Chapter Text
Being stuck in a deserted place with no means of help wasn’t exactly an unusual thing for Xie Lian. He had been in this situation and even worse ones far more often than he could count, but something about this exact moment seemed to make him panic worse than ever before.
“The coffin is done, Gege,” said Hua Cheng in a calm voice. “I realize it’s not the most comfortable situation, but it is the safest way to get us out of here.”
Xie Lian was only half focusing on whatever the ghost had said as he was occupied analyzing the very small coffin Hua Cheng had just built. He was grateful that they had something to escape from this nightmare with, but he really could not understand how they would both be able to fit in there.
“It might be a bit crowded though.”
Xie Lian snapped out of his thoughts when he heard those words being uttered. He placed an awkward smile on his face and whispered a quick “no problem” before advancing towards the wooden coffin.
Hua Cheng came up behind him to give a helping hand… literally. He took Xie Lian by the hand and guided his feet to an upright position in the coffin before releasing him and waiting for him to lie down. The brunette crouched slightly and settled himself on his back, waiting for Hua Cheng to come in.
He suddenly felt weight being placed above him and looked up to see the red ghost’s perfect face right above his own. Xie Lian froze as he noticed the other man’s face so close to his and a subtle blush crept on his cheeks.
Hua Cheng turned his head away in order to move the lid on top of them and then it was time for them to drift away in the dangerous waters they didn’t know if they would come out of. They were both silent for quite a few minutes as they listened around to see if anything unusual was happening outside, but no strange sound was heard, just the sound of the waves hitting the enclosed space they were trapped in.
The awkward silence was broken by no other than Hua Cheng.
“Are you okay, Gege? I know it’s not the most comfortable place, but we need to get through this to get out of here.”
“I know, San Lang. Do not worry about this. I am grateful you were able to build such a thing to carry us through the waters.” said Xie Lian with a small smile on his face. Hua Cheng smiled back at him. But that’s when they felt the coffin shake. Hua Cheng tried to keep himself in a relatively upright position, but his arms had failed him from the shaking and he let more of his weight fall on the god beneath him, with a curse. Xie Lian froze for a few seconds at the sudden collision but was yet again reminded that they had been placed in a dangerous situation when the coffin shook again, harder this time.
“Do you know what’s happening, San Lang?” the ghost responded by scrunching his eyebrows.
“A creature is targeting our coffin. I don’t know what it wants though.”
Xie Lian remained silent at the answer and tried to analyze the situation himself. But it seemed like his knowledge of the black, turbulent waters they found themselves in wasn't enough. As he tried to figure out the best escape plan, he was made aware of a slight problem that might have happened to appear during the ride.
No! Xie Lian thought. This can’t be happening at this moment!
Throughout his cultivation, the god was taught how to abstain from any adultery. The problem was that he knew how to do that when it came to women, whereas in the current situation, that was not the case. Therefore, he started noticing that his little problem had grown bigger. If San Lang notices this the sea creature might as well eat me.
“Are you okay, Gege? Your face is getting red. Is it too hot for you in here?” asked San Lang, sincerely. Xie Lian froze when he heard that thick voice floating through the enclosed walls of the coffin and squirmed a bit. The ghost immediately interpreted this as a signal for him to switch his position in order to make the god more comfortable.
He started lowering himself to slide down a bit and give Xie Lian more space to breathe but was stopped by the god almost yelling.
“NO! I’m fine… there is no need for you to move, San Lang.” reassured Xie Lian with an even redder face than before and a much more acute problem that was only getting worse. The ghost gave him a skeptical look but didn't inquire about any further information.
Meanwhile, Xie Lian was still squirming, trying to move as slowly as possible in a new position. He was almost done with his strategy when another shake was brought to the coffin and his whole plan went flying out the window. San Lang fell on top of the god from the movement, and Xie Lian reverted back to his new position. For the ghost to keep his weight to myself, he placed his knee right in between Xie Lian’s legs, making this position even more intense.
Hua Cheng froze. He was sure whatever he was feeling must have been his imagination. He couldn’t even begin to imagine what honor he must have done to witness such a thing. Xie Lian’s face turned the deepest shade of red possible, as he noticed that Hua Cheng must have known what was going on
“San Lang…” started saying Xie Lian.
“Be quiet for a second, Gege. I think I heard something outside.” Hua Cheng most graciously tried to avoid the topic of the conversation, while he also believed he had actually heard something outside. Both men’s harsh breathing could be heard inside the tight space, with no room to escape from the problem at hand... Well, both of the problems.
Boom!
Suddenly, the coffin they resided in was pushed with brute force and flew across the water, making both men tumble and turn uncomfortably, especially Xie Lian. It seemed that whatever creature was targeting their coffin was really keen on it.
As the coffin started slowing down, Xie Lian noticed something cold touching his legs. It only took a few seconds to realize that water was seeping into the tightly shut coffin. It’s smashed in one part. The god thought. Hua Cheng also made a surprising face as he realized what was happening.
“This shouldn’t have happened.” said the ghost, while also trying to think of a plan. Both men knew they didn’t have much time to assess the situation and see what they should do.
