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Xie Lian couldn't help the small smile that spread over his lips as he meandered up the path to Puqi Shrine. He smiled for all of the reasons he usually did. The sun was shining and warm on his back, but not scorching. The air held the weight of spring humidity but it was not stifling. Even the scraps he collected today were a great boone to him. An old potter in Puqi Village was retiring, and with no apprentice to take over the shop Xie Lian was given free reign over the tools. Some he could easily repurpose for himself, while others would be refurbished and sold.
All these factors contributed to the lightness in Xie Lian’s steps, but they paled in comparison to the single most important detail that had carried him through the day: San Lang was waiting for him. In reality, San Lang had offered to accompany him throughout the day, but Xie Lian had insisted the other take the day to rest. He was not such a fool that he expected that would actually happen, no doubt San Lang was busy repairing some crumbling piece of foundation or dutifully sweeping every corner of the shrine's interior. It was just that Xie Lian was too embarrassed to express his true feelings, which were that he was greatly looking forward to the novel experience of returning to a home that was not empty.
It had been a few months since they met on the back of the ox cart, though Xie Lian mused over the knowledge that their true first meeting had been shortly before that, when he had been retrieved from the bridal sedan. Ahh, so embarrassing! To think San Lang had seen him dressed in such a way. Xie Lian sent a silent prayer in honor of Xiao-Ying, who not only gave her life in defense of Xie Lian, but whose skills with hemming and makeup had saved his dignity as well.
When San Lang and himself had returned from Banyue, San Lang– or Hua Cheng, as Xie Lian revealed the knowledge of who his new friend truly was– had said that he may need to leave for a time. Xie Lian had no intentions of stopping him, the heavens know he has no authority over what his friend does, but he had let out a small noise of distress and accidentally forced the ghost to stay. No matter how much Xie Lian insisted that it was no big deal, San Lang refused to budge, stating that he would not leave unless Xie Lian himself told him he was not welcome. As if Xie Lian could ever…
The scrap god let out a long sigh as he picked his steps over the well worn road. It had not gone over well with his former– maybe current? – friends. Mu Qing, still pretending to be Fu Yao, had sputtered and scoffed at seeing the calamity was still playing house with Xie Lian when the god had come to check on him a week later.
“How could you let him stay here? You don't even know what he is?!” Mu Qing had shouted.
What San Lang was… Xie Lian knew Mu Qing was not referring to the possibility of San Lang being anything other than human, but rather his secondary gender. The martial god had been agast when Xie Lian told him he never asked, and that it wasn't important.
Xie Lian was an alpha. There once was a point in time where everyone in the world knew this fact. He had presented late, but once that presentation came his kingdom had made a huge spectacle out of it, praising his strength and skills with the blade. There were rumors he would present as an omega due to his shorter stature, beautiful features, and kind nature. The idea didn't bother Xie Lian, he had little care for what anyone's secondary gender was but his father had been angered by the rumors and thus made it known to even the smallest insect that his son was a true alpha.
They had never discussed their designations, but San Lang had seemed pretty knowledgeable about who he was when they spoke on the ox cart, so it was likely he already knew. If Xie Lian had to guess, he would wager San Lang was an alpha as well, though he genuinely didn't know how secondary genders presented themselves in ghosts. Perhaps death turned everyone into a beta? Ghost's couldn't reproduce, as far as he knew.
“If he's an alpha, he's much better at it than me.” Xie Lian laughed to himself.
Though he did possess some typical “alpha” traits, like his muscular strength, he did not feel that he fit the mold very well. He didn't mind, in fact, he was glad to have missed out on some of the more troublesome features. His ruts were a barely there thing, amounting to little more than feeling a bit too warm and being a touch irritable. Omega scents did not entice him or make him lose himself, and a fellow alpha would not spur aggression. Really, if it were not for his initial presentation rut and the change to his scent, Xie Lian would hardly believe he was an alpha at all!
