humming.

The low voice carried a tune he knew. Xie Lian twisted his face further into warm robes, burrowing into the rumbling sensation against his cheek.

Hua Cheng paused for a moment, his hand stilling from combing through his hair. Then he started again, his tone ticking up an octave higher. He was smiling.

Xie Lian inhaled his scent as he came back to himself, the rest of his surroundings slowly trickling in.

They must have been riding in a covered cart; wooden wheels creaked beneath them and the road was slightly uneven. Horse hooves beat the dirt in a slow cadence outside, muffled.

He savored the peace of the moment, trying to ignore the pain screaming within him. Despite being slow to move, his body was already starting to ache. His eyes hurt like twin bruises. He'd truly pushed himself past his limits, and now he was reaping his rewards for that.

Hua Cheng's nails scraped the nape of his neck.

It wasn't all terrible.

Eventually, the discomfort became too much to bear. He stirred with a grunt, turning over on Hua Cheng's chest. He was laid out overtop of him, his legs slotted between his.

The movement pulled his clothes against his skin. The fabric was different from the funeral robes: cotton instead of silk. Someone must have changed him. They were a little damp, too- with a disgusted wrinkle of his nose, Xie Lian realized he was covered in a light sheen of sweat. His first instinct was to pull himself off of Hua Cheng, if he was so gross- but his fingertips drifted across his hairline and Xie Lian couldn't help but melt into him.

"Gege," he said. "Good morning."

Xie Lian groaned. "Is it?" he whispered out, his voice so hoarse it was unrecognizable. His eyelids fluttered, but he was scared to open them. He didn't want to worsen his growing headache.

Hua Cheng let out a small breath. "Well- it's close to evening, actually." 

His eyebrows scrunched together as he tried to think of how long he'd been asleep. What time had he reached the palace? Close to midnight? After the battle, he must have passed out for the entire morning-

"You've been asleep for three days," Hua Cheng stroked his cheek. "How are you feeling?"

Three days?

Xie Lian's eyelids snapped open. Hua Cheng's pale face swam in his vision, blurry at first but clearing as he blinked in the low light. His assumption was right- they were curled up together on a bed roll in a covered wagon, surrounded by boxes and canvas sacks.

He tried to sit up, but gave in with a short whimper. Everything hurt.

Hua Cheng hushed him, his hands sliding over his shoulders as he pulled him into his chest. Only then did he notice that he was oddly dressed down: his jewelry and silver vambraces were missing, his red robes more rough-spun.

He began rubbing small circles over his back. Xie Lian curled into him limply. "Don't move so fast," he whispered in his ear. "You had mana sickness. Your fever didn't break until this morning."

Xie Lian pushed his face into his neck. "What?" he asked miserably.

His chest dipped with a low puff of air, something caught between laughter and a sigh. "You were taking mana from the ring in order to stay awake for days, weren't you?" he rumbled.

Guilt churned his stomach. He breathlessly explained, "I'm sorry, San Lang- everyone was right behind me and I was scared I wouldn't make it back in time- Bai Wuxiang had even sent a clone, and I was worried he was hurting you-"

"Gege, it's okay," he said and caressed his arms. "I'm not mad with you. How could I be? If anything, I only brought it on stronger by giving you so much before the fight. I'm sorry- I hadn't thought that my brave hero needed anything, dashing home on a white horse-"

The tension rushed from his body with wheezed laughter. "San Lang, I fell through a bush by the time I made it back. There was no horse-"

"I remember a horse," he muttered. Before Xie Lian could argue with him, he reached to the side for a canteen. "Here, gege, if you're-"

He hadn't finished his sentence by the time Xie Lian took it from his hand. The water slipped down his throat with aching coolness and settled heavily in his empty stomach. It squeezed once, like a warning, and then it felt like he'd swallowed a stone.

"Thank you," he panted as he pulled the canteen from his dry lips.

Hua Cheng's eye was slightly widened, the red iris glowing in the gritty dark. "Do you need more?"

Xie Lian shook his head and gingerly sat up. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "I'm alright," he whispered in a thin voice.

Breathy silence took hold between them. Hua Cheng's head cocked to the side as he studied him.

He lowered his gaze as he focused on screwing the lid back onto the canteen. His words were something of a paradox- Xie Lian felt like shit, but he was with his favorite person in the world. Even if he didn't feel alright now, he knew he would, soon.

The wagon jostled over a crater in the road. Xie Lian fell forward, the canteen dropping to the floor as he braced himself on Hua Cheng's shoulders.

Fingers curled over his ribs as Hua Cheng help catch him.

Only a few inches separated their faces as they stared at one another. Xie Lian was drawn in by his red eye- darker crimson ringed the pupil in jagged bursts. He cupped his cheek as he studied the subtle strips of dark against light, his thumb stroking low circles beneath.

Hua Cheng's breath puffed over his skin as he stared back in turn, his hands falling to his lower waist.

It finally sunk into him, in the dim quiet- they'd won.

They were free.

"San Lang," he said, then swallowed. "I need to ask you about something."

"Mn," Hua Cheng hummed.

"During your fight with Bai Wuxiang, he mentioned..." he trailed off, his throat growing tight.

Hua Cheng's expression grew serious and his gaze sparked with a knowing light, but he waited for him to finish.

"When I touched the ring, I saw... visions. Memories, from Fangxin." Xie Lian whispered like a louder voice might break something between them. "At first, I thought I was simply connecting to information stored within the ring. But... that wasn't truly the case, was it? I- I don't really understand..."

"Gege," Hua Cheng murmured. He reached up for Xie Lian's hands and clasped them both in his, drawing them down to rest in the space between them. "Why do you look so scared?"

His lip wobbled. "I don't remember," he whispered. "Even after watching them, and feeling like I was there, the memories are disappearing. They aren't mine, San Lang. I can't be him again-"

"Hey," he hushed him. "Do you think I'm the same person as back then, too?"

Xie Lian held his breath as he tried to remember what he'd seen. "I- I really can't remember," he said, a tinny edge creeping into his tone.

Lips twitching, Hua Cheng stroked his thumbs over his knuckles. His expression was a complicated thing; his eyebrows were pinched together with sadness, and yet he looked fond in equal measure, his gaze impossibly warm.

"I'm not," he said. "I know I've changed. Rotting in that palace for so long, I'd started to loose my memories, too. Everything good about us- it blurred out of focus and the shadows haunted me. I could hardly stand the light anymore; it illuminated how much everything was changing, and yet I couldn't remember how it was supposed to be. And then," his lower eyelid creased up and he leaned forward, like he was sharing a secret, "This fearsome hunter barged into my palace. Started destroying everything-"

Xie Lian screwed his face up, trying not to laugh. "I didn't-" he protested.

"He ripped off doors, yanked down my curtains-"

"It was one door-"

"And for the first time in centuries, the light wasn't painful."

He stilled. Outside the canvas sheet, laughter echoed, the break in a murmured conversation between hunters.

Hua Cheng squeezed his hands. "I won't pretend to know what souls are made of, or why the universe forces us through the change of death. But so long as I exist, I will fall in love with you again."

