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Strolling the streets of Ghost City never got any less chaotic.
It was buzzing as always, with enthusiastic shouts from easily excitable residents as two figures, one dressed in red and one dressed in white, walked past the vendors languidly, surrounded by a distinguished and untouchable aura. One of them distant and dignified, one of them kind and friendly.
"CHENGZHU!!!!“
"GRANDUN- I mean Xie Daozha—,"
"Scram."
Hearing the order, all the ghosts scattered away immediately, abandoning their stalls in a silent hurry to clear the path and make room for the lord and his companion. However, they didn't go far away, stealing curious glances and whispering too loudly among themselves, as if some kind of competition to who can applaud louder the imposing pair.
But no matter how hard they tried to get into the good graces of Hua Chengzhu, it was clear that he paid them no mind, gaze fixated only on the one person beside him.
Xie Lian, in turn, couldn't help but admire Hua Cheng’s nonchalant grace as he was guiding him through the city with a stoic expression on his face. But his single eye shimmered as he listened to his rumbling, laughed at his jokes and watched his every move with great care.
As they walked shoulder to shoulder—occasionally stealing touches before the watchful eyes of Ghost City—they passed an alleyway where all sorts of demonic wares were sold, each of them radiating a malicious aura.
Xie Lian suddenly stopped and walked closer to the stall. He soon discovered a familiar black candy in a jar, dark and shiny with a little ominous glint to it. A memory tugged his mind as he turned to Hua Cheng.
He placed his hands on his knees and hovered above it to take a closer look as he asked, "San Lang, look! Isn't this the same candy that General Pei used back at Mount Tong'lu?"
Hua Cheng stepped closer too and answered in a disparaging tone, "En, it is. Ghost Scent Candy."
He continued without sparing a single look at it. "But gege shouldn't bother with it. In fact… If gege wants the essence of evil to radiate from the inside out of him, all he has to do is ask me."
The next moment, strong arms circled Xie Lian from behind, a soft pair of lips brushed against his ear. His voice dropped low, laced with so much darkness that made Xie Lian tremble, "I'm always happy to oblige."
"I-I know that,” Xie Lian stummered out the words and massaged his burning cheeks to get rid of the persistent rosy flush. He pushed Hua Cheng slightly away, laughing nervously, but after stealing a few glances and making sure no one was looking their way, he stood on his tiptoes and gave a placating quick peck on his lips. "No need. Forget I said anything."
Having said that, they continued their walk. Arriving at Qiandeng Temple, incense was lit, ink was grinded and white, clean parchment was placed before a very reluctant, pouting ghost king.
Xie Lian was stealing glances at him, then averting his gaze to focus writing up more practice sheets. He was sitting, his posture impeccable as diligent hands held the brush, filling the space with ever-precise—though a little absentminded—strokes.
Despite having asked Hua Cheng to forget about it, his own mind was drifting back to their previous conversation.
In reality, Xie Lian was very curious about what ghosts would taste like. Although to make such a request, he felt that even his hard-cultivated thick face couldn't bear it. Yet, in the middle of his musings, his mouth moved unexpectedly and the question was already out.
"Can you make me feel it?"
Hua Cheng dropped down his brush, and threw him an intrigued look as he forgo any proper sitting position and leaned on one of his elbows, resting his head in his palm. "Feel what, Your Highness?"
"The smell and taste of… your… essence."
Hua Cheng stared at him in silence.
Maybe he noticed Xie Lian’s discomfort or guessed how awkward it was for him to ask such a thing. Either way, he didn't tease, but simply answered, "I can."
He wiggled his arm, the underside of his pale-white wrist peeking out below his robes and vembrances. He was careful with his movements, paying attention to the cold silver to not to come in contact with Xie Lian’s skin. He placed his wrist on his forehead, between his eyebrows, and dragged it slowly along Xie Lian’s nose in a straight line.
Xie Lian had to close his eyes, but snapped them open once an interesting aroma filled his nostrils, making his eyes widen in astonishment.
The incoming scent was hard to describe.
The spell worked: Hua Cheng was extending his ghostly aura for him to examine, otherwise invisible to the naked eyes. Hua Cheng pulled away with a grin and spread his arms as if to tell Xie Lian to come and test it out.
Obviously not ordinary, Xie Lian observed. It was drowning him in, placating him and stirring something inside him at once, making him yearn for more.
Feeling pulled by a force, Xie Lian moved involuntarily and buried his face into Hua Cheng’s chest. It was slightly overbearing in a way that made Xie Lian's stomach flip pleasantly. It was a true domineering power of a Devastation ranked ghost, but it had some hidden peculiarity that made his heart fill with fondness.
Hua Cheng huffed out a laugh as he began to caress the back of Xie Lian’s head. "I take it gege likes my essence, then."
