Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The night was a cacophony of screams and the clash of steel. Wei Wuxian stood in the center of the chaos, his face twisted in an angry sneer. The Burial Mounds, once his refuge, had become a battleground.

Cultivators from the major sects, along with several minor sects, had launched a united and coordinated attack. Their combined numbers were overwhelming, a formidable force determined to bring Wei Wuxian down.

Wei Wuxian moved with lethal grace, Chenqing summoning fierce spirits and raising the corpses of freshly slain cultivators to tear at their fellow disciples. The air was thick with the scent of blood and the acrid stench of burning talismans.

In the midst of the battle, Wei Wuxian's heart clenched as he saw the Wens falling one by one. Several weak and elderly Wens fought desperately, their faces etched with fear, but they had no means of protecting themselves against the cultivators. He anxiously scanned the wreckage for any sign of Wen Yuan, his heart racing with fear for the child's safety.

He tried to reach them, to save them, but the wave of attackers was relentless.

Desperation fueled his actions, but physical and mental exhaustion was pushing him to the limits of his power. He played Chenqing with frantic intensity, summoning more and more spirits to fight against the overwhelming force of the cultivators. Dark, resentful energy pulsed through the battlefield, the air crackling with the raw power of his anger. The spirits he commanded swirled around him, their wails mingling with the cries of the living.

He lost control.

The spirits, fueled by their own rage and resentment, began to slip from his grasp. Wei Wuxian could feel the tenuous threads of his control fraying, the spirits no longer responding to his commands. Their anger and thirst for revenge turned wild, indiscriminate.

As he pushed harder, trying to regain control, the spirits turned on him. Their spectral forms twisted with malice, their eyes glowing with vengeful hatred. The very forces he had summoned to protect himself now sought to tear him apart. Claws lashed out at him, raking across his flesh, tearing at his robes.

Pain exploded through him.

He stumbled, struggling to maintain his footing amidst the onslaught. The dark energy he had wielded with such mastery now engulfed him, consuming him from within. His vision blurred, the world around him reduced to a maelstrom of agony.

In the midst of the mayhem, Wei Wuxian's gaze locked onto Jiang Cheng. His shidi stood at the edge of the battlefield, his face the personification of rage. Jiang Cheng's face twisted with unexpected terror as he realized what was happening. "Wei Wuxian!" he screamed, pushing through the throng of cultivators, frantic to reach him.

The spirits' assault intensified, their claws scraping bone. Wei Wuxian felt his strength waning. As darkness closed in, he saw Jiang Cheng reach out, a flash of regret in his eyes, but the distance between them was too great.

It’s always been too great.

Wei Wuxian drifted in darkness until awareness returned. First the sky above, then the strange hum of unfamiliar voices. The tranquility felt surreal, a stark contrast to his last conscious moments. He felt weightless, detached from the chaos that had torn him apart.

Chaos.

Panic surged through him as the memory of claws flaying flesh and bone returned with brutal clarity. He scrambled to his feet, nails digging into brick as he tried not to fall over his tattered robes. Nothing looked familiar. A wave of confusion and fear made him look around wildly, expecting to see enemies ready to strike him down.

He was in a bustling street, surrounded by what could only be ghosts and spirits. Some wore the faces of the recently dead, their skin still holding the memory of life, others had decayed into barely recognizable forms, their features twisted by centuries of torment. A few floated as ghost fires, casting a sickly light that made the shadows dance unnaturally.

There were ghostly animals, effortlessly weaving through the crowd. Some were haggling over goods at market stalls, their voices harsh and crass, while others conversed in hushed tones. The sight of so many spirits, so indifferent to his presence, only heightened his sense of disorientation.

Instinctively, Wei Wuxian reached out to the abundant resentful energy around him. It began to swirl around him in a dense fog, dark tendrils reaching out like the claws of some vengeful beast. The air crackled with malevolent energy as the fog expanded, seeking out the nearest spirits. The ghosts around him, unsuspecting and unaware of the threat, began to writhe in pain, their forms flickering and distorting under the assault.

Some spirits cried out in shock, while others tried to flee, their faces contorted in fear. The serene street descended into disorder, echoing the turmoil that had driven Wei Wuxian to this place. He felt himself slipping as the resentment started to take form, ready to unleash further destruction.

As the build up was reaching its peak, a strong, firm hand caught his wrist. The touch was gentle but unyielding, pulling Wei Wuxian from the mindless haze he was drifting into. He turned, his eyes wide with confusion and offence, ready to lash out at whoever dared to restrain him.

The stranger's power crashed over him, an ancient force that spoke of authority beyond what he's experienced before. The energy swept through the street, bringing every ghost and spirit to their knees, their forms flickering like candles in a storm. The air grew thick and heavy, but to Wei Wuxian, it felt different. Like Zidian's familiar bite wrapping around his body, leaving him heavy and dazed.

The fog of resentful energy dissipated, leaving Wei Wuxian standing in the midst of the now subdued spirits. He looked at the man who had caught his wrist, his vision swimming slightly. The man's face was a blur, his features indistinguishable in Wei Wuxian's state.

"Calm down," the man said firmly, his voice commanding.

Wei Wuxian blinked, feeling a deep, overwhelming fatigue overtaking him. His knees buckled, and he would have fallen if not for the grip now around his waist, steadying him.

"Who are you?" Wei Wuxian managed to whisper, his voice barely audible.

The man did not answer. Instead, he bent down, sliding his other arm beneath Wei Wuxian's knees before straightening, lifting him effortlessly. "Rest," he said quietly.

As the command reached him, Wei Wuxian felt the last of his resistance slip away. He closed his eyes, letting his cheek rest against the strong chest that supported him, the oppressive energy shifting into a soothing presence that eased him into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Wei Wuxian opened his eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling, carved with delicate patterns that swirled like mist. The turmoil from before had settled into an unsettling stillness. The bed beneath him felt impossibly soft, worlds away from the unforgiving rock slab of the Burial Mounds.

As he sat up, a flash of silver caught his eye. A butterfly with wings like moonlight on water. It drifted through the air as if guided by an invisible current. Mesmerized, Wei Wuxian extended his hand, and the creature landed softly on his finger, its wings pulsing with gentle, ethereal light.

The door whispered open, causing the butterfly to take flight, its silvery wings flickering once before disappearing into the shadows. A figure in black robes that seemed to drink in the light entered. A ghost faced mask with a sorrowful smile concealed his features, and around his wrist, a branded shackle bore patterns that seemed to shift when Wei Wuxian tried to focus on them. The man moved like a shadow, each step deliberately quiet.

"Good, you're awake," the man said softly, his voice carrying a gentle tone. "My name is Yin Yu. Hua Chengzhu sent me to check on you."

Wei Wuxian nodded slowly, his mind processing the events that had led him here. "Where am I?" he asked, his voice still hoarse. "Hua Chengzhu... Did he bring me here?"

Yin Yu's mask tilted in what Wei Wuxian could only assume was pity, and his stomach twisted with familiar bitterness. He'd had enough of that shit from countless others after Lotus Pier fell, and he had no more patience for it now than he did then. "You are in Ghost City," Yin Yu answered eventually.

"Hua Chengzhu subdued and brought you to his private residence due to the unrest you caused in the Night Market," Yin Yu continued. "The ghosts there are an unruly bunch, but Hua Chengzhu still protects them from undue harm. He couldn't let the situation escalate further."

Wei Wuxian's mind froze as Yin Yu's words echoed in his head. Ghost City. His chest constricted as fragments of memory sliced through him. Sharpened claws rending his flesh, Jiang Cheng's voice breaking across the battlefield.

He had died in the Burial Mounds.

He was dead.

Fuck.

The realization hit him like a physical blow, stealing his breath. He had always walked the razor's edge between life and death, treating both as intimate friends. But now death had claimed him completely, dragged him across that final threshold.

The panic crystallized into anger, white hot and all consuming. He had hollowed himself out for their fucking campaign, had torn himself apart to defeat Wen Ruohan. And this was their gratitude? His fingers dug into the sheets until he could hear the fibers shred beneath his grip.

Darkness leaked from him like blood from a wound, dark and viscous with his rising anger. His eyes bled crimson as the truth settled into his bones: the cultivation world had wielded him like a fucking sword, then shattered him when he no longer served their purpose.

"How close are we to experiencing another outburst?" The voice cut through his temper, rich and darkly amused.

Wei Wuxian's head snapped up. Yin Yu was gone, and in his place stood a figure in crimson, lounging against the bedpost with casual authority. Wei Wuxian's lips parted slightly in wonderment.

The man commanded attention like a flame draws moths. His hair spilled over his shoulders, framing features that seemed carved from jade. One eye watched Wei Wuxian with a sharp intensity, black as an endless abyss, while the other remained hidden behind an eye patch that somehow enhanced rather than diminished his allure. His crimson robes whispered against his luminescent skin, embroidered with patterns that seemed to writhe and dance in the shadows, as if attempting to escape their silk prison.

Dark, ancient power rolled off him in waves, the kind that could only be earned through centuries of absolute rule.

Catching Wei Wuxian's lingering gaze, his lips curved into a smirk that was equal parts invitation and warning.

Wei Wuxian felt pinned by that singular gaze, his anger dissolving into something more complex. He had met powerful cultivators before, but this was different. This man's presence filled the room like incense smoke, both intoxicating and dangerous.

"Hua Chengzhu, I presume?" Wei Wuxian forced the words past his dry throat, trying to gather his scattered thoughts.

The man in red pushed away from the bedpost. "Hua Cheng is fine," he replied, his voice deep, alluring.

Wei Wuxian drew a steadying breath. "I'm Wei Wuxian. Yin Yu mentioned you brought me here?"

Hua Cheng's expression shuttered somewhat, his single eye narrowing at the casual mention of his servant. "You were wreaking havoc in my Night Market," he said flatly. "What exactly did you hope to achieve with your tantrum?"

Heat crept up Wei Wuxian's neck, shame warring with defiance. "I was overwhelmed and confused," he admitted, dropping his gaze from that penetrating stare. "I really am sorry for causing harm." His fingers twisted in the ruined sheets, a silent testament to his still fragile state.

Something in Hua Cheng's stance shifted, the sharp edges of his presence softening. "You didn't harm anyone," he reassured, letting the words hang in the air between them. "Many find their way here in a worse state."

Wei Wuxian looked up, letting his guard slip just enough to show his gratitude. "Thank you for intervening. And for bringing me here."

Hua Cheng studied him for a long moment. "I don't make a habit of inviting guests to my manor," he said, his voice carrying an undertone Wei Wuxian couldn't quite decipher. "But you'll stay until you find your feet in the city." His lips curved into that dangerous smirk again. "Can't have you dispersing half my population before dinner."

He turned in a whisper of crimson silk, leaving a flustered Wei Wuxian to wonder if he'd just been offered sanctuary or sentenced to captivity.

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian sat staring at the door long after Hua Cheng's departure, his heart still racing from their encounter. He tried to blame it on residual adrenaline, but...

That man was unfairly attractive.

Wei Wuxian shook his head, attempting to dismiss the lingering effect of that piercing gaze, and finally took in his surroundings. The room's quiet elegance made Jinling Tai's gilded excess look garish in comparison. Everything here spoke of power that needed no announcement.

His eyes traced over silk tapestries that shifted slightly in the dim light, mythical creatures dancing across their surfaces. Plush carpets to mute any movement, and the dark wooden furniture had been carved with such mastery that each piece looked alive beneath its polish.

The massive bed he sat upon dominated the space, draped in linens so fine they felt like water against his skin. Wei Wuxian forced himself to stand, suddenly very aware of the battlefield's remnants still clinging to him. A partially open door caught his eye, and he moved toward it, hoping to find a way to make himself presentable.

The bathroom beyond was a revelation in mirrors and marble. His reflection stared back at him from every angle, and Wei Wuxian groaned at what he saw. His Wen robes hanging in bloodied tatters, his hair a wild mess around his face. Heat crept up his neck as he realized this was how he'd looked while speaking to Hua Cheng. The man probably thought him some feral beast dragged in from the streets.

Well. Given recent events, perhaps he wasn't entirely wrong.

Argh.

Wei Wuxian peeled off his ruined robes with growing frustration, wincing as dried blood caught and pulled. The garments fell away in layers, each one a reminder of the shit storm he has yet to mentally process. When he finally stood bare, he approached the ornate tub that beckoned from the room's center, its golden taps promising warmth and comfort.

The first touch of hot water drew a sound of pure bliss from his throat. Wei Wuxian sank deeper, letting the heat seep into muscles that had known nothing but tension for years. This simple luxury, a proper bath, hot water, the promise of cleanliness, felt almost decadent after so long making do with cold rivers and quick washes.

Wei Wuxian lingered in the bath until his fingers wrinkled and heat bloomed across his cheeks, before reluctantly emerging to wrap himself in a towel that felt like a cloud against his skin.

The dresser held robes that would have made Jin Zixuan's collection look modest. His fingers drifted over silks and brocades until they caught on a set of black robes with crimson inlays. Something about them whispered of his old self, before the war had stripped away everything but survival.

Morning light had crept across the room while he bathed, and curiosity drew him toward the door Hua Cheng had used earlier. Beyond it lay a garden where traditional architecture framed the space. Latticed windows and swooping rooflines that reminded him of home.

Wei Wuxian followed a winding stone path through beds of beautifully blooming flowers. At the heart of the garden, he found a pond where lotus blossoms floated like memories on the surface. His chest ached with a pain that death hadn't erased. Shijie would have loved this place, would have known the names of every flower...

A familiar silver butterfly drifted from a lotus bloom to settle on his shoulder, its wings catching light that didn't quite exist. Wei Wuxian smiled despite himself, offering his finger as a perch.

"I see you're up." The quiet voice behind him made Wei Wuxian start, a curse slipping past his lips as he spun to face Yin Yu. The masked servant tilted his head. "Would you prefer breakfast first, or would you rather explore the city?"

"Will I starve if I don't eat?" Wei Wuxian asked, plastering on a grin to cover his jumpiness.

"Indeed not, but the food is still quite enjoyable." Amusement colored Yin Yu's voice despite his formal demeanor.

Wei Wuxian couldn't help but chuckle. "I'll find something to eat in the city then," he decided, eager to see this place properly, without the haze that had clouded his first arrival.

Yin Yu nodded and gestured for him to follow.

The manor's hallways whispered beneath Wei Wuxian's feet as he followed Yin Yu, the silence a stark contrast to the bustling Night Market from the evening before. Each turn revealed new elegance in the form of painted screens, jade ornaments, gardens glimpsed through latticed windows. The silver butterfly danced ahead of them, its wings casting tiny moving shadows on the polished floors.

When they reached the main doors, the quiet shattered into the vibrant cacophony of Ghost City. Wei Wuxian grinned as the butterfly circled back to him. "Stay close, little one," he murmured, offering his shoulder. "You can be my guide in this strange place."

He turned to Yin Yu with a playful glint in his eyes. "I think I can manage from here. No need to waste your morning watching me cause trouble." Yin Yu gave a near formal bow before starting to turn around. "Very well. Should you need assistance..." He left the offer hanging and melted away into the crowd.

Wei Wuxian dove into the streets with the enthusiasm he'd once reserved for sneaking out of Cloud Recesses. Ghostly merchants hawked their wares while spirits of every description haggled and gossiped. Despite the apparent chaos, he could sense the underlying order. Hua Cheng's influence touching everything like a subtle current. His thoughts drifted to their ruler with a whisp of excitement, wondering if he'll see him again soon.

A nearby stall drew his attention, its shelves laden with curiosities that would have made even Lan Qiren's eyebrows twitch: crystalline jars containing what looked suspiciously like human organs, yellowed oracle bones etched with ancient scripts, and jade pendants that thrummed with power he'd never encountered before. The next vendor displayed crudely made dolls that radiated resentful energy so pure his own darkness beckoned in response.

At another stall a ghost with sewn lips shuffled toward Wei Wuxian. He insistantly pushed a bowl of what might have been stew, if stew normally contained writhing clumps of human hair, toward his chest. Taking a step backward Wei Wuxian uncomfortably tried to decline. Unexpectedly his silver companion streaked through the air. Its wing slicing across the ghost's left eye with surgical precision.

The ghost stumbled back, bowl shattering against the cobblestones. Muffled sounds of terror escaped through his stitches as he bowed deeply, blood seeping between the fingers clutching his face. Wei Wuxian stared at the butterfly now settling innocently back on his shoulder, struck by how something so delicate could harbor such deadly intent.

Unsettled by the event, Wei Wuxian quickly retreated into the crowd, eventually finding himself drawn to a towering structure that dominated the city's heart. The building rose like a crimson temple to vice, paper lanterns swaying from elaborate eaves and casting dancing shadows across carved demons that seemed to writhe in the flickering light. The closer he got, the more the air hummed with palpable excitement, shouts of triumph and despair bleeding through the walls.

Crossing the threshold felt like stepping into another realm entirely. Incense smoke hung thick in the air, weaving through the sharp bite of wine and the metallic tang of desperation. A gambling den stretched before him, each table more sinister than the last. Ethereally beautiful dealers moved between tables with inhuman grace, their fingers dancing over cards and dice with hypnotic precision.

Around each table, spirits pressed together in a fever of greed and hope. Some still wearing the faces they'd died with, others twisted into forms that better reflected their inner nature. A mortal's scream cut through the cacophony near the entrance, his tears gleaming as two massive ghosts dragged him toward a door marked with symbols that made Wei Wuxian's skin crawl. The man's cries faded into the general din of laughter and cursing that filled the hall.

Movement at the far end of the hall caught Wei Wuxian's attention. A raised platform draped in translucent red silk. Through the gauze, he could make out a figure lounging on an ornate chair, radiating power like heat from a flame. Even from this distance, that presence called to him.

The pull was achingly familiar. The same magnetic force he'd felt in his room that morning when Hua Cheng had appeared. The realization sent electricity dancing along his spine, his pulse quickening despite his technically dead state.

Wei Wuxian found himself moving forward before he'd made the conscious decision to do so. A croupier stepped into his path, mouth opening to object, but then froze at the sight of the silver butterfly. Understanding flickered across the spirit's face as they quickly bowed and moved aside. Wei Wuxian climbed the platform steps, each one bringing the shadowed figure behind the curtain into sharper focus.

As he reached the silk barrier, Hua Cheng rose slowly from his throne. A hand emerged through the gauze, an invitation, a challenge, a promise.

Wei Wuxian's smile held a touch of wildness as he slipped his hand into Hua Cheng's larger one. The ghost king's palm was warm and sword calloused against his skin, strong fingers curling around his own. Wei Wuxian tightened his grip unconsciously, letting that warmth anchor him as he stepped through the curtain into Hua Cheng's domain.

Chapter Text

Hua Cheng drew Wei Wuxian through the gauzy curtain, his fingers lingering against the soft warmth of the other man's palm. The moment their eyes met, something inside him stilled. A centuries old heart forgetting its rhythm. The gambling den's noise faded to a distant hum, his composure threatening to slip.

Earlier, even disheveled and wild from battle, Wei Wuxian had radiated an untamed allure that caught Hua Cheng's attention. But now, bathed and dressed in the robes Hua Cheng had left for him, he was devastating. The black silk wrapped around his frame like shadow given form, crimson inlays echoing the color that had defined Hua Cheng's existence. A simple red ribbon gathered a portion of Wei Wuxian's hair, the rest cascading down his back. Every movement spoke of natural grace, a deadly elegance that stirred something Hua Cheng had thought long dead.

"You decided to join me," Hua Cheng said, his voice steady despite the turbulent thoughts beneath. His free hand clenched at his side, nails biting into his palm. A private anchor against the unfamiliar warmth spreading through his chest.

Wei Wuxian's gaze lingered on him, silver eyes holding a mixture of curiosity and something deeper that made Hua Cheng's skin prickle with awareness. Finally, Wei Wuxian glanced around the opulent space, a small, almost shy smile playing at his lips. "I hope I'm not intruding," he offered, his tone light yet carrying an undertone of genuine uncertainty.

The vulnerability in that moment struck deeper than it should have. Before Hua Cheng made the conscious decision, he was already attempting to ease Wei Wuxian's doubt. "What makes you think I wasn't waiting for you?" he asked, gesturing to a nearby chair. The blush that crept across Wei Wuxian's cheeks sent an unexpected jolt through Hua Cheng's core. His fingers itching with the forbidden urge to trace that warmth.

Confusion and frustration roiled beneath his plastered facade. For nearly eight hundred years, his devotion to his His Highness had been the only constant in his existence. His heart had known no other loyalty, no other longing.

So why the fuck was he feeling so drawn to this man?

This was merely curiosity, nothing more. A simple indulgence in interesting company.

It meant nothing.

"You seem deep in thought," Wei Wuxian's voice cut through Hua Cheng's internal struggle. He tilted his head, concern softening his features. "Is everything alright?"

Hua Cheng finally sat down again, angling himself toward Wei Wuxian. "I was wondering," he began, letting his curiosity show, "what circumstances in the mortal realm could have produced such a powerful ghost in my city." His eye traced the elegant lines of Wei Wuxian's profile. "Given your rather dramatic entrance, I doubt it was a peaceful passing."

A spark of mischief lit Wei Wuxian's eyes as his lips curved into that damnable smile. "Oh? So I'm considered a powerful ghost?" he teased, propping his chin on his hand, leaning toward Hua Cheng slightly. The movement sent a wave of jasmine scent drifting between them. "Are you saying I'm special, Hua Chengzhu?"

Damn him.

Hua Cheng's fingers twitched with the need to touch, to explore. He leaned in closer, allowing his voice to drop to a silken murmur. "You have perfect control over your physical form," he said, giving in to temptation as he captured a strand of Wei Wuxian's hair between his fingers. The silk smooth texture sent electricity racing up his arm. "Each strand distinct, tangible." He let the lock slip through his grasp like water through cupped hands.

His fingers ghosted up to trace the delicate skin beneath Wei Wuxian's eyes, barely making contact. "Your eyes hold power, swirling silver with hints of blue, like storm clouds over the ocean." His touch drifted to Wei Wuxian's cheek, feeling the warmth blooming beneath his fingertips. "Your cheeks flush with life despite death's claim on you."

Finally, inexorably, his fingers found Wei Wuxian's bottom lip, applying just enough pressure to part his lips. "And these," he murmured, thumb pressing gently against that plush curve, "remain as red and full as any mortal's."

Hua Cheng forced himself to withdraw, his voice sliding back into its usual detachment. "Not to mention you managed to subdue half my city upon arrival."

The loss of contact seemed to break a spell. Wei Wuxian's cheeks blazed crimson, his eyes glazed and lips parted in stunned silence. The sight sent a surge of satisfaction through Hua Cheng that he immediately tried to suppress.

"I... I didn't mean to affect the residents," Wei Wuxian finally managed, his voice rough and low. "I should have been more mindful when I called on the resentment around me." His gaze dropped to his lap, fingers twisting in the fabric of his robes. "It's... abundant here."

That caught Hua Cheng's attention sharply, pushing aside the lingering heat of their moment. "Called on it?" he repeated, leaning forward again, this time with purely analytical interest. "You can manipulate resentful energy?" The implications sent his thoughts racing. Such power in the hands of one so recently deceased was unprecedented.

Something in Wei Wuxian's expression closed off, a shadow passing behind his eyes. "I know it's not the conventional way of cultivating," he said, voice taking on a defensive edge that spoke of old wounds. "But it kept me alive until..." His mouth twisted with bitterness. "Well, until it didn't." He looked away, but not before Hua Cheng caught the flash of pain across his features. "It's what I had to do to survive."

Hua Cheng studied Wei Wuxian's face, seeing layers of suffering and determination etched beneath his playful exterior. Something in that combination struck a chord deep within him. "I am the last person who will judge you for your actions, in life or after," he said, his voice solemn. "We all do what we must to survive." The words held echoes of his own past, of desperate choices and harder consequences.

Wei Wuxian's eyes widened as it focused on him again, a shimmer of moisture catching the lantern light. For a moment, his attempted facade cracked, revealing raw vulnerability beneath. "You're just... giving me acceptance without knowing my story?" His voice wavered, thick with emotion. "I could be unhinged, and you're trusting that I deserve not to be judged?" The last words came out barely above a whisper, as if speaking them might shatter this fragile moment of understanding.

Hua Cheng let out a soft scoff, deliberately lightening the moment before it could overwhelm them both. "Do you think my read on people is so horrid that I can't sense goodness when I encounter it?" he asked, letting humor color his tone. "I've been ruling for centuries, Wei Wuxian. Give me some credit where it's due." His eye sparkled with playful challenge, trying to draw Wei Wuxian back from the edge of his darker memories.

The strategy worked. Wei Wuxian's startled laugh broke through his melancholy like sunlight through storm clouds. "Please forgive this one, my lord," he replied with exaggerated deference, bowing his head in an almost theatrical display of contrition. Then, through the curtain of his hair, he peered up at Hua Cheng through impossibly long lashes, mischief dancing in his silver-blue eyes. "How am I ever to make it up to you?"

The sight sent liquid heat coursing through Hua Cheng's veins. His fingers clenched around the armrest, wood splintering beneath his grip until a crack split the ornate carvings. "Well, there is someth—" he began, voice dropping to a dangerous purr.

A sudden commotion from the gambling hall shattered the moment. A mortal's voice cut through the usual din, demanding an audience with Ghost City's ruler. Rage flared in Hua Cheng's chest, both at the interruption and the sheer audacity of the demand.

Wei Wuxian drew back as if waking from a dream, the spell between them broken. Hua Cheng's irritation spiked higher as he turned toward the disturbance. The den's spirits, already protective of their lord, bristled at the mortal's presumption. A massive ghost with curved horns and wolf like claws seized the intruder by the throat, growling, "Are you tired of living?"

"Put the trash down," Hua Cheng cut in, his voice arctic with boredom. "You'll filthy your hands."

The crowd parted as the horned ghost threw the mortal at the foot of Hua Cheng's dais. The man scrambled up, face red with indignation. "How dare you lay a hand on a cultivator from the Wen clan! You'll regret this!" The ghost raised his claw, ready to strike, then froze, along with every other spirit in the room, as a familiar oppressive energy filled the space.

Recognition dawned in their eyes. This was the same crushing force that had nearly torn apart the Night Market. But now it felt more focused, deadlier. The temperature seemed to drop as resentful energy began seeping from Wei Wuxian like black ink in water.

The sensation hit Hua Cheng like a physical blow. Wei Wuxian's power reaching into him, grasping the resentful energy that formed his very essence. It felt like phantom fingers threading through his core, pulling and reshaping the darkness within him. A gasp escaped his lips, more from surprise than discomfort. The feeling was overwhelming, intoxicating.

He turned to Wei Wuxian and his breath stilled. Those silver eyes had transformed to burning crimson, promising exquisite violence. Dark energy writhed around him like a living shadow, each tendril sharp with lethal intent.

The sight sent a thrill of excitement through Hua Cheng that he couldn't, wouldn't, deny.

Moving on instinct, he caught Wei Wuxian's hand where resentful energy coiled like black silk between his fingers. "Wei Wuxian," he murmured, voice low and intimate. When those blood red eyes remained fixed on their target, Hua Cheng cupped Wei Wuxian's cheek with his other hand, turning that deadly gaze to meet his own. "Look at me," he commanded softly. "Come back to me."

Recognition flickered in those crimson depths. Wei Wuxian leaned into his touch like a man starved for gentleness, eyes falling closed. His breathing steadied, each exhale releasing more of the oppressive energy until it dissipated like smoke in wind. When his eyes opened again, they had returned to their ethereal silver, but the light in them had dimmed. Replaced by a hollowness that spoke of old wounds torn fresh.

Something in Hua Cheng's chest constricted painfully at the sight. The vibrant, teasing spirit from moments ago had vanished, leaving behind someone who had clearly suffered beyond measure. His jaw clenched as protective rage surged through him. He turned to the cultivator, letting centuries of accumulated malice sharpen his voice to a deadly edge. "What. The fuck. Do you want?"

The assembled ghosts retreated instinctively, recognizing a shift in their lord's usual bored demeanor. The air grew heavy with unspoken menace. A stark reminder that beneath his casual facade, Crimson Rain Sought Flower was one of the most feared entities in all three realms. Yet the cultivator, drunk on his own importance, remained oblivious to the danger he courted.

"My name is Wen Chang," he announced with pompous authority. "I seek the Yiling Laozu's soul. I demand to place a bet. If I win, you will locate and surrender his soul to me. If I lose, name your price." His voice dripped with the arrogant certainty of one accustomed to having his demands met.

"I want that coward, Wei Wuxian's soul," he spat, eyes blazing with self-righteous fervor.

Chapter Text

Wen Chang.

A surviving Wen cultivator. How the fuck was that even possible?

Memories of Nightless City crashed over him. The screams, the blood, the sickening crunch of bones beneath his resentful energy. He had made certain the Wen clan burned, every last one except for those precious few he'd sworn to protect. The remnants who had shown him more kindness than his own people.

Yet here stood Wen Chang, living proof that some vermin never die. This cockroach must have scuttled into the darkest crevice he could find, cowering while better men died. The thought made bile rise in Wei Wuxian's throat.

The sheer audacity of his appearance here, in Ghost City of all places, was almost laughable.

Almost.

Exhaustion warred with disgust as Wei Wuxian moved to stand, ready to deal with yet another Wen, but strong fingers circled his wrist, anchoring him in place. He looked up to find Hua Cheng watching him with an intensity that made his breath catch. Something in him ached for the ruler's earlier touch, for the gentle press of fingers against his cheek that had drawn him back from the edge of violence.

The rage burning in Hua Cheng's singular eye was breathtaking, like watching storm clouds gather before lightning strikes.

"You demand?" Hua Cheng's voice dripped sweetened venom as he looked back down the steps while his thumb traced idle patterns against Wei Wuxian's pulse point. A soft, dangerous chuckle escaped his lips that sent electricity dancing down Wei Wuxian's spine. "You really think you'll leave with your soul intact after demanding anything from me?"

Anger twisted Wen Chang's features before he masked it with a sneer that looked more desperate than threatening. "I come on behalf of the Wen clan," he declared, false bravado making his voice shake. "We have the right to demand what we seek. The Yiling Laozu's soul belongs to us, and I will not leave without winning our bet." The assembled ghosts shifted uneasily, while Wei Wuxian's pulse jumped beneath Hua Cheng's fingers. Though whether from anger or the continued contact, he couldn't say.

Darkness gathered in Hua Cheng's expression as his grip tightened possessively around Wei Wuxian's wrist. "You have no rights here in my domain," he said, each word sharp as a blade. "I've never heard of your worthless clan, nor do I give a shit about what goes on in the mortal realm."

Hua Cheng's nails dragged a teasing line across Wei Wuxian's sensitive inner wrist before releasing him. The ghost king rose with predatory intent, and Wei Wuxian nearly forgot to breathe. Reality crashed back when Hua Cheng raised one elegant hand. Wen Chang's startled cry cut through the den as an invisible force yanked him up the stairs and into Hua Cheng's waiting grip. The curtain billowed from the sudden movement, giving the crowd a perfect view as Hua Cheng's palm covered Wen Chang's mouth, his fingers digging into either side of the cultivator's face, holding him aloft like a misbehaving puppy.

The display of raw power sent heat rushing through Wei Wuxian's core. His heart thundered against his ribs as he watched Hua Cheng effortlessly dominate the situation, authority radiating from every line of his body. The vindictive part of his soul, the part that still screamed for vengeance, thrilled at seeing a Wen cultivator rendered so utterly helpless.

Wei Wuxian glanced around the gambling den, noting how the other ghosts watched their Chengzhu with a potent mixture of fear and worship. He understood the sentiment completely, Hua Cheng commanded attention like a crimson moon eclipsing lesser stars.

Terror overtook Wen Chang's face as he took in Hua Cheng's otherworldly presence. Then his eyes landed on Wei Wuxian, and terror transformed into pure horror. Hua Cheng's lips curved into a knowing smirk as his fingers dug deeper into the cultivator's flesh, drawing pinpricks of blood.

Pulling Wen Chang closer while his feet dangled helplessly in the air, Hua Cheng spoke in a voice like silk over steel, meant for their ears alone. "Do you really think I'll let him go? He belongs at my side, where you will never lay a finger on him."

The words resonated through Wei Wuxian like a struck bell, stirring something he thought had died in the Burial Mounds. A place to belong. A place where he was wanted, protected, even. The possibility felt almost too precious to acknowledge, yet Hua Cheng offered it so casually, as if claiming Wei Wuxian was as natural as breathing.

Hua Cheng's gaze shifted to Wei Wuxian, his eye softening as he read the emotions playing across his face. "Do you have any lingering attachments to the mortal?" he asked, his voice gentling in a way that made Wei Wuxian's heart stutter.

"Not in the least," Wei Wuxian breathed, the word carrying the weight of decades of Wen clan atrocities.

Wen Chang broke from his paralysis, fingers scrabbling desperately at Hua Cheng's iron grip as he shot Wei Wuxian a pleading look. The sight stirred nothing in Wei Wuxian but cold satisfaction.

Without breaking eye contact with Wei Wuxian, Hua Cheng unleashed his power. The air itself seemed to splinter as concentrated spiritual energy erupted from his hand. Wei Wuxian watched, mesmerized, as it swirled and coalesced, flooding into Wen Chang like water into a sinking ship. The raw force of it made the lanterns flicker and the shadows dance. With a final, devastating surge that tasted like lightning, Wei Wuxian saw Wen Chang's soul fracture and scatter like dust in a storm.

The cultivator's muffled screams echoed through the hall. A sound that should have horrified Wei Wuxian, but instead sent an entirely different kind of shiver down his spine. The assembled ghosts watched in reverent silence as their lord demonstrated exactly why he ruled Ghost City unchallenged.

As the last fragments of Wen Chang's soul dissipated into the air, Hua Cheng released his grip. The empty corpse crumpled to the floor like a discarded puppet.

Hua Cheng drew a silk cloth from his robes and methodically cleaned the blood from his fingers. The stained fabric joined Wen Chang's cooling body on the floor. Then he extended that same hand to Wei Wuxian, and the casual shift from violence to elegance made excitement curl in Wei Wuxian's stomach.

"Would you like to join me for lunch?" Hua Cheng asked, his voice a rich, dangerous melody that promised far more than a simple meal.

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian stared into Hua Cheng's eye, lost in its infinite depth. A whirlwind of emotions surged through him, ones he deliberately pushed aside for later examination. His hand trembled slightly as he reached for Hua Cheng's offered palm, finding an unexpected anchor in the contact. Hua Cheng pulled him to his feet, drawing him close.

With deliberate tenderness, Hua Cheng brushed a wayward lock of hair over Wei Wuxian's shoulder. His touch lingered, trailing from shoulder to elbow before settling at the small of Wei Wuxian's back. The gesture felt possessive yet gentle as Hua Cheng guided him around Wen Chang's corpse and through the gauzy curtains.

As they descended the stairs, Wei Wuxian became acutely aware of the gambling den's occupants watching them. Their gazes held a new quality, a reverence typically reserved for sacred things. They looked at him as an extension of their lord's will, someone to be protected rather than feared. The attention made him want to shrink into himself, but Hua Cheng's steady hand against his back kept him tethered to the present.

Wei Wuxian shifted uncomfortably under the collective scrutiny.

Hua Cheng's fingers pressed slightly firmer into his back as his eye swept over the crowd. "Scram," he commanded, his tone more indulgent than harsh. The ghosts immediately returned to their games, though their glances became more subtle, stealing looks when they thought no one would notice.

They emerged from the gambling den into Ghost City's vibrant streets, where the air hummed with resentful energy and everyday chaos. The shift in atmosphere felt like stepping out of a dream into a different kind of reality. One where the impossible happened between rounds of mahjong and street vendor bargaining.

They walked close together, their shoulders occasionally brushing. The city's denizens brightened at the sight of their lord, offering everything from glowing crystals to dishes he's never encountered before. Wei Wuxian felt the day's tension gradually uncoiling from his shoulders as he let himself sink into this moment. Just existing here, with Hua Cheng, at the start of whatever this new chapter might become.

How much worse could existence in Ghost City be compared to the spectacular disaster his mortal life had become?

The thought brought an unexpected lightness to his chest. Wei Wuxian glanced up, catching Hua Cheng's eye with a genuine smile that felt foreign on his face after so long. Hua Cheng's expression flickered with surprise before settling into pleased amusement. "It seems you're in a better mood," he observed.

Wei Wuxian let out a soft laugh, feeling some of his old mischief resurface. "With such a graceful host, how could I not enjoy myself?" He punctuated the words with a playful wink that felt both dangerous and thrilling.

Hua Cheng's smile widened, pride and something darker gleaming in his eye. "I aim to please," he said, voice rich with promise. "Now, let's get you something to eat." He guided Wei Wuxian through the winding streets until they reached his manor's imposing entrance, its gates seeming to part for them like mist before the moon.

The manor's corridor welcomed them with carved walls and silk tapestries depicting beautifully serene landscapes. As they walked, Wei Wuxian caught traces of jasmine mingled with something deeper, an incense he couldn't name that made his head pleasantly light. The scent grew stronger as Hua Cheng led him into a vast entertainment space that struck a perfect balance between opulence and taste.

At the room's heart sat a low table surrounded by three divans, their crimson upholstery embroidered with intricate patterns. The seating formed a natural curve facing a sunken performance area, where ethereal dancers moved gracefully, their flowing silks catching the light like water. Dark wooden floors below reflected the warm glow of paper lanterns, creating the illusion that the dancers floated above their own images.

Ornate screens lined the walls, their delicate latticework offering teasing glimpses of the gardens beyond. From a shadowed corner came the haunting notes of a guqin, completing the otherworldly atmosphere.

When Hua Cheng's hand fell away from Wei Wuxian's back, the loss of contact felt physical. "Make yourself comfortable," Hua Cheng murmured, his eye holding Wei Wuxian's gaze as he settled onto the central divan. Wei Wuxian hesitated, torn between the urge to follow that magnetic pull and proper etiquette. Propriety won, and he chose the divan to Hua Cheng's right.

Servants materialized with laden plates, and Wei Wuxian's breath caught at the feast before them. Steam rose from perfectly formed buns, glistening dumplings, and aromatic meats shared space with vibrantly colored vegetables. His attention caught particularly on several dishes gleaming with crimson sauce that promised the burn he'd been craving for so long. His teeth worried his bottom lip unconsciously as he imagined the spice.

A subtle shift in the air made him look up, finding Hua Cheng's gaze fixed on his mouth with an intensity that made heat bloom across his cheeks. "The most exciting food I've had recently has been cooked radishes," he explained with an embarrassed laugh. "You'll have to excuse my lack of decorum. I haven't seen a feast like this in a while."

A shadow passed through Hua Cheng's expression. "Did you not have anything else to eat besides radishes?" The careful tone made something in Wei Wuxian's chest ache.

Wei Wuxian forced brightness into his laugh. "It's not as bad as it sounds, honestly. They can be quite tolerable with the right seasoning. Besides," he added with forced levity, "they're hardy enough to grow anywhere. A very handy trait to have."

Though Hua Cheng's frown lingered, he didn't press further. Instead, he gestured to the spread before them, his smile returning warm and inviting. "Well, you won't find a single radish here. Try whatever you'd like."

Wei Wuxian huffed a laugh and reached for his chopsticks. The first bite of a steamed bun drew an involuntary sound of pleasure from his throat, flavors he'd almost forgotten existed exploding across his tongue.

"This is amazing," he breathed, eyes lighting with genuine delight. When he glanced up, he found Hua Cheng watching him with an expression that made his skin tingle, satisfaction and something darker coloring his voice as he replied, "I'm glad you like it."

Wei Wuxian savored each new dish with unbridled enthusiasm, flavors awakening memories of happier times. Between bites, he noticed Hua Cheng hadn't touched any of the food, seemingly content to watch him eat. "Aren't you going to have any?" he asked, raising an eyebrow playfully.

A soft chuckle escaped Hua Cheng's lips. "I think watching you enjoy the food is far more satisfying than eating it myself." Wei Wuxian rolled his eyes at the obvious provocation, but couldn't fight the smile tugging at his lips as he continued exploring the feast.

"So," Wei Wuxian ventured between bites of something deliciously spicy, "if you don't mind me asking, how did you come to rule Ghost City?" His eyes sparkled with genuine curiosity. "Did you take over from the previous ruler?"

Pride flickered across Hua Cheng's features. "There was no previous ruler to succeed. Ghost City was built from nothing," he said, a touch of arrogance in his voice. "Ghosts are volatile and unruly by nature, but within proper governance, they aren't wreaking havoc where they shouldn't." His voice softened slightly. "The dead and lingering deserve a place to exist without constantly cowering and fleeing."

Wei Wuxian set down his chopsticks, suddenly captivated. "Creating a place like this must have taken immense power and determination," he murmured, body unconsciously leaning forward as if drawn by an invisible thread. "I understand now, why they look at you with such devotion." The words came out more intimate than he'd intended.

Something shifted in Hua Cheng's expression. "Power and determination are necessary to protect what we desire," he replied, his voice dropping to a register that made Wei Wuxian's skin prickle. The word 'desire' caught Wei Wuxian off guard, making him unconsciously catch his bottom lip between his teeth. Hua Cheng's eye tracked the movement like a predator. "Creating order within chaos is a skill I've honed over centuries."

"I have an abundance of chaos inside me that could benefit from order," Wei Wuxian breathed without thinking, the words falling from his lips like a confession. The moment the sentence left his mouth, Hua Cheng's eye met his, pupil blown wide with an intensity that made Wei Wuxian's breathing cease. Heat flooded his face as the full weight of what he'd said hit him. He stood abruptly, putting distance between them as he turned to watch the dancers below.

Crossing his arms tightly against his chest, Wei Wuxian tried to slow his thundering heart.

The silence stretched between them like a living thing.

"I, uh, I was in a sect when I was alive," he started rambling, desperate to fill the charged atmosphere. "The Jiang sect. We lived in Lotus Pier, and it was... it was beautiful." His voice wavered slightly. "The sect leader, Jiang Fengmian, was like a father to me. I trained alongside his children, Jiang Cheng and my shijie, Jiang Yanli." The memories spilled out like water from a broken dam. "Lotus Pier was always so alive, disciples training, the scent of lotus flowers everywhere. It was... home."

After a heavy moment, Hua Cheng's voice came low and considering. "They sound like good people. I'm sorry that they're missing you now."

All the warmth drained from Wei Wuxian's voice. "They're not missing me," he said flatly, each word falling like stone into still water.

Wei Wuxian quickly redirected the conversation away from his first failure of a distraction, turning back to face Hua Cheng. "How did Wen Chang even find this place? I never knew a ghost realm existed, let alone how a mortal could reach it." He caught the subtle downturn of Hua Cheng's lips at his last statement.

Hua Cheng released a measured breath. "Mortals find their way here through various means. Rituals, ghost invitations, or through more powerful entities that can cross between realms at will. Wen Chang likely discovered us through connections in the cultivation world or following whispered rumors. It's uncommon," his eye darkened, "but not impossible."

"I never realized there were so many paths between realms," Wei Wuxian murmured, a frown creasing his brow as his eyes shift to the half concealed garden outside. A thought struck him, and he asked curiously, "Would I be able to return to the mortal realm if I wanted to?"

When silence met his question, he looked back to find Hua Cheng's face had gone carefully blank, a mask sliding into place. "Why do you want to know?" Hua Cheng's voice was measured, betraying nothing.

Wei Wuxian hesitated, suddenly aware he'd stepped onto sensitive ground. "Various reasons," he offered carefully, trying to read anything behind Hua Cheng's expression. The silence between them grew thick with unspoken tension.

Hua Cheng rose from the divan slowly, crossing the space between them until he stepped right into Wei Wuxian's personal space. "Do you have someone waiting for you on the other side?" His voice carried an edge that made Wei Wuxian's pulse jump. "A lover whose bed has grown cold without you?"

The proximity and boldness of the question left Wei Wuxian light headed, his heart thundering against his ribs. Hua Cheng's intense gaze made heat pool in his stomach. Without thinking, he closed the remaining gap between them, tilting his head up to look straight into Hua Cheng's eye, "So what if there is?" The words came out more challenging than intended.

Hua Cheng leaned down, eliminated the remaining distance between their mouths, his breath ghosting across Wei Wuxian's lips. "So you do have someone waiting," he whispered. A shiver raced down Wei Wuxian's spine, skin prickling with awareness.

The absurdity of the situation hit Wei Wuxian suddenly. Here he was, letting Hua Cheng believe someone pined for him, when he'd never even had anyone show genuine interest. No one had ever looked at him the way Hua Cheng was looking at him now, like he was something precious and dangerous all at once.

"So this is the one you're running around dispersing souls for now?" A bored voice cut through the tension like a blade. Wei Wuxian startled backward, turning to find a figure lounging against the nearest pillar.

Wei Wuxian froze as he took in the newcomer's appearance. The man commanded attention like a gathering storm, tall and lean, with jet black hair cascading down his back in a dark waterfall. His eyes cut through the room's warmth like shards of ice, dissecting Wei Wuxian with clinical precision. His skin was startlingly pale, almost ghostly in its whiteness. It was a stark contrast to the robes rippling with patterns of waves and whirlpools. A razor thin smirk played at the corners of his mouth. Something about his presence made Wei Wuxian's instincts bristle, like standing too close to the edge of a bottomless pool.

From the corner of his eye, Wei Wuxian caught the dancers and musician making a hurried but discreet exit from the hall. Given the sudden tension, he couldn't blame them.

Hua Cheng's expression shifted dangerously as he regarded the intruder, his earlier warmth replaced by arctic displeasure. "Worried your soul is next, He Xuan?" The words carried enough venom to kill a lesser being.

He Xuan clicked his tongue, utterly unmoved by the threat. "Always so fucking unpleasant to be around," he muttered, pushing away from the pillar. With casual disregard for the tension thick enough to cut, he glided past them both and sprawled across a divan. He plucked a dumpling from the feast with elegant fingers and popped it into his mouth, his expression one of deliberate contentment.

Chapter Text

"You're welcome to fuck off to your own domain," Hua Cheng sneered. He Xuan had chosen his moment perfectly, the bastard. No doubt he'd been lurking, drinking in every word before deciding to interrupt. Hua Cheng cursed himself for being so absorbed in the moment that he'd failed to notice another Supreme's presence.

Frustration coiled through him like a serpent, each new emotion Wei Wuxian drew from him more unsettling than the last. The beaming smile he threw at him on their walk to the manor had momentarily shocked him to his core. He hasn't seen something as beautiful in a very, very long time. It's been fucking downhill from there with the honest joy and laughter, his teasing, the innocent yet heart wrenching way he savored each bite of food.

Then that damned moment of hunger, of need, completely shattered by the implications of Wei Wuxian's words. The mere thought of him with another, head thrown back, moaning in pleasure beneath some nameless mortal's touch. It sent waves of possessive rage through Hua Cheng strong enough to make the very foundations of Ghost City tremble.

"And how else would I see what all the fuss is about?" He Xuan's mocking voice cut through his darkening thoughts. "The beautiful, fierce ghost that the great Chengzhu dispersed a soul for to protect." Sarcasm dripped from every syllable as he popped another dumpling into his mouth. "And in such a violent manner as well."

Wei Wuxian's cheeks blazed that enticing shade of pink that made coherent thought increasingly difficult. Hua Cheng's irritation spiked further when he caught He Xuan's gaze lingering on that blush, too focused on Wei Wuxian to notice the warning in Hua Cheng's glare.

"It's not like you to give a damn about mortals," Hua Cheng bit out.

"Yes, well, contrary to heaven's beliefs, it's not like you to disperse their souls," He Xuan drawled, examining his nails with affected boredom.

"Touché." Hua Cheng's lips quirked despite himself. Noticing Wei Wuxian's discomfort at being caught between their conversation, he gestured toward the unwelcome trash. "This is He Xuan, another ghost king, just weaker, uglier, and drowning in debt." He savored the way He Xuan's eye twitched at the word "drowning."

Wei Wuxian's expression brightened with curiosity. "You guys are called ghost kings?" At Hua Cheng's confirming grunt, he turned to He Xuan with a smile that could outshine the sun, clasping his hands and offering a respectful bow. "I'm Wei Wuxian. It's nice to meet you!"

He Xuan sat there like one of his grotesque skeletal fish, mouth slightly agape, clearly blindsided by the full force of Wei Wuxian's charm. He visibly collected himself before standing to return the greeting, his own hands coming together in a barely-there bow that made Hua Cheng bristle with the half-assed attempt.

Hua Cheng watched He Xuan's gaze linger on Wei Wuxian a fraction too long, his own nails biting crescents into his palm as he fought not to loose his shit unnecessarily. That tentative calm shattered completely when He Xuan gestured to his own divan, inviting Wei Wuxian to join him.

His hand was already moving toward summoning E'ming when Wei Wuxian's laugh cut through his murderous intent. "The other one already has my butt print on it," Wei Wuxian declined with playful innocence.

What the fuck was that supposed to mean?

Before anyone could question it, Hua Cheng settled onto his divan and pulled Wei Wuxian down beside him. The smaller man gave a startled yelp but melted into the space without hesitation, making himself comfortable against the plush cushions.

Butt print apparently forgotten.

Hua Cheng shot He Xuan a smirk dripping with satisfaction as Wei Wuxian settled mere inches away. He Xuan's dramatic eye roll could have rivaled the heavens themselves.

"So are there any other ghost kings wandering around?" Wei Wuxian asked brightly, assembling a small feast on his plate with obvious delight.

"There were two more," Hua Cheng replied, mesmerized by Wei Wuxian's obvious pleasure as he bit into a spicy wonton. "One's been dispersed, the other's a moron who can't tell his head from his ass."

"Maybe if you stopped hunting him like a rabid dog and just dealt with him, there'd only be two left," He Xuan drawled, constructing what appeared to be an architectural nightmare of food on his plate.

Hua Cheng eyed the precarious tower with growing concern. "And ruin a perfectly good hobby?" he asked distractedly. "You could always abandon some of your more questionable pastimes."

He Xuan's glare could have curdled milk. Shifting his attention to Wei Wuxian, he asked bluntly, "So what's your story?"

Hua Cheng felt Wei Wuxian tense beside him. "Ah well, you know," Wei Wuxian forced cheer into his voice, "I was a cultivator then I died. It's really not a very interesting story."

"Hmm, it must have been a bit more interesting if you woke up as a fierce ghost," He Xuan pressed, eyes narrowing with calculation.

Hua Cheng's voice dropped to a dangerous register, "Oh? And you're willing to tell him every detail of your sordid life while we're on the topic?" He wouldn't let He Xuan corner Wei Wuxian into revealing anything he wasn't ready to share.

He Xuan clicked his tongue, slouching further into his seat. "You're being a bigger pain in the ass than normal."

Wei Wuxian suddenly set down his plate with renewed energy. "I think we need something to drink," he declared, more animated than Hua Cheng had seen him all day. His expression shifted to near horror. "Wait, alcohol is still a thing after you die, right?"

A surprised laugh escaped Hua Cheng's lips. How was he so endearing? "Yes, alcohol is indeed still a thing," he confirmed, rising to retrieve a jar of wine from the cabinet behind their divan.

"Showing me where you keep it probably wasn't wise," Wei Wuxian murmured, his eyes following Hua Cheng's movements.

Warmth bloomed in Hua Cheng's chest. "You're welcome to it whenever you like." He placed the jar and two ceramic cups on the table, pouring generous measures into both.

"Really? You can't be a worse host," He Xuan grumbled, standing to fetch his own cup and filling it to the brim.

"Do remember that you were never invited to begin with," Hua Cheng remarked with a smirk.

"Come, come, let's make a toast," Wei Wuxian interrupted with barely contained excitement, perching at the edge of his seat. "Here's to being dead. Rather drink to it than sulk." He took a slow, appreciative sip, eyes falling closed as a soft moan escaped his lips. His tongue darted out to catch every drop.

The sight sent electricity racing through Hua Cheng's body, every nerve ending suddenly, acutely aware of even the whisper of silk against his skin.

A drop of wine escaped the corner of Wei Wuxian's mouth with his next sip. Moving on instinct, Hua Cheng caught it with his thumb, drawing it back to Wei Wuxian's lips. Something primal awakened in him as Wei Wuxian's warm tongue flicked out to taste the wine from his skin, the brief contact sending shockwaves through his core.

A low growl built in his chest as Wei Wuxian's eyes met his, pupils widened with want.

"Could you just not until I leave?" He Xuan muttered darkly, slamming down his empty cup. He stood abruptly, heading for the door. "Fucking hell."

Hua Cheng barely registered the departure, lost in Wei Wuxian's gaze. Those eyes were truly mesmerizing. Wide, expressive, hiding nothing.

His hand drifted to Wei Wuxian's cheek, fingertips ghosting across the warm skin. Wei Wuxian leaned into the touch like a cat seeking affection. "Why can't I think around you?" Hua Cheng murmured, leaning in until his lips brushed Wei Wuxian's ear. "I want to slowly take you apart, then take my time putting you back together." The words drew a shiver from Wei Wuxian's frame.

A needy whimper escaped Wei Wuxian's throat as Hua Cheng's other hand found his own rapidly filling dick, giving a single hard rub.

Fuck.

He needed to regain some control before he crossed lines he shouldn't.

But pulling back to look at Wei Wuxian was the least sobering thing he could have done. Raw hunger blazed in those silver eyes, and Hua Cheng doubted Wei Wuxian even realized what an intoxicating picture he made. The embodiment of seduction.

Wei Wuxian turned to face him fully, once again surprising Hua Cheng by taking initiative. His hand trembled slightly as he reached out, fingers curling into Hua Cheng's robes as if seeking an anchor in a storm.

Hua Cheng's restraint snapped like a physical thread pulled beyond its limits. Moving with uncanny speed, he pressed Wei Wuxian down into the divan's plush surface, covering him with his body. The sudden action drew a surprised gasp from Wei Wuxian, who arched unconsciously beneath him, seeking closer contact.

Bracing himself on one elbow, Hua Cheng gripped Wei Wuxian's hip with his other hand to steady him against the cushions. His teeth grazed the sensitive skin of Wei Wuxian's neck as he growled, "Keep still." His voice roughened with need. "If you don't want me worked up further, then... fuck... just keep still."

A sound of discontent escaped Wei Wuxian before he tested Hua Cheng's grip, deliberately shifting against the restraining hand. Hua Cheng responded with a light nip to his neck, a gesture meant as warning that backfired spectacularly when Wei Wuxian's entire body jolted with pleasure, legs wrapping around Hua Cheng's hips to draw him closer.

"Fuck, Wei Wuxian," Hua Cheng groaned, his dick throbbing, begging for any kind of friction.

"Wei Ying," came the soft rasp beneath him. Hua Cheng pulled back to find Wei Wuxian's gaze had softened to something almost vulnerable. Warm hands came up to cradle Hua Cheng's face. "Just call me Wei Ying."

Something magnetic pulled Hua Cheng closer, as if Wei Wuxian's gravity was impossible to resist. "A-Ying," he breathed against those parted lips, tasting the way the intimate name felt on his tongue.

Wei Wuxian's fingers threaded into his hair, gentle despite their trembling. "Gege," he whispered back.

Hua Cheng bit back a moan at the endearment and brushed their lips together.

Chapter Text

Hua Cheng felt like the scorching blaze in his veins were going to consume him.

Wei Wuxian’s soft, wine slicked lips sent waves of heat through him. His silver eyes, half-lidded with desire, intently locked with his own. The moment he felt the velvet slide of Wei Wuxian’s tongue against his own, he felt close to shattering.

His entire being pulsed with pleasure and anticipation as he roughly sucked Wei Wuxian’s bottom lip into his mouth, causing Wei Wuxian’s pupils to dilate with obvious arousal – eclipsing those beautiful silver irises entirely. A throaty moan slipped from Wei Wuxian's mouth that Hua Cheng felt against his own lips, savoring the taste that will forever be scorched in his memory.

Fuck.

Hua Cheng felt high on a drug he never knew existed.

When he grazed his teeth against that captured lip, Wei Wuxian's response was instantaneous and intoxicating. A desperate moan escaped his throat as his eyes fluttered closed, his fingers finding purchase on Hua Cheng's back and digging in with visceral need. The force of his grip sent the inferno in his veins straight to his cock, momentarily loosening his hold on Wei Wuxian. Just enough for their hips to press flush together.

Then he felt it.

Pushing against his hardened cock was Wei Wuxian’s own. Hua Cheng felt the last of his rationality slip away. Wei Wuxian let out a broken plea and the deep answering growl building in Hua Cheng’s chest made the legs around his hips tighten, grinding their cocks together hard.

Hua Cheng grabbed the back of Wei Wuxian's neck, fingers tangling in silky hair as he claimed his mouth in a bruising kiss. Each slide of his tongue was accompanied by an urgent thrust, pressing Wei Wuxian deeper into the plush surface beneath them. Wei Wuxian's hands roamed restlessly across Hua Cheng's back, fingers alternating between hungry clawing and pleading caresses as if he couldn't decide whether to demand or beg for more.

Breaking away from those addictive lips, Hua Cheng trailed heated kisses down Wei Wuxian's neck, savoring the way each touch drew new sounds from his throat. When his teeth grazed a sensitive spot, Wei Wuxian's resulting cry had him stutter from his rhythmic thrusting. His hand shot into Wei Wuxian’s pants, grabbing his soft, full ass as pleasure threatened to overwhelm him.

“Oh fuck... fuck,” Wei Wuxian panted as Hua Cheng roughly sucked a dark bruise into his neck.

Wei Wuxian started to grind his dick harder and faster against Hua Cheng’s, his pace mindless as Hua Cheng’s fingers edged closer to his hole.

"Gege... Oh God," Wei Wuxian keened, burying his face in Hua Cheng's shoulder.

Hua Cheng froze, those two simple words like a blade through his heart.

God.

His God.

Xie Lian.

The realization crashed into him with the force of a thousand spiritual weapons, shattering his pleasure-induced haze in an instant. Static roared in his ears as he threw himself from Wei Wuxian, his body stumbling back until his back hit the opposite wall in a state of utter disbelief.

What had he done?

What the fuck had he allowed himself to do?

Overwhelming panic and guilt flooded his system like poison. Not even risking a glance at Wei Wuxian he grabbed his dice and hurled them at the door, immediately stepping through the portal into the sacred silence of Qiandeng Temple.

The silence was utterly unforgiving...

Feeling as though the last string holding him upright was yanked from his flesh, his knees hit the cold marble floor with bruising force. His arms came up to wrap around himself as his nails carved bloody crescents into his skin. His body still burned with evidence of his transgression, skin flushed, breath ragged, desire shamefully throbbing.

Trash like him had no right to pollute his God's temple with such impurity. The thought made him physically ill, yet he remained frozen in place, too shaken to move.

He had lost himself.

Lost himself in another man.

For nearly eight hundred years, he had been His Highness's most devoted believer, ready to lay down his existence at a moment's notice. How weak was his faith to be so thoroughly undone by a ghost he'd known for mere hours? To be captivated by that radiant smile, that musical laughter, to feel savage protectiveness surge through him at the mere thought of harm coming to Wei Wuxian? To find warmth and contentment simply by existing in his presence...

"No!" Hua Cheng snarled, slamming his forehead against the marble in desperate self-reproach. Even now, his thoughts betrayed him.

"Danxia," he whispered, the beloved title tasting like ashes in his mouth, "please forgive this worthless one. I never intended... I allowed selfishness to blind me to what truly matters."

Shame burned through him as he squeezed his eye shut. "I think I desired him from the moment I saw him. Something about him shook me to my core even though I tried to ignore it. You deserve better than to have this lowly one's feelings forced upon you... but I should never feel such things for another."

He should have been searching the mortal realm for His Highness, not losing himself in Wei Wuxian's orbit.

With sudden awareness, Hua Cheng realized he was still kneeling, another fuck-up to add to the heap.

He rose slowly, blood trickling down his forehead like tears. His Highness had always hated seeing his believers prostrate themselves in his temples.

Standing in the oppressive silence, he distantly noted his body had finally started to cool.

If only his traitorous heart would follow suit.

Wet lips blazed a trail of fire down his neck as desperate kisses drew his legs tighter around Hua Cheng's hips, silently begging for more friction. His entire being screamed with pleasure he'd never dared imagine possible.

A fire blazed low in his stomach as Hua Cheng's large hand gripped his ass possessively. His hole clenched with need as those long, confident fingers trailed closer. Dizzy from the wave of sensation, the words tumbled from his lips without thought: "Gege... Oh God."

The sudden absence of Hua Cheng's scorching body startled him more than the claws that ripped him apart in the Burial Mounds. For several heartbeats, Wei Wuxian's mind struggled to process the shift. When his vision finally focused, he found Hua Cheng pressed against the far wall, his face a mask of raw anguish that made Wei Wuxian's chest constrict painfully.

What the fuck just happened?

Fighting down the rapidly rising panic, Wei Wuxian pushed himself up on trembling arms. "Gege?" he called softly, his voice small and uncertain. The complete lack of response told him Hua Cheng was beyond hearing, lost in whatever internal horror had gripped him. Before Wei Wuxian could even stand, Hua Cheng pulled a pair of dice from his sleeve, tossing them toward the door. In the space between one breath and the next, he vanished through the doorway without a single glance back.

Truly worried, Wei Wuxian scrambled to follow, his heart thundering against his ribs, but the hallway beyond stood empty. No trace remained of him.

The unbearable weight of his emotions crashed over him then, driving him against the wall as his legs gave out. He slid to the floor, pulling his knees tight against his chest like a shield against the crushing weight of rejection.

Did he do something wrong?

His chest ached as memories of moments before flickered through his mind. He'd never been intimate with anyone, had spent his life either training or fighting or surviving. The intensity of what he'd felt in Hua Cheng's arms terrified him now that the heated moment drowned along with any shred of hope Wei Wuxian was stupidly clinging to.

Fuck.

He must have overwhelmed Hua Cheng with his shameless desperation, his complete lack of restraint. What must the ghost king think of him, acting like some touch-starved fool...

An ignorant, desperate fool.

Embarrassment made his heart freeze over as understanding crystallized. Hua Cheng had likely felt obligated to indulge Wei Wuxian's pathetic advances. The moment reality hit, he'd been disgusted enough to flee his own manor.

Hot tears tracked down Wei Wuxian's cheeks, but he refused to acknowledge them as he shakily pushed himself to his feet. His legs still trembled, but he forced them to steady as he turned toward the manor's entrance.

He wouldn't burden Hua Cheng with his presence any longer.

He'd been enough of a burden in life, he refused to carry that shame into death as well.

Chapter Text

For the first time since his death, Wei Wuxian truly felt like a ghost. Moving through the city's bustling streets, he barely registered the whispers and stares that followed in his wake. He kept his gaze fixed ahead but lowered, like a man wandering without destination or purpose, which, he supposed with bitter amusement, was exactly what he had become.

What was he even meant to do now?

He knew passing on in peace was unattainable for his wretched soul. The bitter rage and discontent still simmered like acid through his heart. Even more so now that darkness twisted with disappointment and the rawness of not being wanted. The combination felt volatile, dangerous. Better to suppress it all, lock it away where it couldn't hurt anyone else.

Time lost meaning as he walked. The bright lanterns of the Night Market gave way to quieter streets, then elaborate gardens, then back to bustling thoroughfares. Ghost City seemed endless, each new turn revealing another facet of this realm he'd barely begun to understand. Wei Wuxian could feel hours slipping past like water through his fingers. His feet carried him past spirit vendors whose calls for attention fell on deaf ears, through crowds that parted around him like mist, alongside canals where ghost fires danced on dark water. Every step took him further from the manor, yet somehow his thoughts remained trapped in that room, replaying moments of heat and pleasure that now felt like bitter mockery.

He longed for his beautiful little butterfly companion.

An ice-cold grip around his wrist yanked Wei Wuxian from his spiral. He spun to find He Xuan studying him with unsettling intensity. The ghost king's mask of boredom slipped as his eyes took in Wei Wuxian's state up close. Trailing from tear-stained cheeks to kiss-swollen lips before fixing on the telling purple mark blooming on his neck. He Xuan's expression tightened into something caught between concern and anger.

Ashamed, Wei Wuxian pulled his wrist out of He Xuan's tightening grip and harshly wiped his wet cheeks, tugging his collar higher, trying to hide the evidence of his foolishness.

"Why are you out here alone?" While He Xuan's voice carried its characteristic flatness, anger laced every word.

Wei Wuxian forced brightness into his voice, though it felt like swallowing glass. "Just out for a stroll to get more wine." His attempted confidence crumbled as he finally registered their surroundings. Not the market at all, but an elaborate garden he'd wandered into. "And, uh, enjoy it in this very... specific garden." The words died in his throat, pathetic even to his own ears.

"You know," He Xuan said after a measured pause, taking a step back to study Wei Wuxian more carefully, "if you need somewhere to stay that's not Ghost City, you can come with me." His frown deepened. "My manor may not have dancers in flowing silks, but the wine cellars are well-stocked," he added with what almost sounded like defensiveness.

Wei Wuxian couldn't help the small, genuine smile that tugged at his lips. The offer was tempting. A chance to remove himself from Hua Cheng's domain, to stop being the burden he'd been since arriving. First causing chaos in the Night Market, then the mess with Wen Chang, and now... his cheeks burned at the memory.

A resigned sigh escaped him. Did he really have any other choice? The thought of wandering Ghost City while trying to avoid its crimson ruler made his chest ache. The idea of returning to the manor, to that room where mere hours ago he'd been moaning against crimson silk, was unthinkable.

Face flushing darker, he asked without much hope, "I don't suppose you'd take me back to the mortal realm instead?"

He Xuan's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "I want to piss the fucker off, not court his wrath."

Wei Wuxian managed a weak laugh. "Thank you, He Xuan," he said softly, offering a smile tinged with genuine gratitude. "It will only be for a short while, just until I get my thoughts sorted.."

He Xuan's expression softened as he studied Wei Wuxian, seeming to understand the desperate need for escape written in every line of his body. The moment of sympathy vanished as his face suddenly turned to ice. "What the fuck do you want, Yin Yu?" he asked, his gaze cutting past Wei Wuxian like a blade.

Wei Wuxian turned to find Yin Yu bowing formally, hands cupped before him in supplication. "Black Water, surely you understand that Hua Chengzhu will not take kindly to you removing Wei Wuxian from his domain. Perhaps it would be wiser to leave him here?"

"Oh? Is that so?" He Xuan's sneer carried centuries of accumulated disdain. "And where exactly is your precious Chengzhu right now?"

Yin Yu's hands fell to his sides, fingers twisting together in obvious distress. "Hua Chengzhu is... indisposed at the moment," he admitted, voice barely above a whisper.

A vicious grin spread across He Xuan's face. "If he's too busy with more important matters, then the consequences are his to bear." Without warning, he dragged a sharpened nail across his palm. The blood that welled up didn't fall but instead hung suspended, guided by spiritual energy into an intricate array that bloomed in the air like a deadly flower. Wei Wuxian watched in fascination as the patterns wove themselves into existence, so absorbed in studying the technique that he barely registered He Xuan's grip on his wrist until they were already stepping through the portal.

The warm, incense-laden air of Ghost City vanished, replaced by a bone-deep chill that spoke of ocean depths. They emerged into a vast courtyard beneath a sky choked with dark, writhing clouds that cast the realm in perpetual twilight. The very atmosphere felt heavier here, as if the air itself had taken on the weight of deep water.

Towering manor walls surrounded them, every surface adorned with aquatic motifs that seemed to move in the corner of one's eye. Waves of black stone crashed eternally against carved cliffs while skeletal sea serpents wound through forests of spectral kelp. Ghost fish swam through the air as naturally as if it were water, their translucent forms casting strange, shifting shadows on the mosaic floor below. Tiles of midnight blue and seafoam green that gleamed like the surface of an endless ocean.

The sound of flowing water echoed through countless corridors branching from the courtyard, creating an otherworldly symphony that raised goosebumps along Wei Wuxian's arms. His breath fogged in the damp air as an involuntary shiver raced down his spine. Where Ghost City pulsed with chaotic life, this place resonated with the quiet menace of the deep.

Through the rapidly shrinking portal, Wei Wuxian caught Yin Yu's panicked calls. The servant's obvious distress made something twist painfully in his chest. Why was Yin Yu making such a fuss? Surely Hua Cheng would be relieved to have the walking reminder of his mistake removed from his sight, painful as that thought might be...

Desperate to distract himself from the ache in his chest, Wei Wuxian turned to He Xuan with distracted curiosity. "Will you teach me that portal technique? I've worked extensively with talismans, but I've never seen spiritual energy used to suspend the array in midair like that. It would solve the constant problem of running out of supplies at crucial moments..." His voice trailed off as his mind already began dissecting the possibilities.

He Xuan's lips quirked in what might have been amusement. "Creating portals is significantly more complex than basic talismans, but why the hell not?" He started down one of the many shadowed corridors, his robes rippling like dark water. "Not today, though. This day's been enough of a shitshow already."

Following He Xuan through the hallway, Wei Wuxian found himself surrounded by walls that seemed to breathe with oceanic life. Serpentine dragons twisted through carved waves while schools of skeletal fish circled ancient shipwrecks, the details so precise they appeared to writhe in the flickering lantern light. Each step on the polished stone floor echoed like drops in a deep well, the surface gleaming with reflected light like dark water.

The dining hall they entered was a study in controlled opulence. An elaborately carved table dominated the space, its surface laden with dishes that could feed an army. Platters of perfectly roasted meats, bowls of fragrant soups that steamed in the cool air, and arrangements of vegetables in colors Wei Wuxian hadn't seen since Lotus Pier's kitchens.

Small ponds punctuated the floor like windows into the abyss, their waters so dark and still they might have been portals to another realm. Skeletal fish drifted through the depths, their bones clicking together in an unsettling melody that filled the otherwise silent hall. The complete absence of servants or other spirits made the splendor feel almost theatrical. Like a stage set for a play with no audience.

Wei Wuxian settled onto a plush cushion across from He Xuan, who immediately attacked the nearest roast with surprising enthusiasm. The contrast with Hua Cheng's intense observation of Wei Wuxian's every bite was both jarring and oddly comforting. Here, at least, he didn't feel that electric awareness that had made his skin tingle and his heart race.

Taking small bites of perfectly seasoned meat, Wei Wuxian found himself appreciating flavors he'd forgotten existed. The spices were foreign but enticing, managing to spark his appetite despite the emotional turbulence of the day.

He Xuan ate with vigor, his sharp gaze occasionally flicking up to study Wei Wuxian with calculating interest. The silence between them grew heavy with unasked questions, drawing Wei Wuxian's attention to the ethereal fish drifting through the dark pools.

"I'm going to take a stab in the dark here that you have a slight preference for underwater creatures," Wei Wuxian offered, trying to break the tension.

"Then I'll take my own stab to say that mortal wasn't looking for you to catch up on old times," He Xuan countered with a knowing smirk. "No savior here now to protect you from my questions."

Wei Wuxian scoffed, his pride pricked. "I don't need protection. Besides, Gege was—" The intimate term slipped out before he could catch it, heat flooding his face as he stumbled to correct himself. "Hua Cheng was just trying to rile you up, I'm sure." He wished desperately that the dark waters beside him would rise up and swallow him whole.

He Xuan's amused smirk held all the predatory interest of a shark scenting blood. "So let me get this straight. You've known him for a day and you're already calling him Gege?"

Exhaustion suddenly weighing heavy on his shoulders, Wei Wuxian abandoned any pretense of eating and leaned back on his hands. "If Hua Cheng showed no interest in me, no matter how innocent, you wouldn't have offered me refuge," he said, fatigue bleeding into every word. "Is his behavior so unusual that you feel compelled to pry?"

He Xuan's amusement vanished. "Which part, exactly?" he asked, voice sharp as winter frost. "Torturing and decimating a mortal's soul to protect someone he just met? Whatever the fuck happened at the manor? Or maybe abandoning you to wander around in a vulnerable state for hours with that mark on your neck like a beacon to every lecherous monster with eyes?" His voice grew darker with each word, the water in the nearby pools beginning to ripple with his agitation.

"You clearly have no idea the effect you can have," He Xuan growled, skeletal fish darting anxiously through the disturbed waters. "If you didn't possess the power you do, you would have faced fates far worse than the death you've already experienced." He took a steadying breath, the pools gradually stilling. "So yes, his behavior is thoroughly out of character."

Pain bloomed in Wei Wuxian's chest, sharp and familiar. Another clean slate tarnished in record time. His fingers unconsciously traced the mark on his neck as he struggled to find words. "If I'd known I would only cause trouble, I would have stayed away. I just... Hua Cheng made me feel..." He rubbed his face in frustration at his own incoherence before continuing bitterly, "The chances of seeing him again are slim enough for it to not matter. He'll be left alone, and I'll find my own way back to the mortal realm since no one seems eager to help."

He Xuan stood with an irritated click of his tongue, robes rippling like dark water. "Don't be so fucking self-sacrificing. You're not responsible for his shitty behavior." He retrieved two jars and cups from an ornate cabinet, the wine inside dark as ink against the porcelain.

"Nothing a good cup of wine can't fix," Wei Wuxian said tentatively, hoping this was He Xuan's version of a wordless truce. Accepting his cup with a nod, the first sip drew a deep appreciative sound from his throat, this wine carried more fire than Hua Cheng's sweeter vintage. He savored the taste on his tongue, only to find He Xuan staring at him with pupils wider than moments before, mouth pressed into a tight line.

"For fuck's sake, a bit of self-awareness would serve you well," He Xuan muttered, looking pointedly away.

Confusion furrowed Wei Wuxian's brow, but he pressed on, determined to break the tension. "I once tried making wine from radishes and wild honey," he said conversationally, remembering Wen Qing's horrified expression at the first taste. "I maintain it was drinkable, even if I was the only one willing to test that theory. Two cups had me flat on my ass." Wei Wuxian gave a soft laugh as the nostalgia got to him.

He Xuan's posture relaxed slightly, the ghost of a smile touching his lips. Taking that as his cue, Wei Wuxian rose to his feet. "I think I'll turn in for the night, if you don't mind."

After a calculating look, He Xuan waved one hand. A serpentine form of ghostly bone rose from the nearest pool, water streaming from its skeletal frame. "It will show you to a room," he said, boredom back in place. "Don't go snooping where you shouldn't."

Wei Wuxian couldn't help but laugh at his horrible hospitality as he bid goodnight and followed his peculiar guide. The hallways maintained their somber atmosphere, each turn revealing new scenes of oceanic beauty rendered in shades of darkness. His assigned room carried the same theme, waves of black stone crashed eternally against unseen shores while spectral creatures drifted through carved depths.

The bedroom mirrored the manor's aquatic theme. A massive bed draped in heavy curtains of midnight blue dominated one wall, while an elaborately carved table opposite held strange trinkets that sparkled in the flickering candlelight. A small pond set into the floor near the curtained window housed more of He Xuan's skeletal companions, their bones gleaming as they drifted through the dark waters. The serpentine guide slipped into the pool with barely a ripple.

Despite the obvious luxury, the room's atmosphere pressed down like the weight of deep water. Such a contrast to the vibrant warmth of Ghost City. The very air seemed saturated with ancient melancholy.

Trying to shake off the oppressive feeling, Wei Wuxian stripped to his inner robes and burrowed into the plush bedding. As he closed his eyes, his thoughts inevitably drifted to the mortal realm. News of his death must have spread like wildfire by now, the loathed Yiling Laozu, finally destroyed.

Anger he'd been suppressing began to seep through as his thoughts took a turn. The Jins were probably hosting a celebration feast, with all their ass-licking allies in attendance, raising cups to his ruin.

Rolling onto his side, a different kind of pain pierced his heart. At least his shijie wouldn't have to mourn another loss. She'd already endured so much because of him. The death of her parents, the destruction of her home, the loss of her husband, her chances at motherhood... her life. All of it traced back to him.

She had every right to curse the day Jiang Fengmian brought home that filthy street rat from Yiling, just as Madam Yu had. Instead, she'd used her final moments to save his worthless life.

Fuck this.

He threw back the covers and yanked on his outer robe. If he was going to spiral into dark memories, he needed something stronger than his own thoughts for company.

Making his way back toward the dining hall in search of wine, he froze at the sound of voices. He hadn't realized He Xuan had other guests. Frowning, he leaned closer to the door, and his heart nearly stopped.

"You fucking dare take him away from me?" The familiar voice carried enough rage to make the water in the nearby pools ripple. Hua Cheng. Here. On the other side of this door. Wei Wuxian's legs trembled with the urge to flee, but he remained rooted in place, heart thundering against his ribs.

"And how long did it take you to even notice he was gone?" He Xuan's voice matched Hua Cheng's fury with arctic precision. "I watched him wandering your city like a hollowed out soul for hours. You have no idea the state you left him in, do you?"

The silence that followed was deafening.

Finally, He Xuan sighed, the sound heavy with something like pity. "You're never this careless, Hua Cheng. I don't know what the fuck has gotten into you, but you treated him like shit today. Anyone can see he's not as stable as he tries to pretend... you're only making it worse."

Wei Wuxian's vision blurred as he stumbled back from the door. The last words he heard before fleeing were Hua Cheng's, rough with an emotion he couldn't name: "You won't keep me away from him."

Chapter Text

Opening his eyes to near darkness, Wei Wuxian found the room barely brighter than when he'd attempted sleep. Just a struggling candle flame and wan light seeping past heavy curtains.

Burying his face deeper into silk-soft pillows, he let his mind circle back to what he'd overheard. Hua Cheng had actually come looking for him after Yin Yu presumably told him what happened. Perhaps Hua Cheng was merely pissed off at He Xuan's interference in his domain...

Or not.

Maybe, just maybe, there was something more. Hua Cheng's actions suggested feelings beyond simple curiosity, something more complex, more dangerous to hope for.

Though he was probably just projecting his own tangled emotions onto the situation. Only a fool would have hope after what transpired between them.

The only way to know for certain would be to face Hua Cheng directly. And fuck knows he's not looking forward to the humiliation. Abandoning any pretense of more sleep, Wei Wuxian threw back the covers. A bath and breakfast seemed like the safest goals to focus on right now.

Driven by his simple plan, he stripped off his inner robes and pulled the ribbon from his hair. Movement caught his eye. A full-length mirror he hadn't noticed the night before. He paused, studying his reflection with newfound curiosity.

The contrast to his final living days was stark. Gone were the hollow cheeks and protruding ribs that had marked his utter failures in life. His ghost form had manifested as he might have looked properly cared for, strong and defined rather than worn to breaking. Even his skin held a healthy glow that the Burial Mounds had long since stripped away.