Xie Lian had never thought of himself as an emotional person. But Hua Cheng's words loosened the heaviness in his chest and he couldn't hold back his tears in his exhausted state. He ducked his head into his shoulder, hiding. "Good," he whispered brokenly. "Because I can't imagine a life where I don't love you."

Strong arms wrapped around his back, pulling him into a tight embrace.

He didn't have the energy to cry for long. When he'd regained his composure, he pulled back from his chest, just enough to see his face. Then he guided one of his arms between them so he could hold his hand. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'd told you that we'd leave the palace like this. I didn't keep my word."

Hua Cheng smiled. "They left the wagons outside of the palace walls- I was the one who carried you out. So even if you don't remember, you were with me."

The wagon drew to a shuddering stop. Hunters shouted outside, something about camp, but Xie Lian ignored them. "What was it like?" he asked. "Stepping out, for the first time in so long?"

His eyebrows pinched together in thought. "A little more boring than I'd expected," he said. "I kept waiting to run into the boundary again, but then we were at the wagons and it was over."

Xie Lian's lips parted in a wide grin. "Are you excited for the rest?"

"Mn," he hummed. "Where do you-"

The canvas sheet pulled back, throwing golden light over the floor.

Xie Lian whipped around and threw his arms out. "Don't let in the light-!" he snapped, shielding Hua Cheng with his own body.

There was a low grunt of surprise, and then the dark shape of Feng Xin cut through the bright rays of the golden hour. The canvas sheet fell shut behind him. "You-!" he shouted, his pointing finger wavering between Hua Cheng and Xie Lian, unsure of who to scold first.

He landed on Xie Lian. "Calm down! He was in the shade the entire time. And you-!" he pointed at Hua Cheng. "You were supposed to tell us when he woke up!"

"It's been all of ten minutes," he said lowly.

"That's ten minutes too long!"

Xie Lian groaned and rubbed his temples. "Feng Xin, do you have to be so loud?"

Hua Cheng rubbed his lower back. "Do you want some tea, gege? Or are you hungry?"

"Stop offering things you can't even get," Feng Xin snapped. He crossed his arms over his chest and then continued in a gentler voice, "We're setting up camp here for the night. I can bring you some tea once they get the fire started, and dinner won't be too long after that."

Xie Lian's shoulders slumped as he relaxed. "Oh," he murmured. "Thank you, Feng Xin."

He nodded, and then an awkward silence fell over the wagon.

"Is there anything else you want?" Feng Xin asked.

"Well-" he murmured, pinching the end of his sleeve. "Is there water nearby? So I could rinse off?"

Feng Xin nodded. "There's a lake. I'll show you," he said, then waved his hand for Xie Lian to follow.

"Now?" he asked, his face falling. He looked back to Hua Cheng.

Feng Xin clicked his tongue- something Xie Lian had never heard him do, before. He must have been spending a lot more time around Mu Qing. "He'll be fine. No one in this camp wants to fight a Vampire King."

The corner of Hua Cheng's mouth tugged upwards. "Go on, gege."

Reluctantly, he got to his feet, Hua Cheng supporting him until Feng Xin stepped over to help. His legs were unsteady and weak beneath him, making him feel like a newborn calf.

After Feng Xin helped him down from the wagon, he turned to look inside one last time, his fingertips straying on the curtain. Hua Cheng caught his look and smiled. "Don't rush yourself," he murmured. "I'll be right here."

Xie Lian returned his smile and nodded.

Feng Xin was staring at him with a withered look when he finally pulled away, a bundle of fresh clothes folded beneath his arm.

"What?" Xie Lian sighed.

"You really..." Feng Xin trailed off, and then he shook his head. "Never mind. Let's see Mu Qing, first. He should look you over."

The wagons had been pulled into a circle in the middle of a clearing. Most of the horses were left to graze around them, tied to the small saplings that started the edge of the forest.

Mu Qing was helping to collect wood for the fire. He was walking back from the tree line when they spotted him. The moment his eyes landed on Xie Lian, his expression dropped with dead seriousness and he threw his bundle of sticks to the ground, striding forward.

Xie Lian knew that look. He let out a nervous laugh. "Mu Qing-!"

"Why is he up?" he said tersely, glaring at Feng Xin. "You should have called me over first-"

"Don't start with me, he's walking just fine," he grumbled. "He wants to wash off, anyway. Aren't you always saying that cleanliness is good for health?"

Mu Qing sighed and grabbed his wrist to check his pulse. Up close, Xie Lian could smell that he'd been riding- it looked like he hadn't taken a moment to rest since he'd dismounted. Loose strands of hair framed his face and caught in a passing breeze.

"I'm feeling okay, Mu Qing," he murmured. "Just a little weak. Sorry for the trouble."

"Shut up," Mu Qing snapped. "I don't want to hear apologies from you."

Xie Lian pressed his lips into a thin line.

"Hey," Feng Xin called. "Do you really need to-"

"You're pulse is still weak," Mu Qing cut in. "Wash off in the lake, but don't go past the shallows. Don't do anything strenuous. I'll bring you medicine, later, so don't eat too much. Especially in your state- it'd probably make you sick."

He nodded his head. "Thanks."

Mu Qing dropped his wrist and turned to gather his discarded bundle of sticks. "There's extra soap in my bag," he said, seemingly to no one, and then he stalked off.

Xie Lian swallowed as he met Feng Xin's gaze. "He's still pretty angry, isn't he?"

He scratched the back of his neck, his expression contorting with a grimace. "It's not really at you. Your boyfriend just hasn't made anything easy."

Faint heat tinged his face to hear Hua Cheng called his boyfriend. "Oh," he murmured. He waited until they'd grabbed the soap from his pack and were past the tree line to ask, "Have they been fighting?"

"At first, they were just glaring at each other," he said. "But then... We were putting cold rags on you, to help with the fever. Mu Qing brought a fresh pan of water, but he'd just finished boiling it, so it was still warm. Hua Cheng called him an idiot and splashed the whole thing on him."

Laughter bubbled up in his chest, so Xie Lian covered his mouth with his hand, trying to hide his smile. 

"I mean- seriously, Xie Lian. The guy's an asshole. It would've cooled off. And everyone keeps talking about what a master spellcaster he is," he grumbled, waggling his fingers and contorting his face in his best wizard impression. "There has to be a spell out there to cool down water. Wouldn't he be the one to know it?"

"I think that's all just talk. He's good with magic, but he doesn't know everything." he said, shaking his head. "When was this? This morning?"

"Yeah."

Xie Lian tapped his fingers on his chin. "I bet he hasn't left the wagon, either," he murmured. "Sorry. He gets like that when he's bored. I'll talk to him."

Feng Xin let out a harsh huff. "It's not about talking to him. Do you just like him because you think you can fix whatever weird personality problem he has going on? Because it's a lost cause-"

"I love him, actually," Xie Lian admitted. In the corner of his eye, Feng Xin snapped his head to stare at him, wide-eyed. "It's not about fixing him- I know how he is, and I love him for it. I think it's funny- most of the time."