"Mn," Xie Lian mumbled, nosing his way up to his neck. "San Lang, t-that's…"
Enchanting and mesmerising, yet grounding and secure: a swirling mixture of the crispness of sandalwood, a distinct floral scent, like a sheen of sun-kissed sweat after a hard working day at the fields, even like some exotic fragrance that reminded Xie Lian of the Banyue Kingdom.
Hua Cheng smelled like raindrops on a red umbrella, freshly chopped wood, smoke and dirt, flowers and blood, air and flame and herbs and spices; rich and faint and thick—
Hua Cheng smelled like nothing, whilst smelled like everything!
Long fingers were drawing soothing circles on the back of his head, making Xie Lian ease into the embrace, sniffling lightly that made Hua Cheng let out a chuckle above him.
Was this how all the ghosts perceived Hua Cheng? Or was it only him who was this affected, just because it was Hua Cheng radiating it?
Xie Lian felt the fingers starting massaging his scalp and nape, the action making him intoxicated and dizzy for some reason.
Although he didn't see anything, in his mind, he could picture Hua Cheng’s hand; pale and elegantly shaped digits, as if sculpted from a piece of white jade. He let out a barely audible moan as he felt the subtle scratching of fingernails and remembered the calluses of every clever finger. They were making an entrancing dance, gently tugging locks of hair, combing them to the side as a thumb reached his cheek and carressed the sensitive skin there.
Xie Lian raised his head and turned his gaze towards Hua Cheng, who was looking down at him with a captivating smile playing on his lips.
He drew his thumb along his cheekbone, over the reddened rim of his eye and paused just before his lips. The other fingers moved under his chin, tipping it slightly up as if asking for permission. Leaning back, yet still committing that indescribable scent into his memory, Xie Lian swallowed hard. Although, that sly thumb might have felt his silent indulgence, because it swept along his lower lip in a tantalizing way. The gesture was so sensual that Xie Lian parted his lips. The next moment, as if possessed, he took it inside his mouth.
If the scent was hard to describe, the taste was even harder! It was luscious and unlike anything before, but in a way, quite similar to Hua Cheng’s… Xie Lian stopped himself, his face threatening to combust on the spot.
Feeling awkward, Xie Lian let the finger slide out of his mouth, the tip resting on his lower lip. He felt a change in the atmosphere and shot up a glance to take a look at Hua Cheng’s reaction.
"Your Highness," Hua Cheng whispered, looking somewhat torn between abbreviating and enlarging his ghostly presence. His gaze was steadfast and enthralled, but the change brought forth his innermost desires as it radiated through both of them, a triumphant, perpetual fire.
Ah! Poor San Lang, Xie Lian thought as he decided if he had the courage to ask for a taste earlier, he shouldn't let Hua Cheng’s efforts go to waste.
He peeked his tongue out and teased the soft area between Hua Cheng's nail and the tip of his finger; a sign of compliance.
Hua Cheng must have had similar thoughts about how being unresponsive would be impolite in this situation, because he raised two more of his slender fingers and placed them on Xie Lian’s lips in a featherlight touch.
They moved in sync: fingers peeking in a slow and shy manner and a hot mouth engulfing them.
It was truly like he suspected—he was tasting not some kind of low, but the highest quality essence there is. The newfound thought made him hum a little in delight. He felt the muffled sound rippling, resonating through his whole body, but ironically, it was Hua Cheng, who shivered.
He did it again out of curiosity, relishing in the pleasant vibrations. When Hua Cheng moved his fingers in, he felt the soft weight on his tongue. He imagined those beautiful joints moving inside, the sweet taste of essence unfurling with them. It made a fleeting thought of fullness flash through his mind.
Although they do a few unspeakable things together, and do them quite frequently, it was the first time tasting his husband's fingers.
Xie Lian had a hard time describing the flavours, so he just mapped up every callose, even letting himself swirl around with his tongue.
The smell and taste made him bolder, reckless even, as he took them deeper inside his mouth.
Hua Cheng watched, clearly amazed by how Xie Lian sucked his fingers in a deep, relaxing rhythm, drinking up the ghostly essence that was his. The digits were moving, exploring the insides, probing gently the gums, stroking the tongue, while Xie Lian's head spinned. Who would have known that the inside of his mouth was this sensitive? The essence of his husband was going to drive him mad.
After some time, the quivering feeling inside him subdued. He let out one last noise of contentment as he let Hua Cheng withdraw.
He felt the fog in his mind begin to evaporate, just in time to catch the receding glistering, slicked digits in a mix of horror and thrill. He parted his mouth to say something, yet couldn't find his voice to articulate anything. Hua Cheng pulled him out of his trance with his next words, catching him off guard.
"My turn, gege."
