Shang Xia, one of the most promising candidates to become a Great Shaman in the Northwestern School, accidentally took in a Ghost King.
The Ghost King was steeped in sin, with tens of thousands of lives on his hands. He was no ghost that could be easily redeemed. He should have faced three thousand lashes of the soul whip and been scattered into oblivion.
But the more sin he carried, the more merit he had. His merits were so vast that even if he hadn't saved a hundred thousand people, he must have saved at least eighty thousand.
He couldn't be killed, and he couldn't be redeemed. What a predicament.
Shang Xia wouldn't keep a useless ghost around, so he threatened the Ghost King without a trace of subtlety: perish beneath the soul whip, or work for me to atone for your sins. Pick one.
The Ghost King answered without hesitation: What do I get for working for you?
Shang Xia looked down at him: Freedom!
The Ghost King's eyes darkened: Fine.
Much later, the Ghost King's merits shone ever brighter, while his sins had not diminished at all. Shang Xia decided that the Ghost King had done enough to atone, so he honored his promise, broke the ghost pact, and set him free. But the moment the Ghost King gained his freedom, he held out his heart to Shang Xia.
Ghost King: I have a heart. If you will accept it, we will share life and death and I will stay by your side forever.
Shang Xia: ?
He took the heart, only to discover that it had a thousand layers, each one filled with him.
[Reader's Guide:]
Cold, sharp-tongued, self-righteous shaman bottom x patient, loyal, scheming Ghost King top
1. This story is entirely fictional. Tousei is out of his mind and making things up. No characters are based on real people.
2. Believe in science. There are no ghosts in real life.
3. Includes past and present lives. The top plots every step to win his husband over.
4. A collection of stories about catching and exorcising ghosts.
5. I'll finish what I start. You can count on me.
6. Blurb written on 2022/04/08, revised on 2023/03/18, and revised again on 2023/09/22.
Theme: Lovers are destined to end up together.
