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chisie12 · 5 years

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Friends and Butterflies, An After Ending - Part 3

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/20490521/chapters/48755918 Uh, domestic bliss again? Cause the chapter i had for ‘language of flowers’ just got too long At least it’s day 4 now and it’s actually the right prompt time ovo;;

~~*~~*~~ Life… was truly, oddly fulfilling at the moment.

It was like their calm spring of Heavenly Waterfall rippled, the peace disturbed. The original habitants, the pair of red fox and white mink, sneaked out of the berry shrubs to bask under the sun, deftly ignoring the idiotic cat and dog fighting in the background as two smaller bunnies nervously hopped around them. A pair of butterfly koi, coloured yin and yang, dipped back into the water when the pair of cat and dog started hissing and yowling from the trees. What used to be a bubble with just the two of them, somehow overnight, the newlyweds became a family of four, even if their children weren’t theirs by blood, while being surrounded by… more relatives related by blood.

Life… was odd. Yeah.

And chaotic. ~~*~~*~~

Day 1: Becoming part of the Hua family

The next morning after their midnight adventure, Hua Cheng woke up to someone warm closely snuggled under his arm. He was comfortably curled and pressed against his body like a snug pet, as though Hua Cheng’s body and arm was his personal nest of a safe haven. His slender leg was wrapped around one of the demon’s own one, arms neatly tucked by his chest with fingers brushing close to his pink, parted lips.

There was something special about waking up next to someone you love. Something about sharing blankets and body heat, listening to the steady breathing of their slumber that’ll bring comfort to your mind just by simply being next to them, to bare your soul in the darkness and to submit yourself to vulnerability.

Hua Cheng stroked the soft chocolate coloured hair with a brush of his fingers, tracing the sides of his cheek as he stared at the thick long eyelashes, the smooth skin of his face… his lips…

Leaning down, he pressed a quick kiss onto his forehead and slipped out of the bed whilst being careful not to wake – he smiled at the thought– his husband, Xie Lian. With a soft groan, the man’s arm reached out and he quickly settled his pillow near his fingers, who immediately latched onto the cotton and snuggled against it. He watched the sleeping man breathe in his scent on the pillow before leaving the room with a loving smile.

And then he found his sons up bright and early a few short moments before sunrise.

“It’s quite early to be awake,” he commented when he saw them sitting by the front porch’s steps.

“Good morning,” the twins echoed.

“Where’s Crown Prince Xian Le?” Huang Qing later asked.

Hua Cheng smiled sheepishly. “That… he’s still in bed. He worked hard yesterday.”

Huang Qing rolled his eyes. “That little bit of work and he’s tired?”

Hua Cheng nodded his head wordlessly, thinking, ‘Yeah. He worked really hard in bed.’

Why wouldn’t he? They just got married and haven’t even had their honeymoon yet!

Huang Shao blinked, pouting at being lost. “Ba ba, I don’t understand. What work?”

His older brother turned towards him and patted his head comfortingly. “It’s alright. Just some adult stuff.”

Huang Shao huffed but left it be.

Hua Cheng watched the boys watch the sunrise, the wisps of orange brightening into a blazing yellow that shone on their faces. Both were really identical, except for the bloodless countenance that Huang Qing had in comparison to Huang Shao’s pink flush. After their small adventure last night, Hua Cheng had immediately helped Huang Qing attain a physical body upon their return (thus joining his husband in bed when it was very late!) and he could clearly see the contentment in those eyes, so contagious that he was bubbling over with pride and joy too.

“We’re usually awake quite early,” Huang Qing suddenly spoke up, his voice wistful and distant, gaze dropping from the sunrise and onto the elongating shadows. “By now, we would be cutting bamboo to bring back for… pa.” His voice grew soft, melancholic, and he felt a large hand rested on his head. He closed his eyes and leaned into the touch, feeling the slight relief the sensation brought, washing away the bitterness ever so slightly. It was the first time someone (he cared) could actually touch him ever since that day. “Pa always had us go before sunrise, so we wouldn’t get burnt by the sun.”

Hua Cheng hummed in acknowledgement and they spent some moments in silence before he spoke up, “Let’s get you boys some breakfast.”

“Sweet potato porridge!” Huang Shao exclaimed right away when he jumped to his feet.

“You can’t always live off that,” Hua Cheng and Huang Qing lightly scolded. They each shared a glance and laughed.

“Why not? It is good for my tummy, keeps me full and gives me energy! It’s perfect!”

~~*~~*~~

Day 6: It’s not for you, San Lang.

Blood oozed out of his finger, a bead of red striking a beautiful contrast to the white cloth. With a sigh, Xie Lian hurriedly unwrapped the white strip of cloth around his finger and applied more medicine, his skin turning even yellower from the copious amount already added before wrapping it once more.

Picking up the threaded needle, he gingerly held the cut cotton cloth of a soft brown colour and poked the needle through.

He eventually managed to sew the two pieces together after a long while, fatigue already swelling in his bones. Hua Cheng stood by the door of the study. He saw the brown and white cotton fabric piled up on the table before his husband with the vials of medicine and cotton strips on the side table next to him.

“Ge ge,” he sang, catching the man’s attention, only to cause him to yelp as he pricked his finger again.

“What’s up, San Lang? Do you need me for something?” Xie Lian asked, looking at Hua Cheng while he applied the medicine yet again. With how skilful he was with a sword, one would think he would be able to avoid pricking and slicing his finger while sewing. No one probably got hurt as much as he did!

“Are you making something?”

“Yeah, it’s a surprise!”

“For me?” Hua Cheng teased.

But Xie Lian shook his head. “No, not for you.”

The demon pouted, crossing his arms over his chest. “Why not? I want something that ge ge made too.”

Xie Lian chuckled and turned back to the fabric. “Your best present is already having me as a husband. Now hurry and see if the boys are okay!”

With a tender smile on his face and a blissful gleam in his gaze, he silently and wordlessly turned around, leaving his husband to his surprise. Even if he couldn’t see it, he could easily tell that the man was furiously blushing, a delicious red of an apple avoiding to be devoured on the spot.

Well, he couldn’t deny. Being Xie Lian’s husband was the best present after all.

~~*~~*~~

Day 21: Do you (not) like Xie Lian?

“Qing-ge ah, do you not like Xie Lian ba ba?”

Huang Qing continued walking around the garden with his brother following behind. “Who said I didn’t?”

“But Qing-ge, you don’t talk to Xie Lian ba ba like Hua Cheng ba ba. You don’t call him ba, always Crown Prince Xian Le!” Huang Shao tightly gripped onto his brother’s hand as he leaped onto a garden rock half his height. “Xie Lian ba ba is very nice. He is always smiling and very kind. He always makes us lunch too!”

“That we can’t eat,” Huang Qing huffed with a roll of his eyes as he held his other arm up just in case his brother lost his footing.

“At least he tries!” Huang Shao pouted, carefully turning on the rock so he could face his brother, the hand still in his. “He’s not a good cook like Hua Cheng ba ba, but I can see that he really cares about us!”

“Mm,” Huang Qing neither denied nor agreed.

“Do you not like Xie Lian ba ba because of the prayer?” Tiptoeing on the rock, Huang Shao continued light-heartedly, “A-Shao heard about it. But I think he tried his best.” There was a short pause when he dropped back onto his heels, his voice equally falling. “A-Shao thinks that… even if Xie Lian ba ba helped us earlier, pa would still become a ghost.”

