Read Heaven Official's Blessing Chapter 71-80

Chapter 71-80

Ch.71:? ?God? ?of? ?Heaven? ?Interferes? ?in? ?Mortal? ?Matters? ?

Mount? ?Taicang,? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?Summit.? ?

It? ?was? ?at? ?the? ?time? ?of? ?the? ?day? ?when? ?visitors? ?could? ?no? ?longer? ?linger,? ?and? ?were? ?asked? ?to? ?

leave? ?the? ?Royal? ?Holy? ?Pavilion? ?in? ?droves.? ?Sounds? ?of? ?chanting? ?sutras? ?came? ?in? ?waves? ?from? ?

within? ?the? ?Xianle? ?Pavilion,? ?and? ?some? ?thousands? ?of? ?cultivators? ?were? ?conducting? ?their? ?

evening? ?rituals? ?with? ?the? ?four? ?Guoshis? ?leading? ?the? ?service? ?beneath? ?the? ?feet? ?of? ?that? ?five? ?

meters? ?high? ?golden? ?divine? ?statue.? ?

Within? ?the? ?Temple? ?of? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince,? ?on? ?either? ?sides? ?of? ?the? ?walls? ?were? ?innumerous? ?

everlasting? ?lamps? ?in? ?rows? ?that? ?hung? ?from? ?the? ?ground? ?to? ?the? ?ceiling.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?descended? ?

from? ?the? ?sky,? ?lightly? ?landing? ?on? ?the? ?altar,? ?and? ?seated? ?himself? ?in? ?position? ?right? ?before? ?his? ?

own? ?statue.? ?

He? ?waved? ?a? ?hand.? ?A? ?light? ?breeze? ?blew? ?from? ?nowhere,? ?and? ?the? ?countless? ?lamps? ?spun? ?

gently.? ?With? ?the? ?swaying? ?light,? ?many? ?of? ?the? ?cultivators? ?looked? ?up,? ?voicing? ?their? ?awe,? ?

whispering? ?among? ?themselves.? ?The? ?Guoshi? ?who? ?was? ?composedly? ?seated? ?with? ?his? ?eyes? ?

closed? ?suddenly? ?blinked? ?them? ?open? ?and? ?said,? ?“That’ll? ?be? ?it? ?for? ?today.? ?You? ?are? ?all? ?

dismissed.”? ?

The? ?cultivators? ?rose? ?to? ?their? ?feet? ?and? ?left.? ?The? ?other? ?three? ?Deputy? ?Guoshis? ?couldn’t? ?see? ?

Xie? ?Lian’s? ?form? ?but? ?could? ?also? ?guess? ?that? ?something? ?had? ?descended,? ?so? ?they? ?also? ?

departed? ?the? ?hall,? ?closing? ?the? ?doors? ?behind? ?them.? ?Once? ?those? ?tall? ?doors? ?were? ?shut,? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?immediately? ?spoke,? ?unable? ?to? ?wait? ?another? ?second,? ?“Guoshi,? ?did? ?you? ?know? ?about? ?

the? ?drought? ?in? ?Yong’an?? ?There’s? ?been? ?no? ?word? ?from? ?father,? ?did? ?something? ?happen? ?at? ?

court?? ?Or? ?is? ?it? ?that? ?he’s? ?unaware? ?of? ?what’s? ?happening?”? ? ?

Heavenly? ?officials? ?were? ?not? ?allowed? ?to? ?secretly? ?show? ?themselves? ?before? ?mortals? ?but? ?

there? ?were? ?exceptional? ?cases,? ?such? ?as? ?Guoshis,? ?religious? ?ministers? ?or? ?such? ?high? ?level? ?

cultivators.? ?Those? ?who? ?had? ?cultivated? ?to? ?certain? ?levels? ?were? ?representatives? ?of? ?heavenly? ?

officials? ?in? ?the? ?mortal? ?realm,? ?thus,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?speak? ?directly? ?to? ?the? ?Guoshi.? ?The? ?“no? ?

prostrating? ?within? ?the? ?Temple? ?of? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince”? ?rule? ?was? ?thus? ?dictated? ?through? ?the? ?

mouth? ?of? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?from? ?Xie? ?Lian.? ?

He? ?had? ?originally? ?thought? ?there? ?were? ?some? ?exceptional? ?circumstances? ?that? ?made? ?the? ?

king? ?unable? ?to? ?free? ?himself? ?to? ?handle? ?the? ?disaster? ?at? ?Yong’an,? ?or,? ?the? ?king? ?had? ?no? ?idea? ?

that? ?the? ?situation? ?had? ?worsened? ?to? ?the? ?point? ?of? ?massive? ?deaths.? ?Unexpectedly,? ?however,? ?

the? ?Guoshi? ?replied,? ?“His? ?majesty? ?the? ?king? ?is? ?doing? ?well,? ?nothing? ?major? ?has? ?happened,? ?

and? ?knows? ?very? ?well? ?of? ?what’s? ?happening? ?in? ?Yong’an.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?taken? ?aback,? ?“Then? ?how? ?come? ?every? ?time? ?when? ?Father? ?visited? ?the? ?Royal? ?

Holy? ?Pavilion? ?I’ve? ?never? ?heard? ?him? ?pray? ?for? ?Yong’an? ?once?? ?Not? ?even? ?a? ?word?”? ?

Even? ?if? ?he? ?didn’t? ?get? ?along? ?well? ?with? ?his? ?father,? ?he? ?also? ?knew? ?that? ?the? ?king? ?was? ?not? ?a? ?

fatuous? ?leader.? ?He? ?may? ?have? ?seen? ?himself? ?high? ?above? ?others? ?as? ?the? ?son? ?of? ?god,? ?and? ?

highly? ?regarded? ?hierarchy,? ?but? ?that? ?didn’t? ?mean? ?he? ?wouldn’t? ?care? ?for? ?refugees.? ?The? ?

Guoshi? ?replied,? ?“This? ?has? ?nothing? ?to? ?do? ?with? ?his? ?majesty.? ?It? ?was? ?I? ?who? ?advised? ?him? ?to? ?not? ?

have? ?him? ?or? ?the? ?queen? ?mention? ?Yong’an? ?in? ?their? ?prayers.”? ? ?

“...”? ?

“Why?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?demanded.? ?

“Because? ?it’s? ?pointless.”? ?The? ?Guoshi? ?replied.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?shocked,? ?“What? ?do? ?you? ?mean? ?by? ?‘pointless’?”? ?

A? ?moment? ?later? ?his? ?mind? ?worked? ?it? ?out,? ?“Are? ?you? ?saying? ?that? ?because? ?I’m? ?a? ?martial? ?god? ?

with? ?no? ?control? ?over? ?droughts,? ?telling? ?me? ?would? ?be? ?pointless?? ?Did? ?you? ?forget? ?that? ?I? ?may? ?

be? ?a? ?martial? ?god,? ?but? ?I’m? ?also? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?of? ?Xianle?? ?My? ?people? ?are? ?in? ?trouble,? ?how? ?

can? ?I? ?sit? ?back? ?and? ?do? ?nothing?”? ?After? ?a? ?pause? ?he? ?continued,? ?“The? ?most? ?important? ?thing? ?

right? ?now? ?is? ?to? ?save? ?the? ?disaster? ?victims? ?and? ?take? ?care? ?of? ?them.? ?Please? ?speak? ?to? ?my? ?

father? ?on? ?my? ?behalf? ?to? ?stop? ?constructing? ?any? ?more? ?temples;? ?there’s? ?already? ?too? ?many? ?

Temple? ?of? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?in? ?this? ?kingdom,? ?I? ?don’t? ?need? ?them.? ?And? ?those? ?golden? ?

statues? ?–? ?they? ?could? ?be? ?melted? ?down? ?to? ?help? ?fundraise? ?for? ?the? ?disaster.? ?Yong’an? ?sits? ?in? ?

the? ?west,? ?and? ?they? ?need? ?water.? ?We? ?can? ?dig? ?a? ?canal,? ?irrigate? ?the? ?waters? ?from? ?the? ?east,? ?

water? ?the? ?crops? ?and? ?nourish? ?the? ?land...”? ?

As? ?he? ?spoke,? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?only? ?shook? ?his? ?head,? ?muttering,? ?“Too? ?early.? ?Too? ?early.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?understand,? ?“What’s? ?too? ?early?”? ?

“Do? ?you? ?understand? ?now? ?why? ?I? ?said? ?you? ?shouldn’t? ?ascend? ?too? ?early?”? ?The? ?Guoshi? ?said,? ?

“It’s? ?because? ?your? ?people? ?haven’t? ?died? ?out? ?completely? ?yet.”? ?

“...”? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?eyes? ?widened,? ?and? ?shouted? ?in? ?outrage,? ?“Guoshi!? ?WHAT...? ?WHAT? ?ARE? ?

YOU? ?SAYING?? ?WHAT? ?DO? ?YOU...? ?WHAT? ?DO? ?YOU? ?MEAN? ?MY? ?PEOPLE? ?HAVEN’T? ?DIED? ?

OUT? ?COMPLETELY? ?YET??!”? ?

“You’ve? ?already? ?become? ?a? ?god,? ?but? ?you? ?couldn’t? ?forget? ?who? ?you? ?were? ?as? ?a? ?mortal,? ?

unable? ?to? ?let? ?go? ?and? ?differentiate? ?between? ?the? ?two? ?realms.”? ?The? ?Guoshi? ?replied,? ?“You’re? ?

involving? ?yourself? ?but? ?you? ?are? ?also? ?powerless,? ?and? ?in? ?the? ?end? ?it? ?will? ?only? ?result? ?in? ?an? ?utter? ?

mess.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?seated? ?upon? ?the? ?altar? ?and? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?stood? ?below;? ?even? ?though? ?it? ?was? ?

obvious? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?the? ?one? ?looking? ?down,? ?but? ?when? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?spoke,? ?it? ?was? ?like? ?he? ?was? ?

the? ?one? ?above.? ? ?

“How? ?can? ?I? ?be? ?powerless?? ?As? ?long? ?as? ?I? ?act,? ?there? ?will? ?be? ?results.? ?Every? ?small? ?bit? ?counts,? ?

even? ?if? ?I? ?could? ?save? ?but? ?one,? ?it’s? ?still? ?better? ?than? ?none.? ?If? ?you? ?won’t? ?speak? ?for? ?me? ?to? ?my? ?

father? ?then? ?I? ?will? ?go? ?seek? ?him? ?out? ?myself.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?jumped? ?to? ?his? ?feet? ?but? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?grabbed? ?at? ?the? ?corner? ?of? ?his? ?sleeve,? ?yelling,? ?

“COME? ?BACK!? ?Do? ?you? ?know? ?why? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?can’t? ?show? ?themselves? ?before? ?

mortals? ?at? ?will?? ?There’s? ?a? ?reason? ?behind? ?that? ?thousand-year? ?rule,? ?don’t? ?do? ?anything? ?

foolish!”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?whipped? ?his? ?head? ?around,? ?“THEN? ?WHAT? ??CAN?? ?I? ?DO?? ?I? ?CAN’T? ?DO? ?THIS,? ?I? ?

CAN’T? ?DO? ?THAT;? ?Guoshi,? ?THERE? ?ARE? ?PEOPLE? ?DYING? ?RIGHT? ?NOW? ?IN? ??MY?? ?LAND!? ?

AREN’T? ?GODS? ?CALLED? ?GODS? ?BECAUSE? ?THEY? ?CAN? ?SAVE? ?THE? ?PEOPLE?? ?IF? ?I? ?

DON’T? ?APPEAR? ?NOW? ?THEN? ?WHEN? ?CAN? ?I? ?APPEAR??? ?WHAT? ?WOULD? ?BE? ?THE? ?

MEANING? ?OF? ?MY? ?ASCENSION? ?THEN??!!”? ?

The? ?Guoshi? ?held? ?him? ?down,? ?sighing,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?sigh,? ?Your? ?Highness.? ?Do? ?you? ?know? ?

what? ?I’ve? ?seen?”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?huffed? ?and? ?forced? ?himself? ?to? ?calm? ?down? ?before? ?sitting? ?again,? ?“Please? ?enlighten? ?

me.”? ? ?

The? ?Guoshi? ?stared? ?at? ?him,? ?“I’ve? ?seen? ?your? ?future,? ?and? ?it’s? ?pitch? ?black.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?him? ?straight? ?in? ?the? ?eyes? ?and? ?said,? ?“You? ?must’ve? ?seen? ?wrong.? ?I? ?only? ?like? ?

to? ?wear? ?white.”? ?

“I? ?worry? ?that? ?not? ?only? ?would? ?you? ?be? ?unable? ?to? ?save? ?your? ?people,? ?they? ?will? ?turn? ?around? ?and? ?

drag? ?you? ?down? ?from? ?the? ?divine? ?altar.”? ?The? ?Guoshi? ?said.? ?

“My? ?people? ?aren’t? ?like? ?that,? ?they? ?can? ?clearly? ?recognize? ?what’s? ?right? ?and? ?wrong.? ?If? ?I? ?can’t? ?

save? ?them,? ?then? ?there’d? ?be? ?no? ?meaning? ?to? ?me? ?being? ?on? ?this? ?altar? ?anyway.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

replied.? ?

A? ?moment? ?later,? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?sighed,? ?“What? ?your? ?father? ?has? ?done? ?can’t? ?be? ?said? ?to? ?be? ?right,? ?

but? ?it? ?can’t? ?be? ?said? ?to? ?be? ?wrong? ?either.? ?You? ?said? ?to? ?fundraise,? ?but? ?it’s? ?not? ?like? ?your? ?father? ?

hadn’t? ?tried,? ?and? ?you? ?can? ?go? ?see? ?how? ?that? ?ended.? ?You? ?said? ?to? ?dig? ?a? ?canal? ?to? ?irrigate? ?the? ?

waters,? ?then? ?go? ?see? ?that? ?river? ?for? ?yourself? ?whether? ?if? ?it? ?could? ?be? ?done.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?inclined? ?his? ?head,? ?“I? ?understand.? ?Thank? ?you,? ?Guoshi.”? ? ?

Upon? ?leaving? ?Mount? ?Taicang,? ?he? ?headed? ?westward? ?and? ?arrived? ?at? ?the? ?city? ?of? ?Yong’an? ?of? ?

the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?Xianle.? ?

In? ?the? ?twenty? ?years? ?of? ?his? ?life,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?never? ?thought? ?the? ?sun? ?to? ?be? ?so? ?scorchingly? ?

deadly.? ?The? ?first? ?step? ?he? ?made? ?upon? ?that? ?earth,? ?he? ?could? ?already? ?feel? ?how? ?wretchedly? ?

hot? ?and? ?dry? ?it? ?was,? ?like? ?everything? ?in? ?the? ?air? ?had? ?been? ?contorted.? ?With? ?the? ?blazing? ?sun? ?

above,? ?the? ?land? ?had? ?already? ?cracked? ?into? ?broken? ?chunks? ?of? ?earth,? ?horrifyingly? ?aged.? ?

There? ?was? ?a? ?deep? ?gutter? ?that? ?seemed? ?to? ?have? ?been? ?a? ?river? ?once,? ?but? ?it? ?was? ?already? ?

dried? ?up? ?to? ?the? ?bottom,? ?and? ?the? ?blackened? ?riverbed? ?was? ?emitting? ?a? ?strange? ?stench.? ?He? ?

walked? ?for? ?a? ?long? ?time? ?and? ?didn’t? ?see? ?a? ?single? ?field.? ?Maybe? ?there? ?were? ?fields? ?once,? ?but? ?

they? ?must? ?be? ?unrecognizable? ?at? ?this? ?point.? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?around? ?as? ?he? ?walked,? ?that? ?dry? ?and? ?hot? ?breeze? ?blowing? ?his? ?long? ?hair? ?into? ?

a? ?mess,? ?but? ?he? ?was? ?too? ?occupied? ?to? ?mind? ?it.? ?Just? ?then,? ?someone? ?suddenly? ?called? ?for? ?him? ?

from? ?behind,? ?“Your? ?Highness!”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?saw? ?two? ?silhouettes? ?in? ?black? ?approaching? ?in? ?a? ?rush.? ?It? ?was? ?

Feng? ?Xin? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?cut? ?straight? ?to? ?the? ?heart? ?of? ?the? ?subject,? ?“Any? ?news?”? ?

Feng? ?Xin? ?flapped? ?his? ?shirt? ?to? ?fan? ?himself,? ?“Yes.? ?In? ?the? ?past? ?two? ?years? ?the? ?entire? ?western? ?

territory? ?experienced? ?a? ?water? ?shortage,? ?and? ?it? ?finally? ?erupted? ?this? ?year.? ?Yong’an? ?is? ?the? ?

worst? ?affected:? ?the? ?river’s? ?dried,? ?the? ?rain? ?doesn’t? ?come,? ?so? ?the? ?crops? ?won’t? ?grow.? ?The? ?

wealthier? ?families? ?are? ?still? ?faring? ?alright;? ?as? ?long? ?as? ?there’s? ?money? ?then? ?food? ?and? ?water? ?

can? ?be? ?bought? ?from? ?elsewhere.? ?However,? ?most? ?of? ?the? ?wealthy? ?have? ?already? ?moved? ?to? ?

the? ?eastern? ?territories.? ?Those? ?who? ?are? ?left? ?are? ?either? ?poor? ?or? ?handicapped.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?knitted? ?his? ?brows,? ?“The? ?Guoshi? ?said? ?my? ?father? ?didn’t? ?just? ?sit? ?back? ?and? ?also? ?

fundraised,? ?so? ?why? ?is? ?it? ?still? ?so? ?serious?”? ? ?

Mu? ?Qing? ?said? ?coldly,? ?“When? ?funds? ?go? ?through? ?government? ?checkpoints,? ?each? ?checkpoint? ?

will? ?strip? ?an? ?amount? ?until? ?finally? ?there’s? ?nothing? ?left.? ?Of? ?course? ?it’s? ?still? ?this? ?serious.? ?If? ?it? ?

were? ?up? ?to? ?me,? ?it’d? ?be? ?better? ?not? ?to? ?have? ?sent? ?anything? ?rather? ?than? ?feed? ?those? ?parasites.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?held? ?his? ?breath,? ?forcing? ?his? ?anger? ?down,? ?“I? ?will? ?tell? ?those? ?parasites? ?to? ?throw? ?

every? ?single? ?cent? ?they’ve? ?eaten? ?back? ?up.”? ? ?

However,? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?reminded? ?him,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?did? ?you? ?forget?? ?This? ?is? ?not? ?within? ?your? ?

control.? ?Heavenly? ?officials? ?can’t? ?interfere? ?in? ?mortal? ?matters.? ?Three? ?meters? ?of? ?ice? ?weren’t? ?

formed? ?by? ?one? ?day? ?of? ?cold;? ?his? ?majesty? ?the? ?king? ?is? ?the? ?one? ?responsible? ?for? ?the? ?mortal? ?

realm,? ?this? ?is? ?his? ?duty,? ?and? ?he? ?still? ?couldn’t? ?deal? ?with? ?it.? ?You’ve? ?got? ?your? ?hands? ?full? ?of? ?

countless? ?prayers? ?from? ?your? ?devotees,? ?so? ?how? ?can? ?you? ?handle? ?that? ?too?? ?Mind? ?this,? ?mind? ?

that,? ?in? ?the? ?end? ?you’ll? ?only? ?bring? ?trouble? ?unto? ?yourself.? ?Besides,? ?that? ?only? ?cures? ?the? ?

symptoms,? ?not? ?the? ?root? ?cause.”? ?

Feng? ?Xin? ?blocked? ?out? ?the? ?sun? ?with? ?his? ?hand,? ?“To? ?cure? ?the? ?root? ?cause? ?there? ?still? ?needs? ?to? ?

be? ?water.? ?How? ?about,? ?Your? ?Highness? ?ask? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?to? ?tell? ?his? ?majesty? ?to? ?irrigate? ?the? ?

waters? ?from? ?the? ?east? ?to? ?the? ?west? ?for? ?now?”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?shook? ?his? ?head,? ?“I? ?suggested? ?that? ?to? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?already.”? ? ?

“What? ?did? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?say?”? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?asked.? ?

“...”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?swallowed,? ?“More? ?or? ?less? ?that? ?it’s? ?not? ?feasible.? ?But? ?now? ?I’ve? ?realized? ?it? ?really? ?

can’t? ?be? ?done.? ?To? ?irrigate? ?we’ll? ?need? ?to? ?bore? ?the? ?river.? ?However,? ?something? ?like? ?boring? ?for? ?

a? ?canal? ?requires? ?mass? ?conscription;? ?who? ?knows? ?how? ?many? ?years? ?that’d? ?take,? ?and? ?it’d? ?

only? ?exhaust? ?the? ?people? ?and? ?the? ?treasury.? ?It? ?won’t? ?do.”? ? ?

Feng? ?Xin? ?nodded,? ?“True? ?enough.? ?Distant? ?waters? ?can’t? ?put? ?out? ?nearby? ?fires.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?hummed,? ?“But,? ?if? ?this? ?can’t? ?be? ?solved? ?by? ?mortal? ?means,? ?maybe? ?we? ?can? ?try? ?divine? ?

methods.? ?I? ?heard? ?the? ?Rain? ?Master? ?has? ?changed? ?in? ?recent? ?years.? ?The? ?new? ?ascended? ?

Rain? ?Master? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?a? ?reclusive? ?person,? ?but? ?I’ll? ?see? ?if? ?I? ?can? ?pay? ?a? ?visit? ?and? ?request? ?

for? ?moving? ?waters? ?in? ?the? ?east? ?westward? ?in? ?the? ?form? ?of? ?rain.”? ?

Ever? ?since? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?ascended,? ?other? ?than? ?greeting? ?Jun? ?Wu,? ?he? ?had? ?never? ?personally? ?

paid? ?any? ?visits? ?to? ?any? ?other? ?heavenly? ?officials,? ?and? ?never? ?tried? ?to? ?purposely? ?befriend? ?

anyone,? ?treating? ?all? ?as? ?equals? ?within? ?the? ?spiritual? ?communication? ?array.? ?Him? ?taking? ?the? ?

initiative? ?to? ?pay? ?visits? ?was? ?thus? ?a? ?rare? ?occasion.? ?Mu? ?Qing,? ?however,? ?objected,? ?“No.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?his? ?head,? ?“Why? ?not?”? ?

“Your? ?Highness,? ?I’ve? ?investigated? ?thoroughly.? ?In? ?truth,? ?these? ?past? ?two? ?years,? ?it’s? ?not? ?just? ?

Yong’an? ?or? ?the? ?western? ?territories? ?that? ?were? ?experiencing? ?a? ?shortage? ?of? ?water,? ?but? ?the? ?

entire? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?Xianle.? ?Only,? ?the? ?eastern? ?territories? ?are? ?close? ?to? ?the? ?sea,? ?have? ?

surrounding? ?lakes? ?and? ?ravines,? ?so? ?it’s? ?not? ?as? ?obvious,? ?and? ?hasn’t? ?become? ?an? ?issue? ?yet.? ?

But? ?overall,? ?the? ?amount? ?of? ?water? ?and? ?rain? ?have? ?significantly? ?decreased? ?compared? ?to? ?

before.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian’s? ?eyes? ?widened? ?as? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?continued,? ?“If? ?we? ?really? ?dug? ?a? ?canal? ?or? ?used? ?rain? ?to? ?

move? ?waters? ?from? ?the? ?east? ?to? ?the? ?west,? ?then? ?it? ?may? ?temporarily? ?relieve? ?Yong’an? ?but? ?it? ?

won’t? ?save? ?it? ?completely.? ?It? ?would? ?only? ?be? ?helping? ?them? ?hang? ?on? ?to? ?a? ?thread.? ?At? ?the? ?same? ?

time,? ?the? ?eastern? ?territories? ?can? ?very? ?well? ?fall? ?into? ?disaster.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian’s? ?heart? ?squeezed,? ?“And? ?most? ?of? ?the? ?population? ?of? ?Xianle? ?along? ?with? ?the? ?busiest? ?

places? ?are? ?all? ?in? ?the? ?east,? ?more? ?than? ?three? ?times? ?the? ?size? ?of? ?the? ?west,? ?especially? ?the? ?royal? ?

capital.? ?If? ?drought? ?was? ?to? ?happen? ?there...”? ? ?

Feng? ?Xin? ?immediately? ?understood? ?too,? ?“The? ?consequences? ?would? ?be? ?way? ?more? ?serious? ?

than? ?Yong’an.? ?A? ?greater? ?number? ?would? ?die!”? ? ?

Mu? ?Qing? ?nodded,? ?his? ?expression? ?solemn,? ?“There’d? ?be? ?a? ?much? ?bigger? ?riot? ?born? ?from? ?it.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?took? ?a? ?deep? ?breath,? ?“So,? ?is? ?that? ?what? ?Guoshi? ?meant? ?when? ?he? ?said? ?what? ?father? ?

did? ?wasn’t? ?right? ?but? ?wasn’t? ?wrong? ?either?? ?Only? ?that? ?he? ?made? ?a? ?choice.”? ? ?

“So,? ?Your? ?Highness,? ?that? ?no? ?one? ?went? ?to? ?your? ?temple? ?to? ?pray? ?was? ?a? ?good? ?thing.”? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?

said.? ?“Leave? ?it? ?to? ?his? ?majesty? ?to? ?decide? ?what? ?to? ?do.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?respond? ?and? ?turned? ?around.? ?

The? ?entire? ?time? ?they? ?walked,? ?everyone? ?he? ?saw? ?were? ?skin? ?and? ?bones,? ?men? ?and? ?children? ?

had? ?their? ?upper? ?bodies? ?bare,? ?rows? ?of? ?ribs? ?visible? ?and? ?clear? ?on? ?their? ?torsos,? ?and? ?the? ?

women? ?bore? ?dead? ?eyes,? ?their? ?faces? ?bereft? ?of? ?life.? ?No? ?one? ?wanted? ?to? ?move;? ?they? ?didn’t? ?

have? ?the? ?energy? ?to? ?move,? ?and? ?everything? ?emitted? ?the? ?disgusting? ?stench? ?of? ?death,? ?

making? ?one? ?want? ?to? ?scream? ?and? ?escape? ?this? ?decaying? ?earth? ?and? ?return? ?to? ?the? ?glory? ?of? ?

the? ?bustling? ?royal? ?capital.? ?

It? ?was? ?a? ?long? ?time? ?before? ?he? ?finally? ?said,? ?“You? ?two? ?stay? ?here? ?and? ?assist? ?me,? ?deliver? ?as? ?

much? ?water? ?as? ?you? ?can.? ?Let? ?me? ?think? ?on? ?this.”? ? ?

“Fine.? ?Go? ?and? ?think? ?carefully.”? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?said,? ?“Just? ?let? ?me? ?know? ?what? ?to? ?do? ?once? ?you’ve? ?

decided.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?patted? ?his? ?shoulder,? ?then? ?turned? ?to? ?leave.? ?Behind? ?him,? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?said? ?quietly,? ?

“Your? ?Highness,? ?do? ?think? ?about? ?this? ?carefully.? ?We? ?can? ?help? ?ten? ?days,? ?maybe? ?twenty,? ?but? ?

not? ?one? ?or? ?two? ?years.? ?We? ?can? ?save? ?one? ?hundred? ?lives? ?but? ?not? ?a? ?hundred? ?thousand.? ?

You’re? ?a? ?martial? ?god? ?after? ?all,? ?not? ?the? ?god? ?of? ?water.? ?Even? ?if? ?you? ?were? ?the? ?god? ?of? ?water? ?

you? ?can’t? ?create? ?water? ?from? ?nothing.? ?If? ?we? ?can’t? ?fix? ?the? ?root? ?of? ?this? ?problem,? ?we? ?can’t? ?

keep? ?going? ?like? ?this.? ?We? ?are? ?not? ?strong? ?enough.”? ? ?

——–? ?

Ch.72:? ?To? ?Meet? ?You? ?in? ?the? ?Mortal? ?Realm;? ?To? ?Find? ?Flowers? ?Beneath? ?the? ?Rain? ?

After? ?hearing? ?what? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?said,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?paused? ?briefly? ?in? ?his? ?step,? ?but? ?he? ?didn’t? ?turn? ?

back.? ?He? ?waved? ?his? ?hand? ?and? ?continued? ?forward? ?by? ?himself.? ? ?

When? ?he? ?returned? ?to? ?the? ?Xianle? ?capital,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?first? ?headed? ?straight? ?for? ?the? ?royal? ?

palace.? ?

He? ?didn’t? ?know? ?why? ?he? ?needed? ?to? ?go? ?there? ?since? ?it’s? ?not? ?exactly? ?to? ?see? ?his? ?parents.? ?It? ?

wasn’t? ?only? ?because? ?of? ?the? ?fact? ?that? ?as? ?a? ?heavenly? ?official? ?he? ?was? ?forbidden? ?to? ?reveal? ?

himself? ?to? ?his? ?closest? ?family? ?members,? ?but? ?more? ?so? ?because,? ?in? ?the? ?time? ?he? ?had? ?left? ?

home? ?and? ?in? ?the? ?years? ?that? ?had? ?passed,? ?he? ?didn’t? ?really? ?know? ?how? ?to? ?initiate? ?

conversation? ?with? ?his? ?parents? ?anymore.? ?This? ?was? ?probably? ?the? ?same? ?for? ?every? ?child? ?in? ?

the? ?world.? ?Thus,? ?he? ?concealed? ?himself? ?and? ?haphazardly? ?ran? ?about? ?the? ?palace? ?he? ?was? ?so? ?

familiar? ?with,? ?but? ?his? ?majesty? ?the? ?king? ?was? ?nowhere? ?to? ?be? ?seen? ?until? ?finally,? ?when? ?he? ?

came? ?to? ?the? ?QiFeng? ?Manor? ?his? ?father? ?and? ?mother? ?were? ?found.? ?

The? ?two? ?had? ?just? ?dismissed? ?the? ?palace? ?servants? ?and? ?were? ?chatting? ?between? ?themselves.? ?

The? ?queen? ?sat? ?on? ?the? ?side? ?of? ?the? ?bed.? ?The? ?mask? ?that? ?she? ?was? ?fiddling? ?around? ?with? ?in? ?her? ?

hands? ?was? ?the? ?very? ?one? ?that? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?wore? ?three? ?years? ?ago? ?at? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Ceremonial? ?

Procession.? ?The? ?shape? ?of? ?the? ?golden? ?mask? ?was? ?carefully? ?molded? ?in? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?features,? ?

which? ?was? ?why? ?it? ?had? ?fit? ?him? ?perfectly? ?and? ?comfortably? ?when? ?he? ?had? ?worn? ?it.? ?When? ?it’s? ?

seen? ?by? ?others,? ?the? ?degree? ?of? ?replication? ?was? ?almost? ?frightening.? ?The? ?king? ?chided? ?from? ?

the? ?side,? ?“Stop? ?playing? ?around? ?with? ?that? ?and? ?come? ?give? ?me? ?a? ?head? ?massage.”? ?

Even? ?though? ?the? ?king? ?and? ?the? ?queen? ?put? ?up? ?a? ?front? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?the? ?people,? ?ever? ?since? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?was? ?little,? ?he? ?had? ?seen? ?clearly? ?that? ?behind? ?the? ?scenes,? ?his? ?parents? ?would? ?bicker? ?like? ?

any? ?other? ?normal? ?married? ?couple.? ?The? ?queen? ?put? ?down? ?the? ?mask? ?as? ?expected? ?and? ?sat? ?

down? ?by? ?the? ?king’s? ?side? ?to? ?help? ?massage? ?his? ?temples.? ?As? ?she? ?was? ?combing? ?through? ?his? ?

hair,? ?she? ?suddenly? ?said,? ?“You’ve? ?more? ?white? ?in? ?your? ?hair? ?again.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?took? ?a? ?closer? ?look.? ?True? ?to? ?his? ?mother’s? ?words,? ?the? ?sides? ?of? ?his? ?father’s? ?hair? ?

were? ?greying? ?and? ?it? ?aged? ?him? ?a? ?few? ?years.? ?He? ?wondered? ?to? ?himself,? ?‘Didn’t? ?father? ?visit? ?

the? ?Holy? ?Royal? ?Pavilion? ?to? ?pray? ?just? ?a? ?while? ?back?? ?At? ?the? ?time,? ?his? ?hair? ?was? ?still? ?black,? ?

how? ?did? ?it? ?grey? ?so? ?suddenly?’? ?

The? ?queen? ?handed? ?a? ?copper? ?mirror? ?to? ?the? ?king,? ?but? ?he? ?pushed? ?it? ?away,? ?“No? ?need? ?to? ?see.? ?

Just? ?dye? ?it? ?black? ?again? ?next? ?time? ?we? ?go? ?visit? ?Mount? ?Taicang.”? ?

It? ?was? ?then? ?that? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?realized,? ?‘His? ?hair? ?didn’t? ?grey? ?only? ?recently!? ?It? ?greyed? ?a? ?long? ?

time? ?ago,? ?it’s? ?just? ?that? ?he? ?dyed? ?it? ?black? ?every? ?time? ?before? ?coming? ?to? ?see? ?me.? ?Yet? ?because? ?

I’ve? ?been? ?too? ?occupied? ?listening? ?to? ?the? ?prayers? ?of? ?my? ?devotee? ?and? ?running? ?about,? ?I? ?rarely? ?

made? ?time? ?to? ?come? ?back? ?and? ?visit? ?which? ?was? ?why? ?I? ?didn’t? ?suspect? ?anything.’? ?

Coming? ?to? ?this? ?conclusion,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?filled? ?with? ?guilt.? ?For? ?once? ?he? ?was? ?glad? ?his? ?

parents? ?weren’t? ?able? ?to? ?see? ?him.? ?As? ?the? ?queen? ?massaged? ?the? ?king’s? ?head,? ?she? ?

murmured,? ?“I? ?told? ?you? ?to? ?rest? ?early? ?everyday,? ?yet? ?you? ?never? ?listen? ?to? ?me? ?and? ?even? ?said? ?

that? ?I? ?nag? ?you? ?day? ?and? ?night.? ?Now? ?look? ?at? ?how? ?unseemly? ?you’ve? ?become.? ?If? ?our? ?son? ?sees? ?

you,? ?he? ?definitely? ?wouldn’t? ?want? ?anything? ?to? ?do? ?with? ?you.”? ?

The? ?king? ?huffed,? ?“Ever? ?since? ?your? ?son? ?grew? ?up? ?and? ?his? ?wings? ?had? ?toughened,? ?he? ?

stopped? ?caring? ?about? ?me? ?anyway.”? ?Though? ?he? ?said? ?it? ?in? ?such? ?a? ?manner,? ?he? ?still? ?couldn’t? ?

help? ?but? ?take? ?a? ?peek? ?at? ?the? ?copper? ?mirror? ?by? ?the? ?bedside? ?and? ?muttered,? ?“It’s? ?not? ?that? ?bad,? ?

isn’t? ?it? ?still? ?the? ?same? ?face?”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?speechless.? ?He? ?never? ?realized? ?that? ?his? ?father? ?had? ?this? ?side? ?to? ?him,? ?talking? ?

bad? ?about? ?him? ?behind? ?his? ?back? ?with? ?such? ?a? ?petulant? ?bitterness,? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?

smile.? ?The? ?queen? ?laughed,? ?“Okay,? ?okay,? ?it’s? ?not? ?bad.? ?Your? ?health? ?is? ?more? ?important? ?than? ?

the? ?heavens,? ?you? ?should? ?rest? ?early? ?today.”? ?

The? ?King? ?shook? ?his? ?head,? ?“I? ?can’t? ?rest? ?right? ?now.? ?Recently,? ?there’s? ?a? ?number? ?of? ?people? ?

from? ?Yong’an? ?that? ?arrived? ?at? ?the? ?capital.? ?If? ?they? ?want? ?to? ?come? ?that’s? ?fine,? ?but? ?they’ve? ?also? ?

stirred? ?up? ?trouble,? ?making? ?people? ?feel? ?uneasy.? ?It’s? ?a? ?tricky? ?situation.”? ?

It? ?turns? ?out? ?that? ?the? ?reason? ?behind? ?his? ?father’s? ?greying? ?hair? ?was? ?because? ?of? ?the? ?drought? ?

at? ?Yong’an.? ?There? ?was? ?an? ?unspeakable? ?kind? ?of? ?misery? ?in? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?heart.? ?The? ?queen? ?

nodded,? ?“I? ?heard? ?from? ?Rong-Er? ?that? ?he? ?met? ?someone? ?from? ?Yong’an? ?today.? ?He? ?said? ?that? ?

the? ?man? ?tried? ?to? ?steal? ?money? ?from? ?the? ?temple,? ?how? ?frightening!”? ?

The? ?king? ?had? ?a? ?wary? ?look? ?in? ?his? ?eyes,? ?“Indeed,? ?it’s? ?shocking.? ?If? ?there? ?were? ?only? ?tens? ?or? ?

hundreds? ?of? ?them,? ?that’s? ?fine,? ?but? ?if? ?a? ?couple? ?hundred? ?thousand? ?of? ?them? ?came? ?and? ?go? ?

rogue? ?all? ?over? ?the? ?capital,? ?then? ?who? ?knows? ?what’s? ?going? ?to? ?happen.”? ?

The? ?queen? ?debated? ?for? ?a? ?while? ?and? ?finally? ?said,? ?“That? ?might? ?not? ?happen.? ?If? ?they? ?follow? ?

the? ?laws? ?and? ?keep? ?to? ?themselves,? ?then? ?let? ?them? ?come.”? ?

The? ?king? ?became? ?agitated,? ?“As? ?the? ?king? ?of? ?a? ?nation,? ?how? ?can? ?I? ?take? ?risk? ?in? ?something? ?

that? ?‘might? ?not’? ?happen?? ?Besides,? ?they? ?definitely? ?can’t? ?come? ?over.? ?Looking? ?after? ?a? ?few? ?

more? ?people? ?isn’t? ?as? ?simple? ?as? ?placing? ?a? ?couple? ?more? ?sets? ?of? ?chopsticks? ?down? ?at? ?the? ?

table.? ?There? ?are? ?many? ?complications? ?involved? ?that? ?you? ?don’t? ?understand,? ?so? ?stop? ?

talking.”? ?

The? ?queen? ?soothed,? ?“Okay,? ?let’s? ?not? ?talk? ?about? ?this? ?anymore.? ?I? ?don’t? ?understand? ?the? ?

things? ?you? ?spoke? ?of? ?to? ?begin? ?with? ?anyway.? ?If? ?only? ?our? ?son? ?was? ?still? ?here.? ?Then? ?he? ?could? ?

at? ?least? ?help? ?take? ?some? ?burden? ?off? ?of? ?you.”? ?

The? ?king? ?scoffed,? ?“Him?? ?What? ?can? ?he? ?do?? ?As? ?long? ?as? ?he? ?doesn’t? ?cause? ?me? ?any? ?more? ?

worries,? ?then? ?that’s? ?already? ?good? ?enough.”? ?

At? ?the? ?mention? ?of? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?the? ?king? ?seemed? ?to? ?liven? ?up? ?again,? ?“That? ?son? ?of? ?yours,? ?he’s? ?

already? ?ten-something? ?years? ?old,? ?but? ?he? ?was? ?raised? ?like? ?a? ?princess.? ?Even? ?if? ?he? ?knew,? ?it? ?

won’t? ?do? ?any? ?good,? ?he’ll? ?just? ?add? ?more? ?problems? ?to? ?it.? ?It’s? ?best? ?if? ?he? ?stays? ?carefree? ?in? ?the? ?

heavens? ?without? ?knowing? ?anything.? ?Let? ?him? ?do? ?what? ?he? ?wants? ?to? ?do.? ?He’s? ?not? ?the? ?Crown? ?

