Chapter Text
Stunned, He Sheng stares at the red Supreme. “'No'?! They were never yours to have in the first place!”
Hua Cheng crosses his arms. “Really? Then why give them to me?” A challenging glint flickers in his eyes as he begins to circle He Sheng. “I remember you being very eager for me to have them. Screaming at me, begging, in fact, to take them away.”
He Sheng mirrors his posture. “Clearly, I was not in the right mind.”
“Clearly, you still aren't.” Hua Cheng replies.
The black Ghost king shakes his head. “What is your problem?!” Hua Cheng has never been easy to deal with. Today, however, he seems intent on making He Sheng's life more difficult, even though he obviously knows what's at stake.
Hua Cheng pauses at his question. “My problem?” His voice sounds vexed. “My problem is getting an emergency call in the middle of the day and finding out the only equal I have was dumb enough to turn himself into THIS!” He points down at He Sheng.
Before the black Ghost king can defend himself, a scroll is thrown at his feet. The impact causes it to unroll a little, revealing a complex pattern of strange writing.
He Sheng averts his eyes, but he feels Hua Cheng's gaze on him like red-hot iron. “I gave you access to my library because I trusted you!” Hua Cheng shouts, ”And because I thought you couldn't possibly be dumb enough to do THIS!”
“It was an accident!” He Sheng screams desperately, throwing his arms in the air. “I didn't plan for all of this to happen!”
“Tsk, of course not.” Hua Cheng snorts. His gaze glides to the parchment on the floor. A barely audible sigh escapes his lips. “Were you ever going to tell me about it?” The volume of his voice is controlled again, but it still sounds strange.
He Sheng is taken aback. For the first time, there is something like hurt in Hua Cheng's expression. On second thought, the black Ghost king can't blame him. The two have worked closely together for centuries. They knew everything about their plans, their goals. Yet this time... this time He Sheng didn't confide in him. Perhaps because he knew that Hua Cheng would have advised him against it. Maybe also because he didn't have the guts.
He Sheng avoids meeting the gaze of the red Ghost king. “...Just give me the ashes and I'll be on my way.” he mutters.
Hua Cheng frowns and takes a step back. “No. You don't deserve them.” With a movement of his finger, the scroll lands back in his hand and disappears behind his back.
Panic mingles with bewilderment. “So you want to do, what? Give them to HIM?” He Sheng asks.
Hua Cheng raises an eyebrow. “Why shouldn't I?” It's not the question itself that shakes the black Ghost king. It is the coldness that accompanies his words. It radiates pure rationality, as if to say 'Dare to make one wrong move and you’ll regret it' . This is the red Ghost king that everyone knows and fears.
He Sheng clenches his hands into fists. “If I can't stop him in time, he will kill Shi Qingxuan!”
“So?” Unimpressed, Hua Cheng walks behind his desk to organize some documents. He Sheng is shocked at how cold this scenario leaves the red Supreme. In a fit of naivety, he believed that he could at least care enough about the former windmaster because he knows that she is important to He Sheng.
Apparently he was wrong. Frustration rises in his throat, but he swallows it down and concentrates on his opponent. Resolutely, he assumes a fighting stance and declares, “I won't allow that.”
Hua Cheng doesn't even look up fully from his pile of parchment before he puts his head back and laughs. It's a cold, mocking laugh. “What, you really want to fight with me in this state? You can barely possess more than half your old strength!”
Clenching his teeth, He Sheng mutters, “I'll do anything I have to!”
“I know.”
The calmness in Hua Cheng's voice drives He Sheng crazy. For all he knows, Black Water might already be on his way here. Demons, he might have already entered Ghost City! And yet Hua Cheng stands there, without a care in the world. Somehow he has to make him realize what's at stake!
“Don't you understand? I need to save Shi Qingxuan!” he urges.
“You want to save him from the mess YOU created.” Hua Cheng clarifies.
“YES!” He Sheng cries, putting his hands to his head. “So let me fix it!”
