Heaven Official's Blessing

Chapter 91-100

Chapter 91-100

Ch.91:? ?Temple? ?of? ?a? ?Thousand? ?Lights? ?Endlessly? ?Illuminating? ?the? ?Lingering? ?Night? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?really? ?didn’t? ?think? ?anyone? ?would? ?actually? ?pass? ?the? ?wine? ?cup? ?to? ?him.? ?

?

Unfortunately? ?for? ?him? ?he? ?reacted? ?too? ?fast? ?and? ?took? ?the? ?cup? ?without? ?thinking,? ?but? ?the? ?

moment? ?he? ?did,? ?he? ?froze.? ?However,? ?when? ?he? ?looked? ?to? ?who? ?it? ?was? ?that? ?passed? ?him? ?the? ?

cup,? ?the? ?other? ?party? ?was? ?also? ?dumbfounded? ?–? ?it? ?was? ?Ming? ?Yi.? ?

?

Turns? ?out,? ?earlier? ?when? ?the? ?wine? ?cup? ?made? ?it? ?into? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan’s? ?hand,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?

thought? ?it’d? ?be? ?funny? ?and? ?purposely? ?passed? ?it? ?on? ?to? ?Ming? ?Yi.? ?However,? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?was? ?busy? ?

stuffing? ?his? ?face? ?and? ?drinking? ?his? ?wine,? ?and? ?didn’t? ?even? ?bother? ?to? ?look? ?up? ?before? ?he? ?

passed? ?on? ?the? ?wine? ?cup? ?randomly.? ?Only? ?after? ?the? ?cup? ?was? ?passed? ?did? ?he? ?realize? ?what? ?

had? ?happened,? ?and? ?also? ?became? ?speechless.? ?Right? ?at? ?the? ?same? ?time,? ?the? ?thunder? ?

stopped? ?rumbling,? ?leaving? ?only? ?the? ?two? ?staring? ?at? ?each? ?other? ?blankly.? ?

?

Although? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?received? ?the? ?wine? ?cup? ?was? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?everyone’s? ?eyes? ?moved? ?to? ?

Feng? ?Xin? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?instead.? ?It? ?wasn’t? ?hard? ?to? ?understand? ?why;? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?not? ?been? ?

heard? ?of? ?for? ?eight? ?hundred? ?years.? ?If? ?this? ?was? ?eight? ?hundred? ?years? ?ago,? ?there’d? ?naturally? ?

be? ?plenty? ?of? ?plays? ?depicting? ?his? ?heroism,? ?but? ?they? ?were? ?long? ?lost? ?to? ?time.? ?Besides,? ?no? ?

one? ?would? ?pick? ?such? ?a? ?day? ?to? ?set? ?up? ?a? ?stage? ?especially? ?just? ?to? ?put? ?up? ?a? ?play? ?for? ?him.? ?

Thus,? ?if? ?they? ?had? ?to? ?find? ?something? ?with? ?the? ?character? ?‘Crown? ?Prince? ?of? ?Xianle’? ?in? ?it,? ?then? ?

it’d? ?have? ?to? ?be? ?plays? ?with? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?or? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?starring? ?as? ?the? ?protagonist.? ?

?

This? ?was? ?because? ?in? ?the? ?plays? ?written? ?for? ?the? ?two? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?in? ?the? ?mortal? ?realm,? ?

there? ?were? ?times? ?they’d? ?bring? ?out? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?usually? ?as? ?a? ?foil,? ?a? ?minor? ?character,? ?or? ?for? ?the? ?

sake? ?of? ?making? ?the? ?play? ?even? ?more? ?exciting,? ?some? ?would? ?write? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?as? ?the? ?villain,? ?

arranging? ?for? ?plots? ?like? ?how? ?the? ?lonely,? ?abandoned? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?would? ?be? ?bullied,? ?or? ?how? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?would? ?rob? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?of? ?his? ?beloved,? ?etc.? ?If? ?such? ?plays? ?were? ?really? ?performed? ?at? ?the? ?

Mid? ?Autumn? ?Banquet,? ?it? ?wouldn’t? ?matter? ?if? ?the? ?characters? ?in? ?question? ?would? ?be? ?pleased,? ?

the? ?rest? ?of? ?the? ?audience? ?would? ?definitely? ?enjoy? ?it.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?held? ?that? ?small? ?jaded? ?cup? ?in? ?

his? ?hand,? ?and? ?some? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?were? ?already? ?urging? ?him:? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?come? ?

come? ?come,? ?down? ?the? ?cup!”? ? ?

?

A? ?few? ?joined? ?in? ?on? ?the? ?urging,? ?and? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?spoke? ?up? ?from? ?far? ?away,? ?“His? ?highness? ?can’t? ?

drink.”? ? ?

?

The? ?crowd? ?was? ?growing? ?restless,? ?“Just? ?one? ?cup!? ?It? ?won’t? ?do? ?anything.”? ? ?

?

Jun? ?Wu? ?had? ?been? ?sitting? ?with? ?his? ?hand? ?supporting? ?his? ?temple? ?without? ?a? ?word,? ?but? ?now? ?he? ?

too? ?slowly? ?straightened,? ?as? ?if? ?to? ?speak.? ?Beside? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?also? ?asking,? ?

“Can? ?you? ?do? ?it? ?or? ?not?? ?If? ?not? ?then? ?whatever,? ?I’ll? ?help? ?you? ?throw? ?the? ?hundred? ?thousand? ?

merits? ?to? ?drop? ?the? ?curtains.”? ?

?

“...”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?afraid? ?she? ?really? ?would? ?just? ?throw? ?out? ?a? ?hundred? ?thousand? ?merits? ?

impulsively.? ?No? ?matter? ?how? ?generous? ?she? ?was? ?that? ?wasn’t? ?the? ?way? ?to? ?do? ?it.? ?Besides,? ?he’d? ?

seen? ?pretty? ?much? ?every? ?play? ?there? ?was? ?anyway,? ?and? ?there? ?wasn’t? ?anything? ?worth? ?paying? ?

attention? ?to,? ?so? ?he? ?hastily? ?replied,? ?“No,? ?no,? ?a? ?cup? ?shouldn’t? ?be? ?a? ?problem.”? ?Then,? ?he? ?

emptied? ?the? ?cup.? ?

?

Fine? ?brew? ?entered? ?his? ?throat,? ?the? ?area? ?the? ?liquid? ?slid? ?past? ?was? ?first? ?cool? ?then? ?hot.? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?was? ?feeling? ?a? ?little? ?dizzy,? ?but? ?the? ?taste? ?of? ?that? ?refined? ?drink? ?pushed? ?that? ?dizziness? ?

down? ?in? ?an? ?instant.? ?The? ?curtains? ?all? ?around? ?the? ?small? ?pavilion? ?slowly? ?lifted,? ?and? ?the? ?crowd? ?

moved? ?their? ?gaze,? ?ready? ?to? ?focus? ?on? ?the? ?play.? ?

?

They? ?were? ?amazed? ?by? ?what? ?they? ?saw.? ?Two? ?figures? ?stood? ?on? ?stage:? ?one? ?was? ?in? ?white,? ?

face? ?covered? ?in? ?foundation,? ?looking? ?windswept? ?and? ?dusty,? ?a? ?bamboo? ?hat? ?on? ?his? ?back,? ?no? ?

doubt? ?he? ?must? ?be? ?Xie? ?Lian;? ?the? ?other? ?was? ?a? ?figure? ?in? ?red? ?robes,? ?hair? ?black? ?like? ?raven,? ?

handsome? ?and? ?brilliant,? ?eyes? ?bright? ?and? ?lively,? ?and? ?the? ?snake? ?wrapped? ?around? ?his? ?arm? ?

was? ?stripped? ?away? ?by? ?‘Xie? ?Lian’.? ?Instantly,? ?that? ?red? ?robed? ?man? ?snatched? ?that? ?snake? ?

back,? ?ditched? ?it? ?aside,? ?then? ?held? ?‘Xie? ?Lian’? ?hand? ?without? ?any? ?intent? ?of? ?letting? ?go.? ?

Watching? ?that? ?scene? ?play? ?out,? ?it? ?was? ?like? ?a? ?knife? ?violently? ?stabbed? ?his? ?heart.? ?

?

That? ?scene? ?astonished? ?all? ?the? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?waiting? ?to? ?watch? ?a? ?good? ?show,? ?and? ?of? ?

course,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?himself,? ?too,? ?was? ?astonished.? ?Just? ?then,? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?who? ?was? ?seated? ?at? ?the? ?

head? ?of? ?the? ?feast? ?chuckled,? ?“What? ?play? ?is? ?this?? ?Seems? ?it’s? ?never? ?been? ?seen? ?before?”? ? ?

?

Ling? ?Wen? ?immediately? ?sent? ?for? ?someone? ?to? ?investigate? ?then? ?replied,? ?“It? ?seems? ?this? ?play? ?

is? ?called? ?“Adventures? ?in? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?BanYue”.? ?It’s? ?newly? ?written? ?so? ?it’s? ?never? ?been? ?

shown? ?before.? ?Tonight? ?is? ?the? ?first? ?time? ?it’s? ?performed? ?in? ?the? ?mortal? ?realm.”? ? ?

?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?turned? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?“It’s? ?probably? ?written? ?by? ?those? ?merchants? ?after? ?they? ?

returned? ?from? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?BanYue? ?that? ?last? ?time.? ?The? ?merits? ?are? ?saved,? ?there? ?won’t? ?

be? ?a? ?need? ?to? ?pull? ?the? ?curtains.”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?comment.? ?For? ?mortals? ?to? ?know? ?about? ?the? ?affairs? ?of? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?

BanYue? ?the? ?source? ?could? ?only? ?come? ?from? ?those? ?merchants.? ?He? ?recalled? ?that? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?

boy? ?named? ?Tian? ?Sheng? ?in? ?that? ?caravan? ?who? ?did? ?indeed? ?say? ?something? ?along? ?the? ?lines? ?of? ?

worshipping? ?him? ?as? ?thanks,? ?so? ?perhaps? ?this? ?play? ?was? ?commissioned? ?by? ?him?? ?However,? ?

he? ?didn’t? ?tell? ?Tian? ?Sheng? ?his? ?name,? ?and? ?a? ?young? ?boy? ?shouldn’t? ?have? ?the? ?ability? ?to? ?do? ?

something? ?like? ?this.? ?

?

On? ?the? ?other? ?side? ?of? ?the? ?stage,? ?although? ?the? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?didn’t? ?see? ?the? ?play? ?they? ?

expected,? ?but? ?the? ?performance? ?before? ?them? ?was? ?even? ?more? ?exciting.? ?After? ?all,? ?if? ?the? ?

rumours? ?were? ?true,? ?then? ?the? ?role? ?that? ?red-robed? ?man? ?played? ?was? ?none? ?other? ?than? ?Hua? ?

Cheng!? ? ?

?

There? ?were? ?plenty? ?of? ?plays? ?about? ?Crimson? ?Rain? ?Sought? ?Flower? ?in? ?the? ?mortal? ?realm.? ?

However,? ?it’s? ?usually? ?something? ?like? ?“The? ?Red? ?Demon? ?Burnt? ?the? ?Temples? ?of? ?Thirty-Three? ?

Gods? ?and? ?Not? ?Even? ?The? ?Heavens? ?Could? ?Do? ?Shit”,? ?“Crimson? ?Rain? ?Sought? ?Flower? ?Hung? ?

the? ?Martial? ?and? ?Civil? ?Gods? ?and? ?Slapped? ?Them? ?Around? ?with? ?But? ?One? ?Hand”,? ?etc.;? ?the? ?kind? ?

of? ?plays? ?that? ?would? ?make? ?those? ?in? ?the? ?heavens? ?cry? ?silent? ?tears,? ?not? ?wanting? ?to? ?find? ?out? ?

just? ?how? ?those? ?plays? ?turned? ?out.? ?In? ?any? ?case? ?the? ?protagonist? ?this? ?time? ?was? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?and? ?

for? ?everyone,? ?it? ?never? ?felt? ?like? ?he? ?blended? ?in? ?to? ?be? ?counted? ?as? ?‘one? ?of? ?us’,? ?so? ?just? ?

watching? ?the? ?play? ?did? ?no? ?harm.? ?Besides,? ?the? ?stage? ?of? ?the? ?play? ?was? ?intricate,? ?the? ?

production? ?exquisite,? ?the? ?actors? ?extremely? ?well? ?made? ?up,? ?truly? ?a? ?great? ?work? ?of? ?

benevolence.? ?Thus,? ?there? ?were? ?many? ?who? ?inwardly? ?enjoyed? ?the? ?show,? ?commenting? ?as? ?

they? ?watched:? ?

?

“Is? ?that? ?true?? ?It? ?must? ?be? ?made? ?up.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?would? ?never? ?talk? ?like? ?that? ?to? ?anyone!”? ? ?

?

“Nonsense!? ?Pure? ?nonsense!”? ? ?

?

“Who? ?do? ?they? ?take? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?for? ?in? ?this? ?play?!? ?Wake? ?up!? ?This? ?isn’t? ?a? ?romantic? ?play,? ?

goodness,? ?how? ?daring!”? ? ?

?

This? ?was? ?a? ?play? ?written? ?especially? ?for? ?him? ?after? ?all,? ?so? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?watched? ?it? ?attentively.? ?If? ?

he? ?must? ?say? ?so? ?earnestly,? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?a? ?bad? ?play.? ?The? ?actors? ?looked? ?good,? ?the? ?story? ?was? ?

good,? ?just,? ?as? ?one? ?of? ?the? ?ones? ?portrayed,? ?he? ?had? ?a? ?very? ?very? ?small? ?criticism:? ?the? ?two? ?

protagonists? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?overly? ?close.? ?

?

The? ?one? ?who? ?played? ?him? ?was? ?a? ?really? ?good? ?actor,? ?but? ?every? ?time? ?he? ?opened? ?his? ?mouth? ?to? ?

call? ?“San? ?Lang”,? ?while? ?the? ?tone? ?wasn’t? ?up? ?and? ?down? ?and? ?full? ?of? ?yearning,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

thought? ?it? ?was? ?even? ?more? ?unsettling? ?than? ?when? ?‘Lady? ?Wind? ?Master’? ?called? ?‘Lord? ?Water? ?

Master’? ?“hubbyyyyy”? ?earlier.? ?Also,? ?there? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?too? ?many? ?little? ?gestures;? ?hooking? ?

arms,? ?hugging? ?shoulders,? ?carrying? ?him;? ?somehow,? ?there’s? ?something? ?that’s? ?not? ?right.? ?

?

However,? ?if? ?he? ?really? ?thought? ?about? ?it,? ?when? ?he? ?called? ?San? ?Lang,? ?that? ?was? ?indeed? ?the? ?

way? ?he’d? ?call? ?him;? ?those? ?intimate? ?gestures? ?really? ?did? ?seem? ?to? ?have? ?been? ?done? ?too.? ?He? ?

didn’t? ?think? ?there? ?was? ?anything? ?wrong? ?with? ?it? ?at? ?the? ?time,? ?but? ?watching? ?it? ?now,? ?technically? ?

there? ?wasn’t? ?anything? ?wrong? ?still.? ?Looking? ?at? ?the? ?other? ?heavenly? ?officials,? ?although? ?they? ?

condemned? ?it? ?as? ?nonsense? ?on? ?their? ?lips,? ?they? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?fully? ?enjoying? ?the? ?show,? ?

watching? ?with? ?their? ?eyes? ?unmoving,? ?their? ?interest? ?enthusiastic,? ?so? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?kept? ?his? ?

mouth? ?shut.? ? ?

?

As? ?they? ?watched,? ?Shi? ?Wudu? ?suddenly? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“Who? ?are? ?those? ?two? ?little? ?squires? ?in? ?the? ?

back?”? ?

?

Hearing? ?the? ?word? ?“squire”,? ?both? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?inconspicuously? ?froze.? ?

?

“They’re? ?not? ?squires.”? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?replied,? ?“They? ?should? ?be? ?two? ?junior? ?martial? ?officials? ?from? ?

the? ?Middle? ?Court.? ?They? ?were? ?appointed? ?by? ?the? ?Palaces? ?of? ?Nan? ?Yang? ?and? ?Xuan? ?Zhen? ?to? ?

help? ?His? ?Highness? ?out? ?at? ?the? ?time.”? ? ?

?

That? ?the? ?Palaces? ?of? ?Nan? ?Yang? ?and? ?Xuan? ?Zhen? ?would? ?actually? ?send? ?people? ?to? ?assist? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?was? ?truly? ?extraordinary? ?news,? ?as? ?impossible? ?as? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?courteously? ?rejecting? ?the? ?

advances? ?of? ?a? ?rare? ?beauty,? ?and? ?all? ?the? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?turned? ?to? ?look.? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?added,? ?

“They? ?went? ?willingly.”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?smiled,? ?“I? ?forgot? ?to? ?ask,? ?how? ?are? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?and? ?Fu? ?Yao?? ?How? ?come? ?I? ?didn’t? ?see? ?

them? ?come? ?out? ?to? ?play? ?today?”? ? ?

?

“Nan? ?Feng...? ?is...”? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?said.? ?

?

Mu? ?Qing? ?said? ?flatly,? ?“Fu? ?Yao? ?is? ?in? ?detention.”? ? ?

?

Feng? ?Xin? ?immediately? ?said,? ?“Nan? ?Feng? ?is? ?also? ?in? ?detention.”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?“Oh”-ed? ?and? ?commented,? ?“Both? ?of? ?them? ?are? ?locked? ?up?? ?What? ?a? ?shame.”? ? ?

?

Whilst? ?they? ?conversed? ?the? ?curtains? ?dropped? ?on? ?that? ?exhilarating? ?play.? ?Although? ?it? ?was? ?

determined? ?by? ?everyone? ?that? ?it? ?was? ?written? ?by? ?an? ?ignorant? ?believer? ?with? ?obscene? ?

intentions,? ?watching? ?an? ?obscene? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?was? ?still? ?fully? ?entertaining,? ?and? ?the? ?crowd? ?

applauded? ?in? ?cheer.? ?However,? ?Pei? ?Su? ?was? ?exiled? ?because? ?of? ?what? ?happened? ?at? ?the? ?

BanYue? ?Pass,? ?so? ?after? ?the? ?entertainment? ?was? ?over,? ?everyone? ?still? ?had? ?to? ?mind? ?Pei? ?Ming.? ?

?

“How’s? ?your? ?Little? ?Pei? ?doing,? ?General? ?Pei?”? ?Shi? ?Wudu? ?inquired.? ?

?

Pei? ?Ming? ?poured? ?himself? ?a? ?glass? ?and? ?drank,? ?shaking? ?his? ?head,? ?“How? ?well? ?can? ?he? ?do?? ?His? ?

heart? ?isn’t? ?in? ?the? ?right? ?place,? ?I? ?don’t? ?care? ?anymore.”? ?

?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?couldn’t? ?listen? ?anymore? ?and? ?jeered,? ?“So,? ?in? ?General? ?Pei’s? ?eyes,? ?where’s? ?

the? ?right? ?place? ?for? ?his? ?heart?? ?Your? ?Little? ?Pei’s? ?future? ?is? ?a? ?future,? ?but? ?the? ?little? ?lady’s? ?future? ?

is? ?nothing?”? ? ?

?

Her? ?tone? ?was? ?rude? ?and? ?Shi? ?Wudu’s? ?eyes? ?swept? ?over,? ?“Qingxuan,? ?mind? ?your? ?manners!”? ? ?

?

The? ?moment? ?he? ?reprimanded,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?lowered? ?her? ?head? ?demurely.? ?Seeing? ?this,? ?

Pei? ?Ming? ?laughed,? ?“Water? ?Master-xiong*,? ?your? ?little? ?brother? ?is? ?quite? ?impressive,? ?and? ?only? ?

you? ?can? ?keep? ?him? ?in? ?line.? ?Him? ?messing? ?with? ?me? ?isn’t? ?really? ?anything,? ?but? ?if? ?in? ?the? ?future? ?

he? ?messed? ?with? ?the? ?wrong? ?people,? ?they? ?won’t? ?let? ?it? ?go? ?so? ?easily? ?for? ?your? ?sake.”? ? ?

?

Shi? ?Wudu? ?opened? ?his? ?fan? ?and? ?continued? ?to? ?lecture? ?his? ?little? ?brother,? ?“Did? ?you? ?hear? ?what? ?

General? ?Pei? ?said?? ?Also,? ?how? ?many? ?times? ?do? ?I? ?have? ?to? ?tell? ?you? ?not? ?to? ?walk? ?around? ?outside? ?

in? ?that? ?form? ?all? ?the? ?time,? ?what? ?a? ?disgrace.? ?I? ?don’t? ?care? ?what? ?appearance? ?you? ?like,? ?you? ?

must? ?use? ?your? ?true? ?form? ?when? ?you’re? ?out!”? ? ?

?

Although? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?loved? ?her? ?lady? ?form? ?passionately? ?and? ?wouldn’t? ?stand? ?for? ?his? ?

reprimand,? ?still? ?she? ?didn’t? ?dare? ?oppose? ?her? ?brother.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?thought,? ?‘The? ?Wind? ?Master? ?

says? ?she’s? ?not? ?afraid? ?of? ?her? ?older? ?brother,? ?but? ?that? ?doesn’t? ?seem? ?to? ?be? ?entirely? ?true.’? ?Yet? ?

unexpectedly,? ?Shi? ?Wudu? ?ended? ?the? ?lecture? ?with:? ?“What? ?if? ?you? ?bump? ?into? ?someone? ?strong? ?

in? ?both? ?spiritual? ?power? ?and? ?ill? ?intent? ?like? ?General? ?Pei!”? ?

?

Ling? ?Wen? ?laughed? ?unkindly,? ?and? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?almost? ?spat? ?out? ?his? ?wine? ?again.? ?“Water? ?

Master-xiong!? ?If? ?you? ?keep? ?that? ?up? ?we? ?can’t? ?be? ?pals? ?anymore.”? ? ?

?

After? ?the? ?round? ?of? ?feast? ?was? ?past,? ?in? ?the? ?midst? ?of? ?all? ?the? ?socializing? ?and? ?networking? ?came? ?

the? ?final? ?act? ?of? ?the? ?night,? ?the? ?Battle? ?of? ?the? ?Lanterns.? ?

?

Within? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Court,? ?all? ?the? ?candlelights? ?and? ?lamps? ?were? ?extinguished? ?except? ?for? ?

the? ?moonlight,? ?and? ?all? ?was? ?dim.? ?The? ?Banquet? ?sat? ?near? ?the? ?lake,? ?and? ?when? ?the? ?clouds? ?

and? ?mists? ?on? ?the? ?surface? ?was? ?waved? ?away,? ?through? ?the? ?clear? ?moving? ?waters? ?the? ?deep,? ?

dark? ?mortal? ?realm? ?could? ?be? ?seen.? ?

?

Battle? ?of? ?the? ?Lanterns? ?was? ?a? ?competition? ?to? ?see? ?which? ?heavenly? ?official? ?had? ?the? ?most? ?

number? ?of? ?Blessings? ?Lanterns? ?offered? ?from? ?their? ?largest,? ?most? ?renown? ?temple.? ?One? ?

