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Chapter Text

"Welcome back Your Highness."
Ling Wen walked down the avenue to the visible creator, the thrice ascended god had left in his wake, at a leisurely pace. She remained composed even in the face of muttered adversity from the other heavenly officials posed around.
"I've come to congratulate you on your third Ascension and for winning in the category first to likely be banished again. ..."

An uncharacteristic pause took her as for the blink of an eye hers widened in surprise. Xie Lian, formerly know as the flower-crowned martial god or even more famously as one of the four tales: The prince the pleased god, had long since fallen to disgrace.
'The laughing stock of the three realms', his more common moniker these days, hung in the air around them as news of his arrival spread from mouth to mouth and ear to ear.

Yet unexpectedly he didn't look the part. As much as Ling Wen's temple was accused of I efficiency they had found traces of information on the former god's whereabouts while he walked the mortal realm. Real proof was spares but rumors of a strikingly beautiful cultivator dressed in tragically, honestly quite dreadfully, worn down robes circulated here and there.
It was only logical that common people would behold the cultivator with pity while keeping at an arms length. Who knows what had befallen him for such a young, good looking man to be plagued by such misfortune. It wasn't often said out loud but beauty was an asset as any other and someone having such abundance of it wasn't sought to fall into poor luck easily. As such many gave their scraps or even a meal freely but hesitated to engage further yet tales of that tragic fella spread here and there if only because some hoped it would aid their karma to speak of a selfless deep done to aid a poor, condemned soul.

Who lay before Ling Wen now, however, had nothing with the man of those stories in common safe for his striking beauty. A little confused as though he had just awoken and still tried regaining his wits the prince looking around. It could only be stated objectively that confusion suited the gentle face like many other expressions would have.
The surprise that had given civil god pause and caused many others after her to fall into a shocked silence lay beneath or rather... lower.

Pale, jade-like skin stretched along the curve of his neck uninterrupted by dark markings that should have tainted the delicate skin. The only flaw lay in a reddened mark on his collar, which meaning escaped her.
His robes were ruffled and loose. The other slipped over his shoulder as he moved, creating a captivating picture of liquid gold. The supposed scrap collector was dected in gold.

Upon inspecting him closer his outer robe was finely woven silk embedded with golden and silver embroidery, most show casting brilliant flowers and a pair of marvellous phoenixis. The detail could only have been done by a true master of their craft.
His inner robe, made from equally fine fabric was a brilliant red like a setting sun bleeding at dusk and staining the moon. It was simple in design but looked to fit the prince perfectly.

Xie Lian looked everything the royal he once was. His golden eyes as if having encaptured a piece of sun-bathed wood or doe fur turned to the crowed and assessed them with a rueful smile.
"Ah my apologies for such an indecent arrival."

He got up in a fluid motion that made rivers of silk ripple around him. His feet were bare as the struck the cold marvel floor of the great avenue. His hair wasn't tide and fell around his shoulders in gentle strands reflecting the divine light of the heavens.

He chuckled self-depricatingly and gave a slight bow to assure them his apology was genuine. Many of the officials around them were still recovering. They had heard of course the tales of his striking beauty and weren't a stranger to other such gods praised for theirs. — One such just came strolling down seemingly unperturbed by the unexpected arrival. — Yet it was entirely different to bear witness to such beauty and having to reconcile it with everything else that was known about the one they called the laughing stock of the three realms.

There was neither the grim and dirt they came to expect from someone who had fallen so low nor any of the killing intent and brutish aura they came to associate with most other martial gods.

Xie Lian without a doubt look powerful decked in royal colours but almost more like a high ranking, pampered concubine than a self-respecting cultivator who once aspired to be the strongest martial god.

Voices rose in another wave of rumors upon having noticed the mark Ling Wen had so graciously glossed over. Xie Lian's smile didn't waver though the rue in it seemed to grow.
"My apologies your Highness, we weren't expecting your arrival."

He shook his head gently to refute the apology.
"Fates paths are unpredictable for us as much as they are for mortals. Even the all wise Ling Wen couldn't have foreseen such an event."
He adjusted his robes and leisurely buried his hands in his sleeves. " You said I won a contest of sorts. Who is most likely to gets banished if I heard correctly?"

Ling Wen cleared her throat: "Indeed, your Highness was quite lucky it was only started today.

"Ah, no previous winners then?"

"No, can you guess came in second?"
She unrolled a scroll, mentally tallying up the debt of the damages caused by his Highness ascension.

Xie Lian didn't know whether to laugh or cry as he considered her question.
"With my reputation I might be capable of taking the first three places all by myself."

"Close, his Highness won with such a stark difference there was no second or third place."

Another rueful chuckle escaped him when suddenly screams echoed around them. Not angry as first assumed but fearful in nature, calling for the marital gods.
Surprised Ling Wen and Xie Lian turned around only to find the mass of bystanders staring at something in Xie Lian's hair intensely. The only one close to calm was the Lady Wind master who hid behind their fan with a shudder.

"Your Highness, watch out!"
An all familiar voice called out which caused an old, long scarred over ache to ring its echo in his heart.

Xie Lian's eyes caught on the familiar face before a silver glow caught his attention. A delicate silver butterfly hovered next to his ear as though it meant to rest in his hair. Every beat of its wings set the crowed into a frenzy while Xie Lian couldn't help but find it calming.

He observed the creature idly when suddenly a blast of spiritual energy disinerated it before it could land causing a few of his hairs to be sinched off. The stench enveloped him as a few silver particles from the now broken creature landed on his outstretched hand.

"Your Highness? Are you okay?!"

Xie Lian gave a deep sigh, his brows furrowed together in an agitated frown. "I'm perfectly well. Was such extensive violence truly necessary?"

Feng Xin looked stunned at his former prince when a smooth voice from their opposite side interjected.
"What worth is it trying to make him see sense? He was in the mortal realm for so long still the prince is ignorant of even the most infamous creatures plaguing the heavens."

My Qing's words were cutting, causing Feng Xin to almost popped a vein as he readied himself to fight. Before he could give his rebottle Xie Lian quickly intervened:
"I'm afraid that's true. A mortal body requires a lot of maintenance that frequently left me unable to tend to such affairs, my apologies."

That silenced both of them and, blessed be her foresight, Ling Wen interjected before they could start again:
"Ah your Highness doesn't know then whom these butterflies belong to?"

He gave another rueful smile yet any reply was cut of by another remark from Mu Qing.
"Of course he doesn't. That's just like him, trying to ignorantly befriend such a beast, not knowing its viciousness."

The prince frowned: "It looked rather charming to me. Quite cute if I dare to say so."

The whole crowd around them seemed to blanch at his words with Feng Xin even growing green in the face. Xie Lian let his eyes curiously inspect their reactions until landing on a rather uninterested looking person, who only briefly assessed what the fuss was about and then continued walking as he deemed it uninsteresting. Further along his gaze stopped once more at the Wind master still hiding half their face behind their face and talking excitedly to the person sporting a death glare occasionally directed at them, who must have been the earth master.

"Your Highness," Ling Wen interjected gently. "These butterflies are called wraith butterflies. Their owner in Crimson Rain Sought Flower. He is likely the most notorious of the four clamities still alive."

"Truly his insolence knows no bounds, that he would even use the ascention of a god like him to try and sneak a spy into heaven..."
An official in the crowd shook their head.

"The scorn of heaven..."
Someone in the crowd mumbled.

"God killer!"
Screamed another.

"God killer..." Xie Lian repeated in a way that Ling Wen seemed to interpret as disbelieving.

