Chapter 201-210
Ch.201: Dominate Heaven and Earth; Divine Being Breaks Through the Kiln 3
That giant stone statue was just slowly crawling up to its feet from the ground when the first
mountain spirit came crashing over.
Xie Lian recalled Hua Cheng had once told him back then when he was in Mount TongLu, those
three large mountains were a menace chasing him down, so naturally they shouldn’t be
underestimated. Xie Lian subconsciously planned to volley up and flip over its head, but he had
never controlled such an enormous divine statue before after all, and to manipulate such
complicated movements, he couldn’t help but mess up, so he didn’t manage to jump up but was
instead knocked down once again.
Rumble rumble, the heavens shook and the earth quaked. That giant stone statue fell down
near the royal capital of WuYong, and crushed an entire street. With just a slight movement, a
series of cracking could be heard, and it was the sound of those glamourous residences and
palaces being crushed and shattered by that giant stone statue. In the midst of all the shaking,
Xie Lian was almost thrown off again, but Hua Cheng firmly grabbed on to his hand and
exclaimed, “Come with me!”
He took Xie Lian and hopped onto the head of that giant divine statue with a few steps. Turns
out, this giant Flower-Crowned Martial God used a small crown to tie up its hair, looking like a
small balcony, and the two hopped onto that crown, finally finding a place to settle, much
steadier than standing on the shoulder and in the palm of the divine statue.
They hadn’t had a chance to relax when the mountain spirit came at them again, knocking that
giant stone statue back a few steps, but fortunately Xie Lian was prepared this time and wasn’t
knocked down, but he accidentally trampled another series of houses. Xie Lian couldn’t help but
ache for them, praying for forgiveness in his mind. Controlling that divine statue to clumsily slip
away to avoid those houses, Xie Lian wondered in bafflement, “Why do they keep chasing after
me to beat me down? What did I do?”
“It’s not that they’re chasing gege specifically, they’d chase down anyone to beat them down,
and gege looks particularly conspicuous right now.”
“Such a big creature, he is rather conspicuous…” Before Xie Lian finished his thoughts the three
mountain spirits came besieging together, surrounding this giant stone statue, and crushing
towards the centre incessantly, trying to crush the statue to pieces. That divine statue couldn’t
move a limb and Xie Lian couldn’t move either. He used all of his strength to have the statue
push back but it couldn’t move an inch, so it might not be able to defend!
He was just trying to think if there might be another way to escape and involuntarily backed up a
step, bumping into a chest. He looked back and Hua Cheng grasped his shoulders, “Let
everything go and fight! Don’t worry, none of them are your match. There is nothing in this world
that can stop you in your step!”
His chest was like the strongest of shields, and suddenly, Xie Lian was filled with confidence, a
wave of refreshing currents flowed through his body, and he gave it his all to strike back,
breaking through the siege!
Rumble rumble, those three mountain spirits were forcibly pushed miles a mile away, and dust
flew, rocks fled, smoke and debris rolled. However, after they were pushed back they
immediately came forth again, ready to attack once more. Xie Lian’s hands instantly changed
into several hands seals, “DO, NOT, BLOCK, MY, WAY!”
That giant stone statue leapt into the air, its feet landing over the head of two of the mountain
spirits, then its hand rested on the hilt of the sword hung on its waist – pull out the sword!
This entire string of movements flowed like streams of clouds and water, and that giant stone
divine statue completed the actions fluently, its might like a long stretch of a rainbow without any
hesitation, no different than the real person. Sucking in a breath, Xie Lian shouted, “I’LL CUT
Y… Uh, I won’t cut you yet, hold on???”
He was already prepared to swing a glorious sword and cut the mountains into valleys yet
unexpectedly, when the sword was pulled out, it didn’t feel right. When he looked up, he
instantly sweatdropped. That giant stone statue certainly pulled out a sword, but… there’s only a
hilt in its hand. What’s going on???
Where’s the blade???
Xie Lian was dumbfounded while Hua Cheng on the side, dropped his face and supported up
his forehead with two fingers, “…Gege, I’m sorry, I forgot to tell you, I didn’t carve the blade of
this divine statue. It’s my negligence.”
“…”
But of course!
Hua Cheng had carved this statue upon the inner stone walls of the Kiln, and in a standing
posture that giant stone statue’s robes were flowy and layered, the sword on the waist was
concealed beneath the sleeves unexposed, so only a hilt was carved. Before the divine statue
was injected with spiritual powers and started moving, since it didn’t have a blade especially
carved, naturally a blade wouldn ‘t just magically appear.
Hua Cheng frowned slightly, his expression solemn, “It’s my miscalculation. It’s not exquisite
enough, next time I will carve out every detail.”
“…” Xie Lian could tell he was serious and quickly said, “No no no, it’s already very exquisite.
Really!”
In any case, there was no blade so the mountains couldn’t be cut. Thus, Xie Lian instantly
changed battle tactics – bolt!
He hastily directed that giant stone statue to jump off from the head of those two mountain
spirits, tossing that useless stone hilt behind, and opened its legs to continue its mad run. The
two stood on the crown atop of that divine statue’s head as wild winds blew at their faces, their
black hair, white robes and red sleeves flipping and fluttering. Even though they were fleeing
they painted a beautiful image. A silver butterfly flew next to Xie Lian’s ears and transmitted a
few human voices. He instantly seized the butterfly and called out, “Is that Feng Xin and Mu
Qing on the other side? Is Lord Rain Master and General Pei there too?”
Sure enough, familiar voices came from the other end through the butterfly.
“I say, Your Highness,” Pei Ming said, “There’s no need to be so loud when asking questions?”
“Ah, sorry, I have too much spiritual powers at the moment, let me control it a little.” Xie Lian
said.
“…”
Mu Qing’s voice came too, “What? Did you just say you have too much spiritual powers? You?”
“Have you all met up?” Xie Lian asked, “Where are you?”
“We’ve met up with General Pei, General Pei Junior, and the others, and everyone is in the
woods near the WuYong river. We’re about to retreat to the outside.” Mu Qing said.
Feng Xin’s voice came, “What’s going on on your end? A strong unusual movement seemed to
have come from the Kiln just now! Do you need us to go back and assist?”
Xie Lian quickly replied, “No need! You just stay there and we’ll come pick you all up very soon,
we’ll talk then! Ah, we’re already here!”
Ahead was the dried up WuYong river, and that giant stone statue crossed the gully and
crouched down next to the dense forest. Coincidently, Xie Lian saw Feng Xin and Mu Qing also
come out of the woods, looking around, seeming to be searching for them. However, they were
looking in the wrong direction, and they never thought to look up, so they didn’t see Xie Lian and
Hua Cheng at all. Feng Xin said to the butterfly, “Your Highness you’re not here yet? Where are
you?”
Xie Lian cupped his hands by his mouth and yelled towards the bottom, “I’M HERE ALREADY,
UP, LOOK UP, ABOVE YOUR HEADS!”
“…”
Only then did the two notice that they were shrouded in a gigantic shadow and they looked up
uniformly.
Thus, they both saw at the same time an incomparably gigantic “Xie Lian” that was currently
crouched down by the forest, looking downwards at them. There was even a very Xie Lian like
friendly smile on its face.
Hua Cheng couldn’t be bothered to spare a glance at the two down below, and he stood on the
side hugging his arms, his demeanour lazy. Xie Lian waved to the bottom, “DO YOU SEE ME?
OVER HERE!”
However, because the visual shock of this gigantic version of “Xie Lian” was too great, it was
hard to notice anything else at first glance. Mu Qing’s entire field of view was completely
overtaken by this face, and he mumbled, “…I haven’t gone mad, have I?”
Both of Feng Xin’s eyes were filled with this face too and he mumbled, “…What the fuck, what
the fuck, what the actual fuck, what in the fucking world is this thing???”
Xie Lian, “Uh…”
Hua Cheng raised his brows, looking as if he exerted an immense effort to hold back his laugh.
Truth to be told, there really was never anyone who had ever seen such a large and incredibly
realistically sculpted divine statue. In the past, the largest divine statue belonged to Jun Wu, but
even that one only reached halfway of this giant stone statue…
Feng Xin and Mu Qing were both too shocked, and Xie Lian had to yell a few times before they
found where the real one was located. The others all came out of the woods one after the other,
and when they looked up, almost all of them were so shocked by this giant divine statue that
they almost twisted their necks and feet. Xie Lian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, and made
that giant divine statue lay its hand on the ground, opening its palm, “The Kiln Volcano has
erupted, the fires are going to scorch this area soon, and there’s also three mountain spirits who
might catch up soon, so come up quick, I’ll take you all away!”
The party climbed up the hand of that divine statue and each found their place to settle. Xie Lian
smelled that suffocating smell of sulfur in the air, and when he looked back, that black smoke
and flying dust were rapidly spreading, so he closed the palm of that giant divine statue and
stood up, continuing its large steps forward.
After Pei Ming and the others got over their shock they were fine, but Feng Xin and Mu Qing still
never came back to their senses. This was probably because they were both too familiar with
the faces, demeanour, and physique of the owner of this divine statue, so after having it
magnified to such a size, the shock was particularly strong. Feng Xin was already standing on
top of this divine statue’s shoulder but was still stewing in disbelief, “Just who did this? Who
carved this? How come I’ve never seen this before? I’ve never even heard of it before?”
Hua Cheng smiled fakely, “There’s way too much you haven’t seen in this world.”
Although he didn’t clarify who, but almost everyone, especially Feng Xin and Mu Qing, locked
down on the same answer:
THIS GUY DID IT!
“I almost can’t believe this…” Mu Qing said, “How are you moving this thing? Just how much
spiritual powers does this need? Do you have enough? I thought you don’t have any spiritual
powers?”
This time Hua Cheng didn’t answer. Xie Lian stole a glimpse at him and pressed his fist to his
mouth, answering ambiguously, “Um, well…”
“If there isn’t any you can borrow, am I right? Such an easy thing.” Pei Ming said.
“Hahahaha, yea…”
Along the way, when the various monsters and demons saw lava pouring down, blazing fires
blowing crazily, they also realized that things were going wrong, and when they saw people
were climbing up that giant stone statue, they all cried out, “WAIT FOR ME TOO!”
“ME ME ME, I’M COMING TOO!”
“TAKE US, TAKE US!”
However, Hua Cheng said, “Get the hell down.” And a wave of silver butterflies flew out,
shimmering a chilling light, and then there was wailing and howling down below. Yin Yu was
cradling Gu Zi who was sound asleep and he called out from below, “CHENGZHU! Your
Highness! The empty-shelled people and Corpse-Eating Rats from before suddenly became
rowdy and they started moving in large groups, looking like they were heading out of Mount
TongLu!”
The Rain Master on the other hand, was riding the black ox, watching the sky intently, “Those
creatures inside the black clouds also seem to want to fly outside.”
Her words were true. Those creatures writhing inside the black clouds were all resentful spirits
that thirsted for fresh, live flesh to possess, and become the human face disease. There
weren’t any living beings inside Mount TongLu, there were only monsters and ghosts or
heavenly officials they couldn’t penetrate, so of course they wanted to get out. Millions of
contorted human faces dragging their long tails of black smoke swirled like deformed snakes
and worms above in the sky. Xie Lian’s hands trembled slightly but still said, “Mount TongLu has
a barrier, nothing outside can come in, and nothing inside can go out, so those resentful spirits
shouldn’t be able to fly out for the moment…”
Yet unexpectedly, before he finished Hua Cheng suddenly clutched his hand. Xie Lian’s heart
tightened at the same time by the gesture and quickly clutched back, “What is it? Have I drained
too much? Sorry sorry, I should conserve my use after all…”
One of Hua Cheng’s hands was covering his right eye, “That’s not it. Gege, you don’t have to
worry about that. It’s Mount TongLu’s barrier. It’s broken.”
Xie Lian was stunned, “What? Broken?” He only just said not to worry because there was a
barrier, what the heck???
“It’s broken.” Hua Cheng said. “It was probably White No-Face who opened it. Those things,
they’re going to fly out.”
———–
Ch.202: Taking the Helm; Four Martial Gods Transform into a Sword
If they really did allow those resentful spirits to fly out, then wouldn’t that unleash a third
epidemic of the human face disease?
Xie Lian instantly cried, “WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO STOP IT!”
Below on the shoulder, Mu Qing’s black robes and hair were getting windswept and mussed,
“HOW CAN WE DO THAT?”
That giant stone statue abruptly stopped and roused clouds of dust and sand, “EVERYONE
HOLD YOUR BREATHS FIRST!”
Then, that flying black smoke that had been right on their trail caught up. That giant stone statue
raised a hand and smashed, the winds of that smash shook the heavens and quaked the earth,
and if this was on the ground, it would’ve been a gale that could uproot centuries old trees.
However, there were nonetheless still a part that were broken up and another part that were
blown away. Xie Lian couldn’t bear the sight of it and said, “If only there was a sword!”
As if seeing right through what he was thinking, Hua Cheng said, “Gege, there is a way to get a
sword.”
Xie Lian was delighted. “How?”
“This we’ll have to see if your heavenly colleagues down there would be willing.”
“If you’ve got a way then just say it, stop cajoling him!” Feng Xin said.
Xie Lian had pretty much guessed it however, “Are you saying, have General Pei and the others
come together and transform into a sword?”
“That’s right.” Hua Cheng said, “Heavenly officials inside Mount TongLu have their powers
restricted, but there’s several martial gods here, so if four of them transform into one spirit body
and strike together, their might should be considerable.”
Pei Ming was the first to respond, “I think this idea is doable.”
Mu Qing however, was still doubtful, “Is it really? There’s how many martial gods here? Three,
right?” Pei Su and Yin Yu’s powers were completely gone and the Rain Master wasn’t a martial
god, so the only ones who could come together were Pei Ming, Feng Xin, and Mu Qing.
Pei Ming replied, “No, there’s four. Qi Ying is here too.”
“Huh?”
Yin Yu hesitated for a moment, then with one hand still holding Gu Zi, the other flipped out a
daruma doll. Yet unexpectedly, before the seal was released that daruma doll started shaking
wildly on its own, even shrieking in a noise that was sharp to the ears. That sound stabbed
everyone in the ears and they all reached up to cover their ears, and Yin Yu hastily sealed it
anew, flipping out a different daruma doll before he nervously explained himself, “Sorry about
that, I grabbed the wrong one. That was the Green Ghost Qi Rong just now. This one is the right
one.” Then, he tossed that daruma doll in the air, and it exploded into red smoke, the form of a
young man appearing within the mist, tumbling down.
That giant divine statue lifted a hand to catch him, and that young man slipped around and
landed steadily in its palm. He scratched that curly hair stained with a head full of blood and
looked up, then saw a large group of people and became confused. Yin Yu had already snuck
behind someone’s back to hide but was instantly picked out by Quan Yi Zhen, and he jumped
up and shouted, “SHIXIONG!”
“…”
In an instant, Quan Yi Zhen came stomping up. However, Yin Yu got headaches just seeing his
face; he’d rather listen to Qi Rong shriek for three days and three nights than speak one more
word with Quan Yi Zhen. Fortunately, Pei Ming snatched Quan Yi Zhen away, “Come come
come, time to get to work, Qi Ying. Have your reunion after work is done!”
Quan Yi Zhen was profoundly confused, plus he was biased against Pei Ming and seemed
ready to punch his face, but then he looked up and saw Xie Lian was up there, his hands
clapped in a prayer towards him begging sincerely, “Please and thank you, Qi Ying.”
“…”
While he didn’t understand the situation at all, still he scratched his head and joined the ranks.
For Mu Qing to become a sword for another martial god, he wasn’t without opinions, but now
that they managed to put four together in a group, he couldn’t just say he wouldn’t do it, so he
stayed silent. Thus, upon the palm of the divine statue, the four formed a line in the order of Pei
Ming, Feng Xin, Quan Yi Zhen, and Mu Qing.
Hua Cheng leaned his elbows on the edges of the crown platform and took a glance, “Isn’t the
order of the last two reversed?”
Logically, the order Pei Ming, Feng Xin, Mu Qing, and Quan Yi Zhen would’ve made more
sense, since in comparison, Quan Yi Zhen’s spiritual powers weren’t too stable, so if he was
situated in the middle of the sword, it might ‘snap’ halfway if it was swung too aggressively. Xie
Lian wiped a face of sweat, “No, it’s not. Feng Xin and Mu Qing should never be placed
together, because they just might start beating each other up halfway through, so there must be
someone in between to separate them.”
Hearing this, Hua Cheng raised his brows, his expression seeming to say please have them
beat each other to death, that’d be great. When they looked down again, the spiritual light
suddenly emitted from those four bodies, stronger and stronger, spreading out, forming into one
body until finally, they became a sword of spiritual light!
The moment the sword took shape, that giant stone statue toss it into the air, reached out, and
gripped it!
With a sharp sword in hand, Xie Lian was like a tiger with wings added, his might increasing
exponentially, and he struck out!
Those resentful spirits with long black smoke tails screeched unceasingly when slashed through
by this sword of spiritual light, then abruptly stopped. Chasing after them on the tailwinds of
victory, Xie Lian’s sword danced like wild flowers, slashing millions of ghosts into shattering
pieces, like the winds blowing apart fragmented clouds. Wherever the blade swept through, it
was as if fireworks exploded in the sky, extremely beautiful to see. All the monsters and demons
down below were stupefied by the sight, and only when the thousand tonned boot of the giant
stone statue came stomping over did they remember to flee. Just as Xie Lian was engrossed in
all the slashing, suddenly, that giant stone statue seemed to have stumbled a step, like it was
going to fall forward, and Xie Lian hastily used the sword to support it off the ground, steadying
it somehow. The martial gods who formed the sword array also asked, “Your Highness, what’s
going on?”