His fingers found the mark Hua Cheng had left on his neck, the touch sending unexpected shivers down his spine. When he pressed harder against the bruise, pleasure sparked through his body, drawing a startled gasp from his lips.

Fuck. He really should have explored this aspect of himself while alive. Twenty-some years, and his entire sexual experience amounted to one blindfolded kiss from a mystery cultivator at Phoenix Mountain. He'd been too shocked then to even properly appreciate it.

He'd always hidden his inexperience behind flirtation, but now he found himself in completely uncharted territory. His only real reference point was yesterday's overwhelming encounter with Hua Cheng. Surely not every intimate moment could be that intense. If it were, cultivation would grind to a halt as everyone stayed locked in their bedrooms.

Perhaps it had just been the novelty, his untouched body hypersensitive to every new sensation.

Argh, why was he even going down this path right now?

Wei Wuxian's fingers traced down his neck, following the path Hua Cheng's lips had blazed just hours before. The touch sent goosebumps dancing across his skin, drawing forth memories of heated kisses and desperate hands. He watched in the mirror as his nails left faint red trails down his chest, fascinated by how his body responded to even this ghost of contact. His hand drifted lower, skimming over his dick where the phantom pressure of Hua Cheng's hardness still lingered, an echo of power and need that quickened his breathing. Driven by a mix of curiosity and masochistic desire, he turned to examine his ass in the mirror.

Shit.

Perfect impressions of long fingers marked his skin like a brand, evidence that yesterday's craze hadn't been a fevered dream. Each bruise told of heated desperation, of control slipping just enough to leave marks. The thought that he'd affected the ghost king enough to make him lose that iron grip on restraint sent heat pooling low in Wei Wuxian's stomach.

Dangerous territory, that line of thinking. Wei Wuxian forced himself away from the mirror with a bitter laugh. What use was there in dwelling on maybes and might-have-beens? Someone like Hua Cheng was as far beyond his reach as the stars themselves. Better to accept that now than torture himself with false hope.

The bath should have been a sanctuary, but instead became an exercise in keeping his hands from wandering to the unwelcome hardness resting against his navel. Even the scented oils seemed to mock him, so different from the jasmine that had clung to his skin in Ghost City. When he finally emerged, skin flushed from heat and lingering arousal, he realized he had nothing clean to wear. A search through He Xuan's closet yielded salvation, several sets of formal robes tucked away like forgotten treasures.

He selected a deep navy set, embroidered with silver waves that caught the light beautifully. The inner robes whispered against his skin as he dressed, their silver sheen visible where the outer layer gaped slightly at his collar. The fit was clearly meant for He Xuan's taller frame, leaving the hems to trail dramatically and the shoulders to slide tantalizingly wider than intended. On impulse, he gathered his hair high with a silver ribbon, a style he hadn't worn since his carefree days at Lotus Pier.

After checking for voices beyond the door, Wei Wuxian stepped into the dining hall with contentment. His fragile peace shattered immediately as he found not just He Xuan, but Hua Cheng as well, both turning to stare at his entrance.

He Xuan's eyes flickered sharply to his robes before a knowing smirk pulled at his lips, but it was Hua Cheng's reaction that held the entirety of Wei Wuxian's attention. The ghost king stood entranced next to a pillar, wine cup threatening to shatter in his white-knuckled grip as his eye raked over Wei Wuxian's form with devastating intensity. The way the borrowed robes draped Wei Wuxian's smaller frame seemed to physically pain him, his jaw clenching tight enough to crack teeth.

Wei Wuxian's head dropped into a careful bow, forcing steadiness into his voice. "Hua Chengzhu, it's good to see you." When he straightened, the raw anguish in Hua Cheng's expression made something pull at his own heart. He waited, trapped in that singular gaze, until Hua Cheng's hand lifted toward him only to fall back, curled into a tight fist.

"Please don't call me that," Hua Cheng whispered, voice rough with something that made Wei Wuxian's skin prickle with awareness.

Unable to trust his own voice, Wei Wuxian simply nodded before taking refuge at He Xuan's left side. "Morning," he offered with brightness, earning a deep chuckle from his host.

"Not pulling any punches. Good." He Xuan murmured, dark amusement coloring his words. "So we're stealing clothes now, are we?"

"I thought you'd appreciate that more than me prancing around in a towel," Wei Wuxian replied dryly, hearing porcelain shatter behind him. "Besides, they don't fit properly which feels like punishment enough."

Hua Cheng settled across from Wei Wuxian with his jaded mask slid firmly in place once more, pouring himself a fresh cup of wine with concentrated actions. Unable to look away, Wei Wuxian caught the exact moment Hua Cheng's eye landed on the mark adorning his neck. His mask shattered in record time, his eye widening with an obvious mixture of shock, possessive satisfaction and unmistakable guilt.

Immediately, Hua Cheng's attention snapped to He Xuan, something dangerous flickering in his expression as if daring him to look at Wei Wuxian's neck.

"Every ghost in your fucking city ogled his neck, and now you want to protect his dignity?" He Xuan's voice dripped with fresh disdain.

"And why the fuck did you not heal him as soon as you saw it? Did you take some sick pleasure out of it?" Hua Cheng snarled, looking ready to throw something.

"Can you two stop talking about me as though I'm not here?" Wei Wuxian's patience finally snapped, anger bleeding into his voice. He turned to Hua Cheng, silver eyes flashing. "He Xuan was there for me yesterday when you disappeared. You have no obligation to tell me where you went or what you did, but you also don't get to vent your frustration here."

With deliberate movements, Wei Wuxian pressed his hand against the bruise, drawing in the ambient resentful energy until he felt it sink into his skin. The mark faded beneath his touch, pain constricted his heart at the loss. "I also don't need anyone to protect me," he said a bit too harshly, meeting Hua Cheng's gaze directly. "What happened yesterday will not happen again."

Hua Cheng recoiled as if physically struck, hurt flashing across his features, overshadowed with guilt in an instant.

Wei Wuxian's chest tightened even more. Surely he was misinterpreting that expression. He'd said this to free Hua Cheng from any misplaced obligation, to make it clear he didn't need to worry about leading Wei Wuxian on. The ghost king should be relieved, not looking at him like Wei Wuxian had just torn out his heart.

"A-Ying, please just let me explain," Hua Cheng's voice dropped to something achingly gentle.

"Ok, no," He Xuan announced, rising with dramatic flair. "I've had enough of this shit yesterday. Don't come looking for me." The door slammed behind him with enough force to make the skeletal fish dart for cover.

The silence pressed down like deep water.

Wei Wuxian didn't even spare He Xuan a glance as he watched desperation take over Hua Cheng's features. "It's been a long time since I've gotten such a fright when Yin Yu told me you left," he admitted, voice rough with honesty. "My first thought was that you somehow went back to the mortal realm. If that happened, the chances of finding you again are so damn slim."

Wei Wuxian's lips parted slightly. Of all the things he'd expected Hua Cheng to say, this was far from it.

"If you only knew.. The first night I saw you, you were so distraught. You knocked the breath out of me drenched in blood, with robes ripped to pieces, because fuck, A-Ying, you were so beautiful." Hua Cheng's voice was soft, caressing Wei Wuxian's stuttering heart. "I know I made a mess of things yesterday. Please... just don't leave. Just allow me to get to know you. Don't push me away."

Wei Wuxian felt tears track paths down his cheeks. "Damnit," he muttered, wiping at them as he stood and moved to the pond. The skeletal fish drifted by, offering silent comfort as he tried to gather his thoughts. He didn't hear Hua Cheng approach, only felt the subtle shift in the air as the ghost king came to stand beside him.

"You can't expect me to ignore the fact that you left for a reason," Wei Wuxian said, turning to look up at him, face somber. "Something happened causing you to stop in the middle of a very heated moment. I can't go through that again, Hua Cheng." He wrapped his arms around himself like armor, another rebellious tear escaping down his cheek.

Hua Cheng's expression twisted with remorse as he caught the tear with gentle fingers. "I promise you it won't happen again... please trust me."

The sincerity in those words chipped away at his lingering discontent. With a deep sigh, he stepped forward to rest his head against Hua Cheng's chest, fingers curling into crimson silk like an anchor. Strong arms wrapped around him with careful tenderness, and Wei Wuxian felt Hua Cheng's chin settle atop his head.

Time lost meaning as they stood there, the gentle sound of water the only witness to their reconciliation. Wei Wuxian felt the press of warm lips against his hair, followed by Hua Cheng's subdued voice: "If you haven't explored the manor much I can show you around. If you feel up to it?"

Wei Wuxian slowly pulled back to offer Hua Cheng a small smile, feeling lighter than he had since waking. "I'd love that, Gege."

Chapter Text

"How did I not know we were underwater? I swear I saw clouds from the courtyard," Wei Wuxian exclaimed as Hua Cheng stepped through the portal after him. The realization made him laugh. Apparently, his search for the front door had provided Hua Cheng with considerable entertainment before he finally revealed the manor's true location beneath the waves.

"He Xuan's illusions aren't that great," Hua Cheng said with a slight pout that was impossibly endearing on someone so powerful. "I'm sure you were just overwhelmed when you saw it." The hint of competitiveness in his tone made Wei Wuxian smile.

Unable to resist, Wei Wuxian caught Hua Cheng's hand in his own, pulling him toward the cliff's edge where violent waves crashed against dark rocks below. The ocean stretched endlessly before them, its surface dancing with ghostly lights that shouldn't exist so deep beneath the waves. "This is so beautiful," Wei Wuxian breathed, mesmerized by the otherworldly sight. "Is this all part of He Xuan's domain?"

Hua Cheng hummed noncommittally, his attention fixed on Wei Wuxian's profile rather than the view. "This is much more pleasant than his dreary manor," he said, squeezing Wei Wuxian's hand gently before settling at the cliff's edge, legs hanging over the abyss.

Wei Wuxian joined him without hesitation, pressing close enough to feel the ghost king's warmth through layers of silk. The ocean spray kissed his face with moisture as he watched fish leap through waves far below. "I haven't been around an ocean much in my life, it's really breathtaking," he said, contentment softening his features. "Lotus Pier has the most beautiful lakes though."

"And that's where you grew up? Where you learned cultivation?" The genuine interest in Hua Cheng's tone made Wei Wuxian's chest warm.

"Mm. The sect leader took me in after my parents died," Wei Wuxian explained, a bittersweet smile playing at his lips. "My father was his servant before meeting my mother, and she..." His expression brightened with inherited pride. "Well, she was an exceptional cultivator. They fell in love despite the difference in status and ran away together." The smile faded slowly as he continued, "I was about five when a night hunt went wrong. Uncle Jiang found me a few months later."

"A few months?" The uncertainty in Hua Cheng's voice was palpable.

Wei Wuxian turned to offer a reassuring smile, trying to ease the deep frown marring Hua Cheng's beautiful features. "I might have been a scrappy kid, but I was able to fend for myself just fine." Before he could finish downplaying those dark days, Hua Cheng moved to sit behind him, strong arms wrapping around his waist to pull Wei Wuxian flush against his chest. The position felt impossibly safe, like being anchored in a storm.

"I wish I could have protected you," Hua Cheng whispered against his ear, his breath stirring loose strands of Wei Wuxian's hair. "You were out there alone, and I didn't even know you existed."

Wei Wuxian twisted to flash him a playful smile, though his heart thundered at the raw emotion in Hua Cheng's voice. "You would have had your hands full with me," he teased, trying to lighten the mood. "Don't let my irresistible charm fool you, I was extremely high maintenance. Poor Lan Zhan was close to qi deviation in our teenage years." A distant look crossed his face as memories surfaced. "He was always so easy to rile up, I couldn't resist."

Hua Cheng's body tensed like a drawn bow, his voice tight as he asked, "And who is that?"

Wei Wuxian gazed at the crashing waves, unconscious admiration softening his features. "He's our very own Hanguang-Jun," he said with a fond smile. "Probably the most noble and virtuous cultivator in all the major sects. I'm sure he's destined for great things still..."

The words trailed off as reality crashed over him, he'd never know what those great things would be. He'd never see the changes Lan Zhan would undoubtedly bring to the cultivation world. There was so much he would miss... the world wouldn't stop turning without him in it. It would probably be better off.

Sensing the prolonged silence, Wei Wuxian turned to find Hua Cheng's expression transformed by something dark and possessive. His jaw clenched tight enough to look uncomfortable, eye burning with a faraway look. Wei Wuxian ran his hand over the rigid arm around his waist, a silent question in the touch.

"Your lover?" Hua Cheng's voice came out hollow, like the echo in an empty grave.

Wei Wuxian's eyes widened as understanding struck. Hua Cheng still believed he had a lover waiting. Even more absurd, he thought that lover was Lan Zhan. The mere thought of Lan Wangji, the epitome of propriety, being his lover startled a laugh from his throat.

Something reckless and hungry stirred in Wei Wuxian's chest. In one fluid motion, he turned to straddle Hua Cheng's lap, knees bracketing those powerful hips. The ghost king froze beneath him, lips parted in surprise, hands hovering uncertainly over Wei Wuxian's waist as if afraid to touch.

"Does it bother you, gege," Wei Wuxian purred, leaning close enough that his breath ghosted over Hua Cheng's mouth, "that Lan Zhan could be my lover?" He watched Hua Cheng's pupil dilate at their proximity. "How do you feel thinking you're not the first to kiss me," he murmured as strong hands finally gripped his hips, "that you're not the first to bite my lips, wringing a moan from them." Hua Cheng's fingers dug in with fervor. "Not the first to push me down and rut against me." Hua Cheng's breathing turned ragged. "Not the first to slip his hand into my pants and play with my tight, clenching—"

A hand fisted in his hair as Hua Cheng crushed their mouths together, swallowing the rest of Wei Wuxian's teasing words. The kiss held nothing of their earlier gentleness, just raw need and burning possession.

Fuck. Wei Wuxian had only meant to tease, to show how ridiculous the notion was... he should have known better than to play with fire. But gods, what a kiss. Every sweep of Hua Cheng's tongue claimed him more thoroughly, each harsh suck on his bottom lip rekindled the heat that had him rock hard in the bath just that morning. Why did Hua Cheng's possessiveness turn him on so much?

Summoning every scrap of willpower, Wei Wuxian pushed gently at Hua Cheng's chest, drawing back to catch his breath. Heat blazed across his cheeks, his lips tender and reddening from the force of the kiss.

Hua Cheng kept his eye closed, fingers now digging furrows into the stone beneath them as he visibly fought to control his actions. The sight of him so affected made guilt twist in Wei Wuxian's stomach.

Damn. He hadn't meant to be cruel.

Wei Wuxian cradled Hua Cheng's face between his palms, his voice dropping to a murmur. "You're the first person I've ever wanted to kiss. The first I struggle to hold a simple conversation with without wanting to crawl in your lap and consume your every thought. This feeling came instantaneously and without warning, and I've certainly not felt this toward anyone else before."

That beautiful black eye opened to meet his gaze, uncertainty swimming in its depths. "I wish I could tell you I've never kissed anyone, but I promise you're the only one I've kissed intentionally." He brushed his lips softly against Hua Cheng's before continuing, "I've never had a lover. Don't think ridiculous things."

Hua Cheng buried his face in Wei Wuxian's neck, inhaling deeply as if trying to memorize his scent, calming himself down. Wei Wuxian's fingers found their way into those silk-smooth strands, scratching gently at his scalp in a soothing rhythm.

"You don't have a lover?" The vulnerability in Hua Cheng's voice made Wei Wuxian's heart clench.

Wei Wuxian shifted to wrap his legs more securely around Hua Cheng's waist. "I really don't," he said with quiet sincerity. "There was a lot that happened in my life, but falling in love was never in the cards for me. Maybe it could have been under different circumstances, but I assure you, Lan Zhan's goal was always to take me back to his sect for cleansing and repentance, never to take me as a lover."

"On the contrary," Wei Wuxian continued with a soft laugh, "he always got obsessively scandalized at the mention of anything sexual. Ah, he even ripped a beautifully created porn novel once." He sighed dramatically, mourning the loss of true artistic expression.

"You'll have to allow me to replace the novel for you," Hua Cheng finally lifted his head, his earlier uncertainty replaced by light mischief. "Though I can't promise the characters won't resemble us." His lips curved into a dangerous smirk. "There might just be a scene where I rip these awful robes off of you to make sure you never wear another man's clothes again."

Heat bloomed across Wei Wuxian's cheeks at the playful threat in Hua Cheng's eye. "Does gege not like it when other men dress me? Does it set off some primal instinct to mark me as your own?"

A low growl rumbled through Hua Cheng's chest as he tangled his fingers in Wei Wuxian's hair, gently tilting his head to expose the length of his neck. His lips brushed Wei Wuxian's ear as he murmured, "You were marked as mine. I want every soul to see, yet I want to gouge their eyes out for daring to look."

Wei Wuxian's breath hitched as those lips traced down his neck. "I am still marked as yours," he managed between soft gasps, "though you really would gouge out anyone's eyes for seeing where."

When Hua Cheng pulled back with confusion, Wei Wuxian caught his hand and deliberately dragged it down his body before pressing it against his clothed ass. He watched with satisfaction as Hua Cheng's pupil dilated, his breathing strangled. Leaning close to that perfect ear, Wei Wuxian whispered, "Would gege prefer I not heal them?"

"A-Ying," Hua Cheng's voice dropped to a dangerous register, "I'm seconds away from ripping these god-awful robes off and having a look myself. You're giving my restraint more credit than it's worth."

Wei Wuxian's lips curved into a confident smirk. "I'm going to assume that you wouldn't want whatever's lurking in the water to have a peek."

Sobering from their heated moment, Hua Cheng scanned the water's surface with a frown, his eye searching for hidden threats. Wei Wuxian felt him tense, preparing to stand, but pressed a gentle hand to his shoulder. "Wait, let me play a bit," he said, excitement brightening his voice. "I haven't really tested my power since I became a ghost."

Moving to the cliff's very edge, Wei Wuxian closed his eyes and let his awareness expand. Though the space around them felt largely lifeless, resentful energy saturated every molecule of air and water. Unlike in life, where that energy had pressed against him like a crushing weight, it now flowed through him as naturally as breathing. No longer a force to be dominated, but a part of his very essence.

The most potent source of energy pulsed from Hua Cheng beside him, an ancient darkness that called to Wei Wuxian's own. Leaving that tantalizing well of power untouched, he instead reached for the ambient energy around them. It responded eagerly, materializing against his skin like smoke given form, caressing him with the intimacy of a lover long denied.

Wei Wuxian felt his own reservoir of resentful energy stirring deep within, a wellspring that would ensure he'd never again face emptiness. As he extended his arms, that power lifted him into the air effortlessly, the silver ribbon in his hair surrendering to the pull of resentment. Dark strands danced around his face as his eyes opened, now burning a deep crimson. The resentment swirling around him in mesmerizing patterns.

Sensing a large concentration of energy moving beneath the waves, Wei Wuxian extended his hand. Pure darkness coalesced between his fingers, taking the familiar shape of a flute. The instrument felt different from Chenqing, not carved from wood but forged from the darkest malice itself. When he brought it to his lips, the haunting melody that emerged sent shivers of recognition through his entire being.

The turbulent waters parted like a curtain as a colossal skeletal sea serpent rose with impossible fluidity. Water cascaded from its ancient bones in crystalline streams, each droplet catching ethereal light to create a ghostly aurora around its form.

With sinuous movement, the serpent spiraled around Wei Wuxian, its massive coils creating a protective barrier of bone and shadow. Those empty eye sockets, now filled with gentle subservient light, fixed upon him with unwavering focus. As its massive skull drew level with Wei Wuxian, it pressed its snout against his shoulder with surprising tenderness.

"Hello little one," Wei Wuxian lowered the flute and crooned, running gentle fingers along the intricate bone patterns of its snout. "Were you just keeping an eye out for your master?" The great beast lowered its head in clear submission, drawing a wider smile from Wei Wuxian. "Ah, that's okay. How about you take your friends and find something else to do while I'm busy here, hmm?"

The serpent nuzzled his face once more before retreating with careful movements that belied its enormous size. Wei Wuxian felt the last traces of resentful creatures vanish into the depths, leaving only the energy that danced around him like a living shadow. "Let me down now," he murmured, directing the darkness to lower him back to the ground.

Wei Wuxian's feet touched softly as he suppressed the resentment with a casual wave. Turning to see where Hua Cheng is, he found him standing a short distance away, crimson robes dancing in the wind. The look on his face made Wei Wuxian's skin prickle.

There wasn't a hint of the fear or disgust he'd grown so accustomed to seeing. Instead, pure awe transformed Hua Cheng's features, his lips parted in genuine wonder as if still processing the display before him. The silence stretched as Wei Wuxian's anxiousness grew. What will Hua Cheng even make of this display of his heretic ways.

"I've been around for a very, very long time, A-Ying," Hua Cheng's voice dropped to an intimate murmur, each step toward Wei Wuxian measured and deliberate. "And I've never seen anyone manipulate resentful energy as though it's a malleable thing. Spiritual energy, yes, but never resentment."

"To channel something so volatile with the precision and intent as you just did is something to marvel at," he continued, voice colored with reverent disbelief. "And you were able to do this while you were a mortal?"

Noting how Hua Cheng maintained a careful distance, Wei Wuxian offered a self-deprecating smile. "It's different now. I didn't have my own energy to channel, so I was always dependent solely on my surroundings." He turned toward the water, his smile fading like mist. "Where I can feel the resentment capable of healing me now, I was only ever able to manipulate it to forcefully keep my body together. It was constantly like holding water in a sieve."

"Why would you have been at a point of having to keep your body together with resentment?" Hua Cheng's voice strained with growing confusion. "You were raised as a cultivator – you should have had enough of your own spiritual energy to have no need for resentment."

A cold smile curved Wei Wuxian's lips. "I had an abundance of spiritual energy, until I didn't."

He turned to meet Hua Cheng's troubled gaze. "It doesn't matter. The only thing I was trying to say is that it's easier now. The resentment allows me to manipulate it more naturally," he said, fighting to keep bitterness from bleeding into his words.

Seeing questions gathering in Hua Cheng's expression, questions about a past he wasn't ready to revisit, Wei Wuxian caught his hand and pulled him toward a nearby rock formation. "Oh come now, let's rather talk about something less bland," he said, forcing cheer back into his voice. "We finally don't have an audience anymore. Rather tell me where you grew up."

After nudging Hua Cheng onto the stone slab, Wei Wuxian settled beside him, crossing his legs and propping his chin on his fist with renewed excitement. He watched Hua Cheng take a deep breath, tension melting from his shoulders as he leaned back on his hands. "I don't think there's anyone alive or dead who knows where I grew up."

Mortification flooded Wei Wuxian as he realized his misstep. "Ah crap, I'm sorry, that was too personal to ask, I didn't—" Hua Cheng's low chuckle cut through his panicked backtracking, making him turn away with an embarrassed huff.

"I didn't say I won't tell you," Hua Cheng said, nostalgia softening his smile. "I just don't want to scare you off when you realize how long I've existed already."

Wei Wuxian's soft laugh carried a hint of mischief as he met Hua Cheng's gaze. "I think traditional age gaps lose their meaning after death, gege."

"Oh? Even when it's close to eight hundred years?" Hua Cheng's knowing smirk widened at Wei Wuxian's shocked expression. "Not as insignificant now, is it? I grew up in the Kingdom of Xianle, which I'm sure is forgotten by the mortal realm by now."

"You're telling me you've existed for close to a thousand years?" Wei Wuxian felt his artificially created heart race at the revelation. The vast imbalance of power between them sent an unexpected thrill through his core. What trials had Hua Cheng endured over centuries to still exist in this world? What challenges had he overcome to remain standing at the pinnacle of power?

"Not running away yet?" Hua Cheng asked with playful confidence.

Wei Wuxian's delighted laugh rang out across the water. "And why would I? Holy shit, imagine the things you must have learned over the years," he trailed off, mind already racing with possibilities.

Hua Cheng watched him with naked adoration. "Well, I have become quite adept at shapeshifting, if you're interested in learning."

Warmth bloomed in Wei Wuxian's chest, a heady mixture of childlike excitement and pure contentment. How long had it been since he'd simply sat and talked with someone who made him feel so... safe? The simple pleasure of sharing this moment with Hua Cheng felt like finding an oasis after years in the desert.

"I would love to learn whatever you're willing to teach," he said, his smile radiating happiness. Only when he caught Hua Cheng's sinful smirk did he realize how suggestive the words sounded. Heat crept up his neck as he hurried on, "What forms are you able to shift into? Other human appearances or animals as well?" His attempt at scholarly interest came out more flustered than intended.

Hua Cheng's smirk only widened. "Mmm, different human forms, animals, things of people's nightmares," his expression turned absolutely wicked, "a dragon."

Wei Wuxian burst into peals of laughter. "I'm sure even I would have heard if anyone's ever seen a dragon flying around," he said, voice light with genuine mirth. "It's cruel to taunt."

"Taunting you is becoming one of my favorite pastimes," Hua Cheng purred, his tone warm. "You know you can always come back to stay at my manor. You don't have to stay in He Xuan's dingy shack."

"How forward of you, gege." Wei Wuxian's eyes sparkled with mischief. "I tell you I've never had a lover and you invite me to your home? Don't you think that's a bit shameless?" He savored the way Hua Cheng's confident facade cracked. "You can always come visit me when you'd like some company," he added, rising fluidly to his feet. "Now if you'd create a portal for me to go back, I'll look forward to your visit tomorrow?"

He waited with deliberately wide, innocent eyes as Hua Cheng's expression cycled through surprise and dismay, finally gathering himself enough to conjure a portal with visible reluctance.

"You're really staying here?" Hua Cheng asked, disbelief coloring his voice.

Wei Wuxian stepped close, rising on his toes to press a feather-light kiss to Hua Cheng's bottom lip. "I'll miss you, gege," he whispered against that perfect mouth, letting his gaze linger on that beautiful eye before turning toward the portal. He stepped through without looking back, knowing if he did, his resolve might crumble entirely.

Chapter Text

Hua Cheng stirred as soft lips pressed against his neck, drawing him from the depths of sleep. The familiar weight of Wei Wuxian's body settled over him like a blanket of warmth, silver eyes gleaming in the darkness as he continued trailing kisses along Hua Cheng's jaw. Without opening his eye fully, Hua Cheng's hands found Wei Wuxian's waist, fingers bunching in the sheer silk of his inner robes.

"Missed you," Wei Wuxian breathed against his skin, the words carrying just a hint of desperate need that made heat pool in Hua Cheng's core. His fingers found their way into that silk smooth hair, guiding Wei Wuxian's mouth to his own. The kiss started gentle, almost tentative, before deepening into something hungrier, carnal.

Wei Wuxian's hands traced burning paths down Hua Cheng's chest as he aligned their hips, thrusting his cock hard against Hua Cheng's own. Pleasure burned through Hua Cheng's veins, drawing a gutted moan from his throat. He felt Wei Wuxian's smile against his lips before those sinful fingers found his throat.

The grip tightened suddenly, violently.

Hua Cheng's eye flew open as pain lanced through his neck. Wei Wuxian's weight became crushing, pinning him down with impossible strength as those delicate fingers dug deeper into his flesh. Panic surged through him as he met Wei Wuxian's gaze, only to find Xie Lian's eyes staring back at him, filled with centuries of disappointment and contempt.

"Did you fuck him, Wu Ming?" Xie Lian's voice whispered against his lips as he leaned in, sharp with betrayal. "My most devoted believer, giving himself to another?" Blood began seeping from the wounds in Xie Lian's abdomen, staining the white of his robe crimson. "Look what your devotion has brought me."

The blood spread rapidly, too rapidly, soaking Hua Cheng’s skin, the sheets beneath them. Hua Cheng tried to reach for him, to stop the bleeding, but his arms wouldn't move. He could only watch in horror as the robe shredded open, the wounds gaped wider, revealing mangled flesh and shattered bone. Evidence of every betrayal mortals had inflicted upon his god.

"Danxia," he choked out past the iron grip on his throat, "please..."

Xie Lian's beautiful face twisted with rage. "You dare beg?" The words carried enough venom to kill. "After giving what was mine to another?" Those gentle hands that had once offered him kindness now pressed harder, not a shred of mercy spared. "Everything you are belongs to me, Wu Ming. Your devotion. Your love. Your very existence."

As darkness crept into the edges of his vision, Xie Lian's fingers loosened their grip. Qiandeng temple materialized around them, Hua Cheng's safe haven transformed into a nightmare of flickering candlelight and ancient wood. Wei Wuxian knelt before the altar, swaying slightly as he muttered incomprehensible prayers under his breath, incense smoke curling around him like living shadows. His forehead pressed against the cold stone as broken, manic laughter mixed with his whispered words.

When Wei Wuxian slowly lifted his head, the movement unnaturally stilted, his eyes blazed crimson in the darkness. A smile spread across his face as blood began trickling from the corners of his mouth.

Black water began seeping from the temple walls, staining the ancient wood like ink bleeding through paper. It poured from the ceiling in steady streams, forming puddles that reflected impossible things, fragments of memories that should have stayed buried.

"They all leave in the end." Young Wu Ming's voice whispered from everywhere and nowhere. "Monsters deserve to be abandoned. Tossed aside."

Hua Cheng spun toward the sound, only to freeze as he caught his reflection in one of the temple's mirrors. Bai Wuxiang stared back at him, one half of his mask frozen in an eternal smile while the other wept. In the next mirror, and the next, and the next. That hated face multiplied endlessly, watching him, waiting.

"Gege." Wei Wuxian's broken voice drew his attention back to the altar. It sounded wet, as if he was speaking through a throat full of blood. His crimson eyes met Hua Cheng's, empty and hollow. "I deserved better."

A sword erupted through Wei Wuxian's chest, blood blooming across beautiful robes like a twisted flower. Behind him, Bai Wuxiang's hands still gripped the blade's hilt, his form casting shadows that danced and writhed across the temple walls.

"No!" Hua Cheng tried to lunge forward, but his feet wouldn't move. The black water had risen to his ankles, thick as tar, holding him in place as Wei Wuxian's blood painted the altar red.

The temple dissolved into darkness, reforming as Ghost City's familiar streets. Everything was wrong though, twisted and distorted like a reflection in broken glass. The spirits that usually filled these streets with vibrant chaos now wore that wretched mask, silently watching Hua Cheng's every move.

A haunting melody cut through the silence. His beautiful A-Ying stood in the center of the market, his dark flute pressed to his lips as he played a song that spoke of heartbreak. With each note, black butterflies emerged from Wei Wuxian’s flowing robes languidly, mournfully. Without warning their wings turned razor sharp as they swarmed toward Hua Cheng, viciously ripping into his flesh, each cut burning like acid against his skin.

With a lingering closure, silence finally pressed up against him. The bloodied swarm dispersed into darkness once more, leaving Hua Cheng in a state of bone deep pain. Forcing his gaze to focus once more, he caught glimpses of movement in a nearby building. Wei Wuxian was pressed against a table, He Xuan's larger form caging him in aggressively. Their lips met in a searing kiss as He Xuan's hands wandered with familiar intimacy.

Clenching his jaw, Hua Cheng tried to move toward them, to tear He Xuan away, but his body began fading like smoke in wind. He watched in shock as his shredded hands slowly became transparent, then his arms, like a disease spreading through his form. Wei Wuxian broke the kiss to look directly at him, those lust filled eyes seeing straight through his increasingly insubstantial form.

"I won't even remember what you look like," Wei Wuxian murmured, voice thick with false pity. He turned back to He Xuan, pressing closer as if seeking comfort. "Make me forget... I beg you," Wei Wuxian let out a broken whimper as He Xuan roughly lifted him onto the table, hands possessively marking soft skin.

"Everything you love eventually turns to ash. You'll become exactly what you hate most," Xie Lian's voice whispered in Hua Cheng's ear as his form continued to fade. "He will hate you." Wei Wuxian's eyes met his one final time before turning back to He Xuan's hungry mouth.

Hua Cheng jerked awake with a strangled gasp, his heart thundering against his ribs as cold sweat soaked through his robes. The darkness of his bedroom pressed down like a physical weight, each shadow holding potential horrors. His hands trembled as he pressed them against his face, fingers catching on wetness he refused to acknowledge.

The dream clung to him like tar, each detail razor sharp in his mind. His stomach lurched violently as Bai Wuxiang's mask flashed through his thoughts. Without conscious decision, spiritual energy erupted from him in waves, shattering every mirror in Ghost City with enough force to shake the manor's foundations.

Wei Wuxian sat cross legged on the stone floor, watching the droplets of his blood hang suspended in the air as He Xuan demonstrated the portal technique for what felt like the hundredth time. Six weeks of training had taught him the blood was necessary. Something about anchoring the spiritual energy to create a stable pathway between locations.

"You're still forcing it," He Xuan said flatly as Wei Wuxian's latest attempt collapsed. The suspended blood fell to the floor like crimson rain. "The energy should flow naturally, not like you're trying to strangle it into submission."

"It could just be a reflection of your shitty lessons, you know," Wei Wuxian shot back with a grin, already drawing another line across his palm. "Or are you enjoying watching me fail? I know these past weeks have been the most entertainment you've had in centuries."

A skeletal fish drifted past Wei Wuxian's head, close enough for its bones to click against his ear in what he'd learned was He Xuan's version of a snippy gesture. "I am sure as fuck not the problem. You can barely control spiritual energy better than a ghost fire," He Xuan muttered, rolling his eyes. "At this rate, even the weakest spirit in my domain will master portals before you do."

Wei Wuxian's fingers twitched with the urge to draw resentful energy into the array instead. The spiritual energy felt foreign, like trying to grasp water with with a sieve. His frustration must have shown on his face, because He Xuan's expression shifted to something closer to curiosity.

"For someone who was raised as a cultivator, your connection to spiritual energy is remarkably horrid," He Xuan observed, moving closer to study Wei Wuxian's technique. "Most ghosts retain some instinctive understanding from their mortal cultivation."

Wei Wuxian forced a laugh, though it came out more brittle than intended. "Ah, well, I developed some... unconventional methods later in life." He flexed his fingers, watching spiritual energy spark weakly between them. "Regular cultivation and I had a bit of a falling out."

"Unconventional how?" He Xuan pressed, his casual boredom replaced by sharp interest. Before Wei Wuxian could deflect, the water in the nearby pools began to ripple ominously. A familiar oppressive energy flooded the area, making the skeletal fish dart for deeper waters.

"He's here again, isn't he?" Wei Wuxian said with a soft smile, already pushing himself to his feet. The past weeks had settled into a pattern. Train with He Xuan until Hua Cheng inevitably appeared, drawn to Wei Wuxian's presence like a moth to flame.

The oppressive energy grew stronger as footsteps echoed down the corridor. When Hua Cheng appeared in the doorway, Wei Wuxian's greeting died in his throat. The usually immaculate ghost king looked as if he'd been through hell. His hair messier than its usual style, robes slightly disheveled, and a haunted look in his singular eye that made Wei Wuxian's chest ache.

"Gege?" Wei Wuxian moved toward him slowly, concern coloring his voice. He reached up to brush a stray strand of hair from Hua Cheng's face, noting the barely perceptible tremor in the ghost king's usually steady frame. "What's wrong?"

He Xuan's exasperated sigh broke through the moment. "I'll leave you two to whatever this is," he muttered, already heading for the hallway. "Try not to destroy anything important." The underlying note of concern in his voice betrayed his carefully cultivated indifference.

Hua Cheng's eye followed He Xuan's departure with lethality that Wei Wuxian didn't understand, his fingers curling into tight fists at his sides. The haunted look in his gaze lingered even after He Xuan vanished through the doorway, as if he was seeing something far beyond the empty corridor.

"Hua Cheng?" Wei Wuxian's gentle voice drew him back to the present. Without another thought, Hua Cheng pulled him close, burying his face in Wei Wuxian's hair and inhaling deeply. His arms tightened almost painfully around Wei Wuxian's waist as if trying to ground himself in the familiar jasmine scent.

"Did something happen in Ghost City?" Wei Wuxian asked softly, his fingers finding their way into Hua Cheng's lightly tangled hair. When no response came, he pressed a light kiss to Hua Cheng's jaw. "You don't have to tell me, but I'm here if you want to talk about it."

Hua Cheng pulled back just enough to study Wei Wuxian's face, his eye tracing over every feature with a burning intensity. The pained need in his gaze made Wei Wuxian's concern grow. Without warning, Hua Cheng's lips found his in a bruising kiss that held none of their usual playfulness, just pure desperation.

"Come to the Lantern Festival with me tonight," Hua Cheng whispered against Wei Wuxian's lips. "We celebrate the passing of spirits with thousands of paper lanterns." His fingers traced Wei Wuxian's cheek with exaggerated gentleness. "Let me show you."

Wei Wuxian's heart fluttered at both the invitation and the tender gesture. "A festival?" he asked, excitement starting to bloom, warring with his worry over Hua Cheng's state. "You know I'd love that. We can also just find somewhere quiet and hide away from the world if you'd prefer." He caught Hua Cheng's lower lip between his teeth and applied teasing pressure. "Getting stolen away by you sounds very alluring."

A ghost of Hua Cheng's usual smirk touched his lips, though that shadowed look still lingered in his eye. "Stealing you away is exactly what I need right now," his voice heated, pulling Wei Wuxian closer. "But allow me to show you my domain first. I tainted your first impression of it. Let me make that up to you."

Wei Wuxian hated that Hua Cheng was still remorseful, even after weeks of doting on him. "There's nothing to make up for, gege," he said, placing a lingering kiss to the lips hovering close to his own. "I've wanted to go back for a long time. Let's go have some fun tonight," He watched carefully for Hua Cheng's reaction, noting how his features softened, a content smile tugging at his lips.

"Will you indulge me further?" Hua Cheng asked, uncertainty creeping into his voice. Stepping back he summoned a package from his spatial array, offering it to Wei Wuxian with a searching gaze. "I had something made for you."

Wei Wuxian's fingers trembled slightly as he took the gift, unwrapping it to see dark fabric spilling out like liquid shadow. The robes were clearly crafted with him in mind, flowing black silk embroidered with silver butterflies that seemed to dance in the light, while crimson trim echoed Hua Cheng's own colors.

"Gege... I don't want you to feel like you need to spoil me to keep me interested. These are so much more than I'm used to. How do I even justify wearing something like this?" Wei Wuxian muttered, eyes trained on the robes as shame gnawed at him. He was used to crude materials and surviving on the bare minimum in life.

With fingers under Wei Wuxian's chin, Hua Cheng lifted his head, waiting for Wei Wuxian's eyes to meet his gaze. "I've never felt you demand anything from me. It's a selfish act to give someone so selfless and caring something as simple as a set of robes. The fact that you feel you need to justify wearing this speaks to how deserving you are of anything and everything I can possibly offer you. You deserve everything that's beautiful. Please wear them for me," Hua Cheng said softly, his fingers moving to Wei Wuxian's cheek before pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead.

Wei Wuxian felt his eyes burn at the unexpected sentiment. Hua Cheng was clearly struggling with something dark, yet his every focus was on making Wei Wuxian feel cherished, worthy, cared for. He cursed himself for making this moment about himself instead of addressing what has been haunting Hua Cheng.

"I'd gladly wear it, gege. It's truly lovely, thank you," Wei Wuxian said, giving Hua Cheng what he hoped was a happy smile, though somewhat watery from the wetness he could feel trailing down one cheek. He clutched the robes to his chest and took a step back. "Let me just go freshen up and change," Wei Wuxian said with a playful wink. "The least I can do is look pretty for you tonight."

Hua Cheng gave a deep chuckle. "You underestimate how easily you seduce me," he said with a heated, lingering look before turning and walking toward the door. "I'll wait for you in the dining room."

Wei Wuxian felt a blush slowly heat his cheeks.

He sank deeper into the ornate tub, watching tendrils of steam curl through the air as his mind circled endlessly around Hua Cheng's haunted expression. Wei Wuxian's fingers absently traced patterns in the water, creating tiny whirlpools that matched the spiraling of his thoughts.

Wei Wuxian spent the previous afternoon curled up with Hua Cheng in He Xuan's courtyard. They were playfully quarreling over Hua Cheng wanting to auction off He Xuan's fish to pay off his debt. Something clearly happened while he was back in Ghost City.

A soft sigh escaped his lips at the time wasted soaking in jasmine scented water, bath oils very insistently gifted by Hua Cheng. It lapped at his chin as he slid further down, letting his hair float around him. Whatever darkness plagued Hua Cheng, Wei Wuxian knew better than to hone in on it. Hua Cheng's mood drastically improved when Wei Wuxian took his mind off his inner demons. The same methods that's worked for him over the years.

He'll spend time at the festival with Hua Cheng, drag him around and watch the lantern display with him. The thought of experiencing such beauty alongside him sent warmth spreading through Wei Wuxian's chest that had nothing to do with the bath.

Wei Wuxian rose from the tub, excited to dress up for Hua Cheng. A mischievous grin spread across his face as he reached for one of He Xuan's more exotic looking oils, something that sparkled subtly when it caught the light.

Wei Wuxian hummed softly to himself as he patted his skin dry, taking extra care to work the shimmering oil into every visible patch of skin. The subtle sparkle reminded him of starlight on water, catching the light with each movement. He spent extra time on his collarbones and the exposed length of his throat, knowing exactly where Hua Cheng's eye tended to linger. A touch of the oil in his hair would complete the effect, making the dark strands gleam like polished obsidian.

Wrapped in a silk robe, he settled at the ornate vanity to tackle his hair. The silver ribbon Hua Cheng seemed particularly fond of was set aside as he worked through the tangles with methodical patience. Once smooth, he gathered half his hair into a high ponytail, securing it with a delicate silver pin shaped like a butterfly that he'd discovered in one of He Xuan's forgotten drawers. The rest he left to cascade down his back in a display of casual elegance.

His fingers traced the collection of small jars and pots arranged on the vanity, remnants of He Xuan's more elaborate past, perhaps? Most contained mysterious powders and pigments that spoke of careful cultivation of beauty. One particular jar caught his eye, a deep crimson powder. When mixed with a drop of water on his fingertip, it formed a vibrant liquid that dried to a perfect matte finish.

Wei Wuxian's hand was steady as he drew the red line along his eyelid, extending it past the corner in a dramatic wing that emphasized the silver of his eyes. The effect was striking. A touch of the dangerous edge he'd wielded in life transformed into something more deliberate, more alluring. He added a matching line to his other eye, satisfaction curving his lips as he studied the result.

The new robes slid against his skin like water as he dressed, each layer falling into perfect place as if they had been crafted by measurement rather than observation. The dark silk made his skin appear luminous, while the silver butterflies caught the light with every movement. The crimson trim provided just enough color to draw the eye without overwhelming the elegant simplicity of the design. Wei Wuxian couldn't help but marvel at how perfectly Hua Cheng had captured his essence in fabric form.

Standing before the full length mirror, Wei Wuxian turned slowly to admire the complete effect. A wave of gratitude washed over him as he studied his reflection. Just weeks ago he'd died with nothing and no one left in his life, certain he'd face eternal torment for his crimes. Instead, he'd found himself in a realm where his power was celebrated rather than feared, where he could finally explore who he was beyond survival and sacrifice. He'd found companionship in He Xuan's quiet understanding, and in Hua Cheng... something that made his heart race just thinking about it.

"You've done well for yourself, Wei Ying," he murmured to his reflection, running his hands down the perfect fall of silk.

Wei Wuxian gave his reflection one final appraising look and headed for the door, pausing only to tuck a few strands of hair into artful disarray.

Wei Wuxian made his way through the winding corridors, each step careful to maintain the perfect fall of his robes. The empty dining hall that greeted him sent an unexpected pang through his chest. Had Hua Cheng changed his mind about the festival?

A flutter of silver wings caught his attention, drawing his gaze to an elegant note placed beside the butterfly. Wei Wuxian gave a breathy laugh as he recognized his silver companion. Happiness radiated from him as he lifted the paper with careful fingers, tilting his head as he studied what appeared to be either a masterful drawing or incredibly artistic script. Another laugh escaped his lips as he finally deciphered Hua Cheng's calligraphy: "Meet me at the eastern gate of Ghost City. Your little friend knows the way." The butterfly drifted down to land on his outstretched finger, its wings catching the light.

Wei Wuxian couldn't contain his delighted laugh as the butterfly took flight, dancing through the doorway with clear purpose. He followed eagerly, anticipation building in his chest at the thought of seeing Hua Cheng. Just before he stepped into the hallway, something made him pause.

His smile slipped as he finally registered details he'd overlooked in his excitement. Shattered wine cups scattered across the floor, dark liquid seeping into the wood. His eyes followed the trail of destruction to a spiderweb of cracks in the far wall, the stone itself bearing witness to violence.

Chapter Text

The silver butterfly led Wei Wuxian through a portal hidden in a dingy room, tucked away in the far side of the manor. They emerged into the familiar streets of Ghost City, transitioning from cold depths to vibrant chaos. It felt like stepping from winter into spring, warmth blooming in his chest at finally being back.

Ghost fires danced between buildings like wayward stars, their ethereal light catching on strings of paper lanterns that swayed in a nonexistent breeze. The usual buzz of the Night Market had transformed into something more reserved. Whispered chants and ritual songs floating on air thick with incense and anticipation. As Wei Wuxian rounded the corner of the street, he nearly stumbled over air.

Hua Cheng stood waiting beneath an archway that seemed to drink in the surrounding light, its ancient wood carved with intricate patterns that he'd happily spend hours gawking at. He'd changed into formal robes that made Wei Wuxian's pulse race. Layers of deepest crimson embroidered with black designs, both beautiful and intimidating. His hair fell in perfect layers down his back, and Wei Wuxian's eyes caught on the ever present red pearl secured at the end of his braid, its surface swimming with mysterious depths.

Yet despite the alluring picture he presented, tension once again lined his shoulders, his gaze into nothingness seemed forlorn, troubled.

The moment Hua Cheng caught sight of him, that far off look melted away. His eye widened as it traced over Wei Wuxian's form, lingering on the way the shimmering oil made his skin glow in the lantern light. When his gaze reached the dramatic wings of red along Wei Wuxian's eyes, his lips parted slightly as if struck speechless.

The obvious captivation in his expression made Wei Wuxian's skin flush.

"A-Ying," Hua Cheng breathed, voice rough with something that made heat spread further to Wei Wuxian's cheeks. "You look..." He trailed off, eye dropping to where Wei Wuxian's robes gaped slightly at the collar, revealing glimmers of starlight on skin. The intensity of his gaze felt like a physical touch, making Wei Wuxian hyperaware of every place the silk brushed against his flesh.

Wei Wuxian couldn't help the pleased smile that curved his lips as he watched this untouchable man lose his composure over exposed collarbones. "See something you like, gege?" he teased, deliberately adjusting his robes to reveal another sliver of shimmering skin.

The playful words were calculated, he knew he could draw Hua Cheng back from whatever darkness clouded his thoughts again. Wei Wuxian had spent weeks learning to read the subtle shifts in Hua Cheng's moods, and right now, beneath the hunger, something unsettled lurked.

Hua Cheng's gaze snapped back to Wei Wuxian's face, a soft smile playing at his lips as he closed the distance between them. "Your everything," he murmured, offering his arm with a wink. "Shall we?" The words spoken softly, reserved. Wei Wuxian slipped his arm through Hua Cheng's, savoring the press of that strong arm against his side.

The streets had transformed since Wei Wuxian's last visit. Paper lanterns hung in swooping chains between buildings, their warm light casting everything in shades of gold and crimson. The air itself seemed alive with spiritual energy, thick with the scent of phantom flowers and burning offerings. Music drifted from scattered musicians, their instruments producing notes that was so different from what he'd hear in the mortal realm.

Ghosts parted before them like mist before dawn, dropping into deep bows as their lord passed. The naked adoration in their gazes shifted to something more complex when they noticed Wei Wuxian on Hua Cheng's arm. Curiosity and recognition mingling with a hint of caution as they took in his new robes, clearly gifted by their Chengzhu.

Whispers followed in their wake, and Wei Wuxian caught fragments of conversation about "Crimson Rain's chosen" and "the fierce ghost who commands darkness." He felt himself standing straighter under their scrutiny, pride warring with self-consciousness.

"I've missed this," Wei Wuxian admitted softly, drinking in the vibrancy that briefly felt like the place he was truly meant to be. "He Xuan's realm is beautiful in its own way, but it's so... quiet. This place calls to a happier, carefree version of myself that circumstances scraped away over time. I think you would have liked me then. I was a lot more fun." His voice rang with nostalgia, peeking up at Hua Cheng with a sly wink.

With a soft chuckle Hua Cheng's hand covered his where it rested in the crook of his arm, thumb brushing gentle circles against Wei Wuxian's skin. "I like you exactly as you are now," he murmured, then added more quietly, "We have circumstances to thank for the character and personality we have today. It's not something to mourn over, but rather find acceptance in."

As We Wuxian tightened his grip and leaned his head on Hua Cheng's shoulder, his attention was caught by a nearby food stall where a spirit was crafting impossible confections that glowed from within. Streams of spiritual energy wove through the treats like liquid starlight, creating patterns that shifted and danced.

Without thinking, he tugged Hua Cheng toward it, eyes wide with genuine wonder. "Gege, look! How are they making them shine like that? Spiritual energy can't possibly maintain a stable form in food."

A deep chuckle rumbled through Hua Cheng's chest as he suddenly leaned over to give Wei Wuxian's cheek a soft kiss, indulgence clear in his every action. "Would you like to try one?" he asked, already pulling out a rather large gold coin.

A bone deep satisfaction settled over Wei Wuxian as the glowing confection melted on his tongue, tasting of summer fruits and morning dew with an underlying current of power that made his skin tingle pleasantly. He let out a delighted sound that made Hua Cheng's grip tighten around his waist, the ghost king's gaze not leaving his lips.

"Mmm, you have to try it," Wei Wuxian insisted, already breaking off a piece and holding it up to Hua Cheng's lips. When Hua Cheng opened his mouth in what Wei Wuxian could only assume was a protest, Wei Wuxian pressed the treat against his bottom lip with gentle insistence. "Please? Just one taste?" He couldn't resist the petulance infused into the words.

Unable to hide his amusement at Wei Wuxian's antics, Hua Cheng accepted the offering, his eye never leaving Wei Wuxian's face. Hua Cheng caught his fingers, drawing them to his mouth. The ghost king's tongue swirled around his fingertips, licking off every trace of sweetness without an ounce of shame. The rough drag of Hua Cheng's hot tongue against his skin had Wei Wuxian wishing they stayed locked away for the night.

A sudden burst of music mercifully cut through his wandering thoughts, drawing Wei Wuxian's attention to where performers banded together further down the street. Fingers slipping out of Hua Cheng's mouth as ghostly figures spun through the air, their forms dissolving and reforming in patterns that defied logic. Wisps of spiritual energy trailed from their movements like living ribbons, weaving together to create scenes from a long lost tale. Armies clashing in silent battles, lovers embracing across vast distances.

Wei Wuxian pressed closer to Hua Cheng's side as they watched two spirits twirl together, becoming one before separating in a void of shadows. The display struck something deep within him, something restless and longing. He felt Hua Cheng's arm tighten around his waist as the performers enacted a scene of painful separation.

Before the performance could progress further, Hua Cheng gently tugged Wei Wuxian away, intertwining their fingers as they moved through the crowd. Lacing his fingers through Hua Cheng's own felt natural, as if he'd been doing this for centuries rather than weeks.

He pressed closer to Hua Cheng's side as they wandered through streets transformed by the festival, passing stalls where spirits sold odd looking wares. Bottled starlight that sang when uncorked, mirrors that supposedly reflected one's past lives, flowers that bloomed with memories instead of petals.

"How has your training been going?" Hua Cheng asked suddenly as they passed a stall selling various talismans. His thumb traced gentle patterns against Wei Wuxian's skin. "Are you still busy with portals?" Wei Wuxian reveled in the simplicity of this. Walking through a festival with Hua Cheng, talking about mundane things without any underlying stress or pain.

"Honestly? It's been frustrating," Wei Wuxian admitted with a soft laugh. "The spiritual energy feels so foreign now. Like trying to catch smoke with bare hands." He paused, watching a group of ghost children chase paper butterflies that left trails of silver light in their wake.

"He Xuan says most ghosts retain some connection to their cultivation, but..." He trailed off, unconsciously squeezing Hua Cheng's hand as memories of the violent transfer of his golden core threatened to surface. The gesture seemed to draw Hua Cheng attention, his eye focusing sharply on Wei Wuxian's face.

They came to a stop beneath a massive weeping willow, its branches adorned with thousands of tiny bells that chimed like whispers. Hua Cheng turned to face Wei Wuxian fully. "That's because He Xuan is a moron," he scoffed, though the usual bite was missing from his words. "Instead of forcing spiritual energy, you should focus on what comes naturally to you."

"What comes naturally to me involves raising corpses and terrifying the living," Wei Wuxian replied with a chuckle, trying to lighten the morbid truth of it. "Besides, He Xuan doesn't know that I manipulate resentful energy."

Hua Cheng studied Wei Wuxian with renewed interest, his singular eye sharp with consideration. "And why haven't you told him?" he asked softly, the question carrying genuine curiosity rather than judgment. The whispers from the bells above seemed to pause, as if the willow itself was waiting for Wei Wuxian's answer.

Sudden restlessness overcame Wei Wuxian, his fingers unconsciously playing with the hem of his sleeve. With deliberate casualness that didn't quite mask his unease, he sank down to sit against the willow's ancient trunk. The rough bark caught slightly on the fine silk of his new robes, grounding him in the present moment.

"I told you before that I grew up in Lotus Pier," Wei Wuxian began, keeping his gaze fixed on the distant festivities. From the corner of his eye he saw Hua Cheng move, the ghost king lowering himself to sit beside Wei Wuxian with uncharacteristic hesitation. Their shoulders brushed lightly, the contact offering silent support even as tension thrummed through his frame. Above them, the willow's bells resumed their gentle chiming, their whispers now seeming to echo the rapid beating of Wei Wuxian's heart.

Wei Wuxian let out a soft breath, drawing comfort from Hua Cheng's steady presence beside him. "Living with the Jiangs was... it was everything to me," he said, a bittersweet smile playing at his lips. "Uncle Jiang treated me like his own son, even though Madam Yu hated having a servant's child raised alongside her own." His fingers clenched the silk of his robes. "But Shijie, she loved me from the moment I arrived. And Jiang Cheng..." His voice caught slightly on the name. "He became my brother in every way that mattered."

"We trained together, studied together, got into trouble together. I was always dragging Jiang Cheng into some scheme or another, stealing Emperor's Smile in Gusu, sneaking out to night hunt when we were too young, finding new ways to make Lan Qiren's forehead vein pop." A quiet laugh escaped him, though it held more pain than mirth. "I think I spent half my youth writing punishment lines."

Hua Cheng shifted slightly closer, his arm pressing warm against Wei Wuxian's. "Our home was breathtaking. The lakes were covered in flowers, and the air smelled like summer no matter the season. At night, the water would reflect so many stars it looked like the sky had fallen into the lakes." His eyes grew distant, lost in memories of lantern lit pavilions and the sound of disciples training by the water. "I thought... I really thought I'd spend my whole life there."

Wei Wuxian took a deep breath as his hands clenched in his lap. "Then the Wens came." Bitterness crept into his voice like frost. "The Wen sect was the strongest of the cultivators, the sun that all others revolved around, or so they claimed. They decided that wasn't enough. They wanted complete control." He felt Hua Cheng tense beside him at the anger bleeding into his words.

"They attacked while Uncle Jiang and Shijie were away. Madam Yu rallied the disciples to defend our home, but..." His voice caught, the memory of that desperate battle making his chest tight. "She knew we couldn't win. She ordered me to take Jiang Cheng and run, made me swear to protect him." Grief and old guilt twisted through his words. "Uncle Jiang returned just as we fled. He and Madam Yu died buying us time to escape while the Wens burned everything."

Wei Wuxian's voice had dropped to barely a whisper, but in the silence, each word fell like a stone into still water. "I can still smell the smoke sometimes. Still hear the screams. All those disciples we trained with, grew up with... The Wens didn't just kill them. They tortured them, made examples of them." His eyes burned as he stared unseeing at the festival lights beyond their sanctuary.

Hua Cheng's hand found Wei Wuxian's, his fingers intertwining with gentle reassurance. The touch anchored Wei Wuxian as his voice grew rough with exhaustion. "Things happened after that. So many things." His free hand unconsciously pressed against the skin where his golden core had once resided. "Eventually, I couldn't rely on regular cultivation anymore, couldn't access spiritual energy the way others did." A bitter smile touched his lips. "Resentful energy was there though, always there, just waiting to be used. So I learned to harness it, to make it bend to my will."

Wei Wuxian fell silent for a moment, his thumb mindlessly trace Hua Cheng's palm as he gathered his thoughts. A ghost fire drifted close, its pale light casting shadows that danced across their joined hands. "It's been difficult," he finally admitted, the words feeling inadequate for the years of pain and isolation they represented. "The cultivation world isn't exactly welcoming to those who walk different paths. Even before my death, I was..." He trailed off, memories of whispered accusations and fearful glances making his chest tight.

"This place," Wei Wuxian gestured vaguely at the festival lights beyond their willow sanctuary, "it feels like a fresh start. For the first time since everything happened, I can just exist. Without judgment, without fear." His eyes finally lifted to meet Hua Cheng's. "I know it's pathetic, but I've been hesitant to tell He Xuan, because the thought of being ostracized again, of seeing that same disgust and fear in someone's eyes," He shook his head slightly, displacing a few strands of hair. "I'd rather just blend into the background and be unremarkable, than go through that again."

For several heartbeats, Hua Cheng remained silent, his thumb continuing its gentle strokes against Wei Wuxian's skin. "The cultivation world's fear of what they don't understand has always been their greatest weakness," he said softly, his eye finding Wei Wuxian's, understanding clear in his gaze. "They cling to their rigid paths, their arbitrary rules about what power is acceptable and what isn't. It makes them weak. Makes them cruel."

"But you," he continued, shifting to face Wei Wuxian more fully, "you saw another way. When they left you with nothing, you found strength in what they feared most. You took their darkness and made it dance to your will." Pride colored his words, genuine admiration that made Wei Wuxian's face slowly flush. "That's not something to hide, A-Ying. That's something to flaunt."

His free hand came up to brush a stray strand of hair from Wei Wuxian's face, the gesture achingly tender. "As for He Xuan..." A hint of dark amusement crept into his voice. "The bastard commands armies of skeletal sea creatures and drowns people for looking at him wrong. He's hardly in a position to judge anyone's methods." His expression softened as he added, "Besides, I will always protect you. Who will dare treat you with anything less than the respect you deserve?"

Something vulnerable flickered across Hua Cheng's features as his thumb traced the line of Wei Wuxian's jaw. "You don't have to hide here, A-Ying. Not from me. Not from anyone." His voice dropped lower, laced with wonder. "Let them see what I see. Someone extraordinary."

Wei Wuxian felt warmth bloom in his chest, a feeling of protection and acceptance so foreign after years of suspicion and fear. "You always know exactly what to say, don't you?" he managed, trying to mask how deeply Hua Cheng's words had affected him. Before he could compose himself further, he found himself suddenly airborne, strong arms scooping him up with ease. A startled laugh escaped his lips as Hua Cheng cradled him against his chest.

"Now," Hua Cheng declared with playful authority, his earlier shadows seemingly banished by Wei Wuxian's delight, "I believe I promised to show you the rest of the festival." The ghost fires around them seemed to dance with approval, casting their joined forms in ethereal light as Hua Cheng stepped out from beneath the willow's protective canopy.

Wei Wuxian felt his heart flutter as he looked up at Hua Cheng's face, struck once again by how fate had brought him someone who could appreciate his darkness as well as the light still within. The realization that he wasn't alone anymore made something tight in his chest finally unwind. Of course, he couldn't let Hua Cheng carry around a sobbing mess through the street.

"Gege, what will everyone think?" Wei Wuxian protested with dramatic flair, throwing an arm across his forehead. "Their revered Chengzhu carrying someone through the streets like a maiden... My reputation will be ruined! Besides," he added with an exaggerated pout, "I'll have you know my legs work perfectly fine." His theatrical complaints drew amused glances from passing spirits, though none dared comment on their lord's behavior.

Hua Cheng set him down with obvious amusement, but before he could step back, Wei Wuxian grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the glowing market stalls. "Come on!" he called, excitement brightening his voice as he practically bounced down the street. "I want to see everything!" The sound of Hua Cheng's rich laughter behind him was sweeter than any festival treat could hope to be.

As they wandered deeper into the festival, the games section of Ghost City's celebration emerged like a fever dream of a traditional night market. Stalls constructed from bleached bone and dark wood lined the path, their surfaces adorned with prizes that would have sent any mortal cultivator reaching for their sword. Ghost fires in sickly shades of green and purple illuminated scenes that made Wei Wuxian's eyes widen with fascination.

At one booth, spirits competed to catch writhing shadow creatures with nets woven from human hair, their prizes glowing jars of some kind. Another featured a ring toss where the targets were severed heads that snapped and snarled at the players. A particularly rowdy crowd had gathered around what looked like a traditional coin toss game, except the coins were ancient burial tokens and the cups contained miniature portals to who knew where.

"The entertainment in your city is much more interesting than back home," Wei Wuxian remarked with genuine delight, watching a small ghost child proudly clutch a doll that occasionally wept blood.

Hua Cheng's warm chuckle caught his attention. "Did you expect anything less?" he asked, his eye gleaming with pride as he watched his subjects unleash controlled chaos around them. "Though I admit, they do tend to get carried away during festivals."

Wei Wuxian's retort died in his throat as something caught his attention. An archery booth tucked between two more ostentatious games, its targets giving off a subtle phosphorescent glow. But it wasn't the mysterious targets that held his gaze. Among the prizes displayed behind the skeletal proprietor hung something that made his breath catch. A pendant carved from what appeared to be crimson jade, its surface etched with intricate patterns, flawless in its beauty. The design reminded him of the dice Hua Cheng used for his portals, but more delicate, more personal somehow.

His fingers unconsciously tightened on Hua Cheng's arm as he studied the prize. The ghost king had given him so much already, protection, acceptance, companionship. Winning something for him, even something small, felt important. Besides, Wei Wuxian thought with growing excitement, archery had always been one of his strongest skills. Even without his golden core, his eyes and hands remembered the perfect arc of an arrow's flight.

"Gege," Wei Wuxian turned to Hua Cheng with poorly concealed enthusiasm, "shall we try some games? Unless," he added with a teasing lilt, "you're worried about losing to me?" The challenge in his voice was deliberate, calculated to draw Hua Cheng's competitive nature to the surface.

The ghost king's eye narrowed playfully as he caught the bait. "Careful, A-Ying," he purred, the sound sending shivers down Wei Wuxian's spine. "I've had centuries to perfect my aim." His gaze followed Wei Wuxian's earlier line of sight to the archery booth.

"I didn't need centuries to perfect mine," Wei Wuxian cheekily replied, already pulling them toward the booth with barely contained excitement. The skeletal merchant straightened as they approached, its empty eye sockets somehow managing to convey both terror and respect at their lord's presence.

The merchant's bones rattled softly as it produced two bows crafted from a dark wood. The targets shifted and danced with spiritual power, their phosphorescent centers leaving trails of light as they moved in unpredictable patterns. Wei Wuxian tested his bow's draw with practiced grace, muscle memory from countless hours of training taking over despite years spent focusing on other weapons.

Hua Cheng moved elegantly beside him, his form perfect as he nocked his first arrow. The projectile split the air with a sound like tearing silk, striking dead center of his target with enough force to make the entire booth shudder. A challenging smirk curved his lips as he turned to Wei Wuxian, eye glittering with playful danger.

"Your turn, A-Ying," he murmured, voice rich with anticipation. The words sent goosebumps dancing across Wei Wuxian's skin, but he forced himself to focus on the shifting target before him. Drawing back his bow with measured breath, he let his arrow fly. It struck with precision, matching Hua Cheng's perfect center.

Their contest continued with increasing intensity, each shot a display of masterful skill that drew an appreciative crowd of ghosts. Where Hua Cheng's style spoke of centuries of refined technique, Wei Wuxian's carried an artist's flair. Each release accompanied by a flourish or dramatic pose that made the ghost king's eye darken with want.

On their final shot, Wei Wuxian caught Hua Cheng watching him instead of his target. That brief distraction cost the ghost king a fraction of accuracy, his arrow landing just slightly off center while Wei Wuxian's found its mark. A part of him wondered if that wandering gaze had been deliberate, but the genuine flash of competitive frustration in Hua Cheng's expression suggested otherwise.

"Gege," Wei Wuxian practically sang, bouncing on his toes with poorly suppressed glee, "I won!" He turned to the merchant before Hua Cheng could respond, pointing to his chosen prize with quick, furtive gestures. The skeletal figure wrapped the crimson pendant carefully, its clicking bones somehow managing to convey amusement at his obvious attempt at secrecy.

Tucking his prize safely away, Wei Wuxian caught Hua Cheng's hand and pulled him away from the growing crowd. The ghost king allowed himself to be led, his hand warm against Wei Wuxian's skin as they found a quieter corner of the festival where paper lanterns cast gentle shadows over their forms.

"What would you like to do now?" Wei Wuxian asked softly, turning to face Hua Cheng with sparkling eyes still bright from his victory. The festival's music drifted around them like a dream, and overhead, the lanterns swayed in a nonexistent breeze, their light catching on the silver butterflies in Wei Wuxian's robes.

The heat in Hua Cheng's gaze fell over Wei Wuxian like a caress, that dark eye tracking down his form with such concentrated hunger that Wei Wuxian suddenly felt too hot in his robes. The ghost king moved like a predator, each step deliberate as he closed the distance between them until Wei Wuxian's back pressed against the nearest pillar.

Strong fingers caught Wei Wuxian's chin, tilting his face up as Hua Cheng leaned close enough that their breath mingled. "There are quite a few things I'd like to do now," he murmured, voice dropping to a register that made heat pool in Wei Wuxian's stomach. The words ghosted across Wei Wuxian's parted lips, a promise of contact that hadn't quite manifested.

When their lips met, the kiss started achingly gentle, a slow exploration that made Wei Wuxian's knees weak. Then Hua Cheng caught his bottom lip between his teeth, sucking hard enough to draw a soft whimper from Wei Wuxian's throat. His fingers found purchase in crimson silk as Hua Cheng deepened the kiss with such skill that it left Wei Wuxian dizzy.

"What we should do though," Hua Cheng breathed against his lips, though his eye had darkened with such visceral want, "is prepare our lanterns for the release." The words carried obvious reluctance even as he pulled back slightly, his thumb brushing across Wei Wuxian's kiss swollen bottom lip.

"Tease," Wei Wuxian accused breathlessly, his silver eyes sparkled with matching desire. His fingers remained twisted in Hua Cheng's robes, not quite ready to let go. A knowing smirk curved Hua Cheng's lips as he caught Wei Wuxian's hand, pressing a final kiss to his knuckles before guiding him away from the pillar.

They wound through less traveled paths until Ghost City fell away beneath them, replaced by gently sloping hills that seemed to catch and hold the festival's light. Hua Cheng led them to a secluded overlook where soft grass swayed in patterns that resembled underwater currents. The spot offered a breathtaking view of Ghost City spread below like a tapestry of gold and crimson lights moving amongst the shadows.

As Wei Wuxian sank down onto the grass with a content sigh, Hua Cheng's voice took on an unusual solemnity. "This festival honors those who have passed beyond even the ghost realm," he explained, his eye distant as if seeing across centuries. "We release lanterns to guide their spirits and remember their names, ensuring they're not forgotten even after they fade from existence."

Wei Wuxian's attention caught on a low table that seemed to materialize from the shadows, clearly prepared in advance. Its surface laden with brushes, ink, and delicate paper lanterns that seemed to pulse with gentle light. The care put into the arrangement made Wei Wuxian smile softly.

Hua Cheng moved fluidly as he brought the supplies over, settling beside Wei Wuxian close enough that their shoulders brushed. The contact felt grounding as Wei Wuxian lifted a brush with unsteady fingers.

Names began to flow from his brush like water. Disciples from Lotus Pier who fell defending their home, Wen refugees who died senselessly under his protection, countless victims of the Sunshot Campaign whose faces haunted his dreams. Each character felt heavy with memory, with grief, with guilt. Uncle Jiang and Madam Yu's names took shape with particular care, followed by his shijie's. Her name alone nearly bringing tears to his eyes.

Beside him, Hua Cheng held his lantern with an uncharacteristic stillness, brush hovering above the paper without making contact. Wei Wuxian noticed with a pang that while his own lantern bore dozens of names, Hua Cheng's remained pristinely empty. The realization sent a wave of sadness through him. How lonely must it be to exist for centuries, watching everyone fade away until there were no names left worth writing? Though curiosity and concern burned through him, he remained silent, understanding that some wounds were too deep to probe.

As Wei Wuxian set down his brush, movement caught his eye. Across Ghost City, thousands of lanterns began rising into the night sky like earthbound stars seeking their celestial home. The sight was mesmerizing, each light representing countless names, countless memories, countless stories. They drifted upward in elegant spirals, their glow reflecting off the crimson tinged clouds until the sky itself seemed to be on fire.

The display transformed Ghost City's usual chaos into something achingly beautiful. Lanterns in every color imaginable created rivers of light overhead, their paths interweaving like threads of fate. Some moved in precise formations while others danced wild and free, but all carried the weight of remembrance in their gentle ascent. The very air seemed to hold its breath as thousands of spirits joined in this moment of collective memory, of shared loss and hope and acceptance.

Together, they lifted their lanterns toward the glowing sky. As Wei Wuxian released his grasp, wetness traced down his cheek, for those lost, for his past self, for this moment of profound peace. Before he could brush it away, strong arms enveloped him from behind, pulling him securely against Hua Cheng's chest. The ghost king's warmth seeped through layers of silk as they watched their lanterns join the celestial dance above.

Time seemed to lose meaning as they sat in tranquil silence, Wei Wuxian cradled protectively in Hua Cheng's embrace. The gentle rise and fall of Hua Cheng's chest against his back coupled with fingers carding softly through his hair began to lull Wei Wuxian into a state of drowsy contentment.

"I'm truly happy," Wei Wuxian murmured, his voice thick with both sleep and emotion as he nestled deeper into Hua Cheng's arms. "Right here, right now... I'm happy." The confession felt important somehow, like a truth he needed to voice before slumber claimed him completely.

Hua Cheng's arms tightened around him as warm lips pressed against the crown of his head, the gesture carrying a tenderness that made Wei Wuxian's heart ache. As his consciousness began to drift, wrapped in silk and starlight and the safety of Hua Cheng's embrace, he thought he heard words whispered against his hair, soft as a prayer: "You make me happy."

Hua Cheng gazed down at Wei Wuxian's sleeping form, watching how the lantern light caught on his dark lashes and painted his peaceful features in shades of gold. Something twisted painfully in his chest, an ache that felt both foreign and achingly familiar. Even in sleep, Wei Wuxian managed to be devastatingly beautiful, utterly unaware of how thoroughly he had shattered centuries of control, discipline and single mindedness.

Unconsciously, Wei Wuxian's fingers curled tighter in Hua Cheng's robes, a small content sound escaping his lips. The simple gesture sent fresh waves of both pleasure and agony through Hua Cheng's ancient heart. He had thought he understood devotion, understood love in all its forms. But this, this was something else entirely. Something dangerous. Something that threatened to tear him apart.

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian stirred slowly into consciousness, awareness returning in waves. The silk beneath his cheek felt impossibly soft, carrying a familiar scent that made his heart flutter even before his mind fully awakened. His fingers curled into sheets that whispered against his skin, their quality speaking of wealth beyond even Jinling Tai's excesses.

Opening his eyes, he found himself surrounded by luxury that definitely put He Xuan's manor to shame. Crimson silk tapestries adorned walls of dark wood so deeply polished they seemed to swallow light, while delicate silver butterflies danced across black lacquered furniture. Paper screens painted with writhing demons caught the gentle glow of strategically placed lanterns.

This had to be Paradise Manor. No other place in Ghost City could match such elegant extravagance. More specifically, given the abundance of crimson and the lingering traces of incense that reminded him of Hua Cheng's robes, this must be the ghost king's personal chambers. Heat bloomed across Wei Wuxian's cheeks as he realized he was dressed only in his inner robes, the fine silk barely substantial enough to be decent.

Memories of the previous night filtered back, the festival lights, their intimate moment beneath the willow, watching the lanterns rise like earthbound stars. He must have fallen asleep in Hua Cheng's arms. His heart warmed at the thought of being carried here, of being trusted enough to be brought into this private sanctuary.

Movement caught his eye, drawing his attention to a divan positioned near the window. Hua Cheng lay sleeping there, still dressed in his festival robes, though they'd become charmingly disheveled. He looked almost vulnerable in sleep, his sharp edges softened by dawn's gentle light. One arm was thrown above his head while the other rested across the blanket halfway pulled to his stomach.

Something impossibly tender bloomed in Wei Wuxian's chest as he watched Hua Cheng's peaceful expression. This powerful being who commanded fear and respect throughout the realms had given up his own bed to ensure Wei Wuxian's comfort. The gesture spoke volumes.

Moving silently, Wei Wuxian slipped from the massive bed. The lush carpet was soft beneath his feet as he padded across the room, excitement building as he drew near. Without hesitation, he lifted the light blanket and carefully settled himself against Hua Cheng's chest, fitting himself into the ghost king's embrace as if he belonged there.

Even in sleep, Hua Cheng's arms instinctively wrapped around him, pulling him closer. Wei Wuxian tucked his head beneath Hua Cheng's chin, content. The steady rise and fall of Hua Cheng's chest beneath his cheek felt like coming home. Wei Wuxian let his eyes drift closed, surrounded by warmth and the feeling of absolute safety that has become so natural in Hua Cheng's presence.

Wei Wuxian couldn't resist letting his fingers lightly trace along Hua Cheng's chest, mapping the subtle shift of muscle beneath silk. His touch drifted lower, following the elegant line of Hua Cheng's flank with appreciation. Even through layers of robes, Wei Wuxian could feel the strength contained in that graceful form, power held in careful check, like a blade wrapped in velvet.

A slight change in Hua Cheng's breathing was his only warning before strong fingers caught his wandering hand. "Playing with fire so early, A-Ying?" Hua Cheng's voice emerged rough with sleep, yet carrying that familiar note of dangerous playfulness that made Wei Wuxian's heart race.

Before Wei Wuxian could form a suitably teasing response, their positions shifted with dizzying speed. He found himself pressed into the divan's plush surface, Hua Cheng looming above him with sleep mussed hair falling around them like a curtain. That singular eye studied Wei Wuxian's face with burning intensity, catching on his parted lips before meeting his gaze.

"Good morning, gege," Wei Wuxian managed, unable to keep the smile from his voice despite the way his pulse thundered against Hua Cheng's fingers where they circled his wrist. "Did you sleep well on this tiny divan while I took up your entire bed?"

Something impossibly soft flickered through Hua Cheng's expression. "I slept better last night than I did in weeks," he murmured, releasing Wei Wuxian's wrist to brush a stray lock of hair from his face. The gentle gesture contrasted beautifully with the heat that started to pool in his stomach. "Though I didn't expect a siren next to me waking up."

Wei Wuxian's free hand found its way into Hua Cheng's hair, enjoying how the silken strands slipped through his fingers. "And will you answer my call?" he asked, mischief coloring his voice.

"I will indulge endlessly," Hua Cheng purred, his thumb tracing the curve of Wei Wuxian's bottom lip. "What drove my A-Ying out of a perfectly fine bed and into mine?" His eye heated as Wei Wuxian's breath hitched at the touch.

"It was something simple, fundamental even." His fingers tightened against the nape of Hua Cheng's neck, eliciting a stuttered breath from the ghost king.

"Oh? And what might that be?" Hua Cheng's voice dropped lower as he leaned in, lips barely brushing Wei Wuxian's ear. The touch sent goosebumps racing across Wei Wuxian's skin.

Wei Wuxian turned his head, his next words ghosting over Hua Cheng's mouth. "I've missed you, gege." He felt rather than saw Hua Cheng's smile before warm lips caught his own in a slow, thorough kiss.

Strong fingers tangled in Wei Wuxian's hair as Hua Cheng deepened the kiss, drawing a soft sound from Wei Wuxian's throat that made the ghost king's grip tighten possessively. The simple intimacy of the moment, the gentle light painting their tangled forms in gold, the warm weight of Hua Cheng's body pressing him into soft cushions, felt like something from a dream Wei Wuxian had never dared to have.

"There's not a day that I don't miss you," Hua Cheng murmured against his lips, thumb brushing Wei Wuxian's cheek with such tenderness. Wei Wuxian leaned into the touch, reveling in the affection so eagerly given.

Wei Wuxian lost track of how long they tumbled around, just occupying each other's space as much as possible. When they languidly parted, Wei Wuxian couldn't help but laugh at the way his inner robes had become hopelessly twisted. "I supposed we'll have to get out of bed eventually," he said, tugging ineffectively at the tangled silk, "Would you like me to grace your manor with my indecency, or do you have robes for me to borrow?"

Hua Cheng's eye darkened as it traced over the exposed skin where Wei Wuxian's robes had slipped. "I'll be as selfish with you as I'm allowed to be," he stated, voice rich with suggestion as his fingers played with the edge of the silk. "If given the choice, I'd keep you locked in my chambers, only ever dressed in..." His words trailed off as he suddenly went still. Wei Wuxian looked up to find that singular gaze fixed on his chest where his inner robes had fallen open. Confusion furrowed his brow until understanding struck. The brand. The sun shaped scar that marked him stood out starkly against his skin.

"Ah, it's nothing," Wei Wuxian said lightly, casually adjusting his robes to cover the mark even as his heart thundered against his ribs. He pushed himself up from the divan, deliberately turning away as he gathered his loose hair into a high ponytail. His fingers trembled slightly as they worked through the tangles, but his voice remained steady. "It's just an old scar."

The air in the room grew heavier as Hua Cheng rose from the divan. A strong hand caught Wei Wuxian's shoulder, turning him carefully. "A-Ying," Hua Cheng's voice emerged dangerously soft, "that's a brand." His eye had taken on that lethal gleam that usually preceded violence. "Someone marked you. Like fucking cattle." The last words came out as more growl than speech.

