I had been curious for a long time now. How did they speak with each other? How did they greet each other? Did they hug goodbye?

The curiosity had finally got the better of me one day, and I decided to find out.

I had asked my husband if I could come with him several times, but he had refused.

"It's not that I don't trust you, or that I don't want you there", he had tried to explain. I could see he found it very difficult to deny me anything. "It's just that I want to keep my life with you separate from my ghost story."

I didn't become irritated by this. In fact, I was quite touched. I knew that he wouldn't ask me to stay out of his business for nothing, and he had done so much for me, even if it hurt him, that now, when he asked to do this one thing for himself, I couldn't be angered.

But I was curious.

I knew Hua Cheng planned on waking up early to go meet Black Water in the basement of Paradise Manor. I had slept well throughout the night, as I always did in the arms of my beloved husband, but I also always woke up when he got out of bed for his meeting.

Usually, when Hua Cheng woke early, I would just fall back asleep again after a quick kiss, and wake up when he came back to bed, cuddling me for a couple of incense times or so before we got up to break our fast together. But this time, when Hua Cheng had gotten dressed (he always slept naked next to me) and left, I stood up and tip-toed after him (I slept in my cultivation robes, so I didn't have to get dressed). 

Through the maze of corridors of Paradise Manor, a place I had grown to love, I shadowed my husband on light feet until he reached the steps leading down to the basement. I waited until he had descended them before I followed, and I hid behind a stone wall as my beloved walked to the middle of the vast basement.

The basement encompasses the entire surface area of Paradise Manor, and was made of a beautiful, black stone polished until it gleamed. No daylight reached this part of the manor; instead, it was lit by hundreds of Hua Cheng's silver butterflies. The sounds from their wings echoed brilliantly from the mirror-like walls, and I knew I couldn't make a sound or it would echo along the walls as well.

Hua Cheng was walking towards the middle, a stark contrast to all that black, and I suddenly saw Black Water was already there. I hadn't seen him since he melted in with all the black, with his long, gleaming hair, even longer than my husband's, and black robes. The only contrast was his face, white and bloodless like the moon.

My heart clenched with worry and fear; this was a supreme ghost, after all. Even if I didn't doubt my beloved's strength and skill for a moment, I was still worried about him.

But as soon as my husband reached his target, I realised I needn't have been.

The two supreme ghosts grabbed each other's elbows fondly, and kissed each other on one cheek.

"It's good to see you, dear friend", Black Water said, and even if he was far away, I could see on his face that he had nothing but warm feelings for his colleague.

"You as well, my dear."

My heart melted at their liking for one another. I, and the world with me, had always thought their relationship was only business-like, on the verge of enmity, but it was clear they were more than companions; they adored one another.

"What do you have for me?" Black water asked, and he released his grip on my husband and started combing through Hua Cheng's hair using his fingers.

As Hua Cheng shivered, I did as well.

Boys...

"I have nothing but information, I'm afraid", Hua Cheng said apologetically, grabbing on to Black Water's collar, fixing it up.

"What about?"

"A new almost-supreme."

Black water frowned.

"I don't want you bothered with that", he said. "Send someone lesser to deal with it. They're probably not worth the ground you walk on! "

I realised then that Black Water not only respected Hua Cheng; he worshipped him.

"I am aware, lovely. But this could be a nuisance to us. As opposed to Qi Rong, he is socially competent." I almost snorted. "He seems to have an easy time gathering less significant ghosts to his side."

At this, Black Water snakes a hand around my husband's neck. A shockwave of jealousy pierced my heart like a lightning bolt oiled in black tar, but it wasn't a bad jealousy. It felt... Exciting. I knew Hua Cheng would never wrong me, and Black Water was so respectful, even towards me the few times we had met, that I knew he would never do anything to try to steal my husband away from me. And even if he would try, I knew Hua Cheng could to be stolen. 

