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chisie12 · 5 years

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Friends and Butterflies, An After Ending - Part 1

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/20490521/chapters/48623783

TAKE THIS 14K WORTH OF FLUFF - Domestic Bliss with a lil surprise at the end.

“Ge ge really looks beautiful. A flower fitting of a prince.”

~~*~~*~~

Spring spurred on the thought of blooming flowers, a cloud of pink, white and red.

A blossom in full bloom breaks off its branch with the alluring kiss of the wind, twirling enchantingly like following the path of a fairy before falling into a smooth, fair palm.

“Ge.”

“Hmm?” The young man turned around, long soft hair dancing around his body, eyes glazing over lovingly at the tall slender man behind him who donned the robes of a fiery crimson maple colour. He himself was cladded in white robes, hands crossed and hidden in the sleeves. Paired with his gentle smile that showed off his pearly whites and the sunset as a backdrop, he truly looked God sent. His eyes involuntarily closed at the touch near his cheek as the fallen blossom was tucked behind his ear, the stem tickling the edges of his scalp. The hand shifted to cup his cheek, a thumb caressing the soft skin under his fingertips and he was greeted with a warm smile. His breath hitched in his throat, eyes soaking in the handsome sight; skin as white as snow, a proud face framed by silky raven locks with a feral aura that stood unwavering, where a red pearl at the end of a small braid teased him, when his eyes trailed up, meeting with a lone eye that still sparkled as bright as the stars despite the other one covered by a black eyepatch. He felt the weight of the sheer love in the other man’s gaze, swelling and flooding his heart with all it could before it overflowed upon his pink lips.

The taller man bent down at his waist and he rested his forehead upon the young man in white, fingers slowly tracing his cheek as his grin widened with the smaller man’s own widening smile. “Ge ge really looks beautiful. A flower fitting of a prince.”

The younger man tilted his head up, fully resting his forehead against his man’s before rubbing his nose with his. “I think San Lang’s more beautiful.”

Life was fairly simple right now, easy-going and relaxing for the couple. The Heavenly Court was already rebuilt, filled with the golden palaces and a tall clock tower still standing strong, but it wasn’t like Xie Lian frequently stayed at his own palace. It felt lonely, too large for someone like him, and he’d admit to no one but himself, that it just didn’t feel right there. Not a home. Not a place where he could stay.

“Come on, ge ge. Let’s go look for something to eat.” Hua Cheng slowly straightened his back and the smaller male inwardly pouted at the loss of contact before his smile returned when he felt the larger hand slid into his own.

“You’re not going to throw another feast are you?” Xie Lian asked as they made their way back to Ghost City.

“If ge ge doesn’t want one, then I won’t host one,” Hua Cheng grinned.

Xie Lian caught up to his steps and looked seriously at him. “We don’t need to. It’ll be a waste, San Lang. Even if I just drink water, it’ll be enough because I have you.”

“Because without affection, we could be hungry even if we’re eating food?” Hua Cheng finished his phrase for him, chuckling as he did so.

“Mm!” Xie Lian nodded happily.

In the distance, the couple strolled down the path, leaving behind a trail of dancing petals shimmering in soft hues in the air. Warm sunlight shone upon their handsome countenances, the season of joy prospering with delight at their presence.

“Your highness!” A voice suddenly called out in Xie Lian’s mind from his private communication channel.

Putting two fingers to his temple, he answered, “Qi Ying? What’s wrong?”

“Can you come up? Something is wrong! – Ah!”

He wanted to inquire more of the matter he spoke but the line was cut before he could. Holding back his sigh, he tried to not look disappointed, really. He tried.

“Ge ge? What’s wrong?” Hua Cheng caught the gleam of disappointment in his gaze and frowned. “Did they call for you?”

“Yeah…” Xie Lian sighed. He looked up at Hua Cheng, catching his gaze with his own. “There are some matters they need me to see. It sounded quite urgent.”

A hand snaked up his neck to cup his cheek once more. Warm, soft lips pressed themselves against Xie Lian’s forehead, lingering there for a moment longer. “It’s alright. I’ll wait for you at home,” Hua Cheng breathily whispered against his skin.

A smile tugged at his downwards curved lips, pulling them up involuntarily. Home. Warmth bloomed in his heart as he smiled up at Hua Cheng. Home. ‘That’s where you are.’

“Alright.” And in a bout of confidence, he pulled the taller man down with a gentle tug at the collar and planted his lips on the most definitely cooperative man. “I’ll see you at home.”

…

But he wished he hadn’t come.

What Heavenly Court? This was more like a playground.

“What happened?”

“I don’t know!” Quan Yi Zhen cried, holding a small bundle in his arms. It was wrapped in earthly coloured clothes, chubby face scrunched up in displeasure which it made sure to let everyone know – just like every other baby there.

On the grounds of the Heavenly Court littered colourful bundles, either crawling around or bawling – screaming – their eyes out. Xie Lian rubbed his temples as he sighed dejected. Just what in the world happened? As his gaze swept over the royal babies of Heaven, he noticed one particular baby, silent and staring up at him after having crawled his way over, locks of silvery grey hair falling past his shoulders, cladded in robes of white and turquoise... and that face –

“Mu Qing?”

Mu Qing scrunched his face into a big frown, the space between his eyebrows wrinkling in annoyance. “Are you blind?”

Xie Lian blinked. Twice. He swore that baby just rolled his eyes. He watched as the baby glared and gave him the stink eye, before his eyes rolled again. Yeah, definitely Mu Qing.

“What happened?” He hurriedly asked in favour of finding out just why he could actually talk. He also pointedly ignored Quan Yi Zhen’s wide eyes and gaping mouth.

“Some idiot spilled some trash bottle you had in your room.” Mu Qing huffed his cheeks and crossed his pudgy little arms, and Xie Lian felt his hands twitch.

“Oh?” He replied instead. “I didn’t know I had something like that.” It’s been awhile since he actually entered his palace and with all the junk he’s collected, he kept most of them in the newly built Heavenly Court (only so he wouldn’t hoard them at Hua Cheng’s manor). There would be a rare artifact or two mixed within, but he wouldn’t really know. He bit his bottom lip, having a stare-down with Mu Qing whose displeased face twisted into one of horror. Eyes widened in fear, mouth falling agape, arms pulled back, and soon, he voiced out his utterly horrified displeasure.

 “Waaaaaahhh!!” Large beads streamed down the corners of his eyes while his arms flailed about. He kicked his legs but they were to no avail as Xie Lian effortlessly kept his secure in his hold, a wide, face-splitting grin upon his face.

“So… cute!” He dragged out the first out, placing the baby in the crook of his arm as he pinched his cheeks. He dared now, only now; Because he was a baby. “Such chubby cheeks! So small-ah!”

Baby Mu Qing wailed louder, screamed at the top of his little lungs in an attempt to shatter Xie Lian’s eardrums as retaliation for the utter humiliation. Unfortunately, Xie Lian was already immune to such pain. After all, when he had the worst of luck, ten out of ten times, when he was out scrap picking, some children would try and take the goods he picked up, and when he tried to take them back, they would of course start screaming and crying in his ears until their mothers came to admonish him for bullying their children (Xie Lian: I’m innocent!). Thus, kids and their wailing have zero effectiveness against the Flower Crown Martial God.

“Do you know who spilled it?” Xie Lian asked after satisfying himself with pinching baby Mu Qing’s cheeks.

Mu Qing paused in his crying, sniffling up at Xie Lian. “F-Fe… Eh… Waaaaahhhh!”

“Oh, oh. It’s okay. There, there. Stop crying,” Xie Lian cooed, bouncing the crying child in his arms. Baby Mu Qing’s round cheeks were flushed red, liquid dribbling down his nose as his body temperature rose ever so slightly. He hummed to himself. It would seem like the Heavenly Officials could speak, though limited, and he wondered if it was related to spiritual power.

“Y-Your highness?” Quan Yi Zhen called, looking awkward carrying a now calm baby in his arms. “Do you know what’s wrong? I just came back when I encountered this!” His curly hair was curlier than usual, dishevelled and sticking out as though he walked through a storm of lightning.

Xie Lian looked up towards him, shifting baby Mu Qing so that the little one could rest against his shoulder as he patted his back comfortingly (or what he hoped was comforting). “It would seem everyone got turned into babies by accident.”

“I heard it was by some bottle you had collected?”

Xie Lian shrugged. “Someone must have been rummaging in my palace and accidentally spilled it.”

“How…” Quan Yi Zhen’s entire face fell in horror when the baby started squirming in his hold. “Stay still!” It sounded a lot more like a plea than an order.

“Fuck you!” Suddenly came out of the baby’s mouth, shocking both Xie Lian and Quan Yi Zhen into becoming statues. “I don’t want to stay still!”

Xie Lian blinked once more. Twice. “Feng… Xin?”

“Yes, your highness?”

It had been a random shot in the dark, though it was also equally a much needed verbal communication, and he had been right. Looking at the soft features of the baby, of dark ebony hair and sharp eyebrows, he could see the resemblance to his old bodyguard. “Uh…” Xie Lian gulped, trying to swallow the shock down, “Do you know who entered my palace?”