The lanterns near the ceiling flickered wildly as Hua Cheng's spiritual energy began to seep. His fingers ghosted over the covered mark with devastating gentleness that contrasted sharply with the rage radiating from his form. "Tell me who did this to you," he whispered, the words laced with venom.

Wei Wuxian surged forward, capturing Hua Cheng's face between his hands and claiming his mouth in a demanding kiss. Taking advantage of Hua Cheng's surprised gasp, he deepened the kiss further, his tongue exploring the slick warmth of Hua Cheng's mouth with the intent to distract. The ghost king's hands fell to Wei Wuxian's waist, gripping hard as Wei Wuxian caught his bottom lip between his teeth, sucking with enough force to draw a low sound from Hua Cheng's throat.

When Wei Wuxian finally pulled back, Hua Cheng's lip was red and slightly swollen, his eye dark with a different kind of hunger than moments before. "Enough," Wei Wuxian said firmly, though his voice emerged rougher than intended. "Your protectiveness makes me crazy enough to want to climb you like a tree, but you need to stop getting so worked up about things that happened ages ago. I'm here now, aren't I? Safe in your arms?"

Between the searing kiss and his words Hua Cheng looked more than a little dazed. His thumb traced the edge of Wei Wuxian's lip, his earlier anger tempered considerably. "If it was truly meaningless," he said softly, "it wouldn't have manifested after death." His eye held Wei Wuxian's gaze with more lucidity than Wei Wuxian had hoped for. "Our forms reflect what shaped us, A-Ying. What marked us deeply enough to carry beyond death."

"If such a meaningless thing manifested on my body," Wei Wuxian said lightly, his lips curving into a teasing smile, "my life must not have been too terrible, hmm?" Before Hua Cheng could protest, Wei Wuxian pressed a soft, lingering kiss to his lips.

Pulling back with practiced mischief dancing in his silver eyes, Wei Wuxian stepped away from Hua Cheng's embrace. "Well, I suppose I'll just have to wander around in my inner robes today," he declared with a flirtatious smile dancing on his lips, already moving toward the door. "Yin Yu!" His voice rang through the corridors with cheerful authority. "Come have breakfast with us! I'm starving!"

"I have plenty of robes for you," Hua Cheng's rich voice clearly calling Wei Wuxian's bluff as he turned towards his closet. "Let me just grab—" His words were cut off by Wei Wuxian's bright laughter echoing down the hall, followed by the sound of Yin Yu's startled sputtering at finding his lord's guest so scantily clad.

In a blur of movement, Hua Cheng materialized at Wei Wuxian's side, already draping one of his own crimson outer robes around Wei Wuxian's shoulders. His singular eye fixed on Yin Yu with enough intensity to make the servant take several hasty steps backward, mask tilting toward the floor in obvious mortification.

"Thank you, gege," Wei Wuxian practically sang, pressing a playful kiss to Hua Cheng's cheek as he slipped his arms through the oversized sleeves. His fingers worked the ties closed with deliberate slowness, fully aware of how Hua Cheng's attention kept darting between him and the increasingly uncomfortable Yin Yu. The robe's hem pooled around his feet like liquid fire, and when he flicked back the too long sleeves, the motion sent ripples of crimson silk dancing through the air.

"I suppose I'll be trailing elegance behind me today," Wei Wuxian mused, examining how the rich fabric draped around his smaller frame. When he glanced up, he found Yin Yu had vanished as completely as morning mist, though Hua Cheng continued glaring at the spot where his servant had stood.

"Gege," Wei Wuxian laughed, already heading down the corridor with a bounce in his step, "you're going to burn a hole in your lovely walls if you keep that up." His amusement only grew as he heard Hua Cheng's soft curse behind him, followed by quick footsteps. "Now, which way to breakfast? Your manor is even more of a maze than He Xuan's." He deliberately took a wrong turn, knowing the ghost king wouldn't be able to resist correcting his path.

Their breakfast had been a delightfully chaotic affair, with Wei Wuxian stealing bites from Hua Cheng's plate despite having his own overflowing with delicacies. The ghost king's mock irritation at the theft dissolved into undisguised fondness each time Wei Wuxian's chopsticks darted across the table, especially when accompanied by theatrical sound effects that had Yin Yu nearly dropping the tea service.

The day passed in comfortable exploration of Paradise Manor's endless rooms. Wei Wuxian discovered the library quite by accident, chasing a silver butterfly through an ornate doorway only to stop dead in his tracks, mouth falling open at the sight before him. Towering shelves stretched impossibly high, their dark wood carved with scenes depicting wars, losses and victory alike. Books bound in materials he'd never seen before sat alongside ancient scrolls that hummed with barely contained power.

"This is incredible," he breathed, already moving deeper into the vast space. His fingers traced reverently over spines written in languages both familiar and mysterious. "How many centuries of knowledge are stored here?" He turned to find Hua Cheng watching him with a soft expression, before the ghost king himself settled onto a nearby divan, ready to answer all his questions.

Hours slipped by too fast as Wei Wuxian lost himself in the collection. He sprawled across plush cushions near Hua Cheng's feet, surrounded by precariously stacked texts about cultivation techniques he'd never imagined possible. Occasionally, he'd read particularly interesting passages aloud, punctuating them with wild gestures that made Hua Cheng's lips curve into fond amusement.

Through his academic haze, Wei Wuxian caught the whisper of brush against paper. Glancing up from his current tome, he found Hua Cheng focused intently on whatever he was drawing, his hair falling like a curtain of silk around his face. The moment Wei Wuxian tried to sneak a peek, however, the ghost king would smoothly tuck the paper away, offering only a mysterious smile in response to Wei Wuxian's exaggerated pout.

Now, as evening painted the sky in shades of twilight, they stood in one of the manor's many courtyards. This one felt more intimate than the others Wei Wuxian had explored, a secluded garden where luminous flowers bloomed beneath paper lanterns strung like captured stars. A small pavilion rose from the center of a pond.

The wine between them was their third jar, or perhaps their fourth, Wei Wuxian had lost count in the pleasant haze of alcohol and Hua Cheng's company. They stood side by side at the pavilion's edge, arms resting on the ornate railing as they gazed out over the shimmering pond. Wei Wuxian still wore Hua Cheng's oversized robe, the crimson silk catching the lantern light with each subtle movement. The ghost king stood close enough that their shoulders brushed whenever either of them drank from their cups, the contact sending pleasant warmth through Wei Wuxian's wine flushed skin.

"So, gege," Wei Wuxian drawled, swirling the wine in his cup languidly, "what do you think of He Xuan's territory? All that endless ocean and breathtaking views..." His lips curved into a teasing smile as he caught Hua Cheng's slight frown from the corner of his eye.

"It's adequate," Hua Cheng replied with affected indifference, though his fingers tightened slightly around his wine cup. "If you enjoy that sort of... dampness." The slight curl of his lip made Wei Wuxian bite back a laugh. Ghost City's fearsome ruler looking remarkably like a cat who'd been forced to walk through puddles.

"The skeletal fish are quite charming," Wei Wuxian mused, deliberately baiting now. "Ah, and those massive sea serpents! Did you know they're actually quite gentle once you spend time with them?" He watched with poorly concealed delight as Hua Cheng's expression darkened further.

"Gentle," Hua Cheng muttered into his cup. "Nothing in that murky place could possibly compare to Ghost City's attractions." His free hand found the small of Wei Wuxian's back, fingers splaying heatedly against crimson silk. "The entertainment here is far superior. The food, the wine, the—"

"The company?" Wei Wuxian suggested innocently, earning a sharp look that made heat pool in his stomach. He leaned slightly into Hua Cheng's touch, enjoying how the ghost king's fingers pressed more firmly in response. "Though you know," he continued more seriously, "I've noticed that he sometimes gets this look in his eyes... like something truly dark lurks beneath. Like he's carrying so much weight on his shoulders."

The silence stretched between them, broken only by the gentle splash of fish beneath the pavilion. Wei Wuxian waited, watching how the lantern light caught on Hua Cheng's profile as the ghost king seemed to weigh his next words carefully.

"We all have our anchors," Hua Cheng finally said, his voice softer than just a moment ago. "Things that keep us bound to existence when others fade away." His thumb traced absently against Wei Wuxian's back as he stared out over the luminous water. "For He Xuan, that anchor has always been vengeance."

Wei Wuxian turned slightly to study Hua Cheng's face, caught off guard by the complex emotion in his expression. "Vengeance?" he echoed softly, thinking of the surprisingly gentle way He Xuan had welcomed him into his domain.

"Mm." Hua Cheng's eye remained fixed on the distance. "The path that led him to become what he is today... it's not my story to tell. But the sorrow you see is carved from betrayal deeper than the oceans he commands." The thought alone made Wei Wuxian's heart ache.

"Is that why you let him get away with so much?" Wei Wuxian asked, unable to help his curiosity. "All his jabs and provocations?" Hua Cheng gave a soft huff of amusement at that.

"I let him get away with nothing," Hua Cheng corrected with a hint of his usual pride. "We simply understand the other's weakness."

Wei Wuxian couldn't help the fond smile that tugged at his lips, warmth blooming in his chest at how fiercely Hua Cheng tried to hide his loyalty beneath sharp edges. He turned to face the ghost king fully, one hand coming up to cradle that beautiful face as he pressed a soft, sweet kiss to Hua Cheng's lips.

"You're a good friend to him," Wei Wuxian murmured as he pulled back, watching with delight as Hua Cheng's expression immediately twisted into an affronted grimace. Before he could voice his protest, Wei Wuxian kissed him again, deeper this time. "Don't worry," he whispered against those perfect lips, "I'll keep your secret."

Giving Hua Cheng's bottom lip a one last teasing bite he bounced away from the railing with an idea in mind. Wei Wuxian snatched up both their cups, "Gege," he called over his shoulder as he moved to the wine jug resting beside a particularly luxurious divan. "Do you want to play with me for a while?" His fingers worked quickly to fill both cups, the rich aroma of alcohol mixing with the garden's ethereal aromas.

When he turned back, cups in hand, the change in Hua Cheng's gaze nearly made him stumble. That singular eye had gone dark with want, pupil blown wide as it tracked Wei Wuxian's every movement. "Ah... haha..." Wei Wuxian managed, suddenly very aware of how the oversized robe had slipped further down his shoulder.

"I'll play with you all night long A-Ying, you really only need to ask." Hua Cheng's voice emerged as a dangerous purr as he stalked closer, each step predatory. The intensity of his attention made Wei Wuxian very aware of how he must look; holding two cups of wine, Hua Cheng's own robe revealing much more skin than is appropriate, asking to be played with.

God.

Wei Wuxian quickly sat down on the divan, feeling a blush creep up his neck. "As alluring as that sounds, come play truth or dare with me," he said, nerves and embarrassment making his voice waver. Wei Wuxian watched as Hua Cheng took mercy on him and gave an amused smirk, settling on the other end of the divan, want still clear in his eye.

With his back against the ornate armrest, he caught Wei Wuxian's ankles and pulled his feet onto his lap, earning a startled yelp that dissolved into pure pleasure as strong fingers began working off his socks. "And what exactly," he asked, thumbs pressing into the arch of Wei Wuxian's foot with ridiculous skill, "are you talking about?"

Wei Wuxian's head fell back against his own armrest, a completely indecent groan escaping his lips as Hua Cheng found a particularly sensitive spot. "It's a game," he managed, struggling to focus through the blissful sensation of the massage. "We take turns choosing either truth or dare. Pick truth, answer a question honestly. Pick dare, complete a challenge." His voice hitched as those clever fingers worked higher up his arch. "And if you refuse either, you have to drink your whole cup."

Hua Cheng's fingers continued their gentle assault on Wei Wuxian's foot as he considered this new game. "Shall we begin then?" he asked, his thumb finding a spot that made Wei Wuxian's toes curl. "Since it's your game, you can choose first."

"Mmm... I'll go with truth then," Wei Wuxian sighed contentedly, already feeling wonderfully boneless from the combination of wine and skilled fingers. He reached blindly for his cup, managing to take a sip without spilling despite his relaxed sprawl.

"Let's see... What's the most ridiculous thing you were ever punished for?" Hua Cheng asked, switching to Wei Wuxian's other foot with lingering touches.

Wei Wuxian's felt a grin tugging at his lips. "Oh, definitely the very first night as a guest disciple," he said, delight colouring his voice. "Holy shit gege, they had so many rules. They actually carved a whole mountainside with all three thousand of them. The most horrible of them being the ban on alcohol. Rule number forty seven if I remember correctly." He laughed softly at the memory. "They were practically compelling me to scale their wall in the middle of the night in search of Emperor's Smile, which broke at least three other rules, by the way."

Glancing over, he found Hua Cheng smiling fondly at him, clearly entertained by his tale of mischief.

"I'd just gotten my hands on two jars when Lan Zhan caught me." Wei Wuxian noticed Hua Cheng's smile beginning to fade, but continued on, lost in the memory. "He was all pristine in his white robes and rigid righteousness back then." His expression softened as he gazed into the distance. "Naturally he tried to confiscate my wine, so I tried to share it with him instead. We ended up fighting right there on the wall. It was such a mess, the jars broke, and I had to copy their ludicrous rules for a month." When he looked back at Hua Cheng, he found the ghost king's expression had gone tight around the edges, though his fingers never faltered in their movements.

Wei Wuxian shook off the memory, wondering what had affected Hua Cheng's mood. "What will you choose, gege?" he asked with soft playfulness, hoping to pull Hua Cheng out of the suddenly heavy atmosphere. "Truth or dare?"

"Truth," Hua Cheng answered without thought, a light smile returning to his lips as Wei Wuxian's eyes lit up with glee.

"I'll have mercy on you this first round," Wei Wuxian declared magnanimously, tapping his chin in an exaggerated display of consideration. "What's the most outlandish rumor you've ever heard about yourself?" He wiggled his toes against Hua Cheng's thigh for emphasis.

A rich laugh rumbled through Hua Cheng's chest. "There are quite a few to choose from," he mused, hands sliding up to massage Wei Wuxian's calves. "Though perhaps the most absurd was that I keep a harem of ten thousand virgins hidden in Paradise Manor." His eye sparkled with delight. "As if I'd want that many people cluttering up my residence."

Before Wei Wuxian could respond, Hua Cheng moved with speed that his trained eye struggled to keep track of, pulling him up the length of the divan. Wei Wuxian found himself settled against Hua Cheng's chest as the ghost king reclined against the armrest, their bodies fitting together as naturally as breathing. Strong arms wrapped around his waist, and Wei Wuxian couldn't help but nuzzle closer as Hua Cheng's chin came to rest atop his head.

"Truth or dare, A-Ying?" Hua Cheng's voice vibrated pleasantly against Wei Wuxian's cheek, the words felt like a physical caress, making heat bloom through his wine warmed body.

"Dare," Wei Wuxian murmured, feeling emboldened. His fingers lightly clenched the silk covering Hua Cheng's chest, wishing he could taste the skin underneath.

The pleased sound that rumbled through Hua Cheng's chest made Wei Wuxian smile against the crimson fabric. "I dare you to try and manipulate the resentful energy within me," Hua Cheng purred, his hands settling warm against Wei Wuxian's waist.

Wei Wuxian's surprised laugh filled the garden. "Of all the things you could dare me to do, gege, why that?" He tilted his head up to study Hua Cheng's expression, finding something darkly anticipatory in his gaze.

"If you're not up to the challenge," Hua Cheng drawled, reaching for Wei Wuxian's wine cup with deliberate slowness, "I'd be happy to help you drink your forfeit."

Wei Wuxian sat up without further delay, settling himself across Hua Cheng's stomach. "I'll do it," he declared with a competitive gleam in his eyes, "without even making use of a flute." With a playful wink, he placed both palms flat against Hua Cheng's chest, closing his eyes as he began to hum a haunting melody.

The moment Wei Wuxian reached for Hua Cheng's energy, his breath hitched. What he'd sensed before was nothing compared to experiencing it directly. An endless well of ancient darkness that called to his very essence. The resentful energy within Hua Cheng felt like a storm contained in human form, raw and devastating and absolutely intoxicating.

Beneath his hands, Hua Cheng went utterly still as Wei Wuxian's power threaded through his own. The ghost king's fingers dug into Wei Wuxian's hips hard enough to bruise as their energies tangled together, darkness calling to darkness in a dance as old as existence itself.

When Wei Wuxian opened his eyes, he found Hua Cheng watching him with a darkened expression. His pupil had blown so wide it nearly swallowed his iris, and his chest rose and fell with rapid breaths he didn't technically need. The raw arousal pulsing from his very being made a deep ache awaken in Wei Wuxian. A need for more. A need for him.

"Gege" Wei Wuxian breathed, his voice emerging rough and low as their combined power throbbed between them like a living thing.

"Dare," Hua Cheng groaned, desperation raw in that single word.

"Make me yours."

Hua Cheng surged up, fingers tangling in Wei Wuxian's hair as he crushed their mouths together in a kiss that devoured them both.

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian felt Hua Cheng's fingers tighten in his hair, the slight pain sending fire down his spine as the ghost king's other hand gripped his waist with abandonment. The movement drew him closer, settling him securely in Hua Cheng's lap where a very pronounced bulge jerked up at the contact. The solid warmth of Hua Cheng's body surrounded him completely, making his heart race with anticipation and his own hardness throb with need.

His hands found purchase on Hua Cheng's shoulders, fingers curling into crimson silk as his lip got sucked hard enough to tingle. Every point of contact between them felt electric, charged with the same otherworldly energy that had drawn them together since that first chaotic meeting in the Night Market. A gasp escaped Wei Wuxian's throat as Hua Cheng pulled him impossibly closer, their combined resentful energy swirling around them like a living shadow.

The searing passion in Hua Cheng's touch contrasted beautifully with the restrained power thrumming through his frame. Wei Wuxian's nails raked roughly across Hua Cheng's shoulders and chest, mapping the strength contained beneath layers of silk, trying to memorize every detail of this moment. His thoughtless sounds of pleasure were swallowed between Hua Cheng's demanding tongue, warring with his own to pull pleasure from the other.

Burning desire made Wei Wuxian's fingers clumsy as they tangled in silk, his heart thundering against his ribs as he gave a daring roll with his hips, pulling a sharp hiss from the mouth devouring his. Almost unconsciously, he shaped their swirling resentment into something precise, letting it slice through the layers of Hua Cheng's robes like a phantom blade. The sporadic action drew a dangerously pleased growl from Hua Cheng's throat that made Wei Wuxian clench his ass instinctively.

Hua Cheng's eye lit up with excitement as he returned the favor, strong hands ripping the fabric of Wei Wuxian's borrowed robes until silk pooled around them like spilled wine. The cool night air kissed their bare chests as Hua Cheng pressed Wei Wuxian back against the divan's plush surface, his larger frame caging him in with deliberate movements of a predator.

Their lips met again hungrily as Hua Cheng settled his weight over him with a sinuous roll of his hips. Wei Wuxian felt surrounded, claimed, safe. Each kiss carrying volumes of unspoken emotion that made his chest ache with something deeper than desire.

Breaking away from Hua Cheng's intoxicating kiss, Wei Wuxian traced the shell of his ear with parted lips, hands desperately grabbing onto Hua Cheng's muscled back, drawing a sharp inhale from the ghost king. "Please, gege," he begged, the words heady and breathless, making Hua Cheng's entire body shudder against him. His teeth caught Hua Cheng's earlobe in a teasing bite that drew a sound he'd never heard from the body weighing on top of him.

The reactive stutter of Hua Cheng's hips made Wei Wuxian gasp, nails digging into strong shoulders as the ghost king buried his face in the curve of Wei Wuxian's neck. "Fuck," Hua Cheng growled, the word searing against Wei Wuxian's skin before sharp teeth found purchase on the sensitive flesh. The sting melted into pleasure as Hua Cheng's tongue soothed the mark, his lips trailing lower to explore Wei Wuxian's chest.

Each press of Hua Cheng's mouth felt like a brand, marking him with careful possession that made Wei Wuxian's head spin. Hua Cheng devoured his skin with lips and teeth and tongue, drawing absolutely filthy sounds from Wei Wuxian's mouth that would have embarrassed him if he weren't already lost to sensation.

Wei Wuxian's world slowed as Hua Cheng's exploration led him to the edge of his pants. His heart thundered so loudly he was certain Hua Cheng must hear it, especially when that eye lifted to meet his gaze, dark with temptation yet seeking clear permission. The silent question in that look made something warm bloom in Wei Wuxian's chest despite the fire coursing through his veins.

In answer, Wei Wuxian let that same resentment as before take on physical form, watching as it caressed Hua Cheng's skin like a long denied lover. The ghost king's eye fell closed in heightened pleasure as that darkness traced scorching paths of sin across his body. Watching Hua Cheng's reaction with burning arousal, Wei Wuxian guided the resentment to slowly cut cleanly through his own pants.

Hua Cheng's expression was transcendent as he eased the ruined fabric away, his composure completely undone by the dual sensation of the demanding touch of resentment against his skin and the sight before him. With far less ceremony, he rid himself of his own remaining clothes, leaving them both bare beneath the garden's ethereal light. Wei Wuxian was momentarily entranced by the sheer size of Hua Cheng's cock, hanging heavily between muscled thighs.

Wei Wuxian's breath hitched as Hua Cheng lifted his knee with reverence, those perfect lips pressing against the sensitive skin before teeth grazed the spot with forced gentleness. Each open mouthed kiss that followed burned hotter than the last as Hua Cheng worked his way up his sensitive thigh, leaving a slow, blazing trail of fire that made Wei Wuxian's hardness throb.

Through the haze of cresting pleasure, Wei Wuxian fixated on what it could feel like, having that powerful length thrusting into him. The thought causing precum to slowly drip down onto his navel. Something dark and hungry stirred in his chest as he looked down, watching that heavy muscle flex with each movement. The raw power contained in that devastating size made his mouth go dry with anticipation.

God, how he wanted to taste it.

When Hua Cheng reached Wei Wuxian's groin he stopped, catching his gaze with wicked intent as he licked the precum up sinfully. Licking his lips to savor the taste he lifted Wei Wuxian's weeping cock to his mouth, maintaining eye contact as his tongue traced a warm, wet path from base to tip.

The feeling of Hua Cheng’s scorching tongue dragging over him, those slick lips closing over his tip caused Wei Wuxian's hips to violently jerk upward. The sudden movement causing his whole length to slip into Hua Cheng's mouth, the tip pushing into the tight confines of his throat. The ghost king's eye widened in surprise as he choked around the cock in his throat, then darkened with animalistic arousal moments later.

The last of Hua Cheng's control seemed to snap as his eye shuttered, gripping Wei Wuxian's ass roughly, thrusting his cock deeper into his mouth, sucking hard enough to hollow out his cheeks. Wei Wuxian felt like he was going to fucking die from the sight alone. His back arched at the sensation, his head falling back against the divan's surface as a strangled noise escaped his parted lips.

Lost to the sensation of Hua Cheng's mouth, Wei Wuxian hooked his legs over muscled shoulders, ankles crossing to draw the ghost king closer.

The strength of Hua Cheng's hands clenching his ass felt like an anchor, grounding him even as pleasure threatened to sweep him away entirely. Each swallow around his cock, every dip of Hua Cheng's tongue into his slit sent waves of pleasure through his entire body, drawing increasingly lewd sounds from his throat that made Hua Cheng's grip tighten possessively.

Wei Wuxian felt close to shattering, his vulnerability suddenly making him feel untethered. "Gege," he breathed, voice shaky, "don't let me cum alone." His silver eyes glistened in the lantern light as he reached for Hua Cheng like an anchor in a storm.

Hua Cheng looked up at Wei Wuxian, eye smoldering with the need to consume. With rapidly fraying restraint, Hua Cheng let Wei Wuxian's cock slip out between reddened lips, sucking his bottom lip into his mouth to savor the lingering taste. Carefully he released his iron grip from Wei Wuxian's ass and moved upward with a slight tremble in his frame, settling his sweat slicked body flush against Wei Wuxian's own. His hand came up to cradle Wei Wuxian's cheek, teeming from arousal, thumb brushing away the wetness at the corner of his eye. "I'm right here," he murmured against Wei Wuxian's lips. "You'll never be alone again."

Those words shattered something in Wei Wuxian's chest. He surged up to claim Hua Cheng's mouth in a yearning kiss, legs wrapping around the ghost king's waist to thrust their slickened cocks together. Hua Cheng's hand shoved between their bodies, enveloping both their lengths and started jerking harshly as they continued grinding together with increasing urgency.

Wei Wuxian felt his sanity slipping as ecstasy overwhelmed his senses, the resentful energy he'd been directing now swirled violently around them like a storm. Through half lidded eyes, he distantly registered the destruction around them, lanterns shattering, flowers withering, wooden beams splintering, but he couldn't bring himself to care as Hua Cheng's increasingly uneven movements consumed his every thought.

Mindlessly, Wei Wuxian reached for that endless well of power within Hua Cheng, drawing on it with a desperation he's never known. The effect was immediate. Hua Cheng's movements faltered as he sank his teeth in Wei Wuxian's neck and cried out, his composure completely undone by that intimate pull. The sound, the feeling of Hua Cheng's teeth sinking into skin, and the pulse of his cock against his own had his vision fade to black as he felt his orgasm ripple through his entire being.

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian let out a contented sigh as he sank deeper into the ornate tub, the warm water lapping at his shoulders as heat seeped into muscles he hadn't even realized could still ache. Death, it seemed, had a peculiar sense of humor. Gifting him a ghostly form so perfectly crafted that it could still experience everything from bone deep exhaustion to the lingering throb of pleasure induced soreness. He supposed he should find it amusing that even as a ghost, his body insisted on maintaining such mortal sensations.

The philosophical musings about his posthumous existence scattered like smoke when Hua Cheng's arms tightened around his waist, pulling him back against that broad chest with delicate care. A smile tugged at Wei Wuxian's lips as warm breath ghosted across his ear, followed by the press of perfect lips working their way down the column of his throat. Each kiss felt like a silent claim, a reminder that he belonged here, safe in the arms of this man.

Wei Wuxian's eyes drifted closed as he tilted his head, offering better access to Hua Cheng's exploratory touch. The simple intimacy of the moment—lounging together in the perfumed water, bodies pressed close, surrounded by steam that carried traces of jasmine—filled him with a bone deep contentment he'd never thought possible. For the first time since awakening in this realm, Wei Wuxian felt truly, completely at peace.

Wei Wuxian's hands drifted beneath the water, trailing down Hua Cheng's powerful thighs with unhurried appreciation. His thumbs stroked gently into the defined muscle, drawing satisfaction from the way those strong legs tensed then melted beneath his touch. A soft gasp escaped his lips as Hua Cheng's teeth scraped across his collarbone, the sensation sending pleasant shivers down his spine despite the bath's warmth.

"Mmm, gege," Wei Wuxian hummed, his voice carrying the lazy contentment of a cat in sunlight. His fingers continued their exploration of Hua Cheng's legs as he tilted his head further back against that broad shoulder. "I couldn't help but notice something earlier..." He paused as Hua Cheng's lips found a particularly sensitive spot on his neck, nearly derailing his train of thought completely.

"That lovely pavilion of yours," he continued with drowsy mischief, "it seems to be missing a few... structural elements since our game." His lips curved into a soft smile as he recalled the chaotic resentment reducing the elegant architecture to artistic ruins. "Though I suppose truth or dare is a bit more destructive when played with ancient ghost kings."

"I would watch every building in Ghost City crumble to dust," Hua Cheng whispered against Wei Wuxian's skin, his hands trailing lazy patterns up and down Wei Wuxian's sides as he shifted to cradle him more securely between his thighs, "if it meant keeping you close." The words sounded truly sincere. A profound contentment blooming in his chest at the thought of making any meaningful impact on Hua Cheng's existence.

Wei Wuxian let out a soft laugh. "Such sweet words, gege. But how do I measure up to your legendary harem? All those virgins supposedly wandering your halls..." His teasing words trailed off as Hua Cheng's rich chuckle sounded against his back.

"Even if I had similar experiences to compare it to," Hua Cheng breathed against his ear, voice dropping to that low register that never failed to make Wei Wuxian's skin prickle with awareness, "you would still be the best thing that's ever happened to me."

Wei Wuxian's hands stilled their exploration of Hua Cheng's thighs as understanding slowly dawned. He hesitantly twisted in Hua Cheng's embrace, water lapping gently around them as he studied that beautiful face with wide eyes. Every trace of playfulness had vanished from his expression as he searched Hua Cheng's gaze for any hint of deception. "Gege," he choked, the word emerging breathless with disbelief, "you must have done this with someone else before."

A slow, dangerous smile curved Hua Cheng's lips, transforming his features into something darkly beautiful. "And why is it so unbelievable if I hadn't?" he purred, his eye gleaming with amusement as he watched Wei Wuxian's reaction.

Wei Wuxian's delighted laugh rang through the steam filled air as he pressed a playful kiss to those perfect lips. "Because, my lord Chengzhu," he teased, eyes sparkling with mischief, "I'm quite certain men and women alike would prostrate themselves for the mere chance to warm your bed." His grin turned wicked as he added, "Though I can't blame them, you are rather impressive."

Hua Cheng's answering laugh rumbled through his chest as strong hands caught Wei Wuxian's hips, water splashing around them as he effortlessly maneuvered Wei Wuxian into a straddle. The new position settled Wei Wuxian flush against him, their bodies fitting together effortlessly. "Oh?" Hua Cheng rasped, his voice rich with suggestion. "And I suppose that's what happened in the mortal realm? The great cultivation sects must have been waging wars to simply lay eyes on you."

Wei Wuxian leaned forward, taking Hua Cheng's face between his palms. "If you only knew," he breathed, his smile turning bittersweet, "that the wars waged would have been for the privilege of killing me, not enjoying my company." He pressed a lingering kiss to Hua Cheng's sudden downturned lips, savoring the familiar taste as he tried to chase away the somberness that had crept into those striking features.

"Though," Wei Wuxian said smiling wider, unable to resist lightening the mood, "in my younger years I was quite the catch." He leaned back dramatically, sending ripples through the bathwater. "Poor Mian Mian couldn't keep her pretty eyes off me." With a measure of flair, he tossed a wet strand of hair over his shoulder, his grin pure mischief. Seeing Hua Cheng's expression begin to soften, he continued, "She was practically swooning after I saved her from getting branded."

The tender atmosphere turned colder as Hua Cheng's eye immediately dropped to Wei Wuxian's chest. His fingers lifted to ghost over the sun shaped scar with an unreadable expression, the touch so gentle.

"So you did this for a woman?" Hua Cheng's voice remained carefully neutral, though his fingers continued their gentle exploration of the scar.

Wei Wuxian tilted his head consideringly, water droplets sliding down his neck. "No," he said after a moment, "I was just teasing about Mian Mian, I can't even remember her real name anymore." His silver eyes grew distant as he added thoughtfully, "It just didn't sit right with me, watching them try to brand a woman. They're so sensitive about their appearances..." He shrugged, trying to keep his tone light. "How would she go through life with such an ugly scar?"

When he met Hua Cheng's gaze again, the depth of emotion in that dark eye made his heart swell painfully in his chest. "You're a good man, Wei Ying," Hua Cheng murmured. Wei Wuxian let out a thoughtful sound in response, memories of darker choices weighing heavy on his conscience.

With a sudden ungraceful yelp from Wei Wuxian, Hua Cheng turned him in the water, settling him back against his chest in their earlier position. Strong arms wrapped around him securely as Hua Cheng pressed a tender kiss to his cheek. "Thank you," he whispered against Wei Wuxian's skin, "for telling me about the scar." Before Wei Wuxian could respond, Hua Cheng's voice sounded in his ear. "Now then, I choose truth. I believe it’s my turn?"

"Oh?" Wei Wuxian practically purred, tilting his head back against Hua Cheng's shoulder happily. "Gege still wants to play with me?" The words dripped with deliberate suggestion as he shifted sensually in Hua Cheng's lap, sending small waves rippling through the bath water.

Hua Cheng's answering laugh held a dangerous edge as his hand slid down Wei Wuxian's body, fingers digging into the soft flesh of his ass. The slight bite of nails against sensitive skin drew an excited gasp from Wei Wuxian's throat. "I don't think there will come a time where I won’t want to play with you," Hua Cheng grunted, his voice lowering.

Sharp teeth caught Wei Wuxian's earlobe in a teasing bite before Hua Cheng whispered, "You better ask your question before I get... distracted." The promise in those words sent heat pooling in Wei Wuxian's stomach as Hua Cheng's grip tightened in warning.

Unable to resist the teasing further, Wei Wuxian blurted out the first thing that came to his mind. "When was the last time you made yourself cum?", and immediately felt heat flood his cheeks at his own boldness. He felt Hua Cheng go perfectly still beneath him, strong hands pausing their exploration of his skin.

"Shit, I’m so sorry," Wei Wuxian stammered, trying to turn around to face Hua Cheng. "My mouth just runs ahead of my brain sometimes and—" His frantic apology was cut short as strong arms prevented him from turning, pulling him more securely against Hua Cheng's chest.

A soft, disbelieving laugh rumbled through Hua Cheng's chest as he cleared his throat. "A few days ago," he admitted, his voice rich with mischief, "while I was imagining how you'd look bouncing on my cock." The crass confession, coupled with the way Hua Cheng's fingers slid over his hips, made Wei Wuxian fill out rapidly, a light throbbing starting to make him squirm on Hua Cheng's growing length.

Without seeing his face, Wei Wuxian could practically feel the smug expression radiating from Hua Cheng, that eye undoubtedly gleaming with satisfaction at having flustered him so thoroughly.

"Fuck," Wei Wuxian breathed, feeling the heat of his blush spreading down his neck. The warm bath water suddenly felt scorching against his skin as he kept imagining the scene Hua Cheng unwittingly placed in his head.

Hua Cheng's rich chuckle held equal parts amusement and affection. "Truth or dare, A-Ying?" he purred, clearly enjoying Wei Wuxian's reaction.

Wei Wuxian bit his lip as he considered his options, all too aware of how a dare might end. With water splashing over the pearlescent tub's edges and new marks blooming across his throat. The thought alone sent a thrill of anticipation down his spine. Hua Cheng's hands continuing their seductive stroking against his skin weren't helping his concentration in the slightest.

Yet beneath the maddening attraction that constantly simmered between them, Wei Wuxian found himself craving more. Every new revelation about Hua Cheng only made him want to know more. Each truth they shared felt like uncovering something intimate.

"Truth," he declared softly, letting his head fall back against Hua Cheng's shoulder. The word carried the weight of conscious choice, choosing vulnerability over passion, choosing to know rather than simply feel. Though from the way Hua Cheng's arms tightened around him, perhaps the ghost king understood exactly what that choice meant.

The silence stretched between them for several heartbeats before Hua Cheng's rich voice broke through Wei Wuxian's thoughts. "Tell me about something that made you happy," he murmured, "A memory you treasure."

Wei Wuxian felt a smile pull at his lips as an unexpected memory surfaced. Not of Lotus Pier's golden days or his adventures with Jiang Cheng, but of a small boy's delighted laughter echoing through an otherwise desolate place. "There was a child," he began softly, his voice carrying a tenderness that made Hua Cheng's arms tighten around his waist. "A-Yuan. He was one of the Wen remnants I tried to protect."

"Even in the Burial Mounds, he somehow maintained such pure innocence." Wei Wuxian's lips curved into a fond smile as he remembered tiny hands reaching for him, demanding to be carried. "He was fascinated by butterflies, but we rarely saw any where we lived. So I taught him how to make them from paper instead."

Leaning back further into Hua Cheng's embrace, Wei Wuxian continued, his voice growing animated as he lost himself in the memory. "You should have seen his face the first time we successfully folded one together. His eyes lit up like he'd just witnessed the most incredible magic." A soft laugh escaped his throat. "He insisted on making dozens more, leaving them scattered all over our little dwelling. Even managed to convince grumpy Uncle Four to help him hang them from the ceiling."

"We spent hours teaching him to write his name," Wei Wuxian's voice softened with nostalgia. "He'd scrunch up his whole face in concentration, tongue sticking out just a bit, determined to get each stroke perfect. When he finally managed it..." Wei Wuxian trailed off, emotion making his throat tight. "I've never seen someone so proud of three simple characters."

"Those moments," Wei Wuxian whispered, "when he'd fall asleep in my arms while I told him stories, or when he'd bring me wild flowers he'd found in Yiling... they made everything else bearable. Just knowing that even in such darkness, something so pure could still flourish."

The water lapped gently around them as Wei Wuxian fell silent, lost in memories of a child's innocent love.

"What happened to him?" Hua Cheng asked softly, his voice gentle. The question made Wei Wuxian's heart splinter in his chest.

"I don't know," Wei Wuxian admitted, the words barely above a whisper. "I suspect... I suspect he died along with the other Wens when I fell. Nobody would have deemed their lives valuable enough to save after I was gone." His voice carried a bitter edge.

"The Burial Mounds?" Hua Cheng questioned, his voice uncertain, as if asking about something unknown.

Wei Wuxian turned slightly in Hua Cheng's embrace, confusion furrowing his brow. "You haven't heard of it?" he asked, genuine surprise coloring his voice. "I would have thought..." He trailed off with a small frown, wondering how such an infamous place could be unknown to someone of Hua Cheng's standing.

"The Burial Mounds," Wei Wuxian explained, his fingers gliding in the still warm water, "lies in Yiling. It's not exactly the kind of place travelers visit, but still widely known."

He felt Hua Cheng go unnaturally still behind him. The silence stretched between them, broken only by the gentle lap of water against the bath's ornate sides. Even the ever present incense seemed to hang motionless in the air, as if the very atmosphere awaited Hua Cheng's response.

When Hua Cheng finally spoke, his voice carried a careful neutrality that made Wei Wuxian's skin prickle with a sense of foreboding. "Have you ever visited Yong'An?" The question felt closer to probing into something deeper than asking about the irrelevance of his geographical knowledge.

A soft, breathless laugh escaped Wei Wuxian's lips as he shifted slightly in Hua Cheng's embrace. "I'd like to think I'm relatively well traveled," he said, warmth coloring his voice despite his confusion at the sudden shift in conversation. "Though I suppose I could have missed some small town along the way?" He twisted slightly to look up at Hua Cheng's face, only to find that singular eye focused on some distant point, his expression unreadable.

"Which god," Hua Cheng asked with quiet certainty, his voice carrying an undercurrent of something Wei Wuxian couldn't quite place, "do they worship in Yiling?"

Wei Wuxian's surprised laugh echoed off the damp walls as he relaxed further against Hua Cheng's chest. "Now I'm wondering what was in the wine you drank earlier," he teased, fingers dancing through the bathwater. "Next you'll be asking which immortals frequent our local tea houses." The thought alone drew another chuckle from his throat as he imagined some celestial being trying to navigate Yiling's crooked streets.

The continued silence behind him finally registered, making something uncertain flutter in Wei Wuxian's chest. Water splashed against the tub's sides as he twisted around in Hua Cheng's lap, ready to share in whatever joke was being played. The words died in his throat as he caught sight of Hua Cheng's expression, not a trace of humor touched those perfect features, only a deep understanding that made Wei Wuxian's throat constrict.

"Gege," Wei Wuxian said slowly, his earlier mirth evaporating like morning mist, "what exactly are you talking about?" His voice emerged softer than intended, something in Hua Cheng's gaze making him feel suddenly unmoored, as if the world he thought he knew was quietly shifting beneath him.

Hua Cheng's eye held Wei Wuxian's gaze for a long moment. Coming to some internal decision, he leaned forward to press his lips against Wei Wuxian's forehead, the gesture carrying such tenderness. With gentle hands, he guided Wei Wuxian to turn back around, drawing him once more against his chest.

As Wei Wuxian settled back, he felt an inexplicable tension building in his chest, as if his body sensed something momentous approaching before his mind could comprehend it. He let his head rest against Hua Cheng's shoulder, watching as those elegant fingers caught his right hand and began working careful circles into his palm.

"There's a story," Hua Cheng began, his rich voice dropping to something meant for Wei Wuxian alone, "about events that took place over a thousand years ago." His thumbs worked methodically up each of Wei Wuxian's fingers as he continued, "Back then, heaven was still adjusting to a new Emperor's rule. Among the officials serving in his court was an elemental god known as the Rain Master."

"Her name," Hua Cheng's fingers moved to Wei Wuxian's wrist with deliberate care, "was Baoshan Sanren."

Wei Wuxian's entire body went rigid at the name, his breath catching sharply in his throat. The familiar syllables felt wrong in this context, like finding a treasured possession in a stranger's home.

"That's impossible," Wei Wuxian breathed, his mind struggling to reconcile this new information. "Gods don't... they aren't," He shook his head slightly, droplets of water falling from his hair. "Gods are a thing of myth." His voice strengthening with certainty, as if saying it aloud will reaffirm this truth, make it tangible.

Hua Cheng's hands never paused their gentle work on Wei Wuxian's palm as he murmured, "Let me finish the story." His voice carried a patient warmth that made him relax marginally into Hua Cheng's chest.

"The Rain Master held a position of significant power," Hua Cheng continued, his fingers working their way to Wei Wuxian's other hand with methodical care. "She oversaw the mortal realm's weather, ensuring balance between drought and flood. But more than that, she was known for her revolutionary ideas about the relationship between gods and mortals." His thumb pressed into a tender spot that made Wei Wuxian's fingers flex involuntarily.

"Some said she spent more time walking among humans than she did in her heavenly palace," Hua Cheng's voice took on a thoughtful quality, as if piecing together fragments of ancient history. "She believed in their potential, their right to forge their own paths without constant divine intervention. This... didn't align well with heaven's usual approach."

Moving to Wei Wuxian's forearm, Hua Cheng's hands worked at invisible strains of tension as he spoke. "About a thousand years ago, something happened between Baoshan Sanren and Jun Wu. No one knows the exact nature of their disagreement. Those who witnessed it either disappeared or held their tongues. But whatever occurred was significant enough that she chose to cast herself down from heaven entirely."

"She didn't go alone," he added, fingers trailing up Wei Wuxian's arm. "Two of her closest companions, powerful cultivators named Lan An and Wen Mao, chose to follow her. They gathered their most devoted followers, those who shared their vision of a world where mortals could cultivate power through their own merit rather than divine blessing." The names sent another jolt through Wei Wuxian's frame, but Hua Cheng's steady hands kept him grounded.

"Together, they crossed the vast eastern ocean, seeking lands beyond heaven's immediate influence. Before departing, Baoshan Sanren struck some manner of agreement with Jun Wu, the exact terms remain unknown, but it established a clear division. The gods would not interfere with these new territories, and in return..." Hua Cheng's hands moved to Wei Wuxian's shoulders, working at the tension that had gathered there as the story unfolded. "In return, she would ensure that what they built there would never threaten heaven's authority."

"Those who followed her," Hua Cheng continued, his hands working steadily at the knots in Wei Wuxian's shoulders, "helped establish entirely new systems of cultivation. Without direct access to heaven's spiritual energy, they had to forge different paths to power. Over centuries, their understanding of cultivation evolved into something unique, something that didn't require divine blessing to function."

"The followers of Lan An eventually founded what they called the Gusu region," Hua Cheng's voice carried a careful neutrality as he felt Wei Wuxian's subtle flinch at the familiar name. "Wen Mao's people claimed the sun scorched lands that would become Qishan. As their influence grew, other sects began to form, each developing their own understanding of this new cultivation."

His hands moved to the base of Wei Wuxian's neck, thumbs working gentle circles into the tense muscle. "Baoshan Sanren herself chose solitude, watching from a distance as the world she helped create took shape. She retained her immortality from her time as a god, but chose to present herself as nothing more than a powerful cultivator. The truth of her divine origins became lost to time, remembered only in fragments by those who helped establish the first sects."

"The gods themselves largely forgot about these distant lands," Hua Cheng continued, his breath warm against Wei Wuxian's ear. "Or perhaps they simply chose to ignore them, bound by whatever agreement their trash Emperor had made. Even now, most inhabitants of the heavenly realm don't know, or don't care, about the cultivation world that exists beyond that vast ocean."

"Over generations, as the memory of gods faded from your lands," Hua Cheng's voice softened further, his hands stilling against Wei Wuxian's skin, "a new order emerged. One where spiritual power came not from divine favor, but from human determination and skill. Where cultivation techniques evolved without heaven's influence, taking forms that would be unrecognizable to the immortals of my realm."

The water lapped gently as silence fell between them, heavy with the weight of revelation. Hua Cheng's hands resumed their gentle ministrations, as if trying to ease the burden of this new understanding through touch alone.

"That's why," Hua Cheng continued after the weighted silence, his hands moving back to Wei Wuxian's shoulders, "souls from your lands rarely find their way to Ghost City after death. The divine resonance that allows spirits to exist in realms connected to heaven isn't typically present in cultivators from your land. Your methods of cultivation developed independently from heaven's power, creating a fundamental difference in how your souls manifest after death."

"When that Wen cultivator appeared in the gambling den," he admitted, fingers working methodically down Wei Wuxian's arms again, "I didn't even consider he might be from the Qishan Wen sect. The Wen clan still has descendants in our lands, though they've long since lost any real power. It seems the Qishan Wen preserved more of their ancient history than I realized." A touch of self-deprecation entered his voice as he added, "Though I never bothered to confirm this. Once I learned of your lands, I had... other priorities that kept my attention here."

His hands stilled, and Wei Wuxian could practically feel the weight of Hua Cheng's thoughts gathering. "But you," he murmured, voice dropping to something contemplative, almost puzzled, "your soul shouldn't have been able to manifest here at all. Ghost City exists in a realm fundamentally connected to heaven's authority. For your spirit to not only appear here but to maintain such a perfect physical form..." He trailed off, leaving the unspoken question hanging in the steam laden air between them.

"My mother," Wei Wuxian said softly after a few moments of stretched silence, his fingers finding Hua Cheng's where they rested against his skin, "was Baoshan Sanren's direct disciple." He let out a quiet laugh that held no humor. "She was found as a child by Baoshan Sanren herself, taken up the mountain to study. They say she was incredibly gifted, one of the strongest cultivators of her generation. When Baoshan Sanren forbade my parents' relationship, my mother descended the mountain, and never looked back."

Strong arms wrapped around Wei Wuxian's waist once more. The ghost king's chin came to rest on his shoulder as he considered this new information. "That could explain it," he said thoughtfully. "Being raised and taught by a former god, even one who cast herself down... that kind of connection leaves traces that run deeper than blood. Your mother's link to Baoshan Sanren might have created just enough divine resonance in your soul to bridge the gap between our realms."

Wei Wuxian felt Hua Cheng's arms tighten fractionally, as if the ghost king was unconsciously trying to keep him from slipping away. "The fact that you ended up here, of all places..." Hua Cheng's voice carried a note of something Wei Wuxian couldn't quite name, "perhaps it wasn't just chance after all."

Silence settled between them as Wei Wuxian tried to process everything he'd learned. His entire understanding of the world had shifted in the space of a conversation, centuries of cultivation history suddenly rewritten with divine ink. He thought of all the ancient texts he'd studied, the careful records kept by each sect, wondering how many other secrets lay hidden between their lines.

"Gods," Wei Wuxian breathed, the word tasting foreign on his tongue. "Higher beings tasked with the safety of mortals. Ruling over them." The concept seemed to settle heavily in his chest.

A soft, derisive sound escaped Hua Cheng's throat. "Don't be under any illusions, A-Ying," he said, voice carrying what sounded like centuries of accumulated contempt. "Most gods are absolute trash, worth less than the dirt beneath your feet. They sit in their gleaming palaces, drunk on worship and their own self-importance, while mortals suffer below." The raw bitterness in his tone made Wei Wuxian twist slightly to study his face. "Their supposed duty to protect humanity is nothing but pretty words they use to justify their power."

"Gege," Wei Wuxian sighed, settling deeper into Hua Cheng's embrace as exhaustion suddenly weighed heavy on his limbs. The strength of those statements about the gods echoed in his mind, but he found himself too drained to pursue that particular revelation. "Take me to bed? I'm just so tired."

"I'm sorry," Hua Cheng murmured against his hair, "I didn't mean to overwhelm you." In one fluid motion, he stood with Wei Wuxian cradled in his arms, water cascading from their forms. Spiritual energy swirled around them like a warm breeze, caressing Wei Wuxian's skin as it dried every drop of moisture. The sensation drew a soft sound of appreciation from his throat.

Without setting Wei Wuxian down, Hua Cheng carried him to the massive bed, settling them both beneath silk sheets. He arranged Wei Wuxian carefully against his chest, one hand coming up to card gently through dark hair as the candles extinguished themselves around them. Wei Wuxian's arms wrapped tightly around Hua Cheng's waist, seeking anchor amid their last conversation.

"Thank you," Hua Cheng whispered into the darkness, pressing a tender kiss to Wei Wuxian's crown, "for today. For the festival, for letting me hold you like this... for everything." The words carried a weight of emotion that made Wei Wuxian's heart ache.

Sleep pulled at Wei Wuxian's consciousness with increasing urgency, but his mind refused to quiet. The weight of everything he'd learned tonight waged war with his exhaustion, each new piece of information demanding to be examined from every angle. He lay there for what felt like hours, listening to Hua Cheng's steady breathing as the ghost king drifted into peaceful slumber beneath him. Finally, unable to find rest despite his body's protests, Wei Wuxian slowly extracted himself from Hua Cheng's loosening embrace.

Wei Wuxian stood carefully from the bed, his fingers finding Hua Cheng's crimson outer robe where it had been discarded earlier. The silk whispered against his skin as he wrapped it around himself, the fabric still carrying traces of sandalwood that seemed to follow Hua Cheng everywhere.

He turned back to study Hua Cheng's sleeping form, moonlight painting his features in shades of silver and shadow. Like this, with his usual sharp edges softened by sleep, he looked almost vulnerable. Dark lashes resting against pale cheeks, lips slightly parted, hair spread across the pillow. Something tender and terrifying bloomed in Wei Wuxian's chest as he watched the gentle rise and fall of Hua Cheng's chest. He was falling for this beautiful, dangerous man with a speed that should have frightened him more than it did.

The urge to lean down and press his lips against Hua Cheng's was nearly overwhelming, but Wei Wuxian resisted, not wanting to disturb what seemed like peaceful rest. Instead, he slipped silently from the room, his bare feet carrying him through the manor's winding corridors.

It felt different at night, shadows deeper, silence more profound. Moonlight spilled through latticed windows, creating patterns on the polished floors. Each turn revealed new details he hadn't noticed during daylight hours. Carved demons that appeared to dance in peripheral vision, tapestries that rippled without wind.

When he finally reached the tucked away garden with its lotus pond, the sight stole his breath just as it had that first day. The flowers gleamed like pearls under the moon's touch, their petals holding something ethereal in their perfect curves. The familiar sight sent an unexpected wave of nostalgia through him.

Settling at the pond's edge, Wei Wuxian let his fingers trail through the cool water. "Ah, shijie," he whispered to the night air, his voice catching slightly. "What would you make of all this? Gods and heavenly realms..." A sad smile curved his lips as he imagined her reaction, her gentle acceptance, her quiet wisdom. She would have taken it all in stride, probably already preparing soup to share with whatever divine beings might cross their path.

Wei Wuxian drew his knees up to his chest, wrapping Hua Cheng's robe more tightly around himself. "I met someone, shijie," he whispered to the lotus blooms, a soft smile touching his lips. "Someone incredible. You would have liked him, I think. He's so powerful, but there's this gentleness to him..." He traced his fingers through the surface of the water as he spoke. "The way he looks at me sometimes, it makes me feel like—"

Sudden agony exploded across the back of his neck, cutting off his words with a strangled gasp. White hot pain seared around his throat as if molten metal was being poured onto his skin. Through the haze of torment, he could feel patterns being carved into his flesh. A collar of burning symbols that wrapped around his neck like a noose.

Rage surged through him as he staggered to his feet, resentful energy immediately answering his call. The dark power had barely begun to gather before another wave of blinding pain ripped through his entire being, feeling like his very bones were being shattered and reformed. His knees hit the ground hard as his vision began to swim, the carefully tended garden blurring into smears of moonlight and shadow.

Strong fingers suddenly tangled in his hair, yanking his head back with brutal force. Through dimming vision, Wei Wuxian found himself staring up at a face he'd watched burn in Nightless City. A face that had haunted countless nightmares during the Sunshot Campaign. Wen Ruohan's lips twisted into an ugly sneer as he looked down at his captured prey.

"The great Yiling Laozu," Wen Ruohan's voice dripped with cruel satisfaction. "You're finally mine."

The world tilted sideways as consciousness fled, and Wei Wuxian's last coherent thought was of crimson robes and a singular dark eye before everything faded to black.

Chapter Text

Blown silver eyes catching lantern light while nails leave a blazing trail down his back. Wei Wuxian's cries echoing through his mind like wind chimes in a storm. The intoxicating feeling of sweat slicked skin pliant beneath his hands, the taste of that sweet tongue spearing into his mouth, desperate sounds muffled as he sucks it deeper.

The weight of both their cocks thrusting over his palm, feeling that visceral darkness dominate his every sense as it penetrates the very power that makes up Hua Cheng's existence. Overwhelmed in the most chaotic storm that is Wei Wuxian, he sinks his teeth into skin and feel every drop of pleasure being pulled out of his soul.

Make me yours.

Hua Cheng woke with muffled awareness, feeling too hot beneath the blanket as he drifted through memories like a man drunk on paradise. Each fragment washing over him in waves of sensation and something that felt dangerously close to completion.

His hand reached out unconsciously, seeking the warmth that should have been there. The emptiness that met his fingers sent ice through his veins. His eye snapped open, the euphoric haze shattering like glass as the realization crashed over him. The bed beside him was cold, the sheets holding no trace of Wei Wuxian's presence.

Something dark and primal stirred in his chest as he sat up, his gaze sweeping the moonlit chamber. The easy contentment of moments before evaporated like morning mist, replaced by an instinctive dread that made his skin prickle with warning.

Hua Cheng forced his breathing to steady, tamping down the panic that clawed at his chest. Wei Wuxian had just learned that his entire understanding of cultivation stemmed from a cast down god, anyone would need time to process such a revelation. He was probably wandering the manor's halls, mind racing with questions that couldn't wait until morning.

His eye caught on the empty space where his outer robe should have been, and something warm flickered through the darkness gathering in his chest. The mental image of Wei Wuxian padding through his manor wrapped in nothing but his crimson silk drew a soft smile to his lips. All that flawless skin framed by Hua Cheng's colors.

Rising from the bed, Hua Cheng let his robes materialize around him. Rippling layers of crimson flowed down his form like blood in water until he walked out the door fully dressed.

Yet even as he tried to maintain that gentle warmth, something cold and sharp twisted beneath his ribs. Eight hundred years of existence had taught him to trust his instincts, and right now, every fibre of his being screamed that something was terribly wrong.

The halls of Paradise Manor stretched before him, moonlight painting shadows that seemed deeper than usual, more threatening. Hua Cheng reached out with his senses, searching for that familiar dance of resentful energy that had become as natural to him as breathing. Wei Wuxian's power always called to his own, their darkness intertwining like lovers. But now there was nothing. The absence felt wrong, like missing a heartbeat.

His pace quickened as he moved through the corridors, each empty room driving the knife of dread deeper into his chest. The silence pressed against him like a physical weight. No soft humming, no playful footsteps, no musical laughter echoing off the walls.

Panic finally shattered his fragile calm. Hua Cheng's spiritual energy erupted from him in a violent surge, transforming into thousands of wraith butterflies that burst through every window and door. They poured into Ghost City like a flood of moonlight, their wings carrying traces of his increasingly desperate energy. Each one bore a simple command—find him, find him, find him.

As his creations scattered to search every shadow and corner of his domain, Hua Cheng stood motionless in the empty hall. The last time he'd felt fear like this, he'd been watching his god fall from heaven's grace.

Nearly eight hundred years later, the sensation was no less devastating.

He Xuan poured the wine with violence trembling through his frame, dark liquid sloshing against the cup as his grip threatened to shatter the jug. The burn of his previous glass still lingered on his tongue, a poor distraction from the memory of Shi Qingxuan's perfume. Sweet osmanthus clung to his robes like a particularly persistent ghost.

His jaw clenched as he drained the cup in one harsh swallow, remembering how she had pressed against his arm throughout the day, her delighted laughter making his chest tight with something that felt disgustingly close to warmth. Even now, hours later, he could still feel the phantom weight of her body against his side, still hear the musical cadence of her voice as she called him "Ming-xiong" with such genuine affection.

Rage and self-loathing churned in his stomach like poison. Today she had been especially bold. Fingers lingering on his wrist, head resting against his shoulder as she pointed out shapes in passing clouds, soft curves pressing against him with each excited movement. The fucked up part wasn't her casual touches or her bright smiles. No, it was how his traitorous body responded to her presence, how his heart would stutter when she looked at him with those trusting eyes.

He Xuan hurled his empty cup against the wall, watching it scatter into pieces. What kind of sick fuck was he, to desire the very person he was planning to destroy? To find himself tracking the graceful line of her neck, wondering how it would feel beneath his hands when he finally revealed the truth?

The shadows in his chamber deepened as he lost himself in the thought, black water beginning to seep from the walls. Centuries of careful planning, of cultivating the perfect revenge, and now he found himself wavering at the sound of her laughter. Pathetic. Weak. He grabbed a new cup and poured more wine with trembling fingers, determined to drown these unwanted feelings in alcohol and darkness.

The weight of Hua Cheng's approaching presence reached He Xuan before the door opened. Raw fury surged through him at the intrusion. His rage at everything, at Shi Qingxuan's delicate touches, at his own pathetic responses, at whatever bullshit Hua Cheng had come to spew, rose like bile in his throat, threatening to drown him.

He Xuan remained seated, a sneer twisting his features into something cruel as Hua Cheng's form materialized through the door. The fucking audacity of him to walk in here after the other day. The wall still bore testament to their confrontation, spider web cracks spreading like frozen lightning across ancient stone.

Despite Hua Cheng's attempt at his usual mask of indifferent asshole, He Xuan caught the subtle tells of distress—the slight downturn of his mouth, the tension in his shoulders, the way his fingers curled into white knuckled fists at his sides. Something had the mighty Crimson Rain rattled enough to seek him out, even after their last encounter.

"I'm in no mood to deal with your shit tonight," He Xuan drawled, voice dripping with cold disdain. The wine in his cup trembled at the prospect of venting some of his anger, dark ripples spreading across its surface.

Hua Cheng stood motionless, his singular eye studying He Xuan with what seemed like hesitation. The silence stretched between them like a blade against a throat, neither willing to yield first. Shadows deepened around them as He Xuan's tolerance frayed.

Feeling his already tested patience about to snap, He Xuan drained his cup in one motion before slamming it against the table hard enough to crack the wood. "If you're just going to stand there like a fucking statue, then get out. I have better things to do than watch you brood."

"Is he here?" Hua Cheng's voice emerged barely above a whisper, carrying none of its usual sharp edges. The unexpected vulnerability in those words caught He Xuan off guard, his building anger faltering for a heartbeat as he tried to process this version of Crimson Rain standing before him.

Understanding dawned slowly, followed by a wave of vicious pleasure that made He Xuan's lips curve into a cruel smile. A soft laugh escaped his throat. "You had him in your domain for two day," he purred, savoring each word like fine wine, "and he couldn't get away from you fast enough."

He watched with savage satisfaction as Hua Cheng's composure cracked, that soulless eye flashing with familiar fury. Yet the expected explosion never came, instead, Hua Cheng's hands simply curled into tighter fists at his sides, his jaw clenching hard enough to crack teeth.

"Was it your possessiveness that finally sent him running?" He Xuan's voice dripped with malicious delight, each word chosen to cut deep. "Or perhaps he grew tired of your obsessive need to control everything around you." His eyes gleamed with satisfaction in the darkness. "Though I suppose suffocating beneath your constant brooding might have done it. You do have a way of dragging everyone down into your darkness, don't you?"

Rage rolled off Hua Cheng in waves, making the black water coating the walls writhe like living shadows. His features twisted into a sneer engineered to intimidate, but He Xuan only leaned back in his seat, savouring Hua Cheng’s every reaction.

"Or did you finally tell him about your precious Dianxia?" He Xuan's voice carried enough venom to kill, the title dripping with undisguised disgust. The words had barely left his lips before his back slammed into the far wall, Hua Cheng's fingers crushing into his throat.

He Xuan's mind reeled at the speed of the attack, wondering distantly if the wine had dulled his reflexes more than he realized. Hua Cheng's grip tightened further, his features blazed with murderous intent.

"He couldn't have left on his own," Hua Cheng snarled, his voice emerging rough. "He hasn't mastered portals yet." His fingers dug deeper into He Xuan's flesh, each word carrying the weight of rising panic beneath the anger. "You're the only one who could have taken him from Ghost City. Where is he?"

Power surged through He Xuan as his domain answered his call. He broke free of Hua Cheng's grip and delivered a hard punch that split the bastards's lip, sending droplets of blood scattering like crimson stars.

Hua Cheng merely stepped back from the impact, his head turned sideways from the force. With deliberate slowness, he brought his thumb to his lip, wiping away the blood as he turned back to face He Xuan. Beneath the fury pulsing off Hua Cheng's frame, He Xuan caught something raw and wounded that made him pause.

Understanding crashed over him. "You haven't told him," He Xuan breathed, disbelief clear in his voice as he slowly shook his head. The anger drained from him suddenly, leaving behind an exhaustion that seemed to seep into his very bones. "What's your fucking plan, Hua Cheng? Are you really so blind that you can't see he's falling in love with you?"

Pain flickered across Hua Cheng's features, transforming his face into something almost mortal in its vulnerability. The silence stretched between them, heavy with eight hundred years of devotion and fresh wounds neither of them knew how to address. When Hua Cheng finally spoke, his voice emerged rough and quiet, stripped of all its pride "Please. Help me find him."

Silence reigned as He Xuan processed the wildly unwelcome, unexpected events of the day. "Damnit," He Xuan sighed as he moved past Hua Cheng. The wine jug clinked softly against his cup as he poured, deciding he'd sure as fuck earned another drink after this shit show. "Why the hell do you even need my help? You've spent centuries combing the mortal realm for your precious god. This should be familiar territory by now."

When he turned back around, Hua Cheng's face had already smoothed into that infuriating mask of indifference, all traces of vulnerability locked away. Fucking asshole. The shift only served to emphasize how raw he'd been moments before, making something uncomfortably close to concern stir in He Xuan's chest.

"He's not from our realm," Hua Cheng said, his voice carrying that carefully measured neutrality that almost made He Xuan wants to punch him again. "He's from Baoshan Sanren's territory, across the eastern sea." The name hit He Xuan like a physical blow, those distant lands that lay beyond the endless waters of his domain, untouched by heaven's influence.

"That's impossible," He Xuan's cup froze halfway to his lips. "No one from those godless territories manifests here after death. Their cultivation has no dependency on heavenly divinity. Their souls lack the essence needed to exist in our realms." He studied Hua Cheng's face for any sign of deception. "How the fuck did he end up in Ghost City?"

Something shifted in Hua Cheng's expression as he answered, "His mother was Baoshan Sanren's direct disciple." The words hung heavy in the air between them. "I assume we've never encountered her other disciples here because they either lacked the power to manifest, or simply weren't traumatized enough to resist the natural cycle of reincarnation."

He Xuan felt his grip tighten on his cup as understanding sank in. Wei Wuxian truly was connected to the god who had abandoned heaven for the sake of mortals.

"I've never been to her territory," Hua Cheng admitted, the words clearly costing him. "I can't create a portal there without having a connection to the place first." He paused, watching He Xuan with barely concealed desperation. "But your domain borders their lands. You know their sects, their territories. Take me there."

He Xuan swirled the wine in his cup, letting the silence stretch as he considered the request. "So you don't think I stole your defenceless A-Ying and locked him away anymore?" The words emerged sharp with mockery, though lacking their earlier venom.

"You probably wouldn't be able to subdue him anyway," Hua Cheng replied, clear dismissal making something uneasy stir in He Xuan's chest. He studied Hua Cheng with newfound wariness, wondering just how much of Wei Wuxian's power he had failed to notice during their training sessions.

"He's still just a fierce ghost," He Xuan scoffed, draining his cup even as doubt crept through his mind. Something about Hua Cheng's quiet confidence set off warning bells that he couldn't quite ignore. "Did he mention any specific places? It's a vast territory to search blindly."

"He grew up in Lotus Pier," Hua Cheng's expression darkened slightly. "Though he said it was attacked during some war. I don't know what state it's in now."

"If he's from Lotus Pier, I understand how he's dead," He Xuan frowned, watching Hua Cheng's reaction carefully. "Yunmeng Jiang was nearly decimated by the Qishan Wen. The destruction was..." He trailed off as Hua Cheng's face transformed into something cold, a heaviness gathering around him like a storm about to break.

Refusing to let Hua Cheng's despondence infect the air any further, He Xuan drew his nail across his palm with sharp precision. "Just conceal yourself when we arrive," he muttered as he began crafting the array against the door. "These cultivators aren't used to dealing with calamities. The last thing we need is you sending them into mass hysteria."

As they stepped through the portal, He Xuan watched Hua Cheng's reaction from the corner of his eye. The ghost stood utterly still, taking in the endless expanse of lotuses that stretched toward the horizon. The flowers gleamed like pearls under moonlight, their subtle fragrance carrying on the night breeze. Pain flickered across Hua Cheng's features as he absorbed every detail of Wei Wuxian's former home.

Turning away from Hua Cheng, He Xuan surveyed the reconstruction efforts. The Jiang sect had made considerable progress. New training grounds emerged from the ashes, dormitories stood partially completed, and the main hall's foundation had been laid with obvious care. The night air carried the scent of fresh wood and wet paint, along with the gentle chorus of wind chimes hanging from newly raised eaves. Even at this late hour, lanterns still burned in some of the completed buildings, casting warm light across the lotus filled waters.

"How the fuck do you plan to find one ghost in this entire—" He Xuan's words died in his throat as it hit him. A wave of resentful energy so pure and devastating it nearly drove him to his knees. The force of it felt like drowning in hatred itself, making the black water in his veins recoil in recognition of something far darker than itself.

He turned toward Yiling with stunned disbelief, watching as a pillar of absolute darkness erupted from the distant mountains, expanding upward until it pierced the night sky like a wound in heaven's flesh. The display made his own power feel like a gentle tide compared to this tsunami of resentment. Ethereal patterns of vivid darkness radiated from its source, painting the clouds above in shades of despair he hadn't witnessed in centuries of existence.

Through his shock, he almost missed Hua Cheng's whispered words, soft and carrying a mixture of fierce pride and desperate concern that made something in He Xuan's chest constrict:

"We found him."

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian's consciousness returned slowly, like wading through thick mud. The first thing he registered was the familiar scratch of rough stone against his back. His eyes opened to darkness broken only by weak moonlight filtering through the entrance, painting the cave's jagged walls in shades of grey that felt achingly familiar.

For one disorienting moment, he wondered if everything—Ghost City, the festival lights, heated touches and desperate pleas—had been nothing more than a fever dream born of isolation. But the searing pain radiating from his neck stood in stark contrast to such gentle memories, each agonizing pulse reminding him that something was terribly wrong.

His fingers lifted to probe the source of the pain, only to freeze as movement caught his eye. There, leaning against the cave's entrance with a casualty that seemed obscene in this place of suffering, stood Wen Ruohan. The sight made Wei Wuxian's lungs cease their breathing. The former sect leader appeared almost as he had in life, proud and terrible in his sun crested robes. Yet something was wrong with the image, like a painting left out in the rain. Parts of his form seemed to blur at the edges, becoming transparent where moonlight touched him. When Wei Wuxian tried to focus on his face, his eyes refused to settle properly, as if the very air around Wen Ruohan rejected reality itself.

"The prodigal son returns to his kingdom," Wen Ruohan's voice emerged exactly as Wei Wuxian remembered, rich with cruelty and absolute authority. The sound made old rage stir in his chest, even as his mind struggled to process how this was possible. He had watched this man die in Nightless City. Yet here he stood, somehow both more and less than the monster who had torn the cultivation world apart.

Wei Wuxian ignored the taunt, pushing himself to stand upright, back straight with false confidence. His unbound hair spilled over his shoulders in waves, stark against the crimson silk that hung loosely from his frame. The robe gaped slightly at his chest, but he made no move to adjust it, refusing to show even that small sign of discomfort before the man who had caused so much suffering. Instead, he met Wen Ruohan's gaze with open contempt, letting his hatred burn cold and clear in his silver eyes.

His analytical mind worked behind that mask of disdain, cataloging the subtle wrongness in Wen Ruohan's appearance. The way darkness seemed to pool in the hollow of his throat, how moonlight passed straight through his fingers where they rested against the cave wall. This wasn't the work of a sentient corpse. Wei Wuxian had raised enough of those to recognize the difference. No, what stood before him was something far more rare: a fierce spirit that had maintained both consciousness and will beyond death.

"Death has been kind to you, Wei Wuxian," Wen Ruohan's voice dripped with bitter ice as his gaze raked over Wei Wuxian's form. "You no longer look like the rabid dog that got put down, all skin stretched over bone, mad with desperation." The words seemed to crystalize in the air between them, sharp with malice and something that might have been envy.

Wei Wuxian kept the deep stab of pain from the words off his face, though shame curled in his stomach at the truth in them. By the end, starvation and desperation had hollowed him out, turned him into something barely recognizable as human. The memory alone threatened to make his throat constrict, but he refused to let it show. Instead, he allowed a cold sneer to twist his features, one that would have made his younger self flinch to witness.

"On the contrary," he drawled, voice dripping with disdain, "you look like absolute shit." As the words left his lips, he reached instinctively for the resentful energy that saturated the Burial Mounds. Energy that had once bent so easily to his will. The moment he tried to grasp that familiar darkness, white hot agony intensified around his throat. The pain radiated outward like molten lava poured against his skin, constricting his airways until black spots danced at the edges of his vision.

His composure faltered as his legs gave out, sending him stumbling back onto the stone bed. Fingers clawed harshly at his throat as understanding dawned on him.

Wei Wuxian looked up at Wen Ruohan with accusation burning in his eyes, each word emerging strained through his constricted throat. "You fucker. How did you get this shackle?"

An unsettling smile spread across Wen Ruohan's face. "You recognize it already? I suppose you would." His transparent fingers traced patterns in the air that mimicked the seal burning against Wei Wuxian's flesh. "It was almost disappointingly easy to have your cave raided after the siege. While the cultivation world celebrated the fall of the great Yiling Laozu, no one thought to check what treasures you might have left behind."

"The irony is exquisite, isn't it?" Wen Ruohan's voice carried a silken venom that made the air itself feel toxic. "The architect of your own demise. Designing a shackle meant to contain yourself if the resentful energy ever proved too much to control." He pushed away from the cave wall, his form rippling like smoke in water as he moved closer. "I do wonder who you intended to place it on you. Perhaps that disgusting corpse of yours, Wen Ning?" The name dripped with mockery. "Or maybe Wen Qing, my ever disloyal niece? Though I suppose..." His smile turned razor sharp. "Little A-Yuan's hands would have been far too small to manage such a task."

At the mention of Wen Yuan, something inside Wei Wuxian snapped. He lunged forward with blind rage, only for his legs to give out completely. His knees hit the cave floor hard as he doubled over, fingers digging into stone until his nails threatened to split apart. Unbidden tears gathered at the corners of his eyes, a mixture of pain and fury that he refused to let fall.

"Before dawn breaks," Wei Wuxian whispered, head bowed and eyes closed as darkness seemed to gather around his hunched form, "you'll be cowering at my feet." The words emerged soft as a lover's caress, yet carried enough malice to make the air itself feel heavy. He felt himself reaching into the void of hatred roiling beneath his skin, threatening to consume him.

Silence answered his promise, and Wei Wuxian seized the opportunity to evaluate the chaos wreaking havoc in his body. The shackle's purpose was known, punishment for any attempt to wield resentful energy, designed to incapacitate by overwhelming the body with pain. But he also knew how to work around his own creation. If he could completely shut himself off from that power, the pain would cease. The thought alone felt like a betrayal.

With careful precision, Wei Wuxian began building walls inside himself. He shut down his connection to the considerable well of resentment that had become a source of comfort, using what pitiful remains of spiritual energy he possessed to create a barrier between himself and the Burial Mounds' dark power. The sensation left him feeling hollowed out, like someone had scraped away everything that made him who he was, but the relief was immediate. The burning around his throat subsided, allowing him to draw full breaths for the first time since waking.

He rose to his feet with faked detachment, face smoothed into an expressionless mask as he adjusted his crimson robe. His fingers lingered on the silk for a moment, thoughts drifting to its owner before he forced himself to focus. When he finally faced Wen Ruohan, he found the fierce spirit had straightened to his full height, wariness replacing his earlier casual cruelty.

"Impressive," Wen Ruohan breathed, studying Wei Wuxian with newfound vigilance in his gaze.

"It helps when your enemy has no talent of their own and attacks you with your own weapon," Wei Wuxian said, voice dripping with condescension. He watched as Wen Ruohan's eyes narrowed, a familiar sneer twisting his features.

"What the fuck do you want from me?" Wei Wuxian demanded, his patience wearing thin beneath the growing violation of seeing Wen Ruohan in this space, his sanctuary turned prison.

Wen Ruohan drifted toward the makeshift desk where Wei Wuxian had spent countless nights scribbling his theories and designs, each step making bile rise in Wei Wuxian's throat. This monster's presence felt like a stain spreading across every memory this cave held.

"After your... dramatic departure," Wen Ruohan began, clearly savoring each word, "I sent what few Wen cultivators escaped your bloody crusade to search for ways to summon your soul back from death." His transparent fingers traced the desk's rough surface with obvious disdain. "I watched those Lan sect dogs wear their fingers raw on their precious guqins, playing inquiry until dawn. But your soul remained beyond their reach."

"Sending Wen Chang to Ghost City was more than a mere shot in the dark," he continued, satisfaction coloring his voice. "Learning you had manifested as a ghost there... well, that opened interesting possibilities. Once we knew where to look, discovering your mother's connection to Baoshan Sanren was trivially easy." An arrogant smile curved his lips. "Unlike the Lan sect's obsession with secrecy, Qishan Wen has always understood that knowledge is power. Our sect leaders were taught truths the others have long forgotten."

Wei Wuxian kept his expression carefully blank as Wen Ruohan spoke, noting how the asshole seemed to revel in the sound of his own voice. As the moments stretched on, he became increasingly aware of the shackle's grip loosening, its power fluctuating like a candle in wind.

Dark excitement flooded through him as understanding dawned: the seal had been crafted incorrectly, its foundations fundamentally flawed. Yet questions nagged at the edges of his mind. The shackle would have required extensive knowledge of resentful energy to create, knowledge that should have died with him in the siege. Who would have dared attempt such dangerous cultivation in his absence? He forced the elation from his features as Wen Ruohan continued to drawl, each word bringing Wei Wuxian closer to freedom.

"Though I must admit," Wen Ruohan's voice dripped with disgust, "finding both means and opportunity to trap you proved more challenging than anticipated. Your decision to whore yourself out to not one, but two ghost kings certainly complicated matters."

The words struck deeper than Wei Wuxian wanted to acknowledge. Something must have flickered across his face, because Wen Ruohan's smile turned condescending, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes as he deliberately slid his eyes down to Wei Wuxian's neck.

"Of course, manifesting as a fierce ghost meant retrieving your ashes from your corpse was essential," Wen Ruohan continued. "Though I arrived too late. I assume you've already collected them yourself." The words were tossed out carelessly, but Wei Wuxian's mind caught on them like thorns. Confusion bloomed in his chest even as he maintained his mask of indifference, filing away this peculiar detail for later examination.

Thoughtfully Wen Ruohan continued, "Once I found the means to create the shackle, everything else fell into place rather... neatly."

"After all that mindless drawl, you still haven't gotten to the point," Wei Wuxian cut in, his voice heavy with exaggerated boredom. "Aren't sect leaders supposed to be more concise?" His lips curved into a cruel smile. "Though I suppose you did lead the largest, strongest cultivation sect in decades to their complete ruin, so who am I to judge?"

Anger flickered across Wen Ruohan's features as his form seemed to solidify further. "You will help me take my revenge on the sects that led the Sunshot Campaign," he asserted darkly, the words carrying all the weight of an imperial decree.

Wei Wuxian stared at him for a moment in pure disbelief before a surprised laugh escaped his throat. "Why the fuck would I help you do that?"

Silence stretched between them before Wen Ruohan spoke again, his voice dropping to something almost gentle. "I watched little Jin Ling sleep in his cradle last night. So small. So defenseless."

Understanding hit Wei Wuxian. The walls he'd erected to keep the resentful energy at bay began to crack, hairline fractures spreading through his control as fury threatened his sanity. A familiar throb started around his throat, but he barely registered the pain.

"You're either a goddamned fool," Wei Wuxian snarled, his voice betraying the dark hunger roiling inside him, "or you're begging to be decimated."

Amusement danced across Wen Ruohan's features, his form rippling like smoke in the moonlight. "Oh? Will you ask your lecherous ghost king to decimate my soul as he did Wen Chang's?" His smile turned vicious. "Tell me, Yiling Laozu, do you really think you'll ever see your ghost king again?"

Cold dread filled Wei Wuxian's lungs like ice water, stealing his breath as Hua Cheng's words echoed through his mind with remarkable clarity: "My first thought was that you somehow went back to the mortal realm. If that happened, the chances of finding you again are so damn slim." The memory invoked sudden nausea, making his knees weak with fear.

Fuck. Fuck.

He had no way to return to Ghost City. No way to create the portals He Xuan had tried teaching him. No connection to that realm except through his own fractured existence. The thought of never seeing Hua Cheng again made something vital inside him crack, spreading pain through his chest that had nothing to do with the shackle around his throat.

How was he supposed to get back home?

The word 'home' reverberated through his mind with cruel irony. When had Paradise Manor become more of a home than this cave ever was? When had the thought of never feeling Hua Cheng's arms around him again become more terrifying than any torture Wen Ruohan could devise?

Wei Wuxian barely registered Wen Ruohan's approach, the fierce spirit's lips moving in what might have been threats or promises. The words refused to penetrate the spiral of panic flooding his system. His world had narrowed to a single devastating truth: he will never see Hua Cheng again.

The shackle's sudden fracture resonated through Wei Wuxian's entire being, pulling him sharply from the depths of his despair. Wen Ruohan's approach faltered as Wei Wuxian's lips curved into a cruel sneer. With savage delight, he tore down the walls containing his power, beckoning the dormant resentment that saturated every stone of the Burial Mounds. His irises bled to crimson as he opened himself completely, becoming a vessel for the hatred and pain that had stained this cursed earth.