Feng Xin kicked a fallen branch out of their path. "You've got a fucked up sense of humor," he muttered.

Tree roots broke through the sloped earth, and then gave way to a small bank. The lake lapped against the low reeds and frogs croaked below, falling silent and splashing into the water when they drew near.

Xie Lian started untying his shirt. "My humor's bad?" he said with a huffed laugh. "You and Mu Qing can hardly talk without arguing. How did you two even know you liked each other?"

Feng Xin leaned against one of the tall oaks, his arms crossed over his chest. "Why's that important," he muttered, his voice so flat it didn't even sound like a question.

His trousers fell to the dirt and Xie Lian waded into the lake. "You think Hua Cheng is awful, but why like someone when you can't even exchange a nice word with them?"

"Mu Qing isn't always mean," Feng Xin said, his eyebrows scrunched together. "He can get defensive, but it's because he cares a lot. And he works so hard- he always has a thousand things to do on top of taking care of patients. It's not like he's going out of his way to be curt with people, he just-"

Feng Xin stopped, his mouth snapping shut when he saw Xie Lian's smile. "Why am I explaining this to you?" he muttered. "You know already. Stop baiting me."

He laughed and scrubbed a handful of soap through his hair- it was so dirty with oil and sweat, he almost grimaced when remembering Hua Cheng had been stroking his fingers through it, earlier. "I know," he replied. "Just proving a point."

"What, we're both dating assholes?"

"Assholes with good hearts."

He sighed and leaned his head back against the tree, eyes closed. "They are not the same."

The sun crowned the distant trees in red and painted the surface of the lake in scarlet and gold. Water trickled from his body like falling gems, wrapped in the light of the golden hour. As quick as he tried to be (the water was freezing!), the sky had dulled with a navy hue by the time he was dressing in fresh clothes.

They walked back to camp in silence, the sun slipping quickly beneath the horizon. A roaring fire crackled in the center of the wagon ring, now, illuminating the camp with a warm glow.

Despite forming a circled chain with the wagons, the one Xie Lian and Hua Cheng had been riding in was given much more space. It stood out from the line, detached and shadowed.

A lone figure stood by it, curling up the canvas sheet and lighting incense inside. The man was handsome, his hair tied back in a simple bun to reveal a strong but well-proportioned face. He wore a hunter's uniform with the sleeves rolled up.

Feng Xin curled his hand over his sword and stopped dead in the grass, his eyebrows furrowed. "You're not part of the Xie guard," he stated plainly. "Who-"

"San Lang." Xie Lian smiled as he continued walking closer. "What are you doing?"

The expression on his face softened, and then Hua Cheng pulled Xie Lian into his arms. "Just a few chores," he said. Then, "How'd you know so fast? Didn't think anyone else would even come close to this wagon?"

He laughed as he slumped into him, a little exhausted from walking back. "You always pick such handsome looks," he said, stroking his fingertips across his cheekbone. "You should really be careful. You're teaching me to walk into the arms of any beautiful stranger I see."

"Oh. Can't have that," he scoffed with mock jealousy, then snapped his fingers. The illusion wobbled and melted into his true form. A rush of fondness filled him when he saw his real face. 

"I got you dinner, gege. Hungry?"

"Mn," he hummed. "Thank you, San Lang."

Hua Cheng helped him sit on the back of the wagon and then placed a warm plate in his lap. White rice and wild vegetables curled steam into the air, packed next to a few strips of dried beef.

The incense behind him wafted over in the breeze, but it couldn't completely cover up the sick-smell stuck to the inside of the wagon. Hua Cheng must have been trying fumigate it out. Xie Lian smiled at him and tucked a loose lock of hair behind his ear. "How're you?" he murmured.

He stuck a pair of chopsticks on the edge of the plate. "Fine. Less worried, now that you're awake." He leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to his temple.

Xie Lian picked up the chopsticks. "No one's giving you any trouble?"

Hua Cheng snorted. "Gege, who would want to try?"

"Then why are you stirring it up with others?" he asked, then shoveled a mouthful of rice onto his tongue. The springy texture was heaven after waking up with such a dry mouth.

His expression contorted. "You ratted-" Hua Cheng's glare fell on empty grass. Feng Xin had long since walked off towards the campfire.

"You're in the middle of a hunter camp. Can't you behave yourself a little? At least save it for the people who really deserve it. Mu Qing's the type to remember a slight for a long time."

He sighed and pressed his face into Xie Lian's shoulder. "Gege," he whined, his voice muffled. "He did deserve it. Kept saying I was doing everything wrong- I've taken care of you for months. I won't kill you if I move you around a little. And it's bad to keep someone bedridden in the same position forever. He damn well knows that and he was knit-picking-"

"Alright, alright," he huffed with laughter, sliding his fingers through his hair. "I hear you."

He cut off with an irritated grunt. The tension slowly relaxed from his body as Xie Lian continued to stroke his hair, his face tucked beside his.

After a few moments, he jerked up. "You need to eat, gege."

Xie Lian laughed at him. "I was," he said.

Hua Cheng only replied, "Eat," as he jumped into the back of the wagon. Then he returned with a comb and sat directly behind him, his legs splayed out on either side of his. "Let me get the knots out?"

"Mn," Xie Lian hummed through a mouthful of food. He swallowed and said, "San Lang, you're spoiling me."

"Hardly," he muttered. "If gege can be patient, I'll spoil him like he really deserves."

His face flushed, but he still nodded.

Xie Lian whispered, "I'd like that."

Chapter Text

Feng Xin returned from the bonfire and sat next to Xie Lian on the wagon. When it listed to the side from his sudden weight, Hua Cheng made a small, disgruntled noise in the back of his throat.

So prickly, Xie Lian laughed to himself. In a placating gesture, he slid his hand over Hua Cheng's thigh and stopped on his knee, squeezing. His thumb traced the sharp bone of it as he held his half-eaten plate out to Feng Xin.

"Do you want the jerky?" he asked.

The comb paused from raking through his hair.

Mouth full from his own dinner, Feng Xin nodded and scooped it from his plate.

He could hear the frown in Hua Cheng's voice as he asked, "You don't like it?"

"It's just hard to chew," he murmured, setting his plate back in his lap. "And I'm still a little tired."

Before he could respond, Feng Xin cut in, "If you offer to chew it for him- I'm gonna puke."

Xie Lian's face immediately warmed, but Hua Cheng countered in a lethal voice, "Go sit somewhere else, then."

"Alright, alright," Xie Lian sighed. "Haven't you two fought enough? What's the use anymore?"

They fell into a stiff silence. Hua Cheng resumed combing his hair; at this point, all of the knots were long gone, but he didn't comment on it.

The meager bites of rice he'd eaten weighed heavily on his stomach, so Xie Lian put his chopsticks down and dozed under the comforting slide of the comb. The crackle of the distant campfire was loud, but it couldn't drown out the hushed conversations of the other hunters in camp. He could feel their stares as they whispered about Hua Cheng, about him.

