Chapter Text
“San lang?” Xie Lian called out. He entered Paradise Manor after a long day in the heavens. Almost every official was now running to him for answers. He felt like he wasn’t suited to answer their questions, even if some seemed to see clear cut.
Since Jun Wu had been defeated, the officials needed a leader. Xie Lian didn’t see the reason why, yet, they remained like sheep in a flock. He couldn’t blame them, but something needed to change. For now, they seemed like they were trying to thrust the Emperor position on Xie Lian but that only meant that he would have to spend more time away from his husband.
All day he had been called away to oversee the building of other temples and root out any other plans Jun Wu might’ve left hanging around. Xie Lians wanted that chapter of his life fully close so he could be able to move onto the next. Ling Wen, thankfully, continued to help in her position but now she was actively training minor gods in order for her to get her vacation days back.
Of course no one else’s wanted Ling Wen to leave abruptly ever again so they encouraged other minor officials to study diligently under her.
With her help and everyone’s support, ironical because only a couple years ago he was still the laughing stock of all the three realms, Xie Lians “leadership” was going smoothly. No matter now many times he expressed he didn’t want it. Maybe he could have Shi Quanxuan convince the other officials into forming a council of some sort. They still are beloved by the heavens even if they did run off with He Xuan leaving no word for their brother.
Xie Lians shook his his head as he continued through the corridors of the Manor. The heavens were recovering, even Feng Xin and Mu Qing finally seemed to be communicating, though Xie Lian think he’s gonna have to push them to take the next step, and all he wanted to do right now was lay down with his husband.
“Gege, your back.” Hua Ching answered as Xie Lian stepped into his office. He immediately went to go to his side as Hua Ching pulled him onto his lap. Comforts and little gestures like these still make Xie Lian’s heart soar. “Did those pieces of trash give you a hard time again?” Hua Chen asked leaning in for a kiss.
Xie Lian happily returned it, “It’s fine, they’re just lost.” He said after breaking away.
“Hm, I think a little spark near their temples will help.” Hua Cheng muttered and tried to lean in for another kiss but his attempt was stopped by Xie Lian. He gave out a whine looking up at his god.
“You can’t burn down every god’s temple that bothers me.” Xie Lian pointed out, trying the resist kissing Hua Cheng’s lips. That didn’t matter as Hua Cheng was still holding him close and tried kissing him up his neck. What an insatiable husband he had, as if he himself wasn’t any better. Xie Lian only sighed and allowed himself to relax in his hold.
“They do bother you though.” Hua Cheng said and tried to go further, he slowly pushed his hands into the folds of Xie Lian's robes revealing more of his chest.
“San Lang.” Xie Lian sighed and was in anticipation for the next part. Hua Cheng continued to kiss down his neck into the exposed skin. Every touch seemed to be burned into his skin and he couldn’t help but hold him closer. Hua Cheng’s hand kept wandering further down into the tie that held Xie Lian's robes together. The heat was starting to build up so much so that Xie Lian wanted to push his husband down and get done with it already.
Xie Lian opened his eyes to look into his husband’s to see the same amount of lust reflecting onto him. Hua Cheng kissed him once more when a loud voice pierced his mind.
“Your Highness?!” Feng Xin’s voice called out.
Xie Lian grimaced as another voice was now present. They would have to continue later. He stopped Hua Cheng’s hands and lifted his hand to his head giving an indicator that someone was speaking with him. He answered back into the array. “Feng Xin? What’s wrong?”
Hua Cheng glared at nothing and said something else under his breath that Xie Lian was sure was meant as a curse.
“There have been multiple reports of Jiangshi killings out around the village of Yilling,” Feng Xin responded immediately. Other sects surrounding the area are either wary to venture in or are otherwise occupied. Ling Wen decided to hand this task over to you after she already sent a group of officials to look into the territories of the Wen Clan.”
“Thank you for informing Feng Xin. Make sure that Ling Wen is still getting her rest up there.” Xie Lian said and Fengxin made a noise of agreement on the other side.
“Oh, I’ll also make sure Mu Qing is over next week for our outing.”