Hua Cheng pauses. “'Fix it'?” Slowly, he stands up. “How exactly will you 'fix it'?”
The full force of a Supreme's gaze is too strong for He Sheng, who only has half his former power. He cannot withstand it. Swallowing, he lowers his chin and cloaks himself in silence.
“Hm, as I thought. You don't want to 'fix' anything.” Hua Cheng mutters and walks past He Sheng.
No, no, no, he must not go! The black Ghost king stretches out a hand towards him. “Hua Cheng, please!”
The red Ghost king doesn't turn around, but at least he stops.
Images flash before He Sheng's inner eye. Shi Qingxuan, covered in blood, beaten, chained up and locked away from the rest of the world. Her face smeared with tears, the laughter gone from her eyes forever. Her spirit broken, her chest lifeless.
He Sheng’s chest tightens with fear. He falls to his knees.
“I can't... I can't lose another person.” he whispers choked. “Help me... I beg you. ”
Hua Cheng clasps his hands behind his back. There is silence for a while. Then he turns his head to the side. “Stop thinking with your heart. You lost it long ago.”
As a ghost, he shouldn't be able to feel cold, but there's no other way to describe the icy sensation that spreads through his stomach when Hua Cheng starts walking again.
“Wait!” he shouts again. “What if - ... Once he shows up... Tell me, will you really give my ashes to HIM?”
This time Hua Cheng doesn't stop. “You know me well enough by now.” As he turns around one last time, a cold smile graces his lips. “I always do what benefits me most.”
“So, in the past few days, you've been running away with He Xu - I mean, with He Sheng?” Xie Lian asks as he peels an orange. Shi Qingxuan nods. The two of them are sitting in a small pavilion in the garden of Paradise Manor.
The crown prince has assured her that they will be undisturbed here, but Shi Qingxuan can't shake off her slight nervousness. Perhaps it is because she has become so accustomed to He Sheng's protective presence.
“That must be very... exhausting.” Xie Lian remarks.
“Oh, it's nothing. He Sheng is trying very hard to make me as comfortable as possible, and I -” But the crown prince interrupts her with a shake of his head. “No, I meant emotionally. Traveling with him must be very... confusing for you, I presume?”
“Oh.” Confusing doesn't even come close. It's one of the terms that applies, but there are so many more...
Shi Qingxuan thinks back to the last few days. How quickly she got used to the Ghost king's presence again, and how she now finds it reassuring. There is still a barrier between them, but it doesn't seem insurmountable.
At the same time, somewhere out there is Black Water, seeking her life. She remembers the paralyzing fear when he strangled her a few days ago and she saw the abysmal hatred in his eyes. A shiver runs through her. How can she have two such different reactions to the same person? They are the same person, aren't they?
Shi Qingxuan doesn't get a chance to answer Xie Lian because another person enters the garden at that moment. The crown prince rises and stands in front of the former windmaster. He looks intently at He Sheng, who walks slowly and stops a few meters in front of them on a small bridge.
Sensing no killing intent, Xie Lian finally steps aside and Shi Qingxuan has a clear view of the Ghost king. “You're back! How did the talk with Chengzhu go?”
“Not well.” He Sheng mumbles dully. The former windmaster is horrified to see how dejected he looks.
Xie Lian clears his throat. “Ah, I'll go check on San Lang. Feel free to stay for as long as you like. Shi Qingxuan, if there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask.” With a farewell gesture, he withdraws and leaves the two of them alone.
Shi Qingxuan stands up, unsure whether she can come closer. “He won't help you get your ashes?” he asks.
He Sheng stares at the floor and slowly shakes his head.
“But isn't he your friend?”
The Ghost king swallows. “I... I thought he was.” Suddenly he sinks to the ground. “I'm sorry. I failed.” he whispers.
He Sheng clenches his trembling hands into fists and squints his eyes. He has messed up. He has messed everything up. Because of a stupid mistake, he's put Shi Qingxuan in danger that he can't get her out of. Not only that, he has lost an ally.