“Keep fighting! They’re gathering again!”
Xie Lian had controlled this giant stone statue for so long and was feeling slightly tired, his head
covered in sweat, his mind also in high tension, “It’s nothing! Just…”
It’s just all the spiritual powers had been burnt through, that’s all!
He whipped his head around, and Hua Cheng was standing but inches behind him, seeming like
he was just about to reach out for him. So, Xie Lian stop caring for everything else and went
right ahead.
He glomped over and cupped Hua Cheng’s face with his hands, slightly tipping his toes, closing
his eyes before he pressed his lips over.
Feng Xin: “……………”
Mu Qing: “…………….”
Quan Yi Zhen: “?”
Pei Ming: “Ho ho.”
It wasn’t enough just cupping Hua Cheng’s face, and since it was going to be the same either
way, Xie Lian thought he might as well suck more, so his arms circled around Hua Cheng’s neck
tightly and kissed deeper. All the fatigue earlier was completely swept away, his body was
suddenly filled with spiritual powers again. However, the giant sword of spiritual light in the grip
of the giant stone statue was instantly clamouring with riotous noise.
Feng Xin was shaken, “WHAT IS THIS??? WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING??? YOUR
HIGHNESS???”
Xie Lian accidentally choked a bit and only then did he break away. He didn’t dare to look down
and shouted towards the sky, “B-BORROWING SPIRITUAL POWERS! I’M ONLY
BORROWING SPIRITUAL POWERS! VERY PROPER!”
Mu Qing was shaken too, “YOU DIDN’T NEED TO DO THIS TO BORROW SPIRITUAL
POWERS THOUGH??? JUST A SLAP OR A SMACK OR SOMETHING WOULD’VE BEEN
FINE???”
Xie Lian didn’t know what he was saying anymore either, and cried randomly, “HAHAHAHA!
I’VE BEEN SEEN THROUGH! IT’S NOT ACTUALLY BORROWING ANY SPIRITUAL
POWERS! HAHAHAHA…”
Seeing him like this, Hua Cheng also laughed out loud, cupping Xie Lian’s face back with his
hands, leaned down and kissed his forehead, speaking gently, “Don’t be nervous, gege.”
“…”
Strange as it was, after this, Xie Lian suddenly returned to normal. He pretended he hadn’t
heard Feng Xin and Mu Qing’s voices, and he grew solemn, forming hand seals once more.
That giant stone statue pulled the sword of spiritual light from the ground and started slashing
and cutting wildly, like it was filled with inexhaustible strength!
Quan Yi Zhen was suddenly filled with awe and respect, “So that really was borrowing spiritual
powers just now! It’s suddenly become strong!”
Mu Qing couldn’t hold back and exclaimed, “COMPLETE BULLSHIT, WHAT DO YOU KNOW…”
But soon after he probably thought there wasn’t a need to explain such a thing to a man child
like Quan Yi Zhen and forcibly changed his tune, “Yes, that’s right, it was borrowing spiritual
powers.”
Pei Ming laughed heartily, “That’s right indeed, but you can’t borrow like that so casually,
understand, Qi Ying?”
Feng Xin gaped, “??? WHAT ARE YOU ALL SAYING??? DO YOU ALL ACTUALLY BELIEVE
THAT???”
However, while the might was increased, those resentful spirits enveloped the entire sky after
all, and there wasn’t a giant net that could capture them all, and upon seeing how powerful this
giant god was, they all fled, flapping their tails as they swam far away, like giant human faced
tadpoles. Xie Lian cried, “CHASE THEM!”
Yet unexpectedly, it didn’t make chase for a few steps before that giant stone statue slumped
over without a warning suddenly and fell to the side!
Enough spiritual powers were clearly taken just now, and Xie Lian was in excellent form, so
there was no reason for this to happen. Just as they were about to fall over, Xie Lian looked
down, and only then did he notice that on the leg of this divine statue, there was actually a giant
hole as shattered rocks rolled down from the wound. The figure of a white clad man came
fluttering down from it, and landed languidly, vanishing immediately afterwards, truly elusive like
ghosts, leaving not a trace. It was White No-Face.
He actually broke the leg of this divine statue with his bare hands!
The giant stone statue came falling down in giant rumbles, and fortunately, everyone riding the
statue was no one common and they reacted extremely fast, leaping off first and landing safely.
Xie Lian and Hua Cheng leapt up the chest of the divine statue, and Xie Lian tried commanding
it to stand but it struggled greatly. That giant divine statue sprawled on the ground and slowly
writhed, looking rather miserable. Within the sword array, Mu Qing questioned, “How is it? Can it
still stand?”
“Did powers run out again?” Quan Yi Zhen asked, “Do you need to borrow more?”
“No. This isn’t a question of spiritual powers.” Pei Ming said, “Qi Ying, there’s no need to
remember any of that, forget it completely.”
“It’s probably injured significantly…” Xie Lian said, “It wouldn’t be suitable to move again.”
While rocks felt no pain, if they still forced it to stand and continue to fight, the injured leg would
probably fall off completely. This wouldn’t just be a matter of striking powers be greatly cut
down; this was after all Hua Cheng’s most heartfelt masterpiece, and also Xie Lian’s favourite
divine statue. If it was really going to be destroyed like that he couldn’t help but feel hurt over it.
Seeing the enemy collapse, the resentful spirits in the air danced wildly with mad joy and darted
all over; were they just going to watch with open eyes those creatures escape to the outside?
He glanced to the side and Hua Cheng’s expression was one of dark anger. It was anger
towards White No-Face, and after humming for a moment he spoke up, “Gege…”
Just then, from within the dense and thick black clouds, a ray of bright white light came peeking
through, as if somewhere above the clouds, something had lit up.
Soon after, a second ray, a third, then a fourth…
Countless shining white light came piercing down, penetrating through the gloomy clouds and
stabbed through the resentful spirits!
This white spiritual light that was so strong it was going to blind was no stranger to all the
heavenly officials present. After all, the entire Heavenly Court was always endlessly enveloped
and shined down by this spiritual light.
Jun Wu had come!
———-
Ch.203: White Emperor Comments on the Mysterious Guoshi
When that powerful spiritual light shone onto the resentful spirits, large fields after fields of
smokes and clouds dispersed and dissipated, and a martial god donned in white armour with a
sword in hand broke through the clouds.
It certainly was Jun Wu. When the party saw him it was as if they saw their parents had come
back to life, and they all cried, “AH!!! My Lord!!!” and tears streamed down their faces. Each of
Jun Wu’s steps radiated glory as he languidly landed, “Don’t panic, don’t panic. Is everyone
alright?”
The four within the array of the spiritual light quickly disassembled, and transformed back to
their original forms. Pei Ming asked, “My Lord, aren’t you guarding the Heavenly Capital? How
come you’ve come personally?”
“Lord Rain Master had informed me through the communication array that the barrier of Mount
TongLu had broken. The circumstances are dire, and so I’ve come,” Jun Wu replied.
Everyone looked over and the Rain Master was still riding atop that black ox, and all thought
inwardly, so that was it. Since the barrier had broken, then surely the communication spells
would be functional again. Their heads were all rushed with blood earlier, their minds filled with
nothing but destroying the spirits, and almost no one thought to communicate through the array.
Xie Lian took a step forward, “My Lord, it’s White No-Face. He’s come back.”
Jun Wu nodded faintly, “I figure he would be relentless.”
“He’s very elusive,” Xie Lian said, “Now that you’ve come, we don’t know where he’s gone
hiding.”
“No matter,” Jun Wu said, “Let’s settle these resentful spirits first before we go seek him.”
Everyone looked to the sky and the rolling black clouds in the air were currently being purified
by the powerful light Jun Wu had brought forth. Pei Ming said, “So the birth of a new ghost king
has been stopped this time, right?”
“I guess so,” Xie Lian said, “After all, the one who broke through the Kiln wasn’t anyone but
this.” Everyone’s eyes moved uniformly to the side. After Xie Lian stopped controlling it, that
giant stone divine statue was still obediently lying on the ground, a gigantic, exquisitely sculpted
thing. Now that it’d fallen down, it also looked like a small mountain. Xie Lian stood near it and
raised a hand to pet its cheek, then he turned to Hua Cheng, “San Lang, what should we do
with it?”
Hua Cheng had looked thoughtful and when he heard the question, he snapped out of it,
“There’s no need for gege to worry. Until it’s been repaired, let’s leave it here for now.”
“Can it be repaired?” Xie Lian asked.
“Of course, as long as there’s the stones of the Kiln,” Hua Cheng said, “I will have it repaired for
sure, and have it stand once again.”
“Then let’s leave it for now,” Xie Lian said, “The volcano over by the Kiln is still erupting, who
knows when it’ll be safe again.”
Right then, the resentful spirits swirling in the air suddenly shrieked and transformed into a
tornado, charging towards somewhere. For a moment, no one could tell what had happened,
but when they looked closely, they saw the place the spirits were rushing to was that divine
temple of WuYong in the underground.
Originally, those creatures had nowhere to hide under the powerful glaring rays and would
disperse sooner or later. But after such a large number of resentful spirits poured into that
underground temple, it was as if they were completely sucked clean, completely vanished. Mu
Qing was dumbfounded, “What’s going on?”
Xie Lian felt dread and exclaimed, “It’s White No-Face! He’s drawn a Distance Shortening Array
and sent those resentful spirits away!”
Jun Wu swept his hand and threw off the roof of that temple, and a large piece of ground was
peeled away too. However, other than that giant array that was just drawn inside, there was
nothing else.
“Just what is he planning?” Feng Xin exclaimed, “Where did he connect the array to? Where
has he sent them??”
If this was the past, then this would be when Ling Wen entered the picture. It wouldn’t take more
than half the incense time for the Palace of Ling Wen to report all the locations, yet now, who
knows which civil gods took over the position temporarily, but right when they needed, not a
single person could be found. Feng Xin cursed in outrage, “FUCK, AND THEY USUALLY
BLOW THEMSELVES TO THE SKIES FIGHTING TO SHOW OFF. NOW THAT IT’S TIME TO
SHOW WHAT THEY’VE GOT WHERE THE HELL HAVE THEY ALL GONE?! I’LL NEVER SAY
THE PALACE OF LING WEN IS INEFFICIENT EVER AGAIN!
Just then, Hua Cheng’s voice came, “At the royal capital.”
Everyone turned to him just as he dropped the two long and slender fingers from his temple,
“He’s sent those creatures to a number of different fortress cities. So far only the royal capital is
detected since the essence of evil there suddenly spiked.”
…The civil gods of the Heavenly Court were useless, and they had to rely on the head honcho
of the ghost realm to determine the location of escaped evil beings; many of the heavenly
officials present couldn’t help but feel ashamed. However, because the situation was dire, the
sense of shame went away pretty fast. Mu Qing spoke up, “We know very well what the White
Clothed Calamity is planning, of course he’d send those creatures where there’s the most
people. Once the human face disease explodes, it’d spread quickly, and the royal capital is the
most populated, of course he wouldn’t let it go.”
Pei Ming also piped up, “Let’s take care of this quickly, no time to waste, otherwise if we delay
for too long things can get ugly.”
The temporary civil gods were also making Jun Wu speechless with a headache, and he turned
to Hua Cheng, “Has My Lord found out the exact locations of any of the other fortress cities?”
“They’re currently being located. It won’t take long. Yin Yu, you take over.” Hua Cheng
commanded.
“Yes sir.” Yin Yu quickly acknowledged.
He was banished by Jun Wu in the past, and while Jun Wu was only doing his duty, when he
saw Jun Wu he still couldn’t help but feel nervous. After communicating with the subordinates
on the Ghost City side for a moment, Yin Yu prudently reported the general directions: “Three
hundred miles south; two hundred and seventy miles north…”
Jun Wu turned to Feng Xin, “Nan Yang, you take the south.”
Feng Xin didn’t instantly acknowledge the order and hesitated for a moment. Xie Lian figured it
was because he wanted to search for the Jian Lan and Cuo Cuo and was just about to speak
when Feng Xin answered, and walked away to draw an array for himself. Pei Ming spoke up
knowingly, “I’ll take the north?”
“Naturally.” Jun Wu replied.
Pei Ming nodded, turned around and walked away, but after a few steps Pei Su came following
after him so he looked back, “Your wounds aren’t healed yet, and the poison hasn’t cleaned out.
Stay with Lord Rain Master for now.”
Pei Su was puzzled, “General, I’m not, poi, soned?”
Pei Ming patted his shoulder sympathetically, “Your broken phrases haven’t healed yet, and you
say you’re not poisoned?” Then, he inclined his head slightly, bowing to the Rain Master in
courtesy before leaving on his own. Jun Wu continued, “Qi Ying, why don’t you go to the west.
Remember not to cause…”
However, Quan Yi Zhen was confused, “Why am I going to the west? Just what exactly are we
doing right now?”
“…”
No one could blame him for not knowing what was going on. Perhaps, he was confused the
entire way: Why was he beaten? Why was he buried inside a wall? Why was he turned into a
daruma doll? And why did he have to turn into a sword too? There was not an instance where
he figured out what was happening. Seeing this, Yin Yu sighed, “I’ll take him. I’ll tell him on the
way.” There was probably no one with the patience to tell him anyway. “Okay!” Quan Yi Zhen
said enthusiastically.
Mu Qing waited and waited but his turn never came, and he couldn’t help but ask, “My Lord,
what about me?”
Jun Wu looked him over and said, “Xuan Zhen, have you forgotten something?”
Mu Qing was confused, “What?”
“You’re currently under detention.” Jun Wu said.
“…”
Mu Qing’s face immediately fell. He really did forget about this. And not just him, almost
everyone had forgotten that Mu Qing had escaped the Heavenly Court under the suspicion of
creating the fetus spirit using wicked spells, and that suspicion hadn’t yet cleared!
“You don’t have to get involved. Head back to the Heavenly Court afterwards and the
confinement will be lengthened.”
“…My Lord, it really wasn’t me!” Mu Qing cried.
“Once we get to the bottom of the affair and the truth is revealed, you will naturally be released.”
Jun Wu said, “Otherwise, if I let you out without reason now, it’d be a disgrace.”
Mu Qing felt horribly aggrieved but at the same time there was nothing he could do, so he could
only acknowledge quietly, “Yes sir.”
Seeing Mu Qing so tormented, Hua Cheng laughed out loud unkindly without holding back. Mu
Qing gave him a look, then glanced at Xie Lian who was beside him, and he must’ve thought of
something as his face grew darker by the minute.
As for the rest, the Rain Master was no martial god, so she didn’t try to act tough and only made
it clear that should there be any need for her assistance just call for her, then she left silently.
Xie Lian naturally chose the royal capital that was the most populated and the most difficult to
deal with. As for Jun Wu, he would stay behind and face those three mountain spirits, and White
No-Face who could still very well be around. Hua Cheng toss the dice and opened the Distance
Shortening Array, and he and Xie Lian left together.
It was already deep in the night at the royal capital, the streets were silent with not a sound,
each household had their windows and doors shut tight. Xie Lian and Hua Cheng flashed out
from one of the alleyways and started searching for inhuman creatures as they sped walked.
After a few steps, Xie Lian raised two fingers and pressed them against his temple, activating
the communication array, whispering, “My Lord?”
“What is it, Xian Le?” Jun Wu answered, “Have you reached the royal capital?”
“We’ve arrived. I’ve something to talk to you about.” Xie Lian said.
“Did Crimson Rain Sought Flower do something to you?” Jun Wu questioned.
“…”
Hua Cheng seemed to have noticed something and cocked a brow, and Xie Lian replied, “No,
he hasn’t done anything to me. It’s something else. The situation earlier was too urgent and I
didn’t have the chance to speak.” He turned serious, “My Lord, do you still remember my
master?”
Hearing him mention this person, Jun Wu seemed to be slightly taken aback, and a moment
later, he replied, “Are you talking about the Guoshi of XianLe back then?”
“Yes.” Xie Lian said, “You must’ve come in contact with him quite a bit in the past? Have you
noticed anything strange or unusual about him?”
All ceremonies and services in the Kingdom of XianLe were conducted solely by the Guoshi,
and the Guoshis were the bridge that connected the mortals to the gods. After a moment of
silence, Jun Wu replied, “Yes.”
Xie Lian held his breath, “…How was he strange?”
“Xian Le, do you really want to hear this?” Jun Wu said.
“Yes.” Xie Lian said.
“Even if you’d become disappointed after you’ve heard?” Jun Wu asked.
Xie Lian glanced at Hua Cheng, “Yes.”
It was a good while before Jun Wu said slowly, “That master of yours, to be the Guoshi of
XianLe was a gross oppression of his talents. His knowledge and skills are far beyond your
imagination.”
Xie Lian listened quietly. The next words made his heart sink.
Jun Wu continued, “I believe, the true number of years that Guoshi had passed in this world is
no less than mine. Perhaps, even greater than mine.”
“…”
A part of his conjecture had been verified.
If Guoshi truly lived in this world for longer than Jun Wu, then, the possibility he was one of the
Four Guardians of the Crown Prince of WuYong was even greater!