Feng Xin refused to look at him directly, big round eyes suddenly finding the Heavenly Court’s architecture most fascinating.

“Feng Xin?”

The baby in question immediately covered his face with his hands, also so pudgy and small, not even a quarter the size of Xie Lian’s own palm. His hands twitched again, really so tempted to play and knead those small hands. If he knew the two generals would have been this cute, he would have found a way to have them this way more often! Wait no. That would have been horrifying. They’d kill him. Hmm… or mothers. No mother could possibly fathom a swearing baby. They’d probably faint on the spot.

Xie Lian called his name again as he hefted a now sniffling baby Mu Qing higher on his shoulder, firmly holding the baby with his left arm while lowering his body slightly and reached out towards Feng Xin with the other hand. “Feng Xin?” His voice was soft and gentle with slender fingers lightly tugging at the small hands to calm the baby general down. “It’s alright. I won’t be mad. Tell me, please?” He added the last word on for good measure.

Sure enough, Feng Xin peeked at his old master through his fingers, large teary eyes sparkling at him with innocent blinks. “…I did.”

Xie Lian continued smiling while lightly rubbing Feng Xin’s head who leaned into the touch with a delighted smile. He waited patiently for Feng Xin to continue, silently enjoying the sound of happy baby giggles bursting from his chest.

“…I wanted to try clean up your palace, your highness.” Feng Xin’s voice was soft, barely audible and if it wasn’t for his sharp hearing, he would have missed it.

“Oh,” fell from Xie Lian’s lips. He hummed while he thought back to his palace. It might be a mess, he’ll admit… Quite a mess indeed. There were piles and piles of junk he thought were rare or useful that he hoarded, that he refused to let sit around idly in Paradise Manor, and over time, he just… forgot. Inwardly sighing to himself, he’ll admit another thing today: He preferred time with Hua Cheng in Paradise Manor. Probably because of exactly that hoarded piles he never got around to properly sort them around. Oops. But then again, it was just as Hua Cheng said before: “A home has family. A place where someone lives alone is not a home.”

He felt heat crept onto his face at the thought of a family with Hua Cheng, just like a warm embrace cradling his heart, when he shook his head. There were still matters at hand to tend to!

Hmm, should he ask why he wanted to clean the palace?

Xie Lian returned his focus onto Feng Xin, hoping that the blush went away. Seeing the phantom image of the strong, determined archer graced with a handsome face being reduced to an extremely round, chubby little baby with pink tinted cheeks, small pouty and thick brows arching over large pleading eyes, there was a clear ringing of mirth mixed with the many other wailing babies. Giving Feng Xin a pinch on his cheeks, he looked back at the many other baby officials on the ground with a grin.

“What should we do?” Quan Yi Zhen asked.

Xie Lian ignored the slight high pitched tone of his voice and turned to him, calm and collected. “I'm not sure how long the effects will last but the Heavenly Court is definitely not a safe place for the babies.” At Quan Yi Zhen’s confused expression, he continued explaining, “The place is too large. They could go anywhere and will possibly hurt themselves while we’re not looking. I'm certain that only we’re not affected somehow since we weren’t in the Heavenly Court.”

What he left unsaid were: Can you really take care of hundreds of babies? I definitely can’t.

Quan Yi Zhen glanced at all the wailing babies. His face visibly blanched, almost as white as Hua Cheng, Xie Lian noted.

“All... all these?” Turning back to his calmly smiling friend, the corner of his lips twitched into a bitter smile, hands absentmindedly patting a settled Feng Xin in his arms. “Can I not join? I only know how to fight. Not take care of babies!”

“It's alright,” Xie Lian patted his shoulder reassuringly, ignoring the panicked shivers trembling in his friend’s body. “I know who can help.”

Back in Paradise Manor, dishes with steamed buns were lined up on the dark hardwood table set in the main hall, a pot of steaming tea by the side. Long pale fingers stretched out of crimson robes lightly tapped against the ceramic cup, a thumb tracing its curve as his lips curved into a devilish smile. Time ticked by. He lifted the cup and took a sip. His eyes darted to the main door, forcing the hopes and anticipation down a notch. He waited and waited. Another sip. And then he stood up, suddenly materialising a cloth in his hands. Icy cold water kissed his skin as he dampened the cloth, red sleeves rolled up as he proceeded to wipe down the table. Once, twice. The steamed buns were placed back into the bamboo steamer in the kitchen, below it a low flame flickering in greeting.

It was only him. Alone. In Paradise Manor.

The sun had long set, crept behind the horizon, dragging away with it the rainbow hues that painted the sky, leaving behind only a solemn navy tone, sparsely dotted with stars and a full moon hanging low in the cloudless sky. He walked back towards the table, plopping back into the chair as he watched, stared at the door. The smile dropped from his face.

What could be taking so long? Was it urgent?

Dancing in his palm, led around by his fingers were a pair of dices that tinkled as they touched.

Should he go visit? Find him in the Heavenly Court?

He should be fine. Nothing can scare him.

But what if he got hurt?

...

Clenching his palm with the dices, Hua Cheng shot up from his seat, the chair scraping against the floor. His arm was pulled back, ready to throw, lips pursed and expression straight, when the door slammed open.

“San Lang!”

That voice, his name. His muscles visibly relaxed as he lowered his arm, his fierce dark expression softening and pulling a smile when the white silhouette pounced into his arms. Leaning down, strands of his hair falling to tickle his cheeks, he asked, “Did ge ge miss me that much?”

Pink blossoms crept up Xie Lian’s cheeks and his ears at the soft caresses of his breaths, accentuating the snowy beauty of the flower still tucked behind his ear, and he buried his head deeper in Hua Cheng’s embrace.

“Are you hungry? I made dinner.”

Xie Lian’s head perked up at the mention of food, homemade food.

“Have you had dinner yet?” Xie Lian asked, only to receive a shake of Hua Cheng’s head in reply.

“I was waiting for you to eat together.”

There was a twinkle in Xie Lian’s gaze, shimmering brightly in the pools of affection those eyes. His lips parted, to perhaps say a word of thanks, of love, when a sharp shrill wail tore through the roof.

Having been totally immersed in his lover’s return, Hua Cheng was caught off guard for a rare moment. Stepping back to hold him at an arm’s length, he finally observed Xie Lian properly. A white sling was slung over his shoulder and a small bundle was peeking out from his shoulder. Head full of light coloured hair, snowy white cheeks stained with tears, but his eyes, threatening with unshed tears, were narrowed into horizontal slits. Hua Cheng couldn’t help but return the glare with a smile, uncaring and unbothered that it lacked any trace of warmth. Other than the addition of this un-cute baby, Xie Lian still wore the same clothes he did today, even down to the flower he tucked in his hair.

But this baby wasn’t crying, so who was?

“Your highness! I can’t do this!”

A brow arched high over unsmiling eyes when a whole other cries penetrated the walls of his Paradise manor as he watched an extremely dishevelled Quan Yi Zhen run inside with the crying bundle in his arms, a baby sling also slung across his chest. His robes were askew, collar drooping low across a shoulder, teasing tanned skin peeking through and his face was the exact painting of horrified panic.

If Hua Cheng wasn’t disturbed earlier, he was now. His glare turned colder and colder the closer Quan Yi Zhen approached, dishevelled and also carrying a baby. It can’t be theirs, could it!?

“Please! Take him! Take them all away!”

“What’s wrong, Qi Ying?” Xie Lian smiled, his head peeking out from behind Hua Cheng who suddenly shifted to stand before him. The taller man raised an arm, his long sleeves blocking his sight while he pointedly stared at the exposed skin. Quan Yi Zhen followed his heated glare and in a flurry of further panic, he pulled his robes up to quickly at least right himself. Once satisfied, Hua Cheng lowered his sleeve without another word but the frosty aura emanating off his body was undeniable. Xie Lian obediently stepped out and stood next to him, one hand shyly holding onto his, and the masked killing intent diminished just ever so slightly. Just slightly.

“Qi Ying? What’s wrong?” Xie Lian asked again, returning his attention back onto the Martial God of the West. “You’re doing pretty well with children!”

“No! I don’t think so! He keeps crying! They all are!”

Xie Lian felt Hua Cheng stiffen, the fingers in his tightening their hold, and he turned to look. His smile faltered at the sight, one end of his lips falling and the other twitching. ‘If looks could kill, Qi Ying would already be dead ten times, no a hundred times over.’

Hua Cheng smile widened until his one eye narrowed into a crescent moon. Two babies? No. There was more. Outside. Was it theirs? No. It couldn’t be. ‘Ge wouldn’t do that to me.’ His mouth was pressed firmer into a straight line. ‘But ge ge loves children. He must want them…’ A throbbing sensation began to pound at his head, the pent up frustration and stress releasing itself as a sigh from his lips while he used his free hand to rub at his head. His shoulders were stiff, muscles so tense. Maybe he should have married ge ge and immediately tried having a kid. There should be child-bearing pills still in Ghost City!

“Maybe he’s hungry?” Xie Lian suggested thoughtfully. “It should be dinner time! Bring the others in first.”

