<h4>Chapter 241-244</h4>


    Ch.241:? ?Humming? ?Smile? ?as? ?Red? ?Robes? ?Fade? ?2? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?instantly? ?grabbed? ?hold? ?of? ?him,? ?demanding? ?in? ?rm,? ?“San? ?Lang?!? ?What’s? ?going? ?on?”? ?


    Hua? ?Cheng? ?was? ?still? ?considerably? ?at? ?ease? ?and? ?replied,? ?“It’s? ?nothing.? ?I’ve? ?just? ?overdone? ?it? ?a? ?little.”? ? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?dumbfounded,? ?“...Why? ?didn’t? ?you? ?tell? ?me? ?this? ?sooner,? ?how? ?can? ?this? ?be? ?nothing??”? ? ?


    It’s? ?the? ?spiritual? ?powers,? ?it? ?was? ?all? ?those? ?spiritual? ?powers!? ?


    When? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?transferred? ?spiritual? ?power? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?it? ?had? ?always? ?been? ?as? ?if? ?it? ?was? ?an? ?


    infinite? ?source,? ?endlessly? ?all? ?for? ?his? ?taking,? ?smiling? ?cheerfully? ?like? ?it? ?was? ?never? ?a? ?burden.? ?But,? ?it? ?


    wasn’t? ?like? ?his? ?own? ?spiritual? ?power? ?was? ?a? ?mountain? ?of? ?sand? ?carried? ?in? ?by? ?the? ?rolling? ?waves,? ?so? ?


    how? ?could? ?it? ?actually? ?be? ?infinite? ?and? ?endless?? ?


    This? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?med? ?on? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?for? ?not? ?saying? ?anything? ?sooner? ?at? ?all,? ?but? ?on? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?


    himself? ?who? ?hadn’t? ?realized? ?this? ?sooner.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?both? ?panicking? ?and? ?feeling? ?remorseful,? ?“I’ll? ?


    return? ?it? ?to? ?you.”? ?


    He? ?cupped? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?face? ?and? ?kissed.? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?had? ?originally? ?nned? ?on? ?


    ing? ?over,? ?but? ?when? ?they? ?saw? ?this? ?scene,? ?they? ?instantly? ?pulled? ?back? ?dozens? ?of? ?feet? ?away,? ?


    keeping? ?their? ?distance,? ?letting? ?the? ?two? ?of? ?them? ?do? ?what? ?they? ?needed? ?themselves.? ?


    The? ?cursed? ?shackles? ?were? ?removed,? ?so? ?he? ?desperately? ?tried? ?to? ?transfer? ?all? ?the? ?spiritual? ?power? ?he? ?


    could? ?muster? ?to? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?hoping? ?he’d? ?recover? ?soon.? ?But,? ?after? ?kissing? ?him? ?for? ?a? ?good? ?while,? ?


    when? ?he? ?let? ?go,? ?the? ?sleeves? ?of? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?red? ?robes? ?and? ?that? ?pair? ?of? ?silver? ?vambraces? ?were? ?


    still? ?translucent,? ?half? ?transparent? ?even!? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?shaken? ?for? ?a? ?long? ?while,? ?fear? ?overtaking? ?his? ?mind,? ?and? ?he? ?subconsciously? ?reached? ?


    for? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?face,? ?cupping? ?it? ?ready? ?to? ?kiss? ?again? ?when? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?swift? ?with? ?his? ?hands,? ?


    cradled? ?his? ?instead? ?and? ?gave? ?him? ?a? ?small? ?peck,? ?smiling,? ?“Although? ?I’m? ?happy? ?gege? ?is? ?so? ?forward,? ?


    but? ?there’s? ?still? ?no? ?need? ?to? ?give? ?me? ?any? ?spiritual? ?powers? ?anymore.? ?But,? ?if? ?gege? ?isn’t? ?just? ?lending? ?


    spiritual? ?powers? ?and? ?just? ?simply? ?wanted? ?to? ?kiss? ?me,? ?I? ?don’t? ?mind? ?at? ?all.? ?In? ?fact,? ?the? ?more? ?the? ?


    better,? ?I? ?wee? ?it? ?with? ?open? ?arms.”? ?


    “...”? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?gripped? ?him? ?tightly,? ?on? ?the? ?brink? ?of? ?falling? ?apart,? ?“What’s? ?going? ?on?”? ? ?


    “Just? ?taking? ?a? ?little? ?break,? ?that’s? ?all.? ?Gege,? ?don’t? ?be? ?scared.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?replied,? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?clutched? ?his? ?head,? ?“How? ?can? ?I? ?not? ?be? ?scared?? ?I’m? ?gonna? ?go? ?crazy!”? ? ?


    By? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?personality,? ?if? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?a? ?severe? ?problem,? ?serious? ?to? ?the? ?point? ?where? ?he? ?could? ?


    no? ?longer? ?hide? ?it,? ?why? ?would? ?he? ?allow? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?to? ?see? ?him? ?like? ?this? ?at? ?all?? ?


    Spiritual? ?power? ?so? ?abundant? ?it? ?could? ?shatter? ?two? ?cursed? ?shackles,? ?just? ?how? ?much? ?was? ?that? ?


    exactly?? ?To? ?say? ?it? ?was? ?as? ?bountiful? ?as? ?the? ?sea? ?wouldn’t? ?be? ?an? ?exaggeration,? ?so? ?how? ?could? ?he? ?not? ?


    be? ?affected? ?in? ?the? ?slightest?? ?


    They? ?went? ?through? ?so? ?much? ?hardship? ?before? ?all? ?this? ?mess? ?was? ?sorted,? ?and? ?all? ?the? ?knots? ?tied.? ?


    Communication? ?was? ?opened? ?between? ?him,? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing.? ?The? ?cursed? ?shackles? ?that? ?


    had? ?bound? ?him? ?for? ?eight? ?hundred? ?some? ?years? ?had? ?also? ?been? ?released.? ?Everything? ?he? ?had? ?always? ?


    wanted? ?to? ?confess? ?to? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?all? ?been? ?confessed.? ?


    Yet? ?when? ?he? ?turned? ?back? ?to? ?run? ?into? ?his? ?arms? ?face? ?full? ?of? ?smiles,? ?what? ?greeted? ?him? ?was? ?a? ?Hua? ?


    Cheng? ?who? ?had? ?be? ?like? ?this,? ?so? ?how? ?could? ?he? ?not? ?be? ?frightened?? ?He? ?just? ?might? ?go? ?mad!? ?


    Feng? ?Xin? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?noticed? ?something? ?was? ?wrong,? ?and? ?called? ?out? ?from? ?afar,? ?“Your? ?Highness?? ?


    What’s? ?happened?”? ?They? ?jogged? ?a? ?couple? ?steps? ?this? ?way,? ?but? ?then? ?for? ?some? ?reason? ?or? ?another? ?


    they? ?paused? ?halfway,? ?feeling? ?like? ?they? ?shouldn’t? ?get? ?close? ?so? ?rashly.? ?In? ?this? ?moment,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?


    stopped? ?caring? ?for? ?anyone? ?else.? ?He? ?gripped? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?his? ?heart? ?almost? ?stopping,? ?looking? ?as? ?if? ?


    he? ?was? ?terrified,? ?“WHAT? ?DO? ?I? ?DO?”? ? ?


    Hua? ?Cheng? ?quietly? ?sighed,? ?extended? ?his? ?arms,? ?and? ?once? ?again? ?folded? ?him? ?into? ?his? ?embrace,? ?


    “Your? ?Highness,? ?I’ve? ?always? ?watched? ?you.”? ? ?


    This? ?was? ?the? ?second? ?time? ?he? ?said? ?this,? ?but? ?his? ?voice? ?was? ?softer? ?than? ?before.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?clutched? ?


    the? ?red? ?robes? ?at? ?his? ?chest,? ?asking,? ?his? ?mind? ?nk,? ?“I? ?know,? ?I? ?know.? ?But...? ?What? ?should? ?I? ?do? ?


    now?”? ? ?


    Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?long? ?and? ?slender? ?fingers? ?gently? bed? ?through? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?mussed? ?hair,? ?“Then,? ?


    Your? ?Highness,? ?do? ?you? ?know? ?why? ?I? ?refuse? ?to? ?leave? ?this? ?world?”? ? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?understand? ?why? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?could? ?still? ?be? ?so? ?calm? ?at? ?a? ?time? ?like? ?this,? ?as? ?he? ?was? ?


    panicking? ?so? ?hard? ?he? ?was? ?trembling.? ?But? ?while? ?feeling? ?lost,? ?he? ?still? ?simple-mindedly? ?asked,? ?


    “Why?”? ? ?


    Hua? ?Cheng? ?replied? ?quietly,? ?“Because? ?I? ?have? ?a? ?beloved? ?who? ?is? ?still? ?in? ?this? ?world.”? ? ?


    Hearing? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?slightly? ?stunned.? ?


    He? ?seemed? ?to? ?have? ?heard? ?this? ?somewhere? ?before.? ?


    Hua? ?Cheng? ?continued,? ?“My? ?beloved? ?is? ?a? ?brave,? ?noble? ?and? ?gracious? ?special? ?someone.? ?He’s? ?


    saved? ?my? ?life,? ?I’ve? ?looked? ?up? ?to? ?him? ?ever? ?since? ?I? ?was? ?young.? ?But,? ?I? ?wanted? ?to? ?catch? ?up? ?to? ?him? ?


    more,? ?and? ?be? ?an? ?even? ?stronger? ?person? ?for? ?him.? ?Although,? ?he? ?might? ?not? ?remember? ?me? ?well.? ?


    We? ?never? ?really? ?talked.? ?I? ?want? ?to? ?protect? ?him.”? ? ?


    He? ?gazed? ?at? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?“If? ?your? ?dream? ?is? ?to? ?save? ?the? mon? ?people,? ?then,? ?my? ?dream,? ?is? ?only? ?


    you.”? ? ?


    “...”? ?


    Relying? ?on? ?his? ?memory,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked? ?with? ?a? ?trembling? ?voice,? ?“...But....? ?You? ?won’t,? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?


    rest? ?in? ?peace....? ?Like? ?this...?”? ? ?


    Hua? ?Cheng? ?answered,? ?“I? ?pray? ?to? ?never? ?rest? ?in? ?peace.”? ? ?


    In? ?that? ?instant,? ?all? ?of? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?breathing? ?stopped,? ?frozen? ?in? ?this? ?moment.? ?He? ?could? ?faintly? ?hear? ?


    two? ?voices,? ?one? ?questioning? ?the? ?other? ?answering.? ?


    “?If? ?your? ?beloved? ?knew? ?you? ?couldn’t? ?rest? ?in? ?peace? ?because? ?of? ?him,? ?he? ?might? ?feel? ?guilty? ?and? ?


    troubled.”? ? ?


    “Then? ?I? ?just? ?won’t? ?let? ?him? ?know? ?why? ?I? ?haven’t? ?gone.”? ? ?


    “After? ?having? ?seen? ?so? ?much,? ?it’d? ?be? ?known? ?sooner? ?or? ter.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?


    “Then? ?I? ?won’t? ?let? ?him? ?find? ?out? ?I’m? ?protecting? ?him? ?either.”? ?


    That? ?ball? ?of? ?ghost? ?fire.? ?In? ?that? ntern? ?night,? ?that? ?weak? ?little? ?ghost? ?fire? ?he? ?bought? ?with? ?a? ?few? ?


    pennies.? ?That? ?ghost? ?fire? ?who? ?wanted? ?to? ?pull? ?him? ?up? ?from? ?the? ?burial? ?graves? ?in? ?a? ?frozen? ?winter? ?


    night.? ?That? ?ghost? ?fire? ?who? ?blocked? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?him? ?before? ?White? ?No-Face? ?and? ?wouldn’t? ?let? ?him? ?go? ?


    near? ?danger.? ?That? ?ghost? ?fire? ?who? ?had? ?screamed? ?in? ?torment? ?for? ?him? ?during? ?the? ?time? ?when? ?a? ?


    hundred? ?swords? ?pierced? ?his? ?heart!? ?


    Hua? ?Cheng? ?said? ?quietly,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?I? ?understand? ?your? ?everything.”? ? ?


    “Your? ?courage,? ?your? ?despair;? ?your? ?kindness,? ?your? ?pain;? ?your? ?resentment,? ?your? ?hate;? ?your? ?


    intelligence,? ?your? ?foolishness.”? ?


    “If? ?I? ?could,? ?I? ?would? ?have? ?you? ?use? ?me? ?as? ?your? ?stepping? ?stone,? ?the? ?bridge? ?you? ?take? ?apart? ?after? ?


    crossing,? ?the? ?corpse? ?bones? ?you? ?need? ?to? ?trample? ?to? ?climb? ?up,? ?the? ?sinner? ?who? ?deserved? ?the? ?


    butchering? ?of? ?a? ?million? ?knives.? ?But? ?I? ?know? ?you? ?wouldn’t? ?allow? ?it.”? ? ?


    He? ?said? ?as? ?the? ?maple? ?red? ?of? ?his? ?robes? ?slowly? ?faded? ?away.? ?


    Xie? ?Lian’s? ?shaking? ?hands? ?tried? ?to? ?grab? ?hold? ?of? ?him,? ?and? ?he? ?never? ?stopped? ?transferring? ?spiritual? ?


    powers,? ?but? ?even? ?then? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?prevent? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?form? ?from? ?fading? ?slowly.? ?


    His? ?eyes? ?were? ?going? ?blurry,? ?his? ?speech? ?staggered,? ?and? ?he? ?stammered,? ?“...Alright? ?don’t? ?say? ?


    anymore,? ?I? ?get? ?it...? ?but,? ?but? ?don’t? ?be? ?like? ?this,? ?alright?? ?San? ?Lang?? ?I...? ?I’ve? ?borrowed? ?so? ?much? ?


    spiritual? ?powers? ?from? ?you? ?that? ?I? ?haven’t? ?returned? ?yet.? ?And,? ?I’m? ?actually? ?not? ?done? ?saying? ?all? ?that? ?I? ?


    wanted? ?to? ?say? ?earlier,? ?there’s? ?still? ?so? ?much.? ?It’s? ?been? ?so? ?long? ?since? ?anyone? ?listened? ?to? ?me? ?talk,? ?


    won’t? ?you? ?stay?? ?Don’t...? ?actually? ?do? ?this.? ?I? ?won’t? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?take? ?it.? ?Twice,? ?it’s? ?been? ?twice? ?already!? ?


    I? ?really? ?don’t? ?want? ?there? ?to? ?be? ?a? ?third? ?time!!!”? ? ?


    Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?already? ?vanished? ?from? ?this? ?world? ?twice? ?because? ?of? ?him!? ?


    However,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?only? ?replied,? ?“To? ?die? ?in? ?battle? ?for? ?you? ?is? ?my? ?greatest? ?honour.”? ? ?


    “...”? ?


    Those? ?words? ?were? ?like? ?a? ?fatal? ?blow.? ?The? ?tears? ?in? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?eyes? ?could? ?no? ?longer? ?be? ?restrained,? ?


    and? ?they? ?came? ?pouring? ?out.? ?


    Like? ?he? ?was? ?hanging? ?on? ?to? ?the? st? ?straw? ?of? ?his? ?life,? ?he? ?pleaded,? ?“You? ?said? ?you? ?would? ?never? ?leave? ?


    me.”? ? ?


    However,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?replied,? ?“There? ?is? ?no? ?banquet? ?in? ?this? ?world? ?that? ?doesn’t? e? ?to? ?an? ?end.”? ? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?bowed? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?buried? ?it? ?deep? ?into? ?his? ?chest,? ?his? ?heart? ?and? ?throat? ?in? ?constricted? ?


    agony,? ?unable? ?to? ?speak.? ?


    Yet? ?soon? ?after,? ?he? ?heard? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?say? ?above? ?him,? ?“But? ?I? ?will? ?never? ?leave? ?you.”? ? ?


    Hearing? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?head? ?shot? ?up.? ?


    Hua? ?Cheng? ?said? ?to? ?him,? ?“I? ?will? e? ?back.? ?Your? ?highness,? ?believe? ?me.”? ? ?


    Although? ?his? ?voice? ?was? ?firm,? ?still? ?his? ?pale? ?face? ?was? ?dimming,? ?bing? ?transparent.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?


    reached? ?out,? ?wanting? ?to? ?touch? ?his? ?face,? ?but? ?his? ?fingertips? ?went? ?through? ?air.? ?He? ?was? ?startled,? ?then? ?


    looked? ?up.? ?


    Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?eyes? ?were? ?gentle? ?and? ?zing,? ?that? ?remaining? ?eye? ?was? ?filled? ?with? ?love,? ?and? ?it? ?gazed? ?


    at? ?him? ?silently.? ?He? ?seemed? ?to? ?have? ?said? ?something,? ?but? ?there? ?was? ?no? ?sound.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?wouldn’t? ?


    give? ?up,? ?reaching? ?out? ?with? ?both? ?hands,? ?trying? ?to? ?snatch? ?him? ?deeper? ?into? ?his? ?arms,? ?wanting? ?to? ?hear? ?


    better.? ?


    But? ?before? ?he? ?could? ?exert? ?force,? ?the? ?one? ?he? ?was? ?holding,? ?and? ?the? ?one? ?holding? ?him,? ?had? ?


    disappeared.? ?


    In? ?an? ?instant,? ?before? ?him,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?shattered? ?into? ?thousands? ?of? ?silver? ?butterflies,? ?transforming? ?


    into? ?a? ?breeze? ?of? ?twinkling? ?stars? ?he? ?could? ?neither? ?embrace? ?nor? ?hold.? ?


    Xie? ?Lian’s? ?arms? ?came? ?empty,? ?still? ?maintaining? ?an? ?hugging? ?position,? ?moving? ?not? ?a? ?limb.? ?He? ?


    couldn’t? ?tell? ?if? ?it? ?was? ?because? ?he? ?hadn’t? ?yet? e? ?to? ?his? ?senses? ?or? ?because? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?move? ?at? ?


    all,? ?and? ?he? ?knelt? ?there? ?within? ?that? ?dream-like? ?array? ?of? ?butterflies,? ?his? ?eyes? ?widening.? ?


    Further? ?down,? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?had? ?never? ?imagined? ?a? ?scene? ?like? ?this? ?would? ?y? ?out,? ?and? ?


    both? ?their? ?faces? ?paled,? ?rushing? ?forward,? ?“YOUR? ?HIGHNESS!”? ?


    Feng? ?Xin? ?was? ?the? ?first? ?to? ?charge? ?over,? ?“HOW? ?DID? ?IT? ?SUDDENLY? ?BECOME? ?LIKE? ?THIS?!? ?


    WASN’T? ?HE? ?FINE? ?JUST? ?NOW?? ?WAS? ?IT? ?BECAUSE? ?OF? ?THE? ?CURSED? ?SHACKLES??”? ? ?


    Mu? ?Qing? ?hopped? ?and? ?hobbled? ?over,? ?but? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?jump? ?up,? ?so? ?he? ?looked? ?up,? ?yelling? ?at? ?those? ?


    silver? ?butterflies,? ?“CRIMSON? ?RAIN? ?SOUGHT? ?FLOWER!? ?DON’T? ?BE? ?JOKING? ?AROUND,? ?IF? ?


    YOU’RE? ?NOT? ?DEAD? ?THEN? ?COME? ?THE? ?HELL? ?OUT!”? ? ?


    Naturally,? ?those? ?silver? ?butterflies? ?did? ?not? ?answer? ?him,? ?and? ?they? ?fluttered? ?erratically,? ?pping? ?their? ?


    wings? ?flying? ?towards? ?the? ?sky.? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?reached? ?out? ?to? ?pull? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?up,? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?remained? ?


    sitting? ?on? ?the? ?ground? ?like? ?a? ?stone.? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?didn’t? ?know? ?what? ?to? ?do? ?either? ?anymore,? ?“Is? ?there? ?


    something? ?we? ?can? ?do? ?to? ?help?? ?Do? ?you? ?need? ?spiritual? ?power?? ?Can? ?he? ?be? ?saved?? ?Just? ?what? ?


    should? ?we? ?do???”? ? ?


