<h4>Chapter 89-90</h4>


    Book? ?3:? ?No? ?Paths? ?are? ?Bound? ?


    ——————————————————————————————————————————-? ?


    Ch.89:? ?The? ?Mid? ?Autumn? ?Festival;? ?Battling? ?Lanterns? ?on? ?Moon? ?Watch? ?Eve? ?


    ?


    CLANG? ?


    ?


    Sparks? ?flew.? ?


    ?


    The? ?de? ?prated? ?deep? ?into? ?the? ?stone? ?floor,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?both? ?his? ?hands? ?gripping? ?the? ?sword,? ?


    bowed? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?rested? ?his? ?forehead? ?on? ?the? ?hilt,? ?his? ?teeth? ?gritted? ?so? ?hard? ?they? ?might? ?grind? ?to? ?


    powder? ?in? ?his? ?mouth.? ? ?


    ?


    “USELESS? ?TRASH!”? ? ?


    ?


    Qi? ?Rong? ughed? ?out? ?loud:? ?“WHAT? ?USELESS? ?TRASH!? ?I? ?knew? ?you? ?wouldn’t? ?dare? ?to? ?kill? ?me!? ?No? ?


    matter? ?how? ?much? ?I? ?ridicule? ?you,? ?no? ?matter? ?how? ?I? ?drag? ?you? ?through? ?the? ?mud,? ?as? ?long? ?as? ?I? ?have? ?a? ?


    knife? ?on? ?someone? ?else’s? ?throat,? ?you? ?can’t? ?do? ?anything? ?to? ?me.? ?You? ?useless? ?coward,? ?for? ?what? ?do? ?


    you? ?need? ?to? ?live? ?for,? ?a? ?god? ?like? ?you?? ?“? ?


    ?


    However,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?already? pletely? ?calmed? ?down.? ?He? ?looked? ?up,? ?his? ?eyes? ?cold,? ?“Don’t? ?be? ?


    too? ?happy? ?too? ?soon.? ?I? ?can’t? ?do? ?anything? ?to? ?you,? ?but? ?there? ?will? ?naturally? ?be? ?someone? ?who? ?can.”? ? ?


    ?


    Qi? ?Rong? ?humphed,? ?“Are? ?you? ?thinking? ?of? ?hugging? ?Jun? ?Wu’s? ?legs? ?to? ?beg? ?him? ?to? ?help? ?you? ?out? ?


    again?? ?Dream? ?on.? ?Did? ?he? ?care? ?then?? ?Hm??? ?And? ?you? ?still? ?shamelessly? ?follow? ?his? ?lead,? ?are? ?you? ?


    really? ?that? ?stupid?”? ? ?


    ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?peeled? ?off? ?that? ?set? ?of? ?stately,? ?mourous? ?God-Pleasing? ?costume? ?off? ?of? ?Qi? ?Rong,? ?called? ?


    forth? ?RuoYe,? ?bound? ?him? ?and? ?threw? ?him? ?aside,? ?“You? ?better? ?keep? ?your? ?mouth? ?shut.”? ?


    ?


    “I’m? ?not? ?afraid? ?of? ?you,? ?you’ve? ?got? ?nothing? ?on? ?me!”? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?retorted.? ?


    ?


    “Then? ?are? ?you? ?afraid? ?of? ?Hua? ?Cheng?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?


    ?


    Qi? ?Rong’s? ?smile? ?froze? ?for? ?an? ?instant,? ?and? ?in? ?that? ?instant,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said? ?lightly,? ?“Just? ?to? ?give? ?you? ?a? ?


    heads? ?up,? ?if? ?one? ?of? ?these? ?days? ?I? ?get? ?into? ?a? ?bad? ?mood,? ?maybe? ?I? ?just? ?might? ?hand? ?you? ?over? ?to? ?Hua? ?


    Cheng,? ?and? ?have? ?him? ?think? ?of? ?a? ?way? ?to? ?deal? ?with? ?you.? ?So? ?you? ?watch? ?yourself,? ?hear? ?me?”? ? ?


    ?


    Hearing? ?this,? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?couldn’t? ugh? ?anymore.? ?He? ?said,? ?terrified,? ?“What? ?the? ?fuck,? ?you’re? ?vicious!? ?I? ?


    can’t? ?believe? ?you’d? e? ?up? ?with? ?something? ?like? ?that!? ?Why? ?not? ?just? ?hand? ?me? ?over? ?to? ?Lang? ?Qian? ?