"... Huh?" Xie Lian blinked, his mind a little sluggish still somewhat clouded with the scent, the spectacular aftertaste in his mouth.
"Would gege grant me this wish?" Hua Cheng asked, guiding Xie Lian to sit on his lap. "It's only fair, since he's got to taste me."
'PA!' Xie Lian slapped a hand hard against his forehead, almost groaning out the words in a frustrated tone. "Could you say it, not like… this?"
"Why?" Hua Cheng asked, pulling Xie Lian’s hand away from the reddening spot, leaning down to kiss it better. "Is this not what happened?"
He was right. Since this was what Xie Lian asked him to do, why word it differently, after all? But somehow hearing it from Hua Cheng's mouth made him feel all fidgety and complicated inside.
Maybe Ghost Kings have such a unique aura that makes one temporarily forget all inhibitions.
No, that's probably not it, Xie Lian thought, San Lang always makes me feel this way.
Hua Cheng gathered the locks of hair he was playing with before and raised them to his nose. After kissing it gently, he inhaled the scent of it, looking straight at Xie Lian. "I'm really curious about gege's essence as well."
"I… don't think I have one?" Xie Lian laughed nervously.
"I am sure gege is sweet. Let me try." Hua Cheng offered with a mischievous glint in his eye that Xie Lian knew too well. He was weak for it anyway.
For the better half of the day, Hua Cheng was singing the praises of Xie Lian’s scent and flavour. He only let go after he made sure that Xie Lian got thoroughly pleasured.
After simultaneously gaining acquaintance with each other's essence in the most intimate ways, Hua Cheng moved Xie Lian from the top of his body, to lie next to him.
"Did gege miss me?" Hua Cheng teased, his voice a bit husky.
But not that rough. Xie Lian felt flustered by his traitorous thoughts and pulled Hua Cheng closer to hide his embarrassment into the jut of his neck.
"I missed gege too." Hua Cheng continued, as he peppered kisses on Xie Lian's hair. "I'll be content living there."
Hearing this, Xie Lian burst out laughing, throwing his head back, forgetting his flushing face immediately.
"Hahahahaha, San Lang, please have mercy on me and don't say things like this."
"It's the truth!" Hua Cheng snorted a laugh too, clearly intending to draw out the act. "Gege is too irresistible. Being on my knees for him is my addiction. But if I lived there… how would gege grant me his kisses?"
"Cheeky." Xie Lian smiled and leaned closer to capture his lips.
After they parted, Hua Cheng reached out and rubbed Xie Lian’s neck. Xie Lian had half the mind to ask him about how he knew that it got strained because of the strange angle, but that meant he would have to engage in idle conversation about their tumbling. Hua Cheng, however, didn't have the means to hold back.
"So… gege likes the smell and taste of me, then." He also had an innate ability to find the sore points with accuracy on his nape, massaging them gently.
"SAN LANG!" Xie Lian whimpered, memories, shame and arousal creeping up on him. To save some face he ended up adding: “It was nice."
"Nice?" Hua Cheng echoed and cocked an eyebrow. "I can change it to anything you desire, just tell me."
"I see." Xie Lian hummed. It shouldn't be surprising that Hua Cheng can alter his scent like he can shift his appearance.
"But… I wonder what San Lang's scent was like when he was… " the word alive, he didn't want to say, thinking about it made his heart sink. "... A soldier of the Xianle army."
"Oh" Hua Cheng said, clearly not expecting this kind of question. "Here, gege… it was something like this."
The sensations of Hua Cheng’s essence were invading his lungs and mouth once again.
Xie Lian’s breath hitched as he felt the long forgotten, distinct scent of Xianle in it. It was a bit plain, absent from the perfumed pouches and luxurious bathing oils he was familiar with growing up. But it was a strong, spicy, faintly musky scent that usually tended to linger long in someone's memories. It was more of a scent that one would associate with commoners, but Xie Lian relished in it as he buried his face in the crook of Hua Cheng’s neck and he mumbled in a low voice: "Thank you."
Hua Cheng was caressing his shoulders in meaningless patterns as they laid on the divan of Qiandeng Temple, many layers of robes, scrolls and calligraphy equipment scattered all over.
The scent of incense and grinded ink filled the air.
Outside, the food stalls in Ghost City would offer the weirdest smelling meals.
Back at Paradise Manor, waiting for him were the scented oils befitting of a prince.
There was Puqi Village with its simplicity, the smell of hay and cattle and dirt and fresh goods, Taicang Mountain with the flowering trees he planted with his two hands, waiting for Hua Cheng.
All of these mingled together when he thought back on Hua Cheng's indescribable odor. For him, it meant safety, reliability; promised undying devotion and incurable love as it threaded past and the present together, never to separate.
A little bit of everything, really, but for Xie Lian, it was very much like home.