Blessings? ?Lantern? ?of? ?Everlasting? ?Light? ?was? ?hard? ?to? ?buy? ?with? ?a? ?thousand? ?gold,? ?and? ?would? ?

not? ?easily? ?be? ?extinguished.? ?The? ?order? ?to? ?the? ?Battle? ?of? ?the? ?Lanterns? ?was? ?formed? ?from? ?the? ?

lowest? ?count? ?to? ?the? ?highest,? ?and? ?when? ?it? ?was? ?an? ?official’s? ?turn,? ?the? ?lanterns? ?offered? ?by? ?

their? ?worshippers? ?would? ?float? ?to? ?the? ?heavens,? ?brightening? ?the? ?long,? ?dark? ?night,? ?beautiful? ?

and? ?glorious.? ? ?

?

The? ?Great? ?Martial? ?Palace? ?had? ?nine-hundred? ?and? ?sixty-one? ?this? ?year,? ?a? ?count? ?close? ?to? ?a? ?

thousand,? ?and? ?also? ?a? ?number? ?never? ?reached? ?before? ?in? ?history.? ?All? ?the? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?

felt? ?that? ?next? ?year? ?the? ?count? ?would? ?surely? ?break? ?a? ?thousand,? ?but? ?that? ?wasn’t? ?the? ?point.? ?If? ?

first? ?place? ?would? ?always? ?be? ?first? ?place,? ?then? ?first? ?place? ?would? ?lose? ?its? ?meaning,? ?so? ?when? ?it? ?

came? ?to? ?Battle? ?of? ?the? ?Lanterns,? ?the? ?Great? ?Martial? ?Palace? ?was? ?automatically? ?removed? ?

from? ?the? ?competition.? ?

?

What? ?was? ?dumbfounding? ?was? ?the? ?moment? ?the? ?Battle? ?of? ?the? ?Lanterns? ?began,? ?the? ?first? ?one? ?

up? ?was? ?the? ?Rain? ?Master.? ?When? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?saw? ?that? ?one? ?little? ?Blessings? ?Lantern? ?leisurely? ?

and? ?errantly? ?float? ?up? ?in? ?the? ?sky? ?and? ?heard? ?“The? ?Palace? ?of? ?the? ?Rain? ?Master,? ?one? ?lantern!”,? ?

he’d? ?almost? ?suspect? ?maybe? ?he? ?did? ?get? ?drunk? ?and? ?hadn’t? ?sobered? ?up.? ?There? ?was? ?no? ?way? ?

there? ?was? ?only? ?one? ?lantern.? ?To? ?make? ?sure? ?he? ?wasn’t? ?drunk,? ?he? ?asked? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan,? ?“Is? ?

that? ?right?”? ? ?

?

“It? ?is.”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?replied,? ?“It? ?really? ?is? ?just? ?the? ?one.? ?And? ?that? ?one? ?was? ?lit? ?by? ?the? ?bull? ?

from? ?the? ?Rain? ?Master’s? ?own? ?house? ?for? ?the? ?sake? ?of? ?showing? ?face? ?at? ?the? ?feast.”? ? ?

?

Self-offering.? ?What? ?a? ?familiar? ?sentiment.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?pondered,? ?the? ?Rain? ?Master? ?controlled? ?

rain? ?and? ?was? ?thus? ?the? ?god? ?of? ?agriculture.? ?He? ?guessed,? ?“Is? ?it? ?because? ?the? ?worshippers? ?of? ?

the? ?Rain? ?Master? ?are? ?mostly? ?farmers? ?so? ?they? ?don’t? ?have? ?the? ?funds? ?for? ?offerings?”? ? ?

?

“Your? ?Highness,? ?do? ?you? ?have? ?some? ?kind? ?of? ?misunderstanding? ?of? ?farmers?”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?

said,? ?“A? ?lot? ?of? ?farmers? ?are? ?wealthy,? ?ok?? ?This? ?was? ?only? ?because? ?the? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master? ?had? ?

said? ?it? ?was? ?better? ?to? ?farm? ?than? ?to? ?use? ?the? ?money? ?for? ?offerings,? ?so? ?the? ?followers? ?had? ?

always? ?offered? ?fresh? ?fruits? ?and? ?vegetables? ?instead.”? ? ?

?

Hearing? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?extremely? ?envious.? ?‘What? ?a? ?marvelous? ?thing.’? ?he? ?thought.? ?

?

However,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?added,? ?“And? ?then? ?later? ?the? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master? ?also? ?said? ?not? ?to? ?

waste? ?anything,? ?so? ?usually? ?after? ?a? ?couple? ?days? ?the? ?worshippers? ?would? ?take? ?home? ?the? ?

offerings? ?and? ?eat? ?them? ?themselves.”? ?

?

“...”? ?

?

At? ?the? ?beginning? ?of? ?the? ?battle,? ?the? ?numbers? ?were? ?all? ?scattered? ?and? ?sparse,? ?the? ?lights? ?

belonging? ?to? ?the? ?lower? ?ranking? ?officials,? ?the? ?count? ?never? ?reaching? ?over? ?ten? ?and? ?no? ?one? ?

paid? ?it? ?any? ?mind.? ?However,? ?as? ?the? ?battle? ?continued,? ?as? ?the? ?light? ?of? ?the? ?lanterns? ?grew? ?

brighter,? ?the? ?more? ?everyone? ?paid? ?more? ?attention.? ?If? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?for? ?the? ?designated? ?heavenly? ?

official? ?who? ?announced? ?the? ?count,? ?it’d? ?be? ?impossible? ?to? ?count? ?the? ?lanterns? ?floating? ?up? ?so? ?

tightly? ?knit.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?know? ?at? ?all? ?what? ?was? ?going? ?on? ?so? ?he? ?didn’t? ?comment? ?on? ?

anything,? ?only? ?focusing? ?on? ?appreciating? ?the? ?beautiful? ?scene? ?of? ?lanterns? ?brightening? ?the? ?

black,? ?long? ?night? ?while? ?listening? ?to? ?everyone? ?else’s? ?analysis? ?of? ?how? ?the? ?battle? ?was? ?going.? ?

Although? ?personally,? ?he? ?didn’t? ?think? ?there? ?was? ?really? ?anything? ?to? ?analyze.? ?After? ?about? ?two? ?

incense? ?time,? ?it? ?was? ?finally? ?time? ?for? ?the? ?grand? ?finale.? ?The? ?fight? ?for? ?top? ?ten? ?of? ?the? ?Battle? ?of? ?

the? ?Lanterns? ?at? ?the? ?Mid? ?Autumn? ?Festival? ?had? ?begun.? ?

?

The? ?bottom? ?of? ?the? ?top? ?ten,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?heard? ?the? ?announcer? ?official? ?shouting:? ?“THE? ?

PALACE? ?OF? ?QI? ?YING,? ?FOUR? ?HUNDRED? ?AND? ?TWENTY-ONE? ?LANTERNS!”? ? ?

?

Quan? ?Yizhen? ?had? ?long? ?since? ?left? ?the? ?feast,? ?so? ?when? ?the? ?other? ?officials? ?heard? ?the? ?count? ?

the? ?clicking? ?of? ?their? ?tongues? ?were? ?not? ?hidden.? ?That? ?Martial? ?God? ?of? ?the? ?West? ?was? ?young? ?

but? ?his? ?headwind? ?was? ?strong.? ?To? ?other? ?officials? ?of? ?around? ?the? ?same? ?years? ?of? ?experience,? ?

just? ?two? ?hundred? ?Blessings? ?Lanterns? ?was? ?already? ?plenty,? ?yet? ?he? ?more? ?than? ?doubled? ?that? ?

count,? ?even? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?who? ?ascended? ?earlier? ?didn’t? ?have? ?as? ?many? ?lanterns,? ?so? ?he? ?

was? ?definitely? ?someone? ?impressive.? ?However,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?that? ?young? ?man? ?really? ?wasn’t? ?

that? ?well? ?received? ?in? ?the? ?heavens,? ?because? ?other? ?than? ?himself? ?and? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan,? ?there? ?

was? ?practically? ?no? ?one? ?else? ?who? ?was? ?sincerely? ?awed? ?by? ?that? ?number.? ?

?

The? ?next? ?one,? ?Palace? ?of? ?the? ?Earth? ?Master,? ?four? ?hundred? ?and? ?forty-four? ?lanterns.? ?Other? ?

than? ?sipping? ?two? ?more? ?mouthfuls? ?of? ?soup,? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?didn’t? ?express? ?anything? ?else,? ?yet? ?Shi? ?

Qingxuan? ?was? ?even? ?more? ?excited? ?than? ?he? ?was,? ?repeatedly? ?claiming? ?“too? ?few,? ?too? ?few”.? ?

Because? ?no? ?one? ?else? ?was? ?very? ?close? ?with? ?the? ?lord? ?Earth? ?Master,? ?they? ?only? ?clapped? ?

politely? ?to? ?congratulate.? ?Soon? ?after,? ?it? ?was? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?herself;? ?the? ?Palace? ?of? ?the? ?Wind? ?

Master,? ?five? ?hundred? ?and? ?twenty-three? ?lanterns.? ?

?

How? ?popular? ?someone? ?was? ?was? ?something? ?easily? ?seen.? ?Once? ?the? ?lantern? ?count? ?for? ?the? ?

Palace? ?of? ?the? ?Wind? ?Master? ?was? ?announced,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?hadn’t? ?even? ?said? ?anything? ?

and? ?the? ?applause? ?from? ?the? ?banquet? ?roared,? ?hollers? ?and? ?cheers? ?of? ?

“CONGRATULATIONS!”? ?and? ?“AS? ?EXPECTED!”? ?everywhere.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?quite? ?

proud,? ?standing? ?up? ?to? ?wave? ?at? ?the? ?crowd? ?and? ?gleefully? ?shouted? ?at? ?Shi? ?Wudu,? ?“Ge!? ?I’m? ?

eighth? ?this? ?year!”? ? ?

?

She? ?was? ?acting? ?like? ?a? ?child? ?begging? ?her? ?parents? ?for? ?rewards? ?after? ?having? ?been? ?praised? ?

by? ?her? ?teacher,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?smile.? ?Shi? ?Wudu? ?however,? ?berated,? ?“Only? ?

the? ?eighth,? ?what’s? ?there? ?to? ?be? ?happy? ?about!”? ? ?

?

His? ?words? ?were? ?truly? ?wildly? ?arrogant.? ?In? ?the? ?entire? ?Heavenly? ?Court,? ?there? ?was? ?no? ?one? ?

who? ?was? ?a? ?nobody.? ?Yet,? ?five? ?hundred? ?Blessings? ?Lanterns,? ?ranking? ?high? ?as? ?the? ?eighth,? ?

became? ?nothing? ?more? ?than? ?“only? ?eighth”? ?from? ?his? ?lips,? ?so? ?then? ?the? ?ones? ?who? ?ranked? ?

lower? ?than? ?eighth,? ?wouldn’t? ?they? ?be? ?worth? ?less? ?than? ?that?? ?It? ?wasn’t? ?like? ?he? ?didn’t? ?know? ?

what? ?he? ?said? ?was? ?arrogant? ?either? ?but? ?he? ?had? ?to? ?say? ?it? ?anyway,? ?because? ?he? ?wasn’t? ?afraid.? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan’s? ?face? ?dropped.? ?Shi? ?Wudu? ?fanned? ?his? ?fan? ?and? ?added? ?with? ?difficulty,? ?“But,? ?

there? ?are? ?more? ?lanterns? ?than? ?last? ?year.? ?Next? ?year? ?must? ?be? ?better.”? ? ?

?

Hearing? ?this,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?smiled? ?and? ?laughed? ?again.? ?At? ?the? ?banquet,? ?it? ?was? ?only? ?Ming? ?

Yi? ?who? ?was? ?stuffing? ?his? ?face? ?without? ?a? ?care? ?and? ?not? ?cheering? ?for? ?her,? ?so? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?

smacked? ?him? ?twice,? ?asking? ?for? ?some? ?congratulations.? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?ignored? ?her? ?completely? ?

and? ?continued? ?to? ?devour? ?the? ?food.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?outraged,? ?demanding? ?for? ?him? ?to? ?

applaud? ?her,? ?and? ?next? ?to? ?them? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?suffocate? ?from? ?laughing.? ? ?

?

The? ?next? ?up,? ?the? ?Palace? ?of? ?Ling? ?Wen,? ?five? ?hundred? ?and? ?thirty-six? ?lanterns.? ?

?

Amongst? ?all? ?the? ?civil? ?gods,? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?was? ?considered? ?number? ?one.? ?However,? ?not? ?too? ?

many? ?civil? ?gods? ?congratulated? ?him? ?and? ?instead? ?it? ?was? ?the? ?martial? ?gods? ?who? ?sent? ?their? ?

regards.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?congratulated? ?him? ?from? ?afar,? ?and? ?on? ?this? ?end,? ?Shi? ?Wudu? ?and? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?

demanded? ?he? ?hold? ?a? ?celebratory? ?feast,? ?while? ?on? ?the? ?other? ?end,? ?grumbles? ?from? ?other? ?

heavenly? ?officials? ?could? ?be? ?heard,? ?complaining? ?that? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?only? ?had? ?so? ?many? ?

worshippers? ?because? ?she? ?used? ?a? ?male? ?form,? ?that? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?kissed? ?the? ?asses? ?of? ?martial? ?

gods? ?seeing? ?how? ?they? ?were? ?more? ?popular? ?at? ?the? ?moment? ?and? ?had? ?no? ?time? ?for? ?other? ?civil? ?

gods,? ?that? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?held? ?the? ?most? ?feasts,? ?that? ?there’d? ?be? ?escorts? ?at? ?those? ?feasts,? ?etc.,? ?

etc.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?shook? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?had? ?only? ?one? ?thought? ?in? ?mind:? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?easy? ?being? ?a? ?

woman? ?official.? ?

?

Following? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?were? ?the? ?Palaces? ?of? ?Nan? ?Yang? ?and? ?Xuan? ?Zheng,? ?each? ?counted? ?at? ?

five? ?hundred? ?and? ?seventy-two? ?and? ?five? ?hundred? ?and? ?seventy-three.? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?looked? ?

pleased? ?while? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?didn’t? ?appear? ?happy? ?nor? ?angry,? ?seemingly? ?uncaring.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

was? ?mystified,? ?how? ?did? ?the? ?count? ?come? ?so? ?close?? ?That’s? ?too? ?much? ?of? ?a? ?coincidence?? ?He? ?

asked? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?in? ?a? ?low? ?voice.? ?Turns? ?out,? ?because? ?the? ?two? ?of? ?them? ?had? ?a? ?similar? ?

background,? ?similar? ?might,? ?and? ?territories? ?right? ?next? ?to? ?each? ?other,? ?plus? ?their? ?unfriendly? ?

relationship? ?with? ?one? ?another,? ?the? ?worshippers? ?on? ?both? ?sides? ?both? ?fought? ?each? ?other? ?to? ?

win,? ?vowing? ?that? ?however? ?many? ?lanterns? ?the? ?other? ?offered,? ?they? ?must? ?offered? ?just? ?one? ?

more.? ?They? ?didn’t? ?ask? ?to? ?be? ?number? ?one,? ?only? ?just? ?better? ?than? ?the? ?other.? ?They’d? ?use? ?their? ?

everything? ?and? ?every? ?year? ?there’d? ?be? ?victory? ?and? ?defeat.This? ?year,? ?at? ?the? ?very? ?last? ?

second,? ?the? ?Palace? ?of? ?Xuan? ?Zhen? ?finally? ?squeezed? ?out? ?one? ?more? ?lantern,? ?winning? ?over? ?

the? ?Palace? ?of? ?Nan? ?Yang.? ?The? ?worshippers? ?looked? ?like? ?they? ?won? ?a? ?battle? ?and? ?was? ?crazily? ?

celebrating.? ?Hearing? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?think:? ?‘Rather? ?than? ?fighting? ?each? ?

other? ?to? ?death? ?outside,? ?shouldn’t? ?those? ?people? ?go? ?home? ?to? ?celebrate? ?the? ?holiday?? ?It’s? ?the? ?

Mid? ?Autumn? ?Festival!*’? ?

?

The? ?next? ?one,? ?the? ?Palace? ?of? ?Ming? ?Guang,? ?five? ?hundred? ?and? ?eighty? ?lanterns.? ?

?

This? ?number? ?was? ?quite? ?impressive.? ?Yet,? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?didn’t? ?look? ?pleased? ?because? ?compared? ?

to? ?the? ?year? ?before,? ?the? ?number? ?of? ?Blessings? ?Lanterns? ?the? ?Palace? ?of? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?

received? ?was? ?actually? ?less.? ?It? ?was? ?a? ?shock? ?to? ?have? ?something? ?happen? ?to? ?the? ?Deputy? ?

General? ?Pei? ?Su,? ?and? ?this? ?year? ?they? ?lost? ?close? ?to? ?a? ?hundred? ?lanterns.? ?If? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?for? ?Pei? ?

Ming’s? ?strong? ?foundation,? ?he? ?just? ?might? ?have? ?lost? ?more.? ?Neither? ?Shi? ?Wudu? ?nor? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?

congratulated? ?him,? ?and? ?only? ?patted? ?his? ?shoulders.? ?

?

Up? ?until? ?now,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?discovered,? ?the? ?count? ?for? ?the? ?Blessings? ?Lanterns? ?of? ?those? ?

heavenly? ?officials? ?were? ?all? ?very? ?close? ?together,? ?only? ?tens? ?and? ?twenties? ?apart,? ?no? ?one? ?

really? ?standing? ?out,? ?which? ?meant,? ?everyone’s? ?pretty? ?much? ?the? ?same,? ?and? ?no? ?one? ?was? ?

really? ?winning.? ?He? ?was? ?just? ?thinking? ?this? ?when? ?that? ?announcer? ?official? ?shouted,? ?“THE? ?

PALACE? ?OF? ?THE? ?WATER? ?MASTER,? ?SEVEN? ?HUNDRED? ?AND? ?EIGHTEEN? ?

LANTERNS!”? ? ?

?

The? ?banquet? ?was? ?in? ?an? ?uproar? ?and? ?the? ?sound? ?of? ?amazement? ?was? ?everywhere.? ?

?

Once? ?the? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?all? ?came? ?to,? ?they? ?fought? ?each? ?other? ?to? ?send? ?forth? ?their? ?

congratulations.? ?Shi? ?Wudu? ?only? ?sat? ?there? ?and? ?didn’t? ?rise,? ?not? ?looking? ?like? ?he? ?was? ?

particularly? ?impressed,? ?and? ?that? ?all? ?this? ?was? ?perfectly? ?natural.? ?This? ?was? ?probably? ?the? ?

second? ?heavenly? ?official? ?who? ?came? ?that? ?close? ?to? ?the? ?count? ?of? ?the? ?Great? ?Martial? ?Palace? ?in? ?

the? ?past? ?several? ?centuries.? ?The? ?first? ?time? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?ascended? ?was? ?too? ?far? ?in? ?the? ?past,? ?and? ?

the? ?Blessings? ?Lanterns? ?back? ?then? ?were? ?even? ?harder? ?to? ?come? ?by? ?so? ?it? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?

compared.? ?However,? ?they? ?say? ?“Man? ?Dies? ?for? ?Wealth,? ?Birds? ?Die? ?for? ?Food”*,? ?the? ?people’s? ?

passionate? ?love? ?for? ?money? ?will? ?never? ?decrease,? ?as? ?expected? ?of? ?the? ?God? ?of? ?Wealth!? ?

?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?even? ?more? ?excited? ?than? ?as? ?if? ?she? ?was? ?to? ?receive? ?seven? ?hundred? ?

lanterns,? ?and? ?applauded? ?with? ?force,? ?shouting? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?“IT’S? ?MY? ?BROTHER!? ?IT’S? ?MY? ?

BROTHER!”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?laughed,? ?“I? ?know,? ?it’s? ?your? ?brother!”? ? ?

?

At? ?the? ?banquet,? ?it? ?was? ?still? ?only? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?who? ?was? ?working? ?hard? ?at? ?eating,? ?all? ?by? ?his? ?

lonesome.? ?Truthfully,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?thought? ?out? ?of? ?everyone? ?present,? ?only? ?he? ?took? ?the? ?‘feast’? ?

literally? ?and? ?seriously,? ?attending? ?specifically? ?for? ?the? ?food? ?part,? ?as? ?if? ?having? ?played? ?the? ?part? ?

of? ?a? ?spy? ?at? ?the? ?Ghost? ?City? ?starved? ?him? ?and? ?he? ?was? ?working? ?to? ?refill? ?his? ?stomach? ?to? ?the? ?

brim? ?tonight.? ?When? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?thought? ?back? ?to? ?the? ?street? ?food? ?sold? ?at? ?the? ?Ghost? ?City? ?stalls,? ?

he? ?could? ?understand? ?wholeheartedly,? ?and? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?wonder,? ?would? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?

ever? ?stroll? ?through? ?the? ?Ghost? ?City? ?streets? ?every? ?now? ?and? ?then?? ? ?

?

The? ?most? ?thrilling? ?mystery? ?had? ?now? ?been? ?revealed,? ?and? ?tonight,? ?each? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?

watched? ?plays? ?to? ?their? ?hearts’? ?content,? ?socialized,? ?and? ?now? ?satisfied,? ?they? ?rose? ?to? ?their? ?

feet? ?ready? ?to? ?take? ?their? ?leave.? ?Unexpectedly,? ?Shi? ?Wudu? ?suddenly? ?frowned,? ?snapped? ?his? ?

fan? ?shut,? ?and? ?spoke,? ?“Wait.”? ? ?

?

If? ?anyone? ?else? ?were? ?to? ?say? ?“wait”? ?they? ?probably? ?wouldn’t? ?be? ?as? ?effective.? ?However,? ?

someone? ?like? ?Shi? ?Wudu? ?was? ?known? ?as? ?the? ?‘Water? ?Tyrant’? ?for? ?a? ?reason.? ?Like? ?he? ?was? ?born? ?

to? ?give? ?command,? ?the? ?moment? ?he? ?opened? ?his? ?mouth? ?others? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?to? ?obey,? ?so? ?

everyone? ?sat? ?back? ?down? ?in? ?their? ?seats,? ?confused,? ?“The? ?top? ?ten? ?are? ?out,? ?does? ?the? ?Lord? ?

Water? ?Master? ?have? ?anything? ?else? ?to? ?add?”? ? ?

?

‘Was? ?he? ?going? ?to? ?give? ?out? ?merits? ?too?’? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?wondered.? ?

?

“The? ?top? ?ten? ?are? ?out?”? ?Shi? ?Wudu? ?fanned? ?his? ?fan.? ?

?

No? ?one? ?knew? ?what? ?he? ?had? ?meant,? ?only? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?who? ?suddenly? ?cried,? ?“...No.? ?NO? ?NO? ?