    Qiu?!”? ? ?


    ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?knelt? ?on? ?the? ?ground? ?and? ?used? ?his? ?hands? ?to? ?pick? ?up? ?small,? ?coarse? ?granules? ?from? ?the? ?


    ground? ?and? ?from? ?under? ?the? ?coffin? ?one? ?by? ?one.? ?Truthfully,? ?he? ?wouldn’t? ?be? ?handing? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?to? ?the? ?


    Heavenly? ?Court? ?for? ?the? ?time? ?being.? ?The? ?reason? ?being? ?Lang? ?Qian? ?Qiu.? ?If? ?he? ?handed? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?over? ?


    and? ?Lang? ?Qian? ?Qiu? ?learned? ?of? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?whereabouts,? ?he? ?would? ?charge? ?immediately? ?with? ?his? ?


    sword? ?to? ?kill? ?him.? ?Should? ?he? ?be? ?killed?? ?A? ?headache;? ?if? ?killed,? ?then? ?what’s? ?next?? ?Another? ?


    headache.? ?Thus,? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?wise? ?to? ?hand? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?over? ?to? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Court? ?at? ?the? ?moment.? ?


    ?


    All? ?things? ?considered,? ?requesting? ?for? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?help? ?seemed? ?like? ?a? ?pretty? ?good? ?idea.? ?But? ?


    really,? ?he? ?was? ?only? ?using? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?name? ?to? ?scare? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?a? ?little? ?bit.? ?After? ?all,? ?he? ?already? ?


    troubled? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?too? ?many? ?times,? ?and? ?every? ?time? ?something? ?happened? ?he’d? ?think? ?of? ?Hua? ?


    Cheng? ?first;? ?it’d? ?almost? ?feel? ?like? ?he? ?was? ?being? ?overly? ?familiar.? ?Just? ?using? ?his? ?name? ?to? ?scare? ?Qi? ?


    Rong? ?made? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?feel? ?rather? ?embarrassed.? ?


    ?


    Qi? ?Rong? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?spat? ?some? ?spit? ced? ?with? ?blood? ?at? ?a? ?different? ?direction,? ?and? ?that? ?


    child? ?reached? ?out? ?pathetically? ?to? ?pat? ?his? ?forehead,? ?“Dad,? ?are? ?you? ?ok?? ?Does? ?it? ?hurt?”? ? ?


    ?


    Qi? ?Rong? ?seemed? ?to? ?really? ?enjoy? ?this? ?game? ?of? ?father? ?and? ?son,? ?and? ?responded? ?derisively,? ?“My? ?


    good? ?son~? ?Daddy? ?is? ?ok~~? ?Hahaha.”? ?


    ?


    The? ?rims? ?around? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?eyes? ?were? ?red? ?as? ?he? ?picked? ?at? ?those? ?granules? ?and? ?he? ?ced? ?them? ?


    with? ?the? ?utmost? ?care? ?onto? ?the? ?God-Pleasing? ?costume.? ?That? ?child? ?quietly? ?crawled? ?over? ?and? ?helped? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?pick? ?too.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?saw? ?those? ?little? ?hands? ?and? ?looked? ?up? ?at? ?him,? ?and? ?that? ?child? ?said? ?in? ?a? ?


    small? ?voice,? ?“Gege,? ?won’t? ?you? ?stop? ?beating? ?my? ?dad? ?up?? ?Let? ?us? ?go.? ?I? ?won’t? ?steal? ?from? ?you? ?again.”? ? ?


    ?


    Xie? ?Lian’s? ?heart? ?tightened? ?and? ?he? ?forced? ?the? ?feeling? ?away,? ?“What’s? ?your? ?name,? ?little? ?one?”? ? ?


    ?


    “My? ?name? ?is? ?Gu? ?Zi.”? ?That? ?child? ?replied.? ?


    ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?finished? ?collecting? ?all? ?the? ?ashes? ?and? ?wrapped? ?them? ?in? yers? ?of? ?that? ?costume,? ?tying? ?


    it? ?up? ?neatly? ?before? ?cing? ?the? ?bundle? ?within? ?the? ?coffin? ?anew,? ?closing? ?the? ?cover.? ?He? ?then? ?slowly? ?


    replied,? ?“Gu? ?Zi,? ?the? ?one? ?over? ?there? ?is? ?not? ?your? ?dad,? ?but? ?someone? ?else.? ?He’s? ?been? ?possessed.? ?