His skin crawled under their focus. He pictured taking Hua Cheng's hand and vanishing, but he knew that decision would only haunt him.

He wanted Hua Cheng in his life- he would never compromise on that. But he wanted to mend the distance between himself and his family, too. He couldn't just run from his old life.

He slowly opened his eyes and met their stares. Any hunter that caught his gaze quickly looked elsewhere. The attention melted away from him.

For a moment, anyway.

He also caught sight of Mu Qing crossing the camp, a large flask in hand.

His nose wrinkled a little. Medicine. And probably bitter-tasting, as all of Mu Qing's remedies were.

Mu Qing dropped the flask on the wagon next to him. His slim eyebrows furrowed when he noticed Xie Lian's expression. "Drink it," he said. "No complaining."

Xie Lian let out a small sigh, but ultimately he nodded his head and reached for it. Mu Qing's stare bored into the side of his head as he chugged it down, hoping speed would help lessen the taste. It didn't. He gagged at bitterness coating the back of his throat.

"You're always such a baby about this," He muttered as he took the flask back from him. Then he reached towards Feng Xin's plate and quickly swiped a piece of jerky from the side.

Feng Xin snatched his plate back, but it was already too late. He let out an offended grunt and mumbled around a mouthful of food, "Get your own plate."

Mu Qing tore off a strip of meat and popped it past his lips. "Still busy," he said. He leaned next to him and continued to eat his stolen jerky in small slivers.

When he reached for another piece, Feng Xin didn't complain again.

Seeing that he was actually hungry and not just trying to annoy Feng Xin, Xie Lian offered his own plate out. "Do you want this?" he asked. "I don't think I can eat the rest."

Dark eyes met his; Mu Qing analyzed him with furrowed brows, as if expecting some trick. The silence dragged on for a slim second, and then the tension in his face broke. 

"Oh," he murmured and reached for the plate. "Yeah. Thanks."

Xie Lian hadn't been lying, earlier, when he told Hua Cheng that Mu Qing was the type to remember a slight. But that was only half of the story. It wasn't that he couldn't forgive people, it was just that the smallest hurts made him curl up worse than a pangolin. 

He smiled as he took it from his hands; Mu Qing ducked his head and retreated into an awkward silence as he ate.

"Feng Xin," Xie Lian called in the meantime. His friend looked over, but the words caught in his throat. "My father..." he started, fighting the trepidation that rose in his chest. "Has he said where we're going?"

His throat bobbed as he swallowed. "The Xie Manor," he answered.

"And has he said what will happen then?"

Feng Xin's face contorted. He clearly didn't like the subject, but he said, "Not much. But he sent away the other families, even when the Lang tried to protest. So..."

Xie Lian nodded. It felt more mechanical than anything. "I should talk with him."

"Mn," he agreed. "I'll go with you."

They both slid from the wagon, and then there was a third thump behind them.

When Xie Lian turned, Hua Cheng asked with a frown, "You don't think I should go?"

The quiet somberness in his tone made his heart curl. Xie Lian held his hand out and said, "I don't know... but I'd like you to."

There was no hesitation after that; Hua Cheng took his hand and they all walked towards his father's tent.

On the way, they passed another covered wagon. The sound of rattling chains and muffled calls came within- it sounded like someone was trying to scream around a gag.

Utterly baffled, Xie Lian stopped dead in the grass and stared.

"Your cousin was trying to sneak away after the fight, gege," Hua Cheng explained. "I caught him."

"Caught him?! That's what you'd call it?" Feng Xin asked, the whites of his eyes flashing from how wide he opened them. "I've never heard a grown man scream like that."

Hua Cheng didn't reply. He stared at the wagon with a dark expression on his face, his hand slightly tensing.

Xie Lian squeezed it. "Thank you, San Lang," he murmured. "He'd really cause issues if he was allowed to roam."

The tension left his jaw as Hua Cheng looked back to him and smiled. "I thought so, too."

Feng Xin stared at them like they'd both grown a second head.

They continued walking towards the other end of the camp, but the subject suddenly reminded Xie Lian of another face he hadn't seen once the fight started. "San Lang... when I left, Yin Yu said he'd protect you as long as he could. I haven't seen him since. Did he...?"

A humored look crossed Hua Cheng's face, immediately setting him at ease. "No, gege. He just ran into his Shidi- Yin Yu had always thought he was chasing him to kill him. It turned out that he was chasing him to bring him back as a hunter."

Shock speared through him- who would be so bold to bring a vampire on as a hunter? "San Lang- who-?"

He wrinkled his nose in thought. "Hm... His surname was Quan?"

Oh. Quan Yizhen. Xie Lian hadn't interacted with him, much, but he'd always heard he was a little eccentric. His regard for him ticked just a little higher. Perhaps they owed him a visit, later.

There was a guard posted outside of his father's tent. Feng Xin suddenly turned to Xie Lian with a sheepish expression. "Let me just- I'll tell him you're here," he stuttered. He disappeared behind the flap.

Xie Lian swallowed. That really didn't bode well.

Hua Cheng also seemed to have the same premonition. Eyebrows furrowed, he asked, "Is this normal?"

He shook his head and they fell into silence. It made the whispered voices around camp that much louder.

Look- is that really-?

They're holding hands. It must be true-

Disgusting-

Hua Cheng tuned his head. The voices promptly vanished.

The tent flap twitched, and then Feng Xin slowly emerged with his face screwed up. Xie Lian pressed his lips together and took a deep breath- he already knew what he had to say.

"He's busy- uh-"

Xie Lian smiled and murmured, "That's alright, Feng Xin. Thank you for asking."

His friend's face dropped. "Maybe tomorrow- I'll ask again."

"You can try," he said. He was sure he already knew the answer then, too. Xie Lian turned to Hua Cheng and asked, "Can we go on a walk?"

He arched one eyebrow as he studied him. "...Anywhere you want," he eventually murmured.

Xie Lian had the distinct feeling he was overthinking things. "Just in the forest," he laughed. "I'm not tired, but everyone here is going to sleep. Let's not bother them."

He only hummed in response. Before they left, Xie Lian told Feng Xin, "We'll be back in a little bit."

"Okay- what should I do when Mu Qing beats my head in with a stick for letting you leave? He told you not to do anything strenuous."

Xie Lian pinched his chin like he was actually giving it thought. "Curl up and cover your face."

"I'm serious."

"It's a walk. How strenuous could it be?"

"I'm telling him you said those exact words."

"Please do."

Hua Cheng tugged his hand, drawing them off towards the tree line. "It's not like he's going to be alone. If he gets tired, I'll carry him."

Feng Xin leveled a glare in his direction. "I should be going with you. But I'm probably the only one in this camp who believes you won't hurt him- so just." He sighed. "Get back soon, and be quiet about it."

Xie Lian smiled. "Thanks, Feng Xin. We'll try not to make a headache for you."

"It's not even you- it's everyone else," he grumbled and rubbed his temples.

With a parting wave, Xie Lian followed Hua Cheng into the darkness soaking the tree line.