He wondered, not for the first time, if his ascetic cultivation was the reason for his subdued secondary gender or if it was his natural predisposition which then made his cultivation style easier. Out of curiosity he had once asked Feng Xin what it felt like when he was in rut, as Xie Lian knew his friend’s ruts followed the more typical pattern.
“The weirdest part is my teeth.” Feng Xin had said, “Even though I know they don’t change, it is like I can feel them more sharply and they itch. My body tells me to bite into an omega, any omega. I’ve heard it goes away once you bond, or at least you only want to bite your bonded omega.”
Xie Lian turned down the last path that will bring him home, idly feeling his teeth with his tongue. They were definitely sharp, especially his canines, but nothing out of the ordinary. He never had the desire to bite any random omega, but he had, once, had the thought to bite someone. A long time ago there had been a masked ghost in his life, one that his brain had urged him to bite and claim. It was just a part of his madness at the time. He was hurting, grieving his parents, his friends, and his kingdom. He treated Wu Ming so terribly that even his desire to claim him had been a form of cruelty. Wu Ming had a beloved, and Xie Lian had been in the position to take that away, just as he took away everything from the ghost. The only comfort Xie Lian had now was the knowledge that he had not done that to his last believer.
Trying to push the thought from his mind, Xie Lian entered the gate to Puqi Shrine, pausing briefly to re-center his sign asking for donations. As expected, the stone path was swept clean, a fresh stack of firewood was placed to the side, and were those new shutters on the window? San Lang really has been busy! Xie Lian sucked in a deep breath, enjoying the fresh air, and caught a floral scent tinged with sweetness. They were talking about putting in a garden out back, perhaps San Lang started by adding flowers. Xie Lian breathed in. It smelled like the flowers from Xianle, it smelled like home.
“San Lang, I’m back from town!” Xie Lian called out, opening the door.
That same floral scent flowed from the open doorway and Xie Lian glanced around, half expecting to see a grand bouquet decorating the interior but the only flower was the single one left on his shrine.
“Gege!” San Lang stood up from where he had been sitting on their bed, but he did not approach to take the heavy bag of scraps like he normally would.
Xie Lian looked him over and noticed that the ghost seemed a little… off. His posture was slightly awkward and his clothes had been loosened as though the fabric on his skin was irritating him. The bed too had seen better days, and that was saying something since it was a sorry sight even at its best. Their single blanket, which Xie Lian accidentally hogged every night, had been crushed into the corner along the wall, joined by Hua Cheng’s outer robe, and was that a little peek of white between them? Maybe San Lang had been piling up some things to take to the river and clean but just hadn’t gotten to it yet.
“San Lang,” Xie Lian set down his items and approached, “are you alright?”
“I’m fine! Gege shouldn’t worry. I unfortunately do have something I need to take care of and will be gone for a few days. I didn’t want to just disappear and leave Gege worried, so I waited for you to come home first. Gege, you really took your time.”
Xie Lian’s brows drew together, “You’re leaving? San Lang I think you should stay, you don’t seem well. Whatever it is, you can deal with it after some rest.”
He wasn’t sure he could put his finger on it, but there was some sort of urge telling him to keep San Lang here, that his home was the safest place, this is where Xie Lian can protect him. He unconsciously took a step to the side, blocking the path towards the door. San Lang can’t be allowed to leave.
“Ah.” Xie Lian flushed a deep red as he realized what he had just done and thought.
What was going on?! Embarrassment welled up inside him.
“No, Gege I…” San Lang nervously wrung his hands together, “I really need to go. I’m sorry, I promised to help you with the garden but we can do it when I’m back?”
The garden? What garden? Oh yeah… the flowers. Xie Lian fought through the fog in his brain to make sense of… well… everything. Flowers.
“Wait,” Xie Lian stilled as a thought managed to claw its way forward, “You didn’t start on it? But I can smell the flowers.” Xie Lian drew in a long breath through his nose to catch more of that sweet floral scent and took a few steps forward to follow it, bringing him closer to San Lang.
