Work Text:
Feng Xin’s eyes scanned the enormous crowd in disbelief. Over a hundred people were all looking around and murmuring amongst themselves in the clearing of the woods. The problem? They all looked the same as their heavenly emperor, Xie Lian.
This all started because countless prayers had started pouring into Feng Xin’s palace regarding a troublesome demon that was attacking villagers in the night and changing their personalities. Descending alongside Mu Qing, the bickering pair stumbled across Xie Lian and his annoying husband, Hua Cheng, already in combat with the aforementioned demon. The two wasted no time in jumping in to help. The creature was a human-sized silver beetle that zipped here and there and they had to rush deeper into the woods to continue their attack. When it came out to a clearing with nowhere to hide, the demon went on the offensive, beginning to swell up. Xie Lian delivered the killing blow before it could unleash its attack. However, the demon had one more trick up its sleeve and exploded in a thick blue cloud the moment Xie Lian touched it. Xie Lian’s friends were able to move back in time but he was unfortunate enough to be engulfed. When they rushed back to the scene they were shocked to find that not only was Xie Lian fine, there were over a hundred Xie Lians.
Now, Feng Xin was standing beside Mu Qing and Hua Cheng on a large boulder in front of the crowd, running a hand down his face. He didn’t need a crystal ball to know that this was going to become frustrating fast. As if one of the many Xie Lians heard his thoughts, they quickly clambered up to join them.
“This is quite the situation isn’t it.” The Xie Lian said, tapping his chin and moving to stand beside Hua Cheng. “How will we get rid of all these fake gods?”
Before either Feng Xin or Mu Qing could respond, Hua Cheng let out a rude but soft grunt.
“You’re not the real Gege.” Hue Cheng said with narrowed eyes.
“Hmmm? Why would you say that?”
“You’re too tall.” Feng Xin and Mu Qing stepped back to look and, sure enough, this Xie Lian was able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the ghost king.
“What do you mean?” Tall Xie Lian said. “I’ve always been the same height as you.”
“Okay so we know that this one isn’t the real Dianxia.” Mu Qing sighed.
“I am the real one!” Tall Xie Lian protested.
“What do we do with the fake ones?” Mu Qing waved his hand toward the pouting tall Xie Lian.
“Maybe we could just…” Feng Xin slid his thumb across his neck.
“I am not killing Gege. Even if they are fake.” Hua Cheng snarled.
“Well what do you propose we do?” Mu Qing sighed.
“I think we need to get everyone’s attention and figure this out together. Think as one!” The three of them whipped around to find another Xie Lian had climbed up and was standing next to Tall Xie Lian. This one seemed to be the correct height for His Highness except he had a white streak in his hair.
“Hi Everyone!”
“Gege…” Hua Cheng groaned.
“Yes, San Lang?” The two Xie Lians chirped in unison.
“You both must go down and wait with everyone else.” He said, pointing down at the field full of Xie Lians, some of whom saw him point and started to wave. Feng Xin sighed at the scene of chittering, happy Xie Lians but his breath stilled when something strange caught his eye. A Xia Lian with completely white hair was quickly weaving himself through the crowd and towards the boulder. It unsettled him and he quickly waved his hand to catch some of their attention.
“Hey! Let’s have everyone stand still for a moment!” He called out. Thankfully, it seemed most of the Xie Lians were complacent but the white haired one continued his determined approach. “Uh…”
“Now what in the world is that one doing?” Mu Qing muttered, finally noticing the strange Xie Lian. Hua Cheng let out a discontent hum and when Feng Xin glanced at him, he was surprised to find a worrying frown tugging at the ghost king’s lips. “Alright, yeah, we aren’t doing that. One of you, stop that one!” Mu Qing pointed down at the white haired Xie Lian and the crowd turned. The Xie Lians moved forward in a flurry of soothing murmurs to gently stop the Xie Lian but the white haired Xie Lian suddenly lurched towards one of them and before anyone could react–CRACK!