"That's right, your Highness. Before even making a name for himself he came to heaven to challenge 35 heavenly officials to a duel, the martial gods in fighting, the civil gods in debate. He even offered for them to face him all together and you can imagine what an insult such a blatant challenge posed to the heavens especially when he demanded they refute their divinity if they lost."

"That is quite the high price, surely provocation alone would not make any god agree to such conditions." Xie Lian interjected serenely and Ling Wen look to be almost uncomfortable with his question.

"No, certainly under normal conditions the heavens wouldn't have agreed but Crimson Rain wagered his ashes."

For the first time since ascending emotion beyond the carefully curated mask flitted over Xie Lian's face. One might call it shock or more precisely abject horror and be equally as confused to what it could mean in this context especially for the god who didn't even show joy or gratitude upon ascending a third time.

Ling Wen continued unperturbed. "That is right, your Highness. Seeing their chance to defend their honor and rid the world," — if Xie Lian flinched at her choice of words nobody pointed it out — "of a newly formed supreme 33 gods accepted and arrogantly projected their battles into the dreams of their most devoted believers. They all lost, the martial gods in fight, the civil gods in debate, some of which even spat blood at his witty retorts and sharp tongue. Yet after they refused their end of the bargain and counted in the forgetfulness of the mortals. And while indeed mortals would forgot Hua Cheng did not. The truly frightening part nobody knows yet to explain was how he destroyed all their temples, far over 1000, in one night."

Xie Lian's expression now was grim and he looked to the ground as if deep in contemplation.

"They all faded away eventually without believers many of which had begun to worship crimson rain instead."

"Who were the two who denied his challenge?" The former prince asked cautiously and Ling Wen's turned back to the two martial gods behind Xie Lian, who still looked rather uncomfortable in their skin. It wasn't sure whether that was the lasting shock of the butterfly or their proximity to the now thrice ascended god who previously was their master.

"I should have guessed..." The god mumbled to himself causing Ling Wen to furrow her brows slightly in confusion.

"We do not know why he chose those gods specifically your Highness yet he hasn't challenged anyone since not even those who denied him the first time."

"That's good!" Xie Lian added and pulled his lips up into a smile again. One hand found its way to his chest seemingly stroking over a pendant around his neck, covered by his clothes. "Have the ascention procedures changed since my last ascention? There is something I need to return to urgently."

That sparked a reaction from the previously stunned crowed and an outcry of imputance and arrogance was hurled indirectly at the newly ascended god as they not so quietly discussed among themselves. Mu Qing behind him rolled his eyes and hmfped loud enough for the entire avenue to hear earning him a growl from Feng Xin.

"The procedures themselves haven't changed your Highness yet there is the matter of your debt."

"My debt?" Xie Lian asked puzzled, his brows raised questioningly.

"Your ascention has chased quite the stirr, Your Highness. If you would look to the bell over there."
She directed his gaze yet as much as Xie Lian strained his eyes to see there was nothing there he could identify as a bell.

"My apologies but did you perhaps meant to point into a different direction?" He asked gently yet Ling Wen shook her head.

"I'm afraid I did not your Highness, there used to be a bell there with the habit of ring whenever a new heavenly official ascended yet when you ascended it rang and rang and wouldn't stop until it promptly fell right on top of another official."

"Oh heavens, is everything alright now."

"Naturally it isn't, the bell was destroyed entirely."

Xie Lian scratched the back of his head wearily. "I meant with the official."

"Yes, he was a martial god and simply cut the bell in two."
Her eyes flitted over to Mu Qing and Xie Lian got a rather bad sense of déjà vù as the other rolled his eyes and proclaimed: "Thanks a thousand times for his Highness concern after he caused such a mess."

"My apologies." Xie Lian bowed to him in spite of his less than genuine tone before righting himself again as Ling Wen continued.

"If you look over there, tell me, can you see the golden palace?"

Reliefed that there was actually a golden palace to behold Xie Lian nodded eagerly but his smile stiffened as she continued.

"That shouldn't be so. Before several buildings blocked the view but they were all knocked over by the tremors. Most of which belong to another martial general."

He glanced back and found Feng Xin looking away sheepishly.
"I sincerely apologise." He bowed again which seemed to only serve to make his former bodyguard more uncomfortable. "How much do I owe then?"

"8million 8hundred and 80thousand merits."

He coughed in shock before swiftly composing himself and much to his own humiliation admitted: "Ah well, the honourable Ling Wen will know that I don't even have a 10th of that... or even a 1000th..."

"Of course, I—"

"What is the meaning of this? Since when do we load newly ascended officials with debt?"
A melodic voice echoed above their heads and as he turned around he found the windmaster walking leisurely towards them. She fanned herself slowly though no longer hid the beautiful face behind it. Her female form was striking as legends foretold and she was dressed and flowy jewelled garments that accentuated her beauty. Yet it was her company that garnered a majority of the attention. Earthmaster Ming Yi was elusive and rarely seen though the more or less one sided friendship between the unlikely pair was well known.

The dark figure behind his bubbly, teal covered company looked to be the opposite of happy to be here, yet they didn't stop her nor blended back into the crowd.
"Let me help you out, I will pay at least half."
She declared confidently.

"Ah Lady Windmaster, you mustn't! It's okay, it's not too much to ask after all it was my ascention which caused this..."

"Nonesense! It's not like you could have avoided that. You two!" She turned to the two martial gods of the south which had turned blissfully silent but upon being called out bristled under her scrutiny. "Aren't you ashamed of yourself to demand a debt from your old friend for something he couldn't control and after being down on his luck for so long?"

"Ah Lady Windmaster..." He tried helplessly, and fruitlessly to intervene. While she positioned herself next to him arms crossed.

Plenty of gods in the crowd shifted uncomfortably at her show of loyalty or rather moral conviction, after all surely she and the laughing stock weren't acquainted. She was regarded highly and beloved not just by mortals but her choice of whome to stand up for right now spread rumors of naivity. Still none dared to publically oppose her.

"He doesn't seem to be doing to bad for himself now." My Qing muttered but not nearly as loud and confident as previously.

Before the Windmaster could offer a rebuttal, her hand already clutching the end of her fan tight as if meaning to point it accusingly at the martial god, the earth master spoke up.
"I will chip in as well."

Surprised Xie Lian looked to him but the other wouldn't meet his gaze. Xie Lian didn't know whether to laugh or cry, when Shi Qingxuan petted him on the shoulder placatingly, her touch lingering.
"Lady Windmaster, really that isn't necessary, I-"

"Now don't lose your head your Highness." She spoke loudly before leaning closer to whisper in his ear. "Besides, I'd call it quite a good bargain to have Crimson Rain's husband indebted to me. I got a few ideas already on how you can make it up to me."

He could hear the grin in her voice and before he could react Shi Qingxuan had pressed a kiss to his cheek before interlocking her arm around the earth master's again and waving him goodbye as she dragged her companion away.

Xie Lian was left stunned but not nearly as much as the crowd around him let alone his former companions. His cheeks were dusted pink as he turned back to Ling Wen.
"So that—" he had to clear his throat as he began stumbling over his words as he spoke. "The debt—"

"Is cleared, your Highness. With Lady Windmaster's and Earthmaster's contributions as well as a few people forgiving their part you no longer owe any merits."

"Oh" he said unintelligently, his mind was still left reeling as he tried to bring the events in order. "Oh that's... Thank you!"
A little ungracefully he bowed to Ling Wen and looked around but found that his former assistants had merged with the crowd to either side. He wouldn't call them out if they didn't want to be.

Besides... The weight against his chest reminded him of a much more urgent matter to attend.