He hopped off the rock with a light huff, Huang Qing’s arms easily catching onto his brother to steady his footing. Compared to a little under a month ago, Huang Shao looked healthier and fuller, though he was still smaller than most kids his age.

“What do you mean?” Huang Qing asked.

“When Qing-ge… left, the old man and his son started beating us even more. Sometimes pa would be bleeding for days and A-Shao cannot move his arms.”

The sharp tug at his arm caused him to turn back, startled at the glowering expression Huang Qing had. “Did they break your arms, A-di?”

Huang Shao nodded naively, unperturbed at the sullen behaviour, “Yeah, they did. Why?”

A growl rumbled in his throat, anger rising to his head. Those evil, stupid, mean – !

“Qing-ge ah, don’t be angry. Did A-Shao make you angry? A-Shao didn’t mean to…”

Huang Qing forced to calm himself at hearing the pleading tone in his brother’s voice, his heart breaking a little. “No, no. I’m not angry at you, A-di. I’m just sad.”

Those words brightened up Huang Shao’s expression, relieved. “A-Shao is happy then. It’s already in the past. Isn’t it better now? We get good food to eat! A big garden to play in and our uncles are all so nice. So, please don’t be sad!”

“Mm, yeah,” Huang Qing said with a small smile as they walked around QianDeng Temple. As they neared the back-temple garden, they heard the rustling of dried leaves being swept, the curiosity rising. Slowing down, they peeked out from the corner and then blinked at the same time.

There he was, smiling under the shade with white sleeves rolled up and a rake in hand. Dried leaves were gradually swept into a growing pile by the side and when he was done, he bent down to clean Old Man Huang’s grave before setting a fresh plate of fruits down and then lighting the incense for him.

“You know… he does this every day,” came a voice behind them.

Startled, the twins spun around to see Hua Cheng standing there with hands clasped behind his back and smiling warmly at them.

They turned back to watching Xie Lian walk away with the rags and pail of water. That’s when they realised who the person that had been diligently cleaning and changing their father’s offerings every day was when they went to pay their respects.

~~*~~*~~

Day 30: Uncles! …? …Can I be jealous?

“Ba ba, can we get this?”

“A-Shao, that’s for a woman.”

“I’ll have to agree with Crown Prince Xian Le, A-di. Why do you want to get that?”

“Oh, oh! Qing-ge doesn’t know it yet! But, but, on Xie Lian ba ba’s and Hua Cheng ba ba’s wedding, there was this one Heavenly ge ge that could transform!” Huang Shao eagerly explained.

Xie Lian: ‘…we all kind of can though, son.’

“And at the dinner, I think he was arguing with another ge ge. He smelled like fish! And suddenly, that Heavenly ge ge transformed into a very pretty jie jie!!”

Xie Lian: ‘…why didn’t I know this happened during the banquet?’

“She had silver hair and it was bright and shimmering, like the gold foils ba ba got for us to play! And so tall! Then I asked the uncle next to me if I could switch places with him so I can sit next to her. He was a very kind uncle!”

Xie Lian while forcing to keep the smile on his face: ‘…Mu Qing, if you dared seduce my son…’

“Uncle? Did you call me?”

The family turned around towards the voice. Xie Lian was surprised to see them in Ghost City!

“Ba ba, Qing-ge! It’s the Heavenly ge ge and the kind uncle!” Huang Shao exclaimed, his face darting back and forth between the people and his family.

“Feng Xin? Mu Qing? Why are you here?” Xie Lian asked with a wry grin.

The pair of generals looked down at the two boys who each held Xie Lian’s hands, confusion painting their features. “When did you have children? Doesn’t it take around nine months before you pop one? But you have two?”

“What is he talking about?” Huang Qing pointedly asked a flustered Xie Lian who was spluttering at Feng Xin for the question.

“Nothing!” Xie Lian’s face turned a deeper shade as he answered his older son’s question before turning to his old bodyguard, “And they’re adopted! Twins!”

Huang Shao took this cue to step forward, one hand still in Xie Lian’s, and he smiled sweetly at Mu Qing as he waved with his free hand. “Heavenly ge ge! Hi! Do you remember A-Shao?”

Mu Qing glanced down onto the grinning boy. “Ah! The little boy from the banquet! How are you?” he asked as he crouched down, a smile stealing the spotlight on his lips.

The boy was overjoyed at being remembered by the general, buzzing around like an excited bunny that couldn’t run amok. “Heavenly ge ge! What’s your name? I’m A-Shao!”

A soft chuckle escaped. “A-Shao can call me Qing-ge if you like!”

“Eh?” Huang Shao tilted his head with a frown. “But that’s my ge ge’s name!”

Mu Qing turned towards the other boy “You’re also named ‘Qing’?”

Huang Qing nodded and replied tautly, “Surname Huang, Huang Qing. Nice to meet you.”

The man narrowed his eyes at the different treatment compared to his younger brother, but his attention was soon stolen again by a soft-spoken, shy voice.

“Can… I call you Qing-jie?”

Everything around him seemed to freeze, the bustling excitement around Ghost City and Feng Xin’s conversation with Xie Lian dimming in his ears. Qing…jie? His mind wanted to scream, to roll his eyes at such an idiotic, naïve yet adorable request because why would he want to be referred to as a female when he was a man!?

Yet, his heart already spoke before his mind could send its orders: “Sure. You may call me Qing-jie.”

He should have raged, at least get angry, but the merry cheer from the boy warmed his heart, his innocence contagious as he felt his lips curve higher. Turning towards the other boy, he offered the same and surprisingly, he agreed easily. Then he felt a small hand tug at his, catching his attention once more.

“Qing-jie! Do you like this?” Huang Shao asked, pointing towards the woman’s robe he saw before. Silk dyed a plain deep black, soft to the touch with a pleasant caress, trimmed in silver that shimmered identical to his own hair, Mu Qing felt his heartstrings tug at the old familiar feeling of warmth coursing through his veins; of when children he looked after before he ascended would try to present him things or cheer him up, make him laugh and smile without a care for his background or identity – that all they wanted was just a friend to play with.

With a low hum, Mu Qing found himself nodding. “Mm, I do. It’s very lovely. You have good tastes.”

Feng Xin and Xie Lian watched agape by the sides, contrasting thoughts flying over their head.

Feng Xin: ‘What the actual fuck? Is this still Mu Qing? Who the hell possessed this guy!? He was never gentle like this with me!’

Xie Lian: ‘…Mu Qing… stop… seducing… my son. Please.’

Xie Lian continued to lament at the ordeal, confused and torn at the turn of events. Should he be happy? Or should he be angry? Did Huang Shao truly understand what it means to like someone? Should he separate the two? But what if it wasn’t the type of love he was thinking about?

Ahhh, this was all too confusing for him!

He never even loved someone until Hua Cheng came into his life.

…Should he tell Hua Cheng?

“Ba ba, do you think you can buy for Qing-jie?”

Huang Shao’s question pulled him out of his thoughts. Xie Lian’s smile twitched. Did he hear right?

‘This ba ba of yours is poor, okay! Ba is the one with money!’ Xie Lian howled regrettably in his mind.

Catching his old employer’s expression, Mu Qing hurriedly added, “A-Shao ah, even though I think it’s nice, I have too many clothes. It will be a waste to buy for me. You should keep the money for yourself! Tell… your… ba ba to buy some new clothes for you!”