“No Gege, I’m sorry.” San Lang took a step away to leave but was caught by one of Xie Lian’s hands.
The two looked at each other in shocked silence for a few moments. Xie Lian did not let go.
“Gege, I’m going into heat.” San Lang blurted out.
“Oh!” Xie Lian squeaked, releasing San Lang’s arm.
They looked at each other awkwardly, a blush spreading down Xie Lian’s neck as he processed what he had been told.
“Right,” San Lang started, “So I’ll go ahead and take off, and I’ll be back when it is over.”
“No.” Xie Lian’s eyes went wide. He was the one who said it and yet he acted surprised. “I- I mean. Sorry, no, sorry I-” Get it together, Xie Lian!
“Gege?”
“You could stay,” he finally managed to say, his inner alpha preening at the idea. Yes, San Lang should stay here, with him, where he can be safe and protected by Xie Lian.
“... Do you understand what it is you are saying?” San Lang asked cautiously.
“I’m 800 years old, I know what an alpha and omega do during heat.” Xie Lian replied obstinately.
San Lang chuckled to himself, “Right, of course, sorry Gege.” He glanced towards the door, “I just don’t want Gege to feel obligated.”
Did he feel obligated? Xie Lian had never reacted to an omega like this before. Sure, he felt the need to protect an omega if they were being accosted by other alphas, but it was the same feeling as wanting to protect a beta being bullied or an alpha being ganged up on. This was the only time he wanted to specifically take care of someone. It wasn’t enough to know that San Lang was safe, as surely he would be wherever he went to deal with his heat, Xie Lian needed to be the one to keep him safe.
“San Lang is never an obligation,” Xie Lian stated, but hesitated when another thought occurred to him, his head clearer now that they were talking. “Unless… I don’t want San Lang to stay if he would be uncomfortable here. Or uncomfortable with me. I can go, too, or stay outside to stand guard. I promise I won’t come inside.” Xie Lian’s mind began to race as words tumbled out of his mouth, “Should I contact someone? San Lang probably has a heat partner already or… or his beloved, noble, gracious someone. I can go get them, they will want to help I’m sure. That’s who San Lang would want anyway.”
Was he crying? His face had felt hot for so long it was hard to tell if warm tears were there or not. How embarrassing! He really was a failure of an alpha, there was no way San Lang would be comfortable spending his heat with him now.
“Gege.” San Lang’s hands steadied Xie Lian’s shoulders, “It is you.”
“What?”
“The noble, gracious, someone. My beloved who I haven’t won over. It was always you.” San Lang looked down at the floor, “Of course you are who I would want to spend my heat with, but Gege shouldn’t feel pressured by my feelings. I would never compromise your cultivation over something so stupid.”
Xie Lian surged forward, pulling San Lang into his arms and burying his face into the man’s chest. It was hard to keep his head clear, being so close to that enticing scent he now knew was coming from the omega, but he endeavored to make his own feelings known.
“Don’t say it is stupid.” Xie Lian hugged even tighter, “the only thing that would be stupid would be for me to maintain a cultivation base that I can’t even access with my shackles, while my beloved suffers needlessly. So please, if you will have me, stay here?”
San Lang nodded and Xie Lian’s heart soared. When their lips met it felt like sparks of lightning between them. After only a few moments, Xie Lian reluctantly parted their mouths, San Lang giving a whimper in response.
“I should prepare. You’ll need water, and I should have some food in the kitchen. I’ll go to the well right now. Will you be alright?”
San Lang chuckled, letting his hands rest on Xie Lian’s hips. “I’m fine Gege, it is still early. Just hurry back, I’ll miss you terribly.”
“Don’t tease.” Xie Lian smiled, giving San Lang one last peck on the lips before hurrying to grab the pail for fresh water.