"My apologies Ling Wen, there truly is something I can not further neglect. Though please by all means let me know if my aid or attendance is required in any way."
He only waited long enough for her to nod before quickly walking towards heaven's gates and almost falling into a sprint the closer he got.

As soon as his feet touched the ground of the mortal realm there was nothing holding him any longer. Not even the ankle he injured as his fall was caught ungracefully by a cloud cloud stop him or slow him down.

He marched through the gates of ghost city with one throw of blood red dice as though it was no different from a pieceful mountain village. As soon as its citizens noticed him they came to greet him and stopped abruptly. None had ever seen their great uncle, bride to their lord, his Highness in such a mood.
His face had twisted to an unsettled almost angry mask and he stormed forward determinedly in leisure sleeping robes, his hair undone.

His aura while bearing no killing intent — at least not directly — was just as intimidating and none dared stop him in his path. A path that lead him straight to the gambler's den when their lord resided since this morning in an even cooler mood than usual.

He had just taken the most priced organ and almost all his worldly possessions of a known rapist leaving the man to scream and cuss as both was burnt to ashes before his eyes before he was dragged away. Hua Chengzhu looked bored at best while the ghosts of den cheered — especially the female ones — when suddenly his face lit up with the arrival of his beloved.

"Gege, I—"

"Hua Cheng."
His voice was deceptively calm and at ones the den fell silence to the point a pin drop could be heard. The ghosts and humans who frequented the den alike swallowed their shocked gasps as the new ascended god addressed his husband so unfamiliarly.

They looked to their lord who had frozen on his throne. Xie Lian took a step closer and the whole hall waited with baited breath.

"A word." The god demanded, still calm but his aura betrayed a blazing rage that made everyone close to him quickly stumble backwards from the Lord they usually adored.
"Now." His words left no room for debate and in an utterly shocking display of obedience for the ghost king, Hua Cheng nodded his head almost meekly.

"Yes, your Highness."
He got up from his throne and parted the red curtain with none of his usual confidence. His head hung low in shame, face hidden behind his long black hair as he followed the voice of his beloved. He looked much more youthful like this.

None of the patrons around them dared verbalise the shock over seeing their Chengzhu almost meekly follow the gods command. The official ghost citizens stared at the prince in reverence silently promising to make him a plethora of offerings as soon as they'd get the chance. In their eyes, he became the most deserving god as soon as Hua Chengzhu proclaimed him his bride, and the most powerful just now as he commanded a supreme like a mere subordinate.

The few seeing weakness in the display would pay their just dues later.

"Gege—"
He was caught off again by nothing but Xie Lian lifting his hand in a gesture to ask for silence.

"We will discuss it at home."

He produced the dice from his sleeve and offered them to his husband silently demanding he bring them there, which the other obeyed quickly. In the short moment, their lord busied himself with the door a particularly brave ghost child stumbled forward much to the crowds shock.

She kneeled before his highness, her three eyes glossy with tears and tosseled snake hair quivering in fear. "Merciful god uncle please don't hurt our Lord Chengzhu."

Xie Lian's eyes widened a fraction and his mouth fell open when suddenly she lost her balance and fell snot and tear covered face first into the seams of his robe. A silent outcry over her insolence rose in the gambler's crowd, one complaining loudly who dares bring a child to such a place but Xie Lian silenced them just as easily as his husband before.
Then he gently lifted the little girl into his arms and wiped her tears away. For a moment he was once more the gentle, kind Daozhang they knew.

"Don't worry, xiâo líng shé ('littel clever/spirit snake). I'm not going to hurt your Chengzhu, I just have to talk to him."
He soothed her gently, looking around until he spotted a ghost of small statue, which trembled terribly while approaching.

"But you looked angry." The small girl sniffled.

He gave a rueful smile and gently petted the head of one of the snakes cautiously looking at his face more closely.
"Well that's because I am. But anger mustn't be a scary emotion. Sometimes it's difficult but we can learn with practice not to let our anger overtake us to the point of being destructive and then we don't have to fear it anymore. You should never have to be scared of your loved ones' anger."
He met the yellow eyes and hoped it the little girl understood. Usually he would give her a talisman or piece of jewellery as a keepsake but since he had no such thing on hand he swiftly plugged a strand of his own hair and bound it around her wrist.
"If your own anger ever scares you, hold onto this and it will help you feel without being consumed. If someone else's anger ever scares you, pray to me and I will be there to help."

She nodded slowly staring at what had turned into a yellow string with awe.

The frail ghost stepped forward still shaking.
"Ah please good god, merciful god please spare my daughter. She might be a ghost but she has a good heart. It's her sense of righteousness that formed her resentment. She—"

Xie Lian lifted his palm to stop his sobbed apologies before slowly handing him the girl, who eagerly reached her hands out to her father.
"No harm done. If you don't already have a residence here feel free to go to the distribution building and one will be given to you."

He turned before he could receive their thanks and found his husband with a pout on his lips and a half-hearted glare directed at the girls wrist. He almost laughed and teased him before offering reassurances but the moment their eyes met he remembered acutely what caused his wrath and his gaze darkened. It was equally as effective in erasing the pout.

With a nod of his head he motioned for his husband to follow and Hua Cheng did yet his steps were cautious. As soon as the door fell close behind them Xie Lian took his wrist to drag him along before his husband could try to stall them.

Chapter Text

Xie Lian crossed the halls with decided steps though in truth he didn't know yet what room he was aiming for. Their bed chambers felt appropriate for the intimacy of the discussion ahead but he was hesitant to bring a fight into them.
A few servants went to greet them to see if their services were required with a surprising amount of professional calm as most of them showed no reaction to the display. He'd have to use any leverage he had in this situation to bargain for a raise for them. They deserved it.

With a single gesture he turned them away and soon it felt as though they were utterly alone in the manor though he knew that not to be true. He let out a deep sigh and turned to what most easily could be described as the throne room. It was richly decorated with a large divan ontop a set of stairs.
As soon as they both crossed the threshold to it his grip on Hua Cheng's wrist loosened and with the twitch of his finger and tinge of spiritual power the doors of each entrance shut and wards that sealed them from the outside were activated.

This was a topic he understood now more than ever not to be for the public's ears. His hand subconsciously found the ring again and clutched it tightly.
Only once he had ascended the first two steps to the divan did he notice that his husband had not followed behind him.
He remained almost unchanged by the door where Xie Lian left him.

The god sighed but made no attempt to turn back and cross the distance either. There was a headache building behind his temples and pictures of blinding lights blended with brilliant reds. As he looked down he acknowledged once more that he went through the whole ordeal from ascention to demanding his husband's presence in nothing but sleeping robes. He should be embarrassed to appear so before the heavenly court, his husband's subjects too, he—

"Your Highness, I'm sorry. This lowly ones of his deepest, sincerest apologies. Whatevers his Highness sees fit as punishment is righteous and I will see to facing it fully." His husband lowered himself to the floor, something he never dared to when praying knowing that Xie Lian didn't like it as an act of worship. Yet this wasn't an act of worship, it was one of atonement or sacrifice.
He sighed again. His beloved husband, always so dedicated to his well-being truly didn't help him sort out everything that happened right now.

"San Lang... What are you apologising for?"
Xie Lian asked seeking deep within himself for the patient of a saint he once possessed yet which seems to always fall short when it came to threats aimed against his husband from anyone, including the very ghost king now kneeling before him while he looked upon his bowed form standing on the steps to where they'd usually reside together.

"I angered you."
He answered with such venom in his voice Xie Lian knew wasn't aimed at him yet knowing his real target.

"Yes, you did. Do you know how?"

