Hey everyone! Hope everyone has been doing well. Valentine's Day is coming up (to those that celebrate it). So, here's another chapter for you!
-Chapter Six-
"Like this?" Xie Lian asked as he rolled out the dough for the meat dumplings. It was their day off from school. He'd asked San Lang the next morning if he'd like to come over to teach him that weekend. The other boy smiled and accepted his offer.
"No like this," San Lang replied as he came up behind Xie Lian and put his hands over the other boy's on the rolling pin. He moved it evenly, glancing to see Xie Lian's cheeks flush slightly red. "See? That's perfect."
"O-okay. I'll try the next one."
Feeling him pull back away from him, Xie Lian glanced at the other boy as he also took the dough and set it on the other counter where they had the ingredients already mixed in a bowl to fill it with. He still felt his cheeks flushed with warmth on how close he'd been but it had been a strangely comforting feeling.
Getting the next batch of dough, Xie Lian set it down and rolled it out like San Lang had shown him. "Like this?"
"That's perfect," San Lang smiled as he came to check it. He picked it up and took it over to the other one.
Rolling out several more, Xie Lian then helped San Lang fill them before forming them into the dumpling shape. Then he showed him how to steam them until they were perfectly done.
"Mmm! These turned out great!" Xie Lian smiled as he swallowed his bite.
"See? You can make something good," San Lang pointed out.
"It was thanks to you that helped," the lighter haired teen reminded him.
Leaning forward slightly across the table from Xie Lian, the red clad boy smiled. "Then you'll have to make another batch while I watch this time. If you follow what I showed you, I'm sure you'll make them just as good."
"Y-you really think so?" San Lang nodded. "Even good enough that Hua Cheng might like them?"
"Hua Cheng huh?" San Lang gave a raised eyebrow at him in curiosity.
"Y-yeah...uh…" Xie Lian felt his cheeks flush with warmth at the other boy watching him. "I...I wanted to say thanks for the dumplings he gave me last time."
"From the picture you gave him as thanks for the night he helped shelter you in that cave?" Xie Lian gave an embarrassed laugh as he rubbed the back of his head. "And what if he gave you something else for the dumplings? Would you make him something else?"
"I don't know. Maybe." He gave a shrug. "I guess he just….he fascinated me. And he seemed so nice that night. But….he almost seemed lonely."
"Lonely? How do you figure that?" This piqued San Lang's interest.
"I don't know." The teen gave a shrug. "He was so reserved I guess. I just got a feeling." He gave a pause remembering that night. "Especially when I asked about his eye."
"Oh?"
"Well his hair covered his right eye at first but when I tried to see, he turned his head like he was afraid to let me see. When I asked him to please show me, he seemed hesitant for a moment." Xie Lian looked down at the half eaten dumpling in his hand. "But when he did, I was glad. I mean, if it's really true what they used to say about having heterochromia being bad back in the old days, I can't imagine what must have been said about him having two toned eyes. Even a Ghost King like him surely has feelings. Otherwise he wouldn't have been so nice to me."
"So you're saying you want to be his friend?"
"Yeah." Xie Lian smiled as he looked back up at the red clad boy across from him. "I mean, it just didn't seem like he had anyone like a friend. Maybe the other ghosts are intimidated by him being a powerful Ghost King?"
"Well, as a Supreme, many ghosts don't have much right to talk to him either," San Lang shrugged.
"Really?" Xie Lian gave a furrow of his brow.
The red clad boy inclined his head while still shrugging slightly. "I mean, humans had to request an audience with a king. For ghosts, it's no different."
"Oh. I guess I didn't think of that." Xie Lian tapped his chin. "I wonder how busy it can be?"
"Be?"
"Being a Ghost King." He gave a pause. "You know, like what kind of work does a Ghost King do? I mean, besides running the Ghost Realm or whatever it is they do."
"Well, he does run Gui Shi," Sang Lang replied. Xie Lian blinked. "It's one of the most prominent ghost cities in the Ghost Realm."
"Really?" The other boy nodded. "I wonder what it's like there."
"It's got a really long main street with many shops and stalls along it."