Xie Lian couldn’t help but ask, “How come you’ve never told me this before?”
“Because for a long time, I couldn’t be sure.” Jun Wu said.
“Then how did you confirm this later?” Xie Lian asked.
“After XianLe had fallen, I found him, and neutralized him. But now it seems, in the end he still
escaped.”
“…”
That there could be someone other than White No-Face who could escape from Jun Wu’s
hands. Xie Lian had always thought the Guoshi had fled during the chaos of war but he hadn’t
thought it was Jun Wu who personally went to do him in!
“Then… then why did you need to neutralize him?” Xie Lian asked, “And why didn’t you tell me
after you had verified it?”
“Your two questions are actually only one question.” Jun Wu said.
“What?” Xie Lian asked.
“If I told you, perhaps you would feel disappointed when you hear it,” Jun Wu said, “But,
perhaps the you now can withstand feeling disappointed in others.”
Xie Lian’s heart was thumping faster and faster, and he unconsciously clutched one of Hua
Cheng’s hands tight. Hua Cheng’s other hand came to cover over the back of his hand.
On the other end, Jun Wu said, “Because I discovered that he seemed to want to awaken
something within you.”
———-
Ch.204: Search for Five Hundred; Abrupt Meeting with an Old Friend
“…And what is that?” Xie Lian asked.
However, Jun Wu seemed to be quietly concerned with the subject, and he deliberated for a
long while before he said, “What is it, Xian Le? Why did you suddenly bring up your master? Did
you run into something inside Mount TongLu? That has to do with him?”
Xie Lian came to his senses and was just about to give a quick account before pressing with
more questions when suddenly, there was a clamouring noise on the other end. Jun Wu said, “I
see the three mountain spirits you all spoke of before, indeed peculiar! I will take care of them
first, and we can talk again later. However, since Xian Le you’ve made the inquiry, just
remember one thing: your master isn’t any simple character. If you do run into him, be
absolutely careful!”
Then, the other end fell into deep silence. “My Lord?” Xie Lian called out.
Jun Wu did not respond again. Just one of those mountain spirits was hard to deal with; to have
three surround and siege must be even more difficult. Even when Xie Lian had limitless spiritual
powers earlier and controlled a heaven-defying giant divine statue he couldn’t take care of it,
and now Jun Wu was facing them by himself, so he would probably need to focus and exert
quite a bit of strength. Xie Lian gave Hua Cheng a brief account of the conversation during the
communication and the two stopped in their steps.
At this moment, they were situated at a wide and expansive large street. Gazing towards the
sky, gloomy clouds concealed the moon, and faint threads and strings of black smoke like
creatures could be seen drifting before the cold moon, like ink blurring in clear water.
Those were the resentful spirits sent over from the divine temple of WuYong. They hadn’t yet
entered because the Aura of the King within the Palace and the many temples of various gods
within the royal capital shone brightly, their auras intertwining, weaving a solemn shield. A
natural barrier such as this would block those wicked beings outside the shield, and so they
could only drift high in the sky.
Almost every city fortress possessed a similar shield because outstanding characters and
impressive heavenly officials would appear everywhere; rich land fosters talents, as they say.
However, those shields couldn’t block everything forever.
“It’d be good as long as we add reinforcements to the shield,” Hua Cheng said.
But, the problem was how to reinforce? Xie Lian mused, “Talisman spells? Spiritual devices?”
Then he said, “They probably won’t be enough.”
Those resentful spirits enveloped the entire sky of the royal capital, so unless they had millions
of talismen and spiritual devices, they might not hold. Pacing back and forth, Xie Lian gritted his
teeth, “San Lang, I have an idea that can maybe reinforce this barrier, but… I need people.”
“How many?” Hua Cheng asked.
“A lot.” Xie Lian said, “As many as possible. At least five hundred.”
“Alive or dead?” Hua Cheng asked.
He listened seriously and wasn’t joking around. Xie Lian replied, “Alive. Ghosts won’t do. I need
to borrow the spirit and Yang* aura of the living to strike those resentful spirits away.”
“If that’s the case, then that means they have to be willing volunteers too.” Hua Cheng
commented.
“That’s right. They have to be willing volunteers.” Xie Lian said, “And, they must have the will to
fight back and protect. If they have fear in their hearts or their wills are weak, the spirits can take
advantage to sneak through.”
Hua Cheng inclined his head, “Just like the soldiers fighting in the frontlines in battle, they must
be the ones who want to win the most, the ones with the most faith, because if they were
helplessly forced or only want to run away without any battle spirit, they would never win, and
would end up abandoning their gears, suffering utter defeat.”
“That’s it exactly.” Xie Lian said. “Can San Lang find those people?”
After some contemplation, Hua Cheng replied slowly, “Gege, if you needed the dead, I can bring
you however many you need. Involuntary living beings would be easy too. But to find voluntary
ones, it won’t be easy.”
After a pause, he continued, “There certainly are plenty in the mortal realm who worship the
Ghost King, but I know very well that one, they are only terrified of me, and two, they want to
ask things of me, so they fear and obey me. I can force them with power and tempt them with
benefits, but this method probably won’t work in finding the people gege needs. I’m sorry.”
Xie Lian was enthralled listening to this and said, “You don’t need to apologize. Let’s just think of
a way together.”
“En. However, gege, there’s good news.” Hua Cheng said, “Ahead of us about fifty feet away
around the corner is a band of living humans.”
Xie Lian sensed them too and he rushed forward to see just as that group of people also turned
the corner, and they shouted in surprise by his sudden appearance, “A GHOST!!!”
Xie Lian looked closely and recognized them, and he exclaimed cheerfully, “Everyone, it’s not a
ghost, it’s me!”
That group of various monks and cultivators were very familiar. The one leading was a cultivator
dressed in glamourous robes – wasn’t that Heaven’s Eye? And that big group behind him,
weren’t they the band of monks and cultivators from before who harassed them relentlessly the
entire way and was knocked out by the caved in roof of that shady inn?
Behind Xie Lian, Hua Cheng approached with his hands easily swaying by his side. He certainly
wasn’t in the form of a child right now; with that nonchalance and chilling smile, Heaven’s Eye
and the others jumped back three feet instantly from terror. “And you say it’s not a ghost!
There’s nothing more ghost-like than him! A GHOST KING EVEN!!!”
Hua Cheng’s smile faded away, and he clicked his tongue in annoyance, too lazy to even make
a comment. Xie Lian was searching everywhere for living souls right now, so he hastily raised
his hand, “Everyone, you’ve come right in the nick of time. There’s something…”
Yet unexpectedly, the moment he raised his hand, the reaction from the other party was much
more exaggerated than he expected. They all fell to the ground, high on alert, exclaiming to
each other, “WATCH OUT FOR HIDDEN WEAPONS!”
“…”
Xie Lian had to think for a while before he remembered what the ‘hidden weapon’ they were
referring to was, and was speechless for a moment. “You don’t need to be afraid, I don’t have
any hidden weapons on me.” The Incorruptible Chastity Meatballs weren’t that easily forged
anyway, just the knifework needed to craft them alone would take half the day. He added,
“Besides, you forced my hand last time but I didn’t do much anything to you, now there’s even
less reason to.”
Hearing this, the mob contemplated and thought it reasonable and quickly crawled up from the
ground, dusting themselves off, but still keeping a distance, their staffs and sacred swords and
other such spiritual tools never leaving their hands. Heaven’s Eye spoke up, “I say, this
daozhang, we haven’t seen you for many days but the essence of evil on your body has gotten
worse. I think it’s best you turn back now while there’s still a chance. And speaking of, why is it
this bad? I’m not trying to scare you, but I can barely see your face clearly anymore.”
“…” Xie Lian was going to flush listening to him, not daring to look at Hua Cheng as he cut him
off, “Let’s talk about that later. Everyone, I was observing signs in the night sky and saw some
ominous creatures. Have you all seen it?”
“Of course we saw it!” Heaven’s Eye said, “Observing signs in the night sky is a homework we
always do everyday. And here I thought it was some monsters or ghosts causing trouble, but
could it be, is it Hua Cheng… zhu?”
“Of course not.” Xie Lian said, “Otherwise I won’t be here alerting you. We’ve also come
because of those creatures, and was just thinking of ways to reinforce the aura shield of the
royal capital.”
Heaven’s Eye was doubtful, “You two? Thinking of ways?”
“Why would the Ghost King be so kindhearted?”
Hua Cheng grinned, “It’s not out of kindheartedness. But if I wanted to do something to the royal
capital, this bit of aura shield has no way of stopping me.”
The expressions on the fellow cultivators and monks were unreadable. Xie Lian knew that their
caution and guard couldn’t be so easily dropped either so he wouldn’t try to force them, “I’ve
faced those creatures in the sky before, very difficult to deal with. If we let them break through
the protective shield of the royal capital and intrude, everything would be thrown into chaos, so
I’m seeking for help right now to help form an array, I need about five hundred people.”
Heaven’s Eye gaped, “Five hundred?! What array is this, to need so many people?? I’ve never
heard of it before??”
Xie Lian didn’t have the heart to say that five hundred was the bare minimum requirement. In
fact, if he could say it openly, then they needed at least eight hundred. The group of monks and
cultivators were also babbering, “I’ve never heard of this either, has anyone seen record of this
in any books?”
“Are those creatures really that powerful?”
“I’ve only heard monsters eat five hundred in one bite, I’ve never heard drawing an array
needed that many.”
“Is it dangerous?”
After much serious deliberation, Xie Lian answered truthfully, “I can’t say for sure. Maybe,
maybe not. I’m only eight percent sure, since, I’ve never attempted this array before either.”
It would be impossible to find records of this from any books either, since this array wasn’t
something Xie Lian learned from books or someone else, but was something he’d been
ruminating and came up with as he walked in the past eight hundred years, just what should be
done if the human face disease should be unleashed again? They couldn’t possibly just sit
around and do nothing? At the time he didn’t actually think he would have to face this big crisis
again, and hadn’t imagined this method would come to use.
On the other side, that group discussed for a while before in the end, Heaven’s Eye turned
around and said guardedly, “We don’t have that many people. Plus….”
Plus, they didn’t trust Xie Lian and Hua Cheng.
That couldn’t be helped. After all, they didn’t know what the human face disease was, how
powerful it was, and with the past grievances between them and Hua Cheng, there must’ve
been plenty of cases where they were played like nothing more than insects. Originally, Xie Lian
had thought perhaps these men were masters and should have a number of disciples in their
schools, so they could maybe gather some three or four hundred people and worry about the
remaining numbers after, but it seemed this hope was fruitless.
“Gege, stop wasting your breath with them.” Hua Cheng said, “Let’s go.”
Xie Lian nodded, not the least bit discouraged, and went away with him. However, Heaven’s
Eye and the others didn’t just leave but sneakily followed behind them, actually thinking they
were well hidden. Xie Lian was quite speechless, but then when he thought this group of
masters were probably only trailing because they were fearful that he and Hua Cheng would
cause trouble in the capital, their worries born of a kind heart, he thought it funny but stopped
caring. Just then, Hua Cheng suggested, “Why not go to where the slums are. There should be
plenty of those who are bold and daring and aren’t afraid of death. Perhaps our search would be
fruitful there.”
Thus, the two changed course and went for the shadows of the royal capital. They came before
a temple that was fairly demolished and swept a look. Within the temple were a bunch of people
sleeping all over the ground, stretching all the way to outside the temple. This seemed to be a
band of homeless folks, or rather, beggars. The air was frigid, the ground cold, but almost all of
them were in ragged clothing. There were men, women, seniors, and children, and none of
them were shy from the improper closeness.
Some took over a tattered straw mat, some were hugging hay for warmth, and some just slept
on the ground. The ones awake were either sighing and wailing over the rotten sores on their
bodies or were picking off fleas from their persons. There was even someone who was dragging
a lame leg shuffling about, seeming to be delivering bowls of water to the sick. Before they
entered there was the suffocating smell of sweat and an odd odour that came wafting out.
That the most lavish and bustling area would be this close to the filthiest, most decrepit slums
with only but a street apart, the contrast was truly lamentable. Of course, Xie Lian had no time
to lament. He crossed over the threshold and called out, “Can everyone give me a hand?”
No one answered before someone cussed out, “GIVE YOUR MOM A HAND! AND I WANT
SOMEONE TO GIVE ME A HAND TOO! YA GONNA LET US SLEEP OR WHAT, GET OUTTA
HERE!”
Xie Lian wasn’t offended and said, “It’s something very urgent, if everyone is willing to help out,
then you’ll for sure… for sure bring prosperity to the world!”
He had wanted to say “be greatly appreciated”, but if they came for the “thanks from the start,
then their minds would not be pure. The beggars within the temple cussed even harder, “WHAT
THE HELL DOES PROSPERITY OF THE WORLD HAS GOT TO DO WITH ME??”
Someone then questioned, “Is there compensation?”
Xie Lian looked back, and Hua Cheng’s eyes were flashing with displeasure, seeming to be
ready to be more aggressive, and he quickly pulled him back, saying hushly, “Not yet. You said
it yourself, San Lang, we can’t use force or temptation. I’ll take my time to persuade them. There
must be some we can use in this group of seventy, eighty people.”
Only then did that sharp glare in Hua Cheng’s eyes fade. Just then, a slightly raspy voice came,
“Hey hey hey! Everyone, hear me out! HEAR ME OUT! STOP THAT NOISE! Let’s hear what
they’ve gotta say first!”
Hearing this, Xie Lian looked back, and saw the one who spoke up was that lame legged
beggar. His clothes were tattered, his face grimy, his hair dishevelled, skinny and gaunt, his
appearance unclear but his voice sounded fairly young. He waved his hand to hail at the crowd
but the strange thing was, he only waved one hand, so his posture was a bit awkward. The
other beggars all seemed to listen to him, so the sound of cussing and yelling faded.
“Thank you!” Xie Lian called out, and he didn’t waste his time either, flipping his hand over and
lit up a hand torch instantly, the flames blowing high. The crowd of beggars all howled from
fright, and the ones not yet awake all woke up too, “WHAT IS THAT WICKED MAGIC??”
Xie Lian schooled his expression, “It’s not wicked magic, it’s spiritual magic. This proves that my
words are not false. Truth to be told, it’s like this: right now there’s a large band of monsters and
ghosts that have surrounded the royal capital, and they’re about to attack. We need five
hundred volunteers who are willing to join the spiritual array to protect the royal capital. Who is
willing? I won’t lie, there might be danger. I will never force anyone, I only ask for the willing!”
“…”
There was a blanket of silence in that broken down temple. The beggars looked at each other
but there was none who would step forward to say they were willing. A moment later, someone
spoke up, “Protect the royal capital? Forget it.”
Xie Lian looked over, and that man slumped over, mumbling to himself, “The royal capital
doesn’t protect me, ha, and they’d have me protect them? Do whatever you want, it’s none of
my fucking business!”
His indifferent tone was laced with anger. It wasn’t that Xie Lian couldn’t understand, but this
couldn’t help him. Clearly, this temple is crowded with the same poor and suffering as that man
who thought the same. Since there was no compensation and their days passed in the royal
capital weren’t that great, who would want to go help at a time like this? It was already cold to
death huddling inside a temple in the middle of winter, who would want to go out?
Xie Lian tried to give one last shot, “If those creatures invade the royal capital, there will be a
very terrifying plague that’d break out. Everyone would be affected.”
An old beggar lying on the ground said, “What plague can be more terrifying than these old
sores on my body?”
“If there really is a plague, why not just leave this place, eh? We don’t gotta stay here, it’s not
like it’s a good place anyway, it’s the same no matter where.”
“Just let those mighty, distinguished old masters and ladies in the royal capital go. Someone will
go, why must it be us?”
“Well…” Xie Lian couldn’t tell them straight out. Those mighty, distinguished old masters and
ladies would also think the same thing: I won’t go, someone will surely go. Besides, since they
had built a foundation here in the royal capital, and when faced with danger, there’d be more
things they couldn’t let go, so that mentality would be even stronger. It wasn’t that this mentality
was wrong, that it was bad, it was just if everyone thought this way, then nothing could be
accomplished.
After waiting for a while, no one stepped forward, and Xie Lian said resolutely, “Alright. Sorry for
the intrusion.”
He turned around and left the broken down temple. Hua Cheng comforted, “Don’t worry, gege,
I’ve got people on the move on my side too. The news has been spread, we should be able to
find people.”
Xie Lian nodded. It wasn’t that he was worried they couldn’t find five hundred, he was just
worried there wasn’t enough time, and to randomly grab people to make up the numbers would
be counterproductive. He glanced at the sky; those rolling black clouds were still covering the
skies, their intent unpredictable.
Just then, a voice suddenly rang from behind him, “WAIT! WAIT WAIT WAIT! – I’LL GO!”
Hearing this, Xie Lian was taken aback and he whipped his head around. That lamed legged
beggar dragged his leg and hopped out of the temple door, “The people you seek, as long as
they’re alive it’s fine, right? Broken limbs won’t be a problem, right?”
So it turns out, this man’s movements looked awkward because he didn’t just have one lame
leg, one of his arms was also broken as it hung limply and listlessly.
Seeing there was finally someone who voluntarily came forward, Xie Lian’s heart was instantly
warmed and he replied immediately, “Completely not a problem!”
That man was fairly straightforward too, “Then we’re good! Take me along!”
