Heaven Official's Blessing

Chapter 51-57 - ? Book? ?1?

Ch.51:? ?Truth? ?or? ?Deception;? ?Difficult? ?to? ?Discern? ?

?

Yet,? ?when? ?the? ?other? ?half? ?of? ?the? ?mask? ?fell? ?and? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?entire? ?face? ?was? ?revealed,? ?it? ?

became? ?obvious? ?that? ?he? ?didn’t? ?look? ?that? ?much? ?like? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?after? ?all.? ?Their? ?noses? ?and? ?lips? ?

were? ?similar? ?in? ?shape,? ?but? ?their? ?brows? ?and? ?eyes? ?were? ?quite? ?different.? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?eyes? ?

were? ?calm? ?and? ?peaceful.? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?brows? ?were? ?high? ?and? ?sharp,? ?his? ?eyes? ?were? ?also? ?

much? ?more? ?thin? ?and? ?slant.? ?He? ?was? ?certainly? ?still? ?a? ?good? ?looking? ?young? ?man,? ?but? ?anyone? ?

could? ?see? ?just? ?from? ?his? ?face? ?that? ?he? ?wasn’t? ?one? ?to? ?be? ?messed? ?with.? ?After? ?having? ?been? ?

beaten? ?to? ?a? ?bloody? ?pulp,? ?he? ?could? ?finally? ?squint? ?open? ?a? ?slit? ?of? ?his? ?eyes,? ?and? ?blearily? ?

noticed? ?the? ?one? ?grabbing? ?him? ?had? ?changed? ?form,? ?and? ?dressed? ?in? ?red.? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?had? ?

never? ?seen? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?real? ?face,? ?but? ?the? ?moment? ?he? ?saw? ?the? ?red? ?robes? ?he? ?was? ?

shocked? ?and? ?furious,? ?“It’s? ?you.? ?IT’S? ?YOU!”? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?changed? ?back? ?to? ?this? ?true? ?form.? ?“You? ?haven’t? ?answered? ?my? ?question.? ?

How? ?did? ?Prince? ?An? ?Le? ?die?”? ?

?

Because? ?of? ?how? ?frightening? ?his? ?eyes? ?looked,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?rushed? ?forward? ?and? ?cried,? ?“San? ?

Lang!”? ?

?

Humans? ?and? ?ghosts? ?alike? ?had? ?all? ?already? ?cleared? ?the? ?cave,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?ran? ?to? ?his? ?side,? ?

“Are? ?you? ?alright?? ?Don’t? ?be? ?angry,? ?please? ?don’t? ?be? ?angry,? ?everything’s? ?fine.? ?Just? ?calm? ?

down,? ?everything’s? ?fine...”? ?

?

He? ?gently? ?rubbed? ?down? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?shoulders? ?a? ?few? ?times,? ?and? ?his? ?voice? ?becoming? ?

soothingly? ?soft.? ?When? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?younger,? ?whenever? ?he? ?got? ?angry? ?or? ?upset,? ?his? ?

parents? ?would? ?always? ?stroke? ?his? ?back? ?like? ?this,? ?and? ?comfort? ?him? ?with? ?their? ?gentle? ?voices,? ?

and? ?thus? ?he? ?used? ?the? ?same? ?method? ?on? ?Hua? ?Cheng.? ?Turns? ?out? ?it? ?was? ?quite? ?effective;? ?Hua? ?

Cheng’s? ?eyes? ?were? ?turbulent? ?before,? ?but? ?after? ?being? ?soothed,? ?his? ?lips? ?quivered? ?for? ?a? ?

second,? ?and? ?slowly? ?but? ?finally? ?calmed,? ?his? ?eyes? ?cleared? ?once? ?more.? ? ?

?

Seeing? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?let? ?out? ?a? ?breath? ?of? ?relief.? ?But? ?suddenly,? ?even? ?before? ?he? ?finished? ?

exhaling,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?swiftly? ?reached? ?out? ?a? ?hand? ?and? ?gently? ?patted? ?his? ?shoulder? ?once.? ? ?

?

This? ?pat? ?instantly? ?froze? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?body? ?and? ?rooted? ?him? ?to? ?where? ?he? ?stood.? ?

?

He? ?hadn’t? ?prepared? ?for? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?to? ?do? ?anything? ?to? ?him,? ?which? ?was? ?why? ?this? ?was? ?done? ?

so? ?easily.? ?He? ?didn’t? ?know? ?what? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?was? ?up? ?to,? ?but? ?he? ?wasn’t? ?worried? ?about? ?

himself,? ?but? ?rather? ?he? ?was? ?worried? ?for? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?afraid? ?that? ?he? ?might? ?lose? ?control? ?

again? ?like? ?earlier.? ?He? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?open? ?his? ?mouth? ?to? ?ask,? ?when? ?he? ?realized? ?not? ?only? ?

could? ?he? ?not? ?move,? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?speak? ?either,? ?and? ?felt? ?he? ?may? ?have? ?gotten? ?into? ?a? ?rather? ?

difficult? ?situation.? ? ?

?

That? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?may? ?be? ?weak? ?in? ?fist? ?fights,? ?but? ?his? ?mouth? ?was? ?certainly? ?tough,? ?and? ?started? ?

cursing? ?while? ?still? ?covered? ?in? ?blood,? ?“You? ?fucking? ?crazy? ?one-eyed? ?snake!? ?Did? ?I? ?fucking? ?

piss? ?you? ?off? ?while? ?eating? ?in? ?my? ?own? ?fucking? ?house?!”? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?smiled,? ?then? ?smacked? ?his? ?head? ?down? ?onto? ?the? ?ground? ?again? ?before? ?picking? ?

it? ?up,? ?“How? ?did? ?Prince? ?An? ?Le? ?die?”? ?

?

“What? ?the? ?fuck? ?does? ?that? ?have? ?to? ?do? ?with? ?you...”? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?cried,? ?and? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?bashed? ?

him? ?down? ?again,? ?“How? ?did? ?Prince? ?An? ?Le? ?die?”? ?

?

This? ?went? ?on? ?repeat? ?for? ?a? ?while,? ?and? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?kept? ?his? ?cool? ?smile,? ?dribbling? ?his? ?head? ?

like? ?a? ?ball,? ?violently? ?bashing? ?it? ?for? ?over? ?ten? ?times.? ?Although? ?violent,? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?couldn’t? ?die,? ?

and? ?because? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?die,? ?it? ?was? ?insufferable.? ?Even? ?a? ?skull? ?made? ?of? ?steel? ?couldn’t? ?

stand? ?this? ?kind? ?of? ?torture,? ?and? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?finally? ?changed? ?his? ?tune,? ?“If? ?you’re? ?so? ?free? ?why? ?

don’t? ?you? ?go? ?read? ?a? ?fucking? ?history? ?book?”? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?laughed? ?coldly,? ?“If? ?history? ?books? ?recorded? ?the? ?truth,? ?why? ?would? ?I? ?come? ?and? ?

ask? ?a? ?useless? ?trash? ?like? ?you?”? ?He? ?lifted? ?his? ?hand? ?again,? ?and? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?yelled,? ?“IT’S? ?LANG? ?

QIANQIU!? ?HE? ?WAS? ?KILLED? ?BY? ?LANG? ?QIANQIU!!!”? ?

?

The? ?daruma? ?doll? ?in? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?arms? ?jerked,? ?and? ?started? ?shaking? ?vigorously.? ? ?

?

It? ?was? ?shaking? ?too? ?hard? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?move? ?to? ?hold? ?it? ?down,? ?so? ?alas? ?he? ?watched? ?

as? ?the? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?daruma? ?doll? ?fall? ?out? ?and? ?onto? ?the? ?ground,? ?madly? ?spinning? ?back? ?and? ?

forth.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?didn’t? ?turn? ?his? ?head,? ?but? ?he? ?undid? ?the? ?spell.? ?A? ?blast? ?of? ?red? ?smoke? ?and? ?

Lang? ?Qianqiu’s? ?form? ?leapt? ?from? ?within.? ?

?

He? ?was? ?royalty,? ?high? ?and? ?mighty,? ?and? ?had? ?never? ?been? ?wronged? ?like? ?this? ?his? ?entire? ?life.? ?He? ?

pointed? ?at? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?in? ?rage,? ?“How? ?could? ?you? ?insult? ?me? ?like? ?this? ?and? ?smear? ?my? ?name!? ?An? ?

Le? ?and? ?I? ?were? ?friends!? ?Who? ?did? ?you? ?say? ?killed? ?him?!”? ?

?

Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?also? ?shocked? ?to? ?see? ?him? ?jump? ?out,? ?“You’re? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu?? ?Why? ?the? ?fuck? ?

are? ?you? ?here? ?too?!”? ? ?

?

Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?himself? ?didn’t? ?understand? ?why? ?he? ?was? ?brought? ?to? ?this? ?lair? ?either,? ?but? ?was? ?

simply? ?enraged? ?by? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?accusations? ?earlier,? ?and? ?felt? ?compelled? ?to? ?clear? ?things? ?up,? ?

“Prince? ?An? ?Le? ?died? ?of? ?illness,? ?so? ?why? ?would? ?you? ?accuse? ?me? ?of? ?killing? ?him? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?

blue?!”? ? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?watched? ?on? ?coldly? ?but? ?stopped? ?dribbling? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?head,? ?so? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?got? ?

pulled? ?into? ?the? ?fight,? ?“Died? ?out? ?of? ?a? ?fucking? ?illness,? ?only? ?you? ?would? ?believe? ?it.? ?He? ?died? ?

soon? ?after? ?the? ?Gilded? ?Banquet,? ?so? ?he? ?must’ve? ?been? ?assassinated? ?by? ?you? ?lot!? ?If? ?not? ?you,? ?

then? ?those? ?old? ?withering? ?fucks? ?in? ?court.”? ?

?

He? ?was? ?muddying? ?the? ?waters? ?and? ?spewing? ?garbage;? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu’s? ?face? ?was? ?growing? ?

grimmer,? ?“No? ?wonder? ?everyone? ?says? ?the? ?Green? ?Ghost? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?is? ?vulgar? ?and? ?crass.? ?Now? ?

that? ?I’ve? ?met? ?you,? ?you? ?are? ?indeed? ?disgusting.”? ?

?

His? ?offhand? ?comment? ?stabbed? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?exactly? ?where? ?it? ?hurts.? ?After? ?becoming? ?famous,? ?

for? ?so? ?many? ?centuries,? ?all? ?of? ?heaven? ?and? ?hell? ?taunted? ?him? ?for? ?being? ?boorish? ?and? ?crude? ?

and? ?he? ?hated? ?it.? ?His? ?face? ?dropped? ?immediately,? ?“I? ?may? ?be? ?vulgar? ?but? ?it’s? ?still? ?much? ?better? ?

than? ?your? ?ignorance.? ?Friends? ?this,? ?friends? ?that,? ?what? ?peaceful? ?relationship.? ?Xianle? ?and? ?

YongAn? ?can? ?be? ?friends?? ?Coexist? ?in? ?peace?? ?You’re? ?as? ?fake? ?as? ?your? ?shitty? ?parents,? ?

disgusting!”? ?

?

Hearing? ?him? ?insult? ?his? ?parents,? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?was? ?furious,? ?“Shut? ?up!? ?My? ?esteemed? ?

parents? ?were? ?sincere? ?and? ?genuine,? ?not? ?fake!? ?I? ?won’t? ?allow? ?you? ?to? ?spit? ?on? ?their? ?names!”? ?

?

Qi? ?Rong? ?spat,? ?“You’re? ?all? ?nothing? ?more? ?than? ?the? ?descendants? ?of? ?some? ?rebels,? ?who? ?gave? ?

you? ?the? ?fucking? ?right!? ?What? ?sincerity?? ?To? ?donate? ?titles? ?and? ?land? ?to? ?us,? ?the? ?people? ?of? ?

Xianle?? ?Shameless!? ?You? ?robbed? ?what? ?was? ?ours? ?then? ?handed? ?it? ?back? ?out? ?like? ?it’s? ?some? ?

sort? ?of? ?a? ?gift?? ?Everything? ?you? ?owned? ?had? ?belonged? ?to? ?Xianle!”? ?

?

Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?was? ?not? ?skilled? ?in? ?arguing,? ?and? ?actually? ?froze? ?and? ?stuttered,? ?“You!? ?You—”? ?

?

Qi? ?Rong? ?saw? ?how? ?he? ?stammered? ?and? ?felt? ?a? ?rush? ?of? ?satisfaction,? ?and? ?resolved? ?to? ?

aggravate? ?him? ?even? ?more.? ?He? ?laughed,? ?“Even? ?if? ?you? ?guys? ?killed? ?An? ?Le,? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?

profitable? ?death.? ?Xianle? ?lost? ?but? ?one? ?man,? ?but? ?YongAn? ?paid? ?an? ?entire? ?Gilded? ?Banquet.? ?

Too? ?bad? ?we? ?couldn’t? ?kill? ?you? ?too,? ?and? ?have? ?you? ?all? ?taste? ?what? ?it’s? ?like? ?to? ?end? ?an? ?entire? ?

bloodline!”? ?

?

Hearing? ?this,? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?was? ?bewildered,? ?“...What? ?did? ?you? ?say?”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?mentally? ?cursed.? ?

?

He? ?so? ?desperately? ?wanted? ?to? ?bash? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?back? ?into? ?the? ?ground? ?the? ?same? ?way? ?Hua? ?

Cheng? ?did,? ?and? ?shut? ?him? ?up.? ?But? ?with? ?this? ?petrification? ?spell,? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?move? ?a? ?single? ?

muscle.? ? ?

?

“What? ?do? ?you? ?mean? ?you? ?couldn’t? ?kill? ?me? ?too?”? ? ?

?

Qi? ?Rong? ?only? ?wanted? ?to? ?avenge? ?himself? ?on? ?the? ?‘vulgar’? ?comment,? ?and? ?boasted,? ?“Truly? ?

the? ?fruit? ?doesn’t? ?fall? ?far? ?from? ?the? ?tree;? ?my? ?lord’s? ?stupidity? ?spans? ?hundreds? ?of? ?years,? ?my? ?

eyes? ?are? ?opened!? ?Think,? ?us? ?Xianle? ?are? ?thoroughly? ?disgusted? ?with? ?you? ?YongAn;? ?whoever? ?

doesn’t? ?hate? ?you? ?is? ?unfit? ?to? ?be? ?called? ?a? ?citizen? ?of? ?Xianle!? ?Did? ?you? ?honestly? ?think? ?the? ?royal? ?

descendants? ?of? ?Xianle? ?would? ?be? ?friendly? ?with? ?the? ?royalties? ?of? ?YongAn?? ?It? ?was? ?all? ?to? ?

infiltrate? ?your? ?guard,? ?make? ?it? ?easy? ?to? ?plot,? ?and? ?wash? ?your? ?gilded? ?birthday? ?banquet? ?with? ?

blood!”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?struggling? ?to? ?break? ?free,? ?and? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?was? ?frozen? ?to? ?his? ?spot.? ?After? ?a? ?

moment,? ?he? ?stammered,? ?“...The? ?Prince? ?An? ?Le,? ?and? ?the? ?Guoshi,? ?were,? ?were? ?on? ?the? ?same? ?

side?”? ?

?

Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?was? ?filled? ?with? ?anguish,? ?thinking? ?that? ?his? ?beloved? ?teacher? ?and? ?friend? ?had? ?

conspired? ?against? ?him? ?together.? ?However,? ?contrarily,? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?said,? ?“Guoshi?? ?That? ?

wicked? ?Guoshi? ?Fang? ?Xin?? ?Who? ?the? ?hell? ?is? ?on? ?the? ?same? ?side? ?as? ?him?”? ?

?

Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?heard? ?his? ?question? ?and? ?was? ?baffled? ?“You...? ?you? ?awash? ?the? ?Gilded? ?Banquet? ?

with? ?blood,? ?but? ?the? ?one? ?to? ?do? ?so? ?was? ?it? ?not? ?the? ?Guoshi?? ?Were? ?you? ?both? ?not? ?on? ?the? ?same? ?

side?? ?I...”? ?He? ?was? ?thoroughly? ?confused.? ?

?

“Who? ?the? ?fuck? ?knows? ?where? ?that? ?evil? ?cultivator? ?came? ?from,”? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?replied,? ?“It? ?had? ?

nothing? ?to? ?do? ?with? ?him!? ?Listen? ?up,? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu:? ?the? ?blood? ?spilt? ?at? ?your? ?YongAn? ?Gilded? ?

Banquet? ?was? ?all? ?done? ?by? ?the? ?people? ?of? ?Xianle!? ?An? ?Le? ?had? ?already? ?planned? ?to? ?kill? ?off? ?

every? ?single? ?fucking? ?rebel? ?blood? ?at? ?the? ?banquet,? ?but? ?that? ?fucking? ?weirdo? ?Guoshi? ?of? ?yours? ?

suddenly? ?busted? ?in.? ?An? ?Le? ?had? ?thought? ?the? ?plans? ?failed? ?and? ?ran? ?to? ?me? ?for? ?help,? ?asking? ?

me? ?what? ?to? ?do? ?if? ?he? ?was? ?discovered,? ?but? ?who? ?knew? ?that? ?very? ?night? ?it? ?was? ?announced? ?the? ?

one? ?who? ?fucked? ?everything? ?was? ?that? ?Guoshi,? ?and? ?he? ?became? ?wanted? ?in? ?the? ?entire? ?

kingdom.”? ?

?

It? ?took? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?a? ?while? ?to? ?process? ?that? ?information.? ?“If? ?that? ?was? ?the? ?case,? ?then? ?why? ?

didn’t? ?you? ?speak? ?up??”? ?

?

Qi? ?Rong? ?clicked? ?his? ?tongue,? ?“Are? ?you? ?fucking? ?dumb??? ?Why? ?would? ?I? ?say? ?anything?? ?Was? ?it? ?

a? ?bad? ?thing? ?to? ?have? ?someone? ?take? ?the? ?blame?? ?Can? ?you? ?level? ?me? ?up? ?to? ?a? ?‘Supreme’? ?with? ?

this? ?lie?”? ?He? ?was? ?relishing? ?this? ?more? ?and? ?more? ?the? ?more? ?he? ?spoke,? ?“Yoooo,? ?I? ?get? ?it.? ?You? ?

couldn’t? ?believe? ?it,? ?right?? ?I? ?heard? ?you? ?nailed? ?your? ?own? ?teacher? ?in? ?the? ?coffin,? ?

HAHAHAhahahahah,? ?what? ?a? ?fucking? ?idiot!? ?You? ?killed? ?the? ?wrong? ?person!”? ?

?

Hearing? ?that? ?vile,? ?hearty? ?laughter,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?closed? ?his? ?eyes,? ?and? ?cursed? ?again.? ?

?

Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?was? ?trembling? ?with? ?rage,? ?“...YOU’RE? ?WRONG!”? ?He? ?then? ?whipped? ?around? ?

and? ?shouted? ?towards? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?“If? ?that? ?was? ?true,? ?even? ?if? ?he? ?didn’t? ?say? ?anything,? ?why? ?

didn’t? ?you?!”? ? ?

?

Qi? ?Rong? ?spat? ?out? ?a? ?broken? ?tooth.? ?“And? ?who? ?the? ?fuck? ?is? ?that?? ?What,? ?are? ?you? ?all? ?here? ?to? ?

have? ?a? ?fucking? ?party? ?in? ?my? ?cave???”? ? ?

?

Everyone? ?ignored? ?him.? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?demanded,? ?“If? ?you? ?didn’t? ?do? ?it,? ?if? ?you? ?didn’t? ?kill,? ?then? ?

why? ?did? ?you? ?admit? ?to? ?guilt???”? ?

?

?Just? ?then,? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?body? ?became? ?loose.? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?undone? ?the? ?petrification? ?spell.? ?However,? ?it? ?might? ?have? ?been? ?too? ?late.? ?

Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?was? ?waiting? ?for? ?his? ?response,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?stood? ?up? ?slowly,? ?working? ?out? ?

the? ?kinks? ?in? ?his? ?wrists? ?and? ?joints.? ?After? ?a? ?pause,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?blurted? ?the? ?words,? ?“Complete? ?

nonsense.”? ?

?

Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?had? ?fully? ?expected? ?him? ?to? ?say? ?“It’s? ?true,? ?just? ?as? ?he? ?said”.? ?Yet,? ?the? ?words? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?uttered? ?completely? ?revoked? ?his? ?own? ?relief? ?of? ?guilt? ?from? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?recount.? ? ?

?

Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?pissed.? ?“Complete? ?nonsense?!? ?Says? ?who?”? ? ?

?

“Says? ?I.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?

?

He? ?looked? ?down? ?on? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?and? ?said,? ?“All? ?this? ?fibbing? ?and? ?empty? ?words,? ?what? ?proof? ?do? ?

you? ?have? ?that? ?the? ?ones? ?who? ?spilt? ?blood? ?at? ?the? ?GIlded? ?Banquet? ?were? ?the? ?descendants? ?of? ?

Xianle?”? ?

?

Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?amused,? ?“All? ?the? ?killed? ?are? ?dead,? ?so? ?what? ?proof?? ?Besides,? ?it’s? ?been? ?

hundreds? ?of? ?years.? ?What? ?proof? ?is? ?left?”? ?

?

“Which? ?is? ?why? ?I? ?say? ?this? ?is? ?all? ?complete? ?nonsense.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied,? ?“Xianle? ?and? ?YongAn? ?

are? ?dynasties? ?of? ?the? ?past,? ?long? ?lost? ?to? ?time.? ?Is? ?there? ?any? ?point? ?to? ?you? ?stirring? ?up? ?trouble? ?

with? ?nothing? ?more? ?than? ?bits? ?of? ?history?”? ?

?

The? ?tone? ?of? ?his? ?voice? ?startled? ?Qi? ?Rong,? ?and? ?he? ?looked? ?as? ?if? ?he? ?was? ?remembering? ?

something,? ?narrowing? ?his? ?eyes.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?to? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?and? ?said? ?in? ?a? ?calming? ?

manner,? ?“I? ?killed? ?your? ?father;? ?you? ?saw? ?with? ?your? ?own? ?eyes.? ?This? ?was? ?during? ?a? ?time? ?soon? ?

after? ?my? ?second? ?banishment.? ?I? ?was? ?filled? ?with? ?frustration? ?and? ?caused? ?a? ?great? ?wrong.? ?This? ?

is? ?all? ?my? ?fault.? ?There’s? ?no? ?need? ?to? ?drag? ?anyone? ?else? ?down? ?with? ?me.? ?This? ?man? ?is? ?full? ?of? ?

deception;? ?dragging? ?the? ?Prince? ?An? ?Le’s? ?name? ?through? ?mud? ?was? ?only? ?to? ?avenge? ?himself? ?

of? ?your? ?comment? ?on? ?his? ?vulgarity.”? ?

?

If? ?any? ?bystander? ?was? ?to? ?listen? ?in? ?on? ?this? ?conversation,? ?they? ?would? ?find? ?it? ?hilarious.? ?A? ?fight? ?

for? ?the? ?title? ?to? ?the? ?true? ?culprit? ?of? ?a? ?murder? ?case;? ?one? ?would? ?think? ?blood? ?spilling? ?at? ?the? ?

Gilded? ?Banquet? ?was? ?some? ?sort? ?of? ?glorious? ?deed.? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?was? ?in? ?turmoil? ?and? ?

profoundly? ?confused.? ?He? ?held? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?thought? ?for? ?a? ?long? ?while? ?before? ?speaking,? ?

“That’s? ?right...? ?it? ?was? ?you,? ?and? ?no? ?one? ?else.”? ?

?

He? ?had? ?seen? ?with? ?his? ?own? ?eyes.? ?That? ?night,? ?he? ?ran? ?to? ?the? ?Gilded? ?Palace? ?excitedly,? ?only? ?

to? ?see? ?the? ?black? ?clad? ?Guoshi? ?pull? ?out? ?a? ?thin,? ?long? ?sword? ?from? ?the? ?chest? ?of? ?his? ?father,? ?

splattering? ?blood? ?everywhere.? ?And? ?at? ?that? ?moment,? ?his? ?father,? ?the? ?king? ?of? ?YongAn? ?had? ?

stretched? ?out? ?his? ?hand? ?towards? ?him,? ?still? ?breathing.? ?It? ?was? ?after? ?he? ?had? ?rushed? ?over? ?that? ?

that? ?hand? ?was? ?dropped? ?limply.? ?