"That still isn't a nuisance worthy of you, My Lord."

Hua Cheng chuckled at this and gently grabbed Black Water's wrist.

"You flatter me, lovely", he said. "You would only need half a finger to deal with them yourself. But the problem is, you like to hide. And they're causing havoc in the form of material destruction."

Hua Cheng was still smirking, and a smile spread across Black Water's face. Hua Cheng placed his hands on Black Water's waist, and Black Water, in turn, put his arms around Hua Cheng's shoulders. Excitement started fizzing along my thighs, up to my abdomen.

"But before we make a plan, there's a current... nuisance we need to take care of", Black Water purred. "In this basement."

I frowned. What was he talking about? 

"Oh, you mean my beloved husband eavesdropping on us?" My heart froze to ice. "I am already aware. Have been since he got out of bed. Please, my beloved."

At this, Hua Cheng turned around...

And reached his hand out towards exactly the place I was hiding, the other hand still around Black Water's waist.

Fuck.

I didn't know if I expected anger on Hua Cheng's face because I had spied on him, or kindness as he tried to assure me he wasn't angry. But I had not expected what I saw; playfulness.

I knew I had no choice. I set my face and stepped forwards. He had known... He had known I was spying on him yet he had chosen to be intimate with Black Water. And Black Water had known as well, yet had chosen to be intimate with my husband. That meant that they both knew that what they did would do nothing to hurt me and Hua Cheng's bond...

And that they were playing with me.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince", Black Water said, and when I looked at him, I saw that he did not have the same wicked smile as Hua Cheng did, but a warm, welcoming one. "So lovely to meet you again. It's been a long time."

"Nice to meet you, too", I whispered.

"Take my hand", Hua Cheng ordered gently but in a way that left no doubt I had no say in the matter.

I went to him, and he took my hand gently, let my palm land softly onto his like one of the silver butterflies that lit up our surroundings. Even the mere sound of my skin against my husband's echoed like a whisper in the vast basement, and the soft scent of earth intermingled with the scent of Hua Cheng; of lilies and silk and skin.

But when he pulled me into an embrace, allowed me to hide my face in his chest, making me feel relied he wasn't angry with me yet confounded by his excited state, another scent hit me. This scent was of tar and lavender and the ocean.

It was the scent of Black Water.

And after his scent followed the touch of him, his hand as solid as a wave on my shoulder where his hand landed. That was soon followed by his chin, and I shivered as he blew hot wind in my ear.

"You're not shy of My Lord Black Water, my love, are you?" Hua Cheng teased.

"No", I squealed and pulled at a Hua Cheng's hair to hide better against his chest.

"Good boy", Hua Cheng praised, and his words melted like butter on my skin.

At that, Black Water took a step closer and embraced me from behind, so that I was encapsulated between the ghosts like a pearl in a clam. I gasped in shock, not only because of the cold sensation from both sides but also because I wasn't used to closeness from anyone but my husband.

And also because it felt so... Right.

"I want you", I whispered before I could think. "I want you both."

Hua Cheng placed his finger beneath my chin and tilted my head up, and I trembled as I looked at him, frightened I had taken one step too far.

"Are you certain, my love? You don't have to, for my sake."

You don't have to, for my sake. Words that confirmed what I had already suspected; Hua Cheng wanted to share me with Black Water.

I nodded.

To my great surprise, Black Water grabbed me and pulled me away, gently but firmly, from my husband, then walked over to him so that the two ghosts stood together, and I stood a few steps away. Black Water slid his arms around Hua Cheng's waist, and looked over at me.

"In my culture", he said with his deep, raspy voice. "If there's something delicious to eat, we do not want to eat it immediately. We want an appetiser."

Then, to my great shock and excitement, he leaned forwards and kissed Hua Cheng, Hua Cheng closes his eyes, and I saw Black Water work him with his tongue.