Though it wasn't yet deep into the night, the temperature had chilled quite a bit. He pressed close to Hua Cheng's side as they stepped over leaf litter and pine needles, their footsteps crackling through the air.

A thread of silver rose beside them, sparkling off the pale undersides of bare branches. The half-moon wasn't strong enough to see by, so Hua Cheng had sent out a small butterfly. It swooped close to the ground and illuminated the dips in the path.

They walked for a time, silently pointing to dark shapes moving beyond the trees or bats that flitted overhead.

Xie Lian hadn't thought it could be so exhausting, but eventually he tugged at Hua Cheng's sleeve to ask him to stop. Then he leaned against a nearby pine tree, the rough bark digging into his back.

"Can we take a break?" he panted. "And then head back?"

Hua Cheng's lips curled into a small, fond smile and his red eye burned in the low dark. It was incredibly entrancing. "Mn," he hummed, and then he leaned his shoulder into the tree beside Xie Lian.

When he caught his breath, he looked over to him and asked, "Did you really think I was asking you to run off with me, earlier?"

He shrugged and simply said, "I would."

Xie Lian shook his head like he was exasperated, but he couldn't keep the grin from his face. Then, a little less sure, he murmured, "A part of me wishes I could. But I can't. Are you sure... you don't mind staying-?"

"Of course not, gege," he whispered. "They could try to kill me every day and I'd stay."

"Well, I would definitely have some problems, then," he said in a humored tone. "But I'm glad."

He didn't know when Hua Cheng had gotten so close; his breath puffed over his cheek as they looked at each other, out of words. Then, like it was gravity, they leaned in.

His lips were soft against his, unhurried and warm. Xie Lian curled into his chest and time melted; he felt like he was floating, anchored only by the hands caressing him and the sharp bark of the tree against his back.

Between kisses, Hua Cheng whispered, "I missed you."

It sounded silly to him as soon as he'd heard it, but Xie Lian fucking giggled. His face warmed, and then he said, "I was right there the whole time."

"Not like this," he murmured, breaking from his lips and trailing kisses over his jaw, his chin.

With a low sigh, Xie Lian pressed his head back against the tree as he savored the lips against him. Hua Cheng dipped lower, curling down the soft skin where his jaw met his throat. Xie Lian drew in a ragged beath as he followed his jugular down-

And then he abruptly stopped.

"S-San Lang?" he stuttered out.

"I'm sorry I scared you," he whispered. "I know you're recovering right now. I wouldn't."

Xie Lian blinked at him, and then his head rushed with heat.

Hua Cheng had heard his heartbeat quicken.

"It's not- it's not like that," he murmured, his fingers threading into his robes so he couldn't pull away. "I..."

He only stared down with a confused expression, which made Xie Lian want to evaporate even more. There was no getting out of saying it.

"I like it, San Lang. When you- your teeth- I-!" He couldn't look at him anymore; Xie Lian buried his face into his shoulder, and then he whispered. "You can drink from me. Whenever you want. I trust you."

"Gege, you-" Hua Cheng choked out, and then he enveloped him in a tight embrace. With his head pressed close to his ear, he said, "You'll be the death of me."

"That's the opposite of what I want," he laughed. Then, rubbing his hands in small circles over his back, he said, "San Lang... you know, I think there's very little you could do that would scare me."

"Really," he murmured, deadpan. He brushed away loose hair and then pressed slow kisses to the side of his neck, occasionally scraping his fangs over his jugular. "Vey little? What if I told you how good you smell- that I wanted to devour you?"

Xie Lian couldn't repress the shiver that wracked through him. "I'd believe you," he whispered. "But you dug your own grave with this. The day I think you'd hurt me on purpose is the day hell freezes."

He could feel the curl of Hua Cheng's smile against his skin. "Then-" In one swift move, he grabbed the back of Xie Lian's thighs and straightened, trapping him against the tree. "What if I told you I've been lying the whole time- this isn't my real face, and I'm a hideous monster underneath?"

When he finished, his skin slowly paled and stretched into a waxen, bony face lined with old wrinkles. His eye turned to a pinpoint black dot, and then his hair floated up into thick coils of smoke. Numerous crooked, yellow fangs burst from lips all at once. He looked horrible. Terrifying.

Xie Lian laughed and peppered his face with kisses. "I'd say, thank you for showing me your true form. I know it took a lot of trust."

Hua Cheng huffed, and then the illusion melted. "Gege, that's ridiculous."

"You're ridiculous," he said. He wrapped his arms around his neck and pressed a long kiss to the lips he knew so well. "I love you."

Like a switch had flipped, any remaining tension vanished from Hua Cheng's face. His eye softened as he whispered back, "I love you, too."

They traded a few more kisses as Hua Cheng slowly placed his legs back down.

Xie Lian was reluctant to let go, but he knew he could stand there all night kissing him. He let his arms fall and slid his hands over his chest. However, when they broke apart, he really didn't want to head back. To have to hear those whispers again, and feel their stares...

Hua Cheng wasn't in a rush, either. He combed his fingers through his still-damp hair and murmured, "After all of this is done... Do you know where you want to go?"

He shook his head. "I think San Lang should pick."

His lips stretched into a wry smile, but then his eyelid fluttered closed. He murmured, "I think I found that opera house you were talking about... there's a ballroom attached?"

Xie Lian hummed.

"It's beautiful. They're dancing inside," he whispered, narrating what he must be seeing through a butterfly.

Holding his hands out, Xie Lian said, "Show me."

Hua Cheng blinked his eye open, and then he smiled. He took one of Xie Lian's hands in his own, and then he placed the other on his shoulder. Once he slid his hand over his lower back, they were off.

They turned out to be awful dancers. Despite taking the lead, Hua Cheng couldn't keep the tempo, and Xie Lian couldn't stop stumbling over his feet. The sound of crackling leaves and sticks resonated through the air as they circled, loud and bumbling.

"San Lang," Xie Lian laughed, his face hurting from the cold air and the force of his grin. "I'm sorry- your toes-"

"It's my fault, gege. I've never tried this with a partner, before." He cut off, his cheeks turning slightly red. "I mean- you do strange things, when you're alone for so long."

They stumbled to a stop. Xie Lian let go of his hand to wrap his arms around his neck, leaning heavily against him. His limbs were starting to feel weak again and his lungs burned, but he couldn't keep the smile from his face. "It's really not so strange," he murmured.

Hua Cheng wrapped his arms around his back, easily taking his weight. "Too much?" he asked.

"Never," he whispered. "I want to try again."

There was a low puff of laughter in his ear. "Later, I think," he said, and then he leaned down to pick him up in a bridal carry.

Xie Lian didn't fight it- he curled his arms around him tighter and pressed his cold nose into his neck. "Why's dancing so hard? You'd think it be similar to footwork," he grumbled.

"I guess it's just muscle memory," he said, his smile lifting his tone. "Do you think there's hope for us?"

"Of course," Xie Lian whispered. "It's just a matter of time."