?

Just? ?then,? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?who? ?was? ?lying? ?on? ?the? ?ground? ?suddenly? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“Cousin? ?Crown? ?

Prince,? ?is? ?that? ?you?”? ? ?

?

?

?

Ch.52:? ?Truth? ?or? ?Deception;? ?Difficult? ?to? ?Discern? ?2? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian’s? ?gaze? ?moved? ?back? ?to? ?Qi? ?Rong.? ?After? ?staring? ?at? ?him? ?for? ?a? ?moment,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

said,? ?“Qi? ?Rong,? ?it? ?looks? ?like? ?you’ve? ?been? ?living? ?colourfully? ?these? ?past? ?few? ?years.”? ?

?

Right? ?after? ?he? ?finished? ?his? ?words? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?removed? ?his? ?fake? ?skin.? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?eyes? ?

widened? ?as? ?each? ?three? ?of? ?the? ?intruders? ?revealed? ?themselves.? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?was? ?

bewildered,? ?“Cousin?”? ?

?

Even? ?if? ?earlier? ?when? ?he? ?heard? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?say? ?“Us? ?Xianle”? ?and? ?could? ?guess? ?the? ?identity? ?of? ?

the? ?Green? ?Ghost’s? ?past? ?life? ?was? ?one? ?from? ?the? ?kingdom? ?of? ?Xianle,? ?he? ?hadn’t? ?imagined? ?that? ?

he? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?were? ?actually? ?related? ?on? ?a? ?personal? ?level.? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?stared? ?at? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?

face,? ?and? ?looked? ?him? ?up? ?and? ?down;? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?gaze? ?hungry? ?with? ?curiosity? ?and? ?fascination.? ?

When? ?his? ?eyes? ?stopped? ?at? ?the? ?sword? ?Fang? ?Xin? ?on? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?back,? ?he? ?suddenly? ?burst? ?out? ?

laughing,? ?“SO? ?THAT’S? ?IT!? ?THAT’S? ?IT!? ?FANG? ?XIN? ?WAS? ?YOU!? ?YOU? ?WERE? ?FANG? ?XIN!? ?

HAHAHAHAHAHHAHHA!!!”? ?

?

Although? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?understand? ?why? ?he? ?was? ?laughing,? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu’s? ?guts? ?told? ?him? ?it? ?

wasn’t? ?anything? ?appropriate,? ?and? ?demanded? ?angrily,? ?“What’s? ?so? ?funny?”? ? ?

?

“I’m? ?laughing? ?at? ?my? ?good? ?ol’? ?cousin,? ?what’s? ?it? ?to? ?you!”? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?bit? ?back? ?in? ?a? ?fit.? ?“Just? ?now? ?

I? ?said? ?my? ?lord’s? ?stupidity? ?spanned? ?hundreds? ?of? ?years.? ?I’m? ?sorry.? ?I? ?apologize.? ?The? ?best? ?

way? ?to? ?learn? ?is? ?to? ?learn? ?from? ?the? ?best;? ?look? ?at? ?your? ?master,? ?no? ?wonder? ?you’re? ?so? ?fucking? ?

stupid!”? ?He? ?turned? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?“You? ?went? ?to? ?YongAn? ?and? ?became? ?their? ?Guoshi,? ?and? ?

ended? ?up? ?stabbed? ?to? ?death? ?by? ?your? ?own? ?disciple,? ?is? ?that? ?not? ?exciting?? ?Is? ?it? ?not? ?hilarious?? ?

You? ?deserved? ?it;? ?making? ?a? ?fool? ?of? ?yourself!”? ?

?

The? ?moment? ?he? ?uttered? ?the? ?word? ?“fool”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?smashed? ?his? ?head? ?down? ?again? ?

violently.? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?had? ?always? ?been? ?tough? ?skinned,? ?and? ?for? ?some? ?reason,? ?seeing? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?made? ?him? ?ten? ?times? ?more? ?excited? ?than? ?usual.? ?Even? ?with? ?his? ?face? ?bashed? ?into? ?the? ?

ground? ?he? ?yelled? ?unceasingly,? ?“A? ?FOOL!? ?A? ?FOOL!? ?A? ?FOOL!”? ?

?

Each? ?time? ?he? ?said? ?it,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?would? ?smash? ?his? ?head? ?down? ?again.? ?It? ?was? ?a? ?bloody? ?

scene? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?stopped? ?the? ?hand? ?that? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?strike? ?again,? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?let? ?it? ?

go!”? ? ?

?

“Why? ?should? ?I?!”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said? ?sharply.? ?

?

“It’s? ?nothing,? ?don’t? ?let? ?any? ?of? ?it? ?get? ?to? ?you.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“He? ?has? ?problems? ?and? ?is? ?

extremely? ?troublesome.? ?I? ?can? ?take? ?care? ?of? ?him.? ?You? ?just? ?sit? ?back? ?and? ?ignore? ?him.”? ?

?

He? ?gently? ?rubbed? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?shoulder,? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?long? ?time? ?before? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?

finally? ?replied? ?in? ?a? ?low? ?voice,? ?“Fine.”? ?

?

Qi? ?Rong? ?plucked? ?his? ?own? ?head? ?from? ?the? ?ground? ?and? ?rolled? ?to? ?the? ?side? ?with? ?difficulties.? ?

He? ?spat,? ?“Why? ?play? ?pretend? ?false? ?kindness?? ?If? ?you? ?really? ?didn’t? ?want? ?him? ?to? ?hit? ?me,? ?then? ?

you? ?should’ve? ?stopped? ?him? ?from? ?the? ?beginning!? ?Faking? ?indifference? ?and? ?only? ?telling? ?him? ?

to? ?let? ?it? ?go? ?now,? ?no? ?one’s? ?gonna? ?praise? ?you? ?for? ?your? ?generosity!”? ? ?

?

“I? ?stopped? ?him? ?because? ?I? ?don’t? ?want? ?him? ?to? ?dirty? ?his? ?hands,? ?did? ?you? ?misunderstand? ?

something?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?

?

A? ?trace? ?of? ?anger? ?flashed? ?through? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?bloodied? ?face,? ?but? ?then? ?he? ?started? ?giggling,? ?

“Yooo,? ?cousin? ?Crown? ?Prince,? ?you’re? ?getting? ?along? ?pretty? ?well? ?with? ?Hua? ?Cheng.? ?And? ?here? ?I? ?

was? ?just? ?wondering? ?why? ?none? ?of? ?the? ?underlings? ?this? ?little? ?brother? ?of? ?yours? ?sent? ?to? ?greet? ?

you? ?on? ?ZhongYuan? ?ever? ?returned,? ?so? ?it? ?was? ?because? ?they? ?ran? ?into? ?Hua? ?Cheng!”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?no? ?idea? ?that? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?had? ?actually? ?sent? ?any? ?underlings? ?to? ?go? ?find? ?him.? ?That? ?

night? ?of? ?the? ?ZhongYuan? ?festival,? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?coincidence? ?to? ?have? ?bumped? ?into? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?

and? ?taking? ?him? ?back? ?to? ?Puqi? ?Shrine? ?wasn’t? ?in? ?the? ?plans.? ?It? ?seemed? ?that? ?all? ?of? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?

underlings? ?had? ?been? ?taken? ?cared? ?of? ?by? ?Hua? ?Cheng.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?steal? ?a? ?

glance? ?at? ?the? ?person? ?next? ?to? ?him.? ? ?

?

Qi? ?Rong? ?continued,? ?“Calling? ?him? ?‘San? ?Lang’,? ?tsk? ?tsk? ?tsk,? ?so? ?familiar!? ?Cousin,? ?you’re? ?a? ?big? ?

shot? ?heavenly? ?official,? ?how? ?can? ?you? ?hang? ?out? ?with? ?ghosts? ?and? ?demons?? ?Aren’t? ?you? ?

worried? ?about? ?your? ?reputation?? ?You’re? ?so? ?perfect? ?after? ?all,? ?so? ?pure? ?and? ?flawless,? ?your? ?

halo? ?shines? ?upon? ?all? ?on? ?this? ?earth,? ?hahahahahahaha...”? ?

?

Many? ?in? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Court? ?had? ?more? ?or? ?less? ?thought? ?the? ?way? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?spoke? ?was? ?

sarcastic,? ?but? ?if? ?they? ?were? ?to? ?listen? ?and? ?compare,? ?they? ?will? ?learn? ?what? ?is? ?truly? ?sarcastic.? ?

Truly,? ?they? ?had? ?wronged? ?Mu? ?Qing.? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?didn’t? ?just? ?speak,? ?he’d? ?act? ?too.? ?He? ?folded? ?his? ?

hands? ?over? ?his? ?heart? ?and? ?exclaimed,? ?“Cousin? ?Crown? ?Prince,? ?this? ?little? ?brother? ?had? ?

constantly? ?thought? ?of? ?you? ?over? ?the? ?years.? ?Look,? ?I? ?even? ?meticulously? ?carved? ?this? ?statue? ?to? ?

keep? ?you? ?by? ?my? ?side,? ?so? ?I? ?can? ?gaze? ?upon? ?your? ?heroic? ?form? ?every? ?waking? ?moment? ?of? ?

every? ?day.? ?What? ?do? ?you? ?think?? ?It’s? ?pretty? ?well? ?done,? ?right?? ?Do? ?you? ?like? ?it?? ?Don’t? ?worry,? ?if? ?

you? ?don’t? ?like? ?it? ?then? ?even? ?better,? ?I’ll? ?carve? ?more,? ?hahahahaha...”? ?

?

The? ?moment? ?he? ?mentioned? ?the? ?statue,? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?face? ?immediately? ?darkened,? ?and? ?if? ?it? ?

wasn’t? ?for? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?holding? ?him? ?back,? ?he? ?would’ve? ?stepped? ?on? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?face? ?by? ?now.? ?

However,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?knew? ?perfectly? ?well? ?the? ?kind? ?of? ?person? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?was;? ?he’s? ?a? ?little? ?mad? ?

in? ?the? ?head,? ?and? ?the? ?more? ?extreme? ?the? ?reaction,? ?the? ?more? ?excited? ?he’d? ?get,? ?and? ?the? ?

more? ?outrageous? ?he’d? ?become.? ?Reverse? ?psychology? ?would? ?be? ?the? ?most? ?effective,? ?so? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?only? ?smiled? ?faintly,? ?“It’s? ?only? ?alright.? ?Sorry,? ?but? ?the? ?craftsmanship? ?is? ?kind? ?of? ?low? ?

class.”? ?

?

As? ?expected,? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?face? ?immediately? ?fell.? ?He? ?said? ?coldly,? ?“Enough.? ?If? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?for? ?my? ?

past? ?affections? ?and? ?carved? ?you? ?a? ?couple? ?statues,? ?who? ?would? ?even? ?worship? ?you?? ?You? ?

probably? ?sniveled? ?and? ?whined? ?at? ?Jun? ?Wu’s? ?feet? ?and? ?hugged? ?til? ?your? ?knees? ?busted? ?in? ?

order? ?to? ?ascend? ?this? ?time.? ?Go? ?around? ?the? ?heavens? ?and? ?see? ?for? ?yourself,? ?which? ?official? ?

isn’t? ?more? ?dignified? ?than? ?you?? ?Even? ?a? ?two? ?hundred? ?year? ?old? ?ascendee? ?can? ?walk? ?all? ?over? ?

you.? ?You’re? ?pretty? ?much? ?eight? ?hundred? ?years? ?old? ?but? ?only? ?got? ?so? ?far.? ?What? ?a? ?failure.”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?smiled,? ?“I? ?am? ?quite? ?the? ?failure,? ?not? ?like? ?cousin,? ?already? ?a? ?‘Savage’? ?after? ?eight? ?

hundred? ?years.”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?knew? ?way? ?too? ?well? ?how? ?to? ?put? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?down.? ?Next? ?to? ?him,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?snorted,? ?

and? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?face? ?darkened.? ?He? ?looked? ?between? ?all? ?those? ?present? ?and? ?suddenly? ?said,? ?

“This? ?stance...? ?did? ?you? ?beg? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?to? ?fuck? ?with? ?me? ?today? ?to? ?settle? ?our? ?differences?”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?taken? ?aback,? ?and? ?thought? ?about? ?the? ?current? ?picture? ?they? ?painted,? ?and? ?

actually? ?couldn’t? ?argue? ?back.? ?

?

Qi? ?Rong? ?continued,? ?“Look? ?at? ?you? ?all.? ?The? ?moment? ?I? ?say? ?anything? ?bad? ?about? ?you,? ?wow!? ?

Look? ?how? ?mad? ?he’d? ?get.? ?Was? ?he? ?blinded? ?by? ?that? ?holy? ?light? ?from? ?your? ?halo?? ?My? ?fucking? ?

god,? ?I? ?forgot!? ?Wasn’t? ?he? ?already? ?blind? ?in? ?one? ?eye?? ?HAHAhahaha...”? ?

?

Before? ?he? ?could? ?finish,? ?his? ?eyes? ?went? ?dark? ?again,? ?and? ?his? ?cheek? ?exploded? ?in? ?agony,? ?

spewing? ?blood? ?from? ?his? ?mouth? ?–? ?he? ?got? ?punched? ?again!? ?However,? ?this? ?punch? ?wasn’t? ?

from? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?but? ?from? ?Xie? ?Lian.? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian’s? ?fist? ?was? ?faster? ?than? ?the? ?eye? ?could? ?see,? ?and? ?he? ?said? ?coldly,? ?“Just? ?because? ?I’ve? ?

never? ?hit? ?you? ?before? ?in? ?the? ?past,? ?doesn’t? ?mean? ?I? ?would? ?never? ?hit? ?you.”? ?

?

That? ?punch? ?was? ?a? ?solid? ?one,? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?long? ?while? ?before? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?could? ?make? ?any? ?

sounds.? ?He? ?laid? ?on? ?the? ?ground? ?like? ?a? ?mangy? ?dog,? ?clubbing? ?the? ?ground? ?with? ?his? ?fists? ?as? ?he? ?

cackled,? ?“Cousin? ?Crown? ?Prince,? ?you? ?hit? ?me!? ?You? ?actually? ?hit? ?me!? ?Heavens,? ?our? ?noble,? ?

kind,? ?compassionate,? ?charitable? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?who’s? ?scared? ?of? ?stepping? ?on? ?even? ?a? ?small? ?

ant,? ?actually? ?got? ?pissed,? ?and? ?swung? ?a? ?fist!? ?HE’S? ?HITTING? ?PEOPLE!? ?INCREDIBLE!? ?

AMAZING!!!”? ? ?

?

He? ?was? ?unbelievably? ?excited,? ?going? ?insane? ?with? ?elation.? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?had? ?never? ?seen? ?

anyone? ?whose? ?words? ?and? ?actions? ?were? ?so? ?mad,? ?and? ?was? ?shocked? ?into? ?bemusement? ?

after? ?witnessing? ?this? ?singular? ?act.? ?He? ?mumbled,? ?“Is...? ?is? ?he? ?crazy?”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?used? ?to? ?seeing? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?madness,? ?and? ?didn’t? ?think? ?much? ?of? ?it,? ?“You’ve? ?

heard? ?it.? ?He’s? ?insane.? ?His? ?heart? ?and? ?mind? ?are? ?unbalanced,? ?so? ?nothing? ?he? ?said? ?is? ?

believable.”? ? ?

?

Qi? ?Rong’s? ?laughter? ?came? ?to? ?a? ?sudden? ?stop.? ?He? ?schooled? ?his? ?face? ?and? ?sneered,? ?“Don’t? ?be? ?

so? ?quick? ?to? ?tell? ?people? ?I’m? ?psycho.? ?Let? ?me? ?ask? ?you,? ?how? ?did? ?Prince? ?An? ?Le? ?die!?”? ?

?

This? ?was? ?the? ?question? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?posed? ?to? ?him,? ?and? ?now? ?he? ?asked? ?it? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

instead.? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu’s? ?attention? ?was? ?suddenly? ?focused? ?on? ?it? ?again.? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian’s? ?heart? ?culled,? ?and? ?couldn’t? ?immediately? ?respond.? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?on? ?the? ?other? ?hand,? ?

slowly? ?pulled? ?himself? ?up,? ?and? ?sat? ?while? ?leaning? ?on? ?the? ?kneeling? ?statue,? ?“After? ?An? ?Le? ?died,? ?

I? ?cut? ?open? ?his? ?corpse? ?to? ?inspect? ?it,? ?and? ?all? ?of? ?his? ?organs? ?were? ?pulverized? ?by? ?the? ?vibrations? ?

of? ?an? ?exceedingly? ?powerful? ?sword,? ?which? ?was? ?why? ?he? ?didn’t? ?have? ?any? ?external? ?injuries? ?

but? ?couldn’t? ?stop? ?hacking? ?up? ?blood.? ?This? ?was? ?something? ?no? ?regular? ?swordsman? ?could? ?

do.? ?At? ?first? ?I? ?thought? ?YongAn? ?thugs? ?had? ?brought? ?in? ?some? ?strange? ?hitman? ?so? ?as? ?to? ?fake? ?An? ?

Le’s? ?death? ?as? ?illness.? ?But? ?now? ?that? ?I? ?think? ?about? ?it,? ?there’s? ?another? ?person? ?who? ?can? ?do? ?

this,? ?and? ?it’s? ?none? ?other? ?than? ?my? ?good? ?ol’? ?cousin,? ?defender? ?of? ?justice.? ?After? ?all,? ?our? ?

Flower-Crowned? ?Martial? ?God,? ?His? ?Royal? ?Highness? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?is? ?a? ?holy,? ?pure,? ?one? ?

and? ?only,? ?snow? ?white? ?lotus? ?of? ?the? ?heavenly? ?mountains...”? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?stomped? ?on? ?him,? ?and? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?yelped? ?miserably.? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?felt? ?like? ?his? ?

head? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?explode;? ?he? ?held? ?his? ?head,? ?his? ?eyes? ?laced? ?with? ?red,? ?“Shut? ?up!? ?Just? ?tell? ?

me? ?what? ?you? ?know!? ?Who’s? ?the? ?real? ?murderer?? ?What? ?happened? ?at? ?the? ?Gilded? ?Banquet?? ?

And? ?what? ?happened? ?to? ?Prince? ?An? ?Le?? ?WHAT? ?THE? ?HELL? ?HAPPENED???”? ?

?

“Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?why? ?are? ?you? ?still? ?confused?”? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?said,? ?“Even? ?I? ?pretty? ?much? ?figured? ?

out? ?what? ?happened.? ?Looks? ?like? ?you? ?really? ?don’t? ?understand? ?the? ?kind? ?of? ?person? ?your? ?

master? ?is!? ?Come,? ?come,? ?come,? ?let? ?me? ?dissect? ?my? ?good? ?ol’? ?cousin? ?for? ?you:? ?this? ?former? ?

Crown? ?Prince? ?of? ?Xianle? ?went? ?and? ?became? ?YongAn’s? ?Guoshi,? ?and? ?taught? ?you? ?

swordsmanship? ?for? ?five? ?years...”? ?

?

He’d? ?only? ?spoken? ?a? ?few? ?words,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?reached? ?for? ?his? ?sword,? ?but? ?before? ?he? ?could? ?

charge? ?forward,? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu’s? ?longsword? ?was? ?blocked? ?before? ?him,? ?“Let? ?him? ?finish!”? ? ?

?

“You? ?know? ?he’s? ?insane? ?and? ?yet? ?you? ?still? ?listen? ?to? ?his? ?mad? ?conjecture!”? ?

?

Fang? ?Xin? ?was? ?swung,? ?and? ?even? ?though? ?it’s? ?a? ?slender? ?blade,? ?its? ?shockwave? ?almost? ?made? ?

Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?loosen? ?his? ?grip? ?on? ?his? ?longsword.? ?But? ?just? ?then,? ?a? ?silver? ?curved? ?blade? ?

knocked? ?Fang? ?Xin,? ?hooked? ?it? ?up? ?and? ?pulled? ?it? ?aside.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?startled? ?and? ?cried,? ?

“San? ?Lang!”? ?

?

Qi? ?Rong? ?saw? ?how? ?much? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?want? ?him? ?to? ?speak? ?and? ?how? ?desperately? ?he? ?

didn’t? ?want? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?to? ?hear? ?the? ?story,? ?so? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?had? ?to? ?do? ?the? ?opposite,? ?and? ?

grabbed? ?this? ?chance,? ?“Prince? ?An? ?Le? ?was? ?our? ?good? ?Xianle? ?boy,? ?very? ?obedient!? ?He? ?heeded? ?

my? ?instructions? ?to? ?be? ?false? ?friends? ?with? ?you,? ?but? ?your? ?master? ?bumped? ?into? ?us? ?cleaning? ?

out? ?the? ?YongAn? ?rat? ?nest? ?at? ?the? ?Gilded? ?Banquet? ?so? ?An? ?Le? ?escaped.? ?You? ?got? ?to? ?the? ?Gilded? ?

Banquet,? ?saw? ?what? ?happened,? ?and? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?Fang? ?Xin? ?became? ?the? ?most? ?wanted? ?man? ?

in? ?the? ?kingdom.? ?This? ?was? ?the? ?previous? ?story,? ?not? ?a? ?word? ?of? ?lie...”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?tried? ?to? ?charge? ?forward? ?to? ?shut? ?his? ?mouth? ?a? ?few? ?times,? ?but? ?each? ?time? ?Hua? ?

Cheng? ?stopped? ?him.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?cried? ?again,? ?“San? ?Lang!”? ?However,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?didn’t? ?say? ?a? ?

single? ?word? ?and? ?only? ?continued? ?to? ?block? ?Xie? ?Lian.? ? ?

?

The? ?more? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?wanted? ?to? ?charge? ?over,? ?the? ?faster? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?lips? ?moved.? ?“This? ?saintly? ?

cousin? ?of? ?mine,? ?when? ?he? ?saw? ?with? ?his? ?own? ?eyes? ?the? ?people? ?of? ?Xianle? ?committing? ?murder,? ?

he? ?must’ve? ?thought:? ?How? ?can? ?this? ?be?? ?That’s? ?not? ?right!? ?So? ?he? ?went? ?to? ?find? ?Prince? ?An? ?Le? ?

to? ?educate? ?him? ?a? ?little,? ?but? ?when? ?he? ?sought? ?him? ?out? ?–? ?my? ?GOD? ?what? ?did? ?he? ?discover?? ?An? ?

Le’s? ?major? ?plot!? ?It? ?wasn’t? ?only? ?just? ?assassinating? ?some? ?thugs!? ?There’s? ?no? ?way? ?cousin? ?

could? ?educate? ?him,? ?so? ?he? ?hardened? ?his? ?heart? ?and? ?killed? ?the? ?last? ?blood? ?of? ?our? ?royal? ?house? ?

with? ?his? ?own? ?hands!? ?–? ?Afterwards? ?you? ?caught? ?your? ?master,? ?and? ?nailed? ?him? ?dead? ?in? ?that? ?

coffin,? ?and? ?so? ?ends? ?my? ?cousin’s? ?magnificent? ?life? ?as? ?Guoshi.? ?Cousin,? ?am? ?I? ?wrong?”? ? ?

?

He? ?spat? ?a? ?mouthful? ?of? ?blood? ?next? ?to? ?the? ?feet? ?of? ?the? ?statue,? ?“I? ?know? ?you? ?too? ?well.? ?You? ?love? ?

doing? ?shit? ?like? ?this.? ?Ancestors? ?above,? ?look? ?at? ?what? ?a? ?good? ?descendant? ?you? ?gave? ?birth? ?to!? ?

Not? ?only? ?has? ?the? ?Xianle? ?Xie? ?clan? ?lost? ?everything,? ?even? ?the? ?bloodline? ?is? ?cut!? ?XIE? ?LIAN!? ?

YOU? ?OMINOUS? ?STAR,? ?YOU? ?GOD? ?OF? ?MISFORTUNE!? ?YOUR? ?EXISTENCE? ?IS? ?