“San Lang, we need to get out.” said Xie Lian. He didn’t actually know how he was about to do that, but he knew he needed to. The icy water kept sweeping into the coffin, but both men were too hot from the adrenaline of the moment to feel the sensation
“I’m going to open the lid, Gege. When I am finished, I need you to take my hand. Hold your breath when I give you the sign.” Xie Lian nodded calmly, having realized that it was the best plan they had in this situation. Hua Cheng looked up at the lid and then at the crack in the coffin and with a determined look on his face he put his hand up and pushed the lid slightly.
More water came in the coffin, filling it up to a half. The ghost gave Xie Lian a quick signal and the god took a big breath before holding it, just as the water started reaching his face. Hua Cheng pushed the lid fully open and they were out in the dark waters.
The water was cold, but both men couldn’t have cared less. They started swimming upwards, not looking down, as the endless darkness they would see would definitely pull them back in. Xie Lian felt his chest constrict from the lack of oxygen but pushed that thought aside. His vision started to get blurry until all he could see before him was the black water and a patch of red, like some kind of hope.
His arms kept flailing around in order to try and keep up the pace with his partner, but it was to no avail as the red figure swam faster and faster towards the surface. Xie Lian closed his eyes and waited for something to happen to him, something bad as his luck went, but there was only silence.
Suddenly, he felt something grabbing him by the waist forcefully. This is the end , he thought. But no pain came after the initial grab. Furthermore, he felt a small rock being lifted off his heart as he could take a small breath of oxygen.
The god opened his eyes slowly only for them to be met with bright red ones. Xie Lian was confused for a second before the oxygen to his brain finally caught up with the situation. It seemed like Hua Cheng had come back for him and was now filling him with oxygen… wait but how?!
Xie Lian’s eyes went wide as he realized that his lips were firmly molded against the ghost’s. If they hadn’t been in a critical situation, he might have taken the time to enjoy the plumb feel of Hua Cheng’s lips. But as their situation had been given, he couldn’t exactly be thinking like that. Something warm was making its way down to his toes, and before he realized it, a surge of spiritual power flew through him.
With his strength partially restored thanks to Hua Cheng, he started swimming up to the surface in order to get out of there as fast as possible. Both men had tried their hardest to keep their breath in, but it seemed like the ghost had barely managed to make it to the shore.
Once their head broke out of the water, Xie Lian took in a big breath of air. His lungs were burning horribly and if it hadn’t been for the ghost beside him, he wouldn’t have been able to make it. Speaking of the ghost…. Uh? As the god looked around him in the water he couldn't see Hua Cheng anywhere.
“San Lang? Where are you?” No response.
“San Lang?” Xie Lian wasn’t one to panic before knowing all the facts, so he looked around and saw a small piece of land, covered with sand, just a few feet before him. He started swimming towards there, putting his last forces in. The water seemed to want to pull him back in but Xie Lian wouldn't give up so easily.
Upon reaching the sand-covered land, he let out a loud breath of relief but then remembered that Hua Cheng wasn’t with him and started frantically looking for him again. He searched left and right but couldn’t find anything remotely resembling the ghost, until a red splotch appeared on the shore, out of the water.
The god rushed forward and pulled Hua Cheng out of the water, carrying him toward the middle of the small island.
“San Lang! Can you hear me?” Xie Lian lowered his head to notice if the ghost was breathing or not, but to his horror, no air had left his mouth. Xie Lian’s breath hitched as he thought of what he could do. When he got the answer, his whole face went red with embarrassment but there was no time to waste.
Xie Lian looked at the handsome, perfectly sculpted face underneath him and brought his lips down to those red ones, starting the mouth-to-mouth technique… although he didn’t need to do it for too long.
Hua Cheng’s eyes snapped open upon the intrusion of air in his lungs, which Xie Lian realized, mortified, he didn’t need… since he was a ghost. No! Gods, just please take me now. The god thought.
Hua Cheng stared in disbelief at Xie Lian, not quite understanding what blessing had just been bestowed upon him. The god’s face was red as a beetroot, still not believing what he had done. What was in your head?! Did it hit the coffin too many times?!
Both men’s breathing became ragged as reality set in. The first one to break the silence was Hua Cheng.
“Gege… “
“I’m so sorry, San Lang! I-I don’t know what I was thinking. I just saw you laying there and d-didn’t think things through before doing something rash!”
Hua Cheng’s mouth flew open. Xie Lian was worried about me?! The ghost really couldn’t believe it. It was like a dream come true.
“Don’t worry about it, Gege! I appreciate you trying to save me!” Hua Cheng replied with a smile on his face, while Xie Lian’s face remained red. Although his expression wasn’t the biggest concern of his at the moment. It seemed like the problem he had experienced in the coffin had been brought back up (literally). If it weren’t for his loose robes, Xie Lian might have had the horrifying opportunity of explaining what happened to the man staring at him from the ground.
Xie Lian quickly scrambled away from the ghost, just as he was getting up, making Hua Cheng give him a confused look.
“Is something wrong, Gege?”