The ghost stiffened as if caught and Xie Lian heard how he gritted his teeth.
"I- the butterfly. You didn't want to be seen as my husband. It could have exposed you it—"

A new wave of anger ran through his system and silence his San Lang who in turn pressed his forehead deeper into the carpet he so thoughtfully layed throughout the entire manor to make Xie Lian, who he knew liked to walk barefoot, more comfortable.
How could he lower himself onto the physical manifestation of his devotion and still not see how much he gave, how worthy he was?!

"Don't guess. Do you know?"

Despite not having to breathe the next breath of the ghost king was choked. His voice came out thinn as he spoke and Xie Lian was sure if E-ming had been present it would have cried bitterly.
"No, your Highness."

Xie Lian sighed again took a few steps down the stairs, slowly approaching his husband. It twisted his heart to see him so plagued with torments he put upon himself all too freely.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, your Highness. This lowly believer will do anything to—"

"Stop."

Immediately the sobbed apologies ceased and the ghost king went eerily still. As still and silent as the dead ought to be and the god hated it.

"Look at me."

Hesitantly his husband followed the command, eye filled with unshed tears and cheeks red in an impress display of mimicking human skin.
He noticed Xie Lian's tracing the path of a singular tear that had escaped the onyx eye and he angrily wiped it away turning his gaze down again.
"Beg your Highness won't offer mercy just because the lowly ghost can't control himself. Don't let this pathetic one manipulate you after failing. I'm not worthy of your—"

"Stop."
Every word cut into his heart viciously as his beloved spoke so lowly of himself. It took the god 800 years of having experienced torture and pain of any kind to stay composed.
He took a deep breath in to ground himself and demanded once more: "Look at me."

He did quicker this time, yet defeat and hopelessness coined his face as though Xie Lian not wanting to hear such blasphemous explanations meant he had already made up his mind in agreement with them.
Gently as though holding the most valuable treasure in existence, and truly could one more valuable even exist, he pulled the chain with the diamond ring from his clothes and without taking it from his neck presented it to his husband.
"This is why I'm mad at you."

"If your Highness has no use for it anymore he is free to throw it away or crush it. I will lend him as much spiritual energy as necessary to accomplish it." His husband vowed with his head lowered to avoid Xie Lian's eyes. As though there weren't much more important vows binding them, as though the red thread on both of their fingers meant nothing to the god who helped weave it.

"This is exactly what I mean. San Lang it's not me who wishes to carelessly throw it away, it's you! I am mad because my husband seemed to have forgotten what I tried to teach him for decades now. Have you even been listening to me, every day since we met, every day since we confessed, every night we lay with each other, the vows I swore to you at the altar followed by three bows, have you forgotten those or do you take me for a liar?"
Once started the words poured out of him with no end in sight and finally tears came to his eyes.

"Of course not! Of course, your Highness, my god,... Every word you ever said I listened and memorized it. I will carve a statue of every moment, paint pictures of all you said, I-?"

"So you think me a liar then?" Xie Lian accused half aware that he might be being unfair but he desperately needed his husband to understand.

"No! No, of course not, your Highness! No, I won't dare, I-"
His voice grew desperate and he looked up pleading for Xie Lian to believe while the god tried similarly to make him see sense.

"Then how is it that your first assumption when I ask why I am mad at you still is that I wouldn't want others to know you as my husband? After I vowed myself to you before my ancestors, the earth, your subjects and the heavens too?" His tears were flowing freely now seeing his husband's lingering self-loathing he had thought to have improved over the past years so clearly.
"They may not know it yet. I assumed you didn't value their opinion on the matter but if it causes you to doubt my devotion to you I will announce it in the heavenly communication array right this instance."

Hua Cheng's eyes widened and he reached out to grab the hand Xie Lian lifted to his temple.
"No, no your Highness, it's okay. I believe you, please I believe you."

"I see... Perhaps it is you who doesn't want his marriage to this failed god known?" Xie Lian half-joked though he should have known that joking self depricatingly while his husband was already in the throws of insecurity was not a good idea.

"No, no your Highness please. That's not it at all!" He crawled forward slightly before quickly pulling his hands back as though he had burnt himself. "Those heavenly trash can think what they want. None are even worth your Highness presence but... It would inconvenience you. They might shun you or use you as a bargaining chip. And—"

Xie Lian let himself fall to his knees before his husband and took his face in his hands determinedly. "Let them. I'm not so weak anymore to let any harm come to either of us."

"I didn't mean to imply—!"

He kissed his forehead and held him firm.
"Hua Cheng, Wu Ming, Hong Hong-er... San Lang. My most devoted believer, my solider, my little ghost fire, my companion, my husband, you are never an inconvenience to me. You never give me reason for shame. When the day comes, after we had time to think about calmly, I will be proud to call you my husband for everyone to hear."

He slung his arms around his beloved who subconsciously must have made himself smaller in his distress. He tried to suppress the sobs, ringing for his previous composure but Xie Lian shook his head softly and coaxed him to let his head rest on his shoulder. His own tears fell silently and got lost in the ink black strands of hair.
He pulled him close until his husband was half pulled on his lap, his legs spilling out behind him.

"Cry if you feel like it. That what you always tell me to do."

"I'm sorry." He sobbed but Xie Lian shushed him again, gently stroking over the back of his head and gently begun humming the melody San Lang placated him with often he knew was one of the few memories the younger held of his mother. At first he cried harder as the familiar lullaby took shape but soon bit by bit his breathing evened out.

He inclined his head in a way Xie Lian knew meant he was listening to his heartbeat. He himself had long learned how comforting it was to have the prove your beloveds life force so steadily by your side even his beloved's heart had long stopped beating. He often felt guilty when reminded of it and that Hua Cheng, on nights Xie Lian was plagued by nightmares, memories most of the time, exerted energy to keep up a soothing illusion.

Yet his husband slowly taught him to accept the selfless acts as part of a love he insisted Xie Lian deserved and his husband offered freely. The god hoped his ghost could find the truth in that for himself as well.

Your Highness, is everything alright? The ghosts of ghost city seem quite agitated and no one is answering the manor gates.
Shi Qingxuan's voice echoed in his private communication array.

Ah my apologies, yes, there was a bit of a commotion. I'm rumors have reached you already.

Of the ghost king commanding god? Certainly!
They replied cheerfully and Xie Lian didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He looked down to find his husband's face nestled against his neck and although his eyes were closed Xie Lian knew he was listening.
I thought the four of us could celebrate your Highness' ascention! I will even pay for the food Ming xiong eats!

Xie Lian let's out a small, genuine chuckle which he sends with his next reply.
That is very kind of you Windmaster, it won't go unappreciated. Though if it's not to much trouble could we schedule the celebrations for a later day? I think we need some time for ourselves.

Immediately their tone turned soft and compassionate.
Oh of course, I can imagine how the ascention must have rattled you two. I know you never tell me the full story but as you good friend I know when something isn't right!

Xie Lian felt warmth spread in his chest at the conviction in their voice. It amplified as the much more begrudging one of black water joined: Call for us if there is something we can provide and tell Crimson not to be such a walking bundle of nerves all the time. One wrong poke and he—
Oooookay. Windmaster cut him off.
But seriously call if you need anything, poor Yin Yu will have his hands full with city management if things go on like this. We will cover for you in the heavens in the meantime if necessary. Don't forget to let us know when the make up party is happening!

Xie Lian could hear the grin in their voice and pieces of an argument that abruptly cut of as Shi Qingxuan's left the array. Once gone Hua Cheng relaxed further in his arms though Xie Lian knew that he'd appreciate everything the pair offered by the time he didn't feel so vulnerable anymore.