“Oh…” Huang Shao’s mouth fell open into an ‘O’ as he considered Mu Qing’s words. Looking at his brother, he asked, “Qing-ge, do you want any new clothes?”

Huang Qing shook his head. “I think we have enough.”

Turning back to Mu Qing, Huang Shao happily said, “It’s okay, Qing-jie! Qing-ge said we have enough clothes. So, A-Shao thinks it’s best to just save for the future!”

Ruffling the boy’s hair, Mu Qing praised him for being a good boy and stood up. When he looked back at Feng Xin, the smile disappeared without a trace and he rolled his eyes at the dumbstruck man. “What? What’s wrong with you?”

“The hell –”

“Don’t curse in front of the children!”

Feng Xin jumped at the four different voices booming in his ears. Xie Lian and Mu Qing he knew, but there were clearly two more than he didn’t recognise!

“Have you no shame!” One of the two voices reprimanded, swatting at his arm with a folded fan.

“Ah! It’s the man that smelled like fish!”

He Xuan and Shi Qing Xuan turned their attention towards the voice, the former pursing his lips into a straight line while the latter grinned and crouched down.

“Aiya! Such a cute boy! Do you remember who this ge ge is?”

Huang Shao blinked and nodded his head immediately. “Of course, I do. You sat next to Fish-ge!”

Shi Qing Xuan laughed heartily when he heard He Xuan’s nickname, the sound calming like a warm summer wave in the demon’s heart. “That’s right! My name is Shi Qing Xuan and Fish-ge is… you can still call him Fish-ge and call me Feng-ge if you’d like? It might be too confusing since we both have ‘Xuan’ in our names.”

Huang Shao blinked twice. “Why ‘Feng-ge’?”

Shi Qing Xuan winked and waved his fan open with a flick of his wrist, covering half his face behind the paper and mysteriously said, “Because I used to be the Wind God.”

With his hair combed and elegantly tied at the back, and his face flushed a healthy pink while wearing beautiful robes of a light blue colour, it was really as though the former Wind God had reappeared to grace them with his presence.

Huang Shao oh-ed at the thought, wholeheartedly believing the man. “Okay! I’ll call you Feng-ge then!” After that, he quickly turned back to his silent twin brother and introduced, “This is my brother, Qing-ge! Qing-ge, these are the ge ge and uncle I met during ba ba’s banquet!”

Huang Qing mirrored his action, warily watching the strangers that stood before him and his family. Subconsciously, he gripped Xie Lian’s tighter and scooted all that little bit closer to the man. He knew none of them and even if his brother was friendly with them, he was technically friendly to everyone!

Xie Lian kept his attention on Huang Shao, watching him interact freely with the three men and one demon. His youngest son was such a sweet talker, calling these men who were centuries older than him ‘brother’! (With the exception of Feng Xin, of course.)

However, his heart was internally sobbing at Huang Qing’s actions, whether it was from being relied upon or that it was his son being uncomfortable, he felt an unbearable ache beat.

“Why are all of you visiting Ghost City?” Xie Lian asked at last.

“We thought we should visit,” Feng Xin replied when Mu Qing scoffed and looked away. “See how your married life is.”

Seeing Mu Qing’s displeased expression, Feng Xin felt the cuss words dancing on the tip of his tongue, laughing at his discomfort and self-suppression. ‘I had to drag you here and you look like that! Ugh. You clearly enjoyed being with the kid!’

Shi Qing Xuan tapped his lips with his fan, an arm crossed over his chest as he held his other elbow. “Well, He-xiong got really hungry and I kind of ran out of food. So, we thought we could come here for some food?”

Xie Lian sighed. Seeing Huang Shao’s expectant and hopeful puppy dog eyes, he felt a certain bitterness churn deep in his stomach. Should he – could he – be jealous of these people stealing his son’s attention away!? It was supposed to be a family shopping trip!

Not a ‘treat-us-please’ trip or an ‘entertain-me’ trip!

Yet, when he refocused onto Huang Shao’s suddenly teary eyed, pouty expression, his defences immediately crumbled into dust.

He sighed.

“Then, I suppose we should all go have some dinner? I’ll call for San Lang to join us.”

~~*~~*~~

Day 43: To study or to train?

A resigned sigh echoed in the empty hall.

Another sigh echoed beside him.

“Bored?” Xie Lian asked, having walked into the main hall when he heard his sons sigh. He could understand them though. Other than the usual toys they were gifted by Hua Cheng and his uncles, the boys didn’t really have other children their age to play with.

And Xie Lian would bless to the Heavens when his boys didn’t go out to play with the ghosts. They wreaked havoc no matter where they went! Outside of Ghost City! Ever since the group of four entered his sons’ lives, he realised his life has been more chaotic than ever!

Overturned stalls, broken furniture, expert level hide and seek!

Of course, they’d behave when Hua Cheng was around. Little demons, just like their father.

(Adorable little demons though.)

“Yeah, we’re bored, Crown Prince Xian Le,” Huang Qing flatly said with his face cradled in his hands, his elbows resting on his knees as they sat on the steps near the black jade futon.

“Do you have any new toys for us to play with, ba ba?” Huang Shao asked with a pout.

“Did I hear toys?” Hua Cheng’s head peeked out from the doorway, grinning at his family.

“Do you have any, ba?” the twins perked up.

The hall experienced its third sigh when Xie Lian thought about his circumstances. He’d always hear them call Hua Cheng ‘ba’, yet only Huang Shao would call him ‘ba ba’ (the slight difference was what the boy decided on not long ago because ‘Xie Lian ba ba’ and ‘Hua Cheng ba ba’ was too much of a mouthful to say when they’re in the same room). Huang Qing… was still… cold. Nor even an ounce of warmth.

Sigh.

Hua Cheng waved for them to come over and Xie Lian watched then obediently listen. He heard faint murmurings, simply inaudible for him to make out the words and curiousity spiked. What could his husband give that was so secretive? He saw the bright smiles blooming on their youthful faces, excitement gleaming in their eyes.

And so, he walked over, proud yet curiously happy.

…

“San Lang!!”

All three of them jumped at the scream. They slowly looked at Xie Lian who was clutching at the doorframe, aghast and pale at the sight of gleaming silver in the light.

Huang Qing glared at his reaction, his hand tightening at the gift his father just gave. Was Xie Lian going to berate them and take their new toys away? They were awesome and practical! He loved it! “Crown Prince –”

“Does Xie Lian ba ba not like it?” Huang Shao’s face fell and quickly interjected.

Hua Cheng’s grin widened, “I think it’s a good gift!”

However, ignoring his sons, he turned a fierce expression onto Hua Cheng. “You can’t just give it to them like this! Teach them how to hold it properly!”

Both boys were stunned, blinking in confusion. Huh?

Seeing their expressions, Hua Cheng chuckled and patted them each on their heads, undisturbed by Xie Lian’s scolding. “Your ba ba is a martial god, remember? He specialises especially in swords. In fact, he loves swords.”

“Loves them more than ba?” Huang Shao tilted his head back to glance at his father.

“No,” Hua Cheng’s smile was pulled tight. “He better not.”

“Oh, shush.” Xie Lian stepped forward and took the scabbards from Hua Cheng. Knowing him, he must have simply told the children to pull out the swords and play with them. Seven-year-old boys! With real and sharp, polished swords! San Lang ah! Please be more careful!

Xie Lian carefully put the swords back into their respective scabbards. “Do you want to train on how to use a sword?”

