Heaven Official's Blessing

Chapter 22-30

Ch.22:? ?Shortened? ?Distance;? ?Adrift? ?in? ?Sandstorms? ?3????The? ?scorpion? ?tail!???Yet? ?because? ?of? ?the? ?sting,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?able? ?to? ?grab? ?hold? ?of? ?the? ?tail? ?and? ?capture? ?the??snake? ?properly.? ?He? ?squeezed? ?it? ?down? ?hard? ?until? ?it? ?became? ?unconscious.? ?Even? ?having??been? ?stung,? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?face? ?never? ?changed,? ?and? ?tossed? ?it? ?to? ?the? ?ground? ?indifferently,??“Everyone? ?be? ?careful,? ?there? ?may? ?be? ?more? ?snakes? ?around...”???He? ?felt? ?a? ?tightening? ?on? ?his? ?wrist? ?before? ?he? ?finished? ?his? ?words,? ?and? ?looked? ?to? ?see? ?it? ?was??San? ?Lang? ?who? ?caught? ?hold? ?of? ?him.????“San? ?Lang?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?at? ?the? ?boy? ?puzzled.???The? ?reason? ?he? ?sounded? ?confused? ?was? ?because? ?at? ?this? ?very? ?moment,? ?the? ?expression? ?on??this? ?youth’s? ?face? ?was? ?quite? ?off;? ?it? ?was? ?indescribably? ?frosty? ?to? ?the? ?point? ?of? ?frightening.? ?His??eyes? ?were? ?focused? ?intently? ?on? ?the? ?wound? ?on? ?the? ?back? ?of? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?hand? ?that? ?had? ?now??ballooned? ?thanks? ?to? ?the? ?vicious? ?venom.? ?The? ?small? ?puncture? ?wound? ?became? ?visibly??enlarged? ?to? ?the? ?size? ?of? ?a? ?knife? ?cut? ?because? ?of? ?the? ?angry? ?swelling.???With? ?a? ?dark? ?expression? ?and,? ?San? ?Lang? ?wordlessly? ?snatched? ?Ruoye? ?from? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?arm??and? ?immediately? ?knotted? ?it? ?firmly? ?on? ?his? ?wrist,? ?preventing? ?the? ?venom? ?from? ?advancing.??While? ?Ruoye? ?enjoyed? ?snuggling? ?up? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?that? ?well-behaved? ?either,? ?yet? ?in??San? ?lang’s? ?hands? ?it? ?was? ?so? ?compliant? ?it? ?was? ?like? ?it? ?was? ?dead.???Ever? ?since? ?they? ?had? ?known? ?each? ?other,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?never? ?seen? ?San? ?Lang? ?looking? ?like??this.? ?He? ?opened? ?his? ?mouth? ?to? ?speak? ?but? ?San? ?Lang? ?turnedto? ?pull? ?a? ?dagger? ?from? ?the? ?waist??of? ?one? ?of? ?the? ?merchants.? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?saw? ?and? ?knew? ?instantly? ?what? ?San? ?Lang? ?was? ?about? ?to??do,? ?and? ?ignited? ?a? ?palm? ?torch.? ?Without? ?sparing? ?any? ?looks,? ?San? ?Lang? ?burned? ?the? ?tip? ?of? ?the??dagger? ?to? ?disinfect? ?it? ?before? ?turning? ?back? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?drew? ?a? ?cross? ?on? ?the? ?mouth? ?of??the? ?puncture? ?wound.????Just? ?as? ?he? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?lower? ?his? ?head? ?to? ?the? ?hand,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?hurriedly? ?said,? ?“It’s? ?ok.? ?The??venom? ?is? ?aggressive,? ?sucking? ?it? ?won’t? ?do? ?much.? ?I? ?don’t? ?want? ?you? ?to? ?get? ?poisoned...”????San? ?Lang? ?ignored? ?him,? ?tightened? ?the? ?hold? ?on? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?hand? ?and? ?placed? ?his? ?lips? ?upon? ?it.??His? ?hand? ?trembled? ?slightly? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?explain? ?why.???Next? ?to? ?him,? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?said? ?in? ?disdain,? ?“I? ?can’t? ?believe? ?you? ?went? ?and? ?got? ?yourself? ?pricked.??What? ?are? ?you? ?doing? ?catching? ?the? ?snake? ?when? ?the? ?kid? ?might? ?not? ?even? ?get? ?bitten?? ?You’re??just? ?making? ?trouble? ?needlessly.”???His? ?words? ?were? ?probably? ?true.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?recalled? ?the? ?airy? ?way? ?San? ?Lang? ?played? ?with? ?the??snake? ?in? ?the? ?cave;? ?he? ?probably? ?wouldn’t? ?have? ?even? ?cared? ?for? ?any? ?attacks? ?and? ?wouldn’t??have? ?gotten? ?bitten.? ?But? ?just? ?in? ?case.? ?Just? ?in? ?case? ?San? ?Lang? ?didn’t? ?notice? ?the? ?snake? ?and??get? ?bitten,? ?it’d? ?be? ?too? ?late? ?then.???Xie? ?Lian? ?waved? ?his? ?good? ?hand,? ?“Don’t? ?mind? ?it.? ?It’s? ?not? ?like? ?it? ?hurts,? ?and? ?I? ?won’t? ?die? ?from??it.”???“You’re? ?really? ?not? ?in? ?pain?”? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?asked.???“Really.? ?I? ?don’t? ?feel? ?pain? ?anymore.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?answered? ?truthfully.???Since? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?possessed? ?the? ?worst? ?of? ?luck,? ?every? ?time? ?he? ?ventured? ?deep? ?into? ?the??mountains,? ?eight? ?times? ?out? ?of? ?ten? ?he? ?would? ?step? ?onto? ?vipers? ?or? ?run? ?into? ?poisonous??insects,? ?and? ?get? ?bitten,? ?stung,? ?jabbed,? ?or? ?poisoned? ?in? ?thousands? ?of? ?ways.? ?Perhaps? ?it? ?was??because? ?of? ?his? ?heavenly? ?status,? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?die,? ?so? ?at? ?most? ?he’d? ?run? ?a? ?fever.? ?After? ?three??days? ?and? ?three? ?nights? ?of? ?fevers,? ?he’d? ?be? ?right? ?as? ?rain? ?when? ?he? ?woke? ?and? ?continue? ?on? ?as??if? ?nothing? ?happened.? ?Gradually? ?he? ?became? ?less? ?and? ?less? ?sensitive? ?to? ?pain,? ?and? ?just? ?lived??with? ?it.???Right? ?after? ?the? ?words? ?had? ?left? ?his? ?mouth? ?San? ?Lang? ?finally? ?looked? ?up.? ?The? ?red? ?swelling? ?on??the? ?back? ?of? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?hand? ?had? ?gone? ?down,? ?a? ?stain? ?of? ?blood? ?red? ?on? ?San? ?Lang’s? ?lips.? ?His??eyes? ?were? ?extremely? ?cold,? ?and? ?he? ?moved? ?his? ?glare? ?to? ?the? ?unconscious? ?snake? ?on? ?the??ground.? ??BOOM?!? ?The? ?snake? ?abruptly? ?exploded? ?into? ?a? ?pool? ?of? ?blood? ?and? ?flesh.???The? ?sudden? ?blast? ?surprised? ?everyone,? ?but? ?no? ?one? ?knew? ?who? ?did? ?it.? ?Even? ?if? ?the? ?blood??didn’t? ?splatter? ?onto? ?anyone,? ?there? ?was? ?still? ?a? ?blanket? ?of? ?unease.? ?Tian? ?Sheng? ?who? ?still??remembered? ?that? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?also? ?got? ?stung,? ?asked? ?worriedly,? ?“Gege,? ?you? ?got? ?pricked? ?too!??What? ?will? ?you? ?do?”???Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?the? ?bandage? ?on? ?his? ?wrist? ?and? ?smiled,? ?“Don’t? ?worry,? ?little? ?one.? ?We’ll? ?still? ?stick??to? ?the? ?plan? ?of? ?going? ?to? ?the? ?BanYue? ?ruins? ?and? ?search? ?for? ?the? ?ShanYue? ?fern.”???Another? ?merchant? ?asked,? ?“You? ?guys? ?are? ?going?? ?What? ?about? ?us?? ?Should? ?we? ?also? ?send??someone? ?to? ?go? ?with? ?you?”???“You? ?can? ?all? ?stay? ?here.? ?BanYue? ?territory? ?is? ?a? ?dangerous? ?place,? ?the? ?more? ?people? ?there? ?the??more? ?mishaps? ?that? ?can? ?happen.? ?We? ?will? ?find? ?the? ?fern? ?and? ?bring? ?it? ?back? ?to? ?you? ?within??twenty-four? ?hours.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.???“For...? ?for? ?real?? ?Thank? ?you? ?so? ?much!? ?–”????“How? ?can? ?we? ?possibly? ?ever...”????A? ?number? ?of? ?merchants? ?started? ?stuttering? ?their? ?thanks,? ?but? ?then? ?their? ?faces? ?changed??when? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?continued? ?to? ?speak,? ?“In? ?order? ?to? ?reach? ?BanYue? ?as? ?soon? ?as? ?possible,? ?I??want? ?to? ?borrow? ?your? ?guide? ?temporarily,? ?if? ?that’s? ?alright.”???Naturally,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?meant? ?A-Zhao.? ?The? ?merchants? ?went? ?from? ?grateful? ?and? ?relief? ?to??hesitation.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?knew? ?where? ?they’re? ?coming? ?from.? ?They? ?were? ?afraid? ?that? ?Xie? ?Lian??might? ?run? ?off? ?with? ?their? ?guide? ?once? ?he? ?finds? ?the? ?ShanYue? ?fern;? ?and? ?even? ?if? ?A-Zhao? ?didn’t??run? ?away,? ?timing? ?would? ?still? ?be? ?delayed.? ?Nevertheless,? ?none? ?of? ?them? ?wanted? ?to? ?venture??into? ?that? ?wicked? ?place? ?where? ?‘at? ?least? ?half? ?goes? ?missing’.? ?Their? ?worries? ?were? ?entirely??understandable,? ?so? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?added,? ?“And? ?just? ?in? ?case? ?anything? ?else? ?comes? ?to? ?attack??you,? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?will? ?stay? ?until? ?we? ?return.”???A? ?man? ?for? ?a? ?man,? ?now? ?there? ?was? ?insurance? ?that? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?would? ?come? ?back.? ?The??merchants? ?finally? ?agreed? ?and? ?nodded,? ?“Alright.? ?As? ?long? ?as? ?A-Zhao? ?is? ?willing.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?to? ?A-Zhao,? ?“Are? ?you? ?open? ?to? ?giving? ?us? ?a? ?hand,? ?my? ?friend?? ?If? ?not? ?that’s? ?ok??too.”???A-Zhao? ?nodded? ?and? ?said,? ?“Yes.? ?But? ?the? ?BanYue? ?ruins? ?is? ?actually? ?not? ?hard? ?to? ?get? ?to;? ?just??keep? ?heading? ?in? ?this? ?direction.”???After? ?bidding? ?the? ?merchants? ?farewell,? ?A-Zhao? ?took? ?the? ?lead? ?with? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?San? ?Lang,? ?and??Nan? ?Feng? ?following? ?right? ?behind.? ?A? ?while? ?later,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?inquired,? ?“A-Zhao,? ?do? ?the??scorpion? ?snakes? ?appear? ?frequently? ?in? ?this? ?area?”???“Not? ?frequently.? ?This? ?was? ?my? ?first? ?time? ?seeing? ?them? ?too.”? ?A-Zhao? ?replied.???Xie? ?Lian? ?nodded? ?and? ?had? ?no? ?more? ?questions.? ?Truthfully,? ?he? ?did? ?live? ?in? ?the? ?BanYue? ?area??for? ?a? ?number? ?of? ?years,? ?and? ?this? ?was? ?also? ?his? ?first? ?time? ?seeing? ?a? ?scorpion? ?snake.? ?A-Zhao’s??answer? ?was? ?not? ?out? ?of? ?place.? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?realized? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?intentions? ?and? ?asked? ?in? ?a? ?low??voice,? ?“You’re? ?suspicious? ?of? ?this? ?A-Zhao?”???Xie? ?Lian? ?responded? ?in? ?a? ?whisper,? ?“Either? ?way? ?we’ve? ?brought? ?him? ?out.? ?Just? ?keep? ?an? ?eye??on? ?him.”???In? ?the? ?past? ?it? ?was? ?usually? ?San? ?Lang? ?who? ?would? ?talk? ?to? ?him? ?first,? ?but? ?since? ?the? ?incident??earlier? ?the? ?boy? ?hadn’t? ?looked? ?approachable,? ?walking? ?stoically? ?and? ?silent.? ?Xie? ?Lian??couldn’t? ?figure? ?out? ?what’s? ?going? ?on? ?and? ?didn’t? ?know? ?how? ?to? ?talk? ?to? ?him,? ?so? ?he? ?kept? ?on??walking? ?too.???The? ?four? ?continued? ?to? ?trek? ?through? ?the? ?vast? ?Gobi? ?desert;? ?the? ?windstorm? ?had? ?long? ?passed,??and? ?without? ?any? ?obstructions? ?they? ?advanced? ?quickly,? ?and? ?soon? ?they? ?could? ?see? ?ragged??weeds? ?here? ?and? ?there? ?growing? ?in? ?the? ?cracks? ?of? ?rocks? ?and? ?sand.? ?By? ?the? ?time? ?the? ?sun? ?was??setting,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?finally? ?spotted? ?an? ?ancient? ?fortress? ?in? ?the? ?horizon.???The? ?fortress? ?was? ?difficult? ?to? ?see? ?because? ?it? ?was? ?the? ?colour? ?of? ?sand,? ?camouflaged? ?in? ?the??yellowness? ?and? ?becoming? ?one? ?with? ?the? ?desert.? ?Some? ?parts? ?of? ?the? ?fortress? ?walls? ?were??also? ?caved? ?in? ?and? ?buried.? ?As? ?they? ?approached,? ?they? ?found? ?the? ?fortress? ?walls? ?were??extremely? ?high,? ?towering? ?at? ?over? ?hundreds? ?of? ?feet.? ?It? ?wasn’t? ?hard? ?to? ?imagine? ?its? ?past??magnificence,? ?how? ?grand? ?it? ?must’ve? ?been.???Passing? ?through? ?the? ?barbican,? ?the? ?four? ?formally? ?entered? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?BanYue.???Past? ?the? ?gates? ?was? ?a? ?wide? ?and? ?empty? ?city? ?street,? ?dilapidated? ?houses? ?on? ?each? ?side;??rotten? ?beams,? ?broken? ?bricks? ?strewn? ?about.? ?Out? ?of? ?habit,? ?A-Zhao? ?cautioned? ?the? ?others,??“Please? ?be? ?careful? ?and? ?don’t? ?leave? ?the? ?group? ?on? ?your? ?own.”? ?The? ?other? ?three? ?didn’t? ?need??that? ?reminder.? ?The? ?actual? ?BanYue? ?fortress? ?was? ?probably? ?different? ?than? ?imagined,? ?and??Nan? ?Feng? ?wondered,? ?“This? ?is? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?BanYue?? ?It’s? ?smaller? ?than? ?a? ?capital!”???“A? ?desert? ?country? ?is? ?only? ?as? ?big? ?as? ?the? ?oasis? ?it’s? ?built? ?on.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?explained.? ?“At? ?its??peak,? ?the? ?population? ?was? ?only? ?just? ?about? ?ten? ?thousand.? ?It’s? ?actually? ?pretty? ?lively? ?in? ?a??small? ?fortress? ?like? ?this.”???Nan? ?Feng? ?continued? ?to? ?observe? ?the? ?surroundings,? ?“It? ?would? ?probably? ?only? ?take? ?a? ?few??days? ?to? ?siege? ?a? ?country? ?of? ?this? ?size.”????Xie? ?Lian? ?shook? ?his? ?head,? ?“Not? ?necessarily.? ?Don’t? ?underestimate? ?the? ?people? ?of? ?BanYue,??Nan? ?Feng.? ?Even? ?if? ?their? ?population? ?wasn’t? ?more? ?than? ?ten? ?thousand,? ?they? ?kept? ?the??number? ?of? ?soldiers? ?at? ?an? ?average? ?of? ?four? ?thousand.? ?There? ?were? ?more? ?males? ?than??females;? ?aside? ?from? ?the? ?sick? ?and? ?old,? ?and? ?the? ?farmers,? ?most? ?men? ?joined? ?the? ?army.??Besides,? ?most? ?of? ?those? ?soldiers? ?were? ?over? ?nine? ?feet? ?tall,? ?each? ?more? ?violent? ?than? ?the? ?next.??With? ?a? ?mace? ?in? ?hand,? ?they? ?would? ?keep? ?fighting? ?even? ?with? ?swords? ?through? ?their? ?chests.??They’re? ?very? ?hard? ?to? ?fight.”???A-Zhao? ?was? ?surprised? ?and? ?glanced? ?at? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?“This? ?young? ?master? ?seems? ?to? ?know? ?a??lot.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?maintained? ?his? ?smile? ?and? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?converse? ?some? ?more? ?when? ?Nan? ?Feng??posed? ?a? ?question,? ?“What’s? ?that? ?wall?”????He? ?was? ?indicating? ?a? ?giant? ?mud? ?yellow? ?building? ?in? ?the? ?far? ?distance.???Building? ?wasn’t? ?quite? ?the? ?right? ?word? ?to? ?describe? ?it,? ?because? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?giant? ?enclosure??formed? ?by? ?four? ?massive? ?mud? ?coloured? ?walls? ?without? ?neither? ?doors? ?nor? ?roofs.? ?Each? ?wall??was? ?over? ?a? ?hundred? ?feet,? ?and? ?on? ?the? ?very? ?top? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?pole,? ?with? ?something? ?tattered??attached,? ?flying? ?in? ?the? ?wind.? ?It? ?was? ?a? ?chilling? ?image.???Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?took? ?a? ?look,? ?then? ?said? ?simply,? ?“That’s? ?the? ?Sinners? ?Pit.”???By? ?the? ?sound? ?of? ?the? ?name? ?alone? ?it? ?was? ?obvious? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?anything? ?good.? ?“Sinner’s? ?Pit?”??Nan? ?Feng? ?frowned.???Humming? ?gravely,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?explained,? ?“You? ?can? ?think? ?of? ?it? ?as? ?a? ?jail.? ?It’s? ?made? ?specifically??for? ?imprisoning? ?criminals.”???“How? ?does? ?it? ?imprison? ?if? ?there? ?isn’t? ?even? ?a? ?door?? ?Throw? ?them? ?in? ?from? ?the? ?top?”? ?Nan??Feng? ?wondered.???Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?just? ?hesitating? ?in? ?answering? ?when? ?San? ?Lang? ?suddenly? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“They? ?get??thrown? ?in.? ?And? ?the? ?pit? ?is? ?full? ?of? ?poisonous? ?snakes? ?and? ?starving? ?beasts.”???Hearing? ?him? ?finally? ?speak,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?relieved,? ?but? ?when? ?he? ?looked? ?over? ?to? ?San? ?Lang,??the? ?boy? ?met? ?his? ?gaze? ?and? ?turned? ?away.? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?swore,? ?“That’s? ?no? ?fuckin’? ?jail?!? ?That’s??torture!? ?How? ?cruel!? ?Those? ?people? ?of? ?BanYue? ?were? ?either? ?sick? ?in? ?the? ?head? ?or? ?savage??psychos!”???Xie? ?Lian? ?rubbed? ?his? ?forehead,? ?“Not? ?all? ?of? ?them.? ?Some? ?of? ?them? ?were? ?quite? ?endearing...”??He? ?paused? ?suddenly,? ?his? ?brows? ?stiffening,? ?“Wait.”????The? ?other? ?three? ?stopped,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?pointed? ?upwards,? ?“Look? ?at? ?that? ?pole? ?up? ?on? ?the? ?pit.??Is? ?that? ?a? ?person? ?hanging? ?from? ?it?”???In? ?the? ?dimming? ?light? ?of? ?the? ?setting? ?sun? ?and? ?with? ?such? ?distance,? ?it? ?was? ?difficult? ?to? ?see? ?what??exactly? ?was? ?hung? ?on? ?the? ?pole.? ?But? ?going? ?closer? ?and? ?scrutinizing? ?the? ?shape,? ?it? ?became??obvious? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?scrawny? ?little? ?person? ?in? ?black,? ?their? ?clothes? ?unkempt,? ?dangling? ?in? ?the??wind? ?like? ?a? ?ragdoll.????“It’s? ?a? ?person,”? ?San? ?Lang? ?confirmed.???When? ?A-Zhao? ?saw? ?the? ?hanging? ?person,? ?his? ?face? ?paled.? ?This? ?was? ?such? ?a? ?chilling? ?and??peculiar? ?display? ?that? ?even? ?a? ?calm? ?individual? ?like? ?him? ?couldn’t? ?bear? ?the? ?sight? ?of? ?it.? ?Just??then,? ?San? ?Lang? ?tilted? ?hi? ?head,? ?and? ?said? ?in? ?a? ?low? ?voice,? ?“Someone’s? ?here.”???He? ?wasn’t? ?the? ?only? ?one? ?who? ?noticed.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?also? ?heard? ?featherlight? ?footsteps??approaching.? ?The? ?four? ?immediately? ?moved? ?to? ?hide? ?in? ?the? ?many? ?decaying? ?houses? ?on? ?the??roadside.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?San? ?Lang? ?entered? ?one? ?house,? ?and? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?and? ?A-Zhao? ?hid? ?in??the? ?one? ?across? ?the? ?street.? ?Soon? ?after,? ?at? ?the? ?end? ?of? ?the? ?broken? ?street,? ?revealed? ?the??woman? ?cultivator? ?in? ?white.???The? ?woman? ?was? ?dressed? ?in? ?a? ?light? ?white? ?robe,? ?a? ?whisk? ?in? ?her? ?arm,? ?roaming? ?along? ?the??street,? ?peering? ?here? ?and? ?there,? ?eyes? ?bright? ?and? ?observant,? ?as? ?if? ?she? ?was? ?in? ?her? ?own??backyard? ?garden,? ?and? ?not? ?the? ?BanYue? ?ruins.? ?Strolling? ?right? ?after? ?her? ?was? ?another? ?woman??clad? ?in? ?black,? ?her? ?hands? ?behind? ?her? ?back.????The? ?black? ?clad? ?woman? ?was? ?beautiful? ?yet? ?cold,? ?her? ?eyes? ?piercing,? ?her? ?raven? ?hair? ?long? ?and??free,? ?as? ?if? ?radiating? ?chill? ?from? ?her? ?very? ?person.? ?Although? ?she? ?was? ?walking? ?behind? ?the??woman? ?cultivator,? ?no? ?one? ?would? ?have? ?mistaken? ?her? ?as? ?a? ?subordinate.???It? ?was? ?the? ?same? ?two? ?women? ?they? ?saw? ?outside? ?the? ?abandoned? ?inn? ?at? ?noon? ?time.???At? ?the? ?time? ?they? ?passed? ?by? ?too? ?fast? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?make? ?out? ?the? ?details? ?of? ?the??lady? ?in? ?black,? ?but? ?he? ?now? ?saw? ?clearly? ?that? ?she? ?was? ?indeed? ?a? ?woman.? ?If? ?the? ?one? ?in? ?white??was? ?the? ?Witch? ?of? ?BanYue,? ?then? ?who? ?was? ?the? ?one? ?in? ?black????The? ?witch? ?swished? ?her? ?whisk? ?leisurely? ?and? ?spoke,? ?“Now? ?where? ?did? ?those? ?people? ?go?? ?We??were? ?careless? ?for? ?one? ?moment? ?and? ?they? ?all? ?disappeared.? ?Do? ?I? ?have? ?to? ?dig? ?them? ?out? ?and??kill? ?them? ?one? ?by? ?one?”???As? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?thought,? ?they? ?were? ?watched? ?the? ?moment? ?they? ?stepped? ?foot? ?into? ?the??fortress.???The? ?lady? ?in? ?black? ?approached? ?and? ?stoically? ?said,? ?“You? ?can? ?call? ?your? ?friends? ?to? ?help? ?you??kill? ?them.”???Those? ?‘friends’? ?must? ?have? ?meant? ?the? ?soldiers? ?of? ?BanYue.? ?The? ?Guoshi? ?of? ?BanYue??laughed,? ?“Ha!? ?I? ?don’t? ?like? ?calling? ?other? ?people.? ?I? ?like? ?calling? ?you.? ?Aren’t? ?you? ?glad?”???The? ?lady? ?in? ?black? ?ignored? ?her? ?completely? ?and? ?said? ?cooly,? ?“There’s? ?nothing? ?agreeable??about? ?being? ?called? ?out? ?by? ?the? ?likes? ?of? ?you? ?for? ?something? ?like? ?this.? ?Just? ?go.”???The? ?Guoshi? ?of? ?BanYue? ?arched? ?her? ?brows? ?but? ?still? ?sped? ?away.? ?Listening? ?to? ?them? ?it??sounded? ?as? ?if? ?they? ?were? ?close.? ?They? ?were? ?no? ?ordinary? ?folks,? ?so? ?the? ?lady? ?in? ?black? ?must??have? ?some? ?renown.? ?Someone? ?who? ?would? ?be? ?close? ?to? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?of? ?BanYue?? ?A??mysterious? ?fellow? ?cultivator?? ?Or? ?was? ?there? ?a? ?queen? ?or? ?general? ?they? ?didn’t? ?know? ?about????Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?trying? ?to? ?connect? ?the? ?dots? ?rapidly? ?in? ?his? ?mind,? ?but? ?held? ?his? ?breath.? ?Now??wasn’t? ?the? ?time? ?to? ?be? ?discovered.? ?It? ?looked? ?like? ?the? ?guoshi? ?had? ?an? ?unpredictable??personality;? ?if? ?she? ?should? ?find? ?them? ?and? ?excitedly? ?summon? ?her? ?legendary,? ?9? ?feet? ?tall,??mace-wielding? ?BanYue? ?soldiers,? ?then? ?more? ?time? ?would? ?be? ?wasted? ?fighting? ?them.??Twenty-four? ?hours.? ?One? ?hour? ?wasted? ?was? ?another? ?hour? ?they’d? ?sink? ?deeper? ?into? ?danger.??But,? ?there? ?was? ?no? ?helping? ?his? ?bad? ?luck;? ?whatever? ?he? ?didn’t? ?want? ?happening? ?would??always? ?happen.? ?The? ?lady? ?in? ?black? ?was? ?passing? ?the? ?house? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?hid? ?in,? ?but? ?stopped??mid? ?step,? ?and? ?her? ?piercing? ?gaze? ?came? ?sweeping? ?over? ?the? ?decayed? ?shelter.???The? ?Guoshi? ?of? ?BanYue? ?was? ?already? ?further? ?ahead? ?but? ?noticed? ?that? ?she? ?had? ?stopped? ?and??came? ?back? ?around.? ?“Hey,? ?are? ?you? ?not? ?coming?”????The? ?lady? ?in? ?black? ?didn’t? ?look? ?at? ?her.? ?“You.? ?Step? ?back.”???“Alright.”? ?The? ?guoshi? ?responded? ?obediently? ?and? ?actually? ?retreated.? ?The? ?lady? ?in? ?black? ?was??about? ?to? ?raise? ?her? ?hand? ?when? ?suddenly,? ?a? ?loud? ?rumble? ?blasted? ?from? ?across? ?the? ?street!???Across? ?on? ?the? ?other? ?side,? ?it? ?was? ?the? ?house? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?and? ?A-Zhao? ?hid? ?in? ?that? ?collapsed!??The? ?crumpling? ?of? ?one? ?house? ?led? ?the? ?entire? ?strip? ?to? ?cave? ?in.? ?Dust? ?and? ?sand? ?rolled? ?into? ?the??air? ?and? ?clouded? ?the? ?whole? ?street.? ?Within,? ?a? ?black? ?shadow? ?leapt? ?out,? ?shot? ?a? ?streaming??flame? ?towards? ?the? ?gushi,? ?but? ?the? ?lady? ?in? ?black? ?rushed? ?forward? ?and? ?blocked? ?the? ?guoshi??from? ?harm.? ?With? ?her? ?left? ?hand? ?still? ?behind? ?her,? ?she? ?flipped? ?her? ?right? ?palm? ?and? ?easily??absorbed? ?the? ?flames? ?before? ?rebounding? ?it? ?right? ?back.? ?The? ?black? ?shadow? ?parried? ?with? ?her??while? ?escaping,? ?and? ?soon? ?disappeared.? ?The? ?guoshi? ?immediately? ?chased? ?after? ?it,? ?but? ?the??lady? ?in? ?black? ?gave? ?the? ?house? ?behind? ?another? ?sweeping? ?look? ?before? ?following? ?after? ?the??guosi.???‘Bless? ?you,? ?Nan? ?Feng,’? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?thankedmentally.? ?All? ?of? ?this? ?happened? ?so? ?quickly,? ?but??Nan? ?Feng? ?had? ?no? ?doubt? ?known? ?somehow? ?that? ?they? ?were? ?about? ?to? ?get? ?in? ?trouble? ?and??created? ?a? ?diversion? ?to? ?lead? ?enemies? ?astray.? ?He? ?was? ?the? ?only? ?one? ?who? ?leapt? ?out,? ?so??A-Zhao? ?must? ?still? ?be? ?inside? ?the? ?collapsed? ?house.? ?After? ?making? ?sure? ?the? ?guoshi? ?and? ?the??lady? ?in? ?black? ?were? ?indeed? ?gone,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?dragged? ?San? ?Lang? ?out? ?of? ?their? ?hiding? ?and??called? ?out,? ?“A-Zhao? ?are? ?you? ?still? ?alive?? ?Are? ?you? ?hurt? ?anywhere?”???A? ?moment? ?later,? ?a? ?sulky? ?voice? ?came? ?from? ?under? ?the? ?ruins,? ?“...I’m? ?fine.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?relieved.? ?“Thank? ?goodness.”???Although? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?trusted? ?in? ?Nan? ?Feng’s? ?ability? ?to? ?control? ?the? ?crash? ?and? ?would? ?no? ?doubt??leave? ?enough? ?space? ?for? ?A-Zhao? ?to? ?stay? ?safe,? ?it? ?was? ?still? ?more? ?reassuring? ?to? ?see? ?it? ?with??his? ?own? ?eyes.? ?He? ?raised? ?one? ?of? ?the? ?rotten? ?beams? ?with? ?one? ?hand,? ?and? ?after? ?a? ?moment??A-Zhou? ?emerged? ?from? ?under,? ?covered? ?in? ?dust? ?from? ?head? ?to? ?toe.? ?He? ?patted? ?himself? ?down??a? ?bit? ?and? ?returned? ?to? ?his? ?stoic? ?expression.???“Now? ?there’s? ?only? ?three? ?of? ?us? ?left,”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?“Nan? ?Feng? ?is? ?running? ?a? ?diversion? ?so? ?we??must? ?move? ?faster.? ?Do? ?you? ?know? ?where? ?we? ?can? ?find? ?the? ?ShanYue? ?fern,? ?A-Zhao?”???The? ?young? ?man? ?shook? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?said,? ?“Sorry.? ?I? ?only? ?know? ?where? ?the? ?fortress? ?was,??but? ?I’ve? ?never? ?been? ?here? ?before,? ?so? ?I? ?don’t? ?know? ?where? ?the? ?fern? ?can? ?be? ?found.”???San? ?Lang? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“They? ?say? ?the? ?ShanYue? ?fern? ?prefers? ?shade,? ?is? ?small,? ?its? ?roots? ?thin??but? ?leaves? ?large,? ?like? ?a? ?heart-shaped? ?peach.? ?Why? ?don’t? ?you? ?search? ?near? ?a? ?large??building?”???“A? ?large? ?building?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?contemplated.???If? ?they? ?were? ?talking? ?big,? ?there? ?was? ?no? ?building? ?larger? ?than? ?the? ?palace.? ?In? ?the? ?legend,? ?it??was? ?after? ?the? ?festivities? ?that? ?the? ?queen? ?picked? ?a? ?ShanYue? ?leaf,? ?which? ?could? ?mean? ?the??fern? ?grew? ?in? ?the? ?palace? ?grounds.???The? ?three? ?moved? ?their? ?gaze? ?to? ?afar,? ?and? ?to? ?the? ?centre? ?of? ?the? ?fortress? ?was? ?indeed? ?a??palace? ?built? ?of? ?brick? ?and? ?wood.???From? ?the? ?distance,? ?the? ?palace? ?had? ?a? ?grandiose? ?aura,? ?but? ?from? ?a? ?closer? ?look,? ?it? ?was? ?not? ?in??much? ?better? ?shape? ?than? ?the? ?dilapidated? ?houses? ?on? ?the? ?streets.? ?Through? ?the? ?palace??gates? ?was? ?a? ?massive? ?garden;? ?perhaps? ?in? ?the? ?past? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?a? ?garden? ?but? ?a? ?palace??square,? ?but? ?with? ?years? ?of? ?neglect,? ?weeds? ?had? ?flourished? ?and? ?spread.???Indeed,? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?sand? ?beneath? ?their? ?feet? ?but? ?mud.? ?This? ?was? ?most? ?likely? ?the? ?last? ?sign? ?of??an? ?oasis? ?that? ?once? ?was;? ?ShanYue? ?could? ?very? ?well? ?be? ?growing? ?amongst? ?all? ?the? ?other??plants.????“Let’s? ?not? ?waste? ?time,”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“We? ?only? ?have? ?twenty-four? ?hours,? ?but? ?be? ?careful? ?of??the? ?scorpion? ?snakes.”???A-Zhao? ?and? ?San? ?Lang? ?both? ?hummed? ?in? ?acknowledgement? ?and? ?lowered? ?their? ?heads? ?to??start? ?searching? ?through? ?the? ?plants.? ?As? ?they? ?rummaged,? ?it? ?suddenly? ?came? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?that??if? ?the? ?Witch? ?of? ?BanYue? ?could? ?control? ?scorpion? ?snakes,? ?there? ?should? ?be? ?an? ?abundance? ?of??them? ?slithering? ?about? ?in? ?her? ?territory.? ?Ever? ?since? ?they? ?entered? ?the? ?fortress? ?they? ?had? ?not??seen? ?a? ?single? ?snake.???He? ?straightened? ?up? ?and? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?speak? ?when? ?one? ?of? ?his? ?hands? ?felt? ?up? ?a? ?long? ?object.???Looking? ?down? ?again,? ?he? ?found? ?that? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?human? ?leg.???????Ch.23:? ?Shortened? ?Distance;? ?Adrift? ?in? ?Sandstorms? ?4????“WAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!”???Xie? ?Lian? ?took? ?his? ?hand? ?back? ?and? ?was? ?speechless.???It? ?came? ?to? ?him? ?that? ?every? ?time? ?he? ?saw? ?or? ?touched? ?anything? ?thrilling? ?in? ?the? ?dark,? ?it? ?was??always? ?the? ?other? ?party? ?that’d? ?scream? ?first? ?while? ?he? ?remained? ?silent.? ?But? ?shouldn’t? ?it? ?be??him? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?should? ?be? ?the? ?most? ?scared????The? ?plants? ?in? ?this? ?garden? ?were? ?tall? ?and? ?thick;? ?it? ?was? ?someone? ?who? ?was? ?already? ?hiding??and? ?crawling? ?in? ?the? ?weeds? ?whose? ?leg? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt.? ?The? ?moment? ?they? ?touched? ?the? ?leg??recoiled? ?and? ?the? ?weeds? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?him? ?bustled,? ?and? ?someone? ?called? ?out,? ?“Don’t? ?hit? ?me!??Don’t? ?hit? ?me!? ?Gege,? ?it’s? ?me!”???Xie? ?Lian? ?scrutinized? ?the? ?wild? ?grass? ?and? ?saw? ?that? ?the? ?one? ?emerged? ?crying? ?“Don’t? ?hit? ?me!”??was? ?the? ?thick? ?browed? ?large? ?eyed? ?Tian? ?Sheng.? ?The? ?boy? ?in? ?turn? ?saw? ?that? ?Xie? ?Lian??recognized? ?himself? ?and? ?sighed? ?a? ?breath? ?in? ?relief.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?on? ?the? ?other? ?hand? ?wasn’t??relieved,? ?but? ?became? ?even? ?more? ?alert,? ?and? ?raised? ?his? ?good? ?arm? ?in? ?a? ?defensive? ?stance.? ?In??circumstances? ?like? ?these,? ?it? ?was? ?usually? ?more? ?likely? ?that? ?this? ?was? ?an? ?illusion? ?created? ?by??something? ?evil.????“Weren’t? ?you? ?with? ?the? ?others? ?back? ?at? ?the? ?desert?? ?How? ?are? ?you? ?here?? ?Are? ?you? ?really? ?Tian??Sheng?”????Tian? ?Sheng? ?explained? ?hurriedly,? ?“It’s? ?me!? ?I’m? ?the? ?real? ?thing!? ?I’m? ?not? ?the? ?only? ?one;? ?three??other? ?uncles? ?also? ?came.? ?They’re? ?just? ?inside.? ?Look? ?if? ?you? ?don’t? ?believe? ?me!”? ?He? ?pointed??towards? ?inside? ?the? ?palace,? ?and? ?sure? ?enough,? ?three? ?men? ?came? ?running? ?out? ?and? ?they? ?were??indeed? ?the? ?men? ?from? ?the? ?caravan.? ?When? ?they? ?saw? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?they? ?froze? ?in? ?their? ?steps? ?and??looked? ?awkward.???Xie? ?Lian? ?puffed? ?a? ?breath? ?before? ?finally? ?rising? ?to? ?his? ?feet? ?and? ?dusted? ?his? ?white? ?sleeves,??“What’s? ?going? ?on?”???The? ?merchants? ?looked? ?at? ?each? ?other? ?and? ?no? ?one? ?made? ?any? ?noise.? ?It? ?was? ?Tian? ?Sheng??who? ?spoke? ?up? ?after? ?an? ?awkward? ?silence,? ?“...Gege,? ?after? ?you? ?guys? ?left,? ?Uncle? ?Zheng’s??pain? ?flared? ?and? ?was? ?really? ?miserable.? ?We? ?didn’t? ?know? ?how? ?much? ?longer? ?to? ?expect? ?you? ?to??return? ?and? ?were? ?afraid? ?that? ?you? ?guys? ?might’ve? ?gotten? ?lost.? ?A-Zhao-ge? ?said? ?to? ?go? ?straight??to? ?get? ?to? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?BanYue,? ?so? ?we? ?thought? ?the? ?more? ?hands? ?to? ?help? ?the? ?better? ?so...”???So? ?what? ?he? ?really? ?meant? ?is? ?the? ?merchants? ?regretted? ?letting? ?them? ?go? ?after? ?all.? ?They? ?were??afraid? ?that? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?would? ?rob? ?them? ?of? ?their? ?guide? ?after? ?finding? ?the? ?ShanYue? ?ferm? ?for??themselves,? ?so? ?they? ?sent? ?people? ?to? ?come? ?follow? ?after? ?them.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?imagined? ?the? ?Fu??Yao? ?couldn’t? ?hold? ?them? ?back,? ?and? ?was? ?probably? ?too? ?lazy? ?to? ?hold? ?them? ?back.? ?It? ?was??impossible? ?to? ?stop? ?stubborn? ?people? ?who? ?refused? ?to? ?listen? ?to? ?reason.????Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?rather? ?exasperated,? ?“You’re? ?all? ?too? ?reckless.? ?Who? ?knows? ?what? ?there? ?might??be,? ?and? ?what? ?might? ?happen? ?in? ?a? ?fortress? ?like? ?this? ?and? ?you? ?still? ?came?”????Tian? ?Sheng? ?himself? ?knew? ?that? ?what? ?they’d? ?done? ?made? ?it? ?obvious? ?they? ?didn’t? ?trust? ?Xie??Lian? ?and? ?felt? ?bad,? ?so? ?he? ?didn’t? ?make? ?a? ?sound? ?while? ?hiding? ?in? ?the? ?weeds? ?earlier,? ?as??awkward? ?as? ?it? ?was.? ?“Sorry,? ?this? ?concerned? ?a? ?man’s? ?life? ?and? ?we? ?couldn’t? ?sit? ?still,? ?so...”???No? ?matter.? ?This? ?was? ?a? ?life? ?and? ?death? ?situation? ?and? ?to? ?be? ?wary? ?was? ?entirely? ?natural.? ?To? ?go??so? ?far? ?in? ?danger? ?for? ?an? ?antidote? ?also? ?proved? ?them? ?to? ?be? ?worthy? ?companions.? ?Xie? ?Lian??couldn’t? ?berate? ?them? ?for? ?this? ?and? ?sighed.? ?“If? ?you? ?didn’t? ?bump? ?into? ?anything? ?weird? ?when??entering? ?the? ?territory? ?then? ?it’s? ?your? ?good? ?fortune.? ?But? ?how? ?did? ?you? ?know? ?to? ?come? ?to? ?the??palace? ?to? ?search? ?for? ?the? ?ShanYue? ?fern?”???Tian? ?Sheng? ?scratched? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?replied,? ?“We? ?didn’t? ?know? ?where? ?to? ?start,? ?but? ?in? ?the??story? ?the? ?red? ?clothed? ?gege? ?told? ?it? ?was? ?the? ?queen? ?who? ?picked? ?the? ?leaves,? ?right?? ?The??queen? ?couldn’t? ?possibly? ?leave? ?the? ?palace? ?grounds,? ?so? ?I? ?thought? ?we’d? ?come? ?and? ?try? ?our??luck.”???Well? ?this? ?kid’s? ?mind? ?could? ?certain? ?spin,? ?and? ?it? ?spun? ?right? ?on? ?target,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?thought.? ?Just??then,? ?San? ?Lang? ?spoke? ?up? ?from? ?the? ?side,? ?“I? ?found? ?it.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?to? ?see? ?San? ?Lang? ?strode? ?with? ?his? ?lithe? ?long? ?legs? ?towards? ?him.? ?In? ?his? ?hands??was? ?a? ?few? ?turquoise? ?leaves? ?still? ?with? ?roots? ?attached? ?at? ?the? ?stems.???The? ?leaves? ?were? ?about? ?the? ?size? ?of? ?a? ?baby’s? ?palm,? ?in? ?the? ?shape? ?of? ?peaches,? ?slightly??pointy? ?at? ?the? ?ends,? ?and? ?its? ?roots? ?thin? ?and? ?tiny.? ?Without? ?A-Zhao? ?to? ?confirm,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?knew??without? ?a? ?doubt? ?that? ?it? ?must? ?be? ?the? ?ShanYue? ?fern.? ?Without? ?waiting? ?for? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?to? ?say? ?a??word,? ?San? ?Lang? ?grabbed? ?onto? ?his? ?wounded? ?hand? ?and? ?lifted? ?it.???The? ?hand? ?that? ?had? ?been? ?pricked? ?was? ?originally? ?frighteningly? ?swollen,? ?but? ?after? ?San? ?Lang??had? ?sucked? ?out? ?poison? ?from? ?the? ?wound,? ?the? ?swelling? ?had? ?gone? ?down? ?significantly??despite? ?it? ?not? ?fully? ?cleaned? ?out? ?of? ?venom.? ?With? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?wrist? ?in? ?one? ?hand? ?and? ?the??ShanYue? ?fern? ?in? ?the? ?other,? ?San? ?Lang? ?closed? ?his? ?palm? ?on? ?the? ?plant,? ?and? ?in? ?a? ?second??when? ?he? ?reopened? ?his? ?palm,? ?the? ?fern? ?had? ?been? ?crushed? ?into? ?powder? ?without? ?him??appearing? ?to? ?have? ?exerted? ?any? ?force.????San? ?Lang? ?gently? ?and? ?firmly? ?rubbed? ?the? ?powder? ?onto? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?hand,? ?and? ?he? ?could? ?feel??strings? ?of? ?coolness? ?and? ?relief? ?on? ?his? ?skin.? ?“Thanks,? ?San? ?Lang.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.???San? ?Lang? ?didn’t? ?respond? ?however,? ?and? ?after? ?applying? ?the? ?powder? ?he? ?let? ?go? ?of? ?Xie? ?Lian’s??hand.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?think? ?his? ?attitude? ?and? ?this? ?weird? ?atmosphere? ?between??the? ?two? ?of? ?them? ?was? ?really? ?peculiar,? ?but? ?didn’t? ?know? ?how? ?to? ?ask? ?about? ?it? ?without? ?sounding??weird.? ?This? ?wasn’t? ?something? ?anyone? ?else? ?would? ?notice? ?either? ?and? ?couldn’t? ?possibly??understand.???“Gege,are? ?you? ?feeling? ?better?? ?Is? ?the? ?herb? ?working?”? ?Tian? ?Sheng? ?asked? ?anxiously.???Xie? ?Lian? ?snapped? ?out? ?of? ?it? ?and? ?replied,? ?“Much? ?better.? ?It? ?should? ?be? ?the? ?right? ?herb.”???Hearing? ?this,? ?everyone? ?became? ?excited,? ?“Hurry!? ?Let’s? ?find? ?more!”? ?Soon,? ?A-Zhao? ?also??raised? ?a? ?handful? ?of? ?leaves? ?crying,? ?“There’s? ?more? ?here!”???The? ?ShanYue? ?leaves? ?in? ?A-Zhao’s? ?hands? ?were? ?much? ?bigger? ?and? ?fuller? ?than? ?the? ?small,??pitiful? ?one? ?San? ?Lang? ?had? ?used? ?earlier,? ?but? ?the? ?shape? ?and? ?marks? ?were? ?all? ?correct,? ?so??everyone? ?crowded? ?over? ?and? ?happily? ?exclaimed:????“There’s? ?an? ?entire? ?field? ?here!”????“So? ?many!”???“Pick? ?lots!? ?Let’s? ?pick? ?a? ?bunch!? ?Do? ?you? ?think? ?we? ?can? ?sell? ?this?”???The? ?merchants? ?were? ?busy? ?picking? ?the? ?herbs? ?noisily,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?over,??examined? ?his? ?hand? ?for? ?a? ?moment,? ?then? ?tried? ?to? ?start? ?a? ?conversation? ?with? ?San? ?Lang,? ?“You??searched? ?the? ?same? ?area? ?they’re? ?at? ?now? ?before,? ?right?? ?Didn’t? ?you? ?find? ?any? ?at? ?the? ?time?”???It? ?was? ?obvious? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?trying? ?to? ?force? ?a? ?conversation,? ?and? ?after? ?having? ?asked? ?the??question,? ?he? ?himself? ?felt? ?rather? ?pathetic.? ?But? ?San? ?Lang? ?shook? ?his? ?head,? ?“You? ?shouldn’t??use? ?the? ?ferns? ?over? ?there.”????“Why?? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?curious.???Before? ?San? ?Lang? ?could? ?answer,? ?they? ?heard? ?someone? ?scream? ?“GO? ?AWAY!”???Everyone? ?stopped,? ?their? ?movements? ?halting.???“Who? ?said? ?that?? ?Who’s? ?screaming?”???“It? ?wasn’t? ?me?”???“It? ?wasn’t? ?me? ?either...”???Then? ?they? ?heard? ?that? ?sharp? ?voice? ?again,? ?“Go? ?away!? ?You’re? ?stepping? ?on? ?me...”???Only? ?then? ?did? ?the? ?group? ?notice? ?–? ?the? ?voice? ?came? ?from? ?next? ?to? ?their? ?feet!????In? ?a? ?flash,? ?the? ?crowd? ?dispersed? ?from? ?that? ?small? ?field? ?of? ?fern.? ?Seeing? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?walked??over.? ?He? ?was? ?used? ?to? ?being? ?the? ?one? ?in? ?the? ?lead? ?when? ?it? ?comes? ?to? ?those? ?things.? ?He??approached? ?the? ?bush? ?where? ?the? ?shrieking? ?came? ?from? ?and? ?stripped? ?away? ?the? ?thick??weeds.? ?Everyone’s? ?breathing? ?hitched.???Under? ?the? ?weeds,? ?in? ?the? ?mud,? ?was? ?a? ?man’s? ?face.???In? ?a? ?field? ?such? ?as? ?this,? ?a? ?live? ?human? ?being? ?was? ?buried? ?in? ?the? ?mud? ?with? ?only? ?a? ?face??showing? ?on? ?the? ?surface!???It? ?was? ?a? ?nightmarish? ?picture,? ?and? ?a? ?couple? ?of? ?merchants? ?held? ?onto? ?each? ?and? ?screamed.??Xie? ?Lian? ?comforted? ?them? ?in? ?a? ?skilled? ?and? ?practiced? ?manner,? ?“Don’t? ?panic.? ?Everyone? ?calm??down.? ?It’s? ?only? ?a? ?face,? ?nothing? ?extraordinary.? ?We? ?all? ?have? ?faces,? ?no?”???That? ?face? ?chuckled,? ?“Oh,? ?did? ?I? ?scare? ?you?? ?Sigh.? ?I? ?frequently? ?scare? ?myself? ?too.”???After? ?reassuring? ?the? ?others,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?half? ?crouched? ?down? ?and? ?examined? ?this? ?face? ?in? ?the??mud.???It’s? ?a? ?man’s? ?face? ?without? ?a? ?doubt;? ?quite? ?flat? ?when? ?he? ?wasn’t? ?not? ?smiling,? ?but? ?full? ?of??wrinkles? ?when? ?he? ?did.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?tell? ?whether? ?if? ?he? ?was? ?old? ?or? ?young,? ?and? ?couldn’t??say? ?whether? ?if? ?he? ?was? ?handsome? ?or? ?not.? ?He? ?couldn’t? ?make? ?much? ?out? ?of? ?this? ?face,? ?so? ?he??simply? ?asked? ?directly,? ?“Who? ?are? ?you?”???The? ?face? ?in? ?the? ?mud? ?asked? ?back,? ?“Who? ?are? ?you?”???“We’re? ?merchants? ?passing? ?through.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied.???The? ?mud? ?face? ?breathed? ?a? ?long? ?sigh,? ?“Merchant? ?passersby.? ?I? ?used? ?to? ?be? ?part? ?of? ?a? ?caravan??too,? ?but? ?that? ?was? ?fifty-sixty? ?years? ?ago.”???The? ?situation? ?just? ?became? ?freakier.???Was? ?a? ?man? ?buried? ?in? ?the? ?grounds? ?of? ?an? ?old? ?fortress? ?ruin? ?for? ?over? ?fifty? ?to? ?sixty? ?years? ?still??human????One? ?of? ?the? ?merchants? ?shakily? ?asked? ?in? ?trepidation,? ?“Then...? ?then..? ?How? ?did? ?a? ?senior? ?like??yourself...? ?come...? ?here?”???The? ?mud? ?face? ?cleared? ?his? ?throat? ?and? ?screwed? ?up? ?his? ?face.? ?“I...? ?I? ?was? ?captured? ?by? ?the??BanYue? ?soldiers.? ?I? ?accidentally? ?entered? ?the? ?city.? ?They? ?caught? ?me? ?and? ?buried? ?me? ?here,??and? ?made? ?me? ?the? ?fertilizer? ?for? ?their? ?ShanYue? ?ferns...”???No? ?wonder? ?the? ?herbs? ?in? ?their? ?hands? ?were? ?big? ?and? ?full!? ?They? ?were? ?fed? ?with? ?live? ?humans!???The? ?merchants? ?immediately? ?dropped? ?all? ?the? ?plants? ?in? ?their? ?hands,? ?feeling? ?as? ?though? ?they??were? ?touching? ?corpses.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?glance? ?at? ?his? ?hand? ?too,? ?but? ?heard? ?San??Lang? ?say,? ?“That? ?one? ?was? ?fine.”???It? ?dawned? ?on? ?Xie? ?Lian.? ?That? ?was? ?why? ?even? ?though? ?San? ?Lang? ?had? ?looked? ?through? ?this??field? ?earlier,? ?he? ?left? ?it? ?to? ?pick? ?a? ?small,? ?almost? ?withered? ?fern? ?from? ?elsewhere.? ?He? ?probably??already? ?saw? ?what? ?was? ?in? ?the? ?soil? ?but? ?ignored? ?the? ?face? ?completely.? ?The? ?herb? ?he? ?applied??on? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?hand? ?was? ?one? ?he? ?found? ?in? ?an? ?area? ?much? ?more? ?remote? ?but? ?clean? ?of??corruption.???“San? ?Lang? ?was? ?considerate? ?and? ?careful,? ?thank? ?you,? ?truly.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.???San? ?Lang? ?shook? ?his? ?head? ?but? ?his? ?face? ?was? ?still? ?gloomy.???Ever? ?since? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?gotten? ?stung? ?by? ?the? ?scorpion? ?snake,? ?San? ?Lang? ?had? ?behaved? ?like??this.? ?A? ?couple? ?days? ?ago? ?it? ?was? ?all? ?gege? ?this,? ?gege? ?that,? ?but? ?now? ?he? ?barely? ?called? ?him??gege? ?anymore.? ?When? ?they? ?first? ?met,? ?San? ?Lang? ?had? ?avoided? ?his? ?touch? ?and? ?seemed? ?wary??of? ?contact? ?with? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?but? ?that? ?seemed? ?to? ?have? ?gone? ?away? ?after? ?spending? ?so? ?much??time? ?together.? ?Now,? ?besides? ?sucking? ?poison? ?and? ?applying? ?herbs,? ?San? ?Lang? ?was? ?once??again? ?avoiding? ?touching? ?him,? ?and? ?that? ?made? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?feel? ?unsettled.???Just? ?then,? ?the? ?mud? ?face? ?began? ?to? ?speak? ?again,? ?“I? ?haven’t? ?seen? ?real? ?people? ?in? ?so? ?many??years.? ?Can...? ?can? ?you? ?come? ?closer? ?and? ?let? ?me? ?see? ?you? ?all? ?properly?”???The? ?merchants? ?all? ?looked? ?at? ?each? ?other,? ?everyone? ?thinking? ?they? ?best? ?not? ?do? ?what? ?he??asked.? ?After? ?a? ?while,? ?seeing? ?no? ?one? ?stepped? ?forward,? ?the? ?mud? ?face? ?muttered,? ?“What???What.? ?You? ?don’t? ?want? ?to?? ?Sigh...? ?what? ?a? ?shame...”???“Why? ?is? ?it? ?a? ?shame?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?over? ?and? ?asked.???“There’s? ?something? ?that’s? ?been? ?bothering? ?me? ?ever? ?since? ?you? ?all? ?arrived,”? ?The? ?mud? ?face??said,? ?“So? ?I? ?wanted? ?to? ?confirm? ?with? ?my? ?own? ?two? ?eyes.? ?I? ?want? ?to? ?see? ?each? ?and? ?everyone? ?of??you? ?clearly? ?to? ?make? ?sure.”???“To? ?make? ?sure? ?of? ?what?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?pressed.???The? ?mud? ?face? ?replied,? ?“There’s? ?someone? ?amongst? ?you? ?I’ve? ?seen? ?before...? ?fifty? ?to? ?sixty??years? ?ago.”???A? ?shiver? ?went? ?down? ?everyone’s? ?back? ?and? ?made? ?their? ?hairs? ?stand.???No? ?mortal? ?in? ?present? ?company? ?should? ?be? ?aged? ?over? ?fifty.? ?That? ?means? ?whoever? ?this??person? ?was? ?that? ?was? ?here? ?then? ?was? ?not? ?human.????Xie? ?Lian? ?gave? ?a? ?sweeping? ?look? ?across? ?everyone? ?there,? ?from? ?A-Zhao? ?to? ?Tian? ?Sheng.??Some? ?in? ?shock,? ?some? ?in? ?fear,? ?some? ?shaking? ?in? ?anxiety,? ?some? ?speechless? ?and? ?confused.??Everyone’s? ?reaction? ?was? ?normal? ?and? ?within? ?reason.? ?If? ?one? ?must? ?pinpoint? ?the? ?odd? ?one??out,? ?it’d? ?be? ?San? ?Lang.? ?But? ?for? ?him,? ?no? ?reaction? ?was? ?probably? ?the? ?normal? ?reaction.????Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?back? ?to? ?the? ?mud? ?face,? ?“Who? ?is? ?this? ?person? ?you? ?speak? ?of?”???The? ?face? ?muscles? ?of? ?that? ?mud? ?face? ?twitched? ?and? ?it? ?gave? ?an? ?exceedingly? ?freaky? ?smile,? ?as??if? ?it? ?was? ?using? ?its? ?all? ?to? ?make? ?itself? ?look? ?more? ?reliable,? ?but? ?it? ?couldn’t? ?fully? ?conceal? ?the??sinister? ?smirk? ?hiding? ?beneath.? ?He? ?beckoned? ?mysteriously,? ?“You...? ?come? ?closer,? ?and? ?I’ll??tell? ?you.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?believed? ?him? ?eighty? ?percent? ?the? ?first? ?time? ?the? ?mud? ?face? ?asked.? ?The? ?second? ?time??Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?less? ?than? ?inclined? ?to.? ?Who? ?knows? ?if? ?this? ?monster? ?was? ?only? ?luring? ?them??closer? ?before? ?committing? ?some? ?evil? ?deed?? ?There? ?was? ?no? ?way? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?would? ?pay??attention? ?to? ?the? ?likes? ?of? ?him.????Xie? ?Lian? ?pushed? ?himself? ?off? ?the? ?ground? ?about? ?to? ?walk? ?away? ?before? ?the? ?mud? ?face? ?raised??his? ?voice,? ?“Do? ?you? ?really? ?not? ?want? ?to? ?know? ?who? ?it? ?is?? ?He? ?will? ?kill? ?all? ?of? ?you.”??????Ch.24:? ?Dallying? ?HuaLian;? ?Night-Fall? ?in? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit????The? ?more? ?the? ?mud? ?face? ?tried? ?to? ?entice? ?them,? ?the? ?more? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?became? ?alarmed.??“Everyone? ?stand? ?back,? ?don’t? ?go? ?near? ?him,? ?and? ?don’t? ?listen? ?to? ?a? ?single? ?word? ?he? ?says.”???The? ?crowd? ?broke? ?up? ?and? ?hurriedly? ?moved? ?away.? ?The? ?mud? ?face? ?continued? ?to? ?chuckle,??“There’s? ?no? ?need? ?to? ?be? ?so? ?mean.? ?I’m? ?a? ?human? ?too,? ?I? ?won’t? ?hurt? ?you.”???‘Oh? ?you’re? ?mistaken,? ?you? ?look? ?nothing? ?like? ?a? ?human!’? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?thought.???Just? ?then,? ?one? ?of? ?the? ?merchants? ?suddenly? ?snuck? ?back? ?to? ?the? ?field,? ?perhaps? ?thinking? ?he??must? ?still? ?bring? ?back? ?some? ?herbs? ?for? ?the? ?wounded.? ?He? ?bent? ?down? ?to? ?pick? ?up? ?the? ?bushel??of? ?ferns? ?he? ?dropped? ?in? ?fright? ?earlier? ?but? ?the? ?mud? ?face? ?spun? ?and? ?spotted? ?him,? ?a? ?glint? ?in? ?its??spinning? ?eyes.???Oh? ?no!? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?thought,? ?rushing? ?towards? ?the? ?man,? ?“Don’t? ?pick? ?that? ?up!? ?Come? ?back!”? ?But??it? ?was? ?too? ?late.? ?The? ?mud? ?face? ?opened? ?its? ?mouth? ?and? ?a? ?long,? ?blood? ?red? ?thing? ?slithered? ?out.???What? ?a? ?long? ?tongue!???Xie? ?Lian? ?grabbed? ?the? ?merchant? ?by? ?his? ?collar? ?and? ?backed? ?up,? ?but? ?the? ?tongue? ?that? ?flew? ?out??was? ?freakishly? ?lengthy? ?and? ?barged? ?right? ?into? ?the? ?merchant’s? ?ear!???Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?the? ?body? ?in? ?his? ?hold? ?convulse? ?violently,? ?the? ?merchant’s? ?limbs? ?writhed??nonstop,? ?and? ?the? ?man? ?let? ?out? ?a? ?short? ?agonizing? ?scream? ?before? ?falling? ?to? ?the? ?ground.? ?That??long? ?tongue? ?dug? ?out? ?a? ?large? ?chunk? ?of? ?something? ?bloody? ?from? ?his? ?ear? ?and? ?and? ?brought? ?it??back? ?to? ?the? ?mud? ?face’s? ?mouth.? ?The? ?mud? ?face? ?happily? ?chewed? ?and? ?cackled,? ?his? ?laugh? ?so??disturbingly? ?loud? ?it? ?filled? ?the? ?entire? ?palace? ?grounds.????“HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!!? ?SO? ?GOOD? ?SO? ?GOOD? ?SO? ?DELICIOUS? ?SO??DELICIOUS? ?SO? ?DELICIOUS!!? ?I? ?WAS? ?SO? ?HUNGRY,? ?SO? ?HUNGRY!”???His? ?voice? ?was? ?sharp? ?and? ?shrill,? ?both? ?eyeballs? ?bulging? ?and? ?bloodshot,? ?horrid? ?and??obnoxious.???This? ?man? ?who? ?had? ?been? ?buried? ?for? ?over? ?fifty? ?years? ?in? ?the? ?grounds? ?of? ?an? ?evil-filled??kingdom? ?had? ?already? ?been? ?moulded? ?into? ?its? ?soil? ?and? ?became? ?something? ?other? ?than??human.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?loosened? ?his? ?hold? ?on? ?the? ?deceased? ?merchant,? ?his? ?entire? ?arm? ?shaking.??He? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?attack? ?the? ?repulsive? ?monster? ?when? ?the? ?mud? ?face? ?screamed? ?again,??“GENERAL!? ?GENERAL!? ?THEY’RE? ?HERE!? ?THEY’RE? ?HERE!”???A? ?deafening? ?cry? ?more? ?savage? ?than? ?beasts? ?blared? ?in? ?the? ?distance.????A? ?dark? ?shadow? ?dropped? ?from? ?the? ?sky,? ?and? ?landed? ?heavily? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?Xie? ?Lian.? ?The? ?entire??palace? ?grounds? ?quaked? ?in? ?its? ?landing.? ?When? ?it? ?slowly? ?stood? ?up,? ?the? ?crowd? ?was? ?jailed? ?in??its? ?enormous? ?shadow.???This? ?‘man’? ?was? ?gigantic.???His? ?face? ?was? ?as? ?grim? ?as? ?steel,? ?his? ?expression? ?ferocious? ?and? ?turbulent,? ?like? ?the? ?face? ?of? ?a??beast.? ?A? ?thin? ?layer? ?of? ?armour? ?draped? ?from? ?his? ?shoulders? ?and? ?reached? ?down? ?at? ?least? ?nine??feet.? ?Rather? ?than? ?a? ?man,? ?one? ?could? ?say? ?he’s? ?more? ?like? ?a? ?walking? ?wolf.? ?Behind? ?him,? ?more??and? ?more? ?similar? ?forms? ?appeared.? ?One,? ?two,? ?three...? ?over? ?ten? ?of? ?these? ?‘men’? ?jumped? ?off??the? ?roofs? ?of? ?the? ?palace? ?and? ?surrounded? ?them.???Each? ?one? ?of? ?these? ?‘men’? ?were? ?large? ?like? ?horses,? ?built? ?like? ?beasts,? ?and? ?carried? ?a? ?sharp??teeth-filled? ?mace? ?on? ?their? ?shoulders.? ?They? ?might? ?as? ?well? ?be? ?werewolves.? ?When? ?they??encircled? ?around? ?the? ?intruders? ?in? ?the? ?garden,? ?it? ?was? ?as? ?if? ?a? ?large? ?steel? ?cage? ?had? ?fallen??upon? ?them.???They? ?were? ?the? ?soldiers? ?of? ?BanYue!???These? ?soldiers? ?emanated? ?a? ?black? ?aura,? ?undoubtedly? ?no? ?longer? ?alive.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?tense,??Ruoye? ?in? ?position? ?ready? ?to? ?attack.???However,? ?when? ?those? ?BanYue? ?soldiers? ?saw? ?them? ?they? ?didn’t? ?rush? ?in? ?to? ?kill.? ?Instead? ?they??raised? ?their? ?heads? ?and? ?roared? ?in? ?crazed? ?laughter,? ?and? ?howled? ?in? ?a? ?foreign? ?language.? ?The??sound? ?of? ?their? ?words? ?were? ?ghastly,? ?guttural? ?and? ?heavy? ?in? ?tongue? ?rolling.? ?It? ?was? ?the??language? ?of? ?BanYue.???Although? ?it? ?had? ?been? ?two? ?hundred? ?years? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?pretty? ?much? ?forgotten? ?the??language,? ?he? ?did? ?review? ?it? ?with? ?San? ?Lang? ?earlier? ?in? ?the? ?General’s? ?Tomb,? ?and? ?the? ?words??uttered? ?by? ?those? ?soldiers? ?were? ?loud,? ?simple? ?and? ?vulgar,? ?so? ?they? ?weren’t? ?difficult? ?to??understand.????He? ?heard? ?the? ?soldiers? ?call? ?the? ?first? ?man? ?‘general’,? ?their? ?conversations? ?filled? ?with? ?words??such? ?as? ?‘take? ?them? ?away’? ?and? ?‘won’t? ?kill? ?for? ?now’,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?took? ?a? ?deep? ?breath? ?to??force? ?himself? ?to? ?relax.? ?He? ?said? ?in? ?a? ?low? ?voice,? ?“Everyone,? ?don’t? ?panic.? ?These? ?BanYue??soldiers? ?won’t? ?kill? ?us? ?for? ?now.? ?It? ?seems? ?they? ?want? ?to? ?take? ?us? ?somewhere? ?else.? ?Don’t? ?do??anything? ?rash,? ?I? ?can’t? ?guarantee? ?I’ll? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?fight? ?them.? ?We’ll? ?figure? ?this? ?out? ?as? ?we? ?go.”???It? ?was? ?clear? ?that? ?those? ?soldiers? ?would? ?be? ?hard? ?to? ?fight,? ?each? ?of? ?them? ?thicker? ?than? ?the??next;? ?even? ?with? ?Ruoye? ?in? ?hand,? ?suffocating? ?one? ?would? ?probably? ?take? ?a? ?lot? ?out? ?of? ?him,??nevermind? ?ten.? ?With? ?mortals? ?with? ?him,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?do? ?anything? ?bold? ?and? ?could? ?only??remain? ?vigilant? ?and? ?protect? ?them? ?the? ?best? ?he? ?could.???San? ?Lang? ?didn’t? ?say? ?anything,? ?and? ?the? ?others? ?had? ?already? ?lost? ?all? ?nerves.? ?Even? ?if? ?they??want? ?to? ?do? ?anything? ?rash,? ?they? ?wouldn’t? ?know? ?how,? ?and? ?could? ?only? ?nod? ?tearfully.? ?Next? ?to??them,? ?the? ?mud? ?face? ?screamed? ?again,? ?“General!? ?General!? ?Please? ?let? ?me? ?out!? ?I? ?detained??your? ?enemies,? ?let? ?me? ?go? ?home!? ?I? ?want? ?to? ?go? ?home!”???Seeing? ?the? ?BanYue? ?soldiers,? ?the? ?mud? ?face? ?became? ?hysterical,? ?screaming? ?and? ?crying,??blabbering? ?nonsense,? ?with? ?some? ?BanYue? ?words? ?mixed? ?in,? ?no? ?doubt? ?learned? ?from? ?the??many? ?years? ?he? ?spent? ?buried? ?here.? ?The? ?massive? ?nine? ?feet? ?man? ?they? ?called? ?‘general’??seemed? ?to? ?have? ?found? ?the? ?squirming? ?mud? ?face? ?deeply? ?disgusting,? ?and? ?swung? ?his? ?mace??towards? ?him,? ?smashing? ?his? ?face? ?into? ?a? ?bloody? ?mess,? ?the? ?teeth? ?of? ?his? ?mace? ?piercing? ?his??brains.? ?When? ?he? ?pulled? ?up? ?his? ?mace? ?again,? ?the? ?entire? ?body? ?was? ?pulled? ?out? ?with? ?it,??fulfilling? ?his? ?wish? ?of? ?“let? ?me? ?out!”.???However,? ?the? ?body? ?that? ?was? ?unearthed? ?was? ?not? ?a? ?full? ?human? ?body,? ?but? ?a? ?chilling??skeleton!???The? ?merchants? ?screamed? ?in? ?fright.? ?The? ?mud? ?face,? ?having? ?crumpled? ?off? ?the? ?mace? ?all??bloody,? ?seemed? ?to? ?have? ?frozen? ?in? ?fear? ?too? ?after? ?seeing? ?his? ?own? ?body,? ?“What’s? ?this???WHAT’S? ?THIS?”???“It’s? ?your? ?body.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?reminded? ?him,? ?seeing? ?that? ?the? ?mud? ?face? ?was? ?numbed? ?in??disbelief.? ?This? ?man? ?had? ?been? ?buried? ?in? ?the? ?desert? ?for? ?over? ?fifty? ?to? ?sixty? ?years;? ?his? ?body??fertilized? ?the? ?ShanYue? ?ferns? ?and? ?cleaned? ?him? ?of? ?his? ?flesh? ?with? ?only? ?bones? ?remaining.???“How? ?can? ?this? ?be?”? ?The? ?mud? ?face? ?cried,? ?“My? ?body? ?isn’t? ?like? ?this!? ?THIS? ?IS? ?NOT? ?MY??BODY!!!”????His? ?cries? ?were? ?trilling? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?only? ?thought? ?him? ?tragic? ?and? ?terrifying,? ?shook? ?his? ?head??and? ?turned? ?away.? ?Next? ?to? ?him,? ?San? ?Lang? ?laughed? ?mockingly,? ?“Is? ?it? ?only? ?now? ?you’re? ?not??used? ?to? ?your? ?body?? ?What? ?was? ?that? ?thing? ?that? ?came? ?out? ?of? ?your? ?mouth? ?earlier?? ?You? ?didn’t??think? ?that? ?odd?”???The? ?mud? ?face? ?countered? ?immediately,? ?“That? ?wasn’t? ?odd!? ?It? ?was? ?just...? ?a? ?tongue? ?a? ?bit??longer? ?than? ?average!”???“Yea.? ?Sure.? ?Just? ?that? ?much? ?longer,? ?maybe.? ?Haha.”? ?San? ?Lang’s? ?voice? ?was? ?full? ?of? ?ridicule.???“That’s? ?right!”? ?The? ?mud? ?face? ?cried,? ?“It’s? ?only? ?just? ?that? ?much? ?longer!? ?It’s? ?all? ?because? ?I? ?spent??decades? ?trying? ?to? ?live? ?off? ?of? ?insects,? ?forcing? ?my? ?tongue? ?to? ?extend.? ?That? ?must? ?be? ?how? ?it??came? ?to? ?be? ?like? ?this!”????Perhaps? ?he? ?was? ?indeed? ?still? ?human? ?when? ?he? ?was? ?first? ?buried,? ?and? ?did? ?his? ?best? ?to? ?survive??by? ?swallowing? ?insects? ?with? ?his? ?tongue,? ?but? ?he? ?became? ?less? ?human? ?over? ?time,? ?and? ?his??tongue? ?grew? ?longer,? ?eating? ?more? ?than? ?just? ?insects? ?but? ?worse? ?things.? ?Having? ?been? ?buried??for? ?so? ?long? ?however,? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?see? ?his? ?own? ?true? ?form,? ?and? ?couldn’t? ?accept? ?nor? ?believe??that? ?he? ?was? ?no? ?longer? ?human.? ?The? ?mud? ?face? ?kept? ?trying? ?to? ?assure? ?a? ?non-listening??audience,? ?“There? ?are? ?other? ?people? ?who? ?have? ?long? ?tongues,? ?not? ?just? ?me!”????San? ?Lang? ?laughed? ?again.? ?Watching? ?him,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?feel? ?chills? ?listening? ?to? ?him? ?laugh.??Xie? ?Lian? ?thought? ?that? ?sometimes? ?when? ?this? ?boy? ?smiles,? ?there’s? ?a? ?certain? ?cruelty? ?hidden??beneath? ?the? ?skin,? ?a? ?coldness? ?that? ?could? ?rip? ?off? ?flesh.????“Do? ?you? ?think? ?you’re? ?still? ?human?”? ?San? ?Lang? ?asked.???Hearing? ?the? ?question,? ?the? ?mud? ?face? ?became? ?agitated,? ?“Of? ?course? ?I’m? ?human!? ?I’m??human!”???The? ?mud? ?face? ?screamed? ?and? ?tried? ?to? ?move? ?his? ?white,? ?boney? ?limbs? ?at? ?the? ?same? ?time,? ?as? ?if??trying? ?to? ?crawl? ?away.? ?Finally? ?unearthed,? ?he? ?was? ?mad? ?with? ?joy,? ?cackling,? ?“I’m? ?going? ?home!??I’m? ?going? ?home!? ?Hahahahahah–”???Crack.???The? ?BanYue? ?‘general’? ?seemed? ?to? ?finally? ?have? ?had? ?enough? ?of? ?this? ?monster’s? ?shrills,? ?and??crushed? ?his? ?bones? ?in? ?one? ?step,? ?killing? ?any? ?more? ?of? ?his? ?“I’m? ?human!”.???After? ?trampling? ?the? ?mud? ?face,? ?that? ?‘general’? ?roared? ?to? ?the? ?others.? ?Then,? ?the? ?BanYue??soldiers? ?all? ?raised? ?their? ?maces? ?and? ?growled? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?group,? ?and? ?started? ?herding??them? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?palace.???Xie? ?Lian? ?walked? ?up? ?front? ?with? ?San? ?Lang? ?still? ?following? ?close? ?behind.? ?Despite? ?being??ushered? ?by? ?ruthless? ?BanYue? ?soldiers,? ?the? ?boy’s? ?step? ?was? ?still? ?light? ?and? ?casual,? ?as? ?if??taking? ?a? ?stroll.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?been? ?meaning? ?to? ?find? ?opportunities? ?to? ?talk? ?to? ?him,? ?and? ?after? ?a??while? ?when? ?the? ?BanYue? ?soldiers? ?went? ?back? ?to? ?conversing? ?amongst? ?themselves,? ?Xie? ?Lian??talked? ?in? ?a? ?low? ?voice,? ?“Those? ?BanYue? ?soldiers? ?call? ?their? ?leader? ?‘general’.? ?I? ?wonder? ?who? ?it??is.”???As? ?expected,? ?San? ?Lang? ?had? ?answers? ?to? ?all? ?of? ?his? ?questions.? ?“When? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of??BanYue? ?fell,? ?there? ?was? ?only? ?one? ?general.? ?His? ?name,? ?translated? ?to? ?Hanzi?1?,? ?is? ?Ke? ?Mo.”???“Ke? ?Mo?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?wondered? ?at? ?the? ?odd? ?name.???“That’s? ?right.”? ?San? ?Lang? ?said.? ?“Apparently? ?it? ?was? ?because? ?he? ?was? ?awfully? ?weak? ?when? ?he??was? ?young? ?and? ?was? ?often? ?bullied.? ?He? ?rallied,? ?and? ?built? ?his? ?strength? ?training? ?with? ?large??stone? ?mortar? ?plates,? ?and? ?got? ?his? ?name? ?thus.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?rubbed? ?his? ?forehead? ?and? ?thought,? ?“So? ?he’s? ?a? ?hulk...”???San? ?Lang? ?continued,? ?“Legends? ?have? ?it? ?that? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?was? ?the? ?strongest? ?warrior? ?in? ?the??history? ?of? ?BanYue,? ?nine? ?feet? ?tall? ?and? ?extremely? ?powerful.? ?He? ?was? ?a? ?loyal? ?supporter? ?of? ?the??Guoshi.”???“Even? ?after? ?death?? ?Is? ?he? ?taking? ?us? ?to? ?the? ?BanYue? ?Guoshi? ?now? ?then?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.???“Perhaps.”? ?San? ?Lang? ?replied.???If? ?there? ?were? ?more? ?BanYue? ?soldiers? ?there? ?how? ?could? ?they? ?escape?? ?Who? ?knows? ?how? ?Nan??Feng? ?who? ?had? ?lured? ?the? ?other? ?two? ?away? ?was? ?doing?? ?The? ?ShanYue? ?fern? ?was? ?now? ?in? ?their??hands,? ?but? ?how? ?were? ?they? ?going? ?to? ?deliver? ?the? ?ferns? ?to? ?the? ?wounded? ?within? ?twenty-four??hours????All? ?they? ?could? ?do? ?now? ?was? ?go? ?with? ?the? ?flow? ?and? ?adapt? ?to? ?any? ?situation? ?that? ?arises.? ?Xie??Lian? ?walked? ?and? ?mulled,? ?and? ?noticed? ?that? ?General? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?had? ?been? ?leading? ?them? ?to? ?a??remote? ?place? ?at? ?the? ?far? ?end? ?of? ?the? ?fortress.? ?When? ?they? ?stopped? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?up,??a? ?colossal? ?wall? ?stood? ?before? ?him? ?like? ?a? ?giant.???Their? ?destination? ?was? ?the? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit!???Although? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?lived? ?in? ?the? ?BanYue? ?area? ?for? ?a? ?time,? ?he? ?rarely? ?entered? ?town,? ?and??had? ?never? ?gotten? ?near? ?the? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit.? ?Seeing? ?it? ?this? ?close? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?heart? ?started??pounding.???The? ?mud? ?yellow? ?walls? ?had? ?a? ?set? ?of? ?stairs? ?along? ?the? ?outside,? ?and? ?while? ?climbing? ?up? ?to? ?the??top,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?scrutinized? ?the? ?pit? ?and? ?tried? ?to? ?look? ?over? ?the? ?depths? ?until? ?he? ?finally??understood? ?why? ?his? ?heart? ?was? ?pounding.? ?It? ?wasn’t? ?that? ?this? ?was? ?a? ?place? ?of? ?torture? ?and??cruelty,? ?and? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?his? ?worry? ?over? ?everyone? ?getting? ?pushed? ?in.? ?It? ?was? ?feeling? ?the??palpitations? ?of? ?a? ?very? ?powerful? ?array? ?at? ?work.???There? ?was? ?a? ?strong? ?array? ?drawn? ?around? ?the? ?entire? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit,? ?and? ?this? ?array? ?only? ?has??one? ?purpose? ?–? ?to? ?prevent? ?the? ?fallen? ?from? ?ever? ?surfacing!???That? ?meant? ?even? ?if? ?a? ?rope? ?or? ?a? ?ladder? ?was? ?set? ?down? ?into? ?the? ?pit,? ?whoever? ?tried? ?to? ?climb??up? ?from? ?the? ?bottom? ?would? ?get? ?cut? ?off? ?halfway? ?through? ?and? ?get? ?thrown? ?right? ?back? ?into? ?the??bottom.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?impassively? ?used? ?the? ?wall? ?as? ?support? ?to? ?climb? ?up? ?the? ?stairs,? ?but? ?was??really? ?feeling? ?up? ?the? ?make? ?of? ?the? ?wall.? ?He? ?found? ?that? ?although? ?it? ?looked? ?like? ?the? ?wall? ?was??built? ?with? ?mud? ?or? ?concrete,? ?it? ?was? ?actually? ?a? ?much? ?stronger? ?stone,? ?probably? ?enforced??with? ?a? ?layer? ?of? ?magic.???When? ?they? ?reached? ?the? ?end? ?of? ?the? ?stairs? ?and? ?came? ?to? ?the? ?top? ?of? ?the? ?pit,? ?standing? ?along??the? ?wall? ?eaves? ?the? ?only? ?word? ?to? ?describe? ?the? ?sight? ?was? ?‘awe’.????The? ?entire? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit? ?was? ?formed? ?by? ?four? ?encircling? ?great? ?walls.? ?Each? ?wall? ?was? ?about??30? ?feet? ?in? ?length,? ?twenty? ?feet? ?in? ?height,? ?and? ?four? ?feet? ?in? ?thickness.? ?At? ?the? ?very? ?top? ?of? ?each??wall? ?there? ?was? ?nothing,? ?neither? ?gazebos? ?nor? ?railings.? ?Within? ?the? ?enclosure? ?was? ?a? ?deep??abyss? ?without? ?a? ?bottom? ?in? ?sight,? ?and? ?with? ?the? ?growing? ?night,? ?there? ?was? ?only? ?blackness??and? ?a? ?chilling? ?smell? ?of? ?blood? ?wafting? ?in? ?the? ?air? ?coming? ?from? ?below.???No? ?one? ?dared? ?looking? ?down? ?whilst? ?walking? ?along? ?the? ?railingless? ?eaves? ?that’s? ?tens? ?of? ?feet??above? ?ground.? ?After? ?a? ?while? ?they? ?could? ?see? ?the? ?pole? ?that? ?stood? ?in? ?the? ?centre,? ?and? ?atop??the? ?pole? ?hung? ?a? ?corpse.? ?It? ?was? ?the? ?same? ?one? ?they? ?spotted? ?earlier.? ?The? ?corpse? ?was? ?of? ?a??small,? ?black? ?clad? ?girl,? ?tattered? ?and? ?head? ?bowed.???Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?known? ?that? ?this? ?pole? ?was? ?used? ?especially? ?for? ?hanging? ?criminals? ?that??deserved? ?shame? ?and? ?humiliation.? ?Usually? ?the? ?prison? ?guards? ?would? ?strip? ?the? ?criminals? ?of??their? ?clothing? ?and? ?hang? ?the? ?body? ?naked.? ?The? ?criminals? ?would? ?die? ?from? ?starvation? ?or??dehydration,? ?and? ?after? ?death? ?the? ?corpse? ?would? ?be? ?left? ?to? ?flail? ?in? ?the? ?wind,? ?burn? ?under? ?the??sun,? ?and? ?rot? ?in? ?the? ?rain.? ?When? ?the? ?corpse? ?had? ?rotten? ?completely? ?through,? ?it? ?would? ?fall? ?into??the? ?pit? ?itself,? ?an? ?exceedingly? ?ugly? ?sight.????The? ?corpse? ?of? ?that? ?girl? ?didn’t? ?seem? ?to? ?be? ?rotten,? ?so? ?it? ?must’ve? ?not? ?been? ?long? ?since? ?she??died.? ?Perhaps? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?local? ?girl? ?that? ?the? ?soldiers? ?captured.? ?To? ?do? ?such? ?a? ?vulgar? ?thing? ?to? ?a??young? ?girl,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?thoroughly? ?disgusted.? ?A-Zhao,? ?Tian? ?Sheng? ?and? ?the? ?others’? ?faces??turned? ?white? ?seeing? ?the? ?sight,? ?and? ?paused? ?in? ?their? ?steps,? ?afraid? ?to? ?go? ?forward.? ?Ke? ?Mo??didn’t? ?bother? ?pushing? ?them? ?onwards? ?either,? ?but? ?turned? ?toward? ?the? ?pit? ?and? ?howled.???‘Why? ?is? ?he? ?howling?’? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?wondered,? ?but? ?his? ?question? ?was? ?soon? ?answered.???From? ?the? ?bottom? ?of? ?the? ?dark? ?pit? ?came? ?a? ?chain? ?of? ?growls? ?in? ?response? ?to? ?the? ?howling.? ?It??was? ?like? ?the? ?roars? ?of? ?beasts,? ?bellows? ?of? ?tsunamis,? ?wails? ?of? ?monsters,? ?hundreds? ?and??thousands? ?of? ?cries? ?exploding? ?in? ?the? ?ear.? ?The? ?walls? ?trembled? ?with? ?the? ?noise? ?and? ?made??those? ?standing? ?on? ?the? ?eaves? ?lose? ?balance.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?clearly? ?hear? ?the? ?sounds? ?of??rocks? ?and? ?debris? ?falling? ?within.????Only? ?criminals? ?get? ?thrown? ?into? ?the? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit.? ?Were? ?those? ?the? ?souls? ?of? ?the? ?dead??answering? ?Ke? ?Mo????Ke? ?Mo? ?howled? ?again? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?paid? ?more? ?attention? ?to? ?listen.? ?This? ?time,? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?wasn’t??making? ?meaningless? ?noise,? ?and? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?curses? ?either.? ?Instead,? ?it? ?was? ?encouragement.??Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?very? ?sure? ?he? ?heard? ?the? ?words:? ?“My? ?brothers”.???After? ?howling,? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?turned? ?to? ?the? ?soldiers? ?watching? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?the? ?others,? ?and??roared? ?another? ?command.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?understood.? ?He? ?had? ?said? ?“Just? ?throw? ?in? ?two? ?and??detain? ?the? ?rest.”???The? ?others? ?might? ?not? ?have? ?understood? ?what? ?was? ?being? ?said,? ?but? ?the? ?actions? ?of? ?those??soldiers? ?were? ?not? ?hard? ?to? ?guess,? ?and? ?everyone? ?looked? ?pale? ?like? ?ghosts.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?saw??that? ?a? ?couple? ?couldn’t? ?even? ?stand? ?up? ?right? ?anymore,? ?shaking? ?from? ?fear,? ?and? ?stepped??forward.? ?He? ?said? ?in? ?a? ?small? ?voice,? ?“Don’t? ?worry.? ?If? ?anything? ?happens? ?I? ?will? ?go? ?forward??first.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?thought? ?if? ?they? ?must? ?all? ?fall,? ?then? ?he? ?might? ?as? ?well? ?be? ?the? ?first? ?one? ?to? ?check??things? ?out.? ?It? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?worse? ?than? ?venomous? ?snakes? ?and? ?beasts? ?or? ?menacing? ?ghosts.??He? ?couldn’t? ?die? ?from? ?falling,? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?die? ?from? ?poison,? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?die? ?from? ?bites,? ?and??he? ?couldn’t? ?die? ?from? ?getting? ?hit.? ?As? ?long? ?as? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?some? ?pool? ?of? ?corpse? ?dissolving??water,? ?his? ?body? ?shouldn’t? ?be? ?damaged? ?too? ?horribly.????Besides,? ?He? ?had? ?Ruoye? ?with? ?him.? ?Even? ?if? ?he? ?might? ?not? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?escape? ?from? ?the? ?array,??he? ?could? ?still? ?use? ?it? ?to? ?catch? ?the? ?others? ?that’d? ?fall? ?after? ?him.? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?had? ?said? ?“Detain? ?the??rest”,? ?meaning? ?that? ?most? ?others? ?should? ?be? ?temporarily? ?safe.? ?After? ?all,? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?easy??hunting? ?for? ?prey? ?in? ?the? ?Gobi? ?desert,? ?they? ?should? ?rather? ?savour? ?them? ?instead? ?of? ?eating??everyone? ?in? ?one? ?go!? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?cleared? ?his? ?thoughts,? ?but? ?next? ?to? ?him,? ?someone? ?else??couldn’t? ?hold? ?their? ?breath? ?any? ?longer.???Ever? ?since? ?they? ?reached? ?the? ?top? ?of? ?the? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit,? ?besides? ?San? ?Lang? ?who? ?looked? ?like??nothing? ?was? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?ordinary,? ?everyone? ?else? ?was? ?shivering? ?in? ?fear,? ?especially? ?A-Zhao.??He? ?must’ve? ?thought? ?that? ?if? ?he? ?was? ?to? ?die,? ?he’d? ?go? ?down? ?fighting.? ?He? ?closed? ?his? ?fists? ?and??charged? ?towards? ?Ke? ?Mo!???This? ?charged? ?looked? ?as? ?if? ?A-Zhao? ?was? ?ready? ?to? ?bring? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?down? ?into? ?the? ?pit? ?with? ?him.??Ke? ?Mo? ?was? ?the? ?bigger? ?man,? ?strong? ?like? ?a? ?steel? ?tower,? ?but? ?even? ?he? ?got? ?pushed? ?back? ?three??steps? ?from? ?A-Zhao’s? ?desperation.? ?He? ?roared? ?in? ?anger,? ?and? ?instantly? ?threw? ?the? ?young??man? ?into? ?the? ?dark? ?void.? ?Everyone? ?started? ?screaming,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?called? ?after? ?him? ?too.??“A-Zhao!”???Just? ?then,? ?from? ?deep? ?within? ?the? ?chasm? ?came? ?a? ?roaring? ?cheer,? ?and? ?sounds? ?of? ?violent??ripping? ?of? ?flesh,? ?like? ?starving? ?beasts? ?fighting? ?for? ?their? ?only? ?meal.? ?It? ?was? ?easy? ?to??understand? ?from? ?hearing? ?the? ?noises? ?that? ?the? ?young? ?man? ?A-Zhao? ?would? ?never? ?survive.???Xie? ?Lian? ?did? ?not? ?expect? ?this? ?development? ?and? ?was? ?dumbstruck? ?too.? ?He? ?was? ?suspicious??that? ?A-Zhao? ?was? ?a? ?subordinate? ?of? ?the? ?BanYue? ?Guoshi,? ?purposely? ?leading? ?travelers??astray? ?to? ?the? ?ruins.? ?He? ?was? ?also? ?suspicious? ?that? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?was? ?here? ?‘fifty? ?to? ?sixty??years? ?ago’? ?was? ?him,? ?but? ?the? ?young? ?man? ?ended? ?up? ?being? ?the? ?first? ?to? ?get? ?killed.? ?With? ?this??jump,? ?how? ?could? ?he? ?still? ?live????Was? ?he? ?faking? ?his? ?own? ?death?? ?But? ?now? ?that? ?they? ?were? ?all? ?enslaved? ?under? ?the? ?control? ?of??the? ?BanYue? ?soldiers,? ?if? ?A-Zhao? ?was? ?the? ?Guoshi’? ?subordinate,? ?he’d? ?have? ?the? ?upper? ?hand??and? ?could? ?very? ?well? ?reveal? ?his? ?true? ?identity? ?in? ?glory? ?without? ?doing? ?anything? ?extra? ?and? ?fake??his? ?own? ?death.? ?But? ?why? ?would? ?A-Zhao? ?rush? ?towards? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?and? ?die? ?a? ?meaningless??death????Xie? ?Lian’s? ?thoughts? ?were? ?in? ?knots? ?again,? ?and? ?the? ?BanYue? ?soldiers? ?began? ?searching? ?for??the? ?next? ?victim.? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?sized? ?them? ?up? ?and? ?pointed? ?at? ?Tian? ?Sheng.? ?Another? ?soldier? ?then??moved? ?up? ?and? ?opened? ?his? ?palm,? ?ready? ?to? ?push.? ?Terrified,? ?Tian? ?Sheng? ?fell? ?to? ?the? ?ground??on? ?his? ?knees? ?and? ?cried,? ?“AH!? ?HELP!? ?DON’T? ?TAKE? ?ME!? ?I’M...”???Without? ?anymore? ?time? ?to? ?think,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?stepped? ?forward? ?and? ?said? ?using? ?BanYuenese,??“Hold? ?on,? ?General.”???Ke? ?Mo? ?was? ?shocked? ?to? ?hear? ?the? ?words? ?from? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?mouth? ?and? ?waved? ?his? ?hand,??stopping? ?the? ?soldiers.? ?“You? ?know? ?how? ?to? ?speak? ?our? ?tongue?? ?Where? ?are? ?you? ?from?”???“I’m? ?from? ?the? ?Midlands.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied.? ?He? ?wouldn’t? ?have? ?minded? ?lying? ?and? ?say? ?he??was? ?also? ?a? ?citizen? ?of? ?BanYue,? ?but? ?with? ?how? ?rusty? ?his? ?fluency? ?was? ?there? ?was? ?no? ?way? ?he??could? ?keep? ?up? ?the? ?lie? ?if? ?he? ?conversed? ?too? ?much.? ?Besides,? ?it? ?was? ?also? ?obvious? ?from? ?his??looks? ?that? ?he? ?was? ?a? ?Midlander.? ?Ke? ?Mo’s? ?question? ?was? ?only? ?from? ?simple? ?confusion.? ?The??people? ?of? ?BanYue? ?also? ?detests? ?liars? ?more? ?than? ?anything,? ?if? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?found? ?out? ?the??results? ?would? ?be? ?worse.???“Midlands?”? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?questioned,? ?“Descendants? ?of? ?YongAn?”????“No.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied,? ?“The? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?YongAn? ?had? ?long? ?since? ?fallen.? ?There’s? ?no? ?more??YongAn? ?now.”????But,? ?to? ?those? ?of? ?BanYue,? ?all? ?those? ?who? ?came? ?from? ?the? ?Midlands? ?were? ?pretty? ?much? ?the??same.? ?They? ?were? ?all? ?relatives? ?of? ?the? ?descendants? ?of? ?YongAn.? ?They? ?were? ?annihilated? ?by??the? ?army? ?of? ?YongAn,? ?so? ?the? ?moment? ?he? ?heard? ?where? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?from,? ?Ke? ?Mo’s? ?black??face? ?immediately? ?flashed? ?with? ?rage,? ?and? ?many? ?of? ?the? ?BanYue? ?soldiers? ?also? ?started??growling,? ?cursing? ?vulgarly? ?at? ?him.? ?It? ?wasn’t? ?much? ?more? ?than? ?“vile? ?Midlanders!”? ?and? ?“throw??him? ?down”,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?care? ?less.????Ke? ?Mo? ?demanded,? ?“Our? ?kingdom? ?had? ?disappeared? ?in? ?the? ?Gobi? ?for? ?over? ?two? ?hundred??years.? ?You? ?are? ?not? ?of? ?our? ?people,? ?why? ?do? ?you? ?know? ?our? ?tongue?? ?Who? ?are? ?you?”???Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?steal? ?a? ?glance? ?at? ?the? ?calm? ?boy? ?behind? ?him,? ?mentally? ?hoping??that? ?if? ?his? ?lies? ?fall? ?apart? ?later,? ?maybe? ?he? ?could? ?shamelessly? ?ask? ?San? ?Lang? ?to? ?save? ?him.??He? ?cleared? ?his? ?throat? ?and? ?was? ?ready? ?to? ?start? ?gabbering? ?nonsense? ?when? ?just? ?then,??another? ?series? ?of? ?enraged? ?growls? ?sounded? ?from? ?below.???It? ?seemed? ?that? ?whatever? ?it? ?was? ?down? ?in? ?the? ?pit? ?had? ?finished? ?ripping? ?apart? ?A-Zhao? ?but??was? ?still? ?hungry? ?for? ?more,? ?using? ?their? ?cries? ?to? ?convey? ?their? ?thirst? ?for? ?fresh? ?blood.? ?Ke? ?Mo??waved? ?his? ?hand? ?again,? ?ready? ?to? ?have? ?Tian? ?Sheng? ?thrown? ?over,? ?so? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?spoke? ?up,??“General,? ?please? ?take? ?me? ?first.”???Ke? ?Mo? ?had? ?never? ?heard? ?anyone? ?request? ?to? ?go? ?first? ?and? ?his? ?eyes? ?bulged? ?like? ?bells.? ?He??asked? ?in? ?disbelief,? ?“You? ?go? ?first?? ?Why??”????Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?tell? ?him? ?the? ?truth? ?and? ?say? ?because? ?he? ?wasn’t? ?scared.? ?He? ?thought? ?for? ?a??second? ?and? ?came? ?up? ?with? ?a? ?logical? ?answer,? ?“General,? ?those? ?are? ?innocent? ?merchants.??There’s? ?even? ?a? ?child!”???Ke? ?Mo? ?sneered,? ?“When? ?your? ?army? ?annihilated? ?my? ?kingdom,? ?did? ?you? ?not? ?think? ?we? ?also??had? ?innocent? ?merchants? ?and? ?children?”???The? ?fall? ?of? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?BanYue? ?was? ?over? ?two? ?hundred? ?years? ?ago? ?and? ?dynasties? ?in??YongAn? ?had? ?changed? ?already,? ?but? ?they? ?were? ?the? ?dead? ?whose? ?time? ?had? ?stopped,? ?and??hatred? ?and? ?grudges? ?would? ?not? ?fade? ?with? ?the? ?change? ?in? ?dynasties.? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?continued,??“You’re? ?very? ?suspicious,? ?I? ?will? ?need? ?to? ?question? ?you.? ?You? ?are? ?not? ?going? ?down.? ?Throw? ?in??another? ?one!”????There? ?was? ?no? ?helping? ?it.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?ready? ?to? ?jump? ?if? ?all? ?else? ?fails? ?anyway.? ?Behind? ?him??San? ?Lang? ?stepped? ?forward.???Xie? ?Lian’s? ?heart? ?lurched? ?and? ?turned? ?around.???With? ?his? ?arms? ?crossed,? ?the? ?boy? ?was? ?nonchalantly? ?looking? ?over? ?the? ?dark,? ?bottomless? ?pit??with? ?an? ?air? ?of? ?intrigue.? ?This? ?wasn’t? ?a? ?good? ?sign,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?called? ?out,? ?“San? ?Lang?”???Hearing? ?his? ?call,? ?San? ?Lang? ?looked? ?over? ?and? ?smiled? ?softly,? ?“It’s? ?fine.”???San? ?Lang? ?took? ?another? ?step? ?forward? ?and? ?was? ?teetering? ?dangerously? ?on? ?the? ?edge.? ?Both??Xie? ?Lian’s? ?head? ?and? ?heart? ?started? ?pounding,? ?and? ?he? ?called? ?again,? ?“Wait,? ?San? ?Lang,? ?don’t??move!”???At? ?such? ?height? ?at? ?the? ?brink,? ?the? ?boy’s? ?red? ?clothes? ?danced? ?in? ?the? ?night? ?breeze.? ?San? ?Lang??glanced? ?at? ?him? ?again? ?with? ?a? ?smile,? ?“Don’t? ?be? ?scared.”???“You...? ?Come? ?back? ?here? ?first.? ?Come? ?back? ?here? ?and? ?I? ?won’t? ?be? ?scared.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.???“Don’t? ?worry,? ?I’m? ?just? ?going? ?to? ?leave? ?for? ?a? ?bit.? ?We’ll? ?see? ?each? ?other? ?again? ?soon.”? ?San??Lang? ?said.???“Don’t–”???Before? ?he? ?finished,? ?the? ?boy? ?took? ?another? ?step? ?forward,? ?his? ?arms? ?still? ?crossed,? ?then? ?with? ?a??light? ?leap,? ?he? ?disappeared? ?into? ?the? ?abyss.???The? ?moment? ?he? ?jumped,? ?Ruoye? ?shot? ?out? ?from? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?wrist,? ?a? ?stream? ?of? ?white? ?flash??trying? ?to? ?grab? ?hold? ?of? ?the? ?boy’s? ?form.? ?Yet? ?the? ?drop? ?was? ?too? ?swift,? ?and? ?Ruoye? ?returned??without? ?even? ?a? ?sleeve? ?corner.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?fell? ?to? ?his? ?knees? ?at? ?the? ?edge? ?of? ?the? ?wall? ?and??yelled,? ?“SAN? ?LANG!!!”???No? ?response.? ?No? ?noise.? ?After? ?the? ?boy? ?jumped? ?there? ?was? ?not? ?a? ?single? ?noise!???Next? ?to? ?him,? ?many? ?of? ?the? ?BanYue? ?soldiers? ?started? ?yelling? ?instead,? ?all? ?dumbfounded? ?and??bewildered.? ?What? ?was? ?with? ?today?? ?In? ?the? ?past? ?they? ?had? ?to? ?catch? ?their? ?prey? ?and? ?throw??them? ?into? ?the? ?pit? ?before? ?they? ?fall,? ?but? ?tonight? ?their? ?prey? ?took? ?turns? ?fighting? ?to? ?jump? ?down??themselves,? ?and? ?when? ?held? ?back,? ?they? ?jump? ?anyway??????General? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?yelled? ?to? ?get? ?his? ?soldiers? ?under? ?control.? ?As? ?for? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?when? ?he? ?saw??Ruoye? ?didn’t? ?catch? ?San? ?Lang,? ?he? ?didn’t? ?take? ?the? ?time? ?to? ?think? ?before? ?taking? ?a? ?leap? ?off? ?the??wall? ?himself.? ?But? ?when? ?his? ?body? ?was? ?still? ?in? ?midair,? ?he? ?felt? ?his? ?collar? ?tighten,? ?and? ?he??stayed? ?in? ?midair.???Turns? ?out? ?when? ?General? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?saw? ?he? ?also? ?jumped,? ?he? ?stretched? ?out? ?his? ?arm? ?and??nabbed? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?by? ?the? ?collar? ?and? ?prevented? ?his? ?fall.????‘If? ?you? ?want? ?to? ?join? ?me,? ?that’s? ?fine? ?too!’? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?thought,? ?and? ?like? ?a? ?snake,? ?Ruoye? ?shot??out? ?once? ?more? ?and? ?wrapped? ?itself? ?up? ?the? ?arm? ?of? ?Ke? ?Mo,? ?and? ?roped? ?his? ?body? ?whole.? ?Ke??Mo? ?saw? ?that? ?white? ?silk? ?band? ?was? ?unpredictably? ?deadly? ?and? ?spirited,? ?contorted? ?his? ?face??and? ?popped? ?his? ?veins,? ?his? ?muscles? ?instantly? ?burst? ?in? ?size,? ?trying? ?to? ?rip? ?apart? ?the? ?fabric??tying? ?him? ?down.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?at? ?a? ?standstill? ?with? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?when? ?he? ?saw? ?something??peculiar? ?from? ?the? ?corners? ?of? ?his? ?eyes.???The? ?corpse? ?that? ?was? ?hung? ?on? ?the? ?pole? ?suddenly? ?jerked,? ?and? ?raised? ?her? ?head? ?slightly.???The? ?band? ?of? ?BanYue? ?soldiers? ?also? ?saw? ?the? ?corpse? ?move? ?and? ?started? ?yelling,? ?swinging??their? ?maces? ?to? ?attack? ?it.? ?But? ?the? ?black? ?clad? ?girl? ?somehow? ?un-tied? ?herself? ?and? ?hopped? ?off??the? ?pole,? ?then? ?sped? ?over? ?towards? ?the? ?them.????She? ?was? ?like? ?a? ?black? ?wind? ?blowing? ?through? ?the? ?eaves,? ?fast? ?and? ?wicked.? ?The? ?soldiers??couldn’t? ?maintain? ?their? ?balance? ?and? ?soon? ?were? ?swept? ?into? ?the? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit? ?one? ?by? ?one,??screaming.? ?Enraged,? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?screamed? ?all? ?sorts? ?of? ?vulgarities? ?at? ?her,? ?many? ?of? ?which? ?were??street? ?slangs? ?that? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?understand? ?well,? ?but? ?he? ?did? ?understand? ?the? ?first??words:? ?“It’s? ?that? ?bitch? ?again!”???The? ?swearing? ?ceased? ?in? ?the? ?next? ?moment? ?because? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?suddenly? ?pulled,? ?and??brought? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?to? ?fall? ?into? ?the? ?pit? ?together.???Into? ?the? ?inescapable? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit!???Whilst? ?falling,? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?roared? ?with? ?such? ?violence,? ?killing? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?eardrums,? ?he? ?had? ?to??call? ?Ruoye? ?back? ?and? ?gave? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?a? ?kick? ?to? ?get? ?the? ?general? ?further? ?away? ?from? ?himself? ?and??protect? ?his? ?ears.? ?Then? ?he? ?urged? ?Ruoye? ?to? ?fly? ?upwards? ?to? ?try? ?and? ?grab? ?hold? ?of? ?anything??that? ?can? ?prevent? ?him? ?from? ?falling? ?further,? ?or? ?if? ?anything,? ?grab? ?hold? ?of? ?something? ?so? ?that??when? ?he? ?falls? ?it? ?wouldn’t? ?be? ?too? ?painful.? ?But? ?the? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit? ?was? ?not? ?built? ?to? ?save;? ?and??with? ?such? ?a? ?powerful? ?array? ?at? ?work,? ?there? ?was? ?nothing? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?find? ?to? ?hold.? ?He??thought? ?he? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?crater? ?and? ?flatten? ?like? ?a? ?pancake? ?like? ?many? ?times? ?before? ?when??suddenly,? ?in? ?the? ?darkness,? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?flash? ?of? ?silver.???The? ?next? ?moment,? ?a? ?pair? ?of? ?hands? ?lightly? ?caught? ?him.???Whoever? ?it? ?was? ?caught? ?him? ?perfectly,? ?as? ?if? ?this? ?person? ?was? ?made? ?just? ?to? ?catch? ?him? ?at? ?the??bottom.? ?With? ?a? ?hand? ?across? ?his? ?back? ?to? ?grasp? ?his? ?shoulders,? ?another? ?under? ?his? ?knees? ?to??support? ?his? ?weight,? ?the? ?dreadful? ?gravity? ?of? ?the? ?fall? ?was? ?dissolved? ?to? ?nothing.? ?Still? ?dazed??and? ?confounded? ?from? ?falling? ?at? ?such? ?a? ?height,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?unconsciously? ?held? ?on? ?tight? ?to??that? ?person’s? ?shoulders? ?and? ?called,? ?“San? ?Lang?”???The? ?pit? ?was? ?filled? ?with? ?darkness,? ?nothing? ?could? ?be? ?seen,? ?including? ?the? ?person.? ?But? ?Xie??Lian? ?still? ?called? ?that? ?name.? ?The? ?other? ?didn’t? ?respond? ?so? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?patted? ?and? ?squeezed??the? ?chest? ?and? ?shoulders? ?just? ?to? ?make? ?sure.? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?is? ?that? ?you?”???Maybe? ?it? ?was? ?because? ?here? ?at? ?the? ?bottom? ?of? ?the? ?pit? ?the? ?stench? ?of? ?blood? ?was? ?heavy? ?and??disorienting,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?dazedly? ?continued? ?to? ?feel? ?up? ?the? ?person? ?holding? ?him,? ?until? ?he??reached? ?a? ?strong,? ?hard? ?adam’s? ?apple.? ?He? ?came? ?to? ?in? ?shock? ?and? ?immediately??reprimanded? ?himself,? ?pulling? ?his? ?hands? ?back.? ?What? ?was? ?he? ?doing??? ?“It’s? ?San? ?Lang,??right?? ?Are? ?you? ?alright?? ?Are? ?you? ?hurt?”???It? ?took? ?a? ?moment? ?before? ?he? ?heard? ?the? ?boy’s? ?low? ?voice? ?from? ?somewhere? ?very? ?close? ?to??him,? ?“I’m? ?fine.”????For? ?some? ?reason,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?this? ?voice? ?was? ?curiously? ?different? ?than? ?before.???

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?1.Hanzi? ?is? ?the? ?chinese? ?equivalent? ?of? ?Kanji,? ?recognized? ?as? ?the? ?formal? ?chinese??character? ?writing? ?but? ?originated? ?from? ?YongAn.? ??????Ch.25:? ?Dallying? ?HuaLian;? ?Night-Fall? ?in? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit? ?2????“San? ?Lang,? ?are? ?you? ?really? ?alright?? ?Put? ?me? ?down.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.???“No.”? ?San? ?Lang? ?replied.???Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?taken? ?aback? ?by? ?the? ?response.? ?What’s? ?going? ?on?? ?Was? ?there? ?something? ?on??the? ?ground????That? ?pair? ?of? ?arms? ?were? ?still? ?holding? ?him? ?tightly? ?without? ?any? ?intention? ?of? ?letting? ?him? ?go.? ?Xie??Lian? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?raise? ?his? ?hand? ?and? ?gently? ?push? ?himself? ?away,? ?but? ?just? ?as? ?he? ?laid? ?his??hand? ?on? ?San? ?Lang’s? ?chest,? ?he? ?abruptly? ?remembered? ?how? ?he? ?was? ?randomly? ?touching? ?him??all? ?over? ?just? ?now,? ?even? ?feeling? ?up? ?his? ?adam’s? ?apple,? ?and? ?quietly? ?withdrew? ?his? ?hand? ?again.??It’s? ?been? ?hundreds? ?of? ?years? ?since? ?the? ?last? ?time? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?cared? ?to? ?learn? ?what? ?‘awkward’??meant,? ?but? ?now? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?voice? ?in? ?his? ?head? ?telling? ?him? ?that? ?he? ?better? ?stay? ?still? ?and? ?stay??decent.???Just? ?then,? ?an? ?enraged,? ?sorrowful? ?wail? ?roared? ?from? ?the? ?other? ?side? ?of? ?the? ?pit,? ?and? ?a? ?voice??cried,? ?“WHAT? ?HAPPENED? ?TO? ?YOU!?”???Those? ?words? ?were? ?shouted? ?in? ?BanYuenese,? ?and? ?hearing? ?the? ?voice,? ?it? ?was? ?General? ?Ke??Mo? ?that? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?dragged? ?down? ?with? ?him.? ?Since? ?he? ?was? ?already? ?dead,? ?the? ?fall??wouldn’t? ?have? ?killed? ?him,? ?only? ?blasting? ?a? ?human? ?crater? ?in? ?the? ?ground? ?when? ?he? ?crashed.??But? ?when? ?he? ?climbed? ?up? ?from? ?his? ?hole,? ?he? ?started? ?screaming,? ?“What’s? ?going? ?on?? ?My??brothers,? ?WHAT? ?HAPPENED? ?TO? ?YOU?!”????When? ?he? ?howled? ?into? ?the? ?pit? ?earlier? ?from? ?the? ?top? ?of? ?the? ?wall,? ?there? ?were? ?hundreds? ?and??thousands? ?of? ?voices? ?that? ?answered? ?his? ?call,? ?as? ?if? ?the? ?pit? ?was? ?filled? ?to? ?the? ?brim? ?with? ?angry,??menacing? ?ghosts.? ?But? ?right? ?then? ?and? ?there,? ?other? ?than? ?Ke? ?Mo’s? ?cries,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?only??hear? ?dead? ?silence.? ?There? ?wasn’t? ?even? ?any? ?sounds? ?of? ?breathing? ?or? ?heartbeat? ?from? ?the??San? ?Lang? ?who’s? ?next? ?to? ?him.???Xie? ?Lian’s? ?breathing? ?hitched,? ?suddenly? ?realizing? ?what? ?was? ?amiss.???That’s? ?right.? ?Even? ?though? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?pressed? ?against? ?San? ?Lang,? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?detect??any? ?sounds? ?of? ?his? ?heart? ?beating? ?or? ?his? ?breathing!???Ke? ?Mo? ?roared,? ?“WHO? ?KILLED? ?YOU?? ?WHO? ?KILLED? ?ALL? ?OF? ?YOU!!!”???When? ?A-Zhao? ?first? ?fell,? ?there? ?were? ?still? ?horrifying? ?sounds? ?of? ?flesh? ?being? ?ripped? ?apart,? ?but??after? ?San? ?Lang? ?jumped,? ?there? ?were? ?no? ?more? ?sounds.? ?Who? ?else? ?could? ?it? ?be????Ke? ?Mo? ?himself? ?must? ?have? ?realized? ?this,? ?and? ?shouted? ?towards? ?them,? ?“Killing? ?my? ?soldiers,??you’re? ?dead!? ?I’m? ?gonna? ?kill? ?you!”???Although? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?see,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?still? ?sense? ?danger? ?rapidly? ?approaching,? ?and??jerked? ?his? ?body,? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?watch? ?out!”???“Don’t? ?worry? ?about? ?him.”? ?San? ?Lang? ?said,? ?still? ?holding? ?him? ?tight.? ?He? ?made? ?a? ?small? ?sidestep??and? ?spun? ?around.???In? ?the? ?dark,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?heard? ?a? ?series? ?of? ?broken? ?clanking? ?sounds,? ?clear? ?and? ?intense,??swishing? ?here? ?and? ?there.? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?rushed? ?to? ?capture? ?them? ?but? ?missed? ?the? ?first? ?time,? ?and??turned? ?around? ?to? ?attack? ?again,? ?but? ?San? ?Lang? ?also? ?easily? ?side? ?stepped? ?again? ?and? ?avoided??him.? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?arms? ?involuntarily? ?climbed? ?up? ?San? ?Lang’s? ?chest? ?again? ?and? ?held? ?on? ?tight??to? ?his? ?shoulders,? ?unconsciously? ?clutching? ?his? ?clothes.???But? ?the? ?arms? ?carrying? ?him? ?were? ?steady,? ?even? ?with? ?all? ?the? ?spinning? ?and? ?side? ?stepping,? ?the??hold? ?was? ?still? ?strong? ?and? ?secure.? ?Just,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?feel? ?something? ?cold? ?and? ?hard? ?on??those? ?arms? ?that? ?would? ?poke? ?at? ?him? ?every? ?so? ?often,? ?and? ?was? ?a? ?little? ?confused.? ?In? ?the??endless? ?blackness,? ?streaks? ?of? ?silver? ?shimmers? ?flashed? ?everywhere,? ?and? ?sounds? ?of? ?a??sharp? ?metal? ?inflicting? ?wounds? ?were? ?accompanied? ?by? ?Ke? ?Mo’s? ?angry? ?roars.????It? ?was? ?obvious? ?that? ?BanYue? ?General? ?is? ?heavily? ?wounded? ?by? ?now,? ?but? ?as? ?tough? ?as? ?he??was,? ?he? ?refused? ?to? ?admit? ?defeat,? ?and? ?once? ?again? ?rushed? ?towards? ?them.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?called??out,? ?“Ruoye!”???The? ?silk? ?band? ?answered? ?his? ?call? ?and? ?shot? ?out,? ?a? ?large? ?‘snap’? ?sounded? ?in? ?the? ?air,? ?and? ?Ke??Mo? ?seemed? ?to? ?have? ?fallen? ?over? ?from? ?getting? ?smacked? ?by? ?Ruoye.? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?shouted? ?from??the? ?ground,? ?“You? ?two!? ?Two? ?against? ?one!? ?Unfair!”???‘You? ?were? ?gonna? ?kill? ?us,? ?who? ?cares? ?if? ?it’s? ?two? ?against? ?two? ?against? ?one,? ?or? ?if? ?it’s? ?fair? ?or??unfair?? ?Saving? ?my? ?life? ?is? ?more? ?important,? ?I’ll? ?kill? ?you? ?dead? ?first.’? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?thought.????San? ?Lang? ?on? ?the? ?other? ?hand,? ?only? ?sneered,? ?“Even? ?on? ?one? ?on? ?one? ?you? ?won’t? ?win.? ?You??don’t? ?have? ?to? ?fight.”? ?The? ?last? ?line? ?was? ?directed? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?and? ?the? ?words? ?had? ?none? ?of??the? ?gibe? ?tones.???“Alright.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?responded,? ?but? ?also? ?prompted,? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?why? ?don’t? ?you? ?put? ?me??down.? ?I’ll? ?be? ?in? ?your? ?way? ?like? ?this.”???“You’re? ?not? ?in? ?the? ?way.? ?Don’t? ?come? ?down.”? ?San? ?Lang? ?said.???