Chapter Text
When Hua Cheng emerged from the fires of Mount Tonglu as the first Supreme in centuries, the ghosts watched from a distance to try to gauge how they would act.
Most ghosts emerged as a Wrath, not going beyond that level. Others stay in the mountain and die in their attempt to become a Supreme. This was the first time that someone actually succeeded.
They have heard of the crazed ghost inside Mount Tonglu. Stories circulated about a ghost who built statue after statue of a flower-covered figure, who ripped out his own eye to forge a deadly weapon, who destroyed ghost after ghost until he became a King.
They say a rain of blood followed his path of destruction.
They called him The Crimson Rain.
Hua Cheng settled a former territory of a powerful Wrath which he dispatched with ease. The land itself had fertile soil, and a lot of open space.
He initially settled for a cave nearby, and tended to the field. The ghosts watched the new King in confusion, because instead of spreading fear and expanding his influence, he chose to till the field and garden. He had several texts that he had stolen from libraries, on cultivating flowers, all seemingly by the same author (some ancient figure named Xie Lian).
Besides that, he spent his days building what looked to be a temple.
Which confused them more.
Many ghosts thought that this new Ghost King was mad, that perhaps he wasn’t a Ghost King at all and some imposter. Many thought that they got the wrong guy.
Until, of course, they try to oppose him. His ferocity in battle knew no limits. Word spread of his cursed scimitar and his silver butterflies, of the rain of blood that ends every battle.
Just as word spread of how the Ghost King spends his days building a temple and growing flowers.
Hua Cheng’s first followers were, fittingly, a group of farmers.
They were a small group who sold fruits and vegetables that they grew themselves. They died trying to protect their fields from a fire, so that their children would still have a field to work on and continue their livelihood. They were weak, just barely out of ghost flame forms, not even qualifying as Malices to the Heavenly Officials.
They went to Hua Cheng asking for protection from cultivators and gods hunting them for sport, when they just want to continue their trade in peace. In return they will help Hua Cheng tend to his garden. At that point, there were some sprouts growing, but it was a slow process.
Hua Cheng slowly blinked at them. “This garden is mine to tend and grow.” The farmers deflated, but Hua Cheng continued. “However, if your wish is to continue your trade in peace, I see no reason why I should refuse to give you protection. Stay within my territory, do not cause trouble. All flowers belong to me, and no harm shall come to them.”
Word spread like wildfire after that. Hua Cheng’s following increased quickly.
For there was a common misconception about ghosts: that they were all fierce ghouls looking for more power and prestige. That they are greedy, evil, and stayed on earth for nefarious reasons.
What was forgotten was that these ghosts were human once, just like gods. And just like humans, there was depth to their persons, variety. Some of them wanted to stay in the living world because they have hobbies they do not wish to give up, or just enjoyed living too much to die.
However, because they were ghosts, they were hunted constantly by gods and cultivators, driven away by humans.
Enter: Hua Cheng.
The newest Ghost King was strange. Everyone knew that. He would rather spend his days gardening rather than raze down villages and spread fear and terror. He focused more on building his temple, building his city, freely taking in ghosts that just wanted to live a peaceful life to practice their trade, and protected this area.
Hua Cheng was a ghost who never lied. He never went back on his word. What he promised was fulfilled, what he said he would do, he actually did. If he said he would kill you in an instant, he would. If he said he would protect you, he would.
He never hid who he was, where his interests lay, if he liked you or not.
It was…refreshing.
In a world where people treasured their reputation above all else, where people lied and cheated their way to a better life, where complicated politics stood between people and their dreams, Hua Cheng stood for sincerity and honesty.
Hua Cheng provided a safe haven for the ghosts. A territory where they were free to do as they like, live as they like, without worrying about being hunted. Where they were given the freedom to be themselves, away from politics. Where the lies of the world could not touch them.
He never asked for anything, but as the new citizens of Ghost City gained wealth, they paid tribute to their Lord, as a thank you for their new lives. They loved and admired their Ghost King, eccentricities and all.
The Ghost King who never lied.
And thus, Ghost City was born.
“I can kill you in an instant.”
“Hah! Don’t think so highly of yourself –”
The rain of blood splattered around Yin Yu, who was back against a bush of flowers. The rain didn’t touch him, but was isolated on the battlefield, towards the ghosts that almost got to him. He wasn’t used to fighting without his spiritual energy, he didn’t realize how much weaker he was with the shackle.
The Ghost King that saved him just happened to pass by. Yin Yu had heard of him: The Crimson Rain, the scourge of Heaven. The first Supreme Ghost in centuries, who gained a reputation for being able to do whatever he wants. Who managed to gather wayward ghosts into an actual community and hold command over them.
The Ghost King turned towards Yin Yu, his single eye looking almost bored after dispatching an entire group of restless spirits. He waved a hand, and silver butterflies flew from his vambraces. Yin Yu curled himself up.
He was going to die –
– the silver butterflies pulled Yin Yu away from the flower bush.
“You’ll bruise them.” The Ghost King tilted his head.
Yin Yu scrambled to his feet as Hua Cheng approached the flower bush and gently inspected them. He had heard of the Ghost King’s penchant for flowers, but thought it was some sort of lie. After all, why would such a ferocious soul care for flowers?