There was eager excitement on their faces, even Huang Qing who normally scowled or flatly stared at him kept nodding his head.

“Or do you want to study and learn how to read?”

At that question, the boys’ expressions fell, dark and gloomy. “No, I want to train,” they flatly said simultaneously.

“San Lang ba ba would be teaching you how to read and write,” a grin jumped onto Xie Lian’s lips as Hua Cheng’s fell, “It’ll be good practice for all of you!”

“The best swordsman is a person who’s also refined in literature,” Xie Lian added when all three of them continued to gloomily look at him.

As though he was the most boring person in the world.

…

“Fine! Sword practice first then writing!”

Everyone cheered at the good news.

It was worth a shot. Sigh.

“San Lang, you’re practicing too.”

“But ge ge,” a seductive whisper suddenly breathed against his ear when the boys turned to run towards the garden, “As long as yours is beautiful, it doesn’t matter if mine is ugly.”

“Your sons might not feel the same,” he casually commented while removing the (although welcomed) hand on his ass. “We’ve got to train the –”

Lips dove down to devour his words and a tongue slid out to immediately assert its dominance. A moan quickly escaped his lips when an arm curled around his waist and pulled him in deeper, sending his mind into a lust-filled haze. Yet, before he could delve deeper into the warmth, it pulled away as quick as lightning.

“Nope, gotta wait for tonight, ge ge,” Hua Cheng chuckled and playfully ran towards the garden.

Xie Lian’s chest heaved up and down, his breathing ragged partly from shock and partly from the brief pleasure. Just what…? When his mind finally registered the situation, an embarrassed flush climbed onto his cheeks.

“San Lang!!”

~~*~~*~~

Day 50: You sure you didn’t take the pill?

It was only a week since the training began, but it was merely surprises after surprises.

Drenched in sweat, heavy pants, smooth skin turning callous bit by bit, but not once was there ever a complaint. The sun would blaze, burn as spring passed and summer came to life. Hot winds blew, but they carried on.

Each slash, each swing, each step forward and in retreat; repetitive, dull. But their movements were swift, filled with all the power their little bodies could muster even if all they held was a wooden sword.

“It’s definitely in the genes.”

With an eyebrow raised, Xie Lian glanced over to his husband who was leisurely biting into a plum and said questioningly, “But they’re… adopted?”

Hua Cheng watched the boys closely, taking another bite of his fruit and nonchalantly asked back, “Are you sure, ge ge? Did you secretly take a child-bearing pill? They have your eyes.”

Even if it was a joke, a casual remark made offhandedly, Xie Lian’s jaw dropped. His mind blanked at that moment, all praises for his sons dispersing like the hot summer winds, while dreadful panic was exploding at the accusation. Incoherent words spilled from his mouth, jumbling and tripping over themselves, but everything was a mess in him! Just how – just what – when – did he do something wrong!?

Hua Cheng stared at him in bafflement.

“What’s wrong?”

“San Lang! I didn’t! There’s no way! I wouldn’t – there’s only you! I just – I only… with you…”

Xie Lian’s voice eventually died in his throat, his head dropped low as he rubbed his arms for the slightest amount of comfort. He bit into his bottom lip, warmth pooling in his eyes. Was there a reason for Hua Cheng to say that? Did he not trust him? They were already married but, but… oh my God.

The thought itself sent a thousand blades to pierce his heart, a pain worse than watching Hua Cheng disappear while in his arms. The agony of realising, thinking that your love, despite surviving through hurdles and obstacles, didn’t trust you…

No, he didn’t want to think about it further.

“Ge ge, your highness,” Hua Cheng had called out softly when everything fell into a heavy silence, almost to the point of suffocation. Xie Lian didn’t respond.

Did he say something wrong? He gently tugged at Xie Lian’s arm but the man simply shook his head wordlessly. What did he say wrong?

“My love…” he called again, “My husband…”

“Hubby?” he finally tried.

Xie Lian instantly perked up at the term of endearment, worried and distraught, panic thinking to himself: ‘Hua Cheng never calls me that.’

Hua Cheng had felt relieved when Xie Lian responded, only for his expression to fall when he noticed the paling countenance of his husband. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you like that. I was only joking! Ge ge, slowly, breathe,” he could only say gently as a hand worriedly holds Xie Lian’s arm. “In… and out. Yes, that’s it. Slowly.”

Xie Lian’s chest heaved with Hua Cheng’s words, his gaze blank and mind filled with only the heavy pants of his breathing.

“Are you bullying him again, ba?” Huang Shao piped up when the twins noticed the abnormality, their training disrupted.

Huang Qing nodded his head in consensus, resting the tip of his practice sword in the grass, and added unhelpfully, “Must have been quite mean.” But he was frowning rather deeply, an inexplicable turmoil rolling in his gaze.

Hua Cheng’s expression fell further after hearing their words. He stayed quiet and continued to try calm his husband. Just what did he say to make him panic this bad?

However, a smaller figure had already walked up towards Xie Lian, one hand still gripping onto his practice sword and the other lifting to tug at the panic-stricken man. “Ma, can you teach me how to lunge properly? A-Qing thinks he’s still not doing it right.”

Xie Lian blinked, a new habit he picked from his sons. Ma? That was a new term he’s never been called before – wait. Ma?

His vision refocused, the blades of grass sharpening in his sight and feeling the warm, sticky humid air breathe at his face. There was a small, pale hand tugging onto his rolled-up sleeves. Wearing training robes equally plain and white like his, beautiful locks of hair sticking to his damp face (from such humid weather), there Huang Qing stood with a serious expression; As if he said nothing out of the ordinary, as if everything was perfectly normal.

“Did you hear what I said, ma?” Huang Qing rolled his eyes.

…he’s been hanging out with Mu Qing far too much.

Still, Xie Lian nodded his head and smiled so bright. Ma! ‘A-Qing called me ‘ma!’’ It was no longer that annoying title ‘Crown Prince Xian Le’! Who’d want his son to call him that anyway!

If ‘ma’ it is, then ‘ma’ it will be!!

“Which part do you think you’re weak at? Come and show ma.”

Hua Cheng remained frozen on the spot as his husband’s arm slipped out of his fingers, walking away without even a glance back. His hand felt colder than usual, his heart suddenly empty with a gaping hole. Small flowers seemed to bloom around the grinning Xie Lian while he worked on Huang Qing’s form, seeing what was actually weak and repeatedly demonstrated it for their oldest son.

Huang Shao tilted his head to the right and watched his stock-still father continue being a statue. Seeing the half eaten plum in Hua Cheng’s pale hand slipping, he quickly grabbed it with the swipe of his hand and bit down into the fruit.

“What did ba say to ma?” Huang Shao asked as he chewed onto the fruit, immediately adopting his brother’s way of referring to their always-smiling, affable father.

Hua Cheng was still shocked, his gaze dropping to look at his empty palm, the one that allowed Xie Lian to slip away. That… was the first time Xie Lian ever voluntarily left him in such a situation. “I… I… was just joking?”

Huang Shao remained quiet as he waited, the plum gradually being consumed the only sound in the silence.

“I was just joking that… ma must have given birth to you two,” Hua Cheng finally squeezed out, his eyes closing in pain as he clenched his palm, “Because A-Qing and A-Shao are quite skilled with a sword even though you’re only 7 years old, and the both of you have eyes the same as ma. S-So… I just…”

Even he was not expecting his bubbly son to frown at him, the plum now finished. “Wow, ba. That is quite mean…”

Even he thought so!? It was just a joke!

