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“San Lang”, Xie Lian says on one crisp afternoon of mid-autumn, “do you ever think about how nice it would be to bathe in a hot spring when the weather is chilly like this?”
As always, Hua Cheng is perfectly attuned to even the most whimsical of Xie Lian’s wishes, his eye instantly lighting up with interest. “What a lovely idea”, he agrees. “I definitely wouldn’t be opposed to bathing with gege.”
Bathing together would be nothing out of the ordinary for the two of them, but something in Hua Cheng’s mischievous smile tells Xie Lian he is thinking of a very specific kind of bathing. “San Lang!” Xie Lian swats Hua Cheng’s arm playfully.
“What, gege wouldn’t like to bathe with me?”
Xie Lian feels a faint blush on his cheeks. “Of course I would, silly”, he says. “I always love bathing with San Lang.” He truly does — whether their bathing session ends up with the two of them merely sharing a sweet embrace, or finding passionate release in each other’s arms. “But tonight, I was thinking of something else.”
He takes Hua Cheng’s hands, squeezing gently. “Years ago, I passed through an area with a hot spring”, he reminisces. “I stayed at a tiny inn close by, and the innkeeper recommended a bath in the spring.” He smiles at the warm memories. “It sure did feel great after a long stretch of travelling. It has been so many years, but I still remember the relaxing feeling of melting into the hot water…”
Xie Lian trails off at seeing his husband’s expression. Hua Cheng is listening with quiet attention, a thoughtful look in his eye, and seems to be contemplating something.
“San Lang? Do you have something on your mind…?”
Hua Cheng’s expression softens into a smile. “Don’t worry about it, gege.”
Of course Xie Lian won’t worry — he trusts Hua Cheng more than anyone in all three realms — but he also knows his husband well enough to be able to tell he is definitely up to something.
————————
Only a few days afterwards, Hua Cheng suggests he and Xie Lian take a little time off just for themselves.
Having been busy with his godly duties lately, Xie Lian accepts the invitation eagerly. He can already imagine the sweet happiness of taking a long leisurely walk with Hua Cheng, after which they can return home to spend their evening in peace and quiet…
However, it turns out Hua Cheng has something completely different in mind. They have barely left Paradise Manor when he stops, hands Xie Lian a pair of dice, and tells him to toss them.
“Where are we going?” Xie Lian wonders.
Hua Cheng gives him a teasing smile in response. “You’ll see, gege. Just wait.”
Without further questions, Xie Lian simply nods and grabs Hua Cheng’s hand before tossing the dice. Admittedly, he is getting very curious about what kind of surprise his husband has set up for him this time.
A swirl of spiritual energy surrounds the two of them as they step forward, and in a few moments, a completely new sight materialises around them. Xie Lian blinks his eyes several times, feeling as though the scenery might disappear at any moment, but the view remains in place, just as beautiful.
“San Lang”, Xie Lian says, almost speechless with sudden awe. He can tell they are still within the boundaries of Ghost Realm, close to Ghost City, but everything looks unfamiliar. “This place… was it always here?”
Before them stands a secluded pavilion, beautiful and extravagant, so flawless it seems to have been built very recently. The air next to the pavilion shimmers with mist — rising from a huge hot spring steaming in the chilly evening.
Hua Cheng’s eye glints with contentment as he takes in Xie Lian’s look of wonder, obviously pleased at his reaction. “Well, gege really inspired me with his tales of that hot spring. I figured he might want one of his own.”
“San Lang, I didn’t mean… this…” Xie Lian can’t hold back an enchanted sigh as he takes a few steps forward and feels gentle warmth radiating from the spring.
“Is it not to gege’s liking, then?”
“No, no, I like it, I like it very much!” Xie Lian hastily assures. “I just — did you really have this pavilion made, just for us…?”
“Just for gege, to be clear”, Hua Cheng says, “but if he wishes to have his San Lang accompanying him for a relaxing evening by the spring, I will be more than happy to join.” He gives Xie Lian a wicked smile.