    Mu? ?Qing? ?however,? ?had? ?already? ?figured? ?things? ?out? ?by? ?watching,? ?“Drop? ?it,? ?just? ?shut? ?your? ?mouth!? ?–? ?


    Nothing? ?could? ?be? ?done? ?now.”? ? ?


    Shimmering,? ?twinkling? ?glow? ?enveloped? ?the? ?air,? ?the? ?wings? ?of? ?the? ?butterflies? ?sparkling,? ?just? ?like? ?their? ?


    very? ?first? ?reunion? ?after? ?eight? ?hundred? ?years.? ?


    A? ?silver? ?butterfly? ?flew? ?over? ?errantly,? ?lightly? ?brushing? ?the? ?back? ?of? ?his? ?hand,? ?his? ?cheek,? ?his? ?forehead,? ?


    full? ?of? ?affectionate? ?longing,? ?as? ?if? ?it? ?was? ?whispering? ?goodbyes.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?extended? ?a? ?hand? ?numbly,? ?


    and? ?let? ?it? ?rest? ?on? ?his? ?hand.? ?


    That? ?silver? ?butterfly? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?delighted,? ?pping? ?its? ?wings,? ?and? ?sure? ?enough? ?it? ?stayed? ?for? ?


    him.? ?But? ?it? ?couldn’t? st,? ?and? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?long? ?before? ?it? ?scattered? ?with? ?the? ?wind.? ?


    However,? ?where? ?it? ?had? ?perched,? ?on? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?third? ?finger,? ?that? ?red? ?string? ?was? ?still? ?bright? ?and? ?


    vivid.? ?


    .? ?


    .? ?


    .? ?


    .? ?


    .? ?


    .? ?


    “And? ?then?”? ?


    “It’s? ?done.”? ? ?


    “It’s? ?done?”? ?


    “It’s? ?done.”? ? ?


    Pei? ?Ming? ?finally? ?couldn’t? ?hold? ?back? ?any? ?longer,? ?“That’s? ?not? ?possible.? ?How? ?can? ?that? ?be? ?it?? ?Even? ?an? ?


    amateur? ?like? ?me? ?can? ?tell? ?it’s? ?not? ?done?”? ? ?


    Mu? ?Qing? ?dropped? ?that? ?heavy,? ?bookkeeping? ?report? ?journal? ?on? ?the? ?table? ?and? ?said? ?cooly,? ?“That’s? ?


    what? ?I’ve? ?calcted,? ?and? ?it’s? ?done.? ?I? ?can? ?calcte? ?again? ?on? ?the? ?spot? ?right? ?here,? ?will? ?General? ?Pei? ?


    please? ?listen? ?well:? ?Take? ?away? ?eight? ?million,? ?eight? ?hundred? ?and? ?eighty? ?thousand? ?merits,? ?then? ?add? ?


    six? ?million,? ?six? ?hundred? ?and? ?sixty? ?million? ?merits,? ?plus? ?another? ?seventeen? ?hundred? ?million? ?and? ?two? ?


    hundred? ?thousand? ?merits,? ?then? ?minus...”? ?


    Feng? ?Xin? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“Alright,? ?that’s? ?enough,? ?you? ?don’t? ?need? ?to? ?count? ?anymore.? ?The? ?numbers? ?are? ?


    right,? ?but? ?there? ?must’ve? ?been? ?quite? ?a? ?bit? ?left? ?out.? ?Because? ?if? ?that’s? ?not? ?the? ?case,? ?none? ?of? ?the? ?


    numbers? ?add? ?up!”? ? ?


    Mu? ?Qing? ?countered,? ?“Then? ?that’s? ?not? ?my? ?problem,? ?either? ?way? ?I? ?didn’t? ?figure? ?wrong.? ?Maybe? ?if? ?


    everyone? ?finds? ?someone? ?else? ?to? ?do? ?the? ?ounting?? ?If? ?I? ?had? ?known? ?things? ?were? ?gonna? ?be? ?like? ?


    this? ?I? ?would’ve? ?minded? ?my? ?own? ?business.”? ? ?


    After? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Capital? ?was? ?destroyed,? ?the? ?scattered,? ?jumbled? ?up? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?finally? ?


    regathered,? ?and? ?set? ?up? ?a? ?ward? ?at? ?the? ?summit? ?of? ?Mount? ?TaiCang,? ?a? ?ce? ?where? ?no? ?mortals? ?cared? ?


    for,? ?establishing? ?a? ?temporary? ?Upper? ?Court.? ?Currently,? ?the? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?were? ?in? ?the? ?heat? ?of? ?


    discussing? ?the? ?rebuilding? ?of? ?a? ?new? ?Heavenly? ?Capital.? ?


    However,? ?the? ?unfortunate? ?thing? ?was,? ?not? ?only? ?did? ?that? ?major? ?fire? ?scorched? ?all? ?the? ?glorious? ?and? ?


    exuberant? ?golden? ?pces? ?of? ?all? ?the? ?heavenly? ?officials,? ?forcing? ?them? ?to? ?squeeze? ?together? ?and? ?


    erect? ?tents? ?temporarily? ?to? ?discuss? ?and? ?rest,? ?all? ?the? ?scrolls? ?and? ?reports? ?were? ?lost? ?in? ?great? ?numbers.? ?


    They? ?bickered? ?and? ?dragged,? ?going? ?on? ?for? ?many? ?days,? ?and? ?even? ?now? ?they? ?still? ?couldn’t? ?straighten? ?


    any? ?ounts!? ?


    One? ?of? ?Pei? ?Ming’s? ?arms? ?was? ?hung? ?in? ?a? ?sling? ?as? ?the? ?other? ?hand? ?rubbed? ?his? ?chin,? ?“Is? ?it? ?my? ?


    imagination,? ?or? ?is? ?Xuan? ?Zhen? ?more? ?and? ?more? ?sarcastic? ?these? ?days?”? ? ?


    Feng? ?Xin? ?responded,? ?“Hasn’t? ?he? ?always? ?been? ?this? ?sarcastic?? ?He’s? ?just? ?too? zy? ?to? ?hide? ?it? ?now.”? ? ?


    Mu? ?Qing? ?rolled? ?his? ?eyes? ?and? ?everyone? ?pointed? ?their? ?fingers? ?at? ?him,? ?“DECORUM!”? ? ?


    Mu? ?Qing? ?turned? ?away? ?to? ?leave.? ?Quan? ?Yi? ?Zhen? ?was? ?wrapped? pletely? ?in? ?bandages,? ?a? ?


    humanoid? ?sticky? ?rice? ?wrapped? ?in? ?leaves,? ?exposing? ?only? ?a? ?head? ?full? ?of? ?messy? ?curly? ?hair,? ?and? ?his? ?


    words? ?were? ?mumbled? ?and? ?unclear,? ?“Well? ?what? ?do? ?we? ?do? ?now?? ?Who’s? ?going? ?to? ?do? ?the? ?ounting? ?


    then?”? ? ?


    Everyone? ?looked? ?to? ?each? ?other,? ?each? ?clearing? ?their? ?throats,? ?and? ?quietly? ?backed? ?away.? ?No? ?one? ?


    wanted? ?to? ?take? ?on? ?this? ?task? ?that? ?was? ?hard? bour? ?with? ?little? ?returns.? ?Seeing? ?this,? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?sighed,? ?


    “Sigh,? ?if? ?only? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?was? ?here.? ?No? ?matter? ?what,? ?no? ?one? ?can? in? ?with? ?the? ?way? ?she? ?


    managed? ?things.? ?All? ?this? ?mess? ?of? ?reports? ?are? ?all? ?imprinted? ?in? ?her? ?mind,? ?even? ?if? ?the? ?Pce? ?of? ?Ling? ?


    Wen? ?is? ?burnt? ?down? ?there’d? ?be? ?nothing? ?to? ?be? ?afraid? ?of.? ?She? ?would’ve? ?definitely? ?shown? ?results? ?


    within? ?a? ?day.”? ? ?


    After? ?having? ?struggled? ?on? ?this? ?godforsaken? ?mountain? ?for? ?so? ?long,? ?most? ?already? ?thought? ?that? ?deep? ?


    in? ?their? ?minds,? ?they? ?just? ?didn’t? ?dare? ?say? ?it? ?out? ?loud.? ?However,? ?now? ?that? ?there’s? ?someone? ?taking? ?


    the? ?lead,? ?they? ?all? ?agreed,? ?“Yeah!”? ? ?


    “I’ll? ?never? ?say? ?the? ?Pce? ?of? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?is? ?inefficient? ?again!”? ?


    “I’ve? ?already? ?not? ?said? ?that? ?in? ?a? ?long? ?time...”? ?


    Right? ?then,? ?someone? ?outside? ?came? ?to? ?announce,? ?“Everyone,? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master? ?has? e!”? ? ?


    Hearing? ?this,? ?all? ?the? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?looked? ?cheered,? ?and? ?immediately? ?went? ?out? ?to? ?greet? ?her? ?


    without? ?prompting,? ?only? ?Pei? ?Ming’s? ?expression? ?looked? ?unreadable.? ?He? ?seemed? ?to? ?hesitate? ?for? ?a? ?


    moment,? ?but? ?in? ?the? ?end? ?still? ?chose? ?not? ?to? ?go? ?out.? ?Just? ?then,? ?another? ?voice? ?came,? ?“Your? ?Highness!? ?


    You’ve? e? ?too!”? ?


    —————? ?


    Ch.242:? ?Atop? ?Mount? ?TaiCang;? ?Thousands? ?of? ?Kinds? ?of? ?Dust? ?Settle? ?


    All? ?of? ?a? ?sudden,? ?all? ?the? ?heavenly? ?official’s? ?expressions? ?became? ?even? ?more? ?unreadable? ?than? ?that? ?


    of? ?Pei? ?Ming’s.? ?


    A? ?white-d? ?cultivator? ?acknowledged? ?the? ?address,? ?his? ?expression? ?calm? ?and? ?peaceful,? ?his? ?


    manners? ?easy? ?and? ?elegant.? ?It? ?was? ?Xie? ?Lian.? ?The? ?group? ?all? ?greeted? ?him,? ?“Your? ?Royal? ?Highness”,? ?


    “Your? ?Highness.”? ? ?


    Their? ?expressions? ?and? ?words? ?were? ?all? ?very? ?careful,? ?polite? ?and? ?courteous.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?also? ?politely? ?


    greeted? ?everyone,? ?and? ?went? ?forth? ?in? ?a? ?weing? ?gesture,? ?“Lord? ?Rain? ?Master.”? ? ?


    The? ?Rain? ?Master? ?had? e? ?before? ?that? ?temporarily? ?built? ?hut,? ?holding? ?the? ?reins? ?of? ?that? ?big,? ?


    guardian? ?steed? ?ck? ?ox,? ?and? ?she? ?inclined? ?her? ?head? ?over? ?this? ?way? ?in? ?greeting.? ?


    On? ?the? ?back? ?of? ?that? ?ck? ?ox? ?were? ?giant? ?boxes? ?upon? ?boxes? ?of? ?produce,? ?the? ?reason? ?she? ?had? ?


    e,? ?and? ?apparently? ?there? ?was? ?the? ?incredible? ?effect? ?of? ?nurturing? ?spiritual? ?powers? ?after? ?eating? ?


    them,? ?so? ?when? ?the? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?heard,? ?a? ?group? ?excitedly? ?went? ?over? ?to? ?divide? ?their? ?shares.? ?


    There? ?was? ?also? ?a? ?group? ?that? ?didn’t? ?move.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?one? ?of? ?them.? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master? ?spoke? ?up,? ?


    “I’ve? ?brought? ?something? ?else? ?for? ?Your? ?Highness.”? ? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?smiled,? ?“Ah,? ?thank? ?you? ?in? ?advance!? ?What? ?is? ?it?”? ? ?


    The? ?Rain? ?Master? ?took? ?out? ?from? ?within? ?her? ?sleeve? ?something? ?wrapped? ?with? ?a? ?small? ?band? ?of? ?white? ?


    cloth,? ?and? ?when? ?she? ?opened? ?it,? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?eyes? ?brightened? ?instantly,? ?“Thank? ?you? ?so? ?much,? ?Lord? ?


    Rain? ?Master!? ?I’ve? ?been? ?looking? ?everywhere? ?for? ?this!”? ? ?


    Feng? ?Xin? ?came? ?over? ?to? ?take? ?a? ?look? ?too,? ?and? ?also? mented,? ?“Rare? ?fantastic? ?silk!? ?This? ?is? ?great!? ?


    Now? ?you? ?can? ?finally? ?fix? ?that? ?toy? ?of? ?yours!”? ? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?rummaged? ?around? ?his? ?sleeve,? ?and? ?fumbled? ?out? ?a? ?white? ?silk? ?band? ?that? ?was? ?torn? ?in? ?half,? ?


    and? ?said? ?joyously,? ?“Yea,? ?finally,? ?the? ?material? ?to? ?fix? ?RuoYe? ?is? ?found!? ?I’ll? ?go? ?patch? ?it? ?up? ?right? ?now!”? ? ?


    However,? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?stopped? ?him,? ?“Patch? ?it? ?up?? ?You?!? ?Forget? ?it,? ?what? ?can? ?you? ?patch?? ?Ask? ?


    someone? ?else? ?to? ?help? ?you.”? ?Then? ?he? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?shouted,? ?“MU? ?QING!? ?COME? ?GET? ?TO? ?


    WORK!”? ? ?


    Mu? ?Qing? ?walked? ?over? zily,? ?replying? ?cooly,? ?“What?? ?What? ?are? ?you? ?trying? ?to? ?say?? ?Tell? ??me? ??to? ?sew? ?


    it?”? ?


    “Isn’t? ?that? ?your? ?expertise?”? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?said.? ?


    Mu? ?Qing? ?humphed,? ?“Aren’t? ?you? ?two? ?too? ?good? ?at? ?using? ?people?? ?Taking? ?me? ?for? ?a? ?servant? ?you? ?can? ?


    order? ?around? ?again,? ?tomorrow? ?you’ll? ?probably? ?tell? ?me? ?to? ?sweep? ?the? ?floor.”? ? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ughed,? ?“Nevermind,? ?nevermind.? ?I’ll? ?do? ?it? ?myself.”? ? ?


    But? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?had? ?already? ?taken? ?the? ?white? ?silk? ?bands? ?from? ?his? ?hands,? ?rolling? ?his? ?eyes? ?as? ?he? ?went? ?


    to? ?search? ?for? ?needles? ?and? ?threads.? ?After? ?that,? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?came? ?over? ?to? ?give? ?a? ?greeting? ?too,? ?and? ?


    was? ?thinking? ?of? ?patting? ?the? ?ck? ?ox,? ?but? ?that? ?ox? ?chomped? ?down? ?his? ?teeth? ?loudly,? ?almost? ?breaking? ?


    Pei? ?Ming’s? ?fingers.? ?Seeing? ?he? ?wasn’t? ?weed,? ?he? ?left? ?in? ?a? ?hurry.? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master? ?inquired,? ?“Is? ?


    General? ?Pei’s? ?arm? ?still? ?not? ?recovered?”? ?


    “Not? ?yet.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied,? ?“At? ?the? ?time? ?he? ?made? ?an? ?agreement? ?with? ?Rong? ?Guang? ?to? ?use? ?the? ?


    sword? ?Ming? ?Guang,? ?and? ?other? ?than? ?his? ?apology,? ?he? ?also? ?had? ?to? ?pay? ?up? ?an? ?arm? ?as? ?the? ?price.? ?


    Although? ?in? ?the? ?end? ?Rong? ?Guang’s? ?resentment? ?has? ?dispersed,? ?leaving? ?him? ?some? ?face? ?and? ?didn’t? ?


    ask? ?for? ?his? ?arm,? ?it? ?was? ?still? ?heavily? ?injured.”? ? ?


    “I? ?see.”? ?Rain? ?Master? ?said,? ?“No? ?wonder? ?General? ?Pei’s? ?expression? ?was? ?so? ?peculiar.”? ? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?muttered? ?inwardly,? ?‘His? ?peculiar? ?expression? ?was? ?definitely? ?not? ?for? ?this? ?reason.’? ?


    Turns? ?out,? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?could? ?not? ?get? ?over? ?the? ?fact? ?that? ?the? ?Rain? ?Master? ?had? ?saved? ?him? ?time? ?and? ?


    time? ?again? ?at? ?Mount? ?TongLu? ?and? ?in? ?the? ?great? ?fires? ?of? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Capital.? ?He? ?was? ?a? ?big? ?man,? ?a? ?


    good? ?man? ?who? ?thought? ?himself? ?domineering? ?the? ?heavens? ?and? ?the? ?earth,? ?so? ?he? ?could? ?not? ?


    withstand? ?losing? ?a? ?teeny? ?bit? ?of? ?face? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?a? ?woman? ?at? ?all,? ?especially? ?a? ?woman? ?he? ?had? ?past? ?


    grievances? ?with.? ?Compared? ?to? ?the? ?Rain? ?Master,? ?he? ?could? ?probably? ?ept? ?the? ?behaviours? ?of? ?


    Xuan? ?Ji? ?more.? ?In? ?any? ?case,? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?let? ?it? ?go? ?no? ?matter? ?what,? ?and? ?whenever? ?he? ?saw? ?the? ?Rain? ?


    Master? ?he’d? ?feel? ?turbulent,? ?which? ?was? ?why? ?his? ?expression? ?was? ?peculiar.? ?


    However,? ?the? ?Rain? ?Master? ?didn’t? ?understand? ?at? ?all? ?what? ?he? ?was? ?feeling? ?turbulent? ?over,? ?so? ?she? ?


    had? ?always? ?smiled? ?politely? ?in? ?greeting,? ?the? ?two? ?on? ?two? pletely? ?different? ?wavelengths,? ?truly? ?


    inexplicably? ?absurd.? ?


    Rain? ?Master? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“Oh? ?that’s? ?right,? ?Your? ?Highness,? ?how? ?is? ?Xuan? ?Ji?”? ?


    “Xuan? ?Ji’s? ?been? ?locked? ?up? ?at? ?the? ?foot? ?of? ?the? ?mountain,”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied,? ?“Did? ?you? ?want? ?to? ?go? ?see? ?


    her?”? ? ?


    .? ?


    After? ?the? ?great? ?battle,? ?all? ?the? ?monsters? ?and? ?demons? ?that? ?had? ?escaped? ?their? ?seals? ?from? ?all? ?over? ?at? ?


    the? ?beginning? ?were? ?temporarily? ?detained? ?in? ?a? ?dungeon? ?at? ?the? ?foot? ?of? ?Mount? ?TaiCang? ?that? ?was? ?


    temporarily? ?set? ?up.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?led? ?the? ?way,? ?but? ?before? ?they? ?reached? ?the? ?dungeon? ?they? ?heard? ?a? ?


    series? ?of? ?rough? ?voices? ?swearing.? ?Pei? ?Su? ?and? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?sat? ?at? ?the? ?entrance,? ?both? ?of? ?their? ?


    expressions? ?nk.? ?


    Right? ?now? ?they? cked? ?serious? ?helping? ?hands,? ?so? ?the? ?two? ?of? ?them? ?were? ?sent? ?over? ?to? ?help? ?the? ?


    Upper? ?Court? ?guard? ?the? ?dungeon.? ?Within? ?the? ?dungeon? ?locked? ?Ke? ?Mo,? ?and? ?when? ?he? ?saw? ?his? ?


    enemies? ?his? ?eyes? ?turned? ?especially? ?red,? ?and? ?he? ?spent? ?his? ?days? ?yelling? ?and? ?cursing? ?up? ?and? ?down? ?


    the? ?heavens? ?nonstop? ?at? ?those? ?two.? ?The? ?two? ?of? ?them? ?pretended? ?they? ?couldn’t? ?understand? ?his? ?


    words,? ?and? ?sat? ?together? ?in? ?a? ?row? ?like? ?wooden? ?dolls.? ?When? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?Rain? ?Master? ?entered,? ?


    they? ?rose? ?to? ?their? ?feet,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master.”? ? ?