Hua Cheng hummed, satisfied that the flowers were okay, before that amber eye zeroed in on Yin Yu. Particularly, his wrist, where the cursed shackle was in full view.
“So…what’s your story?”
Yin Yu tried to hold himself steady, tried not to shake.
He would love to lie, tell the Ghost King that he had enough of heaven and expressed his displeasure for how things worked. He would love to paint himself in a better light.
But…he looked at the Ghost King who was exactly who he said he was. He told the ghosts he would kill them in an instant, and he did. He was honest about his love for flowers and showed it, even on the battlefield.
Hua Cheng did not lie.
And so Yin Yu settled for honesty.
He told Hua Cheng about his jealousy towards his Shidi, a youth he took in and trained, who surpassed him naturally. How, after his ascension, Heaven favored Quan Yizhen’s natural talent over Yin Yu, who has to work extra hard to maintain his position. How he was often forgotten and set aside for his Shidi’s bright soul.
He told Hua Cheng about the Brocade Immortal incident, about Jian Yu, about his pent up rage and frustration, and how it led to his banishment.
Yin Yu felt shame well up in him.
But Hua Cheng simply hummed and stood up. “I get it. Perfectly understandable.”
Yin Yu blinked. “What?”
The Ghost King shrugged. “You’re a better person than you give yourself credit for. Anyone would have done what Jian Yu did, and anyone in your position would have let it slide and let Quan Yizhan take the fall. You didn’t. You tried to help him. And that’s commendable.”
Commendable.
“B-but I made him hurt others in the end –”
“And you think anyone else in your position would have done differently?” Hua Cheng challenged. “You may be gods, but you are first and foremost human. Everyone has a breaking point. I do not believe you should be judged by the moment you were cornered.”
The earth rumbled under Yin Yu’s feet.
He scrambled to bow. “M-my Lord,” was that the way to address a Ghost King? Hua Cheng carried himself like one. “There’s something – Jian Yu was banished as well and I heard that he died and became a resentful spirit. C-could you –”
Hua Cheng raised a brow.
Yin Yu bowed lower. “I – I don’t have spiritual energy but I am a hard worker. I’ll help you anyway I can, I’ll serve you, but please consider dispersing him. Jian Yu is impulsive, but he was the most loyal friend I had and I want him to be at peace.”
Crimson Rain was silent for a moment. “Where is he?”
Yin Yu looked up in surprise.
Hua Cheng shifted his stance. “Do you know where he is?”
Yin Yu nodded.
Hua Cheng took out a pair of dice. “Then let’s go.”
Yin Yu clapped his hands to pray for Jian Yu’s spirit after Hua Cheng defeated him, before turning towards the Ghost King who was looking at a nearby patch of flowers, checking on them.
“Why did you help me?” Yin Yu asked.
Hua Cheng shrugged. “You told me the truth.”
Yin Yu blinked.
“Anyone else would have lied. Made themselves kinder and more honorable than they truly are. It’s incredibly rare to find a god who would admit their own flaws and faults.” Hua Cheng went back to looking at the flowers. “You did. And I was impressed. Besides, you offered to help me, and I need help.”
“I owe you a great debt, My Lord.” Yin Yu bowed. “I’ll do anything that I can to assist you.”
“Good.” Hua Cheng stretched. “Let’s head back to Ghost City. Then, we’ll have a long talk.”
The talk between Hua Cheng and Yin Yu was a strange one.
He asked about the God of Flowers, Xie Lian, who was someone Yin Yu had never heard of. He was more focused on keeping Quan Yizhen out of trouble and stopping fights between him and Jian Yu, he never really had the mental capacity to pay attention to the other gods.
He talked about his cursed shackle, how it connects with his banishment.
“Did it hurt?” Hua Cheng asked, curiously.
“Well…I’m lucky to have a deep spiritual well and a significant amount of followers. So it wasn’t that bad.” Yin Yu rubbed his wrist. “I imagine it must be torture to minor gods.”
Hua Cheng looked down at that. Yin Yu wondered why.
Yin Yu learned that Hua Cheng built Ghost City to protect the ghosts. Gave them a safe place to live how they wanted, without the judgment and self-righteousness of cultivators, humans, and gods who hunt them for glory. How he built the famous Gambler’s Den to control their resentment and greed, that he gets to decide the outcome of every bet, and keep all the potential destruction and casualties to a minimum.
Yin Yu learned that the number one rule of Ghost City was that all flowers belong to the Lord of the City, and nobody harms any of them.
Yin Yu learned that Hua Cheng was not as bad as the Heavens made him out to be.
“I need help with running the city.” Hua Cheng ended, as they walked out of Paradise Manor to the city proper, standing on Yin Yu’s right side. His eye shifted over to look at Yin Yu. “I have my own personal goals I wish to focus on, and running the city takes time and energy away from that. You seem to have experience keeping things in order, that’s where I’ll need your help.”
Well, if Yin Yu could handle Quan Yizhen, he could probably handle Ghost City.
Besides, as he observed the market place, and the day to day activities, it did not seem to be any different from his old kingdom. It was easy to forget that, just like gods, ghosts were once human as well.
“Here, why don’t you try wearing this?”
“My Lord…?” Yin Yu blinked at the mask Hua Cheng tossed over to him. It was an oni mask, white and threatening with an evil smile.