Everyone froze and a horrible silence blanketed the clearing. The white haired Xie Lian released the neck of the murdered Xie Lian and he hit the ground with thud before exploding into the same blue dust the demon released. The white haired Xie Lian looked about with a venomous glare at all the startled faces. Feng Xin blinked a few times, horrified to see his friend so swiftly murdered by, well, his friend as well. Fake or not, it was devastating. His hand twitched up to his bow to neutralize this new threat but red flashed across the clearing and Hua Cheng had the white haired Xie Lian pinned to the ground.
“What the actual fuck was that?” Feng Xin screeched, turning to a very pale Mu Qing. Mu Qing quickly shook himself out of his stupor.
“We need to get this shit under control.” He breathed. Feng Xin nodded in agreement and turned back to the crowd.
“Okay, Xie Lians! Listen the fuck up!” Feng Xin barked but the crowd was gathering around Hua Cheng and the struggling Xie Lia he had pinned. He could hear they were either offering comfort to the pained Hua Cheng or discussing how to properly restrain this clearly aggressive Xie Lian. Feng Xin ran a hand down his face, his frustration reaching a tipping point. “Hey! Crimson Rain has this covered, okay? We need your attention!” However, one Xie Lian slipped up close beside Hua Cheng. It was the Xie Lian with a white streak in his hair. How did he get down there so fast?
“Shoot that one!” Mu Qing hissed to Feng Xin, startling him.
“Wha–! Shoot him?”
“The ones with white in their hair are a serious problem.”
“But…that’s still our friend.”
“Fine, I’ll do it.” Mu Qing grumbled, but he didn’t move. He just glared at the Xie Lians before letting out another curse and crossing his arms.
“Maybe they aren’t all bad…” Feng Xin said.
As the words left his mouth, the white streaked Xie Lian let out a HYUP! and struck the pinned Xie Lian in the head with enough force to kill him. The Xie Lian exploded into dust under Hua Cheng’s hands. Hua Cheng slumped, his horror now mixing with a growing rage. Outrage exploded among the Xie Lians and the Xie Lian with the white steak threw up his hands in a surrender but his expression was unapologetic. The crowd was now growing into a frenzy but Hua Cheng rose up and let out a furious “ENOUGH!” Hua Cheng threw some dice at his feet and then he pointed to the treeline. “All princes through the door!”
Many obediently followed their husband’s instruction. Some hesitated, hanging around Hua Cheng until he shooed them forward. Mu Qing stepped around, grabbed the tall Xie Lian and hopped down to follow. Feng Xin quickly scanned the area to catch any stragglers before jumping down to follow them through. When they all went through the array Hua Cheng set up, they found themselves in a large, red, windowless room. Their only exit closed when Feng Xin stepped through.
Mu Qing didn’t waste any time. He marched forward and called for everyone’s attention. “All Xie Lians with any white in their hair, any at all, must separate themselves from the rest of the group!”
“This sounds like discrimination!” One Xie Lian called out from the crowd. Mu Qing sputtered in disbelief.
“Let’s not all jump to conclusions because of a couple bad apples.” Another said.
“Who hasn’t killed a few people on a bad day?” Sounds of agreement began to rise and Feng Xin furiously stomped forward.
“No no! Fuck that! Everyone separate themselves from the white haired Xie Lians!” No one moved but there was another wave of murmuring.
“How about a vote?”
“How about no!” Mu Qing screamed.
“Gege…” Hua Cheng said, sounding exhausted.
“Yes, San Lang?” The crowd said in unison.
“Could you please separate yourselves?” There were softer murmurs but they didn’t argue this time. There was shuffling and five Xie Lians stepped forward, their faces tight with various degrees of anger.
“Now what?” The one with the most white in their hair demanded. Hua Cheng arranged them so that they were all back to back and then tied them up with a god-binding rope.
“There. Now, please won’t you highnesses settle here for a moment while I find a solution?”