    The? ?Rain? ?Master? ?passed? ?a? ?box? ?of? ?produce? ?to? ?them,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“Thank? ?you? ?two? ?for? ?your? ?


    hard? ?work.? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master? ?wants? ?to? ?see? ?Xuan? ?Ji.”? ? ?


    However,? ?Pei? ?Su? ?hesitated? ?for? ?a? ?moment,? ?“Xuan? ?Ji...”? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?noticed? ?something? ?was? ?wrong? ?and? ?asked,? ?“Is? ?something? ?the? ?matter?”? ? ?


    The? ?two? ?entered? ?the? ?dungeon? ?and? ?found? ?where? ?Xuan? ?Ji? ?was? ?detained,? ?and? ?they? ?were? ?both? ?taken? ?


    aback.? ?Within? ?the? ?cell,? ?there? ?was? ?nothing,? ?and? ?all? ?that? ?remained? ?was? ?a? ?set? ?of? ?ragged,? ?torn,? ?red? ?


    bridal? ?robe.? ?


    Pei? ?Su? ?exined,? ?“Xuan? ?Ji? ?had? ?already? ?dissipated? st? ?night.”? ? ?


    Xuan? ?Ji’s? ?resentment? ?actually? ?dispersed,? ?how? ?incredible.? ?It? ?wasn’t? ?that? ?long? ?ago? ?when? ?this? ?


    woman’s? ?obsession? ?was? ?still? ?so? ?deep,? ?choking? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?in? ?a? ?deadly? ?hold? ?refusing? ?to? ?let? ?go.? ?Xie? ?


    Lian? ?remarked,? ?“Perhaps? ?she? ?finally? ?thought? ?things? ?through.”? ? ?


    Thought? ?through? ?just? ?how? ?in? ?the? ?past? ?hundreds? ?of? ?years? ?she? ?had? ?be? ?such? ?an? ?insane,? ?


    despicable? ?grudging? ?woman? ?from? ?a? ?heroic? ?general,? ?a? ?dignified? dy? ?of? ?a? ?prestigious? ?house.? ?


    Thought? ?through? ?of? ?what? ?she? ?had? ?lost? ?and? ?what? ?she? ?had? ?gained,? ?and? ?in? ?such? ?shame? ?and? ?


    embarrassment,? ?she? ?probably? ?didn’t? ?have? ?the? ?face? ?to? ?look? ?back.? ?


    She? ?had? ?hoped? ?all? ?this? ?time? ?that? ?she? ?could? ?change? ?the? ?heart? ?of? ?the? ?man? ?who? ?deserted? ?her,? ?either? ?


    by? ?moving? ?his? ?heart? ?or? ?with? ?threats,? ?but? ?then? ?violently? ?realized? ?that? ?there? ?was? ?never? ?the? ?chance? ?


    to? ?turn? ?things? ?around? ?from? ?the? ?very? ?beginning,? ?and? ?so? ?she? ?finally? ?understood.? ?


    But,? ?she? ?was? ?relying? ?on? ?her? ?turbulent? ?feelings,? ?her? ?refusal? ?to? ?yield? ?towards? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?in? ?order? ?to? ?


    remain? ?in? ?this? ?world.? ?The? ?moment? ?she? ?thought? ?things? ?through,? ?there? ?was? ?no? ?more? ?reason? ?to? ?stay.? ?


    Even? ?thinking? ?about? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?little? ?absurd.? ?


    The? ?Rain? ?Master? ?sat? ?down? ?on? ?the? ?spot,? ?looking? ?like? ?she? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?perform? ?a? ?passings? ?service? ?


    for? ?her.? ?After? ?all,? ?Xuan? ?Ji? ?was? ?the? ?only? ?one? ?left? ?of? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?YuShi? ?besides? ?herself.? ?It’d? ?be? ?


    impolite? ?of? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?to? ?disturb? ?her,? ?so? ?he? ?stood? ?down? ?and? ?left.? ?


    .? ?


    After? ?exiting,? ?he? ?saw? ?Pei? ?Su? ?and? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?were? ?munching? ?on? ?the? ?fruits? ?the? ?Rain? ?Master? ?brought? ?


    them,? ?so? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?went? ?over? ?and? ?picked? ?one? ?up,? ?ready? ?to? ?crouch? ?down? ?to? ?munch? ?with? ?them.? ?Yet? ?


    unexpectedly,? ?he? ?suddenly? ?sensed? ?something,? ?and? ?whipped? ?his? ?head? ?around? ?to? ?look,? ?and? ?saw? ?


    not? ?far? ?in? ?the? ?distance? ?in? ?the? ?bushes? ?that? ?were? ?as? ?tall? ?as? ?half? ?a? ?man,? ?something? ?had? ?blitzed? ?by.? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?instantly? ?tossed? ?the? ?fruit? ?and? ?only? ?said,? ?“Watch? ?over? ?things? ?here!”? ?Before? ?dashing? ?over.? ?


    The? ?thing? ?in? ?the? ?bushes? ?noticed? ?it? ?was? ?discovered,? ?and? ?fled? ?even? ?faster.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could’ve? ?caught? ?


    up? ?in? ?eight? ?steps? ?at? ?first,? ?but? ?he? ?had? ?only? ?taken? ?four? ?steps? ?before? ?he? ?discovered? ?who? ?it? ?was.? ?


    Changing? ?his? ?mind,? ?he? ?slowed? ?his? ?pace.? ?


    He? ?waited? ?until? ?that? ?creature? ?had? ?fled? ?for? ?a? ?stretch? ?before? ?he? ?suddenly? ?broke? ?in? ?from? ?the? ?side,? ?


    blocking? ?the? ?other’s? ?path,? ?“Lady? ?Jian? ?Lan,? ?do? ?you? ?n? ?on? ?leaving? ?without? ?bidding? ?farewells?”? ? ?


    The? ?other? ?party? ?was? ?indeed? ?Jian? ?Lan? ?who? ?was? ?sneaking? ?around? ?with? ?that? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?cradling? ?in? ?


    her? ?arms,? ?and? ?she? ?jumped? ?in? ?surprise? ?by? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?who? ?appeared? ?out? ?of? ?nowhere,? ?“YOU!”? ? ?


    That? ?nched? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?was? ?baring? ?its? ?teeth? ?in? ?her? ?arms,? ?looking? ?like? ?it? ?wanted? ?to? ?attack? ?but? ?


    Jian? ?Lan? ?held? ?it? ?down,? ?“Are? ?you? ?here? ?to? ?stop? ?me?”? ? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?want? ?her? ?to? ?be? ?too? ?rmed,? ?and? ?said,? ?“Don’t? ?be? ?nervous,? ?I? ?just? ?wanted? ?to? ?give? ?you? ?


    something.”? ? ?


    Then,? ?he? ?took? ?out? ?an? ?item,? ?“Your? ?son? ?Cuo? ?Cuo’s? ?grudge? ?is? ?rather? ?strong,? ?it? ?needs? ?to? ?be? ?


    restrained.? ?Although? ?it’s? ?already? ?undergoing? ?purification,? ?your? ?cultivation? ?isn’t? ?as? ?high? ?as? ?his,? ?so? ?


    it’d? ?be? ?hard? ?to? ?guarantee? ?zero? ?idents.? ?You’ll? ?need? ?this? ?to? ?assist? ?you.”? ? ?


    The? ?item? ?was? ?a? ?protection? ?charm? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?made? ?himself,? ?and? ?he? ?even? ?demonstrated? ?how? ?to? ?use? ?


    it,? ?to? ?prove? ?there? ?was? ?no? ?tricks? ?embedded.? ?Jian? ?Lan? ?watched,? ?and? ?her? ?tension? ?indeed? ?rxed.? ?


    After? ?all,? ?this? ?thing? ?was? ?useful.? ?After? ?some? ?hesitation,? ?she? ?took? ?it,? ?“Thanks.”? ? ?


    “No? ?need.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“As? ?long? ?as? ?when? ?you? ?use? ?it,? ?shout? ?three? ?times? ?‘Your? ?Highness? ?Please? ?


    Bless? ?Me’? ?it’ll? ?do.? ?That? ?way? ?this? ?will? ?be? ?marked? ?under? ?the? ?name? ?of? ?my? ?pce.”? ? ?


    “...”? ?


    Jian? ?Lan? ?took? ?a? ?few? ?steps,? ?paused? ?for? ?a? ?moment,? ?but? ?in? ?the? ?end? ?she? ?still? ?couldn’t? ?hold? ?it? ?in? ?and? ?


    turned? ?her? ?head? ?around,? ?“You’re? ?not? ?stopping? ?me?? ?Why?”? ? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?waiting? ?for? ?her? ?to? ?look? ?back,? ?and? ?asked? ?her? ?instead? ?of? ?answering,? ?“Then? ?Lady? ?Jian? ?


    Lan,? ?why? ?must? ?you? ?go?? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?said? ?he? ?would? ?take? ?care? ?of? ?you? ?both,? ?he? ?will? ?keep? ?his? ?word.”? ?


    Jian? ?Lan’s? ?expression? ?flickered,? ?but? ?in? ?the? ?end,? ?she? ?sighed,? ?“I? ?know? ?he? ?will.? ?But,? ?forget? ?it,? ?it’s? ?for? ?


    the? ?best.? ?I? ?don’t? ?want? ?to? ?be? ?with? ?him? ?anymore.”? ? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?a? ?little? ?taken? ?aback,? ?“Do? ?you...? ?not? ?love? ?him? ?at? ?all? ?anymore?”? ? ?


    Jian? ?Lan? ?was? ?probably? ?tired? ?from? ?running,? ?and? ?sat? ?down? ?on? ?the? ?roadside,? ?“This? ?has? ?nothing? ?to? ?do? ?


    with? ?love? ?anymore.? ?I? ?don’t? ?want? ?him? ?to? ?force? ?himself? ?to? ?tie? ?us? ?to? ?him.”? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?also? ?sat? ?down? ?by? ?her? ?side,? ?and? ?contemted? ?for? ?a? ?moment,? ?“He? ?must? ?really? ?love? ?you.? ?


    Back? ?then,? ?he? ?was? ?so? pletely? ?spent,? ?but? ?he? ?still? ?refused? ?to? ?let? ?you? ?go.”? ? ?


    Hearing? ?this,? ?Jian? ?Lan? ?looked? ?as? ?if? ?she? ?remembered? ?things? ?from? ?a? ?faraway? ?past,? ?and? ughed,? ?


    “Since? ?you? ?mentioned? ?it,? ?I? ?remember? ?now.? ?Back? ?then,? ?he? ?was? ?still? ?a? ?little? ?dumb,? ?spending? ?long? ?


    hours? ?to? ?make? ?money,? ?and? ?after? ?he? ?made? ?money? ?he’d? ?buy? ?me? ?for? ?an? ?entire? ?night,? ?but? ?all? ?he? ?did? ?


    was? ?bring? ?over? ?a? ?stool? ?to? ?sit? ?with? ?me? ?all? ?night,? ?doing? ?nothing? ?but? ?chatting.? ?Everyone? ?took? ?him? ?for? ?


    a? ?joke,? ?what? ?a? ugh!”? ? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?also? ?smiled,? ?“You? ?see,? ?I? ?told? ?you? ?he? ?really? ?loves? ?you.”? ? ?


    However,? ?Jian? ?Lan? ?withdrew? ?her? ?smile,? ?“What? ?you’ve? ?said? ?are? ?all? ?things? ?of? ?the? ?past.? ?What? ?was? ?


    love? ?once? ?doesn’t? ?mean? ?it’ll? st.? ?I’m? ?not? ?interested? ?in? ?being? ?a? ?charity? ?case? ?and? ?a? ?nuisance.”? ? ?


    “Why? ?would? ?he? ?think? ?you? ?both? ?a? ?nuisance?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked,? ?“Don’t? ?you? ?know? ?the? ?kind? ?of? ?person? ?


    Feng? ?Xin? ?is?”? ? ?


    “You,? ?His? ?Highness? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince,? ?you? ?have? ?never? ?lived? ?the? mon? ?life,? ?so? ?of? ?course? ?you’d? ?


    think? ?things? ?are? ?that? ?simple.? ?He? ?won’t? ?now,? ?and? ?he? ?won’t? ?on? ?the? ?surface? ?either.? ?But? ?once? ?time? ?


    gets? ?dragged? ?out,? ?then? ?nothing? ?could? ?be? ?sure.? ?If? ?I? ?wanted? ?to? ?seek? ?him? ?out,? ?I? ?would’ve? ?done? ?so? ?a? ?


    long? ?time? ?ago.? ?It’s? ?not? ?like? ?the? ?Temple? ?of? ?Nan? ?Yang? ?is? ?hard? ?to? ?find.? ?There? ?was? ?a? ?period? ?of? ?time? ?


    where? ?they? ?were? ?everywhere,? ?but? ?I? ?still? ?didn’t? ?want? ?to.”? ? ?


    “He’s? ?ascended,? ?he’s? ?got? ?everything,? ?looking? ?glorious? ?and? ?impressive,? ?but? ?we’ve? ?already? ?turned? ?


    into? ?ghosts,? ?so? ?what? ?am? ?I? ?doing? ?seeking? ?him? ?out?? ?A? ?heavenly? ?official? ?carrying? ?two? ?ghosts,? ?isn’t? ?


    that? ?just? ?trouble? ?for? ?him?”? ?


    “I? ?kicked? ?him? ?away? ?when? ?I? ?looked? ?my? ?best,? ?I? ?think? ?that’s? ?quite? ?good,? ?all? ?proud? ?and? ?dignified.? ?That? ?


    way,? ?I? ?would? ?always? ?look? ?that? ?way? ?to? ?him? ?in? ?his? ?heart,? ?and? ?not? ?like? ?this,? ?heavy? ?in? ?makeup? ?and? ?


    tacky,? ?crows? ?feet? ?around? ?my? ?eyes.”? ? ?


    She? ?pinched? ?at? ?her? ?own? ?face,? ?“If? ?he? ?really? ?recognized? ?us,? ?and? ?everyday? ?he? ?had? ?to? ?look? ?at? ?this? ?


    face? ?of? ?mine? ?and? ?Cuo? ?Cuo’s? ?form? ?like? ?this,? ?with? ?us? ?dragging? ?him? ?down,? ?he? ?would? ?only? ?be? ?


    more? ?and? ?more? ?tired,? ?annoyed,? ?and? ?one? ?day? ?we? ?will? ?be? ?a? ?nuisance.? ?So? ?why? ?bother?? ?Isn’t? ?


    that? ?too? ?tragic?”? ? ?


    While? ?she? ?was? ?speaking,? ?the? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?was? ?using? ?its? ?wet,? ?slithering? ?tongue? ?to? ?lick? ?her? ?face,? ?


    looking? ?inexplicably? ?disgusting? ?but? ?mischievously? ?endearing.? ?But? ?to? ?typical? ?others,? ?this? ?was? ?


    probably? ?only? ?disgusting,? ?and? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?epted.? ?


    Jian? ?Lan? ?also? ?petted? ?the? ?bare? ?head? ?of? ?her? ?son,? ?“Anyway,? ?having? ?Cuo? ?Cuo? ?is? ?enough? ?for? ?me.? ?Who? ?


    hasn’t? ?made? ?promises? ?or? ?swore? ?to? ?the? ?mountains? ?and? ?the? ?seas? ?when? ?they? ?were? ?young?? ?Talking? ?


    of? ?affection,? ?of? ?love,? ?of? ?forevers.? ?But,? ?the? ?longer? ?I? ?hung? ?around? ?in? ?the? ?world,? ?the? ?more? ?I? ?


    understand,? ?something? ?like? ?‘forever’? ?is? ?impossible.? ?It’s? ?never? ?going? ?to? ?be? ?possible.? ?Having? ?it? ?once? ?


    was? ?already? ?good? ?enough.? ?No? ?one? ?can? ?truly? ?achieve? ?it.? ?I? ?don’t? ?believe? ?in? ?it? ?anymore.”? ? ?


    She? ?said? ?with? ?a? ?helpless? ?voice,? ?“Feng? ?Xin? ?is? ?a? ?good? ?man.? ?It’s? ?just...? ?it’s? ?really? ?been? ?too? ?long.? ?


    Everything’s? ?changed,? ?so? ?it’s? ?best? ?to? ?let? ?it? ?go.”? ? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?listened? ?silently,? ?not? ?speaking? ?a? ?word,? ?but? ?in? ?his? ?heart,? ?he? ?said,? ?‘No.’? ?


    A? ?voice? ?in? ?his? ?heart? ?said,? ?‘’Forever’? ?exists.? ?There’s? ?one? ?person? ?who? ?can? ?truly? ?achieve? ?it.? ?I? ?


    believe.’? ?


    .? ?


    Jian? ?Lan? ?still? ?took? ?Cuo? ?Cuo? ?and? ?left.? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?went? ?back? ?and? ?sent? ?away? ?Rain? ?Master? ?who? ?finished? ?the? ?passings? ?service? ?for? ?Xuan? ?Ji,? ?


    and? ?returned? ?to? ?Mount? ?TaiCang.? ?He? ?was? ?thinking? ?of? ?telling? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?that? ?Jian? ?Lan? ?had? ?left,? ?but? ?


    he? ?didn’t? ?see? ?him.? ?Just? ?as? ?he? ?was? ?looking? ?for? ?him? ?among? ?the? ?rowdy? ?crowd,? ?someone? ?suddenly? ?


    shouted,? ?“Great? ?timing,? ?Tai? ?Hua!? ?Are? ?you? ?free?? ?Come? ?help? ?figure? ?this? ?out!”? ?


    They? ?were? ?still? ?grabbing? ?anyone? ?to? ?do? ?ounting,? ?and? ?Lang? ?Qian? ?Qiu? ?was? ?desperate? ?to? ?get? ?


    away,? ?responding? ?from? ?afar,? ?“DON’T? ?BRING? ?THE? ?STACK? ?HERE,? ?I’VE? ?GOT? ?THINGS? ?TO? ?DO,? ?


    GO? ?FIND? ?SOMEONE? ?ELSE!”? ? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?sighed,? ?wondering? ?if? ?he? ?should? ?go? ?and? ?give? ?all? ?those? ?books? ?a? ?try? ?when? ?unexpectedly,? ?he? ?


    had? ?only? ?taken? ?a? ?few? ?steps? ?before? ?he? ?heard? ?a? ?voice? ?from? ?behind,? ?“Mas...? ?Hea....? ?Your? ?Highness.”? ? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?back? ?and? ?Lang? ?Qian? ?Qiu? ?was? ?standing? ?right? ?behind? ?him.? ?“Do? ?you? ?have? ?a? ?


    moment? ?to? ?step? ?aside? ?and? ?speak?”? ? ?


    “Of? ?course.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied.? ?


    Thus,? ?he? ?and? ?Lang? ?Qian? ?Qiu? ?walked? ?together? ?outside? ?that? ?sad,? ?giant? ?hut? ?of? ?a? ?pce.? ?As? ?they? ?


    walked,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?inquired,? ?“How’s? ?Gu? ?Zi? ?doing?? ?Is? ?he? ?alright?”? ? ?


    Lang? ?Qing? ?Qiu? ?chuckled? ?helplessly,? ?a? ?little? ?bitter,? ?“I? ?don’t? ?know? ?if? ?it’s? ?considered? ?alright.? ?That? ?child? ?


    asks? ?me? ?for? ?his? ?dad? ?everyday,? ?rather? ?pitiful,? ?so? ?I? ?could? ?only...? ?gather? ?a? ?bit? ?of? ?the? ?soul? ?particles? ?of? ?


    the? ?Green? ?Goblin? ?and? ?keep? ?them? ?in? ?a? mp.? ?Now? ?he? ?shows? ?up? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?me? ?everyday? ?hugging? ?


    that? mp? ?asking? ?when? ?the? ?soul? ?within? ?the? mp? ?will? ?grow? ?bigger!? ?I? ?really...”? ? ?


