Crown Prince and Ghost King

Chapter 59

The first thing Xie Lian saw was a little blood red figure, right next to a bunch of messy, indiscernible characters, unmistakable strokes for the eyes of the god. However, he frowned upon realizing Hua Cheng had depicted himself as an ugly and disfigured creature. He was reminded of how much the ghost used to think ill of himself, from his looks to his origins, so Xie Lian scooted a bit closer to his husband and leaned with his head on the ghost's shoulder.

He had gotten better at recognizing his beauty. Not good, but better. Xie Lian knew that, now, Hua Cheng would never paint himself in such an ugly way. Not like that, at least.

There were so many colors, so many figures, so much one couldn't know where to start. Hua Cheng's penmanship – save for calligraphy – was so incredible Xie Lian just couldn't stop being in awe of the overwhelmingly stunning mural in front of him.

It was a treasure, huge and invaluable. The tips of his fingers were trembling, Xie Lian wanted to raise a hand and touch the surface of that mural, feel the paint on his skin just to be closer to what Hua Cheng created.

Only when Hua Cheng's voice called his name, telling in a smiling tone that he would love to see one particular piece of that mural, did Xie Lian snap out of his reverie.

The god turned in the direction Hua Cheng was nodding towards: «Uh? What do you want me to... oh».

Rendered speechless, Xie Lian stared at one of the paintings on the wall, considerably large compared to the wall itself, mouth slightly open in genuine amazement. Right at the center was a tall fortress tower, and below an entire sea of people, all gathered around a stage. The lines were simple, it was probably one of Hua Cheng's earliest works, but those few stroked captured the scene perfectly.

A scene that Xie Lian knew all too well.

The entire painting stood out, being almost completely colorless. Almost, because two of the many figures depicted in it were different.

Xie Lian felt a lump in his throat upon looking at the scene, memories flooding in. At the bottom was a glowing, pure white figure, looking towards the sky with his arms extended. The god didn't need the painting to know that figure was about to catch another little figure. A small, blood red one, falling from the fortress tower.

«This... this is one of your first paintings, isn't it?», Xie Lian asked, his voice tiny and trembling.

Before answering, Hua Cheng moved behind Xie Lian so he could hug him like that, bending so he could rest his chin on the god's shoulder and leave a kiss on his temple: «The very first», he murmured, a low and calm rumble right beside Xie Lian's ear. «It's one of my most precious memories».

The day Hua Cheng, still a poor and scared kid with a forgettable name, learned that in the world someone who could save him existed. The very first act of genuine kindness he had ever received. He still remembered how gentle Xie Lian's eyes were, when he lost the mask and looked at him, how kind that smile seemed.

Hua Cheng knew his husband used to be an arrogant and spoiled prince, but that day... that day, that kid saw a light so dazzling he almost couldn't handle it. That day, Xie Lian put the smallest blossom of hope in the heart of a kid that had nothing.

A blossom that, despite the attempt at withering, had been revived with that same intensity not too long after.

«These are all precious memories», he whispered again, his voice a soothing melody filled with melancholy. «You're part of all of them».

Heart wanting to burst out of his chest, filled with warmth, Xie Lian moved over and saw another painting, one with a dilapidated little shrine. On the altar was a divine statue, surrounded by a glowing white light. Some tears threatened to fall when Xie Lian recognized one of those many statues that the common people had since long destroyed, holding a sword in one hand.