A soft blush warms Xie Lian’s face — one he is pretty sure isn’t caused by the warmth of the steam rising from the hot spring — as he walks back to Hua Cheng. “Thank you, San Lang”, he says, wrapping his arms around his husband. “It’s lovely. It’s just like in my memories… except even better.”
“I’m glad to hear that”, Hua Cheng murmurs, nuzzling Xie Lian’s neck and giving him a light, teasing kiss.
Xie Lian gasps softly. “Mm… San Lang really knows my tastes better than anyone else…”
“It’s the least I can do for my gege.” Hua Cheng turns to face Xie Lian and kisses him again, this time on the lips; it’s chaste and short, but Xie Lian can already notice the faint shimmer of desire in his husband’s dark eye.
Xie Lian smiles. He is, admittedly, getting eager to test the warmth of the hot spring himself as well.
“Would San Lang like to bathe with me?” Xie Lian asks softly, reaching out to intertwine his fingers with Hua Cheng’s.
“Gege knows my answer.” Hua Cheng’s voice is low and quiet, holding an unspoken promise that sends pleasant shivers rushing down Xie Lian’s spine.
Replacing words with kisses, the immortal husbands start slowly undressing each other. Xie Lian shudders as the cool evening air brushes against his skin, exposed from underneath the robes, but there is also another cause for the sweet shivers rushing through him.
Hua Cheng’s hands slowly travel across Xie Lian’s body, his every touch teasing yet reverent as he maps out each beloved curve. Xie Lian returns the favour, a soft smile on his face as he slides his hands down Hua Cheng’s sides and lets them rest on Hua Cheng’s hips as they melt into another kiss.
They keep kissing as Hua Cheng takes a step closer to the spring and pulls Xie Lian along. The hot steam rising from the spring brushes across Xie Lian’s skin, as if tempting him.
With a smile, Hua Cheng gives Xie Lian one last kiss before lowering himself into the spring. He reaches out to aid Xie Lian, who takes his hand and joins him in the water.
A gasp falls from Xie Lian’s lips as the cool breeze on his skin is replaced with the warm embrace of the spring. The water is pleasantly hot, melting any lingering chill instantly.
Xie Lian notices Hua Cheng looking at him as he relishes in the sudden change of temperature — the ghost king looks fond, and very appreciative, the smile playing on his lips full of mischief. Xie Lian gives a shy laugh and splashes his husband with water, making him chuckle.
“Come here, gege, let’s have a rest together. We’re not in a hurry tonight.” Hua Cheng steps closer to take Xie Lian’s hands.
Xie Lian might feel like he is melting in the hot water, but even that is nothing compared to how he is affected by the look in Hua Cheng’s eye and his low, smooth voice.
On one side of the spring, there is a small platform carved underneath the surface. As Hua Cheng sits down on it, the water comes up barely to his shoulders, and it turns out it’s also the perfect height for Xie Lian to sit on his lap. Xie Lian smiles to himself, rather sure Hua Cheng had the spring shaped in this way on purpose.
Giving a soft sigh, Xie Lian relaxes in Hua Cheng’s arms and presses a slow kiss on his lips. “Thank you, San Lang”, he murmurs. “It’s so comfortable and warm.”
“I’m glad gege enjoys it.” Hua Cheng kisses him again.
For a while, Xie Lian simply lets himself be soothed and pampered by Hua Cheng and his sweet caresses. Hua Cheng conjures some cleaning oils, and they gently wash each other while sharing slow and tender kisses and enjoying every moment of their relaxed intimacy. Although their touches are still chaste and soft, there is a thrilling promise of something more in each lingering touch of a hand on skin, and soon enough Xie Lian feels his gut tightening with pleasant arousal seeping through him right alongside the warmth of the spring.
Xie Lian smiles against Hua Cheng’s lips, letting out a small gasp as Hua Cheng’s hand caresses his thigh underwater, gradually sliding towards his half-hard cock.
“San Lang”, Xie Lian whispers, gently kissing Hua Cheng’s cheek. “I want to… make you feel nice too…” He shifts in Hua Cheng’s lap to press their cocks together, pushing his hips forward just slightly. To his delight, Hua Cheng shudders, visibly affected by his movements.
