It begins as a flutter. As innocuous as the gust of a butterfly’s wings. Just a tremor that ripples through the air, the earth. He can feel it through his boots, between his toes. Beneath the thin skin of his palm and the apices of fingertips pressed to the bark of the plum blossom tree.
Hua Cheng can feel every inch that this ghost king nears, every step that diminishes the distance between them. But there’s something unusual to the force this ghost king exudes. Every Calamity whose presence he’s met the misfortunate of holding witness to has always felt like a dull throb, a deep but muted vibration that one might soon become accustomed to and subsequently ignore. But this was like a pulse—— like the slow, metronomic pace of an ancient ocean’s heart. An invisible weight that presses upon his skin, imbues the hollow of his bones, immerses him completely not unlike an antediluvian tide.
Had his designs not been to insinuate and ingratiate himself into an accord with this exact power, he might have been uneasy in its presence. Apprehensive, at least. Instead, Hua Cheng waits eagerly, his eyes sliding shut as he determines and distinguishes the nuance of this ancient king’s puissance, submitting himself to the authority of that sovereignty.
Lost in willful inconscience, he doesn’t even see when the ghost king approaches, until a voice as soft, as velutinous as a dove’s sounds in his ear, asking after him with a solicitousness that surprises him.
But nothing more surprising than the arm that slips easily around his waist, the breadth and brawn of the shoulders that buttress his arm, the command with which he is pulled against their hip, and held fast to their valorous sureness.
Hua Cheng stiffens at the touch, the entirety of his form rigid at the assuagement of such an unceremonious kindness. He can barely relax into their arms, until they’re both past the threshold of the hut. And Hua Cheng knows he’s been invited. Sort of.
“It’s not so bad, I promise,” Hua Cheng assures them, pulling a grimace of a smile, as though he’d been in more pain than he dare admit to a stranger. “I was trying to find a mountain pass, but I must have gotten the directions wrong. Or forgotten them. The snow always disorients me, all that white … I slipped off the path and into a ravine, and only managed to find my way out a day or two ago. I don’t even know where I am.” He flashes the ghost king a wide, apologetic smile. “I’m glad I happened upon you, though. Wherever I am.”
the little ghostling weights nothing to them . both with shen wei ’ s innate strength as a ghost , & also the godly power gifted to them by kunlun even carrying him across the mountain range would not be difficult . but , pretending to be a human , & knowing that the little ghostling is not so much little by human standards , they do not show off . instead , carefully but surely , shen wei guides the injured man into their small home . ❛ these passages are perilous . i have found a safe haven in this valley , but those living closest are beyond the mountains . ❜ they remember . the long trips with shen san . the way shen san could no longer complete them by the end . how tragic & helpless real human pain is .
they lower the ghostling onto the small bed in the corner . it is covered with patchworked blankets , more of a nook than any proper bed , but it is soft . ❛ ah , you are frozen rest here for a moment , ❜ shen wei bustles to the firepit , turns their back to the man on their bed , & lights it . not naturally ; they can , of course , but they want to push . to see how long they will both pretend . if the ghostling knows , or if he doesn ’ t . no doubt he will sense the use of shen wei ’ s nature , & he will have to sit there , quietly , & not mention anything . shen wei places down the flint as if they truly had struck the fire , & let the flames begin to warm the hut .
they return to the man ’ s side , fluidly sinking to their knees , their robes spreading around them like a pool of ink . their hair , too , touches the ground . ❛ what is your name , good traveller ? here , let me help you with your boot it ’ s sodden . if you have a wound & it becomes infected , that will only cause you to be in more pain . ❜