Quan Yi Zhen turned around, eyes watery and threatening to fall. Oh, he hated this. He’s not good with babies! “I only know how to fight!” He wailed as he ran back out.

Xie Lian tugged at their interlaced fingers and averted his gaze bashfully when Hua Cheng turned his head towards him. “I hope you don’t mind, San Lang. I brought them over without your permission.”

He sighed yet again, but the knot in his heart wasn’t undone, still painfully clenching and clawing at his insides. “It’s alright, ge ge. What’s mine is yours. You can do whatever you want here. No need to ask me.” The words had to crawl out of his mouth, through stiff jaws.

Sneaking a glance at the ajar doors, Xie Lian hurriedly tipped onto his toes, pulling slightly at his hand and briefly kissed him on the lips. “Thank you.”

Hua Cheng squeezed his hand in return, silent and accepting of his fate.

Quan Yi Zhen came back soon after with Ruoye. The white silk was extended and expanded, tying itself to every baby there was just so they could be transported, and there were hundreds. With Xie Lian never in the Heavenly Court and Quan Yi Zhen (now regrettably) without any helpers in his palace – though they might be turned to babies too –, they could only resort to such a crude way of transportation. At seeing the sight of a cloud of babies swarming into the main hall of his manor, Hua Cheng was stunned into dumbfounded silence, shaken to the core.

‘Ge ge wouldn’t have had this many hidden babies, would he? Adopted? His own!?’ He quickly shook that thought away. ‘No, I would have known!’

Ge!

He cried pitifully in his heart, though his outward expression never changed.

“Fuck! Why’d you bring us here!” a voice cried out, breaking Hua Cheng out of his trance. His eye twitched at the familiar sound, that familiar character.

Feng Xin?

“Feng Xin! You can speak again!” Xie Lian rushed over to Quan Yi Zhen, seeing the baby on his back.

Ah, it was Feng Xin.

Hua Cheng swept his eyes over the screaming babies, taking note of their different robes, their hairstyles… He then looked at the glaring baby on Xie Lian’s back and a mirthless chuckle escaped when it connected.

Mu Qing?

The baby rolled his eyes.

Mu Qing.

Hua Cheng relaxed at the thought that these babies weren’t Xie Lian’s at all. Just some annoying insects turned more annoying.

He flashed baby Mu Qinh a grin, full of teeth and sharp canines as a murderous gleam flashed in his eyes for a split second. Baby Mu Qing was shocked for a moment before his face fell, cheeks trembling with eyes wide in horror.

Oh, shit.

“Waaaaaaaahhh!” Xie Lian jumped at the sudden wail from baby Mu Qing when he was conversing with Feng Xin. It was tremendously loud and shrill, sobs wracking his little body. Xie Lian expertly shifted the sling so that he could cradle baby Mu Qing properly, bouncing on his toes in calming the baby down, but as though on cue, the remaining Heavenly Babies started crying louder, red chubby faces stained with snot and tears.

Frowning, Xie Lian finally turned to his stock still lover.

Catching his gaze, Hua Cheng smiled, finally feeling better at the thought that these weren’t Xie Lian’s babies after all. Just some annoying pests that multiplied. “What’s wrong, ge ge?”

“Could you lend a hand, please?”

“Sure but I don’t think the Heavenly Babies will appreciate that.”

“It’s alright. I’ll deal with them later.”

Hua Cheng hummed lowly, crossing his arms across his chest. ��Hmm, we’ll have to baby-proof Paradise Manor, you know.”

“I know. I'm sorry. It’s just too difficult to manage them all in the Heavenly Court and thought here was better. Is that okay?”

Despite saying that, the man in red interpreted his words differently as a teasing smile graced his features. “San Lang is honoured that ge ge misses me so much.” A low chuckle rumbled in his chest. “But do I get something in return if I help?”

Xie Lian blinked at their unexpected proximity. Their bodies were flushed together, the arm cladded in red tight – possessive – around his waist and the other hand was caressing his pink cheeks. Baby Mu Qing was still held firmly in his grip, crying even louder at the sudden shameless public affection, as though he was showing his utter displeasure at his previous master being so smitten with the demon. His eyes glazed over at the thought of their current position; Him in his lover’s arms in a tight embrace with an adorable baby in his arms between them while in Paradise Manor. Was this what it meant to have a ‘home’?

Baby Mu Qing turned around in Xie Lian’s hold, though albeit difficult, he managed enough to push at Hua Cheng’s chest with his chubby little fingers. His desperate cries filled the air and Xie Lian wasn’t sure if it was because baby Mu Qing didn’t like being sandwiched between affection or he just didn’t like Hua Cheng.

“Y-You… Uh…T-Tonight…” Xie Lian shyly looked up at Hua Cheng. What could he give him? There was nothing the demon didn’t have; every antique of every rarity, odd artefacts and beautiful art, and the one thing he could give… His eyes darted towards the cloud of babies where Quan Yi Zhen was trying to pacify every single one of his baby colleagues. Hua Cheng’s gaze followed his before they were averted back to his lover’s flushed cheeks. A knowing smile stretched his lips, a heated desire suddenly pooling in his body.

“You gotta use your mouth, ge ge. Or I wouldn’t understand what it is.”

Xie Lian’s blush deepened at the double entendre, burying his head into Hua Cheng’s shoulder. “But the babies…”

“Are babies. It’s fine.”

Xie Lian took a moment to respond but when he finally decided on the words…

“Ahhh! Your highness! Won’t you help!”

Xie Lian was jolted awake by Quan Yi Zhen’s plea and an idea spun in his mind. “San Lang, do you think they can drink cow’s milk?” Only because they couldn’t possibly kidnap new mothers or wet nurses and force them to feed the Heavenly Babies. Feng Xin especially might truly die on the spot.  

Hua Cheng hummed thoughtfully while crossing his arms. “It’s possible. They aren’t true babies after all. Just grown adults turned babies.”

“Oh, good! Do you have some here?”

The devilishly handsome man merely arched an eyebrow. “We’re in a city of ghosts. I don’t think we have milk here.”

“I’ll go get it!! I’ll go! Let me go!!” Quan Yi Zhen cried in the background, having eavesdropped on their conversation. At his tears, the babies were spurred on to cry louder. “Why do they keep crying!”

Xie Lian hurriedly left his lover’s embrace, gently taking a pouting Feng Xin from Quan Yi Zhen. “Alright. Make sure to buy lots!”

“I want fried chicken!” Feng Xin called out of nowhere.

Both adults: “…”

Feng Xin, “What the fuck? Who said babies can’t eat fried chicken?”

“…”

The thing was though, we haven’t said anything.

Feng Xin was about to swear up another storm when his first words died in his throat, unhappy gurgling escaping his mouth instead. Upon noticing his predicament, tears started to pool in his eyes and baby Feng Xin proceeded to summon a wailing storm.

“They must be really hungry. Hurry up and get some milk.” Xie Lian then sighed mentally.

Quan Yi Zhen gratefully took up the task and bolted out of the manor, leaving behind his crying colleagues with no remorse. When he left, Xie Lian turned to sigh again at the crying babies still tied securely by Ruoye. Some were beginning to quiet down, too spent to cry anymore before turning back to Hua Cheng with the two babies in hand. “Were you contacting someone?”

“En, just calling for extra help,” he smiled while dropping his arms to his side.

Soon, a new figure appeared in the room, silent steps bringing in a familiar handsome face into the room. Surprise flashed over Xie Lian’s face as he waved for him to come over with a grin. “Yin Yu! You’re alright!”

Yin Yu bowed his head in greeting, though Xie Lian caught the faintest trace of a smile lingering on his lips. Ever since that incident with Jun Wu, Yin Yu had only been an empty shell without a soul, and he knew Quan Yi Zhen had been trying to help him recover, but –

“You succeeded!”

“Mm, we did. We finally found his soul,” Hua Cheng stood behind him as they smiled at the quiet former Martial God of the West. “Just in time as well.” Unwilling to dwell on the topic any longer, he immediately ordered, “Can you start baby-proofing the manor? As you can see,” he swept an arm out at the tear-stained babies, “Your old colleagues are a little… occupied.”

Confusion danced in his peach blossom shaped eyes, sharp and dark that were curtained by falling ebony locks. Truly a silent handsome man. He bowed his head in acknowledgement at the order.

“I’ll help!” Xie Lian exclaimed, thrusting the pair of old acquaintances into Hua Cheng’s arms.

The demon stared down at the babies who silently stared back up at him. He, the feared Crimson Rain Sought Flower, one of the Four Great Calamities, an infamous Devastation-class Demon in the Ghost World, a Supreme Demon King, also lord of Ghost City! ...Was now reduced to a mere babysitter. Of Heavenly Officials no less.

“Cry and I will drop you.”

“Do it. I dare you,” Mu Qing huffed with a roll of his eyes.

“Oh, so you can speak?” Hua Cheng raised the baby higher when a gurgling baby Feng Xin was patting his face while slung on his back. “Stop that!” But baby Feng Xin only exploded into a fit of mumbling giggles.

“Yes, I can,” Mu Qing rolled his eyes again.