The crowd of beggars inside the temple were shocked, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING??? DIDN’T
YOU HEAR HIM, IT COULD BE DANGEROUS!”
“YEA! AND THERE’S NO PAY EITHER! THEY TALKED SO MUCH BUT NOT A MENTION OF
COMPENSATION!”
“DON’T INVOLVE YOURSELF IN THAT MUDDY WATER, COME BACK, OL’ FENG!”
“…”
Since earlier, Xie Lian had thought this man looked overly familiar, but because this appearance
was too different than the one in his memories, plus his voice was slightly raspy, not quite the
same, so Xie Lian didn’t recognize him. Now that he heard the people on the side call out the
word ‘Feng’*, he suddenly snapped to.
Xie Lian watched him closely and said with disbelief, “…Lord Wind Master???”
That beggar laughed out loud, reaching out to swipe away the black hair covering his face,
“You’ve caught me, Your Highness!”
Underneath that filthy black hair was a pair of exceedingly bright eyes, brilliant as they were
before.
————-
●Yang of Yin Yang; Yang represented the sun, the male, and the living.
●Feng is the word for Wind.
————
Ch.205: Search for Five Hundred; Abrupt Meeting with an Old Friend 2
Xie Lian was so shocked he was rendered speechless.
Shi Qing Xuan then scratched his head, “Aiyah hahahahaha, I had wanted to disguise as
someone else at first and observe you guys in secret, but I didn’t think Your Highness’ eyes are
this sharp! It can’t be helped, it must be because my flair and grace are unforgettable!
Hahahahahahahaha…”
“…” Xie Lian rested his hands on his shoulders and choked out, “…Lord Wind Master.”
Shi Qing Xuan stopped haha-ing, but was still skrch skrch scratching his head, as if his hair was
filled with fleas and it was itchy, “Your Highness, I’m not the Wind Master anymore.”
“Fine. Qing Xuan.” Xie Lian said. It took a pause before he asked, “How… did you become this
way?”
“Uh, just, it’s a long story.” Shi Qing Xuan said, “Anyway it was just this and that, here and there,
and then I ended up like this.”
Just then, the crowd inside the temple called out, “What? Ol’ Feng! You know these two?”
Shi Qing Xuan turned around, his arm went around Xie Lian’s shoulder and slapped it hard,
“YEA! They’re my good friends from the past!”
“WHAT?! IT’S YOUR FRIEND?! OL’ FENG, WHY DIDN’T YOU SAY SO!”
“Ol’ Feng, the likes of you actually know a little white face who you can tell with one look was
raised in the honey of tender meat?! I bet you’re bullshittin’ again!”
The crowd was surprised and amazed, making a big deal out of things, and it should’ve been
funny, but Xie Lian only felt upset. It had to be known that among the three of them, only the
Wind Master of the past was the true “little white face raised in the honey of tender meat”. Shi
Qing Xuan was furious, “WHAT’S THAT YOU SAY? I’M NOT BULLSHITTIN’!”
“Please. Remember back when you were still mental and would speak nonsense all day? Think
we’ve all forgotten?!”
Shi Qing Xuan WAH LAH WAH LAH-ed and cried a series of unintelligible noises, “I’M GOING
TO GO HELP MY FRIENDS NOW, I’M LEAVING, I’M LEAVING! ANYONE ELSE COMIN’?”
This time, the crowd looked at each other, and a moment later, they said, “Alright, fine. If it’s Ol’
Feng’s friend then it’s different.”
“Let’s go along with Ol’ Feng, lest he gets beaten to death by someone, the way he’s missing an
arm and a leg.”
“HEY!” Shi Qing Xuan called out.
There were still those who wouldn’t give up and pressed, “Is there really no compensation?
Even if there’s no pay, a chicken leg to munch on would be fine too?”
Xie Lian gave Shi Qing Xuan a brief account and both parties now understood the situation. Shi
Qing Xuan gave it a thought and said, “I can understand that we can’t use force or temptation
for this business, but giving everyone a bite to eat should be fine? Everyone hasn’t had a good
meal in a long time.”
As long as they didn’t hold a greedy heart, it wouldn’t be a problem, and Xie Lian replied, “It
should be alright. But, say it this way.” He whispered a few words and Shi Qing Xuan said, “I
was thinking the same thing.” Then he turned around and hollered, “AFTER THIS IS DONE,
THEY’RE GONNA TREAT EVERYONE TO A BOWL OF CHICKEN LEG SOUP LATER, HEY!
EVERYONE GETS A BOWL WHETHER YOU COME OR NOT! ATTENTION, YOU’D GET ONE
EVEN IF YOU DON’T GO, WE ONLY ASK FOR VOLUNTEERS!”
Now the way he phrased it was crafty. “Everyone gets a bowl”, everyone got to eat whether they
went or not, which made the ones who decide to come immensely valuable. Shi Qing Xuan
shouted, “ANYONE ELSE COMING? THE MORE THE MERRIER! COME COME COME! TELL
EVERYONE THERE’S NO PAY, HEY! IT’S JUST GIVING ME A HAND, SAVING THE WORLD,
SURROUND THE ROYAL CAPITAL OR WHATEVER IS JUST WHATEVER, BUT WE ONLY
WANT VOLUNTEERS! WE’LL TREAT EVERYONE TO A GOOD MEAL AFTER THIS IS
DONE!”
Perhaps it was because there was someone leading the way, in a blink of an eye, the cold and
indifferent temple suddenly became as hot as fire, and the beggars also split up to go inform
more homeless folks they knew. Xie Lian, Hua Cheng, and Shi Qing Xuan stood before the
entrance of that broken down temple. Xie Lian looked up and saw where there should’ve been
an establishment plaque was empty, and couldn’t help but remember that dilapidated Temple of
Wind and Water back at the town of Fu Gu, and those divine statues of the Water Master whose
head was cut off and the Wind Master who was missing an arm and a leg. In the end he couldn’t
hold it in and he turned to Shi Qing Xuan, asking hesitatingly, “…Qing Xuan?”
Shi Qing Xuan dropped his arm from his shoulder, “What is it? Oh, sorry about this, Your
Highness, my hand’s a little dirty. Your clothes, haha.”
Sure enough, his arm left dirty marks on the shoulder of Xie Lian’s white robes. He looked as if
he wanted to help Xie Lian dust off, but then realized it would only get dirtier the more he
dusted, so he withdrew his hand, rubbing his nose awkwardly. As if Xie Lian minded those
things. He was only very concerned with one thing, “Lord… Qing Xuan, your fate…”
Shi Qing Xuan was startled, “What about my fate?”
“Did, Black Water change it after all…?” Xie Lian asked.
Then it finally dawned on Shi Qing Xuan and he quickly said, “Oh no no no, he didn’t, he didn’t.
You’ve misunderstood, he didn’t do anything.”
Xie Lian didn’t think Black Water would change Shi Qing Xuan’s fate in the end either, “Then,
your arm and leg?”
Shi Qing Xuan scratched at his head again and said a little shyly, “This wasn’t him either. How
do I say… there’s some carelessness here, and some really bad luck there, but this was all my
own doing.”
Since he wouldn’t tell details, Xie Lian didn’t press for them. Only, somehow, imperceptibly, Shi
Qing Xuan’s current state had affirmed He Xuan’s act of prophecy-like venting anger back at the
Temple of Wind and Water, who knows what mysterious force was at play.
“That day, my spiritual powers were suddenly sucked away and I couldn’t help you. I’m really
sorry.” Xie Lian said.
Shi Qing Xuan waved his hand, “The whole thing had nothing to do with you anyway. If it wasn’t
Your Highness who told me what was going on beforehand, my head might still be in the clouds
all the way to the very end.”
“What exactly happened afterwards that day?” Xie Lian asked.
Turns out, after He Xuan had decapitated Shi Wu Du, Shi Qing Xuan slumped and became
lifeless, and he couldn’t understand anything He Xuan said to him, only vaguely recalling that
He Xuan had taken him out of the Black Water Island. Later, he was ditched in the royal capital.
He didn’t understand why it’d be the royal capital later, but in the past, Shi Qing Xuan had
always fussed about going to the royal capital to feast and drink, so he was fairly familiar with
the area. Everything was a blur, and when he finally snapped out of it, he decided to just bury
his name and settle down here.
Since he completely lost all of his spiritual powers, had nothing to pinpoint his identity, and spent
his days in blighted squalors, naturally the Upper Court wouldn’t be able to find traces of his
whereabouts.
“In any case, it has nothing to do with him.” Shi Qing Xuan said, “Afterwards, I’ve never seen
him again either.”
It was probably for the best that they never saw each other again. This affair truly was difficult to
manage; a person like this, does he kill or not kill? Besides, the Water Master also savagely
disgusted He Xuan at the brink of his death, and Xie Lian seriously sweated for Shi Qing Xuan’s
fate. Right then, the band of beggars returned with more people, and the mob pushed and
dragged, loudly babbling, “OL’ FENG, OL’ FENG! WE’VE DRAGGED THIS MANY PEOPLE
FOR YA, WHAT DO YOU THINK?”
Shi Qing Xuan gave them a big thumbs up, “GOOD WORK! EVERYONE GETS A CHICKEN
LEG!”
“There’s so many people, will they be able to afford to feed all of us?”
Shi Qing Xuan swept his hand, and for a moment, Xie Lian almost thought he was going to toss
out a hundred thousand merits, but he only said, “THIS IS NOTHING! NEVERMIND THIS
MANY, THEY CAN AFFORD TO FEED EVEN TEN TIMES THE AMOUNT!”
Finally snapping out of it, if he counted roughly, there was actually now more than two hundred
people gathered, completely outside of Xie Lian’s expectations! He was cheered, “Lord Wind
M… Qing Xuan, this is a great help!”
Shi Qing Xuan was proud and pleased, “But of course. I can call forth hundreds no matter
where I go, and maybe, in the future I can establish a gang or something, fish up a gang leader
title, hahahahahaha…”
“Ol’ Feng’s gone mental again.” The crowd of beggars behind them all commented.
“Yea, right! He’s swankin’ again!”
“What! I’m not swanking!” Shi Qing Xuan exclaimed.
But those few beggars just had to pull his leg and said to Xie Lian, “My friend, you don’t know
this right? When Ol’ Feng first came he was a mess, nagging insanely chasing behind people all
day everyday to boast that he’s a god.”
Shi Qing Xuan appeared slightly ill at ease and immediately griped, “I’ve no time to listen to you
all talk nonsense, leave your mouths for munching chicken legs!”
Xie Lian listened to them quietly, his smile fading a bit. His heart felt like it was crumpled into a
ball but at the same time, was laid out open and easy like rice paper.
Lord Wind Master had changed, but at the same time, didn’t.
Thank goodness.
Shi Qing Xuan spoke up, “Your Highness, what do we do now? I’ve got the people for you, now
they’re in your hands.”
Although the number of people wasn’t enough, but it’d only be temporary. They’ll think more on
it once the array was set up. Xie Lian replied, “Very good, now we need to find an empty area
that can hold this many people.”
Earlier during their conversation, Hua Cheng had never interrupted, and Xie Lian couldn’t tell
what he was thinking. Only now did he speak up, “That’s easy to take care of. Gege, just come
with me.”
Xie Lian nodded, and Shi Qing Xuan hobbled over as he hailed buoyantly, “EVERYONE COME
FOLLOW, DON’T LOSE YOUR WAY, HEY!”
Xie Lian had subconsciously wanted to assist him at first, but when he saw no one went to help
support him and he didn’t walk any slower than anyone else, he understood. A group of large
beggars thus pushed out of the slum in a bustle, pouring into the streets, but they didn’t go very
far before there was an angry shout, “STOP RIGHT THERE! WHAT’S THIS? THERE’S SO
MANY OF YOU, ARE YOU TRYING TO START SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
NIGHT??”
The beggars were all greatly alarmed, “OH NO! IT’S THE NIGHT PATROL!”
However, Xie Lian didn’t bother to look back because Hua Cheng didn’t look back, “Don’t mind
them.” Then, that soldier slumped down.
The beggars were amazed and they started chattering. Shi Qing Xuan then cried, “QUIET!
DON’T ATTRACT MORE SOLDIERS OVER!” Thus, the group toned down to hushed whispers.
Hua Cheng paused in his step and said, “Gege, this street will do.”
“This one?” Xie Lian asked, “Certainly by location it’s the most suitable, but wouldn’t it be too
conspicuous?”
This large street was very wide and spacious, flat and paved going forward, it was the main
avenue of the royal capital, so of course it was conspicuous! Everyone chimed in, “Yea, what if
we get discovered and get chased out?!”
However, Hua Cheng said, “That’s fine. Even if they discover us they can’t chase us out.”
Xie Lian nodded, “Everyone, I must make this absolutely clear to you now. What we will be
facing afterwards is something very vicious, and there could be danger. However, if it breaks
through then the entire royal capital will sink into danger, so I need everyone to be sure you’re
doing this voluntarily without second guesses. Is there anyone who is scared and wishes to
back out?”
No one. Xie Lian continued, “Very good, then will everyone now hold each other’s hands and
form a large circle.”
Someone was puzzled, “What array spell is this? How come it sounds like babies holding
hands?”
Shi Qing Xuan spittook and exclaimed, “So much nonsense, just follow the instructions!”
“Heh, Ol’ Feng, you’ve got it wrong there. No one talks more nonsense than you, yanno!”
Chatter and bustle, the crowd followed the direction and the two hundred some people held
hands, forming a very, very large human circle on the spacious and wide main avenue of the
royal capital. Shi Qing Xuan asked, “Those creatures won’t be able to charge into the royal
capital as long as we hold hands like this?”
“No.” Xie Lian said, “They’ll be charging down sooner or later.”
Shi Qing Xuan was confused, “Then what’s the use of this array of yours?”
“It’s a trap.” Xie Lian explained, “Once this array is set up, when those creatures break through
the protection shield of the royal capital and come charging down, they won’t go rogue
everywhere but will instead be lured to this circle and fall into the trap.”
———–
Ch.206: Two Simple Lines; Ghost King Excites the Battle Spirit
“And what happens after they fall into the trap?” Shi Qing Xuan asked.
Xie Lian and Hua Cheng already positioned themselves in the centre of the human array, “After
that, just leave it to us. We’ll be here inside the array to take care of them slowly, making sure
not a single one is missed. What we need is only time. What the most important thing right now
is to make sure they don’t scatter. The reason why I said there might be danger is because
there isn’t enough of us to make five hundred right now, so it’s hard to say whether the circle will
hold, and whether the creatures inside could break out.”
Someone swallowed hard and asked, “W-What would happen if they break out of the circle?”
“It wouldn’t be pretty.” Xie Lian replied, “First, the resentful spirits will possess you, then infect
you with the plague…”
“If, I’m just saying if, someone lets go and runs away, what would happen then?”
“If the circle is broken, then maybe the resentful spirits will also possess you.” Xie Lian said.
“So the spirits will possess people either way!”
The smarter folks understood and said, “It’s different. The former is ten out of ten the spirits will
possess you and infect you with the disease; the latter is ‘maybe’, meaning if you were to let go
and run away there might still be a chance for survival.”
“That’s it exactly.” Xie Lian said, “So is there anyone who wishes to leave now? After this
formally begins, you absolutely cannot back out, but before we start, it won’t matter who leaves.
I hope everyone won’t say anything to those who backs out too, this is a dangerous task after
all.”
Those were words that had to be said, otherwise they wouldn’t be able to truly have those with
the courage and determination. A moment later, indeed a couple dozen people backed out one
after the other, leaving hurriedly with their heads bowed, and the circle shrank a little again. Xie
Lian sighed a breath of relief, “Thank goodness.”
“What’s there to thank?!” Shi Qing Xuan exclaimed, “We’ve got less people now.”
Xie Lian smiled, “There’s plenty of people already, it’s better than I had imagined.” He had
originally deliberated solemnly what should be done if half the numbers had left, but only a
couple dozen did, so this was a welcomed surprise. Just then, a voice suddenly came from the
distance, “Hold up, do you know who those people are? You can’t trust them so easily, best
watch out or they just might trick you!”
Xie Lian looked back and it was Heaven’s Eye and company. Shi Qing Xuan instantly groused,
“And who the heck are you people? Don’t add to our troubles if you’re not gonna help, I promise
none of them will harm a soul.”
Of course the band of spiritual masters cared nothing for the words of a filthy and unkempt
beggar, “And who the heck are you? How many pennies do your words cost?”
When Shi Qing Xuan heard others come after him like that his anger rolled up, and he pointed
at his own face, “HAH? YOU TALKIN’ MONEY IN FRONT OF ME? I DON’T THINK YOU KNOW
WHO YOU’RE TALKING TO, I BET YOU’VE ALL EVEN PROSTRATED BEFORE THIS, cough
cough…” Having said so much, he cleared his throat and shrank back. The band of spiritual
masters only thought that he couldn’t keep bluffing on anymore and backed off himself, so they
stopped caring and urged instead, “None of you know what those two are planning to do, be
careful of losing your lives over a small bite to eat!”
Xie Lian was just about to explain that the beggars were there to help on the grounds of
friendship and justice, and not just for a small bite to eat, but Hua Cheng spoke up languidly,
“That’s not true. They’re not there for a small bite to eat, they’re here to save the world.”
Xie Lian was a little puzzled, why would Hua Cheng say that? However, the other party started
clicking their tongues, “What, saving the world? What kind of fuss are you kicking up so blindly?