XIANLE’S? ?GREATEST? ?TRAGEDY!? ?WHY? ?WON’T? ?YOU? ?DIE?? ?HOW? ?DO? ?YOU? ?EVEN? ?

HAVE? ?THE? ?FACE? ?TO? ?KEEP? ?LIVING???”? ?

?

“But? ?I? ?saw? ?with? ?my? ?own? ?eyes? ?he? ?killed? ?my? ?father? ?with? ?his? ?sword!”? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?said,? ?

“How? ?do? ?you? ?explain? ?that?”? ? ?

?

“If? ?it’s? ?not? ?water? ?getting? ?into? ?your? ?fucking? ?senior? ?eyes? ?and? ?ruining? ?your? ?sight,? ?then? ?I? ?can? ?

only? ?think? ?of? ?one? ?reason.”? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?replied,? ?“Which? ?is? ?An? ?Le? ?for? ?sure? ?stabbed? ?your? ?old? ?

man,? ?but? ?he? ?didn’t? ?die.”? ?

?

“Did...? ?did? ?he? ?drive? ?the? ?blow? ?home?”? ?

?

Qi? ?Rong? ?howled,? ?“What? ?are? ?you? ?saying!? ?My? ?good? ?cousin? ?is? ?such? ?a? ?kind? ?soul,? ?how? ?could? ?

he? ?drive? ?any? ?attacks? ?home?? ?When? ?he? ?arrived,? ?he? ?wouldn’t? ?have? ?attacked? ?right? ?away,? ?

he’d? ?have? ?to? ?do? ?a? ?little? ?show? ?of? ?trying? ?to? ?save? ?the? ?poor? ?guy? ?first.? ?But,? ?heh,? ?your? ?old? ?man? ?

probably? ?killed? ?himself.”? ? ?

?

“What? ?do? ?you? ?mean? ?he? ?killed? ?himself?”? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?demanded.? ?

?

“What’s? ?the? ?first? ?thing? ?someone? ?saved? ?from? ?the? ?brink? ?of? ?murder? ?will? ?do?”? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?asked,? ?

“After? ?seeing? ?so? ?many? ?massacred? ?at? ?the? ?Gilded? ?Banquet,? ?what’s? ?your? ?first? ?reaction?”? ? ?

?

Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?still? ?hadn’t? ?completely? ?deduced? ?it,? ?“...Find? ?the? ?murderer.”? ?

?

“WRONG!”? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?cried,? ?“After? ?my? ?good? ?cousin? ?saved? ?your? ?old? ?man? ?and? ?he? ?revived? ?his? ?

breath,? ?he? ?would’ve? ?certainly? ?said:? ?‘Quick!? ?Guoshi!? ?It? ?was? ?Prince? ?An? ?Le? ?who’d? ?done? ?it!? ?

Go? ?and? ?kill? ?Prince? ?An? ?Le!’? ?No,? ?no,? ?no,? ?not? ?just? ?that,? ?he? ?must’ve? ?said? ?something? ?worse,? ?

like:? ?‘Guoshi!? ?Bring? ?forth? ?Qianqiu!? ?Call? ?upon? ?everyone!? ?I? ?want? ?the? ?entire? ?population? ?of? ?

Xianle? ?wiped? ?out!? ?I? ?want? ?to? ?bury? ?them? ?all? ?with? ?the? ?dead!!!’”? ?

?

His? ?imitative? ?tone? ?of? ?despair? ?and? ?fury? ?was? ?disturbing? ?to? ?listen? ?to,? ?and? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?was? ?

growing? ?paler? ?by? ?the? ?minute.? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?continued,? ?“Even? ?if? ?he? ?wasn’t? ?killed? ?on? ?the? ?spot,? ?

your? ?old? ?hag? ?had? ?an? ?entire? ?nest? ?of? ?thug? ?relatives? ?that? ?were? ?all? ?killed? ?before? ?him.? ?He’d? ?

have? ?to? ?open? ?fire? ?on? ?the? ?people? ?of? ?Xianle? ?sooner? ?or? ?later.? ?Your? ?good? ?master? ?realized? ?this,? ?

considered? ?his? ?options,? ?and? ?decided,? ?no,? ?the? ?old? ?man? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?saved,? ?so? ?PLORK? ?and? ?

the? ?old? ?man’s? ?heart? ?goes? ?cold.? ?That’s? ?the? ?kind? ?of? ?person? ?my? ?good? ?cousin? ?is,? ?a? ?saint? ?who? ?

can’t? ?have? ?sand? ?in? ?his? ?eyes,? ?always? ?doing? ?shit? ?that? ?harms? ?others? ?and? ?hurts? ?himself;? ?he? ?

wanted? ?to? ?please? ?both? ?sides? ?but? ?succeeded? ?with? ?neither,? ?hehehehe,? ?

hahaHAHAHAhahah...”? ? ?

?

?

——? ?

?

Ch.53:? ?Truth? ?or? ?Deception;? ?Difficult? ?to? ?Discern? ?3? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?shouted,? ?“Qi? ?Rong,? ?you? ?shut? ?your? ?mouth!”? ?

?

Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?angrily,? ?“Why? ?does? ?he? ?have? ?to? ?shut? ?up?? ?Because? ?what? ?he? ?

said? ?is? ?the? ?truth??? ?In? ?that? ?Gilded? ?Banquet,? ?you? ?and? ?An? ?Le? ?both? ?struck;? ?one? ?killed? ?my? ?

entire? ?family,? ?and? ?the? ?other? ?finished? ?the? ?blow? ?to? ?my? ?father.? ?You’re? ?all? ?lying? ?to? ?me?!”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?responded? ?hurriedly,? ?“Don’t? ?listen? ?to–”? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?cut? ?in,? ?“OF? ?COURSE? ?IT’S? ?ALL? ?

A? ?LIE!? ?You’re? ?so? ?stupid,? ?if? ?not? ?you,? ?then? ?who? ?else? ?do? ?we? ?deceive?? ?If? ?not? ?for? ?some? ?rando? ?

spoiling? ?our? ?plans,? ?Xianle? ?would’ve? ?already? ?taken? ?your? ?fucking? ?life? ?at? ?the? ?age? ?of? ?twelve,? ?

instead? ?of? ?giving? ?you? ?the? ?luxury? ?to? ?grow? ?up? ?and? ?ascend!”? ?

?

“Twelve?”? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?repeated.? ?The? ?biggest? ?thing? ?that? ?happened? ?when? ?he? ?was? ?twelve? ?

was? ?that? ?kidnapping,? ?saved? ?by? ?Xie? ?Lian.? ?He? ?demanded,? ?“That? ?year,? ?the? ?muggers? ?who? ?

intruded? ?the? ?palace? ?to? ?kidnap? ?me? ?was? ?sent? ?by? ?the? ?people? ?of? ?Xianle?”? ?

?

“Duh!”? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?clicked? ?his? ?tongue,? ?“Did? ?you? ?think? ?any? ?ordinary? ?assassins? ?can? ?just? ?

kidnap? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?from? ?hundreds? ?of? ?royal? ?guards?? ?Please.? ?I? ?was? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?

helped? ?An? ?Le? ?on? ?that.”? ?

?

Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?nodded,? ?“Helped?? ?Good.? ?I? ?understand.? ?So? ?my? ?friends? ?are? ?all? ?fake.? ?The? ?

people? ?of? ?Xianle? ?never? ?cared? ?for? ?our? ?amity.? ?Your? ?Prince? ?An? ?Le? ?never? ?possessed? ?good? ?

intentions,? ?and? ?instead? ?came? ?for? ?our? ?lives.”? ?

?

He? ?turned? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?“So,? ?everything? ?you? ?told? ?me? ?was? ?false? ?too.”? ?

?

Qi? ?Rong? ?pretended? ?to? ?look? ?surprised,? ?“Come,? ?come,? ?come,? ?hurry? ?and? ?let? ?me? ?hear? ?what? ?

my? ?saintly? ?cousin? ?told? ?you!”? ?

?

Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?ignored? ?him? ?and? ?continued? ?to? ?address? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?“You? ?said? ?YongAn? ?and? ?

Xianle? ?were? ?but? ?one? ?nation? ?at? ?their? ?roots;? ?whatever? ?conflicts? ?the? ?royals? ?had? ?with? ?each? ?

other? ?had? ?nothing? ?to? ?do? ?with? ?civilians.? ?Both? ?sides? ?used? ?to? ?be? ?one? ?family,? ?and? ?under? ?our? ?

generation’s? ?rule,? ?there? ?could? ?be? ?changes? ?for? ?the? ?better.? ?As? ?long? ?as? ?the? ?people? ?were? ?

happy,? ?it? ?didn’t? ?matter? ?what? ?the? ?royal? ?house? ?was? ?named,? ?and? ?both? ?sides? ?could? ?let? ?go? ?of? ?

their? ?grudge? ?and? ?unite? ?in? ?time.? ?All? ?that? ?was? ?false.? ?All? ?nonsense,? ?bullshit,? ?lies!”? ?

?

This? ?was? ?what? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?want? ?to? ?hear? ?the? ?most.? ?He? ?cried? ?immediately,? ?“No!? ?It’s? ?not? ?

false!? ?Think:? ?under? ?your? ?rule,? ?weren’t? ?there? ?real? ?changes?”? ?

?

Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?closed? ?his? ?mouth,? ?his? ?breath? ?held.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?continued,? ?“Didn’t? ?you? ?do? ?

really? ?well?? ?Didn’t? ?the? ?remnant? ?citizens? ?of? ?Xianle? ?integrate? ?peacefully? ?with? ?the? ?people? ?of? ?

YongAn?? ?There? ?were? ?less? ?and? ?less? ?conflicts? ?and? ?riots,? ?so? ?how? ?could? ?any? ?of? ?it? ?be? ?false?”? ?

?

There? ?was? ?a? ?moment? ?of? ?silence,? ?and? ?tears? ?rolled? ?down? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu’s? ?cheeks,? ?“But...? ?

but? ?what? ?about? ?my? ?parents?? ?YongAn? ?and? ?Xianle? ?uniting? ?was? ?their? ?greatest? ?wish,? ?that’s? ?

why? ?they? ?granted? ?the? ?princely? ?title? ?“An? ?Le”? ?to? ?your? ?last? ?royal? ?bloodline.? ?Their? ?wish? ?came? ?

true,? ?but? ?what? ?of? ?their? ?end?”? ? ?

?

Qi? ?Rong? ?clicked? ?his? ?tongue,? ?“What? ?a? ?whiny? ?crybaby,? ?just? ?like? ?my? ?saintly? ?cousin? ?once? ?

upon? ?a? ?time!? ?You? ?came? ?crying? ?for? ?your? ?old? ?man,? ?old? ?hag;? ?I? ?haven’t? ?even? ?fucking? ?

harassed? ?your? ?ancestors? ?for? ?MY? ?old? ?man? ?and? ?old? ?hag!? ?Fucking? ?uniting? ?YongAn? ?and? ?

Xianle? ?was? ?their? ?wish?? ?What? ?pretty? ?words.? ?An? ?Le,? ?An? ?Le,? ?settle? ?first,? ?joy? ?after*;? ?you? ?think? ?

I? ?can’t? ?tell? ?it? ?means? ?you? ?YongAn? ?dogs? ?want? ?to? ?walk? ?all? ?over? ?the? ?heads? ?of? ?Xianle? ?for? ?the? ?

rest? ?of? ?our? ?lives?”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?yelled? ?angrily,? ?“QI? ?RONG,? ?STOP? ?YOUR? ?MADNESS!”? ?

?

Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?on? ?the? ?other? ?hand,? ?glared? ?at? ?Qi? ?Rong,? ?tears? ?still? ?falling? ?from? ?his? ?eyes,? ?

“You’re? ?the? ?mastermind? ?behind? ?the? ?massacre? ?of? ?my? ?clan?? ?And? ?you’re? ?part? ?of? ?the? ?plot? ?

behind? ?the? ?Gilded? ?Banquet? ?too?”? ? ?

?

Qi? ?Rong? ?snickered,? ?“Yes,? ?I’m? ?part? ?of? ?it.? ?An? ?Le? ?was? ?part? ?of? ?it? ?too.? ?And? ?your? ?master!? ?Us? ?

three? ?people? ?of? ?Xianle? ?all? ?made? ?part.? ?Hahahahaha...”? ?

?

Suddenly,? ?halfway? ?through? ?his? ?laugh,? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu’s? ?longsword? ?abruptly? ?swung? ?down? ?

and? ?struck.? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?yelped,? ?and? ?his? ?person? ?was? ?sliced? ?into? ?two!? ?

?

It? ?was? ?an? ?exceedingly? ?gory? ?scene,? ?both? ?halves? ?of? ?his? ?bodies? ?were? ?rolling? ?around? ?the? ?

ground,? ?and? ?his? ?upper? ?body? ?cried,? ?“IT’? ?DOESN’T? ?HURT!? ?IT? ?DOESN’T? ?HURT!? ?IT? ?

DOESN’T? ?HURT? ?ONE? ?BIT!? ?COMPARED? ?TO? ?THAT? ?PUNCH? ?FROM? ?COUSIN? ?CROWN? ?

PRINCE,? ?YOU’RE? ?NOTHING!? ?HAHAHAHHAHAHA!”? ?

?

Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?didn’t? ?say? ?a? ?word,? ?grabbed? ?him? ?by? ?the? ?head? ?and? ?picked? ?it? ?up.? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?

still? ?spouting? ?insults,? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?noticed? ?something? ?off? ?with? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu’s? ?

expression? ?and? ?said? ?hurriedly,? ?“Qi? ?Rong,? ?stop? ?talking? ?if? ?you? ?value? ?your? ?life!”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?always? ?treated? ?others? ?with? ?kind? ?respect,? ?yet? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?someone? ?that? ?

couldn’t? ?be? ?faced? ?normally;? ?he? ?knew? ?this,? ?so? ?every? ?time? ?he? ?faced? ?him,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?

want? ?to? ?be? ?polite? ?at? ?all,? ?and? ?unconsciously? ?became? ?rude? ?himself.? ? ?

?

Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?dragged? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?upper? ?body? ?and? ?came? ?to? ?the? ?giant? ?boiling,? ?bubbling? ?

cauldron.? ?“Do? ?you? ?usually? ?use? ?this? ?cauldron? ?to? ?cook? ?humans?”? ? ?

?

Having? ?been? ?dragged? ?around,? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?bloodied? ?carcass? ?drew? ?a? ?thick? ?trail? ?of? ?blood? ?on? ?

the? ?ground,? ?“Yea,? ?so?”? ?

?

Without? ?another? ?word,? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?let? ?go? ?of? ?his? ?hold.? ?

?

“AAAAAAHHHH? ?HAHAHAHAHA? ?—”? ?

?

It? ?was? ?hard? ?to? ?discern? ?whether? ?if? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?screaming? ?or? ?laughing,? ?and? ?the? ?moment? ?

he? ?was? ?dropped? ?into? ?that? ?cauldron,? ?his? ?flesh? ?was? ?instantly? ?burnt? ?and? ?boiled? ?to? ?mush.? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?had? ?not? ?expected? ?this? ?development;? ?his? ?pupils? ?shrank? ?and? ?he? ?blurted,? ?“QIANQIU!”? ?

?

Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?responded? ?sharply,? ?“What?? ?How? ?many? ?people? ?has? ?the? ?Green? ?Ghost? ?Qi? ?

Rong? ?eaten?? ?We? ?can’t? ?teach? ?him? ?what? ?it? ?feels? ?like? ?to? ?be? ?cooked?? ?He’s? ?the? ?enemy? ?that? ?

murdered? ?my? ?clan,? ?am? ?I? ?not? ?allowed? ?to? ?make? ?him? ?suffer???”? ?

?

Of? ?course? ?he? ?could.? ?So,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?say? ?anything,? ?and? ?he? ?also? ?had? ?no? ?right? ?to? ?say? ?

anything.? ?Yet,? ?no? ?matter? ?as? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?of? ?a? ?mortal? ?kingdom,? ?or? ?the? ?martial? ?god? ?of? ?

the? ?east? ?of? ?heaven,? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?had? ?never? ?done? ?a? ?thing? ?such? ?as? ?this.? ?He? ?had? ?always? ?

been? ?straightforward? ?in? ?fights? ?and? ?never? ?used? ?any? ?cruelty.? ?These? ?actions? ?were? ?far? ?from? ?

the? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?knew.? ? ?

?

After? ?being? ?thrown? ?into? ?the? ?boiling? ?water,? ?after? ?a? ?while? ?when? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?fished? ?up,? ?his? ?

body? ?no? ?longer? ?retained? ?the? ?shape? ?of? ?human,? ?and? ?instead? ?resembled? ?a? ?melted? ?lump? ?of? ?

skin? ?and? ?flesh,? ?bones? ?poking? ?out? ?in? ?some? ?areas,? ?terrifying? ?to? ?behold.? ?Yet? ?he? ?seemed? ?

quite? ?pleased? ?and? ?was? ?still? ?guffawing,? ?“Congratulations,? ?cousin!? ?Look? ?at? ?your? ?good? ?

disciple!? ?His? ?wings? ?have? ?hardened!? ?He’s? ?cruel? ?and? ?knows? ?how? ?to? ?torture? ?now!”? ? ?

?

Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?released? ?his? ?hold? ?again,? ?and? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?once? ?again? ?submerged? ?into? ?the? ?

bubbling? ?cauldron.? ?This? ?time? ?when? ?he? ?was? ?dropped,? ?it? ?seemed? ?even? ?his? ?bones? ?were? ?

dissolved? ?by? ?the? ?boiling? ?liquid.? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?didn’t? ?float? ?up? ?again,? ?and? ?only? ?remnants? ?of? ?some? ?

green? ?cloths? ?emerged? ?on? ?the? ?surface.? ?After? ?a? ?while,? ?having? ?still? ?not? ?seen? ?his? ?shadow,? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?call? ?out,? ?“Qi? ?Rong!”? ?

?

His? ?younger? ?cousin,? ?who? ?once? ?upon? ?a? ?time? ?couldn’t? ?shut? ?up? ?about? ?his? ?cousin? ?the? ?Crown? ?

Prince,? ?had? ?idolized? ?him? ?and? ?praised? ?him? ?for? ?everything? ?he? ?did.? ?However,? ?after? ?the? ?fall? ?of? ?

Xianle,? ?he? ?had? ?turned? ?into? ?a? ?madman? ?completely.? ?He? ?led? ?the? ?burning? ?of? ?his? ?temples,? ?the? ?

desecration? ?of? ?his? ?palaces,? ?and? ?commissioned? ?the? ?kneeling? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?statues? ?

everywhere,? ?affixing? ?them? ?as? ?thresholds.? ?To? ?make? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?suffer,? ?he? ?could? ?do? ?anything.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?done? ?his? ?best? ?to? ?put? ?up? ?with? ?that? ?behaviour,? ?and? ?if? ?it? ?involved? ?others,? ?he’d? ?

do? ?his? ?best? ?to? ?obstruct;? ?until? ?finally? ?when? ?he? ?could? ?no? ?longer? ?tolerate? ?it,? ?he? ?could? ?only? ?

keep? ?away? ?and? ?practice? ?out? ?of? ?sight,? ?out? ?of? ?mind.? ? ?

?

Afterwards,? ?they’d? ?lost? ?touch? ?for? ?many? ?years,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?thought? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?had? ?passed? ?

away.? ?Who? ?knew? ?that? ?after? ?so? ?long? ?he? ?would? ?suddenly? ?meet? ?a? ?figure? ?of? ?the? ?past? ?and? ?see? ?

that? ?face? ?that? ?so? ?resembled? ?his.? ?He? ?really? ?couldn’t? ?tell? ?whether? ?if? ?there? ?was? ?any? ?feelings? ?

of? ?nostalgia? ?or? ?remorse.? ?After? ?all,? ?the? ?only? ?ones? ?left? ?from? ?the? ?royal? ?house? ?of? ?Xianle? ?were? ?

them? ?two.? ?But? ?they? ?hadn’t? ?even? ?seen? ?each? ?other? ?for? ?that? ?long? ?before? ?he? ?died? ?before? ?him,? ?

and? ?he? ?was? ?even? ?cruelly? ?killed? ?by? ?a? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?who? ?couldn’t? ?even? ?use? ?wooden? ?rods? ?to? ?

punish.? ?So? ?much? ?happened? ?in? ?such? ?a? ?short? ?period? ?of? ?time,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?hadn’t? ?even? ?sorted? ?

the? ?thoughts? ?in? ?his? ?head,? ?his? ?heart? ?a? ?mess.? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?stood? ?next? ?to? ?the? ?cauldron? ?with? ?

his? ?head? ?lowered,? ?unspeaking.? ?Just? ?then,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“He? ?didn’t? ?die.”? ?

?

Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?raised? ?his? ?head? ?to? ?look? ?at? ?him.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?continued,? ?“You? ?don’t? ?think? ?this? ?

is? ?actually? ?revenge?? ?You? ?only? ?killed? ?one? ?of? ?his? ?many? ?clones.? ?If? ?you? ?want? ?to? ?exterminate? ?

him? ?completely,? ?you? ?need? ?to? ?find? ?his? ?ashes.”? ?

?

“Thanks? ?for? ?reminding? ?me,”? ?Lan? ?Qianqiu? ?said? ?coldly,? ?“I? ?will? ?definitely? ?capture? ?him? ?with? ?my? ?

own? ?hands? ?and? ?use? ?his? ?ashes? ?to? ?pay? ?respects? ?to? ?my? ?esteemed? ?father? ?and? ?mother.? ?When? ?

that? ?happens,? ?I? ?will? ?come? ?and? ?tie? ?things? ?up? ?with? ?you.? ?Guoshi,? ?don’t? ?you? ?dare? ?think? ?about? ?

running? ?away!”? ?

?

As? ?he? ?ended? ?his? ?words,? ?he? ?gripped? ?his? ?longsword? ?and? ?struck,? ?slashing? ?the? ?cauldron,? ?and? ?

turned? ?abruptly? ?to? ?walk? ?away.? ?Boiling? ?water? ?spilled? ?from? ?the? ?cauldron,? ?and? ?liquid? ?filled? ?

with? ?slithers? ?of? ?bones? ?poured? ?onto? ?the? ?ground.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?wanted? ?to? ?chase? ?after? ?him,? ?but? ?

he? ?knew? ?that? ?it? ?wouldn’t? ?be? ?of? ?use.? ? ?

?

He? ?braked? ?in? ?his? ?step? ?and? ?stopped,? ?standing? ?still,? ?unable? ?to? ?speak.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?

approached? ?him,? ?“He? ?just? ?found? ?out? ?the? ?truth,? ?so? ?it’s? ?better? ?to? ?let? ?him? ?be? ?by? ?himself? ?and? ?

cool? ?down.”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?dumbfounded,? ?“Why? ?must? ?he? ?know? ?the? ?truth?? ?Was? ?the? ?truth? ?that? ?

important?”? ? ?

?

“Very? ?important.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?replied,? ?“He? ?needed? ?to? ?know? ?what? ?was? ?done? ?by? ?you? ?and? ?

what? ?wasn’t,? ?and? ?why? ?you? ?had? ?to? ?do? ?what? ?you? ?did.”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?whipped? ?around? ?in? ?a? ?fit? ?and? ?said? ?coldly,? ?“What’s? ?the? ?use? ?of? ?knowing? ?everything? ?

so? ?clearly?? ?Would? ?I? ?be? ?any? ?more? ?blameless? ?if? ?I? ?killed? ?less? ?people?? ?Would? ?things? ?be? ?less? ?

hard??”? ? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?didn’t? ?respond.? ?A? ?burst? ?of? ?anger? ?rolled? ?up? ?from? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?chest,? ?and? ?he? ?

didn’t? ?even? ?know? ?who? ?to? ?be? ?mad? ?at.? ?He? ?blurted,? ?“And? ?what? ?shitty? ?hardship? ?have? ?I? ?

experienced?? ?His? ?majesty? ?the? ?king? ?father? ?had? ?always? ?wanted? ?to? ?integrate? ?the? ?two? ?clans,? ?

did? ?I? ?not? ?kill? ?him?? ?Prince? ?An? ?Le? ?was? ?the? ?last? ?to? ?my? ?family’s? ?bloodline,? ?did? ?I? ?not? ?kill? ?him?? ?