He’d never gone to the well and back so quickly, it was a wonder all of the water did not spill out with how fast he sprinted back. Once inside, he locked the door and set the water aside. San Lang was back on the bed, poking at the little corner of fabric that Xie Lian was now realizing must have been an attempt at a nest. What a fool he had been. He forced San Lang to stay here but he barely owned anything that could be considered good nesting material. He could see that the white fabric was his robe, the only other one he owned, but with just that and the clothes they were wearing how could San Lang make a proper nest?
“Should I go buy blankets? Or pillows? I sold some scraps today and the nice lady at the bakery paid me to shift her stone oven over, so I’ve got some money.”
San Lang said nothing, but glared sharply at Xie Lian’s suggestion of leaving.
“San Lang… you need more than that. Maybe we should go wherever you normally nest?”
San Lang pouted, actually pouted, like a stubborn child. The sight was endearing to say the least. The ghost had maintained the youthful form he had taken on the ox cart and it only amplified Xie Lian’s desire to squeeze him. The ghost brought up one hand, pressing two fingers to his temple for a moment and then stubbornly flopped back against the sorry excuse for a nest.
Xie Lian watched with exasperation as San Lang curled in the nest, but a moment later there was a knock on the door. A sudden, unconscious growl rose in Xie Lian’s throat as he turned to the front door. He stalked closer, his body tense. How dare someone intrude when his omega was vulnerable, if it was another alpha enticed by San Lang’s scent then Xie Lian might be about to break a few rules for heavenly officials. It wasn’t until the person on the other side of the door released their own scent, marking them as an omega as well, that Xie Lian relaxed slightly.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince of Xianle.” The unknown omega greeted through the wood, “This servant has brought Chengzhu’s nesting material. I can leave it here if you would like, but I’d rather not set it on the ground.”
So that is what San Lang was doing, contacting someone through his array. Relaxed, Xie Lian unlocked and opened the door to find a thin man dressed in black with hints of purple, his arms laden with plush crimson fabrics. A mask sat askew to the side of his face, probably in an attempt to be less threatening than if he had worn it properly.
“Has it started?” the man whispered once the door was opened. He glanced past Xie Lian, but was not so foolish as to attempt to enter. “Here,” the blankets were shoved into Xie Lian’s hands, “give him these, it’ll keep him distracted for a bit.”
“W-what?” Xie Lian looked at the blankets and then back to the man in front of him.
“If Your Highness is willing, this one would like to speak with you outside. It will be very brief.”
Confused, but sensing no malice from the man, Xie Lian nodded and turned back inside to bring the blankets over. San Lang’s heat must be starting to truly hit, as his eyes had practically turned into entirely black orbs. The blankets were snatched from Xie Lian like a viper striking prey and San Lang immediately set out to begin working them into a proper nest. The man who brought the materials was right, it did act as a good distraction; San Lang didn’t even seem to notice when Xie Lian backed his way out of the room and out the door.
The man was waiting patiently and bowed low when Xie Lian stepped out.
“This one’s name is Yin Yu, and I thank you for taking care of Chengzhu, but I feel I should warn you so that you may be prepared.”
“Warn me?” Xie Lian asked.
“I have been Chengzhu’s servant for many years, and the only one allowed within paradise manor during his heats. Your Highness, have you helped an omega in heat before?” Xie Lian shook his head. “Well… even if you had, it would probably not have helped. Chengzhu’s heats are bad, honestly the worst I've ever seen. Not only are they incredibly irregular, sometimes as long as a decade between them or as frequent as twice in one moon, they are painful as well. I'm the one to bring him fresh water and bedding, but his cries can be heard throughout the manor.”
Xie Lian frowned at the knowledge. How long has San Lang been suffering heats in such a way? As much as he hates the idea of another alpha being anywhere near his omega, it did not feel good knowing how much San Lang had suffered alone. He listened as Yin Yu continued.
“Chengzhu would never speak to me of such things, it's not my place, but his symptoms are consistent with someone who had a forced presentation.”
“Forced presentation?”