Prince? ?anymore,? ?there’s? ?no? ?need? ?for? ?him? ?to? ?care? ?about? ?matters? ?in? ?the? ?mortal? ?realm.? ?Let? ?

him? ?fly? ?to? ?his? ?heart’s? ?content.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?listened? ?silently? ?as? ?his? ?father? ?ranted? ?with? ?growing? ?excitement.? ?With? ?a? ?knowing? ?

smile? ?on? ?her? ?face,? ?the? ?queen? ?nudged? ?the? ?king,? ?“Now? ?you? ?call? ?him? ?a? ?princess.? ?Weren’t? ?

you? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?spoiled? ?our? ?princess? ?since? ?he? ?was? ?young?? ?And? ?now? ?you? ?want? ?to? ?blame? ?

it? ?all? ?on? ?me?”? ?She? ?then? ?sighed,? ?“That? ?child? ?is? ?good? ?in? ?everything? ?except? ?for? ?missing? ?

home.? ?Before,? ?when? ?he? ?was? ?studying? ?at? ?the? ?Royal? ?Holy? ?Pavilion,? ?he’d? ?only? ?come? ?back? ?to? ?

visit? ?once? ?every? ?few? ?months.? ?Now? ?that? ?he? ?ascended,? ?it’s? ?even? ?more? ?difficult.? ?We? ?haven’t? ?

seen? ?him? ?once? ?in? ?three? ?years.? ?Who? ?knows? ?when? ?we’ll? ?see? ?him? ?again.”? ?

Hearing? ?her? ?complain,? ?the? ?king? ?stood? ?back? ?on? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?side,? ?“How? ?would? ?a? ?woman? ?

know? ?anything?? ?The? ?Guoshi? ?said? ?those? ?were? ?the? ?laws? ?of? ?Heaven,? ?how? ?can? ?we? ?treat? ?him? ?

like? ?a? ?common? ?mortal?? ?If? ?you? ?call? ?your? ?son? ?back,? ?you’d? ?be? ?weighing? ?him? ?down.”? ?

The? ?queen? ?hurriedly? ?explained? ?herself,? ?“I’m? ?only? ?just? ?saying.? ?I? ?won’t? ?make? ?any? ?such? ?

demands? ?when? ?we’re? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?him.”? ?Then? ?she? ?muttered? ?to? ?herself,? ?“It’s? ?not? ?too? ?bad? ?

looking? ?at? ?the? ?statues? ?either;? ?they? ?look? ?pretty? ?much? ?like? ?him,? ?and? ?the? ?statues? ?are? ?

everywhere.”? ? ?

Watching? ?them? ?for? ?so? ?long,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?an? ?ache? ?in? ?his? ?heart? ?and? ?a? ?hard? ?lump? ?lodged? ?in? ?

his? ?throat,? ?making? ?it? ?painful? ?for? ?him? ?to? ?swallow.? ?He? ?couldn’t? ?stay? ?hidden? ?any? ?longer,? ?yet? ?

he? ?couldn’t? ?reveal? ?himself? ?either.? ?It? ?wasn’t? ?because? ?he? ?was? ?afraid? ?of? ?breaking? ?Heaven’s? ?

laws,? ?but? ?rather,? ?even? ?now,? ?he? ?still? ?didn’t? ?know? ?what? ?to? ?say.? ?As? ?for? ?the? ?situation? ?in? ?

Yong’an,? ?he? ?didn’t? ?have? ?any? ?solutions? ?at? ?the? ?moment.? ?If? ?he? ?were? ?to? ?suddenly? ?appear,? ?it? ?

would? ?only? ?cause? ?his? ?parents? ?more? ?agitation? ?and? ?stress.? ? ?

He? ?dashed? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?royal? ?palace.? ?The? ?moment? ?he? ?was? ?outside,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?took? ?in? ?a? ?

couple? ?of? ?deep? ?breaths,? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?only? ?then? ?that? ?he? ?was? ?finally? ?able? ?to? ?calm? ?down.? ?He? ?

steadied? ?his? ?heart? ?and? ?pulled? ?himself? ?together,? ?thinking? ?action? ?was? ?better? ?than? ?standing? ?

around? ?sighing,? ?he? ?casted? ?a? ?spell? ?and? ?transformed? ?himself? ?into? ?a? ?plainly? ?dressed? ?young? ?

cultivator.? ?He? ?ran? ?around? ?the? ?capital,? ?digging? ?for? ?information? ?and? ?recorded? ?his? ?finds.? ?

Traversing? ?all? ?over,? ?after? ?a? ?full? ?day? ?of? ?work,? ?he? ?finally? ?got? ?the? ?answers? ?he? ?wanted.? ? ?

Indeed? ?the? ?water? ?level? ?in? ?all? ?the? ?lakes? ?and? ?rivers? ?within? ?the? ?royal? ?capital? ?of? ?Xianle? ?was? ?

lower? ?than? ?the? ?previous? ?years.? ?Back? ?when? ?he? ?was? ?still? ?at? ?the? ?Royal? ?Holy? ?Pavilion,? ?there? ?

were? ?a? ?few? ?times? ?when? ?he’d? ?snuck? ?down? ?the? ?mountain? ?to? ?play.? ?As? ?he? ?rowed? ?his? ?boat? ?

happily? ?along? ?the? ?largest? ?river? ?that? ?crossed? ?through? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?Xianle,? ?the? ?water? ?

level? ?at? ?that? ?time? ?was? ?only? ?just? ?a? ?tad? ?short? ?of? ?the? ?levee,? ?yet? ?now,? ?it? ?had? ?dropped? ?several? ?

meters.? ?On? ?top? ?of? ?that,? ?the? ?residents? ?of? ?the? ?city? ?said? ?it’s? ?been? ?like? ?that? ?for? ?a? ?while;? ?it? ?

wasn’t? ?something? ?that? ?happened? ?overnight.? ?Before? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?really? ?hadn’t? ?paid? ?

much? ?attention,? ?but? ?now? ?that? ?he? ?had,? ?he? ?was? ?shocked? ?to? ?see? ?all? ?the? ?warning? ?signs.? ?He? ?

had? ?originally? ?hoped? ?there’d? ?be? ?some? ?mistake? ?in? ?Mu? ?Qing’s? ?report? ?and? ?thus? ?decided? ?to? ?

come? ?and? ?see? ?it? ?for? ?himself.? ?But? ?now? ?he? ?can’t? ?deny? ?the? ?fact? ?that? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?had? ?never? ?let? ?

him? ?down? ?before.? ?

Once? ?the? ?situation? ?was? ?confirmed,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?stood? ?solemnly? ?by? ?the? ?riverside,? ?deep? ?in? ?

contemplation.? ?Pedestrians? ?passed? ?behind? ?from? ?time? ?to? ?time,? ?some? ?nodded? ?and? ?smiled,? ?

others? ?looked? ?on? ?curiously,? ?but? ?most? ?went? ?about? ?happily? ?minding? ?their? ?own? ?business.? ?An? ?

unknown? ?amount? ?of? ?time? ?passed? ?and? ?quietly,? ?clouds? ?gathered? ?from? ?the? ?edge? ?of? ?the? ?

skies;? ?sounds? ?of? ?pitter-patter? ?filled? ?the? ?surroundings.? ?It? ?had? ?started? ?to? ?rain.? ?

Numerous? ?pedestrians? ?on? ?the? ?street? ?looked? ?up? ?to? ?the? ?sky,? ?“So? ?unlucky!? ?It’s? ?raining,? ?let’s? ?

hurry? ?back!”? ?

“Yea!? ?How? ?troublesome!”? ?

Plip? ?plop? ?plip? ?plop?.? ?Raindrops? ?were? ?beating? ?down? ?on? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?face? ?and? ?clothes? ?before? ?

he? ?finally? ?became? ?aware? ?of? ?his? ?surroundings,? ?“It’s? ?raining?”? ?

When? ?the? ?people? ?in? ?the? ?capital? ?saw? ?rain,? ?they? ?would? ?drop? ?everything? ?to? ?find? ?shelter.? ?Little? ?

do? ?they? ?know? ?just? ?how? ?many? ?were? ?dying? ?on? ?the? ?other? ?side? ?of? ?Xianle? ?for? ?a? ?rainstorm? ?like? ?

this? ?to? ?come.? ?A? ?group? ?of? ?people? ?with? ?umbrellas? ?ran? ?past,? ?and? ?when? ?they? ?saw? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?

alone,? ?getting? ?soaked? ?by? ?the? ?rain,? ?they? ?pulled? ?him? ?along? ?and? ?beckoned,? ?“Young? ?

Cultivator,? ?why? ?aren’t? ?you? ?getting? ?out? ?of? ?this? ?rain?? ?It’s? ?coming? ?down? ?harder!”? ?

Dazed,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?followed? ?along? ?and? ?ran? ?to? ?seek? ?shelter? ?under? ?a? ?long? ?roof.? ?Not? ?soon? ?after? ?

the? ?group? ?of? ?people? ?tucked? ?away? ?their? ?umbrellas,? ?they? ?broke? ?out? ?in? ?laughter,? ?“Luckily,? ?I? ?

saw? ?the? ?clouds? ?gather? ?when? ?I? ?came? ?out? ?today? ?and? ?grabbed? ?an? ?umbrella,? ?or? ?else? ?I? ?

would’ve? ?really? ?become? ?a? ?drowned? ?rat!”? ?

“It’s? ?been? ?too? ?long? ?since? ?it? ?last? ?rained.? ?The? ?storm? ?is? ?way? ?overdue? ?so? ?it’s? ?going? ?to? ?be? ?a? ?big? ?

one.”? ?

“Gosh,? ?see!? ?It? ?really? ?is? ?coming? ?down? ?harder!? ?At? ?this? ?rate,? ?it’s? ?going? ?to? ?turn? ?into? ?a? ?deluge!”? ?

The? ?raindrops? ?were? ?beating? ?down? ?on? ?the? ?ground,? ?splattering? ?outwards.? ?Those? ?people? ?

spoke? ?in? ?such? ?a? ?familiar? ?accent? ?that? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?deeply? ?that? ?this? ?was? ?his? ?home;? ?this? ?was? ?

the? ?place? ?he? ?was? ?born? ?and? ?grew? ?up,? ?and? ?those? ?were? ?the? ?citizens? ?he? ?knew.? ?

As? ?the? ?chitter? ?chatter? ?continued,? ?the? ?rain? ?became? ?a? ?little? ?lighter.? ?A? ?few? ?people? ?urged,? ?

“While? ?it’s? ?still? ?light,? ?we? ?should? ?hurry? ?and? ?go!”? ?Right? ?after? ?that,? ?the? ?men? ?opened? ?their? ?

umbrellas? ?and? ?stepped? ?out? ?from? ?under? ?the? ?roof? ?one? ?after? ?another,? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?still? ?stood? ?

where? ?he? ?was.? ?A? ?couple? ?of? ?them? ?glanced? ?back? ?and? ?after? ?a? ?brief? ?discussion? ?among? ?

themselves,? ?one? ?came? ?over? ?and? ?handed? ?him? ?a? ?worn? ?down? ?umbrella.? ?He? ?offered? ?politely,? ?

“Young? ?Cultivator,? ?are? ?you? ?not? ?able? ?to? ?return? ?home?? ?This? ?rain? ?is? ?quite? ?heavy,? ?why? ?don’t? ?

you? ?take? ?this? ?umbrella.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?snapped? ?out? ?of? ?his? ?daydream,? ?“Thank? ?you? ?very? ?much,? ?but? ?what? ?about? ?you?”? ?

A? ?few? ?people? ?in? ?the? ?group? ?under? ?the? ?rain? ?called? ?out,? ?“We? ?still? ?have? ?a? ?couple? ?of? ?umbrellas? ?

here? ?that? ?we? ?can? ?squeeze? ?under? ?together.? ?Let’s? ?go,? ?let’s? ?go!”? ?

Urged? ?by? ?his? ?companions,? ?the? ?man? ?left? ?the? ?umbrella? ?in? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?hand? ?and? ?ran? ?back.? ?

The? ?‘pa? ?pa’? ?sounds? ?of? ?their? ?footsteps? ?slowly? ?faded? ?away? ?in? ?the? ?distance? ?as? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

stood? ?for? ?a? ?while? ?longer,? ?holding? ?onto? ?the? ?umbrella.? ?Suddenly,? ?his? ?eyes? ?caught? ?a? ?glimpse? ?

of? ?an? ?inconspicuous? ?shrine? ?not? ?too? ?far? ?away.? ?He? ?opened? ?his? ?umbrella? ?and? ?walked? ?

towards? ?it? ?in? ?the? ?rain.? ?Upon? ?a? ?closer? ?look,? ?the? ?two? ?sides? ?of? ?the? ?small? ?shrine? ?doors? ?were? ?

written? ?with? ?the? ?verses,? ?‘Body? ?in? ?abyss;? ?Heart? ?in? ?Paradise’.? ?Turns? ?out? ?that? ?this? ?was? ?a? ?

Shrine? ?of? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince.? ? ?

Since? ?eight? ?thousand? ?temples? ?were? ?built? ?within? ?only? ?the? ?span? ?of? ?three? ?years,? ?it? ?was? ?only? ?

natural? ?not? ?every? ?one? ?of? ?them? ?would? ?be? ?as? ?extravagant? ?and? ?breathtaking? ?as? ?the? ?one? ?on? ?

Mount? ?Taicang.? ?Amongst? ?the? ?shrines,? ?there? ?were? ?quite? ?a? ?few? ?that? ?were? ?built? ?by? ?amateurs? ?

to? ?fill? ?the? ?number? ?and? ?generate? ?the? ?excitement.? ?Not? ?only? ?did? ?they? ?lack? ?a? ?Donations? ?Box,? ?

but? ?they? ?also? ?didn’t? ?have? ?any? ?shrine? ?priests.? ?The? ?only? ?things? ?that? ?they? ?had? ?was? ?a? ?clay? ?

statue,? ?a? ?couple? ?of? ?offering? ?plates? ?placed? ?with? ?assorted? ?fruits? ?and? ?refreshments.? ?Those? ?

with? ?kind? ?hearts? ?would? ?come? ?by? ?once? ?in? ?a? ?while? ?to? ?freshen? ?the? ?place? ?a? ?little? ?so? ?that? ?it? ?

could? ?at? ?least? ?pass? ?for? ?a? ?decent? ?shrine.? ?

Well? ?hidden? ?in? ?an? ?area? ?like? ?this? ?was? ?such? ?an? ?inconspicuous? ?Shrine? ?of? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince.? ?

Without? ?stepping? ?in,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?already? ?make? ?out? ?what? ?could? ?be? ?described? ?as? ?a? ?

charmingly? ?tacky? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?statue.? ?Exquisite? ?clothing,? ?a? ?pale,? ?round? ?face? ?with? ?a? ?

slightly? ?pinkish? ?undertone,? ?and? ?a? ?silly? ?smile.? ?The? ?statue? ?looked? ?like? ?a? ?big? ?doll.? ?If? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?

with? ?so? ?much? ?on? ?his? ?mind,? ?he? ?probably? ?would’ve? ?laughed? ?out? ?loud.? ?

In? ?the? ?past? ?three? ?years,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?seen? ?three? ?thousand,? ?if? ?not? ?five? ?thousand? ?Crown? ?

Prince? ?statues.? ?There? ?were? ?none? ?that? ?looked? ?exactly? ?like? ?himself,? ?even? ?the? ?most? ?similar? ?

one? ?was? ?still? ?seven? ?points? ?off.? ?As? ?for? ?the? ?rest,? ?they? ?were? ?either? ?too? ?ugly? ?or? ?too? ?beautiful.? ?

A? ?majority? ?of? ?the? ?divine? ?statues? ?of? ?most? ?other? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?were? ?too? ?ugly,? ?and? ?yet,? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?the? ?exact? ?opposite.? ?There? ?were? ?some? ?that? ?were? ?beautiful? ?beyond? ?

recognition? ?and? ?to? ?the? ?point? ?where? ?he,? ?himself,? ?was? ?embarrassed.? ?He? ?didn’t? ?really? ?take? ?a? ?

good? ?look? ?at? ?this? ?clay? ?statue? ?to? ?begin? ?with,? ?his? ?eyes? ?had? ?glossed? ?over? ?it? ?quickly,? ?but? ?

unexpectedly,? ?a? ?snow? ?white? ?blur? ?caught? ?his? ?eye? ?and? ?grabbed? ?his? ?attention.? ?

Grasped? ?in? ?the? ?left? ?hand? ?of? ?that? ?crudely? ?made? ?clay? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?statue? ?was? ?a? ?flower,? ?

white? ?as? ?snow.? ?

The? ?pearl? ?white? ?petals,? ?with? ?crystal? ?dew? ?clinging? ?on? ?to? ?it,? ?looked? ?beyond? ?delicate.? ?One? ?

could? ?faintly? ?catch? ?a? ?wisp? ?of? ?its? ?fragrance? ?floating? ?in? ?the? ?air,? ?lovely? ?and? ?endearing.? ?The? ?

signature? ?pose? ?of? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?statue? ?was? ?‘Sword? ?in? ?One? ?Hand;? ?flower? ?in? ?the? ?Other’.? ?

The? ?said? ?flower? ?that? ?was? ?held? ?in? ?the? ?left? ?hand? ?would,? ?of? ?course,? ?be? ?a? ?finely? ?crafted? ?flower? ?

of? ?gold,? ?flower? ?of? ?gems,? ?flower? ?of? ?jade.? ?However,? ?this? ?was? ?the? ?first? ?time? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?

seen? ?a? ?real? ?flower? ?clasped? ?within? ?his? ?statue’s? ?hand,? ?and? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?lean? ?

forward? ?to? ?get? ?a? ?better? ?look.? ?

After? ?a? ?close? ?examination,? ?he? ?discovered? ?that? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?statue? ?had? ?probably? ?

held? ?a? ?clay? ?flower? ?once? ?a? ?upon? ?a? ?time.? ?Whether? ?if? ?it? ?fell? ?due? ?to? ?the? ?sculptor’s? ?poor? ?skills? ?

or? ?if? ?someone? ?had? ?intentionally? ?picked? ?it? ?off? ?as? ?some? ?form? ?of? ?a? ?prank,? ?only? ?a? ?small? ?hole? ?

remained? ?in? ?the? ?left? ?fist.? ?That? ?little? ?white? ?flower? ?just? ?so? ?happened? ?to? ?be? ?placed? ?in? ?this? ?

hole.? ?If? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?person? ?that? ?had? ?especially? ?picked? ?a? ?flower? ?to? ?fill? ?the? ?empty? ?space? ?

within? ?this? ?statue,? ?then? ?that? ?person? ?is? ?truly? ?kind-hearted.? ?

Xie? ?Lian’s? ?thoughts? ?came? ?to? ?a? ?halt? ?when? ?he? ?heard? ?a? ?series? ?of? ?hurried? ?footsteps.? ?He? ?

didn’t? ?look? ?back? ?immediately,? ?but? ?instead? ?hid? ?his? ?form.? ?With? ?the? ?umbrella? ?in? ?hand,? ?he? ?

lightly? ?leapt? ?onto? ?the? ?altar,? ?and? ?then? ?turned? ?around? ?to? ?look? ?down.? ?Within? ?the? ?grey? ?fog? ?of? ?

rain,? ?a? ?young? ?boy? ?barged? ?in.? ? ?

This? ?boy? ?was? ?no? ?older? ?than? ?twelve? ?or? ?thirteen.? ?His? ?dirt-stained,? ?patched? ?clothes? ?were? ?

soaked? ?from? ?head? ?to? ?toe,? ?and? ?his? ?face? ?was? ?covered? ?by? ?filthy? ?bandages.? ?His? ?right? ?fist? ?was? ?

tightly? ?clutching? ?onto? ?his? ?left,? ?as? ?if? ?protecting? ?something? ?important.? ?It? ?was? ?only? ?after? ?he? ?

had? ?entered? ?the? ?shrine? ?did? ?he? ?finally? ?release? ?his? ?hands.? ? ?

A? ?tiny,? ?single? ?flower? ?as? ?white? ?as? ?snow? ?was? ?sitting? ?in? ?his? ?palms.? ?

——–? ?

Ch.73:? ?To? ?Meet? ?You? ?in? ?the? ?Mortal? ?Realm;? ?To? ?Find? ?Flowers? ?Beneath? ?the? ?Rain? ?2? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?made? ?a? ?small? ?sound? ?as? ?if? ?he? ?had? ?just? ?remembered? ?something? ?in? ?the? ?back? ?of? ?his? ?

mind.? ? ?

The? ?face? ?that? ?was? ?wrapped? ?under? ?the? ?layers? ?of? ?bandages? ?inevitably? ?reminded? ?him? ?of? ?the? ?

child? ?he? ?had? ?met? ?three? ?years? ?ago.? ?However,? ?he? ?wasn’t? ?completely? ?sure.? ?Pessimistically? ?

speaking,? ?could? ?that? ?child? ?still? ?be? ?alive? ?three? ?years? ?after? ?escaping? ?from? ?Mount? ?Taicang?? ? ?

Just? ?then,? ?the? ?young? ?boy? ?came? ?forward.? ?He? ?lifted? ?himself? ?up? ?on? ?tippy-toes? ?and? ?swapped? ?

the? ?flower? ?on? ?the? ?clay? ?statue? ?with? ?the? ?one? ?he? ?had? ?in? ?his? ?hands.? ?From? ?atop? ?the? ?altar,? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?could? ?see? ?it? ?as? ?clear? ?as? ?day.? ?The? ?petals? ?on? ?this? ?new? ?flower? ?was? ?fuller? ?and? ?even? ?

more? ?delicate.? ?It? ?contained? ?twice? ?as? ?much? ?dew? ?drops? ?and? ?from? ?the? ?strong? ?fragrance,? ?one? ?

could? ?be? ?certain? ?that? ?it? ?was? ?freshly? ?picked.? ?Could? ?it? ?be? ?that? ?the? ?sole? ?reason? ?for? ?this? ?boy? ?to? ?

visit? ?an? ?inconspicuous? ?shrine? ?like? ?this? ?everyday? ?was? ?just? ?to? ?replace? ?the? ?flower? ?with? ?a? ?

fresher? ?one?? ?

Moreover,? ?after? ?offering? ?the? ?flower,? ?the? ?young? ?boy? ?stood? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?the? ?clay? ?Prince? ?

statue.? ?Unlike? ?the? ?others? ?who? ?stubbornly? ?wanted? ?to? ?kneel,? ?he? ?interlocked? ?his? ?fingers,? ?and? ?

silently? ?made? ?a? ?prayer? ?while? ?standing.? ?He? ?had? ?actually? ?followed? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?wishes.? ?

It’s? ?been? ?three? ?years.? ?Among? ?all? ?of? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?followers? ?that? ?had? ?prayed,? ?there? ?were? ?

officials,? ?nobles,? ?names? ?that? ?travelled? ?across? ?this? ?land,? ?and? ?talents? ?that? ?would? ?even? ?

impress? ?the? ?heaven.? ?Yet? ?the? ?one? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?was? ?the? ?most? ?sincere? ?was? ?actually? ?this? ?

child? ?who? ?looked? ?barely? ?over? ?thirteen.? ?Furthermore,? ?it’s? ?a? ?child? ?who? ?had? ?probably? ?been? ?

kicked? ?out? ?of? ?those? ?fancier? ?golden? ?temples? ?simply? ?because? ?of? ?his? ?patched? ?clothing,? ?and? ?

could? ?only? ?come? ?to? ?this? ?kind? ?of? ?shabby,? ?run-down? ?shrine? ?to? ?offer? ?his? ?prayers.? ?

Truly? ?an? ?indescribable? ?sentiment.? ?

Just? ?then,? ?more? ?sounds? ?of? ?wet? ?footsteps? ?came? ?from? ?outside? ?the? ?shrine.? ?A? ?group? ?of? ?

children? ?with? ?umbrellas? ?rowdily? ?ran? ?past.? ?At? ?first,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?thought? ?that? ?they? ?were? ?only? ?

passing? ?by,? ?but? ?unexpectedly,? ?they? ?circled? ?back? ?again.? ?Acting? ?like? ?they? ?discovered? ?

something? ?extraordinary,? ?one? ?child? ?clapped? ?his? ?hands,? ?“Wow,? ?wow.? ?The? ?ugly? ?monster? ?

got? ?kicked? ?out? ?again!”? ?

Even? ?though? ?the? ?group? ?of? ?kids? ?and? ?the? ?boy? ?in? ?the? ?temple? ?were? ?all? ?around? ?the? ?same? ?age,? ?

every? ?one? ?of? ?them? ?was? ?taller? ?than? ?him? ?and? ?looked? ?as? ?if? ?their? ?parents? ?had? ?fed? ?them? ?well.? ?

There? ?was? ?probably? ?a? ?holiday? ?coming? ?up? ?as? ?all? ?of? ?them? ?were? ?dressed? ?in? ?new? ?clothes? ?

and? ?new? ?shoes.? ?As? ?they? ?splashed? ?around? ?in? ?the? ?puddles? ?playfully? ?by? ?the? ?shrine? ?

entrance,? ?their? ?innocent? ?smiles? ?were? ?full? ?of? ?life? ?and? ?void? ?of? ?any? ?ill? ?intent.? ?It? ?was? ?as? ?if? ?they? ?

didn’t? ?really? ?understand? ?that? ?‘ugly? ?monster’? ?were? ?awful? ?words? ?and? ?didn’t? ?think? ?that? ?their? ?

own? ?words? ?would? ?be? ?hurtful.? ?They? ?had? ?probably? ?thought? ?that? ?it? ?was? ?funny.? ?The? ?boy? ?

tightened? ?his? ?fist,? ?but? ?his? ?fist? ?was? ?so? ?small? ?that? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?threatening? ?at? ?all.? ?The? ?kids? ?by? ?

the? ?door? ?teased,? ?“Hey? ?ugly? ?monster,? ?you? ?sleeping? ?in? ?the? ?shrine? ?again? ?tonight?? ?Better? ?

watch? ?out,? ?that? ?‘mom’? ?of? ?yours’? ?gonna? ?beat? ?the? ?living? ?hell? ?outta? ?you? ?when? ?you? ?get? ?home!”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?frowned.? ?Under? ?the? ?wrapped? ?bandages,? ?the? ?boy’s? ?one? ?eye? ?flashed? ?with? ?anger,? ?

he? ?raised? ?his? ?fists? ?and? ?yelled,? ?“I? ?don’t? ?have? ?a? ?home!!? ?I? ?don’t? ?have? ?a? ?mom!? ?She’s? ?not? ?my? ?

mom!? ?Get? ?out!? ?Get? ?out!? ?Keep? ?talking? ?and? ?I’m? ?gonna? ?beat? ?the? ?crap? ?outta? ?you!”? ?

Yet? ?the? ?group? ?of? ?kids? ?couldn’t? ?care? ?less.? ?They? ?stuck? ?out? ?their? ?tongues? ?and? ?challenged,? ?

“You? ?dare?? ?Careful? ?we? ?might? ?just? ?tell? ?on? ?your? ?dad? ?again? ?and? ?let? ?him? ?teach? ?you? ?a? ?lesson.”? ?

Some? ?raised? ?their? ?brows? ?and? ?sneered,? ?“Oh? ?right,? ?you? ?don’t? ?have? ?a? ?mom,? ?because? ?your? ?

mom? ?didn’t? ?want? ?you.? ?You? ?don’t? ?have? ?a? ?home,? ?because? ?your? ?family? ?doesn’t? ?want? ?

anything? ?to? ?do? ?with? ?you.? ?That’s? ?why? ?you? ?can? ?only? ?sleep? ?in? ?this? ?pitiful? ?shrine...”? ?

The? ?young? ?boy? ?couldn’t? ?endure? ?it? ?any? ?longer.? ?With? ?a? ?loud? ?cry,? ?he? ?lunged? ?at? ?them.? ?

For? ?such? ?a? ?scrawny? ?kid,? ?he? ?sure? ?could? ?pack? ?a? ?punch.? ?The? ?loud? ?cry? ?had? ?almost? ?sent? ?a? ?

couple? ?of? ?kids? ?running? ?in? ?fear,? ?but? ?the? ?kid? ?that? ?had? ?originally? ?started? ?the? ?fight? ?held? ?his? ?

ground,? ?“What’s? ?there? ?to? ?be? ?scared? ?of?!? ?We? ?have? ?more? ?people!”? ?Upon? ?hearing? ?that,? ?the? ?

ones? ?who? ?wanted? ?to? ?run? ?away? ?returned? ?and? ?joined? ?the? ?fight,? ?pulling? ?at? ?the? ?boy’s? ?hands? ?

and? ?feet.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?finally? ?couldn’t? ?stand? ?it? ?anymore.? ?With? ?a? ?wave? ?of? ?his? ?hand,? ?an? ?invisible? ?

force? ?shot? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?blue? ?and? ?separated? ?the? ?boys.? ?Immediately? ?after,? ?a? ?powerful? ?wave? ?of? ?

puddle? ?water? ?flew? ?up? ?from? ?the? ?ground? ?and? ?knocked? ?the? ?group? ?of? ?children? ?off? ?their? ?feet.? ? ?

In? ?the? ?end,? ?they? ?were? ?still? ?kids.? ?After? ?falling? ?to? ?the? ?ground? ?without? ?knowing? ?why? ?and? ?

getting? ?a? ?whole? ?mouthful? ?of? ?muddy? ?water,? ?their? ?new? ?clothes? ?were? ?completely? ?soaked.? ?

Now? ?that? ?they? ?became? ?even? ?filthier? ?and? ?uglier? ?than? ?the? ?kid? ?they? ?made? ?fun? ?of,? ?the? ?happy? ?

laughters? ?from? ?before? ?were? ?replaced? ?with? ?loud? ?wailing.? ?They? ?crawled? ?up? ?from? ?the? ?ground? ?

and? ?ran? ?away? ?sniffling? ?with? ?umbrellas? ?in? ?their? ?hands.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?shook? ?his? ?head? ?in? ?disappointment.? ?As? ?a? ?proper? ?martial? ?god? ?whose? ?job? ?was? ?to? ?

ward? ?off? ?evil? ?ghosts? ?and? ?bring? ?protection? ?and? ?peace,? ?this? ?was? ?the? ?first? ?time? ?that? ?he? ?got? ?

tangled? ?in? ?this? ?kind? ?of? ?juvenile? ?dispute.? ?Even? ?though? ?he? ?had? ?chased? ?away? ?the? ?

wrongdoers,? ?he? ?didn’t? ?feel? ?accomplished? ?at? ?all.? ?His? ?gaze? ?returned? ?to? ?the? ?young? ?boy.? ? ?

During? ?that? ?chaos,? ?the? ?bandages? ?on? ?the? ?boy’s? ?head? ?was? ?yanked? ?off? ?half? ?way.? ?The? ?half? ?

revealed? ?face? ?was? ?swollen? ?with? ?blue? ?and? ?purple? ?bruises.? ?It? ?was? ?obvious? ?that? ?these? ?

weren’t? ?caused? ?by? ?the? ?brawl? ?just? ?now.? ?Before? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?get? ?a? ?better? ?look,? ?the? ?boy? ?

had? ?already? ?rewrapped? ?his? ?bandages? ?without? ?a? ?word.? ?He? ?sat? ?down? ?by? ?the? ?clay? ?statue’s? ?

feet? ?and? ?hugged? ?his? ?knees? ?close.? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?originally? ?wanted? ?come? ?to? ?this? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?shrine? ?to? ?think.? ?He? ?had? ?

planned? ?on? ?summoning? ?Feng? ?Xing? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?to? ?discuss? ?an? ?important? ?matter,? ?but? ?the? ?

child? ?that? ?he? ?had? ?unexpectedly? ?bumped? ?into? ?had? ?drawn? ?his? ?attention.? ?He? ?sent? ?out? ?a? ?

summoning,? ?then? ?squatted? ?down? ?beside? ?the? ?boy? ?and? ?stared.? ?Not? ?long? ?after,? ?a? ?rumbling? ?

sound? ?came? ?from? ?the? ?boy’s? ?stomach.? ?The? ?offering? ?plate? ?still? ?had? ?a? ?couple? ?of? ?fruits? ?and? ?

sweets.? ?Although? ?they? ?looked? ?dried? ?out? ?and? ?probably? ?wouldn’t? ?taste? ?that? ?good,? ?but? ?it? ?was? ?

better? ?than? ?nothing.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?picked? ?one? ?and? ?lightly? ?tossed? ?it? ?towards? ?the? ?boy’s? ?body.? ?

Having? ?gotten? ?hit? ?by? ?the? ?fruit,? ?the? ?young? ?boy? ?immediately? ?wrapped? ?his? ?arms? ?around? ?his? ?

head? ?and? ?curled? ?up? ?defensively? ?as? ?if? ?the? ?thing? ?that? ?hit? ?him? ?was? ?a? ?rock? ?and? ?that? ?it? ?would? ?

be? ?followed? ?by? ?more.? ?After? ?a? ?while,? ?he? ?finally? ?looked? ?around? ?and? ?realized? ?it? ?was? ?only? ?a? ?

fruit? ?and? ?that? ?there? ?weren’t? ?anyone? ?nearby.? ?Hesitantly,? ?he? ?picked? ?up? ?the? ?fruit,? ?dusted? ?it? ?off? ?

twice? ?against? ?his? ?clothes,? ?and? ?returned? ?it? ?to? ?the? ?offering? ?plate.? ?Turns? ?out? ?he? ?would? ?rather? ?

endure? ?the? ?hunger? ?than? ?eat? ?the? ?offerings? ?on? ?the? ?plate.? ?

After? ?that,? ?he? ?walked? ?towards? ?the? ?door,? ?looked? ?at? ?the? ?heavy? ?downpour? ?outside? ?of? ?the? ?

shrine? ?as? ?if? ?debating? ?whether? ?to? ?venture? ?out? ?to? ?find? ?food.? ?However,? ?the? ?rain? ?was? ?coming? ?

down? ?too? ?hard.? ?Since? ?he? ?didn’t? ?want? ?to? ?get? ?soaked? ?again,? ?he? ?walked? ?back? ?and? ?curled? ?up? ?

on? ?the? ?ground? ?by? ?the? ?clay? ?statue’s? ?feet.? ?

Just? ?then,? ?Feng? ?Xing? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?arrived? ?after? ?receiving? ?the? ?call.? ?The? ?two? ?stepped? ?out? ?

from? ?behind? ?the? ?shrine.? ?Feng? ?Xing? ?gloomily? ?said,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?how? ?did? ?you? ?find? ?such? ?

a? ?small? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?shrine?? ?Why? ?did? ?you? ?send? ?out? ?a? ?call? ?from? ?here?”? ?When? ?he? ?looked? ?

down? ?he? ?suddenly? ?noticed? ?a? ?curled? ?up? ?figure? ?on? ?the? ?ground? ?that? ?he? ?could’ve? ?almost? ?

stepped? ?on? ?unknowingly,? ?and? ?blurted? ?out,? ?“What? ?the? ?hell? ?is? ?this? ?kid? ?doing? ?here!?”? ?

Mu? ?Qing? ?also? ?looked? ?down,? ?took? ?a? ?good? ?look? ?and? ?immediately? ?asked,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?is? ?

this? ?the? ?child? ?that? ?ran? ?from? ?Mount? ?Taicang? ?three? ?years? ?ago?”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?shook? ?his? ?head,? ?“I’m? ?not? ?sure.? ?I? ?didn’t? ?know? ?what? ?his? ?name? ?was? ?nor? ?what? ?he? ?

looked? ?like.”? ?

As? ?the? ?three? ?surrounded? ?the? ?unsuspecting? ?child? ?and? ?chatted,? ?the? ?boy? ?on? ?the? ?ground? ?

shifted.? ?As? ?he? ?wiped? ?his? ?face? ?he? ?realize? ?there? ?was? ?blood? ?running? ?down? ?his? ?nose? ?and? ?the? ?

corner? ?of? ?his? ?mouth.? ?Seeing? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?just? ?do? ?nothing? ?and? ?said,? ?“Let? ?

this? ?child? ?leave? ?first.? ?It’s? ?getting? ?dark.? ?This? ?shrine? ?isn’t? ?a? ?good? ?place? ?to? ?pass? ?the? ?night.”? ?

“Could? ?it? ?be? ?that? ?he? ?has? ?nowhere? ?to? ?go?? ?If? ?that’s? ?the? ?case,? ?then? ?I’m? ?afraid? ?this? ?is? ?the? ?only? ?

place? ?that? ?he? ?could? ?spend? ?the? ?night? ?in.”? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?said.? ?

“He? ?has? ?a? ?home,? ?though? ?the? ?situation? ?at? ?home? ?might? ?not? ?be? ?great.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“Even? ?

so,? ?this? ?shrine? ?isn’t? ?any? ?better.? ?If? ?he? ?leaves,? ?then? ?we? ?can? ?find? ?something? ?for? ?him? ?to? ?eat.? ?

This? ?child? ?is? ?also? ?injured.”? ?

Mu? ?Qing? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?please? ?excuse? ?my? ?frankness,? ?but? ?we? ?don’t? ?have? ?

time? ?to? ?bother? ?with? ?these? ?minor? ?things.? ?Did? ?you? ?call? ?us? ?here? ?because? ?you’ve? ?come? ?a? ?

decision?”? ?

Of? ?all? ?the? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?who? ?resided? ?in? ?the? ?Upper? ?Court,? ?there? ?had? ?never? ?been? ?one? ?

that? ?would? ?accept? ?every? ?prayer? ?from? ?all? ?of? ?their? ?devotees.? ?With? ?countless? ?amount? ?of? ?

followers,? ?if? ?one? ?was? ?to? ?care? ?for? ?every? ?single? ?one? ?of? ?them,? ?it? ?would? ?be? ?exhausting.? ?Which? ?

was? ?why? ?sometimes,? ?they? ?would? ?turn? ?a? ?blind? ?eye? ?to? ?those? ?minor? ?and? ?less? ?impactful? ?

wishes? ?and? ?pretend? ?that? ?they? ?didn’t? ?hear? ?to? ?lessen? ?the? ?workload.? ?Maybe? ?it? ?was? ?due? ?to? ?

Xie? ?Lian’s? ?young? ?age,? ?with? ?a? ?body? ?bursting? ?with? ?energy? ?and? ?passion,? ?that? ?he? ?has? ?yet? ?to? ?

learn? ?about? ?how? ?to? ?properly? ?prioritize? ?and? ?work? ?those? ?things? ?out.? ?After? ?some? ?thought,? ?he? ?

walked? ?towards? ?the? ?entrance? ?of? ?the? ?tiny? ?shrine? ?while? ?carrying? ?the? ?umbrella? ?that? ?was? ?

gifted? ?him? ?earlier? ?by? ?those? ?pedestrians? ?on? ?the? ?street.? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?slowly? ?opened? ?the? ?umbrella.? ?The? ?falling? ?raindrops? ?beat? ?down? ?on? ?it,? ?creating? ?a? ?

pitter-patter? ?sound.? ?On? ?the? ?ground,? ?the? ?young? ?boy? ?heard? ?the? ?noise? ?and? ?thought? ?that? ?

someone? ?had? ?entered? ?and? ?shifted? ?slightly.? ?But? ?after? ?thinking? ?no? ?one? ?would? ?really? ?bother? ?

with? ?him,? ?he? ?laid? ?back? ?down? ?again.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?placed? ?the? ?opened? ?umbrella? ?by? ?the? ?

entrance.? ?The? ?young? ?boy? ?had? ?waited? ?for? ?the? ?sound? ?to? ?disappear,? ?but? ?when? ?it? ?didn’t,? ?he? ?

sat? ?up? ?in? ?suspicion? ?to? ?take? ?a? ?look.? ?When? ?he? ?saw? ?a? ?red? ?umbrella? ?leaning? ?against? ?the? ?

ground? ?under? ?the? ?rain? ?like? ?a? ?lonely? ?crimson? ?flower? ?that? ?had? ?bloomed? ?by? ?itself,? ?he? ?froze? ?in? ?

surprise.? ? ?