    Looking? ?at? ?that? ?grim,? ?dispirited? ?face,? ?just? ?thinking? ?of? ?it? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?understand.? ?Just? ?why? ?did? ?he? ?


    have? ?to? ?do? ?something? ?like? ?this? ?for? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?who? ?had? ?murdered? ?his? ?entire? ?family?? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?


    subconsciously? ?reached? ?out? ?to? ?pat? ?his? ?shoulder,? ?but? ?then? ?he? ?remembered? ?what? ?he? ?himself? ?had? ?


    done? ?in? ?Yong? ?An,? ?and? ?held? ?back.? ?He? ?said? ?gently,? ?“You’ve? ?worked? ?hard.? ?Then,? ?what? ?did? ?you? ?want? ?


    to? ?talk? ?about? ?with? ?me? ?today?”? ? ?


    After? ?some? ?hesitation,? ?Lang? ?Qian? ?Qiu? ?reached? ?into? ?his? ?robes? ?and? ?took? ?something? ?out,? ?passing? ?it? ?


    to? ?him,? ?“This.”? ? ?


    The? ?moment? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?saw? ?the? ?thing? ?his? ?breathing? ?stopped.? ?


    It? ?was? ?an? ?opulent,? ?smooth? ?and? ?luminescent? ?little? ?crimson? ?coral? ?pearl.? ?


    His? ?voice? ?trembled,? ?“This? ?is...?!”? ?


    Lang? ?Qian? ?Qiu? ?said,? ?“This? ?coral? ?pearl? ?was? ?a? ?secret? ?treasure? ?left? ?by? ?the? ?founding? ?father? ?of? ?Yong? ?


    An.”? ? ?


    Only? ?having? ?heard? ?this? ?did? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?realize? ?that? ?this? ?wasn’t? ?the? ?one? ?tied? ?at? ?the? ?end? ?of? ?Hua? ?


    Cheng’s? ?hair,? ?but? ?the? ?one? ?he? ?once? ?gifted? ?to? ?Lang? ?Ying.? ?


    It? ?wasn’t? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?a? ?little? ?disappointed,? ?but? ?still? ?took? ?that? ?pearl.? ?Just? ?then? ?Lang? ?


    Qian? ?Qiu? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“The? ?founding? ?father? ?once? ?said,? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?gave? ?him? ?this? ?red? ?coral? ?pearl? ?


    was? ?his? ?saviour,? ?someone? ?who? ?had? ?helped? ?him.? ?A? ?very? ?good? ?man.”? ? ?


    “...”? ?


    Lang? ?Qian? ?Qiu? ?continued,? ?“But? ?he? ?still? ?did? ?something? ?that? ?made? ?that? ?man? ?lose? ?everything.? ?The? ?


    founding? ?father? ?said? ?he? ?didn’t? ?regret? ?doing? ?what? ?he? ?did,? ?he? ?had? ?to? ?do? ?it.? ?But? ?afterwards? ?when? ?he? ?


    thought? ?about? ?it,? ?he? ?still? ?felt? ?like? ?he? ?wronged? ?that? ?man.”? ? ?


    “...”? ?


    “And? ?then?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.? ?


    “And? ?then,”? ?Lang? ?Qian? ?Qiu? ?said,? ?“That? ?day? ?at? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Capital,? ?I? ?looked? ?at? ?that? ?bead? ?at? ?the? ?


    end? ?of? ?Crimson? ?Rain? ?Sought? ?Flower’s? ?hair? ?carefully,? ?and? ?the? ?more? ?I? ?looked? ?the? ?more? ?I? ?thought? ?it? ?


    resembled? ?the? ?one? ?father? ?left? ?me.? ?Later? ?I? ?heard? ?General? ?Xuan? ?Zhen? ?and? ?the? ?others? ?talking,? ?and? ?


    learned? ?that? ?those? ?pearls? ?were? ?actually? ?a? ?pair,? ?and? ?they? ?belonged? ?to? ?you.? ?So,? ?I? ?came? ?to? ?ask,? ?is? ?


    this? ?yours?”? ? ?


    A? ?moment? ter,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?nodded? ?slowly,? ?“It’s? ?mine.? ?It’s? ?a? ?pair? ?of? ?pearls? ?my? ?father? ?and? ?mother? ?


    gave? ?me? ?when? ?I? ?was? ?young.”? ? ?


    Lang? ?Qian? ?Qiu? ?scatched? ?his? ?head,? ?“Then...? ?I’m? ?giving? ?this? ?back? ?to? ?you.”? ? ?


    He? ?still? ?didn’t? ?know? ?how? ?to? ?address? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?and? ?after? ?having? ?returned? ?the? ?pearl,? ?he? ?wavered? ?


    around? ?for? ?a? ?bit? ?before? ?leaving? ?silently.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?stood? ?in? ?the? ?same? ?spot,? ?that? ?red? ?coral? ?pearl? ?


    squeezed? ?in? ?the? ?heart? ?of? ?his? ?palm.? ?


    It’s? ?been? ?over? ?eight? ?hundred? ?years.? ?After? ?all? ?the? ?twists? ?and? ?turns,? ?the? ?other? ?half? ?of? ?that? ?pair? ?of? ?


    crimson? ?coral? ?pearl? ?earrings? ?had? ?returned? ?to? ?his? ?hands.? ?It’s? ?his,? ?and? ?also? ?his.? ?


    But,? ?the? ?other? ?pearl? ?should’ve? ?been? ?present? ?here? ?too.? ?They? ?should’ve? ?been? ?able? ?to? plete? ?the? ?


    pair.? ?


    Right? ?then,? ?the? ?loud,? ?overjoyed? ?voice? ?of? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?came? ?from? ?the? ?bottom? ?of? ?the? ?mountain,? ?“YOUR? ?


    HIGHNESS!? ?EVERYONE!? ?COME? ?QUICK!”? ? ?


    ———–? ?


    Ch.243:? ?How? ?My? ?Lord? ?Aches? ?for? ?the? ?Flower;? ?How? ?I? ?Ache? ?for? ?My? ?Lord? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?tucked? ?the? ?pearl? ?away? ?and? ?gazed? ?over.? ?Several? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?also? ?emerged? ?from? ?


    the? ?crude,? ?giant? ?hut,? ?“What’s? ?going? ?on? ?with? ?General? ?Nan? ?Feng?”? ?


    But? ?then? ?they? ?heard? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?call? ?out,? ?“LOOK? ?WHO? ?I’VE? ?CAPTURED!”? ?


    He? ?crashed? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?woods? ?and? ?came? ?dashing? ?up,? ?a? ?ck? ?d? ?individual? ?in? ?his? ?hand,? ?and? ?the? ?


    heavenly? ?officials? ?were? ?all? ?shocked,? ?“LING? ?WEN!”? ?


    The? ?one? ?gripped? ?in? ?Feng? ?Xin’s? ?hand? ?was? ?indeed? ?Ling? ?Wen.? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?turned? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?“Just? ?as? ?


    you? ?suspected,? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?went? ?to? ?steal? ?the? ?Brocade? ?Immortal!”? ? ?


    After? ?removing? ?the? ?cursed? ?shackles,? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?spiritual? ?powers? ?explosively? ?increased? ?to? ?the? ?


    point? ?where? ?he? ?was? ?practically? ?Jun? ?Wu’s? ?equal,? ?so? ?that? ?Brocade? ?Immortal? ?naturally? ?couldn’t? ?do? ?


    anything? ?to? ?him.? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?was? ?turned? ?into? ?a? ?daruma? ?doll? ?by? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?and? ?went? ?missing? ?


    during? ?the? ?great? ?battle.? ?Once? ?time? ?was? ?up,? ?the? ?spell? ?on? ?her? ?person? ?would? ?release? ?automatically,? ?


    so? ?she? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?found? ?anywhere.? ?However,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?figured? ?she? ?would? ?most? ?likely? e? ?to? ?


    steal? ?the? ?Brocade? ?Immortal,? ?so? ?he? ?took? ?off? ?those? ?robes? ?and? ?asked? ?the? ?Ghost? ?City? ?to? ?let? ?word? ?


    spread.? ?Sure? ?enough,? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?took? ?the? ?bait.? ?


    Even? ?as? ?a? ?fugitive,? ?when? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?was? ?arrested? ?and? ?taken? ?to? ?the? ?conference? ?hall,? ?she? ?still? ?didn’t? ?


    appear? ?panicked.? ?The? ?moment? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?came? ?in? ?he? ?pressed? ?down? ?on? ?her? ?shoulders,? ?and? ?sat? ?


    her? ?down? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?a? ?table,? ?admonishing? ?in? ?a? ?dark? ?voice,? ?“We’ve? ?finally? ?found? ?you!? ?Ling? ?Wen,? ?


    you? ?have? ?to? ?pay? ?for? ?your? ?sins!”? ? ?


    “...”? ?


    Dozens? ?of? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?also? ?came? ?surrounding? ?her,? ?each? ?of? ?them? ?with? ?eyes? ?of? ?wolves? ?and? ?


    tigers,? ?their? ?expressions? ?thirsty? ?and? ?starving,? ?practically? ?savage.? ?Only? ?then? ?did? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?felt? ?a? ?bit? ?


    of? ?trepidation,? ?“...What? ?are? ?you? ?all? ?nning.”? ?


    THUMP!? ??A? ?stack? ?of? ?reports? ?and? ?scrolls? ?close? ?to? ?the? ?height? ?of? ?a? ?full? ?grown? ?man? ?were? ?thrown? ?


    before? ?her,? ?so? ?heavy? ?the? ?table? ?and? ?chairs? ?all? ?shook.? ?Pei? ?Ming? ??PA!?? ?And? ?pped? ?down? ?on? ?the? ?


    scrolls,? ?“These.? ?Take? ?care? ?of? ?them.”? ? ?


    “...”? ?


    Ling? ?Wen? ?seemed? ?to? ?have? ?sighed? ?a? ?breath? ?of? ?relief,? ?then? ?felt? ?inexplicably? ?baffled.? ?Yet? ?


    unexpectedly,? ?before? ?her? ?breath? ?had? ?fully? ?exhaled,? ?there? ?was? ?another? ?round? ?of? ?


    “THUMPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMP!”? ?


    After? ?dozens? ?of? ?thumps? ter,? ?dozens? ?of? ?stacks? ?of? ?documents? ?and? ?reports? ?taller? ?than? ?a? ?man? ?had? ?


    also? ?crashed? ?down,? ?and? ?she? ?was? ?heavily? ?surrounded.? ?


    Those? ?dozens? ?of? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?babbled? ?in? ?between? ?the? ?cracks? ?of? ?those? ?stacks:? ?“We’ve? ?been? ?


    waiting? ?for? ?you? ?for? ?days? ?now!? ?Hurry? ?and? ?help? ?figure? ?this? ?out!”? ?


    “Take? ?care? ?of? ?those? ?too.”? ? ?


    “Remember? ?to? ?fill? ?in? ?the? ?missing? ?parts.”? ? ?


    “You? ?better? ?get? ?this? ?done? ?within? ?the? ?hour!”? ?...? ?


    Ling? ?Wen:? ?“...”? ?


    After? ?a? ?day? ?and? ?a? ?night,? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?was? ?finally? ?released? ?from? ?the? ?temporary? ?conference? ?hall.? ?


    After? ?a? ?day? ?and? ?a? ?night? ?of? ?hard? ?battle,? ?all? ?the? ?mess? ?of? ?scrolls? ?and? ?reports? ?had? ?been? ?taken? ?care? ?of,? ?


    each? ?categorized? ?and? ?organized? ?in? ?order? ?and? ?neatly.? ?The? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?cheered? ?and? ?each? ?


    received? ?the? ?ounts? ?of? ?their? ?own? ?pce? ?and? ?went? ?to? ?double? ?check.? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?on? ?the? ?other? ?


    hand,? ?was? ?face? ?blue? ?and? ?steel,? ?and? ?those? ?dark? ?circles? ?under? ?her? ?eyes? ?that? ?had? ?disappeared? ?for? ?a? ?


    period? ?of? ?time? ?had? ?returned.? ?


    On? ?the? ?other? ?side,? ?everyone? ?finished? ?double? ?checking? ?and? ?were? ?all? ?rejoicing,? ?and? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?


    praised,? ?“It? ?certainly? ?is? ?Noble? ?Jie? ?who? ?is? ?the? ?most? ?efficient!? ?Now? ?everything? ?matches!”? ?


    “It’s? ?cleared!? ?Thank? ?so? ?much? ?for? ?Lord? ?Ling? ?Wen!”? ? ?


    As? ?a? ?criminal,? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?chuckled? ?politely? ?amongst? ?all? ?the? ?praises? ?from? ?the? ?crowd? ?of? ?heavenly? ?


    officials,? ?“It’s? ?nothing,? ?it’s? ?nothing.”? ? ?


    Seeing? ?this,? ?all? ?the? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?in? ?the? ?hall? ?who? ?were? ?still? ?in? ?a? ?mess? ?but? ?didn’t? ?stuff? ?their? ?


    ounts? ?over? ?couldn’t? ?sit? ?still? ?anymore,? ?and? ?they? ?came? ?circling? ?her,? ?“Um,? ?actually,? ?I’ve? ?some? ?


    books? ?that? ?I? ?forgot? ?to? ?give? ?my? ?lord,? ?and? ?was? ?wondering? ?if? ?perhaps? ?you’d? ?take? ?a? ?look...”? ?


    Ling? ?Wen:? ?“...”? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?been? ?eating? ?a? ?steamed? ?bun,? ?crouching? ?outside? ?the? ?temporary? ?conference? ?hall,? ?and? ?


    after? ?he? ?finished? ?he? ?pped? ?his? ?hands? ?clean,? ?and? ?finally? ?rescued? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?from? ?suffering,? ?


    “Everyone,? ?let’s? ?figure? ?this? ?out? ter.? ?Let? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?catch? ?her? ?breath? ?first.”? ? ?


    Before? ?when? ?he? ?spoke? ?up,? ?there? ?would? ?definitely? ?be? ?no? ?one? ?who? ?cared,? ?but? ?now? ?things? ?weren’t? ?


    the? ?same.? ?Several? ?people? ?responded,? ?“Your? ?Highness? ?is? ?right.”? ?And? ?didn’t? ?dare? ?to? ?speak? ?more.? ?


    Ling? ?Wen? ?sat? ?in? ?her? ?chair,? ?a? ?hand? ?covering? ?over? ?her? ?forehead,? ?her? ?eyes? ?closed,? ?waiting? ?for? ?the? ?


    other? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?to? ?exit.? ?It? ?was? ?only? ?after? ?the? ?conference? ?hall? ?was? ?deserted? ?before? ?she? ?


    turned? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?“Congrattions,? ?huh,? ?Your? ?Highness,? ?your? ?spiritual? ?powers? ?have? ?returned.? ?


    What? ?good? ?strategies,? ?now,? ?even? ?ghosts? ?are? ?your? ?worshippers,? ?obeying? ?your? ?orders,? ?how? ?


    unimaginable.”? ?


    “They’re? ?not? ?my? ?worshippers,”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied,? ?“They’re? ?just? ?friends? ?from? ?the? ?Ghost? ?City.? ?I? ?only? ?


    asked? ?them? ?to? ?help.”? ? ?


    Ling? ?Wen? ?nodded,? ?her? ?face? ?full? ?of? ?understanding.? ?A? ?moment? ter,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“Ling? ?Wen,? ?


    there’s? ?something? ?I’ve? ?wanted? ?to? ?ask? ?you.”? ? ?


    “Your? ?Highness? ?can? ?go? ?ahead.”? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?said.? ?


    “San? ?Lang,? ?I? ?mean? ?Hua? ?Chengzhu,”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?started,? ?“He’s? ?worn? ?this? ?Brocade? ?Immortal? ?of? ?yours,? ?


    but? ?the? ?Brocade? ?Immortal? ?doesn’t? ?work? ?on? ?him,? ?do? ?you? ?know? ?why?”? ? ?


    “So? ?it’s? ?this? ?question.”? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?said,? ?“I? ?thought? ?Your? ?Highness? ?already? ?knew?”? ? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?blinked,? ?“Tell? ?me?”? ? ?


    Ling? ?Wen? ?straightened? ?her? ?sleeves,? ?and? ?sat? ?poisedly,? ?“Your? ?highness,? ?you’ve? ?heard? ?the? ?legend? ?


    of? ?the? ?Brocade? ?Immortal,? ?right?”? ? ?


    “I’ve? ?heard.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied,? ?“You? ?forged? ?it? ?yourself.”? ? ?


    “You? ?can? ?say? ?that.”? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?said,? ?“Although? ?I? ?had? ?never? ?thought? ?the? ?resentment? ?gathered? ?on? ?


    this? ?robe? ?would? ?turn? ?it? ?into? ?a? ?monster,? ?but? ?I? ?did? ?kill? ?Bai? ?Jing? ?to? ?speed? ?up? ?the? ?destruction? ?of? ?the? ?


    Kingdom? ?of? ?XuLi,? ?that’s? ?not? ?wrong.”? ? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?listened? ?intently.? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?continued,? ?“This? ?robe? ?made? ?rounds? ?around? ?the? ?mortal? ?realm,? ?


    passing? ?through? ?countless? ?hands,? ?and? ?after? ?having? ?it? ?in? ?hand,? ?countless? ?individuals? ?chose? ?to? ?use? ?


    it? ?for? ?murder,? ?to? ?harm,? ?to? ?deceive.? ?While? ?this? ?can? ?also? ?take? ?away? ?some? ?of? ?its? ?resentment,? ?but,? ?Bai? ?


    Jing? ?isn’t? ?someone? ?like? ?that.”? ?


    “He? ?didn’t? ?like? ?being? ?used? ?by? ?those? ?people,? ?he? ?hated? ?them.? ?So,? ?whenever? ?he? ?met? ?wearers? ?simr? ?


    to? ?him? ?and? ?the? ?chosen? ?people? ?who? ?were? ?given? ?the? ?robe,? ?his? ?resentment? ?wouldn’t? ?be? ?excited,? ?and? ?


    instead,? ?he’d? ?be? ?d.”? ? ?


    “And? ?the? ?wearers? ?and? ?receivers? ?are?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.? ?


    Ling? ?Wen? ?answered,? ?“You? ?put? ?the? ?Brocade? ?Immortal? ?on? ?Crimson? ?Rain? ?Sought? ?Flower,? ?but? ?in? ?your? ?


    heart? ?there? ?was? ?not? ?a? ?single? ?trace? ?of? ?malintent? ?or? ?the? ?desire? ?to? ?harm,? ?you? ?trust? ?him? ?with? ?your? ?


    whole? ?being;? ?and? ?for? ?Crimson? ?Rain? ?Sought? ?Flower,? ?he? ?was? ?the? ?same? ?when? ?it? ?came? ?to? ?you,? ?no,? ?in? ?


    fact,? ?he? ?was? ?even? ?more? ?–? ?What? ?made? ?it? ?really? ?feel? ?aligned? ?with? ?Crimson? ?Rain? ?Sought? ?Flower? ?


    was? ?that? ?it? ?didn’t? ?matter? ?if? ?he? ?was? ?wearing? ?the? ?Brocade? ?Immortal,? ?he? ?would? ?do? ?everything? ?you? ?


    asked? ?him? ?to? ?without? ?hesitation.? ?Including? ?dying? ?for? ?you.”? ? ?


    “...”? ?


    “This? ?was? ?also? ?how? ?I? ?guessed? ?that? ?boy? ?next? ?to? ?you? ?was? ?Crimson? ?Rain? ?Sought? ?Flower? ?at? ?the? ?


    time.”? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?said,? ?“Although? ?I? ?don’t? ?know? ?too? ?much? ?of? ?the? ?affairs? ?between? ?you? ?two,? ?but? ?I? ?


    figure? ?there? ?wasn’t? ?another? ?who? ?could? ?be? ?like? ?this.”? ? ?


    “Why’s? ?that?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.? ?


    Ling? ?Wen? ?raised? ?her? ?hand? ?and? ?pointed,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?what’s? ?that? ?around? ?your? ?neck?”? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?taken? ?aback,? ?and? ?unconsciously? ?moved? ?his? ?hand? ?to? ?cover? ?it.? ?


    Ling? ?Wen? ?spoke,? ?“I’ve? ?seen? ?things? ?like? ?it? ?before,? ?the? ?very? ?unique? ?ghosts? ?who? ?gifted? ?their? ?lovers? ?


    their? ?ashes.”? ? ?