“Nothing could feel nicer than feeling gege so close”, Hua Cheng whispers, cupping Xie Lian’s backside and pulling him against himself in a slow, teasing grind. Xie Lian whimpers and buries his face against Hua Cheng’s neck.
In mere moments, both of them are fully hard. The water’s heated embrace makes their movements slow and unhurried, and they allow themselves to drown in quiet pleasure, enjoying the drawn-out moments of exploring each other’s bodies.
After a while, however, a different kind of urge takes over Xie Lian.
He shifts his hips on Hua Cheng’s lap, giddy to hear the grunt of pleasure from his lover. “San Lang”, Xie Lian murmurs, shy but eager. “Can you… I really want…”
“What is it, gege?” Hua Cheng strokes his hip, tender and teasing. “Tell me what you need.”
“I want San Lang inside”, Xie Lian whispers, his face heating up.
Upon hearing Xie Lian’s request, Hua Cheng’s eye flashes with contentment and desire. He gives Xie Lian a sweet, slow kiss, nibbling Xie Lian’s lower lip before whispering in his ear —
“As you wish.”
Xie Lian allows himself to melt into a state of utter relaxation as Hua Cheng gently and slowly prepares him. As always, Hua Cheng knows exactly where to touch, where to rub to make Xie Lian shiver with the utmost pleasure. In no time, Xie Lian is pliant in his arms, his languid breathing interrupted only by the smallest gasps as Hua Cheng’s fingers work their magic inside him.
As Hua Cheng pulls his fingers out, Xie Lian can just barely hold back the noise of disappointment threatening to escape his throat; but to his relief, he feels something much better and bigger poking at his entrance, hard and hot and familiar.
“Relax, gege”, Hua Cheng murmurs as he starts to slip inside Xie Lian. “The oil I conjured won’t last as long underwater.”
“Mm”, Xie Lian hums, wiggling his hips ever so slightly. “Hurry up then, San Lang…”
With a low chuckle, Hua Cheng pushes deep into Xie Lian. Another set of shudders wrecks Xie Lian’s body as he is filled up; alongside with the physical sensation, he is overtaken by blissful satisfaction of being joined with his beloved so deeply.
A comfortable silence descends upon the steamy hot spring. Usually, this would be the point where Hua Cheng and Xie Lian throw themselves into passionate lovemaking, but tonight is different; they stay still, relaxed and calm, Hua Cheng buried deep inside Xie Lian as they kiss and nuzzle each other slowly.
Soon enough, Xie Lian loses track of time completely as he rests on Hua Cheng’s lap. As he enjoys the slow throb and heat of the hard cock inside him, he fuzzily thinks he could fall asleep right here.
I could stay here all night… or maybe a few nights… or years, he thinks, a dreamy smile softening his eyes as he takes a deep breath of the heated steam and Hua Cheng’s lovely, familiar scent. Just… so close with San Lang. So tightly joined… after such a long time of wandering around, maybe it wouldn’t be bad to rest for a decade or two…
Eventually, after what feels like several shichen, Xie Lian stirs on Hua Cheng’s lap. On a sudden impulse, as though acting on an instinct, he clenches around Hua Cheng.
Having apparently been in a similar state of deep relaxation, Hua Cheng grunts in surprise upon feeling the sudden tightness. He looks Xie Lian in the eye as a slow smile spreads on his handsome face.
The pleasant silence stretches on as Xie Lian presses a languid kiss on Hua Cheng’s lips. Hua Cheng returns the kiss eagerly, tilting his head to deepen it. His hands wander down Xie Lian’s lower back, playfully squeezing his backside, then caressing his thighs; Xie Lian shivers, and slowly, his hips start rocking back and forth just slightly.
Feeling his beloved starting to finally move, Hua Cheng’s reaction is instantaneous. His fingers dig slightly into Xie Lian’s soft skin, wordlessly encouraging him; Xie Lian pushes his hips forward, unable to hold himself back anymore.