Gently he gathered his husband into his arms and sent a message to Yin Yu to clear a path for them through the manor. The servants wouldn't have approached after Xie Lian's initial denial of their services until told otherwise but he knew his husband wouldn't even want to be seen like this. And to be honest he also didn't want anyone else to see him like this.
Today, how the other officials spoke of him... It was a stark reminder that many would kill for a hint of weakness from the calamity and not to protect and patch his broken parts like Xie Lian devoted himself to.

The servants of course didn't belong among those and swore a stark path of secrecy. Still, today ripped open old wounds and they were still raw by the time Xie Lian gently lowered his husband to their bed.
"Gege?" Hua Cheng's eye cracked open as Xie Lian stepped back and the god couldn't help his wide smile as he was addressed so closely once more.

"I'm not leaving." He repeated the script San Lang used for him what memories of abandonment threatened to choke him. "Just changing into sleeping robes."

A lopsided grin, almost back to his usual teasing but still too wobbly to be quite there, tugged his husband's lips upwards. "You already are in sleeping robes but if you wanted to sleep naked I wouldn't mind."

"San Lang!" Xie Lian laughed as he began to undress. Hie cheeks warmed knowing his husband's gaze on him even though he knew now was neither the time nor place for such considerations.
He picked a simple, — as far as that was possible with the finery Hua Cheng showered him in — white inner robe and forwent an outer robe. After pulling on a fresh set of pants he climbed into bed besides his husband who took had, likely magically, changed in the meantime. He didn't chastise him for wasting spiritual power on a task easily done by hand. His beloved had every right to feel to tired to.

As soon as he was under the covers San Lang snuggled up to his chest again despite being back to his original size and as such taller than the god. He didn't mind.

His mind had almost drifted off to sleep when a quiet whisper caught his attention. At first he barely registered it. It wasn't spoken out loud but a voice so vulnerable and meek in his communication array that he almost didn't recognised it as San Lang's.

Why were you mad at me?

"I told you. I couldn't bare that you thought I would be ashamed to call you my husband."

But San Lang shook his head and this time, tentatively voice what he had previously been too afraid to.
"Before that... You said not to guess. That was my first guess..."

Xie Lian hummed. In all the chaos he didn't even realise that they hadn't discussed the true reason at all, they were so similar in root. Fear made his heart constrict once more as he thought of it.

"Your Highness?... You said it was about my ashes..."

Xie Lian barely suppressed a hiccuped sob as he nodded. This time he was the one hiding away and he didn't even know why.
'"You bet them."

"What?"

"Against the 33 officials, you bet them. San Lang you must have known what they intended to do with them, you must have, they—"
His form shook and now it were San Lang's arms stabilising him. He didn't scoff at the idea of potentially being defeated by any of them as he might have under different circumstances, he just held him.
"Had you already given up on finding me? Did leave you in the dark too long?" He reached a hand out to cup his beloved's cheek again both of his golden eyes fixating the one onyx one. "My Wu Ming, my love how much you must have despaired."

The ghost leaned into his touch, a last tear escaping him that Xie Lian was quick to wipe away.
"I was desperate." He admitted and Xie Lian gulp yet hanging on his lips with rapt attention as his husband continued retelling said day. "But more than that I was enraged, filled with hatred. It is true, my god, that my love to you is what keeps me in this world above all else but no ghost exists without resentment. It gives us direction. It gave me direction when after emerging one of the most powerful being in current existence all that power still was in vain to find you."

He lifted his hand in turn and let it roam over the contours of his face, his gaze different as though he was measuring one of his statues carved in the image that lay before him now.

"I was a frustrated, young, impulsive ghost who in his desperation turn to the only thing he could influence and enact; revenge. You have long since figured why I targeted who I'd did, haven't you?"

Xie Lian nodded. Already when San Lang told him the story the first time fearing he might be offended to be infatuated with a god-killer but conveniently leaving out the worst part where he wagered his existence, the god had puzzled together who the gods were knowing by now that San Lang had always been with him even through his worst times.

His husband smiled, with a sense of pride that was only reserved for Xie Lian, before he became serious once more.
"I wagered my ashes knowing it would lure them to accept and knowing that I would win."

"You couldn't be sure of that. San Lang, I thought I was sure so many times I... I don't doubt your strength or wit but sometimes luck..."

"Luck is something I have an abundance of."

"San Lang..."

"I'm sorry beloved. You are right. I shouldn't have wagered them even in my absolute certainty. Because they were never mine to wager."
His smile was loving in the rawest way, sincere beyond most peoples' comprehension, devoted in a way Xie Lian was almost sure only he knew. The cold hand that felt warmer than previous touch on his skin placed itself over his heart. Under the robes the ring responded to whom it was tethered to and grew warm.
"It belongs to you. It is yours to keep or give away, yours to wager or hold close. Yours to keep safe or destroy. My life, my deaths, my soul and my existence are yours in their entirety."

Xie Lian let out a stuttered breath before pulling his love down into a kiss.
"I will honor it." He mumbled between their kisses mouth still close. "I will honor, and cherish and protect it. I will never give it to another unless you demand it back."

"Never." He kissed him back desperately. "Never, it belongs to the safest place I can imagine. The place that if destroy shall take me with it."

Xie Lian choked on another sob but didn't stop demanding more kiss from his husband.
"Never again think yourself worthless in my eyes, never lower yourself before me! Not in worship, not in atonement, not in sacrifice. You are my husband, you stand beside me. It's where you vowed to be."

"Yes, Gege." He kissed the tears from his cheeks and held him so gently as though he was a flower made from the finest petals, his skin silk over thinly carved jade, his life force a tender flame easily extinguished.

Centuries of torture some deliberate some circumstancial proved Xie Lian and Hua Cheng alike to be the most resilient beings to have ever walked the earth. It seems destined that their paths would end up tethered deeply on the path to solace.
Yet they always held each other like one would a precious, delicate treasure. In each others arms the hardened was allowed to become soft, the scarred to ache, the confident to crumble.

The god fell asleep in his husband's arms, hand still clutched around the ring, knowing that it was both their lifes he held between his fingers.

Chapter Text

Xie Lian wakes up early still nuzzled in his husband's arms as though the past day didn't happen. He was rather unpleasantly reminded that it did when swinging his legs over the side of his bed and seeing that his ankle had swollen and was pulsing with warmth. Carefully he let himself tip forward and experimentally put pressure on it.

A sharp pain shot up his leg. Curiously he rolled it from side to side, as had become routine in his time walking the mortal realm alone, to find which way of using it hurts least.
"Ruoye." He called for the demon and nudged it gently into place to support the injury best.

His mind filled with serene calm as he turned around and found his husband still asleep. The moment he had kneeled before him the previous day Xie Lian knew he'd have to pamper him and play deaf to any protests the other might offer.
The wager they argued over might have happened centuries ago but if his husband still reacted to his anger in such a way Xie Lian must not have been explicit enough in his wish to have him by his side, not just as him most devoted believer but most devoted husband which promised the same in turn.

He had thought his vows had made that clear but at last he should have seen the look of disbelieving happiness on his husband's face that day and known that journey would be long one.

Yet if there was one thing Xie Lian was best known for, aside from his bad luck that is, it was his patience. And truly if devoting himself to spoil his husband was what it took that would hardly be needed. Loving him was the opposite of a chore and every decade it took for his beloved to realise so was a blessing if spent by his side.

