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It’s somewhere around the sixth month mark that the smell of salt water permeates the air on Mount Taicang, strong yet musty like old, wet wood. It appears between one inhale and the next, while Xie Lian is busying himself with sorting through a day’s worth of scrap-collecting.
There is no ocean to be found for miles.
“Lord Black Water,” Xie Lian addresses, not glancing back even when a shadow materializes behind him. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“You’d be the first to consider it as such,” a gruff, monotonous voice drawls back.
Xie Lian puffs a laugh, rising to his feet as he dusts the dirt off his robes. When he spins to face He Xuan, it’s with a warm smile, “I’m sure that isn’t true.”
“No need to humor me, it’s not like I care either way.”
“Then I’ll say I’m honored to be the first, and we’ll leave it at that,” Xie Lian agrees. “Still, is there something I can help you with?”
A raised eyebrow. “Why would you help me.”
Xie Lian tilts his head. “Why wouldn't I?”
“You’re Shi Qingxuan’s friend,” He Xuan points out, gritting his teeth at the name like it's painful to even form the words. To a certain degree, it must be.
“And you’re San Lang’s.”
He Xuan scrunches his nose, disgust written in every single one of his features. “What the hell gave you that idea?”
“He lied to me for you, didn’t he?”
At this, He Xuan goes silent for more than a few moments, eyes cold and calculating. Xie Lian’s smile doesn’t budge. He waits, and then—
“Well I didn't come here for your help.”
“Alright,” he hums, stepping around the piles of junk he’d spent well over an hour shifting through and opening the front door to his tiny cottage. “Would you like to come inside? I’d appreciate the company.”
He doesn't wait for a response before he enters, beelining toward the makeshift kitchen to brew some fresh tea. He Xuan follows him wordlessly, pausing in his step once he reaches the center of the room to inspect his surroundings. Xie Lian wouldn’t be able to confidently say it was in any better condition than Puji Shrine the first time he’d found it, before Hua Cheng could flash his dazzling carpentry skills and spruce up the place like new.
But there was no Hua Cheng here, so the roof remains slightly leaky from Xie Lian’s lackluster repairs, there is a hole in the floor covered by a strategically placed mat, and the wooden table wobbles if you don't place two things on the opposite ends to keep it balanced.
The chair creaks when He Xuan sits down.
“Your Highness doesn't seem too concerned about having a supreme approach out of nowhere.”
“Supreme or not, it’s never mattered much to me,” Xie Lian answers, carrying two mismatched and slightly chipped teacups in one hand and a plate of steamed buns in the other. He places both on the table with ease and joins He Xuan in sitting. “There are two incentives for this.”
“Please,” He Xuan nods, gesturing for him to continue.
“Firstly, there's no reason for you to attack me, and I don't think you're the type to act without reason. Secondly, because even if you tried something, we both know I would win.”
He Xuan snorts, arms crossing over his chest. He seems to take no offense at the prospect of losing, only points to the plate and says, “Fair enough. Did you make those?”
“If I had, would they look this edible?”
“So you’re self aware about your cooking. I thought Crimson Rain had managed to fool you into thinking it was anything other than poisonous.”
Xie Lian lifts his cup to his mouth, taking a sip. He stares at his reflection in the tea, eyes slightly vacant when he says, “Well I haven't had someone to taste test for me in quite some time, and my own tongue is hardly numb. The least I can do is try to improve by the time San Lang returns.”
“You think he will?” He Xuan stuffs two buns into his mouth. He barely needs to chew either before he swallows. “Return?”
“I don’t think,” Xie Lian denies, brushing his thumb over the red string still wound tightly around his finger. “I know.”
“Even if it takes another millennium?”
This time, Xie Lian’s hand goes to his chest, pressing firmly against the ring positioned over his heart.
“Even if it takes until the end of time, and whatever may lie beyond that.”
They hold each other’s gaze, Xie Lian’s eyes achingly sincere and He Xuan’s betraying no emotion at all. He’s the first to break away, raising his own cup. But he doesn't move quick enough to hide the faint quirk of his lips.
“I see.” His eyes flicker down to Xie Lian’s hand. “Your Highness does know what that is, then?”
“Of course,” Xie Lian says, gripping it tightly beneath his robes, almost protective.
He Xuan huffs. “You can relax. I have no need for it.”
“I didn’t think you did.”
“And why’s that?”
Xie Lian inclines his head. “As I said before, you’re San Lang’s friend.”
“Repeat it a third time and I might have to swipe that thing from you just to prove you wrong,” He Xuan threatens, though there’s no malice in the words nor does his killing intent raise a fraction.
“My apologies for the misunderstanding. I should have been more clear, San Lang’s best friend.”
“You think you’re quite funny, don’t you?” asks He Xuan, no hint of amusement in his tone.
Xie Lian laughs. “If Lord Black Water finds me as such, then all these years I have lived would have been worth it.”
He Xuan doesn't deem him a response other than shoving the remaining buns into his mouth and steadily rising to his feet.
“I’ll be back,” he announces. “Try to cook something consumable next time, and if I’m feeling generous I’ll give it a taste.”
Xie Lian’s eyes widen, surprised, but not put off by the request. “Does My Lord have any preferences?”
He Xuan waves his hand dismissively as he steps outside. “Surprise me.”
And then he’s gone, the tangy aroma of salt interlaced with seaweed disappearing alongside him.
+
A few weeks after Hua Cheng’s return, He Xuan appears at their door with a net full of dead fish in his arms.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Hua Cheng says in lieu of a greeting, lips curling in disgust at the pungent stench.
“Oh, He Xuan!” Xie Lian calls, moving past Hua Cheng to take the fish from his arms. “Thank you for bringing these, the ones you get are always so much better quality than anything from the market!”
“He Xuan,” Hua Cheng mouths, looking as if he just got slapped across the face.
He Xuan has to suppress his urge to smirk, instead nodding at Xie Lian. “Are you trying that new recipe we agreed on?”
“New recipe? What’s going on? Why is he here?” Hua Cheng interrupts, inserting himself into the conversation. “Gege?”
“He Xuan has been coming over for dinner every now and then to test some dishes for me,” Xie Lian hums, inspecting the types of fish he brought. “We exchanged spiritual array passwords so he could give me advice. He has quite the knack for cooking.”
He Xuan has known Hua Cheng for centuries, yet he’s never managed to make him speechless before. If this was all it took to get him to shut up, He Xuan would've done it a long time ago.
He uses the opening to pat a dazed Hua Cheng on the shoulder, letting himself inside. “Great to see you’re in one piece again. Try not to die a fourth time, it’s bothersome.”
This snaps Hua Cheng out of his stupor.
“Black Water!” He hisses.
Xie Lian has to intercept the sea bass he flings at He Xuan’s face.