“You’re worried about being found, right?” Hua Cheng dropped a few coins to pay for the mask. “And you kept mentioning how you have a ‘forgettable face’.” He scoffed the last bit, as if he didn’t believe it. “Would it make you more comfortable if you wore this?”
Yin Yu took the mask and put it on.
Hidden from the world, he felt like he became someone new.
He owes a great debt to Hua Cheng, and for a Ghost who valued sincerity and honesty, perhaps he could find his own peace in banishment.
There was a manhunt in the Ghost Realm.
The Crimson Rain Seeks the God of Flowers.
It was spread far and wide amongst the ghosts, to both the ghosts in Ghost City, and those outside.
The Crimson Rain Seeks the God of Flowers.
Alive only, Hua Cheng specified. No harm shall come to the God, just as no harm came to his flowers.
The temple in the growing Ghost City was dedicated to that god, who has been forgotten through time. The only proof of his existence were small, near abandoned temples scattered throughout the mortal realm. Hua Cheng was known to pray in the temple he built from the ground up, offering paper flowers every day.
The Crimson Rain Seeks the God of Flowers.
It echoed throughout the Ghost Realm, that a handsome reward awaits those who could find the god. That the favor of the Strongest Ghost King was tied to whoever could achieve it.
The Crimson Rain Seeks the God of Flowers
The Crimson Rain Sought the God of Flowers
The Crimson Rain Sought the God of Flowers
Over and over until it became tied to his title.
The Crimson Rain Sought the God of Flowers.
The Crimson Rain Sought God of Flowers.
Crimson Rain Sought Flower.
“Here you go.” Hua Cheng unceremoniously dropped a box into Yin Yu’s hands, the sudden weight surprising the banished god.
Yin Yu blinked behind his mask, eyes bugging at the gold and jewels given to him. “My Lord…?”
“Payment.” Hua Cheng shrugged, “for your services.”
Yin Yu didn’t expect to get paid. He thought he was already in Hua Cheng’s debt for dispersing Jian Yu’s soul, and for keeping him under the Supreme’s protection while he’s banished on Earth.
This was…so much more than what he earned in both his mortal and immortal life.
When he tried to express that it was too much, Hua Cheng waved a hand. “I’m flattered you think I can run this city on my own.”
Yin Yu was pretty sure he could. He had, after all, even before Yin Yu came into the picture.
“But you’ve taken a big load off my back and I can focus on things that matter to me.” Hua Cheng fell into step on Yin Yu’s left side. He has been walking on Yin Yu’s left side lately, Yin Yu figured it was another one of his Lord’s eccentricities. “Besides, I have way too much gold, and nothing to spend it on until I find my God.”
He’s not wrong. Yin Yu didn’t know if he should feel envious or worried about how much treasure is waiting for the God of Flowers should Hua Cheng find him.
He took a look at his newly acquired riches.
…maybe ascending once more is not in his cards, but he wouldn’t mind if he’s earning this much in the Ghost City.
Besides, as he walked outside and watched everyone make way for him, some even bowing to him as he walked past, he figured he could get used to being respected again.
Yin Yu was in the same room as Hua Cheng when Black Water located the God of Flowers.
He sighed into the communication array with He Xuan – though he had to agree with Hua Cheng on this. Although an unorthodox password it was only five flowers – and turned towards Hua Cheng. “My Lord, Black Water wishes to speak to you. It seems he’s forgotten your password again.”
“Idiot.” Hue Cheng rolled his eyes, but even then, he placed a finger to his temple with a frown. It was almost endearing, really, that he puts up this air of annoyance, but immediately dropped what he was doing. Black Water’s plans of infiltrating Heaven was risky, at best, and Yin Yu had heard them discuss it at length before it could be executed. Contingency plans, what-if scenarios – Hua Cheng didn’t allow He Xuan to enter the Heavenly realm until he had at least three escape routes planned, which were all run through Yin Yu for viability.
Never will it be said that Hua Cheng was underprepared for anything.
Yin Yu was prepared to take notes for whatever it is the two Ghost Kings would need, when Hua Cheng suddenly stood from his chair. His body was stiff and lined with such intensity, Yin Yu could feel sweat and apprehension drip down the back of his neck. He had never seen Hua Cheng so unsure.
Hua Cheng remained silent, though the way he kept his finger to his temple and the way his eye kept darting back and forth implied that he was still speaking to Black Water. Yin Yu remained at the ready, moving within Hua Cheng’s line of sight to remind him that he was there to assist.
It was several moments until Hua Cheng relaxed, though his brow remained furrowed. He looked up at Yin Yu, eye narrowed. “Xie Lian is in Heaven.”
Yin Yu had long since grown out of his fear of Hua Cheng. For all his ferocity in battle, he’s extremely level-headed and every decision and action he made was to work towards his goals. It’s both admirable and scary how efficient he is.
But for the first time in a long while, Yin Yu felt fear.
How many times has he said to Hua Cheng that he never heard of the God of Flowers? That if there was one, he was definitely not in Heaven.
Hua Cheng was convinced that Xie Lian was shackled. He had asked Yin Yu enough about his own shackle and the process he went through to be banished. That was why Hua Cheng was combing both the Ghost and Human realm for the God of Flowers.
