A Kiss from a Ghost

Finally, they emerged onto the roof, the cool night air a welcome respite from the smoky haze of the tea shop below. The city stretched out before them, a glittering expanse of lights and shadows that seemed to go on forever.

Mèi Hóu turned to face them, her expression serious. "Gentlemen," she said, her voice carrying an edge of formality that seemed at odds with her earlier flirtatiousness, "allow me to introduce my husband, Yín Shào."

Ao Huli blinked, taken aback by this unexpected revelation. Husband? But hadn't she just been flirting with both him and Ling, her touches and glances heavy with invitation? And Yín Shào himself had been thoroughly enjoying the company of other women just moments ago.

Ling, for his part, seemed unsurprised by this development. He inclined his head in a brief nod of acknowledgment, his expression carefully neutral.

Yín Shào, despite his drunken state and horrific injury, managed a lopsided grin. "A pleasure," he drawled, his voice rough and grating. "Though I can't say I'm thrilled to be pulled away from my entertainment."

Mèi Hóu shot him a look that could have frozen fire. "This is important," she said, "Ling and his friend here need our help."

Yín Shào's single eye slid to Ao Huli, assessing him with a gaze that seemed to see right through him. "And what sort of help might that be?" he asked, his words slurring slightly.

"We're looking for a mortal," Ao Huli replied.

Yín Shào let out a hoarse chuckle as he contemplated Ao Huli's words. "A mortal, you say? That's a bit vague. What makes you think we'd be willing to lend a hand with such a task?"

Mèi Hóu shot her husband a pointed look, her black eyes narrowing. "Because Ling has offered me a favor in exchange for our assistance," she said, her voice taking on a silky, persuasive tone. "And you know as well as I do that a favor from Ling is not to be taken lightly."

Yín Shào's gaze flickered to Ling, appraising the ghost with a new sense of interest. After a long moment, he let out a throaty sigh and gave a reluctant nod. "Very well, then. But I'll need something in return."

Ao Huli tensed, bracing himself for the inevitable demand. "What is it you require?"

Yín Shào's single eye glinted with a predatory gleam. "Your friend Ling has already offered Mèi Hóu a favor. I want one too."

Ao Huli felt his heart sink. He should have known there would be a price to pay, and now he found himself in an impossible situation. Could he really bind himself to the whims of these ghostly entities?

Before he could respond, Ling stepped forward, placing a hand on Ao Huli's shoulder. "Done," the ghost said, his voice firm. "Yín Shào, you'll have your favor. Now, let's find this mortal."

Ao Huli looked at Ling, his expression a mix of gratitude and apprehension. He opened his mouth to protest, but Ling silenced him with a subtle shake of his head.

Mèi Hóu clapped her hands together, a delighted smile spreading across her face. "Excellent. Then let us begin."

Mèi Hóu turned to Ao Huli, her black eyes gleaming with a predatory interest.

"Tell me," she purred, her pale lips curving into a sly smile. "What does this mortal look like? Do you have a picture, or their name?"

Ao Huli felt a flush of embarrassment creep up his neck. "I... I'm afraid I don't," he admitted, his voice slightly strained. "The only information I have is the image I saw in his memories."

Mèi Hóu's eyes narrowed, and Ao Huli could practically feel the weight of her skepticism. "An image, hmm?" she murmured, tapping a long, sharp nail against her chin in a contemplative gesture. "And you're certain you can't provide us with anything more specific?"

Ao Huli shifted uncomfortably, his fingers unconsciously brushing against the soul-light hidden within his robes. "I'm sorry, but no. I only caught a brief glimpse of his face, nothing more. I don't have a name or any other identifying details."

Mèi Hóu studied him for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, suddenly, her lips curved into a sly smile.

"Well, in that case," she purred, her hand snapping out to grasp Ao Huli's chin, forcing him to meet her gaze. "I believe I can still be of assistance."

Ao Huli's heart raced as he stared into her endless black eyes, a shiver of trepidation running down his spine. "What do you mean?" he asked.

Mèi Hóu's grip on his chin tightened just a fraction. "I can simply... read the information from your mind," she murmured, her breath ghosting over his lips. "That way, we can be certain of the mortal's identity and waste no time in locating him."