“Yes, San Lang.” The crowd said.
“You!” Hua Cheng pointed at a Xie Lian that was staring wide eyed at the White haired Xie Lians. The Xie Lian looked up.
“Me?”
“Yes, come stand over here for me.” Hua Cheng gently said. The Xie Lian followed his order while all the other Xie Lians chatted away. “Please don’t move from this spot, Gege.” The Xie Lian smiled and nodded. Once that was settled, Hua Cheng tapped the wall and an opening appeared. Feng Xin and Mu Qing swiftly followed knowing, if they hesitated, they would be left locked up in here with all the Xie Lians babbling about anything and nothing at the same time. Hua Cheng scowled when he saw them hop through with him but he otherwise ignored them and began to stride down the hall he opened them to.
“Yin Yu,” Hua Cheng barked. “Do you have the information ready?”
“Yes, Hua Chengzhu.” Yin Yu’s soft voice sounded from the room they approached.
“Does he even know what’s going on?” Mu Qing said.
“Unlike you idiots, I immediately started looking for a solution the moment the problem arose.”
“It hasn’t even been half a day! What did you expect us to do?” Feng Xin huffed.
“I never expect anything from you worthless gods.” Hua Cheng snorted.
“Now, now, San Lang.” The three of them spun around to find one of the Xie Lians had hopped out at the last moment. It was very much not their Xie Lian as this Xie Lian was very fat. How no one noticed him until he spoke up was beyond Feng Xin. “This really did happen all at once. We were all very surprised. Especially when one of those fake Xie Lians became, ahem, a bit violent.”
“Gege,” Hua Cheng’s voice sounded like it had a hint of laughter in it despite his stern expression. “I told all your highnesses to stay back in the room.”
“Yes, but I assumed you’d want me to join in understanding how to fix this.”
“Why in the world would we want you over here?” Mu Qing sighed.
“Because–”
“And don’t say it’s because you’re the real Xie Lian because, I promise you, you aren’t.”
“Don’t be rude, Mu Qing.” The fake Xie Lian said with pursed lips.
“Go back with the others.” Feng Xin jerked a thumb over his shoulder but Hua Cheng wrapped an arm around the fake Xie Lian’s wide waist and pulled him close.
“You may stay, Gege.” He said soothingly. Mu Qing rolled his eyes and Feng Xin folded his arms.
“Let’s just listen to what Yin Yu found so we can leave.” Feng Xin said, stepping into the office. Yin Yu glanced at the much larger Xie Lian that stood by Hua Cheng’s side but kept his face expertly blank.
“It was a splitting demon.” Yin Yu said. Feng Xin raised an eyebrow.
“ Splitting ? That implies on some level that these Xie Lians aren’t fake.” Feng Xin said, waving a hand at the fat Xie Lian.
“I’m not a fake one.” The fake Xie Lian insisted.
“We saw two of them go up in smoke so what does this mean?”
“The splitting demon releases a gas that uses spiritual energy to access every part of the affected’s brain to create fakes that are completely based off of the affected’s personality. They’re elaborate illusions that all think they’re real because they all have Xie Lian’s memories but each one has a certain aspect of their personality or physical trait amplified.”
Hua Cheng let out a hum at Yin Yu’s words. “I don’t care if they’re illusions, I’m not attacking and killing any part of my god. What’s the non-murderous solution?” Yin Yu probably knew slaying the Xie Lians wasn’t in the realm of possibilities because he immediately held up a sack.
“Have the illusions eat these charmed candies. They disrupt the spiritual energy holding the illusion together and cause them to painlessly disperse.” Hua Cheng took the bag and studied one of the round red candies. Mu Qing narrowed his eyes.
“And if the real Xie Lian eats one?”
“He won’t die but he’ll experience pain similar to intense food poisoning.”
“So if it was like he ate his own cooking?” Mu Qing chuckled and Feng Xin let out a laugh. Yin Yu’s mouth twitched up but Hua Cheng’s furious eyes were on him in an instant and his face fell back into its neutral expression.