Only to find out he was in Heaven? This whole time?
Would he think that Yin Yu was lying? It was the one thing Yin Yu confirmed with Hua Cheng over and over again.
“He Xuan says that he’s isolated in his domain. Something about him working for festivals.” Hua Cheng continued, the glare in his eye moving away from Yin Yu down to the table.
Yin Yu was able to breathe…
…and now that he mentioned it. “Heavenly Emperor Jun Wu mentioned something about that.” Yin Yu’s fingers twitched. “However at the time…Quan Yizhen and Jian Yu were arguing and I was distracted. He never brought it up to me again…”
Well, to be more accurate, Jun Wu probably forgot about his existence.
Hua Cheng hummed. “I believe you. You have yet to lie to me.” He moved to stand to Yin Yu’s left – always Yin Yu’s left, he still found it strange – and crossed his arms. “We established that he didn’t do anything wrong, yes?”
“Yes.” They had combed any record that remotely mentioned the Flower God. Those were the only things that Yin Yu had that clarified that he did exist and his Lord wasn’t insane. “It must be something not written on record.”
“So if he did do something wrong, why were you banished, but he was imprisoned?”
Yin Yu hadn't thought of Heavenly Politics in so long. It was so far removed from Ghost City politics – or lack thereof. Hua Cheng’s word is law, and he never back tracked on anything he did, nor did he ever adjust his policies and values, so there was no “politics” to speak of. It was refreshingly simple – that he never bothered to remember all the intricacies of it.
“I…” Yin Yu’s finger’s twitched. “It’s not really… heard of for someone to be isolated in Heaven. Usually the automatic punishment is banishment…unless…”
“Unless?”
Yin Yu swallowed. “Unless he requested it? And managed to convince Heavenly Emperor Jun Wu it was the best course of action?”
Hua Cheng’s eye narrowed. “ Requested it?”
It sounded stupid, even to Yin Yu’s head.
Why would anyone request to be isolated?
Either way, Hua Cheng has located his God of Flowers.
Yin Yu had a feeling the Ghost King will be thoroughly distracted in future.
Ghost City was getting reckless.
Their Lord was spending more and more time away from the city. Multiple times, they had to rely on the Waning Moon Officer to handle outsiders, and though he does a commendable job, it doesn’t strike the same amount of fear as the blood rain.
He still came in case of emergency, but would always be in the hurry to leave. He seemed more agitated over time, almost frustrated, and the only way he would calm down was to lie in the Paradise Manor Gardens, or fold paper flowers in the temple.
The ghosts were getting anxious. It felt like their Lord was abandoning them, leaving them unprotected. How could he?
Their Lord never lied, what changed?
“Hua Chengzu has located the God of Flowers.” Yin Yu announced to the Gambler’s Den on a particularly loud day. “He’s working to bring him back.”
(This was out of a whim. Yin Yu felt he was losing control over the city, and decided to follow his Lord’s footsteps: settle on the truth)
The denizens went quiet. Residents of the Ghost City, in particular, gasped in surprise.
And then, celebration.
“Crimson Rain Sought Flower! Crimson Rain Sought Flower!” They cheered.
It became a sort of unspoken agreement, that the ghosts would tone down so that their Lord of the City could focus on bringing his god back. After all, their Lord protects them, and allows them to live as they want. It was the least they could do in return.
(Yin Yu sighed in relief.)
Yin Yu first met Xie Lian on the way to the Gardens, two days after the vines engulfed Paradise Manor and the Ghost City.
He very much would not like to think of what’s been happening in his Lord’s quarters the past day since the vines appeared, thank you very much.
Hua Cheng succeeded.
Yin Yu was happy for him, really. If anyone deserved it, it would be Crimson Rain, for everything he does for Ghost City, for everything he’s done for Yin Yu, and Black Water, and anyone else sincere enough to be granted his protection.
But a part of him was apprehensive.
Because all this time, Hua Cheng was a man of honesty and sincerity. He had a single-minded focus to find his God of Flowers and bring him to Ghost City. Everything he did worked towards that goal, in order to give his god the best life possible.
But at the end of the day, the God of Flowers was a god, and Yin Yu had enough of Heaven, had enough of insincere gods and their politics. The whole time they were figuring out what led to Xie Lian’s imprisonment and how he was isolated in his own barrier, Yin Yu remembered how much he hated tiptoeing around Heaven and its denizens.
How would the God of Flowers fit in Ghost City? How would it change Hua Cheng, who created this city to house his god?
Because Hua Cheng created Ghost City to be the antithesis of Heaven.
And if Heaven stood for selfishness, pride, arrogance, and reputation above all else, then Ghost City stood for sincerity.
He removed his mask to see better and was trying to navigate through the vines when he bumped into, perhaps, the most beautiful being he had ever seen. It was obviously the God of Flowers, himself. Yin Yu never got the chance to meet him, but with multicolored flowers that cascaded down his hair, the way flowers sprouted from his feet whenever he took a step, the way that the vines turned towards him and preened .
How could he be anyone else?
“Oh!” Xie Lian looked sheepish and waved his hand. Suddenly, all the vines moved out of the main path, sticking to the walls, and away from all possible entries and exits, leaving Yin Yu’s path clear. “I’m so sorry! Ah, silly me, it must’ve given you a hard time.”