💀

With the slow pace of the wagons, it took them three more days to make it back to the Xie Manor. During that time, Xie Lian kept to the covered wagon he and Hua Cheng shared and mostly slept during the day. His nocturnal schedule seemed to horrify a few hunters, who all started to give him a wide berth.

Xie Lian welcomed it. The further they kept, the less he heard their whispers.

As for his father, he only saw glimpses of him from across the camp. After the second day of being told he was "busy," Xie Lian stopped trying to see him.

The looming conversation ahead made him uneasy; their last meeting hadn't been so awful, but it was the first time in months that his father could verify that he was safe. Now, he'd had days to stew over everything Xie Lian's done, and if his silence was anything to go by, he must be livid.

Hua Cheng helped to keep his mind from it, at least. They continued sneaking off at night, whether it was for more terrible dance sessions or other activities. And when they were in the wagon, they talked for hours.

Once, Xie Lian laughed a little too loud and Mu Qing barged in a minute later, threatening to beat him with his shoe if they didn't quiet down. Xie Lian tried, but he was so used to being alone with him. He really couldn't help the way his voice raised when they were deep into a conversation; it was like his thoughts about everything else were blown away with the wind.

They arrived in the city without great fanfare. Most of the hunters were sent home and only a few close guards stayed to guide the wagons back.

Nervousness had frayed what little remained of Xie Lian's composure. He couldn't stop peeking out of the wagon, so Hua Cheng summoned E'Ming and let him sharpen it as they made their way to the manor. The scimitar was a funny thing- the eye rolled when he stroked his thumb down the length of it, checking the edge. And if he turned his attention away from it for too long, it'd rattle in his hands.

Hua Cheng sighed the third time it did this. "I'm sorry, gege. It's trash," he muttered. "Ignore it."

Xie Lian smiled as he continued to run the wet stone down the length. "It's alright. Maybe it knows I need the distraction."

Hua Cheng scoffed. "It's just needy," he grumbled, but he never moved to take it back.

His jewelry chimed as the wagon hit a bump in the road; he'd altered his clothes for a fine silk robe the color of maple leaves and was dripping in silver.

Xie Lian had been given a drab collared shirt and trousers to wear, but upon seeing his withered expression, Hua Cheng had snapped his fingers and changed his clothes, too. Now, Xie Lian was dressed in his favorite white robes from the palace and the silver earrings he thought were lost forever when Bai Wuxiang had magicked them away.

The wagon came to a slow, rolling stop.

This was it.

He returned E'Ming to Hua Cheng, who sheathed it and tied the scimitar to his silver belt. Then, taking a deep breath, Xie Lian carefully peeled back the wagon's flap to step out into the entrance courtyard.

Sunlight washed over him in a burst of warmth. Xie Lian furrowed his eyebrows as he stared at the driver, who wouldn't meet his eye- he'd stopped the wagon in a bright patch of sunlight, but the courtyard was surrounded by plum trees. Just a little further, and they'd be enveloped in shade.

Before he could protest, a servant stepped forward and bowed. "This way, young master," he beckoned, pointing to the main door.

Is this not my house? Xie Lian thought, a little irritated that his father would send a servant to lead him inside. It wasn't even one he knew, adding to the cutting ache he felt.

"Just a moment," he muttered, and then he called, "San Lang? Do you still have your umbrella?"

"Mn," Hua Cheng hummed, which was followed by a muffled fwump. The wagon cover parted around red crepe paper as he carefully stepped into the light.

Xie Lian held his hand out to help him down from the wagon.

The servant looked equal parts terrified and bewildered at the sight of him. With stuttering movements, he continued, "The- the master is waiting for you. In the parlor."

Xie Lian pretended not to notice his fear as he wrapped his hands around Hua Cheng's crooked forearm. "Thank you," he said, his smile all teeth. "We can find our own way."

He tugged Hua Cheng forward.

"Gege," he murmured, sounding a little humored. "Are you already mad?"

"They really-" he spit, then composed a more neutral tone. "They were going to make you wait outside."

"I can," he whispered softly. "If you need me to."

"No. They can learn," Xie Lian huffed.

Hua Cheng didn't reply, but a small smile curled the edges of his lips.

The doors for the manor were grand pieces of art made from carved walnut wood. Xie Lian pulled the bronze handle and beckoned Hua Cheng inside.

His bootheels clicked sharply against the painted tile floors, the sound echoing across the vaulted ceiling. A glass dome cast a grid of sunlight and shadows over the floor, so Hua Cheng kept his umbrella raised as he looked around the spacious interior.

Xie Lian paused at the threshold. He'd been so wrapped up in his nervousness and frustration that he hadn't bothered to consider the fact that he was home, after all this time. It was the smell that hit him first- it was exactly as he remembered, a mixture of sandalwood and the cleaner they used on the floor.

He swallowed, all of his bravado draining in a single exhale. Despite seeing how little it had changed, he still felt like an intruder in his own house.

"Gege?" Hua Cheng murmured.

"I- I'm coming, San Lang." He hastily pulled the door shut and clasped his arm again. "This way," he said, pulling him to the side of the foyer. There was a small hallway, and then glass doors opened into the parlor room.

His parents sat in blue winged armchairs just in front of the plaster fireplace. Xie Lian caught his mother's eye first, and her face broke open with relief. When she saw who walked beside him, however, it quickly changed to horror.

His father jumped from his chair before they'd even made it past the threshold. "Xie Lian! How- how dare you? Have you no shame?"

It was rare to hear his father stutter. Xie Lian tightened his grip on Hua Cheng's arm as he led him into the room. "If you had spoken to me before this, I might have prepared you," he answered.

His mother quickly ducked her face behind her silk-gloved hand and her shoulders bowed like she was ready to collapse. A servant darted forward from the wall to whisper in her ear, but she shook her head.

Face turning redder by the minute, his father waved at them to leave. He growled, "To put your mother in danger like this-"

Xie Lian pressed his lips into a thin line as he watched the spectacle unfold before him, a hollowness carving through his chest. As much as he wanted to defend Hua Cheng against every insult, he suddenly found himself exhausted with the whole ordeal, and it had barely even started.

In the middle of the rug was a wooden coffee table, separating the armchairs from a stern blue couch. Ignoring the sight of the servant pulling his mother from the room, Xie Lian guided Hua Cheng around the thick pools of sunlight streaming in from the eastern windows and gestured for him to sit on the shaded section of the couch.

They sat next to each other, a few inches of space between them. Hua Cheng folded his umbrella and placed it next to his leg. E'Ming had pushed into his lap when he sat down, but he didn't move to untie it from his belt. Instead, he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the backrest, decidedly causal.

Behind them, he heard the parlor doors close. Xie Lian curled his hands into fists over his thighs, unsure of how to start.

His father took a great breath as he collapsed back into the armchair. A moment of thick silence passed, and then his tense expression cleared. He looked up and cast the entirety of his focus on Xie Lian; it was as if Hua Cheng no longer existed to him. He muttered, "This has been a mess to clean up."