    Countless? ?scrolls? ?and? ?reports? ?had? ?passed? ?through? ?the? ?Pce? ?of? ?Ling? ?Wen,? ?so? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?strange? ?


    that? ?she? ?had? ?seen? ?it? ?before.? ?But? ?truth? ?to? ?be? ?told,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?guessed? ?it? ?himself.? ?


    But? ?hearing? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?say? ?so? ?out? ?loud,? ?he? ?still? ?squeezed? ?that? ?crystal? ?clear? ?ring? ?tight.? ?


    “It’s? ?a? ?very? ?rare? ?item.”? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?said,? ?”But? ?because? ?it’s? ?too? ?beautiful,? ?it? ?often? ?ends? ?in? ?tragedy,? ?so? ?


    my? ?impression? ?of? ?it? ?is? ?stronger.”? ? ?


    “What? ?do? ?you? ?mean? ?it? ?often? ?ends? ?in? ?tragedy?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.? ?


    “To? ?have? ?love? ?blind? ?your? ?reason,? ?and? ?give? ?objects? ?tied? ?to? ?your? ?life? ?to? ?someone? ?else,? ?would? ?have? ?


    many? ?tragic? ?and? ?horrifying? ?consequences.”? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?said.? ?


    “Something? ?like? ?a? ?genuine? ?heart? ?is? ?made? ?to? ?be? ?trampled.? ?All? ?those? ?keepsakes? ?made? ?of? ?ashes,? ?


    some? ?were? ?stolen? ?by? ?others,? ?some? ?were? ?shattered? ?by? ?its? ?owners,? ?basically? ?nothing? ?ended? ?well.? ?


    But,? ?your? ?highness? ?is? ?an? ?exception.? ?You’ve? ?kept? ?it? ?well,? ?practically? ?imprable.”? ? ?


    After? ?a? ?long? ?silence,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“You? ?said? ?‘simr? ?to? ?him’.? ?So,? ?was? ?General? ?Bai? ?Jing? ?like? ?this? ?


    too?”? ? ?


    Ling? ?Wen? ?smiled? ?lightly,? ?“Why? ?else? ?would? ?he? ?be? ?deceived? ?by? ?me?”? ? ?


    “It’s? ?not? ?really? ?deception? ?though,? ?is? ?it?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“There? ?was? ?no? ?way? ?you? ?didn’t? ?realize? ?I? ?was? ?


    intentionally? ?letting? ?the? ?word? ?out,? ?but? ?you? ?still? ?came? ?to? ?take? ?it.”? ? ?


    “It’s? ?a? ?good? ?defense? ?device.”? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?said.? ?


    “If? ?it? ?was? ?only? ?a? ?device? ?for? ?defense,? ?you? ?wouldn’t? ?have? ?gone? ?through? ?such? ?risks? ?to? ?steal? ?it? ?in? ?the? ?


    first? ?ce,? ?and? ?after? ?you? ?failed? ?you? ?still? ?took? ?it? ?to? ?Mount? ?TongLu.”? ?


    Lin? ?Wen? ?said? ?apathetically,? ?“What? ?else? ?was? ?there? ?to? ?do? ?other? ?than? ?take? ?it? ?to? ?Mount? ?TongLu?? ?I? ?


    was? ?already? ?exposed.? ?Your? ?Highness? ?was? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?caught? ?me? ?red-handed.”? ?


    “But? ?truthfully,? ?if? ?you? ?wanted? ?to? ?find? ?an? ?excuse? ?to? ?cover? ?it? ?up? ?it’d? ?still? ?work.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“Bribe? ?


    your? ?way? ?around? ?a? ?little,? ?even? ?getting? ?demoted? ?or? ?have? ?merits? ?deducted? ?wouldn’t? ?have? nded? ?


    you? ?a? ?fugitive? ?status.? ?The? ?main? ?point? ?being...? ?you? ?wanted? ?to? ?help? ?General? ?Bai? ?Jing? ?in? ?bing? ?


    a? ?Supreme,? ?and? ?have? ?him? ?wake? ?to? ?his? ?senses,? ?right?”? ? ?


    Ling? ?Wen? ?gave? ?a? ?small? ugh,? ?“Your? ?highness,? ?don’t? ?say? ?it? ?like? ?I? ?would? ?do? ?anything? ?for? ?him.? ?After? ?


    all,? ?I’m? ?cold-blooded? ?and? ?recognized? ?no? ?loved? ?ones,? ?so? ?why? ?would? ?I? ?do? ?anything? ?like? ?that?”? ? ?


    “Is? ?that? ?right?”? ? ?


    “Let? ?it? ?be.”? ? ?


    .? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?cleaned? ?up? ?around? ?the? ?wrecked,? ?broken? ?cliffs? ?at? ?the? ?Royal? ?Holy? ?Pavilion,? ?and? ?put? ?up? ?a? ?


    simple? ?cottage,? ?using? ?it? ?as? ?a? ?temporary? ?residence.? ?It? ?was? ?further? ?away? ?and? ?more? ?deserted.? ?When? ?


    there? ?was? ?a? ?need? ?for? ?him? ?he’d? ?go? ?to? ?the? ?Conference? ?Hall? ?to? ?help,? ?when? ?there? ?wasn’t? ?anything,? ?


    he’d? ?stay? ?in? ?the? ?cottage? ?by? ?himself? ?quietly.? ?


    After? ?several? ?days,? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?finally? ?repaired? ?RuoYe? ?and? ?came? ?to? ?deliver? ?it.? ?The? ?moment? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?


    opened? ?the? ?door? ?he? ?saw? ?something? ?white? ?pouncing? ?at? ?him,? ?and? ?his? ?vision? ?was? ?covered.? ?He? ?


    raised? ?his? ?hand? ?to? ?yank? ?that? ?thing? ?off,? ?and? ?RuoYe? ?began? ?to? ?twist? ?and? ?swivel? ?again,? ?like? ?it? ?was? ?


    showing? ?off? ?its? ?beautiful? ?body? ?after? ?being? ?reborn.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?admonished,? ?“Don’t? ?twist? ?around? ?like? ?


    that? ?after? ?just? ?getting? ?repaired,? ?be? ?careful? ?of? ?tearing? ?yourself? ?again.”? ? ?


    The? ?moment? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?heard? ?this? ?he? ?had? ?an? ?opinion,? ?“How’s? ?that? ?possible?? ?What? ?robes? ?of? ?yours? ?


    has? ?torn? ?after? ?I’ve? ?patched? ?it? ?up? ?for? ?you?”? ? ?


    “That’s? ?true.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?


    He? ?caught? ?RuoYe? ?who? ?was? ?twisted? ?like? ?a? ?seaweed? ?to? ?check? ?over? ?it? ?carefully,? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?indeed? ?


    extremely? ?well? ?sewn,? ?there? ?was? ?practically? ?no? ?trace? ?of? ?it? ?ever? ?being? ?torn,? ?and? ?he? ?praised,? ?“Your? ?


    craft? ?is? ?still? ?so? ?amazing.”? ? ?


    “A? pliment? ?like? ?this? ?won’t? ?delight? ?me.”? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?said,? ?“I’m? ?only? ?doing? ?this? ?once,? ?there? ?won’t? ?be? ?


    a? ?next? ?time.? ?I’m? ?never? ?doing? ?this? ?again.”? ? ?


    ‘You’re? ?clearly? ?super? ?proud? ?of? ?this...’? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?thought.? ?


    Mu? ?Qing? ?nagged? ?for? ?another? ?bit,? ?then? ?said,? ?“Alright,? ?I’ve? ?done? ?my? ?job.? ?I’m? ?gone.? ?I’m? ?just? ?in? ?the? ?


    middle? ?of? ?getting? ?some? ?things? ?and? ?personnel? ?taken? ?cared? ?of? ?at? ?the? ?Pce? ?of? ?Xuan? ?Zhen.”? ? ?


    “You’re? ?leaving? ?too?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked,? ?“Alright,? ?I’ll? ?go? ?over? ?to? ?help? ?out? ?in? ?a? ?bit.? ?Remember? ?to? ?give? ?


    me? ?a? ?shout? ?when? ?you? ?leave,? ?I’ll? ?send? ?you? ?off.”? ? ?


    After? ?capturing? ?Ling? ?Wen,? ?filling? ?in? ?all? ?the? ?missing? ?nks,? ?and? ?clearing? ?up? ?all? ?that? ?pile? ?of? ?messed? ?


    up? ?ounts,? ?the? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?finally? ?decided? ?to? ?rebuild? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Capital.? ?Which? ?meant,? ?


    this? ?temporary? ?Conference? ?Hall? ?at? ?Mount? ?TaiCang? ?could? ?also? ?be? ?left? ?behind? ?now.? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?waved? ?


    his? ?hand,? ?neither? ?dismissive? ?nor? ?agreeing,? ?and? ?he? ?took? ?a? ?few? ?steps? ?before? ?halting,? ?and? ?he? ?looked? ?


    back,? ?“Are? ?you...? ?still? ?going? ?to? ?stay? ?in? ?Mount? ?TaiCang?”? ? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?nodded,? ?“En.”? ? ?


    After? ?a? ?moment? ?of? ?hesitation,? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“Why? ?don’t? ?you? e? ?with? ?us? ?after? ?all?”? ? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?smiled,? ?“Nah,? ?I’ve? ?got? ?someone? ?to? ?wait? ?for.”? ? ?


    “You? ?can? ?still? ?wait? ?after? ?getting? ?to? ?the? ?Upper? ?Court? ?of? ?the? ?new? ?Heavenly? ?Capital.”? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?


    reasoned.? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?shook? ?his? ?head,? ?“I? ?think? ?when? ?he? es? ?back,? ?he’d? e? ?here? ?first,? ?then? ?I’d? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?


    meet? ?him? ?the? ?moment? ?he? ?returns.? ?If? ?he? ?doesn’t? ?return? ?to? ?this? ?ce,? ?he? ?might? ?return? ?to? ?the? ?


    QianDeng? ?Temple? ?of? ?Ghost? ?City,? ?and? ?Ghost? ?City? ?isn’t? ?far? ?from? ?here,? ?much? ?more? ?convenient? ?than? ?


    the? ?new? ?Heavenly? ?Capital.”? ? ?


    “...”? ?


    Mu? ?Qing? ?seemed? ?to? ?have? ?held? ?his? ?tongue? ?for? ?a? ?long? ?while? ?now,? ?and? ?he? ?asked? ?with? ?a? plicated? ?


    expression,? ?“You? ?really? ?believe? ?he’ll? e? ?back?”? ? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?replied? ?like? ?it? ?was? ?the? ?most? ?logical? ?thing? ?in? ?the? ?world,? ?“Of? ?course.”? ? ?


    .? ?


    People? ?came? ?like? ?the? ?tide,? ?then? ?left? ?like? ?the? ?tide.? ?Mount? ?TaiCang? ?regained? ?its? ?deserted? ?


    lonesomeness.? ? ?


    Atop? ?Mount? ?TaiCang,? ?there? ?used? ?to? ?be? ?an? ?enormous? ?field? ?of? ?maple? ?trees.? ?They? ?were? ?all? ?burnt? ?


    down? ?by? ?that? ?massive? ?fire,? ?but? ?reborn? ?after? ?a? ?thousand? ?years.? ?They? ?were? ?no? ?longer? ?the? ?same? ?


    ones? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?leapt? ?through? ?to? ?train? ?once? ?upon? ?a? ?time,? ?but? ?the? ndscape? ?was? ?the? ?same.? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?often? ?strolled? ?in? ?the? ?maple? ?forest? ?by? ?himself.? ?An? ?entire? ?mountain? ?of? ?red? ?maples? ?that? ?


    spread? ?like? ?passionate? ?feral? ?fire? ?made? ?him? ?feel? ?as? ?if? ?he? ?was? ?in? ?a? ?giant? ?and? ?warm? ?embrace.? ?


    He’s? ?spent? ?over? ?eight? ?hundred? ?years? ?of? ?life? ?passing? ?the? ?days? ?on? ?his? ?own,? ?he? ?was? ?very? ?used? ?to? ?it.? ?


    When? ?there? ?was? ?work? ?to? ?be? ?done,? ?he’d? ?go? ?down? ?the? ?mountain? ?to? ?answer? ?some? ?prayers,? ?collect? ?


    some? ?junk;? ?if? ?there? ?wasn’t? ?anything? ?then? ?he’d? ?nt? ?some? ?vegetables,? ?cook? ?some? ?meals.? ?


    Only,? ?what? ?was? ?strange? ?was,? ?days? ?spent? ?on? ?his? ?own? ?like? ?this? ?used? ?to? ?be? ?the? ?most? ?normal? ?thing? ?in? ?


    the? ?past,? ?but? ?now? ?it’s? ?be? ?hard? ?to? ?pass.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?spent? ?a? ?long? ?time? ?before? ?he’d? ?gotten? ?


    used? ?to? ?it? ?again.? ?


    Perhaps,? ?when? ?a? ?person? ?had? ?only? ?ever? ?eaten? ?what? ?was? ?bitter,? ?then? ?he’d? ?be? ?used? ?to? ?the? ?taste? ?of? ?


    bitterness.? ?But? ?when? ?suddenly? ?one? ?day,? ?someone? ?gave? ?him? ?a? ?taste? ?of? ?sweetness,? ?to? ?eat? ?what? ?


    was? ?bitter? ?with? ?the? ?thought? ?of? ?sweetness? ?would? ?probably? ?bring? ?a? ?frown? ?to? ?his? ?face.? ?


    In? ?the? ?past? ?when? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?passed? ?his? ?days? ?in? ?simplicity? ?and? ?quietude,? ?he’d? ?often? ?secretly? ?hoped? ?


    someone? ?would? e? ?look? ?for? ?him.? ?Seek? ?him? ?out? ?to? ?chat,? ?or? ?seek? ?him? ?out? ?for? ?assistance,? ?at? ?least? ?


    there’d? ?be? ?a? ?sign? ?of? ?life.? ?But? ?now,? ?he? ?didn’t? ?like? ?that? ?as? ?much? ?anymore.? ?


    Since,? ?every? ?time? ?he? ?heard? ?knocking? ?on? ?the? ?door,? ?his? ?heart? ?would? ?always? ?jolt? ?in? ?happiness,? ?filling? ?


    it? ?with? ?hope.? ?But? ?when? ?he? ?dashed? ?to? ?the? ?door? ?and? ?opened? ?it,? ?the? ?one? ?standing? ?outside? ?the? ?


    entrance? ?was? ?never? ?the? ?one? ?he? ?was? ?waiting? ?for.? ?


    Sometimes? ?it? ?was? ?Feng? ?Xin,? ?sometimes? ?it? ?was? ?Mu? ?Qing,? ?and? ?sometimes? ?it? ?was? ?Shi? ?Qing? ?Xuan.? ?


    Sometimes,? ?it? ?was? ?the? ?many? ?ghosts? ?from? ?Ghost? ?City? ?here? ?to? ?“offer? ?respects? ?to? ?their? ?senior”.? ?


    Everyone? ?was? ?good.? ?It? ?was? ?just,? ?none? ?of? ?them? ?were? ?the? ?one? ?he? ?was? ?waiting? ?for.? ?


    .? ?


    In? ?the? ?first? ?month,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?hauled? ?over? ?several? ?flowering? ?trees? ?to? ?nt? ?by? ?the? ?entrance,? ?


    beautifying? ?the? ?surroundings? ?a? ?little? ?to? ?hide? ?away? ?the? ?crudeness? ?of? ?that? ?dpidated? ?cottage.? ?He? ?


    figured? ?perhaps? ?when? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?returned,? ?they? ?would’ve? ?blossomed.? ?


    .? ?


    The? ?second? ?month,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?tore? ?down? ?the? ?entire? ?cottage? ?and? ?rebuilt? ?it,? ?and? ?he? ?also? ?pulled? ?all? ?the? ?


    weeds? ?of? ?the? ?entire? ?Mount? ?TaiCang.? ?Otherwise? ?when? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?came? ?back? ?and? ?saw? ?this? ?mess,? ?


    he? ?would? ?definitely? ?send? ?people? ?over? ?to? ?help? ?him? ?clean.? ?


    .? ?


    The? ?third? ?month,? ?the? ?flowering? ?trees? ?had? ?blossomed.? ?Cherry? ?reds? ?enveloped? ?the? ?trees,? ?and? ?Xie? ?


    Lian? ?stood? ?under? ?them,? ?his? ?head? ?raised? ?as? ?he? ?gazed.? ?As? ?he? ?enjoyed? ?the? ?blossoms,? ?he? ?thought,? ?


    the? ?flowers? ?are? ?in? ?full? ?bloom,? ?he? ?should? ?be? ?home? ?soon.? ?


    .? ?


    The? ?fourth? ?month,? ?all? ?the? ?mountain? ?paths? ?had? ?been? ?reconstructed.? ?That? ?way,? ?when? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?


    came? ?back? ?to? ?find? ?him,? ?he? ?could? ?hike? ?the? ?mountain? ?faster.? ?


    .? ?


    The? ?fifth? ?month,? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?had? e? ?to? ?visit? ?him? ?again.? ?They? ?asked? ?if? ?he? ?wanted? ?to? ?


    leave? ?the? ?ce? ?for? ?a? ?bit? ?to? ?take? ?a? ?walk? ?outside.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?hosted? ?a? ?meal? ?and? ?they? ?ran? ?off.? ?


    .? ?


    The? ?sixth? ?month,? ?the? ?flowering? ?period? ?was? ?over.? ?


    ...? ?


    He? ?waited? ?and? ?waited,? ?waited? ?and? ?waited.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?wasn’t? ?anxious,? ?and? ?he? ?didn’t? ?break? ?down,? ?


    nor? ?did? ?he? ?cry? ?in? ?agony.? ?Instead,? ?he? ?felt? ?he? ?was? ?bing? ?more? ?and? ?more? ?calm,? ?and? ?more? ?and? ?


    more? ?patient.? ?


    Thinking? ?of? ?it,? ?who? ?hadn’t? ?experienced? ?the? ?passing,? ?long? ?ages? ?on? ?their? ?own?? ?


    Hua? ?Cheng? ?waited? ?for? ?him? ?for? ?over? ?eight? ?hundred? ?years,? ?so? ?what? ?did? ?it? ?matter? ?if? ?he? ?waited? ?for? ?


    Hua? ?Cheng? ?for? ?another? ?eight? ?hundred?? ? ?


    It? ?could? ?be? ?a? ?thousand? ?years,? ?ten? ?thousand? ?years,? ?and? ?he? ?would? ?still? ?wait,? ?and? ?continue? ?to? ?wait.? ?


    Nevermind? ?it’s? ?only? ?been? ?a? ?year?? ?


    .? ?


    On? ?this? ?day,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?collected? ?a? rge? ?pile? ?of? ?junk? ?as? ?usual,? ?and? ?piled? ?it? ?high? ?on? ?the? ?cart? ?pulled? ?


    by? ?an? ?ox,? ?both? ?of? ?which? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?recently? ?saved? ?for? ?and? ?purchased,? ?and? ?it? ?pulled? ?it? ?up? ?the? ?


    mountain.? ?


    Crossing? ?through? ?the? ?maple? ?forest,? ?halfway? ?up? ?the? ?mountain? ?path,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?back? ?


    inadvertently,? ?and? ?saw? ?some? ?glimmering? ?glows? ?in? ?the? ?night? ?sky.? ? ?


    He? ?stared? ?at? ?them? ?deeply,? ?and? ?discovered? ?they? ?were? ?Evesting? ?Blessings? ?Lanterns.? ?Then? ?it? ?


    dawned? ?on? ?him.? ?He? ?mumbled? ?to? ?himself,? ?“So? ?it’s? ?the? ?ShangYuan? ?Festival? ?today.”? ?


    At? ?this? ?moment,? ?all? ?the? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?of? ?the? ?Upper? ?Court? ?were? ?probably? ?battling? nterns? ?


    again.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?pulled? ?the? ?reins? ?in? ?spite? ?of? ?himself,? ?and? ?stopped? ?where? ?he? ?was,? ?watching? ?dazedly? ?


    at? ?those? ?Blessings? ?Lanterns.? ?