Yin Yu nodded. “It is rare, nearly unheard of among the gentry, but sometimes poor families will give their children a medicinal concoction that forces an early presentation so that they can decide which children they want to keep and which they can’t afford to take care of. It is no surprise that families with little resources will often choose to keep only their alpha children. The forced presentation causes irregularity and intensity of heats and ruts. With the severity of his symptoms I suspect he was forced to present at an incredibly early age.”
That was horrible. Xie Lian felt sick at the idea as well as rage knowing that something like that may have happened to San Lang. Surely whoever was responsible no longer lived, but that brought no comfort knowing San Lang had suffered.
“Is there anything I can do? Something that will help him?” Xie Lian asked hopefully.
Yin Yu smiled, “You already are. Having a partner will help him regulate, even just scenting him will ease a lot of the pain. The only permanent solution is bonding, but spending this heat with him will help.” Yin Yu bowed again offering a final, “Thank you.” With that Yin Yu took his leave, and Xie Lian returned to San Lang’s side.
“Gege.” San Lang crooned from within his nest.
The various blankets had been worked into a plush bed with just enough space for two people, assuming the two are cuddled very close. Xie Lian crawled into the nest, shedding his outer layers and offering them to the omega. San Lang took them eagerly, positioning them in the approximate area of where his head will be pillowed.
Xie Lian allowed himself to be pulled tight, enveloped by the floral scent that had been growing ever stronger. What had once been a subtle sweetness was now intoxicating. San Lang tucked his face against Xie Lian’s neck and relaxed like a sleepy kitten.
This was so nice Xie Lian almost never wanted it to end, but there was some anticipation for what was to come that kept him from fully relaxing. He'd allow San Lang to take his time though, everything was going to happen at the omega's pace. There was only so slow that pace could be though, with an omega like Hua Cheng.
It was a few minutes later when Xie Lian felt San Lang begin to shift around in the nest, little adjustments as though he couldn’t quite get comfortable. A small noise caught his attention and Xie Lian leaned back enough to look at San Lang’s face.
“San Lang!”
The omega’s face was scrunched, his brows knit and teeth clenched. Xie Lian hurried to press his wrist against San Lang’s neck, rubbing soothing circles over the scent glands that had become swollen as the heat progressed. To his relief, the pain seemed to ease from San Lang’s expression, smoothing back into something more peaceful.
“Is it starting to hurt?” Xie Lian asked, keeping up the pressure on his scent gland, “You should have told me. I’m here to take care of you.”
At this point Xie Lian could only follow his instincts and do his best to take care of the omega in his arms. First he rid them both of their remaining clothes, letting the skin contact ease the stress from the rising heat. San Lang’s body, which was normally pleasantly cool to the touch, felt like hot iron. His heat was hitting full force.
Xie Lian wrapped his arms around San Lang and rolled them both, laying on his back so that the ghost could drape over his chest. One hand threaded through the inky black locks and kept the omega’s head tucked into Xie Lian’s neck, while the other trailed down his back. One of Xie Lian’s knees urged San Lang’s legs apart, allowing Xie Lian the space to dip his free hand between.
“San Lang…” Xie Lian marveled, “You’re so wet.”
San Lang’s thighs were completely soaked, slick dripping between his legs in an almost constant stream. The scent of the slick alone was beginning to go to Xie Lian’s head, but when he brought those fingers to his mouth, licking them clean, the last thread keeping his inner alpha from completely taking over finally snapped. Xie Lian slid his hand back down, dipping one finger inside San Lang’s entrance, quickly followed by a second.
“You’re so loose, I could probably enter right away.” Xie Lian whispered as he worked his fingers in and out.
“Please.” San Lang whimpered against Xie Lian’s neck.
“I’ve got you.”
Xie Lian moved his hand away and lined up his cock, which had been fully hard since he first climbed into the nest. His priority had been San Lang, his own pleasure put aside for the time being, but now he could feel the heat between San Lang’s thighs, smell the slick that dripped onto the bedding, he could no longer hold back and San Lang didn’t need him to. He pressed in, sinking into the delicious warmth. San Lang whimpered as Xie Lian bullied himself deeper, knowing that the only way to ease his omega’s pain was to give him everything he had.
