Chapter Text
It had been a year since Hua Cheng had disappeared into a cloud of silver butterflies; a dreadful lonely year in which Xie Lian desperately tried to convince himself that he was coping. He was, by nature, a very patient man, but the waiting was torture for him. Normally, a year would have passed by in the blink of an eye for someone as old as Xie Lian, who had already lived through more than 800 years, but the year that had gone by since Hua Cheng left had been one of Xie Lian’s longest.
So, now that the familiar figure of a tall man dressed in the red of maple leaves stood outside Puqi Shrine, Xie Lian did not waste a single moment before he threw himself into Hua Cheng’s awaiting arms.
“San Lang!” Xie Lian cried as the arms wrapped him in their warm embrace.
“Gege, I’m back.” Hua Cheng said softly.
The taller man nuzzled his face into the long brown hair of the shorter man and breathed in deeply. It had been a year since he had been able to do this and he had missed it dearly.
Xie Lian couldn’t keep the bright smile off his face as he held the man he loved close to him. He never again wanted to let him go.
“I knew you would come back.” He murmured against Hua Cheng’s chest.
“I’m sorry I made dianxia wait for so long. Were you very lonesome?”
Xie Lian nodded his head emphatically, “En. I missed you so much, San Lang.”
With anyone else, Xie Lian would have brushed off the apology and pretended like his own feelings didn’t matter. But there was no need for such pretence with Hua Cheng.
Ridiculously, he felt tears forming in his eyes. He was mortified. He had spent every day imagining the happy reunion he would have with Hua Cheng and now he was ruining it by crying. He broke from the hug and gently pushed Hua Cheng away so that he could turn around and surreptitiously wipe his eyes before his tears were noticed.
Hua Cheng however, being an 800 year old ghost king who inevitably noticed everything, had indeed noticed Xie Lian’s tears. He smiled fondly and gripped Xie Lian’s shoulders so as to turn him around to face him. Xie Lian stared determinedly at the ground, not wanting to cry in front of Hua Cheng, but soon a hand touched his chin and gently angled his head up so that he could look into Hua Cheng’s single dark eye. It was then that Xie Lian saw that Hua Cheng was unashamedly letting tears roll down his pale face.
“San Lang… You… Are you…?” Xie Lian stammered.
“Gege… Can I kiss you now?” Hua Cheng whispered.
“You… You don’t need to ask.” Xie Lian said, trying not to breath too heavily in his excitement.
Hua Cheng, who’s lips were already only inches from Xie Lian’s, leant down and captured Xie Lian’s lips against his own. Fireworks exploded inside Xie Lian’s chest and his mind went soft and fuzzy. In that moment, there was nothing else in the world but Hua Cheng. The kiss was soft and gentle, and Xie Lian tasted the saltiness of tears on Hua Cheng’s lips. Not long after those lips met his, Xie Lian couldn’t help but let out a small moan of pleasure. It had, after all, been a whole year of pining to feel those lips against his once again. He really had no idea how Hua Cheng had managed to wait almost 800 years for him when every day that he had spent without his San Lang had felt like an eternity.
Hearing the noise that had escaped from Xie Lian, Hua Cheng deepened the kiss and opened Xie Lian’s mouth with his tongue. His tongue probed inside and licked gently, which caused Xie Lian to make more soft little noises of pleasure. His legs felt weak and he couldn’t even remember to recite sutras in his head. Or maybe it was just that he didn’t want to. Ever since he had met Hua Cheng that time in the ox cart, he had so desperately wanted to do this kind of thing with him, even though he hadn’t realised it at the time, so now that it was happening, he did not hold back.
Gradually, an awareness of the world returned to Xie Lian, and he gently pushed Hua Cheng away. He was loathe to end the kiss, but what if someone walked passed and saw the two of them like this? He might just die of embarrassment.
“Um, San Lang… Maybe we should go inside first?” Xie Lian said, while blushing furiously.
Hua Cheng’s eye widened by a fraction, and Xie Lian realised that what he had just said probably sounded quite suggestive. He was about to say something else to make his remark seem less licentious when Hua Cheng grabbed his hand and led him into Puqi Shrine, which was mercifully, devoid of worshippers.
Once inside, Xie Lian’s head buzzed with all the questions he wanted to ask Hua Cheng. Where had he been this past year? How had he come back? Would they stay together now?
But instead, he nervously asked, “Is San Lang hungry? I can cook something for you.”
“Mn, I’m starving, but not for food.” Hua Cheng winked and bolted the door.
Xie Lian’s poor old heart skipped a beat.