“Why? ?can’t? ?I? ?come? ?down”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked? ?curiously.? ?This? ?guy? ?couldn’t? ?possibly? ?enjoy??fighting? ?while? ?carrying? ?someone????San? ?Lang’s? ?answer? ?only? ?had? ?two? ?words:? ?“It’s? ?dirty.”???“...”???Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?never? ?imagined? ?that? ?to? ?be? ?the? ?answer,? ?in? ?such? ?seriousness? ?too,? ?and??thought? ?it? ?was? ?kind? ?of? ?funny,? ?but? ?it? ?also? ?made? ?him? ?feel? ?kind? ?of? ?strange,? ?the? ?feeling? ?hard? ?to??describe,? ?only? ?that? ?his? ?heart? ?was? ?warm.? ?“You? ?can’t? ?possibly? ?keep? ?holding? ?me? ?like? ?this?”???“I? ?could.”? ?San? ?Lang? ?replied.???Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?only? ?joking,? ?but? ?San? ?Lang’s? ?words? ?had? ?no? ?trace? ?of? ?half? ?heartedness,? ?and??suddenly? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?know? ?what? ?to? ?say.? ?In? ?the? ?time? ?they? ?were? ?talking,? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?had??never? ?ceased? ?to? ?attack.? ?Both? ?of? ?San? ?Lang’s? ?hands? ?were? ?firmly? ?holding? ?him,? ?but??something? ?else? ?was? ?keeping? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?at? ?bay,? ?whipping? ?him? ?to? ?defeat.? ?He? ?shouted? ?while??slowly? ?backing? ?off,? ?“That? ?bitch? ?made? ?you? ?two...”???He? ?hadn’t? ?finished? ?his? ?words? ?before? ?a? ?large? ?boom? ?sounded? ?off,? ?and? ?the? ?massive? ?man? ?fell??to? ?the? ?ground,? ?no? ?longer? ?able? ?to? ?stand.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?hurriedly? ?said,? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?don’t? ?kill? ?him!??We’ll? ?still? ?need? ?to? ?question? ?him? ?if? ?we? ?want? ?to? ?get? ?out? ?of? ?here.”???San? ?Lang? ?heeded? ?his? ?words? ?and? ?stopped.? ?“I? ?wasn’t? ?planning? ?on? ?killing? ?him? ?anyway,??otherwise? ?he? ?wouldn’t? ?have? ?lasted? ?til? ?now.”???A? ?dead? ?silence? ?ensued? ?anew? ?in? ?the? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit.???After? ?a? ?moment,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked,? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?did? ?you? ?do? ?all? ?of? ?this? ?down? ?here?”???Even? ?if? ?nothing? ?was? ?visible? ?in? ?the? ?dark,? ?with? ?such? ?an? ?overpowering? ?stench? ?of? ?blood? ?and??bloodlust? ?covering? ?the? ?pit,? ?plus? ?the? ?enraged? ?madness? ?of? ?Ke? ?Mo,? ?it? ?was? ?obvious? ?what? ?had??happened? ?down? ?here.? ?It? ?was? ?another? ?momentary? ?silence? ?before? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?heard? ?San??Lang’s? ?response.???“Yes.”? ?He? ?said.???It? ?was? ?an? ?expected? ?answer.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?sighed,? ?“How? ?should? ?I? ?say? ?this...”???Xie? ?Lian? ?chewed? ?on? ?his? ?words? ?and? ?organized? ?his? ?thoughts? ?before? ?speaking? ?up? ?in? ?a??serious? ?tone,? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?next? ?time? ?you? ?see? ?a? ?pit? ?like? ?this,? ?don’t? ?just? ?jump? ?in? ?randomly.? ?I??couldn’t? ?even? ?stop? ?you.? ?Really,? ?I? ?didn’t? ?know? ?what? ?to? ?do.”???San? ?Lang? ?didn’t? ?seem? ?to? ?expect? ?this? ?kind? ?of? ?response? ?and? ?let? ?out? ?a? ?confused? ?“eh?”??When? ?he? ?spoke? ?again,? ?he? ?sounded? ?a? ?bit? ?odd,? ?“You? ?don’t? ?want? ?to? ?ask? ?anything? ?else?”???“What? ?else? ?do? ?you? ?want? ?me? ?to? ?ask?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.???“For? ?example,? ?whether? ?if? ?I’m? ?human.”? ?San? ?Lang? ?replied.???Xie? ?Lian? ?rubbed? ?his? ?forehead,? ?“Hmm.? ?I? ?don’t? ?think? ?that’s? ?necessary.”???“Is? ?it? ?not?”???“Is? ?it?? ?It’s? ?not? ?important? ?whether? ?if? ?you’re? ?human? ?or? ?not.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.???“Oh?”????Xie? ?Lian? ?crossed? ?his? ?arms? ?while? ?in? ?San? ?Lang’s? ?arms? ?and? ?said,? ?“Relationships? ?should??depend? ?on? ?chance? ?and? ?whether? ?if? ?we’re? ?on? ?the? ?same? ?wavelength,? ?not? ?on? ?identity.? ?If? ?I? ?like??you,? ?you? ?can? ?be? ?a? ?beggar? ?and? ?I’ll? ?still? ?like? ?you.? ?If? ?I? ?dislike? ?you,? ?you? ?can? ?be? ?the? ?emperor??and? ?I’ll? ?still? ?dislike? ?you.? ?Shouldn’t? ?it? ?be? ?like? ?that?? ?It’s? ?simple? ?logic.? ?So,? ?whether? ?if? ?you’re??human? ?is? ?irrelevant.”???San? ?Lang? ?laughed? ?out? ?loud,? ?“Yea.? ?You’re? ?very? ?right.”???“Right?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?laughing? ?along? ?too.? ?But? ?the? ?more? ?he? ?laughed? ?the? ?more? ?he? ?felt??something? ?was? ?off,? ?and? ?it? ?came? ?to? ?him? ?suddenly.????He? ?was? ?still? ?letting? ?San? ?Lang? ?carry? ?him,? ?and? ?the? ?scary? ?thing? ?was,? ?he? ?had? ?gotten? ?used? ?to??being? ?in? ?this? ?position? ?without? ?realizing? ?it!???What? ?kind? ?of? ?situation? ?was? ?this??? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?cleared? ?his? ?throat? ?quietly? ?and? ?said,? ?“Um,? ?San??Lang.? ?We? ?can? ?talk? ?about? ?that? ?later.? ?How? ?about? ?you? ?put? ?me? ?down? ?first?”???San? ?Lang? ?seemed? ?to? ?have? ?chuckled? ?and? ?said,? ?“Hold? ?on.”????He? ?carried? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?walked? ?on? ?for? ?a? ?bit? ?before? ?gently? ?letting? ?him? ?down.? ?Touching??ground,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?feel? ?hard,? ?flat? ?ground.? ?“Thanks!”???San? ?Lang? ?made? ?no? ?gestures? ?in? ?response,? ?and? ?after? ?thanking? ?him,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?to? ?the??sky.???Above? ?them? ?the? ?navy? ?blue? ?sky? ?hung? ?a? ?crescent? ?moon,? ?bright? ?and? ?beautiful.? ?Just? ?that,??watching? ?the? ?view? ?from? ?a? ?square? ?frame? ?made? ?it? ?feel? ?like? ?they’re? ?a? ?frog? ?in? ?a? ?well.???Xie? ?Lian? ?commanded? ?Ruoye? ?to? ?try? ?and? ?reach? ?for? ?the? ?top,? ?but? ?expectedly? ?it? ?was? ?stopped??halfway? ?as? ?if? ?it? ?bumped? ?into? ?an? ?invisible? ?wall,? ?and? ?Ruoye? ?rebounded,? ?unable? ?to? ?go??higher.????“There’s? ?an? ?array? ?drawn? ?around? ?the? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit.”? ?San? ?Lang? ?said.???“I? ?know,? ?but? ?I? ?wanted? ?to? ?try? ?anyway.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“I? ?couldn’t? ?give? ?up? ?until? ?I’ve? ?tried,? ?you??know.? ?I? ?wonder? ?how? ?the? ?others? ?are? ?up? ?there.? ?Would? ?the? ?girl? ?in? ?black? ?also? ?sweep? ?them??down?”????He? ?retold? ?of? ?how? ?the? ?girl? ?hung? ?on? ?the? ?pole? ?suddenly? ?came? ?alive? ?and? ?swept? ?all? ?the??BanYue? ?soldiers? ?down? ?into? ?the? ?pit? ?to? ?San? ?Lang,? ?and? ?while? ?talking? ?he? ?stepped? ?on??something? ?on? ?the? ?ground,? ?appearing? ?to? ?be? ?an? ?arm,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?almost? ?tripped.? ?He??steadied? ?himself? ?immediately,? ?but? ?San? ?Lang? ?still? ?reached? ?out? ?and? ?helped? ?to? ?support? ?him,??chiding,? ?“Be? ?careful.”???“I? ?told? ?you? ?the? ?ground? ?was? ?dirty,”? ?San? ?Lang? ?added? ?nonchalantly.???Xie? ?Lian? ?now? ?understood? ?what? ?“dirty”? ?meant,? ?and? ?said,? ?“Don’t? ?worry.? ?I? ?want? ?to? ?ignite? ?a??palm? ?torch;? ?see? ?what’s? ?happened? ?down? ?here? ?and? ?go? ?from? ?there.”???San? ?Lang? ?didn’t? ?say? ?anything.? ?Just? ?then,? ?from? ?afar,? ?Ke? ?Mo’s? ?cold? ?voice? ?cried? ?again,? ?“You??two? ?doing? ?the? ?deeds? ?of? ?that? ?bitch,? ?all? ?of? ?the? ?thousands? ?of? ?dead? ?souls? ?of? ?this? ?kingdom? ?will??curse? ?you.? ?CURSE? ?YOU!”????Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?towards? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?and? ?asked? ?using? ?BanYuenese,? ?“General? ?Ke? ?Mo,? ?who? ?is??that? ?...? ?that? ?person? ?you? ?speak? ?of?”???Ke? ?Mo? ?responded? ?with? ?hatred,? ?“Why? ?pretend? ?to? ?ask?? ?That? ?wicked? ?witch!”???“Is? ?it? ?the? ?woman? ?cultivator? ?roaming? ?in? ?the? ?city? ?streets?”???Ke? ?Mo? ?spat? ?angrily? ?on? ?the? ?ground,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?took? ?that? ?as? ?a? ?yes.? ?He? ?continued? ?to??question,? ?“Weren’t? ?you? ?a? ?loyal? ?supporter? ?of? ?the? ?BanYue? ?Guoshi?”???Ke? ?Mo? ?was? ?provoked? ?by? ?his? ?words? ?and? ?yelled,? ?“I,? ?KE? ?MO,? ?WILL? ?NEVER? ?AGAIN? ?BE??LOYAL? ?TO? ?HER!? ?I? ?WILL? ?NEVER? ?FORGIVE? ?THAT? ?BITCH!!!”? ?Afterwards? ?he? ?started??uttering? ?a? ?string? ?of? ?curses,? ?inflamed? ?and? ?hysterical,? ?his? ?words? ?rapid? ?and??incomprehensible,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?blanked,? ?unable? ?to? ?follow.? ?He? ?looked? ?to? ?San? ?Lang? ?and??quietly? ?called,? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?San? ?Lang.”???San? ?Lang? ?translated,? ?“He’s? ?cursing.? ?He? ?said? ?that? ?woman? ?betrayed? ?his? ?country,? ?opened??the? ?fortress? ?gates? ?and? ?let? ?in? ?YongAn? ?army? ?to? ?slaughter? ?the? ?city.? ?She’s? ?got? ?the? ?blood? ?of??her? ?people? ?on? ?her? ?hands,? ?and? ?his? ?brothers? ?whom? ?she? ?pushed? ?into? ?this? ?pit.? ?He? ?will? ?hang??her? ?dead? ?a? ?thousand? ?times.? ?Ten? ?thousand? ?times.”???“Wait,? ?hold? ?on!”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?quickly? ?exclaimed.???How? ?could? ?this? ?be?? ?There? ?were? ?two? ?things? ?that? ?didn’t? ?match!???First,? ?‘the? ?woman? ?cultivator? ?roaming? ?in? ?the? ?city? ?streets’? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?spoke? ?of? ?earlier? ?was??supposed? ?to? ?be? ?the? ?lady? ?in? ?white.? ?But? ?now,? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?continuously? ?called? ?the? ?BanYue??Guoshi? ?‘bitch’,? ?saying? ?she? ?pushed? ?his? ?brothers? ?into? ?the? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit,? ?and? ?earlier? ?when? ?the??black? ?clad? ?girl? ?swept? ?the? ?soldiers? ?into? ?the? ?pit,? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?swore? ?and? ?cursed? ?her? ?the? ?same??thing.? ?Plus? ?the? ?last? ?bit,? ?“to? ?hang? ?her? ?dead? ?a? ?thousand? ?times”? ?–? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?suddenly??realized? ?that? ?they? ?weren? ?possibly? ?not? ?talking? ?about? ?the? ?same? ?person.???Second,? ?it? ?was? ?BanYue? ?Guoshi? ?who? ?had? ?betrayed? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?BanYue?!???Xie? ?Lian? ?interrupted? ?Ke? ?Mo,? ?“General,? ?the? ?BanYue? ?Guoshi? ?you? ?speak? ?of,? ?was? ?it? ?the? ?girl? ?in??black? ?hung? ?on? ?the? ?pole? ?of? ?the? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit?”???“WHO? ?ELSE? ?COULD? ?IT? ?BE? ?IF? ?NOT? ?HER?”? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?shouted.???“...”???The? ?scrawny,? ?corpse? ?like? ?little? ?girl? ?in? ?black? ?was? ?the? ?real? ?Guoshi? ?of? ?BanYue!? ?But? ?if? ?that’s??the? ?case,? ?who? ?was? ?the? ?lady? ?cultivator? ?and? ?her? ?black? ?clad? ?companion,? ?strolling? ?through??the? ?streets? ?looking? ?to? ?kill? ?them????The? ?girl? ?in? ?black? ?obviously? ?had? ?unmeasurable? ?powers,? ?and? ?could? ?easily? ?sweep? ?dozens??of? ?hostile? ?BanYue? ?soldiers? ?off? ?the? ?wall,? ?so? ?why? ?was? ?she? ?hung? ?above? ?the? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit????????Ch.26:? ?Dallying? ?HuaLian;? ?Night-Fall? ?in? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit? ?3????The? ?story? ?was? ?getting? ?more? ?complex? ?and? ?convoluted,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?thought,? ?and? ?asked,??“General,? ?I? ?want? ?to? ?ask...”???“Don’t? ?ask? ?anymore!”? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?said? ?instead,? ?“You? ?killed? ?my? ?soldiers,? ?what? ?more? ?would? ?you??want? ?to? ?know?? ?I? ?won’t? ?answer.? ?Now? ?fight? ?me!”???“I? ?killed? ?them.? ?He? ?didn’t? ?do? ?anything,”? ?San? ?Lang? ?said,? ?“You? ?can? ?answer? ?his? ?questions,??and? ?fight? ?me.”???Well? ?that? ?was? ?irrefutable? ?logic.? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?yelled? ?angrily,? ?“You’re? ?both? ?taking? ?orders? ?from? ?her,??there? ?is? ?no? ?difference!”???Xie? ?Lian? ?immediately? ?said,? ?“General? ?Ke? ?Mo,? ?I? ?think? ?you’ve? ?mistaken? ?something.? ?We’ve??traveled? ?across? ?the? ?Gobi? ?desert? ?to? ?get? ?rid? ?of? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?of? ?BanYue,? ?how? ?can? ?we? ?be? ?the??helpers? ?she? ?sent? ?for?”???Hearing? ?that? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?actually? ?there? ?to? ?destroy? ?the? ?Guoshi,? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?fell? ?silent.? ?He??then? ?asked,? ?“If? ?you? ?weren’t? ?helping? ?her,? ?then? ?why? ?did? ?you? ?kill? ?my? ?soldiers?”???Xie? ?Lian? ?explained,? ?“Isn’t? ?it? ?because? ?you? ?were? ?throwing? ?us? ?into? ?the? ?pit? ?and? ?we? ?had? ?to??defend? ?ourselves?”???Ke? ?Mo? ?yelled? ?angrily,? ?“Nonsense!? ?I? ?didn’t? ?throw? ?any? ?one? ?of? ?you!? ?I? ?even? ?caught? ?you!? ?You??all? ?jumped? ?down? ?yourselves!!”???“Yes? ?yes? ?yes,? ?we? ?were? ?jumping? ?into? ?the? ?pit? ?ourselves.? ?General,? ?we’re? ?all? ?trapped? ?at? ?the??bottom? ?of? ?this? ?pit? ?right? ?now,? ?let’s? ?just? ?call? ?it? ?a? ?truce? ?for? ?now,? ?alright?? ?Why? ?did? ?that? ?BanYue??Guoshi? ?open? ?the? ?fortress? ?gates? ?to? ?let? ?the? ?enemies? ?in?”????As? ?if? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?would? ?listen? ?to? ?him? ?reason,? ?and? ?he? ?said,? ?unrelenting,? ?“The? ?two? ?of? ?you? ?are? ?sly??and? ?unjust,? ?fighting? ?me? ?two? ?on? ?one.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?a? ?little? ?exasperated,? ?“I? ?only? ?smacked? ?you? ?once.? ?I? ?didn’t? ?do? ?much.”???He? ?didn’t? ?mind? ?being? ?called? ?sly? ?or? ?unjust.? ?If? ?the? ?situation? ?called? ?for? ?it,? ?nevermind? ?two? ?on??one,? ?he? ?could? ?bring? ?a? ?hundred? ?to? ?beat? ?one? ?down,? ?who? ?cared? ?about? ?one? ?on? ?one.? ?But??earlier,? ?San? ?Lang? ?obviously? ?had? ?the? ?upper? ?hand? ?even? ?while? ?carrying? ?him,? ?and? ?told? ?Xie??Lian? ?not? ?to? ?fight? ?too.? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?seemed? ?to? ?think? ?he? ?could’ve? ?won? ?if? ?it? ?had? ?been? ?just? ?him? ?and??San? ?Lang? ?though,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?bad? ?for? ?him.???Ke? ?Mo? ?was? ?incredibly? ?uncooperative,? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?wasn’t? ?worried.? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?seemed? ?to? ?be??the? ?type? ?that? ?could? ?easily? ?be? ?made? ?to? ?spill? ?his? ?beans,? ?and? ?they’ve? ?got? ?time,? ?not? ?a??problem.? ?San? ?Lang? ?on? ?the? ?other? ?hand,? ?didn’t? ?have? ?the? ?same? ?patience,? ?and? ?lazily? ?said,??“You? ?better? ?answer? ?his? ?questions,? ?for? ?the? ?sake? ?of? ?your? ?soldiers.”???“You? ?already? ?killed? ?them,”? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?said,? ?“It’s? ?pointless? ?using? ?them? ?to? ?threaten? ?me.”???“They? ?are? ?dead,? ?but? ?their? ?corpses? ?are? ?still? ?around.”? ?San? ?Lang? ?replied.???Ke? ?Mo? ?became? ?alarmed,? ?unable? ?to? ?remain? ?sprawled? ?on? ?the? ?ground? ?anymore,? ?“What? ?are??you? ?going? ?to? ?do?”???San? ?Lang? ?smirked,? ?“That? ?depends? ?on? ?what? ?you? ?want? ?to? ?do.”???Just? ?by? ?his? ?voice,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?imagine? ?San? ?Lang? ?cocking? ?his? ?eye,? ?“Do? ?you? ?want? ?their??next? ?lives? ?to? ?be? ?fortuitous? ?or? ?be? ?reborn? ?as? ?a? ?pool? ?of? ?blood?”???Ke? ?Mo? ?stopped,? ?but? ?soon? ?understood? ?what? ?San? ?Lang? ?meant,? ?and? ?exploded,? ?“YOU?!”???The? ?people? ?of? ?BanYue? ?took? ?death? ?and? ?funerals? ?extremely? ?seriously.? ?They? ?believed? ?that??however? ?the? ?deceased? ?looked? ?at? ?their? ?death? ?will? ?be? ?how? ?they? ?shall? ?be? ?reborn.? ?For??instance,? ?if? ?the? ?deceased? ?was? ?missing? ?an? ?arm,? ?then? ?they? ?shall? ?be? ?reborn? ?handicapped.? ?If??the? ?corpses? ?in? ?this? ?pit? ?were? ?to? ?be? ?destroyed,? ?then? ?what? ?would? ?their? ?rebirths? ?be? ?like????General? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?was? ?a? ?purebred? ?BanYuenese? ?and? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?be? ?afraid.? ?As??expected,? ?on? ?the? ?other? ?side? ?of? ?the? ?dark? ?pit,? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?gritted? ?his? ?teeth? ?soundly? ?in? ?rage,? ?but??finally? ?relented? ?helplessly,? ?“Don’t? ?touch? ?their? ?bodies.? ?They? ?were? ?good,? ?brave? ?soldiers.? ?It??was? ?already? ?a? ?tragedy? ?to? ?be? ?trapped? ?in? ?the? ?pit? ?for? ?so? ?many? ?years.? ?I? ?don’t? ?know? ?if? ?being??killed? ?by? ?you? ?is? ?a? ?blessing? ?or? ?not,? ?but? ?I? ?won’t? ?have? ?their? ?corpses? ?be? ?humiliated.”???He? ?paused? ?and? ?asked,? ?“Are? ?you? ?really? ?here? ?to? ?kill? ?Ban? ?Yue?”???Xie? ?Lian? ?replied? ?warmly,? ?“No? ?lie.? ?The? ?more? ?we? ?know? ?the? ?more? ?chance? ?we’ll? ?have? ?at??winning.? ?Not? ?much? ?is? ?known? ?about? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?of? ?BanYue? ?on? ?the? ?outside,? ?we? ?have? ?no??idea? ?how? ?to? ?fight? ?her.? ?But? ?you? ?have? ?worked? ?under? ?her? ?before? ?in? ?the? ?past,? ?perhaps? ?you??can? ?enlighten? ?some? ?things? ?for? ?us?”???Maybe? ?it? ?was? ?because? ?they? ?shared? ?the? ?same? ?enemy? ?-? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?of? ?BanYue? ?-? ?that? ?a??sort? ?of? ?bond? ?was? ?developed,? ?or? ?perhaps? ?in? ?an? ?inescapable? ?chasm,? ?atop? ?the? ?dead? ?bodies??of? ?his? ?soldiers,? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?became? ?disheartened,? ?but? ?whatever? ?it? ?may? ?be,? ?the? ?general??ceased? ?the? ?will? ?to? ?attack? ?them.? ?“You? ?don’t? ?know? ?why? ?she? ?opened? ?the? ?gates?? ?Because??she’s? ?against? ?us!? ?She? ?hates? ?us!? ?She? ?hates? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?BanYue!”???“What? ?do? ?you? ?mean? ?she? ?hates? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?BanYue?? ?Isn’t? ?BanYue? ?Guoshi? ?a? ?citizen??of? ?BanYue?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.????“Yes,? ?but? ?not? ?entirely.”? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?replied,? ?“She’s? ?a? ?mix? ?blood.? ?The? ?other? ?half? ?is? ?from??YongAn!”????“Ah...”???Turns? ?out,? ?that? ?BanYue? ?Guoshi? ?was? ?born? ?of? ?a? ?BanYue? ?woman? ?and? ?a? ?YongAn? ?man.??Living? ?on? ?the? ?border? ?with? ?endless? ?hatred? ?and? ?skirmishes,? ?things? ?were? ?difficult,? ?and??YongAn? ?man? ?finally? ?had? ?had? ?enough? ?and? ?moved? ?away? ?from? ?the? ?border? ?back? ?to? ?YongAn.??Although? ?it? ?was? ?an? ?amicable? ?divorce,? ?the? ?BanYue? ?woman? ?soon? ?passed? ?away? ?from??heartache.???They? ?left? ?behind? ?a? ?child? ?of? ?six? ?to? ?seven? ?years? ?in? ?age;? ?without? ?any? ?guardians,? ?the? ?child??wandered? ?the? ?streets,? ?hungry? ?and? ?desperate.? ?The? ?couple? ?had? ?received? ?cold? ?shoulders??everywhere? ?when? ?they? ?were? ?around,? ?and? ?now? ?their? ?daughter? ?too,? ?received? ?contempt??wherever? ?she? ?went.? ?The? ?people? ?of? ?BanYue? ?were? ?tall? ?and? ?buff,? ?and? ?saw? ?beauty? ?in??strength? ?and? ?liveliness,? ?but? ?this? ?girl? ?was? ?born? ?of? ?mixed? ?blood,? ?and? ?appeared? ?small? ?and??scrawny? ?amongst? ?the? ?BanYue? ?children.? ?She? ?grew? ?up? ?being? ?bullied,? ?and? ?became? ?more??and? ?more? ?sullen.? ?The? ?BanYue? ?children? ?wouldn’t? ?play? ?with? ?her,? ?but? ?there? ?were? ?some??YongAn? ?children? ?who? ?did? ?pay? ?attention? ?to? ?her.???When? ?this? ?little? ?mixed? ?blood? ?was? ?about? ?ten? ?something,? ?a? ?riot? ?broke? ?out,? ?and? ?the? ?two??armies? ?fought.? ?That? ?battle? ?took? ?many? ?lives,? ?and? ?afterwards,? ?that? ?little? ?mixed? ?blood??disappeared.???She? ?had? ?no? ?friends? ?nor? ?families? ?in? ?BanYue,? ?so? ?no? ?one? ?noticed? ?or? ?cared? ?when? ?she??vanished.? ?The? ?next? ?time? ?she? ?appeared? ?was? ?a? ?different? ?story.???In? ?those? ?years,? ?she? ?walked? ?thousands? ?of? ?miles? ?and? ?crossed? ?the? ?Gobi? ?desert? ?to? ?YongAn.??No? ?one? ?knew? ?what? ?kind? ?of? ?encounters? ?she? ?had? ?had,? ?but? ?she? ?returned? ?having? ?learned??black? ?magic,? ?and? ?could? ?control? ?the? ?venomous? ?creature? ?most? ?feared? ?by? ?the? ?BanYue? ?–? ?the??scorpion? ?snakes.???Upon? ?her? ?return,? ?besides? ?being? ?impressed,? ?many? ?were? ?also? ?afraid.? ?That? ?was? ?because??the? ?girl’s? ?personality? ?never? ?changed,? ?still? ?gloomy? ?and? ?unsociable.? ?There? ?were? ?also? ?many??who? ?bullied? ?her? ?in? ?the? ?past;? ?if? ?she? ?were? ?to? ?enter? ?the? ?palace? ?and? ?become? ?a? ?high? ?ranking??official,? ?wouldn’t? ?she? ?one? ?day? ?seek? ?revenge? ?against? ?them?????“I’m? ?sure? ?there? ?were? ?many? ?who? ?spoke? ?poorly? ?of? ?her.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?commented.???Ke? ?Mo? ?humphed,? ?“Not? ?just? ?slanders,? ?they? ?went? ?to? ?the? ?palace? ?directly? ?to? ?advise? ?the? ?king,??saying? ?that? ?she? ?was? ?an? ?evil? ?messenger? ?from? ?the? ?scorpion? ?snake? ?clan? ?here? ?to? ?bring? ?ruin??to? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?BanYue.? ?But? ?none? ?of? ?them? ?succeeded.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?guessed,? ?“Did? ?she? ?rush? ?to? ?have? ?those? ?people? ?hung? ?first?”???Ke? ?Mo? ?was? ?even? ?more? ?disgusted,? ?“You,? ?man? ?of? ?YongAn,? ?why? ?is? ?your? ?mind? ?so? ?full? ?of??depraved? ?and? ?vile? ?developments?? ?It? ?was? ?none? ?of? ?that!? ?I? ?protected? ?her!”????Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?exasperated,? ?“I? ?already? ?said? ?I’m? ?not? ?from? ?YongAn...? ?Alright,? ?whatever.”????At? ?the? ?time,? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?was? ?already? ?a? ?distinguished,? ?fierce? ?warrior.? ?There? ?was? ?once? ?he? ?took??his? ?troop? ?out? ?to? ?annihilate? ?the? ?nest? ?of? ?a? ?band? ?of? ?desert? ?bandits,? ?and? ?brought? ?the? ?girl? ?who??was? ?the? ?Palace? ?Sorceress? ?along.???That? ?band? ?of? ?bandits? ?were? ?strong,? ?building? ?their? ?nest? ?below? ?the? ?sands.? ?In? ?that? ?battle,??both? ?sides? ?suffered? ?casualties,? ?and? ?while? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?stole? ?the? ?victory,? ?the? ?battle? ?caused? ?the??nest? ?below? ?the? ?sands? ?to? ?collapse,? ?plus? ?with? ?the? ?coming? ?of? ?windstorms,? ?they? ?couldn’t??stay.? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?took? ?a? ?number? ?of? ?soldiers? ?to? ?retreat,? ?but,? ?the? ?other? ?group? ?that? ?included? ?the??sorceress? ?weren’t? ?able? ?to? ?escape.???Once? ?they? ?retreated? ?to? ?the? ?safe? ?point? ?and? ?waited? ?out? ?the? ?sandstorm,? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?returned??anew,? ?hoping? ?to? ?dig? ?out? ?the? ?soldiers? ?to? ?bury? ?them? ?properly.? ?Yet? ?who? ?knew? ?that? ?when? ?he??got? ?there,? ?he? ?found? ?the? ?sorceress? ?had,? ?by? ?her? ?powers? ?alone,? ?dug? ?out? ?sizable? ?hole,? ?and??managed? ?to? ?drag? ?all? ?the? ?surviving,? ?wounded? ?soldiers? ?in? ?to? ?hide? ?away? ?from? ?the? ?winds.???All? ?the? ?bodies? ?of? ?the? ?dead? ?were? ?all? ?dug? ?out? ?too,? ?and? ?laid? ?out? ?in? ?a? ?neat? ?order.? ?She? ?had??done? ?this? ?all? ?by? ?herself,? ?and? ?when? ?they? ?got? ?there,? ?that? ?sorceress’? ?body? ?was? ?covered? ?in??blood,? ?but? ?was? ?still? ?guarding? ?the? ?entrance? ?to? ?that? ?hole? ?silently,? ?hugging? ?her? ?knees? ?waiting??for? ?them? ?like? ?a? ?small,? ?little? ?lone? ?wolf.???“After? ?that? ?incident,? ?I? ?thought? ?she? ?was? ?a? ?good? ?woman? ?who? ?does? ?the? ?right? ?things.”? ?Ke? ?Mo??said,? ?“I? ?believed? ?that? ?she? ?had? ?never? ?the? ?intention? ?to? ?harm? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?BanYue,? ?so? ?I??became? ?a? ?guarantor? ?with? ?all? ?my? ?might,? ?and? ?fought? ?back? ?all? ?those? ?malicious? ?voices.”???Plus,? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?himself? ?grew? ?up? ?bullied? ?and? ?could? ?understand? ?her? ?strife,? ?so? ?naturally? ?he??paid? ?more? ?attention? ?to? ?her.? ?The? ?more? ?attention? ?he? ?paid,? ?the? ?more? ?he? ?realized? ?just? ?how??powerful? ?this? ?girl? ?was,? ?and? ?thus? ?endorsed? ?her? ?all? ?the? ?way,? ?helping? ?her? ?reach? ?the? ?position??of? ?Guoshi,? ?becoming? ?what? ?was? ?later? ?recorded? ?as? ?the? ?most? ?loyal? ?supporter? ?of? ?the? ?Guoshi??of? ?BanYue.???This? ?lasted? ?until? ?another? ?war? ?broke? ?out,? ?and? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?YongAn? ?sent? ?armies? ?to??annihilate? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?BanYue.???“With? ?the? ?two? ?armies? ?clashing? ?and? ?at? ?a? ?lengthy? ?standstill,? ?she? ?conducted? ?a? ?grand??ceremony? ?to? ?pray? ?to? ?the? ?heavens,? ?saying? ?it? ?was? ?to? ?bring? ?blessings? ?unto? ?us? ?BanYue??soldiers.”? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?said.???Thus,? ?the? ?soldier’s? ?will? ?to? ?kill? ?exploded,? ?their? ?battle? ?spirits? ?significantly? ?raised,? ?and? ?they??defended? ?the? ?fortress? ?gates? ?to? ?the? ?death.? ?There? ?were? ?arrows,? ?giant? ?boulders,? ?boiling? ?oil,??swords? ?and? ?blades,? ?the? ?slaughtering? ?was? ?incessantly? ?great.???Yet? ?unexpectedly,? ?just? ?as? ?the? ?fighting? ?was? ?at? ?its? ?height,? ?this? ?guoshi? ?suddenly? ?opened? ?the??fortress? ?gates.???With? ?the? ?gates? ?opened? ?wide,? ?millions? ?of? ?enemy? ?troops? ?swarmed? ?into? ?the? ?city? ?all? ?of? ?a??sudden? ?like? ?mad.? ?After? ?the? ?trampling? ?of? ?iron? ?steeds,? ?the? ?entire? ?fortress? ?city? ?had? ?instantly??become? ?a? ?ritual? ?of? ?blood!???Ke? ?Mo,? ?who? ?was? ?fighting? ?hard? ?against? ?the? ?enemies,? ?went? ?mad? ?with? ?rage? ?when? ?he? ?heard??the? ?Guoshi? ?had? ?opened? ?the? ?gates.? ?But? ?no? ?matter? ?how? ?tough? ?he? ?was,? ?one? ?could? ?not? ?win??alone? ?against? ?so? ?many.???Ke? ?Mo? ?gritted? ?his? ?teeth,? ?“I? ?only? ?learned? ?then? ?that? ?she? ?had? ?long? ?since? ?colluded? ?with? ?the??enemy? ?general,? ?and? ?agreed? ?to? ?let? ?them? ?in? ?at? ?that? ?moment.? ?BUT? ?EVEN? ?IF? ?I? ?WAS??DESTINED? ?TO? ?DIE? ?IN? ?BATTLE,? ?BEFORE? ?I? ?DIE? ?I? ?WAS? ?GOING? ?TO? ?KILL? ?THAT??TRAITOR? ?NO? ?MATTER? ?WHAT!!!? ?So? ?I? ?sent? ?a? ?troop? ?of? ?soldiers? ?to? ?charge? ?up? ?the? ?fortress??tower? ?and? ?dragged? ?her? ?down,? ?hanging? ?her? ?dead? ?over? ?the? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit.? ?Hung? ?over? ?that??pole!”????After? ?the? ?enemy? ?troops? ?passed,? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?BanYue? ?became? ?a? ?kingdom? ?of? ?death.??Guoshi? ?and? ?the? ?General? ?who? ?died? ?in? ?this? ?battle? ?also? ?became? ?trapped? ?within? ?the? ?ruins,??both? ?watching? ?the? ?other? ?in? ?mutual? ?grudge? ?and? ?hate.???Xie? ?Lian? ?followed,? ?“So,? ?General? ?Ke? ?Mo,? ?you? ?led? ?the? ?BanYue? ?soldiers? ?under? ?you? ?to??search? ?for? ?the? ?shadows? ?of? ?that? ?guoshi? ?everywhere,? ?and? ?every? ?time? ?you? ?capture? ?her,??you’d? ?“hang? ?her? ?head”? ?over? ?the? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit?”????“It? ?wouldn’t? ?be? ?anything? ?even? ?if? ?we? ?hung? ?her? ?dead? ?a? ?thousand? ?times,? ?a? ?million? ?times!”? ?Ke??Mo? ?exclaimed,? ?“Because? ?she’s? ?been? ?apprehending? ?all? ?my? ?soldiers? ?who? ?have? ?turned??‘Savage’? ?too,? ?and? ?throwing? ?them? ?into? ?the? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit!? ?She’s? ?set? ?up? ?a? ?powerful? ?array??around? ?the? ?pit? ?that? ?only? ?she? ?herself? ?could? ?break,? ?and? ?once? ?you? ?fall? ?you? ?can? ?never? ?climb??back? ?up.? ?And? ?us? ?who? ?have? ?been? ?betrayed? ?by? ?her,? ?those? ?soldiers? ?who? ?died? ?wrongfully? ?in??battle,? ?hold? ?a? ?deep? ?resentment? ?that? ?only? ?devouring? ?the? ?flesh? ?and? ?blood? ?of? ?those? ?from??YongAn? ?could? ?appease,? ?and? ?slowly? ?pass? ?from? ?this? ?earth? ?with? ?our? ?hatred? ?released.??Otherwise? ?they? ?can? ?only? ?howl? ?deep? ?into? ?the? ?long? ?nights? ?without? ?absolution!”???“So? ?is? ?that? ?why? ?you? ?kept? ?capturing? ?peple? ?to? ?feed? ?them?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.???“What? ?else? ?can? ?we? ?do?”? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?replied,? ?“Have? ?me? ?listen? ?to? ?them? ?wail? ?down? ?below??without? ?doing? ?anything?”????“The? ?people? ?you? ?threw? ?down,? ?did? ?you? ?catch? ?them? ?yourselves? ?or?”????“We? ?can’t? ?stray? ?too? ?far? ?from? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?BanYue,? ?but? ?thankfully? ?her? ?snakes? ?like? ?to??haunt,? ?and? ?often? ?crawl? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?ruins? ?to? ?bite? ?people.? ?Those? ?caravans? ?who? ?were? ?bitten??would? ?then? ?come? ?into? ?the? ?city? ?to? ?look? ?for? ?the? ?ShanYue? ?fern.”????“That? ?mud? ?face? ?in? ?the? ?palace,? ?was? ?it? ?you? ?who? ?buried? ?it?”????“That’s? ?right.? ?That? ?man? ?buried? ?in? ?the? ?earth? ?was? ?originally? ?planning? ?on? ?robbing? ?the? ?riches??of? ?the? ?palace.? ?But,? ?all? ?the? ?treasures? ?our? ?kingdom? ?had? ?were? ?all? ?cleaned? ?out? ?by? ?those??YongAn? ?men? ?two? ?hundred? ?years? ?ago.”????“Why? ?did? ?you? ?only? ?bury? ?him? ?instead? ?of? ?throwing? ?him? ?down? ?directly?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.???“There’s? ?gotta? ?be? ?fertilizer? ?to? ?grow? ?the? ?ferns? ?after? ?all,”? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?replied,? ?“Otherwise? ?we??wouldn’t? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?hold? ?those? ?scorpion? ?snakes? ?back.? ?We? ?don’t? ?want? ?to? ?run? ?into? ?those??creatures? ?either.”