(modern AU Xie Lian's thoughts)
"heaven really isn't wonderful."
"Your highness , please I insist don't lose hope , let me please look for a solution." Guoshi said in a pleading tone.
"No need for that Guoshi , I am so very grateful to you for coming upfront to me about this , I don't require false hope." Xie Lian replied as he faked his smile.
"Your highness."
"Guoshi please tell me one last thing , how much time do I have , please answer honestly." Xie Lian pleaded.
" less than 2 weeks ." Guoshi replied as he silently wiped his tears.
" thank you Guoshi , i will be taking my leave now , San Lang must be waiting for me." Xie Lian replied.
"Your Highness , please remember to not lose hope."
"Thank you Guoshi."
( isn't this is a bit too cruel , it feels as if I am watching myself.)
As the entire scene reverted back to the shrine again , Xie Lian found out that Hua Cheng still wasn't back.
( what is he going to do now , shouldn't he tell his San Lang?)
He watched as his doppelgänger broke into tears , he put his hand against his mouth , so no one could hear him cry.
"Why is this happening to me , what did i ever do to deserve this ?"
" I want to see San Lang , i want to see him right this second."
The other Xie Lian said weeping , as he stood and drew a distance shortening array to go to paradise manor , he had to meet his husband or he would go feral, but deep inside his heart he knew he couldn't let Hua Cheng know.
( what is he drawing , wait what is this place , this place is exquisite) Xie Lian said as he remained in complete awe of this place.
"San Lang , where are you ? " Xie Lian said as he practically ran to find his husband.
As Xie Lian saw Hua Cheng who seemed to be talking to Yin Yu , he couldn't hold back , as he ran and embraced Hua Cheng.
" Gege , what's wrong? how come you are here , you could have communicated through the spiritual array , i would have come back." Hua Cheng said as he held Xie Lian in his arms.
Hua Cheng spared one glance to Yin Yu , indicating him to leave this instant and he did , no one would dare to go against the Ghost King.
As Hua Cheng continued to hold Xie Lian , he realized Xie Lian didn't respond , he couldn't help but worry.
"Gege , what's wrong ? did you miss me that much ? " Hua Cheng inquired in a soft tone.
As Xie Lian remained silent in his husband's arms , he couldn't hold back his tears but he knew he had to no matter what happens , he could not let Hua Cheng know.
"Is it really that surprising if I miss my husband?" Xie Lian replied as he maintained his composure.
( Ehhhhh????? Husband???) Xie Lian thought as his heart started to beat faster.
"No , it is not , gege can hug me as much as he pleases , I will be glad." Hua Cheng responded.
As Xie Lian pulled away and looked into Hua Cheng's eyes , he couldn't help but realize that he won't be able to see him ever again.
" Gege , why are you looking so pale ?"
As Hua Cheng noticed the change in husband's appearance , Xie Lian's eyes widened , he had to come up with an excuse this instant.
"San Lang , i had to do some work in the heavens , it was a bit tiresome and couldn't get any sleep." Xie Lian replied.
"Gege , why are those heaven's scums tiring you so much , you should sleep right this instant." Hua Cheng replied in a furious tone.
"San Lang it's all right ." Xie Lian replied while slightly smiling.
"No , it's not , i won't forgive those scums if they tire you , you have to rest right this instant." Hua Cheng replied as he picked Xie Lian and princess carried him to their bedroom.
" San Lang put me down , i am completely all right."
"No , gege needs to rest ." Hua Cheng replied.
As Hua Cheng placed Xie Lian on the bed , he couldn't help but worry seeing how pale Xie Lian had gotten.
"Those scoundrels , gege let me punish them."
"San Lang , leave them be and don't you have to finish your work , you are the Ghost King , you have to take responsibilities." Xie Lian said.
"I have already assigned Yin Yu the work , he will do just fine , Gege doesn't need to worry."
Hua Cheng said as he laid next to Xie Lian and kept on staring him with utmost devotion.
"Gege , you need to sleep , i'll be right here." Hua Cheng said he gently caressed Xie Lian's cheek.
Xie Lian hugged Hua Cheng and let some his tears escape his eyes.
"Don't ever leave me." Xie Lian said in a mellowed tone.
" i won't dare , your highness."
( WAIT ? DIDN'T SAN LANG CALLED ME YOUR HIGHNESS TOO ? , i thought it was something completely out of the blue , what is just happening , why am I seeing two different versions of myself and San Lang being husbands??)
As almost a week had passed , Xie Lian's condition got so worse to the point he couldn't even use distance shortening array . To conceal his condition , just excuses wouldn't do any justice , Hua Cheng knew him better than anyone , so everyday he lied about having some work in the heavenly realm and instead went to visit his Guoshi , whenever he met Hua Cheng he used his saved up reserves of spiritual energy to make his appearance look better , but now even those reserves were slowly being drained away.
"Guoshi , i think I have to tell Feng Xin and Mu Qing , i need someone who knows , so they can help me out because i d-don't think i can do this anymore." Xie Lian said as tears slowly fell from his eyes.
"Your highness , i have already told you but i should mention it again , your highness you need to tell Hua Chengzu , do you want to spend the remaining time you have left lying and deceiving him?"
"Guoshi I can't , i just cannot , i can't let him see me in this condition , nothing is left of me , more and more of my life energy is being taken away from me , i feel disgusted Guoshi , i can't even see him in the eyes anymore. I have to tell Feng Xin and Mu Qing." Xie Lian said silently wiping his tears.
Xie Lian stood up , he drew a distance shortening array with the last chunk of spiritual energy , to visit Mu Qing and Feng Xin.
Xie Lian used every bit of his spiritual energy to to visit the palace of Martial God of the West. He contacted Feng Xin through the spiritual communication array.
"Feng Xin , i need to meet you , I am here waiting in your palace."
"Wait , WHAT? , your highness when did you come here ?" asked Feng Xin.
"Don't ask too many questions , please ask Mu Qing to come here this instant too."
"Why call that bastard ?" Feng Xin said in cold tone.
"Just do it , Feng Xin." Xie Lian replied in an annoyed tone.
It probably was the first time Feng Xin heard Xie Lian so annoyed, he had to abide.
"All right , we'll be right there."
As both martial gods made their way to visit the crown prince , they couldn't help but worry why out of thin air Xie Lian wanted to meet them since Hua Cheng really loathed both of them and wouldn't let Xie Lian meet them until he was right by his side but it seemed he came alone.
"Your Highness." Both Martial Gods simultaneously greeted.
"Feng Xin and Mu Qing please listen to me very carefully , what I am about to say must not be revealed to anyone , not until I tell you to , most importantly not to San Lang , do not let him know at any costs." Xie Lian said as his back faced both the martial gods.
"What is wrong , what's something that you can't even tell your San Lang?" Mu Qing inquired.
As Xie Lian turned his back to face the martial gods , their faces dropped , they couldn't believe what their eyes were seeing , Xie Lian's entire face had looked like of a dead person , his face white as his clothing , his lips were completely purple with not even a hint of blood , his cheeks completely dried up as if his entire body was meagre skin and bones .
"YOUR HIGHNESS ! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?" Feng Xin shouted.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?" Mu Qing someone who never showed any emotion whatsoever was also completely stunned.
" I am dying." Xie Lian said as he smiled through extreme pain.
"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU SAYING XIE LAIN?,YOU'RE A GOD HOW CAN YOU DIE?" Feng Xin said while in a visible panic .
Xie Lian told them everything.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS PIT OF PERDITION?" Mu Qing shouted.
" a state of spiritual ruin , my spiritual energy would be used to avoid doom on this world."
"What a heavenly way to die."