The air between them was thick, heavily laced with an unshakable dominance. Hua Cheng’s fingers gripped tightly onto him, contemplating to actually drop him or not. Mu Qing’s face let out a smile as victorious as a baby could do when an evil grin slowly spread across the Demon King’s shadowed countenance, a bright orb gleaming.

“What are you doing? Don’t you – Ahhhh!”

A rush of wind blew in his ears as gravity mercilessly pulled him down, uncaring if he was a baby or not.

“Ahh, oop!” A low chuckle sounded at the back of Hua Cheng’s throat as he quickly caught onto the dropped baby, taking dark satisfaction at seeing the pale face, panic stricken Mu Qing. Baby Feng Xin was saying incoherent words, his slaps getting harder as though he disapproved of his actions. “Stop that!” Didn’t these two hate each other?

At his anger, Mu Qing’s jutted lips started to tremble, eliciting a wave of panic through Hua Cheng.

“Oh no. No. No no no -!”

“Waaaaaaahhhhhh!”

“Arghh…”

“…Waaaahhhhh!”

“Not you too!”

‘Why are they tag teaming on me!’

Hua Cheng grumbled under his breath under the tag team assault by his old acquaintances, crumbling under the pressure. “Okay, okay. I’m sorry. Stop crying.” Just as he said that, as though the pair of generals had colluded beforehand, they simultaneously paused their crying, the reprieve extremely short and fleeting, because they then proceeded to rub their snot-laced faces against his exquisite crimson robes.

Hua Cheng: “…”

Unbeknownst to Xie Lian of the battle of dominance, he was working hard with Yin Yu in baby-proofing the manor by first wrapping up the corners of the furniture. Next to him, Yin Yu was tearing strips and strips of old cloth, passing them to him to bundle up and press against the corners while Yin Yu then tried tying it to the furniture. When that was done, they pushed the table in the hall to the side and then proceeded to remove every sharp object in the main hall, every ceramic and glass items displayed while also taking off the decorative cloths that were laid across the tables where small grabby hands could potentially grip and pull, and cause mayhem. Got to save his lover from suffering a loss after all!

Xie Lian walked past a slightly panicking Hua Cheng with a tower of goods in his arms, perfectly balanced and on steady feet, towards the side room with Yin Yu close behind with a smaller tower of items. The Supreme Demon watched in horror as Xie Lian went walked away silently, sparing not even a glance at his poor husband (to-be!). Baby Mu Qing and baby Feng Xin snickered, each patting either side of his cheeks unhelpfully.

When Xie Lian walked back into the main hall, he noticed the softer cries and the faint resemblance of peace in Paradise Manor. Yin Yu stood quietly behind him, watching the now sobbing babies warily.

“Maybe we could get something to fence them in?” Xie Lian suggested.

“I think we have some wood leftover from when we were building the garden for QianDeng Temple. We could use that,” Yin Yu offered.

“Let’s use that then.”

At the sound of their voices, Hua Cheng immediately yelled, running up to them with behaving baby generals. “Wait! I’ll go!”

“Oh, it’s too much work, San Lang. I can do it,” Xie Lian said.

“No, no. It’s not a trouble at all. Let me help too, ge ge.”

Xie Lian hesitated, thinking that it was probably better Hua Cheng did do it. The man was better at carpentry and housework than him. “All... right. Then I'll look after the babies.”

Hua Cheng passed the babies over to Yin Yu, eliciting a confused response from Xie Lian. He smiled a smile void of mirth. It was more strained, laced with absolute relief. “Then I'll go make a fence. But before that, I think you need to eat something first.”

Xie Lian cried out in surprise when he was suddenly picked up and disappeared in a trail of silver butterflies. Back in the kitchen, he was already seated on a smooth lacquered chair. In front of him was a plate of steamed buns, still warm to the touch.

“Eat first, ge ge.”

Despite not having a mortal body anymore, he would still eat food from time to time, a habit he couldn’t really forego, especially if it was Hua Cheng’s buns.

“Will you eat as well?”

Hua Cheng took a bite of a steamed bun. “Yeah. Does it taste good?”

“It does! Of course, it does. Anything San Lang cooks always tastes so good.” Xie Lian was beaming, grinning wider with every bite of the bun, almost moaning at the taste. Flavours tickled his tastebuds and he quickly ate another.

A deep black eye watched him wordlessly, the dark depths sparkling bright in the dim kitchen, slender fingers lifting the bun to his lips slowly while he savoured the moment. It wasn’t long after that Xie Lian stood up in a hurry.

Hua Cheng stood up too and popped the remaining bun into his mouth. A hand then raised, fingers cloaked by a napkin and gently wiped the sauce soiling the corners of Xie Lian’s lips away. Folding the napkin, he patted down on his lips, alluringly red and captivating. He watched silently, time seemingly congealed at that moment as the hand holding the napkin froze near the cheeks. The lips pressed tightly together in a relaxed manner and parted just as slow and antagonising, glistening lightly with the sleek moisture of his saliva that he could just feel its caress upon his own.

A burning desire erupted from within, the heat burning at his skin. A pink tongue crept out, slowly tracing the bottom lip before sneaking back in and a fair finger tilted his head up by the chin.

“Like what you see?”

A deep whispered murmur, warm soft breaths kissing his parted lips. Their noses touched, strands of stray locks sliding down their cheeks in a tease. The finger fell to trace the muscular neck with just the gentle dip of a dragonfly’s wings, the same tongue stretching out to lick at his bottom lip and the distance between them shortened. Pearly white teeth replaced the tongue, nibbling and sucking, when the mouth tugged itself into a satisfying lopsided smile at the sharp fingers digging into his waist. Waves of lust trailed a blaze in his body, pooling deep in his stomach with a hard presence of arousal. All traces of sanity and logic melted into a puddle. An almost animalistic growl ripped from his throat, the vibrations clear under those fair fingers resting upon his neck.

And then he dove in, overwhelmed by the heavy wave of possessive want. He moulded their lips together into a familiar rhythm of tongues thrusting slick and wet, biting and sucking fervently in desire, when hands suddenly pushed lightly at his chest, forcing them to part.

Hua Cheng gazed down at Xie Lian, eye glazing over in a primal need at the sight of swollen lips, redder than before and slick with his taste.

“The babies –”

“Can wait.” Hua Cheng’s voice was no longer the smooth, gentle tone, warm and charismatic. It was deeper, low, demonic. A reminder that his lover was anything but a human; a demon that could wreck him.

Hua Cheng growled, “Don’t go.”

And then he pulled the smaller male up, bruising their lips into a deeper kiss, rougher with teeth grinding and saliva dripping down the corners. Pale large hands grasped onto the silky dark locks, pulling at the hips until there was not even a gap between them, until he made sure his lover was aware of the hard desire he had on him, the pure unadulterated lust sinking into his soul.

Xie Lian whimpered when Hua Cheng tore himself away from his mouth, mercilessly tugging and sucking at his lower lip; a returned treatment for before. His hand impatiently yanked at the collar, exposing fair skin under the shadows. His fingers curled, digging deep into the body as he sunk his teeth into the flesh, biting and sucked hard, leaving a trail of bruises down to his chest, next to fading love marks of days before.

“Ah, ah... San Lang!”

A hand snaked up his neck while the other tugged at his hair, and Hua Cheng reluctantly released his mouth from the skin with a wet pop. His gaze shifted from his art when he felt the cold brush of wind against his collarbone. A gasp escaped his parted lips, breathy and heavy, when Xie Lian latched himself onto the crook of his neck, kissing, biting and sucking, before licking at them.

“Ge –”

“Mmm,” Xie Lian hummed, face painted with a furious blush despite the utter familiarity of the actions. His hands kneaded at the muscular shoulders, thumbing the sides of the neck in a slow, sensual motion as he kissed up his throat, licking away at the heated sweat that beaded upon that snowy white skin.

“Ge – !”

It was at this moment a sharp wail suddenly pierced their minds, shocking them from the passionate bubble that had enveloped them. They stared at each other, the cries loud and clear in the kitchen. Hua Cheng drank in the sight of a dishevelled god, of messy hair and swollen lips, sprawled across the dining table with exposed skin, the robes draping off his shoulder in a teasing seduction. Pride welled up in him at the love bites that trailed on his body, a display of that Xie Lian was his and his alone. To dirty and to love, to possess and devour.

And he remembered a time when he would have apologised for this.

But not anymore.

Leaning forward and blatantly ignoring the cries, he cupped Xie Lian’s cheeks and tugged him into another kiss, this time softer and gentler, filled with all the love he could possibly give, and the former crown prince drank it all in greedily.

“There’s going to be murder if they don’t shut up,” Hua Cheng growled when they parted, just far enough that his lips murmured the words against the other’s. The unsatisfied desire curled in his stomach, an agony he didn’t want to bear.

Xie Lian tugged at the braid with the red pearl. “You can’t, San Lang. The world will riot.”

“They can go to hell,” he grumbled, dropping to his knees and buried his face into Xie Lian’s lap, arms winding around that thin waist like a little depressed child.

“I promised you tonight, didn’t I?” Xie Lian kissed the crown of his head and stroked the hair.

“Really, ge ge? Weren’t you worried before?” San Lang tilted his head to pout up at Xie Lian.