Centuries have passed, and yet He Sheng doesn't seem to be learning. No matter how much power he accumulates, how much he plans, how much knowledge he acquires - he always loses in the end. He cannot escape this spiral of suffering, no matter how hard he tries. Worse still, he drags everyone into the abyss with him before they finally leave him and he stands alone.
He Sheng freezes when someone takes him in their arms. Shi Qingxuan has overcome the distance and knelt down in front of him. One hand strokes his back. “Hey, it's all right.” she murmurs reassuringly, as if her own survival was not at stake. “We'll find a way. You’re doing your best.”
He Sheng shakes his head. “It's not enough. It's never enough.” He swallows and thinks of the faces of those he has already lost. “Just once, I want...” His voice breaks off.
Shi Qingxuan feels for the Ghost king's hand and places it on her chest. He Sheng can feel the slight pulse under the warm skin. The former windmaster puts her head back a little so she can look at the Supreme.
“I'm still here. You haven't failed at anything yet.” she assures him, ”You're not alone.”
Warm. She's always so warm and caring. Even now. He buries his face in the crook of her neck and allows himself a moment of weakness in her arms, feeling the steady proof of her presence beat under his fingertips.
At some point, Shi Qingxuan squeezes his hand. “Come on, let's find something to eat. You must be hungry. Ah, do you know if there's a stall here that cooks without human ingredients?”
A little later, the two find themselves in a side alley, sitting at a small table. The restaurant to which it belongs is small but well frequented. Mainly by living humans visiting Ghost City. In front of Shi Qingxuan are several bowls of different dishes.
The former windmaster watches as the Ghost king in front of her tries all the dishes one by one. Her own plate remains untouched. She is too busy watching as He Sheng empties his plate, bite by bite. Leisurely. Slowly, almost. Shi Qingxuan remembers too well how 'Ming Yi' gobbled down huge amounts of food at every opportunity, as if he were on the verge of starvation. It fascinated her, but it was also kind of cute.
She wants to ask whether this perpetual hunger might also have been split by the curse, but she doesn't dare give He Sheng any negative thoughts. The half-relaxed expression on his face is too fragile.
“He Sheng... You're back in your male form,” she says instead.
He Sheng swallows a mouthful before looking up. “Should I change it back?”
The former windmaster blinks in surprise. After a moment, she shakes her head. “It probably doesn't make any difference, does it? Black Water will recognize all your forms.” She lowers her gaze to her untouched food. “And I don't want you to squeeze yourself into a skin you don't like again.”
He Sheng raises his eyebrows in surprise. “I don't hate it.” he says. “Being a woman. I just... prefer the male form.”
Shi Qingxuan believes him. Still, she can't help thinking of all the times 'Ming Yi' has looked unwilling. Since knowing the truth about her and his past, she has thought about many things. Including how much of his unwilling attitude was serious.
Under the table, the former windmaster reaches for a crease in her skirt to play with it. “I'm sorry if in the past, I forced you to do things you didn't want.” she says softly.
He Sheng frowns. “I'm a Ghost king. I can't be forced to do anything.” With that, the topic seems to be done for him. Instead, he grabs a few vegetables and puts them on Shi Qingxuan’s plate, silently urging her to eat as well. Ignoring the fluttering in her chest, she obeys. Different spices flood her mouth, combining into an unusual but not unpleasant taste. Much like the city itself.
He Sheng watches her with a thoughtful expression. “It made you happy.” he murmurs.
“Mh?” Shi Qingxuan can't follow his thoughts, so He Sheng explains, “You were one of the most powerful gods, adored by your worshippers, had all the riches in the world... yet this made you happy.” To emphasize his words, he points at the food, himself, and then at Shi Qingxuan.
The former windmaster blinks, surprised at his observations. She holds a hand over her mouth, embarrassed. Of course he notices these things. They have practically spent the last centuries together. Her hand can’t hide the shy smile on her lips as she admits, “The time I spent with you was always what made me most happy.”