Xie Lian swallowed and looked at his floor, knowing exactly what he was referring to. He'd killed Lang Ying. There was no escaping the consequences that would bring. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I know I've-"

"No. You will listen," his father cut in. He took a deep inhale, his chest slowly puffing out. Then he calmly explained, "The Lang family was powerful, but with the loss of their head, they'll be vulnerable. Lang Qianqiu is too inexperienced to step into his father's role so soon. As much as he might wish for revenge against you, we can use our family's support as leverage. Huang needs to recover from his injuries, and Pei lost too many men, so we can make it impossible for him to start a rift with us without abandoning his family's estate."

He let out a long exhale, his shoulders deflating. With a wave of his hand, he continued, "It's not ideal. But it's manageable. What will be most important is your behavior in the future. I can't keep a public trial at bay unless you get yourself under control." His last words were uttered darkly, his thick eyebrows furrowing as he stared him down.

Low dread sunk within Xie Lian, making his skin crawl. A small voice whispered inside of him, ...under control?

"You will keep to the house. No hunting. No socializing. Penance is due," he summarized succinctly. "Your duties will reflect as such."

The orders struck him like a blow, yet it wasn't due to the blunt nature of them; Xie Lian was used to following his every command. If his father said to disperse ghosts, he'd disperse ghosts. If he said to behead a spirit, he'd behead it with a perfect blow.

Xie Lian was raised to be a soldier.

But the past seven months had taught him he was human, too.

His lips parted silently for a moment as he struggled to draw up the courage to speak. When he did, his voice was soft, rasping, "...Don't you wish to know what I think about this?" he asked.

His father blinked. "Will it make a difference?"

Tension roiled by his side; Xie Lian could physically feel Hua Cheng tighten in on himself as he fought to remain silent. His father continued to ignore him.

He shifted his weight on the couch. "Well, you- you know how important hunting was to me," he murmured. "I understand there have to be repercussions, but-"

"No. No, you don't understand, otherwise you wouldn't be speaking."

Xie Lian's chest tightened. He wanted to come up with some retort, to defend himself, but it felt like he couldn't breathe.

Without warning, E'Ming began to rattle in it's sheath.

Despite his best efforts, his father couldn't keep his eyes from darting to the sword.

The last thing they needed was for Hua Cheng to touch his scimitar. Xie Lian reached over and placed his palm on the throat of the scabbard, his thumb stroking the hilt. The touch grounded him. E'Ming slowly stilled and fell silent.

He took a deep breath, and then he said, "I can't comply with this. I'm prepared to make amends as necessary- I know I've done irreversible damage, and Lang Ying's death-" his voice broke, and he paused to swallow his emotions- "I will face punishment for killing him. If a public trial is the best way to handle it, then-"

"Absolutely not," his father said. "You are my son. It was not intentional. And I will not have a Xie stand before strangers for judgement." His lip curled, flashing teeth. "No. We will handle this inside of the family. Anything else would be a disgrace."

Xie Lian opened his mouth again, but his father was quicker. "This isn't permanent," he assured him. "It will take a few years, but it's to prepare you for what's next. You were always meant to come back to the house to assist and learn from me. This will just be a quieter version of that plan."

It was like his nightmares were converging on him in the daylight. Xie Lian shook his head. "Wait-"

His father bulldozed on, "You will focus on family. I have several candidates in mind, but the Jian's daughter seems to be the best match. From all accounts, she is poised, graceful, and efficient with the duties of a wife-"

The room was spinning.

"What?" Xie Lian breathed out, shock bringing his mind to an utter stand still. He looked to Hua Cheng, as if double-checking that he was actually beside him.

Hua Cheng's expression was sharp with a deep scowl, but his narrowed eye softened as he met his gaze. He uncurled his arms from across his chest and wrapped his palm over Xie Lian's hand, who was still holding tightly to E'Ming.

The motion didn't escape his father's notice, as much as he might be trying to ignore Hua Cheng's existence. Instead of commenting on it, he simply said, "You will marry. And once you produce a son, we can speak about your capacity to be a hunter again."

Finally, his father quieted and looked to him for a response.

Xie Lian couldn't stop himself in the dead silence. He tilted his head back and laughed.

The sudden burst of noise popped the thin veil holding back the tension in the air. It rushed forward all at once, uncomfortable and choking.

His father's face contorted with a bewildered flash of anger. "Xie Lian! Do you take this for a joke-?"

He shook his head, his face still cut with the savage imitation of a smile. "You-" he said, then stopped, utterly lost for words.

Voice laced with venom, his father hissed, "Did you actually think I would give this my blessing? This- this is-" he waved in their direction with a disgusted wrinkle of his nose. "A delusion. A distraction. I knew you were different, but I believed you would make the correct choice to support the family. Don't prove me wrong."

The word echoed in his mind.

Different.

And something snapped.

"San Lang is my choice," he snarled. "Don't interpret this wrong- I'm not looking for your blessing, or your guidance, or some saving grace of the family. I'm here to show you the man I would fight and die for. And you'll barely even look at him."

"That is not a man!"

"Yes, he's a vampire!" he shouted. "He's a vampire, and my feelings are the same. I love him-"

His father sat back in his chair and looked to the ceiling as if he were beseeching the heavens. "You are a child," he snapped. "You do not understand love. Love is a foundation-"

"His love is everything to me!" Xie Lian yelled over him. His father fell silent in utter shock- he'd never dared speak to him like this before.

His voice tempered as he continued, "If love is a foundation, then we built a strong house. San Lang sees me; not once have I had to hide who I am with him. I can talk to him about anything, ask anything. Dad, he cares for me in a way I can hardly wrap my head around. I've never felt such devotion-"

"A trick-"

"It's the truth," he snapped, not allowing him one foothold to argue. Not with this.

Xie Lian leaned closer, staring down his father with every ounce of conviction in his soul. "There is no suffering in this world I could not face with him at my side. And the craziest thing is, he would make me happy through it," he said, a puff of laughter lifting the seriousness from his face. "He makes me so happy. Isn't that what you want for me?"

His father didn't look away from him, then, but stopped and considered the iron in his eyes.

"Xie Lian," he started after a long pause. "I understand that you have... strong feelings, for this-" he finally looked in Hua Cheng's direction. "For San Lang."

Hua Cheng met his gaze with a small tilt of his head. There was absolutely no forgiveness in his frosty stare. "Hua Cheng," he corrected him. "To others, it's Hua Cheng."

Face tensing, his father took this for an insult.

"Strong feelings-" Xie Lian repeated, if only to bring his attention back to him. "Sure, dad. Strong feelings."

He sighed, and then his father continued, "A man cannot act on feelings. Principles. That is what I have always tried to teach you. A house must be made of them, which is why you must forget these silly wants- this obsession. You are a pillar of the Xie house. If you bend for your selfish desires, you will topple the house."

Xie Lian let out a low breath as he shook his head, almost laughter. "What a weak house," he muttered.

Irritation flashed in his eyes. "This is why you are still a child. You don't understand the dedication and persistence it takes to build something that lasts."

"My love for San Lang will last," he murmured. "I'd bet everything on it."

His father stilled. "...Everything?" he repeated.