    He? ?suddenly? ?remembered? ?that? ?he? ?and? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?first? ?met? ?during? ?the? ?ShangYuan? ?Festival.? ?


    That? ?year,? ?a? ?small? ?child? ?with? ?face? ?covered? ?in? ?filth? ?and? ?gashes? ?squeezed? ?through? ?the? ?swarming? ?


    crowd? ?and? ?looked? ?down? ?the? ?city? ?walls;? ?the? ?seventeen? ?year? ?old? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?of? ?XianLe? ?was? ?


    glowing,? ?and? ?the? ?moment? ?he? ?looked? ?up,? ?he? ?saw? ?the? ?silhouette? ?of? ?a? ?person? ?falling.? ?Without? ?


    thinking,? ?he? ?leapt? ?to? ?his? ?feet.? ?


    The? ?auspicious? ?ShangYuan? ?Festival,? ?upon? ?the? ?Great? ?Martial? ?Avenue.? ?The? ?awe-inspiring? ?first? ?


    impression? ?that? ?led? ?to? ?centuries? ?of? ?pinning.? ?


    A? ?smile? ?hung? ?on? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?face,? ?thinking,? ?he? ?wasn’t? ?the? ?only? ?one? ?who? ?had? ?fallen.? ?


    .? ?


    Turning? ?around,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?bowed? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?was? ?ready? ?to? ?keep? ?going? ?up? ?the? ?mountain? ?path.? ?


    The? ?cart? ?pulled,? ?creaking? ?for? ?a? ?stretch? ?of? ?the? ?road? ?when? ?suddenly,? ?the? ?path? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?


    illuminated? ?by? ?something? ?far? ?ahead.? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?lifted? ?his? ?head? ?once? ?more,? ?his? ?eyes? ?widening.? ?


    That? ?light? ?was? nterns.? ?


    Like? ?millions? ?of? ?fish? ?swimming? ?through? ?the? ?gorges? ?into? ?the? ?sea,? ?countless? ?Blessings? ?Lanterns? ?


    slowly? ?rose? ?from? ?the? ?mountain? ?peak.? ?


    They? ?were? ?brilliant,? ?glowing? ?and? ?shimmering? ?in? ?the? ?ck? ?night.? ?The? ?most? ?beautiful? ?dream,? ?


    exceedingly? ?magnificent,? ?had? ?brightened? ?his? ?path.? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?seen? ?this? ?sight? ?before,? ?and? ?now? ?that? ?he? ?was? ?seeing? ?it? ?again,? ?both? ?his? ?breathing? ?and? ?


    his? ?heart? ?were? ?going? ?to? ?stop.? ?The? ?mountain? ?path? ?turned,? ?and? ?the? ?cart? ?wheels? ?spun.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?saw? ?


    that? ?little? ?dpidated? ?cottage? ?he? ?had? ?built.? ?


    There? ?was? ?someone? ?there!? ?


    Before? ?that? ?nted? ?little? ?cottage? ?stood? ?a? ?red-d? ?man,? ?his? ?figure? ?long? ?and? ?slender,? ?a? ?silver? ?


    scimitar? ?hung? ?at? ?his? ?waist.? ?His? ?back? ?was? ?facing? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?while? ?he? ?lifted? ?and? ?sent? ?off? ?the? st? ?


    Evesting? ?Blessings? ?Lantern? ?to? ?the? ?sky? ?errantly.? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?frozen? ?in? ?his? ?seat,? ?wondering? ?if? ?he? ?was? ?still? ?in? ?a? ?dream? ?or? ?if? ?this? ?was? ?a? ?hallucination.? ?


    Along? ?with? ?the? ?turning? ?of? ?the? ?wheels,? ?he? ?came? ?closer? ?and? ?closer.? ?That? ?man? ?turned? ?around,? ?and? ?


    so? ?he? ?could? ?also? ?see? ?him? ?clearer? ?and? ?clearer.? ?


    With? ?three? ?thousand? ?Blessings? ?Lanterns? ?rising? ?along? ?with? ?the? ?night? ?behind? ?him,? ?that? ?man? ?turned? ?


    back? ?and? ?gazed? ?at? ?him.? ?Robes? ?redder? ?than? ?maple,? ?skin? ?as? ?white? ?as? ?snow;? ?between? ?the? ?brows? ?of? ?


    a? ?face? ?so? ?handsome? ?it? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?stared? ?at? ?was? ?still? ?that? ?wildness? ?and? ?feral? ?aura,? ?a? ?proudness? ?


    that? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?cut? ?down.? ?


    Although? ?he? ?was? ?wearing? ?a? ?ck? ?eyepatch,? ?but? ?the? ?eye? ?that? ?was? ?as? ?bright? ?as? ?the? ?stars? ?was? ?


    gazing? ?unblinkingly? ?at? ?Xie? ?Lian.? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?scrambled? ?down.? ?


    There? ?were? ?no? ?words.? ?Both? ?started? ?walking? ?towards? ?the? ?other.? ?


    A? ?step,? ?another? ?step,? ?each? ?step? ?faster? ?than? ?the? ?next,? ?then? ?finally,? ?they? ?started? ?running.? ?


    He? ?ran? ?forward? ?whilst? ?tears? ?fell? ?behind? ?and? ?stayed? ?in? ?the? ?same? ?spot.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?voiced? ?in? ?his? ?heart,? ?


    he? ?believed.? ?


    .? ?


    He? ?believed? ?that? ?this? ?man? ?would? ?die? ?for? ?him? ?again? ?and? ?again,? ?and? ?would? ?be? ?reborn? ?for? ?him? ?over? ?


    and? ?over.? ?Even? ?if? ?he? ?fell? ?into? ?the? ?depths? ?of? ?hell,? ?he? ?would? ?break? ?through? ?the? ?abyss? ?for? ?his? ?‘belief’.? ?


    Last? ?time,? ?they? ?spent? ?eight? ?hundred? ?years? ?running? ?towards? ?each? ?other.? ?


    This? ?time,? ?it? ?only? ?took? ?an? ?instant? ?to? ?fall? ?into? ?each? ?other’s? ?embrace.? ?


    ————? ?


    Ch.244:? ?By? ?the? ?Heaven? ?Official’s? ?Blessing? ?No? ?Paths? ?are? ?Bound? ?


    “Congrats? ?congrats!”? ?


    “Congrats,? ?your? ?highness!”? ? ?


    The? ?newly? ?built? ?PuQi? ?Shrine? ?was? ?bustling? ?and? ?lively,? ?people? ?going? ?in? ?and? ?out,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?


    traversed? ?through? ?several? ?long? ?tables? ?that? ?were? ?stacked? ?full,? ?delivering? ?hot,? ?steamy? ?bowls? ?after? ?


    bowls? ?of? ?noodles? ?flowing? ?out? ?like? ?water,? ?soups? ?with? ?oil? ?glistening? ?like? ?gold,? ?and? ?snow? ?white,? ?


    mouthwatering? ?rice.? ?He? ?was? ?swamped? ?running? ?about? ?and? ?still? ?had? ?to? ?greet? ?the? ?guests,? ?taking? ?


    time? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?tasks? ?in? ?his? ?hands? ?to? ?say,? ?“Thank? ?you,? ?please? ?have? ?a? ?seat!”? ? ?


    The? ?PuQi? ?Shrine? ?that? ?had? ?unfortunately? ?copsed? ?in? ?a? ?brawl? ?had? ?been? ?rebuilt.? ?


    After? ?rebuilding,? ?the? ?once? ?dpidated? ?little? ?shrine? ?was? ?now? ?much? ?more? ?sumptuous,? ?and? ?a? ?few? ?


    new? ?yards? ?were? ?even? ?added.? ?It? ?wasn’t? ?actually? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?or? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?who? ?had? ?reconstructed,? ?


    but? ?those? ?vigers? ?of? ?PuQi? ?Vige.? ?That? ?day,? ?when? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?fled? ?in? ?disgrace,? ?they? ?rummaged? ?


    through? ?the? ?wreckage? ?and? ?actually? ?found? ?a? ?box? ?full? ?of? ?gold? ?bars.? ?Naturally,? ?it? ?was? ?the? ?bunch? ?that? ?


    Quan? ?Yi? ?Zhen? ?had? ?stuffed? ?into? ?his? ?donation? ?box? ?day? ?after? ?day.? ?


    Those? ?vigers? ?had? ?never? ?seen? ?so? ?much? ?gold? ?and? ?were? ?almost? ?scared? ?out? ?of? ?their? ?wits.? ?After? ?


    they? ?came? ?to? ?their? ?senses,? ?the? ?Vige? ?Head? ?took? ?a? ?part? ?of? ?it? ?to? ?rebuild? ?PuQi? ?Shrine,? ?and? ?didn’t? ?


    dare? ?to? ?touch? ?the? ?rest? ?of? ?it,? ?keeping? ?it? ?safe? ?until? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?returned? ?to? ?give? ?back? ?to? ?him.? ?


    Thus,? ?when? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?returned? ?bringing? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?besides? ?the? ?enthusiastic? ?greetings? ?of? ?


    “Daozhang”? ?and? ?“Xiao? ?Hua”,? ?what? ?also? ?weed? ?them? ?were? ?a? ?brand? ?new? ?Taoist? ?shrine? ?and? ?a? ?


    box? ?heavy? ?with? ?gold? ?bars.? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?nned? ?to? ?return? ?those? ?gold? ?bars? ?to? ?Quan? ?Yi? ?Zhen,? ?but? ?Quan? ?Yi? ?Zhen? ?wouldn’t? ?


    have? ?it,? ?refusing? ?them? ?left? ?and? ?right? ?until? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?told? ?him:? ?If? ?you? ?don’t? ?take? ?those? ?gold? ?bars? ?


    back,? ?you? ?can? ?forget? ?about? ?the? ?correct? ?method? ?in? ?nurturing? ?souls.? ?Only? ?then? ?did? ?this? ?child? ?settle? ?


    and? ?fixed? ?the? ?bad? ?habit? ?of? ?blindly? ?stuffing? ?gold? ?bars? ?to? ?people.? ?


    After? ?making? ?their? ?greetings,? ?the? ?group? ?of? ?heavenly? ?officials,? ?with? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?leading,? ?crossed? ?into? ?


    the? ?yard? ?cautiously.? ?They? ?looked? ?up? ?inadvertently,? ?and? ?when? ?they? ?saw? ?the? ?full? ?looks? ?of? ?this? ?Taoist? ?


    shrine,? ?all? ?their? ?words? ?were? ?instantly? ?stuck? ?in? ?their? ?throats.? ?


    Gaudy.? ?


    Too? ?gaudy!? ?


    The? ?bright,? ?shing? ?reds? ?and? ?greens? ?of? ?celebratory? ?colours? ?and? ?that? ?exceedingly? ?exaggerated,? ?


    rainbow-coloured? ?divine? ?statue? ?weren’t? ?the? ?worst? ?of? ?it.? ?The? ?worst,? ?was? ?that? ?establishment? ?que.? ?


    Just? ?what? ?was? ?written,? ?or? ?drawn,? ?on? ?that? ?establishment? ?que?? ?


    With? ?the? ?establishment? ?of? ?a? ?new? ?shrine,? ?naturally? ?there? ?needed? ?to? ?be? ?a? ?celebration.? ?But? ?this? ?new? ?


    shrine’s? ?ss? ?and? ?taste? ?were? ?terrible? ?and? ?tacky? ?in? ?every? ?sense,? ?especially? ?with? ?that? ?despairing? ?


    establishment? ?que,? ?and? ?it? ?made? ?it? ?really? ?hard? ?for? ?anyone? ?to? ?have? pliments? ?leave? ?their? ?lips.? ?


    In? ?fact,? ?all? ?the? ?congrattory? ?phrases? ?they? ?had? ?already? ?thought? ?of? ?beforehand? ?were? ?thoroughly? ?


    forgotten.? ?


    However,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?mind? ?any? ?of? ?this? ?at? ?all,? ?and? ?thought? ?it? ?was? ?rather? ?good.? ?At? ?least? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?


    a? ?dpidated? ?building? ?that? ?could? ?copse? ?at? ?any? ?time.? ?He? ?greeted? ?again,? ?“Please? ?have? ?a? ?seat?”? ? ?


    That? ?group? ?of? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?didn’t? ?look? ?like? ?they? ?wanted? ?to? ?sit,? ?and? ing? ?to? ?congratte? ?


    was? ?probably? ?just? ?to? ?show? ?their? ?faces,? ?so? ?they? ?hurried? ?and? ?left? ?after? ?delivering? ?their? ?gifts.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?


    turned? ?to? ?Mu? ?Qing,? ?“Why? ?did? ?they? ?leave? ?in? ?such? ?a? ?hurry?”? ? ?


    “Do? ?you? ?even? ?need? ?to? ?ask?”? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?said.? ?


    “Yea?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied.? ?


    Mu? ?Qing? ?spat? ?crankily,? ?“Then? ?why? ?don’t? ?you? ?go? ?ask? ?your? ?good? ?San? ?Lang.”? ? ?


    Turns? ?out,? ?when? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?first? ?came? ?back,? ?the? ?first? ?one? ?to? ?know? ?was? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?and? ?the? ?second? ?


    was? ?the? ?Upper? ?Court? ?that? ?hadn’t? ?even? ?warmed? ?its? ?seat? ?yet.? ?Not? ?just? ?because? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?too? ?long? ?


    ago? ?that? ?the? ?Battle? ?of? ?the? ?Lanterns? ?of? ?ShangYuan? ?Festival? ?that? ?they? ?worked? ?so? ?hard? ?to? ?put? ?


    together? ?was? ?suddenly? ?murdered? ?by? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?casual? ?wave? ?of? ?three? ?thousand? nterns? ?just? ?


    like? ?that? ?time? ?during? ?the? ?Mid? ?Autumn? ?Banquet,? ?but? ?also? ?because? ?ever? ?since? ?that? ?night,? ?that? ?bell? ?


    started? ?ringing? ?like? ?crazy,? ?and? ?the? ?entire? ?Upper? ?Court? ?was? ?echoing? ?with? ?the? ?sound? ?of? ?its? ?


    announcement,? ?like? ?it? ?was? ?reminding? ?them:? ?The? ?nightmare? ?of? ?the? ?heavens? ?has? ?returned!? ?


    The? ?nightmare? ?was? ?right? ?before? ?their? ?eyes,? ?so? ?of? ?course? ?normal? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?didn’t? ?dare? ?to? ?


    approach.? ?However,? ?the? ?rumours? ?about? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?in? ?the? ?Upper? ?Court? ?were? ?


    already? ?fairly? ?hardcore? ?without? ?any? ?need? ?of? ?exaggeration,? ?so? ?they? ?still? ?kind? ?of? ?wanted? ?to? ?get? ?in? ?


    Xie? ?Lian’s? ?good? ?graces,? ?so? ?in? ?the? ?future? ?they? ?could? ?beg? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?to? ?show? ?some? ?mercy.? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?learned? ?of? ?this,? ?and? ?recalled? ?how? ?in? ?the? ?past? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?demanded? ?the? ?Upper? ?


    Court? ?proim? ?his? ?heroic? ?achievements? ?for? ?an? ?entire? ?year,? ?and? ughed,? ?“Cheeky.”? ? ?


    “This? ?is? ?not? ?just? ?a? ?matter? ?of? ?cheekiness?”? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?scolded,? ?“Tell? ?him? ?to? y? ?off? ?a? ?little,? ?it’s? ?getting? ?


    out? ?of? ?control.? ?Right? ?now? ?that? ?bell? ?is? ?so? ?noisy? ?everyday,? ?no? ?one? ?can? ?concentrate,? ?and? ?the? ?entire? ?


    Upper? ?Court? ?can’t? ?function.? ?It’d? ?even? ?fall? ?off? ?time? ?and? ?time? ?again,? ?crashing? ?on? ?people.? ?The? ?new? ?


    Heavenly? ?Capital? ?is? ?finally? ?rebuilt,? ?don’t? ?let? ?something? ?like? ?this? ?destroy? ?it? ?again.”? ? ?


    “Alright.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“I’ll? ?tell? ?him? ?in? ?a? ?bit.? ?While? ?we’re? ?here,? ?wanna? ?try?”? ?He? ?pointed? ?at? ?the? ?rice,? ?


    noodles,? ?and? ?soups? ?on? ?the? ?tables? ?in? ?the? ?yard,? ?and? ?added,? ?“I? ?didn’t? ?make? ?those.”? ? ?


    When? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?heard? ?the? ?first? ?part? ?his? ?expression? ?was? ?cold,? ?rejection? ?written? ?all? ?over? ?his? ?face,? ?


    and? ?it? ?only? ?returned? ?to? ?normal? ?after? ?hearing? ?the? st? ?part.? ?Right? ?then,? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?had? ?arrived? ?too.? ?


    He? ?entered? ?the? ?yard? ?just? ?in? ?time? ?to? ?brush? ?by? ?another? ?several? ?junior? ?officials? ?who? ?were? ?about? ?to? ?


    leave.? ?They? ?made? ?their? ?greetings? ?then? ?whispered,? ?“It’s? ?General? ?Nan? ?Yang.”? ? ?


    “It’s? ?him.? ?So? ?sad,? ?his? ?wife? ?and? ?son? ?ran? ?off? ?with? ?some? ?guy...”? ?


    Veins? ?violently? ?popped? ?on? ?Feng? ?Xin’s? ?forehead? ?as? ?he? ?roared? ?his? ?curses? ?on? ?the? ?spot,? ?“WHAT? ?THE? ?


    FUCK!!!? ?AREN’T? ?YOU? ?GUYS? ?TIRED? ?OF? ?THIS?!? ?HOW? ?MANY? ?MONTHS? ?HAVE? ?YOU? ?ALL? ?


    PUSHED? ?ME? ?ON? ?THIS??? ?ALSO!? ?IT’S? ?‘RAN? ?AWAY’!? ?NOT? ?‘RAN? ?OFF? ?WITH? ?SOME? ?GUY’!? ?


    FUCKING? ?STOP? ?SPREADING? ?EMPTY? ?RUMOURS!”? ? ?


    Those? ?gossipy? ?junior? ?officials? ?were? ?terrified? ?and? ?hastily? ?fled.? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?stood? ?on? ?the? ?side? ?with? ?his? ?


    hands? ?tucked? ?in? ?his? ?sleeves,? ?“You? ?might? ?as? ?well? ?not? ?have? ?exined? ?yourself,? ?it? ?only? ?sounds? ?even? ?


    more? ?embarrassing.”? ?


    Feng? ?Xin? ?was? ?outraged,? ?seizing? ?a? ?broom? ?on? ?the? ?side? ?then? ?threw? ?it? ?over.? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?caught? ?it? ?


    instantly,? ?and? ?snorted,? ?“This? ?is? ?old.? ?You? ?can’t? ?use? ?this? ?on? ?me? ?anymore.”? ? ?


    Feng? ?Xin? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?yell? ?some? ?more? ?when? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?walked? ?over? ?and? ?stuffed? ?another? ?broom? ?in? ?


    his? ?hands,? ?“Oh? ?good,? ?then? ?how? ?about? ?this.? ?Why? ?don’t? ?both? ?of? ?you? ?help? ?me? ?sweep? ?this? ?yard.? ?We? ?


    set? ?off? ?some? ?firecrackers? ?earlier? ?so? ?the? ?ground? ?is? ?covered? ?in? ?red? ?scraps.? ?Thanks.? ?If? ?you? ?get? ?bored? ?


    you? ?can? ?train? ?some? ?idioms,? ?okay.”? ? ?


    “???”? ? ?


    After? ?an? ?hour,? ?outside? ?the? ?temple? ?came? ?the? ?rowdy? ?noise? ?of? ?human? ?voices,? ing? ?closer? ?and? ?


    closer.? ?


    The? ?several? ?people? ?in? ?the? ?yard? ?looked? ?out,? ?and? ?after? ?another? ?while,? ?a? rge? ?crowd? ?of? ?people? ?


    came? ?pouring? ?into? ?the? ?yard? ?of? ?PuQi? ?Shrine,? ?shouting,? ?“IS? ?IT? ?HERE?”? ? ?