Watching? ?the? ?boy? ?rushing? ?forward? ?to? ?grab? ?the? ?umbrella,? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?lectured,? ?“Your? ?

Highness,? ?you’ve? ?done? ?more? ?than? ?enough? ?here.? ?If? ?you’re? ?too? ?obvious? ?and? ?he? ?finds? ?out,? ?it? ?

would? ?be? ?troublesome.”? ?

Before? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?reply,? ?the? ?young? ?boy? ?ran? ?back? ?and? ?shouted? ?from? ?behind? ?them,? ?

“Your? ?Highness!”? ?

The? ?three? ?gods? ?almost? ?jumped? ?in? ?surprise? ?and? ?turned? ?around.? ?That? ?boy,? ?cradling? ?the? ?

umbrella? ?in? ?his? ?arms,? ?had? ?an? ?eye? ?red? ?and? ?filled? ?with? ?emotion.? ?He? ?lifted? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?

shouted? ?to? ?the? ?clay? ?statue,? ?“Your? ?Highness!? ?Is? ?that? ?you?!”? ?

Feng? ?Xin? ?didn’t? ?know? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?helped? ?the? ?boy? ?to? ?chase? ?away? ?the? ?other? ?group? ?of? ?kids? ?and? ?

had? ?even? ?chucked? ?a? ?fruit? ?at? ?him? ?prior? ?to? ?this.? ?He? ?mused,? ?“This? ?kid? ?is? ?quite? ?clever,? ?he? ?

actually? ?figured? ?it? ?out.”? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?on? ?the? ?other? ?hand,? ?suspected? ?that? ?something? ?must? ?have? ?

happened? ?before? ?and? ?eyed? ?Xie? ?Lian.? ?

The? ?boy? ?begged,? ?“If? ?you’re? ?here,? ?please,? ?answer? ?my? ?one? ?question!”? ?

From? ?his? ?place? ?high? ?atop? ?the? ?altar,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?would? ?hear? ?countless? ?pleas? ?of? ?“please? ?

appear? ?before? ?me”? ?every? ?day.? ?When? ?a? ?sound? ?becomes? ?repetitive,? ?it? ?would? ?numb? ?the? ?ear? ?

and? ?eventually? ?fade? ?into? ?the? ?background.? ?Even? ?so,? ?whenever? ?he? ?hears? ?a? ?voice? ?like? ?this,? ?

he? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?drop? ?matters? ?at? ?hand? ?and? ?perk? ?up? ?his? ?ears.? ?From? ?his? ?side,? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?

cautioned,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?just? ?leave? ?it? ?be.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?speak.? ?The? ?young? ?boy? ?clutched? ?onto? ?the? ?umbrella? ?tightly? ?with? ?both? ?hands,? ?

gritting? ?his? ?teeth,? ?“I’m? ?suffering!? ?Everyday,? ?I? ?wish? ?I’d? ?die.? ?Everyday,? ?I? ?want? ?to? ?kill? ?off? ?

everyone? ?in? ?this? ?world,? ?and? ?then? ?kill? ?myself!? ?I’m? ?living? ?in? ?agony!”? ?

From? ?a? ?boy? ?that? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?older? ?than? ?thirteen,? ?shouting? ?words? ?like? ?“suffering”? ?and? ?“kill? ?

off? ?everyone”? ?sounded? ?almost? ?ridiculous? ?and? ?laughable.? ?However,? ?hidden? ?inside? ?this? ?tiny? ?

body? ?was? ?something? ?explosive;? ?something? ?that? ?nurtured? ?his? ?rage? ?and? ?roar.? ? ?

Feng? ?Xing? ?scoffed,? ?“What’s? ?wrong? ?with? ?him?? ?‘Kill? ?everyone? ?in? ?this? ?world’,? ?is? ?that? ?

something? ?a? ?kid? ?could? ?say?”? ?

Mu? ?Qing? ?said? ?flatly,? ?“He’s? ?still? ?young.? ?When? ?he? ?gets? ?older,? ?he’ll? ?know? ?that? ?what? ?he? ?

experiences? ?now? ?is? ?really? ?nothing? ?much.”? ?After? ?a? ?pause? ?he? ?looked? ?at? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?“There? ?

are? ?too? ?many? ?suffering? ?in? ?this? ?world.? ?Take? ?Yong’an’s? ?drought? ?for? ?example,? ?name? ?one? ?

Yong’an? ?citizen? ?that? ?has? ?it? ?better? ?than? ?him.? ?There’s? ?no? ?need? ?to? ?bother? ?with? ?this,? ?Your? ?

Highness.? ?Let’s? ?focus? ?on? ?our? ?priorities.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?said? ?softly,? ?“Perhaps.”? ?

To? ?another,? ?the? ?suffering? ?of? ?one? ?probably? ?only? ?looked? ?like? ?trivial? ?problems.? ? ?

The? ?boy? ?was? ?still? ?looking? ?up? ?at? ?the? ?statue.? ?His? ?eye? ?was? ?becoming? ?even? ?redder,? ?yet? ?there? ?

were? ?no? ?tears.? ?With? ?the? ?umbrella? ?in? ?one? ?hand,? ?he? ?reached? ?out? ?with? ?the? ?other? ?and? ?tugged? ?

on? ?the? ?clay? ?statue’s? ?robes,? ?he? ?persisted,? ?“For? ?what? ?should? ?I? ?live? ?for? ?in? ?this? ?world?? ?What? ?

does? ?it? ?mean? ?to? ?live?”? ?

However,? ?his? ?questions? ?were? ?met? ?by? ?silence,? ?not? ?a? ?soul? ?to? ?give? ?him? ?answers.? ?It? ?seemed? ?

that? ?the? ?young? ?boy? ?had? ?expected? ?as? ?much? ?and,? ?slowly,? ?dropped? ?his? ?head.? ?

To? ?his? ?surprise,? ?suddenly,? ?a? ?voice? ?from? ?above? ?broke? ?through? ?the? ?dead? ?silence,? ?“If? ?you? ?

don’t? ?know? ?how? ?to? ?live? ?on? ?anymore,? ?then? ?live? ?for? ?me.”? ?

Next? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?both? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?had? ?not? ?expected? ?him? ?to? ?actually? ?answer,? ?

and? ?such? ?an? ?answer? ?too!? ?Their? ?eyes? ?widened,? ?“...? ?Your? ?Highness?!”? ?

The? ?young? ?boy’s? ?head? ?shot? ?up? ?but? ?there? ?was? ?no? ?one? ?there.? ?Only? ?a? ?soft? ?and? ?gentle? ?voice? ?

came? ?from? ?that? ?clay? ?statue:? ?“I? ?have? ?no? ?answer? ?to? ?the? ?question? ?you? ?asked.? ?However,? ?if? ?

you? ?don’t? ?know? ?the? ?meaning? ?to? ?your? ?life,? ?then? ?make? ?me? ?that? ?meaning,? ?and? ?use? ?me? ?as? ?

the? ?reason? ?to? ?live.“? ?

Feng? ?Xing? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing’s? ?faces? ?looked? ?as? ?if? ?they? ?were? ?about? ?explode,? ?and? ?both? ?reached? ?

out? ?their? ?hands? ?to? ?smother? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?mouth,? ?sputtering,? ?“No? ?more,? ?Your? ?Highness!? ?

You’re? ?violating? ?the? ?rules!? ?The? ?rules!!”? ?

But? ?before? ?they? ?could? ?fully? ?cover? ?up? ?his? ?mouth,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?managed? ?to? ?shout? ?out,? ?“Thank? ?

you? ?for? ?your? ?flower!? ?It’s? ?beautiful,? ?I? ?like? ?it? ?very? ?much!”? ?

————-? ?

Ch.74:? ?Praying? ?for? ?Rain;? ?The? ?Rain? ?Master? ?Lends? ?the? ?Rain? ?Hat? ?

That? ?young? ?boy? ?was? ?completely? ?and? ?utterly? ?stunned.? ?

Meanwhile? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?both? ?wished? ?they? ?could? ?grow? ?several? ?more? ?arms? ?and? ?

legs? ?to? ?smother? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?and? ?with? ?great? ?difficulty,? ?finally? ?pulled? ?him? ?down.? ?Yet,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

effortlessly? ?pushed? ?them? ?away? ?and? ?said,? ?“Alright!? ?I’m? ?done!? ?I? ?know? ?I? ?violated? ?the? ?rules,? ?

but? ?you? ?just? ?pretend? ?you’ve? ?heard? ?nothing? ?and? ?all? ?will? ?be? ?well.? ?As? ?long? ?you? ?guys? ?don’t? ?

say? ?anything,? ?no? ?one? ?would? ?know.? ?Just? ?this? ?once.? ?Don’t? ?say? ?anything,? ?you? ?hear? ?me?”? ? ?

Mu? ?Qing? ?looked? ?like? ?he? ?was? ?forced? ?to? ?eat? ?a? ?sock? ?and? ?shook? ?his? ?head,? ?muttering,? ?“I? ?can’t? ?

believe? ?you...? ?saying? ?something? ?like? ?“live? ?on? ?for? ?me”? ?with? ?such? ?confidence,? ?you’re? ?

really...”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?think? ?what? ?he? ?said? ?was? ?much? ?anything,? ?but? ?hearing? ?Mu? ?Qing,? ?now? ?it? ?

sounded? ?like? ?it? ?was? ?quite? ?the? ?something? ?indeed,? ?and? ?he? ?flushed? ?a? ?bright? ?red? ?colour.? ?Feng? ?

Xin? ?immediately? ?frowned,? ?“Enough.? ?His? ?Highness? ?already? ?said? ?not? ?to? ?speak? ?of? ?it,? ?so? ?why? ?

are? ?you? ?still? ?talking? ?about? ?it?”? ?Yet? ?the? ?corners? ?of? ?his? ?lips? ?were? ?twisted.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?

stand? ?it? ?anymore? ?and? ?defended? ?himself,? ?“What,? ?what.? ?What? ?I? ?said? ?clearly? ?worked!? ?Look!”? ?

That? ?young? ?boy? ?sat? ?dazedly? ?for? ?a? ?long? ?while? ?but? ?when? ?no? ?more? ?of? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?voices? ?

came,? ?he? ?rubbed? ?hard? ?at? ?his? ?face,? ?reached? ?for? ?the? ?offering? ?plates? ?on? ?the? ?altar,? ?held? ?it? ?in? ?

his? ?arms,? ?and? ?started? ?munching? ?at? ?the? ?dried? ?out? ?fruits? ?and? ?refreshments.? ?He? ?chewed? ?and? ?

chewed? ?vigorously,? ?looking? ?like? ?a? ?small? ?animal? ?both? ?vicious? ?and? ?pitiful.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?bent? ?

down? ?to? ?watch? ?him,? ?a? ?smile? ?appearing? ?on? ?his? ?face? ?and? ?said? ?to? ?the? ?other? ?two,? ?“You? ?see?? ?It? ?

worked.? ?He? ?refused? ?to? ?eat? ?before,? ?but? ?now? ?he’s? ?eating.”? ? ?

“Alright,? ?fine.? ?It? ?works.? ?Because? ?you’re? ?a? ?god.”? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?said.? ?

“Right,? ?right.? ?It? ?works.? ?Because? ?you’re? ?a? ?god.”? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?said? ?too.? ?

“...”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?straightened? ?and? ?became? ?serious? ?once? ?more,? ?“That’s? ?right,? ?I? ?am? ?a? ?god.? ?I? ?called? ?

you? ?both? ?over? ?because? ?I’ve? ?indeed? ?come? ?to? ?a? ?decision.”? ? ?

In? ?an? ?instant,? ?the? ?relaxed? ?atmosphere? ?turned? ?heavy? ?again.? ?“What? ?do? ?you? ?want? ?us? ?to? ?do?”? ?

Feng? ?Xin? ?asked,? ?while? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?questioned,? ?“Are? ?we? ?still? ?minding? ?this? ?matter?”? ? ?

“We? ?are.? ?It’s? ?simple.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“There’s? ?not? ?enough? ?water? ?in? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?Xianle,? ?

so? ?we’ll? ?go? ?to? ?the? ?kingdoms? ?outside? ?Xianle.”? ? ?

“Go? ?to? ?the? ?other? ?kingdoms?”? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?asked,? ?hesitant,? ?“Wouldn’t? ?that? ?be? ?too? ?far?? ?We’d? ?

need? ?to? ?borrow? ?water-creating? ?spiritual? ?devices? ?from? ?some? ?water? ?god,? ?and? ?impose? ?

ourselves? ?in? ?the? ?territories? ?of? ?other? ?heavenly? ?officials.? ?They? ?might? ?not? ?be? ?willing.”? ? ?

Of? ?course? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?considered? ?this,? ?“I’m? ?going? ?to? ?give? ?it? ?a? ?shot.? ?It’s? ?still? ?better? ?than? ?

doing? ?nothing.? ?You? ?two? ?stay? ?and? ?continue? ?to? ?watch? ?over? ?Yong’an.? ?Assist? ?the? ?worst? ?

affected? ?areas? ?and? ?I? ?will? ?return? ?to? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Court.? ?Any? ?problems?”? ?

“No? ?problems.? ?I’ve? ?got? ?your? ?back.”? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?said.? ?

Mu? ?Qing? ?gave? ?it? ?a? ?thought? ?and? ?questioned,? ?“Then? ?what? ?about? ?all? ?the? ?prayers? ?from? ?the? ?

devotees? ?at? ?the? ?Temple? ?of? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince,? ?Your? ?Highness?”? ? ?

“I? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?get? ?to? ?that.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied,? ?“Pick? ?out? ?the? ?important? ?ones? ?and? ?take? ?care? ?

of? ?them? ?for? ?me.? ?The? ?not? ?so? ?dire? ?ones? ?can? ?wait.”? ? ?

Mu? ?Qing? ?didn’t? ?look? ?too? ?optimistic? ?but? ?still? ?acknowledged,? ?“You’re? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince,? ?we’ll? ?

listen? ?to? ?you.? ?But,? ?I’d? ?advise? ?not? ?to? ?let? ?them? ?wait? ?too? ?long.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?patted? ?their? ?shoulders.? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?bowed? ?then? ?departed,? ?leaving? ?

only? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?that? ?child? ?in? ?that? ?small? ?shrine.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?exited? ?the? ?shrine,? ?took? ?a? ?glance? ?

back? ?but? ?didn’t? ?stay? ?another? ?moment? ?longer,? ?rushing? ?straight? ?for? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Court.? ? ?

Initially,? ?he? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?pay? ?a? ?visit? ?to? ?the? ?few? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?that? ?controlled? ?water,? ?but? ?

strangely,? ?a? ?number? ?of? ?them? ?were? ?all? ?away? ?from? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Court,? ?and? ?only? ?the? ?Rain? ?

Master,? ?who? ?didn’t? ?reside? ?in? ?the? ?heavens,? ?was? ?around.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?hurrying? ?about? ?

down? ?the? ?streets? ?of? ?the? ?court? ?and? ?bumped? ?into? ?a? ?black? ?clad? ?woman? ?official? ?with? ?a? ?

number? ?of? ?scrolls? ?in? ?her? ?arms.? ?She? ?smiled,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?you’re? ?finally? ?back.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?immediately? ?asked,? ?“Nangong,? ?you’ve? ?come? ?in? ?the? ?nick? ?of? ?time.? ?Do? ?you? ?know? ?

where? ?the? ?Rain? ?Master’s? ?residence? ?is? ?located?”? ? ?

This? ?black? ?clad? ?woman? ?was? ?named? ?Nangong? ?Jie,? ?a? ?low-ranking? ?civil? ?official? ?from? ?the? ?

Middle? ?Court.? ?After? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?ascended,? ?much? ?of? ?the? ?grunt? ?work? ?and? ?errands? ?were? ?

taken? ?care? ?of? ?by? ?her.? ?This? ?individual? ?was? ?well-informed? ?of? ?news? ?and? ?handled? ?affairs? ?well,? ?

so? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?thought? ?well? ?of? ?her.? ? ?

“The? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master’s? ?new? ?palace? ?hasn’t? ?finished? ?construction? ?yet,? ?so? ?the? ?current? ?

residence? ?is? ?temporarily? ?situated? ?at? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?Yushi? ?in? ?the? ?South.”? ?Nan? ?Gong? ?Jie? ?

said.? ?She? ?gave? ?him? ?the? ?address? ?to? ?the? ?Rain? ?Master? ?residence? ?then? ?added,? ?“Why? ?are? ?you? ?

looking? ?for? ?the? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master?”? ?

“For? ?an? ?urgent? ?business.? ?Thanks? ?for? ?your? ?help.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said? ?and? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?leave,? ?

but? ?turned? ?back? ?and? ?cleared? ?his? ?throat,? ?sounding? ?embarrassed,? ?“Nangong,? ?you’re? ?more? ?

familiar? ?with? ?the? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?of? ?the? ?Upper? ?Court.? ?Can? ?you? ?tell? ?me? ?if? ?the? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?

Master...? ?likes? ?anything?”? ?

Usually,? ?when? ?a? ?newly? ?appointed? ?heavenly? ?official? ?ascended,? ?the? ?clever? ?ones? ?would? ?pay? ?

a? ?visit? ?to? ?all? ?the? ?palaces? ?of? ?every? ?official? ?and? ?greet? ?them? ?with? ?gifts? ?as? ?a? ?form? ?of? ?social? ?

salutation.? ?This? ?was? ?pretty? ?much? ?an? ?unspoken? ?rule,? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?ascended? ?too? ?suddenly,? ?

and? ?when? ?he? ?first? ?arrived? ?no? ?one? ?taught? ?him.? ?It? ?was? ?only? ?afterwards? ?that? ?Guoshi? ?

reminded? ?him,? ?but? ?by? ?then? ?it? ?was? ?already? ?too? ?late,? ?and? ?things? ?would? ?become? ?awkward.? ?

Also,? ?something? ?like? ?this? ?felt? ?too? ?much? ?like? ?backhanded? ?bribery,? ?and? ?as? ?a? ?Crown? ?Prince,? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?appreciate? ?the? ?practice,? ?so? ?in? ?the? ?end? ?he? ?decided? ?to? ?just? ?go? ?about? ?things? ?

naturally,? ?hoping? ?for? ?a? ?chance? ?to? ?build? ?relationships? ?with? ?the? ?other? ?officials? ?through? ?more? ?

genuine? ?means.? ?

It? ?was? ?an? ?admirable? ?act,? ?but? ?now? ?he’d? ?turned? ?back? ?on? ?it? ?and? ?proactively? ?asked? ?after? ?what? ?

a? ?heavenly? ?official? ?would? ?like,? ?sounding? ?quite? ?obvious? ?like? ?he? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?bribe? ?

someone.? ?However,? ?he? ?had? ?no? ?other? ?choice.? ?The? ?other? ?gods? ?who? ?resided? ?at? ?the? ?

Heavenly? ?Court? ?at? ?least? ?communicated? ?through? ?the? ?spiritual? ?communication? ?array,? ?and? ?

that? ?would? ?make? ?negotiation? ?much? ?easier.? ?The? ?Rain? ?Master? ?was? ?involved? ?in? ?none? ?of? ?

such? ?interactions,? ?so? ?for? ?a? ?first? ?visit,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?want? ?people? ?to? ?misunderstand? ?he’d? ?

be? ?borrowing? ?spiritual? ?devices? ?for? ?nothing.? ?

Nangong? ?Jie? ?immediately? ?understood.? ?“Regrettably,? ?I’m? ?afraid? ?I? ?can’t? ?help? ?Your? ?Highness? ?

in? ?this.? ?The? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master? ?is? ?quite? ?low-key,? ?and? ?not? ?just? ?me,? ?but? ?there’s? ?probably? ?no? ?

one? ?in? ?the? ?entire? ?heavenly? ?realm? ?who? ?knows? ?this? ?lord’s? ?personal? ?interests.? ?Sorry.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?reddened,? ?“No? ?worries,? ?don’t? ?take? ?it? ?to? ?heart.? ?Thanks.”? ?

Nangong? ?Jie? ?added,? ?“But,? ?if? ?my? ?lord? ?has? ?anything? ?the? ?matter,? ?it? ?won’t? ?hurt? ?to? ?pay? ?a? ?visit? ?

directly.? ?By? ?the? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master’s? ?temper,? ?you? ?might? ?still? ?very? ?well? ?be? ?received.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?thanked? ?her? ?again,? ?and? ?followed? ?her? ?direction? ?going? ?southward,? ?arriving? ?at? ?the? ?

temporary? ?residence? ?of? ?the? ?Rain? ?Master.? ?

It? ?was? ?a? ?small? ?village,? ?the? ?mountains? ?green? ?and? ?the? ?waters? ?clear,? ?a? ?land? ?of? ?picturesque? ?

scenery,? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?no? ?mind? ?to? ?appreciate? ?it.? ?He? ?crossed? ?through? ?the? ?ridges? ?of? ?

fields? ?and? ?finally? ?saw? ?a? ?stone? ?slate? ?with? ?the? ?word? ?‘Rain’? ?engraved? ?on? ?it.? ?This? ?means,? ?after? ?

passing? ?the? ?stone? ?slate,? ?it’d? ?be? ?the? ?temporary? ?domain? ?of? ?the? ?Rain? ?Master,? ?and? ?those? ?

working? ?within? ?should? ?all? ?be? ?the? ?Rain? ?Master’s? ?subordinates.? ?But? ?as? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?walked,? ?it? ?

was? ?only? ?lush? ?green? ?fields? ?all? ?around.? ?In? ?the? ?fields? ?were? ?oxen? ?mooing,? ?mills? ?turning,? ?

assiduous? ?farmers? ?planting? ?rice,? ?and? ?next? ?to? ?the? ?fields? ?was? ?a? ?small,? ?crooked? ?thatched? ?

cottage.? ?There? ?was? ?no? ?trace? ?nor? ?signs? ?of? ?divinity,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?wondered? ?if? ?he’d? ?gone? ?in? ?

the? ?wrong? ?direction.? ?Wasn’t? ?this? ?only? ?an? ?impoverished,? ?small? ?farming? ?village?? ? ?

While? ?he? ?was? ?doubting? ?himself,? ?a? ?black? ?ox? ?from? ?a? ?field? ?further? ?away? ?suddenly? ?moo-ed? ?

twice,? ?stood? ?back? ?on? ?its? ?hind? ?legs,? ?the? ?fore? ?legs? ?stretched,? ?and? ?it? ?helped? ?itself? ?remove? ?the? ?

plow? ?from? ?its? ?back.? ?That? ?strong? ?and? ?solid? ?body? ?narrowed,? ?that? ?long? ?oxen? ?snout? ?shrank,? ?

and? ?within? ?a? ?blink? ?of? ?an? ?eye,? ?it? ?had? ?transformed? ?into? ?a? ?barebacked? ?farmer? ?from? ?a? ?buff? ?

black? ?ox.? ?

That? ?farmer? ?was? ?tall? ?and? ?strong,? ?his? ?muscles? ?well? ?defined,? ?his? ?expression? ?stubborn,? ?and? ?

his? ?nose? ?had? ?a? ?steel? ?nose? ?ring? ?hooked? ?through? ?like? ?that? ?of? ?an? ?ox,? ?a? ?long? ?weed? ?hanging? ?

from? ?his? ?lips.? ?The? ?other? ?farmers? ?witnessed? ?this? ?extraordinary? ?transformation? ?but? ?

continued? ?to? ?work? ?like? ?it? ?was? ?nothing.? ?Thus,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?concluded? ?that? ?no? ?one? ?there? ?was? ?

mortal? ?and? ?approached,? ?raising? ?his? ?hands? ?and? ?folding? ?them? ?into? ?a? ?polite? ?fist,? ?“Fellow? ?

cultivator,? ?may? ?I? ?inquire? ?if? ?this? ?is? ?the? ?temporary? ?residence? ?of? ?the? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master?”? ? ?

That? ?black? ?ox? ?farmer? ?pointed? ?to? ?the? ?field? ?bank? ?across? ?and? ?replied,? ?“Yea.? ?The? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?

Master? ?lives? ?there.”? ?

“...”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?around? ?several? ?times? ?before? ?confirming? ?that? ?in? ?the? ?pointed? ?direction,? ?

there? ?was? ?indeed? ?only? ?that? ?thatched? ?cottage? ?that? ?looked? ?like? ?it? ?would? ?topple? ?by? ?a? ?mere? ?

breeze? ?and? ?for? ?sure? ?leaked? ?on? ?a? ?rainy? ?day.? ?

Even? ?his? ?most? ?shabby,? ?decrepit? ?shrines? ?looked? ?more? ?solid? ?than? ?that? ?little? ?cottage.? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?was? ?full? ?of? ?wonder.? ?They? ?said? ?the? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master? ?was? ?of? ?a? ?royal? ?descendant? ?like? ?

himself? ?from? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?Yushi,? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?for? ?this? ?very? ?reason? ?that? ?he? ?didn’t? ?bring? ?

any? ?precious? ?gems? ?or? ?rare? ?treasures? ?as? ?a? ?greeting? ?gift,? ?thinking? ?perhaps? ?the? ?Rain? ?Master? ?

felt? ?the? ?same? ?way? ?he? ?did? ?in? ?regards? ?to? ?those? ?things,? ?which? ?was? ?disdain.? ?Why? ?such? ?

destitution? ?after? ?ascension?? ?Maybe? ?it? ?was? ?another? ?form? ?of? ?cultivation?? ? ?

Without? ?forgetting? ?his? ?manners,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?thanked? ?the? ?farmer? ?and? ?approached? ?the? ?little? ?

cottage,? ?calling? ?with? ?a? ?loud? ?and? ?clear? ?voice,? ?“Lord? ?Rain? ?Master,? ?please? ?forgive? ?this? ?Prince? ?

of? ?Xianle? ?for? ?making? ?this? ?abrupt? ?visit? ?without? ?prior? ?notice.”? ?

There? ?was? ?no? ?response? ?from? ?within? ?the? ?cottage,? ?and? ?that? ?farmer? ?came? ?forward,? ?hauling? ?

the? ?plow,? ?“Oh?? ?You’re? ?that? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?who? ?ascended? ?at? ?the? ?age? ?of? ?seventeen?”? ?

“Regrettably.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?

“It’s? ?nothing? ?regrettable.? ?It’s? ?the? ?truth.”? ?That? ?farmer? ?said,? ?“But,? ?the? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master? ?

doesn’t? ?like? ?meeting? ?people? ?and? ?was? ?even? ?injured? ?recently,? ?so? ?I’m? ?afraid? ?you? ?won’t? ?be? ?

received? ?today.”? ? ?

Hearing? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?disappointed? ?but? ?still? ?wanted? ?to? ?keep? ?trying,? ?“Then? ?may? ?I? ?ask? ?

you? ?to? ?pass? ?on? ?a? ?message? ?for? ?me?? ?I? ?have? ?an? ?urgent? ?request.? ?However,? ?if? ?the? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?

Master? ?should? ?feel? ?inconvenienced? ?by? ?it? ?I? ?won’t? ?push.”? ? ?

That? ?farmer? ?chuckled,? ?“No? ?need? ?to? ?pass? ?on? ?word,? ?we? ?all? ?know? ?why? ?you’re? ?here.? ?Feels? ?

bad,? ?right?? ?Having? ?no? ?water? ?in? ?Xianle.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?taken? ?aback,? ?“You? ?know? ?about? ?the? ?affairs? ?of? ?Xianle?”? ?

“Of? ?course? ?I? ?know.”? ?That? ?farmer? ?said,? ?“It’s? ?not? ?just? ?us? ?here? ?in? ?this? ?shoddy? ?mountain? ?

ravine,? ?at? ?present,? ?who? ?doesn’t? ?know? ?that? ?catastrophe? ?is? ?about? ?to? ?befall? ?your? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?

Xianle?? ?You? ?don’t? ?know? ?anything? ?about? ?your? ?own? ?affairs,? ?but? ?everyone? ?else? ?watching? ?

closely? ?understands? ?what’s? ?going? ?on? ?better? ?than? ?you? ?yourself,? ?and? ?they’re? ?probably? ?all? ?

enjoying? ?the? ?show,? ?haha.? ?You’re? ?here? ?to? ?borrow? ?the? ?Rain? ?Master’s? ?spiritual? ?device? ?for? ?

disaster? ?aids,? ?right?”? ? ?

Those? ?were? ?enlightening? ?words.? ?It? ?was? ?only? ?then? ?did? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?realize,? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?that? ?those? ?

heavenly? ?officials? ?in? ?the? ?Upper? ?Court? ?were? ?all? ?gone? ?at? ?the? ?same? ?time,? ?they? ?all? ?had? ?known? ?

what? ?his? ?intentions? ?were,? ?and? ?purposely? ?shut? ?their? ?doors? ?or? ?left? ?a? ?long? ?time? ?ago? ?to? ?avoid? ?

him,? ?not? ?wanting? ?to? ?get? ?pulled? ?into? ?his? ?mess.? ?He? ?sighed,? ?thinking,? ?’Should? ?I? ?maybe? ?really? ?

have? ?paid? ?everyone’s? ?palaces? ?a? ?visit? ?at? ?the? ?beginning? ?so? ?it’d? ?be? ?easier? ?to? ?find? ?

cooperation? ?amongst? ?my? ?peers? ?going? ?forward?’? ? ?

It? ?was? ?a? ?depressing? ?thought.? ?He? ?responded? ?in? ?a? ?small? ?voice,? ?“That’s? ?right.? ?If? ?it’s? ?

inconvenient? ?for? ?the? ?Rain? ?Master,? ?I? ?won’t? ?be? ?bothersome.”? ? ?

However,? ?that? ?farmer? ?said,? ?“Why? ?not? ?be? ?bothersome?? ?Because? ?it’s? ?shameful?? ?This? ?

relates? ?to? ?the? ?survival? ?of? ?your? ?kingdom,? ?shouldn’t? ?you? ?cause? ?trouble? ?and? ?annoy? ?us? ?to? ?

death?? ?Is? ?it? ?so? ?hard? ?to? ?lower? ?yourself? ?a? ?little?? ?Young? ?people? ?shouldn’t? ?be? ?so? ?easily? ?

unnerved.? ?Let? ?me? ?say? ?something? ?unpleasant:? ?should? ?the? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master? ?help? ?it’s? ?an? ?

account? ?of? ?kindness,? ?if? ?not,? ?it’s? ?on? ?the? ?account? ?of? ?duty.? ?Lending? ?the? ?device? ?to? ?you? ?would? ?

be? ?based? ?on? ?mood,? ?if? ?not,? ?you? ?can’t? ?complain? ?after? ?either.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?knew? ?what? ?he? ?said? ?made? ?sense,? ?but? ?with? ?such? ?a? ?dire? ?situation? ?at? ?hand? ?plus? ?his? ?

unfriendly? ?tone,? ?a? ?wave? ?of? ?anger? ?rolled? ?up? ?and? ?he? ?held? ?his? ?head? ?higher,? ?sounding? ?grave,? ?

“I? ?understand? ?everything? ?you’re? ?saying,? ?and? ?I? ?would? ?never? ?complain? ?behind? ?anyone’s? ?

back,? ?so? ?why? ?must? ?you? ?predetermine? ?how? ?I? ?am?? ?I? ?said? ?I? ?won’t? ?be? ?bothersome? ?simply? ?

because? ?I? ?don’t? ?want? ?to? ?do? ?anything? ?pointless? ?and? ?cause? ?trouble? ?for? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master? ?at? ?

the? ?same? ?time.? ?But? ?if? ?the? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master? ?doesn’t? ?feel? ?inconvenienced? ?and? ?I? ?can? ?

borrow? ?the? ?spiritual? ?device? ?so? ?long? ?as? ?I? ?am? ?bothersome,? ?then? ?it’d? ?be? ?nothing? ?for? ?me? ?to? ?

offer? ?up? ?all? ?eight? ?thousand? ?of? ?my? ?temples? ?and? ?kowtow? ?one? ?hundred? ?times.”? ?

That? ?farmer? ?laughed? ?out? ?loud,? ?“Angry?? ?Temper? ?of? ?a? ?child.? ?Here!”? ? ?

He? ?made? ?a? ?throw;? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?raised? ?his? ?hand? ?and? ?caught? ?a? ?verdant? ?bamboo? ?hat,? ?the? ?very? ?

one? ?that? ?farmer? ?had? ?on? ?his? ?back.? ? ?

“What’s? ?this?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.? ?

“That? ?thing? ?you? ?wanted? ?to? ?borrow.”? ?That? ?farmer? ?said,? ?“The? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master? ?already? ?

asked? ?me? ?to? ?pass? ?this? ?to? ?you? ?before? ?you? ?came.? ?Use? ?it? ?carefully.? ?If? ?you? ?break? ?it? ?we? ?won’t? ?

forgive? ?you.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian’s? ?eyes? ?widened,? ?“Why?”? ?

“Didn’t? ?I? ?already? ?tell? ?you? ?why?”? ?That? ?farmer? ?said,? ?“Lending? ?it? ?to? ?you? ?was? ?based? ?on? ?mood.? ?

Other? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?won’t? ?help? ?you,? ?so? ?the? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master? ?just? ?had? ?to? ?help? ?you.? ?

Whatever? ?the? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master? ?wants? ?to? ?do? ?it? ?shall? ?be? ?done.”? ? ?

“THANK? ?YOU? ?SO? ?MUCH!? ?THANK? ?YOU!!”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?cried.? ?

That? ?farmer? ?added,? ?“Don’t? ?be? ?too? ?happy? ?so? ?soon,? ?Your? ?Highness.? ?The? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master? ?

may? ?have? ?ascended? ?before? ?you,? ?but? ?there? ?aren’t? ?as? ?many? ?devotees,? ?therefore? ?not? ?as? ?

powerful? ?as? ?you,? ?and? ?plus? ?there? ?are? ?recent? ?injuries.? ?Other? ?than? ?lending? ?you? ?that? ?thing,? ?

the? ?rest? ?is? ?all? ?up? ?to? ?you.? ?Distant? ?waters? ?cannot? ?quench? ?nearby? ?thirst;? ?that? ?Rain? ?Master? ?

Hat? ?can? ?only? ?move? ?rain? ?but? ?not? ?create? ?water.? ?There’s? ?not? ?enough? ?water? ?in? ?your? ?Xianle,? ?

so? ?you? ?must? ?borrow? ?from? ?other? ?kingdoms,? ?and? ?they? ?may? ?not? ?be? ?willing.? ?Only? ?the? ?

Kingdom? ?of? ?Yushi? ?has? ?an? ?abundant? ?collection? ?over? ?the? ?years,? ?and? ?rather? ?wealthy? ?in? ?that? ?

aspect.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?more? ?than? ?clear? ?just? ?how? ?difficult? ?it? ?was? ?to? ?lend? ?your? ?own? ?spiritual? ?device? ?to? ?

a? ?stranger.? ?He? ?bowed? ?deeply? ?to? ?that? ?thatched? ?cottage,? ?“That? ?the? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master? ?would? ?

lend? ?a? ?helping? ?hand,? ?I? ?am? ?profoundly? ?grateful.? ?I? ?will? ?not? ?forget? ?this? ?kindness;? ?should? ?there? ?

be? ?anything? ?I? ?can? ?do? ?to? ?help? ?in? ?the? ?future,? ?pray? ?the? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master? ?not? ?hesitate? ?to? ?ask? ?

for? ?me.? ?Farewell!”? ? ?

With? ?the? ?spiritual? ?device? ?in? ?hand,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?immediately? ?found? ?a? ?lake? ?in? ?the? ?south,? ?ladled? ?

a? ?large? ?quantity? ?of? ?lake? ?water? ?with? ?the? ?Rain? ?Master? ?Hat,? ?crossed? ?thousands? ?of? ?miles? ?and? ?

returned? ?to? ?Yong’an? ?in? ?Xianle.? ?He? ?found? ?that? ?worst? ?affected? ?village,? ?the? ?Bay? ?of? ?Lang? ?Er,? ?

and? ?flipped? ?that? ?bamboo? ?hat? ?from? ?the? ?clouds.? ?

Soon? ?after,? ?a? ?small? ?bout? ?of? ?rain? ?fell? ?from? ?the? ?sky.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?jumped? ?off? ?the? ?clouds,? ?landing? ?

both? ?feet? ?on? ?the? ?ground.? ?Those? ?half-dead? ?villagers? ?could? ?not? ?believe? ?their? ?eyes;? ?some? ?

rushed? ?out? ?of? ?their? ?doors? ?to? ?cheer? ?under? ?the? ?rain,? ?and? ?some? ?hurriedly? ?brought? ?out? ?

buckets? ?of? ?all? ?different? ?sizes? ?to? ?collect? ?the? ?water.? ?

Seeing? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?sighed? ?a? ?breath? ?of? ?relief,? ?and? ?finally? ?revealed? ?a? ?smile.? ?Just? ?then,? ?he? ?

heard? ?a? ?voice? ?call? ?out? ?from? ?afar,? ?“Your? ?Highness!”? ?

He? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?saw? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?appear? ?from? ?behind? ?a? ?tree,? ?his? ?face? ?dark.? ?Seeing? ?

his? ?gloomy? ?expression,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?knew? ?something? ?was? ?wrong.? ?“What? ?is? ?it?? ?Did? ?something? ?

happen?”? ?

———? ?

Ch.75:? ?Closing? ?the? ?Capital? ?Gates;? ?Survival? ?of? ?Yong’an? ?Barred? ?

“Your? ?Highness,? ?what? ?took? ?you? ?so? ?many? ?days?”? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?asked.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?taken? ?aback,? ?“Did? ?I? ?leave? ?for? ?very? ?long?”? ? ?

Traveling? ?all? ?over,? ?through? ?the? ?heavens? ?and? ?the? ?earth,? ?scooping? ?lake? ?water,? ?mounting? ?

clouds? ?and? ?making? ?rain,? ?all? ?without? ?care? ?for? ?day? ?or? ?night,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?hadn’t? ?realized? ?just? ?

how? ?much? ?time? ?had? ?passed.? ? ?

“It’s? ?been? ?several? ?days!”? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?said,? ?“The? ?prayers? ?from? ?all? ?the? ?devotees? ?at? ?the? ?Temple? ?

of? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?have? ?piled? ?up? ?into? ?a? ?mountain.”? ?

Just? ?then,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?the? ?rain? ?fading? ?and? ?extended? ?a? ?hand,? ?“Didn’t? ?I? ?tell? ?you? ?both? ?to? ?

take? ?care? ?of? ?the? ?important? ?ones? ?first?”? ? ?

“The? ?ones? ?we? ?can? ?take? ?care? ?of? ?have? ?all? ?been? ?sorted.”? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?replied,? ?“But...? ?But? ?there? ?

are? ?too? ?many? ?prayers? ?that? ?we? ?haven’t? ?the? ?right? ?to? ?take? ?over.? ?That’s? ?why? ?I? ?asked? ?Your? ?

Highness? ?not? ?to? ?let? ?them? ?wait? ?too? ?long,? ?and? ?hurry? ?back.”? ? ?

When? ?he? ?finished,? ?the? ?rain? ?stopped? ?at? ?the? ?same? ?time.? ?This? ?bout? ?of? ?rain? ?lasted? ?much? ?

shorter? ?than? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?expected,? ?and? ?he? ?felt? ?his? ?heart? ?sinking.? ?As? ?the? ?clouds? ?

dispersed,? ?a? ?verdant? ?bamboo? ?hat? ?fluttered? ?down,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?caught? ?it? ?with? ?both? ?his? ?

hands.? ?“But? ?do? ?you? ?see? ?this? ?situation?? ?I? ?can’t? ?get? ?away? ?either.”? ? ?