Xie Lian straightened his back. "I'll renounce the Xie name," he said. "Any ties to the family, any benefit- I renounce it all. Put my face in the wanted pages. I want nothing to do with the hunter institution anymore."

Eyes comically wide, it looked like his father had been doused in ice water. "You- this meant everything to you. You'd leave it all behind for a monster?"

He shook his head. "We disperse and kill people just for who they are, not for what they've done. Who's the real monster?"

His breathing stuttered, and then his father said, "I should have let you die in that palace."

Without warning, Hua Cheng sprung to his feet. His face was screwed up in a terrifying scowl, even to Xie Lian, but his voice was quiet as he murmured, "You grieved. You grieved like he had died. How can you say that?"

His father's face turned red with rage. "And you-!" he bellowed, reaching into his jacket. Before he could bring the stake down on Hua Cheng, Xie Lian darted in front of him.

"Do it," he breathed. "If you truly wished I'd died, do it."

His hand shook. No one moved. Then, his father whispered, "Get out."

Xie Lian didn't wait a second longer; he took Hua Cheng's hand in his and tugged him from the parlor.

He was so angry, he could scarcely think. It was all he could do to move his feet and put as much distance as he could between him and his father. Without thinking of where he was going, he fell back into old patterns.

It was only when he arrived that he realized he'd gone straight to his old room.

And they weren't alone.

His mother stood just beside the bed, staring at it's lone pillow. The pale blue sheets had long been made up and the room was kept clean, but there was an emptiness that clung to the perfect image of it all.

His books were stacked in neat rows along the shelves, though the series were mixed together- probably taken off to dust and then put back by an unknowing servant. On the window sill, the knickknacks and little bits of scrap he'd collected while traveling were gone. Thrown away or put up, he couldn't guess.

At their footsteps, she slowly turned. "Xie Lian," she whispered. "It's been so long."

Lips parted, he took a few hesitant steps into the room, Hua Cheng's hand falling from his. "Mom," he murmured, then stopped. He looked at her like one might look down a rifle barrel.

A pained smile broke out across her face. "Come here," she whispered, and then she pulled him into a hug.

Xie Lian was slow to respond, still clutching to a semblance of defense for when this all fell apart. "Mom," he whispered again. "I... I have to tell you..."

"That you're leaving?" she answered.

Surprised, Xie Lian could only pull back and stare.

There was that smile again: wry and a little heartbroken. She softly patted his cheek and said, "I might have left the room, but I didn't leave the hallway. Not when you were right there." She swallowed and looked to Hua Cheng, who lingered in the doorway. "No one... no one had told me..."

Hua Cheng held carefully still, his arms now crossed over his chest. Only his eye seemed to move- it darted across the room, and then from his mother to Xie Lian, cautious.

Xie Lian forced himself to relax. "Mom, this is Hua Cheng," he whispered. "He's... well. I love him."

She regarded him carefully as he stepped closer, his silver jewelry clinking in the quiet of the room. "Mrs. Xie," he murmured, dipping his head.

His mother had folded her hands close to her stomach, shrinking in on herself. However, after a few moments of hesitation, she pulled one of her silk gloves free and raised her bare hand to his face. Hua Cheng didn't move as she pressed her fingertips to his cheek.

"You'll... take care of him, won't you?" she asked.

"Yes. With every breath in my body," he promised.

She gently patted his cheek, mirroring what she'd done to Xie Lian. "Good." she whispered. Then she turned back to him and embraced him in another hug. "I know you have to go," she murmured in his ear. "But... don't go so far, that you can never find your way home."

This time, Xie Lian let go of all pretenses. He hugged her back tightly, almost lifting her from the ground. He feared his voice would fail him if he tried to speak, so he pressed his face into her shoulder. The familiar scent of her laundry detergent made his eyes sting with tears.

He only let her go after a long minute. Xie Lian cleared his throat and said, "I can write. Every once in a while. If you'd like."

"More than once in while," she responded immediately, steel in her tone. It quickly gentled when she added, "But I'll leave you to pack."

Xie Lian nodded. She tucked a stray lock of hair behind his ear, shared a final look with Hua Cheng, and then she was gone.

His composure left him with a ragged sigh. Exhausted, Xie Lian dropped back onto his bed and scrubbed at his face.

Hua Cheng didn't join him immediately; he circled in place, slowly taking in the sight of his room. But soon enough, he sat next to Xie Lian, the mattress dipping with his weight.

Xie Lian leaned his head on his shoulder. Then he groaned, "Fuck."

"Gege," Hua Cheng laughed, his eyebrow arching. "I don't think I've heard you cuss before."

"I do, in my head," he admitted. "Sometimes. And I think right now deserves it."

Hua Cheng hummed and rubbed his hand over his thigh.

Xie Lian turned his face into his shoulder and squeezed his eyes shut. "There's nothing I can think to pack," he whispered. "What did you take from the palace? Other than your umbrella and E'Ming."

There was snap of fingers, and then Hua Cheng murmured, "Just this."

When he opened his eyes, he was met with shining light; dim sunlight glanced off the gold-inlaid scabbard of the sword Hua Cheng held in front of them. It was Xie Lian's sword- the one he always chose to spar with.

Xie Lian threw his arms around his neck and squeezed. "San Lang," he whispered in his ear, voice wet.

Hua Cheng held him back just as tightly. "You're with me. What else would I need?"

The sentiment resonated deep within him; he knew then that there was nothing in his room he'd take with him. Let it grow dust and fully be apart of his old life.

After that, there was nothing left to do. They returned to the foyer, hand in hand and Hua Cheng's umbrella blocking the light from above. Feng Xin and Mu Qing stood by the grand doors- they were the only hunters who'd come to see him off.

Feng Xin's lip curled as he glared at Hua Cheng. "If he comes back with red eyes, I swear-"

"That's not my decision," he cut in coldly. "It's his."

Surprise wiped the anger from his face. His jaw popped open as he scrambled to find some retort, but he'd been completely thrown off by Hua Cheng's response.

Mu Qing rolled his eyes and snapped, "Close your mouth, idiot."

Feng Xin deflated as he looked to him for help. "Mu Qing..."

He shook his head, his expression screwed into a severe scowl. Then he looked to Xie Lian and asked, "Did you seriously tell him to put you in the wanted pages? Are you stupid?"

Xie Lian let out a nervous laugh. "Well... who's more stupid: me, or whoever decides to come after me?"

Hua Cheng sounded pleased as he said, "Whoever decides to come after you."

Mu Qing let out a long-suffering sigh as he looked between the both of them. Eventually, he muttered, "Be careful."

"You too," he told them both. "Take care of each other."

For once, they didn't immediately snap to reject it. Instead, their hands subtly knocked together at their sides.

"Mn," Feng Xin hummed. "And if you ever need help... you know where to find us."

Xie Lian smiled as he nodded. Then he reached past them, his hand curling around the bronze doorknob. He pulled the dark door open.

The world spilled out before them, bright and loud and vast.

Xie Lian and Hua Cheng stepped out into the sunlight, the umbrella shared between them.