Chapter Text
“Gege!”
At his husband’s signal, Xie Lian jumps back to dodge the sharp claws of the skinner demon. Hua Cheng takes advantage of the demon’s distraction to attack from the side. E-Ming flies forward and chops off the arm that had been reaching towards Xie Lian.
Hua Cheng’s kind, lovely, charming, caring husband had encountered a ghost wandering the forest near their cottage when collecting firewood. As empathetic as he is, Xie Lian had learned that the young man had been killed by a strangely powerful demon terrorizing his small village. When his husband told Hua Cheng that he would be “making a quick trip” to clear out the demon instead of spending the day cuddling with Hua Cheng as they’d planned, Hua Cheng had of course happily volunteered to go along.
Once they had arrived at the village, its killing aura had been so strong to both of them that finding it lurking in the woods outside the village had been easy. Now, however, fighting it was proving to be slightly more challenging than anticipated, only because of its surprising speed and, well….
After losing its arm, the humanoid demon simply slips out of its skin. It moves through the air like fog, solidifying again a distance away with new skin, arm reformed. They’ve cut off a dozen limbs by now, but the creature appears unfazed.
Hua Cheng looks towards his beloved god. Xie Lian nods back to him. They move in sync, running to the demon. Hua Cheng kicks the creature over so that Xie Lian can slam Fangxin into its throat.
Instead of blood spurting from a fatal wound, the blade instead hits a golden amulet attached to the demon’s neck. It shatters, emitting a blinding flash of light.
The last thing Hua Cheng hears is his beloved calling out, “San Lang!”
Xie Lian can feel the pain before any of his individual senses return. Specifically, his abdomen aches like the time he was trampled in the skirmish fight between the Banyue and Yong’an. With some difficulty, he opens his eyes to see… feet.
Xie Lian is lying on a cold, wet street. Standing by his head appears to be a nobleman based on the expensive type of shoe he vaguely recalls wearing long ago.
“Scum like you, dirtying our beautiful city with your filth. How dare you grovel here expecting us to pay you just because you’re too lazy to find a job!”
With every other word, the man emphasizes his anger with a kick to Xie Lian’s vulnerable body. The blows land on his head, his stomach, everywhere.
Out of instinct, his thoughts immediately stray to Hua Cheng. He tries to go into their private communication array, but he’s met with nothing.
“San Lang!” he cries aloud.
“I’m not your fucking San Lang!” the man spits at him. He jabs his foot harshly into Xie Lian’s cheek before finally withdrawing, laughing to himself as he saunters away.
Now that he’s not being attacked, Xie Lian can finally take a moment to breathe and take in his surroundings. The last thing he remembers is the bright light engulfing him and Hua Cheng. Now, Hua Cheng is nowhere in sight. Instead, he sees a place that he thought only lived on in some of his most unpleasant memories: the Yong’an Kingdom.
For a moment, the horrifying thought that everything he went through with Hua Cheng was one long, hunger-ridden dream flashes through his mind. When the anxiety associated with that thought dies down enough for him to breathe again, he dismisses the fear as illogical. No dream was ever as kind to him as Hua Cheng. That leaves him with only one remaining thought.
I need to go to Ghost City. I need to find San Lang.
No no no no no no no no, please no.
Hua Cheng is standing in front of Dianxia’s statue in the Thousand Lights Temple. His ashes, the ones he had given to Xie Lian shortly after Xie Lian met him as “San Lang,” are clutched tightly in his hand.
Xie Lian should have them. Why doesn’t he have them?
He summons Yin Yu. There must be an explanation for this.
The moment the silent man steps over the threshold, Hua Cheng whirls to face him. “Why do I have this?” he demands. “Where is Dianxia?”
The desperation in his voice must be apparent because Yin Yu’s face looks as sympathetic as Hua Cheng’s ever seen it. “I’m sorry, Chengzu, but he’s not here. He… never has been, as far as I’m aware.”
Just like that, Hua Cheng’s world shatters.
At some point after he falls silent, Yin Yu leaves him alone. Hua Cheng turns back to his beloved’s statue. His knees buckle, and he collapses to the ground. Realizing the wrongness of his position just breaks him further.
“I’m sorry, Dianxia, I know you wouldn’t want me to kneel, but I just—I love you, and you’re not here. But of course you wouldn’t be. This one is undeserving of your love, your time, even your acknowledgement. This one apologizes for even dreaming that you would honor him in such a way.”
Tears stream down his face as he stares into Xie Lian’s unmoving eyes.