No? ?matter? ?what? ?it’s? ?all? ?my? ?fault,? ?so? ?if? ?all? ?the? ?blame? ?goes? ?to? ?me? ?what’s? ?wrong? ?with? ?that?? ?

What’s? ?there? ?to? ?be? ?afraid? ?of?? ?Whatever? ?comes? ?at? ?me,? ?I? ?can’t? ?die? ?anyway!? ?I? ?did? ?this.? ?I? ?

bring? ?misfortune.? ?And? ?now? ?I’ve? ?brought? ?it? ?to? ?Prince? ?An? ?Le,? ?to? ?Qi? ?Rong,? ?and? ?to? ?everyone? ?

in? ?Xianle.? ?Is? ?it? ?not? ?better? ?to? ?hate? ?one? ?instead? ?of? ?all?? ?Must? ?he? ?think? ?that? ?everything? ?I? ?taught? ?

him? ?was? ?false,? ?and? ?nothing? ?more? ?than? ?empty? ?bullshit???”? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?watched? ?him? ?quietly? ?and? ?didn’t? ?argue.? ?The? ?two? ?stared? ?at? ?each? ?other,? ?and? ?

suddenly? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?covered? ?his? ?face? ?with? ?his? ?hands,? ?“I’m? ?sorry.? ?I’m? ?sorry,? ?San? ?Lang.? ?I’ve? ?

gone? ?mad.? ?I’m? ?sorry.”? ? ?

?

“It’s? ?nothing.? ?It’s? ?my? ?fault.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said.? ?

?

“No,? ?you’re? ?not? ?at? ?fault.? ?This? ?is? ?my? ?problem.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?slumped? ?to? ?the? ?ground,? ?holding? ?his? ?

head,? ?“What? ?a? ?mess.? ?What? ?a? ?disastrous? ?mess.”? ?

?

After? ?a? ?moment,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?sat? ?down? ?next? ?to? ?him,? ?“You? ?weren’t? ?wrong.”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?held? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?said? ?nothing.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?continued,? ?“The? ?YongAn? ?king? ?was? ?

killed? ?to? ?protect? ?the? ?remaining? ?people? ?of? ?Xianle.? ?Prince? ?An? ?Le? ?was? ?killed? ?to? ?prevent? ?the? ?

two? ?clans? ?from? ?fighting.? ?In? ?the? ?end,? ?to? ?die? ?in? ?the? ?hands? ?of? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu,? ?the? ?murderer? ?

faced? ?justice.? ?Three? ?lives? ?exchanged? ?centuries? ?of? ?peace,? ?it’s? ?worth? ?it.? ?If? ?it? ?was? ?me? ?I? ?

would’ve? ?done? ?the? ?same.? ?Listen? ?to? ?me.”? ?

?

His? ?voice? ?was? ?firm? ?with? ?no? ?room? ?for? ?doubt.? ?“You? ?weren’t? ?wrong.? ?No? ?one? ?could’ve? ?done? ?it? ?

better? ?than? ?you.”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?quiet.? ?After? ?some? ?time? ?he? ?finally? ?said,? ?“I? ?just? ?don’t? ?think? ?it’s? ?right.”? ?

?

He? ?slowly? ?lifted? ?his? ?face,? ?“I? ?just? ?don’t? ?think? ?it’s? ?right? ?for? ?someone? ?to? ?have? ?been? ?kind? ?but? ?

received? ?a? ?bad? ?end.”? ? ?

?

“Even? ?if? ?it’s? ?fake,? ?I? ?wanted? ?Qianqiu? ?to? ?remember? ?that? ?his? ?benevolence? ?to? ?Xianle? ?would? ?be? ?

reciprocated.? ?Doing? ?the? ?right? ?thing? ?will? ?open? ?endless? ?paths.? ?Not? ?like? ?now,? ?where? ?he? ?

thinks? ?everything? ?I? ?told? ?him,? ?everything? ?he? ?believed? ?in,? ?were? ?all? ?false,? ?lies,? ?deception.? ?

That? ?everything? ?was? ?goddamn? ?bullshit!? ?I? ?just...”? ?

?

He? ?raised? ?his? ?right? ?hand,? ?and? ?said? ?while? ?looking? ?at? ?it,? ?“...I? ?don’t? ?want? ?to? ?see? ?anyone? ?go? ?

through? ?what? ?I’ve? ?gone? ?through.”? ? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?listened? ?silently.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?self-conscious? ?about? ?the? ?vulgar? ?words? ?he? ?used? ?

and? ?apologized? ?again,? ?“I’m? ?sorry.? ?But? ?look? ?how? ?incredibly? ?silly? ?things? ?are? ?in? ?this? ?world.? ?

The? ?first? ?few? ?generations? ?of? ?YongAn? ?rule? ?was? ?filled? ?with? ?violence? ?and? ?cruelty,? ?but? ?none? ?

died? ?in? ?tragedy.? ?When? ?it? ?came? ?to? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu’s? ?parents,? ?all? ?they? ?wanted? ?was? ?to? ?do? ?

some? ?good,? ?do? ?something? ?great,? ?but? ?ended? ?the? ?way? ?they? ?did.”? ?

?

The? ?king? ?of? ?YongAn? ?honoured? ?him? ?as? ?the? ?Guoshi,? ?and? ?treated? ?him? ?with? ?the? ?utmost? ?

respect.? ?Even? ?at? ?the? ?end? ?of? ?his? ?life,? ?he? ?passed? ?on? ?without? ?any? ?signs? ?of? ?that? ?trust? ?

dispersing.? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?eyes? ?looked? ?far? ?ahead? ?but? ?unfocused? ?and? ?whispered,? ?“I? ?really? ?

can’t? ?forget...? ?the? ?look? ?on? ?his? ?face? ?when? ?my? ?sword? ?penetrated? ?him.”? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?said? ?softly,? ?“Forget? ?about? ?it.? ?That? ?was? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?and? ?Prince? ?An? ?Le’s? ?fault.”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?shook? ?his? ?head,? ?and? ?buried? ?it? ?between? ?his? ?knees,? ?his? ?voice? ?exhausted,? ?“...And? ?

everything? ?was? ?going? ?just? ?fine? ?too.”? ?

?

When? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu’s? ?father? ?first? ?ascended? ?the? ?throne,? ?his? ?first? ?rule? ?was? ?to? ?break? ?the? ?

culture? ?of? ?oppressing? ?the? ?people? ?of? ?Xianle.? ?The? ?people? ?of? ?Xianle? ?and? ?the? ?people? ?of? ?

YongAn? ?finally? ?experienced? ?peace? ?among? ?each? ?other? ?for? ?the? ?first? ?time;? ?there? ?was? ?finally? ?

winds? ?of? ?change,? ?finally? ?a? ?sign? ?of? ?integration,? ?finally? ?hope? ?for? ?leaving? ?conflict? ?behind,? ?and? ?

Prince? ?An? ?Le? ?had? ?to? ?pick? ?that? ?time? ?to? ?awash? ?the? ?Gilded? ?Banquet? ?with? ?blood.? ? ?

?

That? ?night? ?when? ?he? ?escaped? ?and? ?found? ?Prince? ?An? ?Le,? ?he? ?was? ?originally? ?going? ?to? ?warn? ?

him? ?never? ?to? ?stir? ?up? ?troubles? ?again.? ?Yet,? ?after? ?the? ?last? ?descendant? ?of? ?his? ?royal? ?house? ?

discovered? ?his? ?true? ?identity,? ?he? ?excitedly? ?grabbed? ?hold? ?of? ?him,? ?and? ?asked? ?him? ?to? ?join? ?his? ?

grand? ?scheme? ?of? ?revenge? ?and? ?recovery? ?of? ?their? ?kingdom.? ?His? ?eyes? ?were? ?red? ?with? ?

passion,? ?his? ?voice? ?high? ?with? ?excitement;? ?he? ?first? ?swore? ?to? ?spill? ?blood? ?at? ?the? ?Gilded? ?

Banquet,? ?then? ?annihilate? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu,? ?and? ?cause? ?havoc? ?in? ?YongAn.? ?They? ?would? ?do? ?this? ?

even? ?at? ?the? ?cost? ?of? ?destroying? ?the? ?growing? ?amity? ?amongst? ?the? ?two? ?peoples;? ?at? ?the? ?cost? ?of? ?

all? ?the? ?lives? ?that? ?remain? ?from? ?Xianle;? ?at? ?the? ?cost? ?of? ?dragging? ?all? ?of? ?YongAn,? ?royalty? ?and? ?

common? ?alike,? ?to? ?the? ?depths? ?of? ?hell.? ? ?

?

But? ?in? ?the? ?end,? ?what? ?was? ?killed? ?was? ?killed,? ?what? ?was? ?murdered? ?was? ?murdered.? ?However? ?

just? ?the? ?reason,? ?however? ?compelling? ?the? ?reason,? ?the? ?truth? ?was? ?he? ?killed? ?with? ?his? ?own? ?

hands? ?an? ?honourable? ?king? ?who? ?had? ?truly? ?wanted? ?to? ?eradicate? ?discrimination,? ?and? ?the? ?last? ?

blood? ?descendant? ?of? ?his? ?family? ?in? ?this? ?world.? ?

?

So,? ?he? ?deserved? ?all? ?the? ?blame.? ?

?

?

————–? ?

?

?An? ?Le? ?(????):? ?[?]? ?means? ?‘safe’,? ?‘peace’,? ?‘to? ?settle’;? ?[?]? ?means? ?‘happiness’,? ?‘joy’? ?–? ?

Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?dissecting? ?the? ?words? ?on? ?their? ?own? ?and? ?drawing? ?his? ?own? ?meanings? ?

from? ?them.? ?

?

?

———-? ?

?

Ch.54:? ?In? ?the? ?Cannibal? ?Lair;? ?Ghost? ?King? ?Faces? ?Heavenly? ?Officials? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?to? ?look? ?at? ?that? ?dejected? ?looking? ?kneeling? ?statue? ?and? ?said,? ?“Qi? ?

Rong? ?was? ?right? ?about? ?one? ?thing.? ?I? ?am? ?quite? ?the? ?failure.”? ?

?

“Don’t? ?believe? ?in? ?the? ?words? ?of? ?a? ?useless? ?trash? ?like? ?him,”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said? ?gently,? ?“Other? ?

than? ?being? ?good? ?at? ?not? ?dying? ?and? ?running? ?away,? ?he’s? ?got? ?nothing? ?else? ?going? ?for? ?him.? ?He? ?

can’t? ?even? ?level? ?up? ?to? ?a? ?‘Supreme’? ?after? ?eight? ?hundred? ?years.? ?Even? ?beating? ?him? ?up? ?would? ?

only? ?dirty? ?hands.”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian’s? ?lips? ?jerked? ?upwards,? ?thinking? ?wasn’t? ?he? ?also? ?the? ?same?? ?Only? ?good? ?at? ?not? ?

dying? ?and? ?running? ?away,? ?even? ?after? ?eight? ?hundred? ?years,? ?he’d? ?only? ?gotten? ?so? ?far? ?himself,? ?

which? ?was? ?nowhere.? ?

?

At? ?first? ?when? ?he? ?saw? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?as? ?the? ?martial? ?god? ?of? ?the? ?east,? ?ranking? ?as? ?a? ?high? ?

heavenly? ?official,? ?but? ?maintained? ?his? ?old? ?character,? ?still? ?straightforward,? ?still? ?falling? ?asleep? ?

in? ?boring? ?meetings,? ?he? ?felt? ?rather? ?comforted.? ?Yet,? ?from? ?now? ?on,? ?who? ?knows? ?how? ?he? ?would? ?

change?? ?He? ?went? ?in? ?pursuit? ?of? ?Qi? ?Rong;? ?once? ?that’s? ?done,? ?how? ?would? ?he? ?end? ?things? ?with? ?

Xie? ?Lian?? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?stood? ?up,? ?and? ?slowly? ?walked? ?to? ?the? ?statue.? ?He? ?stood? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?it? ?head? ?on;? ?that? ?

face? ?was? ?indeed? ?exactly? ?the? ?same? ?as? ?his? ?own,? ?only? ?it? ?was? ?carved? ?in? ?a? ?sorrowful? ?

expression,? ?its? ?face? ?covered? ?in? ?tears,? ?scrunched? ?up? ?and? ?ugly.? ?After? ?staring? ?at? ?it? ?for? ?a? ?

moment,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?sighed? ?and? ?placed? ?his? ?hand? ?on? ?its? ?head,? ?pouring? ?in? ?a? ?powerful? ?blow.? ?

?

When? ?he? ?removed? ?his? ?hand,? ?two? ?long? ?crevices? ?crawled? ?over? ?the? ?cheeks? ?of? ?the? ?statue,? ?

and? ?soon? ?after,? ?the? ?crying? ?face? ?broke? ?apart.? ?The? ?statue? ?collapsed? ?and? ?crumbled? ?into? ?

small? ?rocks,? ?falling? ?to? ?the? ?ground,? ?never? ?to? ?be? ?restored.? ?

?

When? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?around? ?again,? ?his? ?usual? ?gentle? ?and? ?peaceful? ?expression? ?was? ?back? ?

on? ?his? ?face.? ?He? ?rubbed? ?his? ?forehead? ?and? ?said,? ?“Qi? ?Rong’s? ?lair? ?probably? ?still? ?has? ?a? ?lot? ?of? ?

humans? ?hidden,? ?let? ?me? ?go? ?find? ?them? ?and? ?let? ?them? ?go.”? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?stood? ?up? ?too,? ?“Let’s? ?go.”? ?

?

During? ?the? ?ruckus? ?earlier,? ?all? ?the? ?little? ?green? ?lantern? ?ghosts? ?in? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?lair? ?had? ?run? ?

away,? ?and? ?those? ?who? ?didn’t? ?were? ?hidden? ?in? ?the? ?shadows,? ?afraid? ?to? ?come? ?out.? ?The? ?two? ?

searched? ?all? ?over,? ?nabbing? ?a? ?couple? ?unfortunate? ?little? ?ghosts? ?along? ?the? ?way? ?and? ?forced? ?

them? ?to? ?lead,? ?and? ?they? ?found? ?many? ?caves? ?used? ?for? ?‘storing? ?fresh? ?food’.? ?Counting? ?roughly,? ?

the? ?number? ?of? ?people? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?captured? ?for? ?consumption? ?was? ?actually? ?no? ?less? ?than? ?three? ?

hundred;? ?they? ?were? ?either? ?nearby? ?villagers? ?or? ?travelers.? ? ?

?

The? ?two? ?unlocked? ?jail? ?cells? ?as? ?they? ?roamed,? ?letting? ?go? ?of? ?all? ?the? ?detainees.? ?With? ?tasks? ?at? ?

hand,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?able? ?to? ?change? ?focus? ?and? ?calm? ?down.? ?Now? ?that? ?they’re? ?free,? ?he? ?also? ?

had? ?the? ?time? ?to? ?chat? ?with? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?so? ?he? ?pondered? ?at? ?his? ?words? ?but? ?asked? ?anyway,? ?

“By? ?the? ?way,? ?San? ?Lang,? ?I? ?wanted? ?to? ?ask? ?you? ?about? ?something.”? ?

?

“What? ?is? ?it?”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?asked.? ?

?

“How? ?did? ?you? ?know? ?that? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?the? ?mastermind? ?behind? ?the? ?Gilded? ?Banquet? ?plot?”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.? ?

?

At? ?first? ?he? ?didn’t? ?know? ?why? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?brought? ?himself? ?and? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?to? ?the? ?Green? ?

Ghost’s? ?lair,? ?but? ?now? ?he? ?did.? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?objective? ?was? ?to? ?have? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?hear? ?for? ?

himself? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?confession? ?to? ?the? ?whole? ?Gilded? ?Banquet? ?scheme.? ? ?

?

“Qi? ?Rong? ?didn’t? ?know? ?that? ?I? ?was? ?Fang? ?Xin,”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“If? ?he? ?had? ?known,? ?he’d? ?

would’ve? ?harassed? ?me? ?from? ?the? ?start.? ?At? ?the? ?time,? ?although? ?I? ?knew? ?the? ?old? ?Xianle? ?royals? ?

were? ?plotting? ?something? ?underhanded,? ?I? ?didn’t? ?know? ?it? ?was? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?behind? ?it? ?all? ?either.? ?

So? ?how? ?did? ?you? ?find? ?out?? ?How? ?long? ?have? ?you? ?known? ?this?”? ?

?

“Not? ?too? ?long,”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?waved? ?his? ?hand? ?and? ?walked? ?alongside? ?him,? ?“I’ve? ?run? ?into? ?Qi? ?

Rong? ?a? ?few? ?times? ?and? ?learned? ?the? ?kind? ?of? ?person? ?he? ?is.? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?of? ?Xianle? ?when? ?he? ?

was? ?alive,? ?and? ?regarded? ?YongAn? ?with? ?deep? ?hatred.? ?He? ?was? ?good? ?at? ?the? ?art? ?of? ?

provocation,? ?fanning? ?fires? ?and? ?fabricating? ?situations.? ?Many? ?of? ?the? ?major? ?assassination? ?

plots? ?of? ?the? ?YongAn? ?nobles? ?were? ?all? ?headed? ?by? ?him,? ?but? ?he? ?hid? ?really? ?well.”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?shook? ?his? ?head,? ?“So? ?he? ?already? ?had? ?a? ?history.? ?Good? ?thing? ?he’s? ?good? ?at? ?hiding,? ?

otherwise? ?if? ?the? ?heavens? ?found? ?out? ?he? ?had? ?a? ?hand? ?in? ?all? ?those? ?mortal? ?conflicts,? ?they? ?

would? ?not? ?show? ?him? ?any? ?mercy.”? ?

?

“Spilling? ?blood? ?at? ?the? ?Gilded? ?Banquet? ?was? ?very? ?much? ?his? ?style,”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said,? ?“So? ?I? ?

had? ?always? ?believed? ?the? ?mastermind? ?was? ?him,? ?and? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?Fang? ?Xin? ?was? ?his? ?lackey.? ?

But,? ?in? ?the? ?upper? ?court,? ?since? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?identified? ?you? ?as? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?Fang? ?Xin,? ?then? ?

there? ?was? ?no? ?way? ?Fang? ?Xin? ?and? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?would? ?be? ?on? ?the? ?same? ?boat.”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian’s? ?steps? ?slowed.? ?It? ?seemed? ?that? ?even? ?though? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?wasn’t? ?present? ?in? ?the? ?

heavens,? ?he? ?was? ?still? ?very? ?informed? ?of? ?what? ?went? ?on? ?in? ?the? ?Great? ?Martial? ?Hall.? ?And? ?not? ?

just? ?that,? ?he? ?was? ?also? ?very? ?knowledgeable? ?of? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?personal? ?relationship? ?with? ?Qi? ?

Rong.? ? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?continued,? ?“Nevertheless,? ?I? ?still? ?leaned? ?towards? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?as? ?the? ?mastermind,? ?

or? ?at? ?least? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?started? ?the? ?whole? ?thing.? ?The? ?common? ?remnant? ?citizens? ?of? ?Xianle,? ?

after? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu’s? ?father? ?had? ?ascended? ?the? ?throne,? ?had? ?received? ?much? ?improvements? ?

in? ?their? ?lives,? ?and? ?no? ?longer? ?thought? ?of? ?avenging? ?their? ?fallen? ?kingdom.? ?The? ?only? ?ones? ?who? ?

couldn’t? ?let? ?go? ?would? ?be? ?the? ?royal? ?house? ?of? ?Xianle.? ?At? ?the? ?time,? ?the? ?only? ?remaining? ?

descendant? ?was? ?Prince? ?An? ?Le.? ?If? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?wanted? ?to? ?solicit? ?anyone? ?into? ?starting? ?

anything,? ?it? ?must? ?be? ?him.? ?Very? ?conveniently,? ?this? ?individual? ?randomly? ?died? ?of? ?an? ?unknown? ?

illness? ?right? ?after? ?the? ?Gilded? ?Banquet,? ?was? ?that? ?not? ?obviously? ?suspect?”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?nodded,? ?and? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?concluded,? ?“So? ?he? ?was? ?more? ?than? ?likely? ?killed,? ?and? ?the? ?

reason? ?for? ?his? ?death? ?had? ?something? ?to? ?do? ?with? ?the? ?Gilded? ?Banquet.? ?My? ?first? ?deduction? ?

was? ?it? ?was? ?the? ?work? ?of? ?YongAn? ?nobility,? ?but? ?nothing? ?happened? ?to? ?the? ?remnant? ?citizens? ?of? ?

Xianle,? ?so? ?it? ?couldn’t? ?have? ?been? ?them.? ?I? ?thought? ?about? ?it,? ?and? ?came? ?to? ?my? ?present? ?

conclusion.”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?smiled? ?and? ?was? ?amazed,? ?“With? ?so? ?little? ?clues? ?and? ?yet? ?you? ?could? ?deduce? ?so? ?

accurately.”? ?

?

“It’s? ?not? ?hard,”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said,? ?“You? ?just? ?have? ?to? ?know? ?really? ?well? ?of? ?the? ?main? ?people? ?

involved.”? ? ?

?

“That’s? ?for? ?sure,? ?but? ?in? ?your? ?deduction,? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?significant? ?preamble? ?I? ?don’t? ?

understand.”? ? ?

?

“And? ?that? ?is?”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?asked.? ?

?

“Why? ?do? ?you? ?believe? ?so? ?firmly? ?that? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?made? ?the? ?first? ?move? ?must? ?be? ?Qi? ?Rong?”? ? ?

?

“It? ?wasn’t? ?that? ?I? ?believed? ?he? ?did? ?it.? ?I? ?just? ?believed? ?that? ?you? ?didn’t.”? ? ?

?

Hearing? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?stopped? ?smiling.? ?He? ?was? ?quiet? ?for? ?a? ?moment? ?before? ?asking,? ?“Why? ?

is? ?that?”? ? ?

?

“If? ?you? ?had? ?admitted? ?to? ?spilling? ?blood? ?at? ?the? ?Gilded? ?Banquet? ?using? ?any? ?other? ?reason,? ?then? ?

I? ?would’ve? ?believed? ?it? ?was? ?you.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?replied.? ?“The? ?YongAn? ?king? ?was? ?sincere? ?in? ?

his? ?rule,? ?loved? ?by? ?the? ?people,? ?and? ?yet? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?said? ?the? ?reason? ?you? ?told? ?him? ?was? ?‘I? ?

couldn’t? ?stand? ?seeing? ?you? ?in? ?that? ?position’.”? ? ?

?

“That? ?was? ?the? ?model? ?declaration? ?of? ?one? ?overthrowing? ?the? ?crown.? ?But? ?if? ?those? ?words? ?

came? ?from? ?you,? ?then? ?it’d? ?be? ?a? ?poor? ?attempt? ?at? ?tarnishing? ?your? ?own? ?name.”? ?

?

Hearing? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?puffed? ?a? ?laugh? ?soundlessly,? ?“Tarnishing? ?my? ?own? ?name?? ?Did? ?you? ?

not? ?think? ?that? ?I? ?might? ?not? ?have? ?harboured? ?those? ?thoughts? ?deep? ?down? ?inside?? ?Maybe? ?I? ?do? ?

have? ?some? ?resentments? ?hidden?”? ? ?

?

“Thoughts? ?are? ?thoughts,? ?you? ?wouldn’t? ?have? ?acted? ?upon? ?them.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said.? ?

?

“You–”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?closed? ?his? ?eyes? ?and? ?shook? ?his? ?head,? ?as? ?if? ?undecided? ?whether? ?to? ?

comment.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?urged,? ?“What?? ?Tell? ?me.? ?It? ?won’t? ?matter.”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?chewed? ?on? ?his? ?words,? ?but? ?finally? ?said,? ?“I? ?just? ?think,? ?it’s? ?best? ?for? ?people? ?not? ?to? ?

have? ?too? ?much? ?hope? ?in? ?another.”? ? ?

?

“Oh?”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?hummed,? ?“And? ?what? ?do? ?you? ?mean? ?by? ?that?”? ?

?