"Like a giant marketplace?" San Lang nodded. "That sounds neat. Is there anything else?"
"Well there's a gambling den and a temple too."
"A temple? Like to the gods? Do ghosts even pray to the gods?"
San Lang gave a laugh. "No they don't."
Xie Lian gave a confused look. "Then what's it for?"
"Not many of the ghosts know what it's for. After all, it's only filled with thousands of lanterns inside. Though it's very beautifully and intricately crafted."
"Lanterns?" The younger boy gave a blink. "It sounds so pretty but what would the lanterns be for?"
San Lang gave a blink at the other boy's curiosity. "Well, from what I've heard, it's a place dedicated to someone that Hua Cheng cared for deeply." This got the other boy to blink in surprise. "But, like I said, most ghosts don't know this."
"I wonder who it was he cared for? Could it be for a really good friend? A relative? Wait...can ghosts have relatives?"
"They could." The red clad boy gave a pause before eating the rest of the dumpling he had on his plate. "You better eat your other one before it gets cold."
"Oh yeah." Xie Lian gave a chuckle before eating his dumpling.
"You also might want to try making a batch yourself," San Lang pointed out. "Just remember to follow the instructions like I showed you."
"Oh...okay." Xie Lian stood up and went to rinse off his hands before getting started. "Is there anything else interesting in Gui Shi?"
San Lang gave a smile as he watched the other boy grab the ingredients to mix the dough together. "There's also the building where Hua Cheng lives. It's big, much like a large manor or castle."
"Really? That must be really neat! I wonder how large it is?"
"It's pretty large." San Lang gave a smile. "And a bright crimson red too."
"Red?" Xie Lian blinked then paused in thought. "Oh like his jacket I bet." He gave a smile and looked at San Lang. "I wonder if it's his favourite colour?"
"Probably." San Lang smiled. "Though he also has another name he goes by beside Hua Cheng."
"He does?" The darker haired boy gave a nod. "What is it?"
"Xue Yu Tan Hua." Crimson Rain Sought Flower.
"Xue Yu Tan Hua?" This got Xie Lian to pause in his rolling of the dough. "How'd he get that name?"
"After he destroyed the lair of a ghost, he saw a white flower struggling in the blood rain," San Lang spoke up as he shifted in his seat a little so his chin rested on his folded hands in the air while his elbows rested on the table. "So he held his red umbrella over it until the rain dissipated."
"That sounds...interesting," the lighter haired boy said with a thoughtful look on his face then smiled. "It seems fitting though."
"How do you think?" the golden hazel eyed boy asked as he sat back up straight.
"Well, he's a powerful Ghost King," Xie Lian started, "and yet he seems to care for some things, even as fragile and insignificant as a flower." He gave a soft smile. "It goes to show that everyone has a soft side somewhere deep inside them."
San Lang gave a blink at the other boy before averting his gaze to the side. "I doubt that." His voice had a soft, sombre tone to it.
"Why do you doubt it?" Xie Lian gave a puzzled look to the other boy as golden hazel eyes turned to look back at him.
"Because some are so cruel," San Lang replied with a solemn look.
Xie Lian gave a furrow of his brow seeing the pain reflected in those eyes. It looked like his friend had experienced something painful before. He recalled them talking back when San Lang had first come and that he'd lost someone special to him. He never had said how his friend had died.
"Does it have something to do with that one friend you told me about?" Golden hazel eyes blinked at him. "The one you said died before you could tell them how you felt?"
Blinking, golden hazel eyes averted as his lips pulled into a thin line. How could he tell the other boy in front of him that it had been him in a previous life hundreds of years ago? He'd think he was crazy. Humans in this day and age tended to forget about some of the old ways and that magic and being reborn really did exist. Though, it was surprising that the very same humans could believe in ghosts like him too. At least some. Many would try to deny it though unless they had actual proof.
Suddenly, a slight shadow fell across his vision just before soft hands cupped either side of his face and turned his head to look back into soft brown eyes. He gave a blink at Xie Lian looking down at him.