Puqi Shrine is no longer as he remembers it. This only further confirms that Hua Cheng’s “memories” are merely more vivid versions of his many fantasies about meeting his Dianxia again and finally being able to protect him the way he had always protected his undeserving younger self.
He’s sure that this is the right spot, but rather than his god’s tiny but cozy temple is a grassy patch of wildflowers. Behind him, the village of Puqi is only a handful of lonely people living in ramshack huts.
Xie Lian isn’t here. Hua Cheng doesn’t think he’s ever been here.
It’s been a while since I’ve been able to walk the streets of Ghost City without instant recognition. It’s kind of nice , Xie Lian thinks as he calmly walks towards Paradise Manor.
He’d gotten there as quickly as he could after waking up in Yong’an, but it had still taken him over two weeks. And that was with him running until his feet bled, doing favors for strangers in exchange for ox cart rides where he could, and resting as little as possible. Now, his robes are surely ruined, his face and body likely still covered in remnants of abuse suffered along the way. Xie Lian prays that his assumption about being thrown into the past is correct and that Hua Cheng has retained his memories as well. He can’t bring himself to entertain the thought of spending hundreds more years alone.
Finally, Paradise Manor is right in front of him.
Heart fluttering in his chest, Xie Lian opens the front doors and steps inside the beautiful manor that is… not as beautiful as he remembers it.
Furniture is lying all over the place in pieces, as if someone needed to replicate the chaos inside themselves.
Room after room, all the same.
“San Lang?” Xie Lian calls out as he walks.
Only silence greets him.
“Yin Yu?” he tries instead.
Suddenly, the masked man himself appears in front of him.
Xie Lian opens his mouth to ask where Hua Cheng is, but before he can get a word out, Yin Yu is gently but firmly pulling him by the arm and leading him through the labyrinth of halls and doors.
“Yin Yu—”
“Here,” he says, pushing Xie Lian through a doorway and closing it behind him.
“I don’t want your fucking food, Yin Yu,” Hua Cheng snarles without looking up from the floor, where the ring made from his ashes lays mocking him.
“What about me instead?”
That voice.
Hua Cheng is on his feet and rushing towards Xie Lian before his mind even processes that he’s really here.
“ Gege, ” he says helplessly, a second before throwing his arms around Xie Lian and holding him close. “I was afraid I only dreamed that you loved me.”
He feels Xie Lian’s fingers thread through his hair gently. “I love you, San Lang. I love you so much that the moment I realized what happened, I couldn’t stop until I found you again.”
At that, Hua Cheng pulls away from Xie Lian just enough to get his first real good look at him.
Xie Lian’s standard white robes are filthy, covered in dirt and what might even be blood. It better not be my Gege’s blood , Hua Cheng thinks murderously.
Seeing where his gaze has fallen, Xie Lian laughs nervously and tries to cover the bloodiest part. “I wasn’t hurt badly, I promise.”
“But Gege was hurt.” Hua Cheng’s fist clenches at his side.
“It’s not your fault, San Lang. I’m here now. Won’t you take care of your Gege?”
Hua Cheng’s hands relax. He scoops Xie Lian into his arms and carries him bridal-style to the ensuite bathroom. Lovingly, he takes the sandals off of his feet. They’re so swollen, cracked, and dirty, that it hurts Hua Cheng’s heart even further. His Gege should never have to experience such pain.
Instead of burdening Xie Lian with his anguish, Hua Cheng simply continues by disrobing Xie Lian with the same care, revealing countless bruises and lacerations. Finally, he removes the ribbon from Xie Lian’s hair.
Hua Cheng settles Xie Lian into a spacious tub filled with warm water. Xie Lian moans as Hua Cheng washes his hair and firmly massages his scalp. Hua Cheng’s heart fills with pride at the proof that while he couldn’t prevent Xie Lian from enduring those discomforts, at least now he can soothe his aches and pains. After his hair, Hua Cheng washes the rest of his body, massaging his tense muscles as he goes.
Finally, Xie Lian is lying on their bed wrapped in soft silk sheets after Hua Cheng finishes applying ointment to all his injuries and wrapping them with bandages. Xie Lian stretches a hand out to where Hua Cheng is lying down next to him. Hua Cheng takes it and brings it to his mouth for a loving kiss.
“So we’re back in the past,” Xie Lian says thoughtfully. “About 400 years before my third ascension, as far as I can tell.”
“What does Gege want to do with all this extra time?”
“Well, first I want San Lang to stop being afraid of breaking me and cuddle me properly.”