"San Lang..." I wailed, snaking my hands down my thighs, desperate to touch myself to the wet sounds of their kiss.

Black Water stopped me with one dark look.

"So we will not eat the main course quite yet. Let me invite you to dinner. A three-course-meal in my cottage by the lake . Appetisers, if you may, before what is to come."

"Yes..." I whispered. "Yes!"

Hua Cheng answered by kissing Black Water again, me watching, a wet, moaning mess, until I fell down to my knees. 

We were walking hand-in-hand, me and my husband. Hua Cheng, in his true form, wore his usual red robes and silver shackles. Me, now I lived a different lifestyle than one of cultivation, had exchanged my cultivation robes for one of cobalt blue one made out of the finest silk. I had my hair down for the occasion, and Hua Cheng had braided one braid to the left of my face so I became a mirror image of him.

"You look so lovely", Hua Cheng said, smiling down at me as we walked together through the darkening forest.

I blushed and looked down. I didn't know why I was behaving like a blushing bride all of a sudden. Oh, wait, I knew exactly why; it was because I was madly in love with my husband.

"So do you", I said.

The gravel crunched beneath our feet, the lake glittering in front of us. Soon, we would see the warm glow that indicated Black Water's cottage.

"Gege."

Hua Cheng suddenly stopped and put his hands on my shoulders. I looked up at him, lips glistening.

"San Lang..."

"I want to ask you. Now that we are alone. Do you want this?"

"Do you want this?" I asked him back.

We both knew we were at a standstill. I realised that the only way out was to be completely honest.

"You're my husband", I said. "You're the one I want for the rest of my life, even if both of us live for an eternity." I took his hands and braided our fingers, and I saw my husband looked at me in awe. "You are the one I want to imagine my future with. That being said, I would love the experience to share you with Black Water. He is attractive, and to see you kiss him made me happy."

Hua Cheng almost bowed as he kissed my hand.

"You're one special husband, Gege", he breathed.

"Now, please", I said, putting my hand on his cheek, forcing him to look up at me. I felt a rare sensation of dominance within me. "Tell me what you think."

Hua Cheng looked to the side, not quite daring to meet my eye.

"I have never been in a relationship with Black Water. But he has confessed his feelings for me. Hundreds of years ago. Before we met. But I..." He kissed my hand again, finally meeting my eye. "I belonged to you. I belonged with you. Sharing you with him... It would be a leap of trust, a way for me to display, and live out, how much I trust you, and how much I trust myself."

I kissed him. He sighed into that kiss, put one arm around my waist, one hand behind my head as he bent over me. I opened my mouth, searching his tongue, searching with my hand for-

"Gege..." he murmured. "Let's save us for our host."

And so it was that my husband and I walked the rest of the way, hand-in-hand on the moonlit path alongside the lake, to our host Black Water's cottage for dinner.

Black Water was an amazing host, welcoming us by taking our coats.

"I have cooked everything myself", he said as he lead the way to the dining hall.

"In two hours?! I burst out. "Wow, you're amazing!"

"You flatter me, Your Highness", he said.

"Please, call me Xie Lian", I asked him. 

Black Water hesitated for a moment. 

"I'm afraid my manners prevent me from doing that, Your Highness", he finally said. 

The dining hall that was vast, his cottage being more of a mansion than an actual cottage, and the dark mahogany table was laden with beautiful cutlery and lit up by candlelight that let off a fresh scent of pears. 

"Where... I began, looking around the table with three seats. "Which place is mine?"

At that, Black Water slid his arm around my waist, and I shivered. 

"On the long side, if you may. Me and your husband will take the short sides."

At first, I wondered why he wanted us to be seated so far away from one another, but soon, I understood exactly why. The tension it created as all three of us knew exactly why we were there, yet were unable to touch one another and also in full view of the others, was so thick it was hardly breathable. My eyes darted this way and that as Black Water, seemingly unbothered on the surface yet with an electricity radiating off his body, served the dishes. I noticed Hua Cheng bit his lips absent-mindedly while clenching his fists.