Before the sun had risen fully the newly ascended god found himself in the kitchen happily chatting with the head maid, Su. She threw contemplative occasionally even frightfull gazes his cooking though seemed a little less weary than usual which Xie Lian gladly took to mean he was improving.
"You may want to consider adding some salt to that dish yet no more to that one. Those over there are typically enjoyed sweet though if his Highness feels so inspired..." She trailed off watching as he was about to add some salt to dessert as well.

"Oh what was I thinking. Thank you, Su. I didn't mean to put any in that. My head is a bit scrambled this morning." He smiled good naturally truly having almost accidentally salted a dish he didn't mean to.
Su and the others have become a little more bold with their suggestions, all of which Xie Lian accepted gratefully. As much as in the... creative taste hung bittersweet memory and his husband never refusing and adamantly praising his dishes, he wanted to get better for them.

The past was just that, memories were precious but not all needed to be relived. Somewhere eventually meant to become a place to return to on solumn nights while the days were dedicated to rebuilding.

"Are you unwell, Lord Hua?" She asked tentatively and he almost dropped the bowl in response, his cheeks becoming bright red. Almost a century of marriage and he still wasn't used to how some servants and citizens had began calling him by his husband's name after their wedding, with a title no less.

"Oh wh— no, no I'm perfectly fine. I admit the whole ascention and return was... eventful, a little draining too but San Lang and I will sort everything out when the time comes. There is no storm we can't whether."

He felt the warmth of those words resonate through his core, echoing true, and knew it showed on his face. Su smiled softly.
Like the other ghost citizens the maids of the manor were devot to their Chengzhu yet they often got closer than any other. San Lang selected them all personally.
Aside from Shi Qingxuan, and Yin Yu the small group was among their biggest supporters and the few who witnessed the more vulnerable moments of their love first-hand.

"Certainly, I find it hard to imagine anything my Lord's couldn't face with ease."
She smiled while helping him clean and organise. Xie Lian felt no need to bring up any of the struggles they had faced which he handled rather ungracefully and certainly not with ease. In the presence there was no need to refute her assumptions.
"So is Lord Chengzhu well then?"

"Ah! Yes, he... he's probably tired but of course nothing could- I mean of course he is fine."

"He wasn't too heartbroken when you appeared angry with him?"
She inquiries with pretend casualness and if Xie Lian had been flustered before now his face was down right burning with embarrassment.

"You heard of that? Did I appear truly so demanding?" He was lucky that she saw to taking every pot and pan from the stove before their contents burnt because his head was long elsewhere.

"Oh no, of course not Daozhang. Not demanding, very well respected and powerful and truly no one would blame you for demanding your husband's attention and luring him into your chambers after." She said now with a slight smirk in her voice that only barely showed on her face.

Xie Lian was mortified. Perhaps he should seal himself in coffin for another century until everyone had forgotten about such rumors but he doubted it would be to ghost city's benefit to have its ghost king lamant his absence for a century.
"It wasn't like that at all! There was a misunderstanding! We just had to—"

"Oh I understand, this old servant won't judge for sending us away and sealing the main hall completely. Is there perhaps any spills we should tend to? Perhaps the honourable Daozhang got thirsty while discussing—"

"Su! Please!" He pleaded his face long the colour of the robes his beloved often adorened. "Say how much time did you spent with Lady Windmaster? I can't help but think they're corrupting you."
He hid behind his hands as the maiden chuckled.

"My apologies, my Lord, I was only teasing. I won't lie to you and say that those rumors or others like them aren't circulating but I don't believe them nor do the others." She offered placatingly. Yet just as Xie Lian thought he could breathe in relief she added:
"After all it would be his Lord Chengzhu making his beloved husband breakfast if that were the case. He usually seems elated those mornings too, no hint of tiredness."

By the heavens how Xie Lian wished to be swallowed by the earth where he stood. He wondered if he could ask He Xuan for such a spell.

Silently and still blushing to the tips of his ears he began sorting the dishes though in truth whatever he did was quickly rectified by the maids as he tried to put appetizers last and desserts somewhere between soups and meat.
"Oh my, Su what did you say to get him so disoriented?" Min chimned in but Su, composed a deceitfully elusive just shrugged her shoulders.

"Either way, Lord Chengzhu seems agitated. We should hurry with breakfast. Oh you cook Lord Hua? How nice!" The subtle tension in her face betrayed her attempt to reconcile the sweet gesture with his widely feared skills though shamefully had ceased to listen after her first sentence.

San Lang had awoken and he was in a bad mood, why— Of course! He forgot to leave a note or butterfly!

He stormed out, "Can you bring these to the main hall? Thanks!" It was unlike him to be so impolite and he stumbled promptly into the opposite wall to the door in an attempt to give a bow.
They failed to respond in time as he already took off, spotting a silver shine above him after only a few steps. He smiled as the butterfly decented to eye level and flapped his wings by his side to keep up.

"Bring me to him." He asked though it was unnecessary. The moment he rounded the next corner he was faced with a wall that shouldn't have been there and turned out to be the chest of his husband he ran into full force knocking them both to the ground.

"Gege, truly has regain all his martial strength." His husband groaned beneath him and Xie Lian laughed, a clear bubbly laugh that caught in his throat and chest as he gasped for air.

"I'm sorry, San Lang."
He rolled off him onto the softly carpeted floor, which the other commented with a whine causing him to laugh again. This. This was what he could no longer live without.

His fingers felt over the soft fabric, such a simple act of attention and devotion that meant more than the million jewels Hua Cheng would gift him if asked.

"Eager to see me?" His husband teased and despite his cheeks being warm from Su's previous teasing he simply took a deep breath and with all the sincerity his voice allowed answered: "Always."

He truned his head. Their eyes met and he was rewarded the most pleasant sight their was as his husband's eye widened slightly and his mouth was left agap. Xie Lian rushed to seal the ghost king's lips with his own and smiled warmly at him. He felt giddy as though his body and mind didn't hold the experience of almost a millennium, as though no pain could reach him this close to his most beloved.

He took Hua Cheng's hand and held it close to his chest while leaning his forehead against the much cooler one of his love.
"Always," he repeated, never tiring of saying it. "I'm sorry for not leaving a note. I was making breakfast."

Hua Cheng having caught himself slowly smiled, mirth reflected in his eyes.
"Oh? To what do I owe such honor especially after my unacceptable behaviour yesterday."

Xie Lian scrunched his nose exaggeratedly at San Lang's dramatic declaration, and huffed.
"Exactly because of it. I will spoil you rotten until you, every single part of you, beliefs me I demand you to stand beside me as equal." He kissed his brow, "Equally as adored...", the other, "equally as respected..." the tip of his nose, "equally as cared for..." under his eye patch, "Equally as adored..." he mumbled more reverently and met his gaze again. "And equally as beloved." He sealed their lips.

It was a brief kiss, lips finding lips, feeling the familiar touch, and tasting the others breath fanning between them before separating again.
"I love you, San Lang." His words lacked yesterday's desperation as he kissed the soft spot under his jaw causing pleasant shivers to hunt down the ghost king's spine.

For a moment, he held onto him, his face hidden against Xie Lian's hair and taking deep breaths as if needing a few seconds of stillness to accept all of it as real. Then he pressed a kiss to the crown of his head and smiled softly, reverendly.
"This ghost king is stubborn your Highness, I'm afraid you set yourself a quiet demanding task."

It was equally parts teasing and genuine worry.
"I like demanding tasks, only through them can you grow." He answered sincerely.

"Ah this one isn't quite so, it's not one to sharpen your wit with it's trickyness nor strength your body with strain. It's quite repetitive and rather uncreative I'm afraid. A bother of repetition and tantrums."