At that, Xie Lian gave a soft smile. He loved that his two childhood friends, his best friends, were now with him once more. They had missed out on many moments because of internal and external conflicts that had haunted them. He was excited to explore new memories with them. “Of course, I’m thinking about trying some wonderful dumplings and tangulu at a small village festival.” A small ‘hmph’ came from Hua Cheng as he was still grabbing onto Xie Lian reminding him of his presence. As if he could forget what they were doing mere moments ago.
“I’m sure Mu Qing would love to try new recipes,” Feng Xin said, a hint of a smile on his face carried through his tone in the array. Xie Lian gave a wider smile even if Feng Xin couldn’t see it.
“Is that all Feng Xin?”
“Yes, Your Highness. I’ll see you soon.” Feng Xin replied.
“Goodbye Feng Xin.” Xie Lian said as the communication array was cut off and looked back at his husband who in turn, was looking like a kicked puppy.
“Gege is so mean.” Hua Cheng complained. “He teased me and then started talking to another man neglecting me.”
“Who teased who?” Xie Lian smiled as he gave him a quick peck. “San Lang, would you like to go on a date with me?”
“Hm?” Hua Cheng perked up. “Where to Gege?” He noticed as much as Hua Cheng loved to spoil Xie Lian, Hua Cheng seemed unaware of how much he liked to get spoiled as well.
“Yilling. Some Jiangshi have been stirring up trouble.”
“Tch. They’re mindless beasts. Qi is the only thing on their mind.” Hua Cheng complained.
“I assume you don’t have a pleasant experience with them?” Xie Lian raised his eyebrow.
“They aren’t even ghosts as they still have a physical body even if it did perish. Can’t even call them walking corpses because their soul is stuck within them and refuse to move on. They’ve been a fuss in my territory and leading more cultivators near Ghost City.” Hua Cheng explained. Xie Lian brought his hand up to his face to soothe him.
“Then this way you have more fun when we deal with them.” Xie Lian said.
Hua Cheng smiled, “Alright it’s a date.”
Getting to Yilling was no hassle deciding to go by a teleportation array. However, the atmosphere around the village was dreadful. Xie Lians looked and saw only a handful of vendors on the streets with most looking exhausted. It was high time noon, yet not many people could be seen wandering the streets. Flyers of information of what to do to keep safe were on the ground and for not a small village, it seemed to make the noise of a dead one.
“Gege.” Hua Cheng called as led them into a nearby restaurant. Once again there were only a small number of guests to be spotted. Given this is how the village looked at what was supposed to be the height of busy hours, the situation was not good.
“How many do you think are there?” Xie Lian asked as they sat down. The interior was warm and the designs were beautiful it’s a shame that not many people were here. These type of designs should be shared with more people having carving of lotuses for the nearest sect, Yunmeng clan.
“There’s been about 20 people affected, either killed or fallen into a sleep they can’t wake from until their qi is restored.” Hua Cheng continued, “I think we’re looking at a group of not more than five.”
“First we have to figure out their whereabouts.” Xie Lian thought out loud. It has only been a couple weeks but who knows how long the Jiangshi will stay around for. It’s best to move quickly while they’re still here. When the waiter came to get their order Xie Lians decided this would be a great opportunity to ask questions. “Excuse me, would you mind if I asked why there seem to be so few people here?”
The waiter looked at them noticing they weren’t from the area, “Wandering cultivators, eh?”
“You could say that.” Xie Lian offered a kind smile.
“Well, better that you're here than the other sects. They can hardly be bothered for our village.” The waiter sighed. He had a bag underneath his eyes and his posture was tense as if he had been forcing himself to stand up straight. “Whatever is coming out at night, jiangshi or whatever the people are saying, always go for the men.”
“Oh?” Hua Cheng asked.
“Yes, it’s a shame, some of the finest men in the village. They surely would’ve been great cultivators someday.” The waiter’s expression became heavy.
“Surely you must've checked out suspicious caves and abandoned funeral home.” Xie Lian questioned.
“Yes, of course we did. It was one of the first things we did once the young men started dropping like flies.” He answered. “We have yet to find anything.”