NO.? ?THE? ?TOP? ?TEN? ?AREN’T? ?ALL? ?OUT!? ?—? ?Even? ?if? ?we? ?count? ?the? ?Great? ?Martial? ?Palace,? ?

only? ?nine? ?have? ?been? ?announced? ?so? ?far!”? ? ?

?

Everyone? ?was? ?stunned? ?and? ?soon? ?they? ?started? ?muttering,? ?“Only? ?nine?”? ? ?

?

“Really,? ?I? ?counted,? ?there? ?really? ?was? ?only? ?nine!”? ? ?

?

“Someone? ?else? ?is? ?ranked? ?higher? ?than? ?Lord? ?Water? ?Master???”? ? ?

?

“What?!? ?Who? ?can? ?it? ?be?? ?I? ?don’t? ?know? ?anyone? ?like? ?that?!”? ?

?

Just? ?then,? ?a? ?bright? ?light? ?white? ?as? ?day? ?exploded? ?into? ?the? ?blackened? ?night.? ?

?

That? ?light? ?was? ?lanterns.? ?

?

Like? ?thousands? ?upon? ?millions? ?of? ?fish? ?swimming? ?through? ?gorges? ?to? ?the? ?sea,? ?countless? ?

lanterns? ?slowly? ?floated? ?up.? ?

?

They? ?shimmered? ?and? ?gleamed? ?in? ?the? ?dark? ?night,? ?radiant? ?and? ?brilliant,? ?like? ?floating? ?souls? ?

of? ?a? ?magnificent? ?dream,? ?exceedingly? ?beautiful,? ?brightening? ?the? ?blackened? ?mortal? ?realm.? ?

In? ?the? ?face? ?of? ?such? ?a? ?striking? ?sight,? ?none? ?could? ?speak? ?and? ?all? ?held? ?their? ?breaths,? ?their? ?

words? ?broken.? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?watched? ?that? ?sky? ?full? ?of? ?lanterns? ?in? ?dumbfounded? ?awe.? ?It? ?was? ?like? ?his? ?breathing? ?

stopped? ?and? ?nothing? ?could? ?be? ?heard,? ?and? ?he? ?remained? ?dazed? ?for? ?a? ?good? ?while.? ?It? ?was? ?

only? ?after? ?some? ?time? ?before? ?he? ?realized? ?something? ?wrong.? ?

?

The? ?eyes? ?of? ?every? ?heavenly? ?official? ?at? ?the? ?banquet? ?were? ?on? ?him.? ?Turns? ?out,? ?that? ?

announcer? ?official? ?had? ?raised? ?his? ?trembling? ?hand? ?and? ?pointed? ?at? ?him.? ?

?

Bewildered,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked,? ?“...What? ?is? ?it?”? ? ?

?

No? ?one? ?answered,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?pointed? ?to? ?himself,? ?“...Me?”? ? ?

?

Next? ?to? ?him,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?patted? ?his? ?shoulder? ?once,? ?“...? ?Yes.? ?You.”? ?

?

“...”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?still? ?in? ?shock,? ?“Me? ?what?? ?What? ?about? ?me?”? ? ?

?

That? ?announcer? ?official? ?swallowed? ?a? ?couple? ?times? ?with? ?difficulty? ?and? ?finally? ?spoke? ?again.? ?

?

Thus,? ?the? ?hundreds? ?of? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?present? ?heard? ?a? ?voice? ?trembling? ?with? ?disbelief.? ?

?

“Qiandeng? ?Temple*,? ?the? ?Palace? ?of? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince,? ?three...? ?three...”? ?

?

“Three? ?thousand? ?lanterns!”? ? ?

?

?

——–? ?

?

?‘Water? ?Master-xiong’? ?is? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?calling? ?SWD? ?‘Water? ?Master? ?Bro’.? ?

?

?The? ?Mid? ?Autumn? ?Festival,? ?like? ?Lunar? ?New? ?Year,? ?was? ?a? ?time? ?for? ?family? ?reunions.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?amazed? ?that? ?MQ? ?and? ?FX’s? ?followers? ?would? ?rather? ?fight? ?over? ?offering? ?

lanterns? ?than? ?go? ?home? ?and? ?be? ?with? ?family.? ? ?

?

?‘Qiandeng’? ?translates? ?to? ?A? ?Thousand? ?Lights? ?

?

——-? ?

?

Ch.92:? ?Temple? ?of? ?a? ?Thousand? ?Lights? ?Endlessly? ?Illuminating? ?the? ?Lingering? ?Night? ?2? ?

?

Three? ?thousand? ?lanterns!? ?

?

All? ?was? ?silent? ?when? ?suddenly,? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?tidal? ?wave-like? ?uproar.? ?

?

Never,? ?not? ?even? ?the? ?Great? ?Martial? ?Palace? ?that? ?always? ?sat? ?at? ?the? ?head,? ?solid? ?as? ?the? ?

mountains,? ?had? ?anyone? ?won? ?three? ?thousand? ?lanterns? ?in? ?one? ?night? ?at? ?the? ?Mid? ?Autumn? ?

Festival? ?Banquet.? ?In? ?fact,? ?no? ?one? ?had? ?ever? ?imagined? ?such? ?a? ?number.? ?Even? ?just? ?one? ?

thousand? ?was? ?already? ?difficult? ?to? ?pass.? ?Three? ?thousand.? ?That? ?was? ?truly? ?unheard? ?of,? ?not? ?a? ?

precedent? ?in? ?history,? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?even? ?more? ?than? ?the? ?count? ?of? ?all? ?the? ?other? ?top? ?ten? ?

heavenly? ?officials? ?added? ?together!? ?

?

One? ?can? ?imagine,? ?at? ?that? ?moment,? ?just? ?how? ?incredulous? ?every? ?official? ?was,? ?and? ?some? ?

even? ?blurted? ?out,? ?“That? ?must? ?be? ?a? ?mistake!”? ? ?

?

“It? ?must’ve? ?been? ?counted? ?wrong...”? ?

?

Yet,? ?nevermind? ?thinking? ?that? ?that? ?announcer? ?official? ?had? ?been? ?counting? ?for? ?the? ?Mid? ?

Autumn? ?Festival’s? ?Battle? ?of? ?the? ?Lanterns? ?for? ?years? ?could? ?just? ?happen? ?to? ?be? ?wrong? ?this? ?

one? ?time,? ?just? ?by? ?looking? ?at? ?that? ?massive? ?band? ?of? ?flowing? ?lights,? ?even? ?if? ?they? ?were? ?to? ?

backtrack? ?a? ?million? ?steps,? ?that? ?number? ?count? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?wrong,? ?and? ?even? ?if? ?it? ?was? ?wrong? ?

the? ?miscount? ?could? ?only? ?be? ?less,? ?not? ?more.? ?Thus,? ?another? ?heavenly? ?official? ?said,? ?“Could? ?it? ?

be? ?that? ?those? ?lanterns? ?aren’t? ?real? ?Blessings? ?Lanterns?? ?Maybe? ?they’re? ?just? ?ordinary? ?

lanterns?”? ? ?

?

That? ?basically? ?meant? ?“It’s? ?fraud!”,? ?and? ?there? ?were? ?a? ?few? ?who? ?agreed.? ?However,? ?Shi? ?

Qingxuan? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“How? ?can? ?they? ?be? ?ordinary? ?lanterns?? ?Ordinary? ?lanterns? ?and? ?the? ?

Blessings? ?Lanterns? ?have? ?completely? ?different? ?makes,? ?and? ?they? ?can’t? ?fly? ?up? ?to? ?the? ?

heavens,? ?so? ?how? ?could? ?these? ?be? ?fake?”? ?

?

If? ?it? ?was? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?who? ?argued? ?then? ?the? ?rest? ?would? ?probably? ?continue? ?to? ?doubt.? ?Yet? ?

because? ?it? ?was? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?who? ?spoke? ?up,? ?and? ?Shi? ?Wudu? ?was? ?also? ?present,? ?no? ?one? ?

dared? ?say? ?much? ?else.? ?Hitting? ?a? ?dead? ?end,? ?they? ?changed? ?track,? ?“Everyone,? ?where? ?is? ?this? ?

‘Qiandeng? ?Temple’?? ?When? ?was? ?it? ?built?? ?Who? ?built? ?it?? ?Does? ?any? ?heavenly? ?colleague? ?

know?”? ? ?

?

The? ?announcer? ?official? ?replied,? ?“No...? ?but? ?“Qiandeng? ?Temple”? ?was? ?clearly? ?written? ?on? ?the? ?

lanterns? ?that? ?floated? ?up.”? ?

?

“But? ?I’ve? ?never? ?heard? ?of? ?any? ?‘Qiandeng? ?Temple’?!”? ?

?

“Yea,? ?me? ?neither!”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?finally? ?snapped? ?out? ?of? ?his? ?shocked? ?reverie,? ?and? ?when? ?he? ?heard? ?the? ?complaints,? ?

he? ?said? ?quite? ?earnestly,? ?“Everyone,? ?truth? ?to? ?be? ?told,? ?not? ?only? ?have? ?you? ?all? ?never? ?heard? ?of? ?

it,? ?I? ?haven’t? ?ever? ?heard? ?of? ?it? ?either.”? ? ?

?

There? ?was? ?no? ?way? ?this? ?came? ?about? ?naturally?!? ?

?

All? ?of? ?the? ?officials? ?lost? ?their? ?minds,? ?destroyed? ?by? ?this? ?unexpected? ?thunder,? ?incredulous? ?

and? ?disbelieving,? ?their? ?tongues? ?spitting? ?with? ?talk.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?really? ?wanted? ?to? ?tell? ?them:? ?“It’s? ?

only? ?a? ?game,? ?why? ?is? ?everyone? ?taking? ?it? ?so? ?seriously?”? ?However,? ?first,? ?very? ?few? ?took? ?this? ?

‘game’? ?as? ?a? ?game,? ?and? ?second,? ?he? ?ranked? ?first? ?place? ?in? ?this? ?‘game’,? ?so? ?if? ?he? ?said? ?

anything? ?he’d? ?be? ?asking? ?for? ?it.? ?The? ?other? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?couldn’t? ?say? ?it? ?either? ?because? ?

they? ?didn’t? ?place? ?first,? ?so? ?if? ?they? ?said? ?anything? ?it’d? ?be? ?downplaying? ?their? ?not? ?getting? ?

number? ?one,? ?making? ?it? ?sound? ?exceedingly? ?awkward.? ? ?

?

Just? ?then,? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?chuckled,? ?“I? ?did? ?say? ?that? ?Crimson? ?Rain? ?Sought? ?Flower? ?didn’t? ?kidnap? ?

His? ?Highness? ?out? ?of? ?ill? ?intent? ?but? ?no? ?one? ?believed? ?me.? ?Now? ?will? ?you? ?all? ?believe? ?me?”? ? ?

?

With? ?his? ?reminder,? ?everyone? ?was? ?enlightened? ?in? ?an? ?instant.? ?

?

If? ?it? ?really? ?was? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?then,? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?impossible? ?for? ?him? ?to? ?simply? ?light? ?up? ?three? ?

thousand? ?Blessings? ?Lanterns? ?like? ?it? ?was? ?nothing!? ?

?

Was? ?there? ?anything? ?going? ?on? ?between? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?and? ?just? ?what? ?kind? ?of? ?

relationship? ?did? ?they? ?have? ?was? ?truly? ?a? ?mystery.? ?At? ?the? ?moment,? ?the? ?majority? ?still? ?thought? ?

it? ?was? ?more? ?believable? ?to? ?say? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?did? ?this? ?out? ?of? ?ill? ?intent.? ?There? ?was? ?no? ?reason? ?

why? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?who? ?had? ?always? ?been? ?unfriendly? ?towards? ?the? ?heavens? ?would? ?suddenly? ?

change? ?his? ?attitude? ?in? ?the? ?face? ?of? ?Xie? ?Lian.? ?Yet,? ?based? ?on? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?inconceivable? ?

lawlessness,? ?he? ?could? ?very? ?well? ?become? ?nice? ?towards? ?someone? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?blue? ?without? ?

reason.? ?After? ?this? ?Mid? ?Autumn? ?Festival? ?Banquet,? ?it’d? ?be? ?hard? ?pressed? ?to? ?say? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?

had? ?ill? ?intent.? ?After? ?all,? ?it? ?was? ?three? ?thousand? ?Blessings? ?Lanterns!? ?Even? ?for? ?the? ?Water? ?

Master? ?who? ?controlled? ?wealth,? ?this? ?wasn’t? ?something? ?he? ?could? ?do? ?just? ?because? ?he? ?

wanted? ?to.? ?Amidst? ?all? ?the? ?chaos,? ?suddenly,? ?the? ?sound? ?of? ?steady? ?clapping? ?came? ?from? ?the? ?

head? ?of? ?the? ?feast.? ?

?

The? ?officials? ?looked? ?to? ?the? ?sound? ?and? ?saw? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?clapping? ?slowly? ?as? ?he? ?smiled? ?to? ?Xie? ?

Lian,? ?“Congratulations,? ?Xian? ?Le.”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?knew? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?intended? ?to? ?help? ?take? ?the? ?heat? ?off? ?of? ?him? ?and? ?was? ?grateful,? ?

bowing? ?his? ?head.? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?sighed? ?in? ?awe,? ?“You? ?always? ?manage? ?to? ?create? ?miracles.”? ?

?

Seeing? ?that? ?exchange,? ?the? ?feast? ?quieted? ?down.? ?After? ?some? ?hesitation,? ?all? ?finally? ?took? ?Jun? ?

Wu’s? ?lead? ?and? ?applauded,? ?sending? ?their? ?congratulations.? ?

?

With? ?this,? ?no? ?matter? ?how? ?shocked,? ?all? ?the? ?heavenly? ?gods? ?had? ?to? ?admit? ?that? ?this? ?Highness? ?

the? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?had? ?always? ?produced? ?phenomena.? ?It? ?was? ?like? ?this? ?back? ?then,? ?and? ?it? ?

was? ?most? ?certainly? ?the? ?case? ?now!? ? ?

?

The? ?Mid? ?Autumn? ?Festival? ?Banquet? ?had? ?ended? ?and? ?the? ?relentlessly? ?rumbling? ?Thunder? ?

Master? ?also? ?packed? ?up.? ?The? ?one? ?who? ?cheered? ?the? ?hardest? ?throughout? ?it? ?all? ?was? ?of? ?

course? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan,? ?no? ?matter? ?whose? ?ranking? ?rolled? ?out? ?she? ?would? ?be? ?the? ?first? ?to? ?

applaud.? ?Except? ?Pei? ?Ming’s.? ?At? ?first? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?wondered? ?if? ?his? ?stealing? ?the? ?Water? ?Master’s? ?

thunder,? ?bumping? ?him? ?from? ?second? ?place? ?to? ?third? ?place,? ?would? ?cause? ?his? ?ire,? ?but? ?looking? ?

at? ?Shi? ?Wudu,? ?it? ?didn’t? ?seem? ?he? ?was? ?displeased.? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?and? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?both? ?

congratulated? ?him,? ?and? ?afterwards? ?the? ?three? ?started? ?planning? ?to? ?whose? ?little? ?mountain? ?

hot? ?springs? ?they? ?would? ?go? ?for? ?tuina? ?massage.? ?Hearing? ?them,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?asked,? ?“Ge,? ?

you’re? ?all? ?going? ?out? ?to? ?play? ?again?”? ? ?

?

Shi? ?Wudu? ?folded? ?his? ?fan? ?and? ?answered,? ?“En.”? ? ?

?

Ling? ?Wen? ?crossed? ?his? ?arms? ?and? ?chuckled,? ?“Lord? ?Wind? ?Master,? ?want? ?to? ?come? ?and? ?play? ?

too?”? ? ?

?

“No,? ?I’ve? ?already? ?got? ?plans? ?with? ?people.”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?said.? ?

?

Shi? ?Wudu? ?frowned,? ?“I? ?hope? ?it’s? ?not? ?with? ?anyone? ?unsavoury.”? ? ?

?

“Is? ?there? ?anyone? ?more? ?unsavoury? ?than? ?General? ?Pei?”? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?quipped.? ?

?

“Noble? ?Jie,? ?shut? ?up? ?now.”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?warned.? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?waited? ?until? ?after? ?the? ?two? ?brothers? ?spoke? ?a? ?few? ?words? ?to? ?each? ?other? ?then? ?

prepared? ?to? ?leave? ?the? ?banquet? ?with? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan.? ?On? ?the? ?way? ?out? ?they? ?bumped? ?into? ?Mu? ?

Qing,? ?and? ?who? ?knows? ?if? ?he? ?was? ?watching? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?but? ?he? ?didn’t? ?look? ?so? ?pleased? ?

anymore.? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?however,? ?was? ?the? ?exact? ?opposite.? ?When? ?he? ?rose? ?to? ?his? ?feet? ?to? ?leave? ?

the? ?feast,? ?he? ?called? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?“Congratulations.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?nodded? ?to? ?him? ?too,? ?“Thanks.”? ? ?

?

Lang? ?Ying? ?was? ?settled? ?in? ?the? ?Palace? ?of? ?the? ?Wind? ?Master? ?at? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Court.? ?That? ?

child? ?looked? ?to? ?be? ?clean? ?and? ?tidy? ?but? ?still? ?rather? ?shy.? ?When? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?picked? ?him? ?up? ?and? ?

descended,? ?he? ?didn’t? ?talk? ?much? ?on? ?the? ?road.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?first? ?went? ?into? ?town? ?to? ?buy? ?some? ?

fresh? ?fruits? ?for? ?him? ?to? ?eat? ?and? ?didn’t? ?go? ?immediately? ?straight? ?back? ?to? ?Puqi? ?Village.? ?He? ?first? ?

went? ?into? ?a? ?piece? ?of? ?nearby? ?woods.? ?

?

Sure? ?enough,? ?that? ?piece? ?of? ?woods? ?was? ?quite? ?lively;? ?a? ?bare? ?chested? ?young? ?man? ?was? ?

yelling? ?and? ?cussing,? ?hung? ?upside? ?down? ?by? ?a? ?white? ?silk? ?band.? ?Profanities? ?and? ?vulgarities? ?

spilled? ?from? ?his? ?mouth? ?and? ?a? ?little? ?child? ?squatted? ?under? ?him,? ?slapping? ?away? ?mosquitos.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?made? ?Lang? ?Ying? ?stand? ?outside,? ?and? ?he? ?himself? ?strolled? ?over? ?leisurely.? ?When? ?

that? ?young? ?man? ?saw? ?him? ?he? ?raged,? ?“XIE? ?LIAN? ?YOU? ?PIECE? ?OF? ?SHIT,? ?FUCKING? ?LET? ?ME? ?

DOWN? ?THIS? ?INSTANT!? ?I’M? ?GONNA? ?DIE? ?I’M? ?GONNA? ?DIE? ?I’M? ?GONNA? ?DIE!”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?however,? ?said? ?warmly,? ?“It? ?must? ?be? ?years? ?since? ?you? ?last? ?got? ?bitten? ?by? ?mosquitos.? ?

Is? ?it? ?so? ?bad? ?to? ?give? ?you? ?a? ?taste? ?of? ?being? ?alive? ?again?”? ? ?

?

That? ?young? ?man? ?was? ?indeed? ?Qi? ?Rong.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?expected? ?him? ?to? ?be? ?troublesome,? ?

that? ?for? ?sure? ?he’d? ?instigate? ?Guzi? ?to? ?help? ?him? ?cut? ?Ruoye,? ?so? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?already? ?

instructed? ?Ruoye? ?that? ?should? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?try? ?to? ?escape,? ?drag? ?him? ?to? ?the? ?woods? ?and? ?take? ?

care? ?of? ?him.? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?using? ?the? ?flesh? ?of? ?another? ?against? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

couldn’t? ?beat? ?him? ?to? ?a? ?pulp,? ?but? ?he? ?could? ?still? ?make? ?him? ?suffer? ?some? ?little? ?pains? ?of? ?the? ?

flesh.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?chopped? ?lumber? ?and? ?scavenged? ?before? ?in? ?this? ?area,? ?and? ?suffered? ?

getting? ?bitten? ?all? ?over? ?by? ?mosquitos.? ?Currently,? ?it? ?seemed,? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?also? ?bitten? ?all? ?

over,? ?looking? ?more? ?miserable? ?than? ?dying,? ?and? ?cussed? ?loudly,? ?“WHERE’S? ?YOUR? ?SNOW? ?

WHITE? ?LOTUS? ?HEART!? ?WHY? ?CAN’T? ?YOU? ?PRETEND? ?TO? ?BE? ?A? ?SICKENINGLY? ?

SWEET? ?GOOD? ?PERSON? ?NOW!”? ?

?

Guzi? ?hugged? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?leg? ?and? ?wailed,? ?“GEGE,? ?PLEASE? ?LET? ?MY? ?DAD? ?DOWN!? ?HE’S? ?

BEEN? ?HANGING? ?FOR? ?SO? ?LONG!”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?ruffled? ?his? ?hair? ?and? ?immediately,? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?yelped? ?as? ?he? ?fell? ?to? ?the? ?ground? ?in? ?a? ?

heap.? ?

?

To? ?return? ?to? ?Puqi? ?village,? ?they? ?must? ?traverse? ?through? ?that? ?maple? ?woods.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?gripped? ?

in? ?his? ?hand? ?a? ?bare-chested,? ?cussing? ?young? ?man? ?and? ?behind? ?him? ?followed? ?two? ?little? ?kids,? ?

one? ?crying? ?and? ?sobbing,? ?the? ?other? ?sullen? ?and? ?quiet.? ?‘What? ?a? ?freakish? ?group.’? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

thought.? ?As? ?they? ?hiked? ?up? ?the? ?hills,? ?he? ?cautioned? ?to? ?the? ?two? ?little? ?ones? ?behind? ?him,? ?

“Watch? ?your? ?steps.? ?It’s? ?easy? ?to? ?trip? ?here.”? ?

?

That? ?was? ?the? ?truth.? ?Sometimes? ?when? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?late? ?in? ?returning? ?from? ?town? ?after? ?

collecting? ?scraps? ?and? ?walked? ?this? ?path? ?at? ?night,? ?maybe? ?it? ?was? ?because? ?of? ?his? ?luck,? ?but? ?

he’d? ?always? ?trip? ?or? ?fall.? ?Hearing? ?this,? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?immediately? ?cried,? ?“DEAR? ?GOD!? ?PLEASE? ?

MAKE? ?THIS? ?PERSON? ?FALL? ?TO? ?HIS? ?DEATH? ?RIGHT? ?HERE? ?RIGHT? ?NOW!”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?found? ?that? ?hilarious,? ?“You’re? ?a? ?ghost,? ?what? ?are? ?you? ?doing? ?begging? ?the? ?

heavens?”? ? ?

?

Just? ?then,? ?he? ?suddenly? ?felt? ?like? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?warm? ?glow? ?faintly? ?emerging? ?from? ?the? ?far? ?

distance,? ?and? ?the? ?dark,? ?obscure? ?path? ?on? ?the? ?ground? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?illuminated,? ?the? ?road? ?

brightening.? ?When? ?he? ?looked? ?up,? ?sure? ?enough? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?just? ?his? ?imagination.? ?There? ?really? ?

was? ?light? ?in? ?the? ?horizon.? ?