Just focus on saving your own lives is good enough!”
“Yea, there’s no need for beggars to join in on this, go away and stop adding to the troubles.”
Hua Cheng responded lazily, “Oh? So you mean to say, beggars can’t save the world? Is it
because they don’t have the ability to, or because they’re not worthy?”
The moment those words came out, the beggars grew rowdy, extremely displeased. Heaven’s
Eye said angrily, “That’s not what we said.”
Shi Qing Xuan immediately poked his head out again and pointed at him, “OY OY OY, THAT’S
NOT WHAT I HEARD! Isn’t that exactly what you meant by your words? And your tone was full
of disdain too, RIGHT, EVERYONE!”
“YEA! WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY THAT? HOW ARE WE NOT WORTHY?”
“WE GET A BITE TO EAT WHETHER IF WE CAME OR NOT, DID YOU THINK WE REALLY
ONLY CAME FOR THE FOOD? STOP LOOKING DOWN ON PEOPLE!”
Xie Lian turned around to Hua Cheng, and Hua Cheng flicked his brows at him, as if he was
saying “Easy as pie”, and Xie Lian thought to himself, so that was it. Although there were plenty
who remained behind, they weren’t particularly determined, so when Heaven’s Eye and
company unintentionally showed their belittlement, Hua Cheng made use of “Filthy beggars like
you have no use in such matters” and magnified it, exciting rebellion within the hearts of those
beggars: You don’t think we can do it? Then we’ll show you no matter what that we’ve got what
it takes too!
Thus, the battle spirits increased in waves. Both sides were yelling at each other, and Xie Lian
turned to Heaven’s Eye’s party, “If you’re really worried about this, then just stand by and watch.
If we do actually do something that’s harmful to others, it wouldn’t be too late for you to stop us
then.”
Next to him, Hua Cheng smiled and added, “But, best if you don’t get in the way.”
“…”
The band of spiritual masters had followed Xie Lian and Hua Cheng the entire way, and now
that they finally couldn’t hold back any longer and was ready to jump out all brave, but it didn’t
take long before they were scared back by Hua Cheng’s terrifying fake smile. Hua Cheng turned
his head, “Gege, look at the sky.”
Xie Lian looked up together with him. Those black shadows in front of the round moon were
now more clear, like they had gotten quietly closer.
In the time they were seeking helpers, who knows how long the night had passed, and those
creatures were about to plunge!
Xie Lian’s heart lurched: oh no, they’re out of time to find more people! But he didn’t show this
on his face and immediately cried, “EVERYONE, IN POSITION! GRAB ON TIGHT!”
Shi Qing Xuan was already standing at attention, “Your high… Ol’ Xie, we’re only so many, won’t
they break through us quickly?”
This was the mortal realm after all, random screams would cause misunderstandings and
unnecessary troubles. Xie Lain replied, “I will guard here and check on you all constantly, and
when a spot is about to be broken I will go up to fix the array. This way we’ll be able to extend
the time.” So basically fix nonstop any new leaking holes that’d appear. Shi Qing Xuan replied,
“Uuhh, w-well then, our lives are in your hands, including mine too, your high… Ol’ Xie you gotta
work hard, alright? Work very hard! I’m a mortal right now!”
“Alright O’l Feng, I’ll give it my all.”
Everyone’s palms were sweaty and everyone’s faces were tense. Right after everyone tightly
clutched each other’s hands, suddenly, above in the sky of the silent night came a shrieking cry,
and it came closer and closer, faster and faster!
They’ve come!
Catching the right timing, Xie Lian instructed, “Everyone, blow air forward!”
The people didn’t understand why but they followed the direction and each filled their cheeks
and started blowing air with all their might. To have a large crowd puff out a round of hot, white
air in the middle of a winter’s night, while the breaths wouldn’t go very far, but the heated air
mixed with the aura of Yang was very confounding. Plus, Hua Cheng had secretly casted a
camouflage spell, blinding the creatures from seeing what was going on, and those resentful
spirits that were originally going to scatter and go rogue sensed an area where it was
particularly heavy with heat and the aura of the living, rippling and undulating too, very lively,
and they very naturally believed that was the target for attack as they excitedly rushed over,
forming a raging black pillar!
In that instant, Xie Lian’s entire vision was practically covered by blackness, and he cried,
“EVERYONE BE CAREFUL NOT TO LOOSEN YOUR HOLD, THEY’VE COME INTO THE
CAGE!”
Right then, from behind Hua Cheng, thousands of silver butterflies emerged and spread.
Haunting silver light illuminated, and the black fog before Xie Lian’s eyes was instantly
dispersed. He saw Hua Cheng extend a hand his way, “Gege, come to my side.”
Xie Lian was slightly startled and immediately took his hand. Hua Cheng only pulled lightly
before Xie Lian was pulled over. He wrapped a hand around his waist and composedly swept
the area with his glare. Even though those resentful spirits were locked within the Kiln for two
thousand years and had lost their minds from the imprisonment, they still didn’t dare to go near,
and within a meter radius of the two there was not a single dark aura. Only then did the resentful
spirits that had gleefully dropped into the circle notice something amiss; they had been tearing
and chomping around, but how come they didn’t tear into any of the living but were tearing into
each other instead? There were also two they couldn’t touch, and those silver butterflies were
like sharp blades and showers of arrows to them, their wings flapping and assaulting, murdering
them as their screams shot through the skies!
The resentful spirits finally noticed they’ve been trapped. They were like savage beasts locked
in a fiery, battling cage, but those two hundred some people weren’t players outside this iron
cage; they were the iron bars of this cage themselves!
Having noticed this, the resentful spirits were beyond outraged, and they screeched violently
and savagely at the beggars who were blocking them hand in hand, their mouths wide open as
if they were going to devour their heads, the hairs standing in fury, their faces and bodies
miserably contorted and twisting. Some backed a few steps from horror, but they were soon
stopped by those next to them, “Don’t move!”
Xie Lian also called out, “DON’T MOVE! THEY CAN’T HURT YOU AS LONG AS THE ARRAY
IS IN TACT!”
Hearing this, the crowd was somewhat reassured. There were even beggars who’d spit wildly at
the shrieking resentful spirits, crying as they spat, “P’TUI P’TUI P’TUI! I’LL DIRTY YOU, DIRTY
YOU! GET OUTTA HERE!” This was probably because they heard somewhere that ghosts were
afraid of filthy things, and Xie Lian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “You don’t need to do
that either! They won’t be scared!”
Just then, he suddenly noticed somewhere in the human array was about to fall apart, a hole
about to leak, and he hastily looked over. He saw a scrawny little beggar whose eyes were
bulged and unfocused, his breathing harsh, like he was so nervous he was about to convulse!
Many resentful spirits also noticed this man’s spirit was weakening, and they all swarmed
towards him. Xie Lian rushed up and whipped, and those resentful spirits howled as they were
whipped apart while Xie Lian rapidly made that man back out, ordering for the ones on his left
and right to connect. Before he had the time to breathe in relief, about six meters away on the
southwest another new leak appeared. Just as Xie Lian was about to rush over, he discovered
much further away another leak appeared, right from the person next to Shi Qing Xuan!
The number of resentful spirits was immense after all. This was only the first wave too, there
would be many more after, coming nonstop!
He wouldn’t make it in time, and Xie Lian cried, “SAN LANG!”
However, Hua Cheng didn’t move, “Gege, don’t worry.”
Xie Lian refused to believe Hua Cheng didn’t notice, and he refused to believe Hua Cheng
would ignore things too, but that hole was going to be exploited by the resentful spirits!
Right at the crucial moment however, a yellow talisman came flying over and exploded right
beside Shi Qing Xuan!
Although that talisman didn’t blow up any resentful spirits, it still made them shrink back in
alarm, their heads withdrawing. Turns out it was that band of spiritual masters who had been
peeping all this time who came rushing over, yelling, “I TOLD YOU ALL NOT TO GET
INVOLVED, BUT SINCE YOU’RE INVOLVED NOW THEN STAND YOUR GROUND TO THE
END! IF YOU CAN’T, THEN YOU’RE JUST ADDING TO TROUBLE!!!”
Hua Cheng turned to Xie Lian, “See, I told you not to worry.”
He would forever be at ease. Xie Lian answered, “En!”
Heaven’s Eye and the other masters couldn’t stand still in the end, and they came rushing up
themselves. They certainly were professional martial artists, moving fast and agile, and they
each grabbed two people’s hands, separating them and bridging themselves in. Tens of dozens
of newcomers instantly assimilated into the circle, expanding the human array. Heaven’s Eye
called out, “FELLOW COLLEAGUES! QUICK QUICK QUICK, WHOEVER HAS THEIR
SCHOOLS AND DISCIPLES HERE IN THE CAPITAL TELL THEM TO COME QUICK!!!”
“Go go go!”
“I’LL CALL MY DISCIPLE OVER TOO!”
Soon after, a hundred some people came barreling down the street.
Those hundred some people sure were impressive, all of them monks, cultivators, spellcasters!
Each of them decked in full gear, taking two steps as one, their forms heroic and refreshing. Xie
Lian cheered loudly in his head while the beggars all stared with wide eyes and open mouths.
When this new wave of people saw the extraordinary sight of a raging pillar of peculiar aura they
were all stunned, and soon after they hastily joined in. Once they assimilated, the circle
expanded even bigger; the entire main avenue of the royal capital was going to run out of room.
And nevermind the bravery of the newcomers, all of them were decked in all sorts of spiritual
tools, no doubt able to greatly extend the time to hold this array.
Having seen this, Xie Lian was now at least nine party confident and he called out calmly with
assurance, “EVERYONE DON’T BE AFRAID, THE TABLE’S TURNING. WE’VE GOT MORE
AND MORE PEOPLE ON OUR SIDE, SO AS LONG AS WE HOLD THE FORT DOWN
FIRMLY, DESTROYING THEM WOULD ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME!”
The crowd could also see the situation was going in their favour. Now that there was hope in the
mix, it made everything easier, and instantly all was filled with confidence, and they responded
enthusiastically, “DESTROY THEM!”
On the other end, Heaven’s Eye said, “We’ve got a hundred and sixty-eight people on our side!
How many are you? How long do you think we can last?”
On this end, the head of the beggars Shi Qing Xuan also counted a number of times and he
answered loudly, “We’ve got a hundred and forty-eight remaining here in the array!”
“Altogether we’ve got three hundred and sixteen people.” Xie Lian said, “We just need to find…”
However, Hua Cheng spoke up, “That’s not right.”
Xie Lian turned to him, “What’s not right?”
Hua Cheng’s gaze returned and looked at him solemnly, “The count isn’t right. Right now, there
are three hundred and seventeen people here.”
———–
Ch.207: Seeking Affection; Ghost King Fakes Displeasure
“…”
Although Hua Cheng only swept a look, but Xie Lian wholeheartedly trust that he wouldn’t have
counted wrong.
He said it in a hushed voice, and no one else heard besides Xie Lian. Xie Lian also swiftly
scanned the circle once.
Everyone here was holding hands, so just when did an extra person joined?
Could it be that Shi Qing Xuan counted wrong? Xie Lian asked, “Are you sure that you’ve got
the right numbers? You didn’t miss anyone?”
Shi Qing Xuan swore, “Nope! Didn’t you say the head count is important? So I’ve been keeping
count repeatedly, and the ones who left halfway through were also taken off the count. It’s one
hundred and forty-eight of us. What is it? Is something wrong?”
It wasn’t the right time to explain at the moment, and doing so recklessly would only start
unnecessary panic, and Xie Lian couldn’t have people point out those they didn’t recognize
either because there were too many on sight, and most people didn’t know each other in the
first place. Thus Xie Lian replied, “No, I’m just verifying.”
It was even less possible for the spell users side to have miscounted, since everyone reported
the number of their own household heads to Heaven’s Eye before he added them all together.
There was no way they didn’t know how many from their schools had come.
Xie Lian whispered back, “When did the extra one get mixed in? What is that person planning?”
“They either came right from the start or they’ve mixed in when the spell users joined. But,
they’re human for sure.”
At least it wasn’t a ghost for sure. In order to form this circle everyone had to be human,
otherwise they wouldn’t be able to keep those resentful spirits in.
This person also didn’t seem to want to be exposed for the moment either, since if they had
already joined this circle, then as long as they let go without warning and a hole appeared, then
the entire human array would collapse. However, up until now the circle still remained stable,
which meant they had been keeping to the role of the ‘iron bars’ properly.
Which meant that was even more reason for Xie Lian not to act recklessly. If that person had
noticed their existence was discovered, then who knows if they would just flee now. Which also
meant it would be quite difficult if they wanted to find this person without them noticing and pick
them out without disrupting the circle.
However, it didn’t take long before Xie Lian got an idea. He turned to Hua Cheng, “San Lang,
can your wraith butterflies only chase but not kill those resentful spirits? I mean, have them
chase the spirits in a direction you determine?”
Hua Cheng immediately understood what he wanted to do, “Yes, I can.”
Since this person joined in of their own volition, then they must not be any simple character and
had no fear of the resentful spirits.
Then, reversedly, if Hua Cheng manipulated the wraith butterflies to force the resentful spirits to
the edge of the circle, then the spirits would for sure attempt to find any leaks to escape. Almost
every mortal could become a leaking hole, but only one person would not.
The one who joined in on their own!
“But this idea is really risky.” Xie Lian said, “If we’re not careful then someone might let go from
fright. We’d be slapping our own faces.”
“Don’t worry,” Hua Cheng said, “Before that happens I’ll have killed the resentful spirits.”
The two formulated their plans and Xie Lian suddenly raised his voice and called out,
“EVERYONE WATCH OUT! THE RESENTFUL SPIRITS SUDDENLY GOT STRONGER! JUST
HOLD ON AND DON’T BE SCARED!”
Heaven’s Eye exclaimed, “WHAT?! WHY WOULD THEY SUDDENLY GET STRONGER ALL
OF A SUDDEN?”
Hua Cheng didn’t move from his spot, but those wraith butterflies started chasing the depraved
resentful spirits as they chaotically tried to get away. The others didn’t know what was going on,
but the spell users noticed something was amiss. Heaven’s Eye was outraged, “HUA CHENG…
ZHU! WHAT ARE YOU DOING??”
The two inside the circle had no time to mind him and only watched the pursuit intently. Sure
enough. Amidst the chaos of black smoggish torrents that filled the air, there was one person
those resentful spirits didn’t bother to approach at all, and the area before that person was
conspicuously empty.
It was him!
Xie Lian flashed forward and grabbed that man’s hands while at the same time, bridging the
hands of the two next to this man, and picked this man out of the loop.
Heaven’s Eye and his party were growing restly, “WHAT’S GOING ON??”
Hua Cheng answered rudely, “It’s none of your business.” And just as he finished his words, he
had already moved to Xie Lian’s side, guarding against any unexpected troubles that man might
inflict. Xie Lian restrained that man firmly then twisted him over. That instant when the two faced
each other, Xie Lian forcefully swallowed the words “who are you” that were already at the tip of
his tongue, and widened his eyes.
Staring at that face, Xie Lian mumbled, “Guoshi, so it really was you…”
That man was also stunned, and it was a moment before he mumbled, “Your Highness…”
This face should’ve been exceedingly familiar, but it was incredibly foreign instead. In his
memories, Guoshi should’ve been over thirty in age, his disposition fairly calm and composed,
and with a sweep of his robes and putting on airs, he could fool anyone. However, the man
before him right now only looked to be about twenty-five or six, not much older than himself.
Even if Xie Lian had heard his voice inside the mountain spirit body at Mount TongLu, he still
kept wondering perhaps he had mistaken. Even when Jun Wu told him your master wasn’t a
simple character, be absolutely cautious, he also thought could the Emperor be mistaken.
However, there was no doubt that the man before him was his master, and the last Guoshi of
XianLe – Mei Nian Qing!
The three of them stared at each other inside a circle formed by three hundred some people,
and the air seemed to have frozen. However, when Mei Nian Qing finally snapped out of it, what
he did right after was something unexpected.
While Xie Lian was still stunned, he suddenly retaliated and lunged forward, strangling Xie Lian
with his hands!
However, Hua Cheng was standing right next to them, so how could he possibly allow Mei Nian
Qing to succeed? He didn’t even need to move before Mei Nian Qing was flung out, falling
meters away. The sudden stir startled everyone holding hands in the circle, “WHY DID THEY
START FIGHTING??”
“WHAT’S GOING ON?”
“WHO ARE THEY HITTING?”
Hua Cheng exclaimed, “Gege! Are you alright?”
“I’m fine!” Xie Lian replied, but in fact, it was Guoshi who looked to not be fine. Mei Nian Qing
coughed out blood from the blow, and crawled up to his feet before stumbling away, trying to
charge out of the crowd. When Shi Qing Xuan saw him running towards him, he cried anxiously,
“WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING! HEY, I’M WARNING YOU! DON’T YOU DARE COME OVER
HERE!? Your Highness! HE’S TRYING TO BREAK THE CIRCLE!”
Xie Lian shouted, “RETURN!”
RuoYe answered and flew out! However, before it could wrap itself around Mei Nian Qing, a
sword dropped from the sky and plunged into the ground before the Guoshi, blocking his way.
Following right after, a white light flashed from the heavens, and several rays dropped down.
Along with that curtain of light, a martial god donned in white armour descended from the
heavens and sealed Mei Nian Qing’s retreating path!