It doesn’t take long before Hua Cheng’s cock stirs inside Xie Lian, giving a few promising twitches. “Gege”, Hua Cheng groans, his voice simmering with desire.
“San Lang, you feel so good inside me —”
Xie Lian’s words cut off into a gasp as he feels Hua Cheng coming inside him. The pleasant feeling of being thoroughly filled makes Xie Lian moan as well, the slow sway of his hips gaining more vigour.
The slightest friction of his cock against Hua Cheng’s stomach is enough to send shudders of intense pleasure rushing through Xie Lian, and it takes only a moment for him to reach his peak. Xie Lian lets out another moan, his back arching as Hua Cheng keeps rocking into him, both of them caught in the waves of their climaxes.
Slightly lightheaded from the pleasure and the warm embrace of the water, Xie Lian slumps down against Hua Cheng’s chest. Hua Cheng nuzzles his neck, giving him a soft, playful bite. Xie Lian smiles, still catching his breath, and turns to nibble at Hua Cheng’s ear in retaliation.
“Does gege find the bath enjoyable?” Hua Cheng murmurs and turns to face Xie Lian.
“Very much so. San Lang really has good taste.”
They hold each other close for a while more, slowly kissing and letting the euphoria of lovemaking settle into a gentle, fuzzy drowsiness. Eventually, after one last lingering kiss, Hua Cheng carefully lifts Xie Lian off his lap, his softened cock slipping out.
Xie Lian is about to climb out of the spring, but Hua Cheng is quicker, stopping him.
“Allow me, Your Highness.”
Xie Lian smiles at his husband’s playful tone as Hua Cheng gets out of the spring and extends a hand to help Xie Lian step up. And not only that — as soon as Xie Lian is out of the water, Hua Cheng scoops him up into a bridal carry.
“San Lang!” Xie Lian laughs. “Don’t be silly, we should dress ourselves…”
“That won’t do”, Hua Cheng says, setting off to walk towards the pavilion next to the spring. “You deserve better than to hastily pull on worn robes after the bath.”
Hua Cheng carries Xie Lian to the pavilion; it is extravagantly built, with walls painted a vivid red, but small enough to feel cosy and inviting. A small gasp of awe falls from Xie Lian’s lips as Hua Cheng steps inside, bringing into view a soft, wide bed laid in the main room.
“San Lang, you really spoil me way too much…”
“Nonsense”, Hua Cheng says, laying Xie Lian down on the bed and leaning in to press a kiss on his lips. “Gege deserves it all, and more.” He smiles. “If I’ve managed to make him feel spoiled, it only means I have succeeded in my most precious endeavour.”
Naturally, the room is equipped with fluffy, soft cloths for Xie Lian and Hua Cheng to dry each other off. By the time they are dry and warm, Xie Lian is starting to get so sleepy he can barely keep his eyes open. Hua Cheng chuckles fondly upon seeing him nodding off, and gathers him in his arms once more to lay him on the bed.
Just how long did we spend in the spring…? Xie Lian thinks fuzzily Hua Cheng settles next to him and cuddles close to him. It must be past midnight…
“Does my beloved need something before we rest?” Hua Cheng murmurs in his ear, stroking the still slightly damp strands of his hair.
“Mm…” Xie Lian smiles, sleepy and content. “…A warm hug from my San Lang?”
Hua Cheng chuckles again. He pulls Xie Lian close under their shared blanket and wraps a protective arm around him.
“That sounds like a request I would be more than happy to fulfil.”
I can’t believe San Lang had all this prepared just for me, Xie Lian thinks as he closes his eyes and snuggles against Hua Cheng. He is really going to spoil me rotten…
Sweet silence falls in the little chamber. The bed is so incredibly, luxuriously soft, and outside their sanctuary, there is a soothing sound of rippling water. Xie Lian feels warm and relaxed, moments away from dozing off, the afterglow of a long bath and lovemaking still warming him up, and a smile crosses his face as he breathes in his beloved husband’s scent.
Maybe allowing himself to be spoiled isn’t such a bad thing, every now and then.