?

It? ?was? ?light? ?from? ?those? ?three? ?thousand? ?Blessings? ?Lanterns? ?of? ?Everlasting? ?Light.? ?

?

The? ?floating? ?lanterns? ?flowed? ?in? ?the? ?night? ?sky,? ?imposing? ?and? ?invigorating,? ?even? ?the? ?shine? ?

of? ?the? ?stars? ?and? ?the? ?moon? ?was? ?overcome.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?watched,? ?dazed,? ?and? ?after? ?a? ?

moment,? ?he? ?sighed? ?a? ?whisper,? ?“...Thank? ?you.”? ? ?

?

Qi? ?Rong? ?didn’t? ?know? ?what? ?that? ?was? ?about? ?and? ?snickered,? ?“Why? ?the? ?fucking? ?thanks?? ?

Other? ?people? ?are? ?just? ?playing? ?around,? ?they’re? ?not? ?lit? ?for? ?you,? ?stop? ?thinking? ?so? ?highly? ?of? ?

yourself.”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?grinned? ?but? ?didn’t? ?say? ?anything? ?and? ?didn’t? ?rebuke? ?either.? ?He? ?only? ?said,? ?“To? ?have? ?

beauty? ?exist? ?in? ?this? ?world? ?is? ?already? ?in? ?itself? ?something? ?to? ?be? ?grateful? ?for.”? ?

?

There’s? ?beauty? ?in? ?his? ?heart? ?and? ?he? ?wasn’t? ?afraid? ?of? ?any? ?killjoys.? ?Borrowing? ?the? ?light? ?of? ?

those? ?lanterns? ?in? ?the? ?distance,? ?he? ?continued? ?forward.? ?

?

?

—————? ?

?

?

Ch.93:? ?Pregnant? ?with? ?Evil;? ?A? ?New? ?Wave? ?Disturbs? ?Peace? ?

?

It? ?didn’t? ?take? ?more? ?than? ?two? ?days? ?before? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?came? ?to? ?face? ?a? ?major? ?crisis.? ?

?

There? ?was? ?nothing? ?to? ?eat? ?in? ?the? ?shrine.? ?

?

If? ?he? ?was? ?by? ?himself,? ?in? ?a? ?day? ?he’d? ?only? ?need? ?just? ?a? ?couple? ?steamed? ?buns? ?with? ?a? ?small? ?

plate? ?of? ?pickled? ?veggies,? ?maybe? ?pick? ?some? ?cucumbers? ?from? ?the? ?fields? ?to? ?munch,? ?and? ?

he’d? ?take? ?care? ?of? ?himself? ?perfectly,? ?the? ?offerings? ?of? ?daily? ?needs? ?from? ?the? ?Puqi? ?villagers? ?

more? ?than? ?sufficient.? ?Yet? ?now,? ?there? ?were? ?three? ?more? ?mouths? ?to? ?feed? ?in? ?the? ?shrine.? ?Two? ?

live? ?humans? ?and? ?a? ?half-dead? ?ghost;? ?it? ?didn’t? ?take? ?long? ?before? ?they? ?cleaned? ?him? ?out? ?of? ?his? ?

rations.? ?

?

The? ?two? ?children? ?were? ?alright? ?at? ?least.? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?the? ?half-dead? ?ghost,? ?possessing? ?a? ?full? ?

grown? ?man? ?refusing? ?to? ?come? ?out,? ?cussed? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?out? ?on? ?one? ?hand? ?for? ?feeding? ?him? ?shitty? ?

food,? ?but? ?ate? ?more? ?than? ?anyone? ?else? ?on? ?the? ?other.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?really? ?wanted? ?to? ?stuff? ?a? ?

blackened? ?pan? ?down? ?his? ?mouth.? ?

?

After? ?making? ?sure? ?the? ?pan? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?easily? ?pulled? ?out,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?decided? ?to? ?take? ?the? ?two? ?

little? ?ones? ?out? ?to? ?walk? ?around? ?the? ?markets,? ?see? ?if? ?they? ?could? ?collect? ?some? ?junk? ?then? ?find? ?

them? ?a? ?good? ?meal.? ?

?

If? ?it’s? ?said? ?that? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?luck? ?was? ?usually? ?bad,? ?then? ?the? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?today? ?had? ?especially? ?

bad? ?luck.? ?After? ?walking? ?around? ?town,? ?there? ?was? ?actually? ?not? ?a? ?single? ?scrap? ?to? ?be? ?

collected.? ?Finally,? ?he? ?stood? ?at? ?a? ?crowded? ?intersection? ?and? ?made? ?a? ?decision:? ?he? ?would? ?

pick? ?up? ?his? ?old? ?line? ?of? ?work.? ?

?

Thus,? ?he? ?settled? ?the? ?two? ?kids? ?aside? ?before? ?he? ?stood? ?in? ?the? ?middle? ?of? ?the? ?intersection? ?and? ?

called? ?out? ?in? ?a? ?loud? ?and? ?clear? ?voice,? ?“DEAR? ?FOLKS? ?AND? ?NEIGHBOURS!? ?TODAY? ?IS? ?

THE? ?FIRST? ?TIME? ?THIS? ?SERVANT? ?HAS? ?COME? ?TO? ?THIS? ?TREASURED? ?PLACE.? ?I? ?WILL? ?

PERFORM? ?A? ?FEW? ?SHAMEFUL? ?TRICKS.? ?THEY? ?ARE? ?EMBARRASSING? ?BUT? ?I? ?HOPE? ?

EVERYONE? ?WILL? ?CUT? ?ME? ?SOME? ?SLACK? ?AND? ?GIVE? ?THIS? ?POOR? ?MAN? ?A? ?HAND,? ?

DONATE? ?A? ?BITE? ?TO? ?EAT,? ?GRANT? ?SOME? ?COINS? ?FOR? ?THE? ?ROAD...”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?the? ?air? ?of? ?a? ?saint,? ?the? ?appearance? ?of? ?a? ?cultivator,? ?his? ?sleeves? ?clean? ?and? ?

fluttering,? ?his? ?voice? ?clear? ?and? ?sonorous,? ?energetic? ?and? ?invigourating.? ?Many? ?on? ?the? ?streets? ?

who? ?were? ?idle? ?soon? ?came? ?and? ?surrounded? ?him.? ? ?

?

“What? ?can? ?you? ?do?? ?Show? ?us? ?something? ?neat.”? ?

?

“How? ?about? ?plate? ?spinning?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said? ?cheerfully.? ?

?

The? ?crowd? ?waved? ?their? ?hands,? ?“That’s? ?not? ?hard? ?at? ?all,? ?it’s? ?child’s? ?play!? ?What? ?else? ?can? ?you? ?

do?”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?then? ?said,? ?“How’s? ?shattering? ?boulders? ?on? ?my? ?chest?”? ? ?

?

The? ?crowd? ?groused,? ?“That’s? ?too? ?old? ?school,? ?too? ?old!? ?Anything? ?else?”? ? ?

?

Only? ?then? ?did? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?come? ?to? ?realize,? ?even? ?street? ?performances? ?needed? ?to? ?catch? ?up? ?

with? ?the? ?times.? ?All? ?of? ?his? ?best? ?tricks? ?were? ?now? ?nothing? ?more? ?than? ?yesterday’s? ?news,? ?and? ?

there? ?were? ?none? ?left? ?who’d? ?appreciate? ?his? ?craft.? ?The? ?crowd? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?break? ?up,? ?and? ?

without? ?any? ?other? ?choice,? ?he? ?brought? ?out? ?his? ?ultimate? ?technique,? ?and? ?took? ?out? ?from? ?his? ?

sleeves? ?a? ?set? ?of? ?protection? ?charms? ?he? ?made? ?with? ?his? ?own? ?hands? ?and? ?called? ?out? ?again,? ?

“Free? ?protection? ?charms? ?for? ?watching? ?the? ?performance!? ?They’re? ?handmade,? ?don’t? ?walk? ?

on? ?by? ?and? ?miss? ?out? ?on? ?this? ?chance!”? ?

?

Hearing? ?that? ?there? ?were? ?freebies,? ?the? ?dispersed? ?crowd? ?soon? ?came? ?back,? ?“What? ?kind? ?of? ?

protection? ?charms?? ?Which? ?temple? ?blessed? ?them?? ?Is? ?it? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Martial? ?Emperor?”? ? ?

?

“Do? ?you? ?have? ?any? ?for? ?wealth?? ?Give? ?me? ?a? ?wealth? ?charm? ?please,? ?thanks!”? ? ?

?

“I? ?want? ?one? ?from? ?Ju? ?Yang,? ?please? ?save? ?one? ?for? ?me!”? ? ?

?

“No,? ?no.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?explained,? ?“The? ?one? ?I’m? ?giving? ?away? ?is? ?from? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?of? ?

Xianle,? ?blessed? ?by? ?Puqi? ?Shrine,? ?for? ?sure? ?effective.”? ?Of? ?course? ?it’d? ?be? ?effective.? ?Other? ?

heavenly? ?officials? ?had? ?at? ?least? ?thousands? ?of? ?people? ?praying? ?to? ?them? ?daily,? ?their? ?ears? ?rang? ?

with? ?white? ?noise,? ?and? ?even? ?just? ?a? ?little? ?too? ?much? ?they’d? ?pass? ?the? ?work? ?down? ?to? ?the? ?junior? ?

officials? ?under? ?them.? ?As? ?for? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?at? ?most? ?he’d? ?only? ?have? ?a? ?few? ?praying? ?to? ?him? ?at? ?

once,? ?so? ?who’s? ?more? ?likely? ?to? ?actually? ?hear? ?prayers?? ?

?

The? ?crowd? ?clicked? ?their? ?tongues,? ?“What? ?the? ?hell,? ?we’ve? ?never? ?heard? ?of? ?him? ?before!”? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?added,? ?“It’s? ?ok? ?if? ?you’ve? ?never? ?heard? ?of? ?him.? ?Puqi? ?Shrine? ?is? ?located? ?just? ?seven? ?miles? ?

out? ?at? ?Puqi? ?Village.? ?Everyone’s? ?welcome? ?to? ?pay? ?a? ?visit,? ?and? ?there’s? ?no? ?need? ?to? ?bring? ?

offerings...”? ?Before? ?he? ?even? ?finished,? ?the? ?crowd? ?had? ?already? ?broken? ?up.? ?Every? ?single? ?

one? ?of? ?the? ?spectators? ?littered? ?the? ?charm? ?away? ?soon? ?after,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?trotted? ?over? ?to? ?

pick? ?them? ?up,? ?patting? ?them? ?clean? ?before? ?stuffing? ?them? ?back? ?into? ?his? ?sleeves,? ?not? ?looking? ?

the? ?least? ?bit? ?bothered.? ?As? ?he? ?picked,? ?a? ?pair? ?of? ?cloth? ?shoes? ?stopped? ?before? ?him.? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?up? ?and? ?saw? ?Lang? ?Ying’s? ?raven? ?black? ?eyes? ?peeking? ?out? ?from? ?under? ?the? ?

bandages,? ?watching? ?him? ?intently.? ?

?

“What’s? ?wrong?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked? ?gently,? ?“Go? ?over? ?there? ?and? ?sit? ?with? ?Guzi.? ?Just? ?wait? ?for? ?

me? ?for? ?a? ?bit.”? ?

?

Lang? ?Ying? ?was? ?quiet.? ?Just? ?then,? ?the? ?two? ?doors? ?to? ?a? ?mansion? ?at? ?the? ?end? ?of? ?the? ?large? ?street? ?

suddenly? ?burst? ?open,? ?and? ?a? ?man? ?was? ?thrown? ?out,? ?angry? ?shouts? ?following? ?behind? ?him:? ?

“QUACK? ?DOCTOR!”? ? ?

?

The? ?pedestrians? ?on? ?the? ?streets? ?immediately? ?rushed? ?over? ?to? ?watch? ?the? ?show.? ?The? ?

thundering? ?footsteps? ?trampled? ?by,? ?and? ?those? ?protection? ?charms? ?that? ?weren’t? ?yet? ?picked? ?

up? ?were? ?instantly? ?crushed,? ?dirtied,? ?and? ?ripped.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?watched? ?speechlessly,? ?and? ?gave? ?

up? ?on? ?saving? ?them.? ?He? ?made? ?Lang? ?Ying? ?go? ?back? ?to? ?watch? ?over? ?Guzi,? ?then? ?he? ?himself? ?

went? ?to? ?check? ?things? ?out.? ?As? ?he? ?approached? ?the? ?entrance? ?to? ?that? ?mansion,? ?a? ?man? ?

looking? ?to? ?be? ?a? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?was? ?arguing? ?with? ?an? ?old? ?man? ?who? ?looked? ?like? ?a? ?doctor.? ?

That? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?raged,? ?“WHAT? ?DID? ?YOU? ?TELL? ?ME? ?WHEN? ?YOU? ?CAME? ?

YESTERDAY?? ?DIDN’T? ?YOU? ?SAY? ?THERE? ?WAS? ?NOTHING? ?TO? ?WORRY? ?ABOUT?? ?HOW? ?

DO? ?YOU? ?EXPLAIN? ?TODAY?? ?MY? ?WIFE? ?DIDN’T? ?FALL? ?OR? ?EAT? ?ANYTHING? ?BAD,? ?SO? ?

HOW? ?DID? ?THINGS? ?BECOME? ?LIKE? ?THIS?!”? ?

?

That? ?doctor,? ?however,? ?cried? ?injustice,? ?“When? ?I? ?came? ?to? ?diagnose? ?your? ?wife? ?yesterday? ?she? ?

was? ?perfectly? ?fine!? ?I? ?think? ?in? ?regards? ?to? ?this,? ?you? ?need? ?to? ?find? ?a? ?cultivator,? ?not? ?a? ?doctor!”? ? ?

?

That? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?was? ?outraged,? ?he? ?stood? ?with? ?a? ?hand? ?on? ?his? ?hip? ?and? ?the? ?other? ?

pointing? ?accusingly,? ?“MY? ?SON? ?ISN’T? ?LOST? ?YET? ?SO? ?WHY? ?ARE? ?YOU? ?CURSING? ?HIM,? ?

YOU? ?FAKE? ?DOCTOR!? ?WATCH? ?YOURSELF,? ?I? ?JUST? ?MIGHT? ?SUE? ?FOR? ?ALL? ?OF? ?YOUR? ?

ASSETS!”? ? ?

?

The? ?doctor? ?picked? ?up? ?and? ?held? ?his? ?medical? ?case,? ?“Even? ?if? ?you? ?sue? ?me? ?there’s? ?nothing? ?to? ?

be? ?done.? ?I? ?really? ?can’t? ?read? ?that? ?pulse!? ?I’ve? ?never? ?seen? ?anything? ?like? ?it? ?before? ?in? ?my? ?life!!”? ?

?

The? ?crowd? ?jeered,? ?“Find? ?yourself? ?a? ?new? ?doctor!”? ?“Maybe? ?go? ?find? ?a? ?cultivator!”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?instinctively? ?felt? ?there? ?was? ?something? ?off? ?about? ?this? ?affair,? ?and? ?raised? ?his? ?hand? ?in? ?

the? ?sea? ?of? ?people,? ?“Please? ?look? ?here!? ?There’s? ?a? ?cultivator? ?here!? ?I’m? ?a? ?cultivator!”? ? ?

?

Everyone? ?turned? ?to? ?look? ?at? ?him,? ?puzzled,? ?“WEREN’T? ?YOU? ?A? ?STREET? ?

PERFORMER???”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?explained? ?politely,? ?“That? ?was? ?only? ?a? ?side? ?gig.? ?Thank? ?you.”? ?He? ?walked? ?up? ?to? ?the? ?

merchant,? ?“Will? ?you? ?bring? ?me? ?to? ?go? ?see? ?the? ?esteemed? ?madame?”? ? ?

?

Within? ?the? ?mansion? ?came? ?a? ?series? ?of? ?shrill? ?screaming,? ?no? ?doubt? ?all? ?the? ?ladies? ?in? ?waiting? ?

were? ?panicking.? ?The? ?new? ?doctor? ?called? ?by? ?the? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?wasn’t? ?going? ?to? ?arrive? ?

just? ?yet,? ?and? ?men? ?in? ?desperate? ?plight? ?will? ?do? ?anything,? ?so? ?he? ?really? ?dragged? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?in? ?

the? ?door? ?to? ?see? ?his? ?wife,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?grabbed? ?that? ?doctor? ?on? ?the? ?way? ?in? ?too.? ? ?

?

When? ?the? ?men? ?entered? ?the? ?bedchamber,? ?there? ?was? ?blood? ?all? ?over? ?the? ?floor,? ?and? ?upon? ?the? ?

large? ?flower? ?curtained? ?bed? ?laid? ?a? ?young? ?woman,? ?her? ?face? ?white? ?as? ?a? ?sheet? ?from? ?severe? ?

pain.? ?Her? ?agony? ?was? ?so? ?acute? ?she’d? ?almost? ?hug? ?her? ?belly? ?and? ?roll? ?about? ?had? ?the? ?ladies? ?in? ?

waiting? ?not? ?hold? ?her? ?down.? ?The? ?moment? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?walked? ?through? ?the? ?door,? ?he? ?could? ?feel? ?

all? ?the? ?hairs? ?on? ?his? ?back? ?stand.? ?

?

That? ?chamber? ?was? ?heavy? ?with? ?the? ?essence? ?of? ?evil,? ?and? ?that? ?essence? ?came? ?from? ?one? ?

place.? ?

?

That? ?woman’s? ?belly!? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?immediately? ?blocked? ?everyone? ?behind? ?him? ?and? ?shouted,? ?“DON’T? ?MOVE!? ?

THERE’S? ?SOMETHING? ?IN? ?HER? ?BELLY? ?THAT’S? ?NOT? ?RIGHT!”? ?

?

That? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?was? ?terrified,? ?“Is? ?my? ?wife? ?about? ?to? ?give? ?birth?!”? ? ?

?

That? ?doctor? ?and? ?the? ?older? ?ladies? ?in? ?waiting? ?couldn’t? ?stand? ?for? ?that? ?ignorance? ?and? ?said,? ?

“It’s? ?only? ?been? ?five? ?months,? ?how? ?can? ?she? ?give? ?birth? ?now!”? ? ?

?

That? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?raged? ?at? ?the? ?doctor,? ?“If? ?she? ?wasn’t? ?going? ?to? ?give? ?birth? ?and? ?you? ?

have? ?no? ?clue? ?what’s? ?wrong? ?then? ?you’re? ?a? ?quack!!? ?YOU? ?CAN’T? ?EVEN? ?READ? ?A? ?PULSE!”? ? ?

?

That? ?woman? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?faint,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?shouted? ?again,? ?“EVERYONE,? ?BE? ?QUIET!”? ?

Then? ?he? ?flipped? ?out? ?Fang? ?Xin.? ?Seeing? ?that? ?he? ?suddenly? ?unsheathed? ?a? ?long,? ?black? ?

weapon,? ?everyone? ?jumped? ?in? ?surprise.? ?“WHAT? ?ARE? ?YOU? ?PLANNING?!”? ?Then? ?they? ?saw? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?drop? ?his? ?hand,? ?and? ?that? ?sword? ?actually? ?floated? ?in? ?mid? ?air!? ? ?

?

Now? ?everyone? ?was? ?astonished.? ?

?

Fang? ?Xin? ?hung? ?from? ?above,? ?the? ?tip? ?of? ?the? ?blade? ?facing? ?down,? ?pointing? ?at? ?the? ?swollen? ?belly? ?

of? ?that? ?woman.? ?The? ?killing? ?aura? ?of? ?the? ?sword? ?was? ?intense,? ?and? ?the? ?crowd? ?saw? ?that? ?

woman’s? ?belly? ?suddenly? ?move,? ?a? ?lump? ?of? ?flesh? ?raised? ?up,? ?jerking? ?left,? ?then? ?right.? ?It? ?

thrashed? ?about? ?until? ?finally,? ?that? ?woman? ?hacked? ?and? ?coughed? ?violently,? ?a? ?stream? ?of? ?black? ?

smoke? ?emerging? ?from? ?her? ?mouth!? ?

?

Fang? ?Xin? ?had? ?been? ?waiting,? ?and? ?that? ?sword? ?immediately? ?struck? ?that? ?black? ?smoke.? ?That? ?

woman? ?let? ?out? ?a? ?long? ?wail,? ?“MY? ?SON!”? ?And? ?instantly? ?passed? ?out? ?on? ?the? ?spot.? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?called? ?back? ?the? ?sword? ?and? ?sheathed? ?it? ?anew? ?on? ?his? ?back? ?then? ?turned? ?to? ?the? ?

doctor,? ?“It’s? ?fine? ?now.”? ? ?

?

The? ?doctor? ?was? ?eyes? ?wide? ?mouth? ?open,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?waved? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?him? ?a? ?couple? ?

times? ?before? ?he? ?hesitantly? ?approached.? ?That? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?looked? ?joyous,? ?“Is? ?my? ?

son? ?safe?”? ? ?

?

However,? ?after? ?the? ?doctor? ?felt? ?the? ?woman’s? ?pulse,? ?he? ?said,? ?his? ?voice? ?trembling? ?with? ?

trepidation,? ?“It’s? ?gone...”? ?

?

That? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?was? ?dumbfounded,? ?and? ?after? ?a? ?moment? ?of? ?shock,? ?he? ?roared,? ?

“GONE?? ?HOW? ?DID? ?SHE? ?JUST? ?MISCARRY?!”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?however,? ?turned? ?to? ?face? ?him,? ?“The? ?madame? ?didn’t? ?miscarry,? ?the? ?baby? ?is? ?gone.? ?

Gone,? ?do? ?you? ?understand?”? ?

?

“What’s? ?the? ?difference?”? ?That? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?demanded.? ?

?

“Quite? ?different.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“Miscarriage? ?is? ?miscarriage.? ?‘Gone’? ?means? ?this:? ?there? ?

was? ?indeed? ?a? ?child? ?in? ?madame’s? ?belly? ?at? ?first,? ?but? ?now,? ?that? ?child? ?has? ?disappeared.”? ? ?

?

Sure? ?enough,? ?the? ?abdomen? ?of? ?that? ?woman? ?was? ?swollen? ?at? ?first,? ?but? ?now,? ?there? ?was? ?no? ?

sign? ?of? ?external? ?injury? ?yet? ?it? ?had? ?shrivelled? ?down,? ?looking? ?exceedingly? ?unnatural.? ?That? ?

wealthy? ?merchant? ?was? ?shocked,? ?“...wasn’t? ?my? ?son? ?just? ?there? ?in? ?her? ?belly?!”? ?

?

“The? ?one? ?inside? ?earlier? ?wasn’t? ?your? ?child,”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?explained,? ?“The? ?one? ?blowing? ?up? ?

madame’s? ?belly? ?was? ?that? ?cloud? ?of? ?black? ?smoke!”? ? ?

?

—? ?

?