“I’ll disperse the illusions and you get the fuck out of my sight.” Hua Cheng sneered at Yin Yu. Yin Yu bowed his head and quickly scurried out the other door.
“We can have this one eat one of the candies right now.” Feng Xin said. The fake Xie Lian shrugged and reached for a candy.
“I don’t mind a brief stomach ache to prove I’m real.” However, Hua Cheng gently caught his hand and cast a deep frown in his direction. The fake Xie Lian sighed. “Yes, yes, you’re right, San Lang, we did talk about this. I’ll let you pass out the candies then.”
“He’s fake! Let him have one.” Mu Qing huffed. Hua Cheng glared at them.
“Will you two shut up. It’s like a baby screaming in my ear whenever any one of you opens your mouths.” He grumbled. He put his arm around the fat Xie Lian and gently squeezed him before leading them back to the room full of Xie Lians. Mu Qing and Feng Xin made sounds of annoyance but remained silent. When they stepped back into the room, they froze. Something was clearly going on. The crowd of Xie Lians had broken up into three smaller groups and there were two Xie Lians standing in front of them all.
“Xie Lian!” One of the Xie Lians from the group on the left was waving his hand.
“Yes, Xie Lian?” One of the Xie Lians from the front said, lazily pointing at the Xie Lian calling out to them.
“I believe I may be more comfortable in the group over there. I request a change.”
“Very well. Does any Xie Lian from your group object?” There was soft murmuring from the left group before a Xie Lian spoke up.
“He may leave.”
“We’ll miss him though.” Another added with sounds of agreement. The Xie Lian leaving seemed touched by their kindness.
“Does the Xie Lians from your group wish to accept Xie Lian?” The Xie Lian up front had turned to the group on the right. They all started whispering amongst one another before one spoke up.
“We have a question for this Xie Lian.”
“Proceed.”
A Xie Lian from the right group pushed himself forward. “What do you like about San Lang?”
“Aside from the fact that he is a great listener, I really like his hair.” The Xie Lian wanting to change groups boldly declared. The room exploded in agreement.
“Good answer! Very good answer!”
“He maintains it very well.”
“I like braiding his hair. It’s so soft!”
“I actually tasted it once–his hair is delicious!”
“It’s the soaps he uses! Some sort of fruit blend.”
“Ah! He’s so smart. I like using flower fragrances. Do you think I should switch to taste good too? I’ll ask San Lang later.”
The Xie Lian in front clapped his hands to gather everyone’s attention. “Your decision?”
“Okay! Okay! We'll take this Xie Lian.”
“This. Is. Ridiculous!” Mu Qing screeched. A hush fell over the room. “Why can’t you all just stay still and shut up?”
“Don’t yell at them.” Hua Cheng immediately said. His face was hard but his ears were burning red, probably from the chorus of praise the room full of Xie Lians gave him.
“Don’t yell at them? They got into groups! They’re doing everything but figuring this out!”
“Man, shut the fuck up!” A Xie Lian from the back of the room yelled. Feng Xin slapped a hand over his mouth to keep from bursting out laughing. Mu Qing’s face became a horrible red color and he whipped around to the crowd.
“Who said that?” The crowd of Xie Lians watched him with wide eyes but no one spoke up. Mu Qing pointed an accusatory finger at the Xie Lians, his whole body trembling with rage. “Which one of you said that?”
“Maybe you should just listen to Gege and shut the fuck up .” Hua Cheng said with a shit-eating grin. Giggles sprouted in the crowd. Not wanting Mu Qing to start striking them all down, Feng Xin stepped forward.
“We have a solution, my friends!”
“I kind of like having all these new friends.” One said.
“They’re all you!” Mu Qing said in disbelief.
“We’re pretty nice.”
“Yeah! I like talking to myself. Really adds a new perspective on things.”