“Don’t? ?think? ?someone? ?overly? ?perfect.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied,? ?“If? ?it’s? ?just? ?watching? ?a? ?shadow? ?

from? ?afar? ?and? ?never? ?having? ?to? ?interact,? ?then? ?whatever.? ?But? ?once? ?acquainted? ?and? ?you? ?

grow? ?close,? ?one? ?day? ?you’ll? ?end? ?up? ?finding? ?that? ?this? ?person? ?was? ?not? ?what? ?you? ?had? ?

imagined,? ?maybe? ?even? ?the? ?complete? ?opposite.? ?When? ?that? ?happens,? ?you’ll? ?be? ?very? ?

disappointed.”? ? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?disagreed,? ?“You? ?never? ?know.? ?I? ?don’t? ?care? ?if? ?anyone? ?else? ?is? ?disappointed.? ?But? ?

to? ?some,? ?the? ?very? ?existence? ?of? ?a? ?certain? ?person? ?in? ?this? ?world? ?is? ?in? ?itself,? ?hope.”? ? ?

?

Although? ?he? ?didn’t? ?specify? ?who? ?“some”? ?were,? ?and? ?who? ?“a? ?certain? ?person”? ?was,? ?his? ?tone? ?

plain? ?and? ?casual? ?like? ?it? ?was? ?an? ?offhand? ?comment,? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?heart? ?lifted,? ?he? ?felt? ?light,? ?

even.? ? ?

?

He? ?paused? ?in? ?his? ?step? ?and? ?couldn’t? ?speak.? ?Some? ?moments? ?after? ?he? ?suddenly? ?blurted,? ?

“San? ?Lang,? ?who? ?are? ?you,? ?really?”? ? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?stopped? ?too,? ?and? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?to? ?look? ?at? ?him.? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?squarely? ?in? ?his? ?eyes? ?and? ?asked? ?thoughtfully,? ?“You? ?knew? ?who? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?

was,? ?and? ?knew? ?the? ?kind? ?of? ?person? ?he? ?is.? ?You? ?knew? ?who? ?I? ?am,? ?and? ?knew? ?how? ?to? ?paint? ?the? ?

God-Pleasing? ?Crown? ?Prince.? ?You? ?seem? ?to? ?know? ?everything? ?about? ?me.? ?You? ?know? ?a? ?lot.? ?

Maybe? ?even? ?more.”? ? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?raised? ?his? ?eyes,? ?“Don’t? ?I? ?always? ?know? ?a? ?lot?”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?shook? ?his? ?head,? ?“It’s? ?not? ?the? ?same.”? ? ?

?

His? ?left? ?hand? ?held? ?his? ?right? ?elbow? ?while? ?his? ?right? ?hand? ?propped? ?his? ?chin,? ?he? ?looked? ?at? ?Hua? ?

Cheng? ?in? ?wonder,? ?“I’ve? ?always? ?had? ?the? ?feeling? ?that? ?you? ?are? ?someone? ?from? ?my? ?past,? ?and? ?

must’ve? ?known? ?me? ?from? ?very? ?early? ?on.? ?Maybe? ?it? ?was? ?during? ?my? ?first? ?ascension,? ?no,? ?

maybe? ?even? ?earlier.? ?Yet...? ?I? ?really? ?don’t? ?remember.? ?When? ?have? ?I? ?ever? ?met? ?a? ?character? ?

like? ?you?”? ? ?

?

Someone? ?like? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?would? ?be? ?unforgettable? ?after? ?the? ?first? ?meeting.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?

never? ?bashed? ?his? ?head? ?in? ?and? ?lost? ?his? ?memories,? ?so? ?if? ?they? ?had? ?met,? ?there? ?was? ?no? ?

reason? ?to? ?not? ?remember.? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?stared? ?at? ?him,? ?looking? ?somewhat? ?bemused,? ?“Who? ?are? ?you? ?exactly?? ?Have? ?I? ?met? ?

you? ?before?”? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?didn’t? ?answer,? ?but? ?his? ?lips? ?lifted? ?softly.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?immediately? ?came? ?to,? ?and? ?

realized? ?his? ?questions? ?were? ?extremely? ?inappropriate.? ? ?

?

A? ?ghost’s? ?real? ?name? ?was? ?usually? ?a? ?secret;? ?unless? ?it’s? ?someone? ?unfathomably? ?abnormal? ?

like? ?Qi? ?Rong,? ?there? ?was? ?no? ?reason? ?to? ?tell? ?it? ?to? ?anyone.? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?hurriedly? ?said,? ?“I’m? ?sorry,? ?don’t? ?mind? ?me.? ?I? ?was? ?just? ?asking.? ?You? ?don’t? ?have? ?to? ?

answer? ?me.? ?Whoever? ?you? ?are? ?doesn’t? ?matter.”? ?

?

Just? ?then,? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?eyes? ?squinted.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?realized? ?he? ?must’ve? ?noticed? ?something? ?

and? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?back.? ?Behind? ?them? ?from? ?not? ?far? ?within? ?a? ?cave? ?came? ?noisy? ?chatters,? ?

and? ?a? ?clear,? ?loud? ?voice? ?of? ?a? ?woman? ?came,? ?“I? ?told? ?you,? ?my? ?powers? ?are? ?stronger? ?in? ?the? ?

female? ?form,? ?even? ?my? ?luck? ?is? ?better!? ?Yet? ?you? ?still? ?wouldn’t? ?let? ?me.? ?Do? ?you? ?see? ?now?? ?We? ?

rolled? ?it? ?right? ?this? ?time!!!”? ? ?

?

It? ?was? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan’s? ?voice.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?blurted? ?out,? ?“Lord? ?Wind? ?Master!”? ? ?

?

As? ?he? ?had? ?guessed,? ?a? ?white? ?clad? ?lady? ?cultivator? ?came? ?sprinting? ?out? ?of? ?a? ?cave,? ?and? ?her? ?

eyes? ?lit? ?up? ?when? ?she? ?saw? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?“I? ?found? ?him!? ?His? ?Highness? ?is? ?here!”? ? ?

?

However,? ?she? ?then? ?saw? ?the? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?standing? ?behind? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?and? ?her? ?face? ?fell? ?

immediately.? ?She? ?leapt? ?backwards? ?and? ?flashed? ?the? ?Wind? ?Master? ?fan? ?before? ?her.? ?Before? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?the? ?chance? ?to? ?say? ?anything,? ?another? ?voice? ?of? ?a? ?man? ?echoed? ?from? ?within? ?the? ?

cave,? ?“Did? ?you? ?find? ?him?? ?How’re? ?things?”? ? ?

?

The? ?voice? ?was? ?coming? ?closer,? ?and? ?soon? ?the? ?shadow? ?of? ?another? ?appeared,? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?

Feng? ?Xin.? ?He? ?had? ?in? ?his? ?left? ?hand? ?a? ?long,? ?black? ?bow,? ?and? ?the? ?moment? ?he? ?saw? ?Hua? ?

Cheng? ?he? ?pulled? ?back? ?the? ?silver? ?bowstring,? ?high? ?on? ?alert.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?chuckled? ?and? ?

made? ?no? ?comment.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?hurriedly? ?said,? ?“Put? ?away? ?your? ?weapons,? ?we? ?can? ?talk? ?this? ?

out.”? ?

?

The? ?four? ?ran? ?into? ?each? ?other? ?on? ?the? ?narrow? ?path? ?of? ?the? ?Green? ?Ghost’s? ?lair,? ?two? ?against? ?

two.? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?had? ?the? ?bowstring? ?pulled? ?fully,? ?a? ?string? ?of? ?spiritual? ?light? ?formed? ?into? ?the? ?

shape? ?of? ?an? ?arrow? ?within? ?his? ?right? ?hand,? ?and? ?he? ?aimed? ?it? ?at? ?Hua? ?Cheng.? ?He? ?spoke? ?first,? ?

his? ?voice? ?full? ?of? ?warning,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?come? ?here.”? ? ?

?

Feng? ?Xin’s? ?bow? ?was? ?gifted? ?by? ?Jun? ?Wu,? ?named? ?FengShen*? ?Bow,? ?and? ?it’s? ?a? ?rather? ?

troublesome? ?spiritual? ?device.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?afraid? ?he’d? ?shoot? ?for? ?real,? ?and? ?rushed? ?to? ?

stand? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?shielding? ?him.? ?But? ?unexpectedly,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?grabbed? ?him? ?

from? ?behind,? ?and? ?pulled? ?him? ?right? ?back.? ?

?

That? ?pull? ?startled? ?the? ?other? ?two.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?immediately? ?raised? ?his? ?hand,? ?“Hua? ?Cheng!? ?

Crimson? ?Rain? ?Sought? ?Flower!? ?D-d-d-don’t? ?do? ?anything? ?rash!? ?The? ?burning? ?of? ?your? ?

Paradise? ?Manor? ?was? ?an? ?accident!? ?If? ?you’re? ?displeased,? ?we? ?can? ?talk!? ?The? ?heavens? ?can? ?

pay? ?you? ?back.? ?His? ?majesty? ?isn’t? ?that? ?short? ?on? ?cash.? ?Let? ?go? ?of? ?His? ?Highness,? ?and? ?let’s? ?

talk.”? ? ?

?

—————? ?

?

?FengShen? ?translates? ?to? ?the? ?God? ?of? ?Wind? ?

?

—————? ?

?

Ch.55:? ?In? ?the? ?Cannibal? ?Lair;? ?Ghost? ?King? ?Faces? ?Heavenly? ?Officials? ?2? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?know? ?whether? ?to? ?laugh? ?or? ?cry,? ?but? ?was? ?still? ?immensely? ?grateful,? ?“Lord? ?

Wind? ?Master,? ?you’re? ?mistaken.? ?It? ?actually...”? ?

?

He? ?wanted? ?to? ?explain? ?that? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?didn’t? ?come? ?looking? ?for? ?paybacks? ?because? ?of? ?

Paradise? ?Manor,? ?but? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?throwing? ?him? ?guileful? ?looks,? ?as? ?if? ?telling? ?him? ?to? ?

not? ?speak? ?a? ?word.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?didn’t? ?argue? ?either,? ?and? ?raised? ?his? ?voice,? ?“I? ?haven’t? ?even? ?

counted? ?the? ?whole? ?incident? ?with? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?setting? ?up? ?a? ?spy? ?under? ?my? ?eyes,? ?so? ?there’s? ?

nothing? ?to? ?talk? ?about.”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?finally? ?understood.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?could? ?already? ?see? ?that? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?no? ?bad? ?

intentions,? ?and? ?all? ?this? ?was? ?but? ?an? ?act? ?using? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?kidnapping? ?him? ?as? ?his? ?seeking? ?

revenge,? ?so? ?the? ?heavens? ?wouldn’t? ?talk? ?and? ?say? ?instead? ?it? ?was? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?who? ?had? ?run? ?

away.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?understood? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan’s? ?intent? ?too,? ?and? ?cooperated.? ?However,? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?want? ?to? ?go? ?this? ?route,? ?“Alright,? ?stop? ?acting.? ?He? ?only? ?came? ?to? ?the? ?heavens? ?

to? ?save? ?me.? ?San? ?Lang? ?had? ?good? ?intentions,? ?so? ?why? ?hide? ?it?”? ?

?

“No? ?more? ?acting.”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?replied,? ?“I? ?already? ?sent? ?those? ?two? ?exchanges? ?to? ?the? ?

communication? ?array.? ?You? ?don’t? ?understand;? ?no? ?matter? ?how? ?good? ?the? ?intention,? ?after? ?

being? ?passed? ?around,? ?words? ?will? ?always? ?end? ?up? ?becoming? ?negative,? ?so? ?they? ?might? ?as? ?

well? ?be? ?negative? ?from? ?the? ?start.”? ?

?

“You? ?get? ?it.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?commented.? ?

?

“Of? ?course!? ?Otherwise? ?how? ?could? ?I,? ?the? ?Lord? ?Wind? ?Master,? ?be? ?so? ?popular? ?in? ?the? ?

heavens?”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?preened,? ?“General? ?Nan? ?Yang,? ?lower? ?your? ?bow.”? ?

?

However? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?still? ?had? ?the? ?bow? ?pulled? ?at? ?almost? ?full? ?strength,? ?holding? ?his? ?breath? ?and? ?

not? ?saying? ?a? ?word.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?smacked? ?him,? ?“Put? ?it? ?down,? ?can’t? ?you? ?see? ?they’re? ?

close?? ?Nothing? ?bad’s? ?gonna? ?happen.”? ?

?

Feng? ?Xin? ?said? ?in? ?a? ?low? ?voice,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?the? ?one? ?next? ?to? ?you? ?is? ?a? ?‘Supreme’...”? ?

?

Seeing? ?that? ?his? ?tension? ?wouldn’t? ?drop,? ?his? ?bow? ?unlowered,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?suddenly? ?

rammed? ?herself? ?into? ?his? ?arm.? ?

?

Instantly,? ?Feng? ?Xin’s? ?face? ?paled,? ?worse? ?than? ?if? ?he? ?were? ?to? ?see? ?a? ?ghost? ?by? ?a? ?million? ?fold,? ?

and? ?screamed,? ?the? ?string? ?of? ?spiritual? ?arrow? ?dissipating? ?powerlessly? ?like? ?clouds.? ?He? ?

opened? ?his? ?mouth? ?and? ?a? ?long? ?string? ?of? ?loud? ?curses? ?came? ?out,? ?distressed? ?to? ?the? ?core,? ?

“WHAT? ?THE? ?FUCK!!? ?WHAT? ?THE? ?FUCK? ?ARE? ?YOU? ?DOING!!!!”? ?

?

Turns? ?out,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?had? ?used? ?her? ?bosoms? ?to? ?ram? ?into? ?his? ?arm,? ?the? ?one? ?holding? ?the? ?

arrow.? ?That? ?blow? ?had? ?thoroughly? ?terrified? ?Feng? ?Xin.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?swung? ?her? ?whisk? ?

back,? ?elegantly? ?carefree,? ?looking? ?as? ?if? ?she? ?hadn’t? ?just? ?done? ?anything? ?inappropriate.? ?“I? ?

haven’t? ?even? ?asked? ?you? ?what? ?YOU? ?are? ?doing.? ?I? ?just? ?said? ?that? ?Crimson? ?Rain? ?Sought? ?

Flower? ?came? ?to? ?save? ?His? ?Highness,? ?and? ?you? ?still? ?point? ?at? ?him? ?with? ?your? ?arrow.? ?If? ?you? ?

want? ?to? ?fight? ?him? ?so? ?badly,? ?well? ?I? ?won’t? ?help? ?you.”? ?

?

Feng? ?Xin? ?had? ?already? ?backed? ?away? ?for? ?a? ?million? ?miles,? ?looking? ?like? ?he? ?would? ?never? ?

approach? ?her? ?again,? ?and? ?cried? ?in? ?dismay,? ?“DON’T? ?YOU? ?DARE? ?DO? ?THAT? ?EVER? ?AGAIN!!!? ?

EVER!!!? ?DO? ?YOU? ?HEAR? ?ME!!!”? ?

?

Watching? ?him? ?avoid? ?her? ?like? ?snakes,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan,? ?who? ?was? ?so? ?confident? ?about? ?her? ?

ethereal? ?beauty,? ?actually? ?felt? ?rather? ?depressed,? ?“Ok,? ?ok,? ?ok.? ?I? ?won’t? ?do? ?it? ?again.? ?It’s? ?not? ?

like? ?you? ?suffered? ?any? ?loss,? ?what’s? ?with? ?that? ?reaction?”? ?As? ?if? ?feeling? ?she’d? ?lost? ?face,? ?Shi? ?

Qingxuan? ?changed? ?back? ?to? ?a? ?man? ?and? ?turned? ?around,? ?“Eh?? ?Where’s? ?Qianqiu?”? ?

?

Hearing? ?his? ?words,? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?finally? ?composed? ?himself? ?somewhat,? ?and? ?looked? ?around? ?

too.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?“Ah”-ed? ?and? ?said,? ?“He’s? ?not? ?in? ?the? ?communication? ?array?”? ? ?

?

“No?”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?answered,? ?“After? ?he? ?rolled? ?the? ?dice? ?and? ?left,? ?we? ?haven’t? ?heard? ?a? ?

single? ?peep.? ?I? ?asked? ?him? ?multiple? ?times? ?what? ?the? ?correct? ?roll? ?was? ?but? ?he? ?never? ?

responded.? ?Before? ?when? ?I? ?talk? ?to? ?Qianqiu? ?he’d? ?always? ?respond? ?really? ?fast,? ?and? ?not? ?just? ?to? ?

me? ?but? ?to? ?all? ?other? ?officials? ?regardless? ?of? ?ranking.? ?So? ?weird.”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?huffed? ?a? ?sigh,? ?“His? ?Highness? ?Tai? ?Hua? ?left? ?to? ?chase? ?after? ?Qi? ?Rong.”? ? ?

?

The? ?other? ?two? ?were? ?taken? ?aback,? ?“Qi? ?Rong?”? ? ?

?

“Yea.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied,? ?“This? ?place? ?here? ?is? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?lair.? ?Sigh,? ?in? ?any? ?case...”? ?

?

Feng? ?Xin? ?cut? ?in,? ?“Wait.? ?Why? ?did? ?His? ?Highness? ?Tai? ?Hua? ?go? ?pursue? ?Qi? ?Rong?? ?Didn’t? ?he? ?

come? ?chasing? ?after? ?you?”? ? ?

?

“No? ?reason,”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?answered? ?from? ?behind,? ?“He? ?was? ?chasing? ?the? ?real? ?mastermind? ?

behind? ?the? ?Gilded? ?Banquet? ?bloodshed,? ?and? ?the? ?only? ?thing? ?his? ?royal? ?highness? ?did? ?was? ?

wipe? ?after? ?that? ?murderer’s? ?ass.? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?found? ?out? ?the? ?truth,? ?and? ?went? ?chasing? ?after? ?

the? ?real? ?culprit.? ?That’s? ?all.”? ?

?

Feng? ?Xin? ?was? ?shocked,? ?“The? ?real? ?culprit?? ?Is? ?this? ?the? ?truth?!”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?it? ?really? ?wasn’t? ?the? ?time? ?and? ?place? ?to? ?explain? ?all? ?the? ?complex? ?details? ?and? ?

shook? ?his? ?head,? ?“It’s? ?not? ?that? ?simple.? ?I’ll? ?explain? ?more? ?when? ?we? ?get? ?back.”? ? ?

?

Shi? ?Qingxuan,? ?although? ?ignorant? ?of? ?the? ?inside? ?story,? ?was? ?joyous,? ?“I? ?knew? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?

misunderstanding? ?in? ?all? ?of? ?this!? ?I’ve? ?such? ?godly? ?premonitions!? ?Now? ?even? ?if? ?you? ?return? ?you? ?

would? ?no? ?longer? ?be? ?detained!”? ? ?

?

“Good!”? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?said? ?too,? ?looking? ?like? ?he? ?was? ?greatly? ?relieved.? ?He? ?put? ?away? ?his? ?bow? ?

and? ?the? ?tension? ?he? ?had? ?also? ?significantly? ?decreased.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?on? ?the? ?other? ?hand,? ?only? ?

snorted? ?coldly.? ? ?

?

“Had? ?you? ?known?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked? ?Feng? ?Xin,? ?“That? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?was?? ?that?? ?Qi? ?Rong?”? ? ?

?

Feng? ?Xin? ?asked,? ?“Which? ?Qi? ?Rong?? ?Who?”? ?Then? ?startled,? ?“The? ?one? ?we? ?knew?”? ?

?

“So? ?you? ?didn’t? ?realize? ?it? ?was? ?him? ?either?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?remarked.? ?

?

Feng? ?Xin’s? ?face? ?went? ?dark,? ?“No.? ?I’ve? ?never? ?run? ?into? ?the? ?Green? ?Ghost? ?himself,? ?and? ?had? ?

always? ?assumed? ?the? ?name? ?was? ?just? ?a? ?coincidence.? ?What? ?kind? ?of? ?dumbass? ?would? ?run? ?

around? ?with? ?his? ?real? ?name?? ?That’s? ?crazy!”? ?But? ?the? ?moment? ?the? ?words? ?left? ?his? ?mouth,? ?he? ?

instantly? ?remembered? ?that? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?indeed? ?crazy,? ?and? ?his? ?eyes? ?met? ?Xie? ?Lian’s,? ?both? ?

falling? ?silent? ?in? ?mutual? ?understanding.? ? ?

?

Long? ?before? ?the? ?two? ?had? ?ascended,? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?had? ?despised? ?Qi? ?Rong.? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?the? ?

son? ?of? ?the? ?younger? ?sister? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?mother,? ?the? ?last? ?queen? ?of? ?Xianle.? ?He? ?grew? ?up? ?in? ?

the? ?royal? ?palace,? ?spent? ?his? ?days? ?clinging? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?and? ?as? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?personal? ?guard,? ?

Feng? ?Xin? ?of? ?course? ?saw? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?frequently.? ?He? ?was? ?young,? ?immature,? ?bullheaded,? ?

energetic,? ?extreme,? ?and? ?the? ?worst? ?thing? ?was,? ?as? ?royalty,? ?no? ?one? ?dared? ?to? ?educate? ?or? ?

discipline? ?him.? ?It? ?was? ?easy? ?to? ?imagine? ?just? ?how? ?lawless? ?he? ?was.? ? ?

?

He? ?used? ?to? ?always? ?hang? ?around? ?on? ?his? ?lips? ?the? ?words:? ?“My? ?cousin? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?is? ?

perfect!”? ?“My? ?cousin? ?something? ?something”.? ?If? ?anyone? ?were? ?to? ?be? ?even? ?remotely? ?

disrespectful? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?or? ?had? ?given? ?him? ?a? ?sliver? ?of? ?a? ?problem,? ?it? ?wouldn’t? ?matter? ?who? ?it? ?

was,? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?would? ?surely? ?bag? ?that? ?person? ?with? ?a? ?gunny? ?sack? ?and? ?beat? ?them? ?to? ?death.? ?

He? ?had? ?never? ?in? ?his? ?mind? ?any? ?care? ?or? ?respect? ?for? ?the? ?old,? ?the? ?handicapped,? ?or? ?the? ?young.? ?

There? ?was? ?even? ?once? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?saved? ?a? ?child? ?not? ?over? ?ten? ?years? ?of? ?age? ?from? ?under? ?Qi? ?

Rong’s? ?hands.? ?The? ?poor? ?boy? ?was? ?beaten? ?to? ?a? ?bloody? ?pulp;? ?miserable? ?to? ?the? ?bone.? ?Yet,? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?mindful? ?of? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?lineage,? ?plus? ?he? ?was? ?genuinely? ?on? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?side,? ?so? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?never? ?disciplined? ?him? ?physically.? ?But? ?if? ?it? ?was? ?only? ?lectures,? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?

wouldn’t? ?change? ?no? ?matter? ?how? ?many? ?times? ?he? ?was? ?scolded,? ?and? ?caused? ?a? ?lot? ?of? ?

headaches.? ?

?

Feng? ?Xin? ?was? ?a? ?much? ?more? ?straightforward? ?person,? ?not? ?as? ?patient? ?like? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?and? ?

constantly? ?disputed? ?with? ?Qi? ?Rong,? ?disobeying? ?his? ?commands.? ?And? ?so,? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?also? ?

despised? ?him,? ?and? ?would? ?always? ?come? ?up? ?with? ?new? ?ways? ?to? ?get? ?him? ?in? ?trouble,? ?forcing? ?

him? ?to? ?run? ?unreasonable? ?errands.? ?Moreover,? ?after? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?ascended,? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?

became? ?even? ?more? ?preposterous,? ?like? ?if? ?anyone? ?were? ?to? ?spit? ?before? ?the? ?Palace? ?of? ?the? ?

Crown? ?Prince,? ?he? ?would? ?try? ?and? ?force? ?burning? ?hot? ?coal? ?down? ?their? ?throat.? ?To? ?prevent? ?him? ?

from? ?going? ?too? ?far,? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?had? ?to? ?descend? ?frequently? ?to? ?clean? ?up? ?after? ?him.? ?Truly? ?

aggravating!? ?He’d? ?always? ?tell? ?Xie? ?Lian:? ?“Qi? ?Rong’s? ?crazy,? ?and? ?he’s? ?gonna? ?incite? ?chaos? ?

one? ?day!”? ? ?