After? ?the? ?doctor? ?made? ?sure? ?the? ?woman? ?was? ?only? ?passed? ?out? ?and? ?there? ?wasn’t? ?any? ?

life-threatening? ?signs,? ?they? ?left? ?the? ?chamber.? ?That? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?asked,? ?“Sir? ?

Cultivator,? ?how? ?should? ?I? ?address? ?you?? ?Which? ?temple? ?did? ?you? ?come? ?from?? ?Which? ?deity? ?do? ?

you? ?worship?”? ? ?

?

“No? ?need? ?for? ?the? ?‘Sir’? ?and? ?the? ?name? ?is? ?Xie.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?responded,? ?and? ?at? ?first? ?he? ?wanted? ?

to? ?say? ?he? ?was? ?from? ?“Puqi? ?Shrine”,? ?but? ?when? ?the? ?words? ?came? ?to? ?his? ?lips,? ?for? ?some? ?reason? ?

it? ?turned? ?into? ?“Qiandeng? ?Temple”.? ? ?

?

When? ?those? ?three? ?words? ?left? ?his? ?lips,? ?his? ?face? ?was? ?oddly? ?hot.? ?That? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?

“oh”-ed? ?and? ?said,? ?“I’ve? ?never? ?heard? ?of? ?it? ?before.? ?It? ?must? ?be? ?far?”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?know? ?how? ?far? ?it? ?was? ?either,? ?and? ?answered? ?softly,? ?“En...”? ?

?

After? ?a? ?few? ?courtesy? ?greetings,? ?that? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?finally? ?came? ?to? ?the? ?point,? ?his? ?voice? ?

full? ?of? ?horror,? ?“Daozhang*!? ?What? ?was? ?that? ?monster? ?earlier?? ?What? ?my? ?wife? ?nurtured? ?in? ?her? ?

belly,? ?had? ?it? ?always? ?been...? ?that? ?thing?? ?That? ?cloud? ?of? ?black? ?smoke?!”? ? ?

?

With? ?the? ?subject? ?change,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?also? ?turned? ?serious.? ?“It? ?might? ?not? ?have? ?always? ?been? ?

that? ?way.? ?Didn’t? ?you? ?say? ?when? ?the? ?doctor? ?came? ?yesterday,? ?madame? ?was? ?still? ?perfectly? ?

fine?? ?Her? ?pulse? ?was? ?alright? ?then,? ?but? ?it? ?messed? ?up? ?today,? ?so? ?I’m? ?afraid,? ?it? ?was? ?only? ?last? ?

night? ?that? ?something? ?happened? ?to? ?the? ?baby.? ?Please? ?think,? ?last? ?night,? ?did? ?the? ?madame? ?do? ?

anything?? ?Or? ?did? ?anything? ?strange? ?happen?”? ? ?

?

“Nothing? ?happened? ?at? ?all? ?last? ?night,”? ?That? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?said,? ?“My? ?wife? ?never? ?left? ?the? ?

house!? ?Ever? ?since? ?she? ?paid? ?her? ?respects? ?at? ?the? ?Palace? ?of? ?Ju? ?Yang? ?and? ?received? ?this? ?

child,? ?we? ?built? ?a? ?small? ?Ju? ?Yang? ?shrine? ?at? ?home,? ?and? ?she’d? ?chant? ?and? ?burn? ?incense? ?

without? ?ever? ?leaving? ?the? ?front? ?or? ?back? ?doors.? ?She’s? ?extremely? ?devout!”? ?

?

“...”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?thought? ?if? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?knew? ?someone? ?worshipped? ?him? ?like? ?this? ?then? ?it’d? ?really? ?

be? ?a? ?riot.? ?After? ?some? ?thought,? ?he? ?asked,? ?“Then,? ?did? ?she? ?have? ?any? ?strange? ?dreams?”? ? ?

?

That? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?blinked,? ?and? ?said,? ?“Yes!”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?re-energized,? ?and? ?that? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?continued,? ?“Daozhang,? ?you? ?have? ?

such? ?godly? ?premonitions!? ?My? ?wife? ?really? ?did? ?have? ?a? ?strange? ?dream? ?last? ?night.? ?She? ?

dreamt? ?a? ?small? ?child? ?playing? ?with? ?her,? ?calling? ?her? ?‘mom’.? ?Halfway? ?through? ?the? ?dream? ?she? ?

felt? ?something? ?kicking? ?her? ?belly? ?then? ?she? ?woke? ?up.? ?Afterwards? ?she? ?came? ?to? ?me? ?happily? ?

to? ?tell? ?me? ?that? ?the? ?child? ?in? ?her? ?belly? ?couldn’t? ?wait? ?to? ?see? ?mom? ?and? ?dad’s? ?faces,? ?so? ?the? ?

child? ?came? ?to? ?greet? ?her? ?first.? ?I? ?was? ?humouring? ?her? ?at? ?the? ?time? ?too!”? ? ?

?

In? ?an? ?instant? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?figured? ?it? ?out? ?and? ?said? ?firmly,? ?“It’s? ?that? ?child? ?that’s? ?problematic!”? ? ?

?

After? ?a? ?pause,? ?he? ?asked,? ?“Around? ?how? ?old? ?was? ?that? ?child?? ?How? ?did? ?it? ?look? ?like?? ?Did? ?the? ?

madame? ?say? ?anything?”? ? ?

?

That? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?was? ?covered? ?in? ?cold? ?sweat? ?from? ?shock,? ?“I’m? ?afraid? ?she? ?won’t? ?

remember.? ?At? ?the? ?time? ?she? ?already? ?told? ?me? ?she? ?wasn’t? ?sure? ?how? ?old? ?the? ?child? ?was,? ?only? ?

that? ?it? ?should? ?be? ?fairly? ?young,? ?begging? ?her? ?to? ?hold? ?it,? ?and? ?when? ?she? ?held? ?it? ?it? ?was? ?light.”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?hummed? ?then? ?said,? ?“I’m? ?going? ?to? ?ask? ?a? ?few? ?more? ?questions,? ?please? ?answer? ?

them? ?honestly,? ?otherwise? ?I? ?won’t? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?find? ?truth? ?in? ?all? ?this.? ?First,? ?are? ?there? ?any? ?

conflicts? ?between? ?wives? ?fighting? ?for? ?favour?? ?Second,? ?had? ?this? ?madame? ?ever? ?aborted? ?a? ?

child?”? ? ?

?

Asking? ?about? ?conflicts? ?between? ?wives? ?fighting? ?over? ?favours? ?was? ?to? ?see? ?whether? ?if? ?this? ?

was? ?a? ?curse? ?that? ?came? ?from? ?mad? ?jealousy.? ?When? ?women? ?who? ?had? ?been? ?locked? ?in? ?a? ?

deep? ?harem? ?got? ?jealous,? ?they? ?could? ?do? ?anything;? ?asking? ?about? ?abortion? ?was? ?because? ?if? ?

the? ?child? ?was? ?aborted? ?over? ?questionable? ?reasons,? ?then? ?there? ?may? ?be? ?grudge? ?left? ?behind? ?

in? ?the? ?mother’s? ?body,? ?making? ?the? ?new? ?baby? ?suffer.? ?

?

Under? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?repeated? ?questioning,? ?that? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?admitted? ?to? ?everything? ?

truthfully.? ?Unbelievably,? ?everything? ?was? ?spot? ?on.? ?Not? ?only? ?did? ?he? ?have? ?a? ?number? ?of? ?wives? ?

in? ?his? ?household,? ?bickering? ?nonstop? ?everyday,? ?he? ?also? ?had? ?a? ?lover? ?waiting? ?for? ?him? ?to? ?

bring? ?her? ?in.? ?Afterwards,? ?the? ?madame’s? ?servant? ?girl? ?also? ?reported? ?that? ?her? ?mistress? ?was? ?

originally? ?only? ?a? ?mistress? ?and? ?had? ?once? ?been? ?pregnant.? ?She? ?listened? ?to? ?flawed? ?diagnosis? ?

of? ?street? ?homeopaths? ?that? ?declared? ?her? ?baby? ?a? ?girl,? ?and? ?since? ?she? ?wanted? ?a? ?boy? ?to? ?

strengthen? ?her? ?foothold,? ?she? ?aborted? ?the? ?child.? ?After? ?listening? ?to? ?all? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?

feel? ?a? ?headache? ?coming? ?on.? ?That? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?was? ?anxious,? ?“Daozhang,? ?could? ?this? ?

be? ?the? ?revenge? ?of? ?that? ?unborn? ?baby? ?girl?”? ? ?

?

“That’s? ?a? ?possibility,”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“But? ?not? ?entirely.? ?After? ?all,? ?madame? ?couldn’t? ?tell? ?how? ?

old? ?that? ?child? ?was? ?in? ?her? ?dream,? ?and? ?whether? ?if? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?boy? ?or? ?a? ?girl.”? ? ?

?

“Then...? ?then? ?Daozhang,”? ?That? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?asked? ?frightfully,? ?“Since? ?that? ?cloud? ?of? ?

black? ?smoke? ?only? ?just? ?filled? ?my? ?wife’s? ?belly? ?last? ?night,? ?then...? ?where? ?did? ?my? ?own? ?son? ?go?”? ? ?

?

?

———? ?

?

?‘Daozhang’? ?is? ?the? ?polite? ?address? ?for? ?cultivators.? ? ?

?

Since? ?cultivators? ?cultivated? ?spiritual? ?power,? ?they? ?were? ?also? ?considered? ?exorcists,? ?

which? ?was? ?why? ?the? ?doctor? ?told? ?the? ?merchant? ?to? ?look? ?for? ?a? ?cultivator? ?instead? ?of? ?a? ?

doctor.? ?

?

?

———? ?

Ch.94:? ?Pregnant? ?with? ?Evil;? ?A? ?New? ?Wave? ?Disturbs? ?Peace? ?2? ?

?

“He? ?was? ?probably? ?devoured.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?answered.? ?

?

That? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?shuddered,? ?“D-Devoured?!”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?nodded.? ?That? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?was? ?panicking,? ?“Then,? ?DaoZhang,? ?what? ?should? ?

I? ?do? ?now?? ?I’ve? ?got? ?another? ?mistress? ?who’s? ?pregnant,? ?what? ?if? ?that? ?monster? ?comes? ?again?!”? ? ?

?

There? ?was? ?another? ?pregnant? ?woman? ?in? ?this? ?household?!? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?raised? ?his? ?hand,? ?“Calm? ?down.? ?Let? ?me? ?ask? ?another? ?question:? ?Does? ?the? ?madame? ?

remember? ?where? ?she? ?met? ?the? ?child? ?in? ?her? ?dream?”? ? ?

?

That? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?said,? ?“She? ?said? ?it? ?was? ?hazy? ?but? ?it? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?a? ?large? ?mansion,? ?

but? ?she? ?doesn’t? ?remember? ?much? ?else.? ?It? ?was? ?only? ?a? ?dream,? ?who? ?could? ?remember? ?

anything? ?so? ?clearly?”? ?Then? ?he? ?gritted? ?his? ?teeth,? ?“I...? ?After? ?over? ?fourty? ?years? ?I’m? ?finally? ?

expecting? ?a? ?son,? ?what? ?misery!? ?DAOZHANG!? ?YOU? ?WILL? ?CATCH? ?AND? ?KILL? ?THAT? ?

MONSTER,? ?RIGHT?? ?I? ?CAN’T? ?LET? ?IT? ?HARM? ?ANY? ?MORE? ?OF? ?MY? ?FAMILY!”? ? ?

?

“Don’t? ?panic,? ?don’t? ?panic,”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?comforted,? ?“I? ?will? ?do? ?my? ?best.”? ? ?

?

That? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?was? ?joyous? ?and? ?he? ?rubbed? ?his? ?hands? ?together,? ?“Good? ?good? ?

good,? ?does? ?DaoZhang? ?need? ?anything?? ?Any? ?sort? ?of? ?compensation? ?won’t? ?be? ?a? ?problem!”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?declined? ?however,? ?“I? ?don’t? ?need? ?any? ?compensation,? ?but? ?I? ?do? ?have? ?a? ?few? ?things? ?

I’d? ?like? ?to? ?request? ?your? ?help? ?for.? ?First,? ?please? ?find? ?me? ?a? ?set? ?of? ?casual? ?women’s? ?clothing;? ?it? ?

has? ?to? ?be? ?loose? ?enough? ?that? ?men? ?can? ?wear? ?it,? ?and? ?also,? ?I’m? ?afraid? ?I? ?will? ?need? ?a? ?lock? ?of? ?

hair? ?from? ?the? ?expecting? ?mistress? ?for? ?drawing? ?spells.? ?

?

That? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?gestured? ?to? ?the? ?servants,? ?“You? ?taking? ?this? ?down?”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?continued,? ?“Second,? ?please? ?advise? ?your? ?expecting? ?mistress? ?to? ?sleep? ?in? ?a? ?

different? ?chamber,? ?but? ?no? ?matter? ?where? ?or? ?when,? ?if? ?she? ?should? ?hear? ?the? ?voice? ?of? ?a? ?

strange? ?child? ?calling? ?her? ?‘mom’,? ?do? ?not? ?answer.? ?Absolutely? ?do? ?not? ?answer,? ?best? ?if? ?she? ?

doesn’t? ?even? ?open? ?her? ?mouth.? ?Even? ?though? ?when? ?people? ?dream? ?they? ?often? ?don’t? ?realize? ?

they’re? ?dreaming,? ?their? ?senses? ?and? ?awareness? ?dulled,? ?but? ?if? ?you? ?repeatedly? ?remind? ?her? ?

next? ?to? ?her? ?ear,? ?have? ?it? ?deeply? ?ingrained? ?in? ?her? ?mind,? ?maybe? ?it? ?would? ?work.”? ?

?

That? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?acknowledged? ?the? ?instruction.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?then? ?said,? ?“Third,? ?I? ?have? ?

two? ?little? ?ones? ?out? ?with? ?me? ?today,? ?please? ?take? ?care? ?of? ?them? ?and? ?give? ?them? ?something? ?to? ?

eat.”? ?

?

“Small? ?things? ?like? ?that,? ?nevermind? ?two? ?requests,? ?even? ?one? ?hundred? ?of? ?them? ?and? ?I’ll? ?do? ?it? ?

for? ?you!”? ?That? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?exclaimed.? ?

?

Finally,? ?it’s? ?come? ?to? ?the? ?most? ?important? ?item.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“Four.”? ? ?

?

He? ?took? ?out? ?from? ?his? ?sleeves? ?a? ?protection? ?charm? ?blessed? ?by? ?Puqi? ?Shrine,? ?and? ?passed? ?it? ?

up? ?with? ?both? ?hands,? ?speaking? ?in? ?a? ?solemn? ?tone,? ?“Please? ?take? ?this? ?protection? ?charm? ?and? ?

yell? ?“Your? ?Highness? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?please? ?protect? ?me!”? ?–? ?that? ?way,? ?this? ?whole? ?affair? ?

will? ?be? ?marked? ?under? ?the? ?title? ?of? ?my? ?shrine.”? ? ?

?

“...”? ?

?

That? ?night,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?once? ?again? ?changed? ?into? ?women’s? ?clothes.? ?

?

Although? ?he? ?was? ?no? ?stranger? ?to? ?crossdressing? ?by? ?now,? ?it? ?was? ?still? ?his? ?first? ?time? ?

pretending? ?to? ?be? ?a? ?pregnant? ?woman.? ?It? ?didn’t? ?take? ?him? ?half? ?the? ?incense? ?time? ?before? ?he? ?

put? ?makeup? ?on.? ?He? ?stuffed? ?a? ?pillow? ?into? ?his? ?belly,? ?then? ?took? ?that? ?lock? ?of? ?hair? ?from? ?that? ?

expecting? ?mistressing? ?and? ?hid? ?it? ?into? ?the? ?pillow,? ?then? ?laid? ?on? ?the? ?bed.? ?He? ?was? ?calm? ?and? ?

composed,? ?slowing? ?his? ?breathing,? ?and? ?it? ?didn’t? ?take? ?long? ?before? ?he? ?fell? ?deeply? ?asleep.? ?

?

An? ?unknown? ?amount? ?of? ?time? ?passed? ?before? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?slowly? ?opened? ?his? ?eyes.? ?Before? ?his? ?

vision? ?was? ?no? ?longer? ?the? ?bedchamber? ?of? ?that? ?wealthy? ?merchant’s? ?mistress,? ?but? ?an? ?

exquisite? ?pavilion.? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian’s? ?first? ?reaction? ?was? ?to? ?feel? ?whether? ?if? ?Fang? ?Xin? ?was? ?still? ?next? ?to? ?him,? ?and? ?when? ?

he? ?felt? ?it,? ?he? ?relaxed.? ?Fang? ?Xin? ?was? ?a? ?sacred? ?sword? ?after? ?all,? ?so? ?it? ?was? ?tied? ?tightly? ?unto? ?his? ?

person.? ?After,? ?he? ?slowly? ?sat? ?up? ?but? ?felt? ?the? ?bottom? ?of? ?his? ?palms? ?to? ?be? ?sticky,? ?and? ?when? ?he? ?

raised? ?his? ?hands? ?to? ?look,? ?he? ?found? ?himself? ?lying? ?on? ?a? ?bed? ?that? ?was? ?covered? ?by? ?terrifying? ?

large? ?pools? ?of? ?blood,? ?not? ?yet? ?dried,? ?dying? ?half? ?of? ?his? ?body? ?red,? ?shockingly? ?alarming.? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?used? ?to? ?seeing? ?strange? ?sights,? ?so? ?he? ?got? ?off? ?the? ?bed,? ?walked? ?a? ?couple? ?

steps,? ?and? ?suddenly? ?felt? ?something? ?fell? ?off? ?of? ?his? ?person.? ?He? ?looked? ?down? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?that? ?

pillow,? ?and? ?he? ?hastily? ?picked? ?it? ?up? ?and? ?stuffed? ?it? ?back? ?into? ?his? ?belly? ?anew.? ?When? ?he? ?took? ?

another? ?couple? ?steps,? ?his? ?belly? ?fell? ?again,? ?so? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?to? ?keep? ?holding? ?onto? ?it? ?with? ?

both? ?hands? ?as? ?he? ?looked? ?around.? ?

?

Having? ?grown? ?up? ?in? ?a? ?palace,? ?he? ?was? ?influenced? ?by? ?the? ?things? ?he? ?saw? ?and? ?heard,? ?

unconsciously? ?absorbing? ?his? ?surroundings.? ?When? ?it? ?came? ?to? ?beauty,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?his? ?

own? ?set? ?of? ?judgments.? ?This? ?little? ?establishment,? ?to? ?him,? ?might? ?be? ?exquisite,? ?but? ?it? ?was? ?

filled? ?with? ?an? ?air? ?of? ?fragrant? ?enticement,? ?so? ?if? ?he? ?had? ?to? ?guess,? ?this? ?might? ?be? ?a? ?restaurant? ?

or? ?a? ?place? ?of? ?entertainment.? ?Also,? ?in? ?comparison? ?to? ?the? ?style? ?of? ?architecture? ?of? ?the? ?day,? ?

this? ?style? ?was? ?really? ?quite? ?old,? ?very? ?much? ?like? ?a? ?building? ?from? ?hundreds? ?of? ?years? ?ago,? ?but? ?

he? ?couldn’t? ?tell? ?where.? ?

? ?

Thus,? ?this? ?wasn’t? ?likely? ?to? ?be? ?the? ?haunting? ?of? ?the? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?aborted? ?by? ?that? ?wealthy? ?

merchant.? ?This? ?was? ?because? ?when? ?evil? ?spirits? ?create? ?illusions,? ?they? ?could? ?only? ?use? ?what? ?

they? ?know.? ?It? ?was? ?obvious? ?that? ?an? ?old? ?establishment? ?of? ?centuries? ?old? ?could? ?only? ?come? ?

from? ?evil? ?spirits? ?equally? ?old.? ?After? ?having? ?walked? ?around? ?once,? ?there? ?was? ?no? ?one,? ?and? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?returned? ?to? ?the? ?chamber? ?where? ?he? ?had? ?first? ?lain? ?down.? ?

?

It? ?was? ?a? ?woman’s? ?bedchamber.? ?There? ?was? ?a? ?chiffonier,? ?the? ?drawers? ?could? ?be? ?pulled? ?out,? ?

and? ?inside? ?were? ?baby? ?clothes? ?and? ?such? ?toys? ?like? ?dolls? ?and? ?rattling? ?drums.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

checked? ?each? ?item? ?carefully? ?and? ?found? ?they? ?were? ?all? ?brand? ?new,? ?indicating? ?the? ?lady? ?of? ?

this? ?room? ?loved? ?and? ?cared? ?for? ?those? ?objects.? ?Meaning,? ?to? ?this? ?‘child’,? ?this? ?woman? ?was? ?full? ?

of? ?love? ?and? ?affection.? ?

?

He? ?rummaged? ?around? ?some? ?more,? ?and? ?suddenly,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?taken? ?aback.? ?In? ?those? ?

baby? ?clothes? ?was? ?a? ?protection? ?charm,? ?and? ?that? ?protection? ?charm? ?was? ?his!? ? ?

?

Flabbergasted,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?to? ?verify? ?it? ?thrice.? ?It? ?wasn’t? ?a? ?mistake.? ?It? ?was? ?very? ?much? ?his? ?

protection? ?charm.? ?And,? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?the? ?same? ?simple? ?protection? ?charm? ?he? ?went? ?up? ?the? ?

mountains? ?to? ?pick? ?herbs? ?for,? ?sewed,? ?drawn,? ?then? ?tied? ?with? ?a? ?red? ?thread? ?by? ?his? ?own? ?

hands.? ?This? ?was? ?the? ?protection? ?charm? ?that? ?eight? ?hundred? ?years? ?ago,? ?at? ?the? ?peak? ?of? ?the? ?

prominence? ?of? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?of? ?Xianle,? ?almost? ?everyone? ?in? ?the? ?country? ?owned.? ?The? ?

material? ?and? ?designs? ?were? ?all? ?intricately? ?elegant,? ?and? ?where? ?it? ?came? ?from,? ?whether? ?if? ?it’s? ?

been? ?blessed,? ?were? ?all? ?written? ?on? ?it.? ?

?

Could? ?it? ?be,? ?the? ?lady? ?owner? ?of? ?this? ?establishment? ?was? ?once? ?his? ?worshipper?? ?

?

Just? ?then,? ?in? ?the? ?dead? ?silence,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?suddenly? ?heard? ?a? ?series? ?of? ?teehee? ?sniggles.? ?

?

It? ?was? ?the? ?sniggles? ?of? ?that? ?baby,? ?extremely? ?abrupt,? ?and? ?it? ?echoed? ?everywhere,? ?its? ?

whereabout? ?obscure.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?move? ?or? ?react,? ?but? ?his? ?mind? ?was? ?racing:? ?that? ?voice? ?

sounded? ?familiar,? ?where? ?had? ?he? ?heard? ?it? ?before?? ?Just? ?where?? ?

?

