𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒 ━ tian guan ci fu

chapter two

the breath of sweet nature plays in the blue, up here in the sky that hugs valleys and mountains just the same. between clouds is a river of blue. from this sky river comes a light that feels akin to pride, to confidence, that it will shine in any season, in any weather, the rays uniting as great beams.

yue chen imagined for a moment that they were strong enough to support the heavens above. when was the last time he saw the blue ocean within the sky? he didn't know. if he were to look away from the past, he would find that the world was quite astonishing.

when one first peeked over the horizon and saw nature without the haze of discontent. without any filter, with the naked eye and the brain open to the beauty of this reality, amazement is sure to come. it is the amazement of a baby when they first meet a dog, or watching a leaf move through the wind.

and when one sees those simple things everything is so much better. the larger things become almost overwhelming, the sense of love so much stronger. why spin straw into gold when it is already that shade of the sun? why take something warm and make it so cold?

glancing away from the sky, yue chen's gaze lands on the nature before them. the autumn season stretched forth with fingers of every hue, from the serenity of browns to fireside reds and the gold of sunny days. the autumn breeze carried fine drops, each one a promise of the rain to come. it had a way of moving yue chen's hair.

it carried with it the fragrance of earth, a sweet and steady sense of joy. and as it danced with the canopies of a flame, it alighted both eyes and soul, yet more as the feeling of a mother's lullaby, a comforting delight.

as newly chilled air moved the clouds, streaks of brilliance break through from a patient sun. yue chen allowed his eyes to rest for a moment, feeling the ambiance of street, hearing the faint sounds, taking in the aroma, letting his thoughts be still. it was odd to feel something like peace and calmness wasg over him. is this why hua cheng brought him here?

"you're oddly quiet."

the sound of hua cheng's voice shattered the silence that had settled over them. yue chen briefly glanced in his direction, shifting his gaze once he realized hua cheng's gaze already rested upon him.

"i'm just admiring the view around us is all. i can't remember the last time i had the chance to look upon something as beautiful and fragile as nature. let alone in the mortal realm."

a quiet hmm was hua cheng's only response. yue chen could tell that hua cheng knew that was only partially true, however he didn't push for a proper explanation. instead, he changed the form of topic.

"you must be tired from all the walking, why don't we catch a ride on that cart?" hua cheng suggested, nodding his head up the path.

yue chen followed his line of sight, gaze settling on an ox cart not too far up ahead. with a nod of agreement, the two managed to catch up to it and steal a ride. the young man leaned back against the stack of hay, hua cheng doing the same.

it was odd, seeing hua cheng so...carefree like this. one would think yue chen would be used to it by now, seeing as how long he's been by hua cheng's side, but that's wasn't the case. yes, as the ghost king, he could be described as feared and powerful with a cold demeanor but around yue chen he was relaxed, kind, and gentle.

always handling him with care as if he were afraid to break him. though yue chen wouldn't worry about that. he was broken long before hua cheng came into his life. at times, he still felt broken as if he was missing apart of himself. at least, alongside hua cheng, he didn't feel lost. he wasn't sure how long they sat in comfortable silence, but a glance at the sky informed him that nightfall was approaching.

the sunset in the sky was as fresh as the colors brushed upon an artist's canvas, as if those rays were destined to create a great work of art. the orange gold stretched far and wide, the color of fire hearths and tangerines. it is but the reflection of the dawn, the promise of the rising sun that comes after the velvety night. yue chen opened his mouth to grab hua cheng's attention but the words died on his tongue as he heard a familiar voice on the other side of the hay stack.

"godly tales, ghost stories. these should do. i'm so excited. selling these scraps to invest in my future. turns out this is much more fun than an ascension."

a suddenly jolt of the cart cut the voice short for a second before continuing.

"this scroll mentions me. the crown of the xianle kingdom has ascended three times. a god of martial arts, plagues, and scrap collecting. i'm a god, that's good. though that's quite a gap in my accolades. well, all gods are equal like all living things."

"is that so?" hua cheng questioned. "if all things were equal, would gods even exist? mortals breach equality but they want a power to rely on too."

as yue chen glanced at him, he heard a quick intake of breath followed by the sound of his name falling from the lips of the man he longed, yet feared to see.

"yue chen?"