The resentful energy answered his call like a starving beast freed from chains. It surged through him, filling the hollow spaces the shackle had created, until darkness writhed around him like living shadow. He directed that power toward Wen Ruohan, only for it to pass through the fierce spirit's incorporeal form like smoke through fingers.

Wen Ruohan's laughter echoed off the cave walls as he dissolved completely, his voice seeming to come from everywhere at once. "You can't touch what isn't there." The words had barely faded before Wen Ruohan reformed behind Wei Wuxian, his hand suddenly solid as he grabbed for Wei Wuxian's throat.

Wei Wuxian twisted away, noting how Wen Ruohan's form solidified only where his own resentful energy gathered. Understanding bloomed even as he dodged another strike, the fierce spirit could only attack by gathering whatever energy remained into a singular space. Each manifestation lasted mere seconds before he dissolved again, using incorporeality as both weapon and shield.

The cave erupted into chaos as they clashed, Wei Wuxian's overwhelming power against Wen Ruohan's tactical advantage. Resentful energy carved furrows into ancient stone as Wen Ruohan phased through each attack, materializing just long enough to land brutal hits before becoming untouchable again.

Wei Wuxian's back slammed against the cave wall as Wen Ruohan manifested directly in front of him, transparent fingers becoming solid around his throat. Instead of struggling, Wei Wuxian grinned with feral satisfaction. He let his power explode outward in a wave, using Wen Ruohan's moment of surety against him. The force threw them both through the cave entrance, sending them tumbling into the ruins of what had once been the Wen’s homes.

They landed hard among broken stone and withered grass, the impact driving breath from Wei Wuxian's lungs. Above them, the moon cast sickly light over the devastation of the Burial Mounds, collapsed buildings and scattered remnants of the lives that had briefly flourished here. Wei Wuxian rolled to his feet, crimson silk rippling around him as he faced Wen Ruohan with eyes that promised violence.

Wei Wuxian's body flew through the air as Wen Ruohan's next attack connected, slamming him into a half crumbled wall with enough force to shatter wood. Blood filled his mouth as something inside him broke, the pain sharp and immediate. He barely managed to roll away as Wen Ruohan materialized above him, the fierce spirit's fist crushing the ground where Wei Wuxian's head had been moments before.

His movements grew sluggish as wounds accumulated across his body, refusing to heal with their newly heightened efficiency. The massive amount of resentful energy flowing through him seemed to war with each other and prevent any recovery, leaving him increasingly vulnerable. He knew he was fighting stupidly, letting panic override years of carefully honed battle instincts. But the fear of never seeing Hua Cheng again kept intruding, making his attacks wild and desperate.

Wen Ruohan suddenly manifested a blade that caught Wei Wuxian across his chest, opening a deep gash that immediately began seeping blood. The pain barely registered through the hollowing ache in his chest. Unbidden tears gathered in his eyes, born of pure rage and bone deep terror as he realized he might die here, truly die this time, without feeling those lips on his again.

Even Wen Ruohan showed signs of wear, his form flickering erratically where Wei Wuxian's attacks had connected during his brief moments of solidity. But it wasn't enough. It wasn't fast enough. Every second spent here was another second lost, another moment that might separate him permanently from the only place he'd felt truly safe in god knows how long.

Something inside Wei Wuxian finally snapped. His head thrown back, he screamed to the countless spirits that haunted these cursed grounds: "RISE! This is the monster who drove you to ruin! This is the beast who sacrificed you for power!" His voice carried all the authority of the Yiling Laozu as he commanded, "SHOW HIM YOUR HATRED!"

The response was immediate and devastating. Resentful energy erupted from every corner of the Burial Mounds, coalescing into a pillar of pure darkness that pierced the night sky like a spear into the heavens he now knew existed. Wei Wuxian stood at its center, suspended in air as thousands of vengeful spirits answered his call. His eyes blazed crimson as euphoria overtook him, raw power flooding through his system until he felt he might shatter from its intensity. The shackle around his throat crumbled to dust as darkness consumed everything, and Wei Wuxian surrendered himself completely to its embrace.

The portal's edges had barely stabilized when Hua Cheng felt it, a wave of resentful energy so potent it made even his ancient bones ache. The sheer density of malice seeped into his very being, threatening to drive him to his knees. In all his centuries, he had never encountered darkness this absolute, this hungry. It coated his tongue like ash and filled his lungs with the kind of despair that drove mortals to madness.

Terror clawed at his chest as his eye swept across the devastated landscape, searching desperately for any sign of Wei Wuxian among the writhing shadows. The area stretched before him like an open wound in the earth. But none of that mattered, nothing mattered except finding Wei Wuxian before—

Iron fingers suddenly clamped around his arm as he made to surge forward. He whirled back, ready to tear through whoever dared delay him, only to freeze at the expression on He Xuan's face. His eyes were wide with something beyond fear. Something that bordered on religious terror as his gaze remained locked on a point in the distance. His lips formed words that seemed to get lost in the howling maelstrom around them: "Yiling Laozu."

Hua Cheng's head snapped around so fast it would have broken a mortal's neck. There, suspended at the heart of the towering pillar of pure darkness, was Wei Wuxian. The sight drove all breath from Hua Cheng's lungs. Countless vengeful spirits swirled around Wei Wuxian's form like a twisted corona, their combined hatred so dense it distorted the very air. But it was Wei Wuxian's expression that made Hua Cheng's heart stutter. Eyes blazing crimson, face transformed into something both terrible and beautiful as he channeled more power than any single vessel should be able to contain.

He tried to wrench his arm free from He Xuan's grip, but the resistance drew his attention back to his fellow Supreme. What he saw made him pause. He Xuan had doubled over, his free hand clutching at his robes as if trying to hold himself together. Resentful energy was pouring off him in waves, responding to the overwhelming power saturating the air. While Hua Cheng felt the pressure of the spiritual maelstrom, he remained largely unaffected. He Xuan, however, looked moments away from shattering.

"Go back through the fucking portal," Hua Cheng snarled, but He Xuan seemed beyond hearing. His eyes had gone glassy and unfocused, his grip on Hua Cheng's arm finally going slack as he collapsed to his knees. Black nails elongated into claws that dug into the cursed earth, yet he made no sound even as his body trembled with obvious pain.

Cursing violently in a language long dead, Hua Cheng seized He Xuan by his robes. With strength enhanced by desperation, he physically hurled the other Supreme back through the portal they'd emerged from. The last glimpse he caught of He Xuan's face showed an expression of such profound relief that it might have been comical in any other situation. With a sharp gesture, Hua Cheng sealed the portal closed, cutting off He Xuan's only path back to this realm of nightmares.

A sound cut through the cacophony of vengeful spirits, laughter that held an unnatural resonance, as if amplified by the thousands of souls now flowing through Wei Wuxian's form. The sound made the very air vibrate with malevolent glee, and Hua Cheng felt his instincts surge, warning of a predator possibly on par with himself.

"Hiding like a coward, Wen Ruohan?" Wei Wuxian's voice carried an otherworldly echo, powered by the mass of resentful energy he commanded. Only then did Hua Cheng notice the spectral figure taking shelter behind the remains of what might have once been a home, its form flickering between corporeal and ethereal like a candle in wind.

Wei Wuxian descended from the pillar of darkness, his feet barely seeming to touch the ground. The crimson silk of his robe, Hua Cheng's robe, rippled around him like blood in water, a stark contrast to the writhing shadows that continued to pour from his form. "What happened to all those grand threats?" he taunted, voice rich with cruel amusement despite the overwhelming power coursing through him. "Weren't you going to force me help you destroy the sects?"

With a gesture that seemed to tear at reality itself, Wei Wuxian began forging something from pure resentful energy. It coalesced between his fingers like liquid darkness before solidifying into a sword that radiated such concentrated malice that Hua Cheng found himself taking an involuntary step backward. In all his centuries, he had never encountered a weapon that exuded such absolute hatred. It felt like staring into an abyss that wanted nothing more than to consume everything in its path.

Hua Cheng's presence went completely unnoticed as Wei Wuxian began a languid approach toward the spirit he now knew was Wen Ruohan. The cultivator's appearance told its own story. Proud robes that spoke of past glory, but a form that wavered between solid and transparent like smoke caught in sunlight. A fierce spirit then, but one that was clearly outmatched by the force of nature Wei Wuxian had become.

The sword dragged through the cursed earth as Wei Wuxian walked, leaving a trail of withered ground in its wake. "Did you not just threaten to slaughter my baby nephew?" His voice dropped lower. A vicious snarl twisted Wei Wuxian's features as he drew closer, "Did I not say you will cower at my feet?!"

Hua Cheng remained rooted in place, caught between the instinct to intervene and the tactical awareness that any interruption now could prove catastrophic. He watched as Wen Ruohan's features hardened, taking a resolute stand before Wei Wuxian. The pillar of darkness still reaching toward the sky seemed to be physically pulling at him, threatening to tear his soul apart at the seams.

Wen Ruohan backed away from Wei Wuxian's approach, his voice taking on an edge of desperation beneath its authoritative tone. "Why protect them? The sects that used you as their weapon in the Sunshot Campaign while spitting on your very existence?" Pain flickered across his features as another wave of resentful energy pulled at his form.

"They called you a disgrace even as you destroyed my armies for them," he spat, watching Wei Wuxian's steady advance. "Your own shidi, he accepted your power when it served him, then demanded you abandon it once he couldn't stand the embarrassment. Ordered you to carry a sword again, to return to their idea of a righteous path." Wei Wuxian's grip tightened on his manifested blade, but he didn't slow.

"And Lan Wangji—" Wen Ruohan's words made Wei Wuxian falter for the first time. "Your beloved Hanguang-jun wanted to drag you to Gusu to cleanse you of your sin. To extract the corruption from your rotten soul." The sword in Wei Wuxian's hand trembled as he took an involuntary step backward, color draining from his face.

Hua Cheng's eye narrowed at Wei Wuxian's reaction, his fingers itching to materialize E'Ming.

"They used you, belittled you, then laid siege to this mountain with joy in their hearts," Wen Ruohan pressed his advantage, even as his form flickered more violently. "They burned Wen Qing alive for daring to care about you. Why not destroy them? Why not take the revenge you deserve, now that you have the power?"

Long moments passed as Wei Wuxian stood motionless. Hua Cheng's face twisted into a vicious sneer as he watched a victorious smirk spread across Wen Ruohan's bloodied features, the fierce spirit clearly believing he'd won Wei Wuxian over. In that moment, Hua Cheng wanted nothing more than to tear the spirit's head from his shoulders for daring to put Wei Wuxian through this torment.

Suddenly, the cacophony of vengeful voices fell silent. The massive pillar of resentful energy began receding, flowing back into the cracks of the cursed earth as if their collective thirst for violence had been snuffed. Hua Cheng marveled in quiet shock at the absolute control Wei Wuxian commanded over these spirits, admitting that he was worried about the inevitable task of subduing them afterward.

The sword remained steady in Wei Wuxian's grip, but when he finally spoke, his voice was terrifyingly singular and devoid of life. "And whose fault is it that I had to resort to demonic cultivation?"

Wei Wuxian lifted his head, fixing Wen Ruohan with eyes that held all the warmth of a frozen grave. His slow approach resumed as he continued, "Wasn't it your own son who thrust a sword through my chest, throwing me from a cliff into the mounds to die?" Hua Cheng watched as the smirk died on Wen Ruohan's face, replaced by dawning dread as he realized his miscalculation.

"I survived three months down here without a golden core," Wei Wuxian's voice remained eerily calm, "getting ripped apart by these very spirits. Getting teeth sunk into my flesh as they dragged skin from my splintered bones, only to have it ineptly mended with resentment, over... and over... and over..."

As Wen Ruohan began backing away, each of Wei Wuxian's words felt like a knife being twisted in Hua Cheng's chest. The horror of what Wei Wuxian had endured—alone, powerless, being repeatedly torn apart and reformed—made even his broken soul recoil.

Hua Cheng's fingers curled into fists at his sides, every fiber of his being screaming to intervene, to destroy the spirit who had dared steal Wei Wuxian from his care.

"Did you know that resentment can't heal a mortal body?" Wei Wuxian's voice hardened with simmering anger. "I found that out soon enough. Gluing together organs and flesh does not stop the pain. It doesn't heal your mind when you can't differentiate between your own will and the external resentment you're dependent on to stay in one piece." His next words emerged as a snarl. "Don't you fucking dare say that you're not to blame for my pain!"

"Your son died without a cock, choking on his own flesh like the worthless piece of shit he was. I am tempted to show you exactly how I ripped off every single finger and fed it to my corpses." The words ruthlessly tore from Wei Wuxian's throat. Hua Cheng's eye widened, a thrill of dark appreciation running through him at Wei Wuxian's capacity for cruelty. "Gods know I will fucking do it just because you took me away from him!"

Wen Ruohan fell to his knees as Wei Wuxian reached him, pure horror etched across his features at the brutality committed. Hua Cheng's jaw clenched, understanding exactly who Wei Wuxian meant by 'him.'

"You have no idea what you did!" Wei Wuxian screamed, tears streaming down his face as he raised the sword. "You have no idea what you took from me!" In one fluid motion, he drove the blade through Wen Ruohan's throat. The sword's power forced the spirit's form into existence, making the wound devastatingly real.

Still gripping the sword's handle, Wei Wuxian crumpled to his knees. His shoulders shook with violent sobs as he visibly allowed his grief and rage to overflow.

Feeling as if his own heart had been torn bloody, Hua Cheng immediately went to Wei Wuxian's side, gathering the shaking form into his arms. Wei Wuxian startled at the sudden contact, instinctively trying to wrench himself free before recognition dawned. He froze, staring at Hua Cheng with wide, disbelieving eyes as if afraid he might be another cruel illusion.

Slowly, Wei Wuxian's expression crumpled into one of pure despair. He buried his face against Hua Cheng's chest, his entire body wracked with renewed sobs. His fingers twisted into Hua Cheng's robes with desperate strength, clutching the fabric as if terrified it might dissolve beneath his touch. The sight of such raw anguish carved a hollow pit in Hua Cheng's stomach.

Drawing Wei Wuxian impossibly closer, Hua Cheng pressed his lips near his ear, whispering soft reassurances. He watched over Wei Wuxian's shoulder as Wen Ruohan's corporeal form began to disintegrate, the resentful sword still piercing his throat turning to ash along with him. The remains seeped into the ruined earth of the Burial Mounds, as if the cursed ground itself was eager to claim one final victim.

As tears soaked his robes, Hua Cheng pressed a gentle kiss to Wei Wuxian's crown, closing his eye briefly to savor the feeling of having him safe in his arms once more. The moment of peace shattered as distant shouts reached his ears. His eye snapped open to see cultivators in purple robes speeding toward them on their swords, their overlapping shouts carrying one phrase with crystal clarity: "Yiling Laozu."

Wei Wuxian went completely still in his arms, and the violent trembling that followed made Hua Cheng's heart constrict painfully. Without hesitation, he gathered Wei Wuxian securely against his chest and rose to his feet, keeping Wei Wuxian's face protected against his robes. The panicked whispers of "I can't do this again, I can't, I can't" falling from Wei Wuxian's lips ignited something primal and devastating in Hua Cheng's chest.

As he faced these mortals who dared threaten what was so precious to him, fury bloomed in Hua Cheng's heart like a poisonous flower. Wei Wuxian burrowed deeper into his embrace, triggering an overwhelming surge of protective wrath. In that moment, Hua Cheng made a silent vow to ensure every single one of them would regret ever speaking the words 'Yiling Laozu' with such contempt.

His hands moved with practiced efficiency to create a portal while simultaneously manifesting thousands of wraith butterflies. The ethereal creatures swirled around them in a hurricane of deadly beauty, creating an impenetrable barrier between them and the approaching cultivators. As the portal began to stabilize, a voice cut through the chaos. Wei Wuxian's name shouted with such visceral hatred that it made Wei Wuxian frantically whisper against Hua Cheng's chest, "Please, just take me home."

"We're going home," Hua Cheng echoed with fierce promise, stepping through the portal and sealing it shut behind them with finality.

Chapter Text

Hua Cheng stepped through the portal with Wei Wuxian clutched tightly against his chest, the swirling darkness dissipating as they emerged into the familiar confines of his bedchamber. The transition from the desolate Burial Mounds to the quiet opulence of his private sanctuary was jarring. Moonlight filtering through latticed windows to paint silver paths across dark wood, incense hanging motionless in the air as if the room itself held its breath at their arrival.

For several heartbeats, Hua Cheng remained utterly still, his eye closed as he simply breathed Wei Wuxian in. The weight in his arms felt simultaneously too light and impossibly heavy. Every shallow breath against his neck, every tremor that ran through Wei Wuxian's frame, served as a reminder of how close he had come to losing him entirely.

Eight hundred years of existence had taught Hua Cheng that miracles were rare, fragile things. Holding Wei Wuxian now, after watching him be a conduit of such a destructive wave of resentment without having his soul shattered, felt like cradling something infinitely precious and terrifyingly breakable.

Wei Wuxian made no move to extricate himself from Hua Cheng's embrace. His fingers remained twisted in his robes with white knuckled desperation, as if afraid that relaxing his grip even slightly might cause Hua Cheng to dissolve like mist.

The silence between them carried an almost physical weight, broken only by the occasional hitch in Wei Wuxian's breathing.

Hua Cheng felt something warm and wet seeping through his robes, tears soaking into the fabric where Wei Wuxian had buried his face. But there was something else too, something darker and more viscous spreading across the front of his robes. With growing dread, Hua Cheng realized it was blood. Wei Wuxian's blood.

"A-Ying," he murmured, the name emerging as something between a prayer and a plea as he pressed his lips against Wei Wuxian's hair. "You're alright. I promise you're safe."

The irony of those words wasn't lost on him. He was promising safety to a soul who had just commanded enough resentment to challenge even his ancient power. Yet the promise felt right on his tongue, a vow he would tear apart heaven and earth to uphold.

With reluctance, Hua Cheng moved toward the bed, kneeling before Wei Wuxian as he set him down on the edge. "Let me look at you" he said softly.

Wei Wuxian's grip tightened momentarily, a silent protest against being separated even by this small distance. "I can smell blood on you, please" Hua Cheng begged softly. With obvious effort, he finally loosened his fingers from Hua Cheng's robes, allowing himself to be settled into a seated position. His hands immediately found purchase on the sheets, fingers digging into the soft fabric as if needing something, anything, to anchor himself.

Hua Cheng's heart constricted painfully as he finally beheld Wei Wuxian's face in the gentle moonlight. Gone was the vibrant spirit whose laughter had filled his manor just hours ago. In his place sat someone who looked hollowed out, carved away by suffering until only the barest essence remained. Dark circles shadowed eyes that refused to meet his gaze, their silver depths now dulled with exhaustion. Blood from a cut above his eyebrow had dried in a rusty trail down his cheek, mingling with tear tracks that glistened in the low light.

What struck Hua Cheng most wasn't the visible injuries, though they were numerous and concerning. It was the utter stillness that had overtaken Wei Wuxian. This quiet felt wrong on him, like silence in a room that should be filled with music.

Hua Cheng reached forward with careful movements, his fingers hovered near Wei Wuxian's face before gently tilting his chin upward, silently asking permission to examine him more thoroughly. When Wei Wuxian offered no resistance, Hua Cheng began his assessment of those beautiful features, his gaze cataloguing each injury with growing fury that he kept carefully hidden beneath a mask of calm.

He moved on to Wei Wuxian's hands, gently uncurling fingers that had locked into rigid claws against the sheets. The sight that greeted him made something dark and violent stir in his chest. Fingernails torn and bloody, several broken down to the quick. Dirt and stone fragments were embedded beneath what remained.

Without a word, Hua Cheng cradled those damaged hands in his own, allowing soothing spiritual energy to flow between them. The soft crimson glow illuminated Wei Wuxian's face in gentle waves as flesh knit itself back together, nails regenerating with painstaking slowness.

"Your knees," Hua Cheng murmured, his gaze dropping to where silk had been torn to reveal abraded skin beneath. He gently pushed the fabric aside, revealing raw, scraped flesh dotted with embedded grit and dried blood. With a clenched jaw, Hua Cheng carefully sent another wave of energy over the wounds, stone fragments rising to the surface before dissolving into nothingness as skin smoothed over in their wake.

Each injury speared at the caged beast inside him.

His attention shifted to Wei Wuxian's neck, where angry red welts formed intricate patterns across soft skin. Fingers trembling, trying his best to keep a calm front as he traced the outlines of what could only be bruising left from a spiritual shackle.

"I will slaughter every single Wen still walking this earth," Hua Cheng whispered, his voice emerging dangerously soft as his thumb caressed the damaged skin. Crimson light suffused the area, erasing the cruel markings with gentle persistence. Wei Wuxian's eyes finally lifted to meet his, a haunted look flickering in their silver depths as he touched his now healed throat.

"It's that way of thinking that finally led to my death," Wei Wuxian whispered, his voice raw from screaming. "You're a good man, don't let hatred blind you into doing something horrible."

Hua Cheng recoiled slightly from the reproach, feeling shame in the pit of his stomach at his careless words, along with frustration at not knowing enough of Wei Wuxian's life.

Breaking contact with those gentle eyes, he focused on the increasingly concerning state of the robes that still draped Wei Wuxian's frame. The silk, once pristine, now hung in blood soaked tatters across his torso. With slight hesitation, Hua Cheng eased the fabric away from Wei Wuxian's chest, revealing a horrifying tapestry of abuse beneath.

A deep slash ran diagonally across Wei Wuxian's chest, the edges jagged and angry where a blade had cut through flesh with brutal force. Blood continued to seep from the wound, refusing to clot properly, which only spoke to Wei Wuxian's current state. Surrounding it, a constellation of bruises bloomed.

Hua Cheng's breath ceased as his eye traced the unmistakable pattern of knuckles against Wei Wuxian's rib cage, the impact point surrounded by a particularly vicious bruise. Beneath the discoloured skin, he could sense the wrongness of fractured bone, a rib that had snapped under the force of the blow. The discovery sent a fresh wave of violent anger coursing through him, his spiritual energy momentarily flaring wild around them before he wrestled it back under control.

"Breathe deeply for me," he instructed, his voice straining. When Wei Wuxian complied with a shaky inhale that clearly caused him pain, Hua Cheng placed his palm directly over the broken rib. The healing this time was slower, more complex, bone fragments carefully realigned before being fused back together with meticulous precision. Wei Wuxian's eyes closed as the constant ache suddenly released, allowing him to draw his first full breath since their reunion.

With gentle insistence, Hua Cheng urged Wei Wuxian to turn slightly, revealing his back where the shredded remains of the robe clung to skin. As he peeled the fabric away, a large impact bruise was revealed. Evidence of being thrown against something hard.

Each new discovery stoked the beast inside him even further, its claws drawn to retaliate against all the wrongs that's been done to one so precious to him. His healing touch remained gentle even as his eye darkened to something fathomless and terrifying. The spiritual energy flowed to the deep cut in Wei Wuxian's chest, knitting flesh and muscle back together.

With the last of Wei Wuxian's physical wounds healed under Hua Cheng's careful ministrations, Wei Wuxian reached forward with tremored hands. His palms came to rest against Hua Cheng's cheeks, warmth seeping through him at the contact. The touch held a softness that made Hua Cheng go perfectly still, eye closing, barely breathing as Wei Wuxian's fingers traced the edges of his eye patch before settling with gentle pressure on either side of his face.

"Look at me," Wei Wuxian whispered, his voice breaking on the simple request. When Hua Cheng's singular eye met his gaze, the raw emotion reflected there made something inside Wei Wuxian finally crumble. Tears welled rapidly, transforming those silver eyes into pools of moonlight on water. One tear escaped to chart a solitary path down his cheek as his voice fractured into something barely audible. "I thought I'd never see you again."

Those words carried such suffering. The admission hung in the air between them, devastatingly honest in its simplicity. Wei Wuxian's fingers trembled against Hua Cheng's skin as more tears followed the first, his composure finally shattering completely.

Without hesitation, Hua Cheng wrapped his arms around Wei Wuxian's waist, drawing him forward until his face was pressed securely against Hua Cheng's chest. The embrace was fierce as one hand came up to cradle the back of Wei Wuxian's head.

"That will never happen," Hua Cheng declared, the words emerging as both promise and decree. His fingers threaded through Wei Wuxian's hair as he held him closer, lips pressed against the crown of his head as he continued with quiet ferocity, "I will always find you. No matter where you are, no matter what realm tries to separate us, I will tear apart every obstacle between us. Nothing could keep me from you."

The solemn certainty in those words finally broke the last of Wei Wuxian's resistance. His body shook with the force of his sobs as he clutched desperately at Hua Cheng's robes, releasing the terror and grief that must have built within him since waking in that cursed place. Each ragged breath seemed to expel more of the darkness that had taken root in his soul, purging it through tears that soaked through robes.

Hua Cheng held him through the storm, one hand making slow, soothing circles against his back while the other remained tangled in his hair. His eye closed as he pressed his lips to Wei Wuxian's head once more, the kiss carrying a tenderness that spoke volumes about what Wei Wuxian had come to mean to him.

After some time, Wei Wuxian's sobs gradually quieted into exhausted tremors. With careful movements that disturbed Wei Wuxian as little as possible, Hua Cheng shifted his hold to gather him into his arms once more. One arm supported Wei Wuxian's back while the other curved beneath his knees, lifting him effortlessly against his chest. Wei Wuxian offered no protest, his head finding its natural place against Hua Cheng's shoulder as his fingers remained weakly twisted in fabric.

Cradling his precious A-Ying close, Hua Cheng rose to his full height. His steps soft as he carried Wei Wuxian away from the bed. The weight in his arms felt right, felt necessary, as if some vital piece of himself had been returned to its proper place.

Hua Cheng carried Wei Wuxian through the silent corridors of Paradise Manor, his footsteps a rhythmic sound against the polished wood. They emerged into a secluded garden courtyard, one clearly designed for privacy rather than display. Ancient trees with twisted trunks stood like silent guardians around a naturally formed hot spring, their branches creating a living canopy that sheltered the space from prying eyes. Steam rose from the water's surface in gentle curls, catching moonlight and transforming it into ethereal mist that danced above the spring.

Hua Cheng moved toward a low stone bench partially enclosed by trailing wisteria, its purple blooms offering additional seclusion. He set Wei Wuxian down carefully, watching closely for any sign of discomfort or pain he might have missed. Wei Wuxian's eyes remained half lidded, and Hua Cheng noted every detail of his exhaustion. The slight droop in his shoulders, the laboured movements, the way his gaze drifted unfocused around the peaceful enclosure.

"This will help," Hua Cheng murmured, breaking the long silence that had accompanied their journey. He kept his voice deliberately soft and low, knowing that even the slightest jarring sound might fracture the fragile calm he'd managed to establish. "The water carries natural healing properties beyond what I can provide."

Wei Wuxian managed a slight nod, and Hua Cheng felt a flicker of relief at the trust implicit in that simple gesture. With devout movements, he began to remove what little remained of Wei Wuxian's ruined clothing. When Wei Wuxian sat bare beneath the moonlight, Hua Cheng shed his own robes efficiently. The lingering vulnerability in those silver eyes gnawed at him as he gathered Wei Wuxian into his arms once more.

Hua Cheng watched Wei Wuxian's face closely as the first touch of spring water touched his skin, savouring the soft gasp that escaped those lips. He descended into the water slowly as he sought the stone ledge he'd used over centuries. He settled his back against the rock with Wei Wuxian cradled against him, positioning himself so that the water reached just below his collarbones.

With hands that had torn apart countless enemies, Hua Cheng now arranged Wei Wuxian between his legs with infinite tenderness, drawing him back until he rested securely against his chest. The press of Wei Wuxian's body against his own ignited a profound need to protect what had become more precious to him than he'd thought possible. When Wei Wuxian's head fell naturally against his shoulder, Hua Cheng felt something cold within himself shift and warm.

"Close your eyes," Hua Cheng whispered, his lips brushing the delicate shell of Wei Wuxian's ear as one arm secured him firmly. His other hand reached for containers he'd personally crafted and filled with essences gathered from the rarest reaches of all three realms. When Wei Wuxian complied without hesitation, Hua Cheng poured warm water over his hair. His hand forming a protective barrier to ensure not a single drop would disturb Wei Wuxian's closed eyes.

Working with methodical care, Hua Cheng applied an aromatic mixture to Wei Wuxian's hair, his fingers moved in gentle circles against his scalp. When a low sound of appreciation escaped those parted lips, Hua Cheng's satisfaction flared like a physical thing. He could feel the tension in Wei Wuxian dissolving beneath his ministrations.

The ritual continued in a silence Hua Cheng was unwilling to break, the only sounds that mattered to him were Wei Wuxian's occasional soft expressions of comfort. He rinsed the dark hair with the same devoted attention, one hand shielding Wei Wuxian's face with instinctive care. When finished, he moved to washing Wei Wuxian's body to removed the last traces of blood and dirt, erasing every reminder of the pain Wei Wuxian had endured during their separation.

Hua Cheng felt a particular darkness rise within him as he cleansed Wei Wuxian's hands, his eye narrowing at the imagined images of those perfect fingers clawing desperately at stone. He washed each one individually, as if performing a ritual of atonement for allowing such damage to occur. Each careful stroke of a cloth was a silent promise that such suffering would never touch Wei Wuxian again while he existed.

Throughout it all, Wei Wuxian remained languid in his embrace, occasionally turning his head to nuzzle against Hua Cheng's neck in wordless gratitude that sent shivers of pleasure down his spine. Hua Cheng's eye traced every line of Wei Wuxian's body, noting how the haunted quality was gradually receding from his expression. Each small improvement felt like a personal victory, hard won and infinitely precious.

Steam continued to rise around them, creating a boundary that separated this moment from the rest of existence. In this perfect stillness, Hua Cheng allowed himself to acknowledge what he'd been avoiding: that the prospect of losing Wei Wuxian had shaken him to his very foundations.

As Wei Wuxian's breathing deepened toward something approaching sleep, Hua Cheng yielded to the impulse that had been building within him. He pressed his lips against Wei Wuxian's temple in a touch so light it might have been imagined, knowing that he's forever changed.

Hua Cheng sat motionless beside the bed, his focus never straying from Wei Wuxian's sleeping form. The hours had dissolved into one another like ink in water, night yielding reluctantly to the promise of dawn beyond the latticed windows. He had carried Wei Wuxian from the spring with dutiful care, drying each inch of skin with gentle thoroughness before tucking him beneath silk sheets. That had been nearly a day ago. Wei Wuxian had slept through the remainder of yesterday, the entirety of the night, and now pale fingers of morning light were beginning to creep across the chamber floor once more.

The ghost king's robes whispered softly as he shifted, moving closer to study Wei Wuxian's face for what must have been the thousandth time. Sleep had smoothed away the haunted shadows that had lined those features, though shadows still gathered beneath his eyes like bruises. His lashes cast delicate crescents against his cheeks, lips slightly parted with each slow breath. Even in this state of absolute vulnerability, Wei Wuxian possessed a magnetic beauty that was difficult to look away from.

Concern threaded through his body as he noted how deeply unconscious Wei Wuxian remained. It had been more than twenty four hours since they'd returned. Far longer than any normal rest should require. Yet Hua Cheng understood the toll that channelling the Burial Mounds' resentment must have taken. The raw power Wei Wuxian had commanded would have shattered lesser souls into irreparable fragments. That he had managed to control it at all, without his physical form collapsing beneath the strain, spoke to a strength that both impressed and terrified Hua Cheng.

His fingers hovered above Wei Wuxian's hair, longing to brush back the stray strands that fell across his forehead. He allowed himself this small indulgence, the touch feather light as he tucked dark silk behind Wei Wuxian's ear. After witnessing that devastating display of power, after seeing the ragged wounds that had been carved into flesh he considered precious, Hua Cheng found himself unable to look away for even a moment. As if Wei Wuxian might vanish again should his attention waver.

Sleep had not claimed Hua Cheng even once since their return. The white knuckled fear that had gripped him upon discovering Wei Wuxian missing continued to echo through his frame, leaving him restless and watchful.

A frown creased his brow as his mind circled back through the fragments of information he had gathered. Each piece of Wei Wuxian's past felt like a shard of broken jade, beautiful in isolation but dangerously incomplete. The revelations at the Burial Mounds had painted a picture more horrific than Hua Cheng had imagined. Wei Wuxian had survived months in that hellscape without a golden core. A thought that still made Hua Cheng's blood run cold.

Hua Cheng's hand curled into a fist at his side, his expression darkening as he thought of the cultivator whose voice had pursued them through the portal. The name "Wei Wuxian" had been shouted with such visceral loathing that it had sent the trembling form in his arms into a state of terror Hua Cheng never wanted to witness again. "I can't do this again", those whispers would continue to haunt him.

Then there was fucking Wen Ruohan. His taunts about the cultivation world's treatment of Wei Wuxian, the realization that Wei Wuxian had been discarded after serving his purpose stirred his stagnant lust for vengeance.

Then, Lan Wangji. The one name that had visibly shaken Wei Wuxian when mentioned. The cultivator Wei Wuxian had spoken of with such nostalgic fondness, whose righteousness he had praised with a soft smile that ignited a dark, ugly jealousy in Hua Cheng's chest.

A soft knock at the door drew Hua Cheng from his spiraling thought. The sound was barely audible, yet in the profound silence of the chamber, it might as well have been a thunderclap. Hua Cheng's eye narrowed as he turned toward the interruption, momentarily tempted to ignore it completely. Only one person would dare disturb him now, and only for matters of absolute necessity.

"Come in," he commanded, his voice pitched low enough not to disturb Wei Wuxian's slumber. The door opened slowly, revealing Yin Yu's masked face. The servant remained carefully behind the threshold, not daring to step fully into the room. His body folded into a deep bow, head inclined respectfully as he kept his voice barely above a whisper. "My apologies for the disturbance, Chengzhu. Black Water requests an audience with you. He insists it cannot wait."

Irritation flashed across Hua Cheng's features, his jaw tightening at the unwelcome intrusion. Yet even through his annoyance, he recognized the debt he owed He Xuan. Without his knowledge of Baoshan Sanren's territory, without the portal he had created, Hua Cheng might still be searching frantically for Wei Wuxian. Or worse, might have arrived too late to prevent irreparable harm.

"Bring him here," Hua Cheng replied after a momentary pause, his gaze flickering toward Wei Wuxian's sleeping form. The cadence of his tone made Yin Yu bow even lower before backing away, the door closing softly behind him.

Once alone again, Hua Cheng moved to Wei Wuxian's side slowly. He bent down, one hand gently cradling Wei Wuxian's cheek while he pressed his lips to the other in a touch so sincere it might have been a prayer. His thumb traced the delicate skin beneath Wei Wuxian's eye, memorizing the perfect curve as he lingered for several heartbeats. Only when he was certain that Wei Wuxian remained deeply asleep did he finally pull away, reluctance evident in every line of his body.

With measured steps, Hua Cheng crossed to the far side of the chamber where an ornate table stood beneath latticed windows. The positioning was deliberate. It would place Wei Wuxian behind an elaborate privacy screen, keeping him from immediate view while allowing Hua Cheng to maintain a clear line of sight to the bed from any angle. He had no intention of letting Wei Wuxian out of his sight for any extended period of time, regardless of who entered his chambers.

His hand found a jade wine vessel without looking, the familiar weight settling against his palm as he poured rich amber liquid into a delicate cup. The wine went down in a single swallow, burning a path that did little to warm the cold calculation settling into his veins. He was already refilling his cup when the soft pad of approaching footsteps reached his ears. He Xuan moved with uncharacteristic quietness, a fact that immediately heightened Hua Cheng's wariness.

Anticipating his unwelcome guest, Hua Cheng pulled a second cup from a drawer, filling both vessels with generous portions. The door opened without preamble, He Xuan's lean figure slipping into the chamber like a shadow before closing it behind him with meticulous care.

He Xuan remained motionless just inside the doorway, his gaze drifting toward the privacy screen with unsettling intensity. The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken questions as He Xuan's eyes narrowed slightly, focusing on something only he could perceive. When he finally spoke, his voice emerged barely above a whisper. "Is he alright?"

Hua Cheng studied He Xuan consideringly, noting the tension in his typically bored posture. The question itself was unexpected. He Xuan rarely expressed concern for anyone. After a moment's contemplation, Hua Cheng released a sigh and extended the cup of wine toward his fellow Supreme. "Under the circumstances, yes."

He Xuan accepted the offering wordlessly, his fingertips avoiding contact with Hua Cheng's as he took the vessel. He drained half its contents in a single swallow before setting it down on the nearby table without care. Then, as if unable to contain the energy building within him, he began to pace. Five steps toward the window, pivot, five steps back, each movement a visible release of tension.

Hua Cheng's eye narrowed dangerously as he watched the repetitive motion, irritation sparking through him like static before a storm. His fingers tightened imperceptibly around his own cup, the urge to slam He Xuan against the far wall growing with each passing second. Only the knowledge that such violence would disturb Wei Wuxian's rest kept him leashed.

"The fucking Yiling Laozu," He Xuan finally hissed, his voice carrying equal parts astonishment and accusation. "You've had the Yiling Laozu in your bed this entire time, and you didn't think to mention it?" His pacing accelerated slightly, the controlled movements taking on a sharper edge. "Do you have any idea who he is? What he did?"

Hua Cheng's expression remained deliberately impassive, though his eye tracked He Xuan's every movement with predatory focus. "I know exactly who he is," he replied, voice deceptively calm. "And you'll do well to remember what he means to me as you continue your rant," The subtle emphasis carried a warning that He Xuan either missed or chose to ignore.

"You think you know?" He Xuan's bitter laugh held no humour as he paused mid stride to face Hua Cheng directly. "He created and commanded a whole fucking army of the dead against the Qishan Wen. He alone slaughtered thousands during the Sunshot Campaign. His power was so feared that the combined might of every major cultivation sect had to band together to bring him down." He resumed his pacing with renewed vigor. "And that display at the Burial Mounds... that wasn't just some fierce ghost throwing a tantrum. That was the fucking Yiling Laozu unleashing the full extent of his powers."

The agitation radiating from He Xuan manifested physically as the wine in Hua Cheng's cup began to ripple, tiny waves forming against the cup's rim without any visible cause. "Do you realize what kind of power it takes to draw that much resentful energy through a single vessel? It brought me to my knees, and I'm a goddamned Supreme. The mortals in that realm speak his name like a curse, a bloodied myth they use to frighten children into obedience."

A dangerous stillness overtook Hua Cheng as He Xuan's words sank in, his eye darkening to something fathomless. The temperature in the room plummeted several degrees as his spiritual energy responded to the rage building inside him. A cold, calculated fury far more lethal than any heated outburst.

"So the great cultivation sects," Hua Cheng said, his voice dropping to a register that made even He Xuan go still, "were too weak to win their own war, so they used Wei Wuxian to slaughter their enemies for them, endured his methods when it served their purposes—" His fingers tightened around his cup until it threatened to shatter. "Then they ostracized and murdered him once he was no longer useful to them." Each word emerged like a blade of ice, precise and cutting.

The venom in his words hung in the air between them. The manic energy that had driven He Xuan's movements drained away, leaving him suddenly motionless before the window. His reflection showed a face transformed by subdued realization. He turned toward Hua Cheng with a deep frown, reassessing everything through this new lens.

"Fuck," He Xuan said quietly, sighing as he reached for his abandoned wine cup. The liquid stilled as he lifted it, the ripples subsiding under his renewed control. He drank deeply, his expression growing more distant with each passing moment. "So they created their monster, then killed him when they no longer needed him to wage war." A bitter laugh escaped him, hollow with disgust.

Hua Cheng exhaled slowly, attempting to contain the flux of anger that suddenly overtook him. He refilled his wine cup with calming movements, the liquid catching the early morning light as it cascaded in. When he finally spoke, his voice carried the weight of profound exhaustion.

"I know very little of the tragedies that shaped his life," Hua Cheng admitted, swirling the wine absently. "I know there was an attack on Lotus Pier by the Wens. He also spoke of being stabbed through the chest and thrown into the Burial Mounds without a golden core. He survived there for three months." The admission of his limited knowledge tasted bitter on his tongue, a reminder of how much remained hidden from him despite the relationship growing between them.

He Xuan's head snapped toward the privacy screen, his normally impassive features betraying genuine shock. "Without a golden core?" he repeated, voice sharper than intended as his gaze fixed on the place where Wei Wuxian lay hidden from view. "How did he survive three months drenched in that resentment without a core to protect him? The spiritual backlash alone should have destroyed him."

Hua Cheng's jaw tightened as he contemplated how much to reveal. The memories of Wei Wuxian's anguished confession at the Burial Mounds felt sacred somehow, private suffering that wasn't his to share. Yet the need to understand, to gather every possible fragment of information that might help protect Wei Wuxian in the future, overrode his hesitation.

"He spoke of being torn apart," Hua Cheng said finally, each word felt like a blade in his throat. "Of vengeful spirits ripping him to pieces, over and over, while resentful energy crudely mended his flesh. He simply... endured." His eye darkened at the magnitude of suffering such a process would entail. "He survived, mastered that power until it became an extension of himself, all without the protection of a golden core."

He Xuan was silent for several moments, his expression thoughtful as he absorbed this information. His fingers tapped against his cup in an unconscious rhythm before he finally spoke. "There was a Wen cultivator," he said slowly, piecing together fragments of knowledge. "Wen Zhuliu. They called him the Core Melting Hand, personal bodyguard to Wen Ruohan's youngest son. He possessed the ability to destroy golden cores with a single touch."

"It's likely they encountered him during the siege of Lotus Pier. The timing would align with what you've described." He paused, weighing his next words carefully. "If Wen Ruohan's son was the one who cast him into the Burial Mounds afterward, it makes sense. The ultimate insult. Taking his core, then leaving him to die in a place saturated with resentful energy that would torment him until his last breath."

Hua Cheng's expression hardened as the pieces fell into place, making terrible sense. Cruelty pulled at his lips as he recalled Wei Wuxian's savage declaration at the Burial Mounds, how he had personally dismembered Wen Ruohan's son. The memory brought a visceral satisfaction that bordered on unholy pleasure.

"Wen Ruohan's piece of shit son got exactly what he deserved," Hua Cheng murmured, a sneer twisting his features further as he contemplated the festering rot that was the Wen bloodline. "As did Wen Ruohan's soul." He drained his cup in a single swallow before fixing He Xuan with a penetrating stare. "You have spies littering Baoshan Sanren's territory." This wasn't a question but a statement of fact, delivered with absolute certainty. "Tell me what happened to Wei Wuxian's family. I need to know if any still live."

He Xuan's eyes flickered with morbid curiosity at the implication of Wen Ruohan's son's fate, a question hovering unspoken in his gaze. Instead of pursuing it, he moved to the seat opposite Hua Cheng and settled himself. The wine cup dangled from his fingers as he gazed into its depths, organizing his thoughts before speaking.

"From my limited knowledge of the Yiling Loazu," He Xuan began, his voice taking on a detached, clinical quality, "Wei Wuxian was orphaned at a young age. His parents, Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze, were killed during a night hunt. Cangse Sanren was indeed Baoshan Sanren's disciple, perhaps her most talented one. They say she was unparalleled in both beauty and skill." He paused, taking another sip. "The father served Jiang Fengmian, sect leader of Yunmeng Jiang, before meeting Cangse Sanren."

He Xuan's fingers tapped against his cup in a restless rhythm. "After their deaths, Jiang Fengmian took Wei Wuxian in, raised him alongside his own children at Lotus Pier. During the Sunshot Campaign, Wen Ruohan's forces attacked Lotus Pier while Jiang Fengmian was away. His wife, Yu Ziyuan, and most of their disciples were slaughtered." His expression remained carefully neutral as he continued. "Both Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan died that night, while their son and Wei Wuxian escaped."

The wine in He Xuan's cup swirled languidly with his rotating actions. "The daughter, Jiang Yanli, survived as well. She later married the heir to Lanling Jin, Jin Zixuan. Their union produced a son, but..." He hesitated, a flicker of something almost like empathy crossing his features. "Jin Zixuan and Jiang Yanli was killed at two separate events, Jiang Yanli, reportedly, while shielding Wei Wuxian from an attack. The circumstances remain unclear, but her death created an irreparable rift between Wei Wuxian and the remaining Jiang heir."

He Xuan leaned back, his voice growing quieter. "Jiang Cheng, the brother, survived and currently leads what remains of the Yunmeng Jiang sect. He was among those who led the siege on the Burial Mounds. His hatred for Wei Wuxian runs deep, from what I understand." He finished his wine before setting the cup down carefully. "The nephew, Jin Ling, lives as well, being orphaned and raised jointly by his uncle and the Lanling Jin sect."

"That's the extent of what I know," He Xuan concluded with a slight shrug. "Whether all of it is accurate, I can't say with certainty. Information from that realm is often distorted by the biases of those who provide it."

Hua Cheng turned toward the window, allowing the soft morning light to bathe his face as he stared unseeingly at the garden beyond. The movement was calculated, positioning himself so that his expression remained hidden from He Xuan's perceptive gaze. Something inside him cracked and splintered as the full weight of Wei Wuxian's losses settled into his bones. A crushing sadness that threatened to manifest physically.

Orphaned, then losing his new family to violence. A sister who died shielding him. And the brother, who should have stood beside him, instead turning against him with enough hatred to lead a siege on his refuge. Hua Cheng's fists clenched as realization crystallized. The purple robed cultivator who had screamed Wei Wuxian's name with such venom could only have been Jiang Cheng.

The visceral hatred that surged through Hua Cheng at this understanding made his heart drum in his chest. This man who shared Wei Wuxian's childhood, who owed him a debt of familial loyalty, had instead joined the horde of traitors that destroyed him.

"Thank you," Hua Cheng finally said, his voice emerging hollowed and raw despite his efforts to keep it devoid of emotion. "For telling me this." The gratitude was genuine. Painful as this knowledge was, it filled crucial gaps in his understanding of the man who had claimed such an unexpected place in his existence.

Silence settled between them, broken only by the distant songs of birds in the garden beyond. He Xuan remained completely still, his earlier restlessness temporarily subdued. "What will you do now?"

Hua Cheng stood motionless for several more heartbeats, watching the blooming flowers outside. He turned from the window and faced He Xuan directly. "Where is Jun Wu right now?"

He Xuan's brow furrowed at the unexpected question, suspicion and curiosity warring in his expression. "No one has seen him in weeks," he answered slowly. "Even his closest officials don't know where he is." His eyes narrowed slightly. "Why?"

"Leave a portal to Ming Yi's palace open for me," Hua Cheng's voice suddenly exhausted. "That fucker would never have upheld his end of the agreement. Not completely." His lips pulled into a disgusted sneer. "He'll have embedded spies into every major sect, established channels for information to flow back to heaven. The palace of Ling Wen will have records of it somewhere." A sigh escaped his lips. "That place is such a fucking mess."

After a while He Xuan rose to his feet, his earlier agitation having settled into something colder. His robes whispered against the polished floor as he adjusted his sleeves. "I'll do this as a favour to you," he said, voice dropping to match the temperature of the depths he commanded. "But you better not fuck with my plans in heaven, Hua Cheng." The warning rang clear, a reminder that even their tenuous alliance had boundaries neither should cross.

Hua Cheng met He Xuan's gaze unflinchingly, his singular eye betraying neither concern nor intimidation at the implied threat. "I've kept out of your business with the Shi brothers," he replied evenly, "and I'll continue to do so." The statement was neither concession nor promise, merely acknowledgment of an arrangement that had served them both well enough through the centuries.

He Xuan held Hua Cheng's stare for several heartbeats before offering a curt nod. He turned toward the door, steps unhurried as he prepared to take his leave. Hua Cheng's attention had already begun to drift back toward the privacy screen, toward the sleeping form hidden from view, when He Xuan paused at the threshold.

"Hua Cheng," He Xuan said, his voice dropping to a register so low it seemed to emerge from the depths of the ocean floor. He didn't turn around, his back a rigid line of dark certainty. "You better tell him about Xie Lian." The name hung in the air between them like a blade suspended by a single thread. "If you don't, I'll make sure he finds out."

The temperature in the room plummeted instantly, frost crystallizing along the edges of the wine cups as Hua Cheng's fury manifested. The sheer audacity of the threat—the casual mention of that sacred name from such unworthy lips—sent waves of rage pulsing through his spiritual energy.

Yet Hua Cheng remained utterly still, not a single muscle betraying the violent storm raging within him. His eye fixed on He Xuan's back with such intensity it should have burned through flesh and bone. The silence that stretched between them carried more menace than any verbal response could have conveyed. A wordless promise that such a transgression would not be forgotten.

He Xuan offered no acknowledgment of the killing intent directed at his back. Without another word, without so much as a backward glance, he stepped through the doorway and disappeared into the corridor beyond. The door closed behind him with a soft, final click that echoed through the chamber.

Hua Cheng stood frozen in place. In the silence that followed, only the soft, rhythmic breathing of Wei Wuxian remained. A counterpoint to the disarray raging within.

For the first time in eight hundred years, the path forward was no longer clear.

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian surfaced from a dreamless void, his consciousness returning in slow, lapping waves like a tide against shore. His eyelids felt heavy, weighed down by the lingering traces of exhaustion that clung to him despite what must have been hours of deep sleep. The soft silk beneath his cheek whispered as he shifted, gradually becoming aware of his surroundings. The gentle afternoon light filtering through latticed windows, painting gold tinged shadows across the chamber floor.

His body ached with phantom pain, memories rather than actual wounds thanks to Hua Cheng's careful healing. Wei Wuxian blinked drowsily, his silver eyes adjusting to the soft golden glow that bathed the room in warmth. He wore only light silk pants, the fabric cool against his skin. A moment of confusion passed before the events at the Burial Mounds came rushing back with horrible clarity. The blinding fury, the overwhelming power, the burning fear when he recognized Jiang Cheng's voice cutting through the chaos.

Awareness of another presence pulled Wei Wuxian fully into the moment. Turning his head with careful movements, he found himself face to face with Hua Cheng, fast asleep beside him. His ghost king lay on his side, one arm curled beneath his head while the other rested in the space between them. The silk sheets pooled around his hips, leaving his chest bare in the golden afternoon light.

Wei Wuxian turned onto his side, mirroring Hua Cheng's position as he allowed himself the luxury of simply looking. His ghost king appeared almost vulnerable in sleep, his usual sharp edges softened by unconsciousness. His eye patch remained in place, but the perpetual tension that seemed to live in his shoulders had eased, allowing Wei Wuxian to see him in a way few others ever would.

Dark lashes cast delicate shadows against high cheekbones. Wei Wuxian's gaze traced the elegant line of Hua Cheng's jaw, the perfect curve of his lips, the cascade of midnight hair spilling across the pillow. Each breath lifted his chest in a steady rhythm that Wei Wuxian found himself unconsciously matching, their breathing falling into perfect synchronicity.

Looking at him now, peaceful and undisturbed, Wei Wuxian felt something tender bloom in his chest. This powerful being who commanded fear throughout the realms had come for him without hesitation. Had crossed into unknown territory to find him. Had faced the horrors of the Burial Mounds without flinching.

His fingers hovered uncertainly above Hua Cheng's skin, longing to touch but unwilling to disturb his rest. Instead, they came to rest on the silk sheets between them, close enough to feel the warmth radiating from Hua Cheng's body. Wei Wuxian's throat tightened with emotion as he recalled the moment Hua Cheng had appeared at the Burial Mounds. How the sight of him felt like salvation incarnate.

The thought of what might have been sent a tremor through Wei Wuxian's frame. Cold dread clutched at his heart as images of an alternate fate unfolded unbidden in his mind. Confronting Jiang Cheng alone, facing that familiar hatred without Hua Cheng's protection. The sheer terror that had gripped him at the sound of Jiang Cheng's voice resurfaced with gut wrenching clarity. Even after death, even after everything that had happened between them, that voice still held the power to shatter him.

If Hua Cheng hadn't come... if Wei Wuxian had been forced to face his brother alone. He could imagine all too clearly the rage in Jiang Cheng's eyes, the scathing words that would have poured from his lips like poison. Words that Wei Wuxian had no defense against, because despite everything, wasn't Jiang Cheng right to hate him? Hadn't he failed every promise he'd ever made to his family?

"You're awake," came Hua Cheng's whisper, soft and intimate in the quiet room, pulling Wei Wuxian from his spiraling thoughts.

Wei Wuxian's gaze snapped up to find that singular eye open and watching him, still heavy lidded with sleep. His ghost king looked softer, caught in this drowsy state between dreams and wakefulness.

A smile bloomed across Wei Wuxian's face, bright enough to chase away the lingering shadows of his dark thoughts. "I've missed you, gege," he whispered back happily, his voice carrying a lightness that surprised even himself.

The corner of Hua Cheng's mouth quirked upward, a subtle expression that transformed his entire face. In this golden afternoon light he looked almost boyish. A glimpse of who he might have been before centuries of existence had honed him into something lethal and untouchable.

Without warning, Hua Cheng's arm snaked around Wei Wuxian's waist, pulling him forward with effortless strength.

Wei Wuxian let out a surprised squeak that dissolved into delighted giggles as he found himself sprawled atop Hua Cheng's chest, their bodies aligned perfectly from chest to hip. The new position felt wonderfully intimate, Hua Cheng's warm skin beneath his palms as he steadied himself. Finally able to touch as he'd wanted to earlier, Wei Wuxian's hands splayed across Hua Cheng's chest, fingers tracing the definition of muscle beneath smooth skin.

"Better?" Hua Cheng asked, his voice a low rumble that Wei Wuxian could feel vibrating through his chest where they touched.

Wei Wuxian hummed in agreement, settling himself more comfortably atop his ghost king. He rested his chin on his crossed arms, looking down at Hua Cheng with open affection. "Much better," he confirmed, his silver eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled.

Hua Cheng's playfulness gradually melted away as his eye traced every contour of Wei Wuxian's face. His expression softened into something more contemplative, more serious. With gentle deliberation, he lifted a hand to caress Wei Wuxian's cheek, his thumb brushing across the high curve of his cheekbone with reverent care.

Without breaking their gaze, Hua Cheng's hands moved to Wei Wuxian's waist, strong fingers splayed against his sides as he slowly pulled him higher up his body. Wei Wuxian adjusted instinctively, his hands finding purchase on Hua Cheng's broad shoulders to steady himself. The movement brought them face to face, close enough that their breaths mingled in the space between them.

Hua Cheng's hands lifted to frame Wei Wuxian's face, his touch impossibly gentle as if holding something infinitely precious. His eye searched Wei Wuxian's gaze, seeking permission, reassurance, connection.

With excruciating slowness, Hua Cheng leaned forward, giving Wei Wuxian every opportunity to pull away should he wish to. The deliberate patience in his approach made Wei Wuxian's heart ache. In answer, he tilted his head slightly, his lips parting on an exhale as he met Hua Cheng halfway.

Their lips came together in a kiss that felt like coming home. Soft, tentative at first, a gentle press that spoke of relief and reunion more than passion. Wei Wuxian's eyes fluttered closed as he savored the warmth of Hua Cheng's mouth against his own.

One hand slipped from Hua Cheng's shoulder to tangle in the silken strands at his nape, fingers threading through hair that felt like midnight water between his fingertips. The small point of contact allowed Wei Wuxian to deepen the kiss with equal gentleness, his head tilting further to fit their mouths together more perfectly.

Hua Cheng responded with a quiet sigh that Wei Wuxian felt more than heard, his ghost king's lips parting beneath his own. Their tongues met in a languid dance, unhurried exploration rather than desperate claiming. Wei Wuxian's breath caught as Hua Cheng's tongue traced the seam of his lips before dipping inside once more, the intimate touch sending shivers cascading down his spine.

When they finally broke apart, it was only by the barest fraction, their lips still brushing with each shared breath. Wei Wuxian kept his eyes closed, savoring the lingering sensation, the way Hua Cheng's thumbs traced gentle arcs across his cheekbones.

"I'm sorry," Hua Cheng whispered against his lips, his voice fracturing on the words. The unexpected apology made Wei Wuxian's eyes flutter open, finding Hua Cheng's gaze filled with anguish that hadn't been there moments before. "You were in my care, and I allowed you to be taken from your own home." His voice dropped lower, rough with self-recrimination. "I failed to protect you when that was the one thing I promised myself I would do."

Wei Wuxian's heart contracted painfully at the guilt etched across Hua Cheng's features. Those beautiful lips that had just kissed him with such tenderness now downturned, his eye shadowed with regret that had no place there. Not when he had moved mountains to bring Wei Wuxian home.

"Gege," Wei Wuxian whispered, shifting to press his lips softly against Hua Cheng's furrowed brow. The gesture carried all the gentle reassurance he couldn't quite put into words. "Don't blame yourself for this." His lips moved to kiss one temple, then travelled to the high arch of Hua Cheng's cheekbone, each touch a silent absolution.

Hua Cheng remained silent beneath these ministrations, but Wei Wuxian could feel some of the tension gradually leaving his body. He continued his careful journey, pressing a feather light kiss to the corner of Hua Cheng's mouth. "You came for me," he murmured against the skin there. "That means everything to me." Another kiss to the opposite corner of those perfect lips, feeling them soften slightly beneath his attention.

His fingers traced the sharp line of Hua Cheng's jaw as he placed a kiss on the tip of his nose. "There was nothing you could have done differently," he said, his voice soft but insistent. He pulled back just enough to meet Hua Cheng's gaze, wanting him to see the sincerity in his eyes. "You can't keep watch over me every second of the day."

Wei Wuxian's thumb brushed across Hua Cheng's bottom lip, pleased to see the severe line of his mouth relaxing under the gentle touch. "And you shouldn't have to," he continued, settling more comfortably atop Hua Cheng's chest. "I'm supposed to be able to take care of myself too, you know." A small, rueful smile touched his lips. "Even if I didn't do a particularly good job of it this time."

He traced listless patterns against Hua Cheng's skin, gathering his thoughts before continuing. "Wen Ruohan had the upper hand because he got his hands on a design for a spiritual shackle after I died," he explained, his voice growing quieter. "My own design actually. I created it as a precaution against myself, in case I ever lost control of the resentful energy." His fingers stilled on Hua Cheng's chest. "Someone attempted to recreate it. Flawed, but effective enough to temporarily subdue me."

The furrow returned to Hua Cheng's brow immediately, his expression darkening at this revelation. Wei Wuxian could feel him tensing beneath his hands, that protective instinct returning shadows to his features. Undeterred, Wei Wuxian pressed another soft kiss to the center of Hua Cheng's frown.

"It's over now," he whispered against Hua Cheng's skin. "He's gone, you found me, and I'm back where I belong." The declaration emerged more sincere than he'd intended, vulnerability threading through his words. "Here. With you." He cupped Hua Cheng's face in his hands, thumbs stroking along his cheekbones. "So please don't look so sad anymore. I can't bear it."

With a smooth, unexpected movement, Hua Cheng rolled them over, reversing their positions. Wei Wuxian found himself pressed into the mattress, his ghost king's comforting weight settling above him. One of Hua Cheng's hands tangled in Wei Wuxian's hair, cradling the back of his head with careful strength, while the other arm wrapped tightly around his waist, holding him as if afraid he might dissolve into mist at any moment.

Hua Cheng buried his face in the crook of Wei Wuxian's neck, his breath warm against the sensitive skin there. Wei Wuxian felt him inhale deeply, as if trying to memorize his scent, to reassure himself that this was real. That Wei Wuxian was truly here.

"I haven't felt that scared, that desperate in such a long time," Hua Cheng confessed, his voice muffled against Wei Wuxian's skin. The words emerged rough, raw and honest. To hear this admission from someone so powerful, so seemingly untouchable, left Wei Wuxian momentarily speechless.

In lieu of words, Wei Wuxian responded by wrapping his legs tightly around Hua Cheng's waist, drawing him closer, eliminating what little space remained between their bodies. His arms encircled Hua Cheng's broad shoulders, one hand moving to thread through his silken hair. The embrace was as much comfort as it was possession. A wordless promise that he was here, that he had no intention of leaving.

Wei Wuxian turned his head slightly, his lips finding the delicate shell of Hua Cheng's ear. "How did you even manage to find me?" he asked softly, the question breathed against Hua Cheng's skin. His teeth grazed the lobe lightly, a gentle tease.

Hua Cheng lifted his head, his eye meeting Wei Wuxian's for a heartbeat before he dipped lower, pressing his lips to the column of Wei Wuxian's throat. The first kiss was soft, almost adoring, followed by another slightly higher. Wei Wuxian's eyes fluttered closed as Hua Cheng continued this unhurried exploration, each touch of his lips leaving a trail of warmth in its wake.

With a contented sigh, Wei Wuxian let his head fall back against the pillows, offering better access to the curve of his neck. His hands wandered leisurely across Hua Cheng's body, tracing the elegant lines of his sides, exploring the smooth expanse of his back. Each point of contact grounded him further in this moment, in the undeniable reality of their shared existence.

"I went to He Xuan for help," Hua Cheng murmured between kisses, his lips never straying far from Wei Wuxian's skin. "He knows your realm better than I do." The admission more than a little begrudging, a hint of reluctance coloring his tone. "We went to Lotus Pier and saw the resentment overflowing from the Burial Mounds." His mouth stilled against Wei Wuxian's pulse point, as if revisiting the moment in his mind. "I had no doubt that we found you."

Wei Wuxian fell silent, absorbing Hua Cheng's words as his fingers continued their idle exploration across his ghost king's back. After a contemplative pause, he released a long suffering sigh that seemed to carry the weight of his previous life with it.

"So He Xuan knows I don't follow traditional cultivation methods," he said, his tone caught between resignation and weariness. Without waiting for Hua Cheng's confirmation, he pressed on, "Did he... did he come with you to the Burial Mounds too?"

Hua Cheng shifted slightly, propping himself on one elbow to better see Wei Wuxian's face. His free hand continued to chart Wei Wuxian's side, a constant, reassuring touch. "He did," Hua Cheng confirmed, his eye studying Wei Wuxian's expression carefully. "He saw you suspended in mid air like a breathtaking god of pure resentment, commanding powers that brought even him to his knees."

A flush of color bloomed across Wei Wuxian's cheeks at the unexpected praise, the description both flattering and mortifying. The idea of being seen in such a state of raw vulnerability by someone else besides Hua Cheng made him feel oddly exposed. Before he could dwell on this discomfort, Hua Cheng continued, his voice dropping lower.

"What's more, he knew about the Yiling Laozu," Hua Cheng said, watching Wei Wuxian closely. "He knew your story, your standing among the cultivation sects. He just hadn't realized the fierce ghost staying in his domain was the beautiful patriarch of Yiling himself."

Wei Wuxian's flush drained away, leaving his face suddenly pale. The fact that his reputation had somehow preceded him even into this realm, that the stories of his misdeeds had travelled so far, hit him with unexpected force. His eyes dropped from Hua Cheng's searching gaze, focusing instead on where his hand rested against his ghost king's chest.

"That's fucking depressing," he said in a defeated voice, the words emerging hollow and flat. His fingers stilled against Hua Cheng's skin. "The best thing about dying was supposed to be leaving all that behind. All the fear, all the hatred, all those old sins." A bitter laugh escaped him, lacking any trace of his usual brightness. "And yet here it is, trailing after me even in death, like a shadow I can never outrun."

The admission hung in the air between them, raw and vulnerable. Wei Wuxian's shoulders sagged slightly under the weight of his past, the realization that he might never truly escape the legacy of the Yiling Laozu. Not even in this new existence that had begun to feel like a second chance.

Hua Cheng's hand moved from Wei Wuxian's waist to cup his cheek, fingers gentle yet insistent as they guided his face upward. The touch left Wei Wuxian no choice but to meet that intense gaze once more.

"There is no fear or hatred following you into death, A-Ying," Hua Cheng said with quiet conviction, his thumb brushing lightly across Wei Wuxian's cheekbone. "What follows you is awe. Wonder." His voice dropped lower. "When I look at you, I see an extraordinary being so precious and fragile in my hands—" his grip tightened fractionally, "—while knowing that this same gift could probably put me on my ass and physically call me out on my shit whenever necessary."

The last words were delivered with a mischievous grin that transformed Hua Cheng's entire face, banishing the solemnity that had settled between them. The unexpected shift in tone, coupled with the mental image of himself putting Hua Cheng in his place, startled a laugh from Wei Wuxian's throat. Small but genuine.

"Is that so?" Wei Wuxian replied, his spirit lifting as he moved both hands to cradle Hua Cheng's face. His ghost king's skin was warm beneath his palms, smooth and perfect as carved jade. His silver eyes sparkled with renewed light as he added, "Well then, I promise to do my best to keep this city's unruly king in line."

He heaved an exaggerated sigh, his thumbs tracing the high arches of Hua Cheng's cheekbones. "Though it's quite a heavy burden to bear." The melodramatic complaint was belied by the smile tugging at his lips as he pulled Hua Cheng's face closer to his own. "The sacrifices I make for Ghost City," he whispered against Hua Cheng's mouth before closing the final distance between them, sealing his teasing pledge with a kiss.

Their lips met with renewed hunger, playfulness quickly giving way to something deeper, more urgent. Hua Cheng's teeth caught Wei Wuxian's bottom lip in a sharp nip that drew a startled gasp from his throat, the slight sting immediately soothed by the warm sweep of Hua Cheng's tongue.

Wei Wuxian breathlessly laughed against Hua Cheng's mouth, his hands sliding up to tangle in that midnight hair, tugging gently in retaliation. His ghost king's grip tightened in response, strong fingers digging into the soft flesh of Wei Wuxian's waist with a possessiveness that sent heat cascading through his veins.

When they broke apart, it was only by the barest fraction, Wei Wuxian's breath coming in soft pants against Hua Cheng's reddened lips. Something in that single dark eye changed, pupil expanding until only a thin ring of iris remained, desire transforming Hua Cheng's gaze into something fathomless and hungry.

Effortlessly, Hua Cheng pushed himself upward, shifting into a kneeling position without breaking their embrace, Wei Wuxian's legs still wrapped tightly around his waist. The movement pressed them closer together, the hardness in Hua Cheng's pants pressing against the curve of Wei Wuxian's ass, creating a delicious friction that sent a white hot thrill racing up his spine like lightning seeking ground.

With eyes half lidded and gleaming with mischief, Wei Wuxian leaned forward, his lips brushing against the slickness of Hua Cheng's own. "It feels like gege really missed me," he whispered, his voice a seductive purr that sent visible shivers across Hua Cheng's skin.

As he spoke, Wei Wuxian began a slow, deliberate roll of his hips, grinding his ass in a languid circular motion against the throbbing cock beneath him. He kept his gaze fixed on Hua Cheng's face, savoring every minute change in his expression. The slight parting of those perfect lips, the flush spreading high across his cheekbones, the way his eye fell shut as pleasure overwhelmed him.

A deep, throaty groan escaped Hua Cheng's mouth, the sound rumbling up from his chest and felt through both their bodies. His hips jerked upward instinctively, pushing against Wei Wuxian's deliberate teasing, seeking more of that exquisite pressure. His fingers dug deeper into Wei Wuxian's waist, leaving crescent shaped imprints that would likely linger long after their tangle. A thought that only made Wei Wuxian press closer, his own breathing growing ragged as he watched desire transform Hua Cheng's features into something sinfully beautiful.

Wei Wuxian could feel the tension thrumming through Hua Cheng's body, how his ghost king kept himself tightly leashed despite his obvious desire. Those strong hands remained firmly anchored at his waist, not roaming and exploring as Wei Wuxian had expected, had wanted. The restraint was palpable, and Wei Wuxian found himself light heartedly displeased by it, a playful pout forming on his lips.

With deliberate slowness, he dragged his mouth to Hua Cheng's ear, letting his tongue dart out to trace the delicate shell in a single, lingering lick. "Why are you holding back, gege?" he whispered, his breath hot against the dampened skin. The question hung between them as Wei Wuxian continued his exploration, pressing increasingly heated kisses along the column of Hua Cheng's neck, watching in satisfaction as goosebumps rose beneath his lips.

"Do you think I'm breakable now?" he murmured against Hua Cheng's thundering pulse. "Did seeing me hurt scare you that much?" His teeth grazed the sensitive juncture where neck met shoulder, not quite biting, just a teasing promise of pressure. He pulled back slightly, peering up at Hua Cheng's face to gauge his reaction.

What he found sent a thrill of dark excitement coursing through him. Hua Cheng's jaw clenched tight enough to crack stone, his brow furrowed in a deep frown as he visibly warred with his instincts. The contrast between that rigid self-control and the searing evidence of his lust pressing hard against Wei Wuxian's ass was utterly intoxicating. Wei Wuxian felt drunk on this new power, the ability to unravel someone so formidable with nothing but words and touches.

"Don't you know, gege," Wei Wuxian breathed against Hua Cheng's neck, his voice dropping to something primal and wanting, "that I want you to break me?" Without warning, he sank his teeth into the taut muscle, a sharp, demanding bite that had Hua Cheng's body arching beneath him. Simultaneously, Wei Wuxian tightened his grip in the hair at Hua Cheng's nape, tugging with just enough force to draw a deep, guttural moan from his ghost king's lips.

Wei Wuxian's jaw slackened, feeling the bruised skin slip from between his lips. Gazing up at Hua Cheng, his heart raced with anticipation. The look searing into him was dark, feral. Slowly, deliberately, Wei Wuxian leaned in to capture Hua Cheng's bottom lip between his own, sucking it into his mouth with languid intensity before releasing it with a soft, wet sound.

"We'll see how long you can resist," he whispered against those kiss swollen lips, his silver eyes gleaming with mischief and promise. With one last, purposeful grind against the hardness beneath him—a movement that drew a hissed breath from Hua Cheng—Wei Wuxian winked and slipped from his ghost king's lap, climbing off the bed with exaggerated grace.

As Wei Wuxian turned a corner of Hua Cheng's chambers in search of new robes for the day, he chanced a glimpse back toward the bed. The sight that greeted him sent a rush of satisfaction through his veins. Hua Cheng remained kneeling where Wei Wuxian had left him, his powerful fingers clutching at the silken sheets so tightly they were on the verge of tearing beneath his grip. His lips were parted, chest rising and falling with rapid breaths, obscene bulge tenting his pants, eye closed tightly as if in exquisite torment. His fearsome ghost king looked utterly undone, completely at the mercy of the desire Wei Wuxian had so deliberately stoked within him.

A smirk of pure triumph curved Wei Wuxian's lips as he continued on his way, warmth blooming in his chest alongside a delightful sense of anticipation. This game of push and pull, of testing limits and boundaries, felt wonderfully intoxicating.

Yes, Wei Wuxian decided as he disappeared around the corner, today was going to be a very good day indeed.

Chapter Text

Sunlight filtered through the latticed windows of Paradise Manor's dining hall, painting delicate patterns across the polished wooden table where Hua Cheng's focus was solely on Wei Wuxian savouring every bite of his breakfast. The sweet aroma of freshly steamed buns mingled with the subtle fragrance of chrysanthemum tea, creating an atmosphere of simple domestic tranquillity.

Hua Cheng, damned and pent up, was utterly incapable of appreciating the peaceful morning. His darkened eye remained fixated on Wei Wuxian, who sat across from him seemingly oblivious to the effect he was having. In truth, Hua Cheng had barely touched his food, his chopsticks lying forgotten beside his bowl as all his attention centred on the man before him.

Wei Wuxian had chosen to wear black robes today. A departure from his recent crimson attire. The dark fabric clung to his shoulders, the cut emphasizing the elegant breadth that belied his slender, yet muscled, frame. What truly held Hua Cheng captive, however, was how the robe gaped ever so slightly at the chest, offering tantalizing glimpses of smooth skin with each movement. A sliver of collarbone occasionally peeked from beneath the fabric, the delicate ridge appearing and disappearing like some rare creature playing a seductive game of hide and seek.

Hua Cheng's throat went dry as Wei Wuxian reached for his tea, the motion causing the silk to shift just enough to reveal another inch of that perfect chest. His fingers tightened around his own cup, the porcelain threatening to crack under the pressure. How many times had he tasted that skin? Yet the memory only intensified his hunger rather than sating it.

His gaze travelled upward to the elegant column of Wei Wuxian's neck, exposed by the way he had arranged his hair. Half bound in his usual style, the glossy length of it draped over one shoulder like a cascade of black water. A single rebellious tendril had escaped, curling against the side of his neck with intimate familiarity. Hua Cheng found himself consumed with irrational jealousy of that wayward strand, how it caressed Wei Wuxian's skin with casual possession while he sat forced to maintain distance across a table that suddenly felt far too wide.

Wei Wuxian's lips parted as he bit into a steamed bun, a soft sound of appreciation escaping his throat. The innocent noise sent a jolt of heat straight through Hua Cheng's core, memory supplying him with far less innocent contexts where he had heard similar sounds. His jaw clenched tight enough to ache as a drop of sweet filling escaped the corner of Wei Wuxian's mouth, tracking a glistening path down his chin.

Without thinking, Hua Cheng's tongue darted out to wet his own lips, his body leaning forward fractionally as if drawn by some invisible thread. What would Wei Wuxian do if he stood now, swept the dishes aside, and claimed that mouth with his own? If he chased that errant sweetness with his tongue before carrying Wei Wuxian to his chambers?

The thought alone made his trousers uncomfortably tight, the desire that had been building since yesterday afternoon surging with renewed intensity. After Wei Wuxian had left him nearly shaking with need on their bed, Hua Cheng had barely slept through the night, hyper aware of the warm body beside him, the soft sounds of Wei Wuxian's breathing, the occasional shift that brought their skin into brief, maddening contact. Self-restraint had never felt like such exquisite torture.

Wei Wuxian licked his fingers clean, the pink tip of his tongue darting between pale digits with deliberate slowness. The action was so casually sensual that Hua Cheng nearly groaned aloud. His imagination supplied vivid images of those elegant fingers pressed against his lips, of capturing them in his mouth, of Wei Wuxian's silver eyes darkening as he watched...

So lost was he in this fantasy that Hua Cheng nearly missed the change in Wei Wuxian's expression. When he finally refocused, he found himself caught in a knowing gaze. Wei Wuxian's lips had curved into a smirk that could only be described as sin incarnate, his eyes gleaming with mischievous awareness.

He had been caught staring, no, devouring Wei Wuxian with his gaze. And judging by that smirk, Wei Wuxian had known exactly what he was doing all along.

"Don't you have business to attend to in the city, gege?" Wei Wuxian asked, his voice carrying a lilting innocence that stood in stark contrast to the knowing gleam in his eyes. As he spoke, he reached for his tea cup, deliberately brushing his fingers against Hua Cheng's in the process. The fleeting contact sent electricity racing up Hua Cheng's arm.

Hua Cheng cleared his throat, attempting to gather his scattered thoughts. "The city mostly runs itself at this point," he answered distractedly, watching as Wei Wuxian brought the cup to his lips. "They have no claim over my time."

Wei Wuxian hummed thoughtfully, the sound vibrating low in his throat as he set down his cup. "And if you are in the city, where do you spend your time?" His tongue darted out to catch a droplet of tea from his bottom lip.

Hua Cheng's eye tracked the movement with dangerous intensity, his focus narrowing to that single point of wetness. "In the gambling den, mostly," he managed, his voice emerging rougher than intended.

"Watching others lose their fortunes?" Wei Wuxian asked with a smile. He leaned forward, ostensibly reaching for another bun, the movement caused that damned robe to gape even further. Hua Cheng's eye dropped immediately to the exposed skin, to the elegant dip where neck met collarbone.

"Sometimes," Hua Cheng agreed, forcing his gaze back to Wei Wuxian's face. "Though it's very rare for the stakes to be money."

Wei Wuxian tilted his head in curiosity, the movement causing that wayward strand of hair to slide sensually against his neck. "What kind of stakes?"

Grateful for the distraction, Hua Cheng leaned back slightly, attempting to put some distance between himself and the walking temptation across the table. "Once, a mortal king wagered an entire mountain range against my favour in a dispute with a neighbouring kingdom. He was so certain of his rightness that he risked his ancestral lands." He smirked at the memory. "He lost, of course."

"And what did you do with the mountain range?" Wei Wuxian asked, amusement dancing in his eyes as he bit into his bun.

"I gave it to his rival," Hua Cheng said, his voice dropping lower as a smirk overtook his features.

Wei Wuxian laughed, the sound bright and musical. "That was a hard lesson learnt." He set his half eaten bun down, his fingers idly playing with the rim of his tea cup. "Another time, a fury spirit challenged me to a game of dice," Hua Cheng continued, finding an odd comfort in the familiar stories despite the beautiful distraction before him. "He wagered his most prized possession. A flute carved from the bone of some ancient creature." He watched as Wei Wuxian's eyes widened with interest, gratified to have captured his genuine attention. "When he lost, he begged to keep it, claiming it was the only thing he had left of his mortal life."

"Did you take it?" Wei Wuxian asked, his expression softening with sympathy for the unnamed spirit.

"I did," Hua Cheng answered honestly. "But I commissioned a replica and returned the original the following day. The copy now hangs in my gallery as a reminder that some treasures cannot be measured in value." The admission felt strangely vulnerable, revealing a softness he very rarely displayed.

Wei Wuxian's expression shifted, something warm and approving flickering in his gaze.

Without warning, he stretched languidly, arching his back in a way that emphasized the elegant lines of his body. The motion was so deliberately provocative that Hua Cheng nearly bit his tongue.

"We should gamble sometime," Wei Wuxian suggested, his voice dropping to a tone that carried intimacy even across the table. His fingers traced lazy patterns on the wooden surface, drawings circles that grew progressively smaller. "I'm quite good with games, you know."

The proposition sent Hua Cheng's mind plunging into decidedly inappropriate territory. Images of Wei Wuxian cascaded through his consciousness—sprawled across his bed, lips parted in challenge; surrendering a piece of clothing with each loss; bound by silken restraints—the ultimate prize in a game he had willingly entered.

Hua Cheng's breath ceased, his body responding immediately to these unbidden visions. A low simmer of heat had been building between them all morning, but now it threatened to ignite into something far more dangerous. His control, already stretched thin, was dangerously close to snapping altogether.

"Gambling with me is binding," Hua Cheng warned, his voice emerging as little more than a growl. "The stakes are always honoured. Be careful before you ask me to play."