Having both the front and the back blocked, Mei Nian Qing had nowhere else to run, and when
he whipped around, he bumped into a RuoYe who seemed to be dancing in mad joy, prancing
up as it bound him tight, tumbling him to the ground. Xie Lian took a step forward, “My Lord?
How come you’ve come personally?”
Jun Wu rose to his feet, his expression solemn, “Mount TongLu has been temporarily stabilized,
so I’ve come to see how things are going here on your end.”
“How did you manage to stabilize it?” Xie Lian asked.
“I created a new barrier,” Jun Wu replied, “And temporarily trapped those three mountain spirits
and other inhuman creatures.”
What Xie Lian cared about however, wasn’t those mountain spirits or other unrelated little
minions, “Then… White No-Face?”
Jun Wu shook his head slowly, “I did not find him in Mount TongLu. I’m afraid, he had long since
escaped elsewhere.”
Xie Lian looked around; a field of blinding light surrounded them, separating them from the three
hundred some people outside holding hands, and at the moment, the mortals outside the screen
of light could not see what was going on within. Xie Lian then looked to the ground; Guoshi had
rolled around and saw Jun Wu, and he probably remembered the vicious fight they had in the
past, and he appeared both shocked and furious, yet wisely remained silent even as he raged
inwardly. Jun Wu also inclined his head, watching him from above condescendingly before
speaking up slowly, “Guoshi of XianLe, long time no see.”
Hua Cheng approached lazily, gave Mei Nian Qing a brief look before speaking up, “This
Guoshi looks pretty weak, so how did he manage to escape back then?”
“He didn’t escape by his own strength.” Jun Wu said, “At the time, there were three helpers at
his side. They were the other three Deputy Guoshis of XianLe.”
Having listened to this point, Xie Lian couldn’t hold back any longer and asked, “Guoshi… just,
who exactly are you?”
Mei Nian Qing watched Jun Wu darkly, his hands clenched tight into fists, veins popping on the
back of his hands, and whether if he was furious that Jun Wu had ruined his plans or if he was
furious Xie Lian exposed him couldn’t be told. It was a moment before he said under his breath,
“Haven’t you already guessed, Your Highness?”
One of the Four Guardians of the Crown Prince of WuYong!
“And that Crown Prince of WuYong?” Xie Lian pressed on, “Is he White No-Face?”
Hearing this, Jun Wu was taken aback, “Xian Le, the Crown Prince of WuYong is?”
Only then did Xie Lian remember that he hadn’t yet had the chance to report to Jun Wu about
the affairs of WuYong. Having finally captured Guoshi, Xie Lian had many things to report and
many questions to ask, but none of that should be conducted here. Xie Lian replied, “My Lord,
let’s talk after returning to the Heavenly Court.”
“That may be for the best.” Jun Wu said. After humming for a moment, he added, “However,
most of the resentful spirits from Mount TongLu had been sent here to the royal capital, and they
can’t be suppressed so quickly. Even if I am the one doing the cleansing, it would take at least
seven days and seven nights to do so.”
Did he have to wait for seven days before he could interrogate Guoshi? That’d be too late then.
White No-Face was still at large! Xie Lian was still contemplating on what to do when he heard
Hua Cheng speak up, “Leave the mess here to me. You can go up as you will.”
Xie Lian turned his head to gaze at him, but Hua Cheng had already guessed what he was
going to say, “There’s no need to say anything else. I will wait for you down here. If gege really
wants to thank me, then just come back to me quickly after.”
“Will that be alright?” Jun Wu said.
Xie Lian relaxed and smiled, “En. Yes.”
Just then, there was suddenly a silhouette flickering outside the screen of light, and a person
came charging in from the outside. He hobbled and hopped, shouting, “Your Highness! Your
Highness, what are you doing in here? Is everything alright?”
It was Shi Qing Xuan. Turns out, when Jun Wu had descended and pulled that screen of light,
no one outside knew what was happening and were all scared to death. Shi Qing Xuan then
stepped up bravely and decided to charge in to see what was going on. If it was anyone else
they might’ve been blocked out, but since he had worked as a heavenly official before in the
past, that screen of light recognized him and actually allowed him in. The moment he entered he
was stupefied, “M-M-M-M-My Lord??? How come you’ve… come personally???”
When Jun Wu saw him he smiled lightly, “Lord Wind Master. How have you been?”
“…”
Shi Qing Xuan was hesitantly shy and somewhat embarrassed. After all, there was no way he
didn’t know after the whole affair of Shi Wu Du changing his own little brother’s fate, sending
him up to the heavens had spread, it would cause a riot. To see his former boss now, other than
feeling ashamed and guilty, he had nothing else in mind. However, Jun Wu didn’t say anything
to him and was still very courteous, giving him full respect. Xie Lian withdrew RuoYe and Mei
Nian Qing rose to his feet himself slowly. After Shi Qing Xuan was done being shy, he asked,
puzzled, “Who’s this? What’s happening right now?”
Mei Nian Qing glanced at him and suddenly spoke up, “You’re Shi Qing Xuan, aren’t you?”
Shi Qing Xuan was taken aback, “And who are you? How do you know my name?” But the most
important question was, how come he still recognized me even in this appearance???
Mei Nian Qing humphed, “Your name’s terrible.”
“HUH?” Shi Qing Xuan was confused.
However, Mie Nian Qing didn’t speak another word and followed after Jun Wu knowingly,
looking rather docile, probably because he knew that now that he didn’t have any helpers by his
side, he couldn’t escape from Jun Wu’s hand.
“Xian Le, I will take him up first.” Jun Wu said, “You’re coming up in a bit?”
“Yes.” Xie Lian replied.
Jun Wu nodded at him. Then, the two of them left first. Xie Lian turned to Hua Cheng, but before
he could say anything, Hua Cheng spoke up first, “Gege, you don’t have to worry about
anything. It’s only just watching after this circle, making sure they don’t start anything. It’s
nothing hard.”
Shi Qing Xuan also chimed in, “Your Highness, are you gonna go up? Go, go, I’ll watch over
things too, don’t worry!”
Xie Lian nodded, “Thank you both for your hard work.”
If this was in the past, Hua Cheng would most likely reply with “It’s nothing” or other such
responses, yet unexpectedly, this time, he hugged his arms instead, and sighed, “Sigh, it is
rather hard work.”
“…”
Xie Lian sensed he might be hinting at something. Shi Qing Xuan on the other hand, sensed
nothing, and said excitedly, “Yea, remember to reward us for our hard work after, yea? How
about throwing a feast at the best restaurant of the royal capital? Hahaha…”
He still couldn’t forget about feasting at the best restaurant of the royal capital, and Xie Lian
thought to himself, ‘…Lord Wind Master, please don’t talk anymore, that wasn’t what he meant
at all…’
Hua Cheng shook his head and casually twiddled that red coral pearl tied at the end of his small
braid and wiggled his eyebrows, speaking with a seemingly nonchalant voice, “If gege was
beside me it would’ve been fine. But to think gege was going up again, leaving me down here all
by myself, hm, I feel even more troubled by the work.”
Shi Qing Xuan finally noticed something sounded weird but he still didn’t get it, and he said with
a face full of smiles, “Crimson Rain Sought Flower, your words are so funny. It sounds like
you’re saying you’re gonna be lonely now that His Highness is going back up to the heavens,
just like a newlywed hahahaha…”
‘You’re not wrong,’ Xie Lian thought, ‘Isn’t that exactly what he meant???”
Shi Qing Xuan laughed stiffly for a while and Xie Lian finally couldn’t bear it any longer and
cleared his throat, “Um, Lord Wind Master, will you, will you go out first? Just for a moment,
okay?”
Shi Qing Xuan, “??? Why?”
Xie Lian couldn’t explain, “Just… just go out first. We’re just bidding our farewells.”
Only then did Shi Qing Xuan exit, all confused. There was now only the two of them left inside
the screen of light, not a third soul present, and Xie Lian turned back around. Hua Cheng was
still watching him with a raised brow, seeming to be waiting for him to say something, or do
something.
Thus, Xie Lian gathered his courage, placed two stiff hands on Hua Cheng’s shoulders,
steadying himself for a moment, before he hopped up forcefully and pecked his cheek.
After having done that, he looked around with a hollow conscience like a thief, and only relaxing
when he saw there was no one. Yet unexpectedly, the next second, he felt tightening on his
waist and it was Hua Cheng who had hugged him close, “Gege, aren’t you just placating me?”
His unhappy tone was half serious, half fake, startling Xie Lian, and he quickly exclaimed, “I’m
not!”
“Really?” Hua Cheng said, “But you weren’t like this at all when you were borrowing spiritual
powers from me. Could I only get this kind of farewell now that I’m not lending spiritual powers?”
“…”
Now that he thought about it, Xie Lian felt perhaps he really wasn’t being sincere at all. A
moment later, he said in a small voice, “…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”
After apologizing however, the more he thought about it the more it did seem like that was how
he meant it, and alarms blared in his head. Before Hua Cheng responded, without another
word, Xie Lian’s body moved before his mind, and he jumped up, hugged Hua Cheng around
the neck, before he pulled himself close emphatically. This time, he had wholly kissed the place
Hua Cheng wanted him to kiss.
Yet who knew, Shi Qing Xuan’s voice just had to come right then all of a sudden, “Your
Highness, I keep thinking about it and it feels weirder the more I thought. If you two are bidding
farewells there was no need to kick me out? I’m only just… Your Highness? How come he left
so fast?”
Xie Lian had fled fumbling and stumbling.
———
Ch.208: Ghost Enters the Mirror; Nowhere to Hide
Even after having fumbled and stumbled onto the main avenue of the Heavenly Capital, Xie
Lian was still covering half of his face with his hand, wobbly and unsteady the entire way. While
none of the junior heavenly officials rushing about on the street dared approach him to ask
about it, nonetheless they all stared at him strangely, and Xie Lian quickly dropped his hand,
straightening his back, and rubbed his mouth unnaturally, muttering, “My lips kind of hurt, don’t
know what’s going on, haha…”
The looks the junior officials gave him became even stranger.
Just what did you have to do for your lips to hurt?
It really did kind of hurt actually. Earlier when he jumped up to crush the kiss, he used too much
force, and Hua Cheng most likely felt the crash, but after Xie Lian had pressed close he could
feel very obviously that Hua Cheng seemed to have smiled. He didn’t dare to think more on the
subject and hurried onwards with his head down, and the other heavenly officials didn’t stop him
either, all rushing down their own ways.
Perhaps it was because the reopening of Mount TongLu had become too hectic an affair, and
the air of the entire Heavenly Court was solemn and uneasy. Within the Great Martial Hall, there
were already many heavenly officials gathered. While the resentful spirits of Mount TongLu were
sent in all directions, the majority were sent to the most populous royal capital. Xie Lian and Hua
Cheng had toiled until now because they chose the heaviest and roughest task; everyone else
only faced about a few hundred of those creatures and had long since finished them off. Pei
Ming, Feng Xin, and the others had already come up, returned to the Heavenly Capital, their
faces tired with fatigue. However, when Xie Lian crossed into the hall and looked up to greet
people, the first one he saw was Lang Qian Qiu who he hadn’t seen in a long time.
Lang Qian Qiu’s face was dark, and when he saw Xie Lian he was also taken aback, then he
twisted his head around.
The crowd were all deep in their thoughts and unspeaking. Jun Wu sat on the top on the throne,
and when he saw Xie Lian had come, he rose a little, ready to speak, but Lang Qian Qiu
stepped forward first, “My Lord, I heard you’ve already caught the Green Ghost Qi Rong.”
Jun Wu looked at him, “That’s correct. However, the Green Ghost Qi Rong, the female ghost
Xuan Ji as well as others were not captured by my own hand. They were all consigned by Yin
Yu of Ghost City.”
Only then did Xie Lian notice that Yin Yu was present too. It couldn’t be helped, Yin Yu really
had no sense of presence. Speaking of, this was the first time Yin Yu had entered the Great
Martial Hall. Other than the highest ranking of heavenly officials, no other subjects could step
foot within this hall without Jun Wu’s permission. In the past when Yin Yu was a heavenly
official, he didn’t have the right to enter since his rank was too low. Yet now that he had
“Willingly fallen” to the Ghost City, he could finally enter formally, truly a complicated feeling.
Lang Qian Qiu cut right into the subject, “Qi Rong is the enemy who destroyed my clan, pray my
lord leave him at my disposal.”
Jun Wu glanced at Xie Lian and hummed for a moment, “It’s not that handing him over to you
would be a problem, however, I ask you, what comes after you have dealt with the Green Ghost
Qi Rong? What will you do?”
Originally, when Lang Qian Qiu had left, he threatened that after he was done with Qi Rong he
would come looking for Xie Lian, and this was something Jun Wu had known. Lang Qian Qiu’s
voice was hard, “That will not be my lord’s concern. My lord can’t possibly plan on acquitting Qi
Rong just because I don’t answer this question, and prevent me from avenging my family?”
In the past, he rarely spoke within the Great Martial Hall, and even when he did it’d be
something silly, yet now when he spoke up, his expressions and his tone of voice were filled
with resentment. This was not a good state to be in, and Pei Ming spoke up, “Your Highness Tai
Hua seems to have quite the temper today, eh? Of course my lord doesn’t plan on acquitting…”
Just as he was trying to smooth things over, the sound of commotion came from outside the
hall, and someone charged in, “My lord, I can’t wait any longer!”
It was actually Mu Qing. He was donned in black, his face grim too, and several of the martial
officials behind him were supposed to be apprehending him, but how could they possibly be
capable of it? So they came rushing in too, “My lord, we were just sending General Xuan Zhen
to…”
Jun Wu sighed, his hand supporting his cheek and waved, “I understand. Step down.” A
moment later, he lifted his head and gazed towards Mu Qing, “And so?”
Mu Qing proclaimed with a steel voice, “So I cannot continue to endure this baseless
accusation. Hasn’t my lord already captured that woman? I want to confront her face on!”
Lang Qian Qiu spoke up too, “My lord, please hand me the Green Ghost Qi Rong as well!”
The two both spoke with raised voices, making the scene appear riotous, and it was giving Jun
Wu headaches, “Silence! Can you both not wait until I have finished dealing with Mount
TongLu?”
Mu Qing reasoned, “If my lord needs to manage the resentful spirits leaked from the Kiln, then
you need hands. What’s the use in keeping me locked up? Why not clear my name so I can
return to my service to the Heavenly Court. As long as my lord bring her up to have me confront
her, the truth will come out!”
His words were logical, and if he wasn’t given his way, he would probably be relentless, so Jun
Wu could only command, “Bring up the female ghost Jian Lan.”
Soon after, Jian Lan was brought forth. In her arms was a bundle that looked like swaddling
cloths, and it emitted a chilling black aura. From within the bundle, something tragically pale that
resembled a hand but not, something that resembled bones but not, poked out, baring its teeth
and claws, but was forcibly stuffed back into the bundle. She wasn’t restrained with her arms
twisted back by the arresting officers, probably to give Feng Xin face. Feng Xin swallowed
lightly, meeting his eyes with hers for a moment before Jian Lan looked away first. Then, Feng
Xin’s gaze fell on the ’swaddling cloths’ in her arms, and his look grew even more complicated.
Mu Qing on the other hand, was already at the end of his patience, and the moment she came
up he spoke up, “I don’t know why your son must slander me, but it knows for sure I’m not the
culprit. It must be under someone else’s control.”
He was losing his composure like this, but Xie Lian could understand, since Mu Qing was
someone who cared about face deeply, and to have a chamber pot sitting on his head for so
long, even going as far as to affect his duty in the Upper Court, he was naturally filled to the
brim with raw temper. Jun Wu questioned, “And by your conjecture, who do you think is
controlling it?”
Mu Qing didn’t speak, but his gaze moved and everyone could tell he was looking at Jian Lan.
The veins on Feng Xin’s forehead instantly popped, “What are you trying to say? Do you think
she would purposely have her son slander you??”
Mu Qing withdrew his gaze and replied, “I didn’t say anything of the sort.”
“Then why were you looking at her?” Feng Xin exclaimed, “She bears no grudges for you so
why would she do such a thing?”
Mu Qing glared at him, “There’s certainly no grudges between us, but who knows about with
you.”
“And what do you mean by that?” Feng Xin demanded, “Just have everything out all at once.”
Mu Qing glanced at Xie Lian, “You acquainted the Lady Jian Lan during the time of His
Highness’ first banishment, right?”
The other officials also followed along and looked to Xie Lian.
Xie Lian: “???”
How did he get dragged in again?
Feng Xin glanced at him too and gritted with quiet anger, “What does that have to do with
anything?”
Mu Qing stopped caring and let everything go, thoroughly ripping things out into the open, “Of
course it has to do with everything. At the time, life by His Highness’ side was staggeringly
difficult, and you also hated me, the one who had returned to the Middle Court, to the bone. You
love digging through my history to berate my wrongs, and since she’s your bedmate, how could
she not hate me by this subliminal influence? Who knows, maybe she also started hating His
Highness because in the end, you still didn’t take her away, and instead chose to continue your
wretched loyalty, it was practically abandoneme…”
Feng Xin couldn’t bear this anymore and roared, “STOP YOUR BULLSHIT!!”
