As Hua Ying was a ghost, he didn't need sleep. He was awake all night even though his eyes were closed. He could hear the sounds of the night, soft chirping and tweeting night birds and bugs, some hoots from owls, and the river that flows through the forest was soft. He was laying there enjoying his time in Wangji's arms. Lan Wangji was sound asleep, and Hua Ying was blessed to see his sleeping companion. Wangji was already a beautiful man, but when he was asleep, there was a newfound beauty to him.

As he laid there, his senses were soon heightened when he sensed something nearby. He could tell by the energy that it was a Yao of some kind. Hua Ying didn't want to wake Wangji but as he tried to get out of his hold, Wangji woke anyways.

"What's wrong?" Wangji asked.

"There is a Yao nearby, I can sense it," Hua Ying answered, "will you let me check it out?"

"Let me go with you," Wangji said as he sat up.

Hua Ying sighed, "alright, I wanted you to go back to sleep but knowing you, you won't until you know I am okay."

"Glad you know this," Wangji said as he got up and grabbed his sword Bichen. The two then began to scope the area. Hua Ying sent out some butterflies to not only scout ahead, but to luminate their path, "we will have to thank your A'Die for those butterflies. They are quite useful in the dark."

Hua Ying smiled, "I will let him know...though he might have heard you already."

"How do you know?" Wangji asked.

"He has a couple butterflies on us to keep an eye on us. He can't necessarily see us but he can hear our conversations," Hua Ying said.

"Why didn't you mention this to me sooner? What if we said or did something inappropriate?" Wangji asked.

Hua Ying laughed, "I really do not think he would care."

"He would be fine if we, for example, consummated before the marriage?" Wangji asked.

"My parents did," Hua Ying said, "and are you saying to you want to get me in bed with you?"

"You are very tempting," Wangji said, "it's hard not to want to touch you."

Hua Ying giggled, "perhaps we can discuss this further when we get back to our camp. Let's find this Yao first."

Wangji nodded and looked around more. Soon, the two came across a measuring snake. The measuring snake has a thick body and armored scales that make it difficult to shoot through. Whenever it encounters potential prey, it straightens itself out to compare who is taller. If the snake is taller, it devours its victim. It was difficult for most cultivators to handle but Hua Ying was a ghost king and Wangji was a god, it will be very simple.

"Together or just one of us?" Hua Ying asked.

"Well, I can use my chord assassination to strangle it," Wangji said. He said it so casually as if he had no problem taking care of it on his own.

"I can just make it go away too," Hua Ying said, "I just need to get all scary."

"Get all scary?" Wangji asked.

"As a ghost king, many beasts will try to avoid us. We can take them out with just a snap of the fingers," Hua Ying told him, "well my A'Die and I can anyways."

"I think it's best if we kill it instead of scaring it off. It could harm someone else who decides to come for a hunt," Wangji said.

"Alright," Hua Ying said.

Wangji decided to use his chord assassination. Though his strength has increased now that he was a martial god. One soft tug and it cut through the snake within a second. The head was immediately severed from its body, "I guess it is handled," Wangji said.

"I'll say," Hua Ying said, "you have gotten stronger."

"I see that," Wangji said. The two gathered the prey and went back to their camp. Hua Ying set up a fresh fire and then leaned against the nearby tree. Wangji soon sat beside him and wrapped his arm around his waist, "is something bothering you?"

"No," Hua Ying replied, "just relaxing...and thinking about the wedding coming up. My parents are probably in Gusu as we speak and helping set up everything."

"We did agree to marry soon. If you think you are not ready, we can hold off," Wangji said.

"No, that's not it at all," Hua Ying said, "I'm just anxious, that's all. I want to marry you, Lan Zhan. It's just coming a lot faster then I realized."

"I know," Wangji said, "after the hunt, we will have to go our separate ways until the marriage."

"It will suck but can you handle it?" Hua Ying asked.

"I will try, but once I am tied to you, you will never get rid of me," Wangji told him.

"As you have my ashes, my life is technically in your hands," Hua Ying reminded him.

"I know," Wangji said, "I still feel like I should have them when I earn them. This is a big deal and I don't want to mess this up."

"Lan Zhan, I know that you mean well," Hua Ying said, "you and I will have to learn to communicate more. It's the only way this will work out. I believe you will not mess any of this up. I trust you completely. There are people around you that I find difficult to trust but I am willing to give them a chance for your sake."

"You are amazing, Hua Ying," Wangji told him, "and I will always love you. I want to be there when you need me. I do not care where I am or what time of day it is. If you ever need me, just come to me. I want to be your home, Hua Ying."

Hua Ying smiled, "have you decided on where you want to live?"

"Shufu and Xiongzhang know that Gusu will always be my home but now that I am a martial god, I feel that it is inappropriate to remain bound to the sect. Your parents have given us a place with them. I noticed there is an open lot right next to Puqi shrine if you want to build a place of our own," Wangji said.

"That sounds nice," Hua Ying said, "but what if we found a place in Gusu and built you a shrine as well. You are a newly ascended god, so you need followers. I believe Gusu is the place for one as it is your birth place."

"I wouldn't mind that either," Wangji said, "news will soon spread in the cultivation world about my ascension so I think you are right on that."

"We can go back to Gusu tomorrow if you want and have a look around for a place for the shrine if you want," Hua Ying suggested.

"Maybe," Wangji said and soon laid down with his head on Hua Ying's lap, "I hope this is okay."

"Of course it is okay," Hua Ying assured him, "you can go back to sleep. I will keep watch as I have been earlier."

Wangji sat up for a moment and kissed him before laying back down and went to sleep. Hua Ying was going to do what he can to help Wangji adjust to his new role. Making him a shrine is the first thing that needs to happen to help him grow. A god's strength builds through there supporters and followers. He will also speak with his parents on this topic as well to get a second opinion.