Mu? ?Qing? ?frowned,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?you? ?were? ?able? ?to? ?borrow? ?the? ?Rain? ?Master’s? ?spiritual? ?

device?? ?Where? ?did? ?the? ?water? ?come? ?from?”? ? ?

“The? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?Yushi? ?from? ?the? ?south.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied.? ?

“That? ?far?”? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?said,? ?“How? ?much? ?power? ?does? ?that? ?sap? ?from? ?you? ?for? ?moving? ?water? ?

just? ?the? ?once?? ?And? ?if? ?every? ?bout? ?of? ?rain? ?is? ?this? ?small? ?in? ?size? ?and? ?quantity,? ?if? ?you? ?keep? ?this? ?

up,? ?how? ?will? ?you? ?manage? ?to? ?answer? ?your? ?followers’? ?prayers?”? ? ?

Even? ?without? ?him? ?saying? ?it? ?out? ?loud? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?knew.? ?He’s? ?a? ?martial? ?god,? ?and? ?the? ?devotees? ?

to? ?the? ?Temple? ?of? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?were? ?his? ?foundation,? ?the? ?source? ?of? ?his? ?spiritual? ?

powers.? ?What? ?he? ?was? ?doing? ?was? ?no? ?different? ?than? ?abandoning? ?his? ?base,? ?and? ?if? ?he? ?wasn’t? ?

careful,? ?both? ?sides? ?would? ?suffer.? ?But? ?what? ?else? ?could? ?be? ?done? ?other? ?than? ?what? ?he? ?was? ?

doing? ?now?? ?

“I? ?know.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“But? ?if? ?things? ?go? ?on? ?like? ?this? ?and? ?a? ?riot? ?breaks? ?out? ?in? ?Yong’an,? ?the? ?

Temple? ?of? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?would? ?also? ?be? ?affected? ?sooner? ?or? ?later.”? ?

“It’s? ?already? ?breaking? ?out!”? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?said.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?shocked,? ?“What?!”? ? ?

After? ?hearing? ?Mu? ?Qing’s? ?report,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?rushed? ?back? ?to? ?the? ?royal? ?capital? ?of? ?Xianle.? ?Just? ?

as? ?he’d? ?come? ?to? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Martial? ?Avenue,? ?there? ?just? ?so? ?happened? ?to? ?be? ?a? ?band? ?of? ?

royal? ?guards,? ?decked? ?in? ?full? ?armour,? ?sharp? ?weapons? ?in? ?hand,? ?walking? ?over? ?with? ?a? ?group? ?

of? ?detained,? ?unkempt? ?men? ?with? ?shackles? ?on? ?both? ?their? ?hands? ?and? ?around? ?their? ?necks.? ?

Citizens? ?crowded? ?on? ?both? ?sides? ?of? ?the? ?road,? ?each? ?face? ?full? ?of? ?rage.? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?gripped? ?his? ?

black? ?bow,? ?tense? ?and? ?ready,? ?as? ?if? ?prepared? ?for? ?any? ?sudden? ?riots.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?cried,? ?“Feng? ?

Xin!? ?Who’re? ?the? ?detainees?? ?What? ?crime? ?did? ?they? ?commit?? ?Where? ?are? ?they? ?taking? ?them?”? ? ?

Hearing? ?his? ?voice,? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?stomped? ?over,? ?“Your? ?Highness!? ?They’re? ?all? ?people? ?of? ?

Yong’an.”? ?

There? ?were? ?over? ?ten? ?of? ?those? ?men,? ?all? ?tall? ?and? ?gaunt,? ?their? ?skins? ?slightly? ?dark.? ?Behind? ?the? ?

soldiers? ?trailed? ?a? ?few? ?old? ?men? ?and? ?a? ?number? ?of? ?anxious? ?women? ?and? ?children.? ?“The? ?ones? ?

following? ?behind? ?are? ?too?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?questioned.? ?

“They? ?all? ?are.”? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?replied.? ?

Turns? ?out,? ?in? ?the? ?past? ?several? ?months? ?at? ?the? ?height? ?of? ?the? ?drought? ?in? ?Yong’an,? ?many? ?of? ?

the? ?residents? ?uprooted? ?and? ?escaped? ?to? ?the? ?east? ?in? ?waves.? ?When? ?it? ?was? ?only? ?some? ?ten? ?

people? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?obvious,? ?but? ?the? ?flow? ?was? ?endless,? ?and? ?by? ?now? ?there? ?were? ?more? ?than? ?

five? ?hundred? ?people.? ?When? ?five? ?hundred? ?people? ?gather,? ?it? ?became? ?quite? ?the? ?sight.? ?

Those? ?people? ?of? ?Yong’an? ?were? ?strangers? ?to? ?the? ?land,? ?had? ?nothing? ?to? ?their? ?names,? ?and? ?

the? ?moment? ?they? ?opened? ?their? ?mouths? ?their? ?dialects? ?would? ?give? ?them? ?away,? ?so? ?when? ?

they? ?arrived? ?at? ?a? ?strange? ?bustling? ?city,? ?naturally? ?they? ?all? ?stuck? ?together? ?for? ?warmth.? ?Thus,? ?

they? ?looked? ?all? ?over? ?the? ?royal? ?capital? ?and? ?finally? ?found? ?an? ?uninhabited? ?green? ?field.? ?

Overjoyed,? ?they? ?thus? ?built? ?sheds? ?and? ?huts? ?as? ?temporary? ?shelters.? ?

Unfortunately,? ?although? ?that? ?green? ?field? ?was? ?uninhabited,? ?to? ?those? ?of? ?the? ?royal? ?capital,? ?it? ?

was? ?a? ?field? ?of? ?leisure.? ?The? ?people? ?of? ?Xianle? ?had? ?an? ?indulgent? ?culture,? ?and? ?those? ?of? ?the? ?

royal? ?capital? ?lead? ?in? ?that? ?lifestyle.? ?When? ?free,? ?many? ?would? ?take? ?walks,? ?dance,? ?practice? ?

the? ?art? ?of? ?the? ?sword,? ?sing? ?poetry,? ?paint,? ?and? ?gather? ?at? ?that? ?green? ?field.? ?As? ?for? ?Yong’an,? ?

sitting? ?at? ?the? ?west? ?of? ?Xianle,? ?suffered? ?an? ?impoverished? ?land? ?and? ?had? ?always? ?been? ?poor,? ?

so? ?the? ?temper? ?and? ?culture? ?of? ?those? ?citizens? ?were? ?completely? ?opposite? ?compared? ?to? ?that? ?

of? ?the? ?royal? ?capital.? ?Thus,? ?those? ?of? ?the? ?royal? ?capital? ?often? ?believed? ?themselves? ?the? ?purer? ?

of? ?Xianle? ?blood.? ?And? ?now,? ?with? ?their? ?land? ?of? ?elegance? ?overtaken? ?by? ?a? ?large? ?number? ?of? ?

refugees,? ?cooking? ?herbs,? ?crying,? ?doing? ?laundry,? ?starting? ?fires,? ?and? ?the? ?stench? ?of? ?leftovers? ?

and? ?sweat? ?filling? ?the? ?air,? ?it? ?made? ?many? ?nearby? ?residents? ?recoil? ?with? ?disgust,? ?their? ?

complaints? ?abundant.? ? ?

Some? ?of? ?the? ?Yong’an? ?elderly? ?leaders? ?understood? ?the? ?situation? ?in? ?their? ?hearts? ?too,? ?and? ?

had? ?wanted? ?to? ?move? ?elsewhere.? ?Yet,? ?the? ?royal? ?capital? ?was? ?already? ?heavily? ?populated;? ?no? ?

matter? ?where? ?they? ?go? ?it? ?was? ?full? ?of? ?people,? ?and? ?there? ?weren’t? ?anywhere? ?else? ?that? ?could? ?

settle? ?so? ?many,? ?nevermind? ?all? ?the? ?wounded,? ?sick,? ?old,? ?and? ?children.? ?It? ?wasn’t? ?easy? ?to? ?

move,? ?so? ?they? ?boldly? ?and? ?carefully? ?clung? ?on? ?to? ?that? ?field.? ?As? ?much? ?as? ?the? ?people? ?of? ?the? ?

royal? ?capital? ?were? ?displeased,? ?they? ?were? ?still? ?all? ?citizens? ?of? ?the? ?same? ?country,? ?for? ?the? ?

sake? ?that? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?disaster,? ?they? ?tolerated? ?the? ?strangers’? ?presence.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?listened? ?to? ?the? ?report? ?to? ?this? ?point? ?when? ?that? ?band? ?of? ?soldiers? ?brought? ?those? ?

Yong’an? ?men? ?to? ?the? ?mouth? ?of? ?the? ?marketplace,? ?shouting,? ?“KNEEL!”? ? ?

Each? ?of? ?those? ?men? ?looked? ?angrily? ?incredulous,? ?but? ?sabres? ?at? ?their? ?throats,? ?they? ?had? ?no? ?

choice? ?but? ?to? ?kneel.? ?After? ?the? ?onlooking? ?crowd? ?of? ?the? ?royal? ?capital? ?saw? ?the? ?men? ?kneeled? ?

in? ?unison,? ?some? ?sighed,? ?some? ?relieved.? ?“According? ?to? ?your? ?report,? ?both? ?sides? ?have? ?

tolerated? ?each? ?other,? ?so? ?what’s? ?going? ?on? ?today?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.? ?

Before? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?could? ?answer,? ?a? ?woman? ?started? ?screeching? ?from? ?the? ?

crowd,? ?“YOU? ?BARBARIC? ?THIEVES!? ?NEVERMIND? ?YOUR? ?STICKY? ?FINGERS!? ?BEATING? ?

MY? ?HUSBAND? ?LIKE? ?THIS,? ?HE? ?CAN’T? ?EVEN? ?GET? ?UP? ?ANYMORE!? ?IF? ?ANYTHING? ?

HAPPENS? ?TO? ?HIM? ?I’LL? ?HAVE? ?YOU? ?PAY!”? ? ?

Next? ?to? ?her? ?a? ?number? ?of? ?people? ?were? ?trying? ?to? ?comfort? ?her,? ?and? ?some? ?pointed? ?their? ?

fingers? ?in? ?reproach,? ?“Don’t? ?you? ?know? ?to? ?mind? ?yourselves? ?when? ?you’re? ?in? ?other? ?people’s? ?

territory?”? ?

“Yea,? ?you’re? ?a? ?guest? ?in? ?our? ?homes,? ?and? ?yet? ?you? ?crudely? ?steal!”? ? ?

One? ?of? ?the? ?young? ?men? ?in? ?shackles? ?finally? ?couldn’t? ?take? ?it? ?anymore? ?and? ?argued? ?back,? ?“We? ?

already? ?said? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?us? ?who? ?stole!? ?We? ?didn’t? ?throw? ?the? ?first? ?punch? ?either!? ?Besides,? ?

we’ve? ?got? ?wounded? ?on? ?our? ?side? ?too...”? ?An? ?elder? ?shouted,? ?“Stop? ?talking!”? ? ?

That? ?young? ?man? ?shut? ?his? ?mouth? ?angrily.? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?explained,? ?“A? ?dog? ?went? ?missing? ?in? ?the? ?

royal? ?capital,? ?and? ?because? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?case? ?where? ?a? ?child? ?of? ?Yong’an? ?stole? ?and? ?ate? ?

someone’s? ?duck? ?from? ?hunger,? ?so? ?there? ?were? ?a? ?lot? ?of? ?assumption? ?that? ?the? ?dog? ?was? ?stolen? ?

and? ?eaten? ?by? ?those? ?of? ?Yong’an? ?too.? ?A? ?mob? ?went? ?to? ?interrogate,? ?and? ?soon? ?started? ?a? ?

brawl.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?incredulous,? ?“A? ?riot? ?over? ?just? ?a? ?dog?? ?And? ?they? ?detained? ?that? ?many? ?people?”? ? ?

“Yes,? ?over? ?a? ?dog.”? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?said,? ?“It’s? ?gotten? ?this? ?big? ?because? ?both? ?sides? ?had? ?been? ?

putting? ?up? ?with? ?each? ?other? ?for? ?too? ?long,? ?and? ?anything? ?small? ?becomes? ?big.? ?Both? ?sides? ?

swore? ?the? ?other? ?started? ?it? ?first,? ?that? ?it’s? ?the? ?other’s? ?fault,? ?and? ?this? ?mess? ?of? ?a? ?fight? ?

somehow? ?grew? ?bigger? ?and? ?bigger.”? ?

One? ?of? ?the? ?leading? ?soldiers? ?proclaimed,? ?“Violent? ?aggregates? ?shall? ?be? ?severely? ?punished!? ?

You? ?are? ?all? ?shackled? ?for? ?a? ?public? ?demonstration,? ?any? ?further? ?crimes? ?are? ?forbidden!”? ?He? ?

stood? ?down? ?after,? ?and? ?the? ?next? ?second,? ?many? ?started? ?chucking? ?and? ?throwing? ?lettuce? ?

leaves? ?and? ?rotten? ?eggs? ?at? ?those? ?men? ?of? ?Yong’an.? ?The? ?old? ?men? ?that? ?trailed? ?behind? ?started? ?

bowing? ?to? ?the? ?crowd? ?all? ?over,? ?crying? ?“We? ?apologize,? ?everyone,? ?we? ?apologize.”? ?“Please? ?

have? ?mercy,? ?have? ?mercy!”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?thought? ?this? ?whole? ?thing? ?was? ?making? ?a? ?mountain? ?out? ?of? ?a? ?molehill,? ?utterly? ?

ridiculous,? ?but? ?he? ?could? ?also? ?somewhat? ?understand.? ?“So? ?in? ?the? ?end? ?did? ?they? ?steal?? ?Did? ?

they? ?find? ?that? ?dog?”? ? ?

Feng? ?Xin? ?shook? ?his? ?head,? ?“Who? ?knows.? ?Who? ?can? ?find? ?anything? ?if? ?the? ?bones? ?were? ?

cleaned? ?out? ?and? ?thrown? ?away?? ?But? ?judging? ?by? ?their? ?faces,? ?I? ?don’t? ?think? ?they? ?stole? ?it.”? ? ?

However,? ?verdicts? ?from? ?the? ?soldiers? ?of? ?the? ?royal? ?capital? ?would? ?naturally? ?be? ?partial? ?to? ?the? ?

royal? ?capital? ?citizens.? ?Stolen? ?or? ?not,? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?brawl,? ?and? ?so? ?the? ?fault? ?must? ?lie? ?with? ?

those? ?from? ?Yong’an.? ?Especially? ?since? ?the? ?men? ?of? ?the? ?royal? ?capital? ?loved? ?to? ?play? ?around? ?

but? ?weren’t? ?as? ?tough? ?as? ?the? ?men? ?of? ?Yong’an,? ?so? ?this? ?brawl? ?must’ve? ?ended? ?in? ?shame,? ?

creating? ?more? ?awkwardness? ?between? ?the? ?two? ?peoples.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?shook? ?his? ?head,? ?gave? ?

the? ?crowd? ?a? ?sweeping? ?look,? ?and? ?suddenly? ?noticed? ?that? ?in? ?that? ?row? ?of? ?Yong’an? ?men,? ?there? ?

was? ?a? ?young? ?man? ?in? ?the? ?middle? ?with? ?his? ?head? ?drooped,? ?whose? ?face? ?looked? ?familiar.? ?It? ?

was? ?that? ?young? ?man? ?from? ?the? ?woods,? ?Lang? ?Ying.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?stunned.? ?Just? ?then,? ?someone? ?nearby? ?complained,? ?“How? ?come? ?I? ?feel? ?there’s? ?

been? ?more? ?and? ?more? ?from? ?Yong’an? ?in? ?the? ?royal? ?capital? ?in? ?the? ?recent? ?months?? ?And? ?now? ?

they? ?dare? ?pick? ?fights.”? ?

“No? ?way,? ?are? ?they? ?all? ?coming? ?over?”? ? ?

Another? ?merchant? ?gestured? ?his? ?hands? ?wildly,? ?“His? ?majesty? ?the? ?king? ?won’t? ?allow? ?it!? ?My? ?

house? ?was? ?robbed? ?by? ?Yong’an? ?thieves? ?just? ?the? ?other? ?day.? ?If? ?they? ?all? ?came? ?over,? ?there’d? ?

be? ?hell!”? ? ?

Hearing? ?this,? ?Lang? ?Ying,? ?who? ?had? ?kept? ?his? ?head? ?low? ?letting? ?all? ?the? ?groceries? ?be? ?freely? ?

thrown? ?at? ?him,? ?suddenly? ?looked? ?up,? ?“Did? ?you? ?see? ?it?”? ? ?

That? ?merchant? ?hadn’t? ?expected? ?to? ?actually? ?be? ?spoken? ?to? ?and? ?responded? ?without? ?thinking,? ?

“What?”? ?

“Yong’an? ?thieves? ?robbing? ?your? ?house.? ?Did? ?you? ?see? ?them? ?with? ?your? ?own? ?eyes?”? ? ?

“...I? ?didn’t? ?see? ?with? ?my? ?own? ?eyes,? ?but? ?it’s? ?always? ?been? ?peaceful? ?before,? ?and? ?only? ?after? ?

you? ?all? ?have? ?arrived? ?was? ?I? ?robbed,? ?so? ?how? ?does? ?it? ?have? ?nothing? ?to? ?do? ?with? ?you?”? ?That? ?

merchant? ?argued.? ?

Lang? ?Ying? ?nodded,? ?“I? ?see.? ?I? ?understand.? ?Before? ?we? ?came,? ?you? ?guys? ?were? ?the? ?ones? ?

stealing,? ?and? ?after? ?we? ?arrived,? ?we? ?became? ?the? ?thieves...”? ?

Before? ?he? ?finished,? ?a? ?rotten? ?persimmon? ?came? ?flying? ?at? ?him? ?and? ?smashed? ?against? ?the? ?

side? ?of? ?his? ?lips,? ?making? ?him? ?look? ?as? ?if? ?he? ?vomited? ?a? ?large? ?bloody? ?blossom.? ?That? ?merchant? ?

burst? ?out? ?laughing,? ?and? ?Lang? ?Ying’s? ?eyes? ?dimmed.? ?He? ?closed? ?his? ?mouth? ?and? ?stopped? ?

talking.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?softened? ?the? ?sharp? ?rocks? ?being? ?thrown? ?at? ?the? ?young? ?men,? ?ensuring? ?that? ?they? ?

wouldn’t? ?be? ?severely? ?injured.? ?This? ?public? ?humiliation? ?continued? ?until? ?evening,? ?and? ?only? ?

when? ?the? ?onlooking? ?citizens? ?gradually? ?dispersed? ?did? ?the? ?soldiers? ?felt? ?it? ?was? ?enough,? ?and? ?

unlocked? ?the? ?shackles,? ?warning? ?them? ?never? ?to? ?cause? ?any? ?more? ?troubles,? ?otherwise? ?

they’d? ?be? ?severely? ?punished,? ?etc.,? ?etc.? ?The? ?elders? ?bowed? ?deeply? ?repeatedly? ?with? ?

apologetic? ?smiles,? ?promising? ?to? ?never? ?violate? ?any? ?more? ?rules,? ?however,? ?Lang? ?Ying,? ?

lifeless,? ?walked? ?away? ?by? ?himself.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?watched? ?his? ?lone? ?figure,? ?caught? ?the? ?right? ?

moment,? ?and? ?appeared? ?in? ?a? ?flash? ?from? ?behind? ?a? ?tree,? ?blocking? ?his? ?path.? ?

The? ?minute? ?he? ?appeared,? ?that? ?young? ?man’s? ?eyes? ?sharpened,? ?and? ?in? ?that? ?instant,? ?it? ?was? ?

as? ?if? ?he? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?choke? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?dead.? ?A? ?flash? ?of? ?a? ?second? ?later,? ?after? ?having? ?seen? ?

clearly? ?who? ?it? ?was? ?before? ?him,? ?he? ?tucked? ?away? ?the? ?hand? ?that? ?was? ?ready? ?to? ?attack.? ?“It’s? ?

you.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?transformed? ?back? ?into? ?the? ?form? ?of? ?that? ?young? ?cultivator.? ?He? ?was? ?startled? ?by? ?

Lang? ?Ying,? ?whose? ?hand? ?almost? ?attacked? ?him.? ?He? ?thought? ?to? ?himself,? ?‘This? ?man? ?is? ?

strong.’? ?He? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“I? ?gave? ?you? ?that? ?pearl,? ?so? ?why? ?didn’t? ?you? ?take? ?it? ?back? ?to? ?Yong’an?”? ? ?

Lang? ?Ying? ?gazed? ?at? ?him,? ?“My? ?son? ?is? ?here.? ?I’m? ?here? ?too.”? ?After? ?a? ?pause,? ?he? ?took? ?out? ?that? ?

coral? ?pearl? ?from? ?his? ?belt,? ?“Did? ?you? ?want? ?this? ?back?? ?Here.”? ?

The? ?extended? ?hand? ?that? ?held? ?the? ?pearl? ?still? ?had? ?marks? ?of? ?those? ?shackles.? ?After? ?some? ?

silence,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?take? ?it.? ?“Go? ?back.? ?The? ?Bay? ?of? ?Lang? ?Er? ?rained? ?today.”? ?He? ?pointed? ?

to? ?the? ?sky,? ?“Tomorrow!? ?There? ?will? ?be? ?rain? ?again,? ?I? ?promise.? ?It’s? ?for? ?certain.”? ?

But? ?Lang? ?Ying? ?shook? ?his? ?head,? ?“It? ?doesn’t? ?matter? ?if? ?it? ?rains? ?or? ?not.? ?There’s? ?no? ?going? ?

back.”? ?

Watching? ?his? ?back? ?as? ?he? ?walked? ?away,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?left? ?dumbfounded,? ?and? ?only? ?felt? ?

endless? ?frustration.? ? ?

Before? ?he? ?ascended,? ?it? ?was? ?like? ?he? ?had? ?not? ?a? ?cloud? ?of? ?worry.? ?Whatever? ?he? ?wanted? ?to? ?do,? ?

it? ?would? ?be? ?done.? ?Who? ?knew? ?after? ?ascension,? ?all? ?of? ?a? ?sudden? ?he? ?was? ?surrounded? ?by? ?

incessant? ?worries.? ?Both? ?worries? ?of? ?others? ?and? ?his? ?own.? ?Had? ?it? ?always? ?been? ?this? ?hard? ?to? ?

get? ?something? ?done?? ?He? ?had? ?never? ?felt? ?so? ?lacking,? ?so? ?powerless.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?sighed? ?and? ?

turned? ?to? ?leave? ?too.? ?There? ?were? ?a? ?mountain? ?of? ?prayers? ?waiting? ?to? ?be? ?answered? ?by? ?him? ?at? ?

the? ?Temple? ?of? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince.? ?

Yet,? ?he? ?wasn’t? ?the? ?one? ?with? ?the? ?most? ?frustration.? ?It? ?was? ?the? ?king.? ?

The? ?worry? ?of? ?the? ?King? ?of? ?Xianle? ?had? ?become? ?reality.? ?Those? ?five? ?hundred? ?some? ?refugees? ?

of? ?Yong’an? ?were? ?only? ?the? ?beginning.? ?

With? ?the? ?borrowed? ?Rain? ?Master? ?Hat? ?in? ?hand,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?ran? ?back? ?and? ?forth? ?between? ?the? ?

north? ?and? ?the? ?south? ?unceasingly,? ?and? ?created? ?rain? ?by? ?his? ?own? ?power.? ?Yet? ?every? ?bout? ?of? ?

rain? ?would? ?use? ?up? ?an? ?immense? ?amount? ?of? ?spiritual? ?power? ?and? ?five? ?to? ?six? ?days? ?worth? ?of? ?

time.? ?If? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?him,? ?there? ?might? ?not? ?be? ?another? ?who? ?could? ?keep? ?this? ?up.? ?Of? ?course,? ?with? ?

the? ?exception? ?of? ?Jun? ?Wu.? ?However,? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Martial? ?Emperor? ?ruled? ?over? ?a? ?far? ?

greater? ?land? ?than? ?he,? ?and? ?the? ?number? ?of? ?devotees? ?and? ?domains? ?to? ?care? ?for? ?were? ?

significantly? ?more? ?than? ?that? ?of? ?Xianle,? ?so? ?how? ?could? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?possibly? ?ask? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?for? ?

help? ?and? ?distract? ?him?? ?On? ?top? ?of? ?that,? ?each? ?bout? ?of? ?rain? ?could? ?only? ?wet? ?a? ?small? ?area? ?of? ?

Yong’an,? ?lasting? ?but? ?a? ?short? ?while,? ?so? ?even? ?if? ?there? ?was? ?some? ?relief,? ?it? ?couldn’t? ?fix? ?the? ?root? ?

of? ?the? ?problem.? ?

Thus,? ?after? ?a? ?month,? ?the? ?people? ?of? ?Yong’an? ?officially? ?started? ?to? ?migrate? ?to? ?the? ?east? ?in? ?

droves.? ?At? ?first? ?it? ?was? ?only? ?bands? ?of? ?ten? ?something? ?people.? ?Now,? ?it? ?was? ?hundreds,? ?

thousands,? ?massive? ?hordes? ?that? ?flocked? ?together,? ?streaming? ?like? ?the? ?river.? ?

After? ?another? ?month,? ?the? ?King? ?of? ?Xianle? ?promulgated? ?a? ?new? ?decree:? ?Due? ?to? ?endless? ?

disputes? ?and? ?incessant? ?conflicts? ?of? ?recent? ?months,? ?for? ?the? ?sake? ?of? ?peace? ?within? ?the? ?royal? ?

capital,? ?as? ?of? ?that? ?day,? ?all? ?Yong’an? ?refugees? ?must? ?leave? ?the? ?city.? ?Everyone? ?will? ?be? ?given? ?a? ?

set? ?amount? ?of? ?travel? ?expenses? ?to? ?help? ?settle? ?elsewhere.? ?

Before? ?the? ?massive,? ?teeming? ?horde? ?of? ?migrating? ?Yong’an? ?refugees,? ?the? ?grand? ?gates? ?to? ?

the? ?royal? ?capital? ?of? ?Xianle? ?closed.? ?

——–? ?

?MXTX? ?Author? ?Notes:? ?Please? ?note? ?this? ?is? ?a? ?civil? ?war? ?between? ?a? ?provincial? ?capital? ?

and? ?the? ?royal? ?capital? ?of? ?one? ?country,? ?with? ?many? ?impoverished? ?towns? ?in? ?between? ?

also? ?involved.? ?

——–? ?

Ch.76:? ?Closing? ?the? ?Capital? ?Gates;? ?Survival? ?of? ?Yong’an? ?Barred? ?2? ?

TW:? ?Violence? ?

“OPEN? ?THE? ?GATES!”? ?

“LET? ?US? ?IN!”? ?

The? ?soldiers? ?backed? ?into? ?the? ?fortress? ?city? ?and? ?pushed? ?shut? ?the? ?thousand? ?tonned? ?gate.? ?

The? ?people? ?that? ?were? ?expelled? ?by? ?the? ?soldiers? ?outside? ?came? ?rushing? ?back? ?towards? ?it? ?like? ?

black? ?water? ?tide,? ?slapping? ?on? ?the? ?doors.? ?On? ?top? ?of? ?the? ?towers? ?the? ?soldiers? ?roared,? ?“BACK? ?

AWAY!? ?LEAVE!? ?TAKE? ?YOUR? ?TRAVEL? ?EXPENSES? ?AND? ?GO,? ?EASTWARD,? ?DON’T? ?

STICK? ?AROUND!”? ?

However,? ?the? ?Yong’an? ?refugees? ?had? ?turned? ?their? ?backs? ?to? ?their? ?hometowns,? ?fled? ?their? ?

lands,? ?and? ?arrived? ?already? ?to? ?the? ?one? ?capital? ?that? ?was? ?closest? ?in? ?distance.? ?The? ?gates? ?to? ?

the? ?royal? ?capital? ?closed? ?on? ?them,? ?but? ?if? ?they? ?wanted? ?to? ?survive,? ?they? ?must? ?go? ?around? ?the? ?

fortress? ?city? ?and? ?walk? ?a? ?even? ?farther? ?distance,? ?to? ?the? ?cities? ?further? ?east.? ?

Yet? ?the? ?journey? ?to? ?the? ?royal? ?capital? ?was? ?already? ?arduous? ?and? ?rough,? ?crossing? ?through? ?

thousands? ?of? ?obstacles,? ?many? ?were? ?already? ?wounded? ?or? ?dead,? ?so? ?how? ?could? ?they? ?have? ?

any? ?more? ?energy? ?to? ?continue? ?on?? ?Even? ?if? ?they? ?were? ?all? ?given? ?travel? ?expenses,? ?rations? ?

and? ?water,? ?how? ?many? ?more? ?days? ?could? ?they? ?hang? ?on? ?on? ?the? ?road?? ? ?

Each? ?of? ?their? ?faces? ?were? ?ashen,? ?some? ?dragging? ?their? ?household? ?goods,? ?some? ?carried? ?

babies? ?on? ?their? ?backs,? ?some? ?holding? ?stretchers.? ?They? ?held? ?each? ?other? ?up,? ?some? ?lying? ?on? ?

the? ?ground,? ?unable? ?to? ?move? ?anymore,? ?and? ?others? ?simply? ?sat.? ?Fields? ?and? ?fields? ?of? ?them? ?

remained? ?before? ?the? ?fortress? ?walls.? ?Some? ?younger? ?men? ?still? ?had? ?the? ?energy? ?to? ?be? ?

enraged,? ?banging? ?on? ?the? ?doors? ?yelling,? ?“YOU? ?CAN’T? ?DO? ?THIS!? ?YOU’RE? ?GONNA? ?KILL? ?

US!”? ?

“WE’RE? ?ALL? ?CITIZENS? ?OF? ?XIANLE,? ?YOU? ?CAN’T? ?JUST? ?KILL? ?US? ?OFF? ?LIKE? ?THIS!”? ?

One? ?of? ?the? ?men? ?yelled? ?until? ?his? ?voice? ?was? ?hoarse,? ?“You? ?can? ?kick? ?us? ?out,? ?it? ?doesn’t? ?matter? ?

I? ?won’t? ?stay,? ?but? ?can? ?you? ?at? ?least? ?take? ?my? ?wife? ?and? ?my? ?children?? ?Please?!!”? ?

They? ?were? ?like? ?ants? ?crawling? ?on? ?a? ?tree;? ?the? ?fortress? ?city? ?gates? ?remained? ?unmoved.? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?stood? ?on? ?top? ?of? ?the? ?tower.? ?His? ?white? ?robes? ?fluttering? ?in? ?the? ?wind,? ?and? ?he? ?crossed? ?

the? ?parapet? ?to? ?watch? ?below.? ?Outside? ?the? ?royal? ?capital,? ?there? ?were? ?endless? ?heads,? ?black? ?

and? ?squirming,? ?dense? ?and? ?tightly? ?knit,? ?very? ?much? ?like? ?swarms? ?of? ?ants? ?he? ?used? ?to? ?see? ?

when? ?he? ?played? ?in? ?the? ?royal? ?gardens? ?in? ?his? ?younger? ?years.? ? ?

Back? ?then,? ?out? ?of? ?curiosity,? ?he? ?looked? ?closer? ?and? ?extended? ?a? ?finger? ?wanting? ?to? ?poke? ?at? ?

them? ?secretly,? ?but? ?there? ?was? ?immediately? ?an? ?attendant? ?who? ?cried? ?out,? ?“Your? ?Highness!? ?

Those? ?things? ?are? ?dirty,? ?you? ?can’t? ?touch!? ?Don’t? ?touch!”? ?and? ?with? ?her? ?dress? ?lifted,? ?she? ?ran? ?

over? ?hurriedly? ?and? ?squished? ?all? ?the? ?ants? ?under? ?her? ?foot.? ?

When? ?those? ?ants? ?were? ?alive,? ?other? ?than? ?a? ?dense? ?swarm? ?there? ?wasn’t? ?much? ?to? ?look? ?at,? ?

and? ?after? ?having? ?been? ?squished? ?into? ?something? ?less? ?than? ?mudpiles,? ?there? ?wasn’t? ?

anything? ?left? ?to? ?look? ?at.? ? ?

Yet? ?within? ?the? ?royal? ?capital? ?walls,? ?lights? ?filled? ?millions? ?of? ?homes,? ?sounds? ?of? ?music? ?wafting? ?

in? ?the? ?air.? ?This? ?one? ?fortress? ?wall? ?separated? ?two? ?completely? ?different? ?worlds.? ?

Nevermind? ?that? ?the? ?Yong’an? ?refugees? ?who? ?arrived? ?after? ?were? ?kept? ?out,? ?even? ?the? ?ones? ?

that? ?were? ?already? ?settled? ?within? ?were? ?expelled.? ?Although? ?harsh,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?

somewhat? ?understand? ?this? ?was? ?because? ?there? ?were? ?more? ?and? ?more? ?friction? ?between? ?the? ?

Yong’an? ?refugees? ?and? ?the? ?royal? ?capital? ?residents? ?in? ?the? ?recent? ?months.? ?To? ?keep? ?such? ?

men? ?inside? ?the? ?city? ?walls,? ?there? ?could? ?very? ?well? ?be? ?collusion? ?inside? ?and? ?out,? ?causing? ?

havoc.? ?

However,? ?just? ?one? ?thing? ?he? ?felt? ?still? ?had? ?room? ?for? ?negotiation,? ?and? ?he? ?spoke? ?out? ?loud? ?

absentmindedly,? ?“Why? ?must? ?the? ?women? ?and? ?the? ?vulnerable? ?be? ?expelled? ?too?? ?There? ?are? ?

some? ?who? ?couldn’t? ?walk? ?much? ?further.”? ? ?

Feng? ?Xin? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?were? ?waiting? ?on? ?him? ?just? ?behind.? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?replied,? ?“If? ?they? ?must? ?

be? ?expelled,? ?then? ?they? ?must? ?all? ?be? ?expelled.? ?Everyone? ?must? ?be? ?treated? ?equally;? ?there? ?

mustn’t? ?be? ?any? ?favouritism,? ?lest? ?people? ?be? ?provoked:? ?How? ?come? ?they? ?could? ?stay? ?and? ?not? ?

me?”? ? ?

“You? ?think? ?so? ?much.”? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?commented.? ?

Mu? ?Qing? ?said? ?flatly,? ?“There? ?are? ?very? ?well? ?people? ?who? ?would? ?think? ?like? ?this.? ?Besides,? ?if? ?the? ?

wives? ?and? ?children? ?remain,? ?then? ?the? ?men? ?wouldn’t? ?want? ?to? ?go? ?too? ?far? ?either.? ?They? ?would? ?

return? ?sooner? ?or? ?later.? ?Keeping? ?people? ?in? ?the? ?city? ?is? ?keeping? ?future? ?problems.”? ? ?

Those? ?Yong’an? ?refugees? ?refused? ?to? ?leave,? ?so? ?the? ?soldiers? ?on? ?the? ?towers? ?couldn’t? ?leave? ?

either.? ?“Humph!? ?Suit? ?yourselves!”? ?

Since? ?the? ?king? ?made? ?the? ?command,? ?did? ?they? ?think? ?just? ?sitting? ?there? ?loitering? ?would? ?do? ?

anything?? ?They? ?could? ?loiter? ?for? ?one? ?or? ?two? ?days,? ?but? ?hardly? ?a? ?month? ?or? ?two,? ?or? ?a? ?year? ?or? ?

two?? ?

The? ?soldiers? ?and? ?residents? ?of? ?the? ?royal? ?capital? ?all? ?believed? ?in? ?this.? ?Some? ?of? ?the? ?Yong’an? ?

refugees? ?hopelessly? ?accepted? ?their? ?fate,? ?and? ?decided? ?to? ?gamble? ?traveling? ?eastward.? ?But? ?

such? ?numbers? ?were? ?few.? ?Most? ?still? ?sat? ?stubbornly? ?by? ?the? ?fortress? ?gates,? ?hoping? ?the? ?royal? ?

capital? ?would? ?open? ?their? ?doors? ?to? ?them,? ?at? ?the? ?very? ?least? ?give? ?them? ?somewhere? ?to? ?rest? ?

before? ?journeying? ?onwards.? ?When? ?new? ?refugees? ?arrived,? ?although? ?disappointed? ?in? ?

seeing? ?the? ?closed? ?city? ?gates,? ?when? ?they? ?saw? ?so? ?many? ?still? ?keeping? ?watch,? ?they? ?joined? ?the? ?

masses.? ?

Thus,? ?after? ?several? ?days,? ?there? ?were? ?more? ?and? ?more? ?gathered? ?outside? ?the? ?city? ?gates,? ?

almost? ?a? ?million? ?people? ?had? ?settled? ?and? ?built? ?temporary? ?shelters,? ?forming? ?a? ?impressive? ?

and? ?curious? ?sight.? ?They? ?used? ?the? ?rations? ?and? ?water? ?given? ?by? ?the? ?king? ?to? ?hold? ?on,? ?but? ?they? ?

were? ?almost? ?at? ?their? ?limits? ?too.? ?

This? ?limit? ?was? ?crossed? ?on? ?the? ?fifth? ?day.? ?

Those? ?past? ?five? ?days,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?divided? ?each? ?day? ?into? ?three:? ?one? ?third? ?devoted? ?to? ?the? ?

followers? ?at? ?the? ?Temple? ?of? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince,? ?one? ?third? ?for? ?moving? ?water? ?and? ?creating? ?

rain,? ?and? ?one? ?third? ?for? ?caring? ?for? ?the? ?Yong’an? ?citizens? ?outside? ?the? ?city? ?walls.? ?Even? ?with? ?

Feng? ?Xin? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?helping,? ?sometimes? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?the? ?weight? ?of? ?those? ?

responsibilities.? ?The? ?spirit? ?was? ?willing? ?but? ?the? ?flesh? ?was? ?weak.? ?That? ?day,? ?it? ?just? ?so? ?

happened? ?to? ?be? ?a? ?time? ?when? ?he? ?wasn’t? ?guarding? ?outside? ?the? ?city? ?walls,? ?under? ?the? ?

scorching? ?sun,? ?there? ?was? ?suddenly? ?a? ?wail? ?outside? ?the? ?gates.? ?

The? ?wailing? ?came? ?from? ?a? ?couple? ?holding? ?their? ?child? ?in? ?their? ?arms.? ?Many? ?came? ?forward? ?to? ?

see,? ?“What’s? ?wrong? ?with? ?the? ?child?”? ?“Hungry? ?or? ?thirsty?”? ?And? ?soon,? ?a? ?shout,? ?“Everyone? ?

come? ?share? ?some? ?water? ?here!? ?This? ?child’s? ?not? ?looking? ?too? ?good!”? ? ?

That? ?woman? ?sobbed? ?as? ?she? ?fed? ?water? ?to? ?her? ?red? ?faced? ?child,? ?but? ?all? ?the? ?water? ?was? ?

thrown? ?back? ?up.? ?The? ?father? ?said,? ?“I? ?don’t? ?know? ?what’s? ?going? ?on,? ?He’s? ?sick.? ?A? ?doctor!? ?We? ?

need? ?a? ?doctor!”? ? ?

Carrying? ?his? ?son,? ?he? ?ran? ?to? ?the? ?gates? ?and? ?started? ?slapping? ?the? ?doors,? ?“OPEN? ?UP!? ?HELP!? ?

SOMEONE’S? ?DYING!? ?MY? ?SON’S? ?DYING!”? ?