"Whatever happened to them, surely it wasn't your fault," the other boy spoke softly. "And if you ever want to talk about it, I'll gladly listen." He gave a soft smile as he pulled his hands away from San Lang's cheeks. A soft chuckle escaped him before he brushed the flour off his hands onto his pants before bringing his hand back up to brush the other boy's cheeks. "You got flour all over your cheeks."
San Lang felt his cheeks flush with warmth as Xie Lian brushed the flour off. He couldn't help but divert his gaze again as he caught the other boy's hand in his then used his other hand to brush the rest of the flour off.
"You should probably finish rolling the dough out so you can get them cooked up," the darker haired boy pointed out as he let go of the lighter haired boy's hand he'd been holding gently. "That way you can get them done to give to Hua Cheng."
"O-oh yeah." Xie Lian blushed slightly as well before turning to go finish making the dough up. "But I mean it." Golden hazel eyes looked towards him. "About listening to anything you wanted to tell me. After all, you listened to me that first day we walked to school together. And all the other times afterwards."
"Yeah. I suppose you're right, Gege." San Lang gave a soft smile before getting up and going to help set things back up to finish the dumplings. Xie Lian finished rolling the dough out and mixed the meat with its ingredients together. He got them finished before going to put them in to steam until they were done.
Taking them out, he checked to make sure they were done before handing one to San Lang. "Here. This one's for you." The other boy blinked as he took it. "I wanted you to be the first to tell me if I did alright."
Looking at the dumpling, San Lang gave a blow on it before taking a bite. Xie Lian watched him tentatively as the red clad boy chewed it and swallowed.
"So?" he asked, curious as to what the darker haired boy thought.
"It's good." He gave a smile as Xie Lian's eyes lit up.
"You really think so?" San Lang nodded as he took another bite. "Yay! I'm so happy!" He grabbed one to also try, finding it did taste pretty good.
Chuckling, San Lang finished his dumpling up as Xie Lian did before helping to clean up their mess while the others cooled on a plate. They were about done with dishes when Xie Lian's mother came home from work. She gave a blink seeing San Lang there drying a dish as Xie Lian turned from the sink where he was draining out the water.
"Oh Mom! You'll never guess what I did!" He gave a grin as he dried his hands on a clean towel before going over, grabbed one and brought it to her. "San Lang showed me how to make my favourite dumplings. I made these myself!"
Glancing towards the red clad boy watching her, Xie Lian's mother took it from him before taking a bite. A small look of surprise crossed her features as she chewed and swallowed.
"Isn't it good?" her son asked curiously as to what she thought.
"It is. Good job." She turned as she took another bite and started heading for the stairs.
"Um...can San Lang stay for dinner tonight?" This got both San Lang to blink in surprise and Xie Lian's mother to stop in her tracks before turning to face him. Her eyes darted towards the red clad youth. "Please?"
Matching brown eyes like Xie Lian's glanced to the other youth again that stood quietly, still holding the dish he'd been drying before looking towards her son. "I suppose. But only if his parents say it's alright first."
"They don't mind at all," San Lang spoke up, getting her attention again. She raised an eyebrow at him. "But I can give them a call and ask."
"The phone's over here," Xie Lian said as he went to grab it. San Lang set the dish and towel down on the counter before going over to the phone as the other boy held it out for him. He took it and dialled before putting it up to his ear.
"Hey Mom?" San Lang spoke as Xie Lian's mother stood watching. "Is it alright if I eat dinner at Xie Lian's tonight? Alright. Thanks!" He smiled as he hung up and handed the phone back. "She said it was alright."
"Then I suppose it's fine," Xie Lian's mother said before she turned and headed for the stairs.
"I'm glad you can stay!" Xie Lian smiled as he reached out and took San Lang's hands in his. "It'll be nice having dinner together."
San Lang felt his cheeks flush slightly at Xie Lian holding his hands. "Yeah, it'll be nice." He gave a small smile as the other boy let go of his hands.
"I guess we better finish putting the other dishes away from earlier," the lighter haired boy spoke up. "And put the other dumplings away for later."
Setting the other dumplings in the fridge, they finished up putting the dishes away. They went down to Xie Lian's room, where San Lang sat on the bed while Xie Lian sat in his desk chair. He grabbed his sketchbook and a pencil before opening to a new page.
