Chapter Text
Of all the misfortunes that had befallen He Xuan in his life, the most obnoxious by far was becoming acquainted with Crimson Rain Sought Flower.
It hadn’t been his choice to meet the man. No, after twelve long years in Mount Tonglu he had come back to his home - a small wooden shack on an island in the middle of nowhere - to a man in red lounging on his fragile door frame.
“Congratulations,” the man had said, and He Xuan had never figured out whether the word was meant to be earnest or mocking. The words that had followed were less ambiguous.
“You look like shit.”
He Xuan had bristled and gritted his teeth. Yeah , he had thought, twelve years in hell will do that to a person . He hadn’t said as much, and instead brushed past the other man to slam the door in his face.
He’d thought that would be the end of it. Clearly the ghost would get bored and leave, and if not…
It wasn’t like He Xuan had gone to Mount Tonglu for fun . He could get rid of a pesky ghost if that’s what he wanted.
What he had not expected was for the ghost to loiter on the front step, picking at his nails as he spoke in casual tones, loudly enough to be heard through the wooden door.
“So who pissed you off enough to become a ghost king?”
He Xuan opened his mouth to tell the man to fuck off and mind his own business before something clicked in the back of his head. While the man looked and sounded nonchalant, as though he were an aloof teenager simply too curious for his own good, he spoke confidently and with clarity in his words. Like he’d chosen them precisely. Like he was digging for information.
Head turning back to the door, He Xuan’s eyes narrowed to slits. Violence it was, it seemed.
He flung open the door and sent a wave of crushing spiritual energy to wash over the other ghost, intent on devouring the soul. His vision darkened slightly with it, proof that the power he’d been granted was not quite enough to overcome twelve years of pure exhaustion. No matter, it would still be enough to overcome even a savage ghost.
Except when the wave receded and darkness left his sight, that red stain was still standing directly in his path.
Another Supreme then , He Xuan thought to himself. And of course the answer to which of the two Supremes this was lay in that garish outfit.
“Crimson Rain Sought Flower.” He Xuan greeted his fellow ghost king dully, not an ounce of enthusiasm or hospitality in his tone, “What do I owe the honor of this visit?”
Hua Cheng didn’t seem to mind that he’d just been drenched in resentful energy, and simply brushed off his sleeves with a shrug.
“There’s only one other Supreme in the world. You may know of him.” He Xuan did indeed know. He’d have to be a fool never to have heard the name White No-Face. He nodded, and Hua Cheng continued, “It’s hard to kill a Supreme as old as him. Much easier when they’re new, you see.”
He Xuan swallowed hard. “Is that a threat?” His eyes scanned his surroundings, checking his escape routes and trying to think which one would get him out of here as quickly as possible. If his own attack was anything to go by, this boy was far more powerful than he was. One wrong mood and his long years of suffering would be for nothing. You can’t enact revenge if you’ve been wiped from existence.
Hua Cheng looked him over passively, not even bothering to block the door. “I don’t know, are you anything like No-Face?”
“Would you even believe me if I said no?” The or are you going to kill me regardless went unspoken.
“I’ll believe you if you tell me what you’re planning,” was the simple reply.
Something about telling another person the secrets he’d kept for so many years didn’t sit right with He Xuan. “My plans are my own,” he said coldly, hoping that the man would leave him be, even while knowing how unlikely it was.
Hua Cheng shrugged. “Sure,” his voice gained an edge, somehow managing to sound sharper and colder than it had before, “unless they interfere with mine .”
The two glared at one another for a moment, as though daring the other to make the first move. He Xuan refused to act first, knowing that this was a fight he would not walk away from unscathed, but the longer he stared at Hua Cheng the worse his resolve became. The other man wasn’t doing anything, just leaning up against his house with challenge in his eyes and power radiating from his body. It was a threat, but not an attack. Something told He Xuan that this Supreme hadn’t come here looking for a fight, just that he was willing to end one if need be.
His shoulders slumped as he finally gave in. “There’s a man who ruined my life. A god. I want to pay him back the favor.”
The moment He Xuan said the word ‘god’ Hua Cheng’s eyes narrowed to slits, suddenly suspicious and somehow radiating even more power than before. “Which god.” It was a question, but it came out as a demand.
“Which...” He Xuan repeated, thrown off slightly at the line of questioning. Most ghosts would be happy to overthrow a god, but this one seemed...angry? Defensive, perhaps?
“Which. God.” Hua Cheng repeated.
He Xuan regarded him cautiously. “Shi Wudu.”
If it hadn’t been for the close eye he was keeping on the other man, He Xuan might not have noticed the way Hua Cheng’s shoulders slumped slightly in relief. What god had managed to garner concern from the infamous Crimson Rain Sought Flower, the Supreme who killed 33 gods in one fell swoop? He Xuan would have asked outright if he wasn’t aware that the question could very well get him wiped off the map.