Then? ?it? ?hit? ?him,? ?and? ?in? ?his? ?mind? ?rang? ?the? ?voices? ?of? ?a? ?small? ?child:? ?“New? ?bride.? ?New? ?bride,? ?

new? ?bride? ?in? ?the? ?new? ?red? ?marriage? ?sedan.”? ?

?

“Brimming? ?tears,? ?through? ?the? ?mountain? ?pass,? ?smile? ?not? ?under? ?the? ?bridal? ?veil...”? ?

?

It? ?was? ?the? ?voice? ?of? ?that? ?child? ?spirit? ?he? ?heard? ?at? ?Mount? ?YuJun? ?when? ?he? ?was? ?in? ?the? ?

marriage? ?sedan!? ? ?

?

When? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?snapped? ?out? ?of? ?it,? ?the? ?laughter? ?of? ?that? ?child? ?spirit? ?also? ?came? ?to? ?an? ?abrupt? ?

stop.? ?He? ?turned? ?around? ?swiftly? ?but? ?saw? ?no? ?shadows.? ?

?

After? ?the? ?affair? ?of? ?Mount? ?YuJun? ?had? ?passed,? ?he’d? ?also? ?asked? ?after? ?the? ?child? ?spirit? ?in? ?the? ?

spiritual? ?communication? ?array,? ?but? ?back? ?then? ?everyone? ?told? ?him? ?there? ?was? ?no? ?child? ?spirit? ?

or? ?anything? ?of? ?the? ?sort? ?to? ?be? ?found? ?on? ?the? ?mountain,? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?only? ?he? ?who? ?heard? ?that? ?

child? ?spirit’s? ?voice.? ?Yet? ?now,? ?this? ?was? ?the? ?second? ?time? ?this? ?child? ?spirit? ?had? ?appeared? ?

before? ?him,? ?so? ?was? ?this? ?a? ?coincidence?? ?Or? ?was? ?it? ?intentional?? ?

?

That? ?child? ?spirit? ?stopped? ?laughing,? ?and? ?called? ?out,? ?“Mom.”? ?

?

This? ?“mom”? ?came? ?from? ?somewhere? ?close? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?figure? ?out? ?where? ?it? ?came? ?

from.? ?He? ?stood? ?there? ?unspeaking,? ?holding? ?his? ?breath,? ?his? ?ears? ?intent.? ?

?

After? ?some? ?silence,? ?the? ?voice? ?of? ?that? ?child? ?called? ?out? ?again,? ?“Mom.? ?Hold? ?me.”? ? ?

?

This? ?time,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?finally? ?figured? ?it? ?out? ?–? ?that? ?voice? ?came? ?from? ?his? ?belly!? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?both? ?his? ?hands? ?holding? ?up? ?the? ?fake? ?belly? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?only? ?now? ?that? ?he? ?

astonishingly? ?realized? ?that? ?without? ?knowing? ?when,? ?the? ?pillow? ?in? ?his? ?hands? ?had? ?become? ?

heavier.? ?He? ?smacked? ?it? ?once? ?soundly,? ?and? ?a? ?lump? ?of? ?something? ?came? ?tumbling? ?out? ?of? ?his? ?

clothes,? ?seemingly? ?to? ?be? ?a? ?palish? ?white? ?little? ?child,? ?spewing? ?something? ?out? ?of? ?its? ?mouth? ?

before? ?scrambling? ?away? ?into? ?the? ?darkness? ?and? ?disappeared.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?rushed? ?up? ?to? ?see? ?

and? ?the? ?things? ?it? ?spewed? ?out? ?were? ?some? ?lumps? ?of? ?threads? ?and? ?a? ?lock? ?of? ?black? ?hair.? ?It? ?

seemed? ?his? ?illusionment? ?spell? ?worked.? ?That? ?little? ?ghost? ?had? ?wanted? ?to? ?devour? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?

‘child’? ?the? ?way? ?it? ?did? ?that? ?pregnant? ?woman’s,? ?but? ?instead? ?it? ?devoured? ?the? ?cotton? ?stuffed? ?in? ?

Xie? ?Lian’s? ?robes.? ?Soon? ?after,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?heard? ?that? ?thing? ?cry? ?sharply? ?again,? ?“MOM!”? ? ?

?

No? ?matter? ?how? ?it? ?called,? ?how? ?pointedly? ?it? ?cried,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?still? ?held? ?back,? ?never? ?opening? ?his? ?

mouth.? ?He? ?determined? ?that? ?the? ?child? ?spirit? ?was? ?a? ?fetus? ?spirit,? ?and? ?this? ?chamber? ?was? ?it? ?or? ?

its? ?mother’s? ?room? ?where? ?they? ?once? ?lived.? ?Evil? ?spirits? ?took? ?the? ?form? ?and? ?age? ?of? ?when? ?they? ?

died,? ?yet? ?it? ?had? ?mostly? ?shown? ?itself? ?as? ?a? ?cloud? ?of? ?black? ?smoke? ?or? ?a? ?blurry? ?white? ?shadow,? ?

which? ?meant? ?the? ?spirit? ?itself? ?didn’t? ?know? ?how? ?it? ?should? ?look? ?like,? ?so? ?it? ?had? ?no? ?proper? ?form.? ?

Also,? ?the? ?baby? ?clothes? ?in? ?those? ?drawers? ?clearly? ?hadn’t? ?been? ?worn? ?yet,? ?plus? ?that? ?

terrifyingly? ?large? ?pools? ?of? ?blood? ?on? ?the? ?bed,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?deduced? ?that? ?the? ?lady? ?of? ?this? ?

chamber? ?must’ve? ?miscarried,? ?and? ?her? ?unborn? ?child? ?already? ?had? ?shape? ?then? ?and? ?retained? ?

a? ?little? ?bit? ?of? ?its? ?own? ?conscience.? ?After? ?becoming? ?a? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?it? ?wanted? ?to? ?return? ?to? ?its? ?

mother’s? ?belly? ?but? ?ended? ?up? ?knocking? ?on? ?the? ?doors? ?of? ?the? ?madame? ?of? ?that? ?wealthy? ?

merchant.? ?

?

When? ?it? ?called? ?out? ?“mom”? ?in? ?that? ?woman’s? ?dream,? ?it? ?was? ?the? ?wrong? ?move? ?for? ?her? ?to? ?open? ?

her? ?mouth? ?to? ?acknowledge? ?it.? ?It? ?must? ?be? ?said? ?that? ?the? ?bond? ?between? ?‘mother’? ?and? ?‘child’? ?

were? ?special,? ?and? ?the? ?acknowledgement? ?was? ?a? ?form? ?of? ?‘permission’.? ?When? ?she? ?opened? ?

her? ?mouth? ?she? ?gave? ?that? ?evil? ?thing? ?the? ?chance? ?to? ?enter,? ?and? ?the? ?little? ?ghost? ?snuck? ?in,? ?slid? ?

into? ?her? ?belly,? ?and? ?devoured? ?the? ?fetus? ?that? ?was? ?originally? ?there,? ?a? ?cuckoo? ?in? ?the? ?nest.? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?might? ?be? ?a? ?man,? ?but? ?he? ?wasn’t? ?very? ?sure? ?whether? ?if? ?he? ?opened? ?his? ?mouth? ?the? ?child? ?

spirit? ?would? ?also? ?take? ?the? ?chance? ?to? ?sneak? ?into? ?his? ?belly.? ?Just? ?in? ?case,? ?he’d? ?best? ?keep? ?his? ?

mouth? ?shut.? ?

?

Thus,? ?keeping? ?his? ?lips? ?tightly? ?sealed? ?and? ?gripping? ?Fang? ?Xin? ?in? ?hand,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?searched? ?

for? ?traces? ?of? ?that? ?child.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?possessed? ?an? ?exceedingly? ?strong? ?instinct? ?when? ?it? ?came? ?

to? ?danger,? ?something? ?that? ?was? ?refined? ?through? ?thousands? ?of? ?battles.? ?WIthout? ?needing? ?to? ?

look? ?clearly,? ?as? ?long? ?as? ?he? ?had? ?a? ?hunch? ?where? ?it? ?was? ?he’d? ?thrust? ?his? ?sword,? ?and? ?he’d? ?hit? ?

the? ?mark? ?nine? ?times? ?out? ?of? ?ten.? ?Although? ?in? ?the? ?illusion? ?created? ?by? ?that? ?child? ?spirit? ?Xie? ?

Lian’s? ?strikes? ?were? ?weakened,? ?but? ?after? ?getting? ?struck? ?multiple? ?times? ?it? ?was? ?probably? ?

feeling? ?rather? ?choked? ?up? ?too.? ?After? ?a? ?while,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?suddenly? ?felt? ?a? ?sharp? ?pain? ?on? ?the? ?

bottom? ?of? ?his? ?foot.? ?It? ?seemed? ?he? ?stepped? ?on? ?something? ?extremely? ?sharp,? ?and? ?he? ?paused? ?

slightly.? ?

?

That? ?child? ?spirit? ?saw? ?him? ?falling? ?for? ?its? ?trap? ?and? ?let? ?out? ?short? ?spurts? ?of? ?sly? ?cackles.? ?The? ?

voice? ?was? ?tender? ?but? ?it? ?shouldn’t? ?have? ?come? ?from? ?a? ?small? ?child,? ?more? ?like? ?a? ?malicious? ?

grown? ?man,? ?the? ?contrast? ?sharply? ?distinct,? ?making? ?one’s? ?blood? ?run? ?cold.? ?However,? ?Xie? ?

Lian’s? ?face? ?never? ?even? ?twitched,? ?and? ?he? ?didn’t? ?stop? ?in? ?his? ?step;? ?he? ?flicked? ?his? ?hand? ?and? ?

struck? ?out? ?the? ?sword? ?again,? ?jabbing? ?right? ?on? ?target!? ?

?

That? ?child? ?spirit? ?yelped? ?in? ?pain,? ?having? ?burned? ?himself,? ?and? ?hid? ?far,? ?far? ?away.? ?Only? ?then? ?

did? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?take? ?a? ?look? ?down? ?to? ?glance? ?under? ?his? ?boot,? ?and? ?turns? ?out? ?he? ?stepped? ?on? ?a? ?

small,? ?thin? ?needle? ?that? ?was? ?stood? ?straight? ?up.? ?It? ?was? ?obviously? ?placed? ?by? ?that? ?child? ?spirit? ?

on? ?purpose,? ?and? ?it? ?seemed? ?it? ?was? ?hoping? ?for? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?to? ?cry? ?out? ?in? ?pain.? ?However,? ?it? ?

miscalculated.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?very? ?good? ?at? ?tolerating? ?pain,? ?and? ?nevermind? ?stepping? ?on? ?a? ?

needle,? ?if? ?his? ?leg? ?was? ?clamped? ?by? ?a? ?large? ?snare? ?he? ?wouldn’t? ?utter? ?a? ?sound? ?if? ?the? ?situation? ?

called? ?for? ?it.? ?

?

That? ?tiny? ?little? ?needle? ?was? ?deeply? ?ingrained,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?wanted? ?to? ?pull? ?it? ?out? ?at? ?

first,? ?but? ?since? ?that? ?child? ?spirit? ?ran? ?away? ?after? ?having? ?devoured? ?nothing,? ?he? ?was? ?afraid? ?it’d? ?

take? ?this? ?chance? ?to? ?escape? ?and? ?go? ?harm? ?others,? ?so? ?he? ?chased? ?after? ?it? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?chamber? ?

with? ?that? ?needle? ?still? ?stuck? ?in? ?his? ?foot.? ?After? ?a? ?while? ?he? ?stopped? ?feeling? ?the? ?pain? ?and? ?ran? ?

like? ?the? ?wind.? ?There? ?was? ?no? ?sight? ?of? ?that? ?child? ?spirit? ?anywhere? ?in? ?that? ?building,? ?and? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?was? ?just? ?feeling? ?baffled,? ?‘Did? ?it? ?actually? ?become? ?scared? ?of? ?my? ?attacks?’? ?when? ?just? ?

then,? ?a? ?window? ?not? ?far? ?away? ?opened? ?by? ?itself? ?without? ?a? ?breeze.? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?immediately? ?rushed? ?over? ?and? ?approached,? ?but? ?then? ?was? ?shocked? ?by? ?what? ?he? ?

saw.? ?Outside? ?the? ?window? ?there? ?were? ?no? ?sights? ?of? ?streets,? ?no? ?mountains,? ?no? ?pedestrians,? ?

only? ?a? ?deep,? ?bottomless? ?lake.? ?

?

On? ?the? ?other? ?side? ?of? ?this? ?lake? ?was? ?a? ?house,? ?and? ?in? ?that? ?house? ?sat? ?two? ?small? ?children.? ?It? ?

was? ?Lang? ?Ying? ?and? ?Guzi? ?who? ?were? ?sitting? ?at? ?a? ?table? ?eating.? ?Yet,? ?they? ?didn’t? ?notice? ?at? ?all? ?

that? ?just? ?above? ?their? ?heads? ?was? ?a? ?thick,? ?black? ?swirl? ?of? ?smoke,? ?teehee-ing? ?and? ?cackling,? ?

crying? ?crisply,? ?“MOM!? ?MOM!”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian’s? ?heart? ?instantly? ?dropped,? ?his? ?hands? ?gripped? ?the? ?window? ?sill,? ?about? ?to? ?call? ?and? ?

warn? ?them,? ?but? ?then? ?he? ?remembered? ?not? ?to? ?open? ?his? ?mouth? ?and? ?forced? ?his? ?voice? ?back? ?

down.? ? ?

?

Although? ?this? ?was? ?nothing? ?more? ?than? ?that? ?child? ?spirit’s? ?illusion,? ?but? ?he? ?didn’t? ?know? ?

whether? ?if? ?Lang? ?Ying? ?and? ?Guzi? ?were? ?really? ?pulled? ?in,? ?and? ?if? ?so,? ?then? ?any? ?harm? ?that? ?

happened? ?to? ?them? ?here? ?would? ?affect? ?their? ?real? ?bodies.? ?He? ?wanted? ?to? ?find? ?a? ?vase? ?or? ?

something? ?to? ?throw? ?over? ?as? ?a? ?warning,? ?but? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?even? ?find? ?anything.? ?Tables? ?and? ?

chairs? ?wouldn’t? ?fit? ?through? ?the? ?window,? ?and? ?then? ?there? ?was? ?that? ?lake? ?between? ?the? ?two? ?

buildings,? ?so? ?did? ?this? ?mean? ?he? ?had? ?to? ?swim? ?over?? ?

?

Just? ?then,? ?Guzi,? ?looking? ?tired,? ?yawned.? ?That? ?cloud? ?of? ?black? ?smoke? ?gathered? ?and? ?looked? ?

as? ?if? ?it? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?sneak? ?into? ?his? ?mouth.? ?

?

The? ?defenses? ?of? ?children’s? ?bodies? ?were? ?very? ?weak,? ?even? ?without? ?permission? ?maybe? ?that? ?

thing? ?could? ?intrude,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?no? ?time? ?to? ?think? ?about? ?swimming.? ?In? ?a? ?split? ?second? ?

decision,? ?he? ?shouted,? ?“CLOSE? ?YOUR? ?MOUTH!? ?RUN!”? ? ?

?

The? ?moment? ?the? ?words? ?came? ?out,? ?Lang? ?Ying? ?and? ?Guzi? ?jolted? ?and? ?closed? ?their? ?mouths? ?in? ?

surprise,? ?leaping? ?to? ?their? ?feet.? ?That? ?child? ?spirit? ?however,? ?had? ?suddenly? ?disappeared,? ?and? ?

the? ?next? ?second,? ?a? ?cloud? ?of? ?black? ?smoke? ?exploded? ?in? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?face.? ?

?

Even? ?though? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?closed? ?his? ?mouth? ?the? ?moment? ?he? ?shouted,? ?he? ?could? ?already? ?feel? ?a? ?

stream? ?of? ?cold? ?air? ?going? ?down? ?his? ?throat,? ?that? ?black? ?smoke? ?entering? ?his? ?stomach,? ?his? ?

innards? ?freezing? ?as? ?if? ?everything? ?would? ?be? ?frozen? ?in? ?a? ?second.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?gritted? ?his? ?teeth,? ?

hastily? ?tore? ?apart? ?a? ?few? ?protection? ?charms,? ?took? ?out? ?the? ?herbs? ?and? ?charmed? ?papers? ?

within? ?and? ?chewed? ?them? ?with? ?force,? ?swallowing? ?them.? ?It? ?didn’t? ?take? ?long? ?before? ?his? ?throat? ?

itched,? ?and? ?that? ?cloud? ?of? ?black? ?smoke? ?was? ?retched? ?out!? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?covered? ?his? ?mouth? ?with? ?his? ?sleeve,? ?coughing? ?nonstop,? ?choking? ?with? ?tears,? ?and? ?

his? ?mind? ?was? ?rapidly? ?trying? ?to? ?think? ?of? ?a? ?way? ?to? ?counter? ?it.? ?After? ?that? ?cloud? ?of? ?black? ?smoke? ?

was? ?puked? ?out? ?it? ?still? ?swirled? ?and? ?clung? ?on? ?to? ?him? ?relentlessly,? ?thus? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?pressed? ?onto? ?

the? ?window? ?sill,? ?raised? ?himself? ?up? ?and? ?leapt,? ?jumping? ?into? ?the? ?lake? ?outside.? ? ?

?

SPLASH?,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?plunged? ?deep? ?into? ?the? ?heart? ?of? ?the? ?lake.? ?He? ?held? ?his? ?breath,? ?

crossed? ?his? ?legs? ?and? ?arms,? ?and? ?assumed? ?a? ?sitting? ?position,? ?musing,? ?letting? ?his? ?body? ?

slowly? ?sink? ?into? ?the? ?bottom? ?of? ?that? ?freezing? ?lake.? ?Once? ?his? ?heart? ?beat? ?returned? ?to? ?normal,? ?

he? ?looked? ?up? ?and? ?could? ?somewhat? ?make? ?out? ?that? ?black? ?fog? ?swirling? ?above,? ?sealing? ?the? ?

entire? ?surface? ?of? ?the? ?water.? ?Once? ?he? ?emerged? ?he? ?must? ?take? ?in? ?a? ?deep? ?breath,? ?and? ?

should? ?he? ?inhale,? ?he’d? ?for? ?sure? ?suck? ?that? ?child? ?spirit? ?into? ?his? ?stomach.? ?If? ?a? ?full? ?grown? ?man? ?

was? ?to? ?have? ?a? ?giant,? ?swollen? ?belly,? ?it? ?definitely? ?wouldn’t? ?be? ?very? ?funny.? ?

?

However,? ?jumping? ?into? ?the? ?water? ?was? ?only? ?to? ?give? ?himself? ?some? ?time? ?to? ?think.? ?It? ?didn’t? ?

take? ?long? ?before? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?came? ?up? ?with? ?an? ?idea? ?and? ?thought,? ?‘So? ?what? ?if? ?I? ?swallow? ?it?? ?I’ll? ?

just? ?swallow? ?Fang? ?Xin? ?too? ?after.’? ?He? ?had? ?also? ?learned? ?that? ?trick? ?when? ?he? ?performed? ?on? ?

the? ?streets,? ?and? ?although? ?it? ?might? ?hurt,? ?but? ?whatever,? ?as? ?long? ?as? ?the? ?child? ?spirit? ?could? ?be? ?

captured.? ? ?

?

His? ?mind? ?made? ?up,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?released? ?his? ?arms? ?and? ?started? ?swimming? ?to? ?the? ?sides.? ?

However,? ?a? ?muffled,? ?deep? ?sound? ?of? ?sloshing? ?water? ?came? ?from? ?above,? ?and? ?suddenly,? ?a? ?

vast,? ?burning,? ?vivid? ?crimson? ?red? ?appeared? ?before? ?his? ?eyes.? ?

?

Thick,? ?winding? ?raven? ?black? ?locks? ?filled? ?his? ?vision,? ?splashes? ?and? ?air? ?bubbles? ?bubbled? ?

furiously,? ?and? ?nothing? ?could? ?be? ?seen.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?blinked,? ?trying? ?desperately? ?to? ?strip? ?away? ?

the? ?thousands? ?upon? ?millions? ?of? ?crystal? ?like? ?bubbles.? ?But? ?then,? ?he? ?felt? ?a? ?pair? ?of? ?strong? ?

arms.? ?One? ?hand? ?circled? ?around? ?his? ?waist,? ?and? ?the? ?other? ?grasped? ?his? ?chin.? ?

?

In? ?the? ?next? ?second,? ?something? ?cold? ?and? ?soft? ?covered? ?his? ?lips.? ?

?

?

———–? ?

?

Ch.95:? ?Mind? ?in? ?Disarray? ?but? ?Say? ?Not? ?the? ?Tender? ?Heart? ?is? ?Too? ?

?

In? ?that? ?instant,? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?eyes? ?bulged.? ?

?

Never? ?in? ?his? ?life? ?had? ?anyone? ?treated? ?him? ?this? ?way? ?before.? ?

?

First,? ?no? ?one? ?dared;? ?second,? ?no? ?one? ?could.? ?However,? ?this? ?person? ?was? ?swift? ?like? ?the? ?devil? ?

and? ?appeared? ?so? ?suddenly? ?that? ?before? ?he? ?even? ?had? ?the? ?chance? ?to? ?defend? ?himself,? ?he’d? ?

fallen? ?into? ?such? ?a? ?state.? ?Freaking? ?out,? ?he? ?was? ?flustered? ?and? ?his? ?limbs? ?were? ?thrashing,? ?

desperately? ?trying? ?to? ?push? ?the? ?other? ?away? ?but? ?instead? ?he? ?choked? ?on? ?large? ?mouthfuls? ?of? ?

water,? ?gurgling? ?as? ?strings? ?of? ?crystal? ?water? ?beads? ?gushed? ?out? ?from? ?his? ?mouth.? ?This? ?was? ?a? ?

big? ?no-no? ?under? ?water.? ?Thus,? ?the? ?hand? ?around? ?his? ?waist? ?held? ?him? ?tighter,? ?their? ?bodies? ?

pressed? ?closer? ?together,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?struggling? ?hands? ?were? ?firmly? ?folded? ?and? ?crushed? ?

against? ?his? ?own? ?chest,? ?unable? ?to? ?move.? ?His? ?lips? ?were? ?still? ?securely? ?sealed,? ?the? ?kiss? ?

deepening,? ?and? ?a? ?stream? ?of? ?gentle,? ?chilled? ?air? ?slowly? ?passed? ?through.? ?Dumbfounded? ?and? ?

helpless,? ?as? ?he? ?began? ?to? ?accept? ?his? ?fate,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?finally? ?saw? ?clearly? ?the? ?face? ?of? ?this? ?

person.? ?It? ?was? ?Hua? ?Cheng.? ?

?

The? ?moment? ?he? ?realized? ?it? ?was? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?he? ?stopped? ?struggling,? ?and? ?innumerous? ?

random? ?thoughts? ?popped? ?into? ?his? ?mind,? ?all? ?inappropriate? ?for? ?the? ?time? ?and? ?place,? ?such? ?as:? ?