????‘That’s? ?not? ?right,’? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?thought.???If? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?and? ?his? ?party? ?consciously? ?knew? ?to? ?grow? ?and? ?fertilize? ?ShanYue? ?ferns,? ?even??going? ?as? ?far? ?as? ?using? ?live? ?humans? ?as? ?fertilizer,? ?then? ?it? ?was? ?clear? ?that? ?while? ?they? ?were? ?no??longer? ?alive,? ?their? ?fear? ?of? ?those? ?scorpion? ?snakes? ?never? ?lessened.???If? ?that? ?was? ?the? ?case,? ?then? ?while? ?they? ?were? ?alive,? ?that? ?fear? ?must’ve? ?been? ?even? ?greater.? ?If??that? ?BanYue? ?Guoshi? ?could? ?control? ?a? ?murder? ?weapon? ?as? ?great? ?as? ?those? ?scorpion? ?snakes,??then? ?why? ?would? ?she? ?so? ?easily? ?be? ?dragged? ?down? ?the? ?fortress? ?tower? ?by? ?a? ?bunch? ?of? ?soldiers??and? ?be? ?hung? ?to? ?death????According? ?to? ?Ke? ?Mo,? ?in? ?the? ?past? ?two? ?hundred? ?some? ?years,? ?he? ?had? ?captured? ?the? ?Guoshi??over? ?and? ?over,? ?and? ?had? ?hung? ?her? ?dead? ?repeatedly.? ?Either? ?way? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt,? ?if? ?it? ?was? ?him,??and? ?he? ?had? ?such? ?a? ?killing? ?weapon? ?in? ?his? ?hands,? ?he? ?would? ?never? ?allow? ?the? ?enemy? ?the??chance? ?to? ?come? ?near? ?him.???And? ?the? ?snakes? ?that? ?would? ?leave? ?the? ?fortress? ?to? ?prey? ?was? ?also? ?of? ?interest.? ?Was? ?it? ?an??accident?? ?Not? ?likely.? ?More? ?like? ?they? ?were? ?purposely? ?trying? ?to? ?lure? ?people? ?into? ?the? ?Pass.??Then? ?it? ?was? ?Guoshi’s? ?intentional? ?doing?? ?Wouldn’t? ?it? ?be? ?helping? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?catch? ?live? ?humans??to? ?feed? ?his? ?soldiers?? ?‘Mutual? ?hatred’? ?wouldn’t? ?make? ?sense? ?then.???Were? ?they? ?pretending? ?to? ?be? ?enemies? ?then?? ?What? ?was? ?the? ?point? ?in? ?that????And? ?in? ?all? ?of? ?this? ?mess,? ?there? ?was? ?also? ?the? ?mysterious? ?lady? ?in? ?white? ?and? ?her? ?companion.??Xie? ?Lian? ?decided? ?to? ?ask? ?more? ?questions,? ?“General? ?Ke? ?Mo,? ?when? ?we? ?first? ?entered? ?the??fortress,? ?we? ?saw? ?two? ?ladies,? ?one? ?in? ?white,? ?and? ?the? ?other? ?in? ?black.? ?Do? ?you? ?know? ?who? ?they??are?”???Before? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?response,? ?San? ?Lang? ?whispered,? ?“Shhh.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?know? ?what? ?was? ?going? ?on? ?but? ?closed? ?his? ?mouth? ?immediately.? ?A? ?strange??hunch? ?made? ?him? ?look? ?up.???It? ?was? ?the? ?same? ?framed,? ?navy? ?blue? ?sky? ?with? ?a? ?crescent? ?moon.? ?But,? ?next? ?to? ?the? ?moon,? ?he??saw? ?a? ?person;? ?a? ?small,? ?black? ?clad? ?silhouette? ?peered? ?over? ?the? ?edge? ?and? ?was? ?looking??down.???After? ?watching? ?them? ?for? ?a? ?bit,? ?the? ?little? ?form? ?suddenly? ?grew? ?bigger? ?–? ?it? ?had? ?jumped? ?down.???As? ?the? ?figure? ?fell,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?see? ?clearly? ?that? ?it? ?was? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?who? ?was? ?hanging? ?on??the? ?pole? ?earlier.??????Ch.27:? ?Dallying? ?HuaLian;? ?Night-Fall? ?in? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit? ?4????“Ke? ?Mo,? ?what’s? ?going? ?on?”? ?The? ?Guoshi? ?asked? ?in? ?BanYuenese? ?as? ?she? ?landed.???The? ?moment? ?she? ?spoke,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?thought? ?her? ?voice? ?was? ?very? ?different? ?than? ?what? ?he? ?had??imagined.? ?Although? ?still? ?cold,? ?her? ?voice? ?was? ?tiny,? ?like? ?the? ?grumblings? ?of? ?a? ?sulky? ?child,? ?not??one? ?that’s? ?cool? ?and? ?powerful.? ?If? ?not? ?for? ?his? ?good? ?hearing,? ?he? ?might? ?not? ?even? ?hear? ?her??properly.????“What’s? ?going? ?on??? ?THEY’RE? ?ALL? ?DEAD!!!”? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?shouted.???“How? ?did? ?they? ?all? ?die?”? ?The? ?Guoshi? ?asked.???“Isn’t? ?it? ?because? ?you? ?pushed? ?them? ?all? ?down? ?and? ?trapped? ?them? ?in? ?this? ?godforsaken? ?hell!”???“Who’s? ?here?? ?There’s? ?another? ?person.”? ?The? ?Guoshi? ?said.???At? ?the? ?bottom? ?of? ?the? ?pit? ?there? ?should? ?be? ?two? ?other? ?‘people’,? ?but? ?San? ?Lang? ?had? ?no? ?breaths??nor? ?heartbeat,? ?so? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?didn’t? ?detect? ?his? ?presence.? ?It? ?was? ?also? ?complete? ?chaos? ?on??top? ?of? ?the? ?walls? ?earlier,? ?and? ?no? ?one? ?kept? ?track? ?of? ?who? ?fell? ?and? ?and? ?who? ?ran? ?away,? ?so? ?she??thought? ?there? ?was? ?only? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?there.????“It? ?was? ?they? ?who? ?killed? ?all? ?of? ?my? ?soldiers,? ?are? ?you? ?happy? ?now?? ?Everyone? ?you? ?wanted? ?to??kill? ?are? ?finally? ?dead!”???The? ?Guoshi? ?was? ?silent,? ?and? ?suddenly? ?a? ?tiny? ?burst? ?of? ?light? ?flared,? ?illuminating? ?a? ?small,??black? ?clad? ?girl? ?with? ?a? ?palm? ?torch.???The? ?girl? ?looked? ?to? ?be? ?fifteen? ?or? ?sixteen,? ?both? ?eyes? ?blackened,? ?not? ?unbeautiful,? ?but? ?just??unhappy,? ?her? ?forehead? ?and? ?cheeks? ?full? ?of? ?bruises,? ?clear? ?and? ?distinct? ?under? ?the? ?light.? ?The??hand? ?controlling? ?the? ?palm? ?torch? ?was? ?shaking,? ?causing? ?the? ?flames? ?to? ?flicker.????If? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?confirmed? ?earlier,? ?no? ?one? ?would? ?think? ?this? ?pale? ?little? ?girl? ?was? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?of??BanYue.???The? ?flames? ?in? ?her? ?hand? ?illuminated? ?herself? ?and? ?her? ?surroundings.? ?Next? ?to? ?her? ?feet? ?was??piled? ?with? ?armoured? ?corpses? ?of? ?BanYue? ?soldiers.???Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?sneak? ?a? ?look? ?beside? ?him.????That? ?palm? ?torch? ?in? ?the? ?Guoshi’s? ?hand? ?was? ?very? ?small,? ?and? ?did? ?not? ?light? ?up? ?the? ?entire? ?pit,??so? ?they? ?were? ?still? ?immersed? ?in? ?darkness.? ?But? ?using? ?the? ?wee? ?light,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?still? ?see??faintly? ?that? ?the? ?one? ?next? ?to? ?him? ?was? ?dressed? ?in? ?red.? ?It? ?wasn’t? ?clear,? ?and? ?he? ?wasn’t? ?sure,??but? ?he? ?could? ?still? ?somewhat? ?distinguish? ?what’s? ?close? ?to? ?him.? ?San? ?Lang? ?was? ?already? ?taller??than? ?him,? ?but? ?now,? ?maybe,? ?he? ?seemed? ?taller? ?than? ?before.???Xie? ?Lian? ?moved? ?his? ?eyes? ?up,? ?paused? ?at? ?the? ?neck,? ?then? ?continued? ?upward,? ?stopping? ?at? ?an??elegantly? ?shaped? ?chin.???San? ?Lang’s? ?upper? ?face? ?was? ?still? ?hidden? ?in? ?the? ?shadows,? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?thought? ?the? ?bottom??half? ?was? ?distinctly? ?different? ?than? ?before.? ?Still? ?handsome,? ?but? ?the? ?lines? ?were? ?much? ?more??defined.? ?Feeling? ?he? ?was? ?being? ?watched,? ?San? ?Lang? ?tilted? ?his? ?head,? ?and? ?his? ?lips? ?curled??upwards? ?slightly.????Perhaps? ?he? ?wanted? ?to? ?too? ?much? ?to? ?get? ?a? ?better? ?look,? ?to? ?get? ?closer,? ?that? ?without? ?realizing??it,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?took? ?a? ?step? ?closer? ?to? ?him.???Just? ?then,? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?wailed? ?in? ?the? ?distance,? ?seeming? ?to? ?be? ?in? ?shock? ?after? ?seeing? ?the? ?bloody??tragedy? ?before? ?him.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?abruptly? ?snapped? ?out? ?of? ?it? ?and? ?turned? ?to? ?look,? ?and? ?saw? ?Ke??Mo? ?was? ?clutching? ?his? ?own? ?head,? ?but? ?despite? ?the? ?general’s? ?cries,? ?the? ?Guoshi’? ?expression??remained? ?wooden,? ?and? ?only? ?nodded,? ?“Good.”???In? ?the? ?midst? ?of? ?mourning,? ?hearing? ?those? ?words? ?made? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?rage? ?once? ?more,? ?“GOOD???What’s? ?good??? ?How? ?do? ?you? ?mean?!”???“Good? ?means? ?we’re? ?finally? ?freed.”? ?Guoshi? ?said.???She? ?turned? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?who’s? ?still? ?shrouded? ?in? ?the? ?dark,? ?“Were? ?you? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?killed??them?”????“This...? ?was? ?an? ?accident.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied.???“YOU’RE? ?LYING? ?THROUGH? ?YOUR? ?TEETH!”? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?exclaimed.???Xie? ?Lian? ?responded? ?bold? ?facedly,? ?“Life? ?is? ?full? ?of? ?accidents!”????Guoshi? ?gave? ?him? ?a? ?look? ?but? ?her? ?expression? ?was? ?unreadable,? ?“Who? ?are? ?you?”???Her? ?words? ?were? ?actually? ?spoken? ?in? ?perfect? ?Han? ?dialect*,? ?and? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?in? ?an? ?interrogative??tone? ?either.???“I’m? ?a? ?heavenly? ?official.? ?This? ?one? ?here? ?is...? ?my? ?friend.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied.???Ke? ?Mo? ?couldn’t? ?understand? ?their? ?words,? ?but? ?could? ?still? ?tell? ?they? ?weren’t? ?fighting,? ?and??demanded,? ?“What? ?are? ?you? ?two? ?saying?”???The? ?Guoshi? ?looked? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?over,? ?eyed? ?San? ?Lang? ?for? ?a? ?moment? ?before? ?quickly? ?looking??away? ?and? ?said,? ?“We’ve? ?never? ?had? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?visit? ?before.? ?I? ?thought? ?you’ve? ?all??already? ?abandoned? ?this? ?place.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?thought? ?they? ?would? ?have? ?to? ?fight? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?of? ?BanYue,? ?but? ?was? ?surprised??to? ?find? ?she? ?was? ?this? ?despondent,? ?devoid? ?of? ?any? ?will? ?to? ?fight.? ?She? ?spoke? ?up? ?again,? ?“Do? ?you??two? ?want? ?to? ?leave?”???“Of? ?course? ?we? ?do,? ?but? ?there’s? ?an? ?array? ?set? ?in? ?this? ?pit,? ?so? ?we? ?can’t.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.???Hearing? ?this,? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?walked? ?to? ?one? ?of? ?the? ?walls,? ?raised? ?her? ?hand? ?and? ?drew??something,? ?then? ?turned? ?around? ?and? ?said,? ?“There.? ?I? ?released? ?the? ?array.? ?You? ?two? ?can? ?leave??now.”???“...”???This? ?was? ?way? ?too? ?easy!???Xie? ?Lian? ?really? ?didn’t? ?know? ?what? ?to? ?say? ?now.? ?Just? ?then? ?came? ?a? ?voice? ?calling? ?from? ?above,??“HEY!? ?IS? ?ANYONE? ?DOWN? ?THERE?? ?IF? ?NOT? ?I’M? ?LEAVING!”???It? ?was? ?Fu? ?Yao’s? ?voice.???Xie? ?Lian? ?heard? ?San? ?Lang? ?‘tsk’? ?next? ?to? ?him,? ?and? ?immediately? ?looked? ?up.? ?There? ?was? ?a??shadow? ?of? ?a? ?man? ?looking? ?down? ?into? ?the? ?pit,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?shouted,? ?“FU? ?YAO!? ?THERE’S??PEOPLE? ?DOWN? ?HERE!? ?I’M? ?DOWN? ?HERE!”???After? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?shouted? ?he? ?also? ?waved,? ?and? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?shouted? ?back? ?from? ?above,? ?“You’re??actually? ?down? ?there?? ?What’s? ?at? ?the? ?bottom? ?besides? ?you?”???“Um...? ?a? ?lot? ?of? ?things.? ?Why? ?don’t? ?you? ?come? ?down? ?and? ?see? ?for? ?yourself?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.???Fu? ?Yao? ?probably? ?thought? ?the? ?same,? ?and? ?blew? ?a? ?large? ?ball? ?of? ?fire? ?into? ?the? ?pit.? ?In? ?an? ?instant,??the? ?entire? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit? ?was? ?lit? ?up,? ?bright? ?like? ?day,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?finally? ?saw? ?clearly? ?the? ?kind??of? ?place? ?he’s? ?been? ?standing? ?in.???All? ?around? ?him? ?were? ?mountains? ?of? ?bloody? ?corpses? ?piled? ?high;? ?innumerable? ?bodies? ?of? ?the??BanYue? ?soldiers? ?stacked? ?on? ?top? ?of? ?each? ?other,? ?faces? ?and? ?limbs? ?blackened,? ?dark? ?blood??smearing? ?the? ?bright? ?armours.? ?The? ?corner? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?standing? ?was? ?the? ?only? ?spot? ?in? ?the??entire? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit? ?that? ?did? ?not? ?have? ?a? ?dead? ?body.????This? ?was? ?all? ?done? ?in? ?a? ?flash,? ?in? ?the? ?dark,? ?by? ?San? ?Lang? ?after? ?he? ?jumped? ?in.???Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?to? ?look? ?at? ?the? ?boy? ?next? ?to? ?him? ?again.???Before? ?in? ?the? ?dark,? ?he? ?thought? ?San? ?Lang? ?looked? ?taller? ?and? ?was? ?distinctly? ?different? ?in??various? ?places,? ?but? ?now,? ?under? ?the? ?bright? ?firelight,? ?the? ?one? ?standing? ?next? ?to? ?him? ?was? ?the??same? ?handsome? ?youth? ?he’d? ?known.? ?When? ?he? ?saw? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?over,? ?he? ?grinned.? ?Xie??Lian? ?looked? ?down? ?to? ?check? ?his? ?wrists? ?and? ?boots,? ?and? ?both? ?were? ?also? ?the? ?same? ?as? ?before,??having? ?nothing? ?that? ?would? ?cause? ?any? ?jingling? ?sound.????Just? ?then,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?heard? ?a? ?muffled? ?sound,? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?who? ?had? ?jumped? ?down.??“Weren’t? ?you? ?looking? ?after? ?the? ?merchants?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.???Having? ?just? ?entered? ?the? ?pit,? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?wasn’t? ?yet? ?used? ?to? ?the? ?stench? ?of? ?blood? ?and? ?fanned??his? ?hand? ?to? ?make? ?the? ?air? ?flow,? ?the? ?he? ?replied? ?indifferently,? ?“We? ?waited? ?for? ?over? ?six? ?hours??and? ?there? ?was? ?still? ?no? ?sight? ?of? ?you,? ?so? ?we? ?figured? ?something? ?had? ?happened.? ?I? ?drew? ?a??circle? ?for? ?them? ?to? ?wait? ?in,? ?and? ?came? ?to? ?check? ?things? ?out? ?myself.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?frowned,? ?“The? ?circle? ?won’t? ?last? ?long.? ?With? ?you? ?gone,? ?what? ?if? ?they? ?leave? ?the? ?circle??thinking? ?you’d? ?left? ?them? ?behind?”???Fu? ?Yao? ?shrugged,? ?“Eight? ?horses? ?can’t? ?stop? ?a? ?man? ?who? ?really? ?wants? ?to? ?seek? ?death;? ?I? ?can’t??stop? ?stubborn? ?people,? ?so? ?nothing.? ?What’s? ?with? ?those? ?two? ?over? ?there?? ?Who’s? ?who?”???Fu? ?Yao? ?was? ?tense,? ?ready? ?to? ?defend? ?against? ?the? ?two? ?unknowns,? ?but? ?soon? ?discovered??astonishingly? ?that? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?was? ?already? ?heavily? ?wounded? ?on? ?the? ?ground,? ?barely? ?able? ?to??stand,? ?and? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?of? ?BanYue? ?had? ?her? ?head? ?lowered? ?and? ?silent.????“That? ?one? ?is? ?the? ?General? ?of? ?BanYue,? ?and? ?the? ?other? ?one? ?is? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?of? ?BanYue.? ?Right??now? ?they’re...”???Ke? ?Mo? ?suddenly? ?leapt? ?up? ?before? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?finish.???He? ?had? ?been? ?lying? ?on? ?the? ?ground? ?gathering? ?his? ?strength,? ?and? ?was? ?finally? ?able? ?to? ?jump? ?up??in? ?a? ?shout,? ?aiming? ?his? ?fists? ?at? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?of? ?BanYue.? ?A? ?large? ?beefy? ?warrior? ?attacking? ?a??little? ?girl;? ?in? ?the? ?past? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?would? ?never? ?allow? ?this? ?sort? ?of? ?thing? ?to? ?happen? ?before? ?him.??But? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?had? ?every? ?reason? ?to? ?hate? ?the? ?Guoshi,? ?and? ?she? ?could? ?very? ?well? ?defend? ?herself??yet? ?she? ?didn’t,? ?letting? ?herself? ?be? ?thrown? ?around? ?like? ?a? ?broken? ?ragdoll.???Ke? ?Mo? ?shouted? ?at? ?the? ?Guoshi,? ?“Where? ?are? ?your? ?scorpion? ?snakes?? ?Come? ?on!? ?Let? ?them??bite? ?me? ?to? ?death? ?too!? ?Give? ?me? ?that? ?release!”???The? ?Guoshi? ?gloomily? ?replied,? ?“Ke? ?Mo,? ?my? ?snakes? ?don’t? ?listen? ?to? ?me? ?anymore.”???“Then? ?why? ?don’t? ?they? ?kill? ?you??”? ?He? ?tsked.???“...I’m? ?sorry,? ?Ke? ?Mo.”? ?The? ?Guoshi? ?apologized? ?softly.???“DO? ?YOU? ?REALLY? ?HATE? ?US? ?THAT? ?MUCH?”???The? ?Guoshi? ?shook? ?her? ?head? ?and? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?became? ?angrier,? ?“YOU’RE? ?GOING? ?TO? ?BE? ?THE??DEATH? ?OF? ?ME!? ?IF? ?YOU? ?DON’T? ?HATE? ?US,? ?WHY? ?DID? ?YOU? ?BETRAY? ?US?? ?YOU??SHAMELESS? ?SPY,? ?DISGUSTING? ?MOLE,? ?TRAITOR!!”???Fu? ?Yao? ?watched? ?him? ?strike? ?harder? ?and? ?harder,? ?and? ?the? ?blows? ?were? ?all? ?single? ?sided,? ?and??couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?frown,? ?“What? ?are? ?they? ?saying?? ?Shouldn’t? ?we? ?go? ?stop? ?them?”???Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?watch? ?anymore? ?either,? ?and? ?rushed? ?forward? ?to? ?stop? ?Ke? ?Mo,? ?“General!??General!? ?Why? ?don’t? ?you? ?tell? ?us? ?who? ?that? ?YongAn? ?thug? ?really? ?is,? ?we’ll...”????Suddenly,? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?grabbed? ?his? ?wrist.???The? ?grip? ?was? ?hard? ?and? ?came? ?unexpectedly,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?heart? ?dropped,? ?thinking? ?she??was? ?going? ?to? ?ambush? ?him,? ?but? ?when? ?he? ?looked? ?back? ?down? ?at? ?her,? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?was? ?on? ?the??ground,? ?a? ?small? ?bruise? ?at? ?the? ?corner? ?of? ?her? ?mouth,? ?her? ?head? ?raised,? ?watching? ?him??intently.? ?She? ?didn’t? ?say? ?a? ?single? ?word,? ?but? ?her? ?dark? ?eyes? ?were? ?intense? ?with? ?a? ?flaming??sense? ?of? ?life.???This? ?demeanour? ?overlapped? ?with? ?an? ?image? ?from? ?a? ?fargone? ?memory.? ?After? ?a? ?pause,? ?Xie??Lian? ?blurted,? ?“It’s? ?you?”???The? ?Guoshi? ?voice? ?also? ?trembled,? ?“General? ?Hua?”???This? ?back? ?and? ?forth? ?stunned? ?everyone? ?in? ?the? ?pit.? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?rushed? ?forward,? ?knocked? ?Ke? ?Mo??out? ?with? ?a? ?punch,? ?and? ?demanded,? ?“You? ?two? ?know? ?each? ?other?”???Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?answer? ?him.? ?He? ?knelt? ?down,? ?gripped? ?the? ?shoulders? ?of? ?the? ?Guoshi,? ?and??examined? ?her? ?face.???Earlier? ?they? ?stood? ?too? ?far? ?apart? ?and? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?see? ?clearly.? ?Plus? ?it? ?had? ?been? ?over? ?two??hundred? ?years,? ?this? ?girl? ?had? ?matured? ?in? ?that? ?time,? ?and? ?for? ?many? ?various? ?reasons,? ?he??didn’t? ?recognize? ?her? ?at? ?first.? ?But? ?now? ?that? ?he? ?looked? ?again? ?properly,? ?it’s? ?the? ?same? ?face? ?in??his? ?memories.???Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?speak? ?for? ?the? ?longest? ?time,? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?good? ?moment? ?before? ?sighed,??“Ban? ?Yue?”???The? ?Guoshi? ?quickly? ?clutched? ?at? ?his? ?sleeves,? ?and? ?the? ?gloomy? ?face? ?suddenly? ?came? ?alive??and? ?excited,? ?“It’s? ?me!? ?General? ?Hua,? ?do? ?you? ?still? ?remember? ?me?”???“Of? ?course? ?I? ?remember? ?you.? ?But...”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?gazed? ?at? ?her? ?for? ?a? ?moment? ?and? ?sighed,? ?“But??what? ?have? ?you? ?done? ?to? ?yourself?”???Hearing? ?his? ?words,? ?her? ?eyes? ?suddenly? ?filled? ?pain.???“I’m? ?sorry,? ?Captain...? ?I? ?messed? ?up.”? ?She? ?muttered.????In? ?that? ?exchange,? ?there? ?was? ?‘General’? ?this,? ?‘Captain’? ?that,? ?making? ?it? ?glaringly? ?obvious? ?to??the? ?bystanders.? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?was? ?in? ?shock,? ?“Captain?? ?General?? ?YOU?? ?How? ?did? ?this? ?happen???Then? ?the? ?Tomb? ?of? ?the? ?General? ?is?”? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?pushed.???“My? ?tomb.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied.???“Didn’t? ?you? ?say? ?you? ?only? ?came? ?to? ?collect? ?junk? ?two? ?hundred? ?years? ?ago???”? ?Fu? ?Yao??questioned.???“This...? ?is? ?a? ?long? ?story.? ?That? ?was? ?originally? ?the? ?plan.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?answered.???Around? ?two? ?hundred? ?years? ?ago,? ?due? ?to? ?some? ?reason,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?muck? ?around? ?in??the? ?East? ?anymore,? ?and? ?decided? ?to? ?stay? ?out? ?of? ?sight? ?for? ?a? ?while.? ?He? ?had? ?planned? ?to? ?cross??the? ?Qing? ?ridge? ?and? ?head? ?to? ?the? ?South? ?to? ?start? ?a? ?brand? ?new? ?life? ?of? ?scraps.? ?Thus,? ?he? ?took??up? ?his? ?compass? ?and? ?walked? ?southward.????But? ?the? ?more? ?he? ?walked,? ?the? ?more? ?he? ?thought? ?woefully,? ?how? ?come? ?the? ?sceneries? ?were? ?all??wrong?? ?There? ?should? ?be? ?an? ?abundance? ?of? ?trees? ?and? ?greeneries,? ?cities? ?and? ?crowds,? ?so??how? ?come? ?his? ?path? ?was? ?becoming? ?more? ?desolate?????Suspicions? ?aside? ?however,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?stubbornly? ?continued? ?on,? ?until? ?he? ?walked? ?and??walked? ?and? ?came? ?upon? ?the? ?Gobi? ?desert.? ?It? ?took? ?a? ?gust? ?of? ?wind? ?blowing? ?a? ?fistful? ?of? ?sand??into? ?his? ?face? ?before? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?finally? ?realized? ?that? ?his? ?compass? ?was? ?broken.???The? ?direction? ?it? ?was? ?guiding? ?him? ?this? ?entire? ?journey? ?was? ?wrong!???Since? ?there? ?wasn’t? ?anything? ?he? ?could? ?do? ?about? ?the? ?whole? ?thing,? ?he? ?might? ?as? ?well? ?take??this? ?chance? ?to? ?visit? ?the? ?desert? ?sceneries,? ?and? ?continued? ?walking.? ?Only,? ?he? ?changed??course? ?slightly? ?and? ?traveled? ?northwestward,? ?and? ?finally? ?arrived? ?at? ?the? ?border? ?where? ?he??settled? ?nearby? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?BanYue.???“At? ?first,? ?I? ?was? ?just? ?collecting? ?junk? ?around? ?the? ?area.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“But? ?the? ?border? ?was??troubled,? ?and? ?with? ?so? ?many? ?skirmishes,? ?there? ?were? ?often? ?runaway? ?soldiers,? ?so? ?the? ?army??would? ?draft? ?anyone? ?into? ?recruit? ?to? ?make? ?up? ?the? ?numbers.”???“So? ?you? ?were? ?forced? ?into? ?the? ?army?”? ?San? ?Lang? ?asked.???“Yea,”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied,? ?“But? ?doing? ?anything? ?was? ?more? ?or? ?less? ?the? ?same,? ?so? ?it? ?didn’t??matter? ?to? ?me.? ?And? ?then? ?after? ?chasing? ?away? ?some? ?bandits? ?a? ?couple? ?times,? ?I? ?somehow? ?got??promoted? ?to? ?Captain.? ?The? ?people? ?gave? ?me? ?face? ?and? ?would? ?call? ?me? ?General? ?too.”????“Why? ?did? ?she? ?call? ?you? ?General? ?Hua?”? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?questioned.? ?“Your? ?surname? ?isn’t? ?Hua.”????Xie? ?Lian? ?waved? ?his? ?hand? ?and? ?said? ?dismissively,? ?“Don’t? ?worry? ?about? ?it.? ?I? ?randomly? ?made??up? ?a? ?fake? ?name? ?at? ?the? ?time.? ?I? ?think? ?it? ?was? ?‘Hua? ?Xie’?2?”????Hearing? ?the? ?name,? ?San? ?Lang’s? ?expression? ?changed? ?slightly,? ?his? ?lips? ?twitching.? ?Xie? ?Lian??didn’t? ?pay? ?attention? ?and? ?continued,? ?“With? ?a? ?battle-torn? ?border? ?came? ?many? ?orphans.??When? ?I? ?was? ?free? ?I’d? ?play? ?with? ?them? ?sometimes.? ?One? ?of? ?them...? ?was? ?named? ?Ban? ?Yue.”???When? ?there? ?were? ?bandits,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?surely? ?the? ?bravest? ?soldier,? ?and? ?no? ?one? ?dared??block? ?his? ?way,? ?nor? ?did? ?anyone? ?dared? ?stand? ?beside? ?him? ?even.? ?But? ?when? ?there? ?weren’t,? ?it??was? ?as? ?if? ?anyone? ?could? ?order? ?him? ?around.???One? ?day? ?he? ?went? ?and? ?sat? ?by? ?a? ?wall? ?to? ?start? ?a? ?campfire,? ?using? ?his? ?own? ?helmet? ?to? ?cook.? ?As??he? ?cooked? ?the? ?smell? ?of? ?it? ?drifted? ?out,? ?and? ?a? ?few? ?enraged? ?soldiers? ?came? ?to? ?kick? ?over??whatever? ?it? ?was? ?he? ?was? ?cooking.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?picked? ?up? ?his? ?helmet? ?with? ?a? ?broken? ?heart,? ?but??when? ?he? ?looked? ?back,? ?he? ?saw? ?a? ?small? ?disheveled? ?and? ?grimy? ?child? ?crouched? ?behind? ?him,??picking? ?at? ?the? ?stuff? ?knocked? ?to? ?the? ?ground? ?with? ?her? ?hands? ?without? ?caring? ?whether? ?if? ?it? ?was??too? ?hot,? ?and? ?stuffing? ?it? ?into? ?her? ?mouth.? ?He? ?was? ?shocked,? ?“DON’T!? ?Wait,? ?little? ?kid,? ?you!”????As? ?expected,? ?that? ?little? ?kid? ?scarved? ?down? ?a? ?few? ?lumps? ?of? ?the? ?stuff? ?she? ?picked? ?off? ?the??ground? ?then? ?dry? ?heaved? ?heavily,? ?crying? ?loudly.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?so? ?shaken? ?he? ?picked? ?her? ?up??upside? ?down? ?and? ?ran? ?laps? ?until? ?all? ?the? ?stuff? ?she? ?ate? ?came? ?back? ?out.? ?After? ?that? ?was? ?done,??he? ?crouched? ?down? ?and? ?wiped? ?away? ?his? ?seat,? ?“Are? ?you? ?alright? ?little? ?kid...? ?I’m? ?so? ?sorry.? ?But??don’t? ?ever? ?tell? ?your? ?parents? ?about? ?this,? ?and? ?next? ?time,? ?don’t? ?pick? ?up? ?anymore? ?random??stuff? ?off? ?the? ?ground? ?to? ?eat...? ?WAIT? ?WHAT? ?ARE? ?YOU? ?DOING? ?NOW!”????That? ?child? ?was? ?face? ?covered? ?in? ?tears? ?but? ?still? ?went? ?to? ?pick? ?off? ?the? ?ground? ?again,? ?still??wanting? ?to? ?eat.? ?It? ?was? ?only? ?after? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?grabbed? ?her? ?before? ?he? ?realize? ?that? ?this? ?child’s??tummy? ?skin? ?was? ?practically? ?pressed? ?to? ?the? ?back? ?of? ?her? ?bones.???When? ?people? ?starved? ?to? ?this? ?point,? ?anything? ?could? ?be? ?eaten.? ?Even? ?if? ?it? ?was? ?disgusting? ?to??the? ?point? ?of? ?tears? ?she? ?would? ?eat.???Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?no? ?choice,? ?and? ?went? ?back? ?to? ?bring? ?her? ?the? ?last? ?of? ?his? ?rations.? ?Then??afterwards,? ?he? ?could? ?often? ?see? ?this? ?child? ?stalking? ?him? ?in? ?the? ?shadows? ?nearby.???In? ?his? ?memories,? ?the? ?little? ?girl? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?was? ?always? ?gloomy,? ?her? ?body? ?and? ?face? ?full? ?of??bruises,? ?and? ?when? ?she? ?looked? ?at? ?him? ?she? ?would? ?stare? ?just? ?so? ?from? ?below.? ?Because? ?she??was? ?singled? ?out? ?by? ?the? ?BanYue? ?children,? ?other? ?than? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?there? ?was? ?only? ?a? ?YongAn??boy? ?living? ?at? ?the? ?border? ?who’d? ?sometime? ?pay? ?attention? ?to? ?her,? ?so? ?she’d? ?spend? ?her? ?days??tagging? ?along? ?behind? ?the? ?two? ?of? ?them.???She? ?rarely? ?spoke,? ?but? ?she? ?was? ?fluent? ?in? ?the? ?Han? ?dialect? ?so? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?know? ?where??she? ?came? ?from,? ?but? ?she? ?was? ?a? ?random? ?wandering? ?child,? ?so? ?he? ?randomly? ?took? ?her? ?in.??When? ?he? ?was? ?free? ?sometimes? ?he’d? ?teach? ?them? ?songs,? ?sometimes? ?wrestle,? ?sometimes??show? ?off? ?his? ?busker? ?move? ?‘Shattering? ?Boulders? ?on? ?Chest’,? ?or? ?something,? ?and? ?they? ?got??along? ?quite? ?well.????Xie? ?Lian? ?shook? ?his? ?head,? ?“I? ?had? ?thought? ?the? ?‘BanYue’? ?in? ?the? ?Guoshi’? ?title? ?was? ?the? ?country,??I? ?didn’t? ?realize? ?it? ?was? ?actually? ?the? ?name? ?of? ?the? ?Guoshi.”???“And? ?then?”? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?asked.???“And? ?then...? ?it’s? ?pretty? ?much? ?the? ?same? ?as? ?what? ?the? ?memorial? ?wrote.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.???After? ?some? ?silence,? ?San? ?Lang? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“The? ?memorial? ?said? ?you? ?died.”????On? ?the? ?subject? ?of? ?that? ?memorial,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?quite? ?bummed? ?out.???Weren’t? ?memorials? ?usually? ?praises? ?and? ?exaggerate? ?good? ?deeds? ?to? ?glorify? ?the? ?deceased???All? ?those? ?mentions? ?of? ?the? ?demotions? ?aside,? ?why? ?did? ?it? ?have? ?to? ?so? ?solemnly? ?record? ?the??embarrassing? ?way? ?he? ?died???????While? ?they? ?were? ?hiding? ?away? ?from? ?the? ?sandstorm? ?and? ?he? ?read? ?to? ?this? ?part,? ?he? ?could??barely? ?look? ?at? ?it? ?straight? ?on.? ?If? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?for? ?San? ?Lang? ?who? ?also? ?understood? ?BanYuenese??and? ?was? ?watching? ?him,? ?he? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?pretend? ?that? ?segment? ?never? ?existed.? ?Having??something? ?like? ?that? ?written? ?down,? ?even? ?he? ?wanted? ?to? ?laugh,? ?nevermind? ?other? ?people???That? ?he? ?had? ?the? ?nerve? ?to? ?ask? ?those? ?seeking? ?shelter? ?in? ?his? ?memorial? ?to? ?not? ?laugh? ?as? ?they??commentated? ?and? ?laughed? ?at? ?his? ?epitaph,? ?it? ?made? ?him? ?feel? ?really? ?bummed.????Xie? ?Lian’s? ?forehead? ?was? ?becoming? ?red? ?from? ?all? ?the? ?rubbing.? ?“Oh,? ?that.? ?Um.? ?Of? ?course? ?I??didn’t? ?die.? ?I? ?faked? ?it.”???Fu? ?Yao? ?was? ?a? ?face? ?full? ?of? ?disbelief.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?explained? ?himself,? ?“I? ?got? ?trampled? ?on? ?too??hard? ?and? ?couldn’t? ?get? ?up,? ?so? ?there? ?wasn’t? ?any? ?other? ?way? ?besides? ?faking? ?my? ?death??anyway.”????Truthfully,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?quite? ?remember? ?exactly? ?how? ?he? ?‘died’,? ?nor? ?why? ?that? ?battle??broke? ?out? ?in? ?the? ?first? ?place,? ?only? ?that? ?it? ?was? ?over? ?something? ?petty.? ?He? ?really? ?didn’t? ?want? ?to??fight;? ?victory? ?or? ?defeat? ?was? ?meaningless.? ?But? ?by? ?then? ?his? ?rank? ?could? ?go? ?no? ?lower,? ?and? ?no??one? ?would? ?listen? ?to? ?him.? ?In? ?the? ?midst? ?of? ?battle,? ?everyone? ?saw? ?red,? ?so? ?when? ?he? ?rushed??out,? ?it? ?was? ?blades? ?and? ?swords? ?coming? ?at? ?him? ?from? ?both? ?sides? ?cutting? ?him? ?down.????Fu? ?Yao? ?questioned,? ?“It? ?must? ?be? ?because? ?you’re? ?an? ?eyesore? ?standing? ?the? ?middle? ?that? ?you??raised? ?the? ?ire? ?of? ?both? ?sides,? ?right?? ?Otherwise? ?why? ?would? ?people? ?just? ?cut? ?you? ?down? ?when??they? ?see? ?you?? ?Besides,? ?I’m? ?sure? ?you? ?knew? ?there? ?were? ?many? ?who? ?hated? ?you,? ?so? ?why??didn’t? ?you? ?evade? ?all? ?those? ?people?? ?Why? ?did? ?you? ?have? ?to? ?charge? ?in?? ?I’m? ?sure? ?you??could’ve? ?dodge? ?if? ?you? ?wanted? ?to.”?????

?

