’Til our compass stands still by edenwolfie
A Hualian Canon Divergence AU
After getting lost in Ghost City, Xie Lian bargains away years of servitude to the Gambler’s Den to help a man in need. He dons the robes of a worker and hides his face and life behind an enchanted mask, protecting himself from the city’s denizens. Xie Lian finds an unexpected home in Ghost City before he ever sees the lord of it, the infamous Hua Cheng. When he finally does, something about himself seems to catch the attention of the Ghost King, slowly striking up an unusual friendship. Xie Lian must figure out how to navigate his burgeoning feelings, how to keep his identity to himself, and how to get over a ghost so clearly in love with someone else.
Fandom: Tian Guan Ci Fu / Heaven Official's Blessing
Relationship: Hua Cheng/Xie Lian
Rating: Explicit & No Archive Warnings Apply
Word Count: 178k (complete)
Characters: Xie Lian, Hua Cheng, Yin Yu (background), OCs
Additional Tags: Ghost City, canon divergence, different first meeting (you know what I mean), slow burn, secret identity, identity porn, mutual pining, angst with a happy ending, fluff, friendship, found family, first kiss, first time, original characters, canon-typical violence, discussion of suicide, PTSD, panic attacks, masturbation, book spoilers, hurt/comfort, semi-public sex.
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