Seeing his father’s growing distress, pale face turning even paler, Huang Shao pouted and pointed out, “Ma only loves you. A-Shao and Qing-ge know he loves you very much, and ba and ma just got married. If he gave birth to us, it means that we must be his sons by blood, right?” His voice was lilt, jumping high at the last word as he played with the thoughts. “But that would mean ma loved someone else before you! But ma said she only ever loved one person!”

Hua Cheng was startled at the declaration, the fear and panic receding like the tide. When did they –?

“And it’s very mean too because what about my pa!” Huang Shao huffed, making a face at Hua Cheng of unhappy bared canines on a scrunched-up face before running back toward his brother and Xie Lian, who happily opened his arms and allowed him to dive into the embrace.

The demon remained standing by the tree, head lowered and arms limp, yet his muscles felt tense, like a wooden puppet that’s been left hanging without its puppeteer, unable to move and unable to act, with only the thoughts a violent whirl in his mind as his only companion. He tried to organise the chaos in his mind, to sort them out one by one, but the words continued to jumble and bite at each other.

His head throbbed in pain.

…

That night, Xie Lian reluctantly stepped into their room, the darkness consuming his figure whole. His heart jumped to his throat, suffocating and panicking when his fingers finally slid the door close. After the training, the twins had immediately brought him to their favourite stall in Ghost City, distracting him with the good mortal food and fighting to pay for his meal with the savings they’ve managed to save up.

All the while Hua Cheng silently followed behind like a shadow.

“Ge ge…?”

Xie Lian fought to calm his nerves at the slight startle that shocked his body. He slowly turned on his heel, his gaze moving from the shut door and towards the bed where a figure sat with his back slumped.

“G-Ge ge?” Hua Cheng called again, the fear creeping its way into his voice he tried to steady but a force was stuck in his throat, its weight heavy and burdensome. He wanted to move, to walk towards his husband but his feet didn’t listen, glued to the floor as though it was lead weighing thousands of kilograms.

“San Lang…” Xie Lian whispered, his voice a frightened whisper. Now that they were alone in the dark, the thoughts that had been repressed came gushing out like a tidal wave, engulfing his mind mercilessly. His feet quietly padded across the room, his throat bobbing as he gulped the lump hitched there.

Did Hua Cheng really not trust him subconsciously? Which was why he made that comment? That his husband felt a repressed fear with thinking he might have past histories with other men!?

Hua Cheng’s masculine scent wafted into his nose when his feet paused by the bedside, their knees a mere few inches away. The distance felt so close, yet so far to the married couple.

‘If only I just reached my hand out…’ they thought simultaneously, an ache in their hearts begging to be held, to feel the warmth of the other person’s love chasing the dark thoughts away.

But no one made a move.

Xie Lian stood there, unmoving with his head held low, his hair falling to curtain his unreadable expression.

Hua Cheng sat there, staring up at this husband with an anguish in his gaze, wishing, screaming, he could move.

Time congealed around them, the darkness suffocating and warping around their bodies when the candlelight flickered. They both hoped someone would make the first move, yet a restraining fear locked their limbs, their voices.

A wave of anguish rose within Xie Lian the longer he waited but his husband was like the corpse, equally still like the dead. The more one hoped, the bigger the disappointment, after all. The emotion rose, crawled up his heart and to his mind, washing everything with a feeling of heartache that pulsed dull and painful. Why wouldn’t he move? Did he really not trust me anymore? Please just say something… anything…

‘I don’t want this silence…’

His head lowered even more. A warm wetness assaulted his eyes, trapped behind the lids, his breathing becoming ragged, short and sharp.

‘Maybe I should say it first –’

A knock rapped against their door; the sound exceptionally loud in the silence. Both men jolted and turned towards it.

“Ma…? Are you awake?” Came a soft voice.

Xie Lian’s instincts went on overdrive when he heard the trembles. He quickly strode over while wiping the unshed tears away with his arms and opened the door. He dropped into a crouch, caressing both boys on their heads with a worry in his tone. “A-Qing? A-Shao? What’s wrong?”

“W-We…” Huang Qing started but soon fell silent, the words stuck. The both of them stood there, each holding each other’s hand while a plush bunny slumped over their free arm. The plush didn’t look particularly adorable, with mismatched ears and paws, and made of cloths cut from cotton in brown and white.

Xie Lian patiently waited, intently aware of Hua Cheng’s gaze on his back.

“We…” Huang Qing tried again but his body started to shake when sobs racked his body, his large round eyes filling with absent tears.

Xie Lian quickly drew him into his arms, noting that Huang Shao was fighting hard to hold his own tears back, the liquid dripping out of his nose as he tried to maintain a serious expression.

“N-Nightmare…” Huang Shao squeaked, the sound scaring even him. The tears spilled out of his eyes like the glass finally breaking and he sobbed and sobbed. “Qing-ge and A-Shao had a nightmare…! Uuu… ba and ma were f-fighting… a-and, and…”

Huang Qing clutched onto Xie Lian’s robes as he cried without tears, the pain unbearable and smothering him for the exact reason he couldn’t cry. Xie Lian’s heart broke, the cracks growing longer and deeper with each cry as he brought both of them into his arms.

But that’s when Huang Qing suddenly burst, “And then ba and ma said you didn’t want A-Qing and A-di anymore!”

Cold water splashed onto the men; Hua Cheng shot up to his feet, rushing over to his sons in a flash as Xie Lian tried to comfort them, patting their heads and whispering in soft, slow tones that they weren’t fighting, that they would never abandon A-Qing and A-Shao. When the boys noticed that Hua Cheng was crouched down next to them, he was attacked by faces full of tears and sobs, of sadness and heartbreak.

“Please don’t fight with ma anymore, ba?” the twins begged in unison as they crawled into his lap, gripping his robes as they cried in his arms. “Please, ba. Please… A-Qing/A-Shao don’t want you to fight with ma…”

“Shh… I won’t fight with ma anymore. I won’t. Everything is okay… We won’t abandon either of you…”

Children were a blessing, a gift from the Heavens, possessing a certain intuition that would turn mute over time as they grew up, an intuition that allowed them to feel and understand something, even if their parents said otherwise. They could tell if their parents are down, happy or in a fight, and those more outspoken would voice it out, yet there would be those that silently kept it bottled in for reasons only they would understand.

But good parents always wanted to protect their children’s innocence, to shelter and protect, to only let them know of the good and pray they grow up well. To be healthy and happy, to give them the very best.

Hua Cheng and Xie Lian could only be acquiescent to their requests, to wipe their tears away and warm them in their embrace, until their sobs died down and their cries reduced to tiny sniffles.

“Sleep with ma and pa tonight?” Xie Lian affectionately asked, kissing both of them on the forehead when they finally calmed down, feeling his heart too finally settling from the aches and worries.

Hua Cheng echoed his husband, hoping, so dearly hoping they’d say yes.

He couldn’t bear leave them alone after that ordeal.

“We… won’t disturb ma and pa?” Huang Qing asked in reply, peeking up from his spot in Xie Lian’s arms who nodded with a smile.

“Of course not!”

…

The candle had burned low, its warm glow dim in the dark. Nestled in the centre of the bed, comfortably tucked behind the blanket and tightly hugging their plush bunnies, were the twins sleeping in between their parents who had been coaxing them to sleep with constant reassurance. Seeing their at long last steady rise and fall of deep slumber, Xie Lian and Hua Cheng carefully got out of bed and walked towards the candle, their steps silent like the shadows.