“Thank you for your time.” Xie Lian thanked as they gave him their order and the waiter was on his way. “If they checked every common place a Jiangshi may be in…”
“Then they must not be any common Jiangshi.” Hua Cheng finished the thought. He poured himself a cup of wine that the man had left for them while he went to go get their foods. “Wine, Gege? It’s pretty good.”
“Just a little bit please.” Xie Lian responded. Before he went back to his train of thoughts the wine hit is lips. “That is good wine.”
Hua Cheng chuckled, “Indeed.”
When their meal arrived they finished it while trying to ask for more information about the surrounding towns and where they can find sleep for the night.
They had a couple places they could go to first. Some obvious ones such as much farther away caves that are still in distance with the town, a current funeral home, or another option that seemed fore unlikely.
Xie Lian and Hua Cheng payed for their pay and went on their way to go find a place to sleep.
“Is this the one?” Xie Lian questioned. He looked at the tall building in front of them. This was suppose to be the best inn there was in the village and it certainly showed. The exterior seemed to be more recent than the other inns they saw along the way. It was for a hefty price but they were sure it would be worth it.
“This is where the locals say is the best for people passing by.” Hua Cheng answered. “Maybe we can have some fun later with no one disturbing us.” He teased.
“Maybe, and only after we’ve completed our objective.” Xie Lian chimed. “It wouldn’t do go if I can’t walk.
Xie Lian made his way inside th inn leaving a speechless Hua Cheng still standing outside allowing a blush rising onto his face reflecting his emotions. He doesn’t know why he’s the one blushing in this situation but Xie Lian manages to make his heart pound in every instance he’s with him.
Hua Cheng took a moment to recompose himself, making a promise to himself to complete that request given to him later before following behind.
Xie Lian had already scored a room with relative ease, with costumers scarce the inn needed their business. The young girl however seemed to blush to much whenever Xie Kian gave her a reassuring smile.
“If that’ll be all here’s the key to your room misters.” The girl managed out looking away bashfully. Hua Cheng wanted to wipe that off her face immediately.
“Thank you, however I do have one question.” Xie Lian said.
“Anything!” The girl smiled.
Hua Cheng merely took Xie Lians hand along with the room they were given and looked at the girl. “Sorry for the intrusion, I’m sure we will figure it out soon.” Hua Cheng gave a pointed look that had the girl squeaking away.
Xie Lian laughed as they made their way upstairs. He noticed the girl’s stare but still wanted to ask a question about the Jiangshi plaguing their village. But of course, he should’ve know even if he could handle the stares, his husband wouldn’t. “Eager are we?” Xie Lian laughed.
“She’s lucky I didn’t pluck her eyes out.” Hua Cheng wanted he, oh he so wanted to.
“Enough of that,” Xie Lian said as they made it to their room and entered first. It was a good size with the interior matching the exterior of the inn. “Now we have to figure out the layout of the village ourselves.”
“This is our date,” Hua Cheng said. “What’s the harm in exploring a bit more.”
After getting situated with their room, they didn’t bring much of anything at all they merely discussed their plan before making their way out once more. They hoped to be back in the morning once they have delt those Jiangshi. The girl at the counter was not there when they left. Hua Cheng smiled to himself.
The village had an only a few good building such as the inn. The rest of the village seemed just like any other. If only there were more people out then it would look like another. The lack of them however gave a weary mode to the place.
They walked through the town the only a couple of people would be coming out for groceries or necessities. They would always be in pairs or small groups. They had their assumptions about how the Jiangshi were operating. They were driven by the need to feed on qi, and with no sects trying to stop them that would only increase. However, it seemed to slow down, seemed to be restraint. People were still dropping consistently but the amount dropped enough so that outlookers could say that this problem would disappear on its own.
Still no one was out on their own. The village knows that they were going to be in this problem for a while if they didn’t have confirmation the Jiangshi were dead. If there was a group of them or even one, they had to be killed.
As they were walking down into the west side of the village a blur of clothes rushed past them but the little foot steps heard made it known it was a small child. They saw a man rush outside his shop to go after him. Seeing the sight they thought that it was a father going to scold his child for going outside. It could be understandable during this period in fear that the Jiangshi could lurking even if it it was daylight. However what the man said that had Xie Lian stopping in his place tracks.