Hua Cheng hummed in thought. “Shi Wudu is an asshole,” he agreed. “The world would probably be better off without him. I won’t stop you.”
He Xuan knew better than to say thank you. It was enough to just nod and hope the other ghost would get off his land already .
Whatever bad luck had plagued him in life clearly stuck to him in his afterlife as well, however. Rather than leave him alone, Hua Cheng pushed past him and entered his house , two things that had He Xuan freezing in place and taking calming breaths so as not to snap at the man who could end his miserable existence here and now. When he turned back into his home, leaving the door open as a subtle reminder that Hua Cheng was welcome to get the fuck out at any time, he was greeted with the sight of Hua Cheng propped up on one of his only cushions, kicking his feet up on the shabby table with such force that the wood creaked with the weight.
“Don’t you have a fancy palace to relax in?” He Xuan grumbled.
“Manor,” Hua Cheng corrected. “You could probably stand to get one too, this place is pathetic.”
“Then leave.”
“No.”
Prick , He Xuan thought, and it wasn’t until a wry grin crossed Hua Cheng’s face that he realized he’d spoken aloud.
“Tell me your plan,” the man said in return.
“No,” He Xuan replied, copying the tone of the other man.
He braced himself for more of the Supreme’s supremely bad mood , but all he received was a wider grin.
“Not even if I say please?” The anger was gone now, replaced by mocking. He’s teasing me , He Xuan realized, and he was so bewildered by the change in attitude that he couldn’t even muster the strength to be annoyed by it. Instead, he sagged into the seat opposite Hua Cheng and leaned against the wall, refusing to make eye contact.
“I’ll wait for one of his heavenly calamities. They happen rarely enough that I’ll have time to gather my strength beforehand, and I’ll strike him down as he nears his weakest point.”
“Mn,” Hua Cheng hummed dismissively. He Xuan’s eyes narrowed as his head turned to the man.
“What.”
Hua Cheng shrugged. “Nothing, continue.”
He Xuan turned his shoulders to be level with his companion’s. “No, by all means, tell me what you’re thinking.”
He was met with a very unimpressed stare, one eyebrow arching up with all the grace of a bored king. “It’s a shit plan.”
“It’s…” He Xuan swallowed down fury. Twelve years to build up the necessary strength for this bastard to be so dismissive? He was tempted to punch the ghost in the jaw, regardless of how young he might appear at the moment. Instead, he ground out, “What makes you say so?”
“Don’t get me wrong,” Hua Cheng waved his hand, a contemptuous gesture in He Xuan’s opinion, “I’m sure you’ll be plenty powerful once you’ve, ah, rested a bit. But has it occurred to you that Shi Wudu will also be growing in strength? He’s recently gained the title of Water Master, who’s to say he doesn’t overpower you?”
He Xuan wanted desperately to argue, but considering his new Supreme powers had done nothing to Hua Cheng, he had to admit the man had a point. “What would you suggest I do then?”
Hua Cheng pondered the thought for a moment. “You could distract him, I suppose. Distraction during a heavenly calamity has proven deadly for gods better than him .”
He Xuan wrinkled his nose. “He has a bad history with a Reverend of Empty Words. That would be distracting, I suppose.”
Another raised eyebrow. “You’re just going to throw a Reverend at him? And, what, hope you’ve gotten the right one?”
“I’ve already found the right one.”
“Congratulations. Where is it?”
“I consumed it.”
Hua Cheng blinked slowly, giving He Xuan a look that he was positive meant something along the lines of how do you manage with so few brain cells? He seemed to think better of voicing his opinion, however, and simply climbed to his feet.
“Great. Have fun with that then. Let me know if your plan ever becomes worthwhile.” He began to stroll out the door.
He Xuan almost let him go without a word, but doubt had begun to creep into his mind. Hua Cheng wasn’t a fool, he’d bested thirty three gods . If anyone could ensure he was successful in his revenge, it would be the other ghost king.
“What, and drag myself to your precious manor?” He asked, trying to sound insulting more than questioning.
“If you want,” Hua Cheng called over his shoulder.
“And if I don’t want?”
Hua Cheng paused and looked over his shoulder. He looked He Xuan up and down definitively. “Then I suppose I could grant you the honor of knowing the password to my communication array.”
He Xuan pretended to be uninterested, shrugging in acceptance rather than saying anything that might make him appear a fool.
Hua Cheng told him the password.
He Xuan’s eye twitched. “I’m not saying that.”
“Good,” Hua Cheng grinned, menacing and self satisfied in equal parts, “Then it works.”
He sauntered out of the modest shack without looking back, leaving He Xuan with a headache and a million thoughts.