“Ge ge… I’m sorry.” A pleading murmur in the light, an icy hand holding a warm one in desperation, in grief. “I’m sorry I joked like that.”

No further explanations, no defending himself. Just… a simple apology, a simple plea.

Xie Lian called out his name softly, covering the cold hand with his and took the step closer towards his husband. His unshed tears returned to prick his eyes and his sight turned into a watery haze. The red robes of his husband’s blurred, the image distorting. “I’m sorry too… I’m sorry I reacted like that. I thought you didn’t trust me.”

Hua Cheng slipped his hand free, raising them to cup Xie Lian’s tear-stained cheeks as he rested his forehead against his. “Never. It was a terrible joke. I was wrong.”

Xie Lian neither agreed nor denied, only responding by leaning into Hua Cheng’s touch.

Hua Cheng kissed his forehead, a hard press of anguished emotions. “I love you.”

A declaration whispered against his skin, as though desperate to let him know that he still loved the man, that he feared he wouldn’t know.

I love you.

I really really love you.

‘Please accept it, please don’t reject me.’

A fair hand rested itself atop the cold shivering one on his cheek, gently, warmly holding it. “San Lang…”

And he tilted his head to kiss the trembling lips, pressing and directing to relax the jaw and the teeth gnawing at the bottom lip, massaging their lips together in a reassuring warmth. Hua Cheng hungrily devoured the kiss, drinking in every love he could get as his hands tightened their grip. It was a fear, a valid fear aroused by his husband, yet doused by the very same man.

Moist lips, tingling in bliss, parted with their tangled taste gleaming under the candle. Turning to towards the flame, Xie Lian gently blew it out, the smoky scent filling the room.

“It’s been a long day. Let’s go to bed.”

~~*~~*~~

Day 71: Can you do it, boys?

The summer was at its peak and summer blooms were thriving in the sun, waving their greetings to those that passed.

In Paradise Manor, there were two people lying across the pagoda newly built and set up in the back garden. A small pond encircled the building, lotus buds budding above the water. It had been built on a whim, mainly to liven up the manor’s empty garden, so that the place could really feel more like a ‘home’.

A man, tall and slender, walked across the arched bridge with a tray in hand.

“Ba!”

“Finally! We thought we were gonna melt in the heat!”

Chuckling, Hua Cheng handed them the tray with bowls of crushed ice laced with different fruit juices. Huang Qing took the bowl with mango, sweet yet sour, while his brother grabbed the peach shaved ice that had a really sweet taste to it.

“Thanks, ba!”

Hua Cheng picked up his own bowl of melon shaved ice and plopped into the space in front of his sons. His gaze floated across the large expanse of land that the garden held and other than the lotus lake, the place still seemed dull to him.

“Look! A dragonfly!” He called out.

A dragonfly zipped through the budding lotus flowers, flitting and beating its wings across the water’s surface, inciting ripples to dance. The boys gasped in excitement, running to the edge of the pagoda to watch it fly.

“Hi, dragonfly!” Huang Shao greeted with a spoon in his hand, bits of his shaved ice falling into the pond with a splash.

Hua Cheng watched the scene play out while he ate his shaved ice with still an arrogant elegance in his movements, a hum playing off his lips. The dragonfly landed on a lotus, its wings stopping to rest before it zipped away.

A thought came into his mind. He then mentally calculated the days and gasped in realisation. “Oh! It’s coming soon!”

“Huh? What is, ba?” Huang Shao turned back to look at him.

A cheeky smile curled on the man’s lips as he waved a hand for his sons to come over. “Come, come. I have a very nice idea and I’ll need your help for it. It’s a surprise for ma.”

~~*~~*~~

Day 72: Mission: Surprise Ma! T-minus 7 days.

“Ma! Ma!”

“Yes, A-Shao?”

“Can we visit Qing-jie?”

“Err…”

“We can’t?”

At his son’s teary eyes and pout, Xie Lian felt dread and got down to his knees. “No, no. I’ll ask Mu Qing to come visit instead, okay?”

“Yay! Thanks, ma!”

“But…”

“But…?”

“A-Shao ah, you’re still very young. It’s not very good to be… very attached to someone else.”

Huang Shao tilted his head as Huang Qing rolled his eyes. “What do you mean, ma?”

Xie Lian bit his lip. Just how was he supposed to tell his son that it’s not good to fall in love so early when he’s still so young?

Ah, never mind. He’ll have Hua Cheng do it. Maybe he’ll know what to say.

Connecting to the communication array, he heard the bustling chatter of the other Heavenly Officials.

“Good morning!” he greeted.

Unlike the previous times when they would descend into silence, a cacophony of greetings waved back.

“Your highness! Good morning!”

“Morning! How are you?”

“Your highness, how’s the honeymoon?”

“I’m well, thank you!” Xie Lian answered, deftly ignoring Pei Ming’s teasing tone on his honeymoon.

What honeymoon? It didn’t make a difference!

…everyday was a honeymoon, that’s why.

But they didn’t need to know that.

“Is General Xuan Zhen here?” Xie Lian then asked politely.

“What do you want?” Mu Qing’s voice bit out.

“It’s not me. But it’s urgent. Do you think you can come?”

Mu Qing went silent, just like the entire communication array. After a moment did he only speak up, “Alright.”

“Where the fuck you going?” Feng Xin cut in, making his presence known.

“I’ll see you then!” Xie Lian called out before leaving the array.

“Hello? What the fuck. Where are you going!”

…

“Anyone?”

…

“Fuck.”

When Mu Qing came down to Ghost City, Xie Lian was somehow not surprised that Feng Xin tagged along. Huang Shao who was standing by his side, a hand in his, was jumping up and down while waving his hand excitedly at Mu Qing.

“Behave, A-Shao. Mu Qing isn’t running anywhere,” Xie Lian lightly scolded.

With a pout on his face and obediently listening to his father, Huang Shao said, “Yes, ma.”

Huang Qing rolled his eyes at the scene.

“Thanks for coming, Mu Qing,” said Xie Lian.

“Not a problem. What’s the urgency?” Mu Qing asked.

Xie Lian lifted his excited son’s hand that he held and said, “This one here wanted you to come.”

When his father let go, Huang Shao immediately pounced onto Mu Qing, hugging the slim man around the leg. “Qing-jie! Let’s play?”

“Oh no, no ‘playing’, A-Shao!” Xie Lian scolded. Their ‘playing’ could only be running amok in Ghost City!

Mu Qing rolled his eyes at Xie Lian and bent down to effortlessly pick up the pouting boy, the action alone enough to flip the frown up. “We’ll find something else to do, okay?”

“Mm!”

“A-Qing, you coming?” Mu Qing asked but the older twin shook his head, tightly gripping his father’s hand and edging a little closer. “Then, I’ll see you later. I’ll take care of A-Shao.”

Xie Lian nodded and watched them leave before turning to the boy in his hand. “Is there anything you’d like to do?”

Huang Qing pursed his lips, a serious expression on his face. “Train.”

Hearing that his son wanted to polish his sword skills even more, Xie Lian was elated to the point his smile stretched from ear to ear. “Then, let’s go! We can work on your lunge again!”

When dinner rolled around, Xie Lian and Huang Qing who were already bathed and ready for dinner found Huang Shao sitting by the dining table with… two other people by his side: A scowling man and a ravishing beauty.