“Piece of filth! Didn’t I say if I caught you here again I would take your hands off!” The man yelled, certainly not in a manner of a parent scolding their child or even a warning, a threat.
The little child only clutched whatever was in his hands harder as he continued to run. It seemed like he had no idea where he was running to and kept stumbling on his worn out shoes before he ultimately fell. The man finally caught up with him and tried to take the item back of whatever was in the child’s arm. The child was still squirming, desperate to not let it go. He gave out whimpers that broke Xie Lians heart that gave him no other choice but to help. He couldn’t stand for such a little child to be hurt.
“What is going on here?” Xie Lian asked trying to put his hand in the hand to prevent him from lifting the child off the ground.
“This brat here thinks it’s okay to steal from hard working businesses!” The man yelled in anger. He looked back towards the child who returned the look of hatred. Who knew you could see one has heavy as the one the child delivered.
“If you mind telling me what he took I’m sure we could sort this out.” Xie Lian tried to reason with the man. He only glared back though.
“This little brat needs to learn his lesson or else who knows how long it’ll be before he comes in again, this isn’t his first time trying something like this.”
“Look at his clothes,” Xie Lian demanded. The robes couldn’t even be called robes as they were rags. They were faded with color in holes in almost every place. They didn’t fit just right, they were too small for his figure. Too tight. Yet he continue to wear them. “He’s doesn’t have money. Why don’t you take my payment for whatever he took and be on your way.”
“Tch.” The man went into a thought. “Double. And if he comes back, he’ll have his punishment.”
The kid remained silent all this time just silently starring at Xie Lian. Xie Lian said, “Done.” He payed the man his price that he demanded making him smile.
“Those Jiangshi better get you next.” He muttered underneath his breath but when he turned around he came face to face with Hua Cheng.
“Oh?” Hua Cheng questioned. “To which one are you referring to?”
The man seemed to get even more annoyed. He couldn’t know the evil thought going through Hua Cheng’s head.
“Does it matter?” The man huffed and walked away back to his shop.
Xie Lian watch him disappear and turned his attention to the child. He knelt down to get a better view of him before he was being hugged. Very tightly he might add. Xie Lian let out a noise of surprised and when the child wasn’t letting go, only holding on more tightly he cautiously wrapped his hand around the child back.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you.” The child whispered over and over again. The poor thing sounded so small and helpless. It only shattered Xie Lian’s heart further. Who only how long this boy has been living on the streets.
“It’s okay. You’re safe now.” Xie Lian whispered back. He pulled back just enough to see big bright grey eyes starring at him. He saw tears beginning to form and wiped them away before they could fall.
“Is…the mean man really gone?” The child asked.
“Yeah, yeah he’s gone.” Xie Lian reassured. The child looked at Hua Cheng and back to Xie Lian as if trying to study their faces. He stuffed himself back into Xie Lian’s arms recognizing that they weren’t mad or annoyed at him. Xie Lian felt the child beginning to shake in his arms and decided to carry him up.
“San Lang. I think we’re gonna have to continue this later tonight.” Xie Lian said slowly rocking the child back and forth just has his mother has done with him.
“Don’t worry about it Gege,” Hua Cheng kissed the top of his forehead. “I’ll continue scouted the village, take him back to the inn. I’ll be right back.” He said looking curiously at the boy clutching onto Xie Lian for dear life. Warmth was also peeking out.
Xie Lian nodded as Hua Cheng continued in with their original plan. Right now, Xie Lian had to attend to this child. He continued to walk slowly back to the inn making sure the child wasn’t slipping it uncomfortable in anyway. He could practically feel his bones with only a little meat in him through the rags on his body. What was a child, so young and alone, doing out of the streets? Judging by how the man reacted to seeing him, Xie Lian guesses that he must’ve been on the streets for some time now.
When Xie Lian entered his room he ordered some dishes to be sent up quickly. The boy had seemed to stop shaking but was still holding onto him with seemingly no intention on letting go.