Xie Lian lovingly caressed his cheeks, gently trailing his fingers down the forehead, to the black eyepatch and the jaw. “Yes, I promise. But you got to build the fence first,” he added quickly as an afterthought.

Hua Cheng immediately jumped to his feet, gaze twinkling in excitement. His hands worked to right his lover’s clothes, covering his bruised skin properly, though one peeked out from the collar. Xie Lian returned the gesture with his clothes. “I'll build the fence now. It won’t take long.”

With one last deep kiss with the symphonies of tears in the background, Hua Cheng disappeared from the kitchen. A smile lingered on Xie Lian’s face while he fixed his hair. Grabbing another steamed bun, he left the place as well.

Upon re-entering the main hall, he closed all the connecting doors and then looked back at Ruoye, patting the trembling, equally sobbing cloth with a hand. “Thank you, Ruoye. You've worked hard.”

The silk rubbed itself against his open palm, the cloth slightly damp and still vibrating as though it was aggrieved by its current situation. Majority of its body was covered in drool, snot and tears.

“It’ll be over soon. San Lang’s gonna be ready with the fence soon.”

 He really wanted to release them, but thinking how they'll run around the main hall where there were steps leading to the black jade futon with more dark wood furnishings decorated the area, he already felt tired at the thought. He walked around his colleagues, some uttering words amidst themselves with the short recovery of their spiritual energy, a mist of confusion and panic wafting like a predator. Until he spotted one particular baby. It was odd; one arm looked limp, seemingly broken while a leg was bent in a painful manner. What made it odder was the form changing: with every small puff of white cloud, it would transform into a girl, feminine features of large doe eyes, innocent and pure, with soft lips painted on a rounder face and a smaller frame, but when the clouds dispersed once more, there would be a baby boy, wielding sharper features with charming eyes and elegant eyebrows where a playful smile graced his lips.

Xie Lian paused. Did that baby have that much spiritual energy? Seeing the transforming baby brought about old memories of the former Wind Master and a forlorn smile appeared.

‘It would be great if Shi Qing Xuan was here. I think he’ll enjoy this.’

Bang!

The main doors to Paradise Manor unexpectedly slammed open and in came Quan Yi Zhen with a heavy sack on his back, the ends tied around his neck. Sweat glistened on his skin, streaking down his forehead to finally kiss the floor with a drip.

“Your highness, I bought all that I could buy.” He wasn’t even panting when he returned. “I tried finding more but the shops started chasing me out!”

At seeing his return, the babies had quietened down, staring at him with hopeful, teary eyes.

“We’ll feed them now.”

Quan Yi Zhen carefully set the sack on the floor, the cloth unfurling to reveal ceramic bottles upon ceramic bottles stacked atop each other.

“If it’s not enough, I can catch some cows!”

Laughter rang when an image of the martial god running in the fields trying to catch milk cows appeared in Xie Lian’s mind. “It’s alright. This should be enough!”

They grabbed a bottle each, uncorking it as they stared at the expectant babies. They stared back.

“Qi Ying?”

“Yes?”

“Do you know how to feed babies?”

“How am I supposed to know!? I thought you knew how!”

“I've never had to care for a baby before! A child, yes. But not... this.”

“I only know how to fight! Oh, no.”

Xie Lian looked over at Quan Yi Zhen trembling. Were those... tears? ‘Oh, gods and Buddha’s. Please bless us in our current...’ And his thoughts ended there.

Weren’t the gods sitting right there before him?

Xie Lian, “...”

“Ge ge, why are you standing there?”

Xie Lian spun on his heel, as though he just met his saviour. “San Lang! Do you know how to feed babies?”

“Ah,” Hua Cheng replied as he hefted planks of finished wood into the room with Yin Yu in tow, still fastened with the slings. Baby Mu Qing and baby Feng Xin were oddly behaving. Probably because of E-Ming’s presence whose lone eye was curved in a crescent moon in bliss. He settled the wood on the ground. “You'll need a feeding bottle to feed them. I should have one lying around. Somewhere...”

He started rummaging around the main hall, not finding it anywhere.

“Maybe in the side room?” Xie Lian piped up. “I did move a lot of your things there.”

Hua Cheng nodded and left for the next room, returning soon after with a terracotta bottle in his hand. It was fitted with a pouring spout, small enough for the babies and a handle on the side to hold. “Here, ge ge.”

“Thank you, San Lang. You’re a lifesaver.”

The compliment tugged at his lips. “It’s nothing. Just some trash that I picked up for fun many decades ago.”

Xie Lian took the bottle and quickly washed it thoroughly in the kitchen. When he came back, there was already a meter-tall fence surrounding the babies built in the main hall, boxing them in. He called out to Ruoye who happily flew towards him and wrapped itself around his arm whilst still shaking like a leaf. Whispering it a word of thanks and affectionately rubbing it, Xie Lian hurried back to Quan Yi Zhen who was cradling the milk bottles.

Yin Yu came over, sitting before Xie Lian and holding baby Mu Qing and baby Feng Xin in each arm, blatantly ignoring Quan Yi Zhen’s “Shi-xiong!”

It’s perfectly fine to play favouritism, right? His old friends get to go first.

Quan Yi Zhen carefully poured the milk into the feeding bottle with a pout at being ignored, which Xie Lian then held while his gaze darted between the two generals.

But who first?

Baby Mu Qing, seeing the hesitation, stretched out his little arms, gurgling in dissatisfaction.

Baby Mu Qing first it was.

Lifting the feeding bottle, Xie Lian carefully fed baby Mu Qing, his mouth latched onto the spout as the milk slowly poured out bit by bit while baby Feng Xin grumbled in dissatisfaction, swatting at baby Mu Qing while he fed. Periodically, Xie Lian would remove the stout so baby Mu Qing could fully swallow the milk before continuing until it refused anymore. Immediately after, Xie Lian repeated the same actions with baby Feng Xin. Of course, baby Mu Qing returned the favour of swatting him too.

When he was done, he noticed that both the generals were getting sleepy.

“Your highness, let me.” Yin Yu offered, taking the feeding bottle away from Xie Lian, who in turn took hold of both babies into his arms.

When Yin Yu stood up, Xie Lian said, “Oh, I forgot to wipe the stout just now. Remember to wipe it after feeding each baby.”

Probably shouldn't ever mention of their indirect kiss ever too, Xie Lian noted mentally.

Yin Yu nodded, walking away with Quan Yi Zhen in tow. Xie Lian began absentmindedly patting both babies on their backs as they leaned against his chest with chins on his shoulders.

“Ge ge, be careful. They might vomit on you,” Hua Cheng appeared and placed a cloth between the chins and shoulders while Xie Lian continued patting them. Almost as if on cue, baby Mu Qing and baby Feng Xin burped, bits of white liquid filled with bubbles escaping and falling onto the cloth. Hua Cheng carefully wiped their mouths clean as they descended into a sweet slumber.

He turned to catch Xie Lian’s gaze, full of tender love, and he leaned forward to peck his cheek before kissing him on the lips, lingering a little longer for that bit more of warmth.

And so the night went on.

Each baby was fed until they were all full, patted till they burped and cleaned, and they fell asleep all over the makeshift pen. Pillows, lots and lots of pillows and thick blankets were brought out to lay out on the ground, shifting the little ones until they were settled nicely and comfortably. Well, Yin Yu and Quan Yi Zhen did the work; Xie Lian was still stubbornly carrying the baby generals in his arms (since he doesn’t get this chance very often!), secured in the slings while Hua Cheng rubbed his back.

Most of the milk was used up, with only a few bottles remaining. The pair of Shi-xiong and Shi-di leaned against a wall, facing the sleeping babies with heavy eyelids. Taking care of babies tired them out even more than cultivating!

“Put them down, ge ge. You're tiring yourself out,” Hua Cheng whispered, hands expertly kneading at the shoulder blades and back.

“Just a little longer,” Xie Lian whispered back, tenderly staring at the sleeping faces. Their lips were slightly parted, their breaths soft with cheeks flushing a light pink. “They’re quite adorable like this.”

Hua Cheng, “I agree.”

Xie Lian turned his head to catch Hua Cheng’s gaze on him and whispered, “I meant the babies.”

“Hmm? Oh, yeah. They are too I guess.” Hua Cheng nuzzled Xie Lian’s cheek with his own. “When am I going to get rewarded ah, ge ge?”

Xie Lian blushed at the tone of his whisper and the breath tickling his ear. Lifting a hand, he brushed a lock of hair behind his ear before resting it on Hua Cheng’s head. He kissed his forehead and gently said into the pale skin, “Alright then, San Lang. You'll have me whole night long. I am yours hereafter.”

Hua Cheng’s grip tightened and Xie Lian had to softly placate him to let go, but the man didn’t want to let go until, “Would you rather I bring Mu Qing and Feng Xin together with us?”

Hua Cheng froze at the thought.

As Xie Lian stood up, stretching his numb muscles as the blood suddenly found bigger pathways to flow, prickling his nerves, Hua Cheng mumbled under his breath, “I wouldn’t mind if it was our kid...”