    “IT’S? ?HERE,? ?OHO,? ?LOOKS? ?PRETTY? ?IMPRESSIVE? ?TOO.”? ? ?


    “THERE’S? ?REALLY? ?RICE,? ?SO? ?MUCH? ?RICE!”? ?


    “AND? ?MEAT? ?TOO!”? ?


    The? ?grounds? ?that? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?had? ?just? ?swept? ?were? ?once? ?again? ?filthy? ?from? ?that? ?giant? ?


    crowd? ?of? ?muddy? ?feet.? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?gripped? ?his? ?broom,? ?looking? ?like? ?he? ?felt? ?someone? ?had? ?infected? ?him? ?


    with? ?fleas,? ?and? ?his? ?eyes? ?were? ?widened,? ?“...What’s? ?with? ?those? ?beggars?”? ? ?


    Before? ?the? ?crowd? ?of? ?beggars? ?was? ?a? ?man? ?leading,? ?his? ?hair? ?mussed,? ?his? ?clothes? ?sweaty.? ?It? ?was? ?Shi? ?


    Qing? ?Xuan.? ?He? ?hobbled? ?and? ?hopped? ?over,? ?putting? ?his? ?hands? ?together? ?in? ?courtesy,? ?“Your? ?


    Highness,? ?I’ve? e? ?to? ?disturb? ?you!? ?So? ?how? ?about? ?it,? ?did? ?what? ?you? ?agreed? ?to? st? ?time? ?still? ?


    stand?”? ? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ughed,? ?“Everyone? ?is? ?very? ?wee,? ?of? ?course? ?it? ?stands!? ?Please? ?have? ?a? ?seat,? ?have? ?a? ?


    seat.”? ? ?


    “Isn’t? ?this? ?too? ?many? ?people?”? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?wondered.? ?


    “No!”? ?Shi? ?Qing? ?Xuan? ?said,? ?“All? ?the? ?old? ?masters? ?who? ?helped? ?in? ?guarding? ?the? ?human? ?array? ?at? ?the? ?


    royal? ?capital? st? ?year? ?are? ?here.”? ? ?


    At? ?the? ?time? ?when? ?they? ?were? ?guarding? ?the? ?human? ?array,? ?Shi? ?Qing? ?Xuan? ?had? ?promised? ?the? ?others? ?


    that? ?after? ?the? ?deed? ?was? ?done? ?everyone? ?would? ?be? ?treated? ?to? ?chicken? ?legs,? ?everyone? ?was? ?


    included,? ?but? ?after? ?the? ?deed? ?was? ?done,? ?no? ?one? ?could? ?be? ?found,? ?so? ?that? ?chicken? ?leg? ?treat? ?was? ?


    naturally? ?never? ?given.? ?Today,? ?they? ?could? ?finally? ?fulfill? ?the? ?promise,? ?and? ?bowl? ?after? ?bowl? ?of? ?chicken? ?


    leg? ?noodles? ?was? ?delivered.? ?Shi? ?Qing? ?Xuan? ?called? ?out,? ?“EVERYONE,? ?NO? ?NEED? ?TO? ?HOLD? ?


    YOURSELVES? ?BACK? ?TODAY!? ?LET’S? ?EAT!”? ? ?


    The? ?crowd? ?of? ?beggars? ?squeezed? ?from? ?the? ?tables? ?to? ?the? ?ground,? ?each? ?of? ?them? ?cheering,? ?then? ?


    hugged? ?their? ?super? ?big? ?bowls? ?slurping? ?and? ?slurping,? ?chomp? ?and? ?chomp.? ?As? ?they? ?ate,? ?someone? ?


    suddenly? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“Wait,? ?something’s? ?wrong.? ?There’s? ?the? ?essence? ?of? ?evil!”? ? ?


    The? ?crowd? ?turned? ?their? ?heads? ?to? ?look,? ?and? ?that? ?small? ?band? ?was? ?actually? ?Heaven’s? ?Eye? ?and? ?


    pany.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?his? ?head? ?ache,? ?“How? e? ?you? ?guys? ?came? ?too?”? ? ?


    “We’ve? ?helped? ?out? st? ?time? ?too,”? ?Heaven’s? ?Eye? ?said,? ?“So? ?why? ?can’t? ?we? e?”? ?Then? ?he? ?raised? ?


    his? ?bowl? ?high? ?up,? ?his? ?expression? ?serious,? ?“Everyone!? ?Listen? ?to? ?me,? ?I? ?am? ?definitely? ?not? ?wrong? ?on? ?


    this!? ?There’s? ?essence? ?of? ?evil? ?in? ?the? ?food? ?in? ?these? ?bowls,? ?so? ?it’s? ?probably? ?nothing? ?good.? ?It’s? ?very? ?


    suspicious!? ?Put? ?your? ?bowls? ?down,? ?quick!”? ? ?


    No? ?one? ?acknowledged? ?him.? ?The? ?crowd? ?of? ?beggars? ?had? ?already? ?finished? ?eating? ?around,? ?each? ?


    raising? ?their? ?empty? ?bowls,? ?“ANOTHER? ?ONE!”? ? ?


    Feng? ?Xin? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qin? ?were? ?using? ?their? ?brooms? ?to? ?fight? ?while? ?sweeping? ?away? ?the? ?yard? ?full? ?of? ?red? ?


    scraps? ?leftover? ?from? ?firecrackers,? ?but? ?when? ?they? ?saw? ?all? ?the? ?others? ?look? ?so? ?content? ?and? ?fulfilled? ?


    eating,? ?they? ?sat? ?down? ?too,? ?picking? ?up? ?a? ?bowl? ?themselves.? ? ?


    Just? ?then,? ?Heaven’s? ?Eye? ?eximed? ?furiously,? ?“How? e? ?none? ?of? ?you? ?listen? ?to? ?reason!”? ?Then? ?he? ?


    got? ?up? ?ready? ?to? ?go? ?check? ?the? ?kitchens? ?but? ?Shi? ?Qing? ?Xuan? ?held? ?him? ?back,? ?“Really,? ?daozhang,? ?you? ?


    think? ?too? ?much.? ?This? ?is? ?Crimson? ?Rain? ?Sought? ?Flower’s? ?territory,? ?so? ?it’s? ?normal? ?to? ?have? ?essence? ?of? ?


    monsters? ?and? ?demons.? ?Fine? ?fine? ?fine,? ?you’re? ?concerned,? ?are? ?you?? ?I’ll? ?go? ?take? ?a? ?look.? ?You? ?just? ?sit? ?


    there? ?and? ?don’t? ?get? ?too? ?riled? ?up.”? ? ?


    He? ?really? ?did? ?rise? ?to? ?his? ?feet? ?and? ?walked? ?to? ?where? ?the? ?kitchens? ?were,? ?lifting? ?the? ?curtains,? ?“You? ?


    see,? ?what’s? ?there? ?to? ?be? ?suspicious? ?–”? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“Wait,? ?I’ll? ?go? ?look? ?too...”? ?


    However,? ?when? ?he,? ?Shi? ?Qing? ?Xuan,? ?Feng? ?Xin,? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?poked? ?their? ?heads? ?in? ?and? ?looked,? ?


    they? ?were? ?all? ?stunned.? ?


    Inside? ?the? ?kitchen,? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?hunk? ?of? ?a? ?boar? ?butcher? ?who? ?was? ?chopping? ?on? ?the? ?cutting? ?board? ?


    like? ?mad,? ?and? ?if? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?for? ?all? ?the? ?pork? ?legs? ?hung? ?behind? ?him,? ?they’d? ?think? ?it? ?was? ?human? ?legs? ?he? ?


    was? ?chopping.? ?On? ?the? ?side,? ?fire? ?was? ?lit? ?under? ?a? ?giant? ?pot,? ?and? ?within? ?the? ?pot? ?was? ?a? ?long-necked? ?


    rooster? ?spirit? ?who? ?was? ?having? ?the? ?time? ?of? ?his? ?life? ?scrubbing? ?himself.? ?When? ?he? ?saw? ?there? ?were? ?


    people? ?from? ?the? ?outside? ?who’d? ?seen? ?him,? ?he? ?instantly? ?screamed,? ?his? ?hands? ?covering? ?his? ?chest.? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?was? pletely? ?baffled,? ?and? ?hurried? ?inside? ?to? ?whisper,? ?“Didn’t? ?I? ?say? ?you? ?can’t? ?do? ?this?”? ? ?


    The? ?rooster? ?spirit? ?cockled? ?and? ?pped? ?his? ?chest? ?in? ?promise,? ?“Grand? ?uncle!? ?We’ve? ?taken? ?our? ?


    baths? ?before? ing,? ?very? ?clean!? ?Besides,? ?this? ?soup? ?base? ?has? ?the? ?effect? ?of? ?longevity,? ?eating? ?this? ?


    won’t? ?harm? ?anyone!? ?No? ?loss!? ?Can? ?consume? ?with? ?peace? ?of? ?mind!”? ? ?


    “...”? ?


    Shi? ?Qing? ?Xuan? ?silently? ?dropped? ?the? ?curtains? ?while? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?instantly? ?threw? ?away? ?


    their? ?bowls,? ?spitting,? ?“I’d? ?rather? ?you? ?cook!”? ? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?rubbed? ?his? ?forehead,? ?feeling? ?both? ?amused? ?and? ?woeful,? ?“They? ?were? ?adamant? ?in? ?helping,? ?


    I? ?couldn’t? ?say? ?no.? ?They’re? ?doing? ?this? ?out? ?of? ?goodness.”? ? ?


    Right? ?then,? ?Heaven’s? ?Eye? ?seemed? ?to? ?finally? ?found? ?the? ?group? ?of? ?them? ?sneaking? ?around? ?rather? ?


    suspicious,? ?and? ?came? ?over? ?too.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?quickly? ?stopped? ?him,? ?“What? ?is? ?it?”? ? ?


    He? ?was? ?afraid? ?that? ?once? ?Heaven’s? ?Eye? ?saw? ?the? ?boar? ?butcher? ?and? ?the? ?others,? ?he? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?


    start? ?another? ?riot.? ?Yet? ?unexpectedly,? ?Heaven’s? ?Eye? ?didn’t? e? ?for? ?those? ?in? ?the? ?kitchen,? ?but? ?


    straight? ?for? ?him.? ?He? ?circled? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?a? ?few? ?times? ?and? ?wondered? ?in? ?confusion,? ?“That’s? ?weird...”? ?


    “What? ?is?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.? ?


    Heaven’s? ?Eye? ?appeared? ?puzzled? ?and? ?confused,? ?“This? ?isn’t? ?right,? ?Xie? ?Daozhang.? ?How? e? ?the? ?


    essence? ?of? ?evil? ?on? ?your? ?body? ?has? ?gotten? ?worse? ?since? st? ?time?”? ? ?


    “...”? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?lightly? ?cleared? ?his? ?throat.? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?humphed,? ?“Hanging? ?around? ?a? ?Ghost? ?King? ?all? ?day,? ?of? ?


    course? ?it’ll? ?get? ?worse.”? ? ?


    However,? ?Heaven’s? ?Eye? ?said,? ?“No.? ?Even? ?then,? ?it? ?shouldn’t? ?be? ?like? ?this.”? ? ?


    “Like? ?what?”? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?questioned.? ?


    After? ?much? ?hesitation,? ?Heaven’s? ?Eye? ?decided? ?to? ?be? ?blunt,? ?“How? e? ?the? ?essence? ?of? ?evil? ?on? ?


    your? ?body? ?is? ?now? ?internal?? ?It’s...? ?it’s? ?entirely? ?emitted? ?from? ?the? ?inside? ?out? ?of? ?your? ?body? ?now.”? ? ?


    “...”? ?


    “You’ve? ?probably? ?run? ?into? ?a? ?major? ?crime? ?this? ?time.? ?What? ?did? ?you? ?do?? ?How? e? ?you’re? ?this? ?ill?”? ? ?


    “...”? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?can’t? ?even? ?cough? ?anymore.? ?His? ?entire? ?face? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?burst? ?with? ?blood.? ?


    Feng? ?Xin? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?didn’t? ?understand? ?at? ?first,? ?but? ?after? ?they? ?thought? ?about? ?it,? ?they? ?both? ?turned? ?


    to? ?stare? ?at? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?fell? ?silent,? ?“...”? ?


    Shi? ?Qing? ?Xuan? ?was? ?the? ?only? ?one? ?who? ?didn’t? ?wrap? ?his? ?head? ?around? ?it,? ?“What? ?is? ?it?? ?And? ?so?? ?What’s? ?


    going? ?on?? ?Your? ?Highness,? ?are? ?you? ?really? ?ill?? ?Does? ?Crimson? ?Rain? ?Sought? ?Flower? ?know?? ?He? ?didn’t? ?


    take? ?a? ?good? ?care? ?of? ?you?!”? ? ?


    No? ?no? ?no.? ?It? ?was? ?because? ?of? ?him? ?that? ?it’s? ?like? ?this!? ? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?mumbled? ?softly,? ?“Um.? ?Actually.? ?No.? ?Don’t...? ?I? ?think,? ?why? ?don’t? ?you,? ?hmm...”? ? ?


    A? ?mess? ?of? ?images? ?were? ?filling? ?his? ?mind,? ?and? ?he? ?confusedly? ?uttered? ?a? ?pile? ?of? ?meaningless? ?words.? ?


    Suddenly,? ?his? ?back? ?bumped? ?into? ?someone’s? ?chest.? ?An? ?arm? ?wearing? ?a? ?silver? ?vambrace? ?circled? ?his? ?


    waist,? ?and? ?a? ?familiar? ?voice? ?smiled? ?hummingly,? ?“I? ?think,? ?why? ?don’t? ?you? ?all? ?return? ?to? ?your? ?seats,? ?eat? ?


    your? ?food,? ?and? ?stop? ?worrying? ?about? ?anything? ?else?? ?How’s? ?that?”? ? ?


    With? ?this? ?current? ?situation,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?really? ?didn’t? ?know? ?whether? ?if? ?he? ?should? ?feel? ?absolved? ?or? ?even? ?


    more? ?awkward,? ?and? ?he? ?eximed,? ?“San? ?Lang!”? ? ?


    The? ?moment? ?they? ?saw? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?emerge,? ?both? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing’s? ?faces? ?looked? ?


    plicated.? ?But? ?before? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?they? ?couldn’t? ?really? ?say? ?anything.? ?Only? ?Shi? ?Qing? ?Xuan? ?still? ?


    questioned? ?very? ?seriously,? ?“Crimson? ?Rain? ?Sought? ?Flower,? ?have? ?you? ?checked? ?over? ?His? ?Highness’? ?


    body?”? ? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?pped? ?his? ?forehead,? ?desperately? ?hoping? ?Shi? ?Qing? ?Xuan? ?wouldn’t? ?ask? ?anymore? ?


    questions.? ?Just? ?then,? ?the? ?crowd? ?of? ?beggars? ?started? ining,? ?“ONE? ?MORE? ?BOWL!”? ? ?


    “ADD? ?MORE? ?MEAT!”? ? ?


    “THIS? ?CHICKEN? ?SOUP? ?IS? ?SO? ?BLAND,? ?ADD? ?MORE? ?SALT!”? ? ?


    Mu? ?Qing? ?couldn’t? ?watch? ?anymore,? ?“Do? ?you? ?all? ?know? ?this? ?is? ?a? ?temple?? ?It’s? ?for? ?worshipping? ?gods,? ?


    can? ?you? ?all? ?watch? ?yourselves? ?a? ?bit? ?more?”? ? ?


    However,? ?the? ?crowd? ?of? ?beggars? ?refused? ?to? ?take? ?this.? ?Last? ?time,? ?they? ?held? ?hands? ?with? ?many? ?


    heavenly? ?officials? ?to? ?hold? ?down? ?the? ?human? ?array,? ?and? ?they? ?saw? ?with? ?their? ?own? ?eyes? ?how? ?some? ?


    heavenly? ?officials? ?were? ?trembling,? ?fleeing? st? ?minute,? ?and? ?couldn’t? ?even? ?match? ?them? ?in? ?valour.? ?


    They? ?were? ?also? ?acquainted? ?with? ?Shi? ?Qing? ?Xuan,? ?so? ?they? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?feel? ?so? ?gods? ?are? ?like? ?


    this.? ?When? ?life? ?was? ?on? ?the? ?line,? ?they? ?didn’t? ?seem? ?that? ?different? ?than? ?them,? ?and? ?so? ?the? ?gods? ?no? ?


    longer? ?appeared? ?so? ?high? ?and? ?unapproachable,? ?harsh? ?and? ?invible.? ?


    Suddenly,? ?a? ?surprised? ?scream? ?came? ?from? ?within? ?the? ?kitchen,? ?“WHO’S? ?THERE?”? ? ?


    Hearing? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?heart? ?instantly? ?lurched? ?and? ?dashed? ?into? ?the? ?kitchen.? ?The? ?boar? ?butcher? ?


    and? ?the? ?rooster? ?spirit? ?were? ?screaming? ?and? ?shouting? ?inside,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?hastily? forted? ?them,? ?


    “Calm? ?down!? ?Calm? ?down!? ?What’s? ?happened?”? ?


    The? ?rooster? ?spirit? ?was? ?so? ?shaken? ?goosebumps? ?popped? ?all? ?over? ?his? ?body,? ?“GRAND? ?UNCLE!? ?


    THERE’S? ?A? ?GHOST!? ?A? ?ghost,? ?emptied? ?all? ?the? ?food? ?we’ve? ?prepared!? ?I? ?only? ?just? ?dipped? ?my? ?head? ?


    under? ?the? ?broth? ?and? ?when? ?I? ?came? ?up? ?there? ?was? ?not? ?a? ?bowl? ?left!? ?IT’S? ?A? ?GHOST!”? ? ?


    The? ?boar? ?butcher? ?spat,? ?“What? ?are? ?you? ?so? ?scared? ?for!? ?Aren’t? ?you? ?a? ?ghost? ?yourself!”? ? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?slightly? ?perplexed,? ?“How? ?can? ?that? ?be?? ?I? ?clearly? ?saw? ?you? ?guys? ?make? ?fifty? ?some? ?bowls? ?


    just? ?now?”? ? ?


    “YEA!”? ? ?


    But? ?when? ?he? ?looked? ?again,? ?sure? ?enough,? ?all? ?fifty? ?some? ?bowls? ?were? ?empty,? ?and? ?even? ?the? ?broth? ?


    was? pletely? ?cleaned? ?out!? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?still? ?feeling? ?puzzled? ?when? ?he? ?suddenly? ?thought? ?of? ?someone,? ?and? ?when? ?he? ?turned? ?


    around? ?he? ?saw? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?was? ?leaning? ?against? ?the? ?door,? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?could? ?this? ?be?”? ?


    “More? ?than? ?likely.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?replied? ?tly.? ?


    “En...”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?mused,? ?“He? ?probably? ?also? ?came? ?to? ?congratte.? ?Of? ?course? ?he’s? ?wee,? ?but,? ?


    he? ?ate? ?a? ?bit? ?much...? ?now? ?he’s? ?eaten? ?all? ?the? ?food,? ?what? ?should? ?we? ?do?”? ? ?


    Hua? ?Cheng? ?smiled,? ?“Nothing.? ?Add? ?to? ?his? ?interest.”? ? ?


    The? ?mob? ?of? ?troubled? ?ghosts? ?from? ?Ghost? ?City? ?resignedly? ?started? ?to? ?cook? ?from? ?scratch.? ?Just? ?then,? ?


    mouring? ?noises? ?came? ?from? ?the? ?great? ?hall? ?and? ?the? ?yard,? ?sounding? ?as? ?if? ?someone? ?had? ?started? ?


    quarreling? ?with? ?another? ?person.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?just? ?about? ?to? ?go? ?to? ?mediate? ?when? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?


    caught? ?his? ?hand,? ?and? ?led? ?him? ?out? ?through? ?a? ?side? ?door.? ?