?1.Han? ?was? ?the? ?dialect? ?of? ?YongAn.? ?????2.The? ?name? ?‘Hua? ?Xie’? ?is? ?meaningless,? ?but? ?the? ?character? ?for? ?‘Hua’? ?is? ?the? ?same? ?as??the? ?one? ?in? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?name.? ?????????Ch.28:? ?Dallying? ?HuaLian;? ?Night-Fall? ?in? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit? ?5????“I? ?really? ?don’t? ?remember,? ?alright!”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,???Even? ?if? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?die,? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?stand? ?that? ?kind? ?of? ?butchering.? ?Thinking? ?‘This? ?couldn’t??go? ?on!’? ?in? ?his? ?head,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?resolutely? ?dropped? ?to? ?the? ?ground? ?to? ?fake? ?his? ?death,? ?but? ?even??in? ?‘death’? ?he? ?was? ?trampled? ?to? ?the? ?point? ?of? ?passing? ?out.? ?It? ?was? ?water? ?choking? ?him? ?that??woke? ?him,? ?because? ?corpses? ?were? ?usually? ?thrown? ?into? ?the? ?rivers? ?after? ?battles.? ?Xie? ?Lian??went? ?with? ?the? ?river? ?flow,? ?and? ?floated? ?back? ?to? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?YongAn? ?like? ?a? ?heap? ?of? ?junk.??Afterwards,? ?he? ?took? ?several? ?years? ?to? ?recover? ?from? ?his? ?wounds,? ?picked? ?up? ?an? ?unbroken??compass? ?to? ?start? ?off? ?anew,? ?and? ?finally? ?made? ?it? ?to? ?his? ?original? ?destination? ?in? ?the? ?South,??and? ?stopped? ?minding? ?what? ?went? ?down? ?in? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?BanYue.???“I’m? ?sorry.”? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?muttered? ?again.???Fu? ?Yao? ?furrowed? ?his? ?brows,? ?“Why? ?does? ?she? ?keep? ?apologizing? ?to? ?you?”???San? ?Lang? ?suddenly? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“Ke? ?Mo? ?said? ?Guoshi? ?of? ?BanYue? ?left? ?for? ?the? ?Midlands? ?after??a? ?clash? ?between? ?the? ?two? ?armies.? ?Were? ?you? ?involved? ?in? ?that?”???With? ?his? ?reminder,? ?and? ?recalling? ?what? ?was? ?written? ?on? ?the? ?memorial,? ?some? ?things? ?were??coming? ?back? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?but? ?only? ?a? ?small? ?bit.? ?“Ah,? ?maybe...”???“It? ?was? ?to? ?save? ?me.”? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?said.???Everyone? ?turned? ?to? ?look? ?at? ?her? ?and? ?she? ?mumbled,? ?“General? ?Hua? ?entered? ?the? ?fray? ?to? ?save??me,? ?and? ?got? ?flattened.”???“...”???Xie? ?Lian? ?instantly? ?remembered? ?the? ?agony? ?of? ?being? ?trampled? ?by? ?thousands,? ?and? ?he??hugged? ?his? ?arms? ?in? ?spite? ?of? ?himself,? ?but? ?when? ?he? ?saw? ?two? ?others? ?watching? ?him? ?with??unreadable? ?expressions,? ?he? ?pulled? ?himself? ?back? ?in? ?a? ?hurry? ?and? ?said,? ?“Not? ?flat.? ?Not? ?too??flat.”???Fu? ?Yao? ?didn’t? ?look? ?so? ?smug? ?anymore,? ?and? ?said? ?awkwardly,? ?“Well,? ?aren’t? ?you? ?a? ?saint.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?waved? ?dismissively,? ?“Nothing? ?of? ?the? ?sort.? ?I? ?think? ?I? ?was? ?just? ?going? ?to? ?pick? ?the? ?child??up? ?and? ?run? ?away? ?immediately,? ?but? ?we? ?didn’t? ?retreat? ?fast? ?enough? ?and? ?got? ?caught? ?between??the? ?two? ?armies...”???“If? ?that’s? ?the? ?case,”? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?said,? ?“How? ?can? ?you? ?not? ?remember? ?something? ?like? ?that?”???Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?at? ?him? ?solemnly,? ?“Do? ?you? ?not? ?know? ?how? ?many? ?hundreds? ?of? ?years? ?old? ?I??am?? ?So? ?much? ?can? ?happen? ?in? ?just? ?a? ?decade,? ?there’s? ?no? ?way? ?to? ?remember? ?everything? ?in??detail.? ?Besides,? ?some? ?things? ?are? ?best? ?forgotten.? ?Rather? ?than? ?remembering? ?how? ?I? ?was??butchered? ?and? ?trampled? ?hundreds? ?of? ?years? ?ago,? ?I’d? ?prefer? ?to? ?remember? ?that? ?I? ?ate? ?a??delicious? ?meat? ?bun? ?yesterday,? ?no?”????“I’m? ?sorry.”? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?said.???Xie? ?Lian? ?sighed,? ?“My? ?dear? ?Ban? ?Yue.? ?Saving? ?you? ?is? ?my? ?own? ?choice,? ?you’re? ?not? ?at? ?fault.? ?If??you’re? ?going? ?to? ?apologize,? ?perhaps? ?it? ?should? ?be? ?to? ?others.”???Ban? ?Yue? ?was? ?taken? ?aback,? ?and? ?hung? ?her? ?head? ?in? ?silence.???“But...? ?maybe? ?it’s? ?because? ?my? ?impression? ?of? ?you? ?was? ?from? ?two? ?hundred? ?years? ?ago,? ?but? ?I??don’t? ?think? ?you’re? ?the? ?kind? ?of? ?child? ?who? ?sought? ?revenge? ?and? ?betray? ?others...? ?Will? ?you? ?tell??me? ?what? ?exactly? ?happened?? ?Why? ?did? ?you? ?open? ?the? ?fortress? ?gates?”???Ban? ?Yue? ?contemplated,? ?shook? ?her? ?head,? ?and? ?continued? ?to? ?remain? ?silent.???“Then,? ?why? ?did? ?you? ?let? ?the? ?snakes? ?out? ?to? ?bite? ?people?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.???This? ?time,? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?answered,? ?“I? ?didn’t? ?release? ?the? ?snakes.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?taken? ?aback,? ?“What?”???“I? ?didn’t? ?release? ?the? ?snakes.”? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?said,? ?“They? ?ran? ?off? ?on? ?their? ?own.? ?I? ?don’t? ?know? ?why??but? ?they? ?don’t? ?listen? ?to? ?me? ?anymore.”???Hearing? ?this,? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?grew? ?impatient.? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?pleaded,? ?“General? ?Hua,? ?I’m? ?not? ?lying.”????Before? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?responded? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?cut? ?in? ?rudely,? ?“Anyone? ?would? ?say? ?that? ?after? ?being??captured.? ?Even? ?if? ?you? ?say? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?intentional,? ?I’ve? ?heard? ?all? ?that? ?before.? ?All? ?those? ?people??cross? ?the? ?Pass? ?were? ?certainly? ?all? ?injured? ?by? ?your? ?snakes.? ?Show? ?me? ?your? ?hands,? ?you’re??under? ?arrest.”???Ban? ?Yue? ?shut? ?up? ?and? ?extended? ?both? ?arms.? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?immediately? ?took? ?out? ?a? ?God-Binding??rope? ?and? ?apprehended? ?both? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?and? ?Ke? ?Mo,? ?then? ?said,? ?“Alright.? ?We’ve??accomplished? ?our? ?goal? ?for? ?this? ?trip.? ?It’s? ?all? ?over? ?now.”???Just? ?then,? ?San? ?Lang? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“She? ?had? ?no? ?reason? ?to? ?lie.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?also? ?felt? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?need? ?to? ?further? ?interrogation? ?and? ?turned? ?to? ?Ban? ?Yue,? ?“Can??you? ?not? ?control? ?any? ?of? ?your? ?snakes?”????Ban? ?Yue? ?answered,? ?“I? ?can? ?control? ?them,? ?and? ?they’ll? ?obey? ?most? ?of? ?the? ?time.? ?But? ?there? ?are??times? ?when? ?they? ?won’t.? ?I? ?don’t? ?know? ?why.”???After? ?some? ?thought,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“Why? ?don’t? ?you? ?call? ?them? ?out? ?and? ?show? ?us?”???Ban? ?Yue? ?had? ?knelt? ?down? ?before? ?him? ?earlier,? ?now? ?she? ?finally? ?rose? ?to? ?her? ?feet? ?and??nodded.Soon,? ?a? ?wine? ?red? ?scorpion? ?snake? ?slithered? ?out? ?from? ?underneath? ?a? ?corpse,? ?raised??its? ?head? ?and? ?curled? ?itself? ?above? ?a? ?pile? ?of? ?dead? ?bodies,? ?and? ?soundlessly? ?flicked? ?its? ?tongue??to? ?the? ?group.???Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?take? ?a? ?closer? ?look? ?at? ?the? ?snake? ?but? ?saw? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?widen? ?her? ?eyes,??face? ?strange.? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?heart? ?dropped? ?and? ?thought,? ?“Oh? ?no.”???As? ?he? ?thought,? ?after? ?flicking? ?its? ?tongue? ?the? ?snake? ?opened? ?its? ?mouth? ?and? ?pounced??towards? ?him? ?in? ?attack.???It? ?was? ?a? ?sudden? ?lunge,? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?ready,? ?and? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?grab? ?for? ?it? ?when? ??boom?!??Something? ?exploded.? ?When? ?he? ?opened? ?his? ?eyes? ?again? ?to? ?see,? ?the? ?snake? ?was? ?already? ?a??splatter? ?of? ?guts? ?on? ?the? ?ground,? ?having? ?thoroughly? ?blown? ?apart.? ?It? ?was? ?a? ?calculated? ?blast??too;? ?none? ?of? ?the? ?venom? ?spilled.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?immediately? ?remembered? ?another? ?instance??where? ?a? ?snake? ?died? ?like? ?this? ?before? ?they? ?entered? ?the? ?BanYue? ?ruins,? ?but? ?there? ?was? ?no??need? ?to? ?say? ?who? ?did? ?it? ?at? ?this? ?point.? ?He? ?hadn’t? ?even? ?had? ?the? ?chance? ?to? ?look? ?at? ?San? ?Lang??before? ?a? ?red? ?sleeve? ?flashed? ?before? ?him,? ?barring? ?and? ?separating? ?him? ?from? ?Ban? ?Yue.????On? ?the? ?other? ?side,? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?also? ?said? ?cooly,? ?“I? ?knew? ?she? ?lied.? ?Did? ?you? ?think? ?this? ?snake? ?can??manage? ?to? ?bite? ?him? ?under? ?these? ?circumstances?? ?Foolish.”????Ban? ?Yue’s? ?face? ?was? ?already? ?pale? ?when? ?she? ?saw? ?that? ?snake,? ?and? ?when? ?she? ?heard? ?him??her? ?head? ?shot? ?up,? ?“I? ?didn’t? ?do? ?it.? ?I? ?said? ?there? ?are? ?some? ?snakes? ?that? ?don’t? ?obey,? ?and? ?that??one? ?was? ?one? ?of? ?them? ?just? ?now.”???Fu? ?Yao? ?didn’t? ?believe? ?a? ?single? ?word,? ?“Who? ?knows? ?if? ?it? ?was? ?actually? ?disobeying? ?or? ?obeying??you?”???“That? ?one? ?wasn’t? ?even? ?called? ?forth? ?by? ?me.”? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?said.???Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?speak? ?when? ?another? ?two? ?wine? ?red? ?scorpion? ?snakes? ?peeked? ?out??from? ?under? ?a? ?different? ?corpse,? ?flicking? ?their? ?tongues? ?and? ?watching? ?them? ?intently.? ?Then? ?a??third,? ?a? ?fourth,? ?a? ?fifth...? ?from? ?the? ?mountains? ?of? ?dead? ?bodies,? ?and? ?from? ?all? ?around? ?every??corner? ?of? ?the? ?pit,? ?came? ?innumerous? ?scorpion? ?snakes!???Everyone? ?stared? ?at? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?who? ?was? ?kneeling? ?on? ?top? ?of? ?pile? ?of? ?corpses,? ?and? ?Fu? ?Yao??started? ?spinning? ?a? ?ball? ?of? ?spiritual? ?energy? ?in? ?his? ?palm,? ?shouting? ?towards? ?her,? ?“Make? ?them??go? ?away!? ?They? ?can’t? ?all? ?disobey!”???Ban? ?Yue? ?scrunched? ?up? ?her? ?brows,? ?looking? ?as? ?if? ?she’s? ?trying? ?to? ?drive? ?them? ?out.? ?Yet? ?more??and? ?more? ?scorpion? ?snakes? ?appeared,? ?curling? ?and? ?crawling,? ?slithering? ?ever? ?closer.? ?Bites??from? ?one? ?or? ?two? ?snakes? ?might? ?not? ?kill? ?them,? ?but? ?hundreds? ?and? ?thousands? ?was? ?harder? ?to??say.? ?Even? ?if? ?they? ?didn’t? ?die? ?it? ?wouldn’t? ?be? ?pretty.????Xie? ?Lian? ?raised? ?his? ?wrist? ?about? ?to? ?call? ?forth? ?Ruoye,? ?but? ?saw? ?that? ?when? ?the? ?snakes??slithered? ?to? ?a? ?certain? ?distance,? ?they? ?would? ?stop? ?and? ?hesitate,? ?forming? ?a? ?weird? ?circle??around? ?him? ?and? ?San? ?Lang.? ?It? ?dawned? ?on? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?he? ?glanced? ?at? ?the? ?boy? ?next? ?to? ?him.??He? ?was? ?watching? ?the? ?snakes? ?condescendingly? ?with? ?immense? ?contempt.? ?The? ?scorpion??snakes? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?read? ?his? ?eyes? ?and? ?didn’t? ?dare? ?approach.? ?They? ?backed? ?off??bit? ?by? ?bit,? ?lowering? ?their? ?savage? ?heads? ?as? ?they? ?did? ?so,? ?and? ?pressed? ?against? ?the? ?ground??sumbmissively? ?like? ?servants.????But? ?there? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?another? ?power? ?controlling? ?them,? ?making? ?them? ?unable? ?to??abandon? ?attacks? ?and? ?leave? ?completely.? ?Thus,? ?many? ?of? ?the? ?snakes? ?turned? ?around? ?and??slithered? ?towards? ?Fu? ?Yao.? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?swung? ?his? ?hand? ?and? ?a? ?blast? ?of? ?flames? ?burst? ?from? ?his??sleeve,? ?killing? ?a? ?circle? ?of? ?snakes.????That? ?wouldn’t? ?last? ?long,? ?however,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“Let’s? ?go? ?up? ?and? ?get? ?out? ?of? ?here??first!”???Whoosh?,? ?Ruoye? ?shot? ?out? ?from? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?arm? ?and? ?flew? ?upwards.? ?But? ?soon,? ?another??whoosh? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?back? ?on? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?arm.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?taken? ?aback? ?and? ?raised? ?his??wrist,? ?admonishing? ?the? ?silk? ?band,? ?“What? ?are? ?you? ?doing? ?back? ?here?? ?The? ?array? ?was??released,? ?hurry? ?and? ?go!”???But? ?Ruoye? ?remained? ?wrapped? ?on? ?his? ?arm,? ?trembling,? ?as? ?if? ?he? ?bumped? ?into? ?something??terrifying? ?at? ?the? ?top.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?still? ?chiding? ?it? ?when? ?suddenly,? ?a? ?long? ?rope? ?of? ?something??fell.? ?‘Plop’,? ?it? ?dropped? ?on? ?Fu? ?Yao’s? ?shoulder.? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?went? ?to? ?grab? ?for? ?it,? ?and? ?his? ?face??changed? ?the? ?moment? ?he? ?brought? ?it? ?before? ?his? ?eyes? ?–? ?it? ?was? ?another? ?scorpion? ?snake? ?that??fell? ?from? ?the? ?sky!???This? ?took? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?off? ?guard,? ?and? ?after? ?getting? ?bitten,? ?he? ?hurled? ?the? ?snake? ?towards? ?Ban??Yue.? ?Even? ?with? ?her? ?hands? ?tied,? ?she? ?still? ?unconsciously? ?tried? ?to? ?catch? ?the? ?snake,? ?and??having? ?caught? ?it,? ?the? ?dark? ?red? ?snake? ?curled? ?itself? ?up? ?around? ?her? ?arm? ?and? ?did? ?not? ?attack.??Just? ?then,? ?another? ?‘plop’? ?and? ?a? ?second? ?scorpion? ?snake? ?landed? ?on? ?the? ?ground!???Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?guess? ?why? ?Ruoye? ?refused? ?to? ?go? ?up? ?now.? ?Borrowing? ?the? ?faint? ?light? ?of? ?the??moon,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?raised? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?only? ?just? ?barely? ?saw? ?this? ?sight:? ?hundreds? ?of? ?little??wine? ?red? ?dots? ?were? ?falling? ?rapidly? ?into? ?the? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit.???A? ?snake? ?deluge!???The? ?red? ?dots? ?were? ?coming? ?closer? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?yelled,? ?“Fu? ?Yao!? ?Fire!? ?Shoot? ?a? ?stream? ?of??fire? ?upwards? ?and? ?get? ?rid? ?of? ?them? ?halfway!”???Fu? ?Yao? ?bit? ?his? ?palm? ?to? ?break? ?skin,? ?swung? ?his? ?hand,? ?and? ?a? ?series? ?of? ?blood? ?drops? ?shot? ?out,??transforming? ?into? ?a? ?curtain? ?of? ?fire,? ?jetting? ?upwards? ?the? ?pit.? ?Those? ?sweeping? ?flames? ?rose??to? ?over? ?tens? ?of? ?feet? ?and? ?hung? ?midair,? ?disintegrating? ?all? ?scorpion? ?snakes? ?that’d? ?touch? ?it,??turning? ?them? ?into? ?ashes,? ?dissolving? ?the? ?snake? ?deluge.????Temporarily? ?safe,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?let? ?out? ?a? ?breath? ?of? ?relief.? ?“That? ?was? ?good,? ?Fu? ?Yao!? ?Thank??goodness? ?for? ?you.”???Yet? ?that? ?spell? ?consumed? ?immense? ?powers,? ?and? ?after? ?one? ?round,? ?Fu? ?Yao’s? ?face? ?was? ?pale.??He? ?turned? ?around? ?and? ?ignited? ?a? ?ring? ?of? ?fire,? ?dispelling? ?the? ?snakes? ?on? ?the? ?ground,? ?and??shouted? ?at? ?Ban? ?Yue,? ?“And? ?you? ?say? ?those? ?snakes? ?don’t? ?obey? ?you?? ?If? ?it? ?weren’t? ?you??controlling? ?them,? ?why? ?wouldn’t? ?they? ?attack? ?you?”???San? ?Lang? ?laughed,? ?“Maybe? ?it’s? ?because? ?of? ?your? ?bad? ?luck?? ?They? ?didn’t? ?attack? ?us? ?either.”???Fu? ?Yao? ?turned? ?to? ?look? ?at? ?him,? ?his? ?eyes? ?sharp? ?and? ?narrowed.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?sense??trouble.? ?With? ?the? ?ample? ?hints? ?he’d? ?gotten? ?that? ?he? ?hadn’t? ?had? ?time? ?to? ?digest? ?in? ?his? ?head,??he? ?didn’t? ?want? ?to? ?see? ?the? ?two? ?start? ?fighting? ?and? ?said,? ?“Let’s? ?figure? ?out? ?what’s? ?going? ?on??with? ?those? ?snakes? ?first.? ?Let’s? ?charge? ?out.”???Fu? ?Yao? ?sneered,? ?“What’s? ?going? ?on?? ?Either? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?of? ?BanYue? ?is? ?lying,? ?or? ?the? ?one??next? ?to? ?you? ?is? ?causing? ?trouble.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?at? ?Ban? ?Yue,? ?then? ?looked? ?at? ?San? ?Lang,? ?and? ?said,? ?“I? ?don’t? ?think? ?it’s? ?either??of? ?them.”???His? ?tone? ?was? ?gentle? ?but? ?firm.? ?It? ?was? ?the? ?conclusion? ?he? ?had? ?come? ?to? ?after? ?much? ?thought.??However,? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?must? ?have? ?thought? ?he? ?was? ?shielding? ?them? ?intentionally;? ?the? ?face??illuminated? ?by? ?the? ?flames? ?was? ?unkind,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?tell? ?if? ?he? ?was? ?angry? ?or? ?laughing.???“Your? ?Royal? ?Highness,”? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?said,? ?“Don’t? ?play? ?pretend? ?when? ?you? ?know? ?the? ?truth.? ?Do??you? ?still? ?know? ?your? ?place?? ?I’m? ?sure? ?you’re? ?already? ?very? ?aware? ?of? ?what? ?exactly? ?that? ?thing??is? ?next? ?to? ?you.? ?I? ?won’t? ?believe? ?you? ?hadn’t? ?realized? ?it? ?at? ?all!”?????Ch.29:? ?Wind? ?Master? ?in? ?White;? ?Bellowing? ?Sandstorms? ?from? ?Nothing????Xie? ?Lian? ?unconsciously? ?stepped? ?forward? ?to? ?stand? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?San? ?Lang,? ?“I? ?know? ?better??than? ?anyone? ?where? ?my? ?place? ?is.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied.???“Then? ?how? ?dare? ?you? ?still? ?stand? ?next? ?to? ?him?!”? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?shouted.???“Because...? ?If? ?I? ?stand? ?next? ?to? ?him? ?the? ?snakes? ?won’t? ?come.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?answered? ?earnestly.???“...”???Hearing? ?the? ?response,? ?San? ?Lang? ?‘pfft’-ed? ?and? ?laughed? ?out? ?loud.? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?became??grimmer,? ?“YOU–”???Grimmer? ?and? ?grimmer,? ?his? ?face? ?suddenly? ?turned? ?completely? ?black,? ?and? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?just? ?his??face,? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?entire? ?line? ?of? ?sight? ?dimmed? ?into? ?darkness.???The? ?curtain? ?of? ?flames? ?and? ?the? ?ring? ?of? ?fire? ?created? ?by? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?were? ?suddenly? ?completely??extinguished!???Xie? ?Lian? ?heard? ?San? ?Lang? ?snicker? ?and? ?say? ?“Useless? ?trash!”? ?before? ?gripping? ?his? ?shoulders??to? ?pull? ?him? ?close.? ?Soon? ?after,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?heard? ?a? ?sudden? ?downpour? ?of? ?endless? ?battering??above? ?them,? ?like? ?a? ?thunderstorm? ?hitting? ?an? ?umbrella.???Needless? ?to? ?say,? ?it? ?was? ?the? ?snake? ?deluge? ?that? ?came? ?pouring? ?down? ?crazedly? ?now? ?that? ?the??defense? ?barrier? ?was? ?gone.? ?The? ?open? ?umbrella? ?was? ?blocking? ?the? ?downpour? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian??could? ?smell? ?the? ?thick? ?foul? ?odour? ?of? ?blood.? ?He? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?fight? ?but? ?San? ?Lang? ?stopped??him,? ?“Don’t? ?move.? ?No? ?lowlives? ?will? ?dare? ?approach.”???His? ?tone? ?was? ?confident;? ?the? ?first? ?sentence? ?was? ?soft? ?and? ?gentle,? ?the? ?latter? ?had? ?a? ?layer? ?of??arrogance.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?wasn’t? ?worried,? ?but? ?hearing? ?Fu? ?Yao’s? ?angry? ?roars? ?at? ?the? ?other? ?end,??sounding? ?as? ?if? ?he? ?was? ?getting? ?covered? ?in? ?snakes,? ?he? ?called? ?out,? ?“San? ?Lang!”???San? ?Lang? ?instantly? ?replied,? ?“No.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?know? ?whether? ?to? ?laugh? ?or? ?cry,? ?“How? ?did? ?you? ?know? ?what? ?I? ?was? ?going? ?to??say?”???“Don’t? ?worry? ?so? ?much,? ?he? ?can’t? ?die.”? ?San? ?Lang? ?said.???Just? ?then,? ?another? ?roar? ?came? ?from? ?a? ?different? ?part? ?of? ?the? ?pit,? ?“BAN? ?YUE!? ?If? ?you? ?want? ?me??to? ?die? ?then? ?have? ?them? ?bite? ?and? ?kill? ?me? ?in? ?one? ?go!? ?WHAT? ?THE? ?HELL? ?IS? ?THIS??”???“It’s? ?not? ?me!”? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?cried.? ?It? ?seemed? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?had? ?woken? ?from? ?all? ?the? ?battering,??discovered? ?himself? ?covered? ?by? ?countless? ?snakes,? ?and? ?believed? ?it? ?to? ?be? ?Ban? ?Yue’s? ?doing.????“Fu? ?Yao,? ?can? ?you? ?light? ?another? ?fire?? ?Do? ?it? ?again!”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?shouted.???Fu? ?Yao? ?gritted? ?his? ?teeth,? ?“That? ?thing? ?next? ?to? ?you? ?is? ?restricting? ?my? ?powers,? ?I? ?can’t? ?light??anything!”???Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?dread,? ?and? ?San? ?Lang? ?said,? ?“It’s? ?not? ?me.”???“I? ?know? ?it’s? ?not? ?you.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“But? ?that’s? ?precisely? ?what’s? ?wrong.? ?Both? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?and??Ke? ?Mo? ?are? ?bound? ?by? ?the? ?God-Binding? ?rope;? ?they? ?can’t? ?use? ?their? ?powers.? ?My? ?powers? ?are??depleted,? ?and? ?you’re? ?not? ?restricting? ?anyone,? ?meaning,? ?there’s? ?a? ?sixth? ?person? ?in? ?this? ?pit?!”???“Have? ?you? ?lost? ?your? ?mind?”? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?demanded,? ?“What? ?sixth? ?person?? ?There? ?wasn’t??anyone? ?who? ?came? ?down!”???“Who’s? ?there?”? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?suddenly? ?said.???“Ban? ?Yue,? ?what’s? ?happening?? ?Is? ?someone? ?over? ?there?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.???“Someone–”? ?Ban? ?Yue’s? ?voice? ?disappeared? ?halfway;? ?whether? ?her? ?mouth? ?was? ?sealed??shut,? ?or? ?she? ?lost? ?consciousness? ?was? ?not? ?known.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?called? ?out? ?again,? ?“Ban? ?Yue?”???Fu? ?Yao? ?was? ?still? ?fighting? ?snakes,? ?and? ?was? ?throwing? ?spiritual? ?energy? ?everywhere,? ?flashing??here? ?and? ?there? ?in? ?the? ?dark.? ?“Be? ?careful!? ?She? ?might? ?be? ?tricking? ?you!”???“Not? ?necessarily.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?shouted,? ?“I’m? ?going? ?to? ?save? ?her? ?first!”????Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?run? ?into? ?the? ?snake? ?deluge? ?when? ?he? ?heard? ?San? ?Lang’s? ?voice? ?next??to? ?his? ?ear,? ?“Alright.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?the? ?hand? ?grasping? ?his? ?shoulders? ?tighten,? ?and? ?in? ?a? ?flash? ?they? ?were? ?blitzing??forward.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?realized? ?in? ?awe? ?that? ?the? ?boy? ?was? ?advancing? ?and? ?attacking? ?but? ?with? ?an??umbrella? ?in? ?one? ?hand,? ?and? ?him? ?in? ?the? ?other.? ?In? ?the? ?darkness,? ?silver? ?shimmers? ?flashed??about? ?once? ?more,? ?clanking? ?and? ?clinking,? ?when? ?suddenly,? ?a? ?sharp? ?sound? ?of? ?two? ?swords??clashing? ?rang? ?in? ?everyone’s? ?ears.???“Oh?”? ?San? ?Lang? ?said,? ?“There? ?really? ?is? ?a? ?sixth? ?person.? ?Interesting.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?no? ?idea? ?how? ?San? ?Lang? ?was? ?controlling? ?the? ?weapon,? ?or? ?what? ?kind? ?of? ?weapon??it? ?was,? ?but? ?whatever? ?it? ?was,? ?it? ?most? ?certainly? ?did? ?come? ?head? ?to? ?head? ?with? ?another!???The? ?other? ?party? ?remained? ?silent,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?only? ?hear? ?the? ?sound? ?of? ?metal??scraping? ?metal? ?as? ?the? ?fight? ?intensified.? ?From? ?time? ?to? ?time? ?there? ?would? ?be? ?sparks? ?flashing??in? ?the? ?dark,? ?but? ?each? ?time? ?it? ?was? ?so? ?short-lived? ?it? ?was? ?hard? ?to? ?see? ?the? ?other’s? ?face.??Listening? ?to? ?the? ?fight,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?feel? ?Ruoye? ?grip? ?tighter? ?and? ?tighter,? ?and? ?had? ?to??murmur? ?reassurance,? ?“Don’t? ?be? ?scared,? ?relax.? ?Relax? ?a? ?bit.”? ?Ruoye? ?loosened,? ?and? ?Xie??Lian? ?called? ?out? ?again,? ?“Ban? ?Yue,? ?are? ?you? ?conscious?? ?Can? ?you? ?respond?”???No? ?one? ?responded.? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?exclaimed,? ?“Maybe? ?the? ?one? ?fighting? ?now? ?is? ?her!”???“No.? ?This? ?one? ?is? ?definitely? ?not? ?Ban? ?Yue!”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.???When? ?San? ?Lang? ?fought? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?in? ?the? ?dark,? ?he? ?was? ?light-footed? ?and? ?messing? ?about,??playing? ?with? ?him.? ?This? ?fight? ?was? ?also? ?in? ?the? ?dark,? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?tell? ?San? ?Lang? ?was??taking? ?it? ?more? ?seriously.? ?The? ?other? ?party? ?was? ?extremely? ?skilled? ?in? ?martial? ?arts? ?and??weaponry;? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?was? ?small? ?and? ?weak,? ?just? ?looking? ?at? ?her? ?arms? ?it? ?was? ?obvious? ?power??and? ?arms? ?were? ?not? ?her? ?forte,? ?so? ?it? ?was? ?impossible? ?for? ?her? ?to? ?be? ?fighting? ?San? ?Lang.? ?But??who? ?was? ?this? ?sixth? ?person?? ?When? ?did? ?they? ?appear?!???Fu? ?Yao? ?griped,? ?“Someone? ?who? ?would? ?betray? ?her? ?own? ?country? ?is? ?no? ?different? ?than? ?Xuan??Ji,? ?why? ?on? ?earth? ?would? ?you? ?still? ?believe? ?in? ?her?”???“Fu? ?Yao,? ?can? ?you? ?not? ?be? ?so? ?irritated?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“You...? ?Wait.? ?What? ?did? ?you? ?just??say?”????Fu? ?Yao? ?struck? ?out? ?another? ?fist,? ?and? ?blew? ?away? ?a? ?bunch? ?of? ?snakes,? ?“I? ?said,? ?why? ?on? ?earth??would? ?you? ?believe? ?in? ?her? ?the? ?same? ?way? ?you? ?believe? ?in? ?that? ?thing? ?next? ?to? ?you!”???“No,? ?not? ?that? ?–? ?you? ?said? ?Xuan? ?Ji.? ?You? ?mentioned? ?Xuan? ?Ji’s? ?name,? ?didn’t? ?you!”? ?Xie? ?Lian??said.???“Yea,? ?so? ?what?!? ?She’s? ?completely? ?irrelevant!”????Xie? ?Lian? ?however,? ?held? ?his? ?breath.? ?A? ?moment? ?later,? ?he? ?called? ?out,? ?“Stop? ?fighting,? ?there’s??no? ?more? ?need? ?to? ?hide.? ?I? ?know? ?who? ?you? ?are!”???The? ?sound? ?of? ?blades? ?clashing? ?never? ?halted,? ?the? ?other? ?party? ?unaffected,? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian??wasn’t? ?worried,? ?“Did? ?you? ?think? ?I? ?was? ?tricking? ?you? ?when? ?I? ?said? ?I? ?already? ?know? ?who? ?you??are?? ?General? ?Pei? ?Junior?”???.???“Who? ?are? ?you? ?talking? ?to?”? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?was? ?dumbstruck,? ?“General? ?Pei? ?Junior?? ?Don’t? ?be? ?crazy.??Who? ?do? ?you? ?think? ?he? ?is?? ?If? ?he? ?descended? ?everyone? ?would? ?know!”???“You’re? ?very? ?right,”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“But? ?what? ?if? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?his? ?true? ?self? ?that? ?descended?”???In? ?the? ?darkness,? ?the? ?fighting? ?weapons? ?faltered? ?then? ?continued? ?anew.???Xie? ?Lian? ?spoke,? ?“It? ?took? ?me? ?too? ?long? ?to? ?figure? ?this? ?out.? ?I? ?should’ve? ?known? ?from? ?the??beginning.”???“I? ?knew? ?that? ?for? ?close? ?to? ?two? ?hundred? ?years? ?there? ?was? ?something? ?causing? ?havoc? ?but??none? ?of? ?the? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?cared,? ?and? ?no? ?one? ?dared? ?to? ?speak? ?of? ?it,? ?so? ?there? ?must? ?be??one? ?or? ?a? ?number? ?of? ?officials? ?keeping? ?a? ?wrap? ?on? ?this? ?scandal.? ?But? ?because? ?I? ?wasn’t??familiar? ?with? ?many? ?of? ?the? ?officials,? ?I? ?didn’t? ?dare? ?to? ?boldly? ?pin? ?this? ?on? ?anyone,? ?and? ?never??tried? ?to? ?boldly? ?deduce? ?just? ?which? ?heavenly? ?official? ?it? ?could? ?be.”????It? ?was? ?Fu? ?Yao’s? ?mention? ?of? ?Xuan? ?Ji? ?that? ?reminded? ?him.???When? ?it? ?came? ?to? ?Xuan? ?Ji,? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?hard? ?to? ?relate? ?her? ?to? ?the? ?two? ?General? ?Pei’s,? ?and? ?the??North? ?was? ?their? ?territory.? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?once? ?said? ?in? ?passing? ?that? ?prior? ?to? ?his? ?ascension,??General? ?Pei? ?Junior? ?slaughtered? ?a? ?city.???Which? ?city????It? ?could? ?very? ?well? ?be? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?BanYue!???The? ?Upper? ?Court? ?wouldn’t? ?bat? ?an? ?eyelash? ?at? ?something? ?like? ?this;? ?everyone? ?needed? ?to??spill? ?some? ?blood? ?if? ?they? ?wanted? ?to? ?do? ?great? ?things.? ?But? ?slaughtering? ?a? ?city? ?wasn’t??anything? ?glorious? ?after? ?all,? ?and? ?if? ?the? ?story? ?got? ?spread? ?too? ?far? ?it? ?would? ?affect? ?the? ?numbers??of? ?new? ?believers,? ?so? ?of? ?course? ?there? ?would? ?be? ?some? ?cover? ?ups? ?after? ?ascension.? ?Thus,??even? ?if? ?everyone? ?knew? ?something? ?of? ?the? ?sort? ?happened,? ?they? ?probably? ?didn’t? ?know? ?the??details? ?or? ?care? ?to? ?know? ?the? ?details.? ?Besides,? ?if? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?for? ?deep? ?grudges,? ?who’d? ?had? ?the??time? ?to? ?care? ?to? ?dig? ?his? ?past? ?and? ?offend? ?the? ?support? ?behind? ?his? ?back????Xie? ?Lian? ?spoke? ?slowly,? ?“That? ?mud? ?face? ?had? ?said? ?there? ?was? ?someone? ?amongst? ?us? ?who??already? ?visited? ?the? ?fortress? ?fifty? ?to? ?sixty? ?years? ?ago.? ?At? ?first? ?I? ?thought? ?he? ?was? ?lying? ?to??deceive? ?us? ?into? ?approaching,? ?but,? ?his? ?words? ?may? ?very? ?well? ?contain? ?truth.”???“Before,? ?in? ?that? ?group? ?of? ?people,? ?the? ?one? ?I? ?was? ?the? ?most? ?suspicious? ?of? ?was? ?you.? ?The??caravan? ?followed? ?you,? ?and? ?you? ?could? ?take? ?them? ?anywhere.? ?I? ?have? ?never? ?seen? ?a? ?single??scorpion? ?snake? ?in? ?the? ?years? ?I? ?lived? ?nearby? ?BanYue,? ?and? ?from? ?just? ?seeking? ?a? ?random??shelter? ?from? ?the? ?sandstorm,? ?they? ?happen? ?to? ?show? ?up?”???“I? ?asked? ?you? ?to? ?come? ?look? ?for? ?the? ?ShanYue? ?fern? ?with? ?us,? ?but? ?just? ?before? ?we? ?left? ?you? ?gave??the? ?directions? ?of? ?the? ?ruins? ?to? ?the? ?others? ?so? ?they? ?could? ?follow? ?in? ?our? ?steps? ?if? ?they? ?could? ?no??longer? ?sit? ?still.? ?Earlier? ?on? ?top? ?of? ?the? ?walls,? ?I? ?had? ?already? ?said? ?if? ?anything? ?were? ?to? ?happen,? ?I??would? ?go? ?forward? ?first;? ?you? ?who? ?is? ?always? ?calm? ?suddenly? ?jumped,? ?dying? ?a? ?meaningless??death.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?continued? ?after? ?a? ?pause,? ?“Your? ?actions? ?were? ?strange? ?and? ?illogical.? ?That? ?it? ?took??me? ?until? ?now? ?to? ?realize? ?who? ?you? ?are? ?really? ?was? ?too? ?late.? ?Isn’t? ?that? ?right,? ?General? ?Pei??Junior?? ?Or? ?should? ?I? ?call? ?your? ?current? ?name,? ?A-Zhao!”???The? ?silence? ?that? ?ensued? ?was? ?abrupt.???It? ?was? ?a? ?moment? ?before? ?a? ?cold? ?voice? ?came,? ?“Have? ?you? ?never? ?suspected? ?that? ?the? ?mud??face? ?might? ?be? ?talking? ?about? ?the? ?red? ?clothed? ?boy? ?next? ?to? ?you?”???A? ?stream? ?of? ?flames? ?suddenly? ?lit? ?up? ?across? ?the? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit.???Under? ?the? ?light,? ?two? ?bloody? ?silhouettes? ?were? ?revealed.? ?One? ?was? ?San? ?Lang,? ?dressed? ?in??red,? ?proper? ?and? ?standing? ?with? ?his? ?weapon? ?already? ?tucked? ?away.? ?The? ?other? ?was? ?a? ?plainly??clothed? ?young? ?man? ?with? ?a? ?sword? ?held? ?tightly? ?in? ?hand,? ?still? ?at? ?the? ?ready.???The? ?plain? ?clothed? ?young? ?man? ?was? ?covered? ?in? ?blood,? ?looking? ?as? ?if? ?he? ?was? ?also? ?dressed? ?in??red.? ?His? ?expression? ?was? ?cold? ?and? ?reserved,? ?carrying? ?someone? ?over? ?his? ?shoulders.? ?It? ?was??indeed? ?A-Zhao.???To? ?be? ?fair,? ?whether? ?it? ?be? ?General? ?Pei? ?Junior? ?his? ?true? ?self? ?or? ?A-Zhao,? ?that? ?composed,? ?calm??and? ?collectedness? ?never? ?changed;? ?only,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?never? ?gone? ?down? ?that? ?train? ?of??thought? ?so? ?he? ?didn’t? ?connect? ?the? ?two.???The? ?one? ?he? ?was? ?carrying? ?over? ?his? ?shoulders? ?was? ?Ban? ?Yue.? ?It? ?seemed? ?he? ?had? ?called? ?forth??the? ?snakes? ?in? ?order? ?to? ?steal? ?her? ?away? ?during? ?the? ?chaos.? ?Now? ?that? ?his? ?identity? ?was??revealed,? ?he? ?had? ?no? ?more? ?need? ?to? ?create? ?havoc,? ?and? ?the? ?snake? ?deluge? ?ceased??bombarding.? ?He? ?sheathed? ?his? ?sword? ?and? ?gently? ?laid? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?down? ?on? ?the? ?ground.? ?On??the? ?side,? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?was? ?shocked,? ?“Who? ?are? ?you?? ?Didn’t? ?you? ?fall? ?to? ?your? ?death???”???A-Zhao? ?didn’t? ?spare? ?a? ?look? ?at? ?Ke? ?Mo,? ?staring? ?instead? ?at? ?San? ?Lang? ?vigilantly.? ?“Ke? ?Mo,? ?you??really? ?haven’t? ?changed? ?in? ?these? ?past? ?hundreds? ?of? ?years.”? ?He? ?said? ?in? ?BanYuenese.???Perhaps? ?the? ?tone? ?of? ?this? ?maddening? ?calm? ?was? ?overly? ?familiar,? ?Ke? ?Mo’s? ?face? ?immediately??scrunched? ?up? ?in? ?rage,? ?“...? ?IT’S? ?YOU!!!? ?PEI? ?SU!!!”???If? ?not? ?for? ?the? ?God-Binding? ?rope? ?solidly? ?tying? ?him? ?down,? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?would’ve? ?lunged? ?at? ?him? ?to??fight? ?to? ?the? ?death.????“General? ?Pei? ?Junior,”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“Those? ?scorpion? ?snakes? ?didn’t? ?just? ?listen? ?to? ?one??command.? ?You? ?controlled? ?all? ?the? ?snakes? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?said? ?no? ?longer? ?listened? ?to? ?her? ?and??went? ?out? ?to? ?harm,? ?correct?”????“En.? ?I? ?did? ?it.”? ?He? ?certainly? ?admitted? ?it? ?easily.???“Did? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?teach? ?you? ?how? ?to? ?control? ?the? ?scorpion? ?snakes?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.???“She? ?didn’t,”? ?Pei? ?Su? ?said,? ?“But? ?how? ?she? ?does? ?it,? ?I? ?could? ?very? ?well? ?learn? ?for? ?myself.”???“General? ?Pei? ?Junior? ?is? ?exceedingly? ?intelligent? ?after? ?all.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?commented.???After? ?a? ?pause,? ?he? ?then? ?asked,? ?“When? ?did? ?you? ?two? ?meet?? ?How? ?did? ?you? ?two? ?meet?”????Pei? ?Su? ?however,? ?gave? ?him? ?a? ?look,? ?“General? ?Hua.”????Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?puzzled,? ?