Xie Lian didn't chastise the self depricating undercurrent but just let his smile widen and melt into something softer. "Even better. I like routines, repetition. It sounds like a task that promises a life well lived on its path."

He thumbed over Hua Cheng's cheeky gently as though it was second nature, a reflex really, his beloved leaned into it and let out as close to content sigh as he would himself allow when Xie Lian wasn't the centre of his care. Still, he blinked at him with what looked to be agreement. "I will assure with all I can offer that every day your Highness lives from now on will be a pleasant one."

Xie Lian laughed and shook his head.
"You can't promise that, San Lang! Bad days will come whether from memory or by chance but as long as your with me no darkness is absolute."
He squeezed his husband's hand and instantly banished thoughts of those decades in the coffin back into the farthest corner of his mind before his husband could sense the unpleasant memory in his gaze.

"I will promise that then, to provide Gege with light whenever he requires it."

"San Lang..." He whines half-heartedly this day was meant to spoil him and— "!!!"
He gasped and sat up causing the brief hint of alarm to rush over Hua Cheng's features before the god spoke again: "The food! I nearly forgot!"

Hua Cheng chuckled and got up beside him before offering his hand to his beloved. "Now we can't have that. Let's hurry before it gets cold."

Xie Lian gratefully accepted the hand though his face was red again and head hung in shame. Anyone could have found them like that just laying on the floor of a hallway!
It wasn't that which caused him to stumble yet when his San Lang asked he quickly mentioned the embarrassing rumours Su had retold to him and adjusted his walk before Hua Cheng could catch the deception.

It was true afterall that his embarrassment had played a vital part in distracting him sufficiently to forget the injured ankle once more. Though he had the slight inkling the fall had agitated it. The warmth at least seemed to pulse more intensely than before.

-—-

An idyll breakfast had turned to a leisurely afternoon as San Lang insisted unabashedly that nothing would spoil him more than to braid Xie Lian's hair and weave playful paper flowers into it. The god sighed but let his head sink onto his husband’s thighs while folding the flowers between his fingers.

It was quite the peaceful craft. He smiled to himself as he felt the the paper glide between his fingers. His eyes closed under the gentle shifting of his strands that lured him in. He knew the steps by heart since paper flowers were an easy way to repurpose and sell old paper when the letters written on them had long turned illegible.

Every once in a while San Lang reached his hand out and Xie Lian would drop his newly finished craft into his palm to be woven into his hair. His husband mumbled words of praise that got more whispered each time as Xie Lian relaxed in his hold. It was meaningless to point out that San Lang was much more adapt with his hands and surely capable of making flowers much more intricate than the god. His husband wouldn’t speak the truth of the matter anyway.

Outside he was sure Ghost City was buzzing with its usual chaos, spiked by yesterday’s events. He wondered if news of his ascension had spread among the citizens as well, whether really anyone safe for the heavens knew where he was sure his unexpected arrival -- and subsequently swift departur -- had been discussed in length.

No prayers reached him yet so it seemed that truly his husband was his only remaining worshipper.
His eyes blinked open and for a moment he got the pleasur to bask in the sight of his San Lang’s face morphed in dedicated concentration as he placed the last braids. Even in something so trivial his husband was utterly devoted.

His lips twitched and eye narrowed playfully as he caught his gaze though it was less teasing than expected and when his mouth opened to speak no words escaped his throat.
Xie Lian inclined his head a little confused when Hua Cheng suddenl turned his face and covered his mouth with his hand.

“Eh? San Lang?” He sat up slowly in his lap, his long hair falling over his shoulder as he leaned closer. The near flawless mimikry of a human body the ghost King upheld with ease exposed a blush as his cheeks reddened. “San Lang, are you alright?”

“En.” He nodded and glanced to him before turning away once more. “Gege, is very pretty like this.”

“...!”
Xie Lian felt his face warm and look down as if confused taking in the intricately braided strands, accentuated with flowers and paper vines, over pure white robes with sliver and golden embroidery and most strikingly the contrast to Hua Cheng’s red ones as he had inevitably climbed into his lap when sitting up.
He laughed nervously, and shook his head in disbelief which made the paper flowers rustle pleasantly.

Slowly he sat back and pulled his knees up, truly feeling like a pampered concubine with how much his husband liked to spoil him.

“Gege?” His voice, despite having regained his usual confidence accompanied by a hint of mischief, was underlined with barely hidden caution, more accurately suspicion perhaps.

“Hm?”
He turned to his husband as the eye, the colour of ink, inspected him closely. His husband’s gaze lingered on where Ruoye remained wrapped around his ankle, causing the ribbon to shift slightly under the attention. Xie Lian knew it was only a matter of time before the demon would have grown restless.
His companion was patient by nature but it couldn't reach the prince’s composure; and now that it frequently played with E-ming — or found itself in petty competitions with the scimitar — it had grown much less content with prolonged periods of rest.

“I thought Gege had stopped binding his ankle after the cursed shackle was destroyed. Is this because of your ascension?"
He audibly tried — and failed — to keep the worry from his voice and the god sighed though the feeling in his chest was warm and comforting. His luck truly couldn't have been this terrible if it allowed their paths to cross.

“No, it's nothing quite like that. San Lang mustn't worry about this stirring up bad memories. I… I haven't been as affected yet.” His words trailed off as his attention was brought back what in truth was a very real concern. Spending the morning together, he almost forgot that things could no longer stay this way as much as he wished to live these moments forever uninterrupted.
Before he could let his and subsequently his husband’s thoughts spiral into the painful depth of an immortal life lived through pain, he added:
“I happened to stumble on my way down yesterday. Cursed or not bad luck can still occur. It's just a little swollen and likely will—”

Hua Cheng stiffened his mask of calm wavering, expression falling a little.
“Gege is hurt?”

“Ah San Lang,” Xie Lian tried to amend quickly as he heard the worry and more crucially pain in his husband’s voice. He tried to hide the latter and the god saw how the ghost king sealed his reactions away once more to become whatever he deemed his god needed. His heart ached at the sight. “It really isn’t…” he trailed off as he observed his husband’s expression closely.
He sighed. “Yes, I’m hurt.”

The admission felt sticky on his tongue. He was used to downplaying his injuries to avoid distress in other… yet something told him it would cause the opposite in his husband.

San Lang’s jaw tightened.
“Did Gege walk around with the injury the whole time after descending yesterday?”

Xie Lian nodded slowly. He carefully took his husband’s hand in his as he saw how much it had tensed. The ghost King let him and allowed his fingers to open under his touch. They trembled as he no longer balled them up into fists.
“San lang-”

“Gege was in pain the whole time.”
It was no longer a question.

“No.. ah yes-” he quickly corrected himself as his husband flinched slightly. “But I barely noticed it! Really it wasn’t on my mind at all.”

“Because you were too focused on this foolish one’s mistake.”

“What? No! San Lang!” Xie Lian’s voice turned pleading and he clutched his hand more tightly, pulling it closer to his side as if afraid his husband would pull away. Of course he wouldn’t. His other hand gently caressed the ring under his robe before closing his fist around it tightly, protectively. It soothed him whenever he found his nerves fraying. “No, San Lang, it wasn’t because of that. I knew you were safe once I left the heavens and knew your ashes far away from them.”

“I always know them safe on Gege whether in the heavens, the mortal realm or depths of the darkest hells.” Hua Cheng vowed reverently.

The god chuckled wrily.
“You trust me too much San Lang.”

“Does Gege suggest he wouldn’t keep them safe?” he teased and Xie Lian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“Of course I will.” The ‘with my life’ he left unspoken, already anticipating his husband’s reaction. Though something defiant in the dark eye told him that he knew. He sighed again. “I swear, San Lang, it wasn’t my worry for you that led me to ignore the injury. Just a habit I suppose.”