Something flickered in Wei Wuxian's eyes at the warning. Not apprehension, but excitement. His silver gaze darkened perceptibly as he leaned further across the table, close enough that Hua Cheng could smell the sweet fragrance of his skin.

"And what would the stakes be, gege?" Wei Wuxian asked, his voice breathless with anticipation. His tongue darted out to wet his lips in a gesture that could not possibly be innocent. "Something worth binding ourselves to? Something we might both enjoy surrendering?"

The implication hung in the air between them, charged with promise and possibility. Hua Cheng's fingers curled into fists beneath the table, his nails digging crescents into his palms as he fought to maintain clarity.

Desire and need blazed through him with an intensity that bordered on physical pain. Every instinct in his body screamed at him to reach across the table, to gather that taunting, beautiful man into his arms, to claim that teasing mouth with his own and carry him to bed. To press him into silk sheets and take him apart so thoroughly that neither of them would remember anything beyond that heat. The impulse was so overwhelming that his muscles tensed in anticipation of movement.

Yet beneath that searing, primal need lurked something deeper, something that gave him pause. The memory of Wei Wuxian's broken form in the Burial Mounds flashed unbidden through his mind. Those beautiful features contorted in anguish, blood seeping through tattered robes, that hauntingly empty look in silver eyes that had once sparkled with life. In that moment, Hua Cheng had felt true fear. Not for himself, but for the fragile, precious soul he had allowed to be taken from his protection.

Hua Cheng wrestled with the conflicting impulses tearing through him. The hours he had spent watching over Wei Wuxian's sleeping form, the way his heart had clenched at each small sound of distress, each unconscious flinch. Those silent moments had changed something fundamental within him. Wei Wuxian deserved more than to be consumed by Hua Cheng's hunger. He deserved gentleness. Safety. Respect.

Not to be bent over the nearest surface every time Hua Cheng's control slipped.

And yet, how was he supposed to maintain that gentleness when Wei Wuxian looked at him like that? When every movement was calculated to dissolve his restraint? When those silver eyes promised such willing surrender if only Hua Cheng would take what was so blatantly being offered?

The battle raged within him, fierce desire warring against the softer, protective care that had rooted itself so unexpectedly in his heart. Wei Wuxian was no delicate flower to be sheltered. He had commanded armies of the dead, had channeled resentment powerful enough to bring even He Xuan to his knees. Yet there was vulnerability in him too, wounds that ran soul deep and required tenderness to heal.

Wei Wuxian shifted in his seat, his expression growing uncertain in the face of Hua Cheng's extended silence. The slight furrow of his brow, the way the teasing light began to dim in his eyes. Those subtle changes were enough to snap Hua Cheng back to the present moment, to remind him of the delicate balance he was still learning to navigate.

"When I fuck you," Hua Cheng said finally, his voice emerging low and resonant with conviction, "it will not be the result of gambling."

The crudeness of the words contrasted sharply with the absolute sincerity with which they were delivered. Wei Wuxian's silver eyes widening as a flush of deep crimson bloomed across his cheeks. For perhaps the first time since Hua Cheng had known him, Wei Wuxian appeared completely speechless, the witty retort he had undoubtedly prepared dying unspoken on his tongue.

Satisfaction curled through Hua Cheng at having finally turned the tables.

Allowing his lips to curve into a small smile, Hua Cheng reached for his tea, taking a sip as he watched Wei Wuxian struggle to regain his composure. The blush that had started at his cheeks had spread down his neck, disappearing tantalizingly beneath the collar of his robes. Hua Cheng filed away the satisfying knowledge that crude honesty was apparently Wei Wuxian's weakness.

"I have an errand to run today," Hua Cheng said conversationally, as if he hadn't just rendered Wei Wuxian incapable of speech. "Would you like to join me?"

Wei Wuxian blinked rapidly, visibly struggling to shift mental tracks after the deliberate derailment. His mouth opened and closed before he finally managed to find his voice again.

"An errand?" he repeated, the words emerging slightly higher than his usual tone. He cleared his throat, a valiant attempt to reclaim his composure. "What kind of errand?"

Hua Cheng's smile deepened at the lingering flush on Wei Wuxian's cheeks. "The kind that would be more enjoyable with your company," he answered, deliberately vague. He rose from his seat, extending a hand across the table. "Will you come?"

The inadvertent double entendre hung in the air between them, and Hua Cheng watched with fascination as Wei Wuxian's blush deepened impossibly further. For a moment, he wondered if he had pushed too far, if the teasing had become too crass. But then Wei Wuxian's lips curved into a reluctant smile, his silver eyes regaining some of their usual mischief as he placed his hand in Hua Cheng's offered palm.

"I certainly hope so," he said, rising gracefully to his feet. "You could save yourself a lot of pestering if you tell me where we're going."

Hua Cheng's fingers closed around Wei Wuxian's with gentle possession, savouring the warmth of his skin. "And deprive myself of your curiosity?" he replied, guiding Wei Wuxian away from the table.

They moved through the corridors of the manor with unhurried ease, Wei Wuxian occasionally attempting to wheedle information from Hua Cheng with increasingly creative guesses. Each suggestion, from secret treasure vaults to demon fighting arenas, was met with the same enigmatic smile, which only seemed to fuel Wei Wuxian's enthusiastic speculation.

"At least tell me if I'm dressed appropriately," Wei Wuxian insisted as they descended a staircase Hua Cheng rarely used. The passage grew narrower, the walls adorned with murals that shifted subtly as they passed, painted demons seeming to track their progress with hungry eyes.

"You're perfect," Hua Cheng replied simply, the honest admission slipping out before he could temper it. He felt Wei Wuxian's steps falter slightly beside him, saw the surprised pleasure that flickered across his face.

The corridor ended at a plain door at odds with the rest of the manor's architecture. Despite its unassuming appearance, complex arrays had been carved into its wooden surface, the patterns so intricate they appeared almost alive, shifting and flowing like water even as they remained perfectly still.

"A fixed portal," Wei Wuxian breathed, his free hand lifting as if to touch the arrays before hesitating. His gaze flickered to Hua Cheng's face, curiosity warring with caution. "Where does it lead?"

"You'll see," Hua Cheng replied, unable to resist the temptation to draw out the mystery a moment longer. He placed his palm against the centre of the door, his spiritual energy flowing into the arrays. The carvings flared crimson in response, power radiating outward in concentric waves until the entire surface glowed with pulsing light.

With a soft click contrasting the complex mechanisms at work, the door swung open to reveal not another corridor, but an entirely different space altogether. Hua Cheng stepped aside, allowing Wei Wuxian an unobstructed view of what lay beyond.

"After you," he said softly, watching Wei Wuxian's face with undisguised interest.

Wei Wuxian approached the threshold with cautious steps, his eyes widening further as he peered through the doorway. After a moment's hesitation, he stepped through, Hua Cheng following close behind.

The world shifted around them as they stepped through the doorway. Hua Cheng watched Wei Wuxian blink, clearly disoriented by the transition. The familiar dark wood and crimson silk of his own domain gave way to Ming Yi's ostentatiously "humble" hall of polished jade and silver. Light poured in through tall, arched windows. That insufferable, pristine illumination the heavenly realm always insisted upon, as if perpetual brightness could somehow mask the shadows of corruption that lurked in every corner of this place.

Wei Wuxian turned in a slow circle, his silver eyes wide with wonder. Hua Cheng found himself far more captivated by those expressive eyes than by their surroundings. He had seen this realm countless times over centuries, found it lacking in every instance, but Wei Wuxian's innocent fascination made him see it anew. The elegant restraint of Ming Yi's chambers—which Hua Cheng knew to be calculated rather than genuine—seemed to impress Wei Wuxian, whose gaze lingered on the delicate carvings depicting scenes of earth and stone.

"This is..." Wei Wuxian began, then paused, his brows drawing together in that adorable expression of concentration that Hua Cheng had come to cherish. "Are we still in Ghost City?" His hand tightened around Hua Cheng's, the simple contact sending a pleasant warmth up Hua Cheng's arm.

"We're in the Heavenly Capital," Hua Cheng answered. He couldn't quite bring himself to call it "heaven". Not when there was nothing heavenly about this place of petty politics and divine hypocrisy. "This is the palace of Ming Yi, the god of earth and infrastructure." He didn't bother to keep the dismissiveness from his tone. Let Wei Wuxian form his own opinions, but Hua Cheng refused to feign respect for a realm that had never deserved it.

"The heavenly realm?" Wei Wuxian breathed, a mixture of awe and uncertainty colouring his voice. His free hand rose to his chest, pressing flat against his sternum. Hua Cheng watched that elegant hand closely, imagining for a brief moment how it would feel against his own skin. "The air feels... denser here. And there's this constant thrum of spiritual energy. Can you feel it?"

A small frown creased Wei Wuxian's brow as he concentrated. "It's almost like being surrounded by cultivators at a discussion conference, except... more refined? Purer?" He glanced back, those silver eyes seeking Hua Cheng's gaze. "Is that the power of the gods?"

Hua Cheng felt his lip curl in automatic disdain. Eight hundred years of contempt couldn't be entirely suppressed, even for Wei Wuxian's sake. "It's their self-importance you're feeling," he replied, though he kept his eye soft as it rested on Wei Wuxian's beautiful face. No need to direct his bitterness at the one person who made this excursion bearable. "They saturate everything with spiritual energy to remind everyone of their divinity."

Wei Wuxian glanced around once more, taking in the pristine elegance of their surroundings. Hua Cheng could almost see the thoughts forming behind those expressive eyes, the careful diplomacy taking shape. He found himself increasingly fascinated by how Wei Wuxian navigated the world. That blend of mischief and genuine kindness, always seeking to smooth rough edges without sacrificing honesty.

"It's very... clean," Wei Wuxian offered, his lips twitching with suppressed amusement. With a barely contained smirk Wei Wuxian stepped closer, his shoulder brushing against Hua Cheng's arm as he leaned in conspiratorially. The easy way Wei Wuxian sought physical closeness, never failed to send a possessive thrill through Hua Cheng's entire being.

"But I must say, it's not nearly as nice as your manor, gege," Wei Wuxian continued, his voice lowered as if sharing a secret. "The decor is a bit... conceited, don't you think? And the lighting—" he gestured vaguely upward, "—so bright. How does anyone maintain a proper air of mystery in all this illumination?"

The playful attempt to soothe his evident disdain struck Hua Cheng deeply. This was what made Wei Wuxian so dangerously addictive. The way he seemed to intuitively understand Hua Cheng's moods, to care about his comfort even in the smallest of matters. This beautiful, powerful creature who had commanded armies of the dead was now fussing over his feelings with such earnest sweetness that it made something in Hua Cheng's soul crack open.

The impulse to touch, to claim, to possess in that moment was far too strong to resist. He slipped an arm around Wei Wuxian's waist, drawing him flush against his body. The soft sound of surprise that escaped Wei Wuxian's throat was possibly the most arousing thing Hua Cheng had heard all day. Considering their breakfast, that was saying something.

He captured those perfect lips in a kiss that he intended to be gentle but quickly deepened as Wei Wuxian melted against him, those elegant hands coming up to rest against his chest.

Hua Cheng easily lost himself in the taste of Wei Wuxian, the softness of those willing lips, the eager way he pressed closer. Each small sound, each subtle movement fed the hunger that never seemed fully sated where Wei Wuxian was concerned. When he finally broke the kiss, he couldn't resist catching that plush bottom lip between his teeth in a gentle nip that drew a shaky gasp from the man in his arms. The sound sent heat pooling low in Hua Cheng's stomach, making him reconsider his priorities for the day.

"You're right," Hua Cheng murmured against Wei Wuxian's mouth, his voice emerging lower than intended. "It's nowhere near as nice as home." The word 'home' slipped out naturally, and Hua Cheng found himself momentarily startled by how right it felt. Not just his manor, but anywhere Wei Wuxian was.

With reluctance, Hua Cheng released Wei Wuxian from his embrace, though not before delivering a playful smack to his backside that made those silver eyes widen in scandalized delight. The temptation to continue, to back Wei Wuxian against the nearest wall and finish what they'd started, seemed very enticing.

"Coming?" he asked with a teasing smirk, his composure mostly restored even as satisfaction thrummed through him at the flush once again spreading across Wei Wuxian's cheeks.

He led Wei Wuxian toward the corridor that led into the main chamber, unable to resist glancing back to see him still sporting that beautiful blush, the red deepening to crimson at the tips of his ears. The sight drew a soft chuckle from Hua Cheng's throat.

"I'll get you back for that, gege," Wei Wuxian mumbled, the threat so utterly charming in its breathless delivery that Hua Cheng felt his heart constrict with an emotion he wasn't quite ready to name.

"I look forward to it," Hua Cheng replied, his voice rich with promise. And he did. He looked forward to everything with Wei Wuxian, every challenge, every moment, every opportunity to explore this unexpected connection that had somehow become vital to his existence.

As they approached the entrance to Ming Yi's main chamber, Hua Cheng abruptly stiffened. His hearing caught the telltale sounds of voices approaching from around the corner. Familiar voices that grated on his already fraying tolerance.

Without a word of explanation, he pulled Wei Wuxian behind an ornate pillar, pressing him securely against the cool jade with his own body as a shield. Wei Wuxian's startled breath warmed his neck. To his credit though, he remained perfectly silent, those intelligent silver eyes questioning rather than protesting.

Hua Cheng extended his spiritual energy outward, weaving an invisible barrier around them both. The crimson energy materialized briefly as a translucent cocoon before fading to near invisibility, leaving only the faintest shimmer in the air, like heat rising from sun warmed stone.

Wei Wuxian's eyes widened with obvious interest, his gaze tracking the delicate patterns forming in the air around them. His lips parted in silent fascination as he reached out to touch the thin crimson coating, only to have his finger pass through it as if it were made of nothing more substantial than light.

He leaned in close to Wei Wuxian's ear, his voice barely a whisper. "It will keep us hidden," he explained, his lips brushing the delicate shell. The slight shiver that ran through Wei Wuxian's body at the proximity sent a corresponding thrill down Hua Cheng's spine, but he forced himself to focus on the approaching voices rather than the intoxicating warmth of the man pressed against him.

The voices grew louder, accompanied by the sharp staccato of footsteps against marble. One set heavily stomping, the other quick and light, as if constantly having to catch up.

"Ming-xiong, you're being so cold today!" A melodious feminine voice cut through the air, the playful protest carrying notes of genuine disappointment beneath its theatrical delivery. "Did I offend you somehow? Was it the comment about your robes? Because I maintain they look absolutely magnificent on you, even if they are a bit drab. A splash of colour would do wonders. Perhaps a nice green trim to offset all that brown? I could help you select fabric next time we visit the mortal realm!"

The pair came into view, and Hua Cheng felt Wei Wuxian tense upon seeing Ming Yi. He Xuan, perfectly disguised as Ming Yi, walked with rigid posture, his face set in a mask of indifference that Hua Cheng knew concealed a maelstrom of conflicting emotions. Beside him—or rather, half a step behind and constantly maneuvering to get beside him—was Shi Qingxuan in her female form, resplendent in flowing robes of pale green embroidered with silver patterns that caught the light with each animated movement.

"I'm not being cold," He Xuan replied, his voice a study in forced neutrality. "I'm being appropriate. We're in my official residence. There are protocols." The stiffness in his shoulders betrayed the effort it took to maintain distance. An effort that Shi Qingxuan seemed determined to undermine at every opportunity.

"Protocols!" Shi Qingxuan scoffed, dramatically rolling her eyes as she quickened her pace to cut in front of He Xuan, forcing him to halt abruptly. "Since when have you cared about protocols? The man who dragged me to that disreputable teahouse in the mortal realm last month didn't seem terribly concerned with protocols." She stepped closer, reaching out to straighten an already perfect fold in He Xuan's robes, her fingers lingering against the fabric covering his chest.

Hua Cheng could see the minute flare of He Xuan's nostrils, the almost imperceptible tightening of his jaw as he fought to maintain his composure. Long dreadful years of acquaintance had taught him to recognize the signs of He Xuan's crumbling restraint. Beside him, Wei Wuxian watched the interaction with sharp eyed interest, clearly piecing together the complex dynamics at play.

"That was different," He Xuan said, his voice dropping lower as he firmly removed Shi Qingxuan's hand from his chest. But instead of releasing it, his fingers remained wrapped around her slender wrist, the touch appearing restraining but revealing itself as possessive in the way his thumb unconsciously traced small circles against her pulse point.

Shi Qingxuan's smile turned triumphant at the contact, like a cat who had successfully cornered its prey. "Different how?" she pressed, stepping impossibly closer. "Because we were alone? We're alone now, Ming-xiong." Her voice dropped to a silky purr on the title, transforming the formal address into something nearly indecent.

Something in He Xuan snapped. With movement that spoke of restrained power, he pushed Shi Qingxuan back against the wall, his body caging hers as his fingers clutched at her thin waist. The sudden action drew a small gasp of surprise from her lips, but it was quickly replaced by a smile of such smug satisfaction that Hua Cheng found himself impressed by her audacity.

"Is this what you want?" He Xuan growled, his face hovering mere inches from Shi Qingxuan's, close enough that their breath mingled in the space between them. "To provoke me? To make me forget myself?" The barely leashed fury in his voice carried undercurrents of desire so potent that even at this distance, Hua Cheng could feel its resonance.

Rather than cowering, Shi Qingxuan actually laughed. A soft, delighted sound that seemed to infuriate and entrance He Xuan in equal measure. "Perhaps," she admitted, tilting her head to further reduce the space between them. "Is it working?"

He Xuan's entire body went rigid, his hands tightening where they marginally dragged Shi Qingxuan hips closer to his own. His gaze dropped to Shi Qingxuan's mouth, lingering on her curved lips with naked hunger. For a moment, it seemed certain he would close that final distance between them, claim the mouth that had been taunting him for what must have felt like an eternity.

Instead, with visible effort, He Xuan loosened his grip, breaking contact with her entirely. He took a single step back, then another, his breathing slightly uneven as a somber, dark look overtook his features. "Maybe you can't always get what you want," he said, his voice hollow. "The records you requested are in my study. That's why you came, remember?"

Shi Qingxuan remained leaning against the wall for a moment longer, hurt flickering briefly across her features before she masked it with shallow disappointment. "Of course I remember," she said, smoothing her robes with exaggerated care. "The records. Very important." She stepped away from the wall with a grace that belied her earlier flustered state. "Lead the way, Ming-xiong. I'll behave now."

He Xuan turned abruptly and continued down the corridor, his pace now slightly faster, as if trying to put physical distance between them.

The pair finally disappeared around another corner, their footsteps fading until silence once again claimed the corridor.

Only then did the tension drumming through Hua Cheng's body release, still pressed protectively against Wei Wuxian's. "Interesting," he murmured, more to himself than to Wei Wuxian.

He felt more than saw Wei Wuxian's silent laughter, the gentle vibration of it traveling from Wei Wuxian's chest to his own. When he pulled back slightly to look at him, he found those silver eyes dancing with poorly concealed amusement.

"God, we're never that intense are we?" Wei Wuxian whispered, his voice threaded with mirth despite the quiet delivery.

Hua Cheng's lips curved into a dangerous smile, one eyebrow arching elegantly as he leaned closer, deliberately crowding Wei Wuxian against the pillar once more. His hands sensually dragged from Wei Wuxian's hips to dig wantonly into his waist, mirroring He Xuan's earlier position exactly.

"Would you like me to be more intense with you, A-Ying?" he murmured, deliberately roughening his voice to bring colour to Wei Wuxian's cheeks. "We could find an empty room and... practice." The sinful smirk spreading across his face held a desperation that were at odds with the teasing nature of his words, his eye lingering on Wei Wuxian's lips.

Wei Wuxian's laugh, bright and unrestrained despite his attempts to keep it quiet, warmed something deep in Hua Cheng's chest. He ducked beneath Hua Cheng's arm with graceful ease, then hooked his own arm through Hua Cheng's, tugging him back toward the corridor with excited insistence.

"Shame on you, gege," he chided Hua Cheng, though the sparkle in his eyes suggested he wasn't entirely opposed to the proposition. "You know as well as I do that there's protocols to follow in the heavenly capital." With a wink his gaze flickered to the location where He Xuan and Shi Qingxuan had disappeared, his expression turning thoughtful. "You should keep your barrier in place, though. These gods are a lot more entertaining than I imagined they'd be."

The casual way Wei Wuxian referred to "these gods", as if they were some curious species to be observed rather than powerful deities to be feared, sent a surge of unexpected pride through Hua Cheng. How many mortals, even ones as powerful as Wei Wuxian had been in life, would view the heavenly court with such refreshing irreverence? It was yet another reminder of how perfectly suited Wei Wuxian was to walk by his side. Fearless, curious, and delightfully unimpressed by divine pretension.

With a subtle gesture, Hua Cheng reinforced the concealment barrier to isolate sound as well, the crimson energy shimmering briefly around them before fading to near invisibility once more. "Anything you want," he said, allowing himself to be guided forward by Wei Wuxian's gentle tugging.

They finally emerged into an ornate courtyard. The space opened up around them, revealing sculpted gardens where streams of water flowed through carefully arranged stones, crossing beneath delicate bridges that seemed to float above the surface. Flowers bloomed in perfect, unnatural uniformity, their scents mingling in a cloying sweetness that Hua Cheng had always found irritatingly artificial.

Wei Wuxian paused to take in the scenery, and Hua Cheng found himself once again more entranced by Wei Wuxian's expressions than by the divine landscape. The way his silver eyes widened slightly, the subtle curve of his lips as he absorbed new information.

"Come," Hua Cheng murmured, his hand finding the small of Wei Wuxian's back to guide him forward. "I'd like to reach Ling Wen's palace before the noon bell." He didn't mention that he had no way to know when Jun Wu would be back, and ripping Jun Wu's heart from his chest in his own domain would be less than desirable.

They passed through an elaborate gate that marked the boundary of Ming Yi's territory, emerging onto a wide, paved avenue that stretched before them like a river of white stone. Hua Cheng felt the familiar contempt rise within him at the sight. The Grand Avenue of Divine Might, designed to impress and intimidate in equal measure. Even its name dripped with the arrogance that permeated every corner of this realm.

Despite the early hour, the street bustled with activity. Lesser gods and palace workers hurried about their duties, occasionally giving way to more elaborately dressed officials who strode with the casual entitlement of those accustomed to worship. All were oblivious to the ghost king and his companion walking invisibly among them, a thought that provided Hua Cheng with no small measure of satisfaction. Even here, in the heart of their power, they couldn't detect him unless he wished it.

"So this is where gods live," Wei Wuxian said quietly, his eyes tracking the movement around them with avid curiosity. "It's... not quite what I expected." His gaze lifted to the sky above, where clouds drifted in patterns too perfect to be natural, occasionally parting to reveal pavilions and palaces that seemed to float among them.

"What did you expect?" Hua Cheng asked, genuinely curious. Wei Wuxian's perspectives never failed to interest him, unconstrained as they were by the usual limitations of mortal understanding.

Wei Wuxian considered the question for a moment, his head tilting slightly as they walked. "More imposing, perhaps? More... transcendent? This feels like a very fancy cultivation sect, just with impractical architecture and more spiritual energy." He gestured toward a passing official whose elaborate headdress bobbed with each self-important step. "And they look just like mortals, but with pretentious clothes and constipated expressions."

A startled laugh escaped Hua Cheng before he could suppress it. He tightened the concealment around them with a flicker of thought, adding an additional layer to further muffle sound.

"You've described them more accurately than you know," Hua Cheng said, his voice rich with amused approval. "Most are simply mortals who achieved enough merit or cultivation to ascend. They bring all their petty concerns and politics with them, just wrapped in finer cloth and greater power."

Wei Wuxian's arm tightened around his, a subtle pressure that felt like understanding. "And the one in charge of all this?" he asked, his voice pitched low enough that only Hua Cheng could hear it, even without the sound barrier. "Who runs the heavenly realm?"

"Jun Wu," Hua Cheng replied, the name tasting like ash on his tongue. "The Heavenly Emperor. He resides in the Palace of Divine Might." He nodded toward the massive structure barely visible at the avenue's end, its golden roofs gleaming in the eternal daylight. "A tyrant ruling over a realm of sycophants, each scrambling to please him for scraps of power."

Wei Wuxian raised an eyebrow at the naked hatred in Hua Cheng's voice. "You're not a fan, I take it?" he asked, his light tone not quite masking genuine interest. "What did he do to earn such disdain from you?"

The question brought memories surging to the surface. Memories of a crown prince falling, of cruel laughter from heavenly courts, of a god with eyes kinder than any Hua Cheng had ever known suffering undeserved torment while Jun Wu sat upon his golden throne and did nothing. Eight hundred years of rage compressed into a single moment of silence before Hua Cheng mastered himself.

"He exists," Hua Cheng answered finally, his voice carefully neutral. "That's enough." The subject bordered too closely on topics he wasn't ready to discuss, histories he couldn't yet bring himself to share. Not here, not now, not when the weight of His Highness's absence still pressed against his conscience every time he looked into Wei Wuxian's trusting eyes.

To his relief, Wei Wuxian didn't press further, instead pointing toward a group of officials gathered near an elaborate fountain. "What about them? They look important."

Grateful for the change in subject, Hua Cheng followed his gaze. "Palace officials. Likely from the Court of Civil Affairs." He guided Wei Wuxian around a corner, down a narrower but no less ornate street lined with flowering trees. "The heavenly realm is divided into different types of gods. Civil Gods handle the bureaucracy and paperwork, endless amounts of it. They're led by Ling Wen, whose palace we're headed toward, in case you were still wondering."

"Ah, finally some answers! And the others?" Wei Wuxian asked with a laugh, his eyes darting to take in a pair of officials in martial dress who passed them, their weapons gleaming with inlaid jade and gold.

"Martial Gods are the warriors and protectors," Hua Cheng explained, his lip curling slightly at the pompous stance of the passing officials. "They handle threats to heaven's order and are worshiped for protection against evil spirits. Most were great generals or warriors in life." He nodded toward another figure in simpler robes who hurried past with a stack of scrolls. "Then there are the Elemental Masters, gods who control the five natural elements: Water, Wind, Earth, Fire, and Rain."

Wei Wuxian absorbed this information with evident fascination. "So the one we saw earlier, Ming Yi, he's an Elemental Master? Earth, you said?"

A wry smile twisted Hua Cheng's lips. "Yes, though 'mastery' might be a generous term in his case." The knowledge that He Xuan was playing a dangerous game of deception in heaven's midst was something he couldn't share, even with Wei Wuxian. Not yet. Some secrets weren't his to tell, and He Xuan's vengeance had been centuries in the making.

They continued down the street as Hua Cheng pointed out other notable features of the heavenly capital. Little bridges spanning flowing streams, the pavilions where gods gathered to discuss affairs of state or simply posture for position. Each explanation was kept deliberately brief, factual.

Wei Wuxian was a quick study, asking incisive questions that revealed a mind continuously processing and synthesizing new information. His keen observations often caught details even Hua Cheng had begun to overlook through familiarity, seeing connections between this realm's structure and the cultivation sects of his own realm that Hua Cheng found surprisingly insightful.

As they rounded another corner, a massive structure came into view. A palace that seemed to sprawl in all directions, its architecture precise to the point of severity. Unlike the other divine residences they had passed, this one lacked ornate decoration or flourishes, its clean lines and unadorned surfaces speaking of function over form.

"Ling Wen's palace," Hua Cheng announced, slowing their pace as they approached. "Centre of heaven's bureaucracy and repository of its records." He tightened the concealment barrier around them with a focused thought, adding layers of protection against the heightened surveillance that surrounded this particular domain.

Wei Wuxian's eyes gleamed with renewed interest as he studied the imposing structure. "And I assume we're not here with an appointment?" he asked, a hint of mischief curving his lips.

"No," Hua Cheng confirmed, allowing his own smile to surface, sharp and predatory. His eye met Wei Wuxian's, finding eager anticipation rather than apprehension reflected back at him. "Still interested in accompanying me on my errands?"

Wei Wuxian's answering grin was brilliant enough to rival any heavenly light, his silver eyes sparkling with excitement at the prospect of risk. "Lead the way, gege," he said, tightening his grip on Hua Cheng's arm.

Once again, Hua Cheng found himself struck by how perfectly matched they were in spirit, how effortlessly Wei Wuxian complemented his own nature.

Hua Cheng led Wei Wuxian toward a side entrance of the palace, bypassing the main gates where officials streamed in and out in a constant flow of harried movement. The smaller door was still ornate by mortal standards, but positively austere compared to the grand entrances they had passed throughout the capital. Perfect for their purposes. Less traffic meant fewer chances of accidental discovery, even with the concealment barrier in place.

With practiced ease, Hua Cheng extended his spiritual energy to manipulate the complex array carved into the door's frame. The locks responded to his touch like obedient pets, divine protections yielding to him with only token resistance.

The door slid open silently, revealing a dimly lit corridor beyond. Hua Cheng ushered Wei Wuxian inside before closing the door behind them with equal care. The moment they stepped fully into the palace, the atmosphere changed dramatically. What had seemed serene and orderly from the outside revealed itself to be absolute chaos within.

The corridor opened into a vast chamber filled with such frantic activity that Hua Cheng momentarily tightened his grip on Wei Wuxian to ensure they wouldn't be separated in the mayhem. Palace workers darted in every direction, arms laden with towering stacks of scrolls and documents. Lesser officials called instructions that went largely ignored in the din, while scribes hunched over desks that lined the walls, brushes flying across parchment with incredible speed.

And the paper. Gods, the paper. Scrolls filled shelves that stretched from floor to ceiling, while loose documents littered every available surface. Some were even pinned to the walls with spiritual energy, creating a bizarre mosaic of administrative chaos. The air itself seemed thick with the scent of ink and the distinctive mustiness of ancient records.

Wei Wuxian stared at the scene in open amazement, his lips parting slightly as he took in the spectacular disorder. A palace worker rushed past so close that his robes brushed against the edge of their concealment barrier, yet he didn't so much as pause in his harried trek across the chamber.

"I think," Wei Wuxian murmured, leaning close to Hua Cheng's ear to ensure he was heard over the cacophony, "we probably didn't even need the barrier." His silver eyes tracked another official who nearly tripped over a fallen stack of documents, cursing loudly before continuing on his way without bothering to pick them up. "They wouldn't even have noticed if we simply walked in and helped ourselves."

A soft huff of genuine amusement escaping Hua Cheng's lips as he surveyed the pandemonium. Wei Wuxian wasn't wrong. The workers moved with the glazed expressions of the perpetually overwhelmed, their focus narrowed so completely to their immediate tasks that they might well have missed a calamity manifesting in their midst.

"The great machinery of the heavenly realm," Hua Cheng said dryly, guiding Wei Wuxian through the chaos with careful steps. "Impressive, isn't it?"

As they navigated deeper into the palace, Hua Cheng searched the sea of frantic faces for one in particular. Ling Wen herself was nowhere to be seen among the scurrying officials, an absence that simultaneously eased their task and raised his suspicions. The Palace of Ling Wen without its namesake was unusual. She was known to be constantly present, overseeing the endless flow of heavenly paperwork with the same merciless efficiency she applied to everything else.

Her absence was convenient, but it made him warier. He made a mental note to keep alert for her potential return as he steered Wei Wuxian toward a corridor branching off from the main chamber. Unlike the chaotic central space, this passageway was eerily quiet, its stillness forming a sharp contrast to the bedlam they left behind.

Hua Cheng felt the change immediately. The subtle pressure of powerful barriers pressing against his senses, more sophisticated and layered than those at the entrance. These were serious protections, designed not merely to keep out casual intruders but to alert, trap, and potentially destroy anyone foolish enough to breach them without authorization. The strength of these barriers told him they were nearing their goal; they would not have bothered with such precautions unless there was something genuinely valuable to protect.

With methodical precision, Hua Cheng began dismantling the spiritual traps one by one, careful to leave no trace of his tampering. This wasn't merely about getting in, it was about ensuring no one knew they had been there at all. Each barrier dissolved beneath his touch like frost under a warming sun, their complex patterns unravelling as he exploited weaknesses only visible to his experienced eye.

Wei Wuxian watched the process with rapt fascination, his keen gaze tracking each subtle movement of Hua Cheng's hands. The intensity of his focus was somehow more flattering than any verbal praise could have been. This brilliant man who had revolutionized cultivation in his own realm, finding Hua Cheng's methods worthy of such attention.

When the final barrier yielded, the door before them swung open silently, revealing a chamber far smaller and more ordered than the main hall. Unlike the rest of the palace, this room was immaculate. Shelves lined the walls in perfect symmetry, each holding scrolls arranged with meticulous precision. A large desk occupied the centre, its surface bare save for a single jade paperweight and a writing set that appeared to have never been used.

"We're here," Hua Cheng said, allowing Wei Wuxian inside before carefully sealing the door behind them. "This should be where they keep their most valuable records. Information too dangerous or valuable to risk in the main archives."

Wei Wuxian moved toward the nearest shelf, his fingers hovering just above the scrolls without quite touching them. "What exactly are we looking for?" he asked, curiosity evident in his voice.

Hua Cheng deliberated his response carefully. The truth, that he intended to identify the sects most responsible for Wei Wuxian's suffering, so he could systematically destroy them. It was not something he could share. Not yet.

Perhaps not ever.

Wei Wuxian, for all his fierce power and darkness, still possessed a compassion that might balk at such mass slaughter, even of those who had wronged him.

"Have a look around," Hua Cheng said instead, his tone deliberately neutral. "See if anything interests you. I want to look at some records regarding Baoshan Saren’s territory. Historical information that might help us understand how your soul was able to manifest in Ghost City."

It wasn't entirely a lie. Understanding the connection between realms was indeed part of his purpose. He simply omitted the bloody conclusion he intended to draw from that understanding.

Wei Wuxian's face lit up at the prospect of exploration, his natural curiosity immediately engaged. "Don't have to tell me twice," he said with a grin, already turning toward a shelf labelled with ancient characters.

With Wei Wuxian happily occupied, Hua Cheng moved purposefully toward the far corner of the room where his senses detected the strongest concentrations of spiritual energy. These would be the most protected records. His fingers traced along the shelf until he found it. A series of scrolls tucked between more unconventional tablets.

Removing the first scroll with careful precision, Hua Cheng opened it to see a communication log. Reports from agents embedded in the mortal realm, organized by territory and date. He fucking knew Jun Wu wouldn't honour his agreement.

Hua Cheng scrolled through the text quickly, searching for mentions of Baoshan Sanren's territory, of the cultivation sects that populated it. Names began to emerge from the sea of information. Lanling Jin, Gusu Lan, Qinghe Nie, Yunmeng Jiang, Qishan Wen. The major sects Wei Wuxian had mentioned, whose complex politics had shaped his life and death.

More specific information followed. Intelligence on sect leaders, notable events, power struggles that the heavenly realm had deemed worthy of documenting. Hua Cheng absorbed it all, his mind cataloguing names and deeds for future reference.

Those who had contributed most directly to Wei Wuxian's suffering would pay first and most severely, but he would not be selective in his vengeance. This was not about justice, it was about retribution.

His attention caught on a detailed account of the siege of the Burial Mounds, the combined forces of the cultivators descending upon a single man and those under his protection. The scroll provided names, force numbers, specific roles in the attack. It outlined which sect leader had proposed the siege, which had provided the most troops.

A slow, cold rage built within Hua Cheng as he read, the kind of fury that didn't burn hot but froze, crystallizing into something sharp and lethal.

They would pay. Every last one of them.

Sudden decisiveness made Hua Cheng seek out each and every scroll that could potentially hold the information he needed, and store them away for later inspection.

Fuck Jun Wu.

Hua Cheng couldn't care less if he discovers the scrolls are missing. He Xuan was sure to throw a fit when he discovers Hua Cheng took them, but he's still pissed at the threat thrown at him yesterday.

Across the room, Wei Wuxian had become absorbed in his own discoveries, unaware of the cold calculation taking place mere steps away. Occasionally, Hua Cheng glanced toward him, allowing himself a moment of softness at the sight of Wei Wuxian's animated expressions as he happily explored forbidden knowledge.

Each such glance reinforced his determination. This brilliant, beautiful soul had been broken by petty, jealous men. No power in any realm would prevent Hua Cheng from making them suffer for it.

He would burn their entire world to ash if necessary.

The bustling avenue felt overly bright after the dimness of Ling Wen's archives, golden light reflecting off white stone with an intensity that seemed deliberately designed to blind. Hua Cheng's steps were unhurried as they made their way back toward Ming Yi's palace, his hand resting lightly at the small of Wei Wuxian's back. The concealment barrier remained firmly in place around them, though his attention to maintaining it had become secondary to the cold fury simmering beneath his hopefully composed exterior.

Hua Cheng barely registered the officials who passed unknowingly close to them, his thoughts entirely occupied with calculating the most efficient methods to dismantle an entire cultivation domain. He'd need to be methodical, to ensure no connection could be drawn between the deaths.

"Gege?" Wei Wuxian's voice cut through his darkened thoughts, the gentle query accompanied by a slight pressure against his side. "Are you alright? You've been quiet since we left the palace."

Hua Cheng forced his attention back to the present moment, to the man beside him whose silver eyes watched him with unmistakable concern. A sliver of guilt threaded through his anger. Not for his plans, but for allowing them to distract him from Wei Wuxian's company.

"Just thinking," Hua Cheng replied, making an effort to soften his expression as he met Wei Wuxian's gaze. "There was a lot of information to process."

Wei Wuxian studied his face with careful attention, clearly not entirely convinced by the explanation. Rather than press the issue directly, however, his lips curved into a small, conspiratorial smile. "So," he began, his voice dropping to a playful murmur as he moved closer into Hua Cheng's space, "of all these uptight divine officials scurrying around, is there one you hate most among the bunch?" He paused, silver eyes dancing with mischief as he added, "Besides Jun Wu, obviously."

The question was so unexpected, so perfectly tailored to divert him, that Hua Cheng found himself genuinely surprised.

Recognizing the attempt to lighten his mood for what it was, Hua Cheng decided to play along. "There are two, actually," he answered, his voice low. "A pair of martial gods named Feng Xin and Mu Qing. General Nan Yang and General Xuan Zhen, officially."

Wei Wuxian's smile widened at this information, a gleam of anticipation sparking in his eyes. "Interesting," he said, tapping his fingers lightly against Hua Cheng's arm where they walked connected. "Now, don't you think we should pay at least one of their palaces a visit before we leave? You know, just to fuck with them a little?" He punctuated the suggestion with an exaggerated wink and a grin so infectious that Hua Cheng found his own lips curving upward in response.

The suggestion was reckless, unnecessary, and could potentially compromise their entire mission if something went wrong. It served no practical purpose in Hua Cheng's careful plans. It was exactly the kind of chaotic impulse that made Wei Wuxian so irresistible.

"And how would we fuck with them?" Hua Cheng asked, his mood improving despite himself. "If you leave it up to me we'd simply be burning their palaces down to the ground."

Wei Wuxian laughed, the sound bright and carefree. "Maybe we can be a tad less conspicuous," he suggested, eyes dancing with mirth. "Arson might draw some unwanted attention." He tilted his head thoughtfully, silver eyes narrowing as he considered alternatives. "Martial gods probably have an excessive attachment to their weapons, don't they? Maybe we could... tamper with them a bit?"

The simplicity of the suggestion struck Hua Cheng as brilliantly effective. No grand destruction, just a small disruption that would undermine a martial god's dignity at the most inopportune moment.

"Feng Xin's palace is closest to Ming Yi's," Hua Cheng said, already shifting their direction with a gentle pressure at the small of Wei Wuxian's back. "He's particularly proud of his archery." He allowed a genuine smile to curve his lips. "Carving a few profanities into his favorite bow would be more than worth the detour."

Their path took them through increasingly martial surroundings as they left the administrative district behind. Where Ling Wen's domain had been overcrowded with scrolls and scribes, this area featured training grounds and armouries. Occasionally, deputy officials could be seen drilling with weapons or engaged in mock combat, their divine power flaring in carefully controlled bursts as they demonstrated techniques more for show than actual effectiveness.

Hua Cheng led Wei Wuxian with unhurried confidence, his memory serving as their guide through the heavenly realm's layout. The further they walked, the more the architecture began to shift. White stone giving way to warmer tones, sharper angles softening into curves that Hua Cheng recognized with an immediate twist of disdain in his gut.

Feng Xin's palace rose before them, its structure unmistakably reminiscent of Xianle's style. The same graceful archways, the same harmonious proportions that had once defined His Highness's kingdom. Yet where true Xianle architecture had featured delicate embellishments and thoughtful details, Feng Xin's palace was a crude imitation, stripped of nuance, lacking the subtle refinement that had made Xianle's design truly transcendent. It was as if someone had studied the skeleton of the kingdom's aesthetic without capturing its soul.

The sight triggered a visceral reaction in Hua Cheng, his jaw tightening as ancient memories stirred. That this man, this arrogant, self-righteous piece of shit who had abandoned his prince when loyalty mattered most, would dare appropriate even the architectural style of Xianle felt like a personal affront. As if Feng Xin's very dwelling was a monument to his betrayal, built in mockery of what had been lost.

"Is something wrong?" Wei Wuxian asked quietly, his perceptiveness once again catching the subtle shift in Hua Cheng's mood.

Hua Cheng forced his expression back to neutrality. "Nothing important," he replied, guiding Wei Wuxian toward a side entrance similar to the one they had used at Ling Wen's palace.

The security at Feng Xin's palace proved laughably inadequate compared to Ling Wen's sophisticated barriers. Where the Civil God had employed layers of protection that required actual effort to dismantle, Feng Xin relied on basic deterrents that Hua Cheng bypassed with contemptuous ease. The door yielded to his spiritual manipulation without resistance, swinging open to reveal a surprisingly austere interior.

Unlike the administrative chaos of Ling Wen's domain, Feng Xin's palace was orderly to the point of sterility. Wide corridors lined with martial displays led to spacious chambers whose purpose was immediately evident. Training areas, meeting rooms, spaces designed for efficiency rather than comfort. The walls were adorned with weapons and battle standards, trophies of conflicts long resolved but still commemorated with military pride.

Servants moved through the space with disciplined purpose, their movements suggesting the rigidity of their master's expectations. Yet there was a notable absence of officials or deputies. No sign of the higher ranking inhabitants one would expect in a General's residence.

"Not very homey, is it?" Wei Wuxian observed in a whisper, silver eyes taking in the austere surroundings. "It feels more like a barracks than a palace."

Hua Cheng snorted softly. "Feng Xin has always valued the appearance of discipline over actual substance," he murmured in response, guiding Wei Wuxian deeper into the palace. They passed several servants who continued about their duties, entirely oblivious to the invisible intruders in their midst.

As they ventured further into the palace, Hua Cheng's keen spatial awareness guided them toward what would be the most private area, the General's personal chambers. "This way," Hua Cheng murmured, drawing Wei Wuxian down a narrower passage that branched off from the main corridor. "If my guess is right, his most prized weapons would be kept within arm's reach, even while he sleeps. He's always been paranoid about security despite all his bluster."

The passage gradually became more decorated as they progressed, the austere martial aesthetic giving way to subtle indications of personal space. At the end stood an ornate door bearing significantly stronger spiritual protections than any they had yet encountered in the palace. Not nearly strong enough to present a challenge to Hua Cheng, of course, but noticeably more complex than the outer defences.

With precision, Hua Cheng dismantled the barriers, ensuring they would reset themselves after passage to leave no evidence of intrusion. The door swung open to reveal a chamber that stood in stark contrast to the simplicity of the rest of the palace.

Feng Xin's bedroom was unexpectedly spacious, its high ceiling adorned with painted scenes of legendary battles that Hua Cheng recognized with distaste as conflicts from Xianle's history. The walls featured elegantly displayed weapons, ceremonial rather than practical, though no less deadly for their decorative appearance. A massive bow crafted of golden wood held pride of place above an ornate writing desk, alongside quivers of arrows tipped with fletching that seemed to shimmer with divine light.

Hua Cheng's eye swept over the collection, already calculating which modifications would cause the most frustration without being immediately noticeable. His focus was so intent that he almost missed Wei Wuxian's soft gasp of surprise.

"Who needs a bed that big?" Wei Wuxian exclaimed in a hushed tone, his attention entirely captured by the centerpiece of the room. The bed in question was indeed enormous, a sprawling expanse of silk draped luxury that could have comfortably accommodated half a dozen sleepers. Carved pillars supported a canopy of deep blue fabric embroidered with silver thread, while the mattress itself was piled with cushions in complementary shades.

Before Hua Cheng could respond, Wei Wuxian had already approached the monstrosity, his silver eyes wide with disbelief as he circled it. "It's bigger than my entire sleeping area in the Burial Mounds! Do gods grow extra limbs in their sleep that require this much space?" His voice carried equal parts amusement and genuine bewilderment as he reached out to press experimentally on the edge of the mattress.

"Compensating for something, perhaps," Hua Cheng murmured dryly, his lips quirking upward at Wei Wuxian's reaction. He turned back toward the weapons display, intent on their original purpose, only to be distracted again by a soft thump behind him.

He turned to find Wei Wuxian had sprawled himself across the enormous bed, arms and legs stretched out as far as they could reach while still leaving vast expanses of silk untouched on all sides. The sight was so unexpectedly charming. This powerful fierce ghost, the feared Yiling Laozu, spread eagled like a child discovering snow for the first time.

"I could roll over four times and still not reach the edge," Wei Wuxian announced with clear delight, demonstrating by executing a partial roll before flopping onto his back again. His dark hair fanned out against the azure silk, creating a striking contrast that emphasized the soft perfection of his skin. "Gege, you need to get one of these for your manor. I'd never leave your bed."

The innocent statement carried unintended implications that sent heat rushing through Hua Cheng's veins. The mental image of Wei Wuxian sprawled across his own bed, hair loose and eyes inviting, was powerful enough to momentarily drive all thoughts of weapons from his mind. He found himself taking an unconscious step toward the bed, drawn by a force as inexorable as gravity.

Wei Wuxian propped himself up on his elbows, his expression shifting from playful to something more perceptive as he caught Hua Cheng's intent gaze. "What? Do I have something on my face?" he asked, though the slight curve of his lips suggested he understood precisely what had captured Hua Cheng's attention.

"Not yet," Hua Cheng replied, his voice emerging lower than intended. He made no move to look away, however, his eye tracing the elegant lines of Wei Wuxian's form against the luxurious backdrop.

Wei Wuxian's startled laugh rang clear in his ears, having no trouble understanding his crude reference. "Not yet?" he asked with pure sin colouring his voice, lying back down and stretching his arms above his head in a deliberate motion that caused his robes to pull taut across his chest. "We wouldn't want to ruin this gorgeous bed, would we? It would be such an inconvenience for the poor general to come home to questionable stains on his bedding."

A visceral pulse of dark satisfaction surged through Hua Cheng at the thought of desecrating Feng Xin's pristine bed. The image of Feng Xin returning to his chambers only to find sweat and cum smeared across his silken sheets sent a thrill of cruel pleasure up his spine.

The thought so potent his body responded with immediate heat. Hours of fraying restraint weakened dangerously as he watched Wei Wuxian continue his sinuous display, silver eyes gleaming with invitation.

From the moment Wei Wuxian had awakened yesterday, he had set out to systematically seduce Hua Cheng. The way he'd "accidentally" grind his ass against Hua Cheng's dick in bed that morning, the teasing touches over breakfast, the provocative comments disguised as innocent observations. Each encounter building tension, creating a scaffolding of desire that now threatened to collapse under its own weight.

Seeing the dark need crossing Hua Cheng's features, Wei Wuxian's smile turned positively wicked, further confirming his suspicion. Slowly Wei Wuxian shifted on the bed, the movement causing his hair to spread further across the blue silk. "Won't you come play with me, gege?" he asked, the picture of false innocence belied by the heat in his gaze.

Hua Cheng found himself rooted to the spot, his body caught in the gravitational pull of Wei Wuxian's invitation while his mind desperately grasped for restraint. The need coursing through him was primal, savage. A small voice in his head trying to remind him that Wei Wuxian deserved tenderness. Gentleness. Respect beyond the ravaging Hua Cheng's body demanded.

Yet even as these thoughts battled for dominance, Wei Wuxian clearly had other plans. His hands moved first to the sash at his waist, untying it with tantalizing slowness before sitting up, shrugging his shoulders to let his outer robe slip down his arms. The heavy black fabric pooled around him on the azure silk, creating a dark halo that only emphasized the remaining layers clinging to his form.

Without looking down, Wei Wuxian's fingers moved to the ties of his inner robe. The first knot surrendered with lingering slowness, the fabric parting to reveal the elegant hollow of his throat. Each movement was calculated seduction. Not the practiced art of a courtesan, but something far more dangerous: genuine desire wrapped in playful mischief.

The second tie fell away beneath those clever fingers, then the third. Silk whispered against skin as the robe slipped further open, revealing the sharp definition of collarbones, the smooth expanse of chest, the first hints of defined muscle beneath soft skin. Wei Wuxian's silver eyes never wavered from Hua Cheng, drinking in every flicker of desire, every tightening of his jaw, every subtle tell that betrayed the war raging within him.

"Do you know," Wei Wuxian murmured, his voice pitched low enough that Hua Cheng had to strain to hear it, "I can actually see your restraint breaking? It's like watching cracks spread through ice." His hands continued their work, the last tie giving way beneath his fingers. He made no move to remove the robe completely, instead allowing it to cling to his shoulders while falling open to frame his torso like a work of art awaiting appreciation.

Hua Cheng's eye darkened to something fathomless as it traced the newly revealed canvas before him. The elegant dip of Wei Wuxian's navel. The subtle V of muscle disappearing beneath his trousers. The way his chest rose and fell with quickened breaths. Every detail seared itself into Hua Cheng's memory even as his conscience waged its losing battle against the molten heat pooling low in his stomach.

"You're playing with fire, A-Ying," Hua Cheng warned, his voice emerging as barely more than a growl. His fingers curled into fists at his sides, nails digging crescents into his palms as he fought to remain where he stood.

Wei Wuxian's answering smile was sin incarnate. "Maybe I want to burn." With exquisite deliberation, he shrugged one shoulder, allowing the silk to slip further, catching at his elbow before sliding completely free. The movement exposed the elegant curve of his shoulder, the subtle play of muscle beneath skin that spoke of latent power despite his slender frame. "Maybe I've been cold for too long."

Hua Cheng's breath ceased, the sentiment carrying centuries of lonely frost that had settled in his own soul. An ache so familiar he'd forgotten it was there until Wei Wuxian's warmth began to thaw it. Before he could fully process the realization, his body betrayed him, carrying him one unconscious step closer to the bed, then another, drawn by an inevitable force.

Wei Wuxian's eyes gleamed with triumph at the movement, recognizing the surrender it represented. His fingers moved to the ties of his trousers with renewed purpose, tugging the knot loose with a single deft motion. He reclined fully against the silken sheets, lifting his hips in a fluid movement to slide the remaining clothing down his legs before kicking it along with his discarded robes away carelessly. The final barrier removed, Wei Wuxian lay completely bare upon Feng Xin's bed, midnight hair spread around him in stark contrast to the azure silk.

The sight made Hua Cheng's heart beat impossibly fast. Wei Wuxian's arousal stood proud against his stomach, flushed and already glistening at the tip, clear evidence that his seduction was not merely performance. The elegant lines of his naked body held nothing of shame or reservation, only open invitation and genuine desire that matched the heat in his silver eyes.

Unable to resist the need for a fraction of relief, Hua Cheng's hand moved to cup his aching hardness through his clothing, gripping it roughly, doing absolutely nothing to ease the pressure. Wei Wuxian's eyes tracked the movement like a predator, pupils expanding until they nearly devoured the silver of his irises. His lips parted on a soft exhale, the pace of his breathing visibly quickening as he watched Hua Cheng touch himself.

With deliberate provocation, Wei Wuxian bent one leg at the knee, exposing himself further while his hand traced a sensuous path down his own chest, the other tangled in soft silk. His fingers circled a nipple with teasing lightness before suddenly pinching the sensitive peak between thumb and forefinger, tugging just hard enough to draw a soft gasp from his own lips.

The unexpected action pulled a deep groan from Hua Cheng's throat, his hand tightening its grip through his clothing, pressure bordering on pain that only heightened his arousal. Wei Wuxian's lips curved in satisfaction at the response, his hand continuing its southward journey across the muscled plane of his stomach until his fingers finally wrapped around his own length.

Wei Wuxian's eyes fluttered closed as he gave himself a long, experimental stroke from base to tip, his head tipping back against the silk as pleasure coursed through him. The soft sound that escaped his throat was part sigh, part moan. Unguarded and genuine in a way that made Hua Cheng's cock throb painfully against his palm.

Standing motionless at the edge of the bed, watching Wei Wuxian pleasure himself with such shameless abandon, Hua Cheng felt as though his very soul might leave his body. His eye fixed on the mesmerizing sight with such longing that it physically hurt, each subtle flex of Wei Wuxian's wrist, each hitch in his breathing, each unconscious movement of his hips driving Hua Cheng to insanity.

Wei Wuxian's free hand moved to cup his balls, giving them a gentle tug that had his back arching slightly off the silk. His other hand maintained its languid pace, thumb collecting the moisture beading at his tip to spread it down his length with each stroke. The slick sounds of his movements filled the room, mixing with his increasingly ragged breathing as pleasure built steadily through his frame.

"Hua Cheng," he moaned softly, the name falling from his lips like a prayer, unplanned and fervent with desire. The sound of his name shattered something vital in Hua Cheng's restraint.

His hands mindlessly went to the ties of his robes, trembling fingers working with urgency that bordered on violence. Fabric tore beneath his grip as he stripped away each layer. The rustle of clothing caught Wei Wuxian's attention, drawing those heavy lidded silver eyes open to witness Hua Cheng's disrobing.

The naked hunger that overtook Wei Wuxian's expression at the sight only hastened Hua Cheng's movements, the last barriers falling away to reveal his body in its entirety. The evidence of his desire achingly hard and heavy between his legs, flushed dark with need as he finally climbed onto the bed, the mattress dipping beneath his weight.

Without a word, he covered Wei Wuxian's hand with his own, larger fingers wrapping around the combined grip. Wei Wuxian's breath hitched at the contact, his hand slipping away to allow Hua Cheng complete control. His freed hands immediately reached for Hua Cheng's face, pulling him down with surprising strength into a kiss that held nothing of gentleness.

Hua Cheng leaned into the contact, bracing his weight on the elbow planted beside Wei Wuxian's head as he continued the slow, measured pace of his strokes.

Desperation coursed through Hua Cheng's body like wildfire, his own arousal laying heavy and hot against Wei Wuxian's thigh. The tip wet with need, slickening the skin beneath. Their kiss deepened, grew messier, all clashing teeth and hungry exploration as Hua Cheng sucked Wei Wuxian's tongue into his mouth roughly. He released it with a deliberate scrape of teeth that drew a broken moan from Wei Wuxian's throat, the sound vibrating between them.

Hua Cheng's eye closed tightly as he pressed their foreheads together, his hand stilling its movements around Wei Wuxian's length. His breathing emerged ragged and uneven, warm against Wei Wuxian's lips as he struggled to form words.

"I've been trying," he confessed, the words emerging rough with strain, "so damn hard to treat you with respect. To not take advantage after everything you've been through." His voice dropped lower, carrying notes of self-recrimination. "But I'm failing miserably. The things I want to do to you—"

"Is that what's been going on?" Wei Wuxian interrupted, disbelief colouring his breathless voice. He placed his hand beneath Hua Cheng's chin, tilting his face upward. "Look at me," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for reasoning or evasion.

Hua Cheng's eye opened reluctantly, meeting Wei Wuxian's gaze with uncharacteristic uncertainty.

"I would have to be fucking blind not to see the respect and adoration coming from you," Wei Wuxian said, each word precise despite his quickened breath. "But the last thing I want is for you to suffocate a part of yourself—what comes naturally to you—to handle me with some kind of divine reverence." His fingers traced the curve of Hua Cheng's jaw, touch gentle but expression fierce.

"I have no desire to be placed on a pedestal and handled with sacred care," he continued, silver eyes blazing. "I want you to give in to your immediate instincts, to feel like you can act on your impulses without having to over analyse how it will make me feel. I'm not made of glass, gege. I won't break."

The weight that had been crushing Hua Cheng's chest lifted instantly, a relief so profound it left him momentarily light headed. Something unfathomable pulsed through his body. Liberation, perhaps, or gratitude. He captured Wei Wuxian's lips in a desperate kiss. The violence of it spoke volumes, tongues battling as his hand abandoned Wei Wuxian's arousal to cradle his face instead, fingers moving to tangle in midnight hair possessively.

Fluidly he aligned their bodies, his cock sliding against Wei Wuxian's with a slickness that drew groans from them both. His hips thrust forward with all the desperation that had been building since the previous morning. Since he'd been left trembling with need on their bed. The wet slide of flesh against flesh sent sparks of pleasure racing up his spine, heightened by the broken sound that escaped Wei Wuxian's throat as their bodies moved together in perfect synchronicity.

With what felt like an impossible effort, Hua Cheng broke their contact, sitting back on his haunches to take in the absolute debauched state of Wei Wuxian laid out before him. His hair was a wild splay against the azure silk, lips swollen from desperate kisses, chest heaving with each uneven breath. Silver eyes gazed up at him with hazy desire, unfocused yet hungry for more.

"Turn over for me," Hua Cheng softly commanded. After Wei Wuxian's earlier display of shameless self-pleasure, perhaps he'd be further aroused by having to present himself so openly, by being made to wait.

Wei Wuxian looked as though he was struggling to even process the words, his brow furrowing slightly as if translating some complex foreign language. Hua Cheng could pinpoint the exact moment understanding dawned. A deep flush bloomed across those high cheekbones, spreading rapidly down to stain that delectable neck.

Hua Cheng waited patiently, wrapping his hand around his own length to give himself a long, deliberate stroke as anticipation built within him. Would Wei Wuxian obey? The thought alone, that this powerful, willful creature might yield to his command, sent fresh waves of heat coursing through his veins.

Wei Wuxian's eyes flicked to where Hua Cheng pleasured himself, the sight seeming to break him from his momentary daze. His silver gaze lifted to meet Hua Cheng's, heavy with heat. Without breaking that charged eye contact, he slowly pushed himself upright.

With deliberate slowness, Wei Wuxian turned over, positioning himself on hands and knees atop the silken sheets. His knees parted slightly as he settled into the position, hands pressed firmly into the mattress. The elegant line of his spine curved downward, midnight hair cascading over one shoulder to reveal the vulnerable nape of his neck.

The sight nearly undid Hua Cheng completely. He gripped the base of his cock with punishing force, desperately staving off release that threatened to overwhelm him from the visual alone. Wei Wuxian presented to him like a feast, offered up with such willing abandon.

"Spread your cheeks for me," he commanded, voice emerged strained and rough, sounding undone even to his own ears.

Wei Wuxian obeyed without hesitation. He lowered his upper body until his shoulders met the silk, turning his head to one side against the mattress. His hands reached back, fingers spreading himself open in a display of complete surrender.

The sight struck Hua Cheng with an almost existential force. That perfectly tight, pinkened hole, fluttered before him. He tightened his grip at his base, a strangled groan escaping his throat. "Fuck," he muttered, the word emerging reverent and desperate.

The sound of his voice caused Wei Wuxian's body to respond visibly, his hole contracting with anticipation. His breathing quickened noticeably, betraying his heightened arousal despite the vulnerable position.

Moving forward to cover Wei Wuxian's hands with his own, Hua Cheng took over their positioning gently. Released from their task, Wei Wuxian's hands immediately moved forward, fingers curling into the silken sheets beside his head.

Hua Cheng's grip tightened with appreciation of the perfection cupped in his hands before lowering himself closer, his breath warming Wei Wuxian's skin as he hovered above that winking hole. With careful precision, he traced it with the tip of his tongue. A fleeting, experimental touch that drew a shuddering gasp from Wei Wuxian's throat.

The sound was exquisite. Part surprise, part pleasure, with undertones of need that resonated through Hua Cheng's very core. The taste of Wei Wuxian's skin bloomed across his tongue, uniquely intoxicating. "So sensitive," Hua Cheng murmured against the damp skin, his lips brushing against it with each word.

Hua Cheng pushed Wei Wuxian's rounded cheeks even further apart with the sole purpose of ravaging his hole with abandonment. His tongue lapped at the reddening tightness until it gradually yielded beneath the savage probing. The first time his tongue passed that circle of muscle Hua Cheng's hips gave an involuntary thrust into nothingness. His cock aching to be buried deep inside that tight wetness.

Wei Wuxian was a trembling mess beneath him. A constant flow of moans and pleas passed his lips unbidden. The intensity increasing as Hua Cheng started spearing his wet tongue into him.

Pulling his tongue out with a sinful suck to his hole, Hua Cheng growled against the wet skin, his breath cooling the moisture left behind, "Touch yourself, let me hear you."

Wei Wuxian made a sound caught between a whimper and a moan, seeming almost overwhelmed by the combination of sensations and demands. For a moment, Hua Cheng wondered if he'd pushed too far, then Wei Wuxian's arm moved, reaching beneath his body with trembling fingers.

The shift in Wei Wuxian's breathing told Hua Cheng the exact moment his hand found its target, wrapping around himself shakily and tugging hard. The movement so desperate that Hua Cheng tightened his grip on Wei Wuxian's cheeks and pushed his tongue deep into the reddened hole in front of him. He kept his tongue buried inside, circling and exploring while listening to Wei Wuxian's increasingly louder sounds.

Fuck, it was beautiful. Overwhelming.

He could feel Wei Wuxian's rhythm faltering, then quickening as pleasure built relentlessly throughout his body. "Gege—" Wei Wuxian gasped, the endearment breaking on a sharp intake of breath. "I can't—I'm going to—" Hua Cheng sensed the approaching peak, doubling his efforts fucking into his hole. No longer subtle exploration but deliberate, focused assault that sent shockwaves of sensation through Wei Wuxian's entire frame.

Wei Wuxian's back arched sharply, a broken cry tearing from his throat as pleasure crashed through him with devastating force. His entire body shuddered with the intensity of his release, the ring of muscles tensing and relaxing in waves around Hua Cheng's tongue as he spilled onto the pristine blue silk beneath him.

Hua Cheng continued his ministrations through each aftershock, gentling the pressure as Wei Wuxian's tremors gradually subsided, finally giving one last lick over the abused hole.

Hua Cheng slowly rose to his knees to gather Wei Wuxian in his arms and lay him down, further away from the ruined sheets. A bone deep satisfaction went through his body seeing Wei Wuxian utterly spent and sated.

Beautiful. Debauched. Entirely his.

Hua Cheng lowered himself to lie behind Wei Wuxian, gathering him into his arms with a tenderness to contrast the ferocity of moments before. He cradled Wei Wuxian against his chest, arms wrapped securely around his waist, their bodies slick against each other.

"You were so beautiful," Hua Cheng murmured against Wei Wuxian's ear, his lips brushing the sensitive skin with each word. "So perfect, A-Ying." His voice emerged soft, despite the crudeness of their activities, as if the intimacy of this moment outweighed even their shared pleasure.

He pressed slow, gentle kisses along the curve of Wei Wuxian's shoulder, up the elegant column of his neck, behind his ear. Touches meant to comfort rather than arouse. His own arousal remained insistent, but Hua Cheng carefully angled his hips to avoid pressing it too obviously against Wei Wuxian, content to let it subside on its own. This moment was about holding Wei Wuxian through the aftermath, sheltering him in his vulnerability.

Wei Wuxian's breathing gradually steadied, his body melting back into Hua Cheng's embrace with boneless contentment. His fingers found Hua Cheng's where they rested against his stomach, intertwining with easy familiarity.

He shifted in Hua Cheng's embrace, deliberately pressing back against the hardness Hua Cheng had tried to hide. His breath caught audibly at the contact, feeling how Hua Cheng remained slick and ready against him. Though still dazed from his own pleasure, he released a soft, "Gege," that carried unmistakable intent.

He disentangled their fingers, reaching behind himself to take Hua Cheng's length in hand. The exploratory stroke was slow but sure, drawing a sharp intake of breath from Hua Cheng as his eye closed tightly against the sudden onslaught of sensation after so long without relief.

"A-Ying," Hua Cheng murmured brokenly, "it's not necessary—"

"Please," Wei Wuxian interrupted, his voice soft but determined. "I need this." The simple honesty in those words struck deeper than any elaborate seduction could have.

Hua Cheng raised himself onto his elbow, cradling Wei Wuxian's cheek with his free hand. He leaned down to press a tender kiss against those reddened lips, pouring affection into the gentle contact. As they kissed, he felt Wei Wuxian guiding him lower, positioning him between the back of his thighs.

Understanding dawned with crystal clarity. Hua Cheng broke the kiss to look into Wei Wuxian's eyes, seeking confirmation of what was being offered. The silver gaze that met his held nothing but certainty and desire.

Hua Cheng slowly pressed forward, sliding between Wei Wuxian's slickened thighs. Wei Wuxian immediately tightened his muscles, creating a perfect channel of warm pressure that drew a strangled sound from Hua Cheng's throat. Just before pleasure overwhelmed his senses completely, Hua Cheng watched Wei Wuxian's eyes flutter closed, euphoria washing across his features despite his recent release.

Hua Cheng settled back down, wrapping his arms tightly around Wei Wuxian's waist to anchor them together. He buried his face against the elegant curve of Wei Wuxian's nape, inhaling his intoxicating scent as he began to move.

The sensation was exquisite. The tight pressure of the warm tunnel Wei Wuxian offered him, the slickness easing his way, the occasional brush against more sensitive areas that drew small sounds from Wei Wuxian's throat. Each thrust built upon the desire that had been accumulating since Wei Wuxian first awakened in his domain and looked at him with those silver eyes.

Hua Cheng's rhythm grew increasingly erratic as pleasure mounted, his control fraying with each movement. He pressed open mouthed kisses along Wei Wuxian's shoulder, across the delicate knobs of his spine, anywhere he could reach without breaking their connection. One hand moved to Wei Wuxian's hip, holding him steady as his thrusts became more urgent.

"A-Ying," he breathed against flushed skin, the name emerging as both prayer and confession. Wei Wuxian responded by reaching back to tangle his fingers in Hua Cheng's hair, the gesture unexpectedly tender amid their passionate connection.

That simple touch was what irrevocably pushed Hua Cheng over the edge. Release crashed through him with wracking force, muscles tensing as pleasure crested and broke like a wave. He held Wei Wuxian tightly against him as he spilled between those perfect thighs, body shuddering with the intensity of finally finding completion.

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian drifted back to wakefulness in gentle waves, his consciousness returning slowly. The soft glow of approaching nightfall bathed the unfamiliar chamber in amber hues, casting long shadows across ornate furnishings that his sleep addled mind struggled to place. This wasn't the manor. The architecture was all wrong, the air carrying an artificial purity that Ghost City lacked.

The even rhythm of peaceful breathing warmed the nape of Wei Wuxian's neck, Hua Cheng's powerful arms secured around his waist with protectiveness that made something flutter wildly beneath his ribs. The solid heat of Hua Cheng's form pressed against his back from shoulder to calf, providing an anchor that made him feel suddenly, inexplicably safe.

Wei Wuxian became acutely aware of the mess between his thighs. Hua Cheng's cum had started to dry already, creating a pleasant discomfort that sent a rush of heat to his face. They really desecrated a god's bed. The sheer audacity of it should have horrified him, yet all he felt was wicked delight coupled with residual arousal that settled low in his stomach.

Wei Wuxian carefully turned within Hua Cheng's embrace, moving slowly to avoid waking him. Asleep, Hua Cheng's features softened in ways that daytime rarely revealed. The perpetual vigilance eased from his brow, the calculating sharpness temporarily absent from the set of his mouth. Even with his eye patch in place, he appeared almost vulnerable, achingly beautiful in his momentary peace. Wei Wuxian's fingers lifted of their own accord, hovering briefly before gently carding across Hua Cheng's cheek.

A current of something profound cascaded through Wei Wuxian's body, a realization crystallizing with such sudden clarity.

He was falling in love with Hua Cheng.

Not the temporary infatuation of physical desire, nor the comfortable fondness of friendship, but something vast and terrifying in its totality. A feeling that seemed to expand beyond the confines of his chest until it threatened to consume him entirely.

The recognition was simultaneously the most exciting and terrifying revelation he had ever experienced. It felt like discovering an entirely new dimension of existence. Colors more vibrant, sensations more acute, emotions deeper and richer than he'd believed possible.

Although, it rendered him utterly vulnerable in ways that transcended physical danger. To have found something so precious after death, something he never managed to secure in life.

He had already hurt enough to last multiple lifetimes. Surely this time, this one single time, the universe would show him mercy.

Wei Wuxian leaned forward, pressing his lips softly against Hua Cheng's slightly parted ones, greedily stealing a lingering kiss. "Gege," he whispered against those perfect lips, attempting to draw him from slumber. He repeated it once more, breath mingling with Hua Cheng's own. "Gege, wake up."

Hua Cheng stirred reluctantly, his singular eye opening with languid resistance, clouded with sleep. Rather than fully waking up, Hua Cheng made a sound of petulant protest deep in his throat. With unexpected fluidity for someone still half asleep, he shifted his weight, rolling to settle directly atop Wei Wuxian, pressing him into the mattress with delicious pressure.

Burying his face against the curve of Wei Wuxian's neck, Hua Cheng released a contented sigh, arms wrapping possessively around Wei Wuxian's frame as if intending to continue his interrupted rest using Wei Wuxian as both mattress and pillow. The casual intimacy of the position sent a fresh wave of happiness surging through Wei Wuxian's heart.

Wei Wuxian gave a small laugh, carding one hand into Hua Cheng's sleep mussed hair, acutely aware that they were both very naked and very tightly pressed against each other. "We need to go home, gege," he murmured, the word 'home' carrying a weight of meaning that made his chest constrict pleasantly.

Hua Cheng stubbornly buried his face deeper into Wei Wuxian's neck, grunting a petulant "No" against his skin. The warm breath and rumbling voice vibrated against Wei Wuxian's throat, tickling sensitive flesh and drawing another laugh from him. The childish response from someone so imposing and feared was incredibly endearing.

Seeing that he wasn't going to win this battle easily, Wei Wuxian wrapped his legs around Hua Cheng's waist, trying desperately to ignore the considerable length rubbing against his backside at the movement. With strength that came easily these days, he bodily rolled them over. The maneuver left him still pressed against Hua Cheng's chest but now looking down at his ghost king's surprised face.

They stared at each other in momentary silence, Wei Wuxian's arms braced on either side of Hua Cheng's head, their bodies aligned in delicious pressure from chest to hip. Hua Cheng's eye gradually cleared, focusing on Wei Wuxian with increasingly alert intensity. As full awareness returned, his lips curved into a smile of such unguarded happiness that Wei Wuxian felt his newly discovered love expand beyond the confines of his ribs.

The expression was open, genuine, entirely unaffected. A sleepy, happy smile that transformed Hua Cheng's features from handsome to devastatingly beautiful. Wei Wuxian couldn't help the fluttering laugh that escaped his throat, a sound carrying pure delight at being witness to such a rare, unguarded moment. His hand moved to cup Hua Cheng's cheek, thumb tracing the curve of that perfect smile before he leaned down to capture those lips in a deep, unhurried kiss.

Hua Cheng responded immediately, his arms tightening around Wei Wuxian's waist, drawing him closer as if even the smallest distance between them was intolerable. The kiss deepened naturally, tongues meeting in languorous exploration.

Hua Cheng's hand rubbed slowly down Wei Wuxian's side, tracing the elegant curve from ribs to thigh in a lingering caress that left trails of heat in its wake. His other hand moved to Wei Wuxian's nape, fingers threading through dark strands before softly scraping his nails over sensitive skin. The dual sensation sent shivers cascading down Wei Wuxian's spine.

Wei Wuxian felt himself being pulled into a bottomless daze, each touch drawing him deeper. It would be so easy, so tempting to let go and lose himself in the feeling. Sink into the sheets with Hua Cheng and forget the world beyond this bed existed. With no small effort, he broke the kiss, drawing back just enough to meet Hua Cheng's heated gaze.

"Gege," he murmured, voice husky from both sleep and desire, "we've been here too long. We should—"

The words died on his lips as a commotion erupted down the hallway. The sound of raised voices engaged in heated argument, growing steadily closer. Wei Wuxian froze, his body tensing with sudden alarm. Hua Cheng's expression transformed instantly from languid desire to razor sharp focus, his eye narrowing as he looked toward the door.

Hua Cheng moved. One moment they were entangled on the bed; the next, he was tugging Wei Wuxian toward a small alcove in the room, his movements silent but urgent. A flick of his wrist caused their discarded robes to vanish from the floor.

Wei Wuxian felt a comforting liquid heat envelop his skin, as if being immersed in a warm bath. He looked down in astonishment to see plain black robes materializing around his body, flowing like living silk to settle against his frame with perfect fit. Mouth parted in disbelief, he looked up at Hua Cheng, a wordless question in his wide eyes.

Hua Cheng was already donning his usual crimson ensemble, the rich fabric appearing from nothing to drape his powerful form. Catching sight of Wei Wuxian's stunned expression, his ghost king's momentary anger fractured, giving way to an amused smirk as he worked to reinstate the concealment barrier around them. The wink he offered in response to Wei Wuxian's bewilderment was so unexpectedly playful that Wei Wuxian almost forgot the approaching danger.

Hua Cheng completed the barrier just as the bedroom door slammed open, revealing two figures storming into the chamber with the force of colliding thunderclouds. The first, presumably General Feng Xin himself, wore martial robes of such elaborate design they bordered on ostentatious, his handsome face contorted with irritation. The second man, equally striking but with sharper features and flowing fine hair, maintained an expression of controlled disdain that somehow managed to convey both boredom and annoyance simultaneously.

"I don't care what Jun Wu said," Feng Xin snapped, his voice carrying the authority of one accustomed to command. "You had no right to override my judgment on the eastern border dispute!"

"Your judgment," the fine haired man, most probably Mu Qing, based on context, replied with acerbic precision, "is clouded by your ridiculous attachment to mortal supplication. They burn incense and suddenly you're ready to grant their every wish, regardless of actual merit."

"That's not what happened and you know it," Feng Xin growled, pacing toward the bed with agitated steps. "The eastern village has maintained proper worship for centuries, while the western settlement barely acknowledges divine authority!"

Hua Cheng's sneer deepened as he watched the petty argument unfold, his hand settling on the small of Wei Wuxian's back with warmth. With gentle pressure, he guided them toward the door, slipping through the opening just before it swung closed behind the bickering gods.

They moved silently down the corridor, their concealment barrier rendering them invisible to passing servants who scurried about with increased nervousness now that their master had returned. They had barely reached the end of the hallway when an enraged shout echoed behind them.

"MU QING, YOU MOTHERFUCKER!" Feng Xin's voice carried the special volume reserved for those truly pushed beyond their limits. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY BED? YOU'VE TAKEN IT TOO FAR THIS TIME!"

A moment of stunned silence followed before they heard Mu Qing burst into unrestrained laughter. The sound so genuinely amused that it seemed to belong to an entirely different person than the cold, austere god they'd witnessed moments before.

Wei Wuxian clapped a hand over his mouth, but it was no use. The absurdity of the situation combined with the relief of their narrow escape sent him into paroxysms of laughter. His shoulders shook with mirth as he pictured Feng Xin's face upon discovering the evidence of their activities on his pristine sheets.

Glancing sideways, he caught sight of Hua Cheng's expression. A look of such profound satisfaction that it bordered on predatory pride. His ghost king's eye gleamed with vindictive pleasure, his lips curved into a smirk that spoke volumes about his feelings toward the heavenly general. The sight only made Wei Wuxian laugh harder, tears gathering at the corners of his eyes as they continued their escape through the divine palace.

The trip home had been blissfully uneventful, which came as an immense relief to Wei Wuxian. After their narrow escape from that bedroom, his nerves still hummed with residual excitement that made him appreciate the familiar comfort of Paradise Manor even more than usual. Night had fully descended by the time they arrived, Ghost City's vibrant nightlife coming alive beneath a canopy of crimson lanterns that dotted the landscape like earthbound stars, their warm glow visible through the latticed windows.

Wei Wuxian had tugged Hua Cheng toward one of the private gardens. The one with the lotus pond and small pavilion he found on his first day here. The night air carried a pleasant coolness that offset the lingering heat of the day, scented with the subtle fragrance of night blooming flowers that flourished uniquely in Ghost City.

Wei Wuxian settled at the edge of the pavilion, legs dangling above the dark water where occasional ripples betrayed the movement of fish beneath the surface. He tilted his head back to watch Hua Cheng pouring wine into cups, his ghost king's movements carrying an easy elegance that never failed to captivate him.

"Not that I didn't enjoy our outing," Wei Wuxian said, accepting the offered cup with a grateful smile, "but I definitely prefer your domain to the heavenly realm. It's more honest somehow."

Hua Cheng settled beside him, their shoulders brushing. "I'm happy to hear that," he replied, taking a sip of his wine. "Ghost City might be chaotic, but it doesn't pretend to be anything other than what it is." His gaze drifted across the darkened garden, appreciation evident in his expression. "I did find certain parts of today's journey immensely... transcendent."

Heat flooded Wei Wuxian's cheeks as memories of Hua Cheng's sinful tongue resurfaced with vivid clarity. "A new experience to add to our growing collection," he playfully agreed, lifting his cup in a mock toast before taking a deep drink. The wine was sweeter than last time, honeyed notes lingering pleasantly on his tongue.

"I find myself collecting many new experiences lately," Wei Wuxian added quietly, silver eyes lifting to study Hua Cheng's profile against the backdrop of lantern light. "Though few compare to defiling a god's bed with you."

Hua Cheng turned to face him then, his singular eye reflecting crimson from distant lanterns as he studied Wei Wuxian with undisguised fondness. "Creating these memories with you is becoming something of an addiction," he admitted, his voice dropping to an intimate register that sent goosebumps trailing over Wei Wuxian's skin.

Without another word, Wei Wuxian drained the remaining wine from his cup in one smooth motion. He shifted his position, drawing his legs up onto the pavilion's platform and arranging himself to lie down with his head resting on Hua Cheng's lap. From this vantage point, he gazed up at his ghost king, silver eyes reflecting the scattered light of distant lanterns as they traced the elegant lines of Hua Cheng's face.