“San Lang! You shouldn’t joke like that!” He spluttered and tried to look anywhere but at Hua Cheng who stood smirking and leaning against the wall of Puqi Shrine.
“I wasn’t joking. Come here, Gege.” He beckoned with his finger.
Xie Lian swallowed and stepped closer to Hua Cheng. He still had a wicked smirk on his face, and Xie Lian panicked to think of what the ghost king might be planning.
Hua Cheng pulled him in yet closer, so Xie Lian’s body was pressed up against his, and then he placed one hand at the back of Xie Lian’s head and another on his lower back. Then, leaning down once again, he kissed him. The kiss was passionate and urgent now, with no hint of the gentleness of their earlier kiss.
Xie Lian moaned again and felt his body responding to Hua Cheng’s passion. He tried to wriggle away, feeling embarrassed, but Hua Cheng held him firmly. In truth, if he had really wanted to get away he could have used his spiritual power to easily push Hua Cheng away, and Hua Cheng knew this, so that’s why he had no qualms as he continued to hold Xie Lian as he kissed him with all the pent up passion of the past year.
When the hand that had been holding onto Xie Lian’s lower back began to drift lower down, Xie Lian gasped against Hua Cheng’s lips and felt like his legs might give out from under him. Then, to make matters even worse, he felt the tell-tale hardness of Hua Cheng’s erection pressing against him. Xie Lian could not resist such sweet torment and arousal burned deep inside him. Suddenly, as if his body moved on its own, Xie Lian’s arms went around Hua Cheng’s neck and his hands tangled in his long black hair. He wanted to pull him even closer and never let him go. Xie Lian was losing control, and he knew it, but he didn’t care. It wasn’t like he had ever had much self control when it came to Hua Cheng anyway.
Xie Lian had never been like this with anyone, and had sworn that he never would be, but right now, all that mattered was Hua Cheng. The feeling of his tall, lean body pressing against his, the feeling of his soft lips and his tongue in his mouth, and the desire that raged within both of them. The questions that had buzzed around in his mind were now gone and he felt numb to everything but Hua Cheng’s lips, tongue, hands, and body.
All of a sudden, Hua Cheng ground his hips against Xie Lian, and Xie Lian felt Hua Cheng’s hardness rub against his own through their clothing. Pleasure burst from within and made him gasp against Hua Cheng’s lips again. Surely, this burning desire was going to be the death of him.
Hua Cheng was breathing heavily, despite being a ghost and not needing to breathe, and his lips broke apart from Xie Lian’s. He peppered small kisses across Xie Lian’s cheekbone and then licked his ear. Xie Lian shuddered.
“Dianxia, do you want to go to bed?” He whispered between licks.
All of Guoshi’s teachings on celibacy told Xie Lian to say no and to begin reciting sutras, but instead, in between his panting breaths, he said, “Take me to bed, San Lang.”
Having received his consent, Hua Cheng responded enthusiastically by scooping Xie Lian up under the legs and carrying him to the sleeping matt in the back of Puqi Shrine. Xie Lian still had his arms around Hua Cheng’s neck and held on tight, not for fear that Hua Cheng might drop him, but because he genuinely did not want to let him go. Hua Cheng sat down on the sleeping matt with Xie Lian still wrapped around him, so that Xie Lian was sitting on his lap with his legs wrapped around Hua Cheng’s waist. Xie Lian would normally have been highly embarrassed to be in such a position, but felt a surge of confidence and boldy moved to slip off Hua Cheng’s outer garment. Hua Cheng stared at Xie Lian with such an intense look that Xie Lian was sure he was having trouble holding back from immediately ravaging him.
Feeling empowered by his boldness, and by Hua Cheng’s smouldering look, Xie Lian then started to remove Hua Cheng’s inner shirt with trembling fingers. Hua Cheng was patient with him and sat still as Xie Lian slowly undressed him. When the garment finally slipped off Hua Cheng’s broad shoulders to reveal smooth white skin beneath, Xie Lian’s swallowed and his Adam’s apple bobbed in anticipation.
“Now it’s your turn, Gege.” Hua Cheng purred and his long deft fingers began to open Xie Lian’s white cultivator robes.
When Hua Cheng had finished undressing Xie Lian’s top half he stroked and kissed his neck where the cursed shackle used to be.
“Dianxia is so beautiful.” He whispered against the sensitive skin of Xie Lian’s neck.
Xie Lian shuddered, “You’re not so bad, yourself.” He said fondly.
“I’m glad dianxia doesn’t find my appearance too revolting.” Hua Cheng teased and nipped lightly at the curve of Xie Lian’s neck.