Hua Cheng hurries to obey, sliding his chest to Xie Lian’s back and wrapping his arms around him.
“Much better,” Xie Lian sighs contentedly.
“What does Gege want next?” Hua Cheng prompts.
“Well, we know exactly what will happen in 400 years. We’ll be better prepared to handle it then. If we try to do anything else sooner, it could make things worse. Maybe we should just wait so we know what to expect?”
“I’ll never say no to 400 years of having Gege all to myself,” Hua Cheng smirks against Xie Lian’s neck, peppering it with open-mouthed kisses.
Later, while Xie Lian and Hua Cheng are peacefully sleeping, the bedroom door opens. There’s a sigh, and then a low grumble. “I guess I’m being left to deal with this. Stupid debt.” The door quietly closes again.
Paperwork is always in abundance. That being said, it used to provide her life with a welcome structure. She felt useful.
Now, paperwork has brought nothing but chaos to Ling Wen’s days. Ever since the Heavenly Emperor fell from grace, there’s been a constant cacophony in her private communication array. Everyone has demands and questions. No one cares that poor Ling Wen is only one civil gpd.
It all started when the Earth Master shocked the Upper Court by bringing forth a formal list of complaints against Jun Wu. They included, but were not limited to: abuse of power to intentionally cause the destruction of former martial god Xie Lian’s kingdom; exiling, stalking, and tormenting said god; and impersonating and acting as a Calamity.
Heavenly opinions of Xie Lian prior to these stunning accusations had been almost entirely negative. From the unflattering nicknames (i.e. God of Misfortune) to the idle speculation about just how unpleasant his life in exile had become, he was clearly the least popular god ever.
And if not for the proof provided by Ming Yi, these unlikely accusations against the Heavenly Emperor of all the unlikely targets would certainly have been ignored or outright laughed at.
However, Ling Wen diligently investigated these claims as per her job description and helplessly found herself unable to deny them.
This led to an unpleasant confrontation with Jun Wu facing off against the rest of the Upper and Middle Courts. No one trusted him to live out a quiet life in banishment without seeking vengeance on Xie Lian, so it was collectively decided that he would be trapped under the largest mountain they could find, regardless of how many powerful ghosts had to be relocated to make room.
If the paperwork had ended there, that would have been fine. Stressful, but fine. Instead, out of what was likely an abundance of guilt, the entirety of the Upper and Middle Courts signed Heaven’s largest petition ever to have Xie Lian found and reinstated in Heaven.
Considering that no one knew where he was, nor had anyone seen him in hundreds of years, and very few even knew what he looked like, this was no easy task. Ling Wen was forced to organize search parties, collect and distribute physical descriptions of the former god based on the memories of those who had once known him, and update maps with times and locations of previously conducted searches.
After five years of this extra work added on to her already considerable responsibilities, plus the fact that Heaven still hadn’t decided how to replace Jun Wu as Heavenly Emperor, Ling Wen looked more like a ghost than a god.
The only progress that had been made was the decision to turn as many of Jun Wu’s temples and followers into Xie Lian temples and supporters as possible through Heaven-sent dreams. Some argued that this could allow Xie Lian to ascend again, which would be a much easier way of finding him than searching every corner of the Mortal Realm. Those who opposed did so in secret because anyone outwardly acting against Xie Lian’s best interests would be kicked until they fell from Heaven down to the Mortal Realm. And that was if Feng Xin and Mu Qing were having good days.
Ling Wen’s sources say that the Mortal Realm is scattered with the occasional rumor of a missing god, lost to all except those who already know where he is.
She dismissed this mortal riddle as nonsense, of course.
Another three years later, Ling Wen is getting worried about Feng Xin. He has been part of rotating search parties for the past three years, stopping through Heaven only to drop off his former Heavenly companions in exchange for fresh ones.
Even Mu Qing takes proper breaks from searching for Xie Lian to rest and answer the prayers of his followers. In fact, he’s now spending less and less time searching for Xie Lian so that he can answer the prayers of Feng Xin’s followers as well, lest the martial god lose them all to neglect.
The next time Feng Xin returns, Ling Wen cuts him off before he can jump back to the Mortal Realm.
“Feng Xin, you must stop this reckless pursuit.”
The Martial God glares at her as if she has personally blasphemed him.
“Do you disagree that Xie Lian has been wronged and deserves to reclaim his place in Heaven?”
Ling Wen sighs. “Of course not. No one does. But think of your own followers!”