    The? ?two? ?walked? ?out? ?of? ?PuQi? ?Shrine? ?holding? ?hands.? ?Upon? ?the? ?path? ?there? ?were? ?trees? ?blocking? ?the? ?


    way,? ?and? ?it? ?would’ve? ?been? ?easier? ?to? ?traverse? ?if? ?they? ?dropped? ?their? ?hands.? ?But? ?neither? ?of? ?the? ?two? ?


    wanted? ?to? ?let? ?go? ?of? ?the? ?other’s? ?hands,? ?so? ?they? ?twisted? ?and? ?turned,? ?detouring? ?and? ?deviating.? ?As? ?


    they? ?meandered,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked,? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?where? ?are? ?we? ?going? ?now?”? ? ?


    “It’s? ?too? ?noisy? ?here.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said,? ?“Let? ?them? ?go? ?riot,? ?we’ll? ?leave? ?first.”? ? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?walked? ?as? ?he? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?back,? ?sounding? ?a? ?little? ?worried,? ?“Are? ?we? ?letting? ?them? ?be?? ?


    PuQi? ?Shrine? ?was? ?only? ?just? ?rebuilt,? ?what? ?if? ?it? ?caves? ?in? ?from? ?the? ?fight? ?again?”? ? ?


    Hua? ?Cheng? ?didn’t? ?seem? ?to? ?care,? ?“If? ?it? ?caves? ?in? ?it? ?caves? ?in,? ?we’ll? ?just? ?build? ?another? ?one.? ?If? ?gege? ?


    wants,? ?you? ?can? ?have? ?as? ?many? ?as? ?you? ?wish.”? ? ?


    “Hahahahahaha...”? ?


    .? ?


    Night? ?time,? ?within? ?QianDeng? ?Temple,? ?after? ?bathing? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?wearing? ?a? ?light,? ?snow? ?white? ?


    inner? ?robe,? ?leaning? ?over? ?the? ?jaded? ?table? ?next? ?to? ?the? ?divan,? ?drawing? ?stroke? ?after? ?strokes.? ?


    He? ?was? ?putting? ?together? ?a? ?calligraphy? ?copybook? ?for? ?Hua? ?Cheng.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?was? ?reclined? ?on? ?the? ?


    divan? ?next? ?to? ?him,? ?also? ?wearing? ?an? ?inner? ?robe,? ?his? ?cor? ?slightly? ?open,? ?and? ?his? ?fingers? ?were? ?


    twiddling? ?that? ?red? ?coral? ?pearl? ?at? ?the? ?tailend? ?of? ?his? ?hair,? ?looking? ?bored? ?to? ?death.? ?


    Under? ?the? mplight? ?tepid? ?like? ?jade,? ?he? ?had? ?been? ?gazing? ?at? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?all? ?this? ?time,? ?and? ?after? ?having? ?


    stared? ?for? ?a? ?while? ?did? ?he? ?squint? ?his? ?eyes,? ?appearing? ?satisfied.? ?He? ?sighed,? ?“Gege,? ?enough? ?with? ?


    that.? ?Come? ?rest? ?now.”? ? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?just? ?suffered? ?his? ?torment,? ?and? ?was? ?determined? ?in? ?not? ?being? ?tricked? ?again.? ?This? ?tone? ?


    of? ?voice? ?however,? ?made? ?the? ?tip? ?of? ?his? ?ears? ?burn,? ?and? ?he? ?forced? ?himself? ?to? ?stay? ?calm,? ?continuing? ?


    to? ?write.? ?He? ?said? ?with? ?a? ?stern? ?voice,? ?“No.? ?San? ?Lang,? ?someone? ?said? ?your? ?writing? ?is? ?ugly? ?again? ?


    today,? ?you? ?have? ?to? ?practice? ?hard,? ?alright?? ?Otherwise,? ?I? ?don’t? ?want? ?anyone? ?to? ?know? ?you’ve? ?been? ?


    taught? ?by? ?me.”? ? ?


    Hua? ?Cheng? ?sat? ?up? ?slightly,? ?arching? ?his? ?brows,? ?“Gege,? ?I? ?remember,? ?in? ?the? ?past? ?you? ?clearly? ?said? ?


    you? ?liked? ?my? ?writing.”? ? ?


    Ever? ?since? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? e? ?back,? ?for? ?a? ?long? ?period? ?of? ?time? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?yielding? ?and? ?


    docile,? ?answering? ?his? ?every? ?whim,? ?and? ?this? ?was? ?probably? ?how? ?he? ?had? ?finally? ?spoiled? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?


    rotten? ?as? ?he? ?grew? ?more? ?and? ?more? ?sly.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?finished? ?writing? ?the? ?characters? ?and? ?ced? ?the? ?


    brush? ?down,? ?sounding? ?even? ?more? ?strict,? ?“Knock? ?it? ?off.? ?I’m? ?done,? e? ?practice.”? ? ?


    Thus,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? zily? ?shuffled? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?back,? ?hugging? ?his? ?waist,? ?and? ?bent? ?slightly,? ?resting? ?


    his? ?head? ?on? ?his? ?shoulder.? ?He? ?removed? ?that? ?red? ?coral? ?pearl? ?from? ?his? ?hair? ?and? ?ced? ?it? ?on? ?the? ?


    paper,? ?making? ?it? ?chase? ?after? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?hand,? ?rolling? ?around,? ?purposely? ?obstructing? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?from? ?


    writing? ?properly.? ?


    Such? ?mischief? ?but? ?at? ?the? ?same? ?time? ?so? ?forceful? ?in? ?vaunting? ?his? ?sense? ?of? ?presence,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?


    remembered? ?how? ?Heaven’s? ?Eye? ?had? ?said? ?his? ?entire? ?person? ?was? ?emitting? ?the? ?essence? ?of? ?evil? ?“all? ?


    over? ?his? ?body,? ?from? ?the? ?inside? ?out”.? ?This? ?was? ?all? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?scent,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?his? ?heart? ?


    go? ?soft? ?in? ?spite? ?of? ?himself.? ?He? ?struggled? ?lightly? ?and? ?whispered,? ?“...Write? ?properly.”? ? ?


    “Fine.? ?I’ll? ?listen? ?to? ?gege.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said.? ?


    He? ?raised? ?his? ?brush,? ?but? ?after? ?two? ?verses? ?he? ?put? ?it? ?back? ?down.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?took? ?a? ?look? ?and? ?shook? ?his? ?


    head,? ?mentally? ?sighing? ?for? ?the? ?umpteeth? ?time,? ?“It’s? ?helpless.”? ?After? ?a? ?pause,? ?he? ?also? ?raised? ?a? ?


    brush? ?and? ?helped? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?fill? ?in? ?the? st? ?two? ?verses.? ?


    After? ?he? ?was? ?done,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?blew? ?lightly? ?and? ?picked? ?up? ?the? ?paper,? ?the? ?two? ?admiring? ?the? ?poem? ?


    they’ve? ?written? ?together.? ?


    The? ?ink? ?upon? ?the? ?paper? ?had? ?formed? ?the? ?four? ?elegant? ?phrases? ?that? ?had? ?spread? ?throughout? ?heaven? ?


    and? ?earth:? ?


    No? ?water’s? ?enough? ?when? ?you? ?have? ?crossed? ?the? ?sea;? ?


    No? ?cloud? ?is? ?beautiful? ?but? ?that? ?which? ?crowns? ?the? ?peak.? ?


    I? ?pass? ?by? ?flowers? ?that? ?fail? ?to? ?attract? ?poor? ?me? ?


    Half? ?for? ?your? ?sake? ?and? ?half? ?for? ?Taoism? ?I? ?seek.? ?


    Even? ?E-Ming? ?who? ?was? ?hanging? ?by? ?the? ?tableside? ?was? ?watching? ?unblinkingly? ?with? ?its? ?eye? ?opened? ?


    wide,? ?seeming? ?to? ?fully? ?admire? ?the? ?work.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ughed,? ?“Gege,? ?quick,? ?sign? ?your? ?name.? ?


    These? ?words? ?will? ?surely? ?stun? ?the? ?future? ?generations,? ?and? ?pass? ?down? ?through? ?the? ?ages.”? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?already? ?authored? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?name? ?at? ?the? ?bottom? ?earlier,? ?but? ?when? ?he? ?heard? ?him,? ?


    he? ?really? ?couldn’t? ?pick? ?up? ?the? ?brush? ?to? ?add? ?his? ?own? ?name.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?finished? ughing? ?and? ?


    pretended? ?to? ?be? ?serious,? ?“Gege,? ?are? ?you? ?embarrassed?? ?I’ll? ?help? ?you.”? ? ?


    Then,? ?he? ?held? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?hand? ?and? ?wrote? ?a? ?couple? ?words? ?with? ?rough? ?strokes.? ?Naturally,? ?without? ?


    this? ?current? ?scene,? ?no? ?one? ?would? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?tell? ?those? ?were? ?two? ?words,? ?and? ?no? ?one? ?would? ?be? ?


    able? ?to? ?tell? ?at? ?all? ?it? ?was? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?name.? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?watched? ?this? ?thing? ?written? ?by? ?his? ?own? ?hand,? ?feeling? ?ridiculous,? ?wriggling? ?his? ?head? ?by? ?


    Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?chest.? ?Suddenly,? ?he? ?felt? ?those? ?couple? ?of? ?characters? ?looked? ?familiar,? ?as? ?if? ?he? ?had? ?


    seen? ?it? ?somewhere? ?else? ?before.? ?


    A? ?moment? ter,? ?he? ?remembered,? ?and? ?his? ?eyes? ?suddenly? ?lit? ?up.? ?He? ?eximed,? ?“San? ?Lang!? ?On? ?


    your? ?arm!”? ? ?


    He? ?caught? ?hold? ?of? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?small? ?arm,? ?and? ?pulled? ?up? ?his? ?sleeve,? ?eximing? ?excitedly,? ?“It’s? ?


    this!”? ?


    That? ?period? ?of? ?time? ?when? ?the? ?two? ?had? ?lived? ?together? ?in? ?PuQi? ?Shrine,? ?there? ?was? ?one? ?day? ?when? ?


    Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?noticed? ?a? ?worded? ?tattoo? ?on? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?arm,? ?looking? ?like? ?some? ?characters? ?from? ?a? ?


    foreign? nd.? ?At? ?the? ?time? ?he? ?had? ?even? ?chewed? ?on? ?it? ?in? ?his? ?mind,? ?but? ?he? ?had? ?never? ?imagined,? ?that? ?


    it? ?wasn’t? ?some? ?“foreign? ?writing”? ?at? ?all.? ?Turns? ?out,? ?it? ?was? ?his? ?own? ?name!? ?


    Hua? ?Cheng? ?also? ?nced? ?at? ?his? ?own? ?arm? ?and? ughed,? ?“Does? ?gege? ?finally? ?recognize? ?it?”? ? ?


    “I? ?should’ve? ?recognized? ?it? ?a? ?long? ?time? ?ago.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“It’s? ?just...”? ?


    It’s? ?just,? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?writing? ?truly? ?was? ?the? ?craft? ?of? ?the? ?devil.? ?He? ?needn’t? ?have? ?said? ?anything? ?and? ?


    Hua? ?Cheng? ?could? ?guess? ?what? ?he? ?was? ?thinking,? ?and? ?he? ?started? ughing? ?heartily,? ?a? ?hand? ?hugging? ?


    Xie? ?Lian’s? ?waist,? ?giving? ?his? ?forehead? ?a? ?gentle? ?peck,? ?“Don’t? ?worry,? ?it’s? ?fine? ?as? ?long? ?as? ?gege’s? ?


    writing? ?is? ?beautiful.? ?I? ?would? ?be? ?a? ?million? ?times? ?happier? ?than? ?if? ?my? ?writing? ?was? ?beautiful.”? ? ?


    Xie? ?Lian’s? ?hand? ?caressed? ?where? ?the? ?tattoo? ?was.? ?The? ?ink? ?of? ?the? ?tattoo? ?was? ?deep,? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?easy? ?


    to? ?imagine? ?just? ?how? ?painful? ?it? ?had? ?been.? ?He? ?asked? ?softly,? ?“Was? ?this? ?done? ?when? ?you? ?were? ?little?”? ? ?


    Hua? ?Cheng? ?smiled? ?and? ?pulled? ?his? ?sleeve? ?down,? ?nodding.? ?


    Then? ?that? ?was? ?definitely? ?something? ?he? ?had? ?tattooed? ?himself.? ?Picturing? ?the? ?image? ?of? ?a? ?small? ?boy? ?


    sneakily? ?carving? ?the? ?name? ?of? ?the? ?one? ?he? ?admired;? ?such? ?childishness.? ?Such? ?courage.? ?


    Ten? ?fingers? ?sped? ?tightly? ?together? ?with? ?a? ?red? ?string? ?entwined? ?between.? ?Suddenly,? ?before? ?Xie? ?


    Lian’s? ?vision? ?floated? ?that? ?scene? ?of? ?a? ?year? ?ago? ?when? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?dissipated? ?into? ?butterflies? ?in? ?


    Mount? ?TongLu.? ?


    That? st? ?moment,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?uttered? ?something.? ?


    Although? ?it? ?was? ?soundless,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?still? ?knew? ?exactly? ?what? ?he? ?had? ?said.? ?


    It? ?was? ?the? ?words? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?enforced? ?since? ?he? ?was? ?a? ?child,? ?and? ?eternally? ?thereafter? ?beyond? ?


    his? ?death.? ?


    “I? ?am? ?forever? ?your? ?most? ?devoted? ?believer.”? ? ?


    .? ?


    .? ?


    .? ?


    ——————? ?


    <<Folklore>>? ?


    .? ?


    Once? ?upon? ?a? ?time,? ?they? ?say? ?in? ?the? mon? ?world,? ?there? ?is? ?a? ?Scrap? ?Immortal.? ?


    Although? ?he? ?is? ?called? ?the? ?Scrap? ?Immortal,? ?but? ?what? ?this? ?immortal? ?blessed? ?weren’t? ?scrap? ?


    collectors,? ?but? ?the? ?peace? ?of? ?the? ?mortal? ?realm.? ?This? ?is? ?because? ?at? ?the? ?same? ?time,? ?he? ?is? ?also? ?the? ?


    strongest? ?of? ?martial? ?gods.? ?


    There? ?is? ?no? ?evil? ?he? ?could? ?not? ?vanquish,? ?there? ?is? ?no? ?ghost? ?he? ?could? ?not? ?y.? ?He? ?possessed? ?the? ?


    power? ?to? ?annihte? ?the? ?world,? ?but? ?he? ?does? ?not? ck? ?the? ?heart? ?to? ?cherish? ?the? ?flower.? ?


    However,? ?to? ?worship? ?a? ?god? ?there? es? ?a? ?set? ?of? ?rules? ?and? ?taboos.? ?If? ?one? ?was? ?to? e? ?by? ?a? ?


    temple? ?that? ?worshipped? ?this? ?immortal,? ?one? ?must? ?never? ?prostrate? ?so? ?casually.? ?


    Apparently,? ?this? ?Scrap? ?Immortal? ?has? ?a? ?special? ?constitution? ?and? ?will? ?summon? ?misfortune.? ?Don’t? ?


    believe? ?it?? ?Prepare? ?a? ?dice,? ?rub? ?the? ?hand? ?of? ?the? ?immortal’s? ?divine? ?statue,? ?roll? ?the? ?dice,? ?and? ?your? ?


    luck? ?would? ?for? ?sure? ?be? ?the? ?worst? ?there? ?is.? ?


    So,? ?to? ?pray? ?to? ?this? ?Scrap? ?Immortal’s? ?dusty? ?white? ?divine? ?statue? ?might? ?bring? ?more? ?and? ?more? ?bad? ?


    luck? ?the? ?more? ?one? ?prayed,? ?to? ?the? ?point? ?where? ?even? ?water? ?can? ?get? ?stuck? ?between? ?teeth,? ?see? ?


    ghosts? ?when? ?wearing? ?taoist? ?robes.? ?


    .? ?


    They? ?also? ?say? ?in? ?the? mon? ?world,? ?that? ?there? ?is? ?such? ?a? ?Red? ?Robed? ?Ghost? ?King.? ?


    Although? ?this? ?Ghost? ?King? ?is? ?considered? ?to? ?be? ?inhuman,? ?he? ?possessed? ?an? ?immense? ?number? ?of? ?


    worshippers,? ?and? ?there? ?are? ?often? ?those? ?who? ?would? ?secretly? ?set? ?up? ?the? ?shrine? ?of? ?the? ?Ghost? ?King? ?


    in? ?their? ?own? ?abodes,? ?worshipping? ?day? ?and? ?night,? ?praying? ?for? ?good? ?fortune.? ?


    This? ?is? ?because,? ?not? ?only? ?is? ?this? ?Ghost? ?King? ?invincible,? ?it? ?appears? ?he? ?had? ?never? ?tasted? ?a? ?single? ?


    defeat,? ?and? ?his? ?luck? ?is? parably? ?powerful.? ?


    Don’t? ?believe? ?it?? ?Before? ?rolling? ?the? ?dice,? ?prostrate? ?before? ?him.? ?If? ?he? ?is? ?willing? ?to? ?assist,? ?then? ?your? ?


    next? ?roll? ?would? ?definitely? ?be? ?exceptional.? ?


    However,? ?ghosts? ?aren’t? ?like? ?gods,? ?so? ?naturally? ?there? ?are? ?even? ?more? ?taboos.? ?While? ?this? ?Ghost? ?


    King? ?is? ?powerful,? ?his? ?personality? ?is? ?peculiar? ?and? ?extreme.? ?


    If? ?he’s? ?happy,? ?he’ll? ?help? ?you? ?even? ?if? ?you? ?don’t? ?pray;? ?if? ?he’s? ?displeased,? ?you? ?can? ?give? ?a? ?thousand? ?


    gold? ?and? ?he? ?would? ?still? ?turn? ?away;? ?if? ?he? ?was? ?very? ?displeased,? ?who? ?knows? ?if? ?one? ?day? ?he’ll? ?just? ?take? ?


    your? ?life.? ?


    So,? ?by? ?the? ?same? ?logic,? ?it’s? ?best? ?to? ?show? ?your? ?respects? ?but? ?stay? ?far? ?away.? ?


    .? ?


    However,? ?if? ?people? ?worshipped? ?the? ?divine? ?statues? ?of? ?this? ?one? ?god? ?and? ?one? ?ghost? ?together,? ?then? ?


    there? ?will? ?be? ?a? ?miracle.? ?


    That? ?Red? ?Robed? ?Ghost? ?King? ?will? ?expel? ?all? ?the? ?misfortune? ?enveloping? ?the? ?Scrap? ?Immortal,? ?and? ?let? ?


    him? ?reveal? ?his? ?true? ?appearance.? ?


    People? ?will? ?shockingly? ?discover? ?that,? ?turns? ?out,? ?the? ?Scrap? ?Immortal’s? ?colours? ?aren’t? ?dusty? ?white,? ?


    but? ?shimmering? ?gold.? ?


    .? ?


    Legends? ?are? ?usually? ?based? ?on? ?truth.? ?However,? ?this? ?is? ?probably? ?a? ?tale? ?of? ?a? ?long,? ?long? ?time? ?ago,? ?


    maybe? ?it’d? ?even? ?need? ?to? ?be? ?told? ?starting? ?from? ?eight? ?hundred? ?years? ?ago,? ?and? ?it? ?would? ?be? ?a? ?very,? ?


    very? ?long? ?tale? ?to? ?tell.? ?People? ?might? ?not? ?have? ?the? ?patience? ?to? ?listen.? ?


    But? ?what? ?can? ?be? ?certain? ?is,? ?in? ?order? ?to? ?have? ?both? ?of? ?them? ?disy? ?their? ?strongest? ?powers,? ?the? ?two? ?


    must? ?be? ?worshipped? ?together.? ?


    This? ?way,? ?one? ?can? ?receive? ?double? ?the? ?fortune,? ?and? ?twice? ?the? ?invincibility.? ?


    By? ?the? ?Heaven? ?Official’s? ?Blessing,? ?No? ?Paths? ?are? ?Bound!? ?


    ———-? ?


    Story? ?End? ?


    ?


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