But with her admission, she feels a slight tug in her chest. Something that reminds her that, contrary to her expectations, not everything was okay in the good old days. She breathes deeply through her nose and hunches her shoulders. “But I can see now how ignorant and self centered I was.”
He Sheng looks at her, but there is something gentle in his gaze. He places his chopsticks down and stands up. “We should move on.”
It's not clear whether he's just referring to their location. But when Shi Qingxuan takes the hand he holds out to her, a pleasant warmth passes through her, silencing all the voices of guilt for a moment.
Hand in hand, they leave Ghost City and find a place in a hidden corner to teleport. He Sheng draws the lines without hesitation, quite different from how he looked just a few hours ago. He seems to have gained new courage, which makes the former windmaster even more at ease.
Seeing the Ghost king on the ground like that made something inside her burst. She never wants to have to see such an expression on his face again. Not if she can help it. When He Sheng has finished, he extends his hand to her again, and together they travel to the next town.
The fear in her heart almost forgotten, the former windmaster takes in the new impressions around her with curiosity. In the air is the faint smell of spices from the merchants who must have their stalls a few streets away.
A few children are playing in the street, and after they almost knock Shi Qingxuan over in their eagerness, the former windmaster joins in without further ado. Laughing, she tries to catch the children one by one as they screech and run away from her. With her injured leg, she has no chance against the nimble little creatures, so she quickly admits defeat and collapses, groaning.
The children, worried that she might be injured, approach her and try to help her up. Her arms spring forward and she grabs two of the children who don't dodge quickly enough, before pulling them down to the dusty ground with a cry of triumph.
He Sheng leans against the wall of a house a little way off and feels another small part of his nervousness fade. As Shi Qingxuan said before, she is here. She's alive and breathing, and as long as he's by her side, he'll make sure it stays that way. With or without his ashes.
Hua Cheng won't help him. So what? He Sheng will focus on the here and now. First, he'll make sure they both stay well hidden from Black Water. And as long as he can achieve that, he has time to think of another plan. There must be another way for him to defeat the Ghost king. Bai Wuxiang was also defeated without his ashes ever appearing.
At least He Sheng's ashes are in good hands with Hua Cheng. The red Ghost king may be incredibly stubborn, but, above everything, he's smart. He won't hand it over to Black Water, if only to maintain the balance of power.
He probably knows how dangerous the ashes would be in the hands of a Supreme who is all hate and vengeance anyway. As he said, he always does what benefits him most. This should check out. He Sheng leans his head back and breathes in the fresh air carried in on the breeze. It's comforting to think that Hua Cheng will be as much of a pain in the ass to his other half as he is towards him.
Meanwhile, Hua Cheng sits on the terrace of paradise manor. With a delicate crystal bowl of wine in his hand, he watches as the sun touches the horizon and bathes the sky in a warm orange. His expression is inscrutable.
This place is cut off from the city and its bustling sounds. Hua Cheng is able to let his thoughts wander as he wishes. Deliberately, he swirls the liquid in the bowl back and forth. Then he notices a barely perceptible change in the air.
He brings the crystal bowl to his mouth, but refrains from taking a sip and instead examines the reflection in it. A black shadow wafts behind the Supreme, practically oozing with darkness and terror. Two piercing eyes stare at him through the reflection.
“Ah, another one.” Hua Cheng leans back to take a proper look at the black Ghost king behind him.
Long black hair falls loosely down his back, and the dark robe seems to pull his figure down like weights. The blue eyes radiate an icy hardness that few beings in the world can muster. Even though their features are identical, this is clearly not the ghost that visited him just a few hours ago.
“How do you call yourself now?” Hua Cheng asks, almost disinterested, without putting down the small bowl in his hand.
At first it is quiet, before the black Ghost king finally mumbles, “You can keep calling me 'Black Water'.”
Hua Cheng hums. “I thought as much.” The corners of his mouth twist into a smile before he gestures to the empty seat next to him. “Sit down. Care for a drink? Something to eat?”