“Hmm? Did you say something, San Lang?”

“No, no. I didn’t. Are you ready?”

Xie Lian fluffed one of the pillows and gingerly set the babies down to lie together. They squirmed a little at the lack of warmth, faces twisting to cry when they turned over into a comfortable position and snuggled deeper into the corner of the blanket he tucked over them. “Goodnight,” he whispered and stood up.

“Okay, San –” His words were swallowed with the flash of silver and he felt gravity pull at him as he was dropped onto the large bed in the bedroom chamber. The room was dark, illuminated only by the pale light of the crescent moon by the window. A silver butterfly fluttered, landing towards a candle and it abruptly burst into flames, casting a warm glow on their silhouettes.

With a chuckle, Xie Lian smiled and snaked his arms around Hua Cheng’s neck who slowly crawled closer like a predator, eyes sparkling with desire at its cornered prey; an unshakable pride. “Miss me that much?”

Hua Cheng growled at the teasing tone in his voice. With a knee between Xie Lian’s legs, he moved his head closer to his, trapping the man with his arms. Xie Lian tilted his head to receive the kiss, only to whimper in confusion when Hua Cheng continued on his trail to stop by the flower behind his ear. He breathed in, taking in the still sweet scent of the full bloom.

“You like teasing me, don't you?”

Xie Lian squirmed at the tone. Deep. Dark.  Demonic. A tone that promised a lot of things he could only fulfil in the bedroom, in their sanctuary; of unspeakable pleasure that burned every inch of his skin, begging, begging for that release, a release he’d receive on command.

A shiver tore through his body when expert hands began to undress him in a slow crawl, tracing the exposed skin with light caresses. There was a nibble on his ear before the lips dragged its tongue down the curve, stopping by the earlobe, licking and sucking. Equally slow. Equally torturous. Xie Lian moaned at the mix of hot saliva and cold caresses, his body flushing red at the treatment.

“San Lang...”

Hua Cheng shushed him, a hand moving to cover Xie Lian’s eyes, plunging him into further darkness as lips drew a blazing trail on his skin. His other hand sunk into the clothes, pushing them away and the fingers rubbed against the exposed shoulder, letting the robe fall off.

Xie Lian carefully raised his hands, feeling for Hua Cheng in the dark. At the soft touch of his robes, he then confidently let them roam, caressing the neck, his chest, the abdomen... until he felt the belt around the waist. Fingers tugged at the clothes, scrambling to pull it off when Hua Cheng removed his hand and instantly replaced it with a silk cloth, tying it behind his head.

“Why’d you stop? Did I allow you to stop?”

His voice was alluring, like a deadly flower that shines in the dark but poisons you at the touch. Addictive, seductive. Xie Lian shuddered, a gasp and a moan falling when teeth sunk into his neck, sharp canines scratching against the tender skin.

He moaned louder when a hand cupped his lower region, legs instinctively bending at the knees and spreading wider. He quickly unfastened Hua Cheng’s belt, letting the robes cascade freely. He couldn’t see, but he remembered every contour of that body, every small crevice and dips that his hands caressed, that his lips kissed before and when that body leaned into his, he could feel the growing arousal rubbing against his and his hips canted sweetly forward on reflex.

“We’ll take it slow tonight,” Hua Cheng mumbled near his ear, pulling his hips back and Xie Lian whines in slight objection, wrapping his arms around his neck. “No rush, ge ge. You’re mine tonight.”

Xie Lian raised his head and nipped at his neck, hands trailing down the spine and pushed the robes away, causing them to pool around the middle of his back, halting on their journey down by the sleeves on his arms. Hua Cheng pressed down on him once more, hips grinding against each other, causing Xie Lian’s moans to grow in number, crying for more before devouring the sounds with a kiss, forcing him into submission as their minds were lost in the wet slide of tongues and raw hunger.

“More? You want more?” Hua Cheng asked, lifting both of Xie Lian’s arms above his head and held it there with a hand. “Tell me.”

“I – I...” Teeth grazed against his neck, the canines especially sharp, kisses especially hot with the heightened senses. “San Lang... I-I want – nnngh...”

“You gotta use you mouth, your highness.”

Xie Lian could feel his smirk against his skin as his head thrashed left and right, panting at feeling the tongue trailing so close to his clothed erection where his other hand teased. His mind was in a haze, all he wanted was more, more and more warmth, for his heat to press inside him, to make him tremble and twitch. “I want you. I want you in me,” he breathed out, grinding harder, the increased friction causing small waves of pleasure to roll. Low chuckles sounded next to his ear and he whimpered at the absence of his body. A demand.

“Show me.”

In a surge of confidence dancing with lustful pants, Xie Lian’s tugged his hands out of Hua Cheng’s loosening grip and pushed at his shoulder, effortlessly flipping their positions. He closed his eyes behind the blindfold and calloused hands began to worship the man like the Supreme Demon demanded. He kissed those soft lips, drawing a line down to the defined jaw before scouring every inch of the body with practiced ease with wet licks while his hips rolled forward and fingers greedily kneaded onto the hard muscles.

Hua Cheng watched with a heated desire in his gaze, the feral lust burning hotter the more he kissed, the more he marked; The lower he went.

“Your highness...” he moaned and arched his body into the touch massaging his still clothed erection.

They faintly registered the sudden crack of tears wailing in the night, a distant cry lost in their hazy passion. And they continued without a pause.

Xie Lian’s lips paused at the hem of the pants, the musky scent assaulting his senses while his hand continued massaging the hard muscle, an uncomfortable desire pulsing in his arousal. His hands spread to the side, sliding down the smooth skin to his bottom while he bit onto the hem, tugging it down.

“Waaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!”

A sharper, louder cry shook the walls, shocking even Xie Lian. The man jumped in fright, releasing his hold and touch on Hua Cheng, head swivelling around to stare at the direction of the main hall.

“I'm going to murder them.”

“No! San Lang, don’t!” Xie Lian hurriedly yanked the blindfold down, ignoring it as it rested on his collarbone and turned back to Hua Cheng. His consequent words died in his throat, suddenly dry and parched. The devilish man himself stared back, silky raven strands cascading before his face, the murderous aura sharp and overbearing. He was still lying on the bed, only upright with his elbows where the layers of crimson and white robes pooled halfway down, revealing skin of snowy white that trailed down to the lowered pants, the erection partly clear and glistening for him to see. From where it hadn’t dried were sleek shimmers of his saliva having tasted the sweat on the skin and traced the contours. The scene brought shivers down his spine, the desire for the man growing, hard and uncomfortably strained in his pants. It was a dark seductive picture, where the man in focus commanded an unyielding power, holding the pride he carried for countless deaths on his hands while holding the wanton desire for only one man.

Hua Cheng glowered him, inattentive to the worship shining in Xie Lian’s eyes, his frosty aura causing the temperature in the room to drop by tens of degrees. His own gaze was instead locked on his lover’s body, counting every mark of his he placed, the messy appearance of drooping robes filling his murderous one. His. It was all his.

And he wanted to consume, take it all in with the feral desire snapping back and forth, but –

Xie Lian climbed back onto the bed, slow and careful, catching the one eye with his as he did. He straddled the man, nestling his ass onto the erection and leaned to kiss the tightly pursed lips, coaxing them open with gentle nips and sucks of his lips. Hua Cheng responded immediately. A hand flew to grip Xie Lian's hair, harshly pulling him down to deepen the kiss. Hua Cheng shifted to fully lie back down on the bed, arm snaking to grope at the raised round ass and Xie Lian followed in acquiescence, shifting higher and closer. The room was filled with breathless moans and unsatisfied growls as lips mashed in perfect harmony, with the battle of tongues and relentless dominance.

Nails dug deep into fair skin, marks riddled the pale skin. Their hands roamed wildly, the fire burning in them steadily growing.

“Waaaaahhhhhhhh...!!”

The one dark eye snapped open, the dimmed killing intent flashing with renewed thirst when his partner froze in the kidd. The feral growl rumbled deep in his chest, the vibrations running along Xie Lian’s skin and into his nerves when the furious man pulled away and wrapped his arms around him in a tight possessive squeeze. “I'm going to fucking murder them.”

His erection pressed uncomfortably in his pants, aching for that pleasurable comfort, but the crying grew in volume, shattering the passionate haze they created.

Xie Lian dropped his head onto the bare chest with a dejected sigh. Even he suddenly lost the mood for a sex filled night. While absentmindedly drawing circles with a finger on the skin, he snuggled into the embrace and muttered, “I'll go see what’s wrong.”

“No,” Hua Cheng growled, squeezing him tighter.

Xie Lian didn’t reply, tacitly understanding his lover’s raging bloodlust. Instead, his finger continued to draw circles with a pout, sensing the rise and fall of his strong chest. Ghosts didn’t need to breathe but he had realised later that the man still held the habits of when he was alive, of calming his bloodlust with controlled breaths for when he couldn’t kill. Pretty cute, if he was being honest.

“Ge ge,” the voice was strained and Xie Lian hummed in a questioning reply. “Let’s not have babies.” He quickly corrected, “Let’s get married but we’re not having babies.”