“You’re safe little one.” Xie Lian reassured once more. He sat down on the bed to allow the child to detach. It took a couple moments once he did Xie Lian was able to see the child’s face once more. Such a cute little nose, his face covered with smudges of dirt and choppy bangs framing his face. “What’s your name.”
The child seemed to hesitate for a moment before answering. “This one, this one is named Wei Ying.” The child, Wei Ying, tried to answer properly.
“That’s a very fine name A-Ying.” Xie Lian said trying to get rid of the dirt on his face. “I think you need a bath.”
Wei Ying looked down at the mess that he had made in Xie Lian’s white robes with wide eyes. “I’m sorry!”
If Wei Ying didn’t seem so close to tears once more Xie Lian would’ve laughed at the abrupt loudness. “Nothing a little water can’t fix. What did you even take?”
Wei Ying looked down and shyly took a loaf of bread out from under his shirt that seemed to be already squished. Not only that it but it didn’t even seem to be fresh. By how that vendor was furious you would think the kid stole a whole meal.
“Don’t eat that.” Xie Lian said and quickly spoke again when he saw the shock on Wei Ying’s face at his words. “It’s not fresh and can’t be good for a growing boy like yourself. Food should be coming up any minute.” Xie Lian shouldn’t be one to talk, he would’ve eat that bread in a heart beat in the past. Probably still would, but the little one didn’t need to know that. He was a god he could survive whatever food poisoning there was, Wei Ying was still a child. Right in cue there was a knock at the door and Xie Lian went to go answer it leaving Wei Ying on the bed. Taking the plates of food, he set them infront of Wei Ying.
“For me?” Wei Ying asked with a hopeful gleam in his eyes.
Xie Lian nodded. “For you, eat up.”
Almost immediately Wei Ying started to eat the noodles and fried rice that was displayed in front of him. It was something by light in order to not throw his whole system off. Xie Lian gently massaged his back as Wei Ying continued eating the food silently disposing of the bread.
After a couple minutes the plate of food was gone and only pieces of rice that stuck to the plate remained. Wei Ying looked back up at Xie Lian. “Can I have more?”
“Maybe later. You can’t eat to much all at once or else you’ll get sick.” Xie Lian tried to run his hand through the tangles hair but the tangles stopped him. “Let’s get you washed up first.”
Washing the hair certainly was a hassle. Wei Ying’s hair was already relatively long for his age, he would presume around 5, and had to get rid of all the dirt that had formed.
“No one has helped you?” Xie Lian asked. Wei Ying had been silent, playing with the water.
Wei Ying shook his head. “People don’t like homeless kids.”
Xie Lian sighed internally. Maybe they should leave this town but they couldn’t, they had already taken the mission and had to be completed.
“I can help look for some families for you to stay at. I know there certainly must be some couples wanting a child.” Wei Ying turned to him causing for the water to be splashed a little bit.
“I’m not staying with you?” Wei Ying asked. Xie Lian’s hands froze from where he was combing his hair. Stay with him? He hadn’t considered that. He only wanted to get the young child away from this place. Even if he was homeless you don’t just leave a child on the streets with Jiangshi roaming around.
“With me?” Xie Lian asked out load, mostly to himself again.
Wei Ying rapidly nodded. “Or red guy! You help me from bad guy.” He explained as if it made total sense for him now to go with them.
“I…I don’t know.” Xie Lian finally said. How could they take Wei Ying? Throw his life to ghe chaos of the heavens and creatures of the night.
Wei Ying visibly deflated. “I’m not going with you.” He rephrased.
“I’m figuring out what to do with you.” Xie lian’s mouth seemed to run on its own. “I would have to built a new room for you where I live and figure out a new schedule for my place of work but it is possible.”
Xie Lian didn’t know why he said that. Maybe he wanted to take care of someone once more? Did he want a child? He didn’t think of it before this moment. He forgot that was possible though he’d rather not think about that method. But someone he could tell childish stories to, put to bed, watch grow up, be the person his mother was to him.
Maybe he did want a child.
Maybe he had more love to give.
He hoped that things would pan out fine.