“Why… are you two here? Like that?”

Seeing Xie Lian’s deadpanned expression as he took the seat in front of them, Mu Qing rolled his eyes and daintily took a sip of his tea. He was dressed in woman’s clothes, hair combed and beautifully tied up with a flower hairpin adorning the silver locks. Huang Shao sat between him and Feng Xin with the biggest grin ever.

Should Xie Lian ask what happened as a father?

…Should he be worried?

“A-Shao requested it,” Mu Qing answered vapidly.

“Ah…” Xie Lian slowly nodded his head and a thought came to him, ‘You’re rather accommodating of A-Shao…’

“Mm,” Huang Shao nodded his head with a grin. “Qing-jie is really really pretty! And she’s so nice. Qing-jie brought A-Shao to eat a lot of good food! We talked a lot. I also found out that Qing-jie likes cats and foxes!”

A smile broke out on Mu Qing’s face as he affectionately rubbed the boy’s head.

Feng Xin kept silent the whole time, gloomy eyes constantly darting between the excited boy and his fellow general. Who knew what was on his mind?

Patting Huang Qing on the head, he reminded, “A-Qing, remember to drink some water, okay? I’ll go help ba with the food.”

“It’s okay, ma,” Huang Qing hurriedly stood up before the man could lift his butt off the chair, his actions swift and smooth. “I’ll help ba.”

“Okay!” Xie Lian replied after a moment of thought. Despite his smile, he wondered if his son thought he would burn the kitchen too – or the food. With a soft hum, he happily drank the tea. It’s probably both.

‘Hmm, I should probably sweep the garden tomorrow. The leaves are piling up too much,’ Xie Lian pondered, getting lost in his thoughts. There was still the daily sword training with the boys and the weekly cleaning of Paradise Manor. Sure, Hua Cheng could always get someone to clean it for him but he felt that he should be doing it since he’s now married to the city lord; It’s his responsibility after all.

Maybe the boys could work on parrying tomorrow as well… Or should they work on riposting instead? Huang Qing could probably start working on either. His form was good for both offensive and defensive stances, though he seemed better with offense, whereas Huang Shao leaned towards defence…

They could always work on teamwork?

“Ma,” Huang Shao called out but his father was still spaced out. Huffing his cheeks, he leaned across the table and lightly swatted on his father’s arm, calling out louder, “Ma!”

A jolt shocked through the man and he refocused onto his son. “Huh? Yes, A-Shao? Are you hungry?”

The boy shook his head and put on a solemn expression. “I wanna marry Qing-jie when I grow up!!”

A shriek reverberated through the hall as though a firecracker had blown up. The shock burst forth from within, forcing the tea to gush in reverse, spraying it across the table like a pressurized hose exploding.

Xie Lian started at his son with his mouth undecided between opening and closing like a silent goldfish. Did he just hear right? Did Huang Shao just…

“YOU’RE ONLY SEVEN!” Feng Xin screeched as he impulsively slammed his cup on the table, shattering it in the process. “YOU CAN’T MARRY HIM!”

Instinctively, a fair hand flew out and blocked the ricocheting broken pieces of ceramic from slicing Huang Shao’s face. A fierce expression turned onto the general as a murderous, protective aura engulfed him.

Huang Shao had jumped at the sound, his body quivering like a leaf blasted by the wind while he stared at Feng Xin who was taken aback at the sight before turning back to his father that had blocked the shards. The boy’s expression fell, lips trembling and water pooling in his eyes. Reaching his hands out, fat drops of tears spilled from the corners as he cried out, “Ma…!”

Xie Lian leaned forward and picked up his son, gently soothing the crying boy in his arms as his killing intent momentarily disappeared.

“How can you yell at him like that!” Mu Qing barked, slapping the shocked Feng Xin hard with the back of his hand. “He’s just a child!”

“I…I… But he said he wanted to marry you!” Feng Xin cried out in defense, his tanned cheeks darkening in fluster.

“And. He’s. Still. A. Child!” Mu Qing growled, his curvy chest heavily heaving in anger.

Huang Shao’s cries echoed in the room, loud and reverberating. He clutched onto his father, burying his head into the chest, drenching it with his tears.

“What did you do to my son?” A low growl sounded, dark and menacing and exceptionally clear amidst the chaos.

A winter’s cold blade shone against Feng Xin’s neck, a sting sending shivers through his nerves. The intangible murderous aura doubled, laying upon his body like a mountain. E-Ming’s eye glared daggers at the man from below his jaw, as though he wished to draw blood right there and then.

Feng Xin’s skin sliced against the sharp blade when he gulped the lump of fear in his throat and he turned only his gaze to meet the dark gaze of the Supreme Demon Crimson Rain Sought Flower. “I-I didn’t do anything!” The cold fear grew in his heart when the blade pressed nearer to his neck, drawing a thin line of blood. “I only scolded him for wanting to marry Mu Qing!”

Hua Cheng snapped his gaze towards the man in question, narrowing his eye at the appearance the silver haired man took. “You tried seducing my son?” There was a sinister curl of his lips, like a predator’s arrogance in killing its prey.

“As if,” Mu Qing rolled his eyes, unafraid of the demon. “A-Shao requested for me to transform, so I did to please him.”

With the blade still on Feng Xin’s neck, Hua Cheng leaned a little closer to the nonchalant man. “So accommodating of you. I didn’t know you were that nice.”

“That’s cause he’s a sweetheart, unlike a certain bas – man I know,” Mu Qing seethed, catching himself in time when both fathers turned a murderous glare towards him. He raised his arms to gather his long hair, fluttering them to cool his neck and swept it to the side.

Feng Xin gulped at the sight of the slender neck, mentally swearing to himself, ‘Fuck, can’t he change back to a man!?’

“A-Di…” Having arrived with Hua Cheng, Huang Qing set the plate of meat on the table and rested a hand on Huang Shao’s back, the tensed worry evident in between his brows. “What happened?”

“Qing-ge…!” Huang Shao sobbed, turning to face his brother while still gripping hard onto Xie Lian’s clothes. “Uncle Feng… U-Uncle Feng!” he sniffled and the sobs came harder, tiny fists tightening their hold. “H-He won’t let me marry Qing-jie!”

Different reactions presented itself across the room; Xie Lian squeezed his son harder, Feng Xin’s expression turned gloomier, Hua Cheng killing intent spiked and pierced the Heavens, Mu Qing feigned ignorance despite the turmoil wreaking havoc in his mindscape, while Huang Qing merely went: “Oh. That.”

Surprised at the reaction, both fathers turned towards their oldest son and said, “You knew?”

Huang Qing innocently nodded his head. “A-di told me before.”

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Xie Lian frowned while Hua Cheng turned a piercing glare onto Mu Qing, hatred for the general multiplying by the second.

“I didn’t think it was a big deal?” Huang Qing squeaked. “Ma and ba wouldn’t let him! And I thought Qing-jie was more suitable to be with that Fish-ge ge…” His eyes shifted onto his father’s hand that held his brother and blinked.

Xie Lian pondered for a moment.

Fish-ge ge?

…He Xuan?

“Yo, I heard my name.”

Everyone in the hall jerked their heads towards the pair of newcomers, the mixed auras confusing both demon and man. Shi Qing Xuan leaned onto He Xuan as he hobbled on one leg.

“What’s wrong?” the man asked, limping towards the table. “I thought we’d be late for dinner but it looks like you haven’t started.”

