Chapter Text
Noisy would definitely be the word to describe ghost city in it's entirety most if not all times of day u will hear the roaring atmosphere of ghosts fighting or shady vendors selling suspicious jewels and other worldly food or even just straight up causing havoc in the city which would then have my San lang begrudgingly leave my side to “tend to” the misbehaving ghosts.
But today it was strangely quiet as I walked through the usually bustling City
it's not usually a ghost town well maybe literally...but most of the usual residents are here
So why does it almost seem like everyone is..whispering?
looking around I see most of the people not really paying attention to their surroundings to busy whispering and gossiping with their fellow ghosts me being quite curious ducked behind a food stand that seemed to be selling a mysterious black looking goo with meat chunks..trying to not pay attention to the strange food I manage overhear bits and pieces of what the two female ghosts in front of the stall are whispering about
“Did u hear……coming back from.....yeah supposedly they're at the gamblers den right now challenging our Lord chengzhu…..”
“...What a fool if he thinks he can win against our lord ......truly is a fool……”
A fool?..Is someone challenging San lang? A other god maybe? Although I thought the heavens and San lang were on a good understanding (mostly) but surely none of them would be as so dumb to challenge Hua cheng knowing the history of the 35 heavenly officials
“Hmm I should probably ask someone before I misinterpret something wild”
Stepping from behind the food stand I walked up to the two female ghosts gossiping
“Excuse me madams may I ask what the
two of u were speaking of please”
“Grand uncle!” one of the female ghosts says a bit spooked
“I'm sorry I didn't mean to speak more the I should have..” The other woman said
Both women Bow their heads in apology
“No no it's alright I'm not angry just a bit curious on why it's so quiet today” I put on a light smile to give comfort to the two spooked woman
“Well it's because most people are scared of him and his weird nature to challenge everybody”
“By “him” do you mean hua Cheng?"
“No no..! I mean master lan Jiu”
Hmm lan Jiu?...I think I've seen that name before while reading a scroll in Paradise Manors library if I remember correctly
It was about one of the many young cultivators who had come to challenge Hua cheng personally after hearing his inevitable win in the heavens with the 33 gods I don't really remember what happened after that point though…since san lang had grabbed my waist from behind and well..we...
Never mind that! That's not important right now I need to figure out why lan Jiu is here and why is he trying to challenge San lang again..
“Grand uncle…Grand uncle…?”
“Huh? Oh I'm so sorry what were you saying I spaced out” I said nervously at my rudeness
“Oh it's fine but as I was saying years ago a young cultivator trying to start his career in cultivation challenged our dear lord chengzhu and had won 2/4 games he had challenged and our Lord won 2/4 as well so from that day on master lan Jiu would challenge our Lord in the gambling den every so often which started the rumor of them being secret lovers who love to quarrel”
“Similar to how the people speak of the relations of General Nan Yang and General Xuan Zhen!.. But soon after that master lan Jiu stopped coming to ghost city…”
“Most people suspect they had a fight which caused them to separate.. there's still rumors of them being ex lovers till this day but stories of romance are not really popular so therefore the story is not that widely spread”
Ex lovers?surely not San lang would have told me if they were he even said I was his first and last love..if he had others before me surely he would have told me..right?
The ghost, noticing my sour expression hurriedly stated “don't worry Grand uncle rumors are just rumors plus our Lord loves nothing but his dear beloved gege!”
Well of course I know my San lang loves me and he's entitled to love others before me but…. It Still gives me the sour taste of vinegar to think about it
I guess it doesn't help that the only person I've ever loved like this is San lang so to think he might have loved someone as much as I love him hurts…
The lady ghost who she was previously speaking with her friend noticing the growing tense of the situation bowed and snatched her friend away stumbling and apologizing
The Walk up to the gamblers den was creepily silent the only few sounds were a couple whispers, and silent woos looking up I could see a tall red curtain covering a Red clad man peeking beneath the thin see through lace curtains. Looking down I see what seems to be a classic dice game with a young man personably lan jiu
Wow he truly is handsome man…pale skin and light eyes he even has blond hair which is a novelty in these parts..he truly is ethereal not a single hair seems out of place with his extravagant robes almost similar to the ones I used wear as a Noble Prince.
“Why Are You Here In My City Pest”
a deep cutting voice spoke from beneath the red curtains
The situation seems tense I wonder if they really are ex lovers…
Trying not to be spotted I step through the crowd to a familiar plain ghost in the back observing the show/fight-?
“ Your highness!” yin yu slightly shouted
“Shh!” I said hurriedly looking back to the center to see if I've been spotted
“your highness..?” yin yu whispered softly looking confused
“I'm sorry for being so rude I'm just trying not to be spotted” I said scratching my cheek awkwardly
“But why…? Are you being followed..!?”
“ No no it's nothing like that!.. it's just I'm…uh”
“Uh?..” yin yu whispered confused
If I'm being honest with myself I really don't have an explanation for hiding from san lang other than being a bit…jealous…
“Uh well you see!.. I'm simply trying to give San lang a..surprise! Yup totally a surprise..!”
“A surprise…?” yin yu said cautiously
“Yup well you see it's been exactly 2 years since San lang and I first…kiss! Yup so I wanted to surprise him..”
“f-first kiss..? I didn't know people celebrated that..but even so I would be glad to help in any way your highness!”
“O-oh no don't worry I got It covered but I definitely do want help in not being spotted for the time being”