Xie Lian couldn’t help but laugh at the request, the mirth a sparkling magical powder that eased his desire for blood, for murder. Scooting up to nuzzle Hua Cheng’s neck, he breathed out, “Yes.”

Hua Cheng quirked a brow and glanced down. “Yes to marrying me or yes to not having babies?”

“Yes,” Xie Lian laughed a bellyful of joy, burying himself deeper into the embrace.

Hua Cheng let out a sound of confusion before finding himself infected with the laughter. He dropped the subject and kissed the crown of his head, murmuring, “I love you.”

Xie Lian preened under the affection. “Mm, I know. I love you too.”

They both pointedly ignored the crying, thinking that either Martial Gods of the West, former or not, could handle it. They lied there on the bed, robes still untouched and pooled on ruffled sheets, while basking in the silent comfort of their love.

That was... until a hesitant knock rapped against the door.

And the bloodlust instantly returned, sharp and piercing like the scimitar he wield. “You have to the count of three to explain!”

From the other side of the door came Quan Yi Zhen’s trembling voice. “I... I...”

“One.” He growled, low and threatening.

“Y-Your highness!”

“Two!”

“The babies aren’t hungry and I don’t know what else to do!” Quan Yi Zhen rushed the words out of his mouth in a string of panic.

Xie Lian could hear the tears in that voice and he looked up at Hua Cheng shaking with fury. “Let’s go see what’s wrong?”

Hua Cheng held his stare, unwilling to back down, but when those pair of red swollen lips, courtesy of him, jutted out into a wronged pout and large tender eyes blinking slowly at him, he found the feral instinct waning. He sighed with a grumble, tearing his eyes away and said, “Alright...”

And so, they stood up to make themselves proper when Hua Cheng stripped him bare, peeling the robes off his body with such care that made Xie Lian flush. He was left in only the pants that hung low on his hips. “San Lang?”

“You’re not going out like that,” he growled lightly before simply grabbing a pair of his own robes and Xie Lian quickly looked at his robes, scanning over the material when he caught the holes riddling his robes. They were torn by the sharp nails, strong fingers, forgotten in their lust.

Hua Cheng then gingerly dressed Xie Lian in it.

With every layer, he would tease the god, his actions so flirtatious and sensual that Xie Lian’s cock twitched in anticipation. From licking his neck to trailing kisses across his jaw, cold hands would press into his muscles as the silk nestled on his body, running a delightful shudder in his body. When Hua Cheng was done, he stepped back to admire his work, the crying babies faint in the background. The Flower Crown Martial God that always looked heavenly in white was especially ravishing in that fiery red, burning brighter with the orange candle glow, reminding him of the night back at the mountain where his highness was dressed in the auspicious red wedding robes, a veil over his head...

Xie Lian chuckled, adoring the new look. The robes were slightly long, trailing on the ground but they were soft, and he sighed happily when he breathed in, his senses filled completely with Hua Cheng’s scent.

After he helped right Hua Cheng’s robes, they walked out of the chamber and bumped into a whimpering Quan Yi Zhen by the door, hair messier than before and robes rather wrinkled. If he thought the red robes on Xie Lian were strange, he didn’t dare comment.

“They’re all monsters! They won’t stop crying!”

The esteemed martial god, a man of strength and confidence, reduced to... this.

“Hey now, I think real monsters might be offended by that,” Hua Cheng smiled.

“Crimson Rain Sought Flower, I'm not joking! I rather take ten of you on than babysit babies ever again!”

“Oh? Are you calling me weak?”

Quan Yi Zhen hurriedly backpedalled. “N-No! I'm not! It just means I rather get thrashed by you!”

Hua Cheng snorted, placing an arm around Xie Lian’s shoulders as he led them out. “Then a one of me is enough. No need for ten.”

Quan Yi Zhen nodded his head in eager agreement and followed them like a puppy while Xie Lian shook his head helplessly with a smile.

Out in the main hall, Yin Yu was frantically trying to placate the babies but they were having none of it, throwing whatever pillows they got a hold on at him. Despite being babies, they were still heavenly officials of their own right, and those martial god’s pillow attacks hurt.

“What's wrong? Weren’t they sleeping peacefully just now?”

“I'm not sure! One of them suddenly woke up crying and he wasn't hungry! He made the other babies start crying!” Quan Yi Zhen explained, having no shame in hiding behind the couple, head sticking out a little to glare at the small monstrosities of his colleagues.

“Show me.”

They carefully wadded through the throng of babies until they reached that one particular baby, surprising Xie Lian. It was that one baby that reminded him of Shi Qing Xuan, where an arm and leg seemed broken, and that theory held true. They were broken. The baby wailed and thrashed about, but those two limbs remained unmoving.

“Did any of them speak?” Maybe there were a few that had spiritual energy to use!

“No. I tried that too. All they did was cry and smother snot all over me.”

On that note, Hua Cheng pulled Xie Lian away and stood outside the fence, far from the snot-laced individuals.

“If he’s not hungry, maybe they want some toys?” Xie Lian pondered out loud, finding no fault in that action.

“I don’t have toys in my manor.” Hua Cheng frowned, staring intently at the baby.

“I'll... go up to see if there are toys for them then. They should have some things they like in their own palaces,” Xie Lian sighed. “Qi Ying, come with me.”

Going up naturally meant returning to the Heavenly Court. And so they did.

They scoured every inch of the hundreds of palaces, looking for things that won’t break or stab. It was easier for the literature gods, with smaller trinkets and pouches, but for the martial gods, it seemed like they all fancied their stabby blades. When they were finally done, the sun had already started waving from across the horizon, a small peek from the clouds and staining it pink before the colours darkened into warmer hues.

Yet, when the pair descended into Ghost City with sacks of toys, there was a distinctive lack of crying. The doors slid open silently and they were met with an unthinkable sight. The babies were all sleeping soundly and peacefully in the pen. Frozen by the door, dawn stretching their shadows long into the manor, Xie Lian and Quan Yi Zhen saw the gentle flaps of silver wings drifting across the babies, a cloud of shimmering light, tender and mellow in the darkness. Yin Yu sat by the wall, looking exceptionally tired and grateful for the reprieve. Xie Lian looked over to the man lying across the black jade futon, crimson robes spread across the furniture, a teasing smile on that handsome face and head held up by his knuckles. “Ge ge, you’re back. Welcome home.”

Xie Lian was filled with warmth at the words. Smilingly, he said, “Mm, I’m home.” The shared a warm smile, unspoken words shining in their gazes before he turned to the pen. “This…”

Hua Cheng smiled and gestured at the sleeping babies before him. With his higher position above the steps, he looked exactly like a father watching over his little minions. “Oh, this? It’s a little something I just learned just now.”

Just as he said that, a baby kicked his legs, squirming in his sleep and a sock slipped from her tiny feet. As though she was electrocuted by the sudden cold on her foot, the baby woke up, water immediately pooling in her eyes. She sniffled and sobbed, mouth falling open to cry when there was a rush of wind and a shadow crouching before her. Xie Lian and Quan Yi Zhen watched in amazement, mouth parting open, when Hua Cheng appeared by the baby and quickly put the sock back on. The baby, comforted by the returning warmth of its own sock, calmed and drifted back into sleep.

Hua Cheng stood up and walked over to his stunned lover, effortlessly taking the sack from his hands and slung it over his shoulder. He grabbed Xie Lian’s hand with the other and tugged him onto the black jade futon to rest. On the way, Xie Lian saw a large figure donned fully in black sitting in a corner, a small baby in his arms.

“Why is he…”

“I called him over to take care of his own mess,” Hua Cheng replied lightly.

“But…”

“That baby is your friend,” Hua Cheng laid back down in the same position on the futon, sack of toys on the floor and played with Xie Lian’s hair.

Xie Lian observed the baby closely. Really, only one person came into mind. “Shi Qing Xuan?”

Hearing his name being called, the baby with the broken limbs started to wiggle in He Xuan’s embrace and the Supreme Demon raised his head to glare at Xie Lian while he awkwardly tried to shift Shi Qing Xuan into a more comfortable position.

If he wakes up, I’m going to eat you. Was what Xie Lian felt from that glare, but he must have just been dreaming.

“Ge…”

It wasn’t Hua Cheng who spoke, no. Everyone had stiffened at the voice, so soft, so sad, so frightened that it tugged at Xie Lian’s heartstrings. He Xuan’s gaze was hard, body tense. He slowly retracted his glare and looked at the baby – no, the man he destroyed. Cradling him tighter, he brought the small one higher and placed his forehead against his, mutterings words under his breath with trembling shoulders, hoping that that could at least chase the nightmare away.

Turning his head back to Hua Cheng, Xie Lian frowned and buried himself deeper into his arms, softly mumbling, “How did Shi Qing Xuan turn into a baby? He wasn’t at the Heavenly Court?”

Hua Cheng hummed nonchalantly, listening to the declining voice while he twirled the hair between his fingers. “I don’t know. He wouldn’t tell. But he must have lent some spiritual energy to him in the first place.” Pulling Xie Lian closer, he led him to lie in his embrace and rubbed soothing circles on his back. “Sleep first, ge ge. It’s already morning.”