Hua Cheng's lips curved into a soft smile as he set aside his own wine cup. With gentle fingers, he reached down to untie the ribbon securing Wei Wuxian's hair, the simple gesture carrying an intimacy that made Wei Wuxian's breath catch in his throat. As the ribbon slipped free, Wei Wuxian's dark hair spilled across Hua Cheng's lap like silk, prompting him to card his fingers through the loose strands with appreciative care.

Wei Wuxian's gaze wandered upward, settling on the red pearl braided into Hua Cheng's hair. That constant, mysterious ornament that never left his person. Unable to resist his curiosity, Wei Wuxian reached up, fingers gently brushing against the gleaming surface of the pearl. The moment his fingertips made contact, he felt Hua Cheng tense beneath him, the hand in his hair going suddenly, completely still.

Startled by the reaction, Wei Wuxian immediately withdrew his touch, letting his hand fall back to his chest. "Sorry," he said softly, confusion and concern mingling in his voice as he searched Hua Cheng's face for some explanation of the abrupt shift in mood.

Hua Cheng seemed to return to himself at the softly spoken apology, the tension gradually leaving his frame though something guarded remained in his expression. "Don't apologize," he said, his voice carefully measured. "You didn't do anything wrong."

Wei Wuxian remained silent for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly as he processed Hua Cheng's words. The reassurance felt hollow against the obvious evidence of his discomfort. He studied Hua Cheng's expression, weighing whether to press further or simply let the moment pass.

"I've never seen you without it," Wei Wuxian finally said, his voice gentle but curious. "It's really beautiful."

Hua Cheng's expression softened marginally, though something distant remained in his gaze. "Thank you," he replied simply, offering nothing more as his fingers resumed their gentle passage through Wei Wuxian's hair.

Wei Wuxian waited, hoping Hua Cheng might elaborate, might offer some small glimpse into the significance of the ornament that clearly held such importance to him. When it became evident that no further explanation would be forthcoming, Wei Wuxian turned his body to face the pond, his head still resting securely on Hua Cheng's lap as he gazed out over the dark water where lotus blooms glimmered like pale ghosts in the distant lantern light.

The discomfort between them weighed on Wei Wuxian like a heavy blanket, the silence stretching thin and brittle. He drew a slow breath, gaze still fixed on the distant lotuses as he gathered his courage.

"Gege," he finally said, his voice more subdued than usual, lacking its characteristic playfulness, "I would really like to know you better. To understand where your deep hatred for the gods comes from, what makes you happy or upset." He swallowed, fingers absently clenching into fists. "I know my past was forced onto you through circumstances, but if you're ever willing in the future, I'd like to know about yours as well."

The silence that followed felt oppressive, each heartbeat stretching into eternity as Wei Wuxian waited for a response that didn't come. A sinking feeling settled in the pit of his stomach, the weight of unspoken boundaries suddenly palpable between them.

Unable to bear the silence any longer, Wei Wuxian made to rise, shifting his weight to sit up. The movement provoked an immediate reaction. Hua Cheng tensed, his hand that wasn't buried in Wei Wuxian's hair moving swiftly to his hip, fingers pressing with gentle but unmistakable intent.

"Please don't leave," Hua Cheng said quietly, the words emerging strained, almost vulnerable. "I struggle talking about things I've never spoken about before." His fingers tightened slightly against Wei Wuxian's hip, as if afraid he might still pull away. "I've never had anyone ask me these things."

In answer, Wei Wuxian settled back down, his hand finding Hua Cheng's thigh and gripping it with reassuring pressure, a silent promise that he wasn't going anywhere. "I just need something, gege," he said softly. "Anything."

Hua Cheng's fingers dug harder into his hip in what seemed like an unconscious movement, his body rigid with tension. A heavy sigh escaped him. When he finally spoke, his voice emerged low and measured, as if each word required careful extraction from deep within.

"I was born under the Star of Solitude," he began, gaze fixed on some distant point beyond the garden. "The kingdom's astrologers claimed it marked me for darkness. A child of misfortune with a singular red eye that couldn't be hidden." His hand resumed its gentle stroking through Wei Wuxian's hair, a subtle hint of disgust colouring his voice. "The priests told my parents I was cursed to bring suffering to anyone who showed me kindness, that I would live a life of rejection and pain, dying young and unmourned."

Wei Wuxian's heart contracted painfully in his chest, but he remained silent, afraid that any interruption might cause Hua Cheng to retreat back behind his carefully constructed walls.

"My mother died before I was ten years old," Hua Cheng continued, his voice carrying a flatness that spoke of old wounds deliberately numbed. "Afterward, my piece of shit father chased me away to spare himself the suffering." His fingers stilled once more in Wei Wuxian's hair. "I was hated from birth. Children would throw rocks when I walked through the streets. Adults would spit and curse, blaming me for failed crops, for illness, for any misfortune that befell the kingdom."

Horror unfurled in Wei Wuxian's chest, a visceral reaction to the casual recounting of such systematic cruelty. He wanted to rage against those who had hurt this man, wanted to reach back through time and shield the child Hua Cheng had once been. Instead, he tightened his grip on Hua Cheng's thigh, offering silent support as his ghost king finally, finally began to open up.

"Life on the streets was cruel," Hua Cheng continued, his voice taking on a harder edge. "I learned to steal, to hide, to make myself invisible when necessary and terrifying when it served me better. The resentment built gradually at first, then consumed me entirely." His fingers tightened unconsciously in Wei Wuxian's hair, though not enough to hurt. "Every night I went to sleep hungry, every time another rock struck my back, every curse spat in my direction, it all fed something dark inside me."

"By the time I was ten, the hatred had calcified into something unbearable," he said, his voice dropping lower. "I decided if my fate was to bring misfortune, then I would embrace it. The kingdom celebrated its God Pleasing Festival that year with particular grandeur. A procession meant to ensure divine protection against disaster." His lip curled slightly at the memory, disdain evident in his expression. "I only saw it as an opportunity for revenge."

Hua Cheng paused, his eye focused on something far beyond the garden, beyond Ghost City itself. "I climbed the high banister overlooking the main processional route. My plan was to wait until the critical third round, the most spiritually significant moment, and then jump to my death." His voice carried a chilling matter of factness that made the confession all the more devastating. "A cursed child dying during the sacred procession would be an irredeemable omen. I wanted to drag the entire kingdom down with me, to make them suffer for what they'd done."

Wei Wuxian's fingers instantly tightened in Hua Cheng's robes, a reflexive reaction to the casual mention of such a young child planning his own death. He remained silent, but the pain that shot through his chest felt like someone had reached inside and gripped his heart with clawed fingers, digging deep into the muscle.

"But then—" Hua Cheng hesitated, a subtle stutter disrupting his delivery. "I saw a... a sword dance being performed in the procession. The beauty of it... startled me." His voice softened perceptibly, the harsh edges momentarily blunted by the memory. "I forgot everything. My plan, my hatred, even my pain. I leaned forward on the banister to see better, too entranced to remember where I was."

He drew a slow breath, the hand in Wei Wuxian's hair loosening. "I fell, of course. From that height, I should have died, breaking my neck on the paving stones below. Instead, I was... caught. Saved." The word seemed to cost him something to say.

Hua Cheng shifted slightly, his posture growing more rigid as he continued his story, visible discomfort creeping into his previously measured recounting. "After that incident, things became... complicated," he said, the words emerging at a noticeably quicker pace. "A few years later, war broke out between Xianle and Yong'An. By then I was fourteen, old enough to enlist in the army." His hand withdrew from Wei Wuxian's hair. "I tried to join the royal forces, but that bastard Mu Qing—" The name emerged as nearly a snarl, hatred vibrating through every syllable. "He turned me away. Dismissed me simply because of who I was."

Wei Wuxian's eyes widened at the sudden realization that Hua Cheng had known the two generals when they were still alive and mortal. Had walked the same earth, breathed the same air. The implications sent his mind racing.

"During wartime, keeping track of one street rat is nearly impossible," Hua Cheng continued, his voice cooling to something almost clinical now. "I managed to sneak back into the ranks easily enough. Fought in battles, killed enemies, watched comrades fall." His singular gaze turned inward to memories Wei Wuxian could only imagine. "And in the end, those fucking priests were right. I died just before my eighteenth year."

Without a word, Wei Wuxian sat up, movements careful but purposeful. He turned, studying Hua Cheng's face for just a moment before crawling onto his lap. Wei Wuxian wrapped his arms around Hua Cheng's neck and his legs around his waist, clinging to him like a lifeline as he buried his face against the warm skin of Hua Cheng's throat. He held on tightly, trying to convey through touch alone everything he couldn't find words to express.

Wei Wuxian's eyes burned with unshed tears, throat constricting painfully as the full weight of his helplessness settled over him. He couldn't ease centuries of accumulated hurt. He couldn't go back and protect the child Hua Cheng had been. He couldn't find the right words to make this better, couldn't weave some intricate array to heal wounds that had festered for eight hundred years. All he could offer was this. His presence, his understanding, his own body curled protectively around Hua Cheng's as if he could somehow shield him from the memories themselves.

Beneath him, Hua Cheng remained rigid at first, his body tense. Gradually, muscle by muscle, that tension began to ease, his frame softening into Wei Wuxian's embrace. Strong arms rose slowly to wrap around Wei Wuxian's waist, settling into a secure hold. Hua Cheng pressed a gentle kiss to Wei Wuxian's hair, releasing a deep sigh that seemed to carry some fraction of the weight he'd been carrying.

They remained like that, tangled together in the pavilion while night deepened around them, the distant laughter and music of Ghost City providing a gentle backdrop to their shared silence. They were simply two hearts beating in tandem, two souls finding solace in each other.

Wei Wuxian slowly pulled back, taking Hua Cheng's face between his palms with a slight tremble in his hands. His silver eyes searched for that singular dark one, recognizing the bone deep exhaustion that recounting a darkness he wished to keep buried had carved into its depths. His thumb traced softly under Hua Cheng's eyepatch, understanding now that the story behind it ran much deeper than he still knew.

"If the Star of Solitude is responsible for bringing you into existence," Wei Wuxian whispered, "then I will go on my knees every night and pay it tribute." His thumb continued its gentle path across Hua Cheng's cheekbone. "I would thank every single person who showed you kindness, and curse every soul who wronged you." A fierce protectiveness flashed in his silver eyes. "If I had the means, I would show them what true torment is." He leaned forward, pressing their foreheads together. "But right now, in this moment, I promise you. For as long as I exist, I'll be here. To listen, to understand, to stand beside you. Whatever comes next."

Hua Cheng remained perfectly still, his singular eye widening slightly at Wei Wuxian's words. Something raw and unguarded flickered across his face. An expression so vulnerable it ripped a new tear into Wei Wuxian's heart. His hands tightened at Wei Wuxian's waist, fingers pressing into the fabric with unconscious intensity as if afraid Wei Wuxian might dissolve into mist if he didn't hold on tightly enough.

"A-Ying," he finally whispered, his voice rough. "You can't..." He faltered, agony filling his features as he struggled to continue. "Please don't bind yourself to a promise that you're going to regret making. You have to know I don't deserve you." His eye held a darkness so deep it seemed bottomless. "I am not fundamentally a good person. I am making mistakes that could hurt you. I don't know how—" His voice broke on the words. "I don't want to cause you any more pain," he whispered, looking away as if he couldn't bear to witness Wei Wuxian's reaction.

"No," Wei Wuxian said with quietly, his fingers tightening against Hua Cheng's face, forcing his gaze back. "You're wrong." There was no hesitation in his voice, only absolute certainty that cut through the night air between them. "You are achingly good, gege. You mete out judgment and punishment harshly, but never unjustly." His silver eyes held Hua Cheng's gaze. "There's so much darkness in me too. You've seen it, felt it, witnessed what I become." His thumb traced along Hua Cheng's jawline with such tenderness. "But instead of being afraid of tainting each other, our darkness calls out, recognizes itself in the other." A softer look bleeding into his expression. "We keep each other in check, balance each other in ways no one else could understand." Wei Wuxian leaned closer, his voice dropping to something intimate. "Together, we can truly let go of any restraints and pretenses. We can just be."

With a pained expression, Hua Cheng moved his hand to the back of Wei Wuxian's head, drawing him forward into a kiss that carried everything he couldn't articulate. It was long and drawn out, his lips moving against Wei Wuxian's slowly. Each gentle brush, each careful exploration felt like a confession, a wordless attempt to convey what language had failed to capture.

Wei Wuxian became pliable in Hua Cheng's arms, surrendering to him with a trust that transcended conscious thought. His legs tightened around Hua Cheng's waist as he felt his ghost king rise to his feet, strong arms supporting him effortlessly. His own arms moved back around Hua Cheng's neck, holding on as they began to move. The kiss remained unbroken. Not heated with desire but slow, deep, and desperate in a way Wei Wuxian hadn't experienced before. It held none of their usual playful competition or building passion, replaced instead by something almost reverent in its intensity.

Wei Wuxian felt Hua Cheng push a hand into his own robe, heard the soft clattering as dice were thrown to open a portal. The sound barely registered through the haze that enveloped him, his senses filled with the taste and scent of Hua Cheng, the solid warmth of the body supporting his own. The world shifted around them, reality bending to Hua Cheng's will as they stepped from garden to bedchamber in a single heartbeat.

The next thing Wei Wuxian knew, he was being placed softly onto their bed, the motion so careful it felt like being placed upon clouds. Hua Cheng finally broke their kiss, his expression unreadable as he knelt before Wei Wuxian without meeting his gaze. With gentleness, he began removing Wei Wuxian's robes, each layer peeled away carefully. His fingers worked the ties and fastenings methodically, yet there was nothing rushed in his movements.

Not once did Hua Cheng look him in the eye as he continued the careful disrobing, his focus seemingly absorbed in the task itself. When Wei Wuxian sat before him in just his trousers, Hua Cheng rose to his feet and began removing his own clothing with subdued movements, layers of crimson silk falling away to reveal the perfect form beneath.

Wei Wuxian moved to lie down under the covers, pulling them back slightly as he settled against the pillows. He kept one side open in a clear invitation, eyes following Hua Cheng's movements. Hua Cheng paused when he noticed the gesture, his singular eye lifting to meet Wei Wuxian's at last.

Hua Cheng climbed into bed beside him, immediately pulling Wei Wuxian against his chest as he settled onto his back. Wei Wuxian went willingly, resting his head against Hua Cheng's chest where the steady rhythm of his heart provided a counterpoint to the silence surrounding them. No words passed between them as they settled into this shared warmth, their bodies finding natural alignment as if designed to fit together from the beginning.

The exhaustion of the day gradually overtook them both. Wei Wuxian found his eyelids growing heavy, the rhythmic beating of Hua Cheng's heart beneath his ear becoming a soothing lullaby drawing him toward sleep. As consciousness began to slip away, Wei Wuxian felt Hua Cheng press a soft kiss to the crown of his head, the gesture tender enough to follow him into his dreams.

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian drifted slowly toward consciousness, pulled from the depths of dreamless slumber by the coarse sound of brushwork on paper. The rhythmic scratching filtered through his awareness like gentle rainfall, familiar yet out of place in the hazy cocoon of sleep that still enveloped him. He shifted slightly, becoming aware of the softness pressed against his cheek, the warmth of tangled sheets, and the subtle scent of ink and incense that wasn't there when he'd fallen asleep.

When he finally opened his eyes, blinking away the vestiges of slumber, the first thing he noticed was the small wet patch on the pillow he was hugging. Evidence of peaceful sleep deep enough to make him drool. Mortifying, really. The silk blanket had slipped during the night to pool around his waist, exposing his bare chest to the cool morning air. Soft daylight filtered through the latticed windows, casting gentle patterns across the chamber floor and illuminating dust motes that danced in golden shafts.

His gaze drifted toward the source of the sound that had awakened him. Hua Cheng sat at a low table not far from the bed, perfectly positioned to watch Wei Wuxian sleep. He looked utterly absorbed in whatever document commanded his attention. Brows drawn together in concentration, lips pressed into a slight frown as his brush moved across the paper. An open scroll lay unfurled beside him, held down at one corner by elegant fingers while his other hand worked in quick strokes.

Wei Wuxian found himself momentarily transfixed by the sight. Hua Cheng wore only his trousers, his powerful torso bare in the morning light. Each shift of his arm as he wrote caused subtle ripples of movement across the well defined muscles of his shoulders. There was something surprisingly intimate about watching him like this, focused on some mundane task, unaware of being observed. Firelight and passion were one thing, but this quiet, unguarded domesticity felt like glimpsing something far more precious.

As his gaze traced the elegant line of Hua Cheng's arm, following the path from broad shoulder to the nimble fingers that guided the brush, Wei Wuxian noticed something he'd somehow missed before. Characters marked the inside of Hua Cheng's forearm, the ink seemingly embedded within his skin rather than painted upon it. From this distance, Wei Wuxian couldn't make out what they said, but their presence surprised him. How had he failed to notice such a marking before?

Wei Wuxian felt a smile tugging at his lips as he contemplated all the other details of Hua Cheng's body that might still remain undiscovered. Perhaps he should demand a thorough examination, have his ghost king strip down and parade around the chamber so he could catalog every mark, every scar, every secret written upon that perfect form. The mental image of Hua Cheng's indignant expression at such a request made his smile widen into a smirk.

With this pleasant thought warming him, Wei Wuxian began to disentangle himself from his pillow, pushing himself up to sitting with a languid stretch that sent lingering pleasure through sleep heavy limbs. The movement caught Hua Cheng's attention immediately, his brush stilling mid stroke as his head lifted toward the bed. The transformation was immediate and captivating. The concentrated frown melting away, features softening with something that looked dangerously close to fondness as those dark eyes found Wei Wuxian's.

Wei Wuxian's smile broadened, eyes crinkling at the corners with playful mischief. "Did you move the table just to watch me drool all over your cushion while you worked?" he asked, gesturing toward the damp spot on the pillow. "I'm starting to think you enjoy watching me at my most disgraceful."

A soft laugh escaped Hua Cheng's throat, the sound warm and genuine. "You looked so damned cute I couldn't resist," he admitted without a trace of embarrassment, setting his brush down beside the half completed document. "The view was worth the distraction."

Wei Wuxian felt a slight heat creep into his cheeks. "See, now I finally know you're soft for me," he teased, trying to mask how the simple admission affected him. "Jiang Cheng told me enough times that I look like a slobbering dog while I'm sleeping." The memory slipped out before he could filter it, an unconscious remnant of his youth.

At the mention of Jiang Cheng, something shifted in Hua Cheng's expression. A subtle darkening that transformed his casual morning softness into something more predatory. His gaze narrowed slightly, lips curving into a menacing uptick that shouldn't have been as attractive as Wei Wuxian found it.

"I think I might need to play fetch with Jiang Cheng's balls with my hounds some day soon," Hua Cheng said casually, as if discussing the weather rather than dismemberment. The vicious promise delivered in such a conversational tone made the threat somehow more terrifying. And ridiculously endearing.

A surprised laugh burst from Wei Wuxian's throat before he could contain it, equal parts shocked and amused by the violent protectiveness. He slipped out of bed without bothering to cover himself, padding across the plush carpet to drape himself over Hua Cheng's desk. Papers crinkled beneath his elbows as he leaned forward to gift his ghost king with a quick, deliberately sloppy kiss.

"It's way too early in the morning for any form of dismemberment," he murmured against those perfect lips, pulling back with a playful grin. "Save your murderous intentions for after breakfast at least."

As he withdrew, his gaze fell curiously to the characters etched into Hua Cheng's forearm. From this closer vantage point, he could see the markings were unmistakably Hua Cheng's own handwriting, but rougher, more unpolished than the half legible script he conjured these days. Wei Wuxian found himself squinting slightly as he tried to make sense of them. The first character might be 'Xie,' but the rest of the scribble was honestly indecipherable, the strokes so crude they blurred together in places.

Wei Wuxian averted his eyes as Hua Cheng turned his arm slightly, hiding the characters in what seemed like a deliberate movement. Casual enough that most might not notice the intention behind it. Whatever those characters represented clearly held significance.

"I'm not hungry," Hua Cheng said, smoothly changing the subject as he gathered his papers into a neater pile, "but I can have Yin Yu bring something for you to eat."

Wei Wuxian considered pressing about the mark for just a moment before deciding against it. After everything Hua Cheng had shared with him last night he deserved to be left in peace about some things.

He gave Hua Cheng a loving smile instead, deliberately lightening his tone. "I want to soak in that glorious hot spring of yours first, then I'll just grab something to eat in the city. I've been wanting to try those steamed buns from the stall near the gambling den anyway."

A small frown creased Hua Cheng's brow as he looked up from his work. "I'll accompany you," he said, already beginning to set aside his brush and papers with an air of finality that suggested no argument would be entertained.

Wei Wuxian stood up. "Finish what you're busy with in peace, gege," he insisted softly. "I'm very content having a morning of exploring the city while you're working. I promise not to cause too much trouble." His lips quirked up in a teasing smile.

He turned to look for suitable robes, but before he could take more than a step, Hua Cheng caught his hand with gentle fingers. The touch was light, almost hesitant, making Wei Wuxian turn back with curious eyes. His ghost king seemed to be considering something, his lips tightening slightly.

"Gege?" Wei Wuxian began, but Hua Cheng cut him off with a subtle shake of his head.

"Would you be willing to wear this?" Hua Cheng asked, his voice carrying an undertone of uncertainty that made something in Wei Wuxian's chest ache.

Looking down, Wei Wuxian watched as Hua Cheng untied a section from a red string wrapped around his own finger. The section he untied seemed to separate cleanly from the one still secured around Hua Cheng's finger, though he could have sworn there had been only a single, unbroken thread moments before. Wei Wuxian blinked, wondering if his eyes were playing tricks on him.

Hua Cheng began to tie the string around Wei Wuxian's third finger, his usually deft fingers fumbling slightly with the delicate thread. The vulnerability in his expression was breathtaking. His ghost king looked almost afraid of rejection, as if Wei Wuxian might pull away from this simple gesture.

Wei Wuxian could sense the dense spiritual energy coming off the string, far more powerful than its delicate appearance suggested. He gently slipped his hand from Hua Cheng's to hold it in front of him, admiring how the vibrant red contrasted starkly against his soft skin. "What is it?" he asked, genuinely curious rather than suspicious.

Hua Cheng's expression remained carefully reserved as he answered, "A spiritual device." His voice was measured, revealing little. "It will allow us to know that the other is safe, and to find each other in case we get separated again."

Wei Wuxian felt his throat close up at those final words, remembering Hua Cheng tangled in bed with him, whispering against his skin of how scared he'd been when Wei Wuxian disappeared. The raw confession had been more devastating than any passionate declaration could have been.

As he watched, the strings of the thread visibly disappeared, leaving only the circle along with the knot beautifully visible against his finger. A perfect ring of crimson that seemed to pulse with warmth against his skin. A connection that would remain even when they couldn't see each other. A way home.

He looked up at Hua Cheng's pensive features, releasing the breath he hadn't realized he's holding. "It's my honor to wear it," Wei Wuxian said softly, meaning every word with sincerity.

He walked around the table to stand behind Hua Cheng and bent down to press a soft kiss to his cheek. Wei Wuxian's unbound hair fell in dark waves onto the desk, spilling across the papers like ink. "Thank you, gege," he whispered against Hua Cheng's ear, feeling his ghost king lean subtly closer to his lips, seeking the contact.

With a final gentle touch to Hua Cheng's shoulder, Wei Wuxian headed to the closet to find suitable robes for his day in the city, the red string on his finger catching the morning light like a promise.

Wei Wuxian meandered through the lively streets of Ghost City, his steps light and unhurried as he took in the bustling activity around him. Fresh from soaking in Hua Cheng's hot spring for most of the morning, his body felt deliciously relaxed, muscles loose and skin glowing with a healthy flush. The jasmine scented oils he'd found by the spring now perfumed his damp hair, pulled up with a red ribbon that fluttered down his back like a streak of blood against the dark strands. His new robes, a deep black edged with grey and crimson thread, swished pleasantly around his legs as he wandered.

The market's chaotic energy wrapped around him, reminiscent of Lotus Pier's crowded docks yet distinctly different. Ghost vendors called out their wares with enthusiasm that bordered on aggression, while spectral customers haggled with equally fierce determination. Lanterns hung from every available surface despite the daylight, their perpetual glow casting the entire scene in a crimson haze.

"Wei Gongzi!" called a grizzled vendor whose weathered face suggested he'd died well into his elderly years. "Come try my wine! Best in all three realms!" The ghost held up a jar eagerly, his form becoming more solid and defined as Wei Wuxian approached. As if excitement gave him more physical substance.

Wei Wuxian flashed him a brilliant smile. "Better than Emperor's Smile?" he challenged, leaning over the stall with exaggerated suspicion. "That's quite a claim, Lao Bo."

The vendor cackled, clearly delighted by the engagement. "Emperor's Smile? What watered down piss is that? Try this and tell me if any mortal brew can compare!" He poured a small cup and pushed it toward Wei Wuxian with flourish.

Wei Wuxian accepted the offering eagerly before taking a careful sip. The liquid burned pleasantly down his throat, leaving a lingering taste of plum and something indefinably otherworldly. His eyebrows shot up in genuine surprise. "Not bad at all!" he declared, fishing out a few coins Yin Yu gave him before leaving the manor.

The vendor beamed with pride as he accepted the payment, slipping an extra small jar into Wei Wuxian's hand with a conspiratorial wink. "For Chengzhu's favored one," he whispered, as if sharing a great secret. "May your cups never run dry."

Wei Wuxian felt heat rise to his cheeks at being so easily identified, but the vendor's manner held nothing of judgement or resentment. Only a kind of pleased respect, as if Hua Cheng's apparent happiness reflected well on all of Ghost City. Before he could respond, the vendor had already turned to his next customer, leaving Wei Wuxian to tuck away his gift with amused gratitude.

As he continued through the market, Wei Wuxian noticed a similar pattern with each interaction. The ghosts treated him with a friendly respect. Not the reverent worship they bestowed upon their Chengzhu, but a warm acknowledgment of his position in their lord's life. Yet there was something more, too. They seemed drawn to his good mood, his easy laughter and open curiosity. Where they might normally keep their distance from outsiders, with him they leaned in, eager to engage.

A flash of silver caught his eye as he paused to examine a stall selling musical instruments. There, perched on the edge of a nearby roof, sat a single silver butterfly, its wings catching the light as it remained perfectly still. Wei Wuxian smiled to himself, the sight bringing to mind the storm of butterflies that had surrounded them at the Burial Mounds. Thousands of gleaming wings swirling protectively around them as they left through the portal. Knowing now that they were extensions of Hua Cheng himself made him see them in an entirely new light.

"You're not very subtle, gege," he murmured to the distant butterfly, his lips curved in fond amusement as he turned back to the instruments.

The stall keeper, a pale woman with hair that floated around her head as if underwater, held out a bone flute for his inspection. "This one sings sweetly," she said, her voice carrying an echo like distant waves. "Though perhaps not as beautifully as the one you command."

Wei Wuxian accepted the instrument, turning it over in his hands with practiced assessment. The craftsmanship was exquisite, the bone polished to a pearl like sheen. "You've seen me play?" he asked, curious about how much the residents of Ghost City knew of his abilities.

She smiled, revealing teeth that seemed too sharp for her delicate face. "Word travels quickly dear, especially about those who interest our lord. They say you called forth a great sea serpent from the depths with just a few notes." Her eyes gleamed with something like admiration. "We don't often see power that matches Chengzhu's so closely."

Wei Wuxian froze with genuine surprise, wondering how his activities in He Xuan's domain could have reached all the way to Ghost City. Distracted, he lifted the flute to his lips to test it with a simple scale, pleased by its clear, haunting tone. He handed her several coins, tucking the instrument into his sleeve. "Thank you for this," he said with a warm smile. "It's beautiful craftsmanship."

Wei Wuxian turned to leave, his new flute safely tucked away, only to walk directly into a solid chest. He stumbled backward, caught off guard by the sudden obstacle, and looked up to find He Xuan's impassive face staring down at him. His dark robes seemed to absorb the surrounding light, his presence as imposing as ever despite his casual stance.

"Xuan-ge!" Wei Wuxian exclaimed with genuine delight, recovering immediately from his surprise. His face broke into a brilliant smile as he straightened.

He Xuan's expression flickered with visible startlement at the familiar address, his typically stoic features momentarily betraying shock. Taking advantage of this rare window of uncertainty, Wei Wuxian smoothly hooked his arm through He Xuan's and began pulling him toward the food stall he originally came for.

"I'm so happy you came to visit," Wei Wuxian continued cheerfully, ignoring the way He Xuan's arm stiffened beneath his touch.

He Xuan glanced pointedly at the silver butterfly now perched much closer than earlier, its wings flaring angrily. "Fuck, why do you always want to provoke him?" he muttered, reluctantly falling into step with Wei Wuxian rather than causing a scene by pulling away. "And why the hell am I always the one you use to bait him with?"

Wei Wuxian laughed, the sound bright enough to draw appreciative glances from passing ghosts. "I'm not baiting anyone," he protested with mock innocence. "I genuinely wanted to talk to you." His silver eyes sparkled with mischief as he added, "I've been meaning to ask Hua Cheng to take me to see you, but I kept getting distracted."

"For the love of all gods," He Xuan groaned, his face settling into resignation, "I don't want to know what kept you busy."

With a chuckle, Wei Wuxian leaned in closer, lowering his voice laced with mischief. "I can promise that you most certainly don't want to know."

He Xuan made a disgusted sound deep in his throat, halfway between a scoff and a gag. "I should have stayed in my domain," he muttered without real heat. The silver butterfly had multiplied to three now, all hovering at increasingly closer distances.

They walked for a bit in silence, Wei Wuxian's cheerful energy gradually settling into something more comfortable as they moved through the market. Various ghosts nodded respectfully to He Xuan, though their greetings lacked the enthusiastic warmth they'd shown Wei Wuxian. The silver butterflies maintained their vigilant presence, occasionally multiplying when Wei Wuxian and He Xuan passed through particularly crowded areas.

"I came to ask if you would like another lesson in portal training," He Xuan said suddenly, his voice more subdued than his usual sardonic tone. "If you're interested."

Wei Wuxian looked at him thoughtfully, noting the seriousness in his manner. There was something almost concerned in He Xuan's typically impassive face, a subtle softening around the eyes that he doesn't see a lot.

Before Wei Wuxian could answer, He Xuan continued, "I don't want you to be dependent on anyone to move freely wherever you want to be."

Wei Wuxian looked ahead with a sigh, understanding the implication behind He Xuan's offer. "Hua Cheng truly is a good person," he said softly. "He's good to me." The red string around his finger seemed to warm slightly as he spoke, as if responding to his thoughts.

He Xuan gave a light scoff, the sound neither agreeing nor directly contradicting Wei Wuxian's assessment.

"It would be really nice though," Wei Wuxian added, turning to meet He Xuan's gaze directly, "if you're still willing to help me with the portals. I'd like to be able to visit both your domains freely, without requiring an escort every time."

Something like approval flickered in He Xuan's eyes. Without warning, he made a sharp turn into a narrow alley between two shops, releasing Wei Wuxian's arm as he moved. The space was shadowed and quiet, hidden from the market's bustling energy. He Xuan didn't hesitate. He sliced his palm with a black fingernail, drawing a precise pattern in the air that began to shimmer with dark energy.

"Hua Cheng shouldn't mind then if we leave now," he said as the portal began to stabilize, emitting a subtle pulse of power that made the air vibrate. "I'm already sick of him breathing down my neck." He nodded toward the growing cluster of silver butterflies that had followed them into the alley, their wings now flickering with increasingly agitated patterns.

Wei Wuxian hesitated, suddenly uncertain about leaving without speaking directly to Hua Cheng. The thought of disappearing again, even briefly, after everything that had happened at the Burial Mounds made something twist uncomfortably in his chest. He glanced at the red string around his finger, gently caressing it with the pad of his thumb.

Making a decision, Wei Wuxian turned toward the silver butterflies with a reassuring smile. "I'll be back again later, gege," he called, deliberately keeping his voice light. "I'm just going to be training with He Xuan for a while. I'll be back in time for dinner." He resisted the urge to make further promises, unsure if his words even reached Hua Cheng through these delicate extensions.

The portal stabilized completely, its edges shimmering with He Xuan's energy. The ghost king stepped aside with exaggerated politeness, gesturing for Wei Wuxian to proceed. As Wei Wuxian moved toward the portal's entrance, he caught sight of He Xuan's parting glare toward the gathered butterflies. A look of defiant satisfaction that bordered on provocation.

Wei Wuxian stepped through the portal, feeling the momentary disorientation of moving between realms. He Xuan followed immediately after, his hand making a sharp, dismissive gesture that sealed the portal shut before any of the silver butterflies could follow in their wake. The last thing Wei Wuxian saw before the connection closed completely was a frantic flurry of silver wings surging forward, too late to breach the rapidly diminishing doorway between domains.

With a sad sigh at the sight, Wei Wuxian wondered if this would become a pattern now. Feeling this disheartened every time he parted from Hua Cheng, even temporarily. The hollow ache in his chest seemed disproportionate to such a brief separation, especially knowing they'd reunite within hours. Perhaps the trauma of their recent forced parting had left deeper scars than he'd realized.

He headed over to the wine decanter invitingly placed on a nearby table, pouring two generous cups. "You blame me for provoking him," Wei Wuxian called over his shoulder, keeping his tone deliberately light, "while you steal me away in broad daylight, in the middle of his own realm." He shook his head with exaggerated disapproval. "You could have just come by the manor and talked to me there. Much less dramatic."

He Xuan made a dismissive sound deep in his throat, something between a scoff and a growl. "I'm fed up with Hua Cheng at the moment," he said flatly. "If I don't see him for a while, it would make me very happy." The blunt declaration carried an edge of genuine irritation that caught Wei Wuxian's attention.

Wei Wuxian took a deep sip of his wine, savoring the familiar burn as he studied He Xuan over the rim of his cup. "Did something happen between the two of you that you want to talk about?" he asked, settling onto one of the divans, legs stretched out as he made himself comfortable. The question was offered lightly, without pressure, a simple opening should He Xuan wish to take it.

He Xuan gave a small shake of his head, his expression momentarily distant. "I'm sick of a horde of secrets being kept," he said finally, his voice tight. "That's all." He moved to where Wei Wuxian sat, taking the wine jug while holding his now empty cup.

After refilling Wei Wuxian's cup with surprising attentiveness, He Xuan walked to the adjacent divan and settled himself onto it, filling his own cup as well. He set the jug down on the table between them with more force than necessary, the liquid inside sloshing dangerously close to the rim.

His gaze lifted to Wei Wuxian's face, accusation clear in his dark eyes. "Like how you had me housing the Yiling Laozu without telling me," he said, the words carrying a sharp edge despite his relatively calm delivery. "That kind of secret."

Wei Wuxian felt a stab of pain at the words even though he'd been expecting this conversation since the moment He Xuan's portal closed. He took another measured sip of wine, gathering his thoughts before responding.

"Would it have made a difference?" he asked calmly, meeting He Xuan's gaze without flinching. The question wasn't defensive, merely curious about whether his honesty would have changed anything between them.

He Xuan's gaze weighed on Wei Wuxian unflinchingly, dark and evaluating. After a moment's consideration, he released a soft sigh and took another drink, hunching forward with his elbows resting on his knees. "Probably not," he admitted, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. "It would have just been nice not to be kept in the dark."

Wei Wuxian grimaced, genuine regret crossing his features. "I should have told you," he acknowledged, swirling the wine in his cup. "I'm sorry." The apology came without hesitation, simple and sincere. "Since you know about me, you'll understand why I might have just wanted some anonymity. 'Yiling Laozu' isn't exactly a desirable title to carry into death." A humorless smile touched his lips. "It tends to make people... uncomfortable."

He Xuan tilted his head slightly in acknowledgment. "It's fine," he said, the words clipped but not unkind. "I can understand wanting to leave certain things behind." Something flickered in his expression.

Wei Wuxian studied him for a moment, weighing his next words carefully. "You might be sick of secrets," he said finally, his voice dropping lower, "but you have quite a significant one yourself, parading around as a god in the heavenly realm."

The effect was instantaneous. He Xuan's entire body went rigid, his pupils dilating with shock before narrowing to dangerous points. The wine in his cup began to tremble with the force of his suddenly unleashed spiritual energy.

"That fucking bastard," He Xuan snarled, rising from his seat with barely contained fury. "He had the audacity to tell you about—"

"Hua Cheng didn't tell me anything," Wei Wuxian interrupted, frowning as he let his own resentment flow out in Hua Cheng's defense. "He deliberately acted as though he had no idea who Ming Yi was." He shook his head, adding, "He doesn't even suspect that I know."

Wei Wuxian forced his voice to a calming tone. "Even under disguise, I could sense the essence making up your existence," he explained, watching He Xuan's reaction carefully. "Your core resentment feels like being thrown into the depths of the darkest water—it's distinctive." He tilted his head thoughtfully. "I don't know if it's because I'm more in touch with the crux of resentment that I can sense this, but to me, it's unmistakable."

He Xuan visibly calmed, though tension still radiated from his frame. The murderous rage receded from his eyes, replaced by a wary consideration as he slowly lowered himself back to his seat. His gaze dropped to his own clasped hands, knuckles white with lingering strain.

Wei Wuxian dispelled the resentment he'd allowed to flow out, letting the room's atmosphere return to normal. "Xuan-ge," he said softly, the familiar address carrying genuine warmth rather than teasing. "I'm telling you this because I want you to know that I'm here if you ever want to talk about it." His voice gentle but earnest. "I won't push you, or judge your actions. If you ever feel you need support or help, I can be there for you if you'll allow it."

He Xuan looked up at Wei Wuxian, his expression much subdued and considering. The perpetual storm in his eyes had calmed to something almost contemplative. "Thank you," he said finally, the words emerging with sincerity. "Not right now, but... maybe some day."

Wei Wuxian gave him a soft smile, satisfied that He Xuan at least knew he had the option of not being alone. Sometimes, the simple knowledge that support existed was enough to make the darkest burdens more bearable.

Wei Wuxian felt he could happily change the conversation to much lighter topics when He Xuan suddenly frowned, as if a concerning realization had just dawned on him. "Wait, Hua Cheng took you to the heavenly realm?" he asked.

"So he told you then?" He Xuan pressed further, his gaze intense and evaluating. The question held weight that Wei Wuxian couldn't fully comprehend. Wei Wuxian's brow furrowed in confusion, uncertain what specific revelation He Xuan was referring to. "Told me what?" he asked, genuinely puzzled. "What are you talking about?"

He Xuan hesitated, something calculating passing behind his eyes before he finally spoke. "I'm talking about Xianle's god," he said carefully, watching Wei Wuxian's reaction with focused attention.

Wei Wuxian felt elation wash over him as understanding clicked into place. "Oh! Yes, he told me about the two generals of Xianle," he replied lightly, excited to share his firsthand experience. "I even saw them squabbling like a married couple when we visited. Feng Xin and Mu Qing, right?" He grinned, remembering the petty bickering.

To Wei Wuxian's surprise, He Xuan didn't find this nearly as entertaining as he thought he should. Instead, the his features tightened, a flash of darkness sweeping across his face like a storm cloud passing over the moon.

Without warning, He Xuan stood up, his movement abrupt enough to make the wine in his abandoned cup ripple. "Come sit on the floor," he commanded, his voice devoid of its earlier warmth. "We're starting our lesson."

The conversational whiplash left Wei Wuxian momentarily stunned. He stumbled to comply, setting his cup aside and moving to the cleared space where He Xuan was already settling himself into a cross legged position. As he settled across from He Xuan, Wei Wuxian couldn't help wondering what set him off this time.

He Xuan studied Wei Wuxian with the critical eye of a teacher evaluating a student's potential. "You already know the technique perfectly," he stated matter of factly. "You just had a significant lack of spiritual energy to fuel the array with." His tone carried no judgment, merely clinical assessment. "Cast the array with your resentment instead, but use a proportionate amount." His eyes narrowed slightly in warning. "I swear, if you erect another pillar of death in my dining hall, I'll kick your ass into the ocean."

Feeling relieved at the small bit of humor breaking through He Xuan's earlier tension, Wei Wuxian gave a soft chuckle as he allowed resentment to flow through him. The dark energy gathered at his fingertips, manifesting as something between shadow and smoke before solidifying into a sharp edge that cut cleanly across his palm.

He closed his eyes and concentrated on the intricate patterns he'd spent weeks memorizing, his blood moving with precision as he formed the array in the air before him. When the physical array was complete, Wei Wuxian took an anticipatory breath and slowly began channeling resentful energy into the waiting pattern. To his surprise, there was no resistance. Not the stubborn pushing he'd experienced with spiritual energy, but a natural flow like water finding its path downhill. The feeling was empowering, intoxicating even, as he felt the array coming alive beneath his direction.

The moment the array finally completed, Wei Wuxian opened his eyes to witness what he could only describe as a rip in reality itself. Before him stretched the most beautiful scene. A vast lake filled with blooming lotuses, their pink and white flowers reaching toward a clear blue sky. Sunlight danced across the water's surface, creating patterns that seemed to shift and breathe with a life of their own.

Wei Wuxian could feel the gentle breeze through the portal blowing softly against his face, carrying the sweet scent of lotus and clean water. The fragrance hit him with stunning force, so familiar it made his heart ache. With a sobering moment of clarity, he realized he had been thinking of Lotus Pier when creating the portal.

Hastily extracting the resentment he'd cast into the array, Wei Wuxian closed the portal as quickly as he could, a soft gasp escaping his lips as the vision of lotuses vanished. He sat there for a moment in shock, his vision blurring with rapidly building tears that he hadn't anticipated.

"I did it," he told He Xuan softly, a wobbly smile forming on his lips only to transform into an unexpected sob. He turned his face away, embarrassed by the sudden surge of emotion that ambushed him without warning as he clenched his fists tightly.

Getting himself under control with deep shaky breaths, Wei Wuxian wiped harshly at the wetness on his face with the back of his hand. "I'm sorry," he said, finally looking back at He Xuan, who was watching him with unmistakable concern. "I never thought I'd see Lotus Pier again. It just caught me off guard."

He Xuan's expression darkened, his gaze remaining fixed on the polished floor as Wei Wuxian tried to compose himself. After several long moments, He Xuan finally looked up at Wei Wuxian, his face settling into something carefully neutral.

"Would you like to stop for a while?" he asked, his tone gentle.

Wei Wuxian gave a wet laugh, hastily wiping the remaining moisture from his eyes with the back of his hand. "No," he said, straightening his posture with visible effort. "I'm really fine." He drew a steadying breath, his silver eyes clearing as he managed a smile that didn't quite reach them. "What's left for me to learn though? I'm pretty sure I can create the portals just fine now."

He Xuan's gaze drifted down to Wei Wuxian's hand, his attention caught by the crimson string encircling his third finger. "Did Hua Cheng give you that?" He Xuan asked, his voice carefully measured despite the tension starting to build in his shoulders.

Wei Wuxian glanced down at the string, his thumb unconsciously moving to touch it with gentle reverence. He hesitated, uncertainty flashing across his features as he considered the significance of He Xuan's interest. Something in his tone suggested this wasn't a casual inquiry.

"Yes," Wei Wuxian answered finally, his eyes lifting to meet He Xuan's searching gaze. "He gave it to me this morning."

He Xuan's frown deepened, his lips pressing into a thin line. "So he will know where you are," he muttered, the words seemingly directed more to himself than to Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian remained silent, unsure how to respond to the strange observation. His fingers curled protectively around the string, a subtle gesture that didn't escape He Xuan's notice.

With a resigned sigh, He Xuan sat upright, shifting his crossed legs into a more formal position, his expression shifting into something almost grim. As if he were undertaking an arduous task against his will. The casual ease that had characterized their earlier interactions vanished entirely, replaced by a focused intensity that made the air between them feel suddenly charged.

"Are you sure you don't want to stop?" He Xuan asked, meeting Wei Wuxian's gaze directly. "The last lesson may be mentally draining."

Something in his tone, a note of genuine concern beneath the detached delivery, made Wei Wuxian pause. The warning seemed to carry more weight than the words themselves conveyed, as if He Xuan were trying to communicate something beyond his simple statement.

"No," he replied, his voice betraying his confusion. "Let's start." His gaze met He Xuan's directly, unflinching.

Chapter Text

He Xuan released a small sigh, his eyes drifting to some middle distance as if collecting his thoughts. "The creation of a portal works primarily on familiarity," he began, his fingers starting to fiddle with his robes. "You can typically only create a portal to places you've been before. Locations whose essence you've experienced firsthand. It's why you created a doorway to Lotus Pier just now. Your soul remembers it, even if you didn't consciously intend to go there."

Wei Wuxian nodded slowly, his earlier tears now dried though his eyes remained slightly reddened. "That makes sense."

He Xuan's expression shifted subtly, a fleeting shadow passing across his features. "It's also possible to share that essence between two people," he continued, his tone flattening as if distancing himself from his own words. "Willingly or... otherwise."

Something in his delivery made Wei Wuxian's skin prickle with unease, though he couldn't precisely identify why. Before he could question it, He Xuan continued.

"It's easier when both parties are willing participants," He Xuan explained, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "The transfer of essence flows more naturally, without resistance." His dark gaze settled on Wei Wuxian. "Would you like to try?"

Wei Wuxian immediately brightened, his natural curiosity kindling at the prospect of learning something new. "Yes!" he agreed without hesitation, already shifting his position. "How do we begin?"

He moved deliberately across the polished floor to sit beside He Xuan rather than across from him, reasoning that proximity might facilitate whatever connection they needed to establish. "Is this better?" he asked, settling himself comfortably at He Xuan's side, their knees almost touching.

He Xuan looked at him with hesitation. For a moment, Wei Wuxian thought he might insist on maintaining their original positions, but then He Xuan gave a slight nod, seemingly resigning himself to Wei Wuxian's nearness.

"I'm going to tell you about a place," He Xuan said, his voice dropping lower. "I want you to visualize it as clearly as you can while I describe it. Then, I'll hold the essence of it at the forefront of my mind, and you'll attempt to draw that essence into your array."

Wei Wuxian nodded eagerly, already mentally preparing himself for the task. He absently rubbed at the cut on his palm, excitement temporarily overwhelming the lingering sting.

"There is a giant mountain range," He Xuan began, his gaze growing distant as if seeing something beyond the underwater chamber, "that once was the Kingdom of Wuyong. It's now known as Mount Tonglu." His voice took on a strange resonance as he spoke, as if the name itself carried power. "Within those peaks lies the City of Gu, which opens its gates once every few hundred years to grant ghosts the opportunity to become a Supreme."

The words painted vivid images in Wei Wuxian's mind. Towering mountains shrouded in mist, ancient stone gates opening to reveal secrets hidden for centuries. He could almost feel the weight of that history, the anticipation of those ghosts seeking transformation.

He Xuan fell silent for a moment, tension visibly gathering in his shoulders. Wei Wuxian waited patiently, curious about the source of He Xuan's evident discomfort.

"Inside those mountains is a place called the Cave of Ten Thousand Gods," he said, the words emerging carefully. "I'm going to push the essence of the cave outward. Create the portal."

Wei Wuxian closed his eyes, concentrating on the mental image He Xuan had provided. He could feel something subtle shifting in the air between them, a gentle pressure against his consciousness, like fingers lightly tapping at a closed door. Instinctively, he opened himself to the sensation, allowing it to flow into him.

The essence came slowly at first, then with increasing clarity. Dark stone walls gleaming with moisture, the distant echo of dripping water, a heaviness in the air that spoke of ancient power and sacred worship. Wei Wuxian's breath caught as the vision solidified in his mind, becoming almost tangible in its intensity.

With the vision firmly fixed in his mind, Wei Wuxian began crafting the portal once more. This time, he felt the difference immediately. The essence wasn't his own memory, but something foreign yet vividly present, like borrowing someone else's eyes to view a landscape. His fingers moved with precision, resentful energy flowing seamlessly into the array as it materialized before him.

When the portal finally snapped into existence, Wei Wuxian couldn't suppress the delighted laugh that bubbled from his throat. The shimmering doorway hung suspended in the dimmed light of He Xuan's chamber, edges rippling with dark energy that seemed to bend the very fabric of reality around it.

"I did it!" he exclaimed, turning toward He Xuan with a brilliant smile, expecting to find at least a glimmer of bored pride in his expression. Instead, he found only grimness. He Xuan's features had settled into something hard and resolute, like a man preparing himself for an unpleasant task.

The stark contrast to Wei Wuxian's elation was jarring enough to dim his enthusiasm. A creeping unease began to unfurl in his stomach, thin tendrils of apprehension winding through his initial excitement.

"Xuan-ge?" he questioned softly, his smile faltering. "Is something wrong?"

He Xuan didn't answer. He merely rose to his feet in a single fluid motion, gesturing toward the portal with a curt nod. "After you," he said, his voice carrying none of the satisfaction that should accompany a successful lesson.

Wei Wuxian hesitated only briefly before rising and stepping forward, drawn by the magnetic pull of curiosity despite his growing discomfort. As he crossed the threshold, cold air rushed over his skin, carrying with it the musty scent of antiquity and something else. Incense perhaps, long burnt out but its fragrance preserved in the stillness of enclosed stone.

The cave unfurled before him, vast and cavernous beyond what he had imagined. Natural stone walls rose in sweeping curves to form a ceiling so high it disappeared into shadows, the space illuminated by strange, phosphorescent fungi that clung to the rock in patches of ethereal blue-green light. But it wasn't the cave itself that stopped Wei Wuxian in his tracks. It was what filled it.

Statues. Hundreds upon hundreds of statues, arranged in concentric circles that spread outward like ripples in a pond. Each depicted the same figure. A man with an elegant bearing, captured in various poses and activities. Some showed him seated in meditation, others standing with palms pressed together in prayer. Some portrayed him drawing a bow, while others depicted him with sword raised. The craftsmanship varied wildly. The outer circles contained crude, almost childlike renderings, roughly hewn from stone with disproportionate limbs and simplified features. As the circles moved inward, the quality improved dramatically, evolving into exquisitely detailed sculptures that seemed poised to step from their pedestals and move among the living.

But for all their differences in execution, the statues shared one striking feature: every single face was covered with a cloth, meticulously draped to conceal the features beneath.

Wei Wuxian stepped further into the cave, drawn forward by the sheer spectacle of it all. Behind him, he heard He Xuan emerge from the portal, followed by the soft whoosh of air as the doorway sealed shut. His footsteps echoed softly as he moved deeper into the chamber, passing between rows of veiled figures that seemed to watch him despite their covered eyes.

"These are incredible," he murmured, pausing before a particularly lifelike statue carved from white jade, its translucent surface catching the light in mesmerizing patterns. The cloth covering its face was made of red silk, edges embroidered with gold thread that glinted in the dim illumination. "Who are they supposed to be?"

He reached out, fingers hovering just above the delicate fabric that concealed the statue's face, curiosity urging him to peek beneath. Before he could touch it, a cold wave of spiritual pressure washed over him. Not aggressive, but firmly warning.

"Don't," He Xuan's voice echoed through the chamber, the single word weighted with uncharacteristic tension.

Wei Wuxian withdrew his hand immediately, turning to find He Xuan standing several paces away, his expression tight as his gaze darted around the cave with unmistakable agitation. He moved like a man in enemy territory, shoulders tense and steps measured, as if expecting an attack from any direction.

The portal had completely vanished now, leaving them enclosed within the strange sanctuary of veiled statues. Wei Wuxian felt the unease in his stomach crystallize into something sharper, more defined. Something was very wrong. He Xuan's behavior, the strange cave, the hundreds of faceless statues. None of it made sense, yet all of it seemed connected by a thread he couldn't quite grasp.

"Xuan-ge," Wei Wuxian said, no longer bothering to mask the concern in his voice, "why did you bring me here?" He took a step toward He Xuan, searching his face for some clue to explain his behavior.

He Xuan stilled completely, his restless movements ceasing as he finally turned his full attention to Wei Wuxian. What Wei Wuxian saw in his eyes made his breath still. There was sorrow there, deep and ancient, mingled with something that looked disturbingly like pity.

With deliberate slowness, He Xuan began walking toward him, each step measured and heavy as if his legs carried an invisible weight. He didn't stop until he stood directly before Wei Wuxian, close enough that Wei Wuxian had to tilt his head back slightly to maintain eye contact.

"I promise you," He Xuan said softly, his voice barely above a whisper, "my actions are not malicious."

Before Wei Wuxian could process those cryptic words, the atmosphere in the cave shifted violently. An overwhelming presence flooded the space. Powerful, familiar, and absolutely enraged. Hua Cheng's spiritual energy crashed through the cave, so intense that Wei Wuxian's heart began hammering against his ribs in instinctive response. The very air seemed to vibrate with fury, the phosphorescent light flickering wildly as if cowering from the storm.

"Trust me," He Xuan breathed, so quietly that Wei Wuxian barely caught it before a palm struck his chest with devastating precision.

Pain exploded through Wei Wuxian's body as he felt an array spreading across his skin like wildfire. Burning up his chest, wrapping around his throat, constricting with merciless intensity. He gasped desperately for air that wouldn't come, his lungs seizing as the array's power sank deeper, not just marking his flesh but seeming to brand his very soul. The physical agony was excruciating, but it paled beside the knife of betrayal that twisted in his heart.

An enraged roar shattered the air. Through watering eyes, Wei Wuxian saw a crimson blur as Hua Cheng ripped He Xuan away from him with savage force. The sound of shattering stone thundered through the cavern as bodies crashed through the ancient statues, debris raining down in destruction.

Wei Wuxian's knees struck the ground hard, the impact barely registering through the overwhelming pain. His fingers clawed desperately at his throat, barely able to draw even the shallowest breath as tears blurred his vision. The array burned like acid beneath his skin, pulsing with dark power.

Suddenly Hua Cheng was there, dropping to his knees before him, face contorted with fear. Strong hands covered Wei Wuxian's own, and he felt a surge of spiritual energy pour into him as Hua Cheng attempted to combat the array's effects. The immediate relief Wei Wuxian expected never came. Instead, the array seemed to recognize the intrusion, latching onto Hua Cheng's spiritual energy with hungry tendrils.

Wei Wuxian watched in horror as the array transferred itself like living ink, crawling up Hua Cheng's hands and arms in sinuous black lines. The realization hit him with sickening clarity. He Xuan's spiritual energy had merely been the catalyst, but the array itself has woven itself into Wei Wuxian's own resentful energy, feeding off it and now creating a tether between him and Hua Cheng.

Fear unlike anything he'd known clawed through him as he lifted his gaze to meet Hua Cheng's. His ghost king's singular eye was wide with disbelief, the depth of betrayal in it mirroring Wei Wuxian's own. He tried to speak, to warn him, to apologize. But darkness was already creeping in from the edges of his vision, inexorable and complete.

The last thing Wei Wuxian registered was the red string on his finger flaring with brilliant light before the blackness claimed him entirely.

Wei Wuxian came to awareness with a startling abruptness, as if he'd been dropped from a great height into a body that had been waiting for him. The disorientation left him momentarily breathless, his mind scrambling to process the sudden shift in his surroundings. Gone was the cave with its veiled statues and phosphorescent light. Instead, he found himself standing in the gray haze of a rainy afternoon, the soft patter of raindrops against wooden roofing creating a gentle backdrop to his confusion.

He blinked, trying to clear his vision. A small, decrepit shrine materialized around him. Humble wooden walls worn by time and weather, a simple altar barely elevated from the earth floor, and the unmistakable scent of incense mingling with the petrichor of fresh rain. The space was dim, illuminated only by what little daylight filtered through the open doorway and a single, guttering candle on the altar.

"What—" he began, turning to find Hua Cheng standing beside him, face drained of all color.

His ghost king was staring straight ahead, his singular eye widened with unmistakable horror. Wei Wuxian had never seen such naked vulnerability on Hua Cheng's face. He looked as if he'd been stripped bare, every defense torn away to expose his most guarded core. The sight was enough to send Wei Wuxian's heart racing with renewed alarm.

"Gege?" Wei Wuxian whispered, reaching out to grasp Hua Cheng's arm. The solid warmth beneath his fingers was reassuring. This was real, or real enough that they could touch each other. "What's wrong?"

Hua Cheng didn't answer. His gaze remained fixed on something near the altar, his breathing shallow and rapid. Following his line of sight, Wei Wuxian turned to see what had captured his ghost king's attention so completely.

A small, ragged figure stood before the altar, head tilted upward toward a clay statue perched upon it. The statue was crudely fashioned. A young man in elaborate robes, with rounded features and a faintly ridiculous smile that seemed at odds with the reverence the shrine was clearly meant to inspire. In the statue's left hand was a delicate white flower, its petals glistening with dewdrops.

The boy before the altar couldn't have been more than twelve or thirteen, his thin frame draped in clothes so patched and threadbare they barely qualified as garments anymore. But it was his face that drew Wei Wuxian's attention most keenly, or rather, the lack of it. Filthy bandages wrapped around the child's head, covering most of his features save for a single, exposed eye that gazed up at the statue with unmistakable devotion.

With careful movements, the boy reached up on tiptoes and gently replaced the white flower in the statue's hand with a fresh one he pulled from his own small fist. The new blossom was fuller, its fragrance sweeter, the dewdrops upon it catching what little light filtered into the shrine.

The tenderness with which the child handled the flower stood in stark contrast to his rough appearance. Once the exchange was complete, the boy stepped back and clasped his hands together, standing in silent prayer before the smiling clay figure.

Wei Wuxian felt something twist in his chest at the sight. The poor, abandoned child finding solace in devotion.

The quiet moment shattered as boisterous voices erupted from outside the shrine. A group of children appeared in the doorway, their well fed frames and new clothes marking them as vastly different from the lonely supplicant. They carried umbrellas and wore casual cruelty on their faces with the ease of those who had never known true suffering.

"Wow, wow. The ugly monster got kicked out again!" one called, the childish voice bright with mockery.

Wei Wuxian felt Hua Cheng go rigid beside him, the muscles beneath his hand tensing to stone. Understanding bloomed slowly, like ice forming on a winter pond. A gradual spread that suddenly crystallized into certainty.

"That's you," he whispered, the revelation stealing his breath. "The boy is you."

Hua Cheng remained silent, his face a mask of barely contained anguish as he watched his younger self tighten small fists at the taunting.

"Hey, ugly monster, you sleeping in the shrine again tonight?" another child called. "Better watch out, that 'mom' of yours is gonna beat the living hell outta you when you get home!"

The bandaged boy's visible eye flashed with rage. "I don't have a home!!" he shouted, voice cracking with the force of his emotion. "I don't have a mom! She's not my mom! Get out! Get out! Keep talking and I'm gonna beat the crap outta you!"

The cruelty only escalated, the children impervious to the pain they inflicted with casual ease.

"You dare? Careful, we might just tell your dad again, and let him teach you a lesson."

"Oh right, you don't have a mom, because your mom didn't want you. You don't have a home, because your family doesn't want anything to do with you. That's why you can only sleep in this pitiful shrine..."

Wei Wuxian's heart ached as he watched the young Hua Cheng finally break, lunging at his tormentors with a cry that held all the rage and pain a child could contain. Despite his small, underfed frame, he moved with desperate ferocity, the single exposed eye burning with a determination that transcended his physical limitations.

"Gege," Wei Wuxian murmured, turning away from the painful scene to face the man beside him. He raised his hand to Hua Cheng's cheek, gently turning his face away from the spectacle of his past suffering. "Look at me, not at this. Look at me."

Hua Cheng's eye finally met his, swimming with carefully buried pain suddenly unearthed without warning. His lips parted, but no sound emerged. What could he possibly say to explain this forced vulnerability?

"I don't know why He Xuan did this," Wei Wuxian said softly, his thumb stroking Hua Cheng's cheekbone. "But I can feel it's the array taking effect." He gritted his teeth, determination flashing in his silver eyes. "Just bear through it with me, gege. Whatever this is, it will be over quick, then we'll get the fuck out of that cave."

A flicker of comprehension crossed Hua Cheng's face, followed by dawning horror as he realized the implications. If the array was drawing on his memories, what else might follow? Wei Wuxian could almost see the calculation behind his eye, the inventory of moments too painful or too private to share being mentally catalogued and dreaded.

Wei Wuxian tried to distract Hua Cheng from the sounds of shouting and fighting that echoed behind them, deliberately shifting to block his view of the memory. "You worshipped a god when you were alive," he said gently, moving his hand up to rest beside Hua Cheng's eye, effectively shielding him from the painful scene. "I never knew that. Who was he?"

The question earned him a look of such stark shock that Wei Wuxian nearly withdrew his hand. Hua Cheng's expression transformed into something hunted and cornered, like a wounded animal with nowhere left to retreat. After a moment of tense silence, he exhaled shakily.

"The Crown Prince of Xianle," he breathed, the words barely audible above the din of the fighting children, but he offered nothing more. No name, no further explanation, just those few words delivered like a confession torn from the depths of his soul.

The scene around them began to blur at the edges, the shrine's walls dissolving like ink in water. The sounds of fighting children faded, replaced by a rushing in Wei Wuxian's ears as darkness crept in from all sides. He tightened his grip on Hua Cheng, unwilling to be separated as they were pulled toward whatever would come next.

"I'm here," he promised, pressing his forehead against Hua Cheng's as the memory dissolved completely. "Whatever we see, I'm here with you."

As blackness engulfed them once more, Wei Wuxian thought he felt Hua Cheng's hand find his own, fingers intertwining with desperate strength before they were both swept away again by the inexorable pull of the array.

The darkness gave way to chaos. Screams and clashing metal, the acrid scent of smoke and the metallic tang of spilled blood. Wei Wuxian blinked against the sudden harsh daylight, his senses overwhelmed by the haze of battle that materialized around them. They stood upon a hillside overlooking a vast field where two armies collided in brutal conflict, banners of opposing kingdoms whipping in the wind above the fray.

Below them, soldiers in white and gold clashed with warriors wearing darker tones, their armor stained with mud and gore, their faces twisted with the primal desperation of men fighting to survive. The scene was horrifyingly familiar to Wei Wuxian. He had witnessed enough battles during the Sunshot Campaign to recognize the peculiar brutality of organized warfare, the way it reduced men to their basest instincts.

Hua Cheng uttered a sound of disgust beside him, a sneer pulling at his features.

Wei Wuxian followed his gaze to a figure fighting near the edge of the battlefield. A lean young man, perhaps seventeen, with bandages over his right eye and long hair tied messily at his nape. Despite his youth, he fought with the reckless abandon of someone with nothing to lose, his movements lacking formal training but compensating with raw determination. His uniform bore the same white and gold colors, though it was too large for his frame, clearly not made for him.

Even at a distance, Wei Wuxian immediately recognized him. Hua Cheng, before death, before centuries of power and control. Just a boy, really, fighting in a war that wasn't his own.

The young Hua Cheng dispatched one opponent with brutal efficiency, only to spin and find himself facing three opposing soldiers who had broken through the line. He raised his sword, expression grim but resolute, a soldier prepared to meet his fate.

Wei Wuxian's body moved on instinct, lunging forward before his mind could process the futility of the action. "No!" he cried, reaching out as if he could somehow intervene, as if he could alter a history that had been set in stone centuries before his own birth.

Strong fingers closed around his wrist, halting his movement with gentle but implacable force. Wei Wuxian turned to find Hua Cheng holding him back, his gaze fixed not on Wei Wuxian but on his younger self. His expression was cold, almost contemptuous, as if regarding a stranger who had disappointed him deeply.

"Don't," Hua Cheng said quietly. "You can't change this."

On the battlefield, the young soldier was clearly outmatched. He fought valiantly, managing to wound one of his attackers, but there were too many. A sword cut across his thigh, bringing him to one knee. Still, he fought on, parrying the next blow even as blood soaked through his uniform.

The battle below reached its inevitable conclusion. A blade found its way past the young soldier's guard, piercing through his chest with terrible finality. The boy's visible eye widened with shock, his sword falling from suddenly nerveless fingers. The soldiers, satisfied with their kill, moved on to their next target without a backward glance, leaving the young Hua Cheng to collapse onto the bloodied earth.

Wei Wuxian felt tears well up, spilling over to track warm paths down his cheeks. He knew Hua Cheng had died young, had been told as much, but witnessing it was unbearable in a way he hadn't anticipated. This boy, barely having lived, dying alone on a battlefield far from home, fighting for a kingdom that had never shown him kindness.

The fallen soldier's lips moved, forming words too quiet to hear from their vantage point. Life fled from the young soldier's eye, his body going still as the battle raged on around him, indifferent to the loss of one more soul. Wei Wuxian closed his eyes, unable to watch anymore, tears flowing freely now. When he opened them again, the battlefield was already beginning to fade, colors bleeding away as darkness crept in once more.

He turned to Hua Cheng, his heart breaking further at the cold mask his ghost king wore. Why the fuck would He Xuan do this? What could he possibly have to gain from dragging Hua Cheng through this hell.

"Gege," he whispered, voice thick with emotion, fingers stretching toward Hua Cheng's impassive face. But the darkness consumed them before they could touch, separating them briefly as the array pulled them toward the next fragment of Hua Cheng's past.

The darkness receded once more, replaced by a scene so heavy with malevolence that Wei Wuxian felt it like a physical weight pressing down upon him. The air itself seemed corrupted, thick with a black miasma that reminded him eerily of the resentful energy he had wielded in life. They stood upon what had once been a battlefield, now a graveyard without proper burials, bones and discarded weapons jutting from blood darkened soil like grotesque crops.

Hua Cheng recognized the place immediately, his face contorting with a cloying mix of rage and despair. "No," he rasped, the single word clawing its way from his throat like something living. "Not this."

He took a step backward, his entire body rigid with tension, teeth grinding audibly as his eye blazed with fury. Without warning, his spiritual energy exploded outward in a violent wave, the full might of a Supreme crashing against the walls of their shared imprisonment as he attempted to shatter the array that bound them to these memories.

The backlash was immediate and devastating. Wei Wuxian felt something tear inside him, a searing pain that radiated from his chest as the array feeding on his resentful energy absorbed and redirected Hua Cheng's attack. His legs buckled beneath him, the world tilting sickeningly as he collapsed onto his knees, one hand clutching desperately at his chest where the burning array pulsed with renewed vigor.

Through the haze of pain, he heard Hua Cheng's shocked curse, felt strong arms gathering him close as his ghost king knelt before him on the tainted earth.

"A-Ying," Hua Cheng's voice was tight with terror, his hands cradling Wei Wuxian with careful gentleness. "Fuck, I'm sorry. I didn't know it would hurt you. I didn't realize—"

Wei Wuxian leaned his weight against Hua Cheng's chest as he struggled to catch his breath. "It's alright," he whispered, face pressed against the crook of Hua Cheng's neck. "The damned thing wove itself into my source of resentment. I should have told you."

Hua Cheng's arms tightened around him, one hand coming up to cradle the back of Wei Wuxian's head protectively. "I will kill him," he murmured, resignation edging his voice with bitterness. "I will rip the limbs from his body for harming you."

A shouting voice cut through their moment of quiet connection, harsh and demanding. Wei Wuxian turned his head, still resting against Hua Cheng's shoulder, to see who was creating such a disturbance in this landscape of death.

A figure in white funeral robes stalked across the field, their face concealed behind a mask that depicted grief and mirth in equal measure, divided down the middle like a parody of human emotion. Each step crushed bones beneath their feet, the sound carrying with eerie clarity through the still air.

"Do you hate?" the white clothed figure called out, their voice cold and commanding.

In response, the very air seemed to wail, a multitude of ghostly voices rising in tormented chorus. Wei Wuxian shivered at the sound, all too familiar with the cries of souls denied proper rest.

The figure took several more deliberate steps forward, arms spread wide as if embracing the carnage around them. "The people you swore to protect and die for have now become citizens of the new kingdom. Do you hate?"

The wailing intensified, transforming into shrieking that made Wei Wuxian's ears ring. Beneath him, he felt Hua Cheng go utterly still, not even breathing as the scene unfolded. His ghost king had turned his face, pressing it against Wei Wuxian's hair, as if unable to bear watching but unable to escape hearing.

"They've forgotten you who have died on the battlefield, forgotten your sacrifices, and are cheering for those who ripped away your lives. Do you hate?"

Something about the white clothed figure's voice resonated with command, with authority that expected to be obeyed. This was no ordinary ghost or cultivator. This was someone accustomed to being listened to, to having their words carry weight.

The souls howled in response, their collective fury causing the ground beneath them to tremble. Wei Wuxian felt ice forming in his stomach as he realized what he was witnessing. Not simply someone speaking to the dead, but someone deliberately feeding their resentment, directing it like a farmer tending to a particularly vicious crop.

"What's the use in screaming?" the figure called out sharply. "Answer me, DO YOU HATE??"

The battlefield erupted with a unified response: "I HATE... I HATE... KILL... I WANT TO KILL THEM!!!"

Wei Wuxian felt Hua Cheng flinch against him, a small, almost imperceptible movement that nonetheless conveyed volumes of pain. His arms had tightened further around Wei Wuxian, not enough to hurt though.

The white clothed figure opened their arms toward the suffering souls, reaching out both hands in welcome. "Come to my side." Each word was enunciated with terrible clarity: "I promise, the people of Yong'an shall never know peace!"

The ground shook as the dead answered this call to vengeance. In the sky above, black mist began to take shape, coalescing into forms that made Wei Wuxian's breath catch in his throat, lifting his head from Hua Cheng's shoulder. He had seen such manifestations before, in the Burial Mounds, at Nightless City. The physical embodiment of hatred given form and terrible purpose.

Movement caught Wei Wuxian's eye. A figure approaching from behind the white robed summoner. His heart stuttered as he recognized the newcomer. A black clad man with a snow white mask bearing a crescent smile, kneeling in supplication before the architect of this chaos. This was Hua Cheng himself, newly remade after death, kneeling before the figure in white. Wei Wuxian was sure of it.

"Your Highness..." The youth's voice carried above the din of wailing spirits, and Wei Wuxian felt Hua Cheng tense further. Wei Wuxian's mind worked frantically, pieces falling into place with sickening clarity. Your Highness. The figure in white was Hua Cheng's god, the one whose worship had brought a lonely, abused child to a shabby shrine day after day, the one whose war had ultimately claimed his mortal life.

The prince turned. "Who were you calling?"

Still kneeling, the young Hua Cheng replied with unwavering certainty, "I was calling you, Your Royal Highness."

"I'm not the Royal Highness," the prince said coldly.

"You are. I will never forget your voice and your form."

Anger laced the prince's voice. "I told you, I'm not him."

A white silk band lunged from the prince's sleeve like a viper, charging toward the kneeling ghost with savage intent. Wei Wuxian tensed, instinctively wanting to protect even this version of Hua Cheng, but the black clad youth caught the band with surprising strength, creating a taut connection between himself and his attacker.

"What is your name?" the prince demanded.

After a moment of silence, the young Hua Cheng replied, "I don't have a name."

"Without a name makes one Wuming," the prince stated.

"You may call me whatever you desire."

Wei Wuxian felt a complicated knot of emotions forming in his chest as he watched this exchange. The devotion in Wuming's voice was unmistakable, and yet the figure he knelt before—this prince he had worshipped in life—was now a being of vengeance, cultivating hatred among the dead, attacking the very spirit who had come to offer loyalty.

The silk band retreated, and the prince extended a hand. "Then, follow me. I will give you what you want."

Without hesitation, Wuming took the offered hand and bowed deeply, pressing his forehead against it in a gesture of absolute fealty. "I swear to die following Your Highness."

The prince pulled his hand away, tucking his arms into voluminous sleeves. Turning around, he said coolly, "You're already dead. Come."

Around them, the balls of black mist continued to take shape, all being drawn into an array within the white clothed figure's sleeve, capturing an entire river of resentment as if it were nothing more than water to be stored in a small container.

Wei Wuxian felt anger kindling in his chest, growing hotter with each passing moment. What struck deep was the casual cruelty with which this deity treated Wuming's devotion, accepting his oath while dismissing him in the same breath.

As darkness claimed them once more, Wei Wuxian felt the array pulse against his chest as they were swept away.

Light returned gradually, like dawn breaking through clouds, revealing an opulent palace hall with high ceilings and ornate pillars. Wei Wuxian blinked against the sudden brightness of lanterns, disoriented as his senses adjusted to their new surroundings. The battlefield of death replaced by this symbol of royal power and authority.

Beside him, Hua Cheng suddenly rose to his feet, a barely contained frustration evident in the rigid set of his shoulders. He paced several steps away, then back, like a caged beast seeking escape from a prison with no doors. His singular eye darted around the grand hall, refusing to settle on any one point, as if determined to avoid witnessing whatever memory would unfold next.

Wei Wuxian attempted to stand as well, but the strain of the array still pulsing against his chest made his legs unsteady. He swayed dangerously, a soft gasp escaping his lips as his knees threatened to buckle beneath him.

In an instant, Hua Cheng was behind him, strong arms encircling his waist to support him. He pulled Wei Wuxian back against his chest, taking most of his weight as if it were nothing. The warmth of Hua Cheng's body against his back was steadying, grounding in the midst of this nightmare.

"I'm sorry," Hua Cheng murmured, his breath warm against Wei Wuxian's ear. He adjusted his hold, allowing Wei Wuxian to remain standing while relying on Hua Cheng's strength.

Wei Wuxian leaned back slightly, grateful for the support. His own anger at the prince's treatment of Hua Cheng, of Wuming, continued to simmer beneath the surface. But he kept his thoughts carefully contained, unwilling to add to Hua Cheng's evident distress.

The deafening crack of doors being flung open shattered the stillness. Wei Wuxian turned his head to see the prince striding into the hall, his mask still concealing his features, his movements carrying the same cold purpose. The sound of his entrance echoed through the vast space, followed by another sound that seemed jarringly out of place. A baby's wail, thin and pitiful.

Wei Wuxian's gaze shifted to the throne at the far end of the hall. A man sat there, but not in kingly splendor. His posture was stiff, his eyes hollow and vacant, his robes hanging loosely on an emaciated frame. He looked up as the prince approached, resignation written in every line of his face.

"You've come to kill me?" the man asked, his voice carrying no fear, only weary acceptance.

The prince gave no answer. Instead, he rushed forward with frightening speed, seized the man by his hair, and forced him to the ground brutally. The baby's cry came again, louder now, but strangely, there was no child to be seen. The wailing seemed to emanate from the man himself as he lay pinned beneath the prince's hand. With a violent motion, the prince tore away the man's robes and jumped back, clearly startled by what was revealed.

"...WHAT IS THIS?!" the prince's voice rang out, shock evident despite the mask concealing their expression.

The man slowly sat up, movements careful and deliberate. "Don't be scared," he said softly, his gaze directed downward at his own chest.

Wei Wuxian leaned forward slightly, trying to see what had caused such a reaction. What he saw made his blood run cold. Two distinct faces protruded from the man's chest, one elegant and beautiful like a woman's, the other small and shriveled like an infant's. The baby's face opened its mouth in halting cries that filled the hall. Both growths extended from his flesh like grotesque tumors, unnatural and deeply disturbing.

"How are you infected with the Human Face Disease??" The prince exclaimed, taking another step back.

"This isn't the Human Face Disease," the man replied, his fingers gently moving over the faces with a parent's tenderness. "This is my wife and my son."

The faces couldn't open their eyes, only their mouths to cry and sob. They had tiny, deformed arms and legs that drooped from the man's chest. His body was skeletal, ribs protruding sharply beneath skin that had turned a sickly yellow.

Wei Wuxian had seen many horrors in his life, had created more than a few himself, but this sight sent a chill through him that reached his very core. Whatever darkness had been employed to create such an abomination went beyond even the forbidden paths he had walked.

The prince seized the man again, voice rising with anger or perhaps disgust. "WHAT KIND OF JOKE IS THIS?!"

The man's body suddenly went slack in the prince's grip, his eyes fixed and vacant. Death had claimed him, sudden and unexpected in the midst of confrontation.

Wuming appeared at the prince's side,his white mask gleaming in the light of the palace lanterns. "Your Highness, he's dead," he observed, voice flat and emotionless.

"Dead?" The prince remained motionless, clearly taken aback. "How did he just die?"

The two faces on the corpse's chest began to wail. A piercing, unnatural sound that filled the hall, making Wei Wuxian's skin crawl with instinctive revulsion. The prince drew a black sword from within his robes, raising it above the faces that continued to cry from the dead man's chest.

Before the sword could fall, Wuming moved with lightning speed. His saber flashed through the air, and the corpse split into pieces, flesh and blood spattering across the pristine floor. The wailing stopped instantly, silenced by the decisive blow.

"Who told you to do that?" The prince's mask turned toward Wuming, voice sharp with displeasure.

"There was no need to dirty Your Highness' hands," Wuming replied with a bow, his tone deferential despite having just performed an act of shocking violence.

Wei Wuxian felt Hua Cheng's arm tighten almost imperceptibly around his waist. The sound of footsteps sounded as a young boy, perhaps ten years old, rushed into the hall. His face transformed from innocent excitement to horror as he took in the gruesome scene before him.

"UNCLE!" he screamed, eyes fixed on the dismembered remains that had once been a man.

From outside came more voices, adult and concerned. "Your Royal Highness! Don't run around!"

The boy backed away, terror replacing his initial shock. "GHOSTS! THERE ARE GHOSTS! SOM—"

His scream was cut short as Wuming struck his neck with precision, rendering him unconscious. The child fell limply into the pool of blood that spread across the floor, his formal robes immediately soaking up the crimson liquid.

Guards stormed in from multiple entrances, weapons drawn and faces set with determination. Wei Wuxian watched with a growing sense of dread as Wuming moved among them with inhuman speed, his saber cutting through flesh and bone with mechanical efficiency. Bodies fell in his wake, their screams abruptly silenced, until the hall became a slaughterhouse of royal guards.

Throughout it all, the prince watched indifferently, neither participating nor interfering. When the last guard fell, he spoke a single command: "Burn the palace."

"Yes." Wuming bowed his head in obedience.

The scene shifted slightly, and Wei Wuxian found himself and Hua Cheng transported outside, where flames now engulfed the royal residence. Two silhouettes stood before the inferno, their shadows elongated and distorted by the firelight. The prince and Wuming, watching their handiwork in silent.

The air filled with distant screams. Those fighting the fire and those fleeing for their lives. Against this backdrop of suffering, Wuming's voice carried clearly to where Wei Wuxian and Hua Cheng stood.

"Your Highness, what do you want to do next?" he asked, his saber dripping with blood in the firelight, his posture that of a faithful servant awaiting his master's command.