His fist flew out and Mu Qing raised his to return the blow. Jian Lan went up to stop them but
that fetus spirit started cackling weirdly, much like the chaotic cries of old crows, exceedingly
horrifying. Pei Ming and Yin Yu both pulled Feng Xin and Mu Qing back separately while Quan
Yi Zhen was standing on the side staring, seeming to be contemplating who’d win if they started
a fight. In any case, it was a mess in the hall. Xie Lian stood there quietly for a good while,
hanging his head, then after a moment, he sighed, and reminded, “My lord, the priority right now
should be to find White No-Face and manage the human face disease. It’s the person we
captured earlier who is the most important piece of the puzzle.”
Jun Wu couldn’t watch any longer either and waved his hand, “…Take the female ghost Jian Lan
and the fetus spirit away. Bring forth the Guoshi of XianLe.”
Mu Qing shouted, “NO! I GOTTA SEE… WHAT??”
Feng Xin was also dumbfounded, “BRING WHO??”
The two both looked to the entrance of the hall, and wasn’t the one brought over by a martial
official none other than the Guoshi of XianLe whom they were both very familiar with, Mei Nian
Qing?
Feng Xin and Mu Qing were both flabbergasted. Feng Xin ventured, “Guoshi? It really is
Guoshi?” Mu Qing didn’t say anything but he was also stunned and unsure. They couldn’t be
blamed. In truth, even now Xie Lian still felt things were kind of surreal, and he couldn’t connect
this man with the Guoshi who once asked him the question of “Two Men and a Cup of Water”.
Mei Nian Qing stepped forward languidly, brushing past Xie Lian. Jun Wu sat overlooking the
great hall, “Xian Le, when we were down below, you seemed to have something to say.”
Xie Lian inclined his head slightly, “Yes.”
Thus, he picked out the important bits and reported his journey to Mount TongLu, and the
incidents that occurred while exploring the Kingdom of WuYong. The more the crowd listened
the wider their eyes became, never mind Feng Xin and Mu Qing. After the report was done, Jun
Wu spoke up slowly, “And yet I have never heard of the Kingdom of WuYong before.”
The other officials all agreed, “I’ve never heard it before either…”
“It was two thousand years ago after all.”
“Traces of it must’ve been wiped intentionally.”
Mei Nian Qing hadn’t spoken a single word throughout it all. Xie Lian turned to him, “Guoshi, the
Crown Prince of WuYong is White No-Face, am I right?”
“Yes.” Mei Nian Qing answered.
He knew it!
Pei Ming spoke as he mused, “Then who left those murals behind? And who destroyed the last
painting?”
“I don’t know who left those murals behind,” Xie Lian responded, “But I think the last painting
was destroyed by White No-Face or his subordinates. After all, he didn’t want anyone to know of
his identity.”
He turned to Mei Nian Qing, “And you are the subordinate of the Crown Prince of WuYong.”
Which made him the subordinate of White No-Face.
“…”
Mei Nian Qing didn’t speak. Xie Lian had a sudden urge to ask him, back when XianLe fell, had
Guoshi known that creature was White No-Face? Which also meant, they were colluding, and
Guoshi was even a helper?
However, in the end he asked a different question instead, “Where is White No-Face right now?”
“…”
“Why did White No-Face have to bring ruin to XianLe?” Xie Lian questioned.
“…”
“Why do you want to kill me?” Xie Lian demanded.
Mei Nian Qing finally spoke up, “Your Highness, I never wanted to kill you.”
“Then why were you coming for my throat down there?” Xie Lian asked.
Mei Nian Qing asked back, “If I strangled you, would you have died? Would the one next to you
allow me to succeed?”
That’s true. But that didn’t mean Mei Nian Qing didn’t have a killing intent, since his reaction
was completely subconscious at the time. Mei Nian Qing probably knew he couldn’t convince
Xie Lian so he stopped trying to argue.
After a moment of silence, Xie Lian finally asked the question he wanted the answer to the
most.
“What did you want to awaken in me?” Xie Lian asked.
Jun Wu had told him Guoshi seemed to want to awaken something within him, but what could it
be?
Mei Nian Qing stared at him strangely. Inside his sleeves, Xie Lian’s hands were clenched into
fists, “Guoshi, go ahead and tell me.”
Xie Lian had always felt vaguely uneasy. The path of fate of that Crown Prince of WuYong was
so similar to his own, could there really be some sort of hidden connection between himself and
White No-Face?
This was something he must verify, since he couldn’t allow a creature like White No-Face to
have any sort of connection to himself. Yet he was also very afraid that White No-Face really did
have something to do with himself.
Mei Nian Qing watched him, and a moment later, he replied, “Your Highness, these questions
you ask, it’s not quite the right time for me to answer them. Even if I do answer, you might not
believe me.”
After a pause, he continued, “However, there is one thing I can answer you right now.”
Mei Nian Qing slowly enunciated each word, “Right now, White No-Face is inside this Great
Martial Hall. He is standing right before me!”
Who’s standing right before him?
Xie Lian was!
Xie Lian instantly backed a few steps away, seeming to want to avoid being in that spot. The
closest next to them was Feng Xin and he exclaimed, “Guoshi, you… you open your eyes and
look properly who the person is in front of you. It’s His Highness! Your disciple!”
However, there were other voices too. Further away, there were heavenly officials who covered
their mouths and whispered, “Could it be… that His Highness and White No-Face share… a
split soul?!”
“What’s a split soul??”
“It’s when a person’s soul is split into half, or broken into two sides. Each half has its own
memories, and their personalities and skills would be different too. Perhaps even the
appearance could be different as well…”
“…That’s very possible.”
“I’ve heard of cases like that too!”
“If it’s really like that what should we do? His Highness the Crown Prince is the White-Clothed
Calamity???”
Such voices were coming from all around, and Xie Lian himself started to doubt too: Was he
White No-Face??? Had it always been like this???
Could it be that it was he himself who had brought ruin to XianLe, that it was he who tortured
himself for eight hundred years? Everything up until now, it was all himself to blame???
It was clamouring noise all around within the hall, all the heavenly officials were whispering with
various expressions, and even Feng Xin didn’t know what to say anymore or what to believe. As
for Jun Wu, he stood up and said, “Xian Le, calm yourself!”
Xie Lian was falling apart, “I… I…”
Was everything really all his fault???
If it really was him, then what should he do? He didn’t know!
Just as he was drowning in confusion, a voice suddenly rang in his mind:
“No! I can swear that you are you, you’re not anyone else. Trust me!”
“…”
San Lang. San Lang!
Hua Cheng had said once that it couldn’t be him. It could never be his fault!
Having thought this, Xie Lian’s mind instantly cleared, and he steadied himself, standing his
ground. Jun Wu however, had already descended from his throne and came to his side, “Xian
Le! Calm down first…”
Xie Lian was just about to look up to give a composed response when unexpectedly, right then,
Mei Nian Qing suddenly reached out and pulled out the sacred sword hung on Feng Xin’s waist,
and lunged at Jun Wu!
All the heavenly officials cried out. However, both Jun Wu and Xie Lian were martial gods, the
best in their field no less, so why would they care for such a low level sneak attack? The point of
the blade hadn’t even touched Jun Wu before Xie Lian’s fingers had already flashed out as fast
as lightning and seized that shining, snow white blade, catching it right before his eyes!
Feng Xin came back to his senses and immediately rushed up to restrain Guoshi. That he dared
to conduct assassination within the Great Martial Hall, and in front of so many martial gods too,
he was asking for his death. Feng Xin exclaimed, “Guoshi, what you’re doing is pointless!”
However, while Mei Nian Qing struggled uselessly, he roared at Xie Lian at the same time,
“LOOK!!! TAKE A LOOK, QUICK!!!”
Yin Yu rushed up, “Your Highness! Are you alright? What’s happened?”
From afar, Mu Qing was alarmed, “Look at what? What does he mean? What is he planning?”
It was pandemonium, but for a good while, Xie Lian hadn’t moved a muscle.
It wasn’t because of anything else. It was because he saw something reflected on that snow
white blade.
A face.
The composed and handsome face of a youth.
And on this face, there were three other faces growing on it!
Those three tiny faces were squished on this person’s face, ruining that handsome complexion,
making it appear chillingly horrifying. Even the five features seemed to be contorting. Half of the
face appeared to be crying while the other half appeared to be smiling.
That face should’ve been infinitely familiar to Xie Lian. Yet right then, from the mirror-like blade,
the face was so foreign it was terrifying, so much so that Xie Lian was drenched in cold sweat.
Only then did he remember that this sword Feng Xin carried with him was HongJing, the mirror
that revealed evil. When ghosts entered the mirror, they could not hide.
From this angle, what HongJing reflected wasn’t his own face, but the face of the one who was
standing behind him. And, upon that face was a pair of dark, solemn eyes that were currently
watching him closely.
Xie Lian’s pupils slowly shrank. It was as if his movements had slowed, and as his mouth
opened slowly, his wrist suddenly stiffened.
A powerful hand had seized his wrist, and behind him, Jun Wu smiled, “Xian Le, what are you
looking at?”
———-
●MXTX Author Notes: Same old rules, don’t spoil or give hints.
Of course Xie Lian and White No-Face aren’t the light and dark side of the same person,
or reincarnations. They’re two completely different people. The story will explain.
———
Ch.209: Chaos in the Heavenly Court; Nefarious Wave Shakes the Heavens
It’s been hundreds of years since Xie Lian last felt such chill down his spine
Mei Nian Qing said White No-Face was standing right before him, and Xie Lian’s first thought
was it was himself, but he had forgotten. Before Mei Nian Qing, other than Xie Lian, there was
still Jun Wu behind him!
Only, he had never suspected that person, so this was a startling revelation, which was why all
of his hairs were now standing abruptly. Xie Lian struggled a bit but the strength of that hand
was extremely powerful, gripping him firmly without budging. He said in spite of himself, “You…
your face…”
Jun Wu’s voice sounded like he didn’t care for it at all, like he had only just noticed a trifling
mistake, “Ah, a moment’s carelessness and they’ve come out again.”
Another wave of excruciating pain shot up from Xie Lian’s wrist and finally, he couldn’t grip the
hilt anymore and loosened his grip.
The long sword dropped to the ground and CLANG!, a crisp, resounding sound filled the hall.
However, it was too late.
Many of the heavenly officials nearby, like Xie Lian, had seen that horrifying face reflected in
HongJing!
A blanket of dead silence covered the great hall. Almost every heavenly official was stunned,
including Feng Xin, who stood the closest and saw everything clearly. Mei Nian Qing used this
chance to break free of the hold and grabbed HongJing that was on the ground, raising it up
with both hands to stand it upright in front of Jun Wu, “EVERYONE LOOK CLOSELY!! LOOK AT
THE FACE OF THIS MAN STANDING RIGHT HERE!!!”
It was a number of martial gods that came to their senses first, and Pei Ming rushed forward
and shouted, his sword pulled out, “WHO ARE YOU??”
The heavenly officials standing further away didn’t understand what was happening and they
started crying, “WHAT’S GOING ON?”
“Who is General Pei talking to?”
“HOW CAN HE POINT THE SWORD AT THE EMPEROR?”
Mei Nian Qing stared intensely at Jun Wu without blinking, enunciating each word, “HE, IS
WHITE NO-FACE!”
Mu Qing was dumbstruck, “How could he be White No-Face? Is White No-Face impersonating
the emperor? Then where’s the real emperor?”
Xie Lian was now also wondering if there was an underhanded switchover, but since when had
this substitute been around? How come he didn’t notice anything amiss? The Heavenly Martial
Emperor wasn’t like the elusive low-key Earth Master, and no matter what, if he was
impersonated it couldn’t have gone unnoticed by all in the entire Upper Court!
Mei Nian Qing was just about to speak again when Jun Wu raised another hand, sighing,
“You’ve disappointed me again.”
Mei Nian Qing’s face suddenly dropped, appearing as if he was suddenly strangled in a
chokehold by someone. Lang Qian Qiu picked up his longsword and slashed out whooshing
sword gales, but Jun Wu turned his head a swept a look, and Lang Qian Qiu was sent flying
back.
The next second, Pei Ming, Lang Qian Qiu, Feng Xin, Mu Qing, Quan Yi Zhen, and almost all
the martial gods inside the Great Martial Hall all sieged forward.
However, an incense time after, Jun Wu’s hand was still gripping Xie Lian’s wrist while all the
martial gods that had surrounded and attacked earlier had fallen.
Within the Great Hall, the ground was sprawled with martial gods who had all lost their attacking
powers, and only Jun Wu and Xie Lian remained standing. Mu Qing threw up a mouthful of
blood and yelled angrily at Xie Lian who was frozen on the spot and silent, “MOVE! DO
SOMETHING! WHAT ARE YOU ZONING OUT FOR?? WAITING TO BE KILLED??”
Yet little did he know, it wasn’t that Xie Lian didn’t want to move, but it was that he couldn’t move
at all!
Even though Jun Wu was only using a hand to grip him, yet Xie Lian could sense that even if
he was to slightly curve a finger the other would notice and immediately snap said finger, so
nevermind retaliation! Judging from whichever angle, the best decision was to remain still and
cautious!
Such was the power of the number one martial god of all three realms!
The heavenly officials standing at the outer edges had scattered in trepidation, and it took a
moment before they remembered to escape, rushing out of the Great Martial Hall with their
faces pale, but they’d only made it to the entrance before that set of glamourous heavy doors
closed shut on their own. They slapped at the doors in futile. The near hundred heavenly
officials within the hall either couldn’t get out or couldn’t get up, truly pure chaos. As for Mei Nian
Qing, his body was yanked forward by an unseen force, and Jun Wu grabbed hold of his collar,
smiling, “Did you think, that by changing your mind last minute and told in front of everyone that
I won’t be able to do anything? Did you think, that once they knew, they could threaten me by
uniting together? I can annihilate all of them with just one hand.”
It seemed that Jun Wu would bring Mei Nian Qing up first wasn’t simply to allow Xie Lian bid his
farewell to Hua Cheng. He had told or threatened Mei Nian Qing with some things, which was
why the Guoshi was interrogated in the hall without concerns. Yet who knew at the last second,
Mei Nian Qing would go back on his word. He clutched Jun Wu’s sleeves and shouted to Xie
Lian, “Your Highness, RUN AWAY! HE’S GONE CRAZY!”
“Guoshi!” Xie Lian exclaimed.
The next second, Mei Nian Qing couldn’t speak any longer, like something was choking his
neck, but he had always dressed in robes that covered his neck so Xie Lian couldn’t see clearly
what was wrong with it. Jun Wu sighed, “You dummy, what you’re doing is no different than
pushing them into a fire pit. Originally, this affair had nothing to do with them, but now, no one
shall leave the Heavenly Capital alive.”
With things this urgent, Xie Lian immediately called through the spiritual communication, “SAN
LANG!”
He had never taken the initiative to recite Hua Cheng’s verbal password to the communication
array before, but under such dire circumstances, he didn’t have the time to worry about being
shy, yet after reciting mentally a few times, it was still complete silence on the other end without
any response.
This feeling of communication blockage was exactly the same as in Mount TongLu!
With but a glance and Jun Wu could tell what he was thinking, “No need to keep trying. If I do
not permit then you cannot communicate.”
The Heavenly Court was built on Jun Wu’s powers, this place was his domain, he’s the biggest,
so of course he could do whatever he wanted. Which also meant, the entire Upper Court, the
entire Heavenly Capital was now thoroughly isolated from everywhere else. This had truly
become “Crying for the heavens in vain; crying for the earth to no avail”.
Suddenly, the doors to the Great Martial Hall burst open. The heavenly officials all regained their
spirits in rejoice, yet when they saw who was standing at the entrance, they were all taken
aback. Outside the hall stood a tall, black clad man, his aura chilling and unapproachable,
blocking everyone’s way out. It was Ling Wen wearing the Brocade Immortal!
The heavenly officials were all at a loss on what to do as Ling Wen crossed over the threshold
and entered the hall, bending one knee to the ground towards Jun Wu, speaking with solemn
respect, “My Lord.”
“Rise and get to work.” Jun Wu said, “You know what to do.”
Ling Wen inclined her head and smiled, “Of course.”
Mu Qing struggled to stand using the wall as support, and seeing this, he was both shocked and
dubious, “Wasn’t Ling Wen still at large in Mount TongLu?”
“That’s correct.” Jun Wu replied, “However, I feel Ling Wen is very useful, and only made an
insignificant mistake, so, I’ve summoned him back.”
Indeed, compared to the White Clothed Calamity, that Brocade Immortal Ling Wen created
really was an “insignificant mistake”. And now, both Ling Wen and the Brocade Immortal had
become this “Jun Wu”’s subordinates. Just then, a bundle of white shadow flashed and
something leapt in, latching onto Jun Wu’s foot and started nuzzling his boot. Feng Xin looked
and cried angrily, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING? GET BACK HERE!”
That thing was the fetus spirit. Not only did it not obey the words of its own father, it’d even
started snaking its tongue out maliciously at him. Feng Xin was just beaten to the ground and
puking blood by Jun Wu, yet now his own son was hugging the leg of the enemy who’d
wounded him, like it had no idea who its dad was, and Feng Xin was so enraged he puked
another round of blood. Soon after, a troop of expressionless martial gods came pouring into the
hall.
Those martial gods were all officials Jun Wu had appointed up, and had ever only obeyed his
command. Ling Wen received Jun Wu’s control and ordered, “Take every heavenly official back
to their own palace and watch over them.”
Pei Ming was sitting nearby, his expression complicated, “Ling Wen, how heartless of you.”