“Why? ?are? ?you? ?calling? ?me? ?by? ?that? ?title? ?too?”????Pei? ?Su? ?asked? ?quietly,? ?“Do? ?you? ?not? ?recognize? ?me,? ?General? ?Hua?”???“...”???Now? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?did.???The? ?beginning? ?of? ?it? ?was? ?kind? ?of? ?blurry.? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?was? ?bullied? ?and? ?ignored? ?by? ?other??BanYue? ?children? ?when? ?she? ?was? ?younger,? ?and? ?only? ?a? ?young? ?boy? ?of? ?YongAn? ?would??sometimes? ?pay? ?attention? ?to? ?her.? ?That? ?boy? ?was? ?like? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?and? ?didn’t? ?talk? ?very? ?much.??Quite? ?a? ?number? ?of? ?children? ?living? ?on? ?the? ?border? ?were? ?from? ?military? ?families,? ?and? ?many??also? ?enlisted? ?in? ?the? ?army? ?when? ?they? ?grew? ?older.? ?Could? ?it? ?be...???“It’s? ?you?!”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?surprised,? ?“I,? ?I? ?can’t? ?believe? ?it? ?took? ?me? ?this? ?long? ?to? ?realize? ?it? ?was??you.”????Pei? ?Su? ?nodded,? ?“It’s? ?me.? ?I’ve? ?only? ?just? ?recognized? ?General? ?too.”????No? ?wonder.? ?So? ?turns? ?out,? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?and? ?the? ?enemy? ?general? ?had? ?known? ?each? ?other? ?since??long? ?ago!???“Did? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?really? ?heed? ?your? ?order? ?and? ?opened? ?the? ?fortress? ?gates?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.???On? ?the? ?other? ?side,? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?spat? ?and? ?yelled,? ?“Despicable? ?Pei? ?Su.? ?Untie? ?the? ?ropes,? ?let? ?me??fight? ?him? ?to? ?the? ?death!”???Pei? ?Su? ?said? ?cooly,? ?“First? ?of? ?all,? ?we? ?already? ?had? ?a? ?battle? ?to? ?the? ?death? ?two? ?hundred? ?years??ago,? ?and? ?you? ?lost;? ?second? ?of? ?all,? ?how? ?am? ?I? ?despicable?”???Ke? ?Mo? ?shouted,? ?“IF? ?YOU? ?TWO? ?DIDN’T? ?COLLUDE,? ?HOW? ?WOULD? ?WE? ?LOSE?!”???“Ke? ?Mo,? ?don’t? ?deny? ?it.”? ?Pei? ?Su? ?said,? ?“Even? ?though? ?I? ?only? ?had? ?a? ?troop? ?of? ?two? ?thousand??with? ?me? ?at? ?the? ?time,? ?but? ?breaking? ?through? ?the? ?fortress? ?gates? ?was? ?only? ?a? ?matter? ?of? ?time? ?to??me.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?interrupt,? ?“Wait? ?a? ?sec,? ?you? ?only? ?had? ?two? ?thousand? ?under? ?you??and? ?you? ?were? ?sent? ?to? ?invade? ?a? ?country?? ?What’s? ?going? ?on?? ?Isn’t? ?that? ?no? ?different? ?than??sending? ?you? ?to? ?your? ?death?? ?Were? ?you? ?perhaps? ?even? ?more? ?elbowed? ?out? ?in? ?the? ?army? ?than??I? ?was??”????“...”???Pei? ?Su? ?stopped? ?talking.? ?It? ?seemed,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?hit? ?it? ?on? ?the? ?mark.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?then? ?asked,??“If? ?you? ?knew? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?sure? ?win,? ?why? ?did? ?you? ?have? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?open? ?the? ?fortress? ?gates?”????“Because? ?I? ?needed? ?to? ?slaughter? ?the? ?fortress? ?city.”? ?Pei? ?Su? ?replied.???“”What? ?do? ?you? ?mean?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked,? ?“Since? ?you? ?were? ?already? ?going? ?to? ?win,? ?why? ?must??you? ?slaughter? ?the? ?city?”? ?It? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?that? ?it? ?was? ?out? ?of? ?a? ?hobby!???“It? ?was? ?because? ?victory? ?was? ?at? ?hand,? ?that? ?we? ?had? ?to? ?wipe? ?out? ?the? ?city.”? ?Pei? ?Su? ?said,? ?“And??it? ?had? ?to? ?be? ?as? ?soon? ?as? ?possible.? ?Immediately.? ?Leaving? ?none? ?behind.”????That? ?“Leaving? ?none? ?behind”? ?was? ?chilling.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?pushed,? ?“And? ?the? ?reason? ?is?”????Pei? ?Su? ?answered,? ?“On? ?the? ?night? ?before? ?the? ?invasion,? ?many? ?of? ?the? ?leaders? ?of? ?Ban? ?Yue’s??major? ?families? ?gathered? ?for? ?a? ?meeting,? ?and? ?decided? ?on? ?a? ?secret? ?plot.”????“What? ?plot?”???“The? ?people? ?of? ?BanYue? ?are? ?violent? ?in? ?nature,? ?and? ?hated? ?YongAn? ?to? ?the? ?bone.”? ?Pei? ?Su??said,? ?“Even? ?knowing? ?they? ?were? ?about? ?to? ?be? ?defeated? ?they? ?wouldn’t? ?admit? ?it.? ?So? ?the? ?entire??population? ?of? ?the? ?kingdom,? ?the? ?young,? ?the? ?old,? ?the? ?women? ?and? ?the? ?men,? ?all? ?banded??together? ?to? ?assemble? ?this? ?thing.”???“What? ?thing?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?guess? ?but? ?he? ?wasn’t? ?sure,? ?and? ?the? ?word? ?that? ?came? ?out? ?of??Pei? ?Su’s? ?mouth? ?confirmed? ?his? ?suspicions.? ?“Explosives.”???Pei? ?Su? ?slowly? ?enunciated? ?each? ?word,? ?“They? ?had? ?decided? ?that? ?if? ?the? ?kingdom? ?was? ?to? ?fall,??then? ?the? ?citizens? ?will? ?each? ?carry? ?explosives? ?on? ?their? ?bodies,? ?escape? ?to? ?YongAn,? ?mix? ?into??large? ?crowded? ?areas,? ?and? ?suicide? ?bomb? ?to? ?cause? ?riots.? ?Meaning? ?if? ?they? ?must? ?die,? ?then??they? ?will? ?drag? ?as? ?many? ?YongAn? ?people? ?down? ?as? ?they? ?can? ?with? ?them.? ?If? ?the? ?kingdom??should? ?fall,? ?then? ?they? ?shall? ?terrorize? ?the? ?country? ?that? ?brought? ?their? ?downfall!”???Which? ?was? ?why? ?they? ?had? ?to? ?be? ?annihilated? ?before? ?those? ?civilians? ?had? ?the? ?time? ?to? ?flee.???Xie? ?Lian? ?instantly? ?turned? ?to? ?Ke? ?Mo,? ?roughly? ?summarized? ?for? ?him? ?in? ?BanYuenese,? ?and??asked,? ?“Is? ?this? ?true?”???Ke? ?Mo? ?looked? ?dauntless? ?without? ?any? ?intention? ?to? ?conceal? ?the? ?facts,? ?“It’s? ?true!”???San? ?Lang? ?raised? ?his? ?brows? ?and? ?commented,? ?“How? ?vile.”???He? ?said? ?those? ?words? ?in? ?BanYuenese,? ?probably? ?intentionally.? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?replied? ?angrily,? ?“Vile???What? ?right? ?do? ?you? ?have? ?to? ?call? ?us? ?vile?? ?If? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?for? ?your? ?assaults,? ?we? ?wouldn’t? ?be??forced? ?to? ?make? ?that? ?move.? ?You? ?ruined? ?us,? ?so? ?we? ?sought? ?revenge.? ?How? ?is? ?that? ?wrong?!”???Pei? ?Su? ?responded? ?cooly,? ?“Really? ?now.? ?How? ?about? ?we? ?lay? ?everything? ?out? ?in? ?the? ?open??then?”???He? ?tilted? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?said,? ?“How? ?many? ?times? ?have? ?BanYue? ?started? ?riots? ?near? ?the??border?? ?How? ?many? ?caravans? ?and? ?travelers? ?going? ?to? ?the? ?West? ?Plains? ?from? ?the? ?YongAn??were? ?ambushed? ?by? ?BanYue?? ?You? ?intentionally? ?sheltered? ?the? ?bandits? ?that? ?terrorized??YongAn,? ?and? ?killed? ?our? ?soldiers? ?that? ?went? ?to? ?wipe? ?them? ?out? ?under? ?the? ?pretense? ?of? ?illegal??border? ?crossing.? ?How? ?is? ?that? ?not? ?vile?”???Pei? ?Su? ?spoke? ?unhurriedly? ?and? ?his? ?tone? ?was? ?calm,? ?but? ?each? ?word? ?was? ?sharp? ?as? ?knives.??Ke? ?Mo? ?argued,? ?“What? ?about? ?you?? ?Why? ?not? ?say? ?you? ?forcibly? ?occupied? ?our? ?land? ?first?”???“The? ?border? ?had? ?always? ?been? ?ambiguous,? ?so? ?how? ?can? ?you? ?say? ?we? ?forcibly? ?occupied??your? ?land?”? ?Pei? ?Su? ?countered.???“The? ?lines? ?were? ?clearly? ?drawn!? ?It? ?was? ?you? ?who? ?didn’t? ?keep? ?to? ?yourselves!”???“The? ?lines? ?were? ?drawn? ?by? ?BanYue,? ?YongAn? ?had? ?never? ?agreed? ?to? ?it.? ?And? ?your? ?border? ?had??the? ?oasis? ?all? ?to? ?yourselves,? ?leaving? ?only? ?desert? ?land? ?to? ?us,? ?what? ?nonsense.”???Ke? ?Mo? ?was? ?red? ?in? ?the? ?face,? ?“The? ?oasis? ?was? ?ours!? ?It? ?had? ?always? ?been? ?ours!”???Both? ?sides? ?had? ?their? ?stories;? ?just? ?listening? ?to? ?them? ?argue? ?made? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?befuddled.? ?This??hostility? ?was? ?making? ?him? ?remember? ?how? ?badly? ?he? ?got? ?beaten? ?up? ?stuck? ?in? ?the? ?middle? ?of??both? ?sides,? ?and? ?he? ?could? ?feel? ?the? ?pain? ?on? ?his? ?face? ?resurface.? ?Pei? ?Su? ?seemed? ?to? ?have? ?had??enough? ?of? ?quarreling? ?with? ?Ke? ?Mo,? ?and? ?he? ?turned? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?“So? ?you? ?see.? ?There? ?are??many? ?things? ?in? ?the? ?world? ?that? ?simply? ?can’t? ?be? ?clearly? ?defined? ?or? ?resolved.? ?You? ?can? ?only??fight.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?sighed,? ?“I’ll? ?agree? ?to? ?the? ?first? ?part.”???San? ?Lang? ?on? ?the? ?other? ?hand? ?said,? ?“Hm.? ?I’ll? ?agree? ?to? ?the? ?last? ?part.”???Ke? ?Mo’s? ?anger? ?was? ?somewhat? ?curbed,? ?and? ?he? ?suddenly? ?said,? ?“The? ?majority? ?of? ?YongAn??people? ?were? ?shameless,? ?but? ?you? ?were? ?the? ?most? ?shameless? ?I’ve? ?ever? ?met.? ?Pei? ?Su,? ?you’re??a? ?cold-hearted? ?man.? ?You? ?didn’t? ?kill? ?us? ?for? ?your? ?country,? ?and? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?for? ?saving? ?your??people.”???Hearing? ?this,? ?Pei? ?Su? ?fell? ?silent.???Ke? ?Mo? ?continued,? ?“You? ?exiled? ?son? ?of? ?man,? ?looked? ?down? ?by? ?all.? ?You? ?only? ?wanted? ?to??secure? ?your? ?footing? ?in? ?the? ?YongAn? ?army? ?in? ?order? ?to? ?keep? ?climbing? ?up? ?so? ?you? ?had? ?to? ?win??that? ?battle.? ?So? ?sad? ?that? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?still? ?thought? ?you? ?as? ?good? ?and? ?was? ?used? ?by? ?you,? ?and??betrayed? ?us? ?for? ?the? ?likes? ?of? ?you.”???“But? ?isn’t? ?General? ?Pei? ?Junior? ?General? ?Pei’s? ?descendant?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?wondered.? ?To? ?have??such? ?a? ?renown? ?ancestor? ?watch? ?over? ?him,? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?have? ?fallen? ?so? ?astray????“He’s? ?not? ?the? ?direct? ?descendant? ?of? ?General? ?Pei.”? ?San? ?Lang? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“He’s? ?from??however? ?many? ?branches? ?out.”????Pei? ?Su? ?said? ?quietly,? ?“Ban? ?Yue? ?had? ?always? ?been? ?my? ?subordinate,? ?and? ?only? ?obeyed? ?my??command? ?to? ?infiltrate? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?BanYue.? ?She? ?is? ?from? ?both? ?BanYue? ?and? ?YongAn,??once? ?she’s? ?chosen? ?her? ?side? ?she? ?had? ?to? ?be? ?loyal? ?to? ?that? ?side,? ?so? ?there? ?was? ?no? ?such? ?thing??as? ?betrayal.? ?The? ?BanYue? ?people? ?are? ?evil,? ?I? ?have? ?no? ?regrets? ?in? ?killing? ?them.”????Suddenly,? ?a? ?voice? ?came? ?from? ?above,? ?“Having? ?no? ?regrets? ?in? ?killing,? ?well? ?said!? ?Will? ?you? ?say??the? ?same? ?in? ?regards? ?to? ?all? ?the? ?travelers? ?who? ?were? ?mislead? ?by? ?you? ?to? ?this? ?Pass? ?and? ?lost??their? ?lives? ?in? ?this? ?pit?”????.???That? ?voice? ?had? ?come? ?from? ?above? ?everyone’s? ?heads,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?instantly? ?looked? ?up,??“Which? ?great? ?lord? ?is? ?here? ?among? ?us?”????There? ?wasn’t? ?a? ?response,? ?but? ?a? ?sudden? ?strange? ?noise.? ??WHOOSH? ?WHOOSH?,? ?it? ?was? ?like??the? ?bellowing? ?of? ?wild? ?winds.? ?When? ?that? ?sound? ?finally? ?came? ?near,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?finally??say? ?with? ?certainty? ?–? ?it? ?certainly? ?was? ?the? ?bellowing? ?of? ?wild? ?winds!???This? ?abrupt? ?gale? ?entered? ?the? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit? ?from? ?above,? ?swept? ?all? ?the? ?way? ?to? ?the? ?bottom,??and? ?rolled? ?everyone? ?into? ?the? ?air!???Xie? ?Lian? ?immediately? ?grabbed? ?for? ?San? ?Lang? ?who? ?was? ?the? ?closest? ?to? ?him? ?and? ?cried,??“Watch? ?out!”???San? ?Lang? ?caught? ?him? ?too,? ?face? ?unchanging.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?only? ?felt? ?a? ?whirl? ?of? ?spinning,? ?their??bodies? ?swiftly? ?rising,? ?and? ?after? ?a? ?pause,? ?they? ?started? ?plunging? ?down.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?threw? ?out??Ruoye? ?and? ?coaxed? ?him? ?in? ?the? ?midst? ?of? ?this? ?chaos,? ?“Alright,? ?alright,? ?everything’s? ?over.??Hurry,? ?my? ?good? ?Ruoye,? ?come? ?out? ?and? ?give? ?us? ?a? ?hand!”???After? ?a? ?couple? ?pets,? ?Ruoye? ?finally? ?reacted.? ?However,? ?with? ?nothing? ?in? ?the? ?air? ?to? ?grab? ?on? ?to??other? ?than? ?a? ?giant? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit? ?below,? ?Ruoye? ?flew? ?about? ?once? ?and? ?shrunk? ?back.? ?Feeling??helpless,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?only? ?adjust? ?his? ?form? ?for? ?landing? ?in? ?the? ?air.? ?If? ?it? ?was? ?like? ?previous??times,? ?he? ?would’ve? ?cratered? ?head? ?first? ?three? ?feet? ?into? ?the? ?ground,? ?but? ?this? ?time,? ?just??before? ?they? ?hit? ?the? ?ground,? ?San? ?Lang? ?reached? ?out? ?and? ?gave? ?him? ?a? ?pull,? ?and? ?he? ?actually??landed? ?with? ?his? ?feet? ?flat? ?on? ?the? ?ground!? ?When? ?his? ?boots? ?firmly? ?touched? ?ground? ?he? ?was??even? ?a? ?little? ?incredulous.? ?But? ?that? ?feeling? ?went? ?away? ?real? ?quick? ?when? ?a? ?black? ?clad??silhouette? ?came? ?stumbling? ?before? ?him.???Xie? ?Lian? ?saw? ?who? ?it? ?was? ?and? ?delightfully? ?called,? ?“Nan? ?Feng!”???It? ?was? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?indeed,? ?but? ?a? ?disheveled? ?Nan? ?Feng.? ?It? ?looked? ?as? ?if? ?he? ?was? ?rolled? ?in??grime? ?ten? ?times? ?before? ?getting? ?thrown? ?into? ?a? ?rambunctious? ?den? ?of? ?beasts? ?to? ?spend? ?the??night.? ?His? ?clothes? ?were? ?tattered? ?and? ?bedraggled? ?to? ?the? ?max;? ?hearing? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?call,? ?he??only? ?waved? ?his? ?hand? ?and? ?quietly? ?wiped? ?at? ?his? ?face,? ?unable? ?to? ?speak.????Xie? ?Lian? ?lifted? ?him? ?to? ?his? ?feet,? ?“What? ?happened?? ?Did? ?those? ?two? ?ladies? ?beat? ?you? ?up?”???Before? ?his? ?words? ?fully? ?left? ?his? ?lips,? ?two? ?figures? ?appeared? ?behind? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?and? ?strolled??over.? ?One? ?of? ?them? ?was? ?the? ?woman? ?cultivator? ?in? ?white? ?with? ?a? ?whisk? ?in? ?her? ?arms,? ?and? ?she??greeted? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?cheerfully,? ?“How? ?do? ?you? ?do,? ?Your? ?Royal? ?Highness.”???Although? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?know? ?who? ?this? ?was,? ?proper? ?etiquette? ?must? ?still? ?be? ?kept;? ?but? ?he??didn’t? ?know? ?how? ?to? ?address? ?her,? ?so? ?he? ?could? ?only? ?smile? ?back? ?and? ?wave.? ?“Greetings,??fellow? ?cultivator.”???The? ?lady? ?in? ?black? ?on? ?the? ?side? ?glanced? ?at? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?coldly? ?but? ?didn’t? ?seem? ?to? ?care? ?for? ?him.??When? ?her? ?eyes? ?moved? ?onto? ?San? ?Lang? ?however,? ?she? ?paused,? ?seeming? ?to? ?think? ?he? ?was? ?a??dubious? ?figure,? ?and? ?stopped? ?for? ?a? ?moment.???The? ?gusts? ?earlier? ?had? ?blown? ?everyone? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?pit,? ?and? ?the? ?two? ?ladies? ?walked? ?past? ?Xie??Lian,? ?heading? ?straight? ?for? ?Pei? ?Su.? ?He? ?saw? ?them? ?approach? ?and? ?didn’t? ?appear? ?surprised;??after? ?all? ?he? ?had? ?already? ?seen? ?them? ?in? ?town? ?when? ?he? ?was? ?still? ?playing? ?the? ?part? ?of? ?A-Zhao.??He? ?knelt? ?down? ?where? ?he? ?was,? ?bowed? ?his? ?head? ?to? ?the? ?lady? ?cultivator? ?in? ?white,? ?and? ?called??quietly,? ?“Lord? ?Wind? ?Master.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?stunned? ?hearing? ?those? ?words.???And? ?here? ?he? ?thought? ?she? ?was? ?some? ?menacing? ?ghost? ?or? ?monster,? ?who? ?knew? ?it? ?was??actually? ?a? ?heavenly? ?official?? ?And? ?it? ?was? ?the? ?Wind? ?Master,? ?the? ?one? ?that? ?was? ?throwing? ?out??ten? ?thousand? ?merits? ?in? ?one? ?go? ?in? ?the? ?communication? ?array!???But? ?now? ?that? ?he’s? ?thinking? ?about? ?it? ?in? ?detail,? ?there? ?wasn’t? ?anything? ?out? ?of? ?place.? ?At? ?the??time? ?she? ?was? ?saying? ?something? ?along? ?the? ?lines? ?of? ?“Where? ?did? ?they? ?all? ?go?? ?Do? ?I? ?have? ?to??dig? ?them? ?out? ?and? ?kill? ?them? ?one? ?by? ?one?”? ?and? ?made? ?him? ?think? ?she? ?was? ?after? ?them.? ?In??reality,? ?this? ?“they”? ?might? ?not? ?have? ?meant? ?them;? ?it? ?could? ?mean? ?the? ?BanYue? ?soldiers.? ?Only,??Xie? ?Lian? ?thought? ?he? ?was? ?alone? ?in? ?this? ?investigation? ?and? ?naturally? ?thought? ?the? ?lady??cultivators? ?were? ?strange? ?and? ?wicked.???To? ?a? ?heavenly? ?official? ?that? ?could? ?easily? ?hand? ?out? ?ten? ?thousand? ?merits,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t??help? ?but? ?feel? ?a? ?nameless? ?reverence.? ?He? ?elbowed? ?Nan? ?Feng,? ?“Why? ?didn’t? ?you? ?tell? ?me? ?this??was? ?the? ?Wind? ?Master? ?sooner?? ?And? ?here? ?I? ?thought? ?she? ?might? ?be? ?some? ?sort? ?of? ?snake? ?spirit??or? ?scorpion? ?spirit.? ?What? ?a? ?disgrace!”???Nan? ?Feng’s? ?expression? ?darkened,? ?“I? ?didn’t? ?know? ?it? ?was? ?the? ?Wind? ?Master.? ?I’ve? ?never? ?seen??the? ?Wind? ?Master? ?like? ?this? ?before.? ?The? ?Wind? ?Master? ?had? ?always? ?been...? ?nevermind.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?understood.? ?This? ?was? ?probably? ?a? ?fake? ?appearance? ?the? ?Lord? ?Wind? ?Master? ?was??donning,? ?so? ?he? ?didn’t? ?dig? ?into? ?it.? ?He? ?asked,? ?“How? ?did? ?the? ?Wind? ?Master? ?come? ?to? ?the??BanYue? ?Pass?”???“To? ?help? ?out,”? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?said.? ?“When? ?we? ?saw? ?them? ?strolling? ?in? ?the? ?streets? ?earlier? ?they??were? ?actually? ?looking? ?for? ?those? ?BanYue? ?soldiers.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?recalled? ?now? ?that? ?the? ?first? ?time? ?he? ?asked? ?about? ?the? ?BanYue? ?Pass? ?in? ?the??communication? ?array,? ?in? ?the? ?midst? ?of? ?silent? ?awkwardness,? ?it? ?was? ?the? ?Wind? ?Master’s??sudden? ?release? ?of? ?ten? ?thousand? ?merits? ?that? ?distracted? ?everyone.? ?The? ?Wind? ?Master??probably? ?already? ?took? ?notice? ?of? ?his? ?query? ?then.????As? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?mused,? ?the? ?Wind? ?Master? ?bent? ?down? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?Pei? ?Su,? ?“Little? ?Pei,? ?I’ve? ?heard??everything,? ?you? ?know.”???Pei? ?Su? ?hung? ?his? ?head.? ?The? ?Wind? ?Master? ?demanded,? ?“Do? ?you? ?admit? ?that? ?in? ?these? ?past??two? ?hundre? ?years,? ?you? ?were? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?lured? ?all? ?those? ?travelers? ?into? ?the? ?Ancient??Kingdom? ?of? ?BanYue?”???Since? ?he? ?was? ?already? ?caught,? ?Pei? ?Su? ?didn’t? ?argue,? ?and? ?only? ?replied? ?solemnly,? ?“It? ?was??me.”???“Why?”? ?The? ?Wind? ?Master? ?demanded.???After? ?a? ?pause,? ?Pei? ?Su? ?asked,? ?“Lord? ?Wind? ?Master? ?has? ?long? ?been? ?suspicious,? ?can? ?you? ?not??guess? ?why?”????“Is? ?it? ?only? ?because? ?these? ?souls? ?of? ?the? ?dead? ?are? ?the? ?iron? ?proof? ?of? ?the? ?blood? ?on? ?your? ?hands??whilst? ?you? ?were? ?a? ?human,? ?and? ?would? ?become? ?obstacles? ?for? ?your? ?climbing? ?higher? ?in? ?the??future?”? ?Wind? ?Master? ?asked.???Pei? ?Su? ?neither? ?agreed? ?nor? ?disagreed,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?who? ?was? ?listening? ?on? ?the? ?side,??couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?ask,? ?“If? ?anything,? ?why? ?didn’t? ?you? ?just? ?kill? ?them? ?directly?? ?Why? ?must? ?you??use? ?such? ?a? ?method? ?as? ?feeding? ?them? ?the? ?living? ?in? ?order? ?to? ?appease? ?their? ?resentment???How? ?is? ?that? ?different? ?than? ?using? ?another’s? ?flesh? ?and? ?blood? ?to? ?quench? ?the? ?thirst? ?of? ?one?”????San? ?Lang? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“He? ?couldn’t.”????That’s? ?true? ?too.? ?In? ?the? ?Upper? ?Court,? ?every? ?move? ?by? ?a? ?heavenly? ?official? ?like? ?Pei? ?Su? ?was??watched? ?intently? ?by? ?countless? ?eyes.? ?There? ?were? ?many? ?things? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?do? ?directly;? ?he??couldn’t? ?use? ?his? ?true? ?form? ?to? ?come? ?down? ?and? ?kill? ?off? ?all? ?those? ?resentful? ?spirits? ?of? ?these??soldiers? ?straightforwardly,? ?and? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?send? ?troops? ?to? ?annihilate? ?them? ?either.? ?This??was? ?already? ?a? ?concealed? ?affair,? ?if? ?there? ?was? ?too? ?much? ?of? ?a? ?stir,? ?wouldn’t? ?it? ?attract??everyone’s? ?gaze?? ?At? ?most? ?he? ?could? ?only? ?send? ?a? ?clone? ?like? ?A-Zhao? ?down? ?quietly.???Using? ?the? ?scorpion? ?snakes? ?that? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?was? ?known? ?to? ?be? ?an? ?expert? ?in? ?manipulating? ?to??go? ?out? ?and? ?harm,? ?attracting? ?passersby? ?in? ?to? ?feed? ?the? ?resentful? ?spirits? ?to? ?disperse? ?their??resentment,? ?no? ?doubt? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?perfect? ?framing? ?scheme.???“Your? ?General? ?Pei? ?wouldn’t? ?have? ?done? ?something? ?like? ?this? ?at? ?all.”? ?The? ?Wind? ?Master? ?said,??“This? ?time,? ?I’m? ?afraid? ?you’ve? ?crossed? ?the? ?line.”????As? ?a? ?heavenly? ?official,? ?that? ?he? ?would? ?release? ?a? ?clone? ?to? ?cause? ?havoc? ?at? ?the? ?BanYue??Pass? ?for? ?almost? ?two? ?hundred? ?years,? ?lure? ?innumerous? ?passersby? ?down? ?the? ?wrong? ?path??and? ?into? ?the? ?ruins,? ?and? ?die? ?in? ?the? ?mouths? ?of? ?BanYue? ?soldiers,? ?no? ?matter? ?how? ?he? ?could??spin? ?it,? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?a? ?small? ?deal.? ?Pei? ?Su? ?only? ?lowered? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?said,? ?“This? ?young? ?one??knows.”???The? ?Wind? ?Master? ?swept? ?the? ?whisk,? ?“As? ?long? ?as? ?you? ?understand.? ?Reflect? ?on? ?yourself? ?and??think? ?on? ?it.? ?We’ll? ?talk? ?in? ?the? ?heavens.”???“I? ?understand.”? ?Pei? ?Su? ?said? ?quietly.???Having? ?finished? ?with? ?the? ?talk? ?with? ?Pei? ?Su,? ?the? ?Wind? ?Master? ?stuffed? ?the? ?whisk? ?into? ?the??back? ?collar? ?of? ?her? ?robe,? ?stood? ?up,? ?and? ?smiled? ?at? ?Xie? ?Lian.? ?“Your? ?Royal? ?Highness? ?the??Crown? ?Prince.? ?I’ve? ?heard? ?much? ?about? ?you.”???To? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?“Heard? ?much? ?about? ?you”? ?really? ?wasn’t? ?a? ?compliment,? ?but? ?nevertheless? ?it??was? ?meaningless? ?pleasantries,? ?so? ?he? ?smiled? ?back,? ?“I’m? ?sure? ?it’s? ?nothing.? ?I’ve? ?heard??much? ?about? ?you? ?as? ?well,? ?Lord? ?Wind? ?Master.”???“Sorry? ?about? ?before,? ?by? ?the? ?way.”? ?The? ?Wind? ?Master? ?said.???Xie? ?Lian? ?paused,? ?“Before?? ?What? ?happened? ?before?”???“Didn’t? ?you? ?all? ?run? ?into? ?a? ?windstorm? ?in? ?the? ?desert?”???Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?remember? ?the? ?mouthfuls? ?of? ?sand? ?and? ?replied,? ?“Yes?”???“I? ?started? ?that.”? ?The? ?Wind? ?Master? ?said.???“...”???The? ?Wind? ?Master? ?continued? ?casually,? ?“That? ?windstorm? ?was? ?meant? ?to? ?stop? ?you? ?all? ?from??going? ?near? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?BanYue,? ?but? ?you? ?didn’t? ?get? ?blown? ?away,? ?and? ?ended? ?up? ?in??BanYue? ?anyway.”???The? ?more? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?listened? ?the? ?more? ?he? ?felt? ?something? ?wasn’t? ?right.? ?Starting? ?a??windstorm? ?to? ?stop? ?them? ?from? ?going? ?to? ?the? ?BanYue? ?Pass,? ?and? ?now? ?this? ?whole? ?thing??suddenly? ?came? ?into? ?the? ?open,? ?just? ?what? ?did? ?it? ?mean????Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?respond,? ?biding? ?to? ?see? ?what? ?the? ?other? ?would? ?say.? ?The? ?Wind? ?Master? ?then??continued,? ?“But,? ?in? ?regards? ?to? ?this? ?whole? ?ordeal,? ?I? ?would? ?suggest? ?Your? ?Highness? ?mind??your? ?own? ?business? ?and? ?stop? ?putting? ?your? ?hands? ?where? ?they? ?don’t? ?belong.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?stole? ?a? ?look? ?at? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?who’s? ?curled? ?up? ?on? ?the? ?ground,? ?and? ?dreaded.???He? ?was? ?already? ?worried? ?that? ?if? ?this? ?scandal? ?was? ?to? ?reach? ?the? ?Upper? ?Court,? ?the? ?officials??could? ?easily? ?muck? ?up? ?the? ?truth,? ?add? ?strokes? ?to? ?where? ?there? ?wasn’t,? ?and? ?have? ?Ban? ?Yue??take? ?all? ?the? ?blame? ?while? ?Little? ?Pei? ?ran? ?off? ?scot? ?free.? ?With? ?Wind? ?Master’s? ?sudden??appearance,? ?telling? ?him? ?not? ?to? ?mind? ?this? ?business,? ?didn’t? ?this? ?cement? ?they? ?will? ?protect??Little? ?Pei????Without? ?changing? ?his? ?expression,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?stepped? ?forward? ?to? ?stand? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?Ban? ?Yue,??hiding? ?her? ?behind? ?him,? ?and? ?said? ?warmly,? ?“But? ?I’ve? ?already? ?put? ?my? ?hands? ?into? ?this??business,? ?I? ?can’t? ?possibly? ?leave? ?it? ?now.”???The? ?Wind? ?Master? ?noticed? ?his? ?gesture? ?and? ?smiled,? ?“Don’t? ?be? ?concerned.? ?You? ?can? ?take? ?the??Guoshi? ?of? ?BanYue? ?away? ?with? ?you.”???That? ?was? ?unexpected.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?slightly? ?taken? ?aback,? ?and? ?the? ?Wind? ?Master? ?continued,??“While? ?you? ?were? ?all? ?in? ?the? ?pit,? ?we’ve? ?heard? ?everything? ?from? ?up? ?here.? ?Although? ?the? ?Guoshi??has? ?turned? ?into? ?a? ?‘Savage’,? ?when? ?I? ?roamed? ?the? ?city? ?I? ?saw? ?that? ?she? ?had? ?drawn? ?the? ?array? ?to??trap? ?the? ?BanYue? ?soldiers? ?and? ?released? ?all? ?the? ?captured? ?mortals.? ?She? ?didn’t? ?hurt? ?anyone,??and? ?was? ?even? ?saving? ?people.? ?The? ?only? ?ones? ?I’m? ?taking? ?are? ?General? ?Pei? ?Junior? ?and? ?Ke??Mo,? ?you? ?don’t? ?have? ?to? ?worry? ?about? ?me? ?placing? ?blames? ?on? ?anyone.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?relaxed,? ?“Much? ?ashamed!? ?I’ve? ?been? ?suspicious.”???“It’s? ?normal? ?to? ?worry.”? ?The? ?Wind? ?Master? ?said,? ?“There’s? ?some? ?unpleasant? ?cultures? ?up? ?in??the? ?heavens? ?after? ?all.”????The? ?lady? ?in? ?black? ?looked? ?as? ?if? ?she? ?couldn’t? ?stay? ?for? ?another? ?moment,? ?and? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“Are??you? ?done?? ?If? ?you’re? ?done? ?then? ?let’s? ?go.”???The? ?Wind? ?Master? ?rebutted,? ?“Tsk!? ?What’s? ?the? ?rush?? ?The? ?more? ?you? ?rush? ?the? ?more? ?I? ?wanna??talk!”? ?Still,? ?she? ?turned? ?her? ?head? ?and? ?smiled,? ?taking? ?out? ?a? ?folding? ?fan? ?from? ?her? ?waist? ?and??said,? ?“Your? ?Royal? ?Highness,? ?if? ?there’s? ?nothing? ?else,? ?we’ll? ?see? ?you? ?in? ?the? ?Upper? ?Court?”????Xie? ?Lian? ?nodded,? ?and? ?the? ?Wind? ?Master? ?opened? ?her? ?fan.? ?On? ?the? ?fan? ?was? ?the? ?word? ?for??wind? ?‘Feng’? ?in? ?a? ?slant,? ?and? ?three? ?inclining? ?lines? ?like? ?the? ?wind? ?on? ?the? ?back.? ?This? ?must? ?be??the? ?Wind? ?Master’s? ?spiritual? ?device.? ?She? ?fanned? ?forward? ?three? ?times,? ?and? ?backwards??three? ?times.? ?Suddenly,? ?a? ?gust? ?of? ?wind? ?blew? ?from? ?flat? ?ground.????The? ?wind? ?drew? ?dust? ?and? ?sand,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?raised? ?his? ?sleeve? ?to? ?block? ?off? ?the? ?debris.??When? ?the? ?wind? ?died? ?down,? ?the? ?two? ?ladies,? ?Pei? ?Su,? ?and? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?had? ?all? ?disappeared,??leaving? ?only? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?San? ?Lang,? ?Nan? ?Feng,? ?and? ?the? ?deeply? ?asleep? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?behind.???Xie? ?Lian? ?dropped? ?his? ?sleeve,? ?still? ?a? ?little? ?dazed,? ?“What? ?just? ?happened?”???San? ?Lang? ?casually? ?strolled? ?over,? ?“A? ?pretty? ?good? ?thing.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?watched? ?him,? ?“Is? ?it?”???“Yea.? ?The? ?Wind? ?Master? ?was? ?trying? ?to? ?help? ?you? ?by? ?telling? ?you? ?not? ?to? ?get? ?involved.”???Nan? ?Feng? ?walked? ?over? ?too,? ?“That’s? ?right.? ?You’ve? ?dug? ?in? ?too? ?deep? ?in? ?this? ?business??already.? ?The? ?only? ?thing? ?left? ?to? ?do? ?is? ?to? ?file? ?a? ?complaint? ?to? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Martial? ?Emperor.??Don’t? ?get? ?yourself? ?involved? ?anymore.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?got? ?it,? ?“Is? ?it? ?because? ?of? ?General? ?Pei?”???“Correct.”? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?said,? ?“This? ?time? ?you? ?have? ?thoroughly? ?offended? ?him.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?laughed,? ?“I? ?knew? ?I? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?offend? ?someone? ?one? ?of? ?these? ?days,? ?I? ?guess? ?it??doesn’t? ?matter? ?who.”???Nan? ?Feng? ?furrowed? ?his? ?brows,? ?“Don’t? ?think? ?I’m? ?joking.? ?Other? ?than? ?the? ?Great? ?Martial? ?Hall,??the? ?next? ?most? ?powerful? ?martial? ?palace? ?is? ?Ming? ?Guang.? ?General? ?Pei? ?thinks? ?very? ?highly? ?of??Little? ?Pei,? ?and? ?has? ?always? ?tried? ?to? ?boot? ?Quan? ?Yi? ?Zhen.? ?He’s? ?gonna? ?come? ?knocking??looking? ?for? ?trouble.”???“Quan? ?Yi? ?Zhen? ?is? ?the? ?Martial? ?God? ?that? ?rules? ?the? ?West,? ?right?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.???“That’s? ?the? ?one.”? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?replied,? ?“Quan? ?Yi? ?Zhen? ?is? ?also? ?a? ?new? ?official.? ?He? ?ascended??around? ?the? ?same? ?time? ?as? ?Pei? ?Su.? ?He’s? ?young,? ?and? ?a? ?little...? ?But? ?very? ?powerful.? ?General??Pei? ?wanted? ?Pei? ?Su? ?to? ?take? ?all? ?the? ?devotees? ?of? ?the? ?West,? ?and? ?he’s? ?done? ?well? ?for? ?himself,??especially? ?these? ?past? ?few? ?years.? ?Now? ?with? ?you? ?dragging? ?this? ?scandal? ?out? ?into? ?the? ?open,??it’s? ?not? ?looking? ?good? ?for? ?Pei? ?Su,? ?maybe? ?he’ll? ?even? ?be? ?banished.? ?If? ?he? ?gets? ?banished,? ?your??luck? ?is? ?gonna? ?turn? ?for? ?the? ?worse? ?too.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?rubbed? ?his? ?forehead,? ?mentally? ?taking? ?note? ?that? ?from? ?now? ?on? ?he? ?would? ?have? ?to??be? ?more? ?mindful? ?when? ?eating,? ?drinking,? ?and? ?walking.? ?San? ?Lang? ?however,? ?didn’t? ?think? ?it??was? ?a? ?big? ?deal.? ?“Don’t? ?worry.? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?is? ?too? ?proud.? ?He? ?won’t? ?do? ?anything? ?underhanded.”???Nan? ?Feng? ?gave? ?him? ?a? ?look.? ?“What? ?about? ?the? ?Wind? ?Master?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked,? ?“She? ?told??me? ?not? ?to? ?get? ?involved,? ?so? ?she’s? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?will? ?file? ?the? ?complaint?? ?Doesn’t? ?that? ?mean??she’ll? ?be? ?the? ?one? ?offending? ?General? ?Pei?? ?I? ?can’t? ?have? ?that.? ?Let’s? ?call? ?her? ?back.? ?Nan? ?Feng,??do? ?you? ?know? ?the? ?password? ?to? ?her? ?personal? ?communication? ?array?”????“You? ?needn’t? ?worry? ?about? ?the? ?Wind? ?Master,”? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?said,? ?“General? ?Pei? ?can? ?hurt? ?you,??but? ?he? ?won’t? ?touch? ?her.? ?She? ?may? ?be? ?younger? ?than? ?you? ?but? ?she’s? ?much? ?more? ?successful??in? ?the? ?heavens.”???“...”???Xie? ?Lian? ?wasn’t? ?shocked? ?into? ?silence,? ?but? ?was? ?instead? ?thinking,? ?‘Who? ?in? ?the? ?heavens? ?is??more? ?of? ?a? ?failure? ?than? ?me?? ?I? ?don’t? ?think? ?there’s? ?anyone.’???San? ?Lang? ?laughed,? ?“With? ?that? ?backing,? ?of? ?course? ?she’s? ?successful.”???“Are? ?you? ?talking? ?about? ?the? ?lady? ?in? ?black?? ?She? ?looks? ?to? ?be? ?a? ?strong? ?character? ?too.”? ?Xie??Lian? ?remarked.???“No,”? ?San? ?Lang? ?replied,? ?“But? ?she? ?should? ?also? ?be? ?one? ?of? ?the? ?five? ?elemental? ?masters? ?that??make? ?up? ?‘Wind,? ?Water,? ?Rain,? ?Earth,? ?Thunder’.? ?Probably? ?shouldn’t? ?offend? ?her? ?either.”???The? ?Wind? ?Master? ?could? ?start? ?a? ?twister? ?from? ?nothing,? ?obviously? ?powerful.? ?But? ?the? ?lady? ?in??black? ?was? ?stronger.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?recalled? ?the? ?way? ?she? ?watched? ?San? ?Lang? ?as? ?if? ?she’d? ?found??out? ?something,? ?and? ?felt? ?rather? ?concerned.? ?“I? ?agree.”????But? ?still,? ?there? ?were? ?words? ?that? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?thought? ?didn’t? ?need? ?to? ?be? ?said? ?and? ?he? ?swallowed??them.? ?He? ?thought,? ?‘Even? ?with? ?a? ?strong? ?backing? ?you? ?may? ?not? ?be? ?successful.? ?Back? ?in? ?the??day,? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?of? ?XianLe? ?had? ?the? ?support? ?of? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Martial? ?Emperor? ?who??ruled? ?all? ?three? ?realms? ?for? ?a? ?thousand? ?years.? ?He? ?was? ?still? ?a? ?failure.’???Xie? ?Lian? ?picked? ?up? ?his? ?fallen? ?bamboo? ?hat,? ?dusted? ?it,? ?seeing? ?that? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?flattened,? ?and??breathed? ?in? ?relief.? ?He? ?tied? ?it? ?back? ?around? ?his? ?neck? ?and? ?really? ?looked? ?at? ?Nan? ?Feng.? ?“Were??you? ?fighting? ?with? ?the? ?two? ?ladies? ?all? ?this? ?way?”???“Yes.? ?We? ?fought? ?the? ?entire? ?way.”? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?replied,? ?face? ?dark.???Xie? ?Lian? ?patted? ?his? ?shoulders,? ?“Thanks? ?for? ?your? ?hard? ?work.”? ?Suddenly,? ?he? ?remembered??there? ?was? ?another? ?one? ?who? ?worked? ?hard,? ?and? ?turned? ?around,? ?“Where’s? ?Fu? ?Yao?”???“Wasn’t? ?he? ?watching? ?the? ?wounded?”? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?responded.???Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?recall? ?seeing? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?after? ?getting? ?blown? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit.? ?Actually,??ever? ?since? ?A-Zhao? ?revealed? ?himself? ?there? ?had? ?been? ?no? ?more? ?sounds? ?from? ?him,? ?If? ?he??didn’t? ?leave? ?back? ?then,? ?he? ?must’ve? ?left? ?when? ?the? ?wind? ?blew.???Xie? ?Lian? ?wasn’t? ?actually? ?that? ?worried.? ?He? ?figured? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?didn’t? ?want? ?to? ?get? ?mixed? ?up? ?in??this? ?mess? ?so? ?he? ?quickly? ?ran? ?off.? ?But,? ?having? ?heard? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?say? ?“wounded”? ?he? ?came? ?to??in? ?shock? ?and? ?both? ?cried? ?at? ?the? ?same? ?time,? ?“The? ?ShanYue? ?fern!”???“The? ?sky? ?only? ?just? ?lightened,? ?no? ?rush.”? ?San? ?Lang? ?said.???There? ?is? ?no? ?such? ?thing? ?as? ?