Naturally? ?the? ?soldiers? ?within? ?didn’t? ?dare? ?to? ?open? ?the? ?gates.? ?Whether? ?if? ?someone? ?was? ?

actually? ?dying,? ?there? ?were? ?hundreds? ?of? ?thousands? ?outside.? ?If? ?they? ?opened? ?up? ?there’d? ?be? ?

no? ?closing? ?the? ?gates,? ?so? ?instead? ?they? ?reported? ?to? ?the? ?officers? ?higher? ?up.? ?The? ?weather? ?

was? ?hot,? ?and? ?the? ?heat? ?was? ?making? ?the? ?soldiers? ?standing? ?watch? ?the? ?past? ?days? ?cranky.? ?

They? ?said? ?apathetically,? ?“Give? ?him? ?some? ?water? ?and? ?food.”? ?Thus,? ?they? ?used? ?a? ?rope,? ?hung? ?

some? ?water? ?and? ?food? ?and? ?lowered? ?it? ?down.? ? ?

“Thank? ?you,? ?thank? ?you? ?my? ?lords? ?and? ?brothers,? ?but? ?we? ?don’t? ?want? ?water? ?and? ?food.? ?Can? ?

you? ?help? ?us? ?find? ?a? ?doctor?”? ?That? ?man? ?said.? ?

This? ?made? ?things? ?difficult.? ?They? ?couldn’t? ?let? ?him? ?in? ?to? ?find? ?a? ?doctor? ?and? ?they? ?certainly? ?

couldn’t? ?lower? ?a? ?doctor? ?down? ?the? ?city? ?walls.? ?Who? ?knows? ?what? ?those? ?starving? ?refugees? ?

would? ?do? ?once? ?the? ?doctor? ?got? ?outside.? ?Thus,? ?those? ?high? ?ranking? ?officers? ?replied,? ?

“Nevermind.? ?Ignore? ?them,? ?they? ?can’t? ?die.? ?If? ?they? ?ask? ?again? ?then? ?tell? ?them? ?the? ?message? ?

has? ?been? ?sent? ?through? ?to? ?request? ?a? ?response? ?from? ?the? ?king.”? ?

The? ?king? ?had? ?been? ?deeply? ?troubled? ?by? ?the? ?Yong’an? ?matters? ?and? ?easily? ?angered? ?the? ?past? ?

many? ?days,? ?and? ?naturally? ?no? ?one? ?really? ?dared? ?bother? ?him? ?with? ?such? ?a? ?small? ?thing.? ?The? ?

soldiers? ?responded? ?accordingly? ?and? ?that? ?man,? ?feeling? ?relieved,? ?thanked? ?them? ?profusely,? ?

thanked? ?his? ?majesty,? ?and? ?knelt? ?to? ?kowtow? ?multiple? ?times.? ?Yet,? ?hours? ?upon? ?hours? ?passed,? ?

shadows? ?under? ?the? ?scorching? ?sun? ?moved? ?from? ?one? ?end? ?to? ?the? ?other,? ?but? ?the? ?asked-for? ?

doctor? ?still? ?hadn’t? ?appeared,? ?and? ?the? ?temperature? ?of? ?that? ?child? ?in? ?their? ?arms? ?was? ?growing? ?

hotter.? ?

The? ?arms? ?of? ?that? ?couple? ?holding? ?their? ?child? ?were? ?trembling,? ?and? ?that? ?man? ?was? ?covered? ?in? ?

cold? ?sweat,? ?mumbling,? ?“Will? ?anyone? ?come?? ?Will? ?anyone? ?open? ?the? ?gates?”? ? ?

Finally,? ?they? ?couldn’t? ?wait? ?any? ?longer,? ?and? ?yelled? ?to? ?the? ?towers,? ?“Officers!? ?My? ?apologies,? ?

but? ?I? ?want? ?to? ?ask...? ?Where’s? ?the? ?doctor?”? ? ?

A? ?soldier? ?responded,? ?“We’re? ?waiting? ?for? ?a? ?formal? ?response? ?from? ?the? ?king.? ?Wait? ?for? ?a? ?while? ?

longer.”? ?

Some? ?citizens? ?couldn’t? ?sit? ?still? ?anymore:? ?“They? ?said? ?that? ?four? ?hours? ?ago,? ?so? ?why? ?hasn’t? ?

anyone? ?come? ?yet?”? ? ?

The? ?soldiers? ?heeded? ?their? ?superiors’? ?command? ?and? ?ignored? ?them? ?after? ?responding.? ?The? ?

crowd? ?under? ?the? ?fortress? ?walls? ?was? ?furious,? ?forlorn,? ?and? ?distressed.? ?They? ?surrounded? ?the? ?

child? ?and? ?started? ?wondering? ?in? ?doubt,? ?“Did? ?they? ?actually? ?pass? ?on? ?the? ?message? ?to? ?his? ?

majesty?? ?They’re? ?not? ?lying? ?to? ?us,? ?are? ?they?”? ? ?

The? ?father? ?of? ?that? ?child? ?couldn’t? ?wait? ?any? ?longer,? ?and? ?hardened? ?his? ?heart,? ?tied? ?the? ?child? ?to? ?

his? ?back? ?and? ?turned? ?to? ?his? ?wife? ?to? ?say? ?a? ?few? ?last? ?words.? ?That? ?woman? ?removed? ?a? ?

protection? ?charm? ?from? ?around? ?her? ?neck? ?and? ?put? ?it? ?around? ?her? ?husband’s? ?neck.? ?That? ?man? ?

ran? ?towards? ?the? ?city? ?wall,? ?and? ?started? ?to? ?try? ?and? ?scale? ?it.? ?

The? ?city? ?wall? ?was? ?smooth,? ?built? ?to? ?make? ?climbing? ?difficult,? ?and? ?after? ?grabbing? ?at? ?it? ?a? ?few? ?

times,? ?he? ?still? ?couldn’t? ?climb? ?up.The? ?rest? ?of? ?the? ?men? ?called? ?out,? ?“Let? ?me? ?help? ?you!”? ?And? ?

they? ?pushed? ?him? ?up.? ?A? ?crowd? ?of? ?ten? ?something? ?men,? ?stacked? ?themselves? ?into? ?a? ?human? ?

pyramid,? ?and? ?helped? ?deliver? ?him? ?higher? ?upon? ?the? ?wall.? ?There,? ?that? ?man? ?managed? ?to? ?grab? ?

on? ?to? ?the? ?rope? ?that? ?was? ?used? ?to? ?lower? ?water? ?and? ?food,? ?and? ?he? ?continued? ?to? ?climb.? ?At? ?the? ?

bottom,? ?hundreds? ?of? ?thousands? ?watched? ?anxiously,? ?not? ?daring? ?to? ?cheer? ?for? ?him,? ?scared? ?

they? ?might? ?be? ?discovered.? ? ?

The? ?soldiers? ?on? ?top? ?of? ?the? ?towers? ?had? ?been? ?standing? ?watch? ?for? ?many? ?days? ?and? ?the? ?

Yong’an? ?refugees? ?hadn’t? ?start? ?anything,? ?so? ?they? ?were? ?fairly? ?lax? ?in? ?their? ?watch.? ?It? ?wasn’t? ?

until? ?that? ?man? ?had? ?reached? ?halfway? ?did? ?they? ?notice? ?with? ?a? ?start? ?someone? ?pressing? ?close? ?

onto? ?the? ?wall.? ?They? ?shouted,? ?“WHAT? ?ARE? ?YOU? ?DOING?!? ?NO? ?CLIMBING!? ?CLIMBERS? ?

WILL? ?BE? ?KILLED? ?WITHOUT? ?MERCY!? ?DO? ?YOU? ?HEAR? ?ME?? ?CLIMBERS? ?WILL? ?BE? ?

KILLED? ?WITHOUT? ?MERCY!”? ?

Under? ?their? ?threat,? ?that? ?man? ?also? ?shouted? ?back,? ?“I? ?DON’T? ?HAVE? ?ANY? ?ILL? ?INTENTIONS!? ?

I? ?JUST? ?WANT? ?TO? ?BRING? ?MY? ?CHILD? ?TO? ?THE? ?DOCTORS,? ?I? ?WON’T? ?DO? ?ANYTHING? ?

ELSE!”? ?He? ?continued? ?scaling? ?the? ?wall? ?as? ?he? ?shouted.? ?One? ?of? ?the? ?superior? ?officers? ?was? ?

just? ?having? ?his? ?meal,? ?and? ?hearing? ?of? ?this? ?he? ?became? ?outraged.? ?If? ?that? ?man? ?was? ?to? ?scale? ?

the? ?wall? ?safely? ?and? ?set? ?an? ?example,? ?wouldn’t? ?many? ?more? ?Yong’an? ?refugees? ?attempt? ?the? ?

same?? ?He? ?must? ?be? ?stopped!? ?Thus,? ?he? ?strode? ?out,? ?and? ?shouted? ?down? ?the? ?parapet,? ?

“DON’T? ?YOU? ?VALUE? ?YOUR? ?LIFE?? ?GO? ?BACK? ?DOWN? ?THIS? ?INSTANT!? ?IF? ?YOU? ?DON’T? ?

YOU’LL? ?BE? ?SORRY!”? ?

Yet? ?that? ?man? ?had? ?already? ?reached? ?high? ?on? ?the? ?wall,? ?past? ?half? ?way,? ?and? ?just? ?one? ?more? ?

push? ?he’d? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?reach? ?the? ?top,? ?so? ?naturally? ?he? ?didn’t? ?stop.? ?That? ?superior? ?officer? ?

never? ?had? ?anyone? ?disobey? ?him? ?like? ?this,? ?his? ?words? ?were? ?law.? ?Whoever? ?disobeyed? ?was? ?

easy? ?enough? ?to? ?take? ?care? ?of? ?though.? ?He? ?approached? ?the? ?parapet,? ?pulled? ?his? ?sword? ?and? ?

struck,? ?and? ?that? ?rope? ?snapped? ?into? ?two.? ?

With? ?the? ?snapped? ?rope? ?in? ?hand,? ?that? ?man? ?fell? ?from? ?mid? ?air.? ?In? ?the? ?midst? ?of? ?thousands? ?

screaming,? ?he? ?landed? ?heavily? ?on? ?the? ?hard? ?ground? ?before? ?the? ?city? ?gates.? ?

That? ?was? ?the? ?moment? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?arrived.? ?

That? ?man? ?had? ?fallen? ?with? ?his? ?backside? ?down,? ?and? ?on? ?his? ?back? ?was? ?his? ?child.? ??WHUMP? ?

and? ?the? ?child? ?was? ?crushed? ?into? ?a? ?clump? ?of? ?ground? ?meat,? ?spraying? ?blossoms? ?of? ?blood.? ?

That? ?man’s? ?neck? ?was? ?broken,? ?his? ?eyes? ?bulging,? ?and? ?around? ?his? ?twisted? ?neck? ?rolled? ?a? ?

protection? ?charm? ?with? ?the? ?words? ?‘Xianle’? ?written? ?on? ?it,? ?embroidered? ?with? ?golden? ?threads? ?

–? ?it? ?was? ?the? ?protection? ?charm? ?from? ?the? ?Temple? ?of? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince.? ?

The? ?moment? ?before? ?he? ?started? ?to? ?climb,? ?that? ?man? ?and? ?his? ?wife? ?both? ?held? ?that? ?protection? ?

charm? ?in? ?their? ?hands? ?and? ?silently? ?prayed? ?for? ?the? ?blessings? ?of? ?His? ?Highness? ?the? ?Crown? ?

Prince,? ?which? ?was? ?how? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?heard? ?their? ?voices? ?and? ?rushed? ?over.? ? ?

Nevertheless,? ?he? ?was? ?not? ?a? ?hero? ?from? ?any? ?of? ?those? ?legends? ?written? ?in? ?books,? ?and? ?could? ?

in? ?no? ?way? ?appear? ?right? ?before? ?the? ?executioner? ?dropped? ?their? ?axes,? ?and? ?save? ?lives? ?from? ?

under? ?knives.? ?That? ?woman? ?didn’t? ?even? ?have? ?the? ?courage? ?to? ?flip? ?her? ?husband’s? ?dead? ?

body? ?to? ?check? ?on? ?the? ?condition? ?of? ?her? ?son;? ?she? ?covered? ?her? ?face? ?and? ?screamed,? ?and? ?

without? ?looking,? ?dashed? ?forward? ?madly,? ?and? ?bashed? ?her? ?head? ?against? ?the? ?wall.? ??CRACK?,? ?

and? ?she? ?dropped,? ?her? ?body? ?limp.? ?

Right? ?before? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?eyes,? ?in? ?the? ?flash? ?of? ?a? ?second,? ?three? ?dead? ?bodies? ?piled? ?before? ?

the? ?city? ?gates? ?of? ?the? ?royal? ?capital!? ? ?

He? ?hadn’t? ?had? ?time? ?to? ?react? ?before? ?the? ?crowd? ?outside? ?the? ?city? ?gates? ?were? ?riled? ?up,? ?unable? ?

to? ?hold? ?back? ?any? ?longer.? ?

Someone? ?yelled,? ?‘DEAD!? ?A? ?FAMILY? ?OF? ?THREE,? ?ALL? ?DEAD!? ?LOOK,? ?THAT’S? ?THE? ?

GOOD? ?OL’? ?OFFICER? ?WORKING? ?FOR? ?HIS? ?MAJESTY!? ?HE? ?WON’T? ?SAVE? ?US,? ?BUT? ?

INSTEAD? ?IS? ?FORCING? ?OUR? ?DEATHS!”? ? ?

“YOU? ?WON’T? ?LET? ?US? ?IN? ?BUT? ?YOU? ?WON’T? ?LET? ?ANYONE? ?OUT? ?EITHER,? ?WHAT? ?

SHOULD? ?WE? ?HAVE? ?DONE?? ?THREE? ?BLOODY? ?LIVES? ?ARE? ?NOW? ?ON? ?YOUR? ?HANDS!”? ?

“YOU? ?SAID? ?TO? ?EXPEL? ?ALL? ?YONG’AN? ?REFUGEES? ?FROM? ?THE? ?ROYAL? ?CAPITAL? ?BUT? ?

HOW? ?COME? ?I? ?DON’T? ?SEE? ?ANY? ?OF? ?THE? ?RICH? ?ONES? ?EXPELLED?? ?SO? ?US? ?THE? ?POOR? ?

AND? ?POWERLESS? ?DESERVE? ?TO? ?DIE?? ?I’VE? ?SEEN? ?THROUGH? ?YOU!”? ? ?

“I? ?CAN’T? ?STAND? ?IT? ?ANYMORE...? ?I? ?REALLY? ?CAN’T.? ?YEAR? ?AFTER? ?YEAR? ?WE? ?PAID? ?

OUR? ?TAXES? ?BUT? ?NOW? ?THERE’S? ?A? ?DISASTER? ?WHERE? ?DID? ?ALL? ?THAT? ?MONEY? ?

GO?”? ?

“RATHER? ?THAN? ?AIDING? ?DISASTER? ?VICTIMS? ?DID? ?ALL? ?THE? ?MONEY? ?GO? ?TO? ?

PARASITES? ?AND? ?BUILDING? ?YOUR? ?SON’S? ?TEMPLES?? ?JUST? ?THIS? ?BIT? ?OF? ?FOOD? ?

AND? ?RATIONS? ?TO? ?SHUT? ?US? ?UP?? ?WHAT? ?DO? ?YOU? ?TAKE? ?US? ?FOR?? ?USELESS? ?KING!? ?

INCOMPETENT? ?KING!”? ?

The? ?soldiers? ?on? ?top? ?of? ?the? ?towers? ?were? ?yelling? ?down? ?at? ?the? ?crowd? ?for? ?them? ?to? ?stop,? ?but? ?

that? ?officer? ?had? ?seen? ?much? ?in? ?his? ?lifetime,? ?and? ?didn’t? ?take? ?any? ?of? ?it? ?seriously.? ?Yet,? ?the? ?

situation? ?was? ?slowly? ?losing? ?control.? ?Thousands? ?and? ?hundreds? ?of? ?thousands? ?pushed? ?

furiously? ?against? ?the? ?gates,? ?some? ?even? ?using? ?their? ?own? ?heads? ?or? ?bodies? ?to? ?slam,? ?and? ?

this? ?time,? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?some? ?mere? ?ants? ?on? ?trees.? ?

The? ?gates? ?moved;? ?in? ?fact,? ?even? ?the? ?entire? ?fortress? ?wall? ?and? ?towers? ?were? ?slightly? ?shaking!? ?

Ever? ?since? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?born,? ?he? ?had? ?never? ?witnessed? ?a? ?situation? ?such? ?as? ?this.? ?The? ?

people? ?he? ?met? ?had? ?all? ?been? ?kind,? ?peaceful,? ?happy,? ?satisfied,? ?and? ?endearing.? ?Those? ?

twisted? ?faces,? ?crying? ?and? ?screaming,? ?forced? ?him? ?to? ?enter? ?a? ?completely? ?foreign? ?world,? ?and? ?

he? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?feel? ?cold? ?in? ?his? ?bones.? ?Even? ?against? ?the? ?most? ?horrifying? ?ghosts? ?and? ?

demons? ?he? ?had? ?never? ?felt? ?this? ?way.? ?Just? ?then,? ?there? ?was? ?an? ?angry? ?roar? ?from? ?above.? ?

He? ?whipped? ?his? ?head? ?around,? ?and? ?saw? ?a? ?tall? ?and? ?gaunt? ?silhouette,? ?choking? ?that? ?officer? ?

who? ?had? ?cut? ?off? ?the? ?rope? ?and? ?caused? ?the? ?three? ?deaths? ?below? ?the? ?city? ?walls.? ?There? ?was? ?a? ?

loud? ?and? ?clear? ??CRACK?,? ?and? ?the? ?neck? ?was? ?broken.? ?

That? ?band? ?of? ?soldiers? ?had? ?no? ?idea? ?how? ?that? ?man? ?suddenly? ?appeared;? ?all? ?were? ?shocked? ?

and? ?bewildered,? ?and? ?they? ?rushed? ?forward? ?with? ?their? ?swords? ?in? ?hand? ?to? ?surround? ?him,? ?

“WHO? ?ARE? ?YOU?!!”? ?“HOW? ?DID? ?YOU? ?GET? ?UP? ?HERE?!”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?immediately? ?noticed? ?that? ?man’s? ?hands:? ?they? ?were? ?smeared? ?with? ?blood? ?and? ?

ripped? ?flesh.? ?That? ?man? ?had? ?scaled? ?that? ?crevice-less? ?wall? ?using? ?his? ?bare? ?hands!? ?When? ?

that? ?figure? ?turned? ?around,? ?it? ?was? ?indeed? ?Lang? ?Ying!? ?

Lang? ?Ying? ?was? ?calm? ?and? ?collected? ?even? ?when? ?surrounded? ?by? ?soldiers.? ?He? ?crossed? ?over? ?

the? ?parapet,? ?threw? ?the? ?corpse? ?of? ?that? ?officer? ?down,? ?and? ?he? ?himself? ?jumped? ?off,? ?stepping? ?

onto? ?the? ?corpse? ?and? ?using? ?it? ?as? ?a? ?stepping? ?stone? ?to? ?break? ?his? ?fall.? ?

That? ?moment? ?when? ?he? ?jumped,? ?he? ?looked? ?straight? ?at? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?but? ?what? ?he? ?was? ?looking? ?

at? ?wasn’t? ?Xie? ?Lian.? ?Instead,? ?he? ?looked? ?through? ?him? ?to? ?gaze? ?at? ?the? ?royal? ?palace? ?sitting? ?

right? ?in? ?the? ?centre? ?of? ?the? ?royal? ?capital.? ?

From? ?that? ?day? ?onwards,? ?the? ?entire? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?Xianle? ?was? ?thrown? ?into? ?chaos.? ?

————-? ?

Ch.77:? ?Xianle? ?in? ?Chaos;? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?Returns? ?to? ?the? ?Mortal? ?Realm? ?

For? ?displaced? ?disaster? ?victims? ?like? ?those? ?from? ?Yong’an,? ?to? ?fight? ?against? ?the? ?imperial? ?army? ?

was? ?a? ?losing? ?battle,? ?a? ?gross? ?overestimation? ?of? ?their? ?own? ?strength.? ? ?

Yet,? ?those? ?who? ?were? ?cornered? ?often? ?possessed? ?the? ?courage? ?to? ?court? ?one’s? ?ruin? ?and? ?bite? ?

off? ?more? ?than? ?they? ?could? ?chew.? ?After? ?that? ?one? ?riot,? ?the? ?hundreds? ?of? ?thousands? ?of? ?Yong’an? ?

refugees? ?finally? ?left? ?the? ?city? ?gates,? ?backing? ?off? ?to? ?some? ?distance? ?away,? ?and? ?changed? ?

where? ?they? ?built? ?temporary? ?camps.? ?

However,? ?they? ?just? ?wouldn’t? ?leave.? ?They? ?might? ?die? ?on? ?the? ?road? ?if? ?they? ?keep? ?going,? ?and? ?

hanging? ?around? ?was? ?also? ?death,? ?so? ?what’s? ?the? ?difference?? ?Using? ?the? ?rations? ?and? ?water? ?

the? ?king? ?distributed? ?from? ?before,? ?plus? ?munching? ?on? ?bark? ?skins,? ?wild? ?herbs,? ?plant? ?roots,? ?

critters? ?and? ?insects,? ?and? ?a? ?build? ?up? ?of? ?resentment? ?and? ?loathing? ?on? ?top? ?of? ?all? ?that,? ?those? ?

people? ?possessed? ?an? ?unimaginably? ?persistent? ?will? ?to? ?live,? ?and? ?stubbornly? ?persevered.? ?

After? ?a? ?few? ?days,? ?they? ?managed? ?to? ?assemble? ?some? ?thousands? ?of? ?men,? ?all? ?carrying? ?hoes,? ?

rakes,? ?rocks,? ?branches,? ?and? ?returned? ?for? ?a? ?bout? ?of? ?fight.? ?

Although? ?this? ?clash? ?was? ?a? ?mess,? ?an? ?utter? ?defeat? ?with? ?over? ?half? ?of? ?that? ?some? ?thousands? ?

dead,? ?but? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?fruitless.? ?Lang? ?Ying? ?invaded? ?the? ?castle? ?tower? ?and? ?returned? ?hauling? ?a? ?

few? ?large? ?bags? ?of? ?grain? ?and? ?weapons.? ?There? ?might? ?have? ?been? ?serious? ?casualties,? ?but? ?it? ?

provoked? ?a? ?will? ?to? ?fight? ?to? ?the? ?death? ?amongst? ?the? ?people.? ?

Their? ?nature? ?was? ?akin? ?to? ?that? ?of? ?bandits.? ?They? ?attacked? ?once,? ?twice,? ?thrice.? ?The? ?soldiers? ?

of? ?Xianle? ?soon? ?discovered? ?that? ?those? ?‘bandits’? ?were? ?rapidly? ?improving.? ? ?

The? ?initial? ?inexperienced? ?rioters? ?had? ?gradually? ?gotten? ?a? ?hang? ?of? ?things,? ?and? ?every? ?time? ?

they? ?attacked? ?they? ?were? ?more? ?difficult? ?to? ?deal? ?with? ?than? ?the? ?last,? ?and? ?those? ?who? ?could? ?

return? ?to? ?camp? ?alive? ?increased? ?with? ?every? ?attempt.? ?There? ?were? ?also? ?endless? ?waves? ?of? ?

new? ?refugees? ?joining,? ?significantly? ?growing? ?the? ?size? ?of? ?the? ?group.? ?How? ?to? ?best? ?deal? ?with? ?

those? ?‘bandits’? ?became? ?the? ?hottest? ?topic? ?for? ?debate? ?within? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?Xianle,? ?and? ?

after? ?five? ?to? ?six? ?such? ?ridiculous? ?guerilla? ?attacks,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?no? ?longer? ?sit? ?still? ?on? ?the? ?

parapet? ?and? ?simply? ?watch.? ? ?

He? ?hadn’t? ?reported? ?in? ?to? ?the? ?Heavens? ?in? ?a? ?long? ?time,? ?but? ?this? ?time? ?when? ?he? ?arrived? ?at? ?the? ?

Heavenly? ?Court,? ?he? ?dashed? ?straight? ?for? ?the? ?Great? ?Martial? ?Hall? ?without? ?a? ?word.? ?When? ?he? ?

broke? ?in,? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?was? ?seated? ?in? ?his? ?throne,? ?and? ?a? ?number? ?of? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?were? ?

bowing? ?to? ?receive? ?a? ?command,? ?seeming? ?to? ?be? ?discussing? ?an? ?important? ?matter.? ?In? ?the? ?

past,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?would’ve? ?chosen? ?a? ?different? ?day? ?to? ?pay? ?his? ?visit,? ?but? ?now,? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?wait,? ?

and? ?went? ?in? ?bluntly,? ?opening? ?his? ?mouth? ?to? ?speak? ?without? ?pause,? ?“My? ?lord,? ?I’m? ?returning? ?to? ?

the? ?mortal? ?realm.”? ?

The? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?were? ?all? ?startled,? ?and? ?immediately? ?covered? ?their? ?mouths,? ?keeping? ?

silent,? ?not? ?wanting? ?to? ?show? ?any? ?kind? ?of? ?reaction.? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?looked? ?at? ?him? ?knowingly? ?for? ?a? ?

moment,? ?then? ?rose? ?from? ?his? ?throne,? ?speaking? ?in? ?a? ?gentle? ?tone,? ?“Xian? ?Le.? ?I? ?know? ?

somewhat? ?of? ?what’s? ?happening,? ?but,? ?you? ?must? ?remain? ?calm.”? ? ?

“My? ?lord,? ?I? ?didn’t? ?come? ?here? ?to? ?request? ?for? ?permission.? ?I? ?came? ?here? ?to? ?inform.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

said,? ?“My? ?people? ?are? ?currently? ?sunken? ?in? ?the? ?depths? ?of? ?hell,? ?so? ?please? ?forgive? ?me? ?if? ?I? ?

cannot? ?remain? ?calm.”? ? ?

“The? ?universe? ?has? ?its? ?own? ?rhythm.”? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?said,? ?“Do? ?you? ?not? ?realize? ?that? ?if? ?you? ?descend? ?

to? ?appear? ?before? ?mortals,? ?it? ?will? ?be? ?a? ?violation? ?of? ?heavenly? ?laws?”? ? ?

“IF? ?IT’S? ?A? ?VIOLATION? ?THEN? ?SO? ?BE? ?IT!”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?cried.? ?

Hearing? ?this,? ?all? ?the? ?faces? ?of? ?the? ?officials? ?present? ?dropped.? ?There? ?had? ?never? ?been? ?any? ?

heavenly? ?officials? ?who? ?dared? ?to? ?speak? ?such? ?words? ?with? ?such? ?gusto? ?and? ?confidence.? ?No? ?

matter? ?how? ?highly? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?regarded? ?this? ?young,? ?early? ?ascended? ?Prince? ?of? ?Xianle,? ?it? ?was? ?

still? ?an? ?act? ?of? ?daring? ?arrogance.? ?

Soon? ?after,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?bent? ?to? ?bow,? ?“Pray? ?my? ?lord? ?let? ?me? ?go? ?this? ?once;? ?just? ?give? ?me? ?a? ?little? ?

time.? ?Since? ?the? ?fighting? ?has? ?started,? ?casualties? ?are? ?unavoidable,? ?but? ?if? ?I? ?could? ?stop? ?this? ?

and? ?reduce? ?the? ?number? ?of? ?dead,? ?minimize? ?the? ?conflict,? ?then? ?after? ?the? ?fighting? ?ends? ?I? ?will? ?

for? ?sure? ?return? ?willingly? ?to? ?repent,? ?and? ?have? ?my? ?lord? ?sentence? ?me? ?as? ?see? ?fit.? ?Whether? ?if? ?I? ?

shall? ?be? ?sealed? ?under? ?a? ?mountain? ?for? ?a? ?hundred? ?years,? ?a? ?thousand? ?years,? ?a? ?hundred? ?

thousand? ?years!? ?–? ?I? ?WILL? ?NOT? ?REGRET!”? ? ?

After? ?having? ?had? ?his? ?say,? ?he? ?remained? ?in? ?the? ?bowing? ?posture? ?and? ?stood? ?down,? ?leaving? ?

the? ?great? ?hall.? ?

“Xian? ?Le!”? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?called.? ?

Xie? ?Lian’s? ?feet? ?paused? ?in? ?his? ?step.? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?watched? ?him? ?then? ?sighed,? ?“You? ?can’t? ?save? ?

everyone.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?slowly? ?straightened? ?up,? ?“Whether? ?if? ?I? ?can? ?I? ?won’t? ?know? ?until? ?I’ve? ?tried.? ?Even? ?if? ?the? ?

heavens? ?say? ?I? ?must? ?die,? ?if? ?that? ?sword? ?doesn’t? ?pierce? ?my? ?heart? ?and? ?nail? ?me? ?dead? ?on? ?the? ?

ground,? ?then? ?I? ?am? ?still? ?alive,? ?and? ?til? ?my? ?last? ?breath? ?I? ?will? ?struggle? ?to? ?the? ?end!”? ? ?

Returning? ?to? ?the? ?mortal? ?realm? ?for? ?the? ?first? ?time? ?in? ?solid? ?form? ?was? ?unlike? ?all? ?the? ?previous? ?

times? ?he? ?descended.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?like? ?something? ?had? ?been? ?thrown? ?away.? ?He? ?was? ?both? ?

somewhat? ?light? ?and? ?at? ?the? ?same? ?time,? ?somewhat? ?heavy.? ?His? ?first? ?step? ?was? ?to? ?return? ?to? ?

the? ?palace? ?immediately.? ?

The? ?king? ?and? ?the? ?queen? ?were? ?in? ?the? ?chamber? ?behind? ?the? ?royal? ?bureau,? ?whispering? ?

between? ?themselves,? ?their? ?expressions? ?solemn? ?and? ?exhausted.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?came? ?to? ?the? ?

door? ?and? ?was? ?anxious? ?at? ?first,? ?but? ?then? ?he? ?calmed? ?his? ?nerves,? ?raised? ?the? ?beaded? ?curtain,? ?

and? ?walked? ?in.? ?“Father.”? ?

The? ?king? ?and? ?the? ?queen? ?both? ?looked? ?back? ?at? ?the? ?same? ?time? ?and? ?was? ?stunned.? ?A? ?moment? ?

later,? ?it? ?was? ?the? ?queen? ?who? ?stood? ?up? ?first,? ?crying? ?joyously,? ?“My? ?son!”? ?

She? ?extended? ?both? ?her? ?hands? ?and? ?came? ?forward? ?to? ?welcome? ?him.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?caught? ?her? ?

arms,? ?accepting? ?the? ?gesture.? ?But? ?before? ?the? ?smiles? ?went? ?away,? ?he? ?suddenly? ?saw? ?the? ?

king’s? ?growing? ?dark? ?expression,? ?demanding,? ?“Why? ?have? ?you? ?descended?”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian’s? ?smile? ?froze.? ?

Before? ?when? ?he? ?heard? ?his? ?parents? ?talk? ?behind? ?his? ?back,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?felt? ?maybe? ?his? ?

father? ?did? ?still? ?miss? ?him,? ?and? ?wasn’t? ?as? ?opinionated? ?against? ?him? ?as? ?he? ?made? ?it? ?seem.? ?He? ?

had? ?thought? ?that? ?the? ?king? ?would? ?at? ?least? ?show? ?some? ?degree? ?of? ?pleasure? ?in? ?seeing? ?his? ?

return,? ?and? ?if? ?that? ?was? ?the? ?case,? ?then? ?surely? ?he? ?would? ?return? ?the? ?affection.? ?But? ?who? ?knew? ?

the? ?king? ?would? ?react? ?this? ?way,? ?so? ?full? ?of? ?scorn,? ?and? ?so? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?own? ?temper? ?flared? ?up.? ?

He? ?replied? ?sharply,? ?“Why? ?have? ?I? ?descended?? ?Isn’t? ?it? ?all? ?because? ?of? ?you?!? ?That? ?the? ?

situation? ?with? ?Yong’an? ?had? ?come? ?to? ?this,? ?shouldn’t? ?you? ?ask? ?yourselves? ?whether? ?if? ?you’re? ?

responsible?”? ? ?

The? ?king’s? ?expression? ?completely? ?changed,? ?and? ?he? ?countered? ?harshly,? ?“My? ?

responsibility?? ?Is? ?that? ?something? ?you? ?can? ?say? ?to? ?me?!”? ? ?

His? ?fury? ?had? ?made? ?him? ?forget? ?to? ?refer? ?to? ?his? ?own? ?title,? ?and? ?the? ?queen? ?teared? ?up,? ?“The? ?

situation? ?has? ?already? ?come? ?to? ?this,? ?so? ?why? ?are? ?you? ?two? ?still? ?arguing?”? ? ?

“We’re? ?not? ?arguing,”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“We’re? ?talking? ?about? ?sense.? ?Even? ?if? ?you? ?are? ?the? ?king,? ?

my? ?father,? ?if? ?you? ?are? ?the? ?responsible,? ?why? ?can? ?I? ?not? ?say? ?anything?? ?Why? ?didn’t? ?you? ?work? ?

harder? ?to? ?fundraise?? ?If? ?the? ?funds? ?were? ?all? ?swallowed? ?by? ?government? ?checkpoints,? ?why? ?

didn’t? ?you? ?punish? ?the? ?corrupt? ?officials?? ?If? ?you? ?were? ?tough? ?like? ?thunder? ?and? ?fast? ?like? ?

lightning,? ?catch? ?one? ?jail? ?one,? ?then? ?would? ?there? ?still? ?be? ?so? ?many? ?corrupt? ?parasites? ?who’d? ?

dare? ?steal?? ?Wouldn’t? ?the? ?situation? ?be? ?better? ?than? ?it? ?is? ?now?”? ? ?

Veins? ?popped? ?on? ?the? ?king’s? ?forehead,? ?and? ?he? ?banged? ?on? ?his? ?bureau? ?desk,? ?“QUIET!? ?Do? ?

you? ?take? ?the? ?royal? ?treasury? ?for? ?a? ?bottomless? ?well? ?that? ?can? ?fix? ?any? ?hole? ?that? ?leaks?!? ?Catch? ?

one? ?jail? ?one,? ?if? ?it? ?was? ?that? ?easy,? ?if? ?by? ?just? ?one? ?order? ?from? ?this? ?king? ?and? ?it’d? ?work? ?fast? ?like? ?

lightning,? ?tough? ?as? ?thunder,? ?then? ?why? ?has? ?history? ?never? ?had? ?a? ?dynasty? ?untouched? ?by? ?

corruption?? ?WHAT? ?DO? ?YOU? ?UNDERSTAND?? ?YOU? ?IGNORANT? ?CHILD? ?DARE? ?SPEAK? ?

POLITICS? ?WITH? ?ME!”? ?

“Fine.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?acquiesced,? ?“I? ?don’t? ?understand.? ?Then? ?even? ?if? ?the? ?royal? ?capital? ?had? ?no? ?

room? ?for? ?the? ?victims? ?to? ?settle? ?and? ?expulsion? ?was? ?inevitable,? ?why? ?not? ?provide? ?more? ?

expenses? ?for? ?them?? ?Why? ?not? ?provide? ?more? ?comfort? ?and? ?security? ?and? ?have? ?an? ?army? ?

escort? ?their? ?journey? ?eastward?”? ? ?

The? ?king’s? ?eyes? ?bulged? ?with? ?rage? ?and? ?pointed? ?to? ?the? ?sky,? ?“SCRAM.? ?GET? ?OUT? ?OF? ?

HERE!? ?GET? ?BACK? ?TO? ?THE? ?HEAVENS!? ?JUST? ?LOOKING? ?AT? ?YOU? ?ANNOYS? ?ME!? ?

DON’T? ?EVER? ?APPEAR? ?AGAIN!”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?descended? ?with? ?a? ?heart? ?full? ?of? ?fervor,? ?yet? ?the? ?first? ?encounter? ?with? ?his? ?

parents? ?was? ?his? ?father? ?yelling? ?for? ?him? ?to? ?scram? ?back? ?to? ?the? ?heavens.? ?Without? ?a? ?word,? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?bowed? ?to? ?him,? ?and? ?stood? ?down? ?to? ?leave.? ?The? ?queen? ?chased? ?after? ?him? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?

bureau? ?and? ?pulled? ?him? ?to? ?a? ?stop.? ?“My? ?son!”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?said? ?gently,? ?“Mother,? ?don’t? ?worry.? ?I’m? ?just? ?going? ?to? ?go? ?make? ?a? ?round? ?around? ?the? ?

royal? ?capital? ?and? ?check? ?on? ?the? ?situation.”? ?

The? ?queen? ?shook? ?her? ?head,? ?“My? ?son,? ?I? ?don’t? ?understand? ?those? ?political? ?matters,? ?but? ?I? ?

understand? ?your? ?father.? ?Throughout? ?the? ?years,? ?I’ve? ?seen? ?how? ?he? ?is? ?as? ?a? ?king.? ?You? ?can? ?

think? ?from? ?the? ?bottom? ?of? ?your? ?heart? ?that? ?he? ?isn’t? ?competent,? ?and? ?sometimes? ?I? ?think? ?so? ?

too,? ?I? ?just? ?don’t? ?say? ?it? ?out? ?loud.? ?But? ?you? ?can’t? ?say? ?that? ?to? ?his? ?face.? ?He’s? ?your? ?father? ?after? ?

all.? ?If? ?you? ?tell? ?him? ?straight? ?on? ?that? ?he’s? ?no? ?good,? ?it? ?really? ?kills? ?the? ?heart.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?opened? ?and? ?closed? ?his? ?mouth.? ?The? ?queen? ?added,? ?“You? ?might? ?have? ?been? ?the? ?

Crown? ?Prince,? ?but? ?you? ?had? ?never? ?been? ?king.? ?Politics? ?isn’t? ?like? ?cultivation.? ?When? ?you? ?first? ?

entered? ?the? ?Royal? ?Holy? ?Pavilion,? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?had? ?said? ?cultivation? ?only? ?concerns? ?the? ?

heart,? ?isn’t? ?that? ?right?”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?nodded? ?slowly,? ?and? ?the? ?queen? ?clutched? ?his? ?hands,? ?“But,? ?there? ?are? ?many? ?other? ?

things? ?in? ?this? ?world? ?that? ?by? ?just? ?having? ?the? ?heart? ?isn’t? ?enough.? ?You? ?must? ?be? ?capable? ?too;? ?

and? ?not? ?just? ?you,? ?but? ?your? ?subordinates? ?must? ?be? ?capable? ?as? ?well;? ?and? ?not? ?just? ?ability,? ?

they? ?must? ?share? ?the? ?same? ?heart? ?as? ?you.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?remained? ?silent.? ?A? ?while? ?later? ?he? ?asked,? ?“Is? ?the? ?royal? ?treasury? ?suffering?? ?I? ?don’t? ?

need? ?temples;? ?tell? ?him? ?to? ?stop? ?building? ?so? ?many? ?temples? ?for? ?me.? ?Those? ?golden? ?statues? ?

can? ?go.”? ? ?

The? ?queen? ?replied? ?miserably,? ?“My? ?child...? ?Of? ?course? ?there’s? ?some? ?of? ?your? ?father’s? ?

partialness? ?in? ?building? ?temples,? ?he? ?wanted? ?to? ?give? ?you? ?the? ?best,? ?and? ?have? ?you? ?look? ?

impressive? ?in? ?the? ?heavens.? ?But,? ?do? ?you? ?know? ?just? ?how? ?many? ?of? ?those? ?eight? ?thousand? ?

temples? ?were? ?actually? ?built? ?by? ?your? ?father?? ?You? ?don’t? ?know,? ?do? ?you?”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?really? ?didn’t? ?know,? ?and? ?he? ?gave? ?it? ?a? ?thought,? ?“...half?”? ?