Wei Ying seemed to become ecstatic once more. “Can I go with you?” He asked once more.
Xie Lian smiled. “We are going to have to tell red guy, but yes. I think that’ll be alright for me.” Please let it turn out right, Xie Lian thought.
Hua Cheng arrived just as Wei Ying was put to sleep. He kissed the back of Xie Lian’s head to make his presence known.
“You’re back,” Xie Lian sighed in relaxation of the hold Hua Cheng had on him.
“Hmm.” Hua Cheng hummed. “The funeral parlor at he center of the village. That’s where they’re coming from.”
“Alright, let’s get a move on before they strike again.” Xie Lian said. He looked back at Wei Ying’s sleeping form. “We’ll be back for him.” He told Hua Cheng.
Hua Cheng smiled also looking at Wei Ying. “I figured as much.” He chuckled. Xie Lian gave him a light shove before they exited the room and were on their way.
The funer parlor west of the village was one of the first places the villagers raided. They looked inside coffins, tore the place up and down, even secured recently buried coffin after in the group to prevent the dead from rising. Once the place was deemed safe they checked the funeral parlor off as a potential location.
But where else could it be?
Turns out the women who owned the funeral parlor had sent three of her sons off to train in the sects. They grew to be good cultivators and met their tragic end in a battle against some ghosts who outnumbered them. No one else in the village knew of her son’s passing. The women, determined, somehow brought her son’s bodies home. However, by not letting her sons rest properly their souls never left and became Jiangshis.
Hua Cheng only discovered this by looked through the women office. He saw the documents confirming the death of the sons in battle. Other documents, letters to her husband that had already passed say saying how she was sorry for her crime. While reading them Hua Cheng noticed that the grounds beneath him felt hollow.
“I believe it’s this way. Gege.” Hua Cheng said leading them through the funeral parlor. There laid a door hidden away from the public eye. When it opened there was a stairways descending below.
“”I’m sure this is where she’s been hiding the coffins.” Xie Lian said as they made their way down. “It’s hard for a mother to let go.”
Hua Cheng nodded and when they made their way down there were tens of coffin. In closer inspection they all bore the same family name.
“A family tomb.” Xie Lian said. “That’s how she already had a place to hide them.”
“It’d be hard for a old woman to dig this much in only a couple weeks,” Hua Cheng agreed.
There was a creaking noise coming from ahead of them. They saw three of the coffins, not in rows like the rest but standing up, open slightly. Slowly out came one after another. The sons came out, their flesh had long already rotten. Green and purple hues and openings in the flesh were apparent.
“Ah, so there you are.” Hua Cheng commented. “Gege has a child waiting on him. Let’s get this over with.”
Xie Lian rolled his eyes but prepared ruoye. The Jiangshi said nothing and simply charged at them. They came towards Xie Lian first only sensing qi from him. Xie Lian maneuvered his way around them letting Ruoye get tangled up between them. Once Xie Lian was far enough away he tightened Ruoye which binded two of the JiangShi together. Hua Cheng engaged with the other one, playing with him if anything.
He didn’t even bring out e-ming until he was annoyed that the Jiangshi tried to take a bite out of his arm.
Footsteps came from above and at the top of the stairs stood the old women. She looked at the sight and started rushing towards them.
“Leave my sons alone! Please!” She begged and launched herself into Hua Cheng now having to redirect the Jiangshi from biting into him or the women. When Hua Cheng grabbed the women and pulled her away from the fight it left the third Jiangshi going towards Xie Lian.
It attacked but Xie Lian was quicker. It tried to move around him and Xie Lian merely grabbed it's arm to twist it until it cracked. The Jiangshi couldn't feel the pain but it helped Xie Lian into securing it. With one of its arms useless at its side it tried to go in again for another bite. Xie Lian made sure to avoid his teeth when he went for its throat now effectivly pinning it against the wall as only of its hand struggled to free itself.
Hua Cheng gave a whistle at the display of strength before the women began to speak again. "Please! I'll make sure they don't go out again! Their all I have left."