"What are you doing?" San Lang asked curiously as he started to get up.
"Stay there for a few," Xie Lian replied, his gaze remaining on the page as he kept sketching. The dark haired boy gave a blink but stayed put. Several minutes passed as the lighter haired boy continued sketching before smiling and held out the sketchbook in front of him. "There. Finished."
"What did you draw?" The red clad boy was curious but something told him he already knew what. The brown eyed teen grinned before turning it around to show him. There on the page was none other than San Lang drawn much like he'd drawn Hua Cheng.
"I couldn't resist," Xie Lian smiled as the golden hazel eyed boy got up, came over, took the book, and examined it.
"I don't know what to say," San Lang spoke softly as he studied the page, feeling his cheeks get a little warm. "I...I like it."
"It's yours," Xie Lian smiled after San Lang handed the sketchbook back. He took it out of the book before handing it to the surprised boy.
"I….I can't take this." He gave a small shake of his head. "You drew it so well and...well…" He trailed off, feeling a little flustered and embarrassed.
"Think of it as a gift." The lighter haired boy reached out, took San Lang's hand, and placed the picture in it. "My first gift to you."
Opening his mouth to protest, San Lang slowly shut it without saying another word. He gave a soft smile as he held the paper closer to him. "I'll cherish it always." He paused for a moment. "I'll make something for you in return."
"That's okay. Your friendship is the greatest gift I could ask for." Xie Lian gave a smile that made San Lang blink.
"W-well….I can say the same for your friendship too," San Lang pointed out as well. Xie Lian gave a blink then smiled with the other boy.
"You know, I wonder if Hua Cheng would also like to meet you," Xie Lian pondered as he tapped his chin. This got the other boy to blink. "Then he could have two friends."
"W-well….I….maybe." San Lang averted his gaze towards the window.
"Oh! I should show you!" Golden hazel eyes turned to look back at brown ones as the other boy stood up. "My spot I leave gifts for Hua Cheng."
Setting the picture down on the desk, San Lang followed Xie Lian out of his room to grab their shoes then headed to the back door. Slipping them on, they headed outside and across the field in back before reaching the edge of the woods. He found the little tree with the red ribbon tied to it easily.
"See? I marked it with a red ribbon," Xie Lian pointed out with a smile. "I always tell him it's the tree with the red ribbon so he can find it easier."
"That is a clever idea," San Lang smiled. "It's almost like a small altar."
"Yeah I suppose so." The lighter haired teen chuckled. "Though not a really ornate one like you see in places dedicated to the gods and all." He gave a pause. "Can ghosts have followers like the gods I wonder?"
"They could, but not many believe that sort of thing anymore," San Lang replied with a small shrug. "With many advancements in science and medicine, many lost the knowledge of magic and their faith in the supernatural."
"Do you think Hua Cheng ever had believers? Even though he's a Ghost King?"
"Oh of course. He had quite a lot back in the day," the red clad boy grinned. "Even the gods feared him and his power. He could even mouth off at the Heavenly Emperor and wouldn't get in trouble."
"Really?" Chocolate eyes blinked in surprise.
San Lang gave a nod. "Yup. He also knew that Hua Cheng was a formidable opponent, which was why he also held some form of respect towards him. He's the only one that would address him as 'Your Excellency'."
"Whoa. To get even the Heavenly Emperor himself to acknowledge Hua Cheng….that's awesome!" Xie Lian grinned then looked at the tree. "I should bring some incense next time out here for him."
"I think he'd like that." The darker haired boy smiled.
"Maybe next time we can light some together?"
"Sure." San Lang gave a smile before glancing upwards to see one of the silver butterflies fluttering above. He turned to look back at the house in the distance. "We might want to head back before your mother wonders where we are."
"Oh yeah." The other boy gave a small nervous laugh. "She'd probably get mad if she knew I was out here by the woods. Especially after getting lost before."
Turning and heading back to the house, both went inside and slid off their shoes. Xie Lian's mother was already making dinner. They went to help set the table before going back to Xie Lian's room. San Lang asked to see Xie Lian's sketchbook and sketched in it.