Yin Yu blinked.
“Hm?” Xie Lian tilted his head. “You are…” and Yin Yu sighed. He was prepared to introduce himself. After all, he had his mask in hand, he mustn't be recognizable – “Oh! You’re Yin Yu!”
Yin Yu blinked, again.
Xie Lian hurried over to him and grinned. “San Lang – ah, Hua Cheng told me about you! Hello!”
Yin Yu felt his jaw drop lightly. Xie Lian grabbed onto his hands, hopping on his heels. The flowers in his hair were so big and bright, and the flowers all around him on the vines were turned towards them.
“Thank you so much for all you’ve done to help San Lang! The city is beautiful ! Sorry for giving you a hard time, I swear I need to get used to my powers again. You’re not mad, are you? They’ll stay out of your way from now on, I promise –”
Xie Lian must have realized that Yin Yu had not said a word, shocked still in surprise and blinking at the god. The flowers on his hair shuddered and deflated a bit, going slightly pink as if embarrassed. Xie Lian let go of Yin Yu’s hands with a jolt.
“Sorry, I was so excited to meet everyone! It’s been a while since I’ve been around so many people and –”
“Gege?”
It was fascinating, watching in real time how the flowers in Xie Lian’s hair reacted to Hua Cheng. They changed from the multicolored blossoms into pure red flowers – that matched Hua Cheng’s garden, Yin Yu realized – and a flower crown of the red flowers morphed around Xie Lian’s head. Even the flowers around the vines seemed to preen and brighten with him.
Xie Lian’s smile towards Hua Cheng was so wide, and so happy that Yin Yu felt he needed to look away lest he burn his eyes. It was like staring into the sun.
“San Lang!” He ran into Hua Cheng’s arms, who picked him up and twirled him around, stray petals fluttering from his hair.
Well.
“Ah, I see you’ve met Yin Yu.” Hua Cheng nodded towards him.
Yin Yu couldn’t stop the smile on his face. He bowed lightly. “Welcome to Ghost City, Your Highness.”
“Nooo, I haven’t been a prince for a long, long time.” Xie Lian waved with a grin. “Just call me Xie Lian!”
“Master Xie Lian.” Yin Yu responded, and looked towards Hua Cheng just in time to catch the look of approval.
Xie Lian pouted, before Hua Cheng escorted him elsewhere.
Yin Yu found himself chuckling under his breath.
What was he worried about?
Of course Hua Cheng’s god would be like this.
He’ll fit right in.
The manhunt was over.
The Crimson Rain found his God of Flowers, and has brought him to Ghost City.
It was obvious the moment the Paradise Manor was engulfed in flowers. The entirety of Ghost City was in awe, watching the vines bloom around the manor, almost as if claiming it.
And then, they saw the God of Flowers. They watched perhaps the most beautiful being in existence, with blossoms cascading down his hair and flowers trailing in his wake. Around them, all the natural plant life reacted, with vines growing around their stands and stalls, blooming flowers that followed the God and his path.
The rule was still in full effect: No harm shall come to the flowers. They belong to the Lord of the City.
But what else caught their eye was their Lord.
Hua Cheng was known to be cool and collected, with a tinge of earned arrogance.
Now, he was grinning .
He looked so much younger, so much happier . He was almost skipping after the God of Flowers, excited and gleeful, eyes never leaving the god. He was so obviously besotted that it almost made the ghosts embarrassed for him.
At the same time, it was just as they expected. The ghosts always had some gossip going on between them on how the Lord of the City would act when he was in love, when he had finally chosen someone as his partner.
The Crimson Rain never lied, he would be honest and excessive in his affections. The riches he accumulated but never used would all go to spoil whoever he deems worthy of his heart.
He would be loyal to a fault, and that’s what scared the ghost city citizens.
As happy as they were that their Lord found his God, what would it mean for Ghost City?
“Oh! Oh! He-xiong has flowers !”
Yin Yu looked over at Xie Lian, who was greeting Black Water as he arrived into Paradise Manor for their regular get-together.
Yin Yu initially thought he shouldn’t be part of said group, but Xie Lian had looked so terribly sad when Yin Yu mentioned not coming along that he didn’t even need Hua Cheng to kick him before he backtracked.
That being said, Yin Yu knew about the specific flowers Xie Lian grew in his hair for certain people. He knows about the red flowers that match The Gardens, the crown of flowers that always appeared on his head whenever Hua Cheng was nearby. He knows about the red and yellow coreopsis flowers when Xie Lian is around the Wind Master. He knows that those flowers depict Xie Lian’s innermost, sincerest feelings towards the people close to him.
And now, He Xuan seems to have his own: bunches of small, light blue flowers that look like tiny dragon fruits. They grew the second Xie Lian waved hello to the other Ghost King, asking about the lilies that he planted in He Xuan’s domain – a security measure just in case something were to happen to him.
“Hua-xiong, Hua-xiong,” Shi Qingxuan whispered conspiritally. “What are He-xiong’s flowers? The blue ones?”
It was almost fascinating how Hua Cheng took one look at the flowers on Xie Lian’s hair, and you could see the moment his eye glazed over slightly as he recalled thousands of species of flowers and their meanings, zeroing in on one.