Ao Huli felt a surge of panic at her suggestion. The thought of this powerful ghostly entity delving into his mind, uncovering his secrets and true nature, filled him with a profound sense of dread.

"I... I'm not sure that's a good idea," he stammered, his eyes darting nervously.

Mèi Hóu's black eyes gleamed with amusement as she studied Ao Huli's conflicted expression. "Now, now, don't look so distressed," she purred, "I have no interest in delving deeper into your mind than necessary. I was hired to do a job, and that's all I intend to do."

Ao Huli felt a flicker of relief at her words, though he couldn't quite shake the lingering unease. "You... you won't pry into anything else?" he asked, his voice cautious.

Mèi Hóu let out a soft, tinkling laugh. "Of course not," she assured him, her tone laced with mock offense. "Do you really think I have the time or energy to waste rifling through your thoughts? I have a mortal to locate, and that's all that matters to me right now."

She leaned in closer, her black eyes glinting with a predatory gleam. "I'll only take what I need - a glimpse of the mortal's face. Anything else is simply not worth my effort."

Ao Huli swallowed hard, his gaze searching Mèi Hóu's face for any sign of deception. But the ghostly woman's expression remained casual, her disinterest in his personal affairs seemingly genuine.

Satisfied that she would uphold her word, Ao Huli gave a reluctant nod. "Very well," he said, his voice low. "Do what you must."

Mèi Hóu's smile widened, and before Ao Huli could react, she surged forward, pressing her lips against his in a forceful kiss.

Ao Huli's eyes widened in shock, his body going rigid at the unexpected contact. The intrusion was overwhelming, and Ao Huli had to fight the urge to pull away. He could feel his mental defenses weakening, his thoughts and memories becoming like an open book for Mèi Hóu to read.

Mèi Hóu seemed to relish the contact, her movements unhurried and almost sensual. Ao Huli could sense a deep satisfaction emanating from her, as if she were reveling in the feel of his mind opening up to her intrusion.

This was his first kiss, and a ghost of all things had stolen it. His fingers twitched at his sides, itching to push her away, but he held, aware of the importance of the situation.

The taste of smoke and opium on her lips mingled with the sweetness of her kiss, making him feel lightheaded and slightly nauseous. He could feel Ling watching them intently, a mix of concern and impatience in his eyes.

Yín Shào, for his part, seemed to have retreated into a corner of his own mind, observing the scene with detachment.

Just as he was reluctantly resigning himself to the intrusion, Mei Hou deepened the kiss. His eyes went wide as he felt her tongue probing its way into his mouth, tangling with his own.

Suddenly, he felt a hand come between them, shoving her away. Gasping for breath, Ao Huli stumbled backward, his chest heaving as he clutched at the soul-light hidden within his robes.

Startled, Ao Huli turned to see Ling standing beside him, his expression unreadable.

"That's enough, Mèi Hóu. I know you don't need to go that far." Ling said, the ghost's voice was calm but firm, his eyes holding a hint of warning as he addressed Mei Hou. The ghostly woman straightened, her gaze flickering to Ling, a mischievous twinkle dancing in her dark eyes.

"Fine, fine," she relented, her tone playful. "No need to be so uptight, Ling. Just having a little fun."

Ao Huli's cheeks burned with embarrassment as he avoided looking at either of them, trying to compose himself after the unexpected intimacy. He could still feel the lingering touch of Mei Hou's presence in his mind, sending a shiver down his spine.

Ling turned to Ao Huli, his expression softening with understanding. "Are you alright?" he asked

Ao Huli nodded, though he couldn't quite bring himself to meet Ling's gaze. "I... I'll manage," he replied.

"Well, well. I have what I need," she purred softly, licking her lips as if savoring the memory of their kiss. "Now comes the next bit," she continued in a businesslike tone.

Ao Huli wiped his mouth, feeling violated and exposed. "What did you see?" he demanded, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear.

"Nothing too special. Just a glimpse of a man's face, as promised," Mèi Hóu replied with a casual shrug, the earlier mischievous glint still present in her eyes. "Black hair and black eyes. Not the most unique features, but enough to work with."