Xie Lian felt pity for the woman, she truly was alone but this was no way to live. "Ma'am, they are no longer you sons." Xie Lian said softly. "Have they not tried to take a bite out of you?"
The woman looked at him with wide eyes and nodded tears forming in her eyes.
"I'm sure your sons would have never done that." Xie Lian said. "Their souls are still trapped in this body that they have gone mad. Allow us to put them to rest."
"What will I do?" The woman asked in tears. "What am I supposed to do!"
Hua Cheng looked down at the women, an unknown gaze in his eyes. "I'm sure it's still not your time but if you wish for your sons to reincarnate properly, I can grant that wish but if has to be soon."
The old women looked back and forth between the two pairs. "The god and his ghost." He gasped. Xie Lian smiled sweetly. He really has to obtain other robes. The white and red robes they always wore is a dead giveaway especially in fights. "Please, take me with my sons. There is nothing left for me here! I beg of you, guide our souls into the afterlife!" She cried.
Xie Lian looked to Hua Cheng who nodded. "Close your eyes." The women did and, in a moment, she was slowly falling into the ground. Xie Lian looked away and took care of the rest of the sons. Their bodies too, fell to the ground and stopped squirming. There, in Hua Cheng's hand laid four small ball spirts, similar to a new ghost spirt but they began to fade. He was dissipating them; be they were moving on themselves as if their souls recognized each other and decided to go together.
Xie Lian sighed. "I can go check on the domain of the souls of the dead to ensure there in the line of reincarnation. But with no god watching over that, it may be a while before they reincarnate again."
Hua Cheng took Xie Lian's hand in his. "At least their together, right Gege." Xie Lian looked up at Hua Cheng's reassuring eyes.
"Right," He gave a sincere smile. "Let's go home, I want to relax with you."
A small peck met his lips. "As you wish gege."
They made their way out of the funeral parlor, ensuring that all negative and cursed energy was dispersed. When they were making their way back they heard little footsteps once more. They saw Wei Ying run from one alley way to another, trying to look inside each building. He kept stumbling from his little legs. He didn't seem to notice them yet trying to find something.
"A-Ying?" Xie Lian called. Immediately Wei Ying's head snapped towards them. He let go of the ledge that he was holding himself up by, trying to peak into another window, and sprinted towards them. Xie Lian had bent down to feel the full force of Wei Ying's impact. Once again, his robes were filled with the little child in his arms. "What's wrong?"
"You said you'd take me!" Wei Ying started to sob once more. "Don't leave me alone!"
"I'm sorry. A-Ying. There was some trouble that we had to solve. I'm here, I'm here." Xie Lian soothed.
"You can't leave." Wei Ying said in determination.
"I won't leave you, A-Ying." Xie Lian said. "Come on, let's go to place where you can have all the sweets and food you can want."
Wei Ying sniffed once more, "Spicy food?"
Hua Cheng chuckled at the side. "Sure little one. Spicy food too."
"I wanna go then." Wei Ying said quietly. "Baba?"
Xie Lian was in shock for the second time this day. "Do...do you want me to be your baba?"
Wei Ying nodded, "You are nice, you have to be my baba!"
Xie Lian should've had conflicting thoughts. But all he could think about is how he already agreed into takin in A-Ying. Wouldn't it make sense for him to be called 'baba' if he was going to raise Wei Ying? Xie Lian couldn't think of anything else that would make it not make sense.
"Alright, but one thing. Call the man in red A-die." Xie Lian smiled and looked up just in time to be Hua Cheng's face flush red. Wei Ying seemed confused but gave in.
"A-die." He said more softly. Cautiously, like he thought he would be scolding. Only, Hua Cheng looked away with his hand covering his face to prevent anymore color on his face to be shown.
Xie Lian laughed, "Your A-die is a big softie. Let's go home now."
Wei Ying was holding onto Xie Lian as they used another transportation talisman. Xie Lian didn't know how Wei Ying would adjust to their life, their world. He knew something though. Both him and Hua Cheng were now in possession of a child, a child that immediately won over their hearts. A child they would protect as long as they roamed the earth. Wei Ying will be cherished by them, and they would ensure that he wouldn't have to live his life on the streets again.