Wei Wuxian felt something dark and heavy settling in his chest as he watched this exchange. The prince had used Wuming like a weapon, directing his loyalty toward destruction without hesitation. Wuming had rendered a child unconscious in a burning palace, had slaughtered dozens of guards, had participated in an act that would doubtlessly claim many more innocent lives, all at the casual direction of the deity he had sworn to follow.

This was the god Hua Cheng had worshipped?

A cold anger began to build within Wei Wuxian, an emotion he carefully kept hidden behind a neutral expression. He had commanded armies of the dead himself, had walked paths of darkness that few could comprehend. But he had never manipulated another's devotion so callously, had never treated loyalty as a tool to be exploited without consideration for its giver.

Behind him, Hua Cheng's breathing had grown slightly uneven, his arms tightening almost imperceptibly around Wei Wuxian's waist. Wei Wuxian reached down to place his hand over Hua Cheng's where it rested against his stomach.

The scene began to fade into darkness once more, the array pulsing between them as it dragged them toward yet another fragment of memory.

The darkness receded once more, giving way to a dilapidated temple hall. Crumbling walls surrounded them, the once ornate decorations now blackened by fire and decay. Weak moonlight filtered through holes in the roof, casting eerie shadows across the broken floor tiles. The air carried the musty scent of abandonment mixed with the lingering trace of burnt offerings.

Wei Wuxian remained standing with Hua Cheng's support, his ghost king's arms still wrapped securely around his waist from behind. He wondered silently if this position served a dual purpose. Not just to keep him upright, but to allow Hua Cheng to hide his expressions from Wei Wuxian's scrutiny.

A movement at the far end of the hall drew Wei Wuxian's attention. The prince stood motionless, seemingly surveying the ruined temple. His mask turned slowly as if taking inventory of the destruction, then stopped abruptly, focus sharpening on something in the shadows.

With swift, purposeful steps, the figure crossed the temple floor and reached out to snatch something from the hand of a charred statue. Wei Wuxian squinted, trying to make out details in the dim light. The statue was clearly meant to represent a divine figure, though fire had blackened it beyond recognition, limbs missing and features erased by flame.

What the prince held now was startling in its stark contrast. A small white flower, delicate and pure against the devastation surrounding it. The bloom seemed to glow with an otherworldly light in the darkened temple.

"What... What is this flower doing here?" The prince's voice trembled with sudden, unexpected rage.

Wei Wuxian felt Hua Cheng's body go rigid against his back. The reaction was subtle but unmistakable.

"GHOST! COME OUT!" the prince shouted into the darkness, fury echoing through the empty hall. Wei Wuxian's lip pulled slightly into a sneer at the prince not even deeming to call his ghost king by the name that he himself had bestowed upon him.

Like a shadow materializing from nothing, Wuming appeared, approaching with measured steps and stopping at a respectful distance from the prince. His posture remained deferential despite the prince's evident anger.

"What's with this flower? Who did this? You did this?" The white clothed figure thrust the flower toward Wuming's mask, hands trembling with barely contained emotion.

Wuming bowed his head slightly, his mask turned momentarily to the flower being crushed in the prince's grip. "It wasn't me," he said quietly, his voice carrying a gentleness that Wei Wuxian hadn't heard in previous memories.

"Then who could've done it??" The prince's voice rose higher, a note of something almost like panic threading through the anger.

"Why does Your Highness become so irritated when seeing this flower?" Wuming asked, his tone carefully neutral despite the provocative nature of the question.

The prince threw the flower to the ground with violent force. "...A prank like this disgusts me."

Wei Wuxian watched with mounting anger as he stared at the beautiful little flower laying discarded on the floor. Behind him, Hua Cheng's breathing had gone shallow, his heartbeat quickening against Wei Wuxian's back.

Wuming observed the discarded bloom with an air of quiet contemplation. "Why does Your Highness think it's a prank? Perhaps, there truly are believers here who worship Your Highness."

The prince whirled around, the mask's half smile, half crying visage catching the moonlight. "Are you making fun of me?"

"No," Wuming replied simply.

"Then don't say such nonsense! How can there be such a thing?"

After a pause, Wuming said with quiet certainty, "It's not impossible."

The prince stepped closer, voice rising dangerously. "That's enough. What are you trying to say? Weren't you a soldier of Xianle? You just need to heed my command!"

With sudden violence that made Wei Wuxian's fingers curl into tight fists, his nails biting crescents into his palms. The prince charged forward and stomped on the flower repeatedly, grinding it into the floor with excessive force. Cold hatred bloomed in Wei Wuxian's chest, spreading like poison as his mind flashed to the memory of a small boy—hands trembling with reverence—placing a dew kissed white flower in the outstretched hand of his god's statue.

Then, as abruptly as it had begun, the assault stopped. The prince stood motionless, staring down at the crushed petals strewn across the temple floor. Without another word, he rushed out of the temple, robes billowing behind like the wings of some wounded bird taking desperate flight.

Wuming remained behind for a moment, his masked face turned toward the destroyed flower. Though his expression was hidden, something in his posture suggested a deep, complicated emotion. Not just the faithful servant following orders, but a being with thoughts and feelings of his own.

The scene began to blur at the edges, but not before Wei Wuxian caught sight of Wuming kneeling, fingers gently touching one of the intact petals that had escaped the prince's wrath. The gesture was fleeting before he rose to follow his master out of the temple.

As darkness claimed them once more, Wei Wuxian felt a tremor move through him at the mistreatment of his beloved. The array pulsed against Wei Wuxian's chest, feeding on his mounting resentment as they were pulled into the void between memories.

The darkness gave way once more, but this time to an unfamiliar city street. Grey cobblestones stretched beneath their feet, lined with wooden buildings bearing the architectural style of a kingdom long erased from history. The air felt charged with an unnatural electricity that made the hairs on Wei Wuxian's arms stand on end.

The moment Hua Cheng registered where they were, his entire body went rigid. "Fuck," he breathed out, the single word carrying a weight of dread and resignation. In one fluid motion, he turned Wei Wuxian around in his arms, large hands coming up to cradle his face gently.

"This is probably the last one," Hua Cheng said, his voice strained as he tried to get Wei Wuxian's focus on him rather than their surroundings. "Just look at me. It'll be over—" He stopped abruptly, his eye widening slightly as Wei Wuxian's eyes met his.

He realized with a jolt that his blooming hatred for the prince must be clearly written across his face, adding yet another concern to his ghost king's already heavy burden. Shame washed over him, and he averted his eyes, unable to maintain their connection after failing to better conceal his emotions. Despite his attempt to regain composure, his peripheral vision caught movement behind Hua Cheng that was impossible to ignore.

A blinding flash of lightning split the sky, striking a black sword that lay in the middle of the street. The bolt reflected off the blade, splintering back upward into the gathering clouds. Wei Wuxian watched in horror as the sky darkened with unnatural speed, thick black clouds swallowing the sun and plunging the world into premature night.

Within those churning clouds, Wei Wuxian could make out shapes that turned his blood cold. Faces, arms, legs, and other human limbs rolling and twisting in a macabre display. It was as if the boundary between the world of the living and the realm of the dead had been violently torn open, allowing hell itself to spill into the heavens.

From the clouds came sounds like millions of horses shrieking and howling. A deafening cacophony that heralded doom. Throughout the city streets, residents emerged from their homes, faces upturned in confusion and mounting terror as they beheld the supernatural storm brewing above them.

The human faces in the black clouds suddenly surged downward, plummeting like dark shooting stars with long, trailing tails. They descended upon the citizens, rolling and spreading like thick black smoke, entering through every pore of their victims' bodies.

Wei Wuxian had witnessed many horrors in his life but the sheer malevolence of this attack made his heart pound with visceral dread. These weren't simply vengeful spirits. This was a calculated plague, a deliberate unleashing of something that should never have been disturbed.

"COME TO ME!" the prince called out, voice cutting through the chaos with unnatural clarity.

The familiar voice ignited something primal within Wei Wuxian. A surge of rage so intense it physically burned through his chest. His features contorted with fury as he stepped out of Hua Cheng's hold, turning fully to face the unfolding catastrophe.

In the center of the street stood the prince, arms spread wide like some twisted messiah welcoming destruction.

The resentful spirits already entangled with victims hesitated at the command, but those still airborne changed course instantly, redirecting toward the white clothed figure. A black tide descended, surrounding the prince completely. The spirits passed through the figure's body, causing visible shudders with every penetration.

The prince's posture betrayed increasing strain, yet the masked figure remained standing, arms still outstretched. Its determination never wavered despite the hundreds of spirits tearing through its form.

Then, suddenly, the flow of spirits ceased. The black tide surrounding the white clothed figure vanished, sucked away in a different direction.

Wei Wuxian's gaze followed the redirected current, heart dropping as he saw what, who, had caused the change.

At the end of the long street stood Wuming, gripping the long black sword that had been struck by lightning. The weapon now drew the spirits toward it like a lodestone, the rolling black current streaming into the blade with increasing velocity.

The prince stared for a moment, then charged forward with frantic energy. "WAIT! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? DON'T TOUCH THAT! GIVE ME BACK THE SWORD!" the prince shouted, voice desperate in a way Wei Wuxian hadn't heard in any previous memory.

Wuming looked up at the sound of the voice, his face hidden behind his crescent smile mask. There was something in his posture, a resigned determination, a willing sacrifice, that made Wei Wuxian's blood run cold.

Before another word could be spoken, the enormous black torrent intensified. The screaming tide mixed together into a tempest, gathering its full force and swallowing Wuming whole in an instant.

A heart wrenching, blood curdling scream tore through the air as Wuming disappeared into the vortex of spirits, the black sword still clutched in his hand.

"NO!" Wei Wuxian wasn't aware he had shouted until the word echoed back to him from the buildings. He found himself running toward the maelstrom of spirits, toward the place where Wuming had stood seconds before. Tears blurred his vision as he moved, his voice breaking as he screamed, "STOP! PLEASE!"

But the memory cared nothing for his interference. The black tide continued to swirl, tearing at the warrior within. Through the churning mass of resentment, Wei Wuxian caught glimpses of Wuming's form being shredded. Not just his physical body, but something deeper, more fundamental. His spiritual essence, his very soul, was being ripped apart by the forces he had diverted.

Wei Wuxian reached the edge of the vortex, arms outstretched as if he could somehow pull Wuming from its grasp. His fingers passed through the memory like smoke, a cruel reminder of his powerlessness to alter events long set in stone.

The scene began to dissolve around Wei Wuxian, the buildings and sky melting away. He felt himself falling, the solid ground beneath his feet suddenly absent as he plunged into nothingness. The last thing he saw before complete darkness claimed him was the white mask with its crescent smile, breaking apart piece by piece as the warrior who had worn it with such devotion was destroyed completely.

Wei Wuxian felt hatred coursing through him. Not the controlled resentment he had once wielded as the Yiling Laozu, but something raw and personal that burned through his very core.

The darkness swallowed him completely, and Wei Wuxian felt himself losing consciousness as the array on his chest pulsed one final time.

Hua Cheng returned to his body with a violence that made his teeth clench, consciousness slammed back into flesh with such force that for a moment, he couldn't process where he was or what had happened. The cave's phosphorescent light stung his eye, too bright after the absolute darkness that had swallowed them. His muscles ached as if he'd been locked in the same position for days rather than minutes, knees digging painfully into the stone floor as he cradled Wei Wuxian's limp form against his chest.

Reality crashed over him in a sickening wave. The array. He Xuan's betrayal. Wei Wuxian's pain. His private memories. Centuries of darkness, humiliation, and devotion. Ripped open and exposed without context or warning. The most sacred, suppressed parts of his existence laid bare like organs spilled from a gutted animal.

A weak cough pulled his attention downward. Wei Wuxian's body convulsed in his arms, blood spilling from between pale lips to pool in his cupped palm. Pain contorted those beautiful features that Hua Cheng had come to treasure above all else, silver eyes glazed with exhaustion and lingering trauma. The sight sent a spike of terror through Hua Cheng's heart, temporarily displacing his rage with something far more immediate.

"A-Ying," he whispered, voice breaking on the name. With desperate urgency, he pressed a palm against Wei Wuxian's chest, channeling spiritual energy into the scorched flesh where the array had burned its pattern. The black lines had already begun to fade, but beneath them, damage lingered. Not just physical. Wei Wuxian's very essence seemed diminished, the normally vibrant resentful energy that constituted his ghostly form now faint and faltering like a candle guttering in a strong wind.

No matter how much energy Hua Cheng poured into him, Wei Wuxian's condition improved only marginally. Panic clawed up his throat, a feeling he hadn't experienced in centuries. "Tell me what to do," he pleaded, abandoning all pretense of control as his fingers trembled against Wei Wuxian's sunken cheek. "Please, A-Ying. What can I do?"

Wei Wuxian's lips moved with visible effort, blood still staining the corners of his mouth. "Just... need a minute," he managed, each word clearly costing him. "The array drained my resentment. Just need to replenish."

Understanding dawned like a cold sun. The array He Xuan had created hadn't just been designed to force Hua Cheng through his memories. It had used Wei Wuxian's own resentful energy as fuel, draining him to power the spiritual violation. Two betrayals in one elegant, vicious stroke.

With movements more gentle than most would believe him capable of, Hua Cheng gathered Wei Wuxian into his arms and carried him to the cave wall. He positioned him carefully against the stone, ensuring he was stable before brushing sweat dampened hair from his forehead. The simple gesture stood in stark contrast to the murderous intent already crystallizing in his heart.

"Stay here," Hua Cheng murmured, pressing his lips to Wei Wuxian's temple in a kiss that carried all the tenderness he couldn't voice. "I'll be right back."

As he rose to his feet, Hua Cheng felt the shift within himself. The careful control he'd maintained for Wei Wuxian's sake giving way to something savage. The mask slipping to reveal the beast beneath. He Xuan had just made the final mistake of his existence.

Hua Cheng strode deeper into the cave, moving between the rows of veiled statues. His spiritual energy swirled around him in crimson waves, shattering the more delicate carvings as he passed. The knowledge that Wei Wuxian would be fine did little to quell the rage flooding through his veins. A primordial fury that demanded blood and pain in equal measure.

Not just for the physical harm done to Wei Wuxian, but for the violation of trust, for dragging them both through memories Hua Cheng had buried for a reason. For forcing Wei Wuxian to witness those moments without context, without understanding.

For showing him Xie Lian at his darkest and most broken. The vengeful, shattered prince rather than the kind, gentle god who had saved a lonely child simply because it was the right thing to do.

He would tear He Xuan apart.

As Hua Cheng moved deeper into the shadows of the cave, E-Ming materialized in his hand without conscious thought, the saber humming with anticipation of the violence to come.

He found He Xuan in a wider chamber, surrounded by the larger, more ornate statues. He paced in tight circles, muttering under his breath, fingers clenching and unclenching in evident frustration. The sight only stoked Hua Cheng's rage higher. The fucker had the audacity to act bothered after what he'd done?

He Xuan stopped abruptly, his head snapping up as he sensed Hua Cheng's approach. His dark robes seemed to absorb the cave's phosphorescent light, creating the impression of a void given human form. He turned slowly to face Hua Cheng, expression settling into the familiar cold mask that revealed nothing.

For a moment, they simply stared at each other across the chamber, two ancient powers locked in silent confrontation. The statues stood as silent witnesses, their veiled faces oblivious to the storm building between the ghost kings in their midst.

"What the fuck were you thinking?" Hua Cheng's voice emerged dangerously soft, each word sharp enough to draw blood. E-Ming pulsed in his grip, red eye spinning menacingly. "That was the stupidest thing you could have ever done."

He Xuan's features contorted with sudden ferocity, a snarl ripping from his throat that echoed against the stone walls. "You left me no choice!" The words burst from him with enough force to disturb the dust that had settled on the nearest statues, small clouds rising like spectral witnesses to their confrontation.

"No choice?" Hua Cheng's voice rose, rage finally breaking through his control. "You had so many fucking options!" He advanced a step, spiritual energy roiling around him in crimson waves that made the cave's shadows dance macabrely across the walls. "If you insisted on sticking your nose where it doesn't fucking belong, you could have just told him about Xie Lian instead of that fucked up shit you just pulled!"

He Xuan visibly recoiled, tension locking his frame as if he'd been struck. For a heartbeat, something almost like uncertainty flickered across his features before hardening into resentment once more.

"Why would he have believed me?" He Xuan asked, his voice dropping to something quieter but no less intense. "Why would Wei Wuxian believe that his beloved ghost king's whole existence revolved around his devotion to a banished god when you never mentioned anything even close to this?" With each word, anger filled his voice, the familiar chill of his spiritual energy beginning to radiate outward, meeting Hua Cheng's crimson power in crackling opposition.

"Even if he gave me the benefit of the doubt," He Xuan continued, taking a step forward until barely an arm's length separated them, "he would have believed you in a heartbeat if you denied it." His eyes narrowed dangerously, reflecting the cave's eerie light like twin abysses. "You would have misled Wei Wuxian through the rest of his existence, lying to him until when? Until you found your god?" The question came out as a contemptuous sneer. "What the fuck would you have done then? Cast him aside as you simpered off kissing Xie Lian's boots?"

Hua Cheng threw E-Ming aside, the saber clattering against stone as it slid across the cave floor. The need to feel He Xuan's face break beneath his knuckles was too visceral to ignore. To feel bone and flesh give way to satisfy the rage burning through his veins.

He launched himself forward with inhuman speed, fist connecting with He Xuan's jaw before the other ghost king could react. The impact sent He Xuan staggering back, but he recovered quickly, darkness gathering around him like a storm cloud as he returned the assault with matching fury.

Their bodies collided with thunderous force, the sound reverberating through the cave as they traded blows without restraint. He Xuan's fist slammed into Hua Cheng's ribs, cracking bone that immediately began to heal. Hua Cheng retaliated with a hit that split He Xuan's lip, dark blood spattering across veiled statues witnessing their brutal exchange.

They fought with the accumulated rage built up over weeks. All pretense of civility abandoned as they tore into each other like the monsters mortals had always believed them to be. Knuckles split against cheekbones, bodies crashing through delicate sculptures that shattered beneath their strength.

When He Xuan's back hit the ground, they were both bloody. Bruises started to darken, torn flesh spreading over knuckles, breathing ragged. Hua Cheng pinned He Xuan beneath him, straddling his chest as he summoned E-Ming back to his hand. The saber flew across the chamber, hilt slapping into his palm as he pressed the blade against He Xuan's throat.

"I love Wei Wuxian," Hua Cheng said, his voice breaking on the confession. The words hung in the air between them, raw and unguarded in a way he'd never allowed himself to be with He Xuan before.

He Xuan's eyes widened with undisguised shock, his struggle momentarily ceasing beneath the weight of those four simple words.

"I'm not using him," Hua Cheng continued softly, blood dripping from his split lip onto He Xuan's already stained robes. "And I'm not misleading him. I just... I didn't know how to tell him about my devotion to Xie Lian when for centuries I didn't understand it fully myself."

Something shifted in He Xuan's expression. The first tendrils of regret beginning to crack through his mask of righteous anger. Hua Cheng watched it spread across those familiar features with vicious satisfaction, even as he felt his own vision beginning to blur with unwelcome moisture.

He hated this. Hated the weakness, the vulnerability, the exposure. Hated that of all people, it was He Xuan witnessing him like this.

"You have no idea what you did with that damned array," Hua Cheng hissed, pressing the blade harder against He Xuan's throat until a thin line of blood welled beneath its edge. "Trying to force my deepest buried memories from me wasn't what you thought it would be. It was memories ripped out of context, of Xie Lian at his worst, giving Wei Wuxian a warped, disfigured illusion of what Xie Lian is like." His voice dropped lower, heavy with dread. "You didn't see the visceral hate in his eyes when he looked at Xie Lian in those memories."

E-Ming bit deeper into He Xuan's flesh, drawing a shallow line of crimson across pale skin. He Xuan remained perfectly still, either from resignation or some belated understanding of the magnitude of his error.

"If I tell Wei Wuxian I'm still devoted to Xie Lian, he will never see it as pure," Hua Cheng continued, the words flowing from somewhere deep and wounded. "After what he saw today he will forever question if it's more than that." His fingers tightened around E-Ming's hilt until his knuckles turned white. "You know as well as I do that he will latch onto the slightest doubt and take a step back."

Beneath him, He Xuan visibly struggled with his response, jaw working as he searched for words. The regret was undeniable now. Stark and raw across features that rarely betrayed any emotion beyond cold disdain. He opened his mouth, closed it, then finally managed to speak.

"I'm sorry," He Xuan said quietly, the admission clearly costing him. "I thought... I really thought I was doing the right thing."

Hua Cheng's gaze drifted away from He Xuan's face, settling on the shattered statues of his god now reduced to rubble in their mindless fury. The veiled faces stared accusingly from broken fragments, witnesses to violence in a place meant for reverence.

"Well you fucking didn't," Hua Cheng replied, the words cold and dismissive. His eye returned to He Xuan's face, contempt hardening his features. With deliberate cruelty, he pressed E-Ming deeper, watching another rivulet of blood trail down the pale column of He Xuan's throat.

Then, abruptly, he pulled away. The saber vanished from his hand as he rose to his feet, stepping back from He Xuan's prone form. Blood dripped from his mangled knuckles, pattering against the stone floor in a rhythm like distant rainfall.

Hua Cheng turned his back on him and began walking away, each footstep echoing through the ruined chamber. "You will stay the fuck away from us from now on," he said without looking back, his voice carrying clearly despite its softness. The words hung in the air like a curse.

He didn't wait for He Xuan's response. There was nothing left to say between them. Perhaps there never had been anything of real value in the first place. Centuries of grudging alliance dissolved in the span of a single breath, leaving only the hollow ache of betrayal in its wake.

Hua Cheng made his way back through the veiled corridor, past rows of faceless statues, until he reached the spot where he'd left Wei Wuxian. Relief flooded through him at the sight of his A-Ying still propped against the wall where he'd left him, though now his eyes were closed in peaceful slumber. The furious lines of pain had smoothed from his face, leaving an expression of misleading contentment that made something twist painfully in Hua Cheng's chest.

Moving with exceptional gentleness, he gathered Wei Wuxian into his arms, cradling him against his chest as if he were made of something infinitely precious and fragile. Wei Wuxian's head lolled against his shoulder, a small sigh escaping those perfect lips as he unconsciously nestled closer to Hua Cheng's warmth.

Without a backward glance at the destruction they were leaving behind, Hua Cheng opened a portal with a throw of his dice. The tear in reality revealed the familiar crimson bathed chambers of Paradise Manor, the sight of home momentarily constricting his throat with an emotion he refused to name.

He stepped through, Wei Wuxian secure in his arms, the portal sealing behind them with a soft whisper of finality.

Chapter Text

The first thing Wei Wuxian registered was movement. A steady, rhythmic motion that swayed his body in a comforting cadence. The second was warmth enveloping him completely, a solid presence against his side and beneath him. The third was the scent. Sandalwood, incense, and that indefinable something that belonged uniquely to Hua Cheng.

He opened his eyes slowly, vision clearing to reveal familiar crimson walls sliding past. Hua Cheng was carrying him through the manor, strong arms cradling him against a broad chest as if he weighed nothing at all. His ghost king's face was set in a troubled expression, corners of his lips turned down, frown thoughtlessly in place.

Home. They were home.

The realization brought with it a wave of emotion so overwhelming it threatened to drown him. The memories from the cave washed over him. Watching Hua Cheng die not once, but twice. First as a young soldier on a distant battlefield, abandoned and forgotten. Then again, shredded body and soul by such hateful spirits as he sacrificed himself. Both deaths marked by such profound loneliness, by pain so absolute it seared into Wei Wuxian's heart.

Yet here he was, the same man who had endured unspeakable torment, now carrying Wei Wuxian with a tenderness that belied the deadly power in those hands. The contradiction between the abandoned child, the sacrificed warrior, and this powerful being struck Wei Wuxian with such force that he couldn't bring himself to speak, could barely bring himself to breathe.

Instead, Wei Wuxian turned his face toward Hua Cheng's chest, fingers curling into crimson robes with desperate strength as if the fabric might somehow anchor him against the tide of emotion threatening to carry him away. The steady heartbeat beneath his ear provided a rhythm to focus on, a metronome keeping time in a world that had lost all sense of order.

"Gege," he whispered, the word emerging more breath than sound, carrying within it all the things he couldn't articulate. Relief, gratitude, and so much love that it terrified him with its intensity.

Hua Cheng's steps faltered briefly, his singular eye flickering down to Wei Wuxian's face with an expression too complex to decipher. He didn't speak, but his arms tightened almost imperceptibly around Wei Wuxian's frame. He bent his head just enough to press his lips to Wei Wuxian's forehead, the gesture carrying a reverence that made Wei Wuxian's throat close up entirely.

Hua Cheng stepped through the threshold of their chamber, the familiar door closing silently behind them without him needing to touch it. The room welcomed them with the warm glow of lanterns that seemed to brighten at their arrival, casting long shadows that danced across the ornate furnishings. With Wei Wuxian still cradled in his arms, Hua Cheng moved toward the vast bed dominating the center of the room, its silken sheets and plush pillows promising comfort they both desperately needed.

Cradling Wei Wuxian close, Hua Cheng pulled back the crimson covers, lowering him carefully onto the bed. Wei Wuxian sank into the softness with a small sound caught somewhere between relief and reluctance, his fingers lingering on Hua Cheng's robes for a moment before finally releasing the fabric. The loss of contact, however brief, left him feeling strangely untethered, as if he might float away without Hua Cheng's weight anchoring him to this realm.

Hua Cheng knelt at the foot of the bed as he gently lifted one foot and then the other, removing Wei Wuxian's boots with care. His fingers brushed lightly against Wei Wuxian's ankles as he set the footwear aside. When Hua Cheng drew the covers over him, the weight of the silk felt like an embrace.

Moving quietly, Hua Cheng shed his outer robe, the heavy fabric falling from his shoulders in a whisper of crimson that pooled on the floor like spilled wine. He removed his own boots, setting them beside Wei Wuxian's with such domesticity, before crossing to the opposite side of the bed. The mattress dipped slightly beneath his weight as he slipped beneath the covers, the minor shift in balance drawing them inevitably toward each other.

They turned toward one another in the same moment, eliminating the space between them with mutual urgency. Wei Wuxian's hands found Hua Cheng's inner robes, fingers twisting into the fabric with enough force to strain the seams. He pressed his face against Hua Cheng's chest, inhaling deeply as if trying to fill himself with the other man's essence. Hua Cheng's arms encircled him immediately, one hand splayed across Wei Wuxian's back while the other cradled the nape of his neck, fingers threading through dark strands gently.

Wrapped in Hua Cheng's embrace, Wei Wuxian remained silent, lost in the need to confirm Hua Cheng's presence, struggling to temper the fierce protective instinct that transcended rational thought. The rhythm of Hua Cheng's steady heartbeat kept the tears dangerously close to falling at bay.

Hua Cheng's lips brushed against Wei Wuxian's hair, pressing a kiss so gentle it felt like the touch of butterfly wings. His breath warmed Wei Wuxian's scalp as he spoke, voice pitched low and intimate in the quiet of their chamber.

"I'm so sorry, A-Ying," he murmured, the words broken against Wei Wuxian's skin. "For everything you had to endure today."

Something fractured inside Wei Wuxian at those words. A dam that had been holding back the tide of his emotions finally giving way. The sheer injustice of it struck him with the force of a physical blow. After everything Hua Cheng had suffered, after centuries of pain and loneliness, after being forced to relive his most vulnerable moments in that cave, after having his deepest wounds exposed against his will. He was still the one apologizing. As if Wei Wuxian were the only one who had endured something terrible.

A sob tore from Wei Wuxian's throat, raw and primal, followed by another before he could catch his breath. Tears spilled from his eyes in hot rivulets, soaking the front of Hua Cheng's inner robes as his body began to shake with the force of his weeping. Once started, he found he couldn't stop. Barely suppressed grief, the horror of what he'd witnessed in Hua Cheng's memories, the ache of empathetic pain, all of it pouring out in a torrent that left him gasping.

Hua Cheng's reaction was immediate. He pulled Wei Wuxian higher, guiding his face into the crook of his neck, one hand cradling the back of Wei Wuxian's head while the other wrapped tighter around his trembling form. Wei Wuxian found himself almost entirely atop Hua Cheng, pressed against the solid warmth of his chest as violent sobs wracked his frame.

"Please don't cry," Hua Cheng whispered against his ear, voice tight with distress. "A-Ying, please... I can't bear to see you like this." His fingers stroked through Wei Wuxian's hair.

Wei Wuxian tried to respond, tried to regain control, but each attempt at speech dissolved into fresh sobs. His chest ached with the effort of drawing breath between cries, his throat raw, eyes burning as tears continued to flow. He struggled to form words, to explain the overwhelming sorrow consuming him, but could only manage broken, hitching gasps.

Gradually, with Hua Cheng's steady presence beneath him, Wei Wuxian managed to calm himself enough to speak, though his voice emerged fractured and wet.

"It h-hurts," he confessed, words muffled against Hua Cheng's neck. "Seeing what you went through. All that suffering." His fingers clutched at Hua Cheng's robes, bunching the silk in trembling fists. "I want to make it better, to take it all away, but I can't..." Fresh tears welled up, spilling over to track warm paths down his already damp cheeks. "I can't undo what they did to you."

Hua Cheng shifted beneath him, large hands moving to cup Wei Wuxian's face, gently but firmly tilting it upward. His thumbs brushed across Wei Wuxian's cheekbones, wiping away tears with such tender care it almost unraveled Wei Wuxian all over again.

"It happened so long ago," Hua Cheng said softly, his gaze never wavering from Wei Wuxian's tear stained face. "There's no suffering left to take away anymore."

Wei Wuxian shook his head slightly, looking down as disbelief clouded his features. After what he'd witnessed in those memories, how could there not be wounds that still bled?

"Look at me," Hua Cheng urged, his voice barely above a whisper. When Wei Wuxian hesitated, one hand moved to tilt his chin upward, forcing their eyes to meet once more. "Look at me, A-Ying."

Wei Wuxian complied, reddened eyes swimming with unshed tears as they locked with Hua Cheng's gaze.

"I am so grateful for you," Hua Cheng said, his voice carrying adoration that made Wei Wuxian's breath catch. "Every smile you gift me makes my heart stutter in my chest. Every touch makes me feel to the point of ascending." His thumbs continued their gentle path across Wei Wuxian's cheeks, catching tears as they fell. "Every kiss I am privileged to taste makes me want to fall to my knees and offer up my existence at your feet."

He fell silent for a moment, his expression softening as he studied Wei Wuxian's face.

A small, tender smile curved Hua Cheng's lips, transforming his features from handsome to breathtaking. "You make me so happy, A-Ying," he said simply, the words carrying the weight of a vow.

The confession hung in the air between them, perfect in its simplicity, devastating in its honesty. Wei Wuxian could only stare, his heart so full he feared it might shatter beneath the weight of everything he felt for this impossible, beautiful man.

"I'm happier now than I've ever been," Wei Wuxian whispered brokenly, his own confession spilling from his lips. "In life or death." His gaze dropped to Hua Cheng's mouth as he leaned forward, drawn by a need more fundamental than breath itself. "You've given me that."

He closed the distance between them, capturing Hua Cheng's bottom lip between his own in a kiss that tasted of salt and—Wei Wuxian froze, pulling back with a sudden frown as a metallic tang spread across his tongue. Blood. He had tasted blood.

For the first time since waking, Wei Wuxian truly looked at Hua Cheng, his self-absorbed haze of emotion clearing enough to see what he'd missed before. Hua Cheng's lip was split open, a thin line of crimson bisecting the perfect curve of his mouth. A dark bruise bloomed along his jawline, the discoloration stark against pale skin. Wei Wuxian's eyes widened as he noticed more injuries. A single cut marring the side of Hua Cheng's forehead, another bruise forming high on his cheekbone.

"What..." he began, voice trailing off as he pushed himself up, sitting beside Hua Cheng with mounting disbelief. His eyes tracked down Hua Cheng's body, cataloging a constellation of wounds he'd somehow failed to notice in his grief. The collar of Hua Cheng's inner robe had fallen open, revealing more bruises, more cuts. Evidence of violence that made Wei Wuxian's stomach clench with dread.

With trembling fingers, Wei Wuxian pulled the robe open further, a soft, distressed sound escaping him at what he found. A massive bruise spread across Hua Cheng's ribs, the skin mottled in shades of purple so deep it appeared almost black in places. The injury looked like it should be debilitating, yet Hua Cheng had carried him without betraying any sign of pain.

Wei Wuxian's gaze dropped to Hua Cheng's hands, finally registering the blood caked beneath his fingernails, dried in the creases of his knuckles, staining the cuffs of his inner robes. Far too much blood for the cuts visible on those elegant fingers. He realized that Hua Cheng was actively healing, his spiritual energy knitting flesh and bone back together even as they lay here. The injuries Wei Wuxian could see were merely what remained of wounds that must have been calamitous.

His eyes shot up to meet Hua Cheng's gaze, finding his ghost king's face twisted in an expression of guilt. "What happened?" Wei Wuxian asked, his voice tight with worry.

Hua Cheng grimaced, turning his face away as he pushed himself up to sit beside Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian reached out, fingers gentle but insistent as they caught Hua Cheng's chin, turning his face back toward him. "You didn't kill him, did you?" he asked, the question emerging softer than intended, laced with a concern that surprised even himself.

Hua Cheng's frown deepened at the worry evident in his voice "I should have," he said, the words emerging with quiet exhaustion. He caught Wei Wuxian's hand where it still rested against his face, holding it gently as he continued. "If you wish it, A-Ying, I'll find his ashes and bring them to you to destroy yourself. It would be your right."

Wei Wuxian blinked, confusion creasing his brow as he processed Hua Cheng's words. "He Xuan's ashes?" he asked slowly, the term unfamiliar in this context. "What are you talking about?" His frown deepened as a memory surfaced. "Wen Ruohan also mentioned something about ashes. He was looking for mine but couldn't find it."

Hua Cheng stared at him, his expression shifting from exhaustion to puzzlement. For a moment, he seemed unable to comprehend Wei Wuxian's questions, as if Wei Wuxian had suddenly begun speaking a language he didn't understand. Then, like a shadow passing over the sun, Wei Wuxian watched understanding dawn across Hua Cheng's features. Followed immediately by something that looked terrifyingly like fear.

Without warning, Hua Cheng rose from the bed, a restlessness overtaking him as he crossed the room. He approached his desk where scrolls still lay spread out from that morning, abandoned in apparent haste. His hand hovered over one particular document, fingers trembling slightly as if wanting to reach for it, but then he clenched his fist and withdrew.

The muscles in his back tensed visibly beneath his bloodied robe as he stood motionless for several heartbeats. When he finally turned back toward Wei Wuxian, his expression had been carefully wiped clean, though the strain of maintaining that neutrality showed in the tightness around his eye.

"A-Ying," he said, his voice unnaturally controlled, "what exactly happened after you died? What do you remember?"

Wei Wuxian gave a small, humorless huff that barely qualified as laughter. "What do you mean, what do I remember? You were in Ghost City the day I arrived. Why are you asking?"

Hua Cheng moved closer to the bed again, stopping just short of touching it. He shook his head slightly, eye never leaving Wei Wuxian's face. "What do you remember before you came to Ghost City?"

A frown deepened on Wei Wuxian's face as he tried to parse the strange intensity behind the question. "I remember dying at the Burial Mounds," he said slowly, watching Hua Cheng's expression for any clue to this odd line of questioning. "And then I woke up here." He tilted his head slightly, silver eyes narrowing with concern. "Gege, what's wrong? Why are you asking this?"

Hua Cheng exhaled a long breath, his shoulders slumping almost imperceptibly as the last of his hope visibly drained away. Wei Wuxian watched dread creep across his ghost king's features like frost spreading over a window pane. Subtle at first, then consuming every line of his face until his expression was transformed by it.

"When a person dies," Hua Cheng began, his voice pitched low, "their soul usually lingers for a time. During this period, they feel a visceral pull toward their physical remains. A connection almost impossible to ignore." He moved to sit on the edge of the bed as he continued. "When the soul makes contact with the body, their essence becomes morphed into a material object. These are what we call a ghost's ashes."

He paused, eye searching Wei Wuxian's face as if hoping for a flicker of recognition. "For powerful ghosts, the only way to truly destroy them is to destroy their ashes. It's... final. Absolute."

Wei Wuxian sat in stunned silence, mind racing to absorb this new information. The concept was fascinating. A complete departure from everything he had been taught about death and the afterlife during his cultivation training. But even as his mind dissected the theory, he knew with absolute certainty that he had no memory of experiencing anything like that. No lingering near his corpse, no transformation, no creation of his ashes. He had simply... died, and then awakened in Ghost City.

Looking up, Wei Wuxian felt guilt at not being able to give Hua Cheng the answer he was desperately looking for. "Gege, I'm sorry," Wei Wuxian said softly, reaching out to touch Hua Cheng's arm, "I don't remember any of that happening."

"It doesn't really matter, does it?" Wei Wuxian added with a light shrug, trying to dispel Hua Cheng's worries. His fingers traced the muscle on Hua Cheng's forearm, the casual touch at odds with the weight of their conversation. "Who would even know to look for my ashes to try and destroy my soul? Nobody from your realm who understands ghost ashes even knows who I am. There's no one who would go out of their way to get rid of me." His lips curved into a reassuring smile as he squeezed Hua Cheng's arm gently. "And nobody in my realm knows about these things."

Hua Cheng drew in a deep breath, his chest expanding visibly as he attempted to calm himself. "You said yourself that Wen Ruohan was looking for your ashes," he pointed out, voice low and measured despite the tension evident in every line of his body. "We have no assurance that he acted alone."

Without warning, he reached for Wei Wuxian, strong hands settling on his waist and lifting him with effortless strength despite his injuries. Wei Wuxian found himself being guided onto Hua Cheng's lap, legs straddling powerful thighs as Hua Cheng pulled him closer. Before he could react to this sudden repositioning, Hua Cheng buried his face in the crook of Wei Wuxian's neck, inhaling deeply as if trying to breathe him in, to commit his scent to memory.

Wei Wuxian's hands moved automatically to Hua Cheng's back, fingertips tracing soothing patterns across the tense muscles he found there. He could feel Hua Cheng's breath warm against his skin, the slight tremble in his powerful frame betraying his unease.

"The slightest chance that you might be in danger," Hua Cheng murmured against Wei Wuxian's neck, his lips brushing skin with each word, "isn't something I can ignore." His arms tightened around Wei Wuxian's waist, holding him as if afraid he might dissolve into mist at any moment. "I won't lose you, A-Ying."

Wei Wuxian shifted slightly, pulling back just enough to see Hua Cheng's face. "The chances of something taking me away from you are so small," he said softly, his fingers continuing their gentle path across Hua Cheng's shoulders. "It's not worth working yourself up over, gege."

Hua Cheng's response was to surge forward, capturing Wei Wuxian's lips in a kiss that bordered on desperate. He tasted of blood and need, the pressure of his mouth conveying what words could not. When he finally pulled back, his eye remained locked on Wei Wuxian's face, unwavering in its intensity.

"I won't risk it," he said firmly, the words emerging with quiet finality.

Wei Wuxian sighed with exaggerated dramatics, leaning back slightly though his hands remained linked behind Hua Cheng's neck. His silver eyes sparkling with feigned exasperation that couldn't quite mask his genuine affection.

"Gege," he said, head tilting slightly to one side, "what are we even going to do about it?" The question was posed casually, as if they were discussing something as mundane as what to have for dinner rather than the potential destruction of Wei Wuxian's very existence.

Hua Cheng's expression turned contemplative, his singular eye narrowing slightly as he gave the question genuine consideration. After a moment, his gaze refocused on Wei Wuxian, decision apparently made.

"As unpleasant as it will be, we'll have to find your body," he said, each word measured and deliberate. "I can start murdering my way through the cultivation sects until someone tells me where they've taken it."

Wei Wuxian studied Hua Cheng's face, realizing with a small thrill that his ghost king was entirely serious in his casual mention of massacre. Something dark and satisfied curled through Wei Wuxian's chest at the thought of unleashing his lover upon the cultivation world. Letting Hua Cheng tear through them like a crimson tide, leaving devastation in his wake.

Reining in these darker impulses, Wei Wuxian gave a small laugh that belied the violent fantasies dancing through his mind. He leaned forward, playfully nipping at Hua Cheng's ear before whispering against it. "I have a much less destructive plan, though admittedly more boring." He pulled back slightly, a suggestive smirk playing across his lips. "But if you expect me to get out of this bed, I'll need something in return."

The shift in tone visibly caught Hua Cheng off guard, his focus breaking as he stared at Wei Wuxian, pupil slowly dilating. "Anything," he whispered, looking utterly entranced, the word emerging barely audible.

Wei Wuxian felt positively sinuous as he decided to rile Hua Cheng up, wanting to take his mind off the crushing weight of the day's events. They more than deserved a moment of respite.

With deliberate slowness, Wei Wuxian tightened his legs around Hua Cheng's waist, shifting his position until he felt the natural bulge beneath him. He watched Hua Cheng's pupil fully eclipse his iris, a subtle hitch in his breathing betraying his immediate response. Wei Wuxian leaned down, scraping his teeth over the sensitive skin of Hua Cheng's neck before latching his lips onto the pale column and sucking softly.

The taste of salt and faint metallic traces filled his mouth as he reached deep inside Hua Cheng's pool of resentment and began to pull, replenishing his depleted reserves with the endless darkness lingering in his ghost king. The sensation was intoxicating. Scorching fire flowing through him, filling the hollow spaces left by the array's draining effects.

Hua Cheng gasped, hips jerking upward instinctively as his hands grabbed onto Wei Wuxian's hips, gripping hard enough to bruise. The sensation of having his energy drawn out combined with the feeling of Wei Wuxian's ass flush against his dick created a feedback loop of arousal that seemed to overwhelm him completely.

Encouraged by this reaction, Wei Wuxian sucked harder, teeth grazing the sensitized skin as he continued to pull resentment from Hua Cheng's being. He could feel Hua Cheng hardening rapidly beneath him, his breathing quickening to shallow pants as his hips thrust upward in increasingly frenzied motions. Hua Cheng's hands moved restlessly, pushing and pulling at Wei Wuxian's hips, seeking friction that Wei Wuxian was all too happy to provide.

Wei Wuxian felt himself responding, heat pooling low in his stomach and arousal dampening his inner robes. But this wasn't about him. This was about giving Hua Cheng release, about claiming him in this small, intimate way. As Hua Cheng's movements grew more erratic, his breathing staggered and uneven, Wei Wuxian made one final effort, pulling as hard as he could on the swirling darkness within Hua Cheng while simultaneously biting down on his neck, just shy of breaking skin.

"Fuck," Hua Cheng breathed out, the profanity sounding like a prayer as his fingers dug into Wei Wuxian's hips. His body went rigid for a heartbeat before shuddering beneath Wei Wuxian, release pulsing through him as his head fell back in abandon.

Wei Wuxian felt himself slip into a hazy state of satisfaction as he watched Hua Cheng come undone beneath him, a single thought repeating through his mind like a mantra: Mine. Hua Cheng was his to protect, his to love, his to keep. The possessiveness of the sentiment should have frightened him, but instead it settled in his chest like a benediction.

As they both gradually calmed, Wei Wuxian became aware of his resentment reserves. Not just replenished but overflowing, Hua Cheng's power humming through him like wine in his veins. He unlatched from Hua Cheng's neck, feeling his own arousal twitch at the sight of the dark bruise blooming on the pale skin. A visible mark of his claim.

"Beautiful," he whispered, meeting Hua Cheng's dazed gaze. He captured those perfect lips in a gentle kiss, maintaining eye contact throughout, before pulling back with a satisfied smile. "Thank you for sharing, gege."

Before Hua Cheng could respond, Wei Wuxian slipped from his lap and out of the bed with newfound energy, stretching languidly as he began walking toward the bathroom. "Come take a bath with me," he called over his shoulder, fingers already working at the ties of his disheveled robes. "We need to leave soon."

Through his pleasure induced haze, Hua Cheng managed to look up, confusion creasing his brow. "Where are we going?" he asked, voice still rough at the edges.

Wei Wuxian paused at the bathroom threshold, robes hanging open to reveal a tantalizing glimpse of skin as he glanced back with a mischievous smile. "To visit Huaisang, of course."

Chapter Text

Hua Cheng wanted to slit He Xuan's throat. Slowly, meticulously, preferably while the fucker was still conscious enough to feel every excruciating second. The thought alone brought him a measure of satisfaction as he leaned against the courtyard wall, arms crossed over his chest. But even as murderous fantasies played through his mind with vivid detail, he had to begrudgingly admit that the bastard had done a decent job teaching Wei Wuxian how to create portals. The evidence stood before him now, utterly captivating.

Wei Wuxian knelt in the center of the courtyard, brow furrowed in concentration, slender fingers guiding ribbons of blood with the same elegant precision he might use to play his flute. Resentful energy, borrowed so enthusiastically from Hua Cheng the previous night, responded to Wei Wuxian's will like an eager pet, giving power to the array where directed. Morning light caught in Wei Wuxian's hair, highlighting the sharp beauty of his profile as he worked.

Convincing Wei Wuxian to rest until morning hadn't been difficult. After their bath, his A-Ying had been pliant and drowsy, easily persuaded to postpone their journey to the Unclean Realm until he'd recovered further from the array's effects. The moment Wei Wuxian had fallen asleep, curled trustingly against Hua Cheng's side, Hua Cheng had slipped from the bed and returned to his study.

He'd spent hours combing through every one of those damned scrolls, searching for any hint of what might have happened to Wei Wuxian's body after his death. Jun Wu's spies were unreliable as fuck. Pages upon pages of trivial cultivation gossip and political machinations, but nothing about the fate of the notorious Yiling Laozu's remains. The lack of information gnawed at him, a persistent discomfort he couldn't shake. If someone else got their hands on Wei Wuxian's ashes...

A sudden crackling noise pulled him from his darkening thoughts. Before him, Wei Wuxian had successfully torn open a gateway, its edges rippling with controlled resentful energy. Through the portal's opening, Hua Cheng could glimpse tall pine trees and mountainous terrain, presumably the Unclean Realm's territory. Wei Wuxian turned to look at him over his shoulder, silver eyes alight with obvious pride, lips curved in an expectant smile clearly waiting to be praised.

Something inside Hua Cheng melted at that look. A soft laugh escaped him as he pushed off from the wall and crossed the distance between them in three long strides. He caught Wei Wuxian's face between his palms, tilting it upward as he bent to capture those smiling lips in a sound kiss.

"You're so talented," he murmured against Wei Wuxian's mouth before pressing another kiss to the corner of his lips. "So amazing." Another kiss, this one to the opposite corner. "Beautiful." A firmer kiss straight to those lush lips. "Absolutely breathtaking." The final kiss lingered, deepening as Wei Wuxian responded with enthusiastic eagerness.

Wei Wuxian began to giggle against his mouth, the sound vibrating pleasantly between them before he pulled away. A delicious blush had spread across his cheeks, creeping down his neck to disappear beneath the collar of his robes. All from Hua Cheng's excessive praise. The sight of it made Hua Cheng want to chase that blush with his lips, to see how far down it extended, to make Wei Wuxian tremble beneath him.

Hua Cheng extended a hand to help Wei Wuxian to his feet, enjoying the warm weight of those slender fingers as they curled around his own. The portal hummed with quiet energy beside them, a doorway to a territory Hua Cheng never had any interest in.

"How would you like to do this?" he asked, thumb absently stroking across Wei Wuxian's knuckles. "Shall we walk in through their front gates and demand a warm welcome?"

Wei Wuxian laughed, the sound bright and carefree in the morning air. "Imagine that," he mumbled, clearly amused by the mental image of their potential arrival.

He turned to Hua Cheng with a sly look, lower lip slightly jutting out in a cute little pout that was wholly enticing. "Gege, won't you make a barrier for your A-Ying?" Wei Wuxian wheedled, silver eyes wide with exaggerated pleading as he pressed his chest flush against Hua Cheng's. "Let's have some fun first." His voice struggling to keep the humor out as he stares up at Hua Cheng through thick lashes.

Hua Cheng felt his lips twitch upward involuntarily. How could he possibly deny such a request? If Wei Wuxian only knew how close Hua Cheng was to catching that pouting lip between his teeth and dragging him back to bed, he'd revisit his strategy. With a small gesture of his hand, he summoned a barrier. It settled around them like a second skin, bending light and muffling sound, rendering them effectively invisible to mortal perception.

"You have me wrapped around your finger," he said simply, satisfaction warming his chest at Wei Wuxian's delighted expression.

Wei Wuxian leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to the bruise Hua Cheng knew was visible past the collar of his robe. A flicker of arousal shot through him at the feel of those perfect lips against the sensitized skin, his mind immediately conjuring the image of matching fingerprints he'd glimpsed on Wei Wuxian's hips that morning. The thought scattered as Wei Wuxian linked his arm through his and dragged him through the portal with playful eagerness.

They emerged some distance from the fortress, in a small clearing sheltered by pine trees and rocky outcroppings. A perfectly obscured location where no one would notice the sudden appearance of a portal.

"I've suffered through enough post war meetings to know where all the good hiding spots are," Wei Wuxian explained with a conspiratorial grin, his eyes bright with mischief as he glanced around to orient himself.

He gave Hua Cheng a sly side look, silver eyes gleaming with knowing amusement. "I think by now you know more about the Nie Sect than I do myself, but I'll pretend not to know about your secret scrolls and give you a tour anyway." He finished with a wink.

Before Hua Cheng could formulate a response, Wei Wuxian was pulling him onto a foot path that led toward the main fortress. Hua Cheng followed willingly, a startled laugh of disbelief escaping him as he realized he might not have been as subtle as he'd thought. Especially around someone as perceptive and sharp as Wei Wuxian.

Hua Cheng tilted his head in mock surrender, his gaze never leaving Wei Wuxian's animated face. "I'll swear ignorance if it means I can listen to your voice," he replied, voice low and content.

Wei Wuxian's grip on his arm tightened perceptibly, a pleasant pressure through the layers of his robes. "It's rare for anyone explicitly telling me to talk more and not less," he said with a laugh that didn't quite hide the shadow of old hurts beneath it.

Hua Cheng noticed they were approaching what appeared to be extensive training fields, where disciples moved in disciplined formations. Each wore the distinctive Nie Sect uniform, deep green outer robes with muted gold trim, high collared and practical, cinched at the waist with sturdy leather belts from which heavy sabers hung. Unlike the flowing, ostentatious garments he's seen other cultivators wear, these were designed for battle. Shorter hemlines to prevent tripping, reinforced shoulders and arms to withstand the strain of wielding their heavy blades.

"It's not your fault for having to deal with trash for so long," Hua Cheng said with softness in his tone. "You're in much better company now."

Wei Wuxian looked up at him then, a smile spreading across his face that looked both shy and grateful. It was the smile of someone who had rarely been defended.

After a moment, he turned his attention to the training grounds, slipping back into his role as all knowing guide. "The Nie Sect specializes in saber cultivation," he explained, gesturing toward the practicing disciples. "See how they focus on strength and directness rather than the flowing movements you'd see from sword cultivators? There's no fancy footwork or elaborate stances. Just brutal efficiency."

As they walked by, a group of disciples paired off for sparring, the clash of metal against metal ringing through the morning air. The impact of each strike sent visible shockwaves through the wielders' bodies, demonstrating the immense physical strength required for their style.

"Their techniques are as blunt as their leader's temperament," Hua Cheng remarked, voice edged with understated contempt as he watched the disciples' heavy handed strikes. "All force and no finesse. A sect built on brawn and righteousness without the wisdom to temper either."

His dismissal carried the casual deadliness of someone who could obliterate the entire training field with a flick of his wrist if he chose. How he would revel in it. The disdain in his tone wasn't merely aesthetic criticism. It was judgment passed on any clan that had stood against Wei Wuxian, any leader who had helped orchestrate his downfall. In Hua Cheng's eyes, their cultivation methods were irrelevant; they had already proven their worthlessness when they betrayed his A-Ying.

Wei Wuxian lightly bumped his shoulder against Hua Cheng's as they made their way down an open corridor, looking up at him with a small smile that carried both reprimand and understanding.

"Don't judge blindly," he said gently, voice low despite their barrier's protection. "Nie Mingjue is a hardass with an obsessive black and white sense of morality, but his intolerance of anything he deems to deviate from the moral good is still a respectable trait." His expression shifted, eyes darkening slightly. "He looks positively saintly next to Jin Guangshan. That whole sect is a scorch on this earth."

Hua Cheng was struggling to find the right words to tell Wei Wuxian that he'd gladly see all the remaining sect leaders ripped apart, limb from limb, without sounding too obtuse. There was a delicate balance to be struck between expressing his willingness to slaughter anyone who had hurt Wei Wuxian and not coming across as excessively bloodthirsty. Though he doubted that Wei Wuxian would be particularly shocked.

Before he could formulate a half decent way of stating his thoughts, a voice thundered across the open space, making even Hua Cheng raise an eyebrow at its intensity.

"Nie Huaisang, do you want this strike to land on your head?! Get back here!"

Recognition flashed across Wei Wuxian's face, his body instantly tensing. He gripped Hua Cheng's arm tighter, fingers digging into the crimson fabric as he quickened his pace, practically dragging Hua Cheng toward the source of the disturbance.

Hua Cheng's attention immediately focused on a tall, broad shouldered man whose very stance exuded authority. His robes, more elaborate than those of the training disciples, marked him clearly as someone of high rank. The saber in his hand was held with the casual comfort of someone who had made the weapon an extension of his own body.

"That's Nie Mingjue," Wei Wuxian whispered unnecessarily, his body tensing slightly beside Hua Cheng. "And that," he added, gesturing toward a slender young man who was clearly attempting to escape training, "is Nie Huaisang."

Hua Cheng observed the younger Nie with interest. Where his brother was all hard angles and imposing presence, Nie Huaisang was delicate, elegancy dominating his movements. A decorative fan was tucked into his belt despite the impracticality of such an accessory during training.

"Da-ge, the time is up. It's time to rest!" the young man protested, his voice carrying a wheedling tone that seemed well practiced.

Nie Mingjue's face darkened further. "You rested just thirty minutes ago. Keep on going, until you learn it."

Hua Cheng's attention shifted briefly to a third figure standing at the edge of the field. A man in lavish golden robes who watched the proceedings with an expression of polite concern. There was something about him that immediately put Hua Cheng on edge. Something carefully calculated in the way he held himself, in the perfect arrangement of his features into an expression of benign interest.

Nie Huaisang was still trying to escape his training with a giddy smile. "I won't be able to learn it anyways. I'm done for the day!"

The response from Nie Mingjue was explosive. "A pig would've learnt this by now, so why haven't you?!"

Hua Cheng felt Wei Wuxian flinch slightly beside him, whether from the volume or the harshness of the words, he couldn't tell. Nie Huaisang's face went blank with shock as he shrank back toward the golden robed man. This seemed to provoke Nie Mingjue further, his face flushing with rage.

"It's been one year already and you still haven't learnt this one set of saber techniques. You stand on the field for thirty minutes and you're complaining that you're tired. You don't have to excel, but you can't even protect yourself! How did the QingheNie Sect produce such a good for nothing! The both of you should be tied up and beaten once every day. Carry out all those things in his room!"

The last command was directed at disciples standing nearby, who immediately rushed to obey. Hua Cheng watched with mild curiosity as they returned moments later carrying an impressive collection of fans, paintings, and what appeared to be fine porcelain pieces. The quality was evident even from a distance. These were not mere trinkets but valuable collector's items.

Nie Huaisang's face transformed from shock to panic. He threw himself forward. "Da-ge! You can't burn them!"

The golden robed man also stepped forward, his voice smooth and placating. "Da-ge, don't act on impulse."

But Nie Mingjue had already struck with his saber. The pile of delicate objects at the center of the field erupted in roaring flames. Nie Huaisang wailed and plunged toward the fire, clearly intent on saving at least some of his treasures.

Wei Wuxian's fingers suddenly dug into Hua Cheng's arm with surprising force. "The fans," he whispered urgently, his voice barely audible. "Save the fans."

Hua Cheng didn't hesitate. With the smallest gesture of his fingers, hidden by the folds of his sleeve, he cast an illusion. To all observers, the fans continued to burn along with everything else, flames licking hungrily at the delicate paper and wooden ribs. In reality, they remained untouched, invisible beneath the veil of his power.

The golden robed man pulled Nie Huaisang back from the flames as Nie Mingjue swept his hand, shattering two blanc de chine antiques that Nie Huaisang had managed to rescue. The scrolls and paintings were already turning to dust. Hua Cheng felt a flicker of distaste at the needless destruction. Not that he particularly cared about mortal possessions, but the deliberate cruelty of destroying something so precious to someone else seemed unnecessarily petty, especially from one who claimed the mantle of righteousness.

"Are they burnt?" the golden robed man asked, examining Nie Huaisang's hands before turning to some disciples. "Please prepare some medicine first."

Nie Huaisang stood trembling, his eyes fixed on Nie Mingjue, face pale with shock and betrayal. The golden robed man put an arm around Nie Huaisang's shoulders, whispering something that didn't carry to where Hua Cheng and Wei Wuxian stood.

Tears began to well in Nie Huaisang's eyes, though he made no sound. The golden robed man's voice became more audible as he added, "It's alright even if the things are gone. Next time I can find you more..."

Nie Mingjue cut him off, his words like ice. "I'll burn them each time he brings them back into this sect."

Hua Cheng felt rather than saw Wei Wuxian's tension beside him, clearly concerned for his friend. Anger flashed across Nie Huaisang's face, transforming his delicate features into something harder, something that revealed the steel beneath his seemingly soft exterior.

He threw his saber onto the ground with such force that it clattered loudly across the stone tiles. "Then burn them!" he yelled, voice breaking with emotion.

The golden robed man quickly tried to intercede. "Huaisang! Your brother is still angry. Don't..."

Nie Huaisang was beyond caring. He roared at Nie Mingjue, "Saber, saber, saber! Who the fuck wants to practice the damn thing?! So what if I want to be a good for nothing?! Whoever that wants to can be the sect leader! I can't learn it means I can't learn it and I don't like it means I don't like it! What's the use of forcing me?!"

Hua Cheng watched impassively as the young man kicked his saber to the side and ran out of the field, his robes fluttering behind him like broken wings. The golden robed man called after him, "Huaisang! Huaisang!"

Just as he was about to give chase, Nie Mingjue's cold voice stopped him. "Stop!"

The golden robed man halted and turned around. Nie Mingjue glared at him, clearly struggling to contain his anger. "You still dare come?"

The golden robed man answered in a low voice, his head slightly bowed in apparent contrition. "I came to acknowledge my mistake."

Hua Cheng couldn't help but notice the subtle duplicity in the man's demeanor. A perfect performance of humility that nonetheless failed to reach his eyes. It reminded him of the political machinations of heaven, of gods who spoke honeyed words while plotting daggers in the dark.

"Have you ever acknowledged your mistakes?" Nie Mingjue demanded, voice dripping with contempt.

Before the golden robed man could respond, the disciples who had gone for medicine returned. "Sect Leader, Lianfang-Zun, Young Master has locked the door and won't let anyone inside."

Hua Cheng recognized the title immediately. Lianfang-Zun, Jin Guangyao. The irrelevant information surfaced from the many scrolls he'd pored over while searching for information about Wei Wuxian's remains. Jin Guangyao was one of Nie Mingjue's sworn brothers, along with some Lan whelp from Gusu. The Brotherhood of the Three Zun, as they were called. More trivial cultivation politics he couldn't give a shit about.

Nie Mingjue scoffed. "Let me see how long he can lock himself up for. How dare he defy me?!"

Jin Guangyao spoke to the disciple with practiced kindness. "Thank you. Give me the medicine. I'll take it to him afterwards."

He took the bottle of medicine, his movements graceful and deliberate. After the disciples had departed, Nie Mingjue turned to him with barely concealed hostility. "Just what are you here for?"

"Da-ge, have you forgotten? Today is when I play the guqin for you."

Nie Mingjue's response was blunt. "There's no room for discussion as to Xue Yang's matter. You don't need to flatter me. It's not working at all."

Jin Guangyao replied smoothly, "First, I'm not flattering you. Second, if it's not working, Da-ge, then why would you care if I'm flattering you or not?"

Nie Mingjue fell silent, seemingly caught by the logic.

Jin Guangyao continued after a moment, his voice softer, more intimate. "Da-ge, these days you've been stricter and stricter towards Huaisang. Is it the saber spirit...?" He paused delicately before asking, "Does Huaisang still not know about the saber spirit?"

Hua Cheng's interest sharpened at this, his singular eye narrowing slightly. The Nie curse, another piece of information he'd gleaned from those scrolls. Apparently the Nie cultivators' sabres accumulated resentful energy over generations of bloodshed, eventually turning on their masters and driving them to madness. From what he'd read, Nie Mingjue's condition had deteriorated significantly after the Sunshot Campaign. The increased bloodshed during the war must have fed the sabre's resentment exponentially.

Hua Cheng glanced at Wei Wuxian, noting the slight grimace on his face and complete lack of shock at the mention of the sabre spirit. He must have discovered this during the war himself. Interesting that Nie Mingjue would keep such a dangerous secret from his own brother while allowing others to know.

"Why would I tell him so soon?" Nie Mingjue admitted, confirming Hua Cheng's suspicion.

Jin Guangyao sighed with what appeared to be genuine concern. "Huaisang is used to being spoiled, but he can't be Qinghe's idle Second Young Master for his whole life. One day he'll realize that you're doing this for him, Da-ge, just like how I realized that you're doing this for me."

Hua Cheng felt a flicker of grudging admiration for the man's skill. The words were perfectly calibrated, the tone exquisitely modulated. Not so obsequious as to trigger suspicion, yet humble enough to appear genuine. It was masterful manipulation, the kind that required both innate talent and years of practice.

Nie Mingjue seemed unmoved. "If you really do understand, then come see me with Xue Yang's head in your hand."

Jin Guangyao's response was immediate. "Yes."

Nie Mingjue looked toward him with obvious surprise. Jin Guangyao met his gaze steadily, then repeated, "Yes. Da-ge, if you give me one last chance, in two months' time, I'll come see you with Xue Yang's head in my hand."

"If you're unable to do it?" Nie Mingjue challenged.

Jin Guangyao's tone was firm, betraying not even a hint of hesitation. "If I'm unable to do it, Da-ge, you can do whatever you want to me."

Wei Wuxian's fingers slid down from where they'd been linked through Hua Cheng's arm, lightly grabbing his hand instead. Without a word, Wei Wuxian tugged him away from the training grounds, clearly intent on following Nie Huaisang's path of retreat.

Before they left the area completely, Hua Cheng made a subtle gesture with his free hand, sending the illusion cloaked fans he'd saved from the fire into one of his spatial arrays. They disappeared without a sound, safely stored away for the moment. The action took less than a heartbeat, too quick for any mortal eye to catch.

Hua Cheng allowed himself to be led through the winding corridors of the fortress, observing their surroundings with casual interest. Stone walls rose around them, adorned with simple tapestries depicting battle scenes and sabres rather than poetic landscapes. Weapons displays lined the hallways. Not decorative pieces, but functional arms maintained in peak condition, ready to be used at a moment's notice.

As they walked, Hua Cheng noted the subtle shift in atmosphere from the austere main corridors to something slightly more refined. The occasional calligraphy scroll appeared on the walls, and the hard stone floors gave way to polished wood. Clearly they were approaching the private residential wing of the fortress.

Wei Wuxian kept his face forward as they walked, but Hua Cheng could detect a slight stiffness in his shoulders that hadn't been there before. After they turned down a quieter hallway, Wei Wuxian finally broke the silence, his voice carrying the unmistakable lilt of a pout even though Hua Cheng couldn't see his expression.

"In my defense," Wei Wuxian said, "I never said he wasn't an asshole on occasion."

The unexpected remark startled a genuine laugh from Hua Cheng, the sound echoing slightly in the empty corridor. He squeezed Wei Wuxian's hand gently, enjoying the way his A-Ying immediately turned to look with an even bigger pout pulling at his lips.

"I doubt he will be granted merit for his nurturing soul," Hua Cheng replied dryly, his singular eye glinting with mirth.

Amusement overtook Wei Wuxian's pout as he came to a standstill in front of an ornately carved wooden door. The corridor around them was blessedly empty, not a servant or disciple in sight. Hua Cheng watched as Wei Wuxian lifted his arm, sleeve falling back to reveal his pale wrist as a snake like tendril of resentment slithered from beneath the fabric. The darkness coalesced into something solid.

The shadowy tendril dropped to the floor and slipped beneath the door with fluid movements. A distinct click echoed in the silence as it presumably unlocked whatever mechanism Nie Huaisang had used to keep the servants at bay. Wei Wuxian turned to Hua Cheng with a self-satisfied grin, silver eyes sparkling with mischief and pride at his own cleverness.

Hua Cheng felt something warm bloom in his chest at the sight. How had he ever existed without this bright, brilliant creature in his life? Existed centuries without that playful smile aimed his way? Wei Wuxian pushed the door open with confidence and stepped inside.

With a soft laugh at the sheer charm, Hua Cheng followed him into the room, reaching behind to lock the door once more.

"Gege," Wei Wuxian murmured, idly looking around the chamber, "you can remove our barrier now."

Hua Cheng dissolved their concealment, the subtle energy that had surrounded them dissipating like morning mist. As the barrier fell away, he took in the state of the room around them. Chaos reigned in what must have once been a meticulously organized space. Drawers hung open, their contents spilled across the floor; shelves stood empty, rectangular dust free patches marking where treasured items had been displayed until the servants carried them away for destruction. Scrolls and papers lay scattered, ink pots overturned, staining the fine wooden furniture with dark splatters.

Wei Wuxian moved deeper into the chamber, navigating the debris with ease. From somewhere beyond a partially open interior door came a muffled sob, followed by an angry, tearful shout.

"I told you to leave me alone!" Nie Huaisang's voice cracked with emotion as rapid footsteps approached. "Get out of my rooms! Can't I even have privacy to—"

He burst through the doorway, fury transforming his delicate features, only to freeze mid sentence as his eyes landed on Wei Wuxian. The color drained from his face as if he'd been struck, his mouth falling slightly open in shock. His fan, one he must have kept hidden on his person, slipped from suddenly nerveless fingers and clattered to the floor. He didn't even seem to notice Hua Cheng's presence, his entire being focused on the impossibility standing before him.

Hua Cheng watched as Wei Wuxian offered Nie Huaisang a small, uncertain smile. "Nie-xiong," he called softly, the familiar address hanging in the air between them like a question.

The sound of Wei Wuxian's voice seemed to break Nie Huaisang from his stupor. With a strangled noise caught somewhere between a sob and a gasp, he lurched forward, nearly tripping over scattered books as he threw himself into Wei Wuxian's arms.

"Wei-xiong," he whispered, voice thick with emotion, his eyes reddened from earlier tears.

Hua Cheng didn't miss the surprise that flickered across Wei Wuxian's face at the enthusiastic greeting. For a moment, Wei Wuxian stood frozen, arms hanging awkwardly at his sides as if unsure what to do with them. Then, slowly, hesitantly, he brought them up to wrap around Nie Huaisang's trembling form, returning the embrace.

A sinking feeling settled in Hua Cheng's chest as understanding dawned. Wei Wuxian hadn't been certain of his welcome. Despite his casual demeanor, his playful tactics in breaking into Nie Huaisang's quarters, he had still feared rejection.

Nie Huaisang continued to clutch at Wei Wuxian, his fingers digging into the dark fabric of his robes. "I heard stories," he murmured, voice muffled against Wei Wuxian's shoulder. "Some Jiang cultivators said that you were back somehow. But there've been so many rumors of the same thing since the siege." He pulled back with a helpless gesture, eyes pleading. "Everyone was crying wolf at the same time! Sources these days have become so unreliable Wei-xiong, you won't even believe it!"

Hua Cheng watched as nostalgic amusement overtook Wei Wuxian's features while listening to Nie Huaisang's animated rambling. It struck him then how similar they were. Both outspoken, dramatic in their own ways, with a flair for the theatrical. The realization made something in his chest warm slightly. This was a glimpse into Wei Wuxian's past that Hua Cheng hadn't been privy to before. Wei Wuxian among friends, before tragedy had claimed him.

Wei Wuxian laughed, the sound bright and genuine in the cluttered room. "Well, the wolf has actually come out to play this time," he said with a wink, moving past Nie Huaisang toward a lacquered cabinet in the corner as if he'd been in this room a hundred times before. He slid open the panel, reaching inside to retrieve a wine jug and three cups without hesitation.

A smirk pulled at Hua Cheng's lips as he observed how vibrant Wei Wuxian looked now, animated in a way that only happened when he felt completely at ease. He leaned against the wall, content to watch this reunion unfold, to catalog each expression that crossed his A-Ying's face.

Nie Huaisang, meanwhile, had somehow produced another fan from seemingly nowhere, flicking it open with a practiced twist of his wrist and fanning himself dramatically. His eyes followed Wei Wuxian as he balanced the jug and cups, then narrowed in confusion at the third cup. He glanced toward the door with a puzzled frown, clearly wondering if they were expecting company.

Hua Cheng waited expectantly as Nie Huaisang's gaze finally landed on him, leaning against the wall. The reaction was immediate and highly entertaining. Nie Huaisang let out a high pitched yelp, nearly leaping out of his skin as he darted behind Wei Wuxian, clutching his shoulders and effectively using him as a human shield.

The sudden movement jostled Wei Wuxian, who lost his grip on one of the cups. It tumbled through the air before shattering against the floor, finely painted porcelain fragments scattering across the wooden planks.

Wei Wuxian jolted at the sudden movement. "Fuck, Nie-xiong, what—" His complaint cut short as he realized what had happened, glancing between his friend's terrified face and Hua Cheng's looming presence. A laugh burst from his lips, rich and delighted as he carefully set down the remaining cup and jug on a nearby table.

"He's been there the whole time," Wei Wuxian said through his laughter, gently extracting himself from Nie Huaisang's death grip to retrieve another cup from the cabinet. "How did you not notice him?"

Nie Huaisang continued to stare at Hua Cheng with wide, alarmed eyes, his fan held protectively in front of his chest like a flimsy shield. "Who—what—" he stammered, clearly struggling to process the imposing figure in crimson who had materialized in his chambers.

Wei Wuxian returned with the replacement cup, a wicked smirk playing across his lips. "I very much had the opposite reaction when I first saw him," he purred, voice dropping to a suggestive tone that made Nie Huaisang's eyes widen even further.

Hua Cheng pushed himself off the wall, moving toward them with predatory grace, each step deliberate and fluid. "Oh?" he asked, voice like silk sliding over steel. "And what was your reaction?"

Wei Wuxian's gaze never left Hua Cheng's as he poured wine into the cups, the rich crimson liquid catching the light. "Gege," he replied, smirk positively sinuous, "you were restraining me by my wrist, making my knees buckle." He paused deliberately, silver eyes gleaming with mischief. "I'll let you take a guess."

Hua Cheng felt an unbidden spark of arousal flare at Wei Wuxian's suggestive words. Restraining Wei Wuxian wholly this time, watching him writhe and beg for release... that sounded like a particularly delectable idea. He could practically feel the hunger showing on his face, pupils dilating as his gaze locked with Wei Wuxian's, a predator recognizing its perfect prey.

"Gege?" Nie Huaisang's disbelieving high pitched squeak yanked them both from the moment, his face flickering between confusion and shock.

Wei Wuxian tore his eyes away from Hua Cheng, turning to his friend with a delighted laugh. "Are you actually blushing, Nie-xiong?" He handed Nie Huaisang a cup with the most beautiful smile playing across his lips. "I didn't think you could still be so easily scandalized."

Hua Cheng finally pulled his gaze from Wei Wuxian long enough to see the red indeed creeping up Nie Huaisang's cheeks, spreading past his collar and up to the tips of his ears. He couldn't suppress a snort as he walked closer to Wei Wuxian, accepting the offered cup with a small nod. As Wei Wuxian added a playful wink, Hua Cheng bent down to press a lingering kiss to his forehead in thanks. A gentle claim.

He moved away before temptation got the better of him, crossing to lean against the window frame where he could oversee the training grounds below. The wooden sill creaked slightly beneath his weight as he sipped the wine. Surprisingly good for mortal fare, floral with a pleasantly bitter finish.

"This is Hua Cheng," Wei Wuxian's voice carried from behind him, "my ghost king."

Those three simple words made something fierce and satisfied curl in Hua Cheng's chest. My ghost king. He didn't need to turn around to hear the dramatic thump as Nie Huaisang collapsed onto a divan, followed by the unmistakable sound of wine being hastily consumed.

"I assume you mean that in a possessive manner," Nie Huaisang's voice came slightly strangled, "not a monarchial one?"

Hua Cheng glanced over his shoulder just in time to see Wei Wuxian taking a seat on the lush divan across from Nie Huaisang, crossing one leg elegantly over the other as he leaned back against the cushions with grace. The silver in his eyes caught the light as he tilted his head, a dangerous glint of mischief in his gaze.

"Very possessive, yes," Wei Wuxian confirmed, his tone rich with implication.

Hua Cheng felt his lips curve into a private smile as he turned back to the window, reveling in the answer. Wei Wuxian's words wrapped around something primal within him. Very possessive.

Nie Huaisang gave a soft, nostalgic laugh, his fan fluttering in a gentle rhythm against his chest. "You're as shameless as you ever were, Wei-xiong," he said with undeniable fondness.

A comfortable silence settled between them, broken only by the gentle clink of porcelain as cups were raised and lowered. Hua Cheng watched the training grounds below, his reflection ghostly in the window glass, superimposed over the disciplined movements of Nie disciples. The scene before him held little interest compared to the thoughts swirling in his mind. Fantasies involving Wei Wuxian's clever mouth and what other scandalous things it might say to make Nie Huaisang blush even deeper.

"Have you..." Nie Huaisang began hesitantly, his voice suddenly uncertain. "Does Hanguang-jun know about..."

Hua Cheng turned his head slowly at the title, a feeling of dread filling his chest. That name again. The Lan cultivator who haunted Wei Wuxian's past, who featured in so many of his stories, whose very mention often brought a wistful look to Wei Wuxian's silver eyes.

"Well..." Nie Huaisang trailed off, gaze darting uncertainly toward the bruise visible on Hua Cheng's neck. Their eyes met briefly before he looked away, fan suddenly moving at double speed.

Hua Cheng's attention immediately shifted to Wei Wuxian, searching his expression for any hint of that familiar longing. Instead, he found only confusion, his A-Ying's brow slightly furrowed as he tilted his head.

"Lan Zhan?" Wei Wuxian asked softly. "Does he know about what?"

The sound of that given name, spoken with such casual intimacy, dragged across Hua Cheng's heart like a jagged claw. He had heard "Lan Zhan" from those lips before, always accompanied by stories of their past, always with that undertone of something Hua Cheng refused to name. But now, watching Wei Wuxian's face, he saw a flash of pain cross his features before they closed off entirely, the openness that had been there moments before shuttering like windows against an approaching storm.

That same claw dug deeper into the muscle of Hua Cheng's heart, twisting with cruel precision. The pain on Wei Wuxian's face, what had caused it? Had Lan Wangji hurt him in some way Hua Cheng didn't know about?

"No," Wei Wuxian continued, his voice now eerily neutral, stripped of its earlier warmth and playfulness. "Hanguang-jun hasn't found me and tried to put my soul to rest yet." His fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around his wine cup. "I'm sure he'll attempt to drive the evil of the Yiling Laozu away as soon as he hears."

Nie Huaisang looked almost bewildered at this statement, his fan stilling mid flutter. His expression reminded Hua Cheng of someone looking at a simple equation with the wrong answer brazenly written beneath it. Confusion mingled with disbelief, as if he couldn't quite process the disconnect between what was said and what he expected to hear.

Hua Cheng's lips pulled into an involuntary sneer as understanding crystallized. Nie Huaisang's expression confirmed fears Hua Cheng had buried deep in his mind for weeks now. Fears about what truly lay between Wei Wuxian and the illustrious Hanguang-jun. The signs had always been there: the way Wei Wuxian's eyes softened when speaking of their shared past, the frequency with which that name fell from his lips.

"No, that's not—" Nie Huaisang began, fan now completely still in his grip.

A sharp knock at the door cut through the tension like a blade. All three heads turned toward the sound as a familiar voice called from the hallway.

"Huaisang? It's me. I've brought the medicine for your hands."

Jin Guangyao's measured tones carried clearly through the wooden door, the perfect cadence of concern evident in every syllable.

Wei Wuxian's neutral expression morphed into one of undisguised contempt, his eyes hardening to cold silver. "Get rid of him," he said, voice flat and brooking no argument.

Hua Cheng's eyebrow rose slightly, surprised by the intensity of Wei Wuxian's reaction.

Nie Huaisang looked taken aback, hesitation visible in the way his shoulders tensed and his fingers tightened around his fan. His eyes darted between Wei Wuxian's steely expression and the door where Jin Guangyao waited.

With a barely perceptible shift in posture, Nie Huaisang's entire demeanor changed. Tears thickened his voice as he called back, "I just want to be alone right now. Please leave the medicine and go."

Hua Cheng watched the transformation with calculated interest. Nie Huaisang was more cunning than his frivolous appearance suggested. Capable of manipulating his tone and emotions with the skill of a practiced performer. A useful trait, and one that aligned well with Hua Cheng's own appreciation for deception when necessary.

A moment of silence followed before Jin Guangyao's voice returned, softer now. "I'll leave it outside your door, then. Please don't forget to apply it. Your brother would be—"

"Thank you," Nie Huaisang cut him off, the false tears still evident in his voice. "I appreciate your concern."

The sound of something being set down on the floor outside was followed by retreating footsteps. The atmosphere in the room remained thick with tension even after Jin Guangyao's departure, like the air before a lightning strike.

Wei Wuxian sipped his wine, his posture rigid with lingering anger. "Since when do you keep company with the Jin?" he asked, the question sharp enough to cut.

"Jin-gongzi hasn't done anything to you personally," Nie Huaisang muttered, fan fluttering nervously between his fingers. "Why are you so opposed to him, Wei-xiong?"

Wei Wuxian's laugh was brittle, lacking its usual warmth. "Who betrayed your brother and made him prostrate in front of Wen Ruohan?" He leaned forward, eyes flashing dangerously. "Who killed your men as a show of faith to that beast?" His cup hit the table with enough force to slosh wine over the rim. "Your brother might have been a fucking idiot to swear brotherhood with that snake, but I expected you to be smarter than this."