?

“If? ?it? ?was? ?really? ?him,? ?then? ?it’s? ?no? ?surprise? ?that? ?he’d? ?done? ?it.”? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?said.? ?

?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?curious,? ?“What,? ?do? ?you? ?all? ?know? ?the? ?Green? ?Ghost??”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?nodded,? ?“He’s? ?my? ?little? ?cousin.”? ? ?

?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?shocked,? ?and? ?crossed? ?his? ?arms,? ?“Well? ?ain’t? ?that? ?something? ?else.”? ? ?

?

“He? ?is? ?quite? ?something? ?else.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?agreed.? ?

?

“I’m? ?not? ?talking? ?about? ?him,”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?said,? ?“I’m? ?talking? ?about? ?you!? ?Your? ?Highness,? ?

look? ?at? ?you:? ?the? ?Martial? ?gods? ?of? ?the? ?Southeast? ?and? ?Southwest? ?are? ?both? ?your? ?old? ?buddies,? ?

the? ?Martial? ?God? ?of? ?the? ?East? ?is? ?your? ?disciple,? ?that? ?Night-Touring? ?Green? ?Lantern? ?is? ?your? ?

little? ?cousin,? ?the? ?Crimson? ?Rain? ?Sought? ?Flower? ?is? ?your? ?sworn? ?brother,? ?and? ?I,? ?Lord? ?Wind? ?

Master,? ?am? ?your? ?friend.? ?Ain’t? ?that? ?something?”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?smiled,? ?thinking? ?the? ?Wind? ?Master? ?certainly? ?had? ?a? ?breezy? ?character? ?befitting? ?of? ?

his? ?title;? ?the? ?moment? ?the? ?wind? ?blew,? ?all? ?the? ?gloomy? ?clouds? ?dispersed.? ?However,? ?when? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?and? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?heard? ?“the? ?Crimson? ?Rain? ?Sought? ?Flower? ?is? ?your? ?sworn? ?

brother”,? ?both? ?showed? ?a? ?disagreeing? ?expression.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?raised? ?his? ?brows,? ?and? ?

Feng? ?Xin? ?knitted? ?his.? ? ?

?

After? ?a? ?moment,? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?turned? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?“If? ?there’s? ?nothing? ?else,? ?you? ?best? ?hurry? ?

back? ?to? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Court.? ?Many? ?of? ?the? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?still? ?have? ?no? ?idea? ?what? ?

happened? ?in? ?that? ?ruckus,? ?and? ?are? ?still? ?waiting? ?above.? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?should? ?be? ?informed? ?by? ?

now.? ?You? ?need? ?to? ?report? ?back? ?and? ?give? ?them? ?a? ?proper? ?account.”? ? ?

?

Hearing? ?his? ?words,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?laughed? ?out? ?loud.? ? ?

?

“What’re? ?you? ?laughing? ?at??”? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?demanded.? ?

?

“And? ?here? ?I? ?wondered? ?how? ?straightforward? ?you? ?are,? ?but? ?turns? ?out? ?you? ?like? ?to? ?beat? ?around? ?

the? ?bush? ?too.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said,? ?“You? ?just? ?don’t? ?want? ?His? ?Highness? ?to? ?associate? ?with? ?the? ?

likes? ?of? ?demons? ?and? ?ghosts,? ?why? ?not? ?just? ?say? ?so? ?openly?? ?Think? ?it’s? ?not? ?your? ?place?”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?cleared? ?his? ?throat? ?softly,? ?“San? ?Lang...”? ?

?

“As? ?long? ?as? ?you’re? ?aware? ?that? ?he? ?shouldn’t? ?be? ?associating? ?with? ?the? ?likes? ?of? ?demons? ?and? ?

ghosts.”? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?said? ?coldly.? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?made? ?no? ?indication? ?of? ?agreeing? ?or? ?disagreeing? ?with? ?that? ?sentiment,? ?and? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?intercepted,? ?responding? ?to? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?quietly,? ?“I? ?will? ?report? ?in? ?and? ?give? ?a? ?proper? ?

account,? ?but? ?right? ?now? ?there? ?are? ?more? ?important? ?things? ?at? ?hand.? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?had? ?hidden? ?in? ?

his? ?lair? ?over? ?three? ?hundred? ?humans? ?for? ?feeding.? ?Thanks? ?to? ?San? ?Lang’s? ?help,? ?they? ?were? ?

all? ?saved.? ?There’s? ?currently? ?a? ?number? ?of? ?little? ?ghosts? ?left? ?that? ?needs? ?taken? ?care? ?of.? ?I? ?will? ?

return? ?to? ?the? ?heavens? ?as? ?soon? ?as? ?that’s? ?done.”? ?

?

“It? ?won’t? ?be? ?good? ?to? ?take? ?too? ?long.? ?Let? ?me? ?deal? ?with? ?this.”? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?said.? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?nodded,? ?“By? ?heaven’s? ?efficiency,? ?you’ll? ?probably? ?finish? ?this? ?by? ?next? ?month.”? ? ?

?

“You? ?say? ?that? ?as? ?if? ?you? ?can? ?handle? ?this? ?in? ?a? ?second.”? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?said.? ?

?

The? ?two? ?glared? ?at? ?each? ?other.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?asked? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?with? ?his? ?eyes:? ?Did? ?

something? ?happen? ?between? ?the? ?two? ?of? ?them?? ?But? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?only? ?shook? ?his? ?head.? ?He? ?was? ?

about? ?to? ?change? ?the? ?subject? ?when? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?took? ?out? ?an? ?umbrella? ?from? ?who? ?knows? ?

where.? ?The? ?umbrella? ?was? ?crimson? ?red? ?like? ?maple? ?leaves,? ?vivid? ?like? ?fire.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?

raised? ?it? ?with? ?one? ?hand? ?and? ?covered? ?over? ?himself? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?reflecting? ?a? ?blushing? ?red? ?

on? ?their? ?faces.? ?

?

This? ?must? ?be? ?the? ?same? ?umbrella? ?that? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?used? ?to? ?shield? ?them? ?through? ?the? ?

hanging? ?corpse? ?forest? ?at? ?Mount? ?YuJun.? ?However,? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?raining? ?at? ?the? ?moment? ?so? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?was? ?curious,? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?why? ?did? ?you? ?open? ?an? ?umbrella?? ? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?looked? ?to? ?him,? ?and? ?shifted? ?the? ?umbrella? ?more? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?side,? ?smiling,? ?

“Just? ?wait.? ?The? ?sky’s? ?about? ?to? ?change.”? ? ?

?

Just? ?as? ?he? ?finished? ?his? ?sentence,? ?it? ?suddenly? ?poured? ?from? ?the? ?sky!? ?

?

The? ?rain? ?thundered? ?down,? ?flecking? ?and? ?flacking.? ?It? ?came? ?so? ?suddenly,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?

startled.? ?However,? ?he? ?was? ?properly? ?covered? ?under? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?umbrella,? ?and? ?not? ?a? ?

single? ?drop? ?hit? ?him.? ?Feng? ?Xin,? ?who? ?was? ?standing? ?on? ?the? ?other? ?side? ?though,? ?had? ?not? ?

prepared? ?at? ?all.? ?He? ?was? ?drenched? ?from? ?head? ?to? ?toe? ?by? ?this? ?rain.? ?

?

And? ?the? ?worst? ?thing? ?was,? ?this? ?rain? ?was? ?the? ?colour? ?of? ?blood.? ?By? ?the? ?looks? ?of? ?it,? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?

was? ?now? ?covered? ?in? ?blood? ?and? ?dripping;? ?only? ?his? ?wide,? ?bulging? ?eyes? ?were? ?white,? ?the? ?rest? ?

of? ?him? ?red.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?conveniently? ?standing? ?in? ?the? ?interior? ?of? ?another? ?cave? ?so? ?he? ?

wasn’t? ?affected,? ?but? ?he? ?was? ?also? ?eyes? ?wide? ?with? ?shock,? ?even? ?forgetting? ?to? ?wave? ?his? ?

whisk.? ? ?

?

That? ?pouring? ?rain? ?came? ?suddenly,? ?left? ?suddenly,? ?and? ?soon? ?enough? ?everything? ?was? ?quiet? ?

once? ?more.? ?It? ?took? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?some? ?time? ?to? ?recover.? ?He? ?wiped? ?at? ?his? ?face,? ?but? ?it? ?was? ?still? ?

smeared? ?with? ?red,? ?his? ?attempt? ?useless.? ? ?

?

“Wha...”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?agape.? ? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?closed? ?the? ?umbrella? ?and? ?laughed,? ?“How’s? ?that? ?for? ?show?”? ? ?

?

In? ?four? ?short? ?words,? ?he’d? ?already? ?taken? ?a? ?number? ?of? ?leisurely? ?steps,? ?and? ?quite? ?the? ?

distance? ?away.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?fumbling? ?all? ?over? ?his? ?sleeves? ?looking? ?for? ?some? ?rags,? ?but? ?

instead? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?plucked? ?some? ?white? ?strands? ?from? ?his? ?whisk? ?and? ?handed? ?them? ?to? ?

the? ?deeply? ?muted? ?Feng? ?Xin.? ?The? ?moment? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?left,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?immediately? ?sensed? ?

the? ?void? ?behind? ?him? ?and? ?turned? ?around? ?in? ?a? ?rush,? ?running? ?a? ?few? ?steps? ?after? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?

“San? ?Lang,? ?are? ?you? ?going? ?back? ?to? ?the? ?Ghost? ?City?”? ? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?turned? ?his? ?head,? ?“Aren’t? ?you? ?also? ?going? ?back? ?to? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Court?”? ?He? ?

then? ?added? ?half-jokingly,? ?“But? ?if? ?you? ?want? ?to? ?follow? ?me? ?back? ?to? ?the? ?Ghost? ?City,? ?you’re? ?

very? ?welcome? ?to.”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?chuckled,? ?“Next? ?time.”? ?He? ?said? ?sincerely,? ?“Next? ?time? ?if? ?there’s? ?a? ?chance,? ?I’ll? ?

definitely? ?visit? ?the? ?Ghost? ?City? ?again.? ?I’ll? ?help? ?you? ?lay? ?bricks? ?when? ?you? ?rebuild? ?Paradise? ?

Manor.”? ?

?

“No? ?need? ?to? ?lay? ?bricks.? ?You? ?can? ?just? ?sit? ?back? ?and? ?watch.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?replied.? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian’s? ?smile? ?died? ?a? ?little,? ?“The? ?thing? ?with? ?Qianqiu,? ?no? ?matter? ?how? ?it? ?went? ?down,? ?I? ?

should? ?still? ?thank? ?you.”? ?He? ?paused? ?and? ?continued,? ?“I? ?don’t? ?know? ?what? ?the? ?right? ?thing? ?is? ?to? ?

do? ?either,? ?so? ?maybe? ?this? ?wasn’t? ?a? ?bad? ?thing.”? ?

?

“You? ?think? ?too? ?much.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said? ?lightly.? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?slightly? ?taken? ?aback? ?and? ?inclined? ?his? ?head.? ? ?

?

“Just? ?keep? ?doing? ?what? ?you? ?want? ?to? ?do.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said.? ?After? ?that,? ?he? ?turned? ?around? ?

and? ?waved? ?his? ?hand.? ?

?

Soon? ?after,? ?that? ?crimson? ?silhouette? ?gradually,? ?from? ?within? ?the? ?mountains? ?and? ?under? ?the? ?

moonlight,? ?disappeared? ?completely? ?from? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?sight.? ? ?

?

?

————–? ?

?

Ch.56:? ?In? ?Search? ?of? ?the? ?Past;? ?Retracing? ?Steps? ?to? ?Mount? ?Taicang? ? ?

?

Without? ?knowing? ?why,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?suddenly? ?filled? ?with? ?courage? ?again.? ?

?

After? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?had? ?left,? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?steps? ?had? ?been? ?hesitant,? ?his? ?shoulders? ?slumped.? ?

But? ?this? ?courage? ?came? ?from? ?nowhere,? ?and? ?who? ?knows? ?where? ?it? ?would? ?be? ?directed? ?to,? ?

only? ?that? ?it’d? ?made? ?him? ?stand? ?tall? ?once? ?more.? ?He? ?stood? ?unmoving,? ?and? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?

approached,? ?giving? ?him? ?a? ?small? ?pat? ?on? ?the? ?back,? ?“What? ?a? ?guy.? ?Your? ?Highness,? ?I? ?don’t? ?

know? ?how? ?you? ?managed? ?to? ?befriend? ?him,? ?but? ?you’re? ?very? ?lucky.”? ?

?

This? ?was? ?the? ?first? ?time? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?heard? ?someone? ?tell? ?him? ?he? ?was? ?lucky.? ?He? ?glanced? ?at? ?

Shi? ?Qing? ?Quan? ?and? ?smiled,? ?“Really?? ?Maybe.? ?I? ?think? ?so? ?too.”? ?

?

Behind? ?them,? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?continue? ?to? ?wipe? ?his? ?face.? ?When? ?the? ?two? ?turned? ?their? ?heads? ?

around,? ?they? ?saw? ?his? ?face? ?covered? ?in? ?white? ?strands,? ?miserable? ?and? ?unkempt,? ?and? ?

laughed.? ?“Sorry? ?about? ?that.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?

?

That? ?counted? ?as? ?an? ?apology? ?on? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?behalf.? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?finally? ?picked? ?off? ?all? ?the? ?

white? ?strands? ?from? ?his? ?face,? ?“I’m? ?not? ?as? ?skilled,? ?so? ?I? ?can’t? ?say? ?anything.”? ?

?

The? ?three? ?of? ?them? ?then? ?conducted? ?a? ?final? ?search? ?of? ?all? ?the? ?caves,? ?double? ?checking? ?to? ?

make? ?sure? ?there? ?were? ?indeed? ?no? ?more? ?humans? ?or? ?anything? ?else? ?left? ?behind,? ?before? ?

riding? ?a? ?draft? ?of? ?wind? ?back? ?to? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Court.? ?

?

Once? ?they? ?passed? ?the? ?gates,? ?they? ?saw? ?the? ?streets? ?were? ?filled? ?with? ?crowds? ?of? ?junior? ?

officials? ?from? ?the? ?Middle? ?Court,? ?moving? ?about,? ?checking? ?every? ?nook? ?and? ?cranny? ?of? ?every? ?

palace? ?as? ?if? ?they? ?were? ?about? ?to? ?face? ?a? ?grave? ?enemy.? ?When? ?they? ?finally? ?arrived? ?at? ?the? ?

Great? ?Martial? ?Hall,? ?the? ?audience? ?chamber? ?was? ?already? ?filled? ?with? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?of? ?the? ?

Upper? ?Court,? ?and? ?even? ?from? ?afar? ?they? ?could? ?hear? ?them? ?arguing.? ?The? ?first? ?thing? ?they? ?

heard? ?was:? ?“Hua? ?Cheng? ?dare? ?accuse? ?the? ?Upper? ?Court? ?Heavens? ?of? ?sending? ?a? ?spy,? ?how? ?

ludicrous!? ?Why? ?would? ?the? ?heavens? ?need? ?to? ?send? ?a? ?spy?? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?lightly? ?cleared? ?their? ?throats? ?when? ?they? ?heard.? ?Sending? ?a? ?spy? ?

was? ?most? ?likely? ?the? ?truth.? ?Nothing? ?had? ?been? ?settled? ?yet? ?and? ?the? ?officials? ?already? ?couldn’t? ?

wait? ?to? ?start? ?blathering.? ?If? ?the? ?deed? ?was? ?true,? ?then? ?wouldn’t? ?it? ?be? ?a? ?slap? ?in? ?their? ?own? ?

faces?? ? ?

?

The? ?three? ?entered? ?the? ?hall? ?with? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?in? ?the? ?lead.? ?When? ?the? ?crowd? ?saw? ?him? ?they? ?

greeted,? ?“The? ?Lord? ?Wind? ?Master? ?has? ?returned!”? ?“Thanks? ?for? ?your? ?hard? ?work!”? ?but? ?all? ?eyes? ?

were? ?on? ?Xie? ?Lian.? ?They? ?were? ?about? ?to? ?press? ?for? ?more? ?but? ?saw? ?emerging? ?from? ?behind? ?a? ?

Feng? ?Xin? ?that? ?looked? ?like? ?he? ?crawled? ?out? ?of? ?a? ?bloody? ?pond,? ?his? ?face? ?dark.? ?Everyone? ?was? ?

frozen? ?to? ?their? ?spot? ?and? ?immediately? ?turned? ?their? ?eyes? ?away.? ?After? ?all,? ?no? ?one? ?wanted? ?to? ?

be? ?cussed? ?at? ?loudly? ?in? ?the? ?great? ?hall.? ?Only? ?Mu? ?Qing,? ?who? ?not? ?only? ?didn’t? ?care? ?to? ?avoid? ?

him,? ?he? ?even? ?purposely? ?stared,? ?his? ?intent? ?more? ?than? ?obvious.? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?raised? ?his? ?gaze? ?and? ?saw? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?was? ?seated? ?above? ?in? ?his? ?throne,? ?a? ?hand? ?

supporting? ?his? ?head,? ?fingers? ?pressed? ?against? ?his? ?temple,? ?his? ?eyes? ?closed,? ?looking? ?

exhausted.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?understand? ?exactly? ?how? ?he? ?felt.? ?

?

In? ?the? ?past,? ?there? ?might? ?not? ?even? ?be? ?conferences? ?and? ?meetings? ?of? ?this? ?sort? ?for? ?months,? ?

but? ?with? ?all? ?the? ?incidents? ?that? ?had? ?happened? ?recently,? ?the? ?Great? ?Martial? ?Hall? ?was? ?filled? ?to? ?

the? ?brim? ?time? ?and? ?time? ?again,? ?as? ?if? ?there’s? ?a? ?situation? ?everyday? ?and? ?everyone? ?was? ?

hoping? ?they’d? ?meet? ?even? ?twice? ?a? ?day.? ?Besides,? ?there? ?were? ?many? ?that? ?wanted? ?to? ?have? ?

their? ?voices? ?heard,? ?yet? ?they’re? ?nothing? ?but? ?noise.? ?One? ?of? ?the? ?officials? ?exclaimed,? ?“He? ?

came? ?and? ?went? ?as? ?he? ?will.? ?Scary? ?to? ?think? ?he? ?was? ?able? ?to? ?connect? ?the? ?Palace? ?of? ?Xianle? ?to? ?

somewhere? ?else.? ?Now? ?that? ?he? ?can? ?easily? ?kidnap? ?His? ?Highness? ?who? ?offended? ?him,? ?who? ?

knows? ?if? ?he’ll? ?just? ?kidnap? ?any? ?other? ?heavenly? ?officials.? ?We? ?can’t? ?possibly? ?let? ?this? ?go!? ?We? ?

need? ?to? ?stop? ?him? ?right? ?now!”? ?

?

If? ?this? ?was? ?the? ?mortal? ?realm,? ?this? ?would? ?be? ?akin? ?to? ?a? ?rebel? ?digging? ?a? ?tunnel? ?beneath? ?the? ?

royal? ?palace? ?and? ?sneaking? ?about? ?freely.? ?Of? ?course? ?people? ?were? ?restless.? ?No? ?wonder? ?the? ?

Middle? ?Court? ?officials? ?were? ?busy? ?searching? ?and? ?safeguarding? ?the? ?grounds.? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?on? ?

the? ?other? ?hand,? ?had? ?something? ?else? ?in? ?mind,? ?“Hua? ?Cheng? ?has? ?so? ?many? ?devotees? ?and? ?

lords? ?over? ?the? ?Ghost? ?City.? ?Something? ?miniscule? ?like? ?burning? ?the? ?Paradise? ?Manor? ?is? ?

nothing? ?to? ?him.? ?He? ?might? ?not? ?have? ?broken? ?into? ?the? ?heavens? ?just? ?because? ?His? ?Highness? ?

offended? ?him.”? ?

?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?immediately? ?countered,? ?“General? ?Xuan? ?Zhen,? ?you’re? ?mistaken.? ?Everyone? ?

heard? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?admit? ?it? ?himself.? ?Speaking? ?of,? ?which? ?general? ?is? ?responsible? ?for? ?security? ?

this? ?month?? ?That? ?the? ?Palace? ?of? ?Xianle? ?was? ?casted? ?a? ?spell? ?to? ?be? ?connected? ?elsewhere? ?

without? ?even? ?noticing,? ?isn’t? ?that? ?a? ?neglect? ?of? ?duty?”? ? ?

?

Pei? ?Ming? ?had? ?been? ?standing? ?quietly? ?on? ?the? ?side,? ?his? ?arms? ?crossed.? ?When? ?he? ?heard? ?Shi? ?

Qingxuan? ?he? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“Me.”? ?

?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?had? ?accidentally? ?remembered? ?wrong? ?and? ?thought? ?it? ?was? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?on? ?duty,? ?

but? ?ended? ?up? ?calling? ?out? ?Pei? ?Ming,? ?and? ?now? ?things? ?got? ?somewhat? ?awkward.? ?However,? ?

Pei? ?Ming? ?didn’t? ?push? ?off? ?the? ?blame,? ?“I’m? ?on? ?duty? ?this? ?month.? ?This? ?is? ?my? ?oversight.”? ?

?

Just? ?then,? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?who? ?was? ?positioned? ?next? ?to? ?the? ?throne? ?suddenly? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“We’ve? ?

news? ?of? ?His? ?Highness? ?Tai? ?Hua.”? ?

?

Jun? ?Wu? ?finally? ?opened? ?his? ?eyes,? ?“What? ?did? ?he? ?say?”? ?

?

Ling? ?Wen? ?was? ?quiet? ?for? ?a? ?moment,? ?then? ?she? ?replied,? ?“He? ?said? ?the? ?Gilded? ?Banquet? ?

Massacre? ?had? ?an? ?inside? ?story.? ?He? ?will? ?solve? ?the? ?conflict? ?with? ?His? ?Highness? ?himself,? ?that? ?

there’s? ?no? ?need? ?for? ?anyone? ?else? ?to? ?interfere.? ?Also? ?that? ?His? ?Highness’? ?request? ?for? ?

banishment? ?must? ?not? ?go? ?through.? ?Those? ?are? ?the? ?two? ?things.”? ?

?

“What? ?inside? ?story?”? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?frowned.? ?

?

“He? ?didn’t? ?say? ?any? ?more.? ?That’s? ?all.”? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?replied.? ?

?

To? ?see? ?a? ?battle? ?erupt,? ?a? ?hammer? ?smashing? ?down? ?heavily,? ?but? ?landed? ?lightly? ?like? ?feather,? ?

the? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?feel? ?rather? ?disappointed.? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?was? ?the? ?

victim,? ?and? ?the? ?victim? ?was? ?no? ?longer? ?accusing? ?the? ?culprit,? ?so? ?what? ?fun? ?was? ?there? ?to? ?

watch?? ?Besides,? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?wasn’t? ?telling,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?look? ?like? ?he? ?was? ?going? ?

to? ?say? ?anything? ?either,? ?so? ?there? ?was? ?nothing? ?more? ?to? ?chew? ?on? ?in? ?this? ?matter.? ?

?

Following? ?Ling? ?Wen’s? ?report,? ?Jun? ?Wun? ?appointed? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?to? ?aid? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?

in? ?strengthening? ?security? ?and? ?settled? ?a? ?few? ?other? ?matters? ?before? ?waving? ?his? ?hand? ?and? ?

dismissed? ?everyone.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?stayed? ?behind,? ?and? ?he? ?could? ?hear? ?the? ?faint? ?conversations? ?

passing? ?by,? ?“I? ?knew? ?it.? ?Whenever? ?he? ?stirs? ?up? ?anything,? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?would? ?say? ?he’d? ?

interrogate? ?him? ?but? ?in? ?the? ?end? ?nothing? ?would? ?come? ?of? ?it...”? ?

?

“We’ve? ?been? ?blind;? ?he’s? ?actually? ?someone? ?significant.? ?Gotta? ?watch? ?what? ?we? ?say? ?from? ?

now? ?on.”? ?

?

—? ?

?