“If? ?your? ?father? ?really? ?used? ?funds? ?from? ?the? ?royal? ?treasury? ?to? ?build? ?four? ?thousand? ?temples,? ?

we? ?needn’t? ?wait? ?for? ?the? ?Yong’an? ?refugees? ?to? ?start? ?anything,? ?the? ?royal? ?capital? ?would? ?revolt? ?

first.”? ?The? ?queen? ?said.? ?“So? ?if? ?the? ?royal? ?treasury? ?is? ?empty,? ?where? ?did? ?all? ?that? ?money? ?come? ?

from?? ?Your? ?father? ?built? ?maybe? ?twenty? ?some? ?temples,? ?and? ?others? ?followed? ?suit,? ?masses? ?of? ?

them? ?wanting? ?to? ?build? ?too? ?to? ?get? ?on? ?his? ?good? ?side,? ?to? ?get? ?on? ?your? ?good? ?side,? ?so? ?is? ?that? ?

counted? ?on? ?your? ?father’s? ?head? ?too?”? ? ?

“I...”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?stumped.? ?

The? ?queen? ?said? ?softly,? ?“Your? ?father? ?isn’t? ?the? ?greatest? ?king,? ?but...? ?he’s? ?done? ?his? ?best.? ?Only,? ?

in? ?this? ?world,? ?just? ?doing? ?your? ?best? ?isn’t? ?good? ?enough.”? ? ?

After? ?a? ?pause? ?she? ?added,? ?“Right? ?now? ?you? ?feel? ?sympathy? ?for? ?those? ?Yong’an? ?refugees? ?so? ?

you? ?blame? ?your? ?father.? ?But? ?they’re? ?all? ?his? ?people,? ?do? ?you? ?think? ?we’re? ?the? ?ones? ?bullying? ?

them?? ?In? ?truth...”? ?

Halfway? ?through? ?her? ?words,? ?the? ?enraged? ?voice? ?of? ?the? ?king? ?rang? ?from? ?within? ?the? ?bureau,? ?

“WHAT? ?ARE? ?YOU? ?DOING? ?SAYING? ?SO? ?MUCH? ?USELESS? ?THINGS? ?TO? ?HIM?? ?MAKE? ?

HIM? ?LEAVE? ?AND? ?GO? ?BACK? ?TO? ?THE? ?HEAVENS!”? ? ?

The? ?queen? ?turned? ?her? ?head? ?back? ?and? ?sighed,? ?“My? ?son,? ?don’t...? ?don’t? ?descend? ?for? ?this.? ?

Go? ?back.”? ? ?

After? ?leaving? ?the? ?palace,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?followed? ?down? ?an? ?alleyway? ?by? ?the? ?Martial? ?Deity? ?

Avenue,? ?and? ?as? ?he? ?walked,? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?appeared? ?in? ?a? ?hurry.? ?The? ?moment? ?Mu? ?

Qing? ?approached? ?he? ?questioned? ?in? ?disbelief,? ?“Your? ?Highness!? ?You? ?requested? ?to? ?descend? ?

into? ?the? ?mortal? ?realm?? ?You? ?went? ?and? ?spoke? ?to? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Emperor??”? ? ?

“Yes.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?answered.? ?

“Why? ?didn’t? ?you? ?tell? ?me? ?first?”? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?demanded.? ?

Feng? ?Xin? ?was? ?puzzled,? ?“What? ?do? ?you? ?mean?? ?Does? ?His? ?Highness? ?have? ?to? ?report? ?to? ?

anyone? ?what? ?he? ?wants? ?to? ?do?”? ? ?

However,? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?appeared? ?to? ?be? ?losing? ?it,? ?“Why? ?not?? ?We’re? ?his? ?subordinates,? ?and? ?right? ?

now? ?we’re? ?all? ?tied? ?together.? ?His? ?every? ?action? ?affects? ?us? ?so? ?is? ?there? ?something? ?wrong? ?in? ?

me? ?wanting? ?to? ?know? ?what? ?he? ?plans? ?on? ?doing?”? ? ?

“We’d? ?have? ?to? ?follow? ?His? ?Highness? ?no? ?matter? ?what? ?he? ?does? ?anyway?? ?Heaven? ?or? ?earth? ?he? ?

has? ?his? ?plans,? ?what? ?are? ?you? ?afraid? ?of?”? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?said.? ?

“You!”? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?shouted,? ?“I’m? ?not? ?afraid!? ?I’m? ?only...”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?raised? ?his? ?hand,? ?“Enough.? ?Stop? ?arguing!”? ? ?

Feng? ?Xin? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?quieted? ?immediately.? ?Just? ?then,? ?a? ?long? ?line? ?of? ?demonstrating? ?

crowd? ?paraded? ?down? ?the? ?main? ?street,? ?and? ?thousands? ?of? ?citizens? ?were? ?hollering:? ?“THERE? ?

WILL? ?BE? ?NO? ?PEACE? ?IN? ?THE? ?KINGDOM? ?UNTIL? ?YONG’AN? ?IS? ?EXTERMINATED!”? ?

“THEY’VE? ?GONE? ?TOO? ?FAR? ?IN? ?CREATING? ?DISORDER!? ?THEY’RE? ?CANCEROUS!”? ?

The? ?people? ?of? ?Xianle? ?had? ?never? ?been? ?so? ?aggressive? ?towards? ?anything,? ?and? ?such? ?a? ?

roaring? ?protest? ?demonstration? ?too.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?think? ?something? ?amiss.? ?

Feng? ?Xin? ?on? ?the? ?other? ?hand? ?frowned,? ?“How? ?come? ?there’s? ?a? ?woman? ?in? ?there?”? ? ?

Sure? ?enough,? ?in? ?that? ?parading? ?crowd,? ?a? ?young? ?woman? ?was? ?leading? ?the? ?forefront.? ?That? ?

young? ?woman? ?was? ?slender,? ?her? ?skin? ?snow? ?white,? ?her? ?eyes? ?bright? ?and? ?black,? ?her? ?cheeks? ?

flushed? ?not? ?from? ?shyness? ?but? ?from? ?rage;? ?a? ?catching? ?sight.? ?By? ?then? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?had? ?calmed? ?

himself? ?down? ?and? ?said? ?coldly,? ?“His? ?Highness? ?doesn’t? ?recognize? ?her?”? ? ?

“No.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied.? ?

Feng? ?Xin? ?knitted? ?his? ?brows,? ?“Looks? ?familiar?”? ? ?

“She’s? ?one? ?of? ?the? ?catalysts.”? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?said.? ?

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

“The? ?catalyst? ?for? ?the? ?standoff.”? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?replied,? ?“Before,? ?because? ?there? ?were? ?more? ?and? ?

more? ?Yong’an? ?refugees? ?in? ?the? ?royal? ?capital? ?and? ?some? ?would? ?even? ?go? ?around? ?causing? ?

issues,? ?not? ?quietly? ?minding? ?their? ?own? ?business,? ?so? ?the? ?parliament? ?was? ?discussing? ?the? ?

matter? ?of? ?expulsion,? ?and? ?words? ?of? ?it? ?were? ?spreading.? ?There? ?was? ?a? ?Yong’an? ?refugee? ?who? ?

wanted? ?to? ?stay? ?and? ?not? ?be? ?expelled,? ?so? ?he? ?decided? ?to? ?take? ?a? ?risk.? ?One? ?night,? ?he? ?snuck? ?

into? ?the? ?house? ?of? ?a? ?wealthy? ?family,? ?and? ?kidnapped? ?their? ?daughter.”? ?

Hearing? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?wrap? ?his? ?head? ?around? ?it,? ?“Why? ?would? ?he? ?kidnap? ?a? ?rich? ?

family’s? ?daughter? ?if? ?he? ?didn’t? ?want? ?to? ?leave?”? ? ?

Mu? ?Qing? ?gave? ?him? ?a? ?look,? ?“To? ?marry? ?her.? ?It’s? ?just? ?that? ?if? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?through? ?forcible? ?means,? ?

no? ?daughter? ?of? ?a? ?good? ?standing? ?family? ?in? ?the? ?royal? ?capital? ?would? ?marry? ?a? ?person? ?of? ?

Yong’an.”? ? ?

He? ?didn’t? ?say? ?it? ?plainly? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?understood.? ? ?

He? ?had? ?never? ?thought? ?that? ?it? ?was? ?something? ?that? ?could? ?be? ?done? ?–? ?that? ?there? ?were? ?

actually? ?people? ?in? ?this? ?world? ?like? ?that.? ?That? ?something? ?like? ?this? ?actually? ?happened,? ?a? ?

sudden? ?desire? ?to? ?get? ?sick? ?rolled? ?up? ?from? ?his? ?chest.? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?angrily? ?cursed? ?on? ?the? ?spot,? ?

“Despicable!”? ? ?

Just? ?then,? ?a? ?group? ?of? ?aunties? ?rushed? ?over,? ?grabbing? ?and? ?pulling? ?at? ?that? ?young? ?woman.? ?By? ?

the? ?looks? ?of? ?it,? ?she? ?had? ?come? ?out? ?when? ?her? ?family? ?wasn’t? ?paying? ?attention.? ?That? ?young? ?

woman? ?wouldn’t? ?yield,? ?yelling:? ?“I’m? ?not? ?afraid!? ?I’ve? ?nothing? ?to? ?be? ?embarrassed? ?about,? ?I? ?

wasn’t? ?in? ?the? ?wrong!”? ? ?

Feng? ?Xin? ?was? ?amazed,? ?“That? ?chick’s? ?pretty? ?spunky.”? ? ?

“Yes.”? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?said,? ?“Because? ?she? ?didn’t? ?come? ?from? ?a? ?commoner? ?background.? ?Her? ?

father? ?is? ?a? ?high? ?ranking? ?official,? ?and? ?her? ?mother? ?came? ?from? ?a? ?family? ?of? ?wealthy? ?

merchants? ?in? ?the? ?royal? ?capital.? ?They? ?refused? ?to? ?suffer? ?this? ?shame? ?quietly,? ?and? ?definitely? ?

wouldn’t? ?marry? ?off? ?their? ?daughter? ?like? ?that? ?for? ?the? ?sake? ?of? ?shame,? ?so? ?they? ?beat? ?that? ?

Yong’an? ?man? ?to? ?death.? ?Soon? ?after,? ?all? ?the? ?wealthy? ?merchants? ?and? ?gentleman? ?of? ?renown? ?

in? ?the? ?capital? ?signed? ?a? ?petition,? ?listing? ?all? ?the? ?crimes? ?the? ?Yong’an? ?refugees? ?had? ?committed? ?

since? ?entering? ?the? ?capital,? ?and? ?bade? ?the? ?king? ?to? ?jail? ?all? ?of? ?them? ?to? ?be? ?punished? ?severely.? ?

There’s? ?no? ?need? ?to? ?speak? ?on? ?where? ?the? ?government? ?officials? ?all? ?stand? ?on? ?this.”? ?

After? ?a? ?pause,? ?he? ?said? ?with? ?a? ?casual? ?air,? ?“I? ?hear? ?that? ?girl’s? ?father? ?had? ?once? ?wanted? ?her? ?to? ?

enter? ?the? ?harem? ?and? ?fight? ?for? ?the? ?position? ?of? ?the? ?Prince’s? ?Consort.? ?Your? ?Highness? ?

must’ve? ?seen? ?her? ?face? ?a? ?few? ?times? ?a? ?long? ?time? ?ago,? ?yet? ?you? ?don’t? ?recognize? ?her.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?finally? ?realized? ?that? ?everything? ?was? ?much? ?more? ?complicated? ?than? ?he? ?had? ?

imagined.? ?

Two? ?sides? ?of? ?a? ?tumultuous? ?standoff? ?had? ?long? ?been? ?formed? ?within? ?and? ?outside? ?the? ?city.? ?All? ?

the? ?peoples? ?were? ?enraged,? ?wishing? ?to? ?kill? ?off? ?the? ?other.? ?If? ?the? ?king’s? ?decree? ?was? ?partial? ?to? ?

Yong’an,? ?wouldn’t? ?that? ?be? ?slapping? ?his? ?own? ?people’s? ?faces?? ?When? ?at? ?last? ?the? ?decision? ?

was? ?made? ?to? ?distribute? ?some? ?travel? ?expenses? ?to? ?the? ?Yong’an? ?refugees? ?from? ?the? ?royal? ?

treasury,? ?there? ?were? ?probably? ?also? ?a? ?large? ?number? ?of? ?residents? ?who? ?were? ?displeased.? ? ?

What’s? ?even? ?more? ?frightening? ?than? ?a? ?displeased? ?enemy? ?was? ?the? ?dissatisfaction? ?of? ?a? ?

kingdom’s? ?own? ?people.? ?Although? ?technically? ?everyone? ?was? ?of? ?Xianle,? ?but? ?now,? ?there? ?

were? ?probably? ?very? ?few? ?who’d? ?think? ?so.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?been? ?standing? ?from? ?high? ?up? ?and? ?had? ?long? ?not? ?known? ?the? ?matters? ?of? ?the? ?

mortal? ?realm,? ?but? ?his? ?father? ?was? ?still? ?in? ?the? ?mortal? ?realm.? ?As? ?a? ?king,? ?he? ?needed? ?money,? ?

he? ?needed? ?people,? ?and? ?in? ?his? ?position,? ?the? ?stress,? ?the? ?pressure,? ?the? ?compromise? ?he? ?

needed? ?to? ?make? ?between? ?people? ?and? ?issues? ?were? ?not? ?of? ?the? ?same? ?caliber? ?as? ?he.? ?Just? ?

like? ?how? ?when? ?the? ?Yong’an? ?refugees? ?arrived? ?they? ?took? ?over? ?land,? ?created? ?noise,? ?stole? ?

and? ?robbed,? ?etc.,? ?to? ?a? ?martial? ?god? ?sitting? ?in? ?a? ?temple,? ?they? ?were? ?all? ?small? ?matters.? ?

However,? ?to? ?the? ?residents? ?of? ?the? ?royal? ?capital,? ?they? ?were? ?all? ?very? ?real,? ?unchasable,? ?

intolerable? ?tortures;? ?a? ?crisis? ?waiting? ?to? ?erupt.? ?To? ?think? ?this? ?a? ?simple,? ?trivial? ?matter? ?was? ?

only? ?because? ?he? ?wasn’t? ?the? ?one? ?situated? ?within.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?recall? ?that? ?the? ?king’s? ?two? ?moustaches? ?were? ?even? ?whiter? ?than? ?

the? ?last? ?time? ?he? ?had? ?seen? ?him.? ?Last? ?time? ?the? ?king? ?said? ?he? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?dye? ?it,? ?but? ?he? ?

probably? ?didn’t? ?have? ?the? ?energy? ?to? ?care? ?anymore.? ?

When? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?younger,? ?he? ?firmly? ?believed? ?his? ?father? ?was? ?the? ?world’s? ?greatest? ?king.? ?

But? ?the? ?older? ?he? ?got,? ?the? ?more? ?he? ?realized? ?that? ?wasn’t? ?the? ?case.? ?His? ?father,? ?although? ?

king,? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?said? ?to? ?be? ?wise? ?and? ?competent,? ?and? ?was? ?even? ?a? ?little? ?corrupt,? ?making? ?

mistakes? ?often.? ?Taking? ?away? ?his? ?prestigious? ?status,? ?he? ?was? ?no? ?more? ?than? ?a? ?common? ?

man.? ?

The? ?more? ?he? ?realized? ?this? ?the? ?more? ?disappointed? ?he? ?became,? ?and? ?the? ?king? ?had? ?also? ?

noticed? ?his? ?disappointment.? ?Thus,? ?the? ?more? ?the? ?king? ?couldn’t? ?accept? ?every? ?disagreeing? ?

look,? ?every? ?disagreeing? ?word? ?from? ?Xie? ?Lian.? ?What? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?accept? ?the? ?most? ?however,? ?

was? ?have? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?see? ?his? ?failure.? ?

No? ?father? ?in? ?the? ?world? ?wished? ?to? ?have? ?their? ?son? ?see? ?their? ?failures.? ?Every? ?father? ?wished? ?

that? ?before? ?their? ?sons,? ?they? ?would? ?always? ?be? ?the? ?greatest.? ?Yet? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?appeared? ?before? ?

him? ?at? ?such? ?a? ?time? ?to? ?berate? ?his? ?own? ?father:? ?You’re? ?making? ?a? ?mess? ?of? ?things!? ?So? ?much? ?

so? ?that? ?I? ?had? ?to? ?descend? ?to? ?help? ?you? ?out? ?–? ?as? ?both? ?a? ?king? ?and? ?a? ?father,? ?how? ?could? ?he? ?

have? ?withstood? ?it? ?hearing? ?that?? ?

That? ?young? ?woman? ?was? ?finally? ?taken? ?away? ?by? ?her? ?servant? ?ladies,? ?and? ?the? ?remaining? ?

hundreds? ?of? ?demonstrating? ?residents? ?continued? ?their? ?protest,? ?waving? ?signs? ?and? ?hollering.? ?

They? ?were? ?only? ?crying? ?for? ?one? ?thing:? ?“KILL? ?THEM!? ?START? ?THE? ?BATTLE!? ?SHOW? ?

THOSE? ?YONG’AN? ?REFUGEES? ?OUTSIDE? ?THE? ?CITY? ?WALLS!”? ? ?

A? ?moment? ?later,? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?it’s? ?best? ?if? ?you? ?go? ?back? ?and? ?

apologize? ?to? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Emperor.? ?At? ?this? ?point,? ?fortune,? ?time,? ?and? ?place,? ?are? ?all? ?lost.? ?

There? ?is? ?no? ?helping.”? ?

Just? ?as? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?had? ?told? ?him? ?at? ?the? ?Great? ?Martial? ?Hall:? ?The? ?universe? ?has? ?its? ?own? ?rhythm.? ?

It? ?was? ?like? ?telling? ?him:? ?The? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?Xianle’s? ?time? ?has? ?come,? ?let? ?it? ?go.? ?

Even? ?the? ?queen,? ?his? ?mother,? ?who? ?wished? ?day? ?and? ?night? ?if? ?only? ?to? ?have? ?a? ?glimpse? ?of? ?him,? ?

who? ?when? ?she? ?finally? ?saw? ?him,? ?asked? ?him? ?to? ?leave? ?with? ?tears? ?in? ?her? ?eyes.? ?How? ?could? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?not? ?know? ?that? ?they? ?simply? ?didn’t? ?want? ?him? ?to? ?go? ?through? ?this? ?difficult? ?trial,? ?and? ?would? ?

rather? ?he? ?watch? ?from? ?afar,? ?taking? ?a? ?good? ?care? ?of? ?himself? ?instead?? ?

But,? ?how? ?could? ?he? ?possibly?? ?

“...”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?said? ?gravely,? ?“No!”? ?

And? ?he? ?strode? ?out.? ?

——————? ?

Ch.78:? ?Quell? ?Yong’an;? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?Enters? ?the? ?Battlefield? ?

Behind? ?him,? ?both? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?were? ?in? ?shock,? ?and? ?they? ?cried,? ?“Your? ?Highness!”? ?

And? ?immediately? ?rushed? ?out? ?too? ?to? ?guard? ?next? ?to? ?him.? ?

However,? ?all? ?the? ?citizens? ?in? ?the? ?entire? ?Martial? ?Deity? ?Avenue? ?had? ?already? ?seen? ?the? ?young? ?

man? ?in? ?white? ?who? ?appeared? ?right? ?in? ?the? ?centre? ?of? ?the? ?main? ?street.? ?The? ?demonstrating? ?

protesters? ?were? ?broken? ?up? ?but? ?soon? ?reorganized? ?themselves,? ?and? ?crowds? ?of? ?thousands? ?

soon? ?surrounded? ?Xie? ?Lian.? ?The? ?first? ?person? ?spoke,? ?unsure,? ?“My? ?lord...? ?my? ?lord? ?is? ?His? ?

Highness?”? ? ?

The? ?second? ?one? ?was? ?doubtful,? ?“Didn’t? ?His? ?Highness? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?ascend?? ?He’s? ?no? ?

longer? ?mortal? ?so? ?why? ?would? ?he? ?appear? ?here?”? ?

The? ?third? ?one? ?yelled,? ?“IT’S? ?HIM!? ?THREE? ?YEARS? ?AGO? ?AT? ?THE? ?HEAVENLY? ?

CEREMONIAL? ?PROCESSION? ?I? ?SAW? ?HIM? ?WITH? ?MY? ?OWN? ?EYES,? ?IT’S? ?HIS? ?HIGHNESS? ?

THE? ?CROWN? ?PRINCE!”? ? ?

More? ?and? ?more? ?started? ?to? ?recognize? ?the? ?face? ?of? ?that? ?martial? ?god? ?they? ?worshipped? ?day? ?

and? ?night,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?spoke? ?up? ?slowly,? ?“It? ?is? ?I.? ?I? ?have? ?returned.”? ?

The? ?people? ?went? ?wild.? ?

“A? ?GOD? ?HAS? ?DESCENDED!? ?A? ?GOD? ?HAS? ?REALLY? ?DESCENDED!”? ?

“A? ?DIVINE? ?BEING? ?HAS? ?RETURNED? ?TO? ?THE? ?MORTAL? ?REALM!”? ?

“–Your? ?Highness? ?must? ?have? ?returned? ?because? ?you? ?could? ?no? ?longer? ?tolerate? ?seeing? ?us? ?

suffer? ?the? ?abuse? ?of? ?those? ?thieves!”? ? ?

Immediately? ?there? ?were? ?those? ?who? ?pressed? ?on,? ?full? ?of? ?hope,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?will? ?my? ?lord? ?

lead? ?us? ?to? ?defeat? ?those? ?Yong’an? ?refugees?? ?It’s? ?for? ?certain,? ?right?? ?It? ?must? ?be? ?so!”? ? ?

After? ?some? ?pause,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?answered? ?peacefully,? ?“I? ?returned? ?for? ?the? ?sake? ?of? ?protecting? ?

the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?Xianle,? ?to? ?protect? ?my? ?people.”? ? ?

Feng? ?Xin? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?who? ?were? ?next? ?to? ?him? ?listened? ?intently,? ?but? ?they? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?sure? ?

what? ?exactly? ?those? ?words? ?meant,? ?yet? ?the? ?citizens? ?whose? ?heads? ?were? ?rushed? ?by? ?hot? ?

blood? ?were? ?all? ?taking? ?it? ?in? ?and? ?understanding? ?what? ?they? ?will.? ?As? ?for? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?he? ?had? ?his? ?

own? ?considerations;? ?his? ?heart? ?was? ?beating? ?faster? ?and? ?faster,? ?and? ?he? ?gritted? ?his? ?teeth,? ?

“...Believe? ?in? ?me!”? ? ?

He? ?clenched? ?his? ?fists,? ?and? ?cried,? ?“YOUR? ?BELIEFS? ?WILL? ?GRANT? ?ME? ?GREATER? ?

POWER.? ?WITH? ?THIS? ?POWER? ?I? ?PROMISE? ?I? ?WILL? ?SHIELD? ?XIANLE,? ?PROTECT? ?THE? ?

COMMON? ?PEOPLE.? ?PLEASE? ?BELIEVE? ?IN? ?ME!”? ? ?

The? ?people? ?had? ?been? ?waiting? ?for? ?that? ?very? ?moment;? ?all? ?they? ?wanted? ?was? ?his? ?pledge,? ?and? ?

immediately? ?they? ?erupted? ?in? ?fervent? ?cheers,? ?then? ?circle? ?by? ?circle? ?they? ?kneeled? ?to? ?

prostrate,? ?“WE’LL? ?FOLLOW? ?MY? ?LORD? ?TO? ?THE? ?ENDS? ?OF? ?THE? ?EARTH!? ?WE’LL? ?

FOLLOW? ?YOUR? ?HIGHNESS!”? ? ?

“PROTECT? ?XIAN? ?LE!”? ?

When? ?all? ?the? ?residents? ?of? ?the? ?royal? ?capital? ?heard? ?a? ?god? ?had? ?descended? ?upon? ?them,? ?they? ?

all? ?poured? ?out? ?into? ?the? ?streets,? ?if? ?only? ?just? ?to? ?witness? ?this? ?miracle? ?that? ?might? ?not? ?come? ?

even? ?in? ?a? ?thousand? ?years.? ?Even? ?the? ?informed? ?royal? ?guards? ?who? ?came? ?in? ?a? ?hurry? ?didn’t? ?

dare? ?to? ?be? ?impudent,? ?and? ?joined? ?the? ?prostrating? ?crowd.? ?The? ?three? ?of? ?them? ?were? ?stuck? ?in? ?

the? ?middle? ?of? ?the? ?main? ?street,? ?unable? ?to? ?move,? ?and? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?had? ?to? ?keep? ?

maintaining? ?order,? ?shouting,? ?“DON’T? ?PUSH!? ?STOP? ?PUSHING!”? ?

However,? ?they? ?weren’t? ?very? ?effective.? ?Everyone? ?wanted? ?to? ?push? ?and? ?get? ?closer? ?to? ?His? ?

Highness? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince,? ?and? ?touch? ?even? ?just? ?a? ?sleeve? ?corner? ?of? ?this? ?divine? ?god? ?from? ?

heaven,? ?so? ?some? ?of? ?his? ?holiness? ?would? ?rub? ?off? ?on? ?them.? ?Several? ?generals? ?and? ?fully? ?

armoured? ?soldiers? ?were? ?dispatched? ?before? ?the? ?wild? ?crowd? ?was? ?broken? ?up.? ?

When? ?all? ?the? ?people? ?were? ?gone,? ?all? ?that? ?was? ?left? ?behind? ?was? ?a? ?dust-filled? ?air? ?and? ?messy? ?

footprints? ?littering? ?the? ?ground.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?noticed? ?something? ?and? ?he? ?walked? ?up? ?and? ?bent? ?

down? ?to? ?pick? ?it? ?up.? ? ?

It? ?was? ?a? ?single? ?flower.? ?After? ?having? ?been? ?trampled? ?by? ?many,? ?it? ?was? ?almost? ?the? ?colour? ?of? ?

dirt.? ?Only? ?a? ?few? ?ripped? ?petals? ?remain? ?that? ?still? ?had? ?its? ?original? ?tint? ?of? ?purity? ?peeking? ?

through.? ?

That? ?faint? ?fragrance? ?didn’t? ?last,? ?and? ?it? ?soon? ?dispersed.? ?

After? ?coming? ?to? ?an? ?understanding? ?of? ?some? ?things,? ?this? ?time? ?when? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?returned? ?to? ?

the? ?palace,? ?his? ?temper? ?was? ?much? ?softer? ?towards? ?the? ?king.? ?Thus,? ?the? ?king? ?also? ?became? ?

more? ?agreeable? ?towards? ?him.? ?Having? ?both? ?taken? ?that? ?one? ?step? ?back,? ?the? ?father? ?and? ?son? ?

established? ?a? ?tentative? ?peace? ?between? ?them.? ?As? ?for? ?the? ?Guoshi,? ?he? ?seemed? ?to? ?have? ?

already? ?expected? ?that? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?would? ?descend,? ?so? ?he? ?didn’t? ?say? ?much? ?on? ?the? ?subject.? ?

In? ?the? ?past,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?always? ?believed? ?that? ?a? ?nation? ?possessed? ?one? ?heart,? ?and? ?before? ?a? ?

grave? ?matter,? ?everyone? ?would? ?undoubtedly? ?follow? ?the? ?direction? ?of? ?the? ?king.? ?Only? ?when? ?he? ?

finally? ?sat? ?down? ?to? ?participate? ?did? ?he? ?fully? ?understand? ?just? ?how? ?vexing? ?the? ?position? ?of? ?a? ?

king? ?really? ?was.? ?Within? ?parliament,? ?the? ?officials? ?were? ?actually? ?split? ?into? ?small? ?parties,? ?and? ?

each? ?party? ?had? ?their? ?own? ?plans.? ?In? ?regards? ?to? ?forming? ?an? ?agreement? ?on? ?any? ?one? ?matter? ?

could? ?take? ?up? ?to? ?a? ?week? ?of? ?endless? ?debate.? ?Every? ?one,? ?every? ?party? ?proclaimed? ?they? ?

were? ?working? ?for? ?the? ?people,? ?but? ?in? ?reality,? ?that? ?might? ?not? ?truthfully? ?be? ?the? ?case.? ?

As? ?for? ?dealing? ?with? ?the? ?revolting? ?Yong’an? ?refugees? ?camping? ?outside? ?the? ?city? ?fortress,? ?the? ?

officials? ?were? ?sluggishly? ?slow? ?at? ?coming? ?to? ?an? ?agreement.? ?Some? ?advocated? ?for? ?a? ?direct? ?

extermination,? ?and? ?if? ?there? ?weren’t? ?enough? ?reasons? ?to? ?do? ?so,? ?then? ?just? ?make? ?some? ?up.? ?

Some? ?disagreed? ?with? ?that? ?idea.? ?

The? ?Revolt? ?of? ?Yong’an? ?began? ?with? ?a? ?natural? ?disaster? ?but? ?the? ?situation? ?was? ?deteriorated? ?

through? ?human? ?action.? ?That? ?family? ?of? ?three? ?who? ?fell? ?to? ?their? ?deaths? ?at? ?the? ?city? ?gates? ?was? ?

the? ?worst? ?catalyst? ?imaginable;? ?if? ?that? ?army? ?official? ?who? ?cut? ?the? ?rope? ?didn’t? ?get? ?his? ?neck? ?

snapped? ?by? ?Lang? ?Ying,? ?he? ?would’ve? ?been? ?severely? ?punished? ?upon? ?his? ?return.? ?In? ?other? ?

words,? ?no? ?matter? ?how? ?convoluted? ?the? ?circumstances,? ?no? ?matter? ?the? ?reasons,? ?on? ?the? ?

surface? ?everything? ?only? ?looked? ?like? ?the? ?common? ?people? ?rightfully? ?rebelling? ?against? ?an? ?

oppressive? ?authority.? ? ?

With? ?things? ?developed? ?to? ?this? ?point,? ?a? ?complete? ?pandemonium,? ?making? ?up? ?more? ?crimes? ?

to? ?sentence? ?would? ?only? ?further? ?provoke? ?repulsion,? ?and? ?whatever? ?reason? ?they? ?could? ?come? ?

up? ?with? ?would? ?not? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?deceive? ?the? ?people.? ?If? ?they? ?were? ?to? ?deploy? ?an? ?army? ?to? ?

exterminate,? ?it’d? ?be? ?without? ?cause? ?and? ?difficult? ?to? ?appease.? ?Preventing? ?the? ?people? ?from? ?

talking? ?was? ?just? ?as? ?important? ?as? ?preventing? ?floods;? ?once? ?a? ?reputation? ?of? ?insensible? ?

cruelty? ?was? ?established,? ?not? ?only? ?would? ?they? ?no? ?longer? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?rule? ?over? ?the? ?people,? ?

nearby? ?kingdoms? ?could? ?very? ?well? ?use? ?the? ?chance? ?and? ?invade? ?under? ?the? ?banner? ?of? ?

eradicating? ?evil.? ? ?

If? ?they? ?were? ?to? ?think? ?about? ?it? ?from? ?a? ?different? ?angle? ?however,? ?what’s? ?there? ?to? ?be? ?afraid? ?of?? ?

Those? ?Yong’an? ?refugees? ?were? ?stuck? ?in? ?wild? ?forests? ?without? ?food? ?and? ?arms,? ?so? ?how? ?long? ?

could? ?the? ?revolt? ?last?? ?Thus,? ?the? ?most? ?favoured? ?proposal? ?at? ?the? ?end? ?was? ?this:? ?If? ?the? ?

Yong’an? ?refugees? ?dare? ?attack,? ?they? ?shall? ?be? ?repelled? ?and? ?killed? ?each? ?time;? ?if? ?they? ?didn’t,? ?

then? ?they? ?shall? ?be? ?left? ?to? ?their? ?own? ?devices? ?to? ?survive? ?or? ?die,? ?and? ?Xianle? ?wouldn’t? ?need? ?to? ?

waste? ?a? ?single? ?resource.? ?There? ?was? ?no? ?way? ?Yong’an? ?could? ?keep? ?up? ?the? ?fighting.? ?

As? ?a? ?martial? ?god,? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?descent? ?naturally? ?meant? ?he? ?needed? ?to? ?be? ?effective? ?on? ?the? ?

battlefield.? ?Thus,? ?the? ?army? ?had? ?boisterously? ?campaigned:? ?The? ?side? ?with? ?His? ?Highness? ?

the? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?was? ?the? ?side? ?of? ?Justice;? ?the? ?army? ?with? ?His? ?Highness? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?

was? ?the? ?army? ?of? ?god!? ?

It? ?didn’t? ?take? ?long? ?before? ?a? ?large? ?number? ?of? ?young? ?men? ?in? ?the? ?kingdom? ?excitedly? ?enlisted.? ?

It? ?caused? ?such? ?a? ?stir? ?that? ?even? ?news? ?of? ?it? ?seemed? ?to? ?reach? ?the? ?Yong’an? ?camp.? ?Initially? ?

they? ?were? ?still? ?rather? ?active? ?in? ?their? ?sieges,? ?but? ?suddenly? ?everything? ?stopped,? ?as? ?if? ?they? ?

were? ?afraid? ?and? ?were? ?instead? ?silently? ?building? ?strength.? ?This? ?made? ?the? ?soldiers? ?in? ?Xianle? ?

nervous,? ?and? ?they? ?unceasingly? ?described? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?just? ?how? ?terrifying? ?that? ?Lang? ?Ying? ?

who? ?always? ?charged? ?at? ?the? ?forefront? ?was.? ?Hearing? ?that? ?name? ?and? ?recalling? ?the? ?dead? ?

body? ?of? ?that? ?infant? ?of? ?that? ?day? ?always? ?made? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?feel? ?complicated.? ?

Two? ?months? ?later,? ?after? ?waiting? ?with? ?bated? ?breath? ?for? ?such? ?a? ?long? ?time,? ?the? ?Yong’an? ?

refugees? ?finally? ?attacked? ?again.? ?

In? ?this? ?battle,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?only? ?brought? ?a? ?light? ?sword? ?and? ?didn’t? ?even? ?wear? ?any? ?armours.? ?It? ?

didn’t? ?take? ?two? ?hours? ?before? ?the? ?battle? ?ended.? ?

Blood? ?covered? ?from? ?the? ?ground? ?to? ?the? ?sky,? ?and? ?in? ?that? ?stench-filled? ?air,? ?the? ?remaining? ?

Yong’an? ?warriors? ?abandoned? ?their? ?gears? ?and? ?frantically? ?ran? ?away.? ?Before? ?the? ?Xianle? ?

soldiers? ?could? ?react,? ?they? ?were? ?already? ?surrounded? ?by? ?countless? ?slain? ?bodies,? ?and? ?not? ?a? ?

single? ?enemy? ?left? ?standing.? ?As? ?for? ?their? ?Highness? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince,? ?he? ?was? ?slowly? ?

sheathing? ?his? ?sword,? ?not? ?a? ?stain? ?on? ?his? ?sleeve.? ?

It? ?was? ?a? ?moment? ?before? ?they? ?realized? ?their? ?overwhelming? ?victory? ?and? ?jumped,? ?raising? ?

their? ?swords? ?to? ?the? ?sky,? ?screaming? ?in? ?joy.? ?

That? ?night,? ?the? ?Xianle? ?soldiers? ?held? ?a? ?victory? ?feast? ?atop? ?the? ?towers.? ?

It? ?had? ?been? ?a? ?long? ?time? ?since? ?the? ?soldiers? ?felt? ?this? ?relieved;? ?the? ?cheers? ?were? ?endless? ?as? ?

they? ?raised? ?their? ?cups? ?to? ?praise? ?His? ?Highness? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince.? ?However,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

rejected? ?all? ?the? ?wine,? ?and? ?left? ?the? ?party? ?to? ?go? ?to? ?the? ?edge? ?of? ?a? ?tower? ?corner? ?by? ?himself? ?to? ?

feel? ?the? ?breeze? ?and? ?sober? ?up.? ? ?

Even? ?though? ?he? ?didn’t? ?drink? ?a? ?single? ?cup? ?of? ?wine,? ?he? ?could? ?still? ?feel? ?his? ?heart? ?burning,? ?his? ?

face? ?hot? ?and? ?flushing,? ?and? ?his? ?fingertips? ?slightly? ?trembling.? ?

This? ?was? ?the? ?first? ?time? ?in? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?life? ?that? ?he? ?had? ?killed.? ?The? ?first? ?time,? ?and? ?he? ?had? ?

killed? ?thousands.? ?

Mere? ?ants.? ?

Those? ?two? ?words? ?appeared? ?in? ?his? ?mind.? ?Before? ?his? ?might? ?mortals? ?were? ?nothing,? ?and? ?

there? ?wasn’t? ?anyone? ?who? ?could? ?withstand? ?his? ?light? ?taps.? ?It? ?was? ?so? ?easy? ?to? ?rob? ?another’s? ?

life,? ?just? ?like? ?how? ?that? ?palace? ?attendant? ?had? ?stomped? ?on? ?those? ?ants,? ?that? ?in? ?between? ?

swinging? ?his? ?sword,? ?he? ?almost? ?lost? ?the? ?heart? ?of? ?reverence.? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?leaned? ?against? ?the? ?parapet? ?and? ?inhaled? ?deeply,? ?shaking? ?his? ?head? ?to? ?shake? ?off? ?

the? ?noise,? ?watching? ?absentmindedly? ?at? ?the? ?flicker? ?of? ?sparks? ?in? ?the? ?mountains? ?afar.? ?Soon? ?

after,? ?sounds? ?of? ?two? ?footfalls? ?approached.? ?

Even? ?without? ?turning? ?his? ?head? ?he? ?knew? ?who? ?they? ?were.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked,? ?“Aren’t? ?you? ?two? ?

going? ?to? ?go? ?drink? ?and? ?celebrate? ?a? ?little?”? ? ?

Mu? ?Qing? ?humphed,? ?“What’s? ?there? ?to? ?celebrate?? ?It’s? ?not? ?an? ?optimistic? ?situation.”? ? ?

Hearing? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?around,? ?“You? ?guys? ?noticed? ?too?”? ? ?

It? ?really? ?wasn’t? ?an? ?optimistic? ?situation.? ?Although? ?they? ?won? ?this? ?round,? ?but? ?in? ?reality,? ?this? ?

attack? ?was? ?stronger? ?than? ?any? ?previous? ?Yong’an? ?attacks.? ? ?

Not? ?only? ?did? ?their? ?numbers? ?increase,? ?their? ?formation,? ?weapons,? ?management,? ?had? ?all? ?

significantly? ?improved.? ?In? ?fact,? ?there? ?were? ?many? ?who? ?were? ?geared? ?up? ?in? ?armours.? ?

Although? ?still? ?simple? ?and? ?pathetic,? ?they? ?already? ?had? ?the? ?form? ?of? ?a? ?formal? ?army.? ?It? ?would? ?

be? ?hard? ?to? ?believe? ?they? ?were? ?actually? ?outcasted? ?nobodies.? ?

Mu? ?Qing? ?crossed? ?his? ?arms? ?and? ?frowned,? ?“Extreme? ?environments? ?would? ?certainly? ?force? ?

one? ?improve? ?rapidly,? ?but? ?no? ?matter? ?how? ?difficult? ?the? ?situation,? ?you? ?can’t? ?create? ?something? ?

out? ?of? ?nothing.? ?Something’s? ?not? ?right.”? ? ?