Hua Cheng observed the exchange with interest, piecing together fragments of what he read in those scrolls. The politics of cultivation sects typically bored him to tears, but anything that provoked such strong emotion from Wei Wuxian immediately claimed his full attention.

The surprise cleared from Nie Huaisang's face, replaced by an expression so serious it transformed his features entirely. The frivolous young master vanished, revealing someone far more calculating beneath.

"Da-ge is sick," he said quietly, each word measured and precise. "And he's getting worse. The resentment in the saber is driving him mad, you know this as well as I do." His eyes met Wei Wuxian's without flinching. "Attempting to utilize any of Jin Guangyao's knowledge to find a cure is the least I will do."

Wei Wuxian contemplated this answer, something like relief flickering across his features. After a moment, his posture relaxed slightly, a genuine smile replacing his earlier anger. "For a moment, I thought you'd gone soft, Nie-xiong."

Nie Huaisang snapped his fan closed, using it to tap lightly against his palm. "You should know better than that, Wei-xiong." His gaze shifted between Wei Wuxian and Hua Cheng, lingering on the latter with undisguised curiosity. "Just like I know this isn't purely a social visit."

Hua Cheng caught the subtle change in Wei Wuxian's expression, a flicker of approval.

Wei Wuxian relaxed into the divan, his body language shifting like water finding its natural path. He picked up his cup of wine, turning it delicately between his fingers before taking a languid sip, silver eyes observing Nie Huaisang.

"I have a proposal for you," he said finally, "depending on your next answer." He lowered the cup, the wine catching the light. "And don't you dare tell me you don't know, Nie-xiong."

Nie Huaisang's lips curved into a slight smirk that contradicted his words: "I wouldn't dare, Wei-xiong." The fan remained still in his hand, a momentary abandonment of pretense between them.

Wei Wuxian set his cup down, fingers still wrapped around its rim. "Did the Nie sect kill any of the Wens during the siege?" The question emerged softly, each word weighted with painful significance.

Hua Cheng felt his heart ache at the vulnerability in Wei Wuxian's voice. After reading countless scrolls detailing the siege of the Burial Mounds, he knew too well about the Wens that Wei Wuxian had taken upon himself to protect. The elderly, the injured, the children. People whose only crime had been their surname, who had succumbed to senseless murder during the raid. He already knew what Nie Huaisang's answer would be before the words were spoken.

Nie Huaisang's posture relaxed slightly, apparent relief flickering across his features at the question. "The Nie sect was tasked as the first wave of attack," he explained, voice steady and clear. "Breaking through the corpses was our only assignment." He leaned forward slightly, his tone becoming more pointed. "The Jin sect was insistent upon taking the last wave. Breaking through after the other sects' cultivators had suffered their casualties so they could sweep in and claim the glory kills." His eyes met Wei Wuxian's directly. "You know how they are."

Wei Wuxian took another sip of wine, the subtle tension in his shoulders easing as he seemed to accept Nie Huaisang's answer. He rose in a fluid motion and crossed to the cabinet, retrieving another jug. The sound of pouring wine filled the momentary silence as he refilled his cup. He returned to his divan, settling back against the cushions with his ankles now crossed on the ground before him.

Hua Cheng watched as Wei Wuxian dragged his finger slowly around the rim of his cup, the motion hypnotic in its deliberate languor. His gaze remained fixed on Nie Huaisang, silver eyes calculating beneath half lowered lids.

"The resentment building up in Nie Mingjue is much worse than it was at the end of the war," Wei Wuxian said, his voice carefully neutral. "Even taking into account the bloodshed at Nightless City and the siege, it shouldn't have increased this much."

Hua Cheng watched panic and worry bloom across Nie Huaisang's face like ink dropped in clear water. Wei Wuxian was trying to be gentle, he could tell, but the weight of his words landed with devastating precision.

"It won't be long before he suffers qi deviation," Wei Wuxian continued, silver eyes fixed on Nie Huaisang's increasingly pale face. "And there's nothing anyone can do to save him then."

The cup slipped from Nie Huaisang's fingers, striking the floor with a dull thud as he stood abruptly. Wine spread across the polished wood like spilled blood as he turned his back to them both, hands fisted at his sides. When he spoke, the tears thickening his voice were far more believable than the fake ones from earlier.

"Why are you telling me this?" The question emerged ragged, stripped bare.

Wei Wuxian set his own cup down carefully. "I might not have been able to do anything about the saber's resentment during the war," he said, "but I'm capable of removing it now."

Nie Huaisang whirled around, disbelief and fearful hope written across his face in equal measure. His eyes were wide, his composure utterly shattered by Wei Wuxian's words.

"A-Ying." Hua Cheng's voice carried unmistakable disapproval. The thought of what the resentment from such an old, cursed saber might do to Wei Wuxian filled him with immediate, visceral resistance. Drawing that darkness into himself, especially when he was still recovering from that fucking array, was an unnecessary risk that made Hua Cheng's blood run cold.

Nie Huaisang's gaze darted to Hua Cheng, fear flickering in his eyes as if he believed Hua Cheng might take away his one chance at salvation. He quickly looked back to Wei Wuxian, taking a desperate step forward.

"I'll do anything," he said, voice breaking. "Please, Wei-xiong. I'll do anything." The words spilled from him in a desperate rush.

Hua Cheng saw the tear tracks already glistening on Nie Huaisang's face and felt a bitter resistance solidify within him. He wished Wei Wuxian had spoken to him about this first. He would have told him this was an unnecessary risk, would have helped find another solution. One that didn't involve Wei Wuxian absorbing centuries of accumulated resentment from a weapon designed for slaughter.

Wei Wuxian pointedly avoided looking at Hua Cheng. "I'll need two things from you," he said to Nie Huaisang.

Fierce hope overtook Nie Huaisang's expression. "Whatever you want," he said without hesitation.

"First, you will find out where my body is—"

"I already know," Nie Huaisang cut in, the words tumbling out before he could stop them.

Hua Cheng felt his spiritual energy fluctuate momentarily, an almost tangible wave surging outward before he could contain it. Both Wei Wuxian and Nie Huaisang looked over at him, startled by the sudden pressure.

He held Nie Huaisang's gaze, something predatory awakening within him. This cultivator knew where his lover's remains were. He could so easily make him tell them and be done with it. This could be over so quickly without having his A-Ying sully his hands with the resentment plaguing another man's body. The knowledge that they were so close to securing Wei Wuxian's safety, and that this man stood between them and that goal, made his fingers itch for E-Ming's familiar weight.

"Gege." Wei Wuxian's low, warning tone pulled Hua Cheng from his thoughts. He realized he was staring into Nie Huaisang's eyes with murderous intent, his spiritual pressure filling the room like a physical presence.

Wei Wuxian continued addressing Nie Huaisang, whose frightened gaze darted back to him. "And second, I will not remove Nie Mingjue's resentment in secret. He will look me in the eye and know that the man he hunted down is saving his life."

The demand visibly broke Nie Huaisang. He looked like a man facing execution, all color draining from his face as he processed Wei Wuxian's words.

"Please don't do this, Wuxian," he begged breathlessly, dropping all formality in his desperation.

Wei Wuxian put his cup down loudly and rose to his full height. When he spoke, his voice was soft but thrumming with repressed rage that sent a chill down Hua Cheng's spine.

"I will remind you, Huaisang, that the sects as a collective demanded the lives of two people I loved dearly," he said, each word precise and cutting. "They burnt my brother and sister alive that day and later came back to claim the lives of the rest of my family." His silver eyes had hardened to flint. "You would do well to remember that it's not something I will ever forgive."

Tears ran freely down Nie Huaisang's face as he stared at Wei Wuxian, shocked by what would be asked of him. To convince Nie Mingjue to accept help from the very man he had helped condemn.

"Please reconsider," Nie Huaisang pleaded, voice cracking. "Da-ge is too proud to—"

"Think about it," Wei Wuxian cut him off, tone brooking no argument. He gave Nie Huaisang one last lingering look before turning to Hua Cheng and taking his hand.

The warmth of those fingers twining through his own momentarily stunned Hua Cheng. Despite the tension between them over his unspoken disapproval, Wei Wuxian was still seeking his touch. He allowed himself to be led toward the door, summoning their barrier around them once more.

As they stepped into the hallway, Hua Cheng caught the last glimpse of Nie Huaisang's devastated expression before the door closed behind them. A man torn between hope and despair, forced to choose between his brother's pride and his brother's life.

Chapter Text

The moment they stepped out of Nie Huaisang's chambers, Wei Wuxian's composure began to fracture. What the fuck had he just done? Offering to help Nie Mingjue of all people. The man who had stood at the forefront of the campaign against him, who had declared that every Wen, regardless of age or innocence, deserved death. This hadn't been the plan. He was supposed to extract information gradually, not throw out his assistance at the first sign of Nie Huaisang's despair over his brother's condition.

Rage and guilt twisted together in his chest as he moved mechanically through the corridors. Who did Nie Huaisang have besides Nie Mingjue? For all the man's harshness, he was still Nie Huaisang's only family. His protective older brother. His anchor. But what would Wen Qing think of this? Would she see this as a betrayal of her memory, of her sacrifice? Or would she understand his decision with that weary pragmatism that had always been her way?

Just thinking of little A-Yuan carved a nauseating pit into his stomach. Had he been cruelly murdered or rather perished in the flames while Wei Wuxian hadn't been there to protect him? And here he was, preparing to save one of the men responsible for the attack.

The hypocrisy burned like acid in his throat.

A gentle tug on his hand broke through the storm of his thoughts. Wei Wuxian blinked, suddenly aware that Hua Cheng had stopped walking and was now pulling him back, his larger hand warm and steady around Wei Wuxian's fingers.

Wei Wuxian looked up to find Hua Cheng's gaze fixed on him, the corners of his lips pulled down in a somber grimace. His ghost king moved with deliberate slowness, stepping in front of him without releasing his hand. Hua Cheng's free hand rose to cup Wei Wuxian's cheek, his touch impossibly gentle against skin that suddenly felt too sensitive.

"What's going on in that head of yours, A-Ying?" Hua Cheng asked, voice pitched low as though not to startle him.

The faltering mask Wei Wuxian had maintained in front of Nie Huaisang crumbled even further. His lips pursed slightly against his will, a frown forming as his vision blurred treacherously. He tried to blink it away, to swallow past the tightness in his throat, but Hua Cheng had already seen enough.

With a soft sigh Hua Cheng pulled Wei Wuxian into his arms, cradling him close against the solid warmth of his chest. One large hand moved to Wei Wuxian's hair, fingers threading through the strands to rub aimless, soothing patterns against his scalp. Hua Cheng's other arm tightened around his waist.

"I'm here," Hua Cheng murmured, his breath warm against Wei Wuxian's temple. "I'll do anything you need right now."

Wei Wuxian fisted the crimson fabric of Hua Cheng's robes, knuckles whitening with the force of his grip as he willed the tears away. He couldn't break down in the middle of the Nie compound. He wouldn't.

Forcing his breathing under control, Wei Wuxian pressed his forehead harder against Hua Cheng's chest. "My avoidance of all the death I've caused slipped for a moment," he confessed, the words muffled against silk. "I'll be fine."

Hua Cheng gently tilted Wei Wuxian's face upward, his large hands cradling Wei Wuxian's cheeks with a tenderness he didn't realize he needed right now. Wei Wuxian found himself caught in that gaze, unable to look away as Hua Cheng leaned down to press a soft kiss against his forehead. When Hua Cheng pulled back, his expression had hardened into something resolute and unyielding.

"We've all caused death and destruction through the years," he said, voice low and firm. "We can torment ourselves over it, or we can decide to let the horrors we sow in the future only befall those who deserve it."

Despite the darkness underpinning Hua Cheng's words, they helped Wei Wuxian close the door on the guilt trying desperately to consume him once more. There was something deeply comforting in the brutal rational.

Before Wei Wuxian could respond, the familiar notes of a guqin reached his ears, floating through the air like whispers. He blinked, suddenly realizing he had absolutely no idea where they were. His aimless wandering had carried them far from Nie Huaisang's quarters into some unfamiliar wing of the fortress.

Wei Wuxian extracted himself from Hua Cheng's embrace, grabbing his sleeve to pull him along. The notes grew stronger as they moved, laced with spiritual energy that seemed to pull Wei Wuxian forward like an invisible thread. His steps slowed as they approached an open door at the end of the corridor, light spilling from the entrance.

They crossed the threshold into what appeared to be private chambers, far more austere than Nie Huaisang's cluttered rooms, with weapons displayed on the walls and scrolls neatly arranged on shelves. Nie Mingjue sat in the center of the space, legs folded in a meditative position, eyes closed as Jin Guangyao played the guqin before him.

Wei Wuxian stood just inside the doorway, Hua Cheng a looming presence at his side. Something felt profoundly wrong, though he couldn't quite place what it was. The notes themselves were beautifully played, the melody familiar yet somehow discordant to his trained ear. He glanced at Hua Cheng, trying to gauge if he also sensed the wrongness.

Hua Cheng wasn't looking at the guqin or Jin Guangyao at all. Instead, his gaze was fixed on Nie Mingjue with an expression that suggested he would like nothing more than to rip out the man's throat with his teeth. The raw, predatory hatred in his ghost king's gaze sent an inappropriate shiver down Wei Wuxian's spine. A reaction he promptly filed away for when he was lonely and horny one night.

Wei Wuxian turned his attention back to the music, listening thoughtfully to the progression of notes. "It's Cleansing," he murmured, recognizing the piece, "but it's not how Lan Zhan plays it."

His observation was met with stifling silence from Hua Cheng, whose expression had shifted at the mention of Lan Zhan's name. Wei Wuxian barely noticed, focusing instead on Jin Guangyao's fingers as they moved across the strings, trying to pinpoint exactly what felt so off about the melody.

A flash of pain crossed Nie Mingjue's face, almost imperceptible to an ordinary observer. But Wei Wuxian was no ordinary observer. His connection to resentful energy transcended typical cultivation understanding, allowing him to perceive what others couldn't.

The resentment within Nie Mingjue's body roiled violently, responding to Jin Guangyao's playing in a way that made anger flow hot through Wei Wuxian's veins. The guqin's melody, this twisted version of Cleansing, wasn't calming the resentment at all. It was deliberately aggravating it.

Wei Wuxian watched in disbelief as dark energy surged through Nie Mingjue's meridians, following chaotic patterns that contradicted the natural flow of spiritual power. Where the true Cleansing would guide resentment outward, releasing it safely like pressure from a valve, this corrupted version forced it inward, concentrating it around Nie Mingjue's spiritual core. The carefully altered notes created resonance points that trapped the resentment, building it up instead of dispersing it.

The fucker wasn't treating his sworn brother, he was systematically destroying him from within. And Nie Mingjue, lacking musical training or sensitivity, couldn't possibly recognize the subtle but lethal alterations to the melody.

Without conscious thought, Wei Wuxian reached into the flow of resentment around him, shaping it with instinctive precision. With a sharp gesture hidden by his sleeve, he sent a razor thin tendril across the room. The resentful energy sliced through all seven guqin strings simultaneously, creating a discordant twang as they snapped.

Silence crashed into the room with almost physical force. Jin Guangyao's head jerked up, eyes darting around the chamber in sharp confusion as his fingers hovered above the now useless instrument. Nie Mingjue took far too long to react, his eyes opening sluggishly as if struggling to return from some distant place. His complexion had a grayish undertone that hadn't been there minutes before.

"Are you finished?" Nie Mingjue finally asked, voice rough with barely concealed pain. "If so, get out. I need to rest."

Jin Guangyao's expression shifted seamlessly from confusion to concern. "Da-ge, your color is poor. Should I call for—"

"Out," Nie Mingjue repeated, the single word carrying enough weight to silence any further offers of assistance.

Wei Wuxian watched Jin Guangyao carefully wrap the damaged guqin, his movements precise despite the unexpected interruption. Those delicate hands that had just been administering slow death now handled the instrument with reverent care. It was sickening how easily he transitioned between masks.

As Jin Guangyao gathered his belongings, Wei Wuxian glanced up at Hua Cheng. "Let's go, gege," he murmured, unsettled by what he'd witnessed and unwilling to offer Nie Mingjue any immediate help.

Hua Cheng's expression was a battlefield of darkness that Wei Wuxian couldn't quite place. His gaze lingered another moment on Nie Mingjue before following Wei Wuxian back into the corridor.

They walked in tense silence, Wei Wuxian trying to navigate back toward Nie Huaisang's chambers while his mind raced with implications. He doesn't have proof of Jin Guangyao's treachery, and without proof it's really fucking difficult to expose him.

Without warning, Hua Cheng's hand closed around Wei Wuxian's wrist, pulling him sideways through a doorway. Wei Wuxian found himself in what looked like a reception room, the tightly shuttered windows allowing only thin ribbons of sunlight to pierce through. They fell across ornate furniture. A carved tea table, cushioned chairs arranged in pairs, and landscape scrolls hanging on the walls, their beauty muted in the half darkness. An abandoned incense burner sat on a side table, cold ashes suggesting the room hadn't been used in some time.

Before he could speak, Hua Cheng pushed him against the wall, his powerful frame caging Wei Wuxian completely. He could feel Hua Cheng's breath against his face, coming quicker than usual, each exhale carrying tension that seemed to vibrate through his entire frame. This close, Wei Wuxian could see the storm raging behind that eye. Something dark and troubled.

A pang of guilt shot through Wei Wuxian. He'd been so caught up in his own turmoil that he'd failed to notice Hua Cheng's growing distress.

Wei Wuxian's own breathing unconsciously quickened to match Hua Cheng's, their rhythms synchronizing as he slowly raised his hands from where they'd instinctively settled on Hua Cheng's hips. He let his touch linger, deliberate and warm as his fingers traced upward along Hua Cheng's sides, over his chest, past the strong column of his neck, until finally cupping his face between gentle palms.

The room silent, save for their breathing and the distant sounds of the fortress beyond the closed door. Wei Wuxian made no move to break away from the wall or Hua Cheng's caging arms. Instead, he held Hua Cheng's gaze steadily, his thumbs making small, soothing circles against sharp cheekbones.

"What's bothering you, gege?" Wei Wuxian asked, his voice soft but clear in the stillness of the room. No teasing, no deflection, just open concern and a quiet invitation to share whatever burden Hua Cheng was carrying.

Hua Cheng moved closer, eliminating what little space remained between them, pinning Wei Wuxian flush against the wall with his body. The hard, defined muscles beneath crimson robes pressed against Wei Wuxian's chest, sparking an immediate heat that Wei Wuxian tried very hard to ignore.

Hua Cheng lowered his face to Wei Wuxian's neck, pressing his lips against the sensitive skin in a kiss so gentle. He lingered there, breath warm against the pulse point where Wei Wuxian's heart beat steady beneath soft skin.

"I don't know where to begin without sounding overbearing," Hua Cheng whispered, the words hollow against Wei Wuxian's throat.

The admission sent a chill through Wei Wuxian. Hua Cheng, his powerful, confident ghost king, sounding uncertain was terrifying.

Wei Wuxian's hand moved from Hua Cheng's cheek to thread through his hair, fingers tangling in the silken strands as his other hand slid to Hua Cheng's nape, trying to offer comfort.

"Tell me about the first thing that comes to mind," Wei Wuxian urged softly, rubbing small circles at the base of Hua Cheng's skull where tension knotted the muscles.

Hua Cheng didn't respond immediately. Instead, his lips began a slow, deliberate journey upward along the column of Wei Wuxian's neck, a tease of tongue accompanying each kiss, leaving cooling trails on sensitive skin. When he reached the spot just behind Wei Wuxian's ear, he exhaled gently against the dampness, his breath causing goosebumps to erupt across Wei Wuxian's skin.

Hua Cheng pulled back just enough to look at Wei Wuxian, his gaze moving across Wei Wuxian's features thoughtfully. Wei Wuxian's hands fell to Hua Cheng's chest, fingers twisting into the crimson fabric, feeling the steady heartbeat beneath.

"I've existed for many centuries," Hua Cheng began, his voice a low rumble that Wei Wuxian felt as much as heard. "During that time, I've had priorities, things keeping me going, giving me purpose."

As he spoke, Hua Cheng's hands moved to Wei Wuxian's waist, fingers finding the crimson sash that secured his robes. He untied it slowly, the silk sliding through his fingers with a whisper that seemed loud in the quiet room. Wei Wuxian watched, transfixed, as Hua Cheng wrapped the sash around his own wrist, securing it with a firm tug that sent heat spiraling through Wei Wuxian's core.

Hua Cheng's attention shifted to the fastenings of Wei Wuxian's outer robe, undoing them one by one with the patience of someone performing a sacred ritual. "When you came into my life," he continued, voice softening, "I felt off kilter."

The black fabric slipped from Wei Wuxian's shoulders, pooling at his feet. Sheer crimson inner robes clung to his frame, the material almost transparent where it caught the thin shafts of light from the shuttered windows.

The specially designed slits in the side seams ran from ankle to waist, revealing tantalizing glimpses of soft skin with every subtle movement. Wei Wuxian had deliberately worn his robes closed tightly at the waist, their longer length strategically concealing the fact that he wore nothing underneath. No trousers to hide behind, just bare skin beneath the whisper thin silk.

Hua Cheng fell silent, his eye widening as he took in the sight before him. The words he'd been speaking seemed to evaporate from his mind as his attention fixed on the revealing garment. Wei Wuxian felt a thrill of satisfaction course through him at Hua Cheng's reaction. The alterations he'd quietly asked Yin Yu to arrange had achieved exactly the effect he'd hoped for.

"I didn't know what to make of this strong, beautiful being," Hua Cheng finally continued, his voice rougher now, deeper with unmistakable desire. His hand moved to the slit at Wei Wuxian's thigh, fingers hesitating just a heartbeat before sliding inside.

Wei Wuxian's breath caught as those cool fingers made contact with his skin, tracing a slow, deliberate path from mid thigh upward. The touch was light enough to raise goosebumps yet firm enough to leave trails of fire in its wake. Hua Cheng's palm flattened against the curve of Wei Wuxian's hip, skin against skin with no fabric barrier.

"Your existence," Hua Cheng murmured, gaze following the path of his hand as it disappeared beneath the crimson silk, "felt like walking out of a pitch black cave into the broad sun after centuries of isolation."

Wei Wuxian felt his heart threatening to split in two. Stuttering from the raw emotion in Hua Cheng's words while simultaneously racing from the heat of his touch. Where Hua Cheng's fingers pressed against his hip, his skin flushed, the sear spreading outward like wildfire.

When he met Hua Cheng's gaze, the intensity there stole his breath. His ghost king looked at him as if nothing else in this world or beyond mattered. As if Wei Wuxian had somehow become the center of his universe, the axis around which everything else rotated. No one had ever looked at Wei Wuxian that way before, like he was something precious beyond measure.

Wei Wuxian felt Hua Cheng's spiritual energy expand suddenly, pushing outward to fill the room. The power crashed against the walls, ceiling, and floor in waves of crimson, forming a barrier that sealed them off completely from the outside world. It sent a shiver of anticipation through Wei Wuxian.

Hua Cheng's hands moved higher, fingers finding the top fastenings of Wei Wuxian's inner robe. He undid them one by one, leaving the cinch at the waist in place. The sheer fabric slipped from Wei Wuxian's shoulders, gathering at his elbows.

Wei Wuxian released his grip on Hua Cheng's robes, allowing the sleeves to slide down his arms like water, the fabric draping from his waist. The cool air of the room kissed his exposed skin, his hardening nipples had nothing to do with temperature and everything to do with the hunger in Hua Cheng's eye as it traced the contours of Wei Wuxian's chest, lingering at the narrowing of his waist.

A soft gasp escaped Wei Wuxian's lips as Hua Cheng sank to his knees before him, the movement fluid yet somehow desperate, as if his body had acted of its own volition. Hua Cheng looked up at him, desire and need written so plainly across his features.

"Gege," Wei Wuxian whispered, the word emerging rough and wanting.

The heat that had been simmering beneath his skin now consumed him entirely, blood rushing south with such speed it left him lightheaded. His cock hardened rapidly, straining against the sheer fabric.

Hua Cheng's fingers found the last few fastenings, undoing them with agonizing slowness. His arms brushed against Wei Wuxian's hardness with each movement, seemingly accidental touches that Wei Wuxian knew were anything but. When the final fastening gave way, Hua Cheng slid the sheer crimson fabric down Wei Wuxian's legs, his hands following the path of the silk with deliberate sensuality.

Wei Wuxian's head fell back against the wall, a shuddering exhale escaping him as cool air caressed his now fully exposed body. He felt vulnerable and powerful all at once, completely bare before Hua Cheng yet holding his complete attention.

Hua Cheng turned his attention to Wei Wuxian's shoes, removing them with the same careful attention he'd given the rest of his clothing. Taking one foot in his large hand, he pressed his lips to the inside arch in a kiss so reverent it made Wei Wuxian's chest ache.

"Fuck," Wei Wuxian breathed, the unexpected tenderness catching him off guard.

Hua Cheng's mouth dragged upward, lips tracing the delicate bones of Wei Wuxian's ankle before gently lifting the leg to drape over his broad shoulder. The position opened Wei Wuxian further, making him acutely aware of his complete exposure.

"I would condemn my soul to eternal torment to protect you," Hua Cheng murmured, his breath warm against Wei Wuxian's inner thigh as he began pressing open mouthed kisses upward. Each point of contact sent sparks racing through Wei Wuxian's body, drawing out small, desperate sounds he couldn't suppress.

"So I find it very difficult," Hua Cheng continued between kisses, moving higher, "to be a passive observer when you put yourself in needless danger."

The last word was punctuated by a sharp nip at the sensitive flesh of Wei Wuxian's inner thigh. The sudden sting drew a hiss from Wei Wuxian's lips, his fingers digging into the wall behind him with enough force to form cracks.

"Gege," Wei Wuxian groaned, a plea and a prayer.

Hua Cheng continued his unhurried path upward, leaving a trail of kisses that burned like fire against Wei Wuxian's sensitive skin. When he reached the juncture between thigh and groin, he paused, his breath hot and teasing. Wei Wuxian held his own breath, muscles tensing in anticipation.

The first touch of Hua Cheng's tongue—a slow, deliberate lick that started at his hole and dragged upward over his perineum—drew a sharp cry from Wei Wuxian's lips. His hips jerked forward involuntarily, chasing the wet heat as Hua Cheng continued his torturous exploration.

When Hua Cheng's mouth closed around one of his balls, applying suction that sent white hot pleasure shooting up Wei Wuxian's spine, he couldn't stop his hands from flying to Hua Cheng's hair. His fingers tangled in the dark strands, gripping tightly as his legs threatened to give out entirely.

"Please," Wei Wuxian gasped, not entirely sure what he was begging for, just knowing he needed more of whatever Hua Cheng was willing to give him.

In a single motion Hua Cheng rose to his feet. Wei Wuxian's leg slid from his shoulder only to be caught and hiked up around his waist, the other quickly joining it. Wei Wuxian found himself pressed hard against the wall, entirely suspended by Hua Cheng's body and the grip of powerful hands beneath his thighs.

Wei Wuxian's cock slid against the silk of Hua Cheng's robes, the friction both delicious and maddening. Simultaneously, he felt the rigid outline of Hua Cheng's clothed hardness pressing insistently against his bare ass, the layers of fabric between them suddenly feeling like an unbearable barrier.

"Gods," Wei Wuxian moaned, rolling his hips to increase the contact, his head falling back against the wall with a soft thud.

Hua Cheng's lips found their way to Wei Wuxian's ear, his breath sending shivers across already sensitive skin. When he spoke, his voice was rough with desire but edged with something darker. A possessive anger that sent a forbidden thrill through Wei Wuxian's core.

"Do you enjoy testing my restraint in slaughtering Nie Mingjue in his sleep?" Hua Cheng murmured, the words hot against Wei Wuxian's ear even as his hips ground forward, emphasizing with a thrust that made Wei Wuxian see stars.

"Why does he get to be saved when he had a hand in your death?" Hua Cheng continued, voice dropping lower with each word. His fingers dug into the flesh of Wei Wuxian's thighs, sure to leave bruises. "Why does Nie Mingjue get the privilege of not having his skin flayed from bone by my hand?"

Wei Wuxian continued his desperate movements, grinding against Hua Cheng's clothed hardness, drunk on the power he felt from the raw anger Hua Cheng harbored in his defense. No one had ever been willing to commit violence on his behalf before. Had ever regarded an injury to him as something that demanded retribution. It was intoxicating.

"He's the only thing Nie Huaisang has left in this world," Wei Wuxian gasped out, his words broken by the pleasure coursing through him.

An angry growl vibrated through Hua Cheng's chest, the sound primal and threatening. His arms tightened around Wei Wuxian as he suddenly moved away from the wall, carrying Wei Wuxian across the room in powerful strides. He stopped at a low tea table, sinking to his knees to set Wei Wuxian on its edge, their hips perfectly aligned in height.

Before Wei Wuxian could speak, Hua Cheng captured his mouth in a bruising kiss, tongue pushing past his lips to claim him completely. Wei Wuxian surrendered instantly, opening to the invasion as Hua Cheng pressed him down onto the table's surface. The wood was hard against his back, cool compared to the heat of Hua Cheng's body still pressing between his spread thighs.

Hua Cheng's hands slid up Wei Wuxian's arms, encircling his wrists and drawing them above his head. The touch was sensual, almost hypnotic as Hua Cheng's fingers traced patterns against the sensitive skin there.

Wei Wuxian felt silk sliding around his wrists, realizing Hua Cheng was removing the crimson sash from his own wrist and securing it around Wei Wuxian's instead. The knot was expertly tied, secure enough to hold, yet not tight enough to cause discomfort.

Hua Cheng broke their kiss, pulling back just enough to lock gazes with Wei Wuxian as he drew the ends of the sash higher, stretching Wei Wuxian's arms above his head. In Hua Cheng's other hand, something materialized. A long, gleaming scimitar that seemed to appear from nothing.

Wei Wuxian stared, transfixed. The weapon was unlike any he'd ever seen before. Its blade was beautifully curved, the hilt elaborately designed with flowing ornamental patterns along its surface. The design tapering into what appeared to be a slit.

As Wei Wuxian watched, captivated by the powerful weapon, the slit opened slowly, revealing a brilliant crimson iris that fixed on him with unmistakable awareness. Recognition shot through Wei Wuxian like lightning. He instinctively knew the essence of the eye. Somehow, impossibly, it was Hua Cheng's eye staring at him from the blade.

Excitement surged through Wei Wuxian's body, a wave of arousal so intense it made his cock twitch visibly against his stomach. To be observed in this vulnerable state by another piece of his lover. To be watched so intently by that blood red gaze while being completely at his mercy, was unexpectedly, overwhelmingly erotic.

A desperate moan escaped his lips, unable to look away from the scimitar's eye, feeling exposed and desired in ways he'd never imagined.

Wei Wuxian's gaze flickered back to Hua Cheng's face, finding his ghost king watching him with parted lips, breath visibly quickened by Wei Wuxian's reaction. There was surprise there, but also a darkening hunger that made Wei Wuxian's pulse race.

"I was going to face it the other way," Hua Cheng admitted, voice rough with want. He paused, eye searching Wei Wuxian's face with clear wonder. "Do you want it to watch?"

Heat crept up Wei Wuxian's neck at the question, spreading across his cheeks in a blush he couldn't control. He felt more naked, more exposed than he had been moments ago. Not just his body laid bare, but something deeper, more private about his desires revealed. Yet the thought of being observed by both Hua Cheng and his weapon's eye.

Wei Wuxian caught his lower lip between his teeth, giving a shy, almost hesitant nod that belied the eagerness thrumming through his veins.

Hua Cheng's pupil dilated at the answer, the black nearly swallowing the iris around it. In a single vicious movement, he drove the scimitar into the surface of the table, securing the end of Wei Wuxian's bindings in place with the powerful thrust. The wood splintered around the blade, anchoring the weapon firmly above Wei Wuxian's stretched arms.

The red eye gleamed, fixed intently on Wei Wuxian's naked form, watching with awakening hunger of its own.

Through the thick fog of arousal clouding his mind, Wei Wuxian realized that Hua Cheng's attention had momentarily shifted away from his anger. Wei Wuxian seized the opportunity to pull his ghost king further from his darkness and deeper into the shared haze of pleasure.

He wrapped his legs around Hua Cheng's waist, using the leverage to draw him closer. Though his hands remained bound above his head, Wei Wuxian retained enough freedom of movement to lift his head and capture Hua Cheng's lips with his own. The kiss was hungry, demanding, Wei Wuxian pouring every ounce of desire into it.

When they broke apart, Wei Wuxian nipped at Hua Cheng's lower lip, then soothed the sting with his tongue. He moved to Hua Cheng's jaw, kissing and sucking along the sharp angle, working his way to the sensitive spot beneath his ear.

"You've got me bound and dripping," Wei Wuxian whispered between open mouthed kisses against Hua Cheng's throat, feeling the pulse jump beneath his lips. "What are you going to do to me?"

Hua Cheng pulled back far enough to meet Wei Wuxian's gaze, his lips curving into a smile that was sin incarnate. Predatory and promising in equal measure. Wei Wuxian's breathing quickened at the sight, his already hard cock throbbing painfully.

"Make you beg," Hua Cheng whispered against Wei Wuxian's lips, the words a vow and a threat wrapped into one.

Before Wei Wuxian could respond, Hua Cheng unwound Wei Wuxian's legs from his waist only to reposition them over his shoulders, the change in angle exposed Wei Wuxian even further. Hua Cheng bent forward, the motion folding Wei Wuxian nearly in half.

Wei Wuxian gasped at the new position, the stretch burning pleasantly in his hamstrings. Any discomfort was immediately forgotten as Hua Cheng's mouth closed around one of his nipples, applying suction that drew a startled moan from deep in Wei Wuxian's chest. The wet heat of Hua Cheng's tongue circled the sensitive peak, then flicked across it in teasing motions that had Wei Wuxian arching into the contact.

Simultaneously, Hua Cheng's hands slid beneath Wei Wuxian, palms cupping the curves of his ass, fingers digging into the soft flesh with possessive strength. The dual sensation sent sparks of pleasure racing along Wei Wuxian's nerves.

All the while, the red eye of the scimitar watched, unblinking in its attention. Wei Wuxian found his gaze drawn to it repeatedly, the additional scrutiny heightening his arousal to nearly unbearable levels.

Hua Cheng shifted his attention to Wei Wuxian's other nipple, his mouth closing around the neglected peak with deliberate slowness. The wet heat of his tongue sent a shudder through Wei Wuxian's body, a soft whimper escaping his parted lips as Hua Cheng alternated between teasing flicks and devastating suction. One large hand moved from Wei Wuxian's ass, trailing upward along the curve before sliding beneath to find his perineum. Hua Cheng's fingers began a gentle exploration, applying just enough pressure to make Wei Wuxian's toes curl but not enough to satisfy the growing need building within him.

Wei Wuxian's breath caught as Hua Cheng's other hand slipped between his cheeks, finding the sensitive hole twitching at the slightest contact. With exquisite precision, Hua Cheng's finger began tracing small circles against the delicate skin, the touch feather light yet somehow maddening. Wei Wuxian's hips jerked forward, seeking more substantial contact, but Hua Cheng's weight kept him effectively pinned against the table.

"Gege," Wei Wuxian gasped, the word breaking on a moan as Hua Cheng grazed his teeth across the sensitized nipple.

The sensations were overwhelming. Hua Cheng's mouth hot and demanding, his fingers teasing and precise. Wei Wuxian felt his focus narrowing to those points of contact, everything else fading to insignificance. Then, without warning, the finger circling his clenching hole disappeared, leaving behind a momentary chill that made Wei Wuxian whine in protest.

When it returned seconds later, the digit was slick with something warm and oily. The sudden glide of Hua Cheng's finger against his skin drew a broken cry from Wei Wuxian's throat, the sensation somehow more intense with the added slickness. Where the oil had come from, Wei Wuxian couldn't begin to guess, nor did he have the mental capacity to question it. All that mattered was the delicious slide of Hua Cheng's finger loosening up his muscle, the pressure against his perineum increasing with each stroke, and the relentless attention of Hua Cheng's mouth on his chest.

Wei Wuxian threw his head back, eyes falling closed as he surrendered to the onslaught. His world contracted to this moment. Above him, he could feel the weight of the scimitar's gaze, that crimson eye watching his every reaction, every twitch and shudder that coursed through his body. The knowledge of being observed so thoroughly intensified every sensation.

Suddenly, the warmth of Hua Cheng's mouth disappeared from his chest. The abrupt loss made Wei Wuxian's eyes flutter open, only to find Hua Cheng hovering above him, pupils blown wide, watching him with an expression of such desperation that Wei Wuxian stopped breathing. Moments later, he felt Hua Cheng's slickened finger slip halfway into the tight ring of muscles, the stretch carnal and torturous all at once.

Wei Wuxian cried out wantonly, the sound tearing from his throat unbidden as the pleasure of being filled rippled through him. His eyes threatened to close again at the teeming fire coursing through him, but he fought to keep them open, maintaining tenuous eye contact with Hua Cheng through heavy lids.

What he saw made his heart stutter in his chest. Beyond the searing arousal, Hua Cheng looked at him as if bearing witness to worthy divinity, as if Wei Wuxian's pleasure was the most precious thing in all the realms.

Hua Cheng carefully slid his finger the rest of the way in, the deeper intrusion so foreign, so overwhelming.

Slowly, Hua Cheng moved back, settling on his knees on the ground. Wei Wuxian, removing his legs from Hua Cheng's broad shoulders, spread them wide with feet resting on the edge, wanting Hua Cheng to clearly see what he's doing to him. For the first time, Hua Cheng looked down at where his finger disappeared into Wei Wuxian's ring of muscle. The sight seemed to affect him profoundly. His breath caught audibly, his face holding all the evidence of wanting to rip his own clothes off and thrust his cock deep into Wei Wuxian's eager hole.

Without seeming aware of the movement, Hua Cheng's buried finger shifted upward, crooking slightly as it pressed against a small bundle of nerves. The contact sent an unexpected jolt of pleasure ripping through Wei Wuxian's body. Near overwhelming in its intensity. His hips roughly jerked upward involuntarily, head falling back as his eyes squeezed shut, a broken cry tearing from his throat.

"Fuck," Hua Cheng cursed, his voice sounding absolutely wrecked. The raw need in that single word made Wei Wuxian's cock pulse against his stomach, a bead of precum pooling at the tip. "Fuck, A-Ying," Hua Cheng repeated, sounding equally devastated and enthralled.

Then Hua Cheng began to move, drawing his finger almost completely out of the tight hole before thrusting it back in, establishing a rhythm that had Wei Wuxian writhing against his bindings. With each inward stroke, Hua Cheng deliberately crooked his finger, seeking out that sensitive bundle that had drawn such a reaction from Wei Wuxian moments before.

The new pressure building within Wei Wuxian was unlike anything he'd experienced before. A spring coiling tighter and tighter. Each thrust of Hua Cheng's finger against that spot added to the pool of precum threatening to drip down his side.

"Please—gods—right there—" Wei Wuxian abandoned all attempts at coherence, filthy encouragements spilling from his lips as he rocked into each motion of Hua Cheng's hand. "Don't stop—fuck—feels so good—" The words broke into desperate moans as Hua Cheng increased the pace, his attention fixed on Wei Wuxian's every reaction as if committing them to memory.

Without warning, Hua Cheng withdrew his finger completely, leaving Wei Wuxian empty and wanting. The sudden loss tore a desperate sound from his throat, his body arching in protest, seeking to reclaim the pleasure that had been so abruptly taken from him.

"Gege, please—" Wei Wuxian begged, voice breaking on the plea.

His words cut off with a strangled gasp as Hua Cheng returned, this time with two slick fingers pressing into his abused hole. The additional thickness stretching the muscle in a way that bordered on too much yet was so fucking perfect.

"Yes—gods—more—" Wei Wuxian cried out, all filters abandoned as he gave voice to the pleasure coursing through him. His thighs visibly trembled, muscles tensing and releasing with each thrust of those curling fingers.

Meanwhile, Hua Cheng's other hand, which had been steadily stroking Wei Wuxian's perineum throughout, shifted its approach. Instead of the gentle pressure from before, Hua Cheng now applied targeted, rhythmic pushes that fed pleasure directly to his prostate from the outside, connecting with the impact from Hua Cheng's rough thrusting to create a circuit of ecstasy that had Wei Wuxian sobbing with pleasure.

Wei Wuxian felt his cock pulse against his stomach as precum continued to dribble out, steadily being milked. The storm of sensation built upon each other, multiplying until they became nearly unbearable.

The coil of pressure that had been tightening within him suddenly snapped. Wei Wuxian's eyes flew open, locking directly with the scimitar's blown pupil as an animalistic sound ripped from his throat. His vision blurred at the edges, momentarily fading to black as his release crashed through him with devastating force. He came across his stomach and chest in long, pulsing spurts, his entire body convulsing with the intensity of his orgasm.

Chapter Text

Hua Cheng's heart hammered against his ribs, a relentless, thundering percussion that drowned out everything except Wei Wuxian's ragged cries of release. His fingers remained firmly pressed against that bundle of nerves deep inside Wei Wuxian's hole, feeling every pulse, every contraction of the powerful muscles as Wei Wuxian's orgasm tore through him. The lightest shift of silk against Hua Cheng's own painfully hard cock was almost enough to send him over the edge untouched, his restraint hanging by the thinnest thread.

Wei Wuxian's release painted pearlescent streaks across the taut plane of his stomach, the evidence of his pleasure stark against his soft skin. Even in the half darkness of the room, the sight was beautiful enough to forever be seared into Hua Cheng's mind. But what truly undid him was the way Wei Wuxian's silver eyes remained locked not on him, but on that damned red eye of his. His A-Ying stared into the scimitar's gaze with an expression of shocked pleasure, lips parted and trembling, utterly and hopelessly vulnerable in his completion.

The unfiltered arousal in Wei Wuxian's features when he first felt the sensation of being watched during such a sinful act, sent a jolt of possessive hunger through Hua Cheng so powerful it bordered on violence. The mere thought of anyone else seeing Wei Wuxian in such a position sent hot anger flushing through his veins. If not for E-Ming essentially being a part of him, he would have gouged that crimson eye out with savage glee.

Wei Wuxian's eyes fell shut as his thighs quivered, the muscles continuing to contract sporadically as the aftershocks of pleasure rolled through him. His skin was slick with sweat, flushed with heat, and Hua Cheng could feel every tremor, every pulse against his fingers.

The scent of sex hung heavy in the air, mingling with the faint trace of incense that lingered in the abandoned room. Wei Wuxian's breathing gradually slowed, his chest rising and falling in a more measured rhythm as he began to come down from his high. "Fuck," Hua Cheng breathed, the word emerging as little more than a rasp. Wei Wuxian looked so utterly perfect in his current state. Bound, sated, and entirely his.

Hua Cheng slowly, carefully withdrew his slickened fingers from the reddened hole, watching as Wei Wuxian's muscles clenched at the sudden absence. Without ceremony, he wiped his hand along the edge of his crimson robes, eye fixated on the fluttering.

With a flick of his wrist, E-Ming vanished back into its spatial array, the crimson eye despondent at being dismissed. Wei Wuxian's bound hands fell free from the restraint, though the crimson sash still looped around his wrists, binding them together.

Hua Cheng bent down, tracing soothing patterns along Wei Wuxian's side, feeling the tremors beneath heated skin gradually calming under his touch. He lowered his head to Wei Wuxian's stomach, his tongue languidly dragging through the cum with reverent hunger. The taste was bitter, salty, uniquely Wei Wuxian. Hua Cheng savored each trace he collected, not missing a single drop, his tongue working methodically across the landscape of Wei Wuxian's abdomen.

As he reveled in the intimacy, Wei Wuxian's bound hands slowly lowered, coming to rest against the back of Hua Cheng's neck in a loose embrace. A soft, approving hum rumbled from Wei Wuxian's chest, the sound vibrating beneath Hua Cheng's lips as he worked his way upward. The sensation of Wei Wuxian's fingers tangling in the hair at his nape sent shivers down Hua Cheng's spine.

When Hua Cheng finally reached Wei Wuxian's chest, he glanced up to find silver eyes had opened, watching him with languorous satisfaction. Wei Wuxian's expression was utterly debauched. Pupils still dilated, lips swollen and parted, cheeks flushed with lingering pleasure. He looked thoroughly claimed and completely content.

Hua Cheng moved higher, capturing those inviting lips in a deep, deliberate kiss, sharing the taste of Wei Wuxian's release between them. Wei Wuxian made a soft, surprised sound—half moan, half whimper—at the taste, his bound arms tightening around Hua Cheng's neck as he pressed closer. Their tongues met in a languid dance, sliding against each other, the taste growing more complex as it mingled with the natural sweetness of Wei Wuxian's mouth.

Reluctantly breaking the kiss, Hua Cheng leaned back on his knees between Wei Wuxian's spread thighs, effectively pulling Wei Wuxian to sit upright. Gathering Wei Wuxian's hands still bound around his neck, Hua Cheng began to untie the crimson sash carefully. As the silk fell away, it revealed angry red marks where the fabric had rubbed against delicate skin during Wei Wuxian's thrashing. Hua Cheng frowned, lifting one wrist to his lips to press a gentle, apologetic kiss against the abused flesh. His fingers began to glow with spiritual energy as he prepared to heal the marks.

"Don't," Wei Wuxian murmured, voice still thick with satisfaction as he pulled his hand away from Hua Cheng's healing touch. "I want to keep them."

Hua Cheng studied Wei Wuxian's face, finding clarity in those silver eyes despite their post pleasure haze. His A-Ying knew exactly what he was asking. A possessive thrill ran through Hua Cheng at the thought that Wei Wuxian wanted to bear his marks, wanted the reminder of what they'd shared pressed into his skin.

Hua Cheng bent slightly, gathering Wei Wuxian into his arms without bothering to dress him. With a casual toss of his dice, he opened a portal directly to their bedchamber in Paradise Manor.

"Nie-xiong," Wei Wuxian mumbled against Hua Cheng's chest, the words emerging as more of a protesting moan than clear speech. "We need to tell him first."

Hua Cheng stepped through the gateway into their familiar room, the bed with its crimson sheets beckoning like a sanctuary. "I can promise you, A-Ying, that if another soul lays eyes on you looking like this," he murmured, voice rough with possessiveness, "even you will have your hands full saving them from me."

A tired laugh escaped Wei Wuxian as Hua Cheng gently laid him on the bed, immediately snuggling into the soft blankets with a contented sigh. Hua Cheng brushed a lock of dark hair from Wei Wuxian's forehead, his touch infinitely tender.

"What do you need to tell Nie Huaisang?" he asked softly.

Wei Wuxian's eyes fluttered open, momentarily focusing through his exhaustion. "Jin Guangyao," he murmured, "is aggravating the resentment in Nie Mingjue with an altered Cleansing song. Nie-xiong needs to get Lan Xichen here as soon as possible, without anyone else knowing."

Hua Cheng bent down, pressing a gentle kiss to Wei Wuxian's forehead. "I'll take care of it," he promised, fingers combing soothingly through dark hair until Wei Wuxian's breathing deepened and evened out.

The sun hung low in the sky, painting Paradise Manor in hues of amber and crimson. Hua Cheng walked to the doorway of their bedchamber, watching Wei Wuxian's peaceful slumber for a moment before turning away. With a flick of his wrist, dice manifested between his fingers, spinning briefly before he cast them through the air. They disappeared into a swirling portal that materialized in the doorway. A direct passage to a place he had deliberately avoided for weeks. Taking a deep breath, Hua Cheng stepped through into a secluded courtyard within Ghost City, where a resplendent temple stood waiting.

Qiandeng Temple. Constructed centuries ago when Hua Cheng first established Ghost City, a sanctuary built for his missing god when all other shrines to his name had been destroyed. Golden light from the setting sun bathed its walls.

Hua Cheng approached the entrance, each step measured and heavy. His hand lifted toward the door, fingers hovering just short of contact. The familiar weight of guilt gnawed at him, not for what he had found with Wei Wuxian. No, he had made peace with loving Wei Wuxian with his entire being. Rather for his prolonged absence from this place. For his avoidance.

The realization that had been forming for weeks crystallized within him: what he felt for His Highness might have been love once, perhaps, or what his young heart had believed was love. But over centuries, it had transformed into something else entirely. Devotion, loyalty, an oath carved into his very existence. Important, vital even, but not the consuming fire that raged within him for Wei Wuxian.

He hadn't yet found the courage to come here and confess this truth. Though he knew with absolute certainty that His Highness couldn't hear his prayers, it still felt monumental to speak these words aloud in the space he had dedicated to his first devotion.

His fingers inched closer to the door, trembling slightly. A spear of pain lanced through his heart at what felt treacherously like abandonment. Eight hundred years of unwavering loyalty, of building shrines, of searching every corner of the mortal realm, and now his heart belonged to another. Would His Highness understand? Or would he see only betrayal if he ever returned?

Hua Cheng's hand lowered slowly, falling back to his side. His jaw clenched as he fought the war of emotions raging within his chest. He would always search for His Highness, would always ensure his temple remained standing, would still move heaven and earth to protect the Crown Prince of Xianle if ever he reappeared. But he would never again love him the way he loved Wei Wuxian.

That was a truth he would need to confess... but not today.

He was a fucking coward.

Disgusted with himself, Hua Cheng took one final look at the temple entrance and took a step backward, turning his back on His Highness once more. He flicked his wrist, summoning a pair of dice that he cast into the air before him. They spun, catching the dying light, before disappearing into a swirling portal that opened in their wake. A direct passage to Nie Huaisang's chambers, not giving a shit whether he might be intruding.

Hua Cheng stepped through the portal into the darkened room, nostrils immediately assaulted by the cloying mixture of incense and wine that permeated the air. Thank fuck the room wasn't reeking of sex. That was the last thing he wanted to walk in on. The chaos from earlier remained undisturbed. Artifacts and treasures torn from their places had left rectangular patches of unfaded color on walls and surfaces, while drawers hung open like gaping wounds in the chamber's dignity.

A contemptuous sneer curled Hua Cheng's lips as he navigated through the wreckage. Parchments, scrolls, and overturned bottles littered the path as he moved deeper into the chamber, intent on completing his task and departing as swiftly as possible.

He found Nie Huaisang sitting on the floor, back resting against a divan, dressed only in inner robes that had fallen open to reveal more skin than Hua Cheng had any interest in seeing. A wine cup dangled precariously from Nie Huaisang's fingertips, tilting with each small movement of his hand, liquid threatening to spill with each unconscious shift. He stared vacantly ahead, clearly lost in thought, entirely unaware of Hua Cheng's presence. His hair had come loose from its usual arrangement, falling in disheveled strands around his face, which bore clear evidence of recent tears. Eyes reddened and swollen though seemingly dry for the moment.

Having absolutely no desire to see another man half naked, Hua Cheng grabbed a discarded outer robe hanging from the corner of a nearby table and threw it unceremoniously onto the floor beside Nie Huaisang. The sudden action startled the cultivator from his reverie, his body jerking in surprise as the wine cup nearly slipped from his grasp. Wide, bloodshot eyes snapped up to meet Hua Cheng's imposing figure.

With his sneer firmly in place, Hua Cheng tilted his head condescendingly. "Feeling sorry for yourself now?" he asked, voice dripping with disdain.

Nie Huaisang's shock at Hua Cheng's sudden appearance quickly transformed into embarrassment as understanding dawned. His gaze dropped to the robe beside him, then to his own disheveled state of dress. Setting the cup down carefully, as if sudden movements might provoke the intimidating ghost king, he rose to his feet with as much dignity as he could muster. Pink stained his cheeks as he shrugged on the outer robe, cinching it tightly at his waist, irritation gradually replacing mortification at being caught in such a compromising position.

Nie Huaisang's irritation turned into outright indignation. "What are you doing here?" he demanded, drawing himself up to his full height, which was still considerably shorter than Hua Cheng. "Do you know nothing of respect? Here we knock before entering someone's private chambers."

A dangerous stillness fell over Hua Cheng, the kind of quiet that preceded a violent storm. His eye narrowed as he regarded Nie Huaisang. "Who the fuck are you," he asked, voice dropping to a silken murmur dripping with menace, "to think you deserve a drop of my respect?"

The color drained from Nie Huaisang's face, wariness replacing his previous bravado. His eyes darted to Hua Cheng's face, then away, as if direct contact might provoke attack. With exaggerated care, he bent to retrieve his abandoned cup, then moved toward the cluttered table where several wine jugs sat in disarray.

Nie Huaisang tested the weight of each vessel, searching for one that still contained liquid. Finding one that sloshed satisfyingly, he refilled his cup with trembling hands. "Would you like some?" he offered, voice artificially light as he attempted to regain his composure.

"No," Hua Cheng replied flatly, leaning against the arch and crossing his arms. The casual posture did nothing to diminish the lethal aura that emanated from him.

Taking a fortifying sip of wine, Nie Huaisang settled on the divan, arranging his robes with a pretense of propriety that seemed laughable given the circumstances. "What can I help you with?" he asked, affecting a courteous tone that rang hollow in the tension filled room.

Hua Cheng gave a scornful huff at this pathetic attempt at formality, his lips curling in a smile that held no warmth. "Jin Guangyao is poisoning your piece of shit brother with an altered version of Cleansing," he stated bluntly, watching as shock and then fury flashed across Nie Huaisang's features.

The cultivator's reaction only amused Hua Cheng further as he continued. "The song isn't calming the resentment, it's aggravating it, pushing him closer to qi-deviation with every session."

The cup of wine trembled slightly in Nie Huaisang's hand as he took another measured sip, visibly struggling to maintain his composure despite the transparent effort. His face had become a mask, but one poorly constructed and cracking at the edges.

"Are you certain?" he asked quietly, eyes fixed on the dark liquid in his cup.

The question ignited fresh irritation in Hua Cheng. He hadn't come here to convince anyone, merely to deliver Wei Wuxian's message and be done with it. His patience, already threadbare, frayed further.

"Are you doubting Wei Wuxian's abilities," he asked, voice dropping to an arctic temperature, "or his word?" The implication hung in the air between them. Either option would be a grave mistake.

Nie Huaisang shook his head slightly, almost imperceptibly. "Neither, of course," he replied, successfully banishing any discernible emotion from his voice, though his knuckles had whitened around his cup.

Hua Cheng straightened from his position against the arch, his message delivered. "Wei Wuxian says to get Lan Xichen here without anyone noticing," he stated flatly, already turning toward the door, task fulfilled.

The sound of sudden movement behind him, Nie Huaisang rising abruptly to his feet, barely registered as worth his attention.

"You care about him, don't you?" Nie Huaisang's voice carried across the room, unexpectedly steady.

Hua Cheng halted mid stride but didn't turn around, shoulders stiffening beneath crimson robes. "It's none of your fucking business," he replied, voice like steel wrapped in silk.

A moment of silence followed, and Hua Cheng resumed walking, assuming the coward had been cowed back into silence. He had only taken two steps when Nie Huaisang's next words froze him in place.

"It might not be mine, but it sure as hell is Lan Wangji's."

That fucking name again. Hua Cheng felt anger burn through his veins like liquid fire, consuming rational thought. He turned slowly, deliberately, leveling a look at Nie Huaisang that had made gods tremble.

"I'm getting sick," he snarled, "of hearing about Lan Wangji."

Nie Huaisang's eyes widened, lips parting in surprise. "So you do know about him," he breathed, the words more exhalation than speech.

Something shifted in Nie Huaisang's expression then, calculation replacing shock as he studied Hua Cheng with newfound interest. "Are you being as situationally blind as Wei Wuxian," he asked, voice gaining confidence with each word, "or do you know that Lan Wangji is in love with him?"

The ever lingering dread that had been gnawing at the edges of Hua Cheng's consciousness constricted around his heart like a vise. A deep rooted fear confirmed in an instant: there was another in this life who yearned for his A-Ying, who mourned him, who loved him. From the cursed stories he'd heard, perhaps someone who was plainly better for Wei Wuxian, whose love was untainted by centuries of devotion to another, whose heart was pure and singular in its focus.

Hua Cheng moved with deliberate control toward the collection of wine jars, selecting one at random. His hands remained steady through sheer force of will as he poured himself a cup, desperate to find some outlet for the agony clawing at his soul. Something to compress and contain until he was no longer in another's company. Especially not in the presence of this sly, calculating being who would use even the slightest weakness against him.

Who was already using it against him.

He drained the cup in a single swallow, hardly tasting the liquid as it burned down his throat. The empty vessel landed with a hollow sound on the table as he turned, fixing Nie Huaisang with a gaze cold enough to freeze flames.

"You're very far from being the clueless little shit everyone believes you are," Hua Cheng said, his voice dangerously soft as he felt himself becoming more worked up with each passing moment. "So don't you think it's an incredibly stupid thing to rile up a being whose power you have no context of? More importantly, whose capacity for patience might be severely limited before they start snapping necks?"

Nie Huaisang took an involuntary step backward, color draining from his face until he appeared almost ghostly in the dim light of the chamber. His retreat halted abruptly as his legs made contact with the divan behind him, trapping him in place.

Hua Cheng advanced a single, threatening step. "What the fuck is it that you want to talk about?" he asked, voice dropping to a register that seemed to make the very air thicken with menace.

"Lan Wangji considers Wei Wuxian his zhiji," Nie Huaisang answered softly, the words tumbling out with increasing speed as if he suddenly wished for this conversation to be over. A sentiment Hua Cheng shared wholeheartedly. "But when the sects came for blood, he wasn't able to protect him. He couldn't—"

Feeling that Nie Huaisang was taking far too long to reach any meaningful point, Hua Cheng narrowed his eye and summoned E-Ming into his hand with a whisper of displaced air. The scimitar materialized in a flash of crimson light, its eye opening slowly to fix on Nie Huaisang with hungry interest.

The cultivator made a faint, strangled sound and collapsed onto the divan, eyes wide and focused solely on the sentient weapon. His words came faster now, desperation evident in every syllable. "The Jin sect has called for a gathering this evening to discuss the return of the Yiling Laozu. I was able to convince my brother that it will be a waste of time, that the rumors aren't to be believed."

Nie Huaisang's gaze lifted from E-Ming to meet Hua Cheng's, resolve slowly returning to his eyes despite the weapon still trained on him. "But they're mobilizing. They're afraid."

Hua Cheng cocked his head slightly, a soft laugh escaping him as he stored E-Ming away with a casual flick of his wrist. Amusement lightened, if only momentarily, the unbearable weight pressing down on his chest as he reassessed the mortal before him.

"Do you truly believe," he asked, lips curving into a sardonic smile, "that you can manipulate a Calamity who walked this earth centuries before you were even born?"

Shock flashed through Nie Huaisang's eyes, his carefully composed mask slipping once more.

Hua Cheng stepped closer, and Nie Huaisang immediately reacted, trying to press himself deeper into the divan as if hoping the furniture might swallow him whole.

"You weren't sure if I'd kill to protect him?" Hua Cheng's voice dropped to a contemplative murmur. "You thought you had to bait me with some fool who loves Wei Wuxian?"

All trace of amusement vanished from Hua Cheng's face, leaving behind an expression of cold clarity.

"I won't be destroying your enemies for you," he stated flatly. "You want Jin Guangyao to know what it feels like to have his family ripped away from him, just as he's doing to your only remaining kin." His lip curled in contempt. "It's pathetic that you need others to fight your battles for you."

Without warning, Hua Cheng's hand shot out, fingers closing around Nie Huaisang's forehead in an iron grip. The cultivator's scream died in his throat as Hua Cheng forcefully extracted the essence of his memory of Carp Tower, the process deliberately more painful than necessary. Information flowed into Hua Cheng's mind. Images, scents, the exact feel of Carp Tower's spiritual energy, everything he needed to create a portal there.

Nie Huaisang's eyes rolled back, body going limp as Hua Cheng released him, letting him collapse onto the divan like a discarded puppet whose strings had been severed.

Jin Guangshan sat upon his elevated dais, absently adjusting the golden ornaments adorning his sleeves as he gazed across the gathering with thinly veiled boredom. The grand hall of Carp Tower glittered with ostentatious displays of his wealt. Gilded pillars, intricate tapestries, and ornate lanterns casting a golden glow over the assembled cultivators. All this magnificence, wasted on a room full of frightened fools.

He lifted his wine cup, swirling the crimson liquid before taking a sip. Some minor sect leader, Jin Guangshan couldn't be bothered to recall which one, was gesticulating wildly at the center of the hall, voice rising to a fevered pitch as he detailed the supposed horrors of the Yiling Laozu's return.

"...evil incarnate! If we allow this abomination to roam free once more, the consequences will be catastrophic! The Yiling Laozu must be destroyed before—"

Jin Guangshan suppressed a yawn. Why had he even wasted his time on this bullshit? The so called "sightings" were likely nothing more than peasant superstition or opportunistic charlatans. Wei Wuxian was dead, his body supposedly torn apart by his own demonic creatures. There was sure as hell no trace of him to be found afterwards. This meeting was merely a formality to prey on the more nervous sects and, more importantly, to gauge which clans might be vulnerable enough to be absorbed into Lanling Jin's growing influence.

With a lazy flick of his hand, he summoned Xue Yang, who lurked at the edges of the gathering. The young man's eyes gleamed with excited malice as he approached, a stark contrast to the subservient manner he affected when bringing a fresh cup of wine.

The heavy doors at the far end of the hall creaked open, drawing Jin Guangshan's attention. A flicker of anticipation sparked through his boredom. Perhaps the Nie sect had finally arrived, or better yet, the Lans had reconsidered their refusal. Such prominent allies would lend credibility to this farce.

His anticipation dimmed as only a single figure entered. A young man dressed entirely in crimson, his hair bound elegantly atop his head with a simple ribbon. His features were arranged in an expression almost as bored as Jin Guangshan's own as he surveyed the gathering with casual disinterest. A rogue cultivator, most likely, drawn by curiosity or the promise of wine.

Taking the cup offered by Xue Yang, Jin Guangshan lamented the absence of representatives from the other great sects. He had predicted the Lan clan wouldn't come. Lan Qiren was too much of a peaceful old fool to support pre-emptive action. He'd even suspected Jiang Cheng would be too much of a coward to join an uprising so soon after losing most of his clan in the siege. But he had expected the Nie sect to show. Their damned saber spirits practically kept them in an ever lingering thirst for battle.

The first speaker yielded to another. A red faced cultivator from the Su clan who strode to the center of the hall with excessive vigor. "The corpses under the Yiling Laozu's command tore my brother limb from limb at Nightless City!" he shouted, spittle flying from his lips as his voice rose to a near hysterical pitch. "His remains were so desecrated we could barely identify him for burial!"

Jin Guangshan's gaze drifted back to the crimson clad youth, drawn by some inexplicable instinct. The cultivator had taken a seat among the assembled sect representatives, positioned advantageously near the center of the gathering. As the Su clan cultivator's rhetoric grew more violent, describing in graphic detail how he wished to dismember Wei Wuxian in turn, the stranger's eyes narrowed perceptibly. His lip curled in a subtle sneer that Jin Guangshan found oddly interesting.

In the haze of predictable peacocking, sect representatives outdoing each other with increasingly useless plans to combat a threat that didn't even exist, Jin Guangshan kept his eyes trained on this odd youth. There was something about him, something he couldn't quite identify, that commanded attention despite his deliberate stillness.

Jin Guangshan observed as the crimson clad cultivator's gaze roamed casually over the hall, only to freeze abruptly when it reached the eastern wall. Jin Guangshan smiled faintly, knowing exactly what had captured the stranger's attention.

His prized trophy: the Ghost General's dismembered body.

Wen Qionglin's severed limbs were meticulously arranged and pinned against the wall, separated from one another to ensure the fierce corpse couldn't reform itself. His arms were spread wide, as if in supplication, while his legs were mounted below, grotesquely imitating a standing posture. The head, however, was the centerpiece. Positioned slightly higher than the rest, face locked in an expression of eternal agony, eyes open and unseeing.

The preservation talismans gave the display an uncanny sheen, the flesh neither decaying nor appearing truly alive. It had been Jin Guangshan's specific order that the corpse be maintained in this state of suspended animation. Not alive, not fully dead, and certainly not at peace.

Most impressive was the centerpiece: Wen Qionglin's torso, pinned directly to the wall by Wei Wuxian's own sword driven through his chest cavity. The blade, still sheathed, had been pounded through flesh, bone, and into the stone behind with considerable effort. No one had managed to draw it since the siege. Jin Guangshan recalled dispassionately how difficult it had been to drive the damned thing through.

When Jin Guangshan looked back at the young cultivator, he caught a flash of something dangerous in the youth's expression, a momentary break in his maintained boredom. It wasn't the usual disgust or horrified fascination that most visitors displayed when seeing the Ghost General's remains. No, this was unmistakably anger, sharp and pure, there and gone so quickly Jin Guangshan might have imagined it.

But Jin Guangshan hadn't survived decades of cultivation politics by missing such telling details. How curious that this unknown youth would have such a reaction to the Ghost General's remains. Perhaps he'd had some connection to the Wen remnants? Or maybe he simply objected to the desecration of a fierce corpse that had once been a cultivator?

Either way, it made the strange young man suddenly much more interesting than the droning speeches about a threat that wasn't real.

As the Su clan representative finally exhausted his vitriol, a more skeptical voice rose from the assembled cultivators. A middle aged man with streaks of gray in his beard stepped forward, his expression one of reasoned calm that immediately irked Jin Guangshan.

"Esteemed brothers," the man began in measured tones, "I believe we must approach these rumors with greater caution. The Yiling Laozu died at the Burial Mounds. This is indisputable fact. If these rumors hold any substance at all, we are likely dealing with nothing more than a lingering spirit."

From the corner of his eye, Jin Guangshan noticed the crimson clad cultivator rising silently from his seat, moving silently toward the exit. Jin Guangshan's attention shifted back to the skeptical speaker, a sneer beginning to form on his lips. This was precisely the kind of clear minded response that threatened to undermine the purpose of this gathering.

"If that is the case," the cultivator continued, "our course is clear. We should request the Lan sect's assistance in performing a Rest ritual at the Burial Mounds to calm his spirit. There is no need for the panic or aggressive measures being suggested."

Sensible words, but sense was not what supported Jin Guangshan's deliberate fear mongering. Such rational thinking would not drive the cultivation world to rally behind Lanling Jin for protection, nor would it create opportunities to absorb weaker sects under his banner.

Before Jin Guangshan could interject, Xue Yang stepped forward, his lithe form gliding to the center of the hall to stand directly before the speaking cultivator. That familiar, unhinged gleam shone in Xue Yang's eyes as he looked up at the significantly taller man.

"There is most definitely a way to hurt the Yiling Laozu's spirit," Xue Yang said, his voice carrying an unnerving enthusiasm that made several nearby cultivators shift uncomfortably. "To hurt him, to make him serve our purpose."

Jin Guangshan's gaze flicked briefly toward the crimson clad youth, who had stopped dead in his tracks mere steps from the exit. A sudden prickle of foreboding crawled up Jin Guangshan's spine as Xue Yang continued, seemingly oblivious to the danger his words were creating.

"I crafted a shackle," Xue Yang boasted, face twisting into an expression of deranged pride, "that was capable of subduing the spirit of the Yiling Laozu himself!" He spread his arms wide, playing to his audience. "My creation brought Wei Wuxian to his knees!"

Jin Guangshan's heart began to beat wildly in his chest as an unnatural coldness overtook the grand hall. The fine hairs on his arms rose as he became aware of a subtle change in the atmosphere. A pressure that hadn't been there moments before, like the stillness preceding a devastating storm.

The latches on the already shut doors and windows began to close, one by one, with a slow, deliberate precision that seemed to build toward some terrible crescendo. The metallic clicks echoed in the suddenly quiet hall, a methodical countdown to something Jin Guangshan found himself desperately unwilling to witness.

A few cultivators had noticed the strange phenomenon, heads turning to look at the doors and windows that were now sealing themselves without human intervention. But Jin Guangshan kept his eyes fixed on the crimson clad youth, who had slowly turned back to face the gathering.

The transformation in the young man's face made Jin Guangshan's blood run cold. Gone was the mask of elegant boredom, replaced by something barely human in its rage. Those refined features had twisted into an expression so chilling that it seemed to drop the temperature of the entire hall by several degrees.

Jin Guangshan tore his gaze away, only to notice that every possible exit from the hall now gleamed with a faint crimson sheen. An unmistakable barrier of spiritual energy unlike any he had encountered before. Slowly, he rose to his feet, battle honed instincts screaming a warning that had kept him alive through countless conflicts.

Danger had entered his hall, and he had invited it with open arms.

The whispered conversations had abruptly ceased, replaced by an unnatural stillness as the cultivators finally registered the danger Jin Guangshan had already sensed. Heads turned in confused unison, seeking the source of the oppressive spiritual pressure that now blanketed the hall like a funeral shroud.

Xue Yang, still basking in his moment of glory at the center of the gathering, remained oblivious to the growing tension. His twisted smile only faltered when he finally noticed the youth approaching him.

"You're boasting about making a failed shackle from Wei Wuxian's own detailed designs?" the youth asked, voice deceptively soft yet carrying clearly across the now silent hall. He continued his unhurried approach, each footfall landing with ominous finality against the polished marble. "How fucking incompetent are you?"

Jin Guangshan felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, the blood draining from his face at those words. This was not just another cultivator drawn by curiosity. The stranger's intimate knowledge of the shackle's creation meant Xue Yang hadn't been spouting empty boasts as Jin Guangshan had initially assumed. That fucking moron had actually attempted to recreate Wei Wuxian's designs, and had brought the consequences of his recklessness straight into Carp Tower.

Cold realization settled in Jin Guangshan's gut like a stone. Knowledge this specific could only come from someone close to Wei Wuxian himself. If the Yiling Laozu truly had returned as a spirit, then what manner of monster now walked among them, wearing the appearance of an elegant youth? Jin Guangshan's fingers tightened into fists, knuckles whitening as he forced himself to remain still despite the instinct to flee.

The assembled cultivators parted like frightened sheep before a wolf, creating a clear path between the crimson youth and Xue Yang. None seemed willing to place themselves within reach of the malevolence radiating from the stranger in palpable waves.

Xue Yang's face contorted with indignation, fury replacing his earlier smugness as he realized his moment of glory was being stolen from him. The recognition of exposure flickered across his features, a flash of panic quickly subsumed by defiance.

The youth in crimson towered over Xue Yang despite the latter's reputation for viciousness. Though they couldn't be far apart in age, the difference in presence was as vast as that between a house cat and a tiger.

Refusing to be intimidated, Xue Yang took a deliberate step forward, violating the stranger's personal space with characteristic recklessness. His lips pulled back in a snarl, revealing teeth like those of a cornered animal.

"I don't need the designs of a disgraced cun—"

The movement that followed happened so quickly that Jin Guangshan's trained eyes could barely track it. One moment Xue Yang was mid sentence, the next the crimson youth's hand had plunged into his open mouth with snake like precision. A swift, brutal jerk of his arm, and the youth withdrew his hand. Xue Yang's tongue clutched between his fingers, blood spraying in a crimson arc across the polished floor.

Jin Guangshan instinctively took a step back, bile rising in his throat as Xue Yang's scream—wet, gurgling, and terrifyingly inhuman—shattered the frozen tableau. Blood poured from the young cultivator's mouth as he clutched at his face, crimson streaming between his fingers to stain his robes.

The stranger stood unmoved, examining the severed tongue in his hand with dispassionate curiosity, seemingly unbothered by the warm blood dripping down his wrist and staining his immaculate sleeve.

The crimson youth leaned in toward Xue Yang, his voice pitched low but audible in the shocked silence that had fallen over the hall. "Don't worry," he said with a terrible gentleness that raised the hairs on Jin Guangshan's arms. "You alone have been granted the privilege of a prolonged death."

With casual disdain, he cast the severed tongue aside, where it landed with a wet slap against the polished marble. The sound echoed through the hall as Xue Yang collapsed to his knees, hands still clutching at his ruined mouth, dark blood seeping between his fingers and pooling beneath him.

Then, with chilling deliberation, the youth's head turned, his gaze unerringly finding Jin Guangshan across the crowded hall. Their eyes locked, and Jin Guangshan felt his own tongue cleave to the roof of his mouth, rendered as useless as Xue Yang's discarded one. He found himself paralyzed beneath that stare. A predator's assessment of prey already marked for death.

Without breaking eye contact, the youth slowly raised his hands, turning his palms upward in what appeared almost like supplication. The gesture revealed hundreds, perhaps thousands, of silver butterflies suddenly materializing above his outstretched hands. They emerged like stars appearing at twilight, delicate wings catching the light with an ethereal purity that seemed incongruous with the bloodshed moments before.

The butterflies ascended toward the vaulted ceiling of the hall, their flight patterns forming mesmerizing spirals and intricate geometries. Jin Guangshan found his gaze drawn irresistibly upward, following their hypnotic dance. Others throughout the hall likewise tilted their heads back in collective awe, momentarily forgetting the horror unfolding before them.

It was a fatal mistake.

Jin Guangshan's attention snapped back to eye level at a whisper of movement, only to find a blur of crimson suddenly materializing before him. He hadn't even seen the youth cross the vast expanse of the hall. One moment distant, the next close enough that Jin Guangshan could see the individual eyelashes framing his unnatural gaze.

A sharp, cold pressure registered against his chest before pain could even form. Looking down, Jin Guangshan saw elegant fingers piercing through his robes, through skin and bone, as easily as pushing through water. Those fingers cradled his still beating heart with the curious gentleness of a child examining a fascinating new pet.

Jin Guangshan's gaze lifted to the stranger's face and watched in horror as the youth's features transformed before his eyes. The slender frame broadened, shoulders expanding with sudden mass, height increasing by several intimidating inches. The youthful face hardened, jaw sharpening to severe angles, cheekbones rising to cast shadows across now hollow cheeks. Most striking was the black eye patch that appeared over his right eye, while the left remained fixed on Jin Guangshan.

This was no cultivator. This was a being of entirely different origin and power.

"You've personally caused my lover unbearable pain," the creature said, voice deeper now. "Unfortunately for you, I'll be able to convince him to forgive me for killing you."

Jin Guangshan felt those merciless fingers flex against his heart, applying pressure with excruciating slowness. Each individual digit pressed inward, as though the creature wanted to memorize the texture of the organ as it faltered beneath his touch.

Peripheral awareness registered sudden frantic movement behind his executor. Silver blurs moving with chaotic speed. His ears filled with screams, primal and animalistic in their agony.

With the last of his strength, Jin Guangshan focused once more on the singular eye that held his gaze. What he saw there was a satisfaction so profound, so complete, that it seemed almost transcendent. A being fulfilling the very purpose of its existence.

The fingers closed around his heart with sudden, brutal force. Jin Guangshan felt life slipping away like water through a broken vase, impossible to contain.

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian felt his naked body pulled taut against the crimson silk sheets, limbs secured to the ornately carved bed posts with gossamer bindings that looked delicate but held firm against his occasional tugs. His hair spilled across the pillows, a chaotic halo framing his flushed face. A low moan reverberated through him, the sound seeming to emanate from somewhere deep within his chest as he threw his head back in pleasure.

The sensation of strong, cool hands working methodically sent shivers cascading down his spine. Hua Cheng's fingers moved fluidly, wrapping another strip of crimson silk around the base of his cock, circling it with deliberate slowness before looping it around his balls and back again. The binding was snug but not painful. A promise that his pleasure would be prolonged, release denied until his ghost king was finished toying with him.

Every inch of his skin felt hypersensitive, nerve endings raw and exposed. His body was a canvas of blooming bruises. Evidence of moments when Hua Cheng's restraint had slipped, when teeth and lips had claimed the soft expanse of his flesh with too much hunger. A soft mewl escaped his parted lips as he recalled how each bruise had been formed with whispered praise against his heated skin.

His face and neck still bore the cooling evidence of Hua Cheng's release. His lover had refused him even a taste, holding Wei Wuxian's gaze as he stroked himself mere inches from Wei Wuxian's parted lips. The memory alone made his ass clench unconsciously, hips pressing back into the mattress seeking any friction he could find. He had been forced to watch, mouth watering, as Hua Cheng pleasured himself with methodical strokes. His glorious cock, angry and veined with arousal, pulsing in his grip until he finally came across Wei Wuxian's upturned face with a guttural groan.

Looking down now, Wei Wuxian saw the fucked out expression on Hua Cheng's face, a rare moment of complete satiation softening those sharp features. His ghost king looked almost peaceful in his post orgasmic haze, singular eye half lidded as he admired his handiwork across Wei Wuxian's skin.

Wei Wuxian followed that gaze down and caught sight of himself. Cock straining against its silken bindings, flushed nearly as red as the fabric wrapped around it. A fresh pool of precum had gathered on his abdomen, glistening in the dim light, with a single pearlescent strand still connecting it to the weeping tip. The sight pulled an involuntary whimper from his throat.

At the noise, Hua Cheng's gaze flickered upward, meeting Wei Wuxian's eyes. Something dangerous and thrilling awakened in that beautiful eye. A glint that Wei Wuxian had come to recognize and crave. His cock twitched noticeably in response, the movement drawing both their gazes momentarily.

Without a word, Hua Cheng stretched out his hand, and his scimitar materialized in his grip. The blade pointing away from Wei Wuxian, leaving the ornate hilt with its crimson eye turned away from Wei Wuxian. Much to his disappointment.

"Lick it," Hua Cheng commanded, his voice a deep rumble that sent vibrations straight to Wei Wuxian's core. He held the hilt close to Wei Wuxian's lips, close enough that he could feel the subtle spiritual energy emanating from the weapon.

A haze descended over Wei Wuxian's senses, his world narrowing to just this moment, just this command. He extended his tongue and dragged it along the length of the hilt, from base to tip, in the most seductive motion he could manage. His silver eyes remained locked with Hua Cheng's, watching that dark pupil dilate further with each passing second. The metal beneath his tongue seemed to shiver. Perhaps that was just the tremor running through his own body.

With deliberate slowness, Hua Cheng pulled the hilt away, only to drag it through his own cum staining Wei Wuxian's face and neck. The metal caught the viscous fluid, gathering it like a painter collecting paint on a brush. Wei Wuxian's breath caught as Hua Cheng moved the now slick hilt downward, tracing a wet path along his chest, circling a sensitive nipple before continuing its descent.