Threads of Devotion

Two

Hua Cheng stepped back, stunned, as if he had been slapped. He stared at Xie Lian, confused. What- His Highness never curses. He never-

The ghost king observes the Xie Lian in front of him, hurt and doubtful. This still feels like Xie Lian... still sounds like him, looks like him. And Hua Cheng can even feel the steady flow of spiritual energy in him. So... why is he acting like this?

"...Gege?" He said slowly, lowering his arm. "What happened? Has this San Lang done something to offend you?"

Xie Lian glares at him, with eyes so full of what Hua Cheng can only discern as unadulterated hate that he wonders if he's in a bad dream. "Only every time I lay eyes on you," the god said, face pulled into a scowl as he looks Hua Cheng up and down.

The ghost king was shocked, each word like a dagger to the heart. Did he say something wrong? Did he do something? Wasn't His Highness fine when he left two days ago? ...Did he ignore my message because he didn't want to talk to me?

"Gege- beloved- if I did something wrong, if I did something to offend you, this lowly one will make up for it anyway he can. Can we- can we talk?" He asked, voice cracking. Was this it? His worst fear? That Xie Lian would finally realize that Hua Cheng was not worthy of his love, and leave?

But without answering his question, Xie Lian breezed by Hua Cheng, eyes cold. "I'm tired. I'll deal with you tomorrow," he bit out, then paused. "I'll be in the guestroom."

Hua Cheng is left standing in a daze, his mind in turmoil. It all happened so fast- what even just happened? Xie Lian had stared at him with such coldness- such hate-

Pain, fear, hurt, confusion. Hua Cheng's fists clenched as he stared at the floor, the emotions swirling in his mind soon turning into numbness. This is where the doubts come. Stupid. You must've done something wrong, he scolded himself. Stupid. To think you could've deserved His Highness, to think he would actually stay.

***

The next day goes by slowly. All the next morning, Hua Cheng never saw Xie Lian around once. Not in Paradise Manor, not in the guestroom of Qiandeng temple. The ghost king himself hadn't been able to sleep, not with the thoughts and the hate on Xie Lian's face constantly playing in his head.

Hua Cheng was sitting on his throne in the gambling den, overseeing the ruckus below him as usual. But his mind wasn't on it. He replayed last night over and over again, hoping to get a clue, a hint, on what he did wrong, on what he could've done to make up for it.

Out of the corner of his eye, Hua Cheng saw Xie Lian enter the platform where he's seated. Hua Cheng straightened up, turning to face him.

"...Gege," he breathed out, choosing his next words carefully. "How did you sleep? How did the mission go?"

The god flitted his eyes over to Hua Cheng briefly. The ghost king was pained that those eyes are still so cold and empty. "How I slept is none of your business. The demon got away. I got sent home early."

...Well. At least he was replying now. Hua Cheng offered him a small, tight smile. "...At least you're home now, right?"

Xie Lian let out a scoff, before scanning the crowd still gambling eagerly below them, oblivious to the tension above.

"Gege, would you mind telling this San Lang what he did wrong?" Hua Cheng asked rather timidly. He lowered his gaze, bowing his head slightly. "...This lowly servant will accept whatever punishment His Highness deems reasonable."

Hua Cheng didn't see it, but Xie Lian's lips curled up into a smirk of amusement, before turning serious again.

"Get up."

Hua Cheng looks up, puzzled. "...Pardon?"

Xie Lian's eyes looked at the throne chair, then back up at Hua Cheng. "Get up. Lowly trash like you don't get to sit on such a throne made for royalty."

The ghost king opens his mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. Slowly, he got up, moving to the side as Xie Lian takes his spot, a slightly satisfied expression on the god's face. Then he points to the floor on the left of the chair.

"Kneel. Stay by my side, like the good, loyal servant you are." He said, and he's sneering as he said it, but Hua Cheng's gaze is fixed on the floor. And like he had always said, he would do anything for His Highness, so he does as told. Fists clenched in his lap, Hua Cheng didn't even take into account how odd Xie Lian is acting, or wonder why he's doing this. He just thought that he must deserve this. He must've done something wrong to anger His Highness and this was his punishment.

Hua Cheng felt eyes on him, and he looked up slowly, matching the gaze of the gambling den dealer, staring at him from below with worried eyes. She, other than Yin Yu, are the only people Hua Cheng trusted with the overseeing of Ghost City activities. Her lips were pursed into a thin line as she looked from Xie Lian back to Hua Cheng, a questioning look on her face.

The ghost king shook his head ever so slightly, silently telling her that it's nothing, that she should continue as normal. She frowned, but nodded.

"I want you to transfer all business and activities of Ghost City over for me to handle," Xie Lian said suddenly, and Hua Cheng immediately straightens.

"Gege's name is already next to mine as ruler of Ghost City," Hua Cheng said, confused. He turns to face Xie Lian, trying to keep the neutral look on his face from cracking.

Xie Lian stares back, not a single ounce of warmth in his eyes- a large contrast to how he usually acts. He hums. "Then take your name out." Hua Cheng was going to say something when Xie Lian continued, the disgust clear in his face. "And I'm not your gege."

Shocked, Hua Cheng's fists tightened in his lap, as if the god's words delivered yet another slap. He looked down. He didn't question him.

"...Yes, Your Highness," he murmured. He doesn't catch Xie Lian's satisfied smirk.

The next few hours passed like this in silence, with Xie Lian watching the activities below, with Hua Cheng mulling over his dark thoughts. Gamblers, ghost and human and demon alike, Hua Cheng's legs have been hurting from kneeling all this time, but he stayed silent, nails digging into his palms to distract him from the ache and the numbness.

Hua Cheng should've known. That one day Xie Lian's love would run cold, because- why would anyone love someone like him? With the hate and the disgust so clear in the god's eyes, there was no doubt about it. I apologize, Your Highness, Hua Cheng thinks. This lowly one can only hope to support you in whatever way he can. He would give anything to Xie Lian. He would give his city, give his wealth, give his life- for he belonged to his god, for his fate hung around Xie Lian's neck.

If he wanted, Xie Lian could end it all. Once he tired of Hua Cheng, once he had no use for him anymore, he could destroy him. And the ghost king didn't mind in the slightest.

Xie Lian let out a sigh, and started to get up. Hua Cheng gazes at him questioningly, and starts to get up too. The god didn't even spare him a glance.

"Did I say you could rise?" He snapped. Hua Cheng froze where he was, taking in the situation before sinking back down onto the floor, pins and needles shooting through his legs.

"No, Your Highness," he said softly.

Xie Lian scoffed, and started to leave, a silent order of not to get up until told otherwise. So the ghost king stayed there, kneeling on the floor beside what used to be his throne, trying to hold back tears.