Ling Wen patted his shoulder, “Didn’t you know of my heartlessness from the first day we met?
How about it, wanna join? You’re always welcome.”
Pei Ming gave a dry chuckle but didn’t speak.
Once again, Xie Lian received special treatment and it was Jun Wu who would personally escort
him back to the Palace of Xian Le. Jun Wu chided, “Come.”
Xie Lian looked back and glanced at Mei Nian Qing. Just what is going on? Who are you? What
did you want to achieve? Who is this person? Is he Jun Wu or White No-Face? What is he
planning?
There were too, too many questions he wanted to ask, but they must be asked in private and
very carefully. Only Mei Nian Qing could answer those questions, but Jun Wu would definitely
not give him this chance.
The moment they crossed out of the Great Martial Hall, Xie Lian was slightly taken aback. Upon
the great avenue of the Heavenly Capital, the skies were gloomy, the clouds rolling nefariously;
all had changed in the blink of an eye, and the once scintillating brightness was no more. Only
the martial gods under Jun Wu’s command still acted as they usually did as they sent every
heavenly official back to their own palaces, and everything appeared uneasy and somber. As for
the junior officials that had been rushing about, they were all now sprawled all over the grounds
unconscious.
Needless to say, this must’ve been Jun Wu’s doing. From afar came the DANG– DANG–
chiming of the bell. It seemed, the problem laid with the bell.
The two slowly walked towards the Palace of Xian Le along the great avenue of the Heavenly
Capital. On the way, Xie Lian had been spinning his mind trying to think of a way to escape, but
he was no match against Jun Wu, and any clever little tricks he could think of would be
completely useless against the emperor. Besides, Jun Wu didn’t just have the martial might, he
could also see through what Xie Lian was thinking.
By the time they entered the Palace of Xian Le, Xie Lian still hadn’t come up with any idea, and
he told himself to let it go, that it’d be fine even if he couldn’t think of anything, because if he
didn’t communicate with Hua Cheng for too long, Hua Cheng would definitely notice something
wrong. As long as things didn’t get out of hand before that happened. However, after the doors
were shut, Jun Wu suddenly said, “Do you miss Crimson Rain Sought Flower?”
“…”
Jun Wu’s words made his heart jump to his throat, and his heart started pounding.
Xie Lian didn’t know how to respond; if “yes”, would Jun Wu do something to Hua Cheng? If
“no”, Jun Wu might not believe him.
Hearing no response, Jun Wu smiled, “No need to worry, I know, you must miss him. I’m sure
you really want to communicate with him.”
The way he spoke to Xie Lian was still the same as before; warm, tolerant, composed,
dependable, there were no changes. But the more he was like this the more Xie Lian was
confused and terrified.
Then, Jun Wu continued, “If you really miss him, then why don’t you connect with him for a bit
and chat.”
“…”
He had guessed what Xie Lian was thinking when they entered the doors just now. Everything
was within his grasp!
Jun Wu continued smiling, “Xian Le, you know what to say. Don’t let him be worried. I’m sure
that Crimson Rain Sought Flower of yours would be very happy that you’re connecting with him
as well.”
Then, he placed a hand on Xie Lian’s shoulder. Xie Lian felt an intricate wave of movement and
knew Jun Wu had casted some sort of spell that could hear the content of their communication.
Even if Jun Wu wouldn’t be able to speak he could still hear. Naturally, Xie Lian knew what Jun
Wu wanted to hear him say.
After a pause, he gathered his courage and bold-headedly said Hua Cheng’s verbal password
out loud.
Having heard that verbal password, Jun Wu seemed to have found it funny and chuckled a bit.
However, Xie Lian had no time to be embarrassed or shy. It only took a breath of a second
before Hua Cheng’s voice rang next to Xie Lian’s ears. He sighed, “Gege, gege, it’s been so
long, you’ve finally remembered San Lang.”
Xie Lian exchanged a look with Jun Wu. He replied, “San Lang, I haven’t even left for two
hours.”
However, Hua Cheng said, “To me, the point is ‘you left’, not ‘only two hours’. Even for an
instant it’s still separation.”
Jun Wu was listening right next to him, hey!
Even with the situation so perilous right now, Xie Lian still managed to feel some genuine
embarrassment. Jun Wu spoke up, “Unfortunately, he will have to wait longer than two hours.
Continue. Tell him that until the resentful spirits have been taken cared of, he will not be able to
see you. Don’t give any hints in a roundabout way, I can hear everything.”
To finish taking care of resentful spirits, that’d be seven days and seven nights. After a pause,
Xie Lian said, “If you can’t even wait for two hours, what will you do if I need to take a long time
this time?”
“Did Jun Wu stuff you with a big pile of missions?” Hua Cheng asked.
“Yea.” Xie Lian replied.
“Let me help you.” Hua Cheng said.
Jun Wu said, “Tell him after you complete the missions, I will permit you to take a three year
break.”
Xie Lian said, “There’s no need. San Lang, you’re already a great help guarding that array for
me, so just let me handle everything else. The emperor already said that after I complete this
big pile of missions I can have a three year break, I won’t have to do anything.”
“Only three years?” Hua Cheng asked.
“Is three years not enough?” Xie Lian said, “It’s already a small perk.”
“Alright, fine. But–” Hua Cheng said languidly, “Gege, that’s your perk. What about mine?”
————-
Ch.210: Chaos in the Heavenly Court; Nefarious Wave Shakes the Heavens 2
“Wh… what perk?” Xie Lian asked.
Hua Cheng asked back, “What do you think?”
Xie Lian could practically imagine just how his brow was raised and how his lips were curled
when he asked this question, so what could he say to that?
Hua Cheng continued, “Speaking of which, gege still owes me for quite a bit of spiritual powers,
am I wrong?”
“No.” Xie Lian replied cautiously.
“Then has gege thought of how you’ll repay me?” Hua Cheng asked.
“…Not really.” Xie Lian said.
Hua Cheng seemed to have sniffed a laugh, “Since you haven’t thought of anything, then why
don’t you let me decide? After this affair is over and done with and you got your vacation, gege
can take your time to pay me back for everything, how’s that sound?”
Xie Lian was fending against his attacks while sneaking glimpses at Jun Wu like a guilty thief at
the same time, and answered randomly , “Oh, en, yea…”
After guiding him slyly to this point step by step and receiving the answer he wanted to hear,
Hua Cheng was finally pleased and satisfied, and temporarily let him off the hook, “And so? It’s
so rare for gege to seek me out through spiritual communication, what is it?”
Jun Wu eyed Xie Lian.
The reason he allowed Xie Lian to communicate with Hua Cheng was to hold Hua Cheng down,
and make him think nothing was wrong, staying obediently down in the lower realm. Of course
Xie Lian knew what kind of answer Jun Wu wanted to hear, so he replied slowly, “Actually, it’s
not really anything, I was just afraid that having been gone for so long you’d worry.”
“Hm?” Hua Cheng wondered, “Didn’t gege say so yourself? You haven’t even left for over two
hours, so why would you worry that I’d worry?”
Xie Lian was getting dizzy from going around in circles with him, feeling a little anxious but also
a little funny. Suddenly, Hua Cheng said, “Oh, I get it.”
Xie Lian’s breath hitched, “What did you get?”
There seemed to be a bit of light laughter on the other end. A moment later, Hua Cheng replied
leisurely, “Gege, maybe it’s you who missed me so much after separating for only so long?”
“…”
If before Xie Lian could still cover things up with vaguity, then this line was truly too honest and
exposed, and he couldn’t pretend to be normal at all. Under Jun Wu’s watchful eyes, Xie Lian’s
face still grew hot. A moment later, he replied softly, “…en.”
Hua Cheng’s voice was also soft, “Me too. I really want to go up there and whisk you away.”
While Xie Lian’s heart was warmed, at the same time it was strung high up, and his eyes met
Jun Wu’s.
If Hua Cheng really did come to the Heavenly Capital, how would things end? How would Jun
Wu handle him?
Xie Lian suppressed his surge of emotions and did his best to sound natural, “Nah, it’s okay. It’s
a mess up here in the heavens right now. If you came, they’ll probably lose their heads. Just
wait a bit longer.”
Hua Cheng replied lazily, “I understand, gege, I won’t go up to scare them. I hate that blinding
light up in the Heavenly Capital, and I still have to guard the circle of people here, so I’ll just wait
here sagely for gege to come back.”
Xie Lian couldn’t tell if he sighed in relief or broke out in cold sweat, and said, “Yes, be good.”
“But,” Hua Cheng said, “If I’m going to be good, gege can’t come back empty handed. I need
rewards.”
“Of course, of course.” Xie Lian replied.
Then the two said a few more casual words, ambiguous and dubious, going on and off,
repeatedly bidding farewells before the communication finally ended.
Xie Lian huffed a breath softly and Jun Wu said, “It seems, Xian Le has been living an exciting
life down below.”
Xie Lian didn’t know how to answer to that. After Jun Wu patted Xie Lian’s shoulder, he turned
around and was about to leave the Palace of Xian Le when Xie Lian called out from behind him,
“My Lord!”
Jun Wu’s form paused. Xie Lian asked, “Just who are you? Are you the emperor? Or something
else?”
It was already difficult for him to accept the truth when he suspected a connection between the
Guoshi and White No-Face. If even Jun Wu and White No-Face shared a connection, then he
felt as if his entire person was going to flip upside down.
Jun Wu was the number one martial god of the three realms that he both respected and looked
up to after all!
Jun Wu didn’t answer him and left prepensely. Now that Xie Lian was left to his own devices, he
brainstormed for retaliation plans as he dragged his exhausted body to the back chambers of
the Palace of Xian Le.
Although the Palace of Xian Le had now become a prison cage, it was still a beautiful cage, and
there was even a bathing pool made of white jade in the back hall. In the recent days, Xie Lian
battled the white ghost, entered the Kiln, crawled tumbled rolled and fought, and now, he was
exhausted in both body and mind. He couldn’t go anywhere for the next little while anyway, so
he might as well bathe and refresh himself.
After removing his clothes and soaking in the warm waters, Xie Lian rested against the edge of
the white jaded pool, and folded his clothes absentmindedly. Suddenly, from his pile of robes,
two little things came tumbling out, clacking crisply. Xie Lian looked closely and it was two clever
and cute little dice.
He picked the two dice up and held it in his palm, remembering the words Hua Cheng said to
him: “If you wanted to see me, it wouldn’t matter what you roll. I will appear.”
However, that he connected with Hua Cheng through spiritual communication was already
largely unnatural, so perhaps Hua Cheng had noticed. But, even if Hua Cheng noticed
something was wrong, he wouldn’t be able to come up, since the Heavenly Capital was now
isolated from the world, completely under Jun Wu’s control.
Nonetheless, even if he was well aware of the situation and knew even if he rolled two sixes he
wouldn’t be able to see Hua Cheng, Xie Lian still tried. Clack clack, the dice rolled on top of the
jaded rocks next to the edge of the bathing pool. His luck was terrible as always; snake eyes.
And sure enough, there was not a single stir of movement.
Xie Lian sighed and turned around, and was just about to bury both his face and body into the
waters when suddenly, he heard a voice: “Gege.”
Xie Lian instantly rose from the waters, splooshing as the waters splashed, “San Lang?”
Did he actually summon Hua Cheng???
However, aftering scanning his surroundings, he didn’t see the shadows of anyone. Still, that
voice earlier was definitely not a hallucination caused by his hopefulness. Xie Lian’s heart
thumped when he heard another voice call out, “Your Highness!”
“…”
Only then did Xie Lian realize that that voice had come from his own mouth!
It was his own voice, only, amidst the hot air of this spacious bathing pool and the sound of
splashing water, the sound wasn’t clear. Xie Lian was stunned for a moment before it dawned
on him – the Soul Shifting Spell!
Xie Lian was both surprised and delighted, “Lord Wind Master??”
Then, from his lips came the voice of another who was overly excited, “Yes, it’s me!
HAHAHAHA, AMAZING, RIGHT? This Wind Master- no, I have spiritual powers again!!!”
Before it was mentioned that the Soul Shifting Spell wasn’t used often because it exhausted
spiritual powers rapidly, much more wicked and rare than typical spiritual communication spells,
so usually, concealment barriers wouldn’t think to block this spell. Later, when Shi Qing Xuan
lost all of his spiritual powers, the door that connected him to Xie Lian was blocked one sidedly,
yet Xie Lian hadn’t imagined it’d come to use now.
“Qing Xuan, the Soul Shifting Spell burns a lot of spiritual powers, where did you get your
powers from?” Xie Lian asked, but he soon figured it out. Where else could he get his powers
from?
Sure enough, Shi Qing Xuan replied, “It’s a long story! Uh, well it’s not actually that long. That
Crimson Rain Sough Flower of yours gave me a few black candies to eat, they’re incredibly
magical! My spiritual powers exploded after I ate them! Even though it’s only temporary, but it
could still hang on for some time. Communication wouldn’t be a problem. Just, the taste is really
bad, p’tui p’tui p’tui!”
“…”
Xie Lian couldn’t help but recall the Ghost Essence Candy Pei Ming consumed from before, but
the candies from Hua Cheng should be high quality spiritual powers candies. Xie Lian asked,
“Who called me gege just now?”
“It was me!” Shi Qing Xuan said,
Xie Lian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “Why did you call me that? And here I thought…”
“I know.” Shi Qing Xuan said, “You thought it was Crimson Rain Sought Flower who came
seeking you, right?”
Xie Lian cleared his throat lightly and Shi Qing Xuan continued, “It was him who told me to call
you that. He said if I called you that you’d know he’d come, and you’d feel better.”
He supposed that was true. Earlier when he heard “gege”, while surprised, he felt more so
reassured. Xie Lian said, “Is he right next to you right now? Is everything alright over at the royal
capital? The resentful spirits didn’t suddenly start anything did they?”
“Everything’s fine here at the capital.” Shi Qing Xuan said, “The resentful spirits are also still
being cleaned out. It’s just, earlier when you were having your communication with Crimson
Rain Sought Flower, he was happily chuckling away talking about who knows what with you one
second, and the next, after the communication’s ended, his face suddenly turned so dark it was
terrifying. And then he called me over to see if I could shift my soul over to you. Oh yea, by the
way, Your Highness, he wants me to pass on this message to you: “Your Highness, please
dress first”. He’s been nagging me for a while now, what’s the problem? It’s not like you’d catch
a cold in the heavens.”
“…”
Xie Lian was almost going to faint, and he swiftly, using the speed of lightning, grabbed a robe
to wrap around himself, “H-H-H-HE, SAN LANG CAN SEE???”
“Yea.” Shi Qing Xuan replied, “It’s pretty annoying to keep reiterating so I just transmitted
everything I see and hear directly to him, so he knows everything that you do or say. He just
can’t talk to you or control your body directly, that’s all.”
…
DEAR LORD WIND MASTER, YOU’RE WAY TOO OPEN!!!
If he’d known he wouldn’t have bathed! He thought he had to think some more before an
opportunity would show up!
“It’s fine, Your Highness.” Shi Qing Xuan said, “I didn’t think you’d mind so much about matters
like these. We’re all men here, haven’t you seen Hua Chengzhu before? Besides, I didn’t see
that much anyway…”
He really was too open. Xie Lian slapped a hand on his forehead and rapidly dressed himself,
then he grabbed the dice before leaving the hall, quickly changing the subject, “San Lang, how
did you discover something was wrong?”
After a pause, Shi Qing Xuan replied, “Crimson Rain Sought Flower said, the moment you
sought him he knew. Oh, Hua Chengzhu wants me to tell you this: “Gege is so shy, if it wasn’t
anything major why would you take the initiative to recite my verbal password?””
“…”
So it really was that reason. Shi Qing Xuan seemed to be talking to Hua Cheng, “Okay okay
okay, I won’t waste anymore time on nonsense, we’ll talk business.” Then, he said, “Your
Highness, what exactly is the situation over there? Is the emperor not around?”
Xie Lian really didn’t know where he to start, and said, “It’s precisely because he’s around that
things turned out like this!”
Telling only the key points, Shi Qing Xuan was already shaken, “My god, my god, my god! Your
Highness, you’re not sleeptalking are you?? It’s the emperor! We’re talking about the emperor
here!”
“I can’t be sure if it’s him anymore.” Xie Lian said, “San Lang, what do you make of all this?”
A moment later, Shi Qing Xuan replied, “Crimson Rain Sought Flower didn’t seem too surprised
and only said: “Not surprised. I already can’t stand him.””
Xie Lian was speechless and choked out a laugh, “Can you not stand anyone?”
That line was directed to Hua Cheng. Shi Qing Xuan replied, “He said: “Other than you, no.” I
say, Hua Chengzhu, that’s not very nice, I’m standing right here, yanno! You can’t stand me
either??? What’s wrong with me???”
“Alright, alright, it’s all just jokes. In any case, all the martial gods have been beaten down, and
every heavenly official is confined in their own palaces. The entire Heavenly Capital is isolated
from the world now so there’s no way to come to the heavens.”
Shi Qing Xuan said, “Crimson Rain Sought Flower said, there is a way to go up to the heavens,
but we’ll need to enlist the help of someone.”
“Who?” Xie Lian asked, but right after, he shouted, “WHO IS IT??”
The latter “who is it” wasn’t directed to Hua Cheng or Shi Qing Xuan. It was voiced because
from behind him, there was an unusual movement.
Someone had come!
———