"Who's that?" Xie Lian asked as he watched his friend sketch out a person who's hair was long and had an ornate mask over their face. Their clothing was also old fashioned and ornate.
Glancing out the corner of his eyes, San Lang gave a small smile. "My friend that died a long time ago."
"Oh. They look nice."
"Yeah. He was very nice and kind." San Lang pulled his lips into a thin line as he looked at the picture. "I just wish I could have protected him better so he wouldn't have died."
"Do you want to tell me what happened?"
Golden hazel eyes looked at him. He started to open his mouth to speak.
"Xie Lian. Dinner is ready."
The lighter haired boy looked towards his doorway. "Okay. Coming." He turned to look at his friend, who had shut his mouth again and had his gaze towards his drawing. "You can tell me after dinner if you want. Okay?"
"O-okay." He handed the sketchbook to Xie Lian, who put it on his desk, before following him out to the kitchen.
Sitting down next to his friend, Xie Lian gave a small smile as he helped himself to the food after his mother got her plate filled. San Lang filled his plate as well before they started eating. Brown eyes kept glancing at the red clad boy from across the table as they ate.
"Thanks for dinner, Mom," Xie Lian said after they'd finished.
"Yes, thank you. It was good," San Lang added with a smile. He looked to the other boy as he stood and started clearing the table off. "Ah. Let me help."
"Alright."
Standing from the table, Xie Lian's mother watched the red clad boy help grab his plate and follow her son over to the sink. She turned and left, letting the two finish clearing off the table. A few minutes later, she could hear the water running after sitting down on the couch to relax.
"Think I should surprise Nan Feng and Fu Yao with one of the dumplings I made?" Xie Lian asked as he washed up the dishes while San Lang rinsed and dried them to put away.
"You could if you wanted," San Lang replied with a chuckle.
"They probably won't believe I actually made them though."
"I could verify it for them." He gave a chuckle as the other boy did.
Getting up again, Xie Lian's mother went over to the entrance of the kitchen and peered around the corner as they continued chattering away. They both were still standing at the sink. Xie Lian went to put some more dishes in the sink while having a smile on his face. The dish slipped into the water, making some of the foam from the soap go up into the air as water splashed up at his face and into his eyes.
"Hold still, Gege." San Lang reached up, wiping the water and foam from his face.
"Thanks San Lang."
The darker haired boy gave a bit of a blush. "You're welcome." He turned back to the wet dishes to dry more as the lighter haired boy continued washing them. Xie Lian's mother narrowed her eyes slightly on the back of the red clad boy for a moment before turning and went back to the couch to watch some television.
Finishing up the dishes, the two put the rest away before Xie Lian grabbed the dumplings he made earlier. He grabbed a few, leaving the rest for school. He also grabbed the container that he'd put the picture in for Hua Cheng and placed the dumplings in them.
"Hey Mom? I'm going outside with San Lang for a bit."
"Okay. Don't stay out too late. You have school tomorrow."
"I won't." He smiled and nodded towards the back door to San Lang. The other boy smiled before they headed to it, slipped on their shoes, and went outside.
Heading out across the field in the evening air, they made their way to the tree with the ribbon. Xie Lian set the container down at the foot of the tree before taking a step back. He looked at San Lang and smiled before clasping his hands together and closed his eyes.
"Hua Cheng. I made you something. I'm sure they're not as good as the ones you made, but I hope you'll enjoy them." He gave a small pause. "Also, I'd love you to meet my good friend, San Lang. I think you'd like him too." He gave a smile as he opened his eyes and dropped his hands back to his sides. "I hope he'll enjoy them."
San Lang gave a smile. "I'm sure he will. You put all your effort and kindness into making them."
Giving a pause, the red clad boy looked into the trees where it was getting darker. His eyes narrowed slightly as a pair of glowing eyes low to the ground peered from around a large tree. He reached out and took the brown eyed boy's hand, who looked at him with a blink and slight flush of his cheeks.
"We should probably head back," he pointed out as he nodded towards the house. "Lingering here wouldn't be a good idea as it gets darker."