After? ?everyone? ?had? ?left,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?approached? ?the? ?throne? ?and? ?bowed,? ?“I’ve? ?caused? ?My? ?

Lord? ?problems.”? ?

?

“This? ?doesn’t? ?count? ?as? ?any? ?problems.? ?The? ?real? ?problem? ?was? ?you? ?stubbornly? ?proclaiming? ?

yourself? ?the? ?only? ?responsible? ?one? ?of? ?the? ?Gilded? ?Banquet? ?Massacre.”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?hesitant,? ?but? ?in? ?the? ?end? ?still? ?gave? ?an? ?account? ?of? ?the? ?whole? ?story.? ?

?

After? ?listening? ?to? ?the? ?story,? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?commented,? ?“Xian? ?Le,? ?in? ?this? ?matter,? ?you? ?really? ?

worked? ?hard? ?for? ?nothing,? ?and? ?pleased? ?no? ?one.”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?lowered? ?his? ?head,? ?“I? ?know.”? ?

?

“Nevermind.? ?You’re? ?always? ?like? ?this.”? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?said.? ?“Tai? ?Hua? ?has? ?now? ?changed? ?focus? ?to? ?

pursue? ?the? ?Green? ?Ghost.? ?Once? ?he’s? ?done? ?so? ?he? ?will? ?certainly? ?come? ?back? ?for? ?you.? ?Have? ?

you? ?thought? ?out? ?how? ?you’ll? ?face? ?him?”? ? ?

?

“Not? ?yet.? ?But? ?let’s? ?think? ?about? ?something? ?else? ?that’s? ?more? ?immediate.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied.? ?

?

Jun? ?Wu? ?chuckled,? ?“Like? ?what?? ?Is? ?there? ?anything? ?interesting? ?that? ?can? ?amuse? ?me?”? ? ?

?

“Was? ?it? ?you? ?who? ?sent? ?the? ?Earth? ?Master? ?to? ?the? ?Ghost? ?City? ?as? ?a? ?spy?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.? ?

?

“Yes.”? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?answered? ?leisurely.? ?

?

“Why?”? ?

?

Jun? ?Wu? ?answered? ?slowly,? ?“Because,? ?it? ?was? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?who? ?planted? ?a? ?spy? ?in? ?the? ?

heavens? ?first.”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?taken? ?aback.? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?stood,? ?“These? ?past? ?years,? ?news? ?reached? ?Hua? ?

Cheng’s? ?ears? ?too? ?fast.? ?Some? ?things? ?he? ?shouldn’t? ?have? ?known,? ?he? ?knew? ?too? ?well.? ?As? ?for? ?

what? ?can? ?be? ?done? ?and? ?what? ?can’t? ?be? ?done,? ?where? ?the? ?bottom? ?line? ?is? ?and? ?how? ?to? ?cross? ?

said? ?line,? ?he? ?is? ?overly? ?perceptive? ?and? ?precise.? ?That? ?he? ?could? ?connect? ?directly? ?to? ?your? ?

Palace? ?of? ?Xianle? ?only? ?proves? ?he? ?indeed? ?has? ?a? ?spy? ?here? ?in? ?the? ?heavens,? ?otherwise? ?it? ?

couldn’t? ?have? ?been? ?done.”? ?

?

To? ?be? ?honest,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?noticed? ?this? ?too.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?really? ?knew? ?way? ?too? ?much,? ?and? ?

so? ?to? ?have? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?say? ?it? ?out? ?loud,? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?hard? ?to? ?believe.? ?

?

“Does? ?My? ?Lord? ?have? ?any? ?evidence?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?inquired.? ?

?

Jun? ?Wu? ?shook? ?his? ?head? ?slowly,? ?“It’s? ?because? ?there’s? ?no? ?proof? ?but? ?things? ?were? ?suspicious? ?

that? ?I? ?sent? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?to? ?the? ?ghost? ?realm.? ?Who? ?knew? ?that? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?would? ?fall? ?into? ?his? ?hands? ?

before? ?the? ?ghost? ?agent? ?was? ?even? ?found.? ?Although? ?you? ?saved? ?him? ?from? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?

grip,? ?now? ?it? ?will? ?be? ?even? ?more? ?difficult? ?to? ?find? ?that? ?spy.”? ?

?

“Is? ?it? ?the? ?Upper? ?Court? ?or? ?the? ?Middle? ?Court? ?that’s? ?the? ?problem?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.? ?

?

“Hard? ?to? ?say.”? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?said.? ?“Besides? ?you,? ?it? ?could? ?be? ?anyone.? ?Perhaps,? ?there’s? ?only? ?one? ?

mole.? ?Perhaps,? ?more.”? ? ?

?

No? ?wonder? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?didn’t? ?appoint? ?anyone? ?else? ?to? ?investigate? ?Ming? ?Yi’s? ?disappearance.? ?If? ?

it? ?could? ?be? ?anyone? ?besides? ?him,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?think:? ?so? ?even? ?the? ?Wind? ?

Master,? ?Qianqiu,? ?Feng? ?Xin,? ?and? ?everyone? ?could? ?be? ?a? ?possible? ?agent?? ? ?

?

Just? ?then,? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?spoke,? ?“Xian? ?Le,? ?I? ?know? ?you? ?think? ?highly? ?of? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?right? ?now.? ?You? ?

understand? ?your? ?own? ?position,? ?and? ?others? ?shouldn’t? ?comment? ?on? ?the? ?friends? ?you? ?make.? ?

However,? ?when? ?necessary,? ?be? ?wary? ?of? ?Hua? ?Cheng.? ?Don’t? ?give? ?anything? ?away.”? ? ?

?

Hearing? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?schooled? ?his? ?thoughts.? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?continued,? ?“To? ?become? ?a? ?

‘Supreme’,? ?one? ?must? ?have? ?experienced? ?an? ?unimaginable? ?suffering? ?and? ?pain.? ?One? ?either? ?

ascends? ?from? ?such? ?calamities? ?or? ?are? ?doomed? ?to? ?the? ?depths? ?of? ?hell,? ?never? ?to? ?return.? ?The? ?

two? ?Supreme? ?Ghost? ?Kings? ?that? ?emerged? ?from? ?Mount? ?Tong’lu,? ?Black? ?Water? ?and? ?Hua? ?

Cheng,? ?are? ?both? ?far? ?more? ?terrifying? ?than? ?you? ?think.”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?lowered? ?his? ?head,? ?neither? ?agreeing? ?nor? ?disagreeing.? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?said,? ?“I? ?don’t? ?know? ?

what? ?his? ?objectives? ?or? ?directives? ?are,? ?but? ?he? ?knows? ?the? ?heavens.? ?That? ?in? ?itself? ?is? ?

disadvantageous.”? ? ?

?

When? ?he? ?heard? ?the? ?word? ?“disadvantageous”,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?raised? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?blurted,? ?“San? ?

Lang? ?he...”? ?Seeing? ?that? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?to? ?him,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?paused? ?then? ?corrected? ?

himself,? ?“Hua? ?Cheng? ?shouldn’t? ?do? ?anything? ?overly? ?malicious.? ?If? ?My? ?Lord? ?thinks? ?about? ?it,? ?

with? ?his? ?strength,? ?should? ?he? ?want? ?to? ?cause? ?havoc? ?and? ?raise? ?hell? ?he? ?would’ve? ?done? ?so? ?

already.? ?If? ?he? ?didn’t? ?before,? ?then? ?without? ?real? ?reason,? ?he? ?wouldn’t? ?in? ?the? ?future.”? ?

?

“I? ?should? ?hope? ?so.”? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?said,? ?“But? ?you? ?know? ?I? ?cannot? ?be? ?too? ?careful.”? ?

?

After? ?leaving? ?the? ?Great? ?Martial? ?Hall,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?paced? ?slowly? ?down? ?the? ?streets? ?of? ?the? ?

Heavenly? ?Court.? ?

?

When? ?he? ?passed? ?by? ?the? ?Palace? ?of? ?Xianle,? ?he? ?stopped? ?in? ?his? ?step,? ?and? ?looked? ?it? ?over.? ?

?

This? ?was? ?the? ?palace? ?gifted? ?him? ?by? ?Jun? ?Wu;? ?glamourous,? ?new,? ?but? ?at? ?the? ?same? ?time,? ?

foreign.? ?The? ?large? ?crimson? ?red? ?doors? ?were? ?shiny? ?and? ?bright,? ?but? ?it? ?was? ?already? ?full? ?of? ?

nailed-on? ?talisman? ?and? ?charms,? ?forming? ?a? ?giant? ?‘X’,? ?alarming? ?anyone? ?who? ?should? ?see? ?it.? ?

?

When? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?exited? ?the? ?Great? ?Martial? ?Hall,? ?he? ?had? ?told? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?that? ?his? ?palace? ?

was? ?currently? ?sealed? ?shut? ?since? ?it’s? ?connected? ?to? ?elsewhere,? ?so? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?welcome? ?

to? ?rest? ?in? ?his? ?palace? ?instead.? ?However,? ?after? ?staring? ?at? ?this? ?Palace? ?of? ?Xianle? ?for? ?a? ?while,? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?suddenly? ?turned? ?around.? ?He? ?didn’t? ?go? ?to? ?the? ?Palace? ?of? ?the? ?Wind? ?Master? ?either.? ?

He? ?stopped? ?caring? ?for? ?what? ?he? ?was? ?originally? ?going? ?to? ?do? ?and? ?instead? ?headed? ?straight? ?to? ?

the? ?Ascension? ?Gates,? ?and? ?jumped.? ?

?

Passing? ?through? ?the? ?sea? ?of? ?clouds,? ?the? ?point? ?of? ?his? ?landing? ?was? ?Mount? ?Taicang.? ?

?

Upon? ?the? ?summit? ?of? ?this? ?Mount? ?Taicang? ?used? ?to? ?sit? ?the? ?cultivation? ?centre? ?of? ?the? ?ancient? ?

Kingdom? ?of? ?Xianle? ?–? ?the? ?Royal? ?Holy? ?Pavilion.? ?

?

The? ?Royal? ?Holy? ?Pavilion? ?was? ?an? ?impressively? ?expansive? ?cultivation? ?centre;? ?its? ?training? ?

grounds? ?and? ?temples? ?covered? ?the? ?entirety? ?of? ?Mount? ?Taicang,? ?worshipping? ?innumerous? ?

gods? ?and? ?immortals? ?alike,? ?scintillating? ?and? ?glorious.? ?The? ?main? ?god? ?worshipped? ?was? ?The? ?

Martial? ?Heavenly? ?Emperor,? ?and? ?its? ?golden? ?temple? ?on? ?the? ?highest? ?peak? ?of? ?the? ?mountain.? ?

The? ?Crowned? ?Prince? ?Temple? ?that? ?once? ?stood? ?on? ?the? ?second? ?highest? ?peak? ?also? ?used? ?to? ?

be? ?magnificent? ?and? ?grand.? ?

?

Eight? ?hundred? ?years? ?ago,? ?the? ?flaming? ?red? ?maples? ?that? ?covered? ?Mount? ?Taicang? ?was? ?

infamous;? ?and? ?within? ?the? ?crimson? ?maples? ?were? ?endless? ?crowds? ?of? ?devotees.? ?However,? ?

when? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?Xianle? ?fell,? ?the? ?crowds? ?of? ?devotees? ?became? ?crowds? ?of? ?angry? ?

mobs,? ?scaling? ?the? ?mountain? ?to? ?set? ?ablaze? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?Temple? ?but? ?ended? ?up? ?setting? ?

fire? ?to? ?the? ?entire? ?Mount? ?Taicang,? ?burning? ?it? ?down? ?to? ?nothing? ?but? ?blackened? ?earth? ?and? ?

ashes.? ?

?

The? ?burnt? ?earth,? ?akin? ?to? ?ground? ?buried? ?with? ?the? ?dead,? ?seemed? ?to? ?become? ?even? ?more? ?

fertile.? ?Afterwards,? ?new? ?seeds? ?were? ?planted? ?upon? ?this? ?burnt? ?earth? ?and? ?new? ?trees? ?

emerged.? ?A? ?few? ?hundred? ?years? ?later,? ?the? ?mountain? ?was? ?fresh? ?and? ?covered? ?once? ?more,? ?

but? ?the? ?red? ?leaves? ?were? ?no? ?longer,? ?and? ?the? ?scenery? ?very? ?different? ?than? ?eight? ?hundred? ?

years? ?ago.? ? ?

?

When? ?hiking? ?the? ?mountain? ?in? ?the? ?past,? ?there? ?used? ?to? ?be? ?a? ?wide,? ?paved? ?green? ?path.? ?On? ?

the? ?path? ?one? ?could? ?often? ?see? ?a? ?pilgrim? ?or? ?a? ?young? ?trainee? ?hauling? ?firewood? ?or? ?water.? ?

Now,? ?this? ?path? ?was? ?long? ?gone.? ?Rocks? ?and? ?debris,? ?withered? ?branches? ?and? ?sticks? ?had? ?

covered? ?its? ?tracks,? ?burying? ?it? ?deep? ?underground.? ?As? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?climbed,? ?he? ?used? ?only? ?the? ?

strength? ?of? ?his? ?legs,? ?and? ?when? ?he? ?ran? ?into? ?thorns? ?or? ?bushes,? ?he’d? ?take? ?Fang? ?Xin? ?and? ?cut? ?

them? ?down.? ? ?

?

When? ?he? ?reached? ?halfway? ?up? ?the? ?mountain,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?fatigued? ?and? ?leaned? ?against? ?a? ?

dead? ?tree,? ?ready? ?to? ?rest.? ?Suddenly,? ?the? ?black? ?shadow? ?of? ?an? ?object? ?came? ?crashing? ?down? ?

from? ?above? ?the? ?branches,? ?making? ?weird? ?crackling? ?sounds? ?as? ?it? ?came? ?rushing? ?towards? ?

him.? ?

?

——————? ?

?

Ch.57:? ?In? ?Search? ?of? ?the? ?Past;? ?Retracing? ?Steps? ?to? ?Mount? ?Taicang? ?2? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?shifted? ?his? ?body? ?and? ?evaded? ?the? ?object.? ?At? ?first? ?he? ?thought? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?broken? ?

branch? ?or? ?a? ?nest,? ?but? ?when? ?he? ?looked? ?closer,? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?plank? ?so? ?rotten? ?and? ?rusty? ?its? ?

original? ?shape? ?was? ?indiscernible,? ?and? ?it? ?had? ?two? ?steel? ?chains? ?connected? ?on? ?either? ?side.? ?If? ?

it? ?was? ?anyone? ?else? ?they? ?might? ?not? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?tell? ?what? ?it? ?was,? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?knew? ?

immediately? ?that? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?swing.? ?

?

In? ?the? ?past,? ?Mount? ?Taicang? ?had? ?swings? ?installed? ?everywhere,? ?both? ?for? ?fun? ?and? ?for? ?

training.? ?Back? ?when? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?only? ?just? ?started? ?to? ?retain? ?memory,? ?there? ?was? ?once? ?when? ?

he? ?accompanied? ?his? ?parents? ?to? ?visit? ?the? ?Royal? ?Holy? ?Pavilion? ?to? ?pray? ?for? ?blessings? ?and? ?

saw? ?a? ?group? ?of? ?young? ?trainees? ?sparring,? ?flipping? ?and? ?flopping? ?all? ?over? ?the? ?swings.? ?It? ?was? ?

an? ?exciting? ?performance;? ?the? ?king? ?and? ?queen? ?enjoyed? ?it,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?clapped? ?and? ?

shouted? ?his? ?appreciation.? ?The? ?king? ?and? ?queen? ?were? ?so? ?pleased? ?they? ?heavily? ?rewarded? ?

the? ?young? ?trainees,? ?and? ?ever? ?since? ?then? ?the? ?impression? ?that? ?cultivation? ?was? ?something? ?

awesome? ?and? ?fun? ?was? ?left? ?deep? ?in? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?heart.? ?However,? ?as? ?for? ?him? ?formally? ?

entering? ?the? ?sect? ?for? ?cultivation? ?in? ?his? ?later? ?years,? ?the? ?reason? ?was? ?no? ?longer? ?because? ?it? ?

seemed? ?fun.? ?

?

After? ?some? ?rest,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?continued? ?hiking.? ?The? ?higher? ?he? ?climbed,? ?the? ?thicker? ?the? ?

bushes? ?became,? ?and? ?every? ?so? ?often? ?a? ?critter? ?would? ?flash? ?by,? ?leaving? ?behind? ?a? ?shadow? ?of? ?

a? ?bushy? ?tail.? ?There? ?were? ?also? ?a? ?number? ?of? ?squirrels? ?huddling? ?on? ?the? ?trees,? ?munching? ?on? ?

pinecones,? ?peeking? ?at? ?this? ?uninvited? ?guest.? ?

?

Thorns? ?blocked? ?his? ?path,? ?ripping? ?at? ?his? ?clothes? ?and? ?limbs,? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?notice? ?at? ?all.? ?

Finally,? ?he? ?reached? ?the? ?peak? ?of? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?Summit.? ?

?

Of? ?course,? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?Summit? ?wasn’t? ?originally? ?called? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?Summit,? ?

but? ?changed? ?to? ?this? ?name? ?after? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?Temple? ?was? ?constructed.? ?Amidst? ?the? ?

bushes? ?and? ?weeds,? ?there? ?were? ?still? ?remnants? ?of? ?pebble? ?paved? ?grounds? ?here? ?and? ?there,? ?

traces? ?of? ?a? ?large,? ?burnt? ?foundation? ?hidden.? ?That? ?was? ?once? ?the? ?foundation? ?of? ?the? ?temple.? ?

Going? ?across? ?it,? ?through? ?the? ?rubble? ?and? ?ruins,? ?through? ?glass? ?debris,? ?was? ?a? ?fractured? ?old? ?

well.? ?

?

Looking? ?from? ?above? ?into? ?its? ?bottom,? ?it? ?was? ?easy? ?to? ?tell? ?the? ?old? ?well? ?had? ?long? ?dried? ?up;? ?the? ?

distance? ?to? ?the? ?bottom? ?but? ?only? ?a? ?few? ?feet,? ?only? ?mud? ?visible? ?on? ?the? ?ground.? ?Without? ?

hesitation,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?crossed? ?his? ?legs? ?over,? ?and? ?jumped? ?in.? ? ?

?

He? ?didn’t? ?tumble? ?onto? ?the? ?muddy? ?ground,? ?but? ?instead? ?traversed? ?through? ?that? ?illusion,? ?and? ?

descended? ?for? ?a? ?number? ?of? ?meters? ?before? ?his? ?feet? ?touched? ?solid? ?ground.? ? ?

?

The? ?surroundings? ?were? ?so? ?dark? ?if? ?he? ?were? ?to? ?raise? ?his? ?arms? ?he? ?wouldn’t? ?see? ?his? ?hands.? ?

He? ?raised? ?his? ?head? ?to? ?look? ?up,? ?and? ?there? ?was? ?no? ?sunlight? ?either,? ?as? ?if? ?a? ?heavy? ?piece? ?of? ?

fabric? ?had? ?blocked? ?it? ?out.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?around? ?the? ?bottom? ?of? ?the? ?well,? ?feeling? ?up? ?several? ?

bricks,? ?and? ?pressed? ?them? ?down? ?in? ?a? ?certain? ?order.? ?With? ?a? ?rumbling? ?noise,? ?a? ?short,? ?small? ?

door? ?opened? ?on? ?the? ?side.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?dropped? ?down? ?on? ?all? ?fours? ?and? ?slowly? ?crawled? ?

through? ?the? ?path? ?opened? ?by? ?the? ?small? ?door.? ?The? ?moment? ?he? ?entered? ?he? ?could? ?hear? ?

another? ?rumbling? ?noise? ?behind,? ?shutting? ?the? ?opening.? ?After? ?half? ?an? ?incense? ?time,? ?he? ?

finally? ?crawled? ?to? ?the? ?end? ?of? ?the? ?tunnel.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?stood? ?and? ?straightened? ?his? ?back,? ?

snapped? ?his? ?fingers? ?and? ?held? ?up? ?a? ?small? ?flicker? ?of? ?flames.? ?

?

After? ?that? ?small? ?ball? ?of? ?flames? ?was? ?ignited,? ?as? ?if? ?in? ?response,? ?not? ?far? ?in? ?the? ?distance? ?

another? ?faint? ?light? ?appeared? ?like? ?a? ?pearl,? ?waking? ?up? ?from? ?its? ?deep? ?slumber,? ?blinking? ?open? ?

its? ?bright? ?eyes.? ?

?

Soon? ?after,? ?more? ?and? ?more? ?pearls? ?lit? ?up,? ?spreading? ?throughout? ?and? ?illuminating? ?the? ?

surroundings? ?that? ?appeared? ?clearer? ?and? ?clearer? ?to? ?be? ?the? ?Great? ?Hall? ?of? ?an? ?underground? ?

palace.? ?Above? ?the? ?Great? ?Hall.? ?thousands? ?of? ?sparkling? ?stars? ?were? ?embedded.? ?

?

It? ?must? ?be? ?hard? ?to? ?imagine? ?that? ?the? ?Imperial? ?Mausoleum? ?of? ?the? ?ancient? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?

Xianle? ?was? ?hidden? ?beneath? ?the? ?scorched? ?earth? ?of? ?Mount? ?Taicang.? ?Those? ?brilliant? ?stars? ?

were? ?night? ?pearls*? ?and? ?diamonds? ?implanted? ?on? ?the? ?ceiling;? ?the? ?night? ?pearls? ?brighten? ?with? ?

light,? ?and? ?diamonds? ?reflect? ?radiance.? ?When? ?they? ?cross? ?paths,? ?the? ?result? ?was? ?a? ?brilliance? ?

bedazzling? ?like? ?a? ?dream.? ?It? ?was? ?like? ?a? ?miniscule? ?milky? ?way? ?hidden? ?below? ?ground.? ?

?

Each? ?of? ?the? ?night? ?pearls? ?and? ?diamonds? ?were? ?priceless;? ?every? ?single? ?one? ?was? ?worth? ?an? ?

entire? ?lifetime? ?of? ?endless? ?riches.? ?However,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?spare? ?them? ?any? ?looks,? ?and? ?

walked? ?directly? ?through? ?the? ?Great? ?Hall,? ?entering? ?the? ?crypt? ?at? ?the? ?very? ?back.? ?

?

In? ?comparison? ?to? ?the? ?Great? ?Hall,? ?this? ?tomb? ?was? ?exceedingly? ?simple,? ?only? ?because? ?the? ?

chamber? ?wasn’t? ?fully? ?completed,? ?so? ?there? ?was? ?no? ?glamourous? ?decor,? ?only? ?two? ?coffins.? ?

Between? ?the? ?coffins? ?stood? ?a? ?person,? ?dressed? ?in? ?exquisite? ?clothing,? ?a? ?golden? ?mask? ?on? ?its? ?

face,? ?and? ?a? ?sword? ?extended,? ?sharp? ?and? ?dazzling,? ?pointed? ?at? ?him.? ?

?

However,? ?this? ?person? ?only? ?maintained? ?that? ?position? ?and? ?didn’t? ?make? ?any? ?movement.? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?approached,? ?minding? ?his? ?own? ?business,? ?without? ?a? ?single? ?care? ?for? ?that? ?person.? ?

However,? ?that? ?was? ?because? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?knew,? ?behind? ?that? ?golden? ?mask? ?there? ?was? ?no? ?face,? ?

and? ?under? ?those? ?exquisite? ?clothes? ?there? ?was? ?no? ?person.? ?The? ?only? ?thing? ?standing? ?was? ?an? ?

empty? ?stack? ?held? ?together? ?by? ?bundles? ?of? ?dried? ?hay.? ? ?

?