“Blue arborvitae flowers,” Hua Cheng hummed with a smirk. “Steadiness and unchanging friendship.”
Shi Qingxuan squealed in delight.
Yin Yu had long since accepted that he was jealous of Quan Yizhen, and that it was okay to be so. As Hua Cheng said all those years ago, gods were human first, and it was stupid to think that he was above such human things.
He hadn’t been jealous for the longest time, secure in his spot by Hua Cheng’s side, and nobody had gone for his position.
So he was surprised when he felt that jealousy well up inside of him now, as he watched Xie Lian and He Xuan interact.
Because right now, amongst everyone in the group, he was the only one without specific flowers in Xie Lian’s hair.
He understood why . Between all of them, he was the last one to meet Xie Lian and the last one to start interacting with him. Among the four of them who worked during the debacle with Xie Lian’s freedom, Yin Yu was the only one who didn’t get to interact with Xie Lian. His work was mostly behind the scenes. It made sense that Xie Lian wasn’t close to him.
It made sense. It was logical.
But Yin Yu was jealous.
And of course, Hua Cheng noticed.
“Gege hasn’t settled on how he feels about you yet.” Hua Cheng whispered as he fell into step to Yin Yu’s left, following Shi Qingxuan who had their arms hooked to both Xie Lian and He Xuan as they walked in Ghost City together. “Give him a bit more time.”
Yin Yu appreciated the optimism but it still bugged him.
What if he never does?
What if he’s forgotten again?
Understandably, just how Hua Cheng’s first set of followers in Ghost City were a group of farmers, Xie Lian’s first set of followers were a group of gardeners.
“My god, your hair is wonderful!” “Such beautiful blossoms, such a blessing! Truly our God is most gracious, indeed.” “Could you give me advice, my God? My petunias –”
They gravitated towards Xie Lian, extra careful not to step on any of his flowers growing from his feet. They were doubly excited when they realized that Xie Lian was the author of all the fundamental scrolls regarding plant life and gardening in the first place, scrolls that Hua Cheng had long preserved in his library.
When they realized that Xie Lian’s hair followed the Language of Flowers, they went out of their way to study it more thoroughly.
Which is why they were the first citizens to acknowledge Xie Lian’s sincerity. Because they understood the flower crown that would grow around Xie Lian’s head whenever Hua Cheng so much as enter’s Xie Lian’s periphery. They understood the purple heliotropes and white yarrows that litter his hair at the mere mention of Hua Cheng’s name.
“Eternal devotion. Everlasting love.” They would tease and Xie Lian would go so red it made them laugh.
The God of Flowers is sincere, they would tell the other Ghost City citizens. He is worthy of our Lord.
But many still doubted him.
Xie Lian officially earned the love and respect of Ghost City during an attack from a Wrath.
A Wrath for once wasn’t causing outright trouble, not like the others that attack Ghost City indiscriminately. This one was trying to rally the Ghost City citizens away from Hua Cheng. He slandered the name of their Lord, citing his compassion for flowers as a weakness and his laws as a way of making the Ghost Realm a pushover realm for others to trample on.
Before the hackles of the Ghost City citizens could rise enough to defend their Lord, vines sprouted from the ground, trapping the Wrath and completely immobilizing him
“I’m sorry,” Xie Lian’s voice was sickly sweet, soaring over the crowd. They instinctively parted to give him way towards the Wrath. “Did you just insult my husband and his city in front of me?”
The Wrath scoffed. “Hah! So it’s true? He hides behind a stupid flower god , what a useless –”
The vines wrapped around his mouth.
Xie Lian’s eyes narrowed. “I didn’t say you could talk.”
Though slack-jawed in awe, the ghost city residents noticed that the Ghost King had joined them, quietly standing behind his husband. Hua Cheng crossed his arms, but did not make his presence known. He looked very pleased with what was happening, a smile on his face.
“You’re right. In terms of fighting, I cannot kill a ghost with my powers.” Xie Lian tilted his head, innocently. “But I know every single poison in existence, I have access to them all in my fingertips, and I know how to ensure that you will never find the cure. I know every single carnivorous plant, and they are at my beck and call. I cannot kill, but I can make you beg for death. And you will wish that Hua Chengzhu killed you before you met with me first.”
The Wrath bit and gnawed his way through the vines. “Stupid flower god – Hua Cheng must be even more blind than I thought if he relies on someone like you –”
And from the ground, a giant plant Venus Fly Trap sprouted from the ground and snapped shut around the wrath. From the outside, one could see the outline of the Wrath trying to fight, and barely hear his muffled screams.
“Don’t worry.” Xie Lian bounced on his heels with a grin. “You’re not that meaty, so it will only take about two months for the venus fly trap to digest your body.”
The Wrath struggled more, but the venus fly trap stayed shut. Xie Lian patted the plant like one would a pet, before turning towards the crowd –
– and immediately flushed at the jaw-dropped wide-eyed stares he was receiving from the ghosts of the city.
“Ah –” The flowers in his hair shook and flushed pink, looking just as frazzled as he was. “Please, go about your day. The trap will go away once the Wrath is digested – uhm –”
Finally, Hua Cheng clapped loudly to make his presence known. It jolted everyone out of their stupor, and they couldn’t help but notice how Xie Lian’s face brightened at their Lord’s presence, the flower crown of red flowers grew on around his head. Hua Cheng then skipped over to the god with a grin. “Gege’s so cool.”