“Aw, it’s nice talking to you as well.”
“Look, we can’t have this.” Feng Xin sighed.
“Why not? No one would mind and work would get done more efficiently!”
“That sounds like a smart idea!”
“Yeah!”
“So who is going to be the heavenly emperor?” Mu Qing said. The room fell silent. “Who will permanently stay in the heavens and who will permanently stay by that one’s side?” He motioned towards Hua Cheng.
“Dibs! I call dibs on being San Lang’s husband!” One shot forward but another yanked him back.
“You can’t call dibs!”
“Yes I can!”
“How about a harem?” One from the side offered.
“How about–NO!” Many burst out.
Before an all out brawl could break out, Hua Cheng raised his voice. “Gege! Please, we have a solution to this. There’s no need to fight. It will all be solved.” The Xie Lians quieted but one let out a huff.
“Why did he get to go with you?” The Xie Lian pointed at the fat Xie Lian that was standing behind Hua Cheng.
“Because San Lang knows it’s me! The real me!” The fat Xie Lian declared. The crowd began to break out in shouts. Hua Cheng raised his hands.
“Gege! I love you equally.” He said, his face carefully blank.
“Then why haven’t you gotten rid of that one?” One barked, pointing at the fat Xie Lian.
“I love you equally .” Hua Cheng said firmly. Silence stretched and the three relaxed, thinking the Xie Lians finally settled. However, a chant was slowly rising.
“Fight to the death. Fight to the death! Fight to the death!” The fat Xie Lian hopped forward with a determined look in his eyes, joining in the chant.
“What the fuck?” Feng Xin sputtered.
“Everyone get a grip!” Mu Qing gasped.
“We are not doing this!” Hua Cheng snapped. The sternness from Hua Cheng quieted the Xie Lians once again but they all appeared annoyed.
“Now, everyone come together so we can give you all the antidote.” Mu Qing said. The Xie Lians shifted uncomfortably, still in their separate groups. “Why were you in groups in the first place?”
“No one talk to him and he’ll go away.” One loudly whispered in the silence. That just made Mu Qing mad all over again and Feng Xin didn’t bother hiding his laughter this time.
“Okay, whichever Xie Lian is insistent on antagonizing Mu Qing needs to cool it. We have to pass out these candies.” Excitement rippled through the crowd.
“Candy!” They cheered.
“Gege?” Hua Cheng’s voice was low and everyone turned their attention to him. “Where are the princes with white in their hair?” Feng Xin and Mu Qing spun around to the loose god-binding rope on the floor.
“You idiots untied them?” Mu Qing said with wide eyes. “Have you forgotten that two of them killed you?”
“Well, we thought it was a bit unfair to other them. One with white hair killed an innocent Xie Lian and the other with white in his hair took care of that one. So it kind of balanced out.”
“Yeah, no need to do that to them. They’re just a little misguided.”
“They need love!”
“Love?” Mu Qing said. “You just got done chanting about fighting to death over a man!”
“That’s different.”
“Yeah, that’s for San Lang.”
“You’re so judgemental, Mu Qing.” That was probably the same Xie Lian from before. That one really did have a problem with Mu Qing. Feng Xin could hear Mu Qing grinding his teeth as he scanned the crowd for that one trouble making Xie Lian.
“Gege is right.” Hua Cheng said, coming forward with a calm expression. “All princes with white in their hair may receive a candy.” He held up the sack. No one moved. “Come forward. No one will attack you.” He moved further away from Mu Qing and Feng Xin.
There was another moment before the five Xia Lians emerged from the crowd. Hua Cheng passed each Xie Lian a candy and they tossed them into their mouths. They let out satisfied hums and nods as they chewed.
“How do they taste?” One Xie Lian asked from the crowd.
The white haired Xie Lians swallowed their respective candies. “Tastes like cherries!” One chirped before immediately bursting into a cloud of blue smoke. The other four followed in a burst of smoke as well.
“That’s some candy.” One Xie Lian whistled.