But soon, I was distracted by the food. I hadn't even considered Black Water's culinary expertise, and was blown away by how good he was. Of course, all dishes were inspired by the sea. The pre-course was a thick seagrass- and pea soup sprinkled with crispy sea weeds. As a main, he had made grilled salmon with parsnips glazed in honey, with a sour white sauce to go with it. 

I was licking my dessert saffron ice cream spoon and had still not noticed that the mood in the dining room had changed.

"This was delicious, Lord Black Water!" I said happily, taking the last bite of ice cream. "Oh, what a lovely dinner! I can't thank you enough for-"

"Gege. Please, be quiet."

I jerked and looked up. Even if he had been very polite, Hua Cheng had never asked me to be quiet before.

But I soon understood why. Something was going on between the two ghosts. They were staring one another down, Hua Cheng with a wicked smile on his face, Black Water with a calm one. 

I soon understood that they were plotting among themselves, setting their roles. I started trembling in anticipation and swallowed.

Hua Cheng stood up, walked around the table towards me.

And before I knew it, he had a hand around my throat from behind, and started choking me.

On pure instinct, I lifted my hands and grabbed his arm. But then, Black Water was there, and he took my hand, and the smile he gave me was so calm, it had my entire body melt so that my husband could continue to choke me.

"Do not worry, my crown prince", Black Water said. "I will make sure you're safe throughout the night."

So that's how it is. 

Hua Cheng leaned forwards, and whispered in my ear so only I could hear.

"If you need me to stop, you tell me. Do you promise?" I nodded. "Good boy." And as he released my throat, I gasped for air, and my hands went to my throat. "Now. Take off your clothes. And get on the table."

I looked at Hua Cheng then, stared him down. Then, I got an idea, and couldn't help but smirk mischievously.

I turned to Black Water, and slowly, very slowly, I started undressing for him, not for my husband.

Hua Cheng hissed in jealousy behind me, just as I had desired. Black Water, however, seemed genuinely stunned. He had never seen me naked, of course, and I couldn't help but feel pride as I revealed my torso to him and saw him swallow.

"What's wrong, My Lord?" I teased, letting my cobalt robe fall to the ground, revealing my legs and the cloud of brown between them. "Did I render you speechless?"

"Xie Lian- I mean, Your Highness!" he gasped, looking away in shame as he had accidentally used my first name.

And when I turned around and saw Hua Cheng approach, I put my fingers to his lips.

"Don't speak", I said. 

And I pulled down all the cutlery from the table, causing it to break into a thousand pieces on the wooden floor, lay down on the table and started touching myself.

I had to turn my mind off or I wouldn't be able to do what I was doing. I arched my back, used my own saliva as lube, played with my cock with one hand and with a nipple with the other. My vision went dim with desire, which was all that well because I didn't dare to look at the two ghosts. But I noticed that they went to stand together on one short end of the table, the one that had the best view of me and what I was... doing, and stood watching together.

"Hua Cheng..." I wined, a trail of drool running down my chin as I did myself on the table in front of my lovers for the night. "Black Water..."

I forced my eyes to focus on them, and when Hua Cheng saw he had my attention, he grabbed Black Water, who was staring at me with gleaming eyes, and kissed him.

Their hands snaked all over one another's bodies, desiring to do to the other what I was doing to myself. Black Water opened his mouth to my husband, allowing him to use his tongue.

"Get up", Hua Cheng said, looking at me to make me understand it was me he was ordering; he wouldn't order Black Water. "You filthy whore. I want you in Lord Black Water's bedroom."

Panting, naked, gleaming of sweat, I stood up, took my robe and hugged it to me...

Then, I walked with Crimson Rain Sought Flower and Ship Sinking Black Water to the bedroom in Black Water's cottage. 

To be continued in part 2.