"So how does that help us find him?" Ao Huli furrowed his brow, struggling to understand how this information would aid them in their search for the elusive man. He couldn't comprehend how such vague details would lead them any closer to their target. So far, all they had accomplished was making sure two of them were aware of what the man looked like now.

Mèi Hóu chuckled, "Patience, dear,"she teased, her voice dripping with amusement.

With that, she turned to her husband, who has been casually leaning against the railing. Without her having to say anything, he straightened up, making his way over to her.

In the next second, the husband and wife duo were kissing. Their kiss was a stark contrast to the one Mei Hou had shared with Ao Huli. It was gentle, full of unspoken affection and shared intimacy. Ao Huli couldn't help but glance away, feeling like an intruder on a private moment.

Finally, the kiss broke, leaving Mei Hou and her husband standing close together, a shared look of satisfaction passing between them. Mei Hou turned back to Ao Huli and Ling, a smile playing on her lips.

"There, now Yin Shao knows what your mystery man looks like." She explained, "He'll be able to use his talents to track him down."

"You…you can do that? Transfer memories from one person to another?" Ao Huli asked, his mind reeling at the implications of Mei Hou's abilities.

Ling nodded, his gaze steady as he explained, "It is a rare and complex ability, but one that Mei Hou has mastered over the centuries. She can share memories, thoughts, and even emotions between individuals through a kiss. That's why I thought she'd be a good person to ask."

"But how does that help us…?" Ao Huli asked again.

Ling exchanged a knowing look with Mei Hou before turning back to Ao Huli. "It's probably best if they just show you."

With that, Yín Shào strode to the edge of the rooftop, his scaled fingers drumming against the railing as he surveyed the dark city below. Ao Huli watched, both fascinated and unsettled, as the ghostly man's scales suddenly began to vibrate and detach from his flesh.

With a strange, fluttering sound, the scales transformed, unfurling into dozens of delicate moth-like creatures. Their gossamer wings beat the air as they took flight.

Ao Huli couldn't help but stare, transfixed, as the spectral moths drifted off into the darkness, disappearing between the towering buildings. There was an eerie beauty to the sight, but it was tinged with a profound sense of unease.

Mèi Hóu, her black eyes glinting with a predatory gleam, watched the swarm of moths depart with a satisfied smile. "With the memory of the man's face now in Yin Shao's mind, he can use his unique talents to hone in on the individual you seek. Each one of his cute little moths is like a living eye for him, allowing him to see and hear through their senses. They will search the city in less than ten times the amount of time it would have taken you to do so yourself. Yin Shao will find your mystery man, fear not."

Ao Huli's mind whirled with the implications of what he had just witnessed. The supernatural abilities of Mèi Hóu and Yin Shao were beyond anything he had ever encountered. It was both exhilarating and terrifying to be tangled up in their world of ghosts, memories, and spectral creatures.

As the last of the moth-like creatures disappeared into the night, Yin Shao turned back to Ao Huli and Ling. "Give them a few hours to scout the area. They will return with any sightings of our target," he explained, his voice low and ethereal.

Ling placed a reassuring hand on Ao Huli's shoulder, grounding him in the present moment. "We'll find im'," Ling said with quiet confidence. "The guy can't hide forever."

"In the meantime, you should lay low and not draw any unnecessary attention to yourself," Ling continued, his eyes scanning the surrounding rooftops for any sign of unwanted observers.

Ao Huli nodded, "Where should we go?" he asked.

"I'd prefer to keep you away from the ghosts here. Mèi Hóu and Yin Shao are alright but some of the guys down there…" He trailed off, his gaze thoughtful. "Unfortunately though, it looks like I'm not going to be able to stay with you."

Ling's words sent a pang of unease through Ao Huli, realizing he would be left alone in this strange and dangerous city. However, before he could voice his concerns, Ling continued, "But I know just the place where you'll be safe."

With a reassuring smile, Ling led Ao Huli to the edge of the rooftop where a narrow alley stretched into the shadows below. "Follow this path down to the fourth intersection. Look for a red lantern hanging above a door. Remember. Doors with red lanterns are ghost friendly. Just keep telling everyone you're a ghost. Don't let anybody know you're a spirit, got it?"