“No one panic.” Feng Xin said, though all the Xie Lians were pretty calm. “The real Xie Lian won’t die. He’ll just be really sick.”
“I like cherries and I know I’m real.” One of the Xie Lians said, stepping forward and holding out his hands. “I don’t mind a little tummy ache.” Hua Cheng immediately passed him a candy. The moment the Xie Lian swallowed it, he burst into smoke.
“That one had blue eyes.” Hua Cheng said to no one in particular. “Anyone else want candy?”
“I want one but we actually had a long talk about how I should care more about myself.” One Xie Lian proudly said. Many Xie Lians nodded in agreement and Feng Xin could see Hua Cheng slightly relax.
“I’m glad His Highness remembers this conversation.”
“It was very important to you, San Lang.”
“I’m allowed to handle my own body as I please.” One Xie Lian muttered.
“It’s out of respect to San Lang!” Another said, scandalized.
“San Lang knows very well that I can’t die! What’s one stomach ache in the grand scheme of things?”
“That’s mean of you.” A Xie Lian solemnly said. Hua Cheng also appeared saddened by that one’s words. He looked around.
“Do any other Xie Lians feel the same way?” He said. Some Xie Lians broke away from the others and gathered around the stubborn Xie Lian. “Very well. You may all have a candy and the real one can get through the illness afterward.” It was clear this pained him to say but he passed out the candies nonetheless. One by one, they all burst into smoke until none were left. The crowd of Xie Lians, now lesser in numbers, let out disapproving sounds.
“They were disrespectful to our relationship, San Lang.”
“Yeah, that wasn’t nice.”
“I may overlook my health but I wouldn’t disregard your words, San Lang.”
“I appreciate that, Gege.”
“Okay, my turn now.” Mu Qing said, marching forward and snatching the sack. “Which one of you has been talking shit! Step forward and eat the candy!”
“Someone’s paranoid…” One muttered.
“Who said that?” Mu Qing demanded. No one spoke.
“Okay, as funny as this is, whichever one feels the need to constantly argue with Mu Qing needs to step forward.” Feng Xin said.
“Or what?”
“Yeah, what do you think you can do?” Feng Xin frowned, now knowing how Mu Qing felt.
“Okay, how about we do this another way?” Feng Xin sighed.
“No, I want those trouble makers gone!” Feng Xin ignored Mu Qing.
“All the Xie Lians that are the same height as Crimson Rain, step forward.” There was some shuffling and the tall Xie Lians stepped forward. “Good, thank you. All the Xie Lians that are the same height as Mu Qing and I, join these tall ones.” More Xie Lians stepped forward. “You may all have a candy to prove you’re real.” They were hesitant.
“It’s okay if you fall ill, Gege.” Hua Cheng said. “I understand that we are now down to the real ones who respect my concerns.” The tall Xie Lians began to take and eat their candies. They all poofed into smoke. From there, the three began to weed out the Xie Lians based on physical discrepancies. Too short? Gone. Wrong eye color? A candy. Things went smoothly and the three were satisfied with the dwindling numbers.
“Are there any that have short hair?” Hua Cheng asked the much smaller crowd. A woman stepped out of the crowd with a raised hand. The three of them blinked. “Well, hello there, JieJie.” Hua Cheng chuckled.
“Hi, San Lang.” She said sweetly. “I take it I’m not a real one.” She pouted and looked at a suddenly nervous Feng Xin and a very confused Mu Qing. “I feel real though.”
“How did you get this far in the first place?” Mu Qing said.
“Just felt like one of the guys I guess.” She shrugged. Mu Qing rolled his eyes and gave her a candy. Once she went up in smoke, the three looked over the remaining Xie Lians. They all shared the same appearance.
“How do we figure things out from here?” Feng Xin said, scratching his head.