For? ?so? ?long,? ?only? ?this? ?set? ?of? ?elegant? ?dress? ?and? ?this? ?mask? ?stood? ?by? ?the? ?sides? ?of? ?those? ?two? ?

solitary? ?coffins? ?in? ?his? ?stead.? ?On? ?top? ?of? ?each? ?coffin? ?was? ?a? ?small? ?golden? ?plate,? ?but? ?the? ?

things? ?in? ?those? ?plates? ?were? ?wildly? ?disparate:? ?fruits? ?of? ?some? ?sort? ?dried? ?and? ?shriveled? ?to? ?the? ?

core,? ?and? ?blackened,? ?rotten,? ?hard? ?blocks? ?of? ?who? ?knows? ?what.? ?After? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?entered? ?the? ?

chamber? ?he? ?cleaned? ?out? ?those? ?things? ?and? ?threw? ?them? ?out? ?by? ?the? ?corner? ?of? ?the? ?crypt.? ?He? ?

felt? ?around? ?his? ?sleeves? ?and? ?folds.? ?Originally? ?he? ?had? ?a? ?half-eaten? ?bun? ?on? ?him,? ?but? ?that? ?bun? ?

was? ?given? ?to? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?so? ?now? ?he? ?had? ?nothing.? ?Thus,? ?he? ?said,? ?“Father,? ?mother,? ?I? ?

deeply? ?apologize.? ?I’ve? ?forgotten? ?to? ?bring? ?something? ?for? ?this? ?visit.”? ?

?

Naturally,? ?no? ?one? ?answered? ?him.? ?Thus,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?slowly? ?sat? ?down,? ?and? ?leaned? ?against? ?

one? ?of? ?the? ?coffins.? ?

?

After? ?zoning? ?out? ?for? ?some? ?time,? ?he? ?finally? ?spoke? ?again,? ?“Mother,? ?I? ?saw? ?Qi? ?Rong.”? ?

?

“Qi? ?Rong? ?didn’t? ?die,? ?he? ?turned? ?into? ?a? ?ghost.? ?I? ?really? ?don’t? ?know? ?how? ?he? ?lived? ?these? ?past? ?

hundreds? ?of? ?years.”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?shook? ?his? ?head,? ?“He...? ?killed? ?a? ?lot? ?of? ?people,? ?and? ?now? ?there? ?are? ?people? ?trying? ?to? ?

kill? ?him.? ?The? ?heavens? ?probably? ?won’t? ?forgive? ?him? ?either.? ?Sigh,? ?I? ?really? ?don’t? ?know? ?what? ?to? ?

do? ?with? ?him.”? ?

?

He? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?say? ?more? ?when? ?suddenly,? ?from? ?some? ?place? ?extremely? ?close,? ?came? ?a? ?

string? ?of? ?soft? ?wailing.? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?froze,? ?his? ?face? ?changed? ?drastically.? ?

?

He? ?listened? ?closely;? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?his? ?hallucination.? ?It? ?really? ?was? ?the? ?sound? ?of? ?crying.? ?The? ?cry? ?

was? ?low,? ?soft,? ?and? ?would’ve? ?been? ?easily? ?missed? ?if? ?he? ?didn’t? ?pay? ?close? ?attention.? ?The? ?

sound? ?was? ?also? ?high? ?pitched;? ?if? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?a? ?child? ?then? ?it? ?must? ?be? ?a? ?woman.? ?

?

The? ?cries? ?were? ?nearby,? ?as? ?if? ?they? ?were? ?only? ?separated? ?by? ?a? ?thin? ?wall,? ?the? ?sound? ?clinging? ?

close? ?to? ?him.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?whipped? ?his? ?head? ?around,? ?and? ?at? ?last? ?confirmed? ?–? ?the? ?sound? ?

came? ?from? ?the? ?coffin? ?he? ?was? ?leaning? ?on!? ? ?

?

Amidst? ?his? ?shock,? ?the? ?first? ?words? ?that? ?came? ?blurting? ?out? ?were? ?unconsciously? ?joyous,? ?

“Mother,? ?is? ?that? ?you?!”? ? ?

?

However,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?snapped? ?out? ?of? ?it? ?immediately,? ?knowing? ?that? ?what? ?he? ?had? ?desperately? ?

hoped? ?for? ?would? ?never? ?come? ?true.? ?His? ?mother? ?had? ?passed? ?eight? ?hundred? ?years? ?ago,? ?

relieved? ?of? ?suffering,? ?and? ?had? ?never? ?devolved? ?to? ?a? ?grudging? ?ghost.? ?The? ?emotion? ?behind? ?

those? ?cries? ?was? ?also? ?not? ?of? ?despair,? ?but? ?terror.? ?

?

In? ?that? ?very? ?moment,? ?who? ?in? ?the? ?world? ?would? ?be? ?hiding? ?in? ?his? ?mother’s? ?coffin? ?and? ?cry?!? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?hold? ?back? ?for? ?another? ?second,? ?and? ?threw? ?open? ?the? ?cover? ?of? ?the? ?coffin? ?

with? ?his? ?left? ?hand,? ?his? ?right? ?on? ?Fang? ?Xin,? ?ready? ?to? ?strike.? ?But,? ?the? ?moment? ?he? ?saw? ?what? ?

was? ?inside,? ?the? ?striking? ?sword? ?stopped? ?in? ?its? ?path.? ?

?

Lying? ?in? ?the? ?coffin,? ?singularly,? ?was? ?the? ?form? ?of? ?a? ?person? ?covered? ?in? ?elegant,? ?black? ?attire,? ?

its? ?face? ?wrapped? ?with? ?a? ?face? ?cover.? ?

?

The? ?only? ?possible? ?person? ?who? ?it? ?could? ?be? ?should’ve? ?been? ?his? ?mother,? ?but? ?the? ?one? ?lying? ?in? ?

the? ?casket,? ?was? ?most? ?definitely? ?not? ?her.? ?The? ?form? ?was? ?small? ?and? ?short,? ?its? ?body? ?type? ?

completely? ?different,? ?and? ?the? ?most? ?significant? ?thing? ?was,? ?this? ?person? ?was? ?trembling? ?–? ?it’s? ?

a? ?real,? ?live? ?person!? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?ripped? ?off? ?the? ?face? ?cover.? ?Sure? ?enough,? ?beneath? ?the? ?fabric? ?was? ?the? ?face? ?of? ?a? ?

young? ?child!? ?

?

His? ?heart? ?froze? ?that? ?very? ?moment.? ?He? ?grabbed? ?the? ?child? ?and? ?lifted? ?him,? ?his? ?voice? ?shocked? ?

and? ?panicked,? ?“Where’s? ?my? ?mother?? ?WHERE’S? ?MY? ?MOTHER?!? ?WHAT? ?DID? ?YOU? ?DO? ?

TO? ?MY? ?MOTHER’S? ?BODY???”? ?

?

Although? ?that? ?elegant? ?black? ?dress? ?didn’t? ?look? ?anything? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?ordinary,? ?it? ?was? ?in? ?fact? ?

woven? ?by? ?the? ?silk? ?of? ?an? ?extremely? ?rare? ?worm.? ?The? ?silk? ?was? ?a? ?tribute? ?from? ?a? ?small? ?foreign? ?

nation,? ?and? ?weaving? ?it? ?to? ?clothing? ?took? ?intricate? ?craftsmanship.? ?Interwoven? ?with? ?fragrant? ?

herbal? ?satchels? ?and? ?sealed? ?into? ?the? ?coffin,? ?the? ?cadaver? ?would? ?remain? ?preserved? ?for? ?

thousands? ?of? ?years,? ?allowing? ?the? ?dead? ?to? ?look? ?as? ?if? ?it’s? ?still? ?among? ?the? ?living.? ?However,? ?at? ?

that? ?moment,? ?the? ?one? ?wearing? ?that? ?silk? ?black? ?dress? ?was? ?this? ?child,? ?so? ?where? ?did? ?the? ?body? ?

of? ?his? ?mother? ?go?? ?What? ?condition? ?would? ?it? ?be? ?now?? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?dare? ?to? ?think? ?deeply? ?on? ?it,? ?and? ?could? ?only? ?demand? ?answers? ?from? ?this? ?

unknown? ?child? ?in? ?his? ?hold,? ?“Where’s? ?my? ?mother?? ?Who? ?are? ?you?? ?Why? ?are? ?you? ?here?? ?

What? ?did? ?you? ?do? ?with? ?my? ?mother’s? ?body??”? ?

?

But? ?how? ?could? ?a? ?child? ?scared? ?to? ?tears? ?answer? ?any? ?of? ?his? ?questions?? ?He? ?was? ?too? ?scared? ?

to? ?even? ?speak.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?dragged? ?him? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?coffin,? ?and? ?realized? ?suddenly? ?that? ?some? ?

ashen? ?white? ?powder? ?had? ?been? ?shaken? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?black? ?dress? ?from? ?the? ?movement.? ? ?

?

Face? ?white? ?as? ?a? ?sheet,? ?he? ?looked? ?into? ?the? ?coffin? ?and? ?found? ?the? ?bottom? ?of? ?the? ?casket? ?was? ?

also? ?covered? ?with? ?a? ?thin? ?layer? ?of? ?powder.? ?The? ?world? ?spun? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?his? ?heart? ?stop.? ?

His? ?grip? ?loosened,? ?letting? ?the? ?child? ?go,? ?and? ?he? ?fell? ?to? ?his? ?knees? ?before? ?the? ?coffin,? ?

paralyzed.? ? ?

?

He? ?didn’t? ?dare? ?to? ?touch? ?that? ?powder? ?with? ?his? ?hands,? ?but? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?just? ?let? ?it? ?sit? ?and? ?sift? ?

either,? ?like? ?incense? ?ashes? ?flying? ?in? ?the? ?wind.? ?Although? ?in? ?denial,? ?he? ?knew? ?deep? ?within? ?

what? ?that? ?was.? ?

?

After? ?having? ?forcibly? ?removed? ?the? ?silk? ?funeral? ?garb,? ?what? ?else? ?could? ?a? ?sealed? ?cadaver? ?of? ?

eight? ?hundred? ?years? ?become?? ? ?

?

Instantly,? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?mind? ?fell? ?into? ?chaos,? ?unable? ?to? ?think;? ?he? ?held? ?his? ?head? ?with? ?his? ?hands? ?

and? ?there? ?was? ?ringing? ?in? ?his? ?ears.? ?Just? ?then,? ?his? ?back? ?tensed,? ?his? ?instincts? ?sensed? ?

danger? ?behind,? ?and? ?he? ?whipped? ?his? ?head? ?around,? ?his? ?hand? ?fast? ?like? ?lightning,? ?and? ?

grabbed,? ?bare-handedly,? ?the? ?blade? ?of? ?a? ?sword.? ?Someone? ?behind? ?his? ?back? ?had? ?tried? ?to? ?

stab? ?at? ?him,? ?and? ?this? ?person? ?was? ?that? ?stack? ?of? ?bundled? ?hay!? ?

?

Turns? ?out,? ?someone? ?had? ?long? ?since? ?snuck? ?in,? ?dressed? ?themselves? ?in? ?that? ?exquisite? ?attire,? ?

put? ?on? ?the? ?mask,? ?and? ?disguised? ?themselves? ?as? ?a? ?lifeless? ?wooden? ?stack,? ?waiting? ?for? ?him? ?

silently.? ?A? ?loud? ?clanging? ?sound? ?rang? ?in? ?the? ?air,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?broke? ?that? ?blade? ?into? ?two? ?

halves? ?with? ?his? ?bare? ?hands,? ?face? ?unchanging? ?with? ?the? ?blood? ?now? ?pooling? ?in? ?his? ?palms.? ?In? ?

a? ?flash,? ?he? ?raised? ?his? ?leg? ?and? ?kicked? ?that? ?person? ?in? ?the? ?abdomen,? ?stepping? ?them? ?firmly? ?

onto? ?the? ?ground.? ?With? ?their? ?chest? ?solidly? ?stepped? ?on,? ?that? ?person? ?grabbed? ?at? ?his? ?boot? ?

and? ?struggled? ?yet? ?unable? ?to? ?move? ?an? ?inch,? ?as? ?if? ?they? ?were? ?nailed? ?to? ?the? ?ground.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

bent? ?down? ?at? ?the? ?waist,? ?and? ?slapped? ?away? ?the? ?golden? ?mask? ?with? ?one? ?hand,? ?revealing? ?the? ?

face? ?of? ?a? ?young? ?man.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?yelled,? ?“Who? ?are? ?you??? ?Graverobber???? ?How? ?did? ?you? ?get? ?

in???”? ?

?

Just? ?then,? ?the? ?child? ?on? ?the? ?side? ?cried,? ?“Daddy!”? ? ?

?

This? ?cry? ?finally? ?made? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?remember.? ?This? ?man? ?and? ?child? ?had? ?looked? ?familiar? ?–? ?

weren’t? ?they? ?the? ?pair? ?he? ?saved? ?that? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?almost? ?cooked? ?and? ?ate? ?back? ?at? ?the? ?Green? ?

Ghost’s? ?lair?!? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?understood? ?the? ?situation? ?instantaneously,? ?and? ?swung? ?a? ?punch? ?like? ?thunder? ?at? ?

the? ?man’s? ?jaw,? ?roaring,? ?“QI? ?RONG,? ?GET? ?THE? ?HELL? ?OUT!? ?I’M? ?GOING? ?TO? ?KILL? ?YOU!!!”? ?

?

That? ?man? ?laughed? ?as? ?he? ?spat? ?blood,? ?“Cousin? ?Crown? ?Prince!? ?What? ?a? ?joyous? ?occasion!? ?

We? ?meet? ?again!? ?Hahahahahaha!”? ? ?

?

Although? ?the? ?face? ?was? ?different,? ?but? ?who? ?else? ?could? ?this? ?insane? ?psychotic? ?laughter? ?

belong? ?to? ?if? ?not? ?Qi? ?Rong?? ?When? ?he? ?became? ?formless,? ?he? ?possessed? ?that? ?young? ?father!? ? ?

?

No? ?need? ?for? ?further? ?explanation,? ?but? ?after? ?his? ?material? ?body? ?was? ?thrown? ?into? ?that? ?

cauldron? ?by? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?and? ?melted,? ?to? ?avoid? ?pursuit,? ?he? ?must’ve? ?used? ?the? ?chaos? ?of? ?

everyone? ?running? ?for? ?their? ?lives? ?to? ?possess? ?the? ?young? ?man,? ?and? ?came? ?to? ?the? ?Imperial? ?

Tomb? ?of? ?Xianle.? ?Otherwise,? ?how? ?could? ?any? ?commoner? ?know? ?of? ?the? ?secret? ?catacomb? ?of? ?

Xianle? ?royalty?? ?And? ?how? ?could? ?they? ?have? ?come? ?in? ?such? ?a? ?short? ?period? ?of? ?time?? ? ?

?

The? ?child? ?he? ?brought? ?along? ?may? ?have? ?been? ?for? ?food,? ?or? ?maybe? ?it? ?was? ?for? ?hiding? ?him? ?in? ?

the? ?coffin? ?to? ?divert? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?attention? ?so? ?as? ?to? ?ambush? ?him? ?from? ?behind.? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?held? ?

his? ?face,? ?looking? ?wronged? ?by? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?punch,? ?and? ?shouted,? ?“Cousin? ?why? ?are? ?you? ?so? ?

mad?? ?It’s? ?not? ?like? ?you’d? ?die? ?from? ?a? ?stab? ?wound,? ?hehehehehehe!”? ? ?

?

‘Thud,? ?thud’,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?punched? ?him? ?again? ?twice,? ?his? ?eyes? ?red? ?around? ?the? ?rim,? ?“How? ?

had? ?my? ?mother? ?treated? ?you??? ?And? ?you? ?treat? ?her? ?like? ?this?!? ?How? ?could? ?you,? ?to? ?her? ?body? ?

–?!!”? ?

?

Qi? ?Rong? ?humphed,? ?“Auntie? ?is? ?long? ?dead.? ?The? ?person? ?is? ?no? ?more,? ?so? ?what? ?difference? ?do? ?

corpses? ?or? ?ashes? ?make?? ?The? ?corpse? ?only? ?changed? ?form,? ?isn’t? ?it? ?still? ?there?? ?Here? ?you? ?are,? ?

tears? ?and? ?snot,? ?weren’t? ?you? ?much? ?tougher? ?when? ?you? ?killed? ?An? ?Le?? ?Can’t? ?believe? ?my? ?

good? ?cousin? ?actually? ?has? ?two? ?faces,? ?hehe!”? ?He? ?then? ?changed? ?face? ?and? ?spat,? ?“How? ?could? ?

I? ?treat? ?her? ?like? ?this?? ?You’re? ?the? ?one? ?to? ?blame!? ?Don’t? ?you? ?even? ?know? ?how? ?to? ?reflect? ?on? ?

yourself?? ?This? ?is? ?all? ?your? ?fault!? ?You? ?God? ?of? ?Misfortune? ?have? ?the? ?galls? ?to? ?come? ?cry? ?at? ?the? ?

Imperial? ?Tomb? ?of? ?Xianle?!”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?stomped? ?down? ?again? ?hard? ?and? ?Qi? ?Ron? ?screamed,? ?spewing? ?blood? ?from? ?his? ?

mouth,? ?but? ?he? ?looked? ?even? ?more? ?excited,? ?using? ?both? ?his? ?hands? ?to? ?hold? ?on? ?firmly? ?to? ?the? ?

now? ?blood? ?soaked? ?white? ?boot? ?while? ?howling,? ?“THAT’S? ?RIGHT!? ?THAT’S? ?RIGHT!? ?JUST? ?

LIKE? ?THIS!? ?THIS? ?IS? ?MORE? ?LIKE? ?YOU!? ?FIGHT,? ?FIGHT,? ?KILL,? ?FIGHT? ?RUTHLESSLY!? ?

KILL? ?CRUELLY!? ?Don’t? ?give? ?me? ?that? ?saintly? ?look? ?as? ?if? ?you? ?are? ?so? ?burdened? ?with? ?

unspeakable? ?sin!? ?Disgusting!? ?UGH!”? ? ?

?

That? ?child? ?came? ?crawling? ?over,? ?bawling,? ?“Wah!? ?Dad!? ?Dad? ?are? ?you? ?alright!”? ?He? ?couldn’t? ?

understand? ?what? ?was? ?happening,? ?only? ?that? ?his? ?father? ?was? ?being? ?trampled.? ?From? ?his? ?point? ?

of? ?view,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?like? ?a? ?violent? ?demon,? ?but? ?scared? ?of? ?losing? ?his? ?only? ?father,? ?he? ?

wouldn’t? ?back? ?down,? ?and? ?tried? ?desperately? ?to? ?pull? ?off? ?the? ?boot? ?on? ?his? ?father’s? ?chest.? ?That? ?

young? ?man? ?wouldn’t? ?stop? ?spewing? ?blood,? ?scaring? ?the? ?child? ?half? ?to? ?death,? ?and? ?he? ?used? ?his? ?

hands? ?to? ?cover? ?his? ?father’s? ?mouth,? ?as? ?if? ?that? ?could? ?stop? ?the? ?bleeding.? ?Seeing? ?this,? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?slowly? ?calmed? ?down,? ?realizing? ?that? ?the? ?owner? ?of? ?this? ?body? ?was? ?innocent,? ?and? ?eased? ?

his? ?foot? ?slightly.? ?He? ?pointed? ?the? ?tip? ?of? ?Fang? ?Xin? ?down,? ?nudging? ?it? ?to? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?cheek? ?and? ?

said? ?forebodingly,? ?“Qi? ?Rong,? ?you,? ?get? ?the? ?hell? ?out? ?yourself.? ?Don’t? ?believe? ?I? ?won’t? ?pull? ?out? ?

your? ?spirit? ?with? ?your? ?tongue!”? ? ?

?

Technically,? ?to? ?pull? ?out? ?the? ?tongue? ?of? ?another? ?from? ?the? ?root,? ?one? ?could? ?certainly? ?pull? ?out? ?

the? ?attached? ?haunting? ?ghost? ?along? ?with? ?it.? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?cried? ?derisively,? ?“I? ?won’t!? ?I? ?won’t? ?get? ?

the? ?hell? ?out!? ?What? ?are? ?you? ?gonna? ?do?? ?Go? ?on,? ?pull!? ?Come,? ?come? ?come,? ?gonna? ?kill? ?me?? ?I? ?

might? ?just? ?die,? ?so? ?don’t? ?miss? ?this? ?chance,? ?otherwise? ?you? ?won’t? ?ever? ?find? ?my? ?ashes? ?in? ?this? ?

lifetime!”? ? ?

?

He? ?even? ?stuck? ?out? ?his? ?tongue? ?intentionally,? ?as? ?if? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?wait? ?for? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?to? ?do? ?good? ? by? ?his? ?threat,? ?and? ?use? ?that? ?bloody? ?method? ?to? ?pull? ?his? ?spirit? ?out? ?from? ?this? ?fleshy? ?body.? ?He? ? blew? ?many? ?raspberries,? ?“It’s? ?not? ?like? ?the? ?person? ?I’m? ?possessing? ?is? ?anyone? ?important,? ?so? ? why? ?don’t? ?you?? ?No? ?one? ?would? ?know,? ?no? ?one? ?would? ?care,? ?Your? ?Highness’? ?holy? ?radiance? ? won’t? ?be? ?damaged.? ?Look!? ?I? ?crumbled? ?your? ?mother? ?to? ?ashes,? ?aren’t? ?you? ?gonna? ?kill? ?me?? ?

Hahahahahaha...”? ?

?

That? ?child? ?couldn’t? ?move? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?boot,? ?so? ?he? ?hugged? ?his? ?leg? ?and? ?cried? ?louder,? ?“Don’t? ? kill? ?my? ?dad!? ?Don’t? ?kill? ?my? ?daddy!”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian’s? ?breathing? ?was? ?becoming? ?more? ?laboured,? ?his? ?head? ?dizzy,? ?his? ?body? ?shaking,? ?his? ? hands? ?itching? ?to? ?crush? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?skull,? ?but? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?do? ?it.? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?spread? ?his? ?hands,? ? “Hahahaha? ?cousin? ?Crown? ?Prince,? ?what? ?a? ?failure,? ?what? ?an? ?absolute? ?failure!”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?picked? ?him? ?off? ?the? ?ground,? ?raised? ?his? ?fists? ?and? ?rained? ?punch? ?after? ?punch? ?on? ?Qi? ?

Rong’s? ?face,? ?yelling? ?with? ?each? ?punch,? ?“SHUT? ?UP!? ?SHUT? ?UP!? ?SHUT? ?UP!”? ? ?

?

Yet,? ?the? ?more? ?enraged? ?he? ?got,? ?the? ?happier? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?became.? ?To? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?drag? ?the? ?both? ?

of? ?them? ?to? ?the? ?same? ?hell,? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?filled? ?with? ?rapture,? ?his? ?eyes? ?shone? ?brightly,? ?“See!? ?

There’s? ?your? ?true? ?face!? ?Cousin? ?Crown? ?Prince,? ?who? ?knows? ?you? ?better? ?than? ?me? ?in? ?this? ?

world?? ?You? ?might? ?look? ?like? ?a? ?pathetic,? ?drowned? ?dog? ?that? ?anyone? ?can? ?trample? ?now,? ?but? ?I? ?

know.? ?You’re? ?still? ?proud? ?on? ?the? ?inside;? ?you? ?couldn’t? ?stand? ?anyone? ?calling? ?you? ?a? ?failure!? ?

You? ?must? ?hate? ?me? ?for? ?calling? ?you? ?a? ?failure!? ?Have? ?I? ?stabbed? ?your? ?heart? ?enough? ?to? ?bleed?? ?

Hurry!? ?Come!? ?Or? ?are? ?you? ?gonna? ?tell? ?me? ?loudly? ?that? ?this? ?body? ?is? ?innocent,? ?so? ?you? ?won’t? ?kill? ?

me? ?in? ?order? ?to? ?spare? ?him?? ?Come!? ?Show? ?me? ?what? ?you’ll? ?do!”? ? ?

?

With? ?so? ?much? ?provocation? ?blended? ?in? ?that? ?cocky,? ?crazed? ?laughter,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?

stand? ?it? ?anymore.? ?

?

‘Schwing’? ?and? ?Fang? ?Xin? ?was? ?unsheathed.? ?

?

With? ?a? ?flash? ?of? ?a? ?swing,? ?the? ?ominous? ?black? ?blade? ?struck? ?down!? ?

?

——–? ?

?

?Night? ?Pearls? ?are? ?made? ?of? ?fluorite? ?crystals? ?

?

——–? ?

?

Book? ?1? ?End?