    He’s? ?currently? ?a? ?bad? ?guy.”? ? ?


    ?


    The? ?child? ?couldn’t? prehend? ?what? ?he? ?said? ?and? ?looked? ?confused,? ?“Someone? ?else?? ?No?? ?I? ?


    recognize? ?him,? ?he’s? ?my? ?dad.”? ? ?


    ?


    Qi? ?Rong? mended,? ?“Not? ?bad,? ?not? ?bad,? ?I’ve? ?picked? ?up? ?a? ?cheap? ?son,? ?what? ?a? ?great? ?value!? ?


    Hahaha...? ?oof!”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?kicked? ?him.? ?


    ?


    Gu? ?Zi? ?was? ?still? ?young? ?and? ?had? ?always? ?lived? ?dependent? ?on? ?his? ?father,? ?so? ?he? ?was? ?quite? ?attached? ?to? ?


    the? ?body? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?had? ?possessed,? ?refusing? ?to? ?leave? ?it? ?alone.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?think? ?of? ?a? ?way? ?to? ?


    take? ?care? ?of? ?him? ?for? ?the? ?moment,? ?so? ?he? ?carried? ?the? ?sword? ?Fang? ?Xin? ?on? ?his? ?back,? ?kowtowed? ?


    solemnly? ?towards? ?the? ?two? ?coffins? ?thrice,? ?then? ?with? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?hung? ?from? ?his? ?left? ?hand? ?and? ?Gu? ?Zi? ?


    under? ?his? ?right? ?arm,? ?he? ?left? ?Mount? ?TaiCang,? ?returning? ?speedily? ?back? ?to? ?PuQi? ?vige.? ?


    ?


    Having? ?left? ?for? ?many? ?days,? ?by? ?the? ?time? ?they? ?made? ?it? ?back? ?it? ?was? ?deep? ?into? ?the? ?night,? ?and? ?the? ?


    doors? ?to? ?that? ?PuQi? ?Shrine? ?were? ?wide? ?open,? ?clouds? ?of? ?incense? ?rolling? ?out,? ?and? ?upon? ?the? ?altar? ?the? ?


    incense? ?burner? ?were? ?filled? ?to? ?the? ?brim? ?with? ?incense? ?sticks,? ?and? ?the? ?table? ?itself? ?was? ?covered? ?with? ?


    offerings.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?entered,? ?swept? ?a? ?look,? ?and? ?grabbed? ?two? ?meat? ?buns? ?from? ?the? ?altar,? ?passing? ?


    one? ?to? ?Gu? ?Zi,? ?and? ?rudely? ?stuffing? ?the? ?other? ?into? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?mouth.? ?That? ?body? ?was? ?alive? ?after? ?all,? ?


    and? ?until? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?figured? ?out? ?how? ?to? ?pull? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?from? ?that? ?man,? ?he? ?still? ?needed? ?sustenance.? ?Qi? ?


    Rong? ?spat? ?out? ?that? ?meat? ?bun? ?and? ?cussed? ?at? ?how? ?bad? ?it? ?tasted,? ?and? ?yelled? ?as? ?if? ?a? ?little? ?worried,? ?“I? ?


    say!? ?You? ?won’t? ?actually? ?hand? ?me? ?over? ?to? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?will? ?you??”? ?


    ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?sneered,? ?“Are? ?you? ?scared?”? ?He? ?didn’t? ?have? ?time? ?for? ?his? ?nonsense,? ?and? ?turned? ?around? ?to? ?


    rummage? ?through? ?his? ?pickle? ?jars? ?on? ?the? ?ground.? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?petnt,? ?“Me?? ?Scared?? ?You? ?


    should? ?be? ?the? ?one? ?scared.? ?As? ?a? ?heavenly? ?official,? ?you’d? ?dare? ?get? ?so? ?chummy? ?with? ?a? ?‘Supreme’.? ?


    You...”? ?As? ?he? ?talked,? ?his? ?eyes? ?suddenly? ?focused? ?and? ?locked? ?on? ?to? ?something.? ?Turns? ?out,? ?when? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?bent? ?down,? ?something? ?slipped? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?front? ?of? ?his? ?robes.? ?


    ?


    It? ?was? ?a? ?crystal? ?clear? ?ring.? ?That? ?was? ?what? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?staring? ?at.? ?


    ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?notice? ?his? ?gaze,? ?but? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?face? ?grew? ?suspicious? ?behind? ?him.? ?After? ?a? ?while,? ?he? ?


    spoke? ?up,? ?“Cousin? ?crown? ?prince,? ?what’s? ?that? ?thing? ?on? ?your? ?chest??”? ? ?


    ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?keep? ?ignoring? ?him,? ?but? ?what? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?brought? ?up? ?was? ?something? ?he? ?


    himself? ?sort? ?of? ?minded? ?so? ?he? ?turned? ?around,? ?his? ?finger? ?hooking? ?onto? ?the? ?thin? ?silver? ?chain,? ?“This?? ?


    Do? ?you? ?know? ?what? ?it? ?is?”? ? ?


    ?


    “Bring? ?it? ?here,? ?let? ?me? ?see? ?and? ?I’ll? ?tell? ?you.”? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?beckoned.? ?


    ?


    But? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“If? ?you? ?know? ?then? ?say? ?it.? ?If? ?you? ?don’t? ?then? ?shut? ?up.”? ? ?


    ?


    Qi? ?Rong? ?grumbled? ?bitterly,? ?“You’re? ?always? ?so? ?nasty? ?to? ?people? ?who? ?are? ?close? ?to? ?you,? ?if? ?you’re? ?so? ?


    amazing,? ?why? ?don’t? ?you? ?go? ?show? ?off? ?how? ?cool? ?you? ?are? ?to? ?outsiders?”? ?


    ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?stuffed? ?the? ?silver? ?chain? ?back? ?into? ?the? ?inner? yers? ?of? ?his? ?robe,? ?pressing? ?it? ?against? ?his? ?skin? ?


    and? ?straightened? ?it.? ?“If? ?you’re? ?so? ?amazing,? ?keep? ?talking.? ?Every? ?word? ?you? ?say? ?I? ?will? ?keep? ?count,? ?


    and? ?with? ?every? ?count? ?you’d? ?be? ?one? ?step? ?closer? ?to? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?de.”? ?


    ?


    Somehow? ?without? ?him? ?realizing,? ?he’d? ?gotten? ?used? ?to? ?using? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?name.? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?


    sneered,? ?“Don’t? ?you? ?use? ?him? ?to? ?scare? ?me,? ?maybe? ?one? ?of? ?these? ?days? ?you’d? ?be? ?the? ?one? ?dead? ?


    Boundlessly? ?affectionate,? ?the? ?tender? ?voices? ?twisted? ?and? ?turned,? ?filled? ?with? ?lingering? ?yearning.? ?


    ?


    Thus,? ?from? ?below,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?saw? ?with? ?his? ?own? ?eyes,? ?goosebumps? ?popping? ?up? ?on? ?over? ?half? ?of? ?Shi? ?


    Wu? ?Du? ?and? ?Shi? ?Qing? ?Xuan’s? ?bodies.? ?


    ?


    Shi? ?Qing? ?Xuan? ?jumped? ?to? ?her? ?feet,? ?“GE—!!? ?HURRY? ?AND? ?CUT? ?IT? ?OFF!”? ? ?


    ?


    Shi? ?Wu? ?Du? ?immediately? ?shouted,? ?“DROP? ?IT!? ?DROP? ?IT? ?RIGHT? ?NOW!”? ? ?


    ?


    Even? ?without? ?seeing? ?one? ?could? ?easily? ?guess? ?the? ?y? ?picked? ?must? ?be? ?the? ?folklores? ?of? ?husband? ?


    and? ?wife? ?between? ?Lord? ?Water? ?Master? ?and? ?Lady? ?Wind? ?Master.? ?Tales? ?of? ?love? ?and? ?hatred? ?would? ?


    always? ?be? ?a? ?fan? ?favourite? ?when? ?people? ?tell? ?stories.? ?If? ?either? ?was? ?already? ?there,? ?good.? ?If? ?not,? ?even? ?


    better,? ?because? ?then? ?anything? ?could? ?be? ?made? ?up.? ?Technically,? ?whatever? ?the? ?gods? ?had? ?done? ?


    themselves? ?were? ?the? ?conventional? ?legends,? ?but? ?sometimes? ?when? ?they? ?saw? ?what? ?the? ?mortals? ?


    came? ?up? ?with? ?for? ?them,? ?they? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?be? ?amazed? ?by? ?what? ?was? ?truly? ?legendary.? ? ?