“Yeah, and what about him?” Mu Qing jerked his chin over to the Xie Lian that Hua Cheng pulled aside earlier. The Xie Lian had briefly left the wall to lead in the weird group placement from earlier but was now sitting cross-legged and happily watching the sorting process. When he saw them looking his way, he waved. Hua Cheng waved back.
“Don’t bother him. He’s fine.” Hua Cheng said.
“We’re trying to get rid of all these extras. We can’t afford to skip any of them.”
“Why can’t you ever just listen?” A Xie Lian snorted. Mu Qing’s head whipped around and he pointed at the scowling Xie Lian. This Xie Lian no longer had the anonymity of a crowd and he glared right back.
“You! Eat a candy now!” Mu Qing thrusted the sack at him.
“Screw your nasty candies!” The rude Xie Lian spat back.
“Stop talking back!”
“I can do what I want! You’re always so rude!” Hua Cheng was laughing hard now.
“Gege, please, have a candy.” Hua Cheng breathed, still shaking with laughter. The Xie Lian stomped forward and took a candy. The moment he disappeared in a cloud of smoke, Mu Qing grumbled a quick “Bitch.” under his breath before offering more candies.
“Okay, who doesn’t like cherries?” A few Xie Lians raised their hands and they were each given a candy with the promise that these were apple flavored. They all went up in smoke. And from there they began to sort them from little personal tastes they knew of Xie Lian. If one didn’t like swords, then they were offered a candy. If another found the heavens to be the best place to be, a candy would be promptly offered. The Xie Lians were sad to see each other go but it was for the best. Even Hua Cheng seemed put out to see all the princes vanish before his eyes, even if they were the wrong ones. Feng Xin and Mu Qing couldn’t be happier. It was now down to two. The one that Hua Cheng pulled aside before the sorting ever began and the Xie Lian they skillfully interviewed.
“We haven’t even talked to that one over there.” Mu Qing said, motioning towards the Xie Lian still sitting against the wall. The other Xie Lian strolled up to the one sitting and offered a gentle greeting.
“Sure is quiet now that everyone’s gone.” The one they sorted said.
“I really miss the others.” Wall Xie Lian sighed. “They made for fun company.” Hua Cheng stepped forward and passed each one a candy.
“You want us to take it at the same time?” Hua Cheng nodded.
“We probably should’ve done this from the very beginning.” Wall Xie Lian chuckled but when he raised his hand to eat the candy, Hua Cheng gave him a subtle shake of his head. He raised an eyebrow and lowered his hand while the other Xie Lian ate his. Feng Xin and Mu Qing shared a look while Hua Cheng eyed the Xie Lians.
“Well, what happens when–EEP!” The Xie Lian poofed away.
The real Xie Lian stood with a smile. “You knew it was me the whole time, San Lang?” Hua Cheng swelled under Xie Lian’s shining gaze.
“If you knew, then why did we have to waste so much time?” Mu Qing huffed.
“To be sure.” Hua Cheng sneered. “We also didn’t know what those other Xie Lian’s were. They could have been physical separations of His Highness.”
“You did the right thing, San Lang.”
“Why is there an entire aspect of your personality that’s just intent on harassing me?” Mu Qing demanded. Xie Lian blinked.
“I’m not sure what you mean, Mu Qing. all of these were fake.”
“They were based off of you!”
“It’s in the past, no need to dwell.” Xie Lian dismissively hummed.
“You–!”
“What were they in groups for?” Feng Xin interrupted.
“Oh, uh, that was a private thing. My eyes and ears only.”
“You’ll tell me later won’t you, Gege.”
“Of course, San Lang.”
“What the fuck? Okay, whatever. This is done. Let’s leave.” Feng Xin sighed.
“Are you not going to ask me how I knew it was you?” Hua Cheng said with a smile. Xie Lian shrugged.
“You know me too well, San Lang. I always trust you to know who I am…but it was because I briefly limped when I entered the room wasn’t it?”
“Yeah.” Hua Cheng said with a large grin.
“Both of you stop fucking talking right now.”