Feng? ?Xin? ?was? ?even? ?more? ?blunt,? ?and? ?said? ?plainly,? ?“They? ?must? ?have? ?gained? ?

reinforcements.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?nodded.? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?added,? ?“I? ?don’t? ?believe? ?none? ?of? ?those? ?soldiers? ?noticed? ?either.? ?

But? ?they’re? ?still? ?celebrating? ?only? ?because? ?they? ?have? ?you? ?on? ?their? ?side? ?and? ?they? ?believe? ?

they? ?will? ?win? ?for? ?sure.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?think? ?much? ?of? ?that? ?and? ?said,? ?“It’s? ?the? ?first? ?battle? ?with? ?me? ?in? ?it? ?and? ?we? ?won.? ?

It’s? ?fine? ?to? ?let? ?them? ?rejoice? ?a? ?bit.? ?Just? ?think? ?of? ?it? ?as? ?encouragement.”? ?

Feng? ?Xin? ?hesitated? ?but? ?still? ?asked,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?you? ?don’t? ?look? ?so? ?good.? ?Are? ?you,? ?still? ?

creating? ?rain? ?over? ?at? ?Yong’an?”? ? ?

“Yea.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied? ?

Disapproval? ?expectedly? ?appeared? ?on? ?Mu? ?Qing’s? ?face.? ?“Excuse? ?my? ?bluntness,? ?but? ?it’s? ?

pointless? ?to? ?create? ?rain? ?now.? ?That’s? ?the? ?real? ?bottomless? ?hole.? ?Your? ?Highness,? ?even? ?if? ?the? ?

drought? ?in? ?Yong’an? ?can? ?be? ?thoroughly? ?relieved,? ?that? ?crowd? ?outside? ?the? ?city? ?walls? ?

probably? ?still? ?won’t? ?back? ?off.”? ? ?

“I? ?know.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“But? ?my? ?creating? ?rain? ?wasn’t? ?intended? ?to? ?make? ?those? ?people? ?

back? ?off.? ?It’s? ?for? ?those? ?who? ?remained? ?in? ?Yong’an? ?not? ?to? ?die? ?of? ?thirst.? ?This? ?was? ?my? ?original? ?

goal,? ?and? ?it? ?won’t? ?change? ?for? ?anything.”? ? ?

Feng? ?Xin? ?was? ?still? ?worried,? ?“Are? ?you? ?alright? ?holding? ?on?”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?patted? ?his? ?shoulders,? ?“Don’t? ?worry.? ?I? ?have? ?eight? ?thousand? ?temples!? ?There? ?are? ?

enough? ?devotees? ?so? ?of? ?course? ?I’m? ?fine.? ?But,”? ? ?

His? ?other? ?hand? ?circled? ?around? ?Mu? ?Qing’s? ?shoulders? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?sighed,? ?“Thank? ?

goodness? ?you? ?two? ?helped? ?today.? ?Thank? ?you? ?for? ?staying? ?by? ?my? ?side.”? ?

Today? ?on? ?the? ?battlefield,? ?his? ?two? ?attendants? ?suffered? ?much? ?more? ?than? ?he? ?did,? ?their? ?

persons? ?covered? ?in? ?blood? ?and? ?grime? ?from? ?all? ?the? ?killing.? ? ?

“There’s? ?no? ?need? ?to? ?say? ?those? ?things.”? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?said.? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?vaguely? ?squeezed? ?out? ?an? ?

“Oh”? ?sound.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?squeezed,? ?pulling? ?the? ?other? ?two? ?close,? ?and? ?said? ?earnestly,? ?“Not? ?just? ?for? ?today,? ?

but? ?for? ?always,? ?thank? ?you? ?so? ?much.? ?I? ?hope,? ?the? ?sight? ?of? ?the? ?three? ?of? ?us? ?standing? ?together? ?

fighting? ?will? ?become? ?a? ?tale? ?of? ?the? ?ages.”? ? ?

“...”? ?

A? ?moment? ?later,? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?burst? ?out? ?laughing,? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?said? ?incredulously,? ?“I? ?found? ?

that? ?you? ?always? ?manage? ?to? ?say? ?such....? ?with? ?such? ?shameless? ?confidence.? ?You’re? ?

really...”? ?He? ?shook? ?his? ?head,? ?“Nevermind.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian’s? ?lips? ?finally? ?curled? ?up.? ?But? ?the? ?smile? ?didn’t? ?last? ?long? ?when? ?he? ?suddenly? ?froze,? ?

“WHO’S? ?THERE?!”? ? ?

SCHWING?,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?sword? ?was? ?unsheathed.? ?He? ?flicked? ?his? ?sword? ?and? ?pulled? ?out? ?

a? ?shadow? ?from? ?the? ?corner? ?of? ?the? ?parapet.? ?

That? ?person? ?had? ?been? ?hiding? ?in? ?the? ?corner? ?for? ?a? ?long? ?time,? ?holding? ?his? ?breath,? ?and? ?hadn’t? ?

been? ?noticed.? ?Initially,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?only? ?wanted? ?to? ?hang? ?him? ?off? ?the? ?tip? ?of? ?his? ?sword? ?to? ?

scare? ?him,? ?but? ?he? ?had? ?been? ?killing? ?too? ?aggressively? ?on? ?the? ?battlefield? ?that? ?day,? ?his? ?arms? ?

were? ?still? ?shaking,? ?and? ?his? ?hands? ?lost? ?control.? ?The? ?simple? ?flick? ?was? ?overly? ?powerful,? ?and? ?

he? ?threw? ?that? ?person? ?directly? ?over? ?the? ?wall.? ? ?

Under? ?the? ?moonlight,? ?in? ?midair,? ?all? ?three? ?of? ?them? ?were? ?able? ?to? ?see? ?clearly? ?that? ?the? ?

uniform? ?and? ?gear? ?of? ?that? ?person? ?belonged? ?in? ?their? ?army,? ?and? ?looked? ?to? ?be? ?a? ?boy? ?of? ?

fifteen,? ?sixteen? ?years.? ?A? ?breath? ?later? ?he? ?fell? ?downwards,? ?his? ?form? ?disappearing? ?below.? ?

Seeing? ?that? ?person? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?fall? ?down? ?the? ?wall,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?cried? ?“oh? ?no!”? ?mentally,? ?and? ?

leapt? ?out.? ?

His? ?foot? ?hooked? ?onto? ?the? ?edge? ?of? ?the? ?parapet,? ?his? ?body? ?leaning? ?downwards,? ?and? ?swiftly? ?

he? ?extended? ?an? ?arm? ?to? ?pull,? ?and? ?managed? ?to? ?grab? ?onto? ?the? ?arm? ?of? ?the? ?other.? ?That? ?young? ?

soldier’s? ?body? ?hung? ?in? ?midair? ?and? ?swayed? ?a? ?few? ?times? ?before? ?he? ?looked? ?up.? ?Borrowing? ?

that? ?faint? ?moonlight,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?saw? ?his? ?face,? ?and? ?his? ?eyes? ?slightly? ?widened.? ?

———–? ?

Ch.79:? ?Upon? ?Beizi? ?Hill;? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?Falls? ?into? ?the? ?Devil’s? ?Nest? ?

Xie? ?Lian’s? ?sudden? ?leap? ?into? ?the? ?air? ?was? ?certainly? ?alarming,? ?but? ?his? ?two? ?attendants? ?were? ?

more? ?than? ?clear? ?just? ?what? ?he? ?was? ?capable? ?of,? ?and? ?so? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?didn’t? ?move,? ?but? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?

still? ?went? ?over? ?and? ?helped? ?pull? ?him? ?up.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?only? ?used? ?a? ?little? ?bit? ?of? ?strength? ?to? ?pull? ?

and? ?that? ?young? ?soldier? ?was? ?hauled? ?up,? ?the? ?two? ?of? ?them? ?landing? ?feet? ?flat? ?back? ?onto? ?the? ?

tower? ?wall.? ? ?

“Which? ?troop? ?did? ?you? ?come? ?from?? ?Why? ?are? ?you? ?hiding? ?here?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.? ?

That? ?young? ?soldier’s? ?arms? ?and? ?head? ?were? ?wrapped? ?full? ?of? ?bandages,? ?and? ?there? ?was? ?

even? ?spots? ?of? ?blood? ?on? ?them,? ?appearing? ?to? ?be? ?covered? ?in? ?wounds.? ?It? ?wasn’t? ?anything? ?

strange;? ?after? ?the? ?battle? ?today? ?there? ?were? ?many? ?wounded? ?soldiers? ?who? ?were? ?all? ?wrapped? ?

up? ?like? ?this.? ?However,? ?that? ?he? ?would? ?hide? ?in? ?the? ?shadows? ?without? ?making? ?a? ?sound? ?was? ?

highly? ?suspicious.? ? ?

“He? ?might? ?be? ?a? ?Yong’an? ?spy,? ?tie? ?him? ?up? ?and? ?interrogate? ?him.”? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?said.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?suspected? ?it? ?too,? ?but? ?the? ?royal? ?capital? ?was? ?rigorously? ?guarded? ?and? ?the? ?chance? ?of? ?

enemies? ?sneaking? ?in? ?was? ?low,? ?unless? ?it? ?was? ?Lang? ?Ying? ?himself.? ?However,? ?this? ?young? ?

soldier? ?was? ?clearly? ?only? ?a? ?child? ?barely? ?legal.? ? ?

Feng? ?Xin,? ?however,? ?was? ?puzzled,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?you? ?don’t? ?remember? ?this? ?brat?? ?During? ?

the? ?day? ?today? ?he? ?kept? ?charging? ?to? ?fight? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?you,? ?in? ?that? ?formation? ?that? ?was? ?ahead.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?slightly? ?taken? ?aback,? ?“Oh,? ?really?”? ? ?

In? ?the? ?midst? ?of? ?killing? ?during? ?the? ?day,? ?he? ?had? ?no? ?time? ?to? ?notice? ?anything? ?else,? ?only? ?that? ?if? ?

someone? ?raised? ?a? ?sword? ?to? ?fight? ?him,? ?he’d? ?swing? ?to? ?strike? ?back.? ?He? ?didn’t? ?even? ?bother? ?

with? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing,? ?so? ?how? ?would? ?he? ?notice? ?any? ?other? ?soldiers?? ? ?

Feng? ?Xin? ?was? ?sure,? ?“It? ?is.? ?I? ?remember? ?this? ?brat.? ?His? ?charge? ?was? ?quite? ?aggressive,? ?like? ?he? ?

doesn’t? ?care? ?for? ?his? ?life? ?at? ?all.”? ? ?

Hearing? ?him,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?over? ?the? ?young? ?soldier? ?carefully.? ?For? ?some? ?reason? ?that? ?boy? ?

stood? ?taller,? ?his? ?shoulders? ?squared? ?and? ?head? ?raised,? ?as? ?if? ?a? ?little? ?stiff,? ?but? ?also? ?like? ?he? ?

was? ?standing? ?at? ?attention.? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?remarked,? ?“Then? ?he? ?shouldn’t? ?be? ?sneaking? ?around? ?

hiding? ?here,? ?who? ?knows? ?if? ?he’s? ?here? ?to? ?spy? ?or? ?listen? ?in?”? ?

Even? ?if? ?that’s? ?what? ?he? ?said,? ?he? ?still? ?relaxed? ?his? ?guard.? ?This? ?was? ?because? ?due? ?to? ?the? ?

campaign? ?by? ?the? ?Xianle? ?military? ?promoting? ?‘Army? ?of? ?God,? ?Holy? ?Crusade’,? ?there? ?were? ?

quite? ?a? ?number? ?of? ?young? ?people? ?who? ?enlisted? ?to? ?follow? ?after? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?many? ?equally? ?as? ?

young,? ?and? ?most? ?were? ?loyal? ?worshippers,? ?having? ?grown? ?up? ?worshipping? ?his? ?divine? ?

statues,? ?listening? ?to? ?his? ?tales? ?of? ?valor,? ?and? ?they? ?wanted? ?to? ?get? ?close? ?secretly? ?if? ?only? ?to? ?

steal? ?a? ?glimpse? ?of? ?the? ?martial? ?god.? ?It? ?wasn’t? ?the? ?first? ?or? ?second? ?time? ?this? ?had? ?happened,? ?

so? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?anything? ?special.? ? ?

“Alright,? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?false? ?alarm.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?Then? ?he? ?turned? ?to? ?that? ?young? ?soldier? ?and? ?

said? ?warmly,? ?“I? ?must’ve? ?scared? ?you? ?just? ?now.? ?Sorry.”? ? ?

Yet? ?that? ?boy? ?didn’t? ?look? ?frightened? ?and? ?only? ?stood? ?straighter.? ?“Your? ?Highness...”? ?

However,? ?he? ?trailed? ?off? ?and? ?suddenly? ?moved? ?to? ?tackle? ?Xie? ?Lian!? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?thought? ?he? ?wanted? ?to? ?ambush? ?him? ?and? ?sidestepped? ?immediately? ?to? ?dodge,? ?his? ?

hand? ?reaching? ?for? ?his? ?sword? ?to? ?strike.? ?With? ?his? ?might,? ?just? ?one? ?strike? ?and? ?that? ?boy? ?would? ?

undoubtedly? ?die? ?on? ?the? ?spot.? ?But? ?just? ?then,? ?he? ?suddenly? ?felt? ?a? ?rush? ?of? ?cold? ?air? ?behind? ?

him.? ?His? ?hand? ?changed? ?track? ?abruptly? ?and? ?flipped? ?to? ?catch,? ?and? ?caught? ?a? ?sniping? ?arrow? ?

that? ?was? ?aimed? ?for? ?his? ?back.? ? ?

Turns? ?out? ?that? ?boy? ?ran? ?to? ?tackle? ?him? ?because? ?he? ?saw? ?a? ?flicker? ?of? ?that? ?arrow? ?flying? ?through? ?

the? ?air.? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?back? ?was? ?leaned? ?against? ?the? ?edge? ?of? ?the? ?parapet,? ?and? ?having? ?been? ?

attacked? ?from? ?behind,? ?he? ?wasn’t? ?scared? ?in? ?the? ?slightest,? ?and? ?instead? ?jumped? ?onto? ?the? ?

wall? ?to? ?look? ?downwards.? ? ?

In? ?the? ?vast? ?fields? ?before? ?the? ?city? ?gates? ?he? ?could? ?see? ?faintly? ?the? ?lone? ?figure? ?of? ?a? ?man? ?

standing? ?in? ?the? ?far? ?distance,? ?and? ?because? ?that? ?man? ?wore? ?dark? ?coloured? ?clothing? ?and? ?

blended? ?into? ?one? ?with? ?the? ?night,? ?he? ?was? ?difficult? ?to? ?see.? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?was? ?instantly? ?by? ?Xie? ?

Lian’s? ?side,? ?drew? ?his? ?bow? ?and? ?shot.? ?However,? ?it? ?seemed? ?that? ?man? ?had? ?already? ?

calculated? ?the? ?distance? ?and? ?stood? ?just? ?out? ?of? ?reach.? ?That? ?one? ?arrow? ?he? ?shot? ?got? ?Xie? ?

Lian’s? ?attention,? ?so? ?he? ?waved,? ?then? ?turned? ?swiftly? ?to? ?leave? ?without? ?a? ?word.? ?When? ?Feng? ?

Xin’s? ?arrow? ?reached? ?him? ?it? ?was? ?already? ?too? ?late,? ?and? ?it? ?only? ?nailed? ?behind? ?that? ?man’s? ?

retreating? ?feet? ?by? ?inches.? ? ?

Furious,? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?knocked? ?at? ?the? ?wall,? ?and? ?rubble? ?came? ?tumbling? ?down.? ?“WHO? ?WAS? ?

THAT?!”? ?

Who? ?else? ?could? ?it? ?be?? ?“Lang? ?Ying!”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?shouted.? ?

The? ?Xianle? ?soldiers? ?also? ?noticed? ?something? ?off,? ?and? ?started? ?yelling,? ?running? ?around,? ?but? ?

for? ?the? ?sake? ?of? ?caution,? ?they? ?didn’t? ?immediately? ?open? ?the? ?gates? ?to? ?give? ?chase,? ?and? ?

instead? ?reported? ?to? ?the? ?superiors? ?for? ?instructions.? ?Lang? ?Ying? ?waved? ?and? ?left? ?after? ?

shooting? ?that? ?one? ?arrow,? ?as? ?if? ?he? ?came? ?especially? ?to? ?greet? ?Xie? ?Lian.? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?furrowed? ?

his? ?brows,? ?“Why? ?did? ?he? ?come?? ?Was? ?that? ?a? ?declaration?”? ?

Feng? ?Xin? ?said? ?angrily,? ?“On? ?the? ?battlefront? ?today? ?Yong’an? ?was? ?completely? ?defeated,? ?and? ?

he? ?himself? ?barely? ?escaped? ?from? ?His? ?Highness’? ?hands,? ?so? ?what? ?can? ?he? ?possibly? ?declare?”? ?

Xie? ?Lian,? ?however,? ?felt? ?that? ?the? ?arrow? ?in? ?his? ?hand? ?had? ?something? ?else? ?tied? ?around? ?it,? ?and? ?

when? ?he? ?brought? ?it? ?to? ?the? ?firelight? ?to? ?see,? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?ripped? ?piece? ?of? ?fabric? ?that? ?seemed? ?to? ?

come? ?from? ?a? ?verdant? ?brocade? ?robe.? ?There? ?was? ?even? ?traces? ?of? ?wet? ?blood? ?on? ?the? ?fabric,? ?

and? ?when? ?he? ?unfolded? ?it,? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?scribble? ?of? ?the? ?word? ?‘Qi’.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?immediately? ?clutched? ?that? ?fabric? ?and? ?said,? ?“Where’s? ?Qi? ?Rong?? ?Is? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?not? ?in? ?

the? ?palace?!”? ? ?

Feng? ?Xin? ?turned? ?to? ?the? ?nearby? ?soldiers,? ?“Go? ?quickly? ?to? ?the? ?palace? ?and? ?confirm!”? ? ?

The? ?soldiers? ?immediately? ?left.? ?That? ?fabric? ?was? ?indeed? ?a? ?sleeve? ?corner? ?of? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?

favourite? ?robe,? ?and? ?Lang? ?Ying? ?was? ?known? ?for? ?his? ?stealth,? ?so? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?high? ?probability? ?

of? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?having? ?been? ?kidnapped.? ?Things? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?delayed,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“I’m? ?

going? ?after? ?him? ?to? ?see.”? ?Seeing? ?that? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?came? ?back,? ?he? ?added,? ?“You? ?two? ?watch? ?

over? ?the? ?city? ?gates? ?but? ?don’t? ?make? ?any? ?moves.? ?This? ?might? ?be? ?a? ?feint.”? ? ?

Feng? ?Xin? ?shrugged? ?his? ?bow? ?on? ?his? ?back,? ?“You’re? ?not? ?bringing? ?anyone?”? ? ?

If? ?there? ?wasn’t? ?any? ?major? ?attacks? ?from? ?Yong’an’s? ?side,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?want? ?Xianle? ?to? ?

deploy? ?soldiers? ?first.? ?If? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?had? ?fallen? ?into? ?enemy? ?hands,? ?then? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?himself? ?could? ?

bring? ?him? ?back,? ?but? ?if? ?he? ?brought? ?a? ?troop? ?with? ?him,? ?it? ?would? ?cause? ?a? ?stir,? ?and? ?it? ?wouldn’t? ?

just? ?be? ?only? ?one? ?or? ?two? ?dead.? ?At? ?the? ?moment,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?wanted? ?to? ?minimize? ?any? ?issues.? ?

“No.? ?They? ?can’t? ?do? ?anything? ?to? ?me.”? ? ?

Then,? ?he? ?pushed? ?off? ?the? ?wall? ?lightly? ?and? ?leapt? ?over,? ?landing? ?down? ?on? ?the? ?ground? ?softly,? ?

and? ?dashed? ?rapidly? ?in? ?the? ?direction? ?where? ?Lang? ?Ying? ?retreated.? ?After? ?running? ?for? ?a? ?while,? ?

he? ?heard? ?footsteps? ?behind? ?catching? ?up? ?to? ?him,? ?and? ?when? ?he? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?to? ?look,? ?it? ?

was? ?that? ?young? ?soldier.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?shouted? ?at? ?him,? ?“I? ?don’t? ?need? ?help,? ?go? ?back!”? ?

That? ?boy? ?shook? ?his? ?head.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?tried? ?again,? ?“Go? ?back!”? ?And? ?he? ?sped? ?up,? ?leaving? ?that? ?

boy? ?far? ?behind? ?in? ?an? ?instant,? ?no? ?longer? ?to? ?be? ?seen.? ?

After? ?running? ?for? ?five,? ?six? ?miles,? ?he? ?reached? ?a? ?mountaintop.? ?This? ?mountain? ?wasn’t? ?steep,? ?

and? ?was? ?more? ?like? ?a? ?hill,? ?so? ?it? ?was? ?called? ?the? ?Beizi*? ?Hill.? ?According? ?to? ?scouts,? ?Beizi? ?Hill? ?

was? ?covered? ?in? ?foliage,? ?and? ?in? ?the? ?deep? ?night,? ?there? ?were? ?strange? ?noises? ?all? ?around? ?

inside? ?the? ?dark? ?forest,? ?as? ?if? ?there? ?were? ?countless? ?creatures? ?lying? ?low,? ?watching.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

went? ?deeper? ?into? ?the? ?mountain? ?and? ?searched? ?with? ?his? ?breath? ?held? ?for? ?a? ?long? ?while? ?until? ?

suddenly,? ?he? ?saw? ?far? ?ahead? ?the? ?shape? ?of? ?a? ?long? ?human? ?form? ?hung? ?off? ?a? ?tree.? ?He? ?looked? ?

closely? ?and? ?cried,? ?“Qi? ?Rong!”? ? ?

It? ?was? ?indeed? ?Qi? ?Rong.? ?He? ?was? ?hung? ?upside? ?down? ?off? ?a? ?tree,? ?looking? ?like? ?he? ?was? ?beaten? ?

to? ?a? ?pulp? ?and? ?fainted,? ?his? ?nose? ?bleeding? ?downwards,? ?and? ?one? ?of? ?his? ?eye? ?was? ?blackened.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?unsheathed? ?his? ?sword? ?and? ?cut? ?that? ?rope,? ?catching? ?the? ?fallen? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?and? ?

slapped? ?at? ?his? ?face.? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?slowly? ?came? ?to,? ?and? ?yelled? ?the? ?moment? ?he? ?recognized? ?him,? ?

“Cousin? ?Crown? ?Prince!”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?just? ?loosening? ?his? ?bind? ?when? ?he? ?felt? ?cold? ?behind? ?his? ?back? ?and? ?immediately? ?

swung? ?his? ?sword? ?back.? ?He? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?Lang? ?Ying,? ?with? ?a? ?longsword? ?in? ?

hand,? ?lunging? ?at? ?him.? ? ?

The? ?two? ?of? ?them? ?parried? ?a? ?few? ?times,? ?and? ?it? ?didn’t? ?take? ?long? ?before? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?knocked? ?

Lang? ?Ying’s? ?sword? ?flying.? ?Then? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?kicked? ?his? ?legs,? ?tripping? ?him,? ?and? ?brought? ?his? ?

sword? ?to? ?his? ?throat,? ?ending? ?the? ?fight.? ?“You? ?know? ?you’re? ?not? ?my? ?equal,? ?stop? ?fighting.”? ?

They? ?faced? ?off? ?earlier? ?that? ?day? ?on? ?the? ?battlefield,? ?and? ?whoever? ?charged? ?at? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?were? ?

all? ?killed,? ?except? ?Lang? ?Ying,? ?who? ?still? ?survived? ?after? ?taking? ?on? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?sword? ?face? ?on,? ?

and? ?dragged? ?himself? ?away? ?wounded.? ?Anyone? ?could? ?see? ?that? ?Lang? ?Ying? ?was? ?the? ?leader? ?

of? ?those? ?Yong’an? ?refugees,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?telling? ?him? ?to? ?“stop? ?fighting”? ?naturally? ?had? ?a? ?

deeper? ?meaning.? ?

“As? ?long? ?as? ?you? ?people? ?don’t? ?transgress,? ?I? ?promise? ?the? ?soldiers? ?of? ?the? ?royal? ?capital? ?will? ?

not? ?attack? ?you.? ?Take? ?the? ?water? ?and? ?the? ?rations.? ?Leave.”? ? ?

Lang? ?Ying? ?laid? ?on? ?the? ?ground,? ?and? ?stared? ?him? ?straight? ?in? ?the? ?eyes,? ?that? ?gaze? ?making? ?him? ?

uncomfortable.? ?He? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?do? ?you? ?think? ?what? ?you’re? ?doing? ?is? ?right?”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?froze.? ?Next? ?to? ?him,? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?cussed,? ?“Rubbish!? ?Do? ?you? ?know? ?who? ?cousin? ?Crown? ?

Prince? ?is?? ?He’s? ?a? ?god? ?of? ?heaven!? ?If? ?he’s? ?not? ?right,? ?what,? ?you? ?think? ?you? ?treacherous? ?dogs? ?

are? ?in? ?the? ?right?!”? ? ?

“Qi? ?Rong,? ?quiet!”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?shouted.? ?

The? ?question? ?Lang? ?Ying? ?posed,? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?answer.? ?Deep? ?down,? ?he? ?did? ?feel? ?there’s? ?

something? ?not? ?right? ?with? ?what? ?he’s? ?done.? ?But,? ?this? ?was? ?the? ?best? ?course? ?of? ?action? ?he? ?

could? ?think? ?of.? ?If? ?he? ?didn’t? ?protect? ?Xianle,? ?defend? ?against? ?transgression,? ?could? ?he? ?really? ?

allow? ?the? ?Yong’an? ?rebels? ?to? ?freely? ?raid? ?again? ?and? ?again,? ?even? ?invade? ?the? ?royal? ?capital?? ? ?

If? ?only? ?one? ?or? ?two? ?swung? ?their? ?swords? ?at? ?him,? ?he? ?could? ?touch? ?lightly? ?and? ?knock? ?them? ?out? ?

to? ?end? ?things.? ?But? ?on? ?the? ?battlefield,? ?blades? ?were? ?merciless,? ?and? ?there? ?was? ?no? ?way? ?he? ?

could? ?have? ?the? ?energy? ?to? ?simply? ?knock? ?everyone? ?out.? ?He? ?could? ?only? ?stop? ?himself? ?from? ?

feeling? ?and? ?swing? ?the? ?sword.? ?Lang? ?Ying’s? ?question? ?had? ?woken? ?that? ?voice? ?deep? ?within,? ?

asking? ?him:? ?Do? ?you? ?think? ?what? ?you’re? ?doing? ?is? ?right?? ?

Qi? ?Rong? ?didn’t? ?have? ?this? ?dilemma? ?and? ?kept? ?talking,? ?“What? ?did? ?I? ?say? ?wrong?? ?Cousin,? ?

since? ?you’re? ?here,? ?hurry? ?and? ?kill? ?all? ?of? ?them? ?dogged? ?thieves!? ?A? ?bunch? ?of? ?them? ?beat? ?me? ?

up,? ?and? ?I? ?was? ?only? ?one? ?person!”? ? ?

Qi? ?Rong? ?had? ?been? ?a? ?figure? ?of? ?domineering? ?arrogance? ?within? ?the? ?royal? ?capital,? ?and? ?

naturally? ?there? ?were? ?many? ?from? ?Yong’an? ?who? ?hated? ?him,? ?so? ?they? ?certainly? ?took? ?this? ?

chance? ?to? ?take? ?revenge.? ?Of? ?course,? ?more? ?than? ?many? ?from? ?Xianle? ?also? ?hated? ?him.? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?had? ?no? ?time? ?for? ?him,? ?and? ?said? ?to? ?Lang? ?Ying,? ?“What? ?do? ?you? ?want?? ?If? ?you? ?want? ?rain,? ?

Yong’an? ?will? ?rain.? ?If? ?you? ?want? ?gold,? ?I’ll? ?push? ?over? ?the? ?golden? ?statues? ?and? ?give? ?them? ?to? ?

you.? ?If? ?you? ?want? ?food,? ?I’ll...? ?think? ?of? ?a? ?way.? ?Just,? ?don’t? ?start? ?a? ?war.? ?Can’t? ?we? ?solve? ?this? ?

together? ?and? ?find? ?a? ?third? ?path?”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?blurted? ?those? ?words? ?in? ?spite? ?of? ?himself,? ?and? ?Lang? ?Ying? ?might? ?not? ?understand? ?

what? ?the? ?“third? ?path”? ?meant,? ?but? ?he? ?answered? ?without? ?hesitation,? ?“I? ?don’t? ?want? ?anything,? ?

and? ?I? ?don’t? ?need? ?anything.? ?The? ?only? ?thing? ?I? ?want? ?is? ?for? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?Xianle? ?to? ?cease? ?

existing? ?in? ?this? ?world.? ?I? ?need? ?it? ?to? ?disappear.”? ? ?

His? ?tone? ?was? ?flat,? ?but? ?his? ?words? ?were? ?cold.? ?A? ?moment? ?later,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said? ?gravely,? ?“...if? ?

you? ?bring? ?forth? ?people? ?to? ?attack,? ?I? ?will? ?not? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?sit? ?back? ?and? ?watch.? ?You? ?don’t? ?have? ?

any? ?chance? ?of? ?winning.? ?Must? ?you? ?do? ?this? ?even? ?if? ?those? ?of? ?Yong’an? ?who? ?follow? ?you? ?will? ?

die?”? ? ?

“Yes.”? ?Lang? ?Ying? ?said.? ?

“...”? ?

His? ?answer? ?was? ?so? ?calm,? ?so? ?firm,? ?that? ?while? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?knuckles? ?cracked,? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?say? ?

anything? ?back.? ?Lang? ?Ying? ?enunciated? ?each? ?word,? ?“I? ?know? ?you’re? ?a? ?god.? ?That’s? ?ok.? ?Even? ?

if? ?you’re? ?a? ?god? ?you? ?can’t? ?make? ?me? ?stop.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?knew? ?that? ?what? ?Lang? ?Ying? ?said? ?is? ?true.? ?Simply? ?because? ?what? ?was? ?in? ?his? ?tone? ?

was? ?more? ?than? ?familiar? ?to? ?him? ?–? ?it? ?was? ?the? ?determination? ?of? ?one? ?steeped? ?in? ?justice? ?and? ?

righteousness.? ?When? ?he? ?told? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?“even? ?if? ?the? ?heavens? ?say? ?I? ?must? ?die”,? ?the? ?

determination? ?within? ?was? ?exactly? ?the? ?same? ?as? ?Lang? ?Ying’s? ?at? ?this? ?very? ?moment!? ? ?

Lang? ?Ying’s? ?words? ?were? ?no? ?different? ?than? ?a? ?proclamation? ?that? ?he? ?would? ?continue? ?to? ?call? ?

forth? ?endless? ?people? ?of? ?Yong’an? ?to? ?continue? ?to? ?attack? ?unceasingly.? ?Then,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?knew? ?

what? ?he? ?must? ?do.? ?

The? ?sword? ?in? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?hand? ?was? ?held? ?with? ?one? ?hand,? ?but? ?now? ?he? ?gripped? ?it? ?with? ?both? ?

his? ?hands.? ?Just? ?as? ?he? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?pierce? ?Lang? ?Ying’s? ?throat? ?with? ?his? ?trembling? ?hands,? ?

there? ?was? ?suddenly? ?a? ?weird? ?scrunching? ?sound? ?behind? ?him,? ?and? ?then? ?a? ?cackling? ?laugh.? ?

That? ?someone? ?could? ?appear? ?soundlessly? ?and? ?without? ?notice,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?startled,? ?and? ?

when? ?he? ?looked? ?back,? ?his? ?eyes? ?widened.? ?

Usually? ?those? ?who? ?appear? ?at? ?a? ?time? ?like? ?this? ?were? ?most? ?likely? ?to? ?be? ?enemy? ?soldiers,? ?and? ?

perhaps? ?countless? ?blades? ?were? ?already? ?pointed? ?at? ?him,? ?but? ?he? ?had? ?not? ?expect? ?that? ?

behind? ?him? ?would? ?be? ?such? ?a? ?strange? ?figure.? ?

That? ?person? ?wore? ?a? ?deadly? ?white? ?funeral? ?garb,? ?his? ?face? ?bore? ?a? ?deadly? ?white? ?mask,? ?and? ?

that? ?mask? ?was? ?exceedingly? ?bizarre,? ?with? ?half? ?the? ?face? ?crying,? ?the? ?other? ?half? ?smiling.? ?He? ?

was? ?sitting? ?on? ?a? ?vine? ?hung? ?low? ?between? ?two? ?trees,? ?and? ?that? ?scrunching? ?sound? ?came? ?from? ?

him? ?swinging? ?that? ?vine? ?back? ?and? ?forth? ?like? ?a? ?swing.? ?When? ?he? ?saw? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?look? ?back,? ?he? ?

raised? ?his? ?hands? ?and? ?slowly? ?“pa”,? ?“pa”? ?clapped,? ?cackling? ?coming? ?from? ?his? ?lips,? ?raising? ?

hair? ?on? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?back.? ? ?

“What? ?are? ?you?!”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said? ?sharply.? ?

He? ?used? ?“what”? ?because? ?his? ?instincts? ?told? ?him,? ?that? ?thing? ?wasn’t? ?human!? ? ?

Just? ?then,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?suddenly? ?noticed? ?the? ?feeling? ?of? ?the? ?sword? ?in? ?his? ?hands? ?were? ?wrong,? ?

and? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?screamed? ?at? ?the? ?same? ?time,? ?and? ?when? ?he? ?turned? ?back? ?to? ?look,? ?the? ?ground? ?

in? ?front? ?of? ?him? ?was? ?split? ?wide? ?open? ?into? ?a? ?deep? ?ditch,? ?and? ?Lang? ?Ying? ?who? ?was? ?lying? ?on? ?

the? ?ground? ?was? ?being? ?swallowed? ?by? ?that? ?gap.? ?The? ?ground? ?was? ?rapidly? ?closing? ?the? ?

mouth,? ?and? ?without? ?thinking,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?stabbed? ?into? ?the? ?heart? ?of? ?the? ?earth.? ?Only? ?when? ?

feeling? ?that? ?the? ?tip? ?of? ?his? ?sword? ?only? ?touched? ?soil? ?and? ?didn’t? ?pierce? ?any? ?flesh,? ?did? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

realized? ?he? ?failed? ?in? ?killing? ?Lang? ?Ying,? ?but? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?tell? ?whether? ?if? ?he? ?felt? ?regret? ?or? ?

relief.? ?Just? ?then,? ?that? ?white? ?clothed? ?being? ?started? ?cackling? ?again,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?raised? ?his? ?

sword? ?and? ?flung? ?it? ?at? ?him.? ?

That? ?strike? ?was? ?fast? ?as? ?lightning,? ?penetrating? ?through? ?that? ?being,? ?nailing? ?him? ?onto? ?the? ?

tree,? ?and? ?that? ?being? ?crumpled? ?to? ?the? ?ground? ?without? ?uttering? ?a? ?single? ?sound.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

rushed? ?over? ?to? ?check? ?but? ?only? ?saw? ?a? ?pile? ?of? ?white? ?robes? ?on? ?the? ?ground.? ?The? ?one? ?wearing? ?

the? ?robes? ?had? ?disappeared? ?into? ?mid? ?air!? ? ?

That? ?being’s? ?appearance? ?and? ?disappearance? ?were? ?both? ?incredibly? ?peculiar.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?

in? ?shock? ?and? ?didn’t? ?dare? ?to? ?drop? ?his? ?guard.? ?Picking? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?off? ?the? ?ground? ?with? ?one? ?

hand,? ?he? ?said,? ?“Let’s? ?go.”? ? ?

Yet? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?whined,? ?“Let’s? ?not? ?go!? ?Cousin,? ?let’s? ?set? ?fire? ?on? ?this? ?mountain,? ?cousin!? ?

There’s? ?a? ?bunch? ?of? ?those? ?Yong’an? ?peeps? ?on? ?this? ?mountain,? ?those? ?boorish? ?radicals? ?who? ?

wouldn’t? ?leave? ?the? ?city? ?gates? ?are? ?all? ?hiding? ?here,? ?let’s? ?set? ?a? ?fire? ?and? ?torch? ?this? ?place? ?

clean!”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?dragged? ?him? ?with? ?one? ?hand? ?for? ?some? ?distance,? ?feeling? ?the? ?essence? ?of? ?evil? ?

around? ?them? ?growing? ?heavier,? ?as? ?if? ?countless? ?eyes? ?were? ?watching? ?them.? ?He? ?said,? ?“Did? ?

you? ?not? ?see? ?how? ?strange? ?that? ?being? ?was? ?just? ?now?? ?We? ?shouldn’t? ?stick? ?around.”? ? ?

“So? ?what?”? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?said,? ?“You’re? ?a? ?god!? ?You’re? ?not? ?afraid? ?of? ?those? ?little? ?ghosts?? ?If? ?they? ?

dare? ?obstruct? ?you? ?then? ?just? ?kill? ?them? ?off!”? ? ?

“Let’s? ?go? ?back? ?first.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?

Hearing? ?that? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?paying? ?him? ?no? ?mind? ?and? ?wouldn’t? ?set? ?the? ?mountain? ?ablaze,? ?Qi? ?

Rong’s? ?eyes? ?bulged,? ?“WHY?? ?THOSE? ?PEOPLE? ?BEAT? ?ME? ?TO? ?A? ?PULP? ?AND? ?WANT? ?TO? ?

ANTAGONIZE? ?US.? ?YOU? ?HEARD? ?HIM.? ?HE? ?SAID? ?HE? ?WANTS? ?TO? ?ANNIHILATE? ?XIANLE!? ?

HE? ?WANTS? ?TO? ?ANNIHILATE? ?OUR? ?KINGDOM!? ?WHY? ?DON’T? ?YOU? ?KILL? ?THEM? ?ALL? ?OFF? ?

LIKE? ?YOU? ?DID? ?TODAY? ?ON? ?THE? ?BATTLEFIELD?”? ?

“...”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?inhaled? ?and? ?shouted? ?angrily,? ?“Why? ?do? ?you? ?only? ?have? ?kill!? ?kill!? ?kill!? ?In? ?your? ?

head?? ?Soldiers? ?and? ?civilians? ?are? ?different!”? ? ?

Qi? ?Rong? ?countered,? ?“What’s? ?the? ?difference?? ?Aren’t? ?they? ?all? ?people?? ?Isn’t? ?killing? ?either? ?the? ?

same? ?thing?”? ? ?

It? ?was? ?like? ?he? ?stabbed? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?where? ?it? ?hurt,? ?and? ?a? ?burst? ?of? ?anger? ?rolled? ?up,? ?“YOU–!”? ? ?

Just? ?then,? ?he? ?felt? ?tightening? ?around? ?his? ?ankle,? ?and? ?when? ?he? ?looked? ?down,? ?a? ?swollen? ?hand? ?

had? ?poked? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?bushes? ?and? ?seized? ?his? ?boot!? ? ?

At? ?the? ?same? ?time,? ?there? ?were? ?innumerous? ?tumbling? ?noises? ?coming? ?from? ?ahead? ?of? ?them,? ?

and? ?a? ?number? ?of? ?human? ?forms? ?fell? ?down? ?from? ?the? ?trees? ?like? ?rain,? ?paralyzed? ?on? ?the? ?

ground? ?unable? ?to? ?get? ?up.? ?Although? ?they’re? ?shaped? ?like? ?humans,? ?they? ?were? ?limp? ?like? ?

countless? ?giant? ?flesh? ?worms,? ?slowly? ?squirming? ?towards? ?them.? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?cried? ?out? ?in? ?fright,? ?