“Clearly they’re in the mood for eating,” He Xuan flatly said, gesturing towards E-Ming still held against Feng Xin’s throat. “Is it ‘bully Feng Xin day’? Why wasn’t I invited?” he cackled evilly.

There was a slight breeze in the room and Feng Xin finally managed to release the breath that he had been holding, the pressure lifting off him like a breath of fresh air. However, He Xuan jumped back with Shi Qing Xuan in his arm when he felt a shadow lunge towards him, quick and decisive. With a wave of his hand, he gathered the water elements that hung in the humid air as he continued to step back.

“What’s wrong with you?” He Xuan grumbled, tilting his head sideways as E-Ming pierced the space beside his face, Shi Qing Xuan safe on the other side. “Can’t you at least let me put him down!”

“You’ll protect him anyways,” Hua Cheng replied in a monotone. E-Ming slashed out to the side, forcing He Xuan to duck and pull away.

He felt the water convene by his palm, its caress warm and welcoming as he rolled upright. Glistening water glinted in the sunlight, creating a curtain of sparkles that divided the space between the two demons, sharp yet beautiful. Ignoring the attack, Hua Cheng thrusted the scimitar out and He Xuan retaliated with a wave of his arm. Water immediately congealed into a shield and the blade struck deep into the construct.

“Child’s play,” Hua Cheng scowled, moving to pull his scimitar out when the water softened and curled around the blade. “Huh?”

Like a hand seizing hold of the blade, the water grew in density and strongly held the scimitar in place. He Xuan clenched his hand into a fist and threw his arm out. The bubble of water mirrored his movements, forcefully snatching E-Ming out of Hua Cheng’s grip and throwing it aside.

“You learned a new trick.”

“Thank you. I have to when dealing with you.”

“Not bad. Marry Mu Qing.”

“Ye - Wait, what?” He Xuan had been focused on assessing Shi Qing Xuan for any injuries, his replies half-hearted and nonchalant when Hua Cheng demanded such a thing.

The man settled gently on the floor was shocked as well, the smile frozen rigid. Maybe they shouldn’t have come to leech off the demon king.

“Marry Mu Qing. Now,” Hua Cheng narrowed his gaze, his tone leaving no room for negotiations.

“Hold on, what happened!” the former Wind God burst out, question marks dancing around his head. “Don’t you owe us an explanation?”

“A-Shao wants to marry Mu Qing. Fucking marry Mu Qing so he won’t!” Hua Cheng growled under his breath, his voice dropping down a notch so that his sons won’t hear his cuss.

“Why not ask Feng Xin to marry him?” Shi Qing Xuan frowned, his voice taut.

“Feng Xin? That bastard won’t ever agree to it. They’re constantly fighting!” Hua Cheng glowered, feeling unpleasant and uncomfortable at his son’s choice of a husband.

“Did you even ask!?”

“San Lang?” Xie Lian piped up, his voice disrupting the harsh whispers muttering in the corner

Hua Cheng leapt to his feet and ran back to his husband’s side, picking up E-Ming on the way. Huang Shao sniffled as he looked up at his father with his arms stretched out. With a soft coo, he picked up the boy and cradled him.

“What’s wrong, A-Shao?”

“Is ba not happy if A-Shao marries Qing-jie because I’m only seven?”

Feng Xin froze at the latter part of his question, inching away from the father-son duo bit by bit while Hua Cheng sighed and pinched Huang Shao’s cheek. Xie Lian prayed at the side, hoping that his husband would change his son’s mind. He prayed and prayed and prayed: Huang Shao was still young! But his hopes were dashed, torn and broken down mercilessly like a lonely sandcastle crumbling under the high tide.

“It’s not that ba isn’t happy if A-Shao wants to marry. Ba is unhappy you just want to marry Mu Qing! He won’t be a good husband!”

“San Lang!”

“Hey!!”

“Let me tell you a secret,” Hua Cheng whispered, as though he was telling Huang Shao the biggest secret in the world, “Do you know when ba fell in love with ma?”

Huang Shao repeatedly shook his head.

Leaning down to his ear, Hua Cheng muttered something barely audible into his son’s ears and whatever he said caused the boy to gasp out in admiration. “Really?”

Hua Cheng nodded his head seriously. “Because I knew ma was the best choice for me! I don’t think Mu Qing is good enough for my little boy!”

Mu Qing wore a sullen expression on his face as he silently cleaned up the mess Feng Xin created. Despite the annoyance at the demon’s comments, he relented and simply dropped his attention onto carefully picking up the ceramic pieces.

Feng Xin’s eyes darted towards the ‘woman’, her movements slow and somehow enchanting. Watching her gave him a sensation he never understood, something never felt before. It was odd, a little uncomfortable but it wasn’t something he’d shy away. His instinctual reactions never surfaced, never screamed at his mind to chase her away. Was it because he knew underneath that ravishing beauty was a man, he knew all too well? That if he stripped it away, he would see the man he’d come to hate yet — his ended his thoughts there. He was treading very close to uncharted territory here!

When Mu Qing bent down to pick up the broken pieces, Feng Xin felt a heat gather in his body, collecting and growing below his middle. He quickly looked away and suppressed the groan that crawled up his throat. He tried hard to erase the image in his mind, of the fair skin on the exposed curves, of soft hair he could grip and pull —

Rushing footsteps thudding across the floor caught his attention and he looked up in time to see Huang Qing return with a small pouch in his hands as he ran towards Xie Lian. He watched with curiosity when the child picked up his father’s bleeding hand and realisation dawned on the general when he remembered he was the one that caused that. Guilt started to eat away at his insides. Why did he feel like such a failure today?

Xie Lian glanced down when Huang Qing gently picked up his hand, having forgotten that it was bleeding. A warmth cradled his heart when his son cleaned the wounds before applying the all too familiar medicine. Past memories flashed through his mind, back when his oldest son was still acting unfamiliar with him, cold and distant, and now…

His lips neared the pale face, pressing onto the cold forehead in a gentle kiss. He felt the boy freeze under his touch and he leaned back to smile down at his shocked son. “Thank you, A-Qing.”

Huang Qing blinked his eyes twice in confusion before he realised what had just happened. Eyes widening in surprise, he quickly dipped his head in a fluster while cleaning up the things he used. “Y-You’re welcome, ma.”

On the other hand, Huang Shao was still in Hua Cheng’s arms getting his curiousity answered.

“How did you know ma was good for you?”

“Why did ma save you?”

“But you didn’t see ma for so many years! Why did ba ba wait?”

“A-Shao wish he can find someone like that to love too…”

He Xuan and Shi Qing Xuan eventually sat down at the other end of the table, feeling awkward and starving.

“Will we be eating at all?” He Xuan inquired, feeling his stomach rumble violently.

“Yeah, yeah. We will,” Hua Cheng waved him off dismissively, his attention fully on his son.

He Xuan was about to express his dissatisfaction again when he felt a sense of trepidation settle in his nerves at Huang Shao’s next words. He nervously turned towards Shi Qing Xuan who was emitting a dense frightening aura, Mu Qing’s rejecting splutters faint at the back of his mind.

Shit. That boy was going to be the death of him!

“Then A-Shao thinks that Fish-ge should marry Qing-jie!”

#hualianweek2k19 #hualian fic #slight fem!MQ #tian guan ci fu #domestic bliss #domestic fluff #slight angst #implied beefleaf #implied fengqing

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