(Note: This is Hanahaki Disease AU, may use mahua references).

Paradise Manor, Ghost City, Ghost Realm.

Scholch!

Eugh.

"Dammit...."

The pain was getting worse, and it didn't help the fact that he was immortal, that he was banished, that he now is the Waning Moon Officer of Ghost City, a loyal servant to its Chengzhu.

He grips the ground beneath him, as he is alone in an empty hall, the one that once belonged to He Xuan when he was imprisoned, disguised as Ming Yi, the Earth Master from the Heavenly Realm. He is alone.

Completely alone.

And it didn't help even further when he could sense your divinity nearby in Paradise Manor, looking for him. Hearing your voice, the one he's come to adore so much, calling his name, makes the pain in his chest bloom as did the flower as well.

Gurgle!

Sploch!

"Shit...." he curses out. This was not the most ideal thing, and he didn't wish to be caught in such a vulnerable state, but he couldn't help it, he needed to get away for a moment. The pain was blooming too much, it was just all too much for him.

He wished he was dead in this moment, so he wouldn't have to suffer knowing that his feelings could be reciprocated.

This was Yin Yu, the former Martial God of the West, and now the loyal subordinate of Hua Cheng in Ghost City. He was enamored by you, a Heavenly Official he once worked alongside with in some cases, and god he fell hard. He never expected to fall in love to begin with, but ever since meeting you before he was banished, he'd known his heart belonged to you, and only you.

But he'd been suffering for so long, even before then. With this sickening feeling every time he saw you, he'd have to find a plausible excuse to escape.

Petals.

A small flower.

A vine.

Blood. So. Much. Blood. It was almost sickening.

He had no idea what this sickening disease was, and he didn't care to know. All he wanted was for his affection, his love, his adoration, to finally be recognized by you, but he knew it was a hopeless dream, one that'd never see the light, and god how he hated it. He felt weak in this state. If he had the Earth Master Shovel with him right now, he'd dig a hole through this very ground beneath him and escape, in hopes of escaping from it all, but of course....

He couldn't escape the disease even if he wanted to.

So, after this fit of throwing up, pain, and relief, he sat on his knees, his power immediately cleaning the mess up so no one could see what he caused. As he was just about to stand up once more, he heard your voice calling out for him once more, and he felt the sharp sting in his chest.

He couldn't die, that's what is the worse part.

He suppresses it for the meantime, exiting out of the room after tossing the dice correctly and steps forward, his mask covering his expression as he greets you with a nod.

"Apologies, I had to step away for a moment to handle some 'matters.'" he lies, knowing you'd buy it without a shadow of a doubt. You always trusted him deeply even after all this time, so it was no surprise that you'd so willingly believe it.

Though, he's trying his best to not show that he was in deep pain at the moment. God, you just had to make this more difficult by having to be the one he's so hopelessly in love with, it was also sickeningly sweet, yet bittersweet, no.

So pathetic.

Do you believe his lie?