So? ?it? ?was? ?Hua? ?Cheng!? ?No? ?wonder? ?he’s? ?cold.? ?Ghosts? ?don’t? ?need? ?to? ?breathe? ?but? ?he? ?can? ?

still? ?deliver? ?air? ?to? ?me?!? ?Don’t? ?ghosts? ?sink? ?in? ?the? ?water?? ?

?

Just? ?then,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?suddenly? ?opened? ?his? ?eyes.? ?

?

To? ?be? ?staring? ?into? ?those? ?dark? ?eyes? ?at? ?such? ?a? ?close? ?distance,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?instantly? ?froze,? ?and? ?

soon? ?after? ?he? ?started? ?struggling? ?again,? ?his? ?arms? ?flailing,? ?like? ?a? ?duck? ?so? ?dumb? ?and? ?

awkward? ?it? ?was? ?drowning? ?itself.? ?The? ?raving? ?arms? ?were? ?easily? ?stopped? ?by? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?

and? ?with? ?his? ?arm? ?still? ?firmly? ?around? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?waist,? ?he? ?took? ?him? ?and? ?swam? ?towards? ?the? ?

surface? ?speedily.? ?It? ?didn’t? ?take? ?long? ?before? ?the? ?two? ?broke? ?through? ?the? ?surface.? ?

?

The? ?waters? ?were? ?freezing? ?and? ?the? ?air? ?was? ?cold? ?too,? ?yet,? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?whole? ?body? ?was? ?

burning? ?up.? ?The? ?moment? ?they? ?floated? ?to? ?the? ?top,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?wanted? ?to? ?turn? ?away,? ?but? ?that? ?

cloud? ?of? ?black? ?smoke? ?was? ?still? ?swarming? ?above? ?the? ?waters,? ?watching? ?with? ?predatory? ?

eyes,? ?and? ?when? ?it? ?saw? ?someone? ?emerge,? ?it? ?immediately? ?flashed? ?forward? ?to? ?plunder.? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?only? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?a? ?little? ?bit? ?before? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?pulled? ?him? ?back? ?with? ?a? ?hand? ?

behind? ?his? ?head.? ?Their? ?lips? ?hadn’t? ?separated? ?for? ?even? ?a? ?second? ?before? ?it? ?was? ?pressed? ?

tightly? ?against? ?each? ?other? ?once? ?more.? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?lips? ?were? ?aching? ?and? ?numb? ?from? ?the? ?

kiss,? ?feeling? ?as? ?if? ?he? ?were? ?going? ?to? ?lose? ?his? ?senses.? ?If? ?this? ?was? ?anyone? ?else? ?he? ?would’ve? ?

long? ?stabbed? ?with? ?his? ?sword,? ?but? ?this? ?just? ?had? ?to? ?be? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?so? ?he? ?was? ?completely? ?at? ?

a? ?loss? ?on? ?what? ?to? ?do,? ?his? ?tears? ?ready? ?to? ?fall? ?from? ?distress.? ?Just? ?then,? ?beyond? ?Hua? ?

Cheng’s? ?face,? ?he? ?saw? ?thousands? ?upon? ?millions? ?of? ?silver? ?butterflies? ?break? ?through? ?the? ?

water? ?next? ?to? ?them.? ?

?

Accompanied? ?by? ?a? ?sharp? ?trill,? ?that? ?thick? ?rain? ?of? ?butterflies? ?shot? ?out? ?from? ?the? ?surface? ?like? ?a? ?

bullet,? ?their? ?wings? ?reflecting? ?a? ?cold? ?glare,? ?sharp? ?like? ?the? ?blade,? ?and? ?within? ?moments? ?that? ?

child? ?spirit? ?screamed? ?from? ?the? ?slashing,? ?the? ?black? ?smoke? ?dispersing,? ?and? ?it? ?tried? ?to? ?flee? ?in? ?

all? ?directions.? ?However,? ?the? ?web? ?of? ?those? ?butterflies? ?enveloped? ?from? ?the? ?earth? ?to? ?the? ?

heavens,? ?sealing? ?it? ?within,? ?and? ?no? ?matter? ?how? ?much? ?it? ?rammed? ?and? ?pounded? ?it? ?couldn’t? ?

break? ?through.? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?eyes? ?had? ?never? ?lifted? ?even? ?once,? ?and? ?with? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?in? ?his? ?

embrace? ?they? ?once? ?again? ?dove? ?into? ?the? ?waters.? ?After? ?a? ?while,? ?the? ?two? ?lips? ?finally? ?parted.? ?

?

Once? ?separated,? ?another? ?stream? ?of? ?air? ?bubbles? ?spewed? ?from? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?mouth,? ?and? ?Hua? ?

Cheng? ?freed? ?a? ?hand,? ?tossing? ?out? ?a? ?dice.? ?That? ?dice? ?actually? ?spun? ?in? ?the? ?water,? ?rapidly? ?too,? ?

and? ?it? ?spun? ?out? ?a? ?strong,? ?whirling? ?current? ?before? ?finally? ?stilling.? ?Afterwards,? ?the? ?two? ?once? ?

again? ?broke? ?through? ?the? ?water? ?surface.? ?

?

This? ?time,? ?the? ?shore? ?was? ?not? ?far? ?away,? ?and? ?only? ?then? ?did? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?bring? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?to? ?

swim? ?over.? ?Who? ?knows? ?what? ?shore? ?it? ?was? ?either,? ?there? ?were? ?lights? ?and? ?voices? ?of? ?crowds,? ?

seemingly? ?close? ?yet? ?far? ?away.? ?Behind? ?them? ?over? ?the? ?waters,? ?that? ?troop? ?of? ?butterflies? ?shot? ?

into? ?the? ?sky? ?with? ?that? ?cloud? ?of? ?black? ?smoke? ?in? ?their? ?captivity,? ?flying? ?towards? ?the? ?faint? ?lights? ?

in? ?the? ?distance,? ?leaving? ?behind? ?a? ?trail? ?of? ?long? ?wails? ?from? ?the? ?child? ?spirit,? ?“MOOooom? ?—? ?

!!!...”? ?

?

The? ?two? ?of? ?them? ?climbed? ?ashore,? ?sitting? ?heavily? ?onto? ?the? ?ground,? ?and? ?looking? ?at? ?each? ?

other? ?thus,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?finally? ?able? ?to? ?take? ?a? ?good? ?look? ?at? ?Hua? ?Cheng.? ?

?

In? ?reality,? ?the? ?two? ?of? ?them? ?had? ?only? ?parted? ?ways? ?for? ?just? ?a? ?few? ?days,? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?like? ?

it? ?had? ?been? ?a? ?long? ?time? ?since? ?they? ?last? ?met.? ?Every? ?time? ?they? ?met? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?looked? ?

good? ?in? ?different? ?ways.? ?The? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?this? ?time? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?older? ?by? ?a? ?couple? ?years? ?

compared? ?to? ?the? ?last? ?time.? ?His? ?face? ?had? ?always? ?been? ?handsome,? ?shimmering? ?brighter? ?

than? ?the? ?waters.? ?His? ?locks? ?were? ?exceedingly? ?black,? ?his? ?skin? ?extremely? ?white,? ?and? ?on? ?the? ?

right? ?side? ?of? ?his? ?cheek? ?was? ?a? ?very? ?thin,? ?small? ?braid,? ?a? ?red? ?string? ?threading? ?through? ?it? ?

intricately.? ?This? ?was? ?the? ?first? ?time? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?realized? ?that? ?above? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?forehead? ?

was? ?a? ?widow’s? ?peak,? ?and? ?it? ?made? ?his? ?face? ?look? ?even? ?more? ?shapely? ?and? ?alluring.? ?The? ?

black? ?eyepatch? ?that? ?covered? ?an? ?eye? ?emitted? ?traces? ?of? ?killing? ?aura,? ?softening? ?that? ?refined? ?

charm,? ?making? ?his? ?good? ?looks? ?reach? ?an? ?almost? ?perfect? ?balance.? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?brows? ?were? ?knitted,? ?as? ?if? ?trying? ?to? ?hold? ?back,? ?and? ?after? ?panting? ?softly? ?a? ?few? ?

times,? ?he? ?opened? ?his? ?mouth? ?to? ?speak,? ?his? ?voice? ?distinctly? ?lower? ?than? ?before,? ?“Your? ?

Highness,? ?I...”? ?

?

From? ?the? ?hair? ?on? ?his? ?head? ?to? ?all? ?over? ?his? ?body,? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?entire? ?person? ?was? ?dripping? ?with? ?

water.? ?His? ?lips? ?were? ?swollen,? ?his? ?eyes? ?blank,? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?only? ?after? ?a? ?good? ?moment? ?of? ?

disoriented? ?daze? ?before? ?he? ?mumbled,? ?“I...? ?I...? ?I...”? ?

?

His? ?stammering? ?“I”s? ?continued? ?before? ?suddenly,? ?he? ?randomly? ?popped? ?out,? ?“I’m? ?a? ?little? ?

hungry.”? ? ?

?

Hearing? ?this,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?was? ?taken? ?aback.? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?hadn’t? ?yet? ?recovered? ?from? ?the? ?shock,? ?and? ?said? ?in? ?a? ?state? ?of? ?jumbled? ?mess,? ?“No.? ?

I...? ?I...? ?I’m? ?a? ?little? ?sleepy...”? ?

?

He? ?flipped? ?around,? ?his? ?back? ?facing? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?and? ?bent? ?down? ?to? ?his? ?knees,? ?his? ?hands? ?

touching? ?the? ?ground,? ?fumbling? ?as? ?if? ?looking? ?for? ?something.? ?Behind? ?him,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?

asked,? ?“What? ?are? ?you? ?looking? ?for?”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?subconsciously? ?didn’t? ?dare? ?to? ?look? ?at? ?him,? ?and? ?said? ?incoherently,? ?“I’m? ?looking? ?for? ?

a? ?thing.? ?I’m? ?looking? ?for? ?my? ?bamboo? ?hat.? ?Where’s? ?my? ?bamboo? ?hat?”? ?

?

If? ?it? ?was? ?anyone? ?else? ?watching? ?this? ?scene? ?play? ?out,? ?they? ?would? ?certainly? ?yell,? ?“He’s? ?done? ?

for!? ?He’s? ?gone? ?stupid!”? ?But? ?in? ?reality,? ?it? ?was? ?only? ?because? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?never? ?

experienced? ?something? ?like? ?this? ?before,? ?and? ?the? ?shock? ?was? ?too? ?great,? ?making? ?him? ?lose? ?it? ?

a? ?little.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?crawled? ?on? ?his? ?hands? ?and? ?knees,? ?shuffling? ?away? ?with? ?his? ?back? ?still? ?facing? ?

Hua? ?Cheng,? ?mumbling,? ?“...I,? ?I? ?can’t? ?find? ?it.? ?I’m? ?leaving? ?now.? ?I’m? ?going? ?home? ?to? ?eat...? ?I? ?

need? ?to? ?go? ?collect? ?some? ?scraps? ?now...”? ?

?

“...”? ?

?

“I’m? ?sorry.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said.? ?

?

Feeling? ?that? ?the? ?voice? ?behind? ?him? ?was? ?coming? ?closer,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?jumped? ?to? ?his? ?feet? ?and? ?

cried,? ?“I’M? ?LEAVING? ?NOW!”? ? ?

?

This? ?cry? ?was? ?like? ?a? ?cry? ?for? ?help.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?hastily? ?said,? ?“No!”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?hurriedly? ?tried? ?to? ?run? ?away,? ?but? ?within? ?a? ?few? ?steps? ?out? ?his? ?foot? ?twisted,? ?and? ?he? ?

fell? ?back? ?onto? ?the? ?ground.? ?Looking? ?back,? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?trail? ?of? ?blood? ?behind? ?him,? ?that? ?

needle? ?deeply? ?embedded? ?in? ?the? ?bottom? ?of? ?his? ?foot? ?was? ?completely? ?stuck? ?in.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?

immediately? ?seized? ?his? ?ankle,? ?his? ?voice? ?alarmed,? ?“What’s? ?wrong?”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?immediately? ?tried? ?to? ?pull? ?his? ?leg? ?back,? ?“Nothingnothingnothing,? ?it? ?doesn’t? ?hurt? ?at? ?

all,? ?it’s? ?fine!”? ? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?was? ?slightly? ?angered,? ?“How? ?can? ?it? ?not? ?hurt!”? ?Then? ?his? ?hands? ?moved? ?–? ?he? ?

was? ?actually? ?going? ?to? ?remove? ?his? ?boot!? ?Terrified,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?crawled? ?forward? ?again,? ?

exclaiming? ?as? ?he? ?crawled,? ?“NO,? ?NONONO,? ?THERE’S? ?NO? ?NEED!”? ?

?

He? ?kept? ?crawling,? ?trying? ?to? ?scamper? ?and? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?held? ?on? ?to? ?him,? ?stopping? ?him? ?from? ?

doing? ?so.? ?It? ?was? ?complete? ?pandemonium? ?and? ?it? ?finally? ?alerted? ?everyone? ?else? ?on? ?shore.? ?A? ?

roaring? ?crowd,? ?chattering? ?and? ?blabbering,? ?a? ?large? ?group? ?of? ?who? ?knows? ?what? ?kind? ?of? ?

weirdos? ?all? ?came? ?to? ?surround? ?them,? ?clamouring,? ?“WHO? ?GOES? ?THERE!? ?HOW? ?DARE!? ?

DON’T? ?YA? ?KNOW? ?WHAT? ?THIS? ?PLACE? ?IS?? ?ARE? ?YA? ?DONE? ?WITH? ?LIFE? ?OR? ?DID? ?YA? ?

WANNA? ?DIE? ?AGAIN?? ?I...? ?BLIMEY,? ?AIN’T? ?THIS? ?MY? ?LORD?!”? ? ?

?

The? ?crowd? ?of? ?ghosts? ?immediately? ?hollered? ?in? ?unison,? ?“GOOD? ?DAY? ?YER? ?OL’? ?

LORDSHIP!”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?let? ?out? ?a? ?wail? ?in? ?his? ?head,? ?wishing? ?desperately? ?he? ?could? ?cover? ?his? ?face? ?with? ?his? ?

hands.? ?This? ?was? ?the? ?Ghost? ?City!? ?

?

There? ?were? ?quite? ?a? ?number? ?of? ?ghosts? ?in? ?the? ?crowd? ?he? ?remembered? ?seeing? ?roughly? ?from? ?

the? ?last? ?time? ?he? ?came? ?by,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?even? ?saw? ?a? ?familiar? ?hog? ?head.? ?The? ?two? ?of? ?them? ?were? ?

drenched? ?from? ?head? ?to? ?toe,? ?surrounded? ?by? ?countless? ?humans? ?and? ?ghosts? ?alike? ?watching? ?

them,? ?and? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?still? ?had? ?his? ?hand? ?on? ?his? ?ankle? ?not? ?letting? ?go.? ?This? ?was? ?such? ?a? ?

shocking? ?scene? ?that? ?it? ?finally? ?snapped? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?out? ?of? ?it.? ?But? ?who? ?knew? ?that? ?once? ?the? ?

crowd? ?of? ?ghosts? ?recognized? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?they? ?became? ?even? ?more? ?excited,? ?shouting,? ?“MY? ?

LORD!? ?ARE? ?YOU? ?TRYING? ?TO? ?RAPE? ?SOMEONE?!? ?DO? ?YOU? ?NEED? ?HELP?!? ?WE’LL? ?

HELP? ?YOU? ?HOLD? ?THEM? ?DOWN!”? ? ?

?

“SCRAM!”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?ordered.? ?

?

That? ?crowd? ?of? ?ghosts? ?hastily? ?scrammed.? ?But? ?even? ?if? ?they? ?were? ?to? ?watch? ?from? ?afar,? ?not? ?

daring? ?to? ?come? ?close,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?still? ?wanted? ?to? ?just? ?pass? ?out? ?and? ?end? ?everything,? ?because? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?risen? ?to? ?his? ?feet,? ?bent? ?down? ?and? ?gently? ?swept? ?him? ?up? ?into? ?his? ?carry,? ?and? ?

walked? ?with? ?heavy? ?steps? ?to? ?leave? ?the? ?shore.? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?still? ?dressed? ?in? ?women’s? ?clothing,? ?and? ?could? ?only? ?be? ?grateful? ?that? ?pillow? ?

was? ?no? ?longer? ?stuffed? ?in? ?his? ?belly,? ?otherwise? ?it’d? ?paint? ?an? ?even? ?more? ?terrifying? ?picture.? ?

However,? ?the? ?frightful? ?thought? ?finally? ?brought? ?him? ?completely? ?back? ?to? ?the? ?present.? ?He? ?

struggled? ?a? ?bit? ?in? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?arms? ?but? ?didn’t? ?succeed,? ?so? ?he? ?cleared? ?his? ?throat? ?softly,? ?

“...San? ?Lang,? ?I’m? ?sorry.? ?I? ?sort? ?of? ?lost? ?it? ?just? ?now,? ?how? ?embarrassing.”? ? ?

?

What? ?had? ?happened? ?just? ?then? ?was? ?really? ?too? ?great? ?of? ?a? ?shocking? ?blow? ?for? ?him.? ?The? ?word? ?

‘blow’? ?was? ?tentative,? ?but? ?this? ?was? ?his? ?first? ?time? ?after? ?all.? ?However,? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?only? ?just? ?

because? ?it? ?was? ?his? ?first? ?time.? ?In? ?the? ?many? ?centuries? ?past,? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?like? ?there? ?weren’t? ?any? ?

seductive? ?women? ?ghosts? ?who? ?tried? ?to? ?tempt? ?him? ?with? ?their? ?naked? ?bodies,? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

had? ?never? ?reacted? ?this? ?embarrassingly? ?before.? ?So? ?why? ?did? ?he? ?turn? ?into? ?such? ?a? ?state? ?

now?? ?He? ?could? ?only? ?guess? ?that? ?it? ?must? ?be? ?because? ?Guoshi? ?had? ?only? ?ever? ?taught? ?him? ?

how? ?to? ?defend? ?against? ?women? ?but? ?not? ?against? ?men,? ?and? ?he? ?had? ?no? ?experience,? ?which? ?

was? ?why? ?he? ?hadn’t? ?known? ?how? ?to? ?react.? ?

?

Thinking? ?back? ?on? ?the? ?way? ?he’d? ?conducted? ?himself,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?slightly? ?ashamed,? ?and? ?

felt? ?maybe? ?he? ?overreacted,? ?thinking? ?San? ?Lang? ?had? ?meant? ?well,? ?but? ?ended? ?up? ?scaring? ?him? ?

to? ?this? ?point,? ?truly? ?he? ?was? ?being? ?too? ?impolite.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?however,? ?replied,? ?“Nothing? ?of? ?

the? ?sort.? ?I? ?was? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?crossed? ?the? ?line? ?and? ?offended? ?gege.? ?San? ?Lang? ?is? ?in? ?the? ?

wrong? ?and? ?apologizes.”? ? ?

?

Seeing? ?that? ?he? ?didn’t? ?take? ?anything? ?to? ?heart,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?secretly? ?let? ?out? ?a? ?breath? ?of? ?relief.? ?“I? ?

was? ?in? ?dire? ?straits? ?and? ?you? ?were? ?only? ?trying? ?to? ?help,? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?really? ?a? ?big? ?deal? ?anyway.? ?

Oh? ?that’s? ?right,”? ?He? ?suddenly? ?remembered? ?what? ?he? ?was? ?doing,? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?why? ?have? ?

you? ?suddenly? ?appear? ?again?? ?Where’s? ?that? ?child? ?spirit?”? ? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?however,? ?replied? ?in? ?an? ?authoritative? ?tone,? ?“Treating? ?your? ?wounds? ?comes? ?

first.”? ? ?

?

In? ?between? ?their? ?exchange? ?the? ?two? ?had? ?already? ?arrived? ?before? ?a? ?magnificent? ?building,? ?

and? ?when? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?up,? ?the? ?entrance? ?hung? ?the? ?title? ?‘Paradise? ?Manor’.? ?

?

He? ?was? ?astonished.? ?Had? ?that? ?burnt? ?Paradise? ?Manor? ?really? ?been? ?rebuilt? ?that? ?fast?? ?And? ?it? ?

looked? ?exactly? ?the? ?same? ?as? ?the? ?old? ?one.? ?Yet? ?with? ?a? ?guilty? ?conscience,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?too? ?

embarrassed? ?to? ?ask? ?about? ?it.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?entered,? ?carrying? ?him? ?in? ?his? ?arms,? ?and? ?

mounted? ?that? ?black? ?jaded? ?divan.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?sat? ?on? ?the? ?divan,? ?and? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?himself? ?half? ?

knelt? ?below,? ?holding? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?injured? ?foot,? ?checking? ?the? ?tiny? ?puncture? ?dyed? ?by? ?blood? ?

underneath.? ?

?

The? ?position? ?made? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?feel? ?uncomfortable,? ?and? ?he? ?cried,? ?“No!”? ?and? ?made? ?a? ?move? ?to? ?

get? ?down,? ?but? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?pushed? ?him? ?back,? ?swiftly? ?removing? ?his? ?boot? ?and? ?sock? ?with? ?a? ?

steady? ?hand.? ?

?

This? ?foot? ?also? ?happened? ?to? ?be? ?the? ?one? ?with? ?the? ?cursed? ?shackle,? ?a? ?deep? ?black? ?chain? ?

locked? ?around? ?that? ?clean? ?and? ?white? ?ankle,? ?a? ?powerful? ?contrast.? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?eyes? ?only? ?

lingered? ?for? ?a? ?moment? ?on? ?that? ?soft? ?ankle? ?before? ?his? ?palm? ?was? ?pressed? ?against? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?

injury.? ?

?

“This? ?might? ?hurt? ?a? ?bit,”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said,? ?“Don’t? ?hold? ?back,? ?gege.? ?Cry? ?out? ?if? ?it? ?hurts.”? ? ?

?

?

———–? ?

Ch.96:? ?Mind? ?in? ?Disarray? ?but? ?Say? ?Not? ?the? ?Tender? ?Heart? ?is? ?Too? ?2? ?

?

“I...”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?

?

?Before? ?he? ?finished? ?his? ?sentence,? ?he? ?felt? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?squeezed? ?with? ?a? ?bit? ?of? ?force,? ?a? ?

series? ?of? ?pain? ?crawled? ?up? ?his? ?leg,? ?and? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?shrink? ?back.? ?

?