“Huh? Oh… but…”

Long fingers swept over his eyes and Hua Cheng hushed his lover while scooting closer and kissed his hair. “Goodnight, ge ge.”

There was no room for protest. An acquiescent caress of his voice, humming through to his heart. The main hall descended into silence. Silver butterflies still inaudibly fluttered above the babies with watchful eyes, the light almost a sweet twinkling in the dark before they gradually dispersed at the certain calm.

Quan Yi Zhen’s steps paused by Yin Yu, who peeked an eye open. “Shi-xiong,” he whispered, barely audible as though afraid.

Closing his eyes, Yin Yu relaxed against the wall and muttered, “Sleep.”

Seeing as he wasn’t avoided or thrown aside, Quan Yi Zhen happily took the seat next to him and laid his head against the wall, closing his eyes for finally a well-deserved sleep.

Outside, the blossoms danced, the field of flowers rustling, their petals twirling around the manor like a warm protection. The time passed by peacefully, the winds sang a tune of ease, of tender love and affection, of a moment of peace that they sought after a tiring day. Enveloped by a honey embrace, a ginger touch, or a heavy comfort past the years of suffering and pain misunderstandings, there was something beautiful drifting within the Paradise Manor, something that tugged at their lips in silent laughter.

Not a human, God, Buddha or ghost dared to disturb the peace that encased the hall, and it was when the sun rose past its zenith that a small whimper sounded. The blazing sun’s rays had begun to burn hotter, the air in enclosed in the hall boiling. With one cry, came another, and soon all there came groaning and complaints clicking across the room.

“The hell… why is your foot on my face?”

“Get off me! You’re heavy.”

“Ah… it’s so hot!”

Bleary eyes opened, some in confusion but mostly in annoyance.

“He-xiong!” A voice called out.

Xie Lian looked over at He Xuan’s direction, seeing an adult Shi Qing Xuan cradled in the ghost’s embrace. The voice might have sounded cheerful, but there was a tinge of sadness, a pain hidden in its depths. Shi Qing Xuan looked better than he did before, clothes a more refined cut, of cleaner fabric and his hair was combed neatly, unlike the nest when they reacquainted themselves. The other Supreme Demon shied away from Shi Qing Xuan’s touch, flashes of memories they shared playing in his mind.

Memories that weren’t his.

“He-xiong…”

Yet when he heard that voice call out a name, a name that was his, his tense shoulders relaxed ever so slightly, accepting of the touch Shi Qing Xuan laid on his arm.

Xie Lian’s attention was then torn away from the pair by the thundering clamour in the pen that was now destroyed and lying in splinters. Within the fencing laid all the Heavenly Officials, not as babies no. Long, fully grown limbs, large robes and sharper voices screaming at realising limbs of their colleagues strewn across their bodies.

“What the fuck! Why are you sleeping next to me!”

“Like I know! Who’d want to sleep with you!”

Xie Lian sighed as Feng Xin and Mu Qing broke out into a fight from having slept a little too-close-for-comfort next to each other. Horror drew on their faces at seeing the other’s face mere inches away before the first punch flew.

“Is it bad if I want to turn them into babies again?” he asked the man still leisurely holding him by the waist.

“Yes,” came the immediate reply as the grip tightened. His tone was flat, with no room for discussions, “No more babies.”

Xie Lian, “But they were quieter and obedient that way. We can’t watch them kill each other like this!”

Hua Cheng, “But I’d love to watch them kill each other.”

Xie Lian glanced at him from his lower position with a flat stare and in a vapid tone, he said, “Try again.”

The grin blossomed on Hua Cheng’s face, widening until it reached his eyes, ignoring the shrieking and fighting in his manor and he obediently said, “I won’t watch them kill each other.” And he then added, “But ge ge, you can’t possibly want babies, do you?”

“Why not? They’re cute.”

“They’re little demons.”

Xie Lian rolled his eyes. “And I’m in love with a Demon King.” Seeing Hua Cheng glow with pride, the man snuggled deeper into his embrace. “We’ll talk about it after our wedding.”

A loud crash thundered and there was a twitch in Hua Cheng’s smiling expression. He waved a hand and a silver butterfly flew out from his vambraces, zipping through the air and weaving through the noisy crowd in one straight line. Instantaneously at the sight of the silver stream, the hundreds of Heavenly Officials froze on the spot at vividly remembering just exactly where they were. Nervously, they all turned to the Supreme Demon King slowly. E-Ming that had been obediently staying calm by his side narrowed his eye, an aura of bloodlust consuming the Heavenly Officials.

“C-Crimson Rain Sought Flower, is - is there anything you want?” a braver Heavenly Official piped up, though his voice sounded more like a frightened squeak of a mouse.

None dared to lift their eyes to lay upon the king, or his queen in red beside him. At that moment, their strongest Heavenly Official was not their colleague, their friend, but the partner of the most feared Supreme Demon.

“If you’d like to help me plan a wedding, then stay,” Hua Cheng lifted his head to smile mirthlessly at the crowd, a hand moving to grip E-Ming’s hilt. He waved it in the air, inspecting its sharpness before looking at the officials. “Otherwise, scram.”

“Y-Y-Yes, sir!”

In a puff of cloud, the main hall was swiftly emptied, leaving only some behind. Hua Cheng turned to He Xuan who was no longer cradling Shi Qing Xuan. “Why are you still here?”

“I’m hungry.”

Hua Cheng’s smile grew while his eyes narrowed further, “You still owe me.”

“No money. Ask me next time,” the Black Water Demon waved his hand dismissively.

Hua Cheng deadpanned before turning to the happy man in his arms. “Are you hungry?”

Xie Lian smiled at the whispered breath. “Mm, I am.”

“Alright. I’ll call for a feast,” he said while ignoring the indignant splutters from his fellow ghost.

Shi Qing Xuan grew excited. “Can I join!?”

Xie Lian laughed and replied, “Of course! Qi Ying, you stay too.”

The younger man nodded his head a few times, his curly locks bouncing with the motions. “I’ll stay if Shi-xiong stays.”

“Idiot, I live here.”

“Then, I’m staying too!”

After calling for a feast, Hua Cheng glanced down at his lover in contentment. “Now,” he thumbed a petal of the flower that somehow stayed tucked behind Xie Lian’s ear, “Where were we? Oh, yes. Our wedding.”

Xie Lian’s skin tingled blissfully when soft lips kissed his forehead.

“Ge.”

He burst into giggles when Hua Cheng nuzzled his cheek. “You haven’t even proposed!”

“Ge ge.”

Hua Cheng smiled and moved to his nose, pecking it lightly before rubbing it with his.

“I love you, your highness.”

The words teased his lips in a warm breath, stunning Xie Lian stupid as his ears grew redder. Hua Cheng kissed his eyelashes tenderly.

“Every part of you, every inch. I love them all.”

Cupping a cheek with his hand, the icy touch a blissful tingle upon Xie Lian’s warm skin, he rested his forehead against his.

“For better or for worse, I will be here for you. Let me love you in this lifetime. And the ones after that.” A shuddering caress grazed upon Xie Lian’s skin and he thought he might have seen a faint silvery trace of a tear cascade down his cheek, but ghosts couldn't cry, right? He cupped Hua Cheng’s face into his palms, hoping the slight reciprocation was indicator enough that he still wanted him – wanted Hua Cheng – as he continued to listen to the deep voice with an open heart.

“In my heart, there is only you. There can only be you. I want to protect you. I want to see your smile and wipe those tears everyday. Please –”

“Will you –”

He then kissed each cheek, one word for each, and Xie Lian felt the same slight tremble against his skin. Of fear? Of rejection? But his thoughts ended there when those same trembling lips covered his own, breathing out a proposal barely audible over the beating of his heart. “Marry me?”

Xie Lian took those hands into his, equally shaking like the lips he just tasted, and kissed the knuckles, before he bubbled with laughter, joy overflowing in his heart. His arms wound around Hua Cheng’s neck and he pulled the man down for another proper, deeper kiss. 

“For all of my lifetimes, I will always choose you! Yes!”

The kiss sealed their fates, the red robes they wore a beautiful ornament against the black jade; A painting of their wedding to come. The red string tied on their fingers was a silent reminder of all the bitter partings they survived, yet also a gentle welcome towards a new life, equally filled with courage and bravery and silent protection, never to be broken.

Ink, jet black ink that curved and danced with the grace of brushes penned their names, a stamp they couldn’t erase – wouldn’t erase. They were of two different worlds, a stark contrast of white and black, yet they blurred the lines together, finding a soothing comfort in knowing they had found someone in this life.

He might have been born as pure as the colour white, heavenly and holy, but shadows had gripped and latched onto him like relentless demons, yet he maintained his kindness – even if it was because of a single one.

He might have been born as a calamity as the colour black, misfortune and sacrifices his only friend, yet his heart remained pure of gold – even if it was only for a single one.

Because were they not born humans like a blank white canvas who learned to paint in black with every decision in life?

#hualianweek2k19 #fluff #domestic bliss #babies #HEAVENLY BABIES #hualian #slight beefleaf #fengqing #i got diabetes writing this #tian guan ci fu #天官赐福

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