Ao Huli nodded, his heart pounding with a mixture of anxiety and anticipation.

As he prepared to leave, Ling clasped his hand in a firm grip, his eyes holding a silent message of trust and reassurance.

"Go on, cat spirit, and remember what I've told you," Ling said, his voice firm but kind. "Stay safe, I'll come find you later, after I've dealt with a few things."

With a final nod, Ao Huli descended the fire escape into the darkened alleyway, the sounds of the bustling city surrounding him as he followed the winding path to the fourth intersection.

But as he was rounding the corner, a sudden chill ran down Ao Huli's spine, causing him to freeze in his tracks. The air around him seemed to grow thick and heavy, as if an unseen presence lurked nearby.

Before he could react, a voice whispered from the shadows, sending shivers down his spine. "Well, well, what do we have here? A lost little spirit wandering the streets alone."

Ao Huli's heart raced as he scanned the darkness, trying to pinpoint the source of the voice.

Steeling himself, Ao Huli strained his senses, searching for any sign of the mysterious speaker hidden in the shadows.

"I am not lost," Ao Huli called out, attempting to sound confident.

"Lost. So lost, so cold- and alone." The voice echoed around Ao Huli, teasing and taunting him with its cryptic words. He couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, of unseen eyes boring into his very soul from the shadows.

Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, Ao Huli summoned his courage and spoke again, trying to sound more resolute this time. "Stop hiding in the shadows and show yourself!"

"Brave words for one so young and inexperienced," came the reply, the voice now closer and more distinct. "But you're not just a little cat spirit, are you?"

Before Ao Huli could say anything more, the voice continued.

"No, not a simple cat spirit. Definitely not. You smell of brimstone and tundra."

Ao Huli's eyes widened in surprise. He tried to maintain his composure, refusing to let the fear show in his voice as he responded, "Who are you? What do you want from me?"

"You carry our lord with you. The future savior of our people."

Ao Huli's heart pounded in his chest at the cryptic words, the weight of their meaning settling heavily on his shoulders. He knew exactly what they meant. This voice belonged to a ghost.

"I don't know what you mean" Ao Huli lied, his voice not betraying any hint of his uncertainty.

"LIAR! DIRTY BRAT OF THE SPIRIT REALM." The voice boomed, echoing through the alleyway. "Did you think we wouldn't recognize the grandson of that impetuous Ne Zha? That we wouldn't know the son of the God of Lightning when he walked among us?!"

"Do not insult my intelligence." It continued, a chill wind sweeping through the narrow alley as the voice grew closer. "I can sense the flickering soul you carry - the one destined to birth our next ghost king."

Ao Huli's hand instinctively moved to his chest where the soul-light pulsed against his robes. This ghost not only knew of the soul-light he carried, but also his true identity. He struggled with the implications - how had they discovered who he was? Had his disguise somehow failed?

"That soul belongs to a living person," Ao Huli declared firmly, drawing himself up to his full height despite his racing heart. "I will not allow you to interfere with my mission to return it."

A harsh laugh echoed through the alley. "You speak as if you have a choice in the matter."

"I see that grandfather's arrogance runs in your blood," the ghost continued, malice dripping from every word. "Always looking down on us from your lofty perch in the heavens. But soon, when the ghost king rises, the natural order will be restored. The ghost realm will take its rightful place above the celestial."

The ghost materialized before Ao Huli in a swirl of shadow and malevolent red energy. He was tall and imposing, with sharp, aristocratic features framed by long black hair. His eyes blazed with an intense crimson glow, and every movement left trails of red energy in his wake, like bloody afterimages hanging in the air.

"Give me the soul," he demanded, his voice carrying an otherworldly resonance that made Ao Huli's teeth ache. "Now."

Ao Huli's careful composure finally cracked. All his training, all his dignity as a prince of heaven, seemed to desert him in that moment. Without conscious thought, his body moved on pure instinct. He turned and ran.

His feet pounded against the pavement as he fled down the narrow alley, his heart thundering in his chest. The soul-light seemed to pulse frantically against his robes, matching his own panic. Gone was the measured grace he'd inherited from his father Ao Lui, replaced by raw desperation.

Behind him, he heard the ghost's mocking laughter echo off the walls.