Feeling the slight pinch of Hua Cheng’s teeth on his skin, Xie Lian’s hips bucked involuntarily and his backside rubbed against Hua Cheng’s hardness. A groan escaped from Hua Cheng’s lips and the smouldering look in his black eye returned in earnest.
“I think it’s time to remove the bottoms now, Gege.” He said.
Without deliberation or waiting for a reply from Xie Lian, Hua Cheng’s long pale fingers began to unlace Xie Lian from his trousers. Feeling Hua Cheng’s hand so close to his very obvious and very sensitive arousal was almost too much for Xie Lian to bear. Then, his erection was free of the restrictions of his clothing, and Hua Cheng’s breathing grew heavier.
“You too, San Lang.” Xie Lian whispered and he began to help Hua Cheng out of his trousers.
He almost could not believe his own boldness as he reached out to Hua Cheng’s firm abdominal muscles and then let his hand drift lower to the hard cock between the ghost king’s legs.
Hua Cheng tipped his head back and moaned as he allowed Xie Lian to explore his body with his hands. The image of Hua Cheng naked and hard with his head back and his long black hair loose and falling about his shoulders was the most erotic thing Xie Lian had ever seen and his own erection burned with desire. Xie Lian had never thought he would touch anyone like this, in fact, the thought had seemed ridiculous before, but because it was his San Lang that he was touching, it no longer seemed ridiculous at all. It was the most arousing thing in the world, and it felt more right than anything he had ever done before.
Hua Cheng was much more well endowed than him, which wasn’t to say that Xie Lian was small, in fact he rather thought that he was proportionate and that such things didn’t really matter, but he could not deny being a little in awe of Hua Cheng’s size. He was beautiful and hard and malleable beneath Xie Lian’s fingers, and was biting his lip in order to restrain himself. Xie Lian realised, not for the first time, that he loved this man. This man was the king of ghost city, he had done countless questionable things, but Hua Cheng was also gentle and patient, and most importantly, Hua Cheng was his. And Xie Lian was Hua Cheng’s.
“Gege…” Hua Cheng panted, “May I tough you, there?”
His single dark eye travelled down Xie Lian’s body to rest on the hardness between his legs.
“Mmn…” Xie Lian moaned his assent.
Hua Cheng’s graceful fingers encircled his already aching arousal which caused Xie Lian to gasp with pleasure he never knew could have existed in this world. He had never in his long life been touched like this, and he was honestly surprised by how good it felt simply to have that part of his body be held by Hua Cheng. But then Hua Cheng’s hand started to move and Xie Lian’s mind went blank and his eyes closed in ecstasy.
After a few moments, in which Xie Lian was completely lost to the pleasure of Hua Cheng’s torment, he whispered, “San Lang… I have never done this before… I’m afraid I won’t last long.”
Hua Cheng kissed the corner of his mouth playfully and said, “Don’t worry, dianxia, there will be plenty of time for us to practice in the future.”
Xie Lian moaned softly and used his own hand to grasp Hua Cheng’s erection. He started to copy his technique and stroked up and down the long hard length of him.
“You’re so hard, San Lang.” Xie Lian panted.
“It’s all because of you. You’re so beautiful, dianxia. I’ve wanted you for so long.” Hua Cheng purred against Xie Lian’s ear.
Hearing such things from Hua Cheng was overwhelming, and it didn’t take long before all the heat and pleasure began pooling inside Xie Lian.
“Ahh! San Lang, I can’t hold it in any longer!” He stammered.
“Don’t hold back, Gege. Come for me now!” Hua Cheng said hoarsely.
Xie Lian’s vision blurred and his whole body convulsed with pleasure as his orgasm ripped through him. He spurted onto Hua Cheng’s chest and abs and then almost immediately afterwards, Hua Cheng was coming into Xie Lian’s hand.
They held each other for a long time afterwards, with Xie Lian still sitting in Hua Cheng’s lap and with his legs wrapped around him. It took a while for his breathing to begin returning to normal, and when it did he also regained the use of rational thought. He realised he must be crushing Hua Cheng in such a position and hastened to get off his lap.
“Sorry, San Lang, your legs must be numb! I’ll get off you now.” He said.
Hua Cheng pulled him back down into his embrace and held him firmly.
“I wouldn’t have you be anywhere else right now.” He murmured into Xie Lian’s ear, which sent shivers down Xie Lian’s spine.
“Fine, then I’ll stay like this for as long as you want me to.” Xie Lian replied happily and nuzzled his head into Hua Cheng’s neck, dotting gentle kisses against his lover’s pale skin.