“no? ?rush”? ?when? ?it? ?came? ?to? ?saving? ?lives.? ?Even? ?if? ?it? ?was? ?far? ?from??being? ?24? ?hours,? ?who? ?knows? ?if? ?anything? ?might’ve? ?happened? ?in? ?all? ?that? ?time?? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had??no? ?time? ?to? ?think? ?about? ?Fu? ?Yao.? ?He? ?hurriedly? ?carried? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?on? ?his? ?back,? ?and? ?ran??towards? ?the? ?palace? ?grounds.???Once? ?at? ?the? ?palace,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?laid? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?down,? ?and? ?immediately? ?picked? ?a? ?few? ?large??bushels? ?of? ?the? ?ShanYue? ?fern.? ?That? ?mud? ?face? ?was? ?still? ?on? ?the? ?ground,? ?its? ?face? ?a? ?bloody??mess? ?amongst? ?its? ?white? ?bones.? ?In? ?the? ?past? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?would’ve? ?buried? ?it,? ?but? ?first,? ?he’s? ?in? ?a??hurry? ?to? ?save? ?people,? ?and? ?second,? ?that? ?man? ?was? ?buried? ?in? ?the? ?ground? ?for? ?fifty? ?to? ?sixty??years,? ?he? ?must? ?not? ?want? ?to? ?go? ?back.? ?But? ?the? ?corpse? ?of? ?the? ?dead? ?merchant? ?was? ?missing,??and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?stopped,? ?puzzled.? ?Just? ?then? ?San? ?Lang? ?emerged? ?from? ?the? ?palace? ?with? ?a??small? ?clay? ?pot.? ?When? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?saw,? ?he? ?immediately? ?called? ?out,? ?“Bless? ?you,? ?San? ?Lang.”???Ban? ?Yue? ?was? ?weak? ?and? ?wouldn’t? ?wake? ?up,? ?so? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?shrank? ?her? ?and? ?tucked? ?her? ?into??the? ?pot.? ?The? ?group? ?of? ?them? ?continued? ?to? ?collect? ?the? ?ferns,? ?and? ?rushed? ?back.? ?It? ?had? ?been??about? ?eight? ?hours? ?since? ?they? ?left.???Returning? ?to? ?where? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?had? ?drawn? ?the? ?circle,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?saw? ?that? ?many? ?were? ?still??within? ?it,? ?scared? ?to? ?venture? ?out.? ?The? ?old? ?man? ?who? ?had? ?taken? ?Nan? ?Feng’s? ?pill? ?was? ?doing??alright,? ?and? ?after? ?applying? ?the? ?herb? ?on? ?his? ?wound,? ?he? ?was? ?able? ?to? ?stand? ?and? ?walk? ?after??resting? ?for? ?a? ?while.? ?Only,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?think? ?there? ?was? ?any? ?need? ?to? ?tell? ?them? ?what? ?the??herb? ?used? ?to? ?grow? ?on.???After? ?some? ?time,? ?the? ?merchants? ?were? ?all? ?calmed,? ?and? ?began? ?to? ?worry,? ?“Where’s? ?Tian??Shengg?? ?How? ?come? ?they? ?haven’t? ?returned? ?yet?”????Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?too? ?busy? ?picking? ?herbs? ?earlier? ?and? ?didn’t? ?bother? ?with? ?Tian? ?Shengg? ?and? ?the??others.? ?He? ?was? ?just? ?thinking? ?about? ?going? ?back? ?to? ?the? ?ruins? ?to? ?search? ?for? ?them? ?when? ?he??heard? ?the? ?voice? ?of? ?a? ?boy? ?yelling? ?gege? ?and? ?uncles? ?coming? ?closer.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?his??head,? ?and? ?sure? ?enough? ?it? ?was? ?Tian? ?Sheng.? ?The? ?boy? ?had? ?a? ?large? ?bushel? ?of? ?the? ?ShanYue??fern? ?in? ?his? ?arms,? ?and? ?behind? ?him? ?were? ?two? ?other? ?merchants,? ?all? ?huffing? ?and? ?puffing.???Turns? ?out,? ?while? ?on? ?top? ?the? ?walls? ?of? ?the? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit,? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?swept? ?the? ?soldiers??down,and? ?captured? ?Tian? ?Sheng? ?and? ?the? ?merchants.? ?They? ?were? ?terrified,? ?but? ?Ban? ?Yue??only? ?led? ?them? ?down? ?from? ?the? ?pit,? ?and? ?directed? ?them? ?where? ?to? ?go? ?before? ?sending? ?them? ?on??their? ?way.? ?They? ?escaped,? ?picked? ?the? ?herbs,? ?buried? ?the? ?dead? ?merchant’s? ?body,? ?and? ?ran??back,? ?yet? ?still? ?somehow? ?was? ?slower? ?than? ?Xie? ?Lian.???In? ?any? ?case,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?escorted? ?the? ?caravan? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?Gobi? ?desert,? ?and? ?ended? ?this??journey.???Before? ?they? ?bid? ?farewell,? ?Tian? ?Sheng? ?snuck? ?out? ?to? ?find? ?him? ?and? ?whispered? ?mysteriously,??“Gege,? ?I’ve? ?a? ?question? ?for? ?you.”???“Ask? ?away,”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.???“You’re? ?actually? ?a? ?god,? ?aren’t? ?you?”???“...”???Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?astonished.? ?But? ?also? ?a? ?little? ?touched.???In? ?the? ?past,? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?time? ?when? ?he’d? ?holler? ?and? ?announce? ?to? ?the? ?world,? ?“I’m? ?a? ?god!? ?I??am? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince,? ?Your? ?Royal? ?Highness!”? ?and? ?no? ?one? ?would? ?believe? ?him.? ?This? ?time,??he? ?hadn’t? ?even? ?said? ?anything? ?and? ?the? ?other? ?party? ?asked? ?if? ?he? ?was? ?a? ?god,? ?deeply??surprising? ?him? ?but? ?also? ?moved? ?him.???Tian? ?Sheng? ?added? ?immediately,? ?“I? ?saw? ?you? ?use? ?spells!? ?Don’t? ?worry,? ?I? ?won’t? ?tell.”???‘How? ?would? ?you? ?even? ?tell.? ?No? ?one? ?would? ?believe? ?you...’? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?thought.???Tian? ?Sheng? ?continued,? ?“If? ?not? ?for? ?you,? ?I? ?would’ve? ?gotten? ?thrown? ?into? ?that? ?pit? ?by? ?those? ?ugly??ghost? ?soldiers.? ?When? ?I? ?get? ?home? ?I’ll? ?build? ?you? ?a? ?temple? ?and? ?worship? ?you.”????Xie? ?Lian? ?watched? ?him? ?pat? ?his? ?chest? ?and? ?make? ?‘very? ?big,? ?very? ?big’? ?hand? ?gestures,? ?and??couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?let? ?out? ?a? ?laugh? ?and? ?smiled,? ?“Then,? ?thank? ?you.”???San? ?Lang? ?was? ?standing? ?on? ?the? ?side,? ?and? ?he? ?chuckled? ?lightly? ?for? ?some? ?unknown? ?reason.??Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?think? ?it? ?was? ?because? ?he? ?thought? ?a? ?child’s? ?naive? ?words? ?were? ?ridiculous.???Although? ?children? ?have? ?no? ?idea? ?just? ?how? ?much? ?work? ?went? ?into? ?constructing? ?a? ?temple,??nevertheless,? ?receiving? ?such? ?a? ?promise,? ?fulfilled? ?or? ?not,? ?was? ?still? ?a? ?happy? ?occasion.????After? ?much? ?hassling,? ?he? ?had? ?to? ?leave? ?behind? ?a? ?random? ?title? ?“The? ?Scrap? ?Immortal”,? ?then??he? ?waved? ?and? ?walked? ?off? ?in? ?the? ?opposite? ?direction.Nan? ?Feng? ?drew? ?another? ?Distance??Shortening? ?array? ?and? ?sent? ?them? ?all? ?back? ?to? ?PuQi? ?Shrine.????Opening? ?the? ?door,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?took? ?the? ?straw? ?mat? ?out,? ?laid? ?it? ?open? ?on? ?the? ?ground,? ?and??collapsed? ?on? ?it? ?like? ?a? ?dead? ?body.? ?This? ?was? ?done? ?all? ?in? ?one? ?breath.? ?San? ?Lang? ?sat? ?himself??down? ?next? ?to? ?him,? ?hand? ?propping? ?up? ?his? ?chin,? ?and? ?watched? ?him.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?sighed,? ?“How??long? ?were? ?we? ?gone?”???“Around? ?three,? ?four? ?days.”? ?San? ?Lang? ?replied.???Xie? ?Lian? ?sighed? ?again,? ?“Only? ?three,? ?four? ?days,? ?why? ?am? ?I? ?so? ?tired.”???Ever? ?since? ?he? ?ascended,? ?he? ?was? ?always? ?worked? ?to? ?the? ?bone? ?like? ?a? ?dog,? ?no? ?lie.? ?After? ?he??was? ?done? ?sighing,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?up,? ?“Eh?? ?Nan? ?Feng?? ?Why? ?haven’t? ?you? ?reported? ?back??yet?”???“Report? ?back? ?where?”? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?asked.???“Aren’t? ?you? ?the? ?junior? ?official? ?of? ?Nan? ?Yang? ?Palace?? ?Won’t? ?your? ?general? ?miss? ?you? ?after??three,? ?four? ?days?”???“My? ?general? ?isn’t? ?in? ?the? ?palace? ?right? ?now,? ?so? ?he? ?won’t? ?miss? ?me.”? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?replied,???Xie? ?Lian? ?rolled? ?over? ?and? ?got? ?up,? ?“Alright.? ?It’ll? ?be? ?good? ?too? ?if? ?you? ?stay.”???“What? ?are? ?you? ?doing?”? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?asked.???Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?at? ?him? ?cheerfully,? ?“I’m? ?going? ?to? ?cook? ?you? ?a? ?meal.? ?As? ?a? ?reward? ?for? ?your??hard? ?work.”???Nan? ?Feng’s? ?face? ?dropped? ?drastically.? ?He? ?raised? ?his? ?hand,? ?pressed? ?two? ?fingers? ?together??and? ?touched? ?his? ?temple,? ?as? ?if? ?receiving? ?someone’s? ?private? ?communication.? ?He? ?up? ?and??turned,? ?“There’s? ?an? ?emergency? ?at? ?the? ?palace,? ?I’ll? ?see? ?you? ?later.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?waved? ?his? ?hand,? ?“What?? ?Nan? ?Feng,? ?don’t? ?go!? ?How? ?can? ?there? ?suddenly? ?be? ?an??emergency?? ?I? ?really? ?want? ?to? ?thank? ?you? ?for? ?everything–”???“THERE’S? ?AN? ?EMERGENCY!”? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?roared,? ?and? ?ran? ?out? ?the? ?door.????Xie? ?Lian? ?sat? ?back? ?down? ?on? ?the? ?mat? ?and? ?looked? ?at? ?San? ?Lang,? ?“I? ?guess? ?he’s? ?not? ?hungry.”???There? ?was? ?a? ?loud? ?bang? ?before? ?San? ?Lang? ?could? ?reply,? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?who? ?came??back,? ?having? ?slammed? ?open? ?the? ?door? ?in? ?a? ?rush.? ?“YOU? ?TWO–!!”???Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?San? ?Lang? ?were? ?sitting? ?together? ?on? ?the? ?mat? ?and? ?both? ?raised? ?their? ?heads? ?to??look? ?at? ?him,? ?“What? ?about? ?us? ?two?”???Nan? ?Feng? ?pointed? ?his? ?finger? ?at? ?San? ?Lang,? ?then? ?at? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?his? ?words? ?stuck? ?in? ?his? ?throat,??unable? ?to? ?speak.? ?Then? ?finally,? ?“I? ?will? ?be? ?back!”???“You’re? ?very? ?welcome? ?to.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.???Nan? ?Feng? ?gave? ?San? ?Lang? ?one? ?last? ?stink? ?eye? ?before? ?closing? ?the? ?door? ?and? ?leaving.? ?Xie??Lian? ?crossed? ?his? ?arms,? ?tilted? ?his? ?head? ?like? ?San? ?Lang,? ?and? ?said,? ?“Looks? ?like? ?there? ?really? ?is??an? ?emergency.”???He? ?turned? ?to? ?look? ?at? ?the? ?boy? ?next? ?to? ?him? ?and? ?smiled? ?cheerfully,? ?“He’s? ?not? ?hungry,? ?how??about? ?you?”???San? ?Lang? ?smiled? ?cheerfully? ?back,? ?“I’m? ?starving.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?grinned? ?and? ?stood? ?up? ?again,? ?turned? ?around? ?and? ?casually? ?cleaned? ?the? ?altar??table,? ?“Alright? ?then.? ?What? ?do? ?you? ?want? ?to? ?eat,? ?Hua? ?Cheng?”???Behind? ?him,? ?there? ?was? ?silence.? ?Then? ?chuckling.???“I? ?still? ?prefer? ?the? ?name? ?‘San? ?Lang’.”?????Ch.30:? ?Poking? ?the? ?Ghost? ?King;? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?Seeks? ?Truth????Back? ?still? ?facing? ?San? ?Lang,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“Crimson? ?Rain? ?Sought? ?Flower?”???“Your? ?Royal? ?Highness? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince.”? ?San? ?Lang? ?replied.???Xie? ?Lian? ?finally? ?turned? ?around? ?with? ?a? ?grin,? ?“That’s? ?the? ?first? ?time? ?I’ve? ?heard? ?you? ?address??me? ?like? ?that.”???The? ?red-clad? ?youth? ?sat? ?on? ?the? ?mat,? ?and? ?adjusted? ?his? ?legs,? ?also? ?grinning,? ?“How? ?does? ?it??feel?”???Xie? ?Lian? ?gave? ?it? ?a? ?thought,? ?and? ?replied? ?truthfully,? ?”It? ?feels...? ?a? ?little? ?different? ?than? ?when??others? ?call? ?my? ?by? ?that? ?title.”????“Hm?? ?How? ?so?”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?asked.???Xie? ?Lian? ?tilted? ?his? ?head,? ?his? ?eyes? ?squinting? ?a? ?little,? ?“It’s? ?hard? ?to? ?say,? ?it’s? ?just...”???When? ?others? ?called? ?him? ?‘Your? ?Highness’,? ?it? ?was? ?either? ?emotionless,? ?and? ?all? ?business? ?like??Ling? ?Wen,? ?but? ?most? ?of? ?the? ?time,? ?when? ?people? ?called? ?him? ?‘Your? ?Highness’,? ?it? ?was? ?laced??with? ?a? ?sense? ?of? ?disdain,? ?an? ?intentional? ?address? ?like? ?calling? ?an? ?ugly? ?woman? ?a? ?beauty,??somewhat? ?sarcastic.???Yet? ?when? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?called? ?him? ?‘Your? ?Highness’,? ?those? ?two? ?words? ?were? ?uttered? ?with??grave? ?sincerity.? ?So,? ?while? ?it? ?was? ?hard? ?to? ?describe,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?when? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?called??him? ?‘Your? ?Highness’,? ?it? ?felt? ?different? ?than? ?when? ?others? ?called? ?him? ?‘Your? ?Highness’.???He? ?continued,? ?“That? ?night? ?at? ?Mount? ?YuJun,? ?the? ?groom? ?who? ?took? ?me? ?away? ?was? ?you,??right?”???Seeing? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?meaningful? ?smirk,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?realized? ?his? ?words? ?may? ?have? ?meant??something? ?else,? ?and? ?corrected? ?himself,? ?“I? ?meant,? ?the? ?groom? ?in? ?disguise? ?who? ?led? ?me??away? ?was? ?you,? ?right?”???“I? ?wasn’t? ?disguising? ?as? ?a? ?groom.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?replied.???Technically? ?speaking,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?wasn’t? ?wrong.? ?The? ?young? ?man? ?at? ?the? ?time? ?never? ?said??he? ?was? ?the? ?groom? ?or? ?anything;? ?in? ?fact,? ?he? ?didn’t? ?say? ?a? ?thing? ?at? ?all.? ?He? ?only? ?stopped? ?in??front? ?of? ?the? ?marriage? ?sedan? ?and? ?extended? ?his? ?hand.? ?It? ?was? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?who? ?went? ?with? ?him??willingly!????“Fine.? ?Then,? ?why? ?did? ?you? ?appear? ?at? ?the? ?time?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.????“This? ?question? ?only? ?has? ?two? ?answers,”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said,? ?“First,? ?I? ?came? ?especially? ?for? ?Your??Royal? ?Highness;? ?second,? ?I? ?was? ?passing? ?by? ?and? ?was? ?free.? ?Which? ?do? ?you? ?think? ?is? ?more??believable?”???Xie? ?Lian? ?counted? ?the? ?number? ?of? ?days? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?spent? ?with? ?him,? ?and? ?replied??earnestly,? ?“Which? ?is? ?more? ?believable? ?I? ?can’t? ?say,? ?but? ?you? ?really? ?do? ?seem? ?to? ?have? ?a? ?lot? ?of??free? ?time.”???With? ?his? ?left? ?arm? ?holding? ?his? ?right? ?elbow? ?and? ?his? ?right? ?hand? ?propping? ?his? ?chin,? ?Xie? ?Lian??gave? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?a? ?once? ?over? ?and? ?nodded.? ?“You’re? ?quite? ?different? ?than? ?what? ?the? ?rumours??say.”???Hua? ?Cheng? ?changed? ?his? ?sitting? ?position? ?but? ?still? ?with? ?a? ?hand? ?propping? ?up? ?his? ?cheek,??watched? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?said,? ?“Oh?? ?And? ?how? ?did? ?you? ?find? ?out? ?I’m? ?me?”???The? ?images? ?of? ?that? ?umbrella? ?dripping? ?with? ?blood,? ?that? ?gentle? ?clinking? ?silver? ?chain,? ?and??that? ?cold? ?silver? ?vambrace? ?filled? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?mind? ?and? ?thought,? ?‘It’s? ?not? ?like? ?you? ?were? ?trying??very? ?hard? ?at? ?hiding? ?yourself.’? ?But? ?when? ?words? ?dropped? ?from? ?his? ?lips,? ?they? ?became??something? ?else.? ?He? ?said? ?in? ?a? ?serious? ?voice,? ?“Even? ?after? ?all? ?the? ?probing? ?you? ?gave? ?nothing??away,? ?so? ?you? ?must? ?be? ?a? ?‘Supreme’.? ?You’re? ?dressed? ?all? ?in? ?a? ?red? ?like? ?the? ?maples,? ?like??blood,? ?and? ?seem? ?knowledgeable? ?of? ?everything,? ?capable? ?of? ?everything,? ?and? ?knew? ?no? ?fear.??Such? ?a? ?disposition,? ?other? ?than? ?that? ?‘Crimson? ?Rain? ?Sought? ?Flower’? ?that? ?even? ?all? ?in? ?heaven??fears,? ?there? ?doesn’t? ?seem? ?to? ?be? ?any? ?other? ?candidates.”???Hua? ?Cheng? ?laughed,? ?“Shall? ?I? ?take? ?those? ?words? ?as? ?a? ?compliment?”???‘Can’t? ?you? ?tell? ?they’re? ?compliments?’? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?thought.???“Sparing? ?so? ?many? ?words,? ?how? ?come? ?Your? ?Royal? ?Highness? ?doesn’t? ?question? ?my? ?motives??for? ?coming? ?close? ?to? ?you?”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?asked,? ?his? ?smile? ?curbed? ?somewhat.???“If? ?you? ?don’t? ?want? ?to? ?say? ?anything,? ?if? ?I? ?asked,? ?would? ?you? ?tell?? ?Or? ?you? ?might? ?not? ?tell? ?me? ?the??truth.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.????“That’s? ?not? ?necessarily? ?true.? ?Besides,? ?you? ?can? ?always? ?boot? ?me? ?out.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?replied,? ?“You’re? ?so? ?powerful;? ?if? ?I? ?booted? ?you? ?out? ?now,? ?if? ?you? ?really? ?wanted? ?to? ?do??something? ?bad,? ?wouldn’t? ?you? ?just? ?change? ?skin? ?and? ?come? ?back?”???The? ?two? ?were? ?staring? ?at? ?each? ?other,? ?grinning,? ?when? ?just? ?then,? ?a? ?small? ?knocking? ?noise??broke? ?the? ?temporary? ?silence? ?in? ?the? ?shrine.? ?They? ?looked? ?to? ?where? ?the? ?sound? ?came? ?from??and? ?there? ?wasn’t? ?anyone,? ?only? ?that? ?small,? ?black? ?clay? ?pot? ?rolling? ?on? ?the? ?ground.???It? ?was? ?the? ?same? ?pot? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?was? ?tucked? ?in.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?placed? ?it? ?next? ?to? ?the? ?mat,? ?but??somehow? ?it? ?had? ?tipped? ?itself? ?over? ?and? ?rolled? ?to? ?the? ?door.? ?Blocked? ?by? ?the? ?wooden? ?door??built? ?by? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?it? ?started? ?hitting? ?the? ?door? ?by? ?rolling? ?to? ?it? ?repeatedly.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was??worried? ?it? ?might? ?break? ?itself,? ?so? ?he? ?opened? ?the? ?door,? ?and? ?the? ?little? ?clay? ?pot? ?rolled? ?itself? ?to??the? ?grass? ?field? ?outside.???Xie? ?Lian? ?followed? ?behind? ?it,? ?and? ?saw? ?that? ?once? ?the? ?little? ?clay? ?pot? ?made? ?it? ?to? ?the? ?grass??field,? ?it? ?stood? ?itself? ?up.? ?Even? ?if? ?it? ?was? ?only? ?a? ?pot,? ?it? ?gave? ?the? ?sense? ?that? ?it? ?was? ?gazing? ?at??the? ?night? ?sky.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?also? ?emerged? ?from? ?the? ?shrine,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?called? ?out? ?to? ?the??pot,? ?“Ban? ?Yue,? ?are? ?you? ?awake?”???Good? ?thing? ?when? ?they? ?returned? ?from? ?the? ?Gobi? ?it? ?was? ?already? ?deep? ?into? ?the? ?night,??otherwise? ?if? ?anyone? ?should? ?see? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?ask? ?how? ?a? ?pot? ?was? ?doing? ?they? ?would? ?probably??throw? ?a? ?fit.???A? ?moment? ?later,? ?the? ?sulky? ?voice? ?of? ?a? ?young? ?girl? ?came? ?from? ?the? ?pot,? ?“General? ?Hua.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?sat? ?down? ?next? ?to? ?it? ?and? ?soothed,? ?“Ban? ?Yue,? ?have? ?you? ?come? ?out? ?to? ?stargaze???Why? ?don’t? ?you? ?come? ?out?”???Hua? ?Cheng? ?was? ?leaning? ?against? ?a? ?tree? ?next? ?to? ?them? ?and? ?said,? ?“She? ?only? ?just? ?left? ?the??BanYue? ?ruins.? ?Probably? ?best? ?if? ?she? ?stays? ?in? ?there? ?for? ?a? ?while? ?longer.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?thought? ?that? ?advice? ?was? ?sound.? ?After? ?all,? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?had? ?been? ?stuck? ?in? ?BanYue??for? ?two? ?hundred? ?years;? ?to? ?suddenly? ?change? ?pace? ?might? ?be? ?hard? ?to? ?adjust? ?to.? ?“Then? ?you??best? ?stay? ?in? ?there? ?and? ?heal.? ?This? ?is? ?where? ?I? ?cultivate,? ?you? ?don’t? ?have? ?to? ?worry? ?about??anything.? ?Don’t? ?think? ?about? ?those? ?soldiers? ?and? ?that? ?general? ?anymore.”???The? ?pot? ?shook? ?twice? ?as? ?if? ?trying? ?to? ?say? ?something.? ?After? ?chewing? ?on? ?his? ?words,? ?Xie? ?Lian??spoke? ?up,? ?“Ban? ?Yue,? ?the? ?incident? ?this? ?time? ?actually? ?didn’t? ?concern? ?you.? ?Your? ?scorpion??snakes? ?were...”???“General? ?Hua,? ?I? ?couldn’t? ?move? ?at? ?the? ?time,? ?but? ?I? ?heard? ?everything,”? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?said??gloomily.???Xie? ?Lian? ?stopped.? ?Only? ?then? ?did? ?he? ?learn? ?that? ?Pei? ?Su? ?only? ?sealed? ?Ban? ?Yue’s? ?movement,??but? ?not? ?her? ?senses.? ?“Just? ?as? ?well.”???Since? ?she? ?heard? ?everything,? ?then? ?just? ?as? ?well.???The? ?clay? ?pot? ?asked,? ?“General? ?Hua,? ?what? ?will? ?happen? ?to? ?General? ?Pei? ?Junior?”???Xie? ?Lian? ?crossed? ?his? ?arms? ?in? ?his? ?sleeves,? ?“I? ?don’t? ?know.? ?But,? ?mistakes? ?will? ?always? ?be??punished.”???Another? ?moment? ?of? ?silence,? ?and? ?the? ?pot? ?shook? ?twice,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?finally? ?understood??that? ?it? ?was? ?nodding? ?in? ?agreement.????“General? ?Pei? ?Junior? ?is? ?actually? ?not? ?a? ?bad? ?person.”? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?said.???“Is? ?that? ?right?”???“En.”? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?replied,? ?“He’s? ?helped? ?me? ?before.”????Somehow,? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?mind? ?was? ?suddenly? ?filled? ?with? ?many? ?more? ?things.???Ban? ?Yue? ?often? ?received? ?beatings,? ?and? ?using? ?the? ?words? ?of? ?other? ?YongAn? ?children,? ?she??had? ?the? ?face? ?that? ?“asked? ?for? ?it”.???It? ?was? ?a? ?long? ?time? ?after? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?known? ?her? ?before? ?he? ?learned? ?of? ?it? ?too,? ?since? ?no??matter? ?how? ?much? ?beating? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?received,? ?she? ?wouldn’t? ?tell? ?anyone.? ?Until? ?one? ?day,? ?Xie??Lian? ?saw? ?a? ?group? ?of? ?children? ?pressing? ?her? ?face? ?into? ?the? ?mud? ?that? ?he? ?learned? ?where? ?all??those? ?bruises? ?on? ?her? ?face? ?came? ?from.???But? ?after? ?a? ?while,? ?when? ?he? ?asked? ?her? ?about? ?it,? ?she? ?only? ?remembered? ?that? ?she? ?had? ?to??wash? ?the? ?handkerchief? ?that? ?the? ?boy? ?who? ?pulled? ?her? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?mud? ?pit? ?before? ?returning? ?it,??and? ?she? ?recalled? ?nothing? ?else.???She? ?remembered? ?no? ?one? ?who? ?beat? ?her,? ?but? ?the? ?ones? ?who? ?had? ?saved? ?her? ?once,? ?she??remembered? ?for? ?a? ?lifetime.????Ban? ?Yue? ?continued,? ?“Although? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?always? ?scorned? ?that? ?he? ?confounded? ?my? ?mind,? ?that??I? ?was? ?completely? ?used,? ?but? ?whether? ?if? ?he? ?used? ?me? ?or? ?not,? ?it? ?was? ?my? ?own? ?will? ?to? ?open? ?the??fortress? ?gates.”????Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?know? ?what? ?to? ?say? ?anymore,? ?but? ?somewhere? ?in? ?his? ?heart,? ?he? ?felt? ?it? ?go? ?soft.???A? ?moment? ?later,? ?he? ?patted? ?that? ?clay? ?pot,? ?“Alright,? ?it’s? ?all? ?in? ?the? ?past.? ?Oh,? ?by? ?the? ?way.? ?Ban??Yue,? ?the? ?name? ?Hua? ?Xie? ?is? ?fake,? ?and? ?I? ?haven’t? ?been? ?a? ?general? ?for? ?a? ?long? ?time.? ?You? ?don’t??have? ?to? ?keep? ?calling? ?me? ?General? ?Hua? ?anymore.”????“Then? ?how? ?should? ?I? ?address? ?you?”? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?asked.???That? ?was? ?actually? ?a? ?good? ?question.? ?If? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?also? ?called? ?him? ?‘Your? ?Highness’? ?seriously,??it’d? ?feel? ?weird.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?really? ?care? ?about? ?his? ?address? ?either,? ?he? ?just? ?wanted? ?to??change? ?the? ?subject.? ?“That’s? ?up? ?to? ?you.? ?I? ?suppose? ?it’s? ?ok? ?if? ?you? ?keep? ?calling? ?me? ?General??Hua.”? ?Only,? ?there’s? ?another? ?one? ?here? ?named? ?Hua,? ?so? ?that? ?might? ?cause? ?some? ?confusion.??But? ?then? ?he? ?thought,? ?‘Hua? ?Xie’? ?was? ?a? ?fake? ?name? ?he? ?took? ?from? ?the? ?first? ?word? ?of? ?the? ?title??‘Flower? ?Crowned? ?Martial? ?God’,? ?so? ?‘Hua? ?Cheng’? ?may? ?very? ?well? ?be? ?a? ?fake? ?name? ?too?? ?That??they? ?both? ?coincidentally? ?picked? ?the? ?same? ?surname? ?was? ?rather? ?amusing.???“I’m? ?sorry,? ?General? ?Hua.”? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?said? ?again.???Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?back? ?to? ?look? ?at? ?her? ?and? ?said? ?woefully,? ?“Ban? ?Yue,? ?why? ?are? ?you? ?always??apologizing? ?to? ?me?”? ?Did? ?he? ?really? ?look? ?that? ?sorry? ?to? ?people?????From? ?within? ?the? ?pot,? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?stated,? ?“I,? ?want? ?to? ?save? ?the? ?world.”???Xie? ?Lian:? ?“..............”???“General? ?Hua,? ?you? ?said? ?that? ?once.”? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?said.???Xie? ?Lian:? ?“???”???He? ?hurriedly? ?pressed? ?down? ?on? ?the? ?clay? ?pot,? ?“Wait,? ?hold? ?on? ?a? ?sec!”???“Wait? ?for? ?what?”? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?asked.???Xie? ?Lian? ?took? ?a? ?peek? ?at? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?who? ?was? ?still? ?leaning? ?against? ?the? ?tree? ?with? ?his? ?arms??crossed,? ?and? ?said? ?in? ?a? ?low? ?voice,? ?“Did? ?I? ?really? ?say? ?that?”???Those? ?words? ?were? ?his? ?favourite? ?saying? ?when? ?he? ?was? ?only? ?ten? ?something? ?years? ?old.? ?In??the? ?many? ?hundreds? ?of? ?years? ?thereafter,? ?he? ?shouldn’t? ?have? ?uttered? ?them? ?at? ?all;? ?he? ?couldn’t??believe? ?it.? ?But? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?was? ?firm,? ?“General,? ?those? ?were? ?your? ?words.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?still? ?wanted? ?to? ?struggle,? ?“I? ?don’t? ?think? ?so...”???Ban? ?Yue? ?told? ?him? ?sternly? ?and? ?coldly,? ?“Oh,? ?no,? ?you? ?did? ?say? ?them.? ?There? ?was? ?once,? ?you??asked? ?us? ?all? ?what? ?we? ?wanted? ?to? ?do? ?when? ?we’re? ?older.? ?Everyone? ?answered,? ?and? ?after? ?you??also? ?said:? ?‘My? ?dream? ?was? ?to? ?save? ?the? ?world;? ?the? ?common? ?people’.”???“...”???So? ?that? ?was? ?it.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?used? ?his? ?hand? ?to? ?cover? ?his? ?entire? ?forehead.? ?“Um.? ?Ban? ?Yue.? ?Why??would? ?you? ?remember? ?so? ?clearly? ?something? ?so? ?randomly? ?said?”???Ban? ?Yue? ?was? ?confused,? ?“Random?? ?But? ?General? ?Hua,? ?I? ?had? ?thought? ?those? ?words? ?were??said? ?very? ?earnestly.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?raised? ?his? ?head? ?to? ?gaze? ?at? ?the? ?night? ?sky,? ?feeling? ?helpless.? ?“Haha...? ?really???Maybe.? ?I? ?don’t? ?remember? ?whatever? ?else? ?I? ?might? ?have? ?said.”???“You? ?also? ?said,? ?‘Do? ?what? ?you? ?think? ?is? ?right!’”? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?told? ?him.”’Nothing? ?can? ?block? ?your??way!’? ?‘Even? ?if? ?you? ?fall? ?into? ?rotten? ?mud? ?a? ?hundred? ?times? ?you? ?must? ?get? ?up? ?with??determination!’? ?There’s? ?a? ?lot,? ?like? ?this.”???“Pfft.”????He? ?didn’t? ?need? ?to? ?look? ?back? ?to? ?know? ?that? ?it? ?was? ?definitely? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?under? ?the? ?tree? ?who??heard? ?and? ?laughed.???Even? ?smothering? ?the? ?pot? ?now? ?wouldn’t? ?help,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?thought? ?inwardly,? ?‘....what...??nonsense!? ?...? ?Why? ?did? ?I? ?keep? ?saying? ?those? ?kinds? ?of? ?things...? ?I’m? ?nothing? ?like? ?that? ?at? ?all...??am? ?I??’????“But,? ?I? ?don’t? ?know? ?what’s? ?right? ?anymore.”? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?said.???Xie? ?Lian? ?froze.???“I? ?wanted? ?to? ?do? ?as? ?what? ?General? ?Hua? ?said? ?and? ?save? ?the? ?people.”? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?said,? ?“But? ?in??the? ?end,? ?I? ?destroyed? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?Ban? ?Yue.”????Her? ?voice? ?was? ?lost,? ?“And? ?it? ?seemed? ?that? ?no? ?matter? ?what? ?I’d? ?do...? ?the? ?results? ?were? ?all??horrible.? ?General? ?Hua,? ?I? ?know? ?I? ?didn’t? ?do? ?things? ?right,? ?but? ?can? ?you? ?tell? ?me,? ?where? ?did? ?I? ?go??wrong?? ?What? ?should? ?I? ?do? ?in? ?order? ?to? ?do? ?as? ?you’ve? ?said? ?and...? ?save? ?the? ?world?”????“...”???Xie? ?Lian? ?replied,? ?“I’m? ?sorry,? ?Ban? ?Yue.? ?How? ?to? ?save? ?the? ?world,? ?the? ?common? ?people....? ?I??didn’t? ?know? ?the? ?answers? ?to? ?that? ?question? ?back? ?then,? ?and? ?even? ?now? ?I? ?still? ?don’t.”???Ban? ?Yue? ?was? ?silent? ?for? ?a? ?moment,? ?then? ?said? ?dejectedly,? ?“General? ?Hua,? ?to? ?be? ?honest,? ?it??feels? ?like? ?the? ?past? ?two? ?hundred? ?years,? ?I’ve? ?no? ?idea? ?what? ?I’ve? ?been? ?doing.? ?What? ?a? ?failure.”???Hearing? ?her,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?became? ?more? ?depressed,? ?thinking,? ?‘Doesn’t? ?that? ?make? ?me? ?more? ?of??a? ?failure?? ?That? ?I’ve? ?lived? ?eight? ?hundred? ?years? ?for? ?nothing?’???Xie? ?Lian? ?left? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?the? ?little? ?ghost? ?in? ?the? ?pot? ?to? ?stargaze? ?alone? ?to? ?calm? ?down,? ?and? ?went??back? ?inside? ?PuQi? ?shrine? ?with? ?Hua? ?Cheng.????After? ?closing? ?the? ?door,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?suddenly? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“Ban? ?Yue? ?remained? ?at? ?the? ?BanYue??Pass? ?willingly.? ?It? ?wasn’t? ?because? ?she? ?became? ?a? ?‘Savage’? ?that? ?she? ?was? ?trapped? ?there.”???She? ?had? ?always? ?remembered? ?that? ?it? ?was? ?her? ?who? ?opened? ?the? ?fortress? ?gates,? ?and? ?had??never? ?used? ?any? ?such? ?just? ?excuse? ?like? ?she? ?was? ?doing? ?it? ?for? ?the? ?people.? ?It? ?was? ?to? ?help? ?the??BanYue? ?soldiers? ?to? ?vent? ?their? ?resentment? ?so? ?they? ?could? ?leave? ?this? ?world? ?sooner? ?that? ?she??allowed? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?to? ?lead? ?them? ?to? ?murder? ?her? ?over? ?and? ?over.???Xie? ?Lian? ?shook? ?his? ?head,? ?“If? ?General? ?Pei? ?Junior? ?really? ?didn’t? ?want? ?to? ?leave? ?those? ?BanYue??soldiers? ?behind? ?and? ?didn’t? ?want? ?the? ?heavens? ?to? ?find? ?out? ?either,? ?he? ?could? ?very? ?well? ?send? ?a??clone? ?to? ?secretly? ?descend? ?to? ?take? ?care? ?of? ?them.? ?Why? ?did? ?he? ?have? ?to? ?use? ?that? ?method?”????“Clones? ?don’t? ?have? ?the? ?same? ?amount? ?of? ?power,”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said,? ?“You? ?saw? ?how? ?Pei??Su’s? ?clone? ?A-Zhao? ?was?? ?He? ?couldn’t? ?take? ?care? ?of? ?so? ?many? ?BanYue? ?soldiers,? ?so? ?feeding??them? ?the? ?living? ?was? ?the? ?fastest? ?and? ?easiest? ?way? ?to? ?disperse? ?their? ?resentment.”???“Why? ?did? ?it? ?have? ?to? ?be? ?so? ?fast?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?wondered.???“Maybe? ?it’s? ?so? ?your? ?little? ?friend? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?wouldn’t? ?hang? ?so? ?painfully? ?as? ?many? ?times.”? ?Hua??Cheng? ?replied.???Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?silent? ?for? ?a? ?moment,? ?“Then? ?what? ?about? ?those? ?mortals?”????Hua? ?Cheng? ?replied? ?quietly,? ?“They’re? ?heavenly? ?officials.? ?Of? ?course? ?a? ?mortal’s? ?life? ?is??nothing? ?but? ?ants? ?in? ?their? ?eyes.? ?Pei? ?Su? ?is? ?a? ?classic? ?high? ?ranked? ?god.? ?As? ?long? ?as? ?it? ?wasn’t??discovered,? ?killing? ?a? ?few? ?hundred? ?people? ?was? ?no? ?different? ?than? ?stepping? ?a? ?few? ?hundred??insects? ?to? ?death.”????Xie? ?Lian? ?glanced? ?at? ?him,? ?and? ?recalled? ?that? ?when? ?San? ?Lang? ?jumped? ?into? ?the? ?Sinner’s? ?Pit,??he? ?wiped? ?out? ?all? ?the? ?BanYue? ?soldiers? ?in? ?a? ?flash.? ?He? ?turned? ?to? ?him? ?and? ?said,? ?“Clones? ?don’t??have? ?the? ?same? ?amount? ?of? ?power?? ?I? ?see? ?your? ?clone? ?is? ?pretty? ?powerful.”???Hua? ?Cheng? ?arched? ?his? ?brows.? ?“Of? ?course.? ?But? ?I’m? ?the? ?real? ?thing.”???Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?to? ?look? ?at? ?him,? ?surprised,? ?“Eh?? ?This? ?is? ?your? ?true? ?form?”???“One? ?hundred? ?percent? ?authentic.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?declared.???If? ?anything? ?must? ?be? ?blamed,? ?it? ?would? ?have? ?to? ?be? ?how? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?looked? ?as? ?if? ?he’s??welcoming? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?to? ?test? ?it? ?out? ?himself,? ?and? ?without? ?thinking,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?raised? ?a? ?finger??and? ?poked? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?face.???After? ?poking,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?came? ?to? ?in? ?shock? ?and? ?yelped? ?‘oh? ?no!’? ?in? ?his? ?head.????He? ?was? ?only? ?curious? ?to? ?see? ?what? ?a? ?Supreme? ?Ghost? ?King’s? ?fake? ?skin? ?would? ?feel? ?like,? ?but??apparently? ?his? ?body? ?moved? ?faster? ?than? ?his? ?mind? ?and? ?poked? ?him!? ?What? ?a? ?disgrace!???To? ?have? ?someone? ?suddenly? ?poke? ?him,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?looked? ?somewhat? ?shocked? ?too,? ?but??he? ?was? ?always? ?calm? ?and? ?collected,? ?so? ?his? ?expression? ?cleared? ?instantly.? ?He? ?didn’t? ?say??anything,? ?but? ?his? ?raised? ?brows? ?went? ?even? ?higher,? ?as? ?if? ?waiting? ?for? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?to? ?explain,? ?and??the? ?laughter? ?in? ?his? ?eyes? ?remained.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?explain? ?himself;? ?he? ?looked? ?at? ?his??own? ?finger,? ?hid? ?it? ?away,? ?and? ?casually? ?said,? ?“...Not? ?bad.”???Hua? ?Cheng? ?finally? ?burst? ?out? ?laughing,? ?and? ?crossed? ?his? ?arms? ?with? ?his? ?head? ?tilted,? ?“What’s??not? ?bad?? ?Do? ?you? ?mean? ?this? ?skin?”???“It’s? ?really? ?well? ?made,”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said? ?sincerely,? ?“But...”???“But? ?what?”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?asked.???Xie? ?Lian? ?stared? ?at? ?his? ?face? ?and? ?studied? ?it? ?for? ?a? ?moment.? ?Then? ?finally,? ?“But,? ?can? ?I? ?see? ?your??real? ?face?”???This? ?time,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?didn’t? ?respond? ?immediately? ?and? ?dropped? ?his? ?arms.? ?Maybe? ?it? ?was??all? ?in? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?head,? ?but? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?eyes? ?darkened? ?slightly,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?heart??tightened? ?in? ?spite? ?of? ?himself.????—????MXTX? ?Author? ?Notes:?? ?In? ?regards? ?to? ?whether? ?if? ?it’s? ?the? ?real? ?person? ?or? ?a? ?flesh? ?clone,??you? ?can? ?understand? ?it? ?like? ?this:??–Sun? ?Wukong? ?pulls? ?out? ?a? ?monkey? ?hair,? ?and? ?blows? ?out? ?hundreds? ?of??monkeys.? ?Those? ?are? ?all? ?clones.??–Sun? ?Wukong? ?knows? ?the? ?seventy-two? ?earthy? ?transformations? ?and? ?turns? ?into?