Chapter Eight: “Inmortal idiots in love”

Puqi Shrine had survived emperors, storms, and three near-collapses from Hua Cheng trying to "innovate" the roof design.

It was now standing. Mostly. But the two celestial beings inside it? That was another matter.

"Gege, please let me kill that spider."

"No! He's been here longer than we have!"

"He just tried to bite me."

"He was startled! You have a threatening aura!"

Hua Cheng, feared Ghost King, slayer of demons, conqueror of ghost realms… was currently being backed into a corner by a walnut-sized spider perched smugly above the offering table.

"I've defeated ten thousand gods," Hua Cheng said flatly, pointing a slipper at the ceiling. "And you're choosing him over me?"

"He's harmless!" Xie Lian said, trying to scoop the spider onto a piece of paper with all the reverence of a priest handling a sacred relic.

"He's judging me."

"So am I."

Later that day, they attempted to bake a mooncake.

Attempted...

"You didn't even read the recipe."

"I followed my heart."

"Well, your heart used salt instead of sugar."

"It said white powder!"

Xie Lian stared at the smoking, unidentifiable blob of dough on the counter. "It's a crime. You've committed a culinary crime."

"I'll pay for my sins with another bite," Hua Cheng declared, taking a second bite. His face scrunched in pure, undiluted regret. "Gege… I think I saw my past lives flash before my eyes."

In the courtyard, they tried to build a birdhouse for the sparrows nesting nearby.

"You can't just nail it with spiritual energy!"

"Why not? It's efficient."

"You split the wood in half!"

"I'm very powerful!"

"You're very annoying!"

They ended up using a rice bowl, propped under a roof tile, filled with breadcrumbs. The sparrows were suspicious at first, but eventually accepted the offering. Probably because Xie Lian sang to them every morning like an overly romantic forest deity.

Which he was. Basically.

One evening, while lounging under the half-finished roof, they made up terrible titles for each other.

"Your Infernal Hotness."

"Your Radiantly Disastrous Highness."

"Oh, I like that one."

"Because it's accurate," Hua Cheng muttered, picking rice out of his hair. "You exploded the rice cooker with a prayer. Who does that?"

"It was a good prayer," Xie Lian insisted.

"For divine intervention, not divine combustion!"

But the best moment came quietly.

As they lay side by side, the stars flickering gently above their heads, a warm breeze carrying the scent of incense and sweet pastries (Hua Cheng eventually got the recipe right—after ten attempts and minor smoke inhalation), Xie Lian laughed so hard he had to wipe tears from his eyes.

Hua Cheng watched him with something soft in his smile. "You look happy."

"I am."

"Even though Heaven's plotting to drag you back, the shrine is mostly sawdust, and we've committed war crimes against baked goods?"

Xie Lian turned his head, eyes shining with warmth. "Exactly because of all that. And because of you."

They kissed under the open sky—laughter still caught between their lips.

Immortal. Stubborn. Hopelessly in love.

And absolutely ridiculous.

To be continued.