“WHO? ?ARE? ?THEY?!”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?chopped? ?off? ?that? ?hand? ?with? ?his? ?sword? ?and? ?said? ?gravely,? ?“They’re? ?not? ?people,? ?

they’re? ?binu’s!”? ?

In? ?the? ?past,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?never? ?heard? ?of? ?their? ?appearance? ?in? ?any? ?of? ?the? ?mountains? ?near? ?

the? ?royal? ?capital,? ?and? ?even? ?if? ?there? ?were? ?any? ?kinds? ?of? ?ghosts? ?or? ?demons,? ?they? ?were? ?

usually? ?quickly? ?exterminated? ?by? ?the? ?cultivators? ?of? ?the? ?Royal? ?Holy? ?Pavilion.? ?Which? ?meant,? ?

these? ?binu’s? ?were? ?intentionally? ?let? ?loose? ?by? ?someone.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?never? ?expected? ?that? ?this? ?war? ?would? ?involve? ?anything? ?unhuman.? ?Thinking? ?

back? ?on? ?what? ?transpired,? ?he? ?believed? ?more? ?and? ?more? ?that? ?those? ?things? ?were? ?allied? ?with? ?

Lang? ?Ying,? ?and? ?that? ?kidnapping? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?no? ?more? ?than? ?to? ?lure? ?him? ?out.? ?Nonetheless,? ?

he? ?had? ?no? ?time? ?to? ?think? ?at? ?the? ?moment.? ?Every? ?time? ?he? ?swung? ?his? ?sword,? ?he? ?could? ?cleanly? ?

slice? ?seven? ?to? ?eight? ?binu’s? ?in? ?half,? ?but? ?when? ?binu’s? ?appear,? ?they? ?usually? ?come? ?in? ?flocks.? ?

Sure? ?enough,? ?all? ?around? ?them? ?the? ?bushes? ?and? ?trees? ?started? ?to? ?rustle,? ?shaking? ?harder? ?

and? ?harder,? ?and? ?more? ?and? ?more? ?blurry? ?fleshy? ?forms? ?crawled? ?out,? ?coming? ?at? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

unceasingly.? ?He? ?could? ?kill? ?ten? ?with? ?one? ?strike,? ?but? ?twenty? ?would? ?charge.? ?Just? ?as? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

was? ?striking? ?endlessly,? ?a? ?binu? ?on? ?a? ?tree? ?narrowed? ?in? ?on? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?back,? ?and? ?leapt? ?down? ?

to? ?grapple!? ? ?

Unexpectedly,? ?before? ?it? ?got? ?close? ?it? ?was? ?sliced? ?up? ?by? ?a? ?flash? ?of? ?a? ?flare.? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?didn’t? ?

have? ?any? ?weapons? ?on? ?him? ?so? ?it? ?couldn’t? ?have? ?been? ?him.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?to? ?look? ?and? ?saw? ?

the? ?one? ?who? ?swung? ?a? ?sword? ?was? ?that? ?young? ?soldier!? ?

He? ?was? ?left? ?in? ?the? ?dust? ?by? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?by? ?the? ?city? ?gates,? ?but? ?he? ?actually? ?still? ?followed? ?along? ?

and? ?found? ?them.? ?That? ?boy? ?was? ?carrying? ?a? ?worn? ?sword? ?and? ?struck? ?down? ?a? ?number? ?of? ?

binu’s,? ?highly? ?effective.? ?Those? ?things? ?crawled? ?and? ?emitted? ?a? ?thick,? ?glue-like? ?body? ?fluid,? ?

and? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?crying? ?at? ?how? ?disgusting? ?they? ?were.? ?He? ?stomped? ?on? ?the? ?head? ?of? ?one? ?

that? ?looked? ?weak? ?and? ?noticed? ?that? ?creature? ?wasn’t? ?exactly? ?scary,? ?and? ?said? ?dejectedly,? ?

“So? ?they’re? ?not? ?that? ?impressive?”? ? ?

Yet? ?little? ?did? ?he? ?know,? ?binu’s? ?usually? ?appear? ?alongside? ?more? ?violent,? ?cruel? ?evils.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

bit? ?his? ?lips? ?and? ?broke? ?skin,? ?using? ?two? ?fingers? ?of? ?his? ?right? ?hand? ?to? ?dip? ?at? ?the? ?blood,? ?then? ?

smeared? ?it? ?on? ?his? ?blade.? ?Then? ?he? ?stuffed? ?the? ?sword? ?in? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?hands,? ?“You? ?two,? ?take? ?

this? ?sword? ?and? ?go!? ?Nothing? ?will? ?dare? ?approach.? ?Don’t? ?turn? ?back? ?even? ?if? ?you? ?hear? ?

anything.? ?Remember,? ?don’t? ?look? ?back!”? ? ?

Qi? ?Rong? ?protested,? ?“Cousin!? ?I...”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?cut? ?him? ?off,? ?“The? ?powerful? ?ones? ?are? ?right? ?behind? ?them.? ?I? ?won’t? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?take? ?

care? ?of? ?you? ?once? ?they? ?show? ?up.? ?It’s? ?better? ?if? ?you? ?go? ?back? ?and? ?report!”? ? ?

Qi? ?Rong? ?stopped? ?talking,? ?and? ?frantically? ?ran? ?away? ?holding? ?the? ?sword.? ?The? ?sacred? ?sword? ?

in? ?his? ?hands? ?had? ?the? ?essence? ?of? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?divinity,? ?and? ?all? ?along? ?the? ?road? ?no? ?binu’s? ?or? ?

other? ?evils? ?dare? ?come? ?close,? ?his? ?path? ?was? ?unbound,? ?and? ?he? ?disappeared? ?quickly.? ?Yet,? ?

that? ?young? ?soldier? ?still? ?didn’t? ?leave,? ?and? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?himself? ?was? ?already? ?long? ?gone.? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?didn’t? ?have? ?another? ?sacred? ?protection? ?sword? ?to? ?give? ?him,? ?and? ?could? ?only? ?use? ?his? ?

palms? ?to? ?shoot? ?out? ?spiritual? ?blows,? ?blasting? ?away.? ?That? ?boy? ?was? ?also? ?vigorously? ?

cooperative,? ?and? ?after? ?an? ?hour,? ?all? ?the? ?binu’s? ?were? ?exterminated.? ?

A? ?ground? ?full? ?of? ?sticky? ?fluids? ?and? ?corpses,? ?the? ?stench? ?was? ?stifling.? ?After? ?making? ?sure? ?not? ?

a? ?single? ?binu? ?escaped,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?calmed? ?his? ?breath? ?and? ?turned? ?around,? ?speaking? ?to? ?that? ?

boy,? ?“You’re? ?pretty? ?good? ?with? ?the? ?sword.”? ? ?

That? ?boy? ?gripped? ?his? ?sword? ?harder,? ?and? ?while? ?he? ?was? ?huffing? ?at? ?first,? ?he? ?instantly? ?stood? ?

at? ?attention? ?again.? ?“Ye-yes? ?sir.”? ? ?

“I’m? ?not? ?giving? ?you? ?orders,? ?so? ?why? ?are? ?you? ?saying? ?“yes? ?sir”?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“When? ?I? ?

ordered? ?you? ?to? ?go? ?back? ?earlier,? ?why? ?didn’t? ?you? ?say? ?“yes? ?sir”? ?then?”? ? ?

“Yes? ?sir!”? ?That? ?boy? ?answered,? ?but? ?then? ?realized? ?his? ?response? ?was? ?strange,? ?and? ?stood? ?

even? ?stiffer.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?shook? ?his? ?head,? ?mulled,? ?and? ?suddenly? ?his? ?lips? ?curled? ?up,? ?“But,? ?

you’re? ?better? ?suited? ?for? ?a? ?sabre.”? ? ?

————? ?

?Beizi? ?means? ?small? ?back? ?

?MXTX? ?Author? ?Notes:? ?Hua? ?Hua? ?is? ?not? ?yet? ?fourteen? ?right? ?now,? ?but? ?because? ?of? ?

puberty,? ?he? ?sprouted? ?rapidly? ?in? ?height,? ?and? ?no? ?longer? ?looks? ?like? ?a? ?sad? ?puppy,? ?

which? ?is? ?why? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?recognize? ?him!? ?

————? ?

Ch.80:? ?Land? ?of? ?the? ?Tender;? ?Body? ?of? ?Gold? ?Hard-Pressed? ?Against? ?Desire? ?

That? ?boy? ?was? ?taken? ?aback,? ?“Why?”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?thought? ?back? ?to? ?that? ?boy’s? ?strikes? ?and? ?moves? ?when? ?he? ?killed? ?those? ?binu’s,? ?and? ?

casually? ?showed? ?off? ?a? ?few? ?maneuvers,? ?“You’ve? ?never? ?used? ?a? ?sabre,? ?right?? ?You? ?use? ?a? ?

sword,? ?but? ?the? ?sword? ?is? ?tricky.? ?Although? ?it’s? ?extremely? ?fast? ?and? ?aggressive,? ?it’s? ?still? ?rather? ?

restrictive,? ?difficult? ?to? ?extend? ?out.? ?If? ?you’ve? ?never? ?used? ?a? ?sabre? ?before,? ?try? ?it? ?next? ?time.? ?I? ?

think,? ?you? ?might? ?be? ?even? ?stronger? ?with? ?it.”? ? ?

If? ?ever? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?saw? ?someone? ?with? ?a? ?notable? ?skill? ?in? ?martial? ?arts,? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?

want? ?to? ?approach? ?and? ?talk.? ?It? ?wasn’t? ?criticism? ?of? ?any? ?sort,? ?he? ?really? ?was? ?just? ?very? ?

interested? ?and? ?wanted? ?to? ?exchange? ?ideas.? ?Because? ?he? ?possessed? ?a? ?wealth? ?of? ?

experience? ?in? ?martial? ?arts,? ?oftentimes? ?he? ?needn’t? ?to? ?think;? ?just? ?one? ?glance? ?and? ?he? ?could? ?

pick? ?up? ?on? ?the? ?particulars.? ?Even? ?if? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?explain? ?why? ?what? ?was,? ?still? ?he? ?would? ?feel? ?it? ?

must? ?be? ?so.? ?Usually,? ?out? ?of? ?respect? ?for? ?his? ?status,? ?people? ?would? ?listen? ?but? ?there? ?were? ?

very? ?few? ?who’d? ?actually? ?pay? ?attention.? ?However,? ?that? ?boy? ?listened? ?intently,? ?gobbled? ?up? ?

his? ?suggestions,? ?and? ?would? ?look? ?down? ?at? ?the? ?sword? ?in? ?his? ?hand? ?from? ?time? ?to? ?time.? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?rambled? ?on? ?for? ?a? ?few? ?words? ?before? ?suddenly? ?there? ?were? ?more? ?rustling? ?noises? ?

from? ?within? ?the? ?woods? ?like? ?something? ?was? ?crawling? ?through? ?rapidly,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

immediately? ?remembered? ?that? ?they? ?were? ?still? ?situated? ?within? ?danger,? ?and? ?it? ?really? ?wasn’t? ?

the? ?time? ?and? ?place? ?to? ?get? ?excited.? ?Right? ?away? ?he? ?became? ?serious? ?again,? ?“Who? ?knows? ?if? ?

there? ?might? ?be? ?more? ?evil? ?on? ?this? ?mountain.? ?This? ?place? ?needs? ?a? ?thorough? ?cleansing.”? ? ?

That? ?boy? ?nodded? ?vigorously,? ?and? ?presented? ?that? ?steel? ?sword? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?with? ?both? ?

hands.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?shook? ?his? ?head,? ?“Just? ?defend? ?yourself.? ?You? ?didn’t? ?leave? ?earlier,? ?and? ?now? ?

there’s? ?no? ?way? ?for? ?you? ?to? ?go.? ?I’ll? ?do? ?my? ?best? ?to? ?protect? ?you,? ?but? ?stay? ?alert.”? ?

Just? ?then,? ?the? ?bushes? ?rustled? ?and? ?something? ?briskly? ?jumped? ?up.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?flicked? ?his? ?wrist? ?

to? ?shoot? ?out? ?a? ?blast? ?from? ?his? ?palm,? ?and? ?it? ?hit? ?dead? ?on.? ?A? ?terrible? ?yelp? ?and? ?that? ?thing? ?

stopped? ?moving.? ?There? ?was? ?a? ?strong? ?stench? ?of? ?blood? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?puzzled:? ?if? ?it? ?was? ?

a? ?binu,? ?then? ?after? ?having? ?been? ?blown? ?up? ?they? ?would? ?leak? ?sticky? ?bodily? ?fluids,? ?and? ?the? ?

viscosity? ?was? ?such? ?that? ?the? ?smell? ?of? ?blood? ?usually? ?wouldn’t? ?emit,? ?so? ?he? ?approached? ?to? ?

check.? ? ?

Pushing? ?the? ?bushes? ?aside,? ?there? ?was? ?indeed? ?a? ?large? ?binu? ?on? ?the? ?ground,? ?blown? ?into? ?

several? ?pieces? ?from? ?the? ?blast,? ?but? ?that? ?stench? ?of? ?blood? ?didn’t? ?come? ?from? ?it,? ?but? ?from? ?

something? ?in? ?its? ?mouth? ?–? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?scrap? ?of? ?skin? ?off? ?a? ?human? ?head? ?with? ?long? ?hairs? ?still? ?

attached!? ? ?

Binu’s? ?were? ?scavengers? ?that? ?foraged? ?for? ?scraps,? ?and? ?by? ?the? ?looks? ?of? ?it,? ?a? ?human? ?had? ?

been? ?killed.? ?It? ?left? ?small? ?drops? ?of? ?blood? ?in? ?its? ?trail? ?in? ?the? ?bushes,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?immediately? ?

followed? ?it,? ?that? ?young? ?soldier? ?tagging? ?along? ?right? ?behind.? ?The? ?further? ?they? ?walked,? ?the? ?

thicker? ?the? ?spots? ?of? ?blood? ?became,? ?and? ?the? ?stronger? ?that? ?stench.? ?Soon,? ?they? ?heard? ?cries? ?

that? ?sounded? ?weak? ?and? ?powerless.? ?

That? ?little? ?soldier? ?raised? ?his? ?sword? ?and? ?ran? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?to? ?shield? ?him,? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

pulled? ?him? ?back? ?behind.? ?Winding? ?past? ?a? ?field? ?of? ?blooming? ?shrubs,? ?a? ?semi-large? ?cave? ?

appeared? ?before? ?them.? ?

That? ?cave? ?was? ?probably? ?the? ?resting? ?place? ?of? ?some? ?passersby,? ?but? ?now,? ?corpses? ?

carpeted? ?the? ?ground,? ?and? ?twenty? ?to? ?thirty? ?binu’s? ?were? ?clambering? ?over? ?those? ?dead? ?

bodies,? ?munching? ?to? ?their? ?heart’s’? ?content.? ?There? ?were? ?also? ?several? ?of? ?them? ?surrounding? ?

a? ?young? ?woman.? ?That? ?young? ?woman? ?looked? ?to? ?be? ?in? ?pain,? ?her? ?guts? ?split? ?open,? ?her? ?

innards? ?spilling? ?all? ?over,? ?but? ?she? ?herself? ?was? ?still? ?alive.? ?It? ?appeared? ?she? ?might? ?have? ?been? ?

dressing? ?herself,? ?a? ?bright? ?red? ?flower? ?worn? ?on? ?her? ?hair;? ?the? ?fresh? ?blood? ?complimented? ?that? ?

crimson? ?blossom? ?and? ?the? ?picture? ?looked? ?particularly? ?cruel.? ?

Those? ?binu’s? ?were? ?licking? ?at? ?her? ?fresh,? ?steaming? ?organs,? ?ready? ?to? ?chomp,? ?but? ?hearing? ?

the? ?sounds? ?of? ?someone? ?approaching,? ?they? ?all? ?turned? ?to? ?look,? ?and? ?charged? ?in? ?their? ?

direction.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?blew? ?out? ?a? ?blast? ?from? ?his? ?palm? ?without? ?blinking? ?and? ?slayed? ?all? ?of? ?them? ?

before? ?checking? ?the? ?dead? ?bodies? ?immediately? ?after.? ?Among? ?the? ?corpses? ?were? ?men? ?and? ?

women,? ?old? ?and? ?young,? ?their? ?faces? ?ashen,? ?their? ?attire? ?simple.? ?They? ?were? ?no? ?doubt? ?

Yong’an? ?civilians,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?be? ?shocked.? ?

He? ?had? ?thought? ?the? ?sudden? ?appearance? ?of? ?monsters? ?and? ?demons? ?were? ?called? ?forth? ?by? ?

that? ?strange? ?white-clothed? ?being.? ?That? ?white-clothed? ?being? ?saved? ?Lang? ?Ying? ?so? ?they? ?

must? ?be? ?allies,? ?but? ?then? ?how? ?come? ?those? ?binu’s? ?would? ?feast? ?on? ?those? ?Yong’an? ?civilians?? ?

Non-human? ?creatures? ?would? ?never? ?form? ?a? ?pact? ?with? ?humans? ?for? ?no? ?reason,? ?so? ?did? ?this? ?

mean? ?this? ?was? ?the? ?condition? ?Lang? ?Ying? ?agreed? ?to? ?for? ?the? ?alliance?? ?Were? ?the? ?lives? ?of? ?his? ?

followers? ?his? ?bargaining? ?chips?!? ? ?

That? ?young? ?woman? ?was? ?full? ?of? ?pain? ?and? ?terror,? ?blood? ?spitting? ?from? ?her? ?lips,? ?and? ?she? ?

sobbed,? ?“Don’t? ?kill? ?me,? ?I? ?didn’t? ?do? ?anything? ?bad,? ?don’t? ?kill? ?me!”? ? ?

In? ?spite? ?of? ?himself,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?recalled? ?that? ?family? ?of? ?three? ?who? ?died? ?below? ?the? ?city? ?walls;? ?

and? ?what? ?sins? ?had? ?they? ?committed?? ?He? ?knelt? ?and? ?bent? ?down,? ?leaned? ?over? ?and? ?spoke? ?in? ?

a? ?gentle,? ?soothing? ?voice,? ?“Don’t? ?be? ?scared.? ?There’s? ?nothing? ?to? ?be? ?scared? ?of,? ?we’re? ?here? ?

to? ?save? ?you.”? ? ?

Yet? ?that? ?little? ?soldier? ?pointed? ?his? ?sword? ?at? ?the? ?young? ?woman,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?be? ?careful.? ?

She? ?might? ?be? ?an? ?evil? ?spirit? ?from? ?the? ?deep? ?mountains.”? ?

Of? ?course? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?knew? ?that? ?was? ?a? ?big? ?possibility,? ?but? ?after? ?much? ?consideration,? ?he? ?still? ?

felt? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?leave? ?her? ?alone,? ?so? ?as? ?long? ?as? ?he? ?was? ?prudent? ?it? ?should? ?be? ?fine.? ?He? ?felt? ?

the? ?pulse? ?of? ?that? ?young? ?woman,? ?checked? ?her? ?palm? ?and? ?fingers? ?for? ?prints,? ?and? ?instantly? ?

confirmed? ?that? ?she? ?was? ?indeed? ?a? ?human,? ?and? ?one? ?that? ?had? ?never? ?practiced? ?any? ?martial? ?

arts,? ?her? ?arms? ?limp? ?and? ?powerless.? ?He? ?immediately? ?began? ?treating? ?her.? ?He? ?took? ?out? ?a? ?

bottle? ?of? ?medicine? ?from? ?his? ?sleeve,? ?twisted? ?the? ?cork? ?open,? ?and? ?a? ?faint,? ?white? ?smoke? ?

permeated? ?slowly,? ?its? ?scent? ?fragrant.? ?

That? ?medicine? ?could? ?temporarily? ?slow? ?down? ?any? ?poison,? ?and? ?amazingly? ?effective? ?against? ?

wounds.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?go? ?stingy? ?on? ?the? ?holy? ?cure,? ?and? ?used? ?up? ?the? ?entire? ?bottle? ?on? ?her.? ?

“Do? ?you? ?feel? ?better?”? ? ?

That? ?young? ?woman’s? ?wounds? ?were? ?heavy,? ?terrible? ?to? ?look? ?at,? ?but? ?after? ?sniffing? ?in? ?that? ?

smoke,? ?some? ?blood? ?returned? ?to? ?her? ?face,? ?and? ?she? ?weakly? ?nodded? ?her? ?head.? ? ?

“Are? ?you? ?from? ?Yong’an?? ?How? ?did? ?this? ?happen?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.? ?

Tears? ?rolled? ?down? ?that? ?young? ?woman’s? ?face,? ?“...I,? ?I? ?am.? ?I? ?don’t? ?know? ?how? ?this? ?came? ?to? ?be? ?

either.? ?Every,? ?sss,? ?everything? ?used? ?to? ?be? ?just? ?fine,? ?but? ?suddenly,? ?my? ?dad? ?died,? ?my? ?brother? ?

died? ?too...”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?gently? ?patted? ?her? ?shoulders,? ?“Who’s? ?the? ?murderer? ?who? ?killed? ?them?? ?Or,? ?what? ?

killed? ?them?”? ? ?

That? ?young? ?woman? ?sobbed,? ?“The? ?murderer? ?who? ?killed? ?them? ?was...? ?was...? ?was? ?YOU!”? ?

At? ?the? ?last? ?word,? ?her? ?face? ?suddenly? ?turned? ?fierce,? ?her? ?two? ?eyes? ?flashed? ?and? ?bulged.? ?She? ?

opened? ?her? ?arms? ?and? ?pounced,? ?clutching? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?in? ?her? ?embrace!? ?

That? ?young? ?soldier? ?had? ?always? ?been? ?standing? ?by? ?high? ?on? ?alert,? ?and? ?reacted? ?extremely? ?

fast,? ?immediately? ?piercing? ?her? ?heart? ?with? ?his? ?sword.? ?That? ?young? ?woman? ?was? ?already? ?

severely? ?wounded,? ?and? ?after? ?being? ?stabbed,? ?her? ?death? ?should’ve? ?been? ?a? ?sure? ?thing,? ?yet,? ?

she? ?started? ?laughing? ?uproariously? ?in? ?delight,? ?clutching? ?onto? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?firmly? ?refusing? ?to? ?let? ?

go,? ?and? ?stayed? ?in? ?that? ?position? ?until? ?she? ?at? ?last? ?stopped? ?breathing.? ?She? ?clung? ?on? ?so? ?

tightly? ?that? ?the? ?young? ?soldier? ?strained? ?to? ?pull? ?her? ?dead? ?body? ?off.? ?He? ?asked? ?anxiously,? ?

“Your? ?Highness!? ?Are? ?you? ?ok?”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?thought? ?that? ?young? ?woman? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?ambush? ?him? ?as? ?a? ?last? ?ditch? ?effort.? ?

Yet? ?she? ?had? ?no? ?weapons? ?on? ?her;? ?she? ?didn’t? ?even? ?bite? ?or? ?scratch,? ?and? ?only? ?clung? ?on? ?to? ?

him? ?tightly? ?as? ?if? ?that? ?was? ?enough,? ?unrelenting? ?even? ?after? ?death.? ?Confounded,? ?he? ?replied,? ?

“I’m? ?alright,? ?I...”? ?

He? ?trailed? ?off? ?as? ?a? ?sudden? ?dizziness? ?mockingly? ?assaulted? ?him.? ?

That? ?little? ?soldier? ?widened? ?his? ?one? ?bright? ?eye,? ?“Your? ?Highness?!”? ? ?

It? ?was? ?like? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?innards? ?were? ?on? ?fire;? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?speak,? ?didn’t? ?want? ?to? ?speak,? ?and? ?

didn’t? ?want? ?to? ?hear? ?anyone? ?speak? ?either.? ?He? ?shook? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?raised? ?his? ?hand,? ?

unspeaking.? ?All? ?around? ?them? ?came? ?the? ?sound? ?of? ?a? ?woman? ?giggling.? ?

“Heeheeheeheehee...”? ?

The? ?two? ?of? ?them? ?startlingly? ?realized? ?there? ?wasn’t? ?a? ?third? ?person? ?around.? ?That? ?giggling? ?

came? ?from? ?that? ?bright? ?red? ?flower!? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?instantly? ?understood? ?he’d? ?fallen? ?into? ?a? ?trap? ?–? ?

‘Land? ?of? ?the? ?Tender’!? ?

This? ?‘Land? ?of? ?the? ?Tender’? ?wasn’t? ?that? ?Land? ?of? ?the? ?Tender*.? ?The? ?Land? ?of? ?the? ?Tender? ?was? ?a? ?

flower? ?demon? ?that? ?loved? ?to? ?gather? ?and? ?suck? ?to? ?feast? ?on? ?the? ?essence? ?of? ?men,? ?living? ?off? ?of? ?

their? ?blood.? ?Their? ?fragrance? ?wasn’t? ?anything? ?good,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?immediately? ?cautioned,? ?

“Cover? ?your? ?mouth? ?and? ?your? ?nose? ?tight,? ?don’t? ?breathe? ?in? ?that? ?flower’s? ?fragrance!”? ?

That? ?young? ?soldier? ?already? ?had? ?bandages? ?wrapped? ?securely? ?around? ?his? ?face? ?and? ?had? ?a? ?

layer? ?of? ?filter,? ?so? ?he? ?didn’t? ?breathe? ?in? ?any? ?scent.? ?Hearing? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?he? ?tightened? ?his? ?

bandages? ?but? ?then? ?realized? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?nothing? ?to? ?cover? ?with,? ?so? ?he? ?ripped? ?a? ?piece? ?off? ?

of? ?the? ?cleanest? ?part? ?of? ?his? ?sleeve,? ?rubbed? ?it? ?hard,? ?patted? ?it? ?down? ?until? ?it’s? ?cleaner,? ?and? ?

passed? ?it? ?in? ?both? ?hands.? ?Yet? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“No? ?need.? ?It’s? ?too? ?late.”? ?

When? ?he? ?went? ?to? ?treat? ?that? ?young? ?woman,? ?he? ?may? ?have? ?been? ?guarded,? ?but? ?he? ?didn’t? ?

guard? ?against? ?scent? ?and? ?was? ?pressed? ?closely,? ?not? ?knowing? ?the? ?flower? ?pinned? ?on? ?her? ?hair? ?

was? ?a? ?blossom? ?of? ?‘Land? ?of? ?the? ?Tender’.? ?Before? ?she? ?died,? ?she? ?clung? ?on? ?firmly? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?

ensuring? ?she? ?wouldn’t? ?fail.? ?This? ?meant? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?already? ?unknowingly? ?inhaled? ?many? ?

mouthfuls? ?of? ?that? ?Tender? ?Fragrance,? ?truly? ?“refreshing? ?the? ?spirit”.? ? ?

Once? ?that? ?Tender? ?Fragrance? ?entered? ?the? ?body,? ?men? ?would? ?become? ?impetuous.? ?

Numbness? ?to? ?start,? ?then? ?mania.? ?Right? ?then? ?XIe? ?Lian’s? ?whole? ?body? ?was? ?already? ?listless? ?

like? ?all? ?of? ?his? ?nerves? ?were? ?removed.? ?Once? ?the? ?numbness? ?passed,? ?he’d? ?become? ?a? ?cask? ?of? ?

explosives.? ?If? ?that? ?strange? ?white-clothed? ?being? ?was? ?to? ?appear? ?once? ?more,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?really? ?

didn’t? ?know? ?how? ?certain? ?he’d? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?face? ?it,? ?and? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?sure? ?of? ?its? ?might? ?

either.? ?His? ?first? ?reaction? ?was? ?to? ?reach? ?for? ?his? ?bottle? ?of? ?medicine,? ?but? ?then? ?he? ?realized? ?that? ?

bottle? ?was? ?emptied? ?to? ?help? ?treat? ?that? ?young? ?woman.? ?Yet,? ?in? ?the? ?end,? ?the? ?person? ?still? ?didn’t? ?

survive.? ?

He? ?glanced? ?at? ?the? ?dead? ?body? ?next? ?to? ?him.? ?That? ?young? ?woman? ?wore? ?a? ?happy? ?smile? ?as? ?if? ?

she? ?was? ?sincerely? ?glad? ?to? ?sink? ?the? ?enemy? ?into? ?a? ?trap? ?before? ?death? ?and? ?could? ?finally? ?pass? ?

in? ?peace? ?to? ?see? ?her? ?family.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?only? ?blame? ?the? ?bloody? ?scene? ?that? ?softened? ?

that? ?flower’s? ?dangerous? ?shade,? ?and? ?the? ?stench? ?of? ?blood? ?that? ?lightened? ?the? ?strange? ?

fragrance? ?of? ?blossoms.? ?He? ?had? ?never? ?imagined? ?that? ?on? ?the? ?face? ?of? ?a? ?young? ?girl? ?only? ?in? ?

her? ?teens? ?could? ?bore? ?such? ?resentment,? ?that? ?she? ?could? ?commit? ?such? ?an? ?extreme? ?act.? ?

Around? ?him,? ?the? ?flower? ?demons? ?were? ?exploding? ?with? ?excitement,? ?muttering:? ?

“He? ?took? ?the? ?bait!”? ? ?

“Caught? ?him!”? ? ?

“It’s? ?really? ?His? ?Highness? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince!”? ?

“It’s? ?him!”? ?

“He’s? ?so? ?handsome...? ?my? ?root,? ?my? ?root? ?can’t? ?hold? ?back? ?any? ?longer,? ?it’s? ?going? ?to? ?thrust? ?out? ?

of? ?the? ?ground!”? ?

That? ?young? ?soldier? ?swung? ?his? ?sword? ?to? ?slash,? ?cleaving? ?a? ?field? ?of? ?flower? ?shrubs,? ?yet? ?those? ?

stems? ?were? ?nimble,? ?and? ?that? ?sword? ?was? ?worn;? ?after? ?one? ?slash? ?it? ?became? ?dull.? ?Those? ?

flower? ?demons? ?rocked? ?back? ?and? ?forth,? ?squealing,? ?“My? ?gosh!? ?This? ?little? ?ge? ?ge,? ?your? ?bush? ?

hasn’t? ?even? ?grown? ?in? ?yet,? ?but? ?you’re? ?so? ?ferocious!? ?I’m? ?on? ?the? ?verge? ?of? ?blooming,? ?how? ?will? ?

you? ?repay? ?me!”? ? ?

That? ?young? ?soldier’s? ?eye? ?was? ?flashing? ?with? ?rage,? ?“You’re? ?dead!? ?I’m? ?gonna? ?burn? ?you? ?all? ?to? ?

death!”? ?

The? ?green? ?leaves? ?of? ?those? ?flower? ?demons? ?perched? ?on? ?the? ?stems,? ?yelling,? ?“My,? ?so? ?scary!? ?

We? ?didn’t? ?provoke? ?you,? ?why? ?are? ?you? ?so? ?mad!”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?spoke? ?up? ?too,? ?“Don’t? ?burn? ?them!? ?They’re? ?demons,? ?if? ?you? ?set? ?them? ?on? ?fire...? ?they? ?

will? ?emit? ?poisonous? ?gas.? ?You? ?can’t? ?pull? ?them? ?out? ?either!”? ?That? ?boy? ?immediately? ?dropped? ?

the? ?hands? ?that? ?were? ?ready? ?to? ?pluck,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?explained? ?weakly,? ?“There? ?are? ?

poisonous? ?thorns? ?all? ?over? ?the? ?stems...”? ?

The? ?flower? ?demons? ?flirtatiously? ?gibed,? ?“My? ?gosh,? ?Your? ?Highness? ?is? ?so? ?sweet,? ?thank? ?you? ?

for? ?protecting? ?us.? ?Just? ?wait,? ?we’re? ?going? ?to? ?bear? ?fruits? ?soon!? ?We’ll? ?definitely? ?take? ?a? ?good? ?

care? ?of? ?you,? ?hee? ?hee? ?hee? ?hee...”? ? ?

“Men? ?who? ?cultivated? ?abstinence? ?from? ?birth? ?are? ?so? ?hard? ?to? ?come? ?by,? ?even? ?if? ?your? ?power? ?

will? ?drop? ?a? ?level? ?if? ?we? ?deflower? ?you,? ?there’s? ?no? ?other? ?way,? ?sorry!? ?Hee? ?hee? ?hee? ?hee...”? ?

The? ?flower? ?petals? ?of? ?the? ?Land? ?of? ?the? ?Tender? ?rubbed? ?against? ?each? ?other,? ?giggling? ?fraily,? ?

their? ?ambrosial? ?perverse? ?intentions? ?more? ?than? ?obvious.? ?That? ?young? ?soldier? ?was? ?

bewildered,? ?not? ?quite? ?understanding? ?the? ?meaning? ?of? ?“abstinence”,? ?“deflower”,? ?or? ?“level”,? ?

but? ?he? ?could? ?still? ?tell? ?they? ?didn’t? ?mean? ?anything? ?good,? ?so? ?he? ?continued? ?to? ?swing? ?his? ?sword? ?

madly,? ?cutting? ?down? ?the? ?flowers,? ?roaring? ?in? ?rage,? ?trying? ?desperately? ?to? ?cover? ?up? ?the? ?

sound? ?of? ?that? ?teasing? ?laughter,? ?not? ?wanting? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?to? ?hear.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?on? ?the? ?other? ?hand,? ?

was? ?cracking? ?his? ?knuckles.? ?

So? ?that? ?was? ?it!? ?

So? ?everything? ?that? ?transpired? ?tonight? ?was? ?truly? ?designed? ?especially? ?for? ?dealing? ?with? ?him.? ?

Kidnapping? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?them? ?counting? ?on? ?the? ?pride? ?and? ?consideration? ?he? ?possessed? ?

as? ?the? ?martial? ?god? ?of? ?Xianle,? ?that? ?he? ?would? ?for? ?sure? ?choose? ?to? ?come? ?after? ?them? ?alone,? ?

minimizing? ?the? ?situation.? ?And? ?that? ?heavily? ?wounded? ?young? ?woman? ?was? ?meant? ?to? ?use? ?up? ?

his? ?medicine,? ?leaving? ?him? ?powerless? ?to? ?relieve? ?himself.? ?The? ?cooperation? ?between? ?

humans? ?and? ?demons? ?were? ?meant? ?to? ?lead? ?him? ?to? ?this? ?point.? ?

Xie? ?Lian’s? ?method? ?of? ?cultivation? ?really? ?did? ?require? ?a? ?body? ?of? ?purity.? ?The? ?followers? ?who? ?

worship? ?the? ?ascended? ?cultivators? ?who? ?practiced? ?this? ?stream? ?were? ?firmly? ?convinced? ?in? ?the? ?

transcendence? ?of? ?their? ?gods? ?who? ?were? ?untouched? ?by? ?earthly? ?desires.? ?Thus,? ?if? ?they? ?

couldn’t? ?protect? ?their? ?purity,? ?their? ?following? ?would? ?no? ?doubt? ?collapse,? ?devastating? ?their? ?

powers.? ?Although? ?it? ?wouldn’t? ?be? ?serious? ?to? ?the? ?point? ?of? ?falling? ?back? ?into? ?mortal? ?man? ?from? ?

godhood,? ?and? ?there? ?was? ?still? ?the? ?possibility? ?of? ?redemption? ?after? ?many? ?more? ?years? ?of? ?

cultivation,? ?but? ?at? ?that? ?very? ?moment,? ?there’s? ?no? ?way,? ?no? ?time? ?for? ?him? ?to? ?sit? ?behind? ?closed? ?

doors? ?to? ?cultivate? ?for? ?years!? ?

The? ?statute? ?of? ?purity? ?was? ?strict? ?at? ?the? ?Royal? ?Holy? ?Pavilion,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?excelled? ?as? ?the? ?

number? ?one? ?in? ?upholding? ?those? ?rules,? ?never? ?having? ?broken? ?or? ?breached? ?any? ?of? ?them,? ?

and? ?thought? ?himself? ?as? ?steady? ?as? ?a? ?rock? ?of? ?steel,? ?not? ?even? ?gales? ?could? ?ripple? ?the? ?water? ?

in? ?his? ?heart.? ?He? ?also? ?went? ?through? ?many? ?trials,? ?completing? ?them? ?perfectly? ?each? ?time.? ?Yet,? ?

even? ?if? ?his? ?heart? ?was? ?as? ?still? ?as? ?water,? ?he? ?was? ?still? ?young? ?and? ?easily? ?unnerved.? ?With? ?a? ?

little,? ?young? ?soldier? ?right? ?beside? ?him,? ?listening? ?to? ?those? ?flower? ?demons? ?blatantly? ?splashing? ?

words? ?of? ?depravity? ?onto? ?him,? ?plus? ?that? ?lingering? ?fragrance? ?making? ?his? ?blood? ?boil,? ?his? ?

mind? ?tempestuous,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?become? ?embarrassed,? ?his? ?face? ?reddening,? ?

but? ?no? ?matter? ?what,? ?he? ?just? ?couldn’t? ?stand.? ?

He? ?could? ?still? ?somehow? ?hang? ?on? ?for? ?the? ?moment,? ?but? ?if? ?those? ?Land? ?of? ?the? ?Tenders? ?really? ?

bore? ?fruit,? ?then? ?it’d? ?be? ?very? ?troublesome.? ?The? ?best? ?course? ?of? ?action? ?was? ?of? ?course? ?return? ?

to? ?the? ?royal? ?capital? ?immediately? ?and? ?have? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?shield? ?him,? ?but? ?Xie? ?

Lian’s? ?legs? ?were? ?limp,? ?he? ?could? ?barely? ?stand.? ?Without? ?any? ?other? ?way,? ?he? ?called? ?to? ?the? ?

little? ?soldier? ?with? ?a? ?strained? ?voice,? ?“You...? ?come? ?over? ?here.”? ? ?

——-? ?

?[??????]? ??‘Land? ?of? ?the? ?Tender’? ?has? ?historically? ?referred? ?to? ?a? ?brothel? ?or? ?aphrodisiac.? ?

MXTX? ?is? ?creating? ?her? ?own? ?version? ?of? ?Land? ?of? ?the? ?Tender.? ? ?

For? ?those? ?who? ?aren’t? ?familiar,? ?Land? ?of? ?the? ?Tender? ?is? ?a? ?common? ?concept? ?in? ?

Chinese? ?fantasy,? ?and? ?readers? ?expect? ?seductresses? ?and/or? ?love? ?poison? ?when? ?they? ?

see? ?it? ?in? ?the? ?text.? ?

?MXTX? ?Author? ?Notes:? ?Of? ?course? ?Hua? ?Hua? ?won’t? ?be? ?helping? ?with? ?rubbing? ?one? ?out? ?or? ?

X...? ?but? ?this? ?will? ?be? ?Hua? ?Hua’s? ?sexual? ?awakening...? ?(?? ?

Losing? ?virginity? ?will? ?only? ?damage? ?spiritual? ?power,? ?not? ?martial? ?might.? ?Although? ?

martial? ?might? ?and? ?spiritual? ?power? ?can? ?be? ?combined? ?and? ?amplified,? ?their? ?nature? ?is? ?

different.? ?Besides,? ?only? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?chosen? ?stream? ?is? ?this? ?troublesome,? ?that? ?an? ?X? ?

life? ?would? ?damage? ?his? ?cultivation.? ?Some? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?are? ?much? ?smarter? ?and? ?

would? ?choose? ?a? ?stream? ?where? ?the? ?more? ?they? ?X? ?the? ?stronger? ?they? ?become;? ?but? ?in? ?

most? ?streams? ?an? ?X? ?life? ?and? ?cultivation? ?are? ?completely? ?unrelated.? ?

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