“I did. I sent them all a dream with Xie Lian’s face so that if they see him, they’ll pray to me about it.”
With that, he pushes her aside and leaps.
Ling Wen stares after him with wide eyes.
It is now the seventeenth year after the search for Xie Lian began.
Feng Xin is confined to Heaven, after nearly losing all of his and Mu Qing’s followers due to extreme overuse of his spiritual powers in territories not his own.
But of course, now that one bullheaded god is out of Ling Wen’s hair, the other one just had to go and become a problem.
Mu Qing not only sent all of his followers vivid images of Xie Lian to keep an eye out for him, but he actually told them to worship both him and Xie Lian.
Ling Wen might actually cry.
By Year 24, Ling Wen would seriously consider an offer to exchange her own godhood for Xie Lian to just show himself already, goddamn it.
Deep breaths.
Everything’s fine.
The Earth Master seems to be the only one not guilt-ridden over all of the numerous rumors finding their way from the Mortal Realm to Heaven about what happened to Xie Lian.
Ling Wen doubts there’s any truth to the village talk. After all, the stories just seem to get crazier and crazier. One day they’re talking about how Xie Lian was so poor that he had to rob the wealthy to survive in the winter, except then he felt so bad for the poor townspeople that he gave almost all of his spoils away to them. The next day, they’re talking about how he was stabbed by an angry rival god and then spent 100 years nailed in a coffin. By the time they start talking about him falling in love with a mysterious figure dressed in red, she’s stopped paying any attention whatsoever.
Some of the other gods, however, seem to eat up every word of these rumors. She pities the unnecessary stress that must put on their hearts.
Eight years after that, the long-awaited day finally arrives.
All of Heaven shakes as a mighty ascension announces itself with a magnificent burst of light. Feng Xin nearly gets crushed by a bell and Mu Qing’s temple is flattened, and yet, no one is more excited to see Xie Lian than them.
Everyone dashes behind them to see Xie Lian and cheer for his return.
Except for Ling Wen. She struggles behind the crowd with the wheelbarrow of paperwork she’s taken to carrying everywhere with her.
Xie Lian looks stunned at his warm welcome. As cheers of his name ring through the air, his first words are, “Please, everyone, calm down,” as he laughs nervously.
He seems to be waiting for the cheers to turn mocking, but they don’t. Feng Xin and Mu Qing awkwardly stand near him but off to the side with their arms crossed and heads hanging low.
“How do you know about him?” Xie Lian asks incredulously.
Hundreds of voices answer him all at once, causing him to wince.
“Okay, okay, well… Thank you for your concern?”
That’s when he seems to notice Feng Xin and Mu Qing for the first time. “Feng Xin? Mu Qing? It’s, um, good to see you both again…” he says uncertainly.
At the sound of his voice, they both lift up their heads, revealing fiery eyes. Feng Xin moves first and grabs him, as if to pull him away from the crowd, but Xie Lian flinches away, seeming a bit panicked.
Ling Wen narrows her eyes and takes the opportunity to properly examine him. He’s wearing red robes, which strikes her as odd, but she can’t quite recall why. There are also some suspicious-looking bruises on his neck, but his cultivation method… That wouldn’t make any sense.
Xie Lian has begun babbling to himself. “I wasn’t supposed to ascend yet! He’s going to be so worried about me. I need to go back…”
“Who, exactly, will be worried about you, Your Highness? And where would you like to return?”
Xie Lian refuses to meet her eyes. Highly suspicious.
“Has someone been holding you captive somewhere?” Feng Xin looks ready to go hunt someone down and skin them alive.
“Or have you been hiding from us?” Mu Qing demands.
Xie Lian starts shifting on his feet. “I…um…”
After a moment of complete silence, he starts walking away from the crowd and towards the Mortal Realm.
Ling Wen smoothly darts in front of him, effectively blocking his exit with her wheelbarrow of paperwork. She looks at him and then gestures at the mound of papers. “Not so fast, Your Highness.”
Hua Cheng didn’t think it would take this long for Xie Lian to fetch the fresh fruit he’d been craving from the Mortal Realm. He’d insisted on going alone, and Hua Cheng didn’t see any danger in such a quick trip.
But it’s been hours now.
He paces in Paradise Manor, wondering what could possibly have gone wrong, before he defeatedly remembers what Xie Lian’s rotten luck has brought them before.
Before Hua Cheng can enter Xie Lian’s private communication array and check in with his husband, he receives an unexpected message from a certain water demon.
Fucking Heaven.