    ?


    The? ?moment? ?Shi? ?Wu? ?Du? ?spoke? ?up? ?the? ?curtains? ?really? ?did? ?drop? ?down.? ?The? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?in? ?the? ?


    audience? ?all? ?wanted? ?to? ugh? ?but? ?didn’t? ?dare? ?to,? ?suffering? ?from? ?holding? ?in? ?their? ?mirth.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?


    however,? ?smiled? ?and? ?asked,? ?“Lord? ?Wind? ?Master,? ?I? ?didn’t? ?know? ?you? ?can? ?call? ?for? ?the? ?curtains? ?to? ?


    drop?”? ? ?


    ?


    Shi? ?Qing? ?Xun? ?was? ?still? ?shaking? ?and? ?replied,? ?“Yea,? ?it’s? ?no? ?big? ?deal.? ?Just? ?donate? ?a? ?hundred? ?


    thousand? ?merits!”? ? ?


    ?


    “...”? ?


    ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?sat,? ?speechless,? ?and? ?the? ?third? ?round? ?began.? ?This? ?time,? ?the? ?thunder? ?didn’t? ?rumble? ?for? ?


    very? ?long,? ?and? ?that? ?wine? ?cup? ?was? ?passed? ?to? ?the? ?young? ?man? ?sitting? ?next? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian.? ? ?


    ?


    Seeing? ?this,? ?the? ?reaction? ?from? ?the? ?crowd? ?of? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?was? ?odd.? ?It? ?wasn’t? ?fervent,? ?but? ?it? ?


    wasn’t? ?cold,? ?more? ?like? ?they? ?were? ?very? ?interested? ?in? ?seeing? ?the? ?y? ?but? ?didn’t? ?want? ?to? ?be? ?so? ?


    obvious? ?about? ?it.? ?That? ?young? ?man? ?didn’t? ?seem? ?to? ?be? ?too? ?interested? ?in? ?the? ?game? ?but? ?still? ?drank? ?


    that? ?wine.? ?He? ?put? ?down? ?the? ?cup? ?and? ?the? ?curtains? ?were? ?raised? ?once? ?more.? ?


    ?


    Two? ?stood? ?upon? ?that? ?stage;? ?one? ?was? ?a? ?young? ?general? ?with? ?hair? ?curly? ?like? ?that? ?of? ?a? ?stone? ?lion’s? ?


    mane,? ?and? ?although? ?exceedingly? ?exaggerated,? ?he? ?still? ?looked? ?heroically? ?sprightly,? ?so? ?he? ?must? ?be? ?


    portraying? ?that? ?young? ?heavenly? ?official;? ?the? ?other? ?one? ?had? ?pointy? ?lips? ?and? ?monkey? ?cheeks,? ?the? ?


    very? ?portrayal? ?of? ?a? ?wretched? ?clown,? ?jumping? ?all? ?over? ?the? ?stage.? ?When? ?the? ?young? ?man? ?faced? ?him,? ?


    he’d? ?act? ?serious? ?but? ?greasy? ?and? ?loathsome,? ?when? ?that? ?young? ?man? ?turned? ?around,? ?he’d? ?make? ?


    faces? ?and? ?take? ?a? ?sword? ?to? ?backstab,? ?no? ?doubt? ?the? ?role? ?of? ?a? ?two? ?faced,? ?cunning? ?viin.? ?


    ?


    That? ?clown? ?performed? ?with? ?vigour? ?and? ?over? ?embellishment? ?like? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?silly,? edic? ?y,? ?but? ?


    the? ?reactions? ?from? ?the? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?in? ?the? ?audience? ?were? ?vastly? ?different.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?noticed? ?


    that? ?the? ?officials? ?in? ?the? ?lower? ?ranks? ?all? ughed? ?uproariously? ?while? ?the? ?higher? ?ranking? ?officials? ?like? ?