His thrusts were steady at first, rocking San Lang back and forth, growing in intensity as San Lang’s cries got louder. Xie Lian rolled them again, pressing the omega’s back into the nest and starting a brutal pace. Long thin legs wrapped around Xie Lian’s back, holding him tight as though to keep him inside.
San Lang was a vision, his hair loose and pooled around him, disheveled from their lovemaking but alluring nonetheless. The two dark eyes of his youthful appearance were watery and unfocused, silently pleading for everything Xie Lian could give him. And Xie Lian would give everything.
His cock was thick, as any good alpha’s was, and it speared into the deepest parts of his omega. The lewd squelching was only drowned out by the string of whines that came from San Lang’s throat each time the tip of Xie Lian’s cock drove to its deepest point. The alpha’s knot had begun to swell, pressing against the omega’s entrance on each thrust.
That was when Xie Lian felt it, the thing that his old friend had once described that he never understood. He wanted to bite. His teeth felt sharper than they had ever been and they itched to sink into the soft flesh beneath him. It must have come through in his scent, because San Lang whined, turning his head away to expose the swollen scent gland.
Xie Lian’s teeth clenched and he growled, “San Lang. I- I want to bite. I want to bite you so bad.”
“Please,” San Lang pleaded, “Gege, please.”
He shouldn’t, he knows he shouldn’t. They had hardly even discussed what it meant for Xie Lian to be accompanying him through this heat, but bonding? That was on an entirely different level. That was permanent, for life, which for two immortal beings meant a lot more than it did for anyone else. This was not a decision Xie Lian should be making on his own, not when San Lang was heat drunk and Xie Lian himself could barely string a thought together that didn’t revolve around the itch in his teeth and the warmth around his cock.
But, when Xie Lian looked down at the beautiful omega, his heart tightened and he couldn’t help but remember. He remembered an omega he had wanted to bite, one torn to shreds leaving nothing but a crumpled flower to remember him by. Xie Lian could not handle a loss like that again. He would not bear it.
His knot pressed and stretched San Lang’s entrance until with one final thrust it finally popped inside. San Lang cried out, reaching climax at the same time as his alpha. Xie Lian surged forward, his teeth sinking into San Lang’s neck. He held on as the coppery taste seeped into his mouth, his hips giving shallow grinds as he filled the omega. San Lang had gone entirely limp beneath him, passed out from the intensity of being knotted and bonded.
Xie Lian bundled his omega close, protectively curling around him as he waited for his knot to ease or for San Lang to need more, whichever came first. Over the following week the ghost king would spend more time speared by Xie Lian’s knot than anything else, though the god was sure to make him drink water during their breaks. On the second day, Xie Lian had urged San Lang to give a return bite, cementing their bond.
When his heat finally broke, San Lang was pleasantly sore and littered with bites. Xie Lian fretted over each one but was laughed away and kissed for his trouble. They cleaned up the shrine together, never more than an arms length away. When Xie Lian was called back to the heavens he had to politely request to postpone. Not a minute later there were two “deputy officials” at his door, demanding to know what had happened.
“Ah, Fu Yao, Nan Feng, you really did not need to come.” He gave a tight smile, blocking their view through the doorway.
“Is it that guy?” Fu Yao asked, rolling his eyes.
“What?” Nan Feng exclaimed, “what did he do?” he tried to lightly push Xie Lian aside but a dark growl froze him in place. “Your Highness?”
Xie Lian growled again, further blocking the entrance. A newly bonded pair could not spend time apart without an immense amount of stress, and there was no chance Xie Lian would be allowing another alpha anywhere near his omega. Not right now.
“I’ll return to heaven when the time is right, but I would appreciate it if you would leave me and my omega alone.” Xie Lian did not give them any room for argument, closing the door and locking it with a talisman.
“Your…”
“...Omega?!”