Xie Lian flushed, suddenly aware of how many ghosts were staring at them. “Ah! San Lang – I –”
Hua Cheng cared not for the red cheeks on the Flower God, and lifted him in his arms with a laugh. “This one is honored to be defended by such an amazing god.”
“San Laaaaang!” Xie Lian’s face was so flustered, but he was grinning, and all the flowers were turned towards them. Hua Cheng laughed and peppered small kisses across Xie Lian’s cheeks, uncaring of those watching them. Xie Lian’s vines wrapped around Hua Cheng, as if hugging him back.
Word of Xie Lian’s deed spread far and wide throughout Ghost City, that they have the protection of the God of Flowers, and he does not stand for the slander of their city and their Lord.
The gardeners who followed Xie Lian weren’t lying. They didn’t have to worry.
They followed Hua Cheng because he never lied.
So of course it was fitting that his God, the God of Flowers, was incapable of it as well.
Besides, watching them being so sickly sweet together was adorable .
“Master Xie Lian?”
Yin Yu carefully waded through the red flowers of The Gardens to approach the napping God. The flowers, he learned, have gained a level of sentience due to The Flower God’s presence. It never ceases to fascinate Yin Yu how they actively sway out of the way now, making a path towards Xie Lian.
It fascinates him just as much as how the flowers rise up to protect said Flower God from any sort of danger. Yin Yu had never even considered how dangerous flowers could be until Xie Lian used it against Heaven.
Xie Lian was still getting used to having his power back. Yin Yu was struggling with the same thing since his shackle was destroyed after Jun Wu’s downfall, but his issues were along the lines of actually using his spiritual wells throughout the day instead of slugging through his tasks normally. Xie Lian, on the other hand, has been leaking power with the shifts of his emotions. It leaves him exhausted in the middle of the day.
Which leads to Yin Yu and Hua Cheng often finding Xie Lian napping somewhere. At least today, it was at The Gardens.
Yin Yu knelt in front of Xie Lian and tried to shake him awake, avoiding the vines and flowers that naturally wound around him. The God of Flowers blinked awake sleepily.
“Yin Yu…?”
“Master Xie Lian, you should rest in your room.” Yin Yu reminded gently. “This position can’t be good for you.”
Xie Lian hummed sleepily but was already drooping again. Yin Yu tried to keep him awake by shaking the god, but perhaps Hua Cheng was needed. It doesn’t look like Xie Lian had the energy to walk to the room.
“Shall I call Hua Chengzhu?” Yin Yu offered, already placing his fingers to his temple.
Xie Lian smiled at him, sleepily. “You know what, Yin Yu? I think you’re pretty awesome.”
Yin Yu faltered, his eyes going wide behind the mask. He’s pretty sure he’s doing an impression of a fish.
Nobody’s ever said that about him.
“I sort of envy you, you know? You were here for San Lang when I couldn’t be.” Xie Lian was clearly talking through a haze in his mind, even the flowers around him were drooping sleepily. “You got to support San Lang through so many challenges.”
Nobody’s ever been jealous of him, either.
Yin Yu found himself lowering his hand. Perhaps contacting the Lord of the City could wait. “Master Xie Lian is being unfair to himself. You were wrongfully imprisoned.”
He’s sure that, if he had a choice in the matter, the God of Flowers would have been by The Crimson Rain’s side as soon as possible.
Xie Lian lightly chuckled. “Perhaps. But. I’m very happy that San Lang had someone like you by his side.”
Yin Yu flushed. “You think too highly of me. Anyone would be honored to work with Hua Chengzu.”
Yin Yu was replaceable. Heaven had proved it time and time again. He was just lucky that Hua Cheng hasn’t found anyone to replace Yin Yu with yet.
Xie Lian’s eyes were closing again, his body clearly dipping back to sleep. “Have you really not noticed, Yin Yu?” He was smiling. “Besides me, you’re the only other person San Lang trusts with his right side.”
“What –”
“His blind side.”
Ever since he started paying Yin Yu, Hua Cheng stood to Yin Yu’s left.
Yin Yu considered it one of Hua Cheng’s several eccentricities, like how he talked to flowers, or how he always uses a specific red parasol, or how he speaks to his scimitar like it’s a dog. Hua Cheng stood to Yin Yu’s left, and that was just how he did things.
But of course Xie Lian saw beyond that.
Hua Cheng stood at Yin Yu’s left. Or rather, Yin Yu stood at Hua Cheng’s right.
The side where Hua Cheng can’t see him.
It was the greatest showcase of trust.
I trust you to be there when I expect you to. I trust you to watch over my weakness. I trust you to never take advantage of this. I trust you to see what I can’t.
And now that he thought about it, it went beyond that.
It was in the way Yin Yu was privy to all of Hua Cheng’s plans, especially when he was in Heaven.
It was in the way Yin Yun was always the first person Hua Cheng contacted when he needed something.
It was in the way he freely gave Yin Yu gold and riches, without worry that Yin Yu would use it to betray him.
It was in the way Yin Yu knew that he was always described as someone with ‘a forgettable presence’...
…and yet Xie Lian, Hua Cheng’s most precious person, recognized Yin Yu on sight.
