Hua Cheng's Birthday Special ~ Good Things Come in Threes

Part 1

It was Hua Cheng's birthday, and Xie Lian, with the help of Ghost City's ghosts and monsters, was organising a festival for the Ghost King. He knew of course that Hua Cheng didn't care for birthday celebrations, but he felt bad for Hua Cheng's subjects, who were so earnestly and excitedly, if somewhat chaotically, making plans for their lord's day and using the excuse to have a blast.

So Xie Lian, very tactfully, convinced Hua Cheng to attend his own birthday party and be gracious about it, with the promise of having another celebration later, just the two of them. Hua Cheng thought Gege would probably want to cook something for him and then have a night stroll holding hands, with some moon gazing.

Even though Hua Cheng had his own ideas about a celebration with just the two of them, he was more than happy to spend time with Xie Lian, having him only for himself. And, more importantly, with Xie Lian pampering and spoiling him and doing anything he wanted – blushing slightly most of the time, but never protesting.

So as he strolled down Ghost City's main avenue, hand in hand with Xie Lian, he was smiling brightly and waving at the mad crowd of ghosts and demons gathered to see their lord, shouting,

"Happy birthday Ol' Lord Hua Chengzhu!"

"Many happy returns to our mighty lord!"

"May our lord live happily ever after! Quack!"

And such other expressions of goodwill.

After thoroughly receiving praises, best wishes and presents – some of them outlandish beyond belief – and leading a big toast to his own health, even giving a little speech, prompted by Xie Lian, Hua Cheng could finally count his part of the bargain fulfilled. He waited expectantly for some time alone with his Gege, and that little surprise he promised.

Xie Lian felt incredibly tender seeing how Hua Cheng enjoyed his company and valued their time together, even if he definitely had naughty ideas on what "spending time together" would be. They walked back to Qiandeng Temple, and Xie Lian said, shyly,

"Hum, San Lang, don't raise your expectations too high – it won't be a big deal really..."

Hua Cheng replied, smiling and pulling Xie Lian close to him, "Everything Gege does for me is a big deal, better than any priceless treasure I could wish for..."

Xie Lian smiled and, fishing some dice from inside his sleeves, rolled them – getting snake eyes, as old habits die hard. He opened Qiandeng Temple door, but instead of chaotic and noisy Ghost City, they walked into a huge hall in a sumptuous and elegant interior, with red glass walls and golden columns; it could only be the Palace of XianLe in The Heavenly Capital.

The palace granted to him by Jun Wu was of course destroyed, but when the gods rebuilt the current Heavenly Capital, Xie Lian, urged by Feng Xin and Mu Qing, ended up building a new one. He was doing well these days in terms of temples and devotees, being worshipped alongside Hua Cheng, so he reasoned he could spare the merits, and having a palace was convenient for when he had heavenly business to attend.

Another reason he had deep in his heart, not revealing it to anyone, was that he wanted a nice place he could take Hua Cheng to, even if Hua Cheng didn't care if they slept on a straw mat in Puqi Shrine, as long as they were together. But Xie Lian realised to himself, for occasions such as this, his very own Palace of XianLe was just perfect.

That night a huge moon was glowing through the palace windows – a blood moon, which was totally fitting and auspicious, Xie Lian thought. The palace halls were lit by countless candle-like floating lights, reflecting on its golden and red glass surfaces, making it exceedingly seductive and beautiful, ethereal and dreamy.

Hua Cheng didn't mind being in The Heavenly Realm; being brought by Xie Lian, holding his hand, and indoors in Gege's own Palace, secluded and undisturbed – that was indeed promising! Xie Lian took him to some inner chamber and said, smiling, "Are you ready for the surprise I've got for you? Close your eyes".

Are you curious? Are you? Are you? 😉

Thanks for reading! Don't forget to vote, comment or hit the follow button! 😄