Hua Xianle

Chapter 2:

It was a peaceful evening in Puqi Shrine. The Heavenly Emperor, Xie Lian, and his husband, the Ghost King Hua Cheng were enjoying themselves in the humble comforts of the small shrine. They talked about their day, traded stories, along with some occasional flirting from Hua Cheng just so he could make his gege blush. However, it all came to a halt when Xie Lian heard the dying prayer of a child. A child.

"Dianxia... Taizi Dianxia, please... help this humble servant. I don't want to die yet. I promised my parents I'd live for them. I want to live for them. Help me, please..."

The voice was so young, despite being hoarse, and it sounded so weak. The tone of the prayer, it was the voice of someone who did not believe their plea would be answered. It was the voice of one who had resigned themselves to death. It made something in Xie Lian break.

He abruptly stood up, feeling an indescribable pull toward this young, fading voice. He refused to let a child die like that, alone and resigned, crying out for help while already knowing none would come.

"Gege?" Hua Cheng looked at his husband in confusion and concern.

"San Lang, I received a prayer, a child's prayer. They're dying. We need to save them."

Immediately, Hua Cheng was on his feet, pulling his dice from his robe without so much as a hint of resistance. Were the situation not dire, Xie Lian would no doubt kiss his beloved husband. Instead, he gave Hua Cheng the coordinates and they teleported into a forest in Yunmeng.

It didn't take long to find the boy, a pained noise from the usually stoic ghost king making the Scrap-Collecting God's heart drop into his stomach. He followed his husband's gaze and found a small figure slumped against a tree stump. They were breathing shallow breaths and were extremely pale, bleeding from numerous wounds that were obviously from outright abuse.

His San Lang approached quickly yet carefully on the small figure and rested the back of his hand against the child's forehead. "Gege, he is burning up."

"We should take him back to the ghost city, San Lang. Whoever did this to him might be searching for him now. He'll be in danger."

Hua Cheng grimaced at the suggestion, hating the idea of disagreeing with his beloved. "Gege, while I agree we need to take the boy to safety, the Ghost City is not an environment for a healing child. The resentful energy alone will do more harm than good, and all the rowdy ghosts will only terrorize an already traumatized boy."

Now it was Xie Lian's turn to grimace. He was so used to feeling safe and welcome in the Ghost City that he had forgotten the true dangers that it harbored for those not under Hua Cheng's protection.

"Instead, Gege should take him to the Heavenly Capital, where his safety is guaranteed. Yin Yu can handle matters in Ghost City to make sure the ghosts behave enough for the child to stay after his physical injuries heal."

That last sentence left Xie Lian STUNNED. Hua Cheng, his husband, his San Lang, was already starting to plan for the child to become a part of their quaint little family. His San Lang, who didn't open his heart up for just anyone, was willing to let this child in... for him.

"You... want him to stay with us, San Lang?" Xie Lian asked, unable to conceal the hope in his voice.

Hua Cheng looks at him and smiles softly. "If you want Gege, you know I'd do anything for you."

"I do."

"Then we'll take him in."

"Raise him as our own?"

"Raise him as our own."

With a smile, Xie Lian gently smiled at the boy and said "Rest well my child, I've got you."