    Shi? ?Qing? ?Xun? ?and? ?Shi? ?Wu? ?Du? ?all? ?frowned? ?wordlessly,? ?not? ?thinking? ?it? ?amusing? ?whatsoever.? ?At? ?the? ?


    same? ?time,? ?he? ?also? ?noticed? ?veins? ?popping? ?suddenly? ?on? ?the? ?fists? ?of? ?that? ?young? ?man? ?beside? ?him,? ?


    and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?became? ?rmed.? ?Although? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?understand? ?what? ?was? ?going? ?on? ?on? ?stage,? ?he? ?


    could? ?still? ?guess? ?it? ?was? ?ridiculing? ?another.? ?Besides,? ?even? ?if? ?he? ?didn’t? ?know? ?who? ?was? ?who,? ?just? ?the? ?


    way? ?the? ?y? ?was? ?enacted? ?made? ?one? ?feel? ?extremely? ?ufortable.? ?That? ?young? ?man? ?seemed? ?


    ready? ?to? ?throw? ?a? ?fit,? ?so? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?took? ?a? ?chopstick? ?from? ?the? ?table? ?and? ?hurled? ?it? ?towards? ?the? ?rope? ?


    controlling? ?the? ?curtains.? ?


    ?


    The? ?not-so-sharp? ?chopstick? ?brushed? ?by? ?the? ?rope? ?and? ?actually? ?snapped? ?it.? ?The? ?curtains? ?dropped? ?


    noisily,? ?and? ?the? ?officials? ?all? ?cried? ?in? ?shock,? ?“How? ?can? ?this? ?be?!”? ?“What’s? ?going? ?on!”? ?They? ?all? ?looked? ?


    to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?some? ?even? ?rising? ?to? ?their? ?feet.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?open? ?his? ?mouth? ?when? ?the? ?next? ?


    second,? ?something? ?exploded? ?next? ?to? ?his? ?ear.? ?It? ?seemed? ?that? ?young? ?man? ?had? ?shattered? ?that? ?white? ?


    jaded? ?wine? ?cup? ?in? ?his? ?fist.? ?


    ?


    It? ?appeared? ?that? ?y? ?had? ?provoked? ?his? ?outrage,? ?and? ?he? ?threw? ?away? ?the? ?shards? ?of? ?that? ?jaded? ?cup? ?


    in? ?a? ?fit,? ?jumped? ?to? ?his? ?feet,? ?sprang? ?onto? ?the? ?table,? ?pushed? ?off? ?with? ?his? ?feet? ?and? ?leapt? ?onto? ?that? ?


    pavilion,? ?barging? ?through? ?the? ?curtains.? ?A? ?number? ?of? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?rushed? ?to? ?lift? ?the? ?curtains? ?


    but? ?there? ?was? ?already? ?no? ?one? ?inside.? ?The? ?crowd? ?was? ?in? ?an? ?uproar,? ?“OH? ?NO? ?OH? ?NO,? ?HIS? ?


    HIGHNESS? ?QI? ?YING? ?WENT? ?DOWN? ?TO? ?BEAT? ?PEOPLE? ?UP? ?AGAIN!”? ?


    ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?wondered,? ?‘Qi? ?Ying?? ?The? ?Pce? ?of? ?Qi? ?Ying?? ?The? ?Martial? ?God? ?of? ?the? ?West? ?Quan? ?Yi? ?


    Zhen?’? ?and? ?he? ?hurriedly? ?asked? ?Shi? ?Qing? ?Xuan,? ?“Lord? ?Wind? ?Master,? ?what’s? ?going? ?on?? ?What’s? ?with? ?


    His? ?Highness? ?Qi? ?Ying? ?going? ?down? ?to? ?beat? ?people? ?up? ?again?”? ? ?


    ?


    Shi? ?Qing? ?Xuan? ?snapped? ?out? ?of? ?it? ?and? ?replied,? ?“Beating? ?people? ?up? ?is? ?just...? ?beating? ?people? ?up.? ?


    Ahem.? ?You? ?might? ?not? ?believe? ?it,? ?but,? ?Qi? ?Ying? ?frequently? ?beats? ?up? ?his? ?own? ?worshippers.”? ?


    ?


    “...”? ?


    ?


    That? ?really? ?was? ?the? ?first? ?time? ?he’d? ?ever? ?heard? ?of? ?a? ?heavenly? ?official? ?who? ?dared? ?assault? ?their? ?own? ?


    followers,? ?since? ?that? ?was? ?something? ?that? ?could? ?destroy? ?their? ?image? ?in? ?a? ?believer’s? ?mind.? ?He? ?


    wanted? ?to? ?inquire? ?some? ?more? ?but? ?heard? ?a? ?lower? ?heavenly? ?official? ?further? ?away? ?speak? ?up? ?in? ?


    displeasure,? ?“Lord? ?Quan? ?really? ?is? ?too? ?immature.? ?Everyone? ?was? ?just? ?having? ?fun,? ?doesn’t? ?he? ?know? ?


    to? ?cooperate? ?a? ?little?? ?Who? ?hadn’t? ?been? ?picked? ?on?? ?Did? ?General? ?Pei? ?and? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?Zhen? ?Jun? ?not? ?


    get? ughed? ?at?? ?Besides,? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?even? ?him? ?who? ?was? ?being? ?made? ?fun? ?of,? ?so? ?why? ?so? ?angry?”? ? ?


