Crown Prince and Ghost King

Chapter 29

Thinking about it, Xie Lian came to the conclusion that Qiandeng temple couldn't be just something for him.

Ascending for the third time gave Xie Lian some more insight of what a temple like the one built for him by Hua Cheng meant. While at first he was happy that Qiandeng temple finally had an actual purpose, he still wasn't able to shrug off the impression that it wasn't really a place of worship, and more of a symbol of the devotion Hua Cheng had towards him.

It was a temple for both of them, not for followers to pray in. Xie Lian was happy that it had been recognized even by the map Jun Wu had in his residence, but the more he thought about it, the more he convinced himself that Qiandeng temple belonged to both him and Hua Cheng as something far more important.

«Say, San Lang», he caught his attention, walking on the paved path that led to the building. «Would it be fine for you to be worshipped alongside me?».

The question came so unexpected that Hua Cheng tripped on his own feet and would have fallen if Xie Lian wasn't there to support him.

He was the ghost that had the thick face of asking Xie Lian to get married and promptly turn the proposal in a joke – of course, he then asked him for real and got himself the most perfect husband he didn't believe could possible to have – yet he stumbled upon hearing that same god ask him if it would be fine to be worshipped together.

The answer was on his lips before his brain could catch up, so he blurted out a very rushed "yes!" without realizing how quickly he did as much.

Then, petrified in place, he started at his husband with what was probably the most dumbfounded expression he'd ever had plastered on his face in eight hundred years of life and undeath: «What this San Lang means is, well... I... if His Highness would... fuck».

He was stuttering!

Since when Hua Cheng, the fearsome lord of Ghost City, the Calamity that terrorized the heavens, stuttered!?

Xie Lian genuinely didn't want to laugh, he didn't!

But... he was so used to seeing Hua Cheng as the unwavering man that could face even the most embarrassing of situations with a stone face, that actually witnessing him stutter like a maiden in distress got to his composure.

«This Highness would definitely fuck, my love», he couldn't help but say, trying his earnest to stop laughing but failing so hard at it he actually started wheezing. That response only made Hua Cheng whine like a dog whose tail had been stepped on, which in turn made Xie Lian laugh even more, tears pooling at the corners of his eyes.

To make up for it, he caged his ghost in a bone-crushing hug, face buried in the expanse of his chest: «My San Lang means that he would be happy to be worshipped together, right?», he said, as soon as the laughter bubbling in his chest calmed down.

At that, one could only nod.

Truth be told, Hua Cheng didn't really believe he was worthy of being worshipped  together with Xie Lian. He was a ghost, a follower, someone that made too many mistakes to be allowed to share such a glorious honor, but a voice in his head told him to follow what his husband truly wished for them. It was a voice that didn't come often, a self-praising presence that didn't even exist before Xie Lian brought the light back into his life. It was also a voice that Hua Cheng mostly ignored, preferring to lower himself to the level he believed was reserved for him.

Xie Lian often scolded him for that.

He sat him down, showered him with praises and compliments, and got angry at the ghost every time he insisted on walking the path of shame and punishment.