"Is something wrong?" Xie Lian asked with a blink, following San Lang still holding his hand as they walked back towards the house. He glanced back over his shoulder into the woods seeing nothing.
"You know why the woods have its name right?" San Lang asked as he kept a hold of the other boy's hand and continued walking.
"Nan Feng and Fu Yao said it was because of Hua Cheng before," Xie Lian replied.
"That's partially true. But there's other ghosts that haunt the woods that come out at night as well."
"R-really?" The younger boy gave a blink. "So when I was lost in the woods that night….?"
"You were safer with Hua Cheng than on your own."
"Because he's the Ghost King?"
"Yes. Because no one else dares to come challenge him. They know better if they value their lives." They finally came to a stop at the back door and he turned to the younger boy. "Promise me you won't go into the woods alone at night."
"I….I promise." Xie Lian gave a nod at seeing the concerned look on the other boy's face while still gripping his hand gently. San Lang's lips pulled up into a slight smile before he realised he was still holding the younger boy's hand.
"I...I should probably let you get inside so you can get ready for bed soon," San Lang spoke as he let go of Xie Lian's hand and glanced away.
"Oh yeah. I'm sure your parents will be worried if you don't get home soon either." He glanced up at the darkening sky as the sun sank down to the horizon. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow at school then?"
"Yeah. I'll be there." The dark haired boy gave a nod and smile before starting to head towards the front of the house. "Goodnight Gege."
"Goodnight San Lang." Xie Lian gave a smile and wave as the other boy did before he disappeared around the corner of the house. The lighter haired boy went inside, slid off his shoes, and went down the hall to the living room where his mother was still on the couch watching television.
"Did your friend leave yet?"
"Yes. He headed home already," Xie Lian nodded.
"Good. He shouldn't be out this late and neither should you."
"I understand." He gave a pause. "I'll go take my bath then."
Turning, he headed back down the hall to his room. He gave a blink as he looked at the picture he'd drawn of San Lang left on his desk. Sighing slightly, he picked up the picture then smiled softly.
"Guess I'll give this to him tomorrow," he chuckled softly before grabbing a page protector and slid it inside. Then setting it down on his desk again, he turned to get his pyjamas and headed to the bathroom to get his bath.
Getting ready for bed after his bath, he grabbed his sketchbook and flipped through the pages. He stopped at the sketch San Lang had done of his friend that had passed away.
'I never did ask him about what happened to his friend,' he thought to himself as he gently ran a finger over some of the sketch lines. 'He really did look sad when he talked about him.' A pause of his thoughts brought his attention up to look out his window towards the dark woods. 'Maybe I can ask him tomorrow or something.'
Setting the sketchbook down next to the picture he'd drawn, Xie Lian finished getting ready for bed and slid under the blankets after shutting the light off. He rolled over, drifting off to sleep quickly.
A silver butterfly fluttered in the air before landing down on his hand that was out from under the blankets. Its wings fluttered softly several times as a shadow stepped away from the window. The shadow stopped beside the bed as the moonlight of a nearly full moon came in through the half parted curtains. Golden hazel eyes looked down at the sleeping boy as the butterfly fluttered up into the air.
"Mmm….San Lang…." Xie Lian muttered sleepily as he rolled over to face the other boy standing there. A surprised look crossed the other's features before softening into a small smile.
"Goodnight Gege." His voice was barely a whisper as he reached his hand out and brushed some of the hair out of the sleeping boy's face.
Turning, he looked to the silver butterfly that had fluttered down to the picture he'd left. He gave a look at it then sighed. If he took it now, Xie Lian would be wondering where it went. Certainly he'd bring it to school tomorrow. With a last look back at the sleeping boy, he went over to the window again as the silver butterfly fluttered over to him. In a flutter of its wings, he was gone as the butterfly disappeared into the moonlight.
Well that's the chapter. Xie Lian gets his first cooking lesson from San Lang. *grins* And San Lang sharing more information on Hua Cheng that's totally dropping hints to the oblivious Xie Lian about who he is. *chuckles*
Anyways, thanks again for reading. I'll get another chapter up soon!