Hua Cheng stood for sincerity above all else. He was never ashamed of who he was, never hid his feelings for others. If he didn’t like you, you would know. If he did…
Xie Lian went back to sleep, snoring lightly.
Yin Yu swallowed down the emotion that tried to come up his throat. He recited the usual password, connecting himself to his Lord.
‘My Lord, your husband fell asleep in The Gardens again.’
‘I see. Are you busy?’
‘No.’
‘Watch over him for a few more minutes for me. Some Heavenly Officials are becoming arrogant in the Gambler’s den, and I don’t want the ghosts to end up as unfortunate casualties.’
Now that he knew to look for it, Yin Yu could almost sob.
Because Hua Cheng wouldn’t trust anyone with his husband so easily, right? The husband that he spent eight hundred years looking for, that he built this whole city for, that he became a Ghost King for?
‘I’ll keep him safe, Hua Chengzhu.’
‘I know.’
I know.
I know.
Because Hua Cheng trusts Yin Yu.
Yin Yu was not replaceable to Hua Cheng.
Yin Yu sat amongst the flowers, which made space for him. A vine reached out towards him, and Yin Yu watched as a large pear formed on his lap. He looked up at Xie Lian, who had a small smile on his face while he slept.
There were several bunches of blue flowers in his hair.
Yin Yu removed the mask and took a bite of the pear.
It was the sweetest thing he ever tasted.
Ghost City has two lords.
One, the Ghost King Hua Cheng, also known as The Crimson Rain.
The other, the God of Flowers, Xie Lian.
Both are revered and respected amongst the ghosts. Both protected the city and the ghost’s way of life, allowing them to live as they wanted. The ghosts were surrounded with flowering vines and silver butterflies, and unlike the Heavens, they were comforted by the sight of them.
And Xie Lian was fully accepted in their city.
Eventually, the ghosts started praying to the God of Flowers in the temple, offering gold and jewels, knowing it was the only way he was going to accept the gifts.
Eventually, the ghosts started learning how to fold paper flowers, offering them to Xie Lian, knowing it will be the only kind of gift the God would accept outright, smiling even though they obviously can’t compare to Hua cheng’s paper flowers.
Eventually, Xie Lian became such an integral part of Ghost City, and the ghosts learned to react to the flowers around them. They were extra affectionate to the god on days when the flower droops, and cheer for him when they’re happy.
Hua Cheng and Xie Lian ruled Ghost City to be the antithesis of Heaven.
And if Heaven stood for selfishness, pride, arrogance, and reputation above all else,
Ghost City stood for sincerity.
“Ah! Yin Yu! Perfect, do you have time?” Xie Lian beamed from his position in the kitchen.
Yin Yu was going to have some tea for a short break – ever since Xie Lian started stocking custom teas and syrups, Yin Yu had been regularly trying the blends. He dared to say he was becoming spoiled with them – and he wasn’t particularly busy.
“I’m making some jam for Shi Qingxuan, and I ended up making a big batch. Help me clean the jars? You can keep some for yourself, too!” Xie Lian grinned.
Xie Lian was a terrible cook on a good day, but he never fails to make the best jam. Yin Yu started gathering the jars scattered all over the kitchen to boil in hot water first. As he handled them, he noticed the bunches of blue flowers growing on Xie Lian’s head, the same ones from back in The Garden. The blossoms seemed to be facing towards Yin Yu.
…could it be his flowers?
Does he have flowers?
He had been jealous of the others, of Shi Qingxuan and He Xuan having their own flowers in Xie Lian’s hair. He acknowledged that he wasn’t as close to Xie Lian as those two, but he still wanted to know what the Flower God truly thought of him.
At the same time, it terrified him. Was this how the other two felt, when Xie Lian grew their flowers? Not knowing what Xie Lian truly felt about them? Worried that it might change their perception of Xie Lian?
He took the jars out of the hot water and sat to wipe them down. His eyes kept darting to the blue flowers that followed Yin Yu when he moved. Xie Lian didn’t seem to notice that anything was different.
He was about to swallow his fear and ask when the door opened, and Hua Cheng stepped in. Yin Yu looked towards the Ghost King, who did his cursory scan of Xie Lian’s hair, before he no doubt noticed the blue flowers facing towards Yin Yu.
The Ghost King smirked, and sauntered over to Yin Yu, sitting to his left.
Keeping Yin Yu at his blind side. Now that Yin Yu noticed it, he couldn’t stop noticing it.
“Looks like you have your own flowers.” Hua Cheng nodded, speaking softly. “Gege’s finally settled on how he feels about you.”
Yin Yu bit his lip and focused on the jars. “May I ask what they are?”
He hated how small his voice was.
“Blue Hyacinths.” Hua Cheng smirked. “For a sincere, loyal, and trustworthy friend.”
Yin Yu nearly dropped the jar he was holding.
“Quite fitting, if you ask me.” Hua Cheng patted his shoulder once, and stood to cuddle his husband. Yin Yu promptly focused on the jars he was supposed to be drying, but couldn’t do anything to stop the smile forming on his face.
“You know what, Yin Yu? I think you’re pretty awesome.”
The Flower God was just like their Lord. He never lied.
Pretty awesome, huh?
Yin Yu smiled.
Maybe he could finally believe it.