His husband nodded grimly and before Xie Lian could prevent it he had sunk down on one knee on the ground before the divan. When he looked up his eyes filled with mirth and Xie Lian was glad to see that it had nothing in common with his prostration the day before. He grinned in a way that highlighted his youthful appearance and gently tugged the hand Xie Lian still held back to himself but promptly grabbed the god’s hand as he let it go.
Without preamble he pressed a kiss to it and smiled up at him. His cheeky cunning was replaced involuntarily with awe as he looked up at his god.

“Will Gege allow this servant to tend to his injury?”
The warmth in his voice stood in contrast to his cool skin and yet seemed to flow straight through his touch to him. Xie Lian shook his head in loving exasperation. So much to his plans to spoil his husband rotten…

“Will my honorable husband feel better if I allowed him?”

“Much Gege.” San Lang grinned up at him while resting his cheek against Xie Lian’s thigh, causing the god’s cheek to flush with very different memories of worship. He glanced away not to see the moment of recognition on his husband’s face and worse- “This servant is of course always willing to please--”

“Ah! San Lang!” Panicked Xie Lian pressed his hands over the ghost’s mouth to stop him. His husband looked awfully smug and self-satisfied under his touch. Shamless… he thought.
“San Lang can tend to my injury if my husband stops referring to himself as ‘servant’.”

Hua Cheng sighed and relaxed a little further into his touch. “Of course Gege.”

---

Before Xie Lian knew it he had been swept up in his husbands arms and slowly put down again in the extravagant bathing chamber Hua Cheng had infused with a plethora of spiritual arrays. Comfortably warm water swept over his skin and soaked into his robes. “San Lang! The silk.”

“I can get you as many as necessary.” Hua Cheng said unbothered as he helped him undress the soaked fabrics. Xie Lian couldn't find it in himself to reprimand his husband, who he knew was completely aware of his god's objections to all the luxury he offered without hesitation. In the end his husband was loyal but not blindly obedient and managed to bit by bit sneak more finery into his wardrobe and chambers.

He couldn't deny how good the fabrics felt on his skin, how nice it was to be able to simply think about attempting to cultivate a new skill and having the materials at hand in an instance. San Lang never limited him or denied him if it wasn't to Xie Lian's own detriment.

He gladly joined him in the mud of their garden pond as he planted Lotus flower seeds or indulged his attempts at weaving and gently binding his wounded hands after when he got splinters or managed to accumulate tiny stab wounds from needles during his attempts at embroidery. It was surprisingly tricky.

His elegant precision in welding even the most stubborn blade, and soft accuracy when guiding a brush over paper as he wrote failed to translate to the fine needle work his husband was stunningly adept at.

Still he enjoyed the exercise and found himself getting better at painting flowers with threads, always with his husband's fervent encouragement. He would often sit by the window of a room dedicated to art entirely, which overlooked the garden. A soft tune fell from his lips as his hands guided the thread. It felt meditative and kept his focus from shifting and remembering San Lang's presences who all too often took the time to paint him.
Xie Lian thought he’d surely grow tired of the repetitive motive but a hundred drawings of him sitting on the windowsill later he admitted defeat.

It was the look in his eyes that convinced the god that truly his beloved found great joy in painting him no matter how repetitive it seemed to Xie Lian. There was unrivalled pride in his eyes and that all too familiar awe as he glanced upon the finished painting that day.

He only overplayed it once their eyes met again but Xie Lian just raised himself onto his tiptoe and pressed a kiss to his husband’s lips before the stubborn ghost could downplay his words or draw the attention back to the motive rather than the undeniably stunning art he had created.

The god felt a cool touch at his temple that drew him from the depth of his contemplations. He smiled before even opening his eyes and found it reciprocated as his husband settled in the water beside him.
“San Lang, why the bath? You seemed insistent on treating the injury.”

“Of course, Gege,” his husband assured quickly. “I simply considered Gege might feel more comfortable to have a bath first before resting, and if it's the muscles that are sore the warmth should help.”
He sat down on the ledge beside Xie Lian, both of them were covered by the warm water from the waste down, and gently the god leaned into his husband's side. At least this would keep him from trying to massage oils in his hair or skin. After all he had meant to spoil him, not vice versa.

It worked and the ghost king remained steady beside him, slinging an arm around his waist and pulling him closer.
“Gege truly isn't in pain right now?”

Xie Lian felt spiritual energy surge through his meridians from where Hua Cheng’s lips connected with his temple and sighed contently.
“How could I be, when I'm so close to my beloved?”
He grinned up at him and watched as the dark eye evaded his gaze briefly.

“Gege…” his San Lang practically pouted, causing a clear, bubbly laughter from Xie Lian’s chest.

“I'm sincere, San Lang. You haven't let me put any weight on the injury in hours even without knowing and now here in the warmth, with you beside me… pain is the furthest thing on my mind.” He smiled brightly up at him, yet was distracted enough to see the dangerous glint of mischief in time.

“Oh, how curious. What is it then that keeps Gege’s mind so occupied?” He whispered the words into his ear suggestively even though they were alone and his grip on his waist tightened briefly.

“San Lang!” Xie Lian hid his face behind his hands, uncaring as the splashes of water ran over it. He felt the vibrations of Hua Cheng's laugh reverberate in the room and determinedly did not turn back to him.

“Forgive this one for teasing in such an inappropriate situation. If Gege allows this San Lang will gladly make it up to you by brushing his hair.”

He grumbled something under his breath but allowed San Lang to do as he pleased. That at least might keep him too busy for teasing him much.
It was something he was rather used to by now but he still felt a little shaken from the day before and perhaps it was that which caused to feel as exposed as a blank nerve every once in a while and with little warning.

This feeling wasn't foreign to him but it had long since lessened since Hua Cheng insisted on spoiling him at any opportunity presented. His husband refused all too often to acknowledge it, but truly what Xie Lian needed most was simply his presence. He could live without the finery or food like he had for centuries. Decades in the mansion certainly would cause discomfort if he had suddenly to go back to starving and thirsting but it was his San Lang he couldn't live without anymore.

His Wu Ming, his soldier who should have never died again in his stead. At the thought of losing him again he tensed. The chatter of heaven came to mind as they spoke of a bet and ashes. Inevitably he reached for the ring and only found himself calmed as he felt it safe and intact.

“Gege?”

He hadn't noticed that Hua Cheng had stopped and as he looked at him the placating words died on his tongue. A pained, vulnerable expression crossed over his husband's face as he saw where his god's hands clasped tightly around his tether to this realm.

“Let’s get out. The butterflies are getting antsy. They are eager to help heal Gege’s wound.”

Usually he would have praised the cute little creatures, or asked they shouldn't worry for him but today he only gave him a soft, small smile.

---

The sensation of the glowing spiritual creatures crawling all over his skin was familiar and as much soothing as it tickled him too. They diligently covered every patch of skin around where his ankle had swollen with the injury and fed spiritual energy into the flesh until any broken vessel beneath, any frayed tissue, and clamped nerve had mended itself.

Still, his husband did not let him get up once more. After gently towel drying and brushing the ends of his hair once more, which had been dipped in the water, he dressed him in a simple inner robe for comfort.

A knock on the door and Hua Cheng got up to accept a tray of fruits, sweets and steamed buns from Yin Yu. Xie Lian had hardly noticed the afternoon bleeding into evening or the hunger that accompanied it but now that his husband eagerly offered to feed him the treats he found himself easily persuaded.