    ?


    “Yea,? ?he? ?really? ?thinks? ?too? ?much? ?of? ?himself.? ?Even? ?if? ?he’s? ?mad? ?there’s? ?no? ?need? ?to? ?throw? ?a? ?fit? ?right? ?


    this? ?second?? ?The? ?banquet? ?is? ?a? ?fun? ?asion,? ?no? ?one’s? ?here? ?to? ?watch? ?his? ?temper!? ?Really...”? ? ?


    ?


    “Alright,? ?alright,? ?a? ?kid? ?is? ?a? ?kid.? ?He’s? ?not? ?even? ?here? ?anymore,? ?and? ?it’d? ?be? ?more? ?fun? ?without? ?him? ?


    anyway.”? ? ?


    ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?mused? ?while? ?listening? ?to? ?them? ?talk.? ?The? ?feast? ?was? ?only? ?temporarily? ?disrupted,? ?and? ?Ling? ?


    Wen? ?seemed? ?to? ?have? ?already? ?sent? ?someone? ?to? ?take? ?care? ?of? ?Quan? ?Yi? ?Zhen’s? ?affair.? ?After? ?some? ?


    officials? ?came? ?out? ?and? ?assuaged? ?the? ?others,? ?the? ?banquet? ?and? ?games? ?continued.? ?Thus,? ?the? ?


    thunder? ?rumbled? ?and? ?the? ?fourth? ?round? ?of? ?Drummed? ?Flower? ?Passing? ?began.? ?


    ?


    At? ?first,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?only? ?watching? ?other? ?people? ?y;? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?blend? ?in? ?and? ?was? ?happy? ?


    others? ?didn’t? ?bother? ?him.? ?He? ?was? ?just? ?about? ?to? ?chat? ?with? ?Shi? ?Qing? ?Xuan? ?when? ?unexpectedly,? ?just? ?


    then,? ?a? ?hand? ?was? ?suddenly? ?extended? ?to? ?him,? ?and? ?passed? ?him? ?that? ?white? ?jaded? ?wine? ?cup.? ?


    ?


    ?


    ———-? ?


    ?


    ●[?天?上?白?玉?京?，?十?二?樓?五?城。?仙?人?撫?我?頂?，?結?髮?受?長?生?]? ?are? ?verses? ?from? ?the? ?


    longest? ?autobiographical? ?poem? ?by? ?the? ?renown? ?Tang? ?poet? ?Li? ?Bai,? menting? ?his? ?life? ?and? ?


    political? ?aspirations? ?while? ?in? ?exile.? ?Li? ?Bai? ?was? ?known? ?to? ?be? ?obsessed? ?with? ?bing? ?an? ?


    immortal.? ?


    ?


    Point? ?of? ?Interest:? ?[?結?髮?受?長?生?]? ?“Hair? ?bound? ?to? ?receive? ?immortality”? ?–? ?in? ?ancient? ?China,? ?


    for? ?the? ?Han,? ?binding? ?hair? ?and? ?tying? ?it? ?up? ?symbolized? ing? ?of? ?age.? ?Boys? ?tie? ?their? ?hair? ?up? ?


    into? ?a? ?bun? ?at? ?fifteen? ?and? ?are? ?crowned? ?at? ?twenty.? ?Girls? ?are? ?given? ?a? ?hair? ?pin? ?for? ?their? ?bun? ?at? ?


    fifteen,? ?and? ?once? ?married,? ?hair? ?must? ?all? ?be? ?tied? ?up? ?into? ?a? ?bun.? ?


    ?


    ●‘Drummed? ?Flower? ?Passing’? ?is? ?just? ?hot? ?potato.? ?


    ?


    ●‘Noble? ?Jie’? ?-? ?the? ?‘noble’? ?here? ?didn’t? ?mean? ?Ling? ?Wen’s? ?status,? ?but? ?an? ?expression? ?of? ?


    endearment.?