Although? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?strength? ?was? ?already? ?extremely? ?controlled? ?and? ?this? ?little? ?bit? ?of? ?

pain? ?was? ?nothing? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?but? ?for? ?some? ?reason,? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?him,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?seemed? ?to? ?

be? ?unable? ?to? ?hide? ?away? ?his? ?pain.? ?Maybe? ?it? ?was? ?because? ?of? ?what? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?told? ?him? ?

beforehand? ?and? ?he? ?tried? ?too? ?hard? ?to? ?hold? ?back? ?and? ?it? ?backfired? ?on? ?him.? ?Sensing? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

shrinking? ?back,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?instantly? ?held? ?his? ?ankle? ?tighter? ?and? ?reassured? ?with? ?a? ?soft? ?

voice,? ?“Don’t? ?worry.? ?It’ll? ?be? ?over? ?soon.? ?Don’t? ?be? ?scared.”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?shook? ?his? ?head,? ?but? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?hands? ?had? ?become? ?even? ?gentler,? ?his? ?hand? ?

operating? ?speedily,? ?and? ?when? ?he? ?raised? ?it? ?again,? ?that? ?tiny? ?little? ?needle? ?was? ?already? ?

extracted.? ?“Alright,? ?it’s? ?done.”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?focused? ?his? ?eyes? ?and? ?saw? ?the? ?tip? ?of? ?that? ?needle? ?was? ?glistening? ?with? ?vicious? ?

poison.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?closed? ?his? ?five? ?fingers? ?and? ?crushed? ?it? ?easily? ?into? ?a? ?small? ?waft? ?of? ?black? ?

gas,? ?dissipating? ?into? ?the? ?air.? ?Seeing? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?put? ?aside? ?all? ?his? ?discomfort? ?and? ?

commented? ?soberly,? ?“What? ?heavy? ?air? ?of? ?grudge.? ?A? ?typical? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?shouldn’t? ?have? ?

spiritual? ?power? ?this? ?strong.”? ? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?stood? ?up,? ?“You’re? ?right.? ?So,? ?this? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?must? ?not? ?be? ?from? ?a? ?normal? ?

miscarriage.”? ? ?

?

Just? ?then,? ?a? ?masked? ?man? ?entered? ?with? ?his? ?head? ?down,? ?a? ?clay? ?pot? ?presented? ?with? ?both? ?

his? ?hands,? ?and? ?he? ?handed? ?it? ?to? ?Hua? ?Cheng.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?unconsciously? ?checked? ?to? ?see? ?if? ?

that? ?man’s? ?wrist? ?still? ?carried? ?that? ?cursed? ?shackle,? ?but? ?this? ?time? ?the? ?man’s? ?sleeves? ?were? ?

tied? ?down? ?fully? ?and? ?completely.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?took? ?the? ?pot? ?with? ?one? ?hand? ?and? ?glanced? ?at? ?it,? ?

then? ?turned? ?around? ?to? ?pass? ?it? ?to? ?the? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?sitting? ?on? ?the? ?black? ?jaded? ?divan.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

hadn’t? ?yet? ?reached? ?over? ?and? ?the? ?muffled? ?sound? ?of? ?a? ?child? ?crying? ?could? ?be? ?heard? ?from? ?

within,? ?and? ?it? ?seemed? ?something? ?was? ?madly? ?knocking? ?about,? ?making? ?the? ?clay? ?pot? ?shake,? ?

unable? ?to? ?remain? ?standing? ?up,? ?so? ?he? ?became? ?more? ?cautious.? ?

?

When? ?he? ?took? ?that? ?clay? ?pot,? ?he? ?peeled? ?up? ?a? ?small? ?corner? ?of? ?the? ?seal? ?and? ?peeked? ?in,? ?and? ?

could? ?feel? ?a? ?sense? ?of? ?dreadful? ?cold? ?rush? ?up? ?his? ?spine.? ?

?

Inside? ?the? ?pot? ?laid? ?a? ?puddle? ?of? ?something? ?like? ?a? ?fetus.? ?Although? ?both? ?the? ?arms? ?and? ?legs? ?

were? ?grown? ?out,? ?they? ?were? ?weak? ?and? ?powerless,? ?and? ?the? ?head? ?remained? ?obscured? ?in? ?

the? ?shadows.? ?All? ?in? ?all,? ?it? ?was? ?no? ?more? ?than? ?a? ?lump? ?of? ?twisted? ?organ.? ?

?

This? ?was? ?its? ?true? ?form!? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?immediately? ?resealed? ?the? ?pot? ?and? ?said,? ?“I? ?see.”? ? ?

?

He? ?once? ?heard? ?that? ?there? ?were? ?those? ?who? ?would? ?search? ?for? ?pregnant? ?women? ?who? ?hadn’t? ?

yet? ?reached? ?term,? ?and? ?they? ?would? ?cruelly? ?cut? ?out? ?the? ?children? ?from? ?the? ?women’s? ?wombs,? ?

transforming? ?the? ?fetuses? ?into? ?little? ?demons? ?to? ?perform? ?spells,? ?urging? ?them? ?to? ?do? ?harm,? ?

either? ?to? ?protect? ?the? ?castor? ?or? ?for? ?the? ?protection? ?of? ?a? ?dwelling? ?and? ?luck.? ?By? ?the? ?sight? ?of? ?

this,? ?that? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?was? ?no? ?doubt? ?the? ?product? ?of? ?such? ?an? ?evil? ?spell,? ?and? ?its? ?mother? ?might? ?

very? ?well? ?have? ?been? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?worshipper? ?once,? ?otherwise? ?there? ?wouldn’t? ?be? ?his? ?

protection? ?charm? ?tucked? ?in? ?the? ?clothes? ?of? ?that? ?child? ?yet? ?born.? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?hummed? ?then? ?said,? ?“This? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?was? ?captured? ?by? ?you,? ?but? ?would? ?San? ?Lang? ?

mind? ?if? ?I? ?take? ?it? ?back? ?with? ?me? ?to? ?investigate?? ?Because? ?I’ve? ?already? ?bumped? ?into? ?it? ?once? ?

before? ?at? ?Mount? ?YuJun,? ?and? ?since? ?this? ?was? ?the? ?second? ?time? ?it’s? ?appeared? ?before? ?me,? ?I? ?

don’t? ?know? ?if? ?it’s? ?mere? ?coincidence? ?or? ?if? ?there’s? ?some? ?kind? ?of? ?a? ?connection.”? ? ?

?

“If? ?you? ?want? ?to? ?take? ?it,? ?then? ?just? ?take? ?it.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said,? ?“Even? ?if? ?I? ?didn’t? ?appear? ?you? ?

would’ve? ?still? ?captured? ?it.”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?chuckled,? ?“Be? ?that? ?as? ?it? ?may,? ?San? ?Lang? ?still? ?caught? ?it? ?so? ?effortlessly,? ?much? ?more? ?

so? ?than? ?if? ?I? ?was? ?to? ?try.”? ?

?

It? ?was? ?an? ?offhand? ?comment,? ?but? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?remarked,? ?“Is? ?that? ?right?? ?And? ?if? ?I? ?didn’t? ?

appear,? ?how? ?did? ?you? ?plan? ?on? ?capturing? ?it?? ?Eat? ?it? ?into? ?your? ?stomach? ?then? ?swallow? ?the? ?

sword? ?too?”? ? ?

?

“...”? ?

?

He? ?had? ?actually? ?hit? ?it? ?right? ?on? ?the? ?mark.? ?

?

There? ?wasn’t? ?any? ?trace? ?of? ?displeasure? ?on? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?face,? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?somehow? ?felt? ?

maybe? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?was? ?a? ?little? ?mad.? ?

?

Instincts? ?told? ?him? ?that? ?if? ?he? ?didn’t? ?answer? ?right,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?would? ?become? ?angrier.? ?Just? ?

as? ?he? ?was? ?thinking? ?of? ?a? ?response,? ?he? ?suddenly? ?felt? ?his? ?stomach? ?shrink? ?slightly,? ?and? ?

without? ?thinking,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“...I’m? ?a? ?little? ?hungry.”? ? ?

?

“...”? ?

?

It? ?was? ?only? ?after? ?the? ?words? ?had? ?left? ?his? ?lips? ?did? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?realize? ?what? ?he? ?had? ?said.? ?Too? ?

embarrassed? ?to? ?see? ?the? ?reaction? ?on? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?face,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?explained? ?himself? ?

honestly,? ?“This? ?time? ?it’s? ?true...”? ?

?

A? ?moment? ?later? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?finally? ?“pfft”-ed? ?and? ?laughed? ?out? ?loud.? ?

?

Once? ?he? ?laughed,? ?it? ?was? ?as? ?if? ?all? ?of? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?gloomy? ?clouds? ?dispersed,? ?and? ?he? ?sighed? ?a? ?

breath? ?of? ?relief.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?on? ?the? ?other? ?hand,? ?was? ?half? ?laughing,? ?half? ?sighing,? ?and? ?

nodded? ?his? ?head,? ?“Alright.”? ? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?wanted? ?to? ?keep? ?him? ?and? ?set? ?out? ?a? ?feast? ?at? ?Paradise? ?Manor,? ?but? ?when? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?heard? ?“set? ?out? ?a? ?feast”? ?he? ?knew? ?it’d? ?be? ?too? ?big? ?of? ?a? ?deal,? ?and? ?suggested? ?instead? ?

that? ?the? ?two? ?go? ?out? ?for? ?a? ?stroll? ?and? ?find? ?something? ?to? ?eat? ?at? ?the? ?same? ?time.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?

agreed? ?to? ?it.? ?

?

It? ?was? ?quite? ?warm? ?within? ?Paradise? ?Manor,? ?and? ?while? ?the? ?two? ?entered? ?dripping? ?wet,? ?they? ?

were? ?both? ?dried? ?soon? ?after.? ?However,? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?dress? ?in? ?women’s? ?attire? ?was? ?awfully? ?

conspicuous,? ?so? ?he? ?still? ?borrowed? ?a? ?set? ?of? ?clothes? ?from? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?changing? ?back? ?into? ?

clean,? ?white? ?robes.? ?Afterwards,? ?the? ?two? ?set? ?out,? ?and? ?even? ?after? ?having? ?walked? ?for? ?quite? ?a? ?

distance? ?the? ?wailing? ?of? ?that? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?could? ?still? ?be? ?heard,? ?the? ?cries? ?of? ?“mom”? ?ringing? ?in? ?

the? ?air,? ?demonstrating? ?its? ?dogged? ?tenacity.? ?However,? ?there? ?were? ?already? ?howls? ?and? ?wails? ?

of? ?demons? ?and? ?ghosts? ?all? ?over? ?the? ?Ghost? ?City,? ?and? ?so? ?its? ?cries? ?were? ?drowned? ?within,? ?not? ?

the? ?least? ?bit? ?noticeable.? ?

?

The? ?main? ?street? ?of? ?the? ?Ghost? ?City? ?was? ?bustling? ?as? ?always,? ?and? ?either? ?side? ?of? ?the? ?street? ?

were? ?stalls? ?selling? ?exotic? ?foods.? ?Although? ?the? ?demons? ?and? ?ghosts? ?remained? ?the? ?same? ?

ones,? ?their? ?attitudes? ?towards? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?were? ?completely? ?different? ?than? ?the? ?last? ?time? ?he? ?

wandered.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?walked? ?next? ?to? ?him,? ?shoulder? ?to? ?shoulder,? ?and? ?the? ?bizarre? ?looking? ?

stall? ?owners? ?all? ?came? ?out? ?to? ?greet? ?them? ?with? ?smiles,? ?fighting? ?each? ?other? ?to? ?welcome? ?them? ?

into? ?their? ?abode,? ?bowing? ?almost? ?halfway,? ?reminding? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?of? ?a? ?random? ?idiom:? ?The? ?fox? ?

assuming? ?the? ?power? ?of? ?the? ?tiger*.? ?

?

Other? ?than? ?paying? ?respects? ?to? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?there? ?were? ?hundreds? ?and? ?thousands? ?of? ?eyes? ?

watching? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?with? ?heated? ?eyes,? ?as? ?if? ?judging? ?and? ?conjecturing.? ?Just? ?who? ?was? ?he? ?to? ?

be? ?able? ?to? ?walk? ?shoulder? ?to? ?shoulder? ?with? ?the? ?Lord? ?of? ?the? ?Ghost? ?City?? ?This? ?made? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?wonder? ?if? ?maybe? ?he? ?made? ?another? ?wrong? ?decision.? ?To? ?be? ?positioned? ?in? ?the? ?flowing? ?

current? ?of? ?monsters? ?and? ?demons,? ?before? ?the? ?eyes? ?of? ?millions,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?

quite? ?at? ?home,? ?and? ?he? ?asked,? ?“What? ?do? ?you? ?want? ?to? ?eat?”? ? ?

?

Finally? ?seeing? ?a? ?stall? ?that? ?was? ?selling? ?something? ?that? ?wasn’t? ?that? ?weird,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?wanted? ?

to? ?end? ?things? ?quickly? ?and? ?said,? ?“This? ?one’s? ?fine.”? ? ?

?

However,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said,? ?“Not? ?this? ?one.”? ?

?

“Why?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?curious.? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?didn’t? ?say? ?a? ?word,? ?but? ?gestured? ?for? ?him? ?to? ?look? ?inside.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?took? ?a? ?look,? ?

and? ?when? ?the? ?stall? ?owner? ?saw? ?them? ?stopping? ?before? ?him,? ?he? ?rubbed? ?his? ?hands? ?in? ?

excitement? ?as? ?if? ?waiting? ?to? ?welcome? ?them? ?in,? ?nervously? ?wiping? ?the? ?tables,? ?chairs,? ?and? ?

benches? ?vigourously.? ?However,? ?what? ?he? ?was? ?using? ?to? ?clean? ?the? ?furniture? ?was? ?his? ?tongue.? ?

?

“...”? ?

?

Although? ?the? ?bowls? ?and? ?cutleries? ?were? ?dripping? ?with? ?shimmering? ?beads? ?of? ?water? ?after? ?

having? ?been? ?licked? ?by? ?that? ?wide? ?and? ?long? ?tongue,? ?reflecting? ?a? ?shine? ?that? ?made? ?them? ?look? ?

brand? ?new,? ?still? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?decided? ?to? ?abandon? ?that? ?stall? ?resolutely,? ?and? ?hurried? ?away.? ?After? ?

a? ?few? ?steps,? ?he? ?saw? ?another? ?stall;? ?a? ?chicken? ?soup? ?shop? ?that? ?appeared? ?cleanly? ?put? ?

together,? ?the? ?sign? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?the? ?door? ?said? ?“Home? ?raised? ?chicken,? ?slow? ?cooked? ?broth.? ?

Made? ?fresh,? ?guaranteed? ?clean”.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?stopped,? ?“Oh,? ?chicken? ?soup.? ?How? ?about? ?a? ?

bowl?”? ? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng,? ?however,? ?said? ?again,? ?“Not? ?this? ?one? ?either.”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?blinked,? ?“Is? ?it? ?a? ?problem? ?with? ?the? ?plates? ?or? ?is? ?it? ?with? ?the? ?chicken?”? ? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?brought? ?him? ?into? ?the? ?shop,? ?pulled? ?aside? ?a? ?set? ?of? ?curtains,? ?and? ?gestured? ?for? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?to? ?look.? ?Curious,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?poked? ?his? ?head? ?in,? ?and? ?immediately? ?became? ?

speechless.? ?Inside? ?the? ?kitchen? ?was? ?an? ?enormous? ?pot,? ?a? ?roaring? ?fire? ?beneath? ?it,? ?and? ?

steam? ?rolled? ?out? ?of? ?it.? ?Inside? ?the? ?pot? ?was? ?a? ?large? ?man? ?with? ?a? ?bright? ?red? ?cockscomb? ?on? ?his? ?

head? ?and? ?he? ?was? ?simmering? ?in? ?the? ?boiling? ?waters? ?happily? ?taking? ?a? ?bath.? ?Next? ?to? ?the? ?pot? ?

were? ?many? ?buckets? ?and? ?they? ?contained? ?salt,? ?pepper,? ?herbs,? ?and? ?other? ?such? ?seasonings.? ?

In? ?the? ?shop? ?front? ?a? ?customer? ?yelled,? ?“BOSS,? ?ADD? ?MORE? ?SALT? ?TO? ?THE? ?SOUP!? ?IT’S? ?

TOO? ?PLAIN!”? ? ?

?

As? ?he? ?bathed,? ?that? ?man? ?grabbed? ?a? ?large? ?handful? ?of? ?seasoning? ?and? ?smeared? ?it? ?on? ?

himself,? ?rubbing? ?them? ?hard? ?into? ?his? ?body? ?with? ?a? ?towel,? ?increasing? ?the? ?flavour.? ?Then,? ?he? ?

let? ?out? ?a? ?long? ?crow:? ?“COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO!”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?dropped? ?the? ?curtains? ?and? ?silently? ?walked? ?out.? ?

?

After? ?making? ?a? ?large? ?round,? ?the? ?two? ?finally? ?found? ?a? ?shop,? ?its? ?specialty? ?being? ?“Authentic? ?

Delicacies? ?of? ?the? ?Mortal? ?Realm”.? ?Although,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?suspicious? ?of? ?just? ?how? ?

‘authentic’? ?it? ?was.? ?For? ?example,? ?as? ?far? ?as? ?he? ?knew,? ?mortal? ?chefs? ?wouldn’t? ?use? ?the? ?meat? ?of? ?

large,? ?hard-to-hunt? ?monsters? ?to? ?make? ?skewers.? ?Nonetheless,? ?in? ?comparison,? ?this? ?shop? ?

was? ?the? ?most? ?normal.? ?

?

The? ?moment? ?the? ?two? ?sat? ?down,? ?the? ?crowd? ?of? ?ghosts? ?who? ?had? ?been? ?following? ?behind? ?

immediately? ?approached? ?and? ?surrounded? ?them,? ?attentively? ?soliciting? ?to? ?add? ?more? ?dishes? ?

to? ?their? ?meal.? ?That? ?hog? ?butcher? ?carried? ?with? ?him? ?a? ?thick,? ?white? ?human? ?leg,? ?slapping? ?at? ?it? ?

soundly,? ?and? ?cried? ?with? ?a? ?rough? ?voice,? ?“MY? ?LORD!? ?DO? ?YOU? ?WANT? ?FRESH? ?THIGHS?!? ?

THIS? ?JUST? ?CAME? ?IN!”? ? ?

?

The? ?crowd? ?yelled? ?at? ?him,? ?“GET? ?OUTTA? ?HERE!? ?D’YA? ?THINK? ?THE? ?LORD’S? ?FRIEND? ?

WOULD? ?EAT? ?THAT? ?SHIT?? ?YA? ?TAKIN’? ?HIM? ?FOR? ?THE? ?GREEN? ?GHOST?? ?MAYBE? ?YER? ?

OWN? ?THIGHS? ?WOULD? ?BE? ?MORE? ?EDIBLE!”? ? ?

?

“WHAT? ?A? ?STRONG? ?STENCH? ?OF? ?BLOOD!? ?YER? ?DISGUSTING? ?PEOPLE!”? ?

?

That? ?hog? ?actually? ?raised? ?one? ?of? ?his? ?pig? ?legs? ?and? ?shouted,? ?“IF? ?MY? ?LORD? ?AND? ?MY? ?

LORD’S? ?FRIEND? ?LIKE? ?IT,? ?MY? ?OL’? ?LEG? ?IS? ?NOTHING,? ?I’LL? ?BUTCHER? ?IT!? ?LEMME? ?TELL? ?

YOU,? ?MEAT? ?ON? ?MY? ?OL’? ?FLESH? ?IS? ?DEFINITELY? ?FULL? ?OF? ?FLAVOUR!”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?smile? ?and? ?ate? ?his? ?porridge? ?with? ?his? ?head? ?down.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?

ignored? ?them? ?pointedly,? ?so? ?that? ?crowd? ?of? ?ghosts? ?and? ?demons? ?fervently? ?tried? ?to? ?push? ?their? ?

goods? ?unto? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?blabbering:? ?

?

“Street? ?food? ?specialty:? ?brain? ?juice!? ?Brains? ?of? ?monsters? ?specially? ?picked,? ?each? ?one? ?with? ?

cultivation? ?of? ?over? ?fifty? ?years!? ?Smell? ?this? ?delicious? ?fragrance,? ?my? ?good? ?sir!”? ? ?

?

“This? ?duck? ?blood? ?pudding? ?is? ?really? ?good,? ?quack!? ?Look,? ?quack!? ?It’s? ?freshly? ?cut? ?from? ?me? ?

own? ?flesh,? ?quack!? ?Won’t? ?you? ?give? ?it? ?a? ?try,? ?quack!”? ? ?

?

“Our? ?fruits? ?are? ?authentic? ?fresh? ?fruits? ?of? ?graveyards,? ?we? ?don’t? ?pick? ?the? ?ones? ?grown? ?on? ?

dead? ?bodies,? ?it’s? ?true,? ?not? ?a? ?word? ?of? ?lie...”? ? ?

?

Mountains? ?and? ?mountains? ?of? ?food? ?were? ?given,? ?so? ?much? ?that? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?having? ?trouble? ?

seeing? ?all? ?of? ?it,? ?and? ?he? ?thanked? ?them? ?endlessly.? ?He? ?didn’t? ?want? ?to? ?put? ?down? ?this? ?wave? ?of? ?

fervent? ?affection,? ?but? ?at? ?the? ?same? ?time,? ?so? ?much? ?of? ?those? ?exotic? ?street? ?foods? ?were? ?really? ?

hard? ?to? ?accept,? ?and? ?in? ?the? ?mess? ?of? ?things,? ?he? ?saw? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?sitting? ?there,? ?his? ?hand? ?

supporting? ?his? ?cheek,? ?watching? ?him? ?with? ?a? ?big? ?smile.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?around? ?him,? ?

cleared? ?his? ?throat,? ?then? ?whispered? ?in? ?a? ?small? ?voice,? ?“...San? ?Lang...”? ? ?

?

Only? ?then? ?did? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?speak? ?up,? ?“There’s? ?no? ?need? ?to? ?mind? ?them,? ?gege.? ?They’re? ?only? ?

overly? ?excited? ?because? ?there’s? ?a? ?guest.”? ?

?

A? ?ghost? ?immediately? ?said,? ?“MY? ?LORD,? ?DON’T? ?SAY? ?THAT!? ?IT? ?AIN’T? ?LIKE? ?WE? ?GET? ?

EXCITED? ?OVER? ?JUST? ?ANYONE!? ?IF? ?THE? ?LORD? ?IS? ?OUR? ?GRAND? ?DADDY,? ?THEN? ?THE? ?

LORD’S? ?GEGE? ?IS? ?OUR? ?GRAND? ?UNCLE*...”? ? ?

?

“YEA!? ?OF? ?COURSE? ?WE? ?GOTTA? ?GET? ?EXCITED? ?WHEN? ?GRAND? ?UNCLE? ?COMES? ?

AROUND!”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?know? ?whether? ?to? ?laugh? ?or? ?cry,? ?wondering? ?whatever? ?the? ?heck? ?were? ?they? ?

even? ?saying,? ?and? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?too,? ?shouted,? ?“Stop? ?that? ?nonsense!? ?Shut? ?up!”? ?The? ?crowd? ?of? ?

ghosts? ?hurriedly? ?acquiesced,? ?“YES? ?SIR!? ?MY? ?LORD? ?IS? ?ABSOLUTELY? ?CORRECT.? ?

WE’RE? ?SHUTTING? ?UP.? ?IT’S? ?NOT? ?GRAND? ?UNCLE!”? ?

?

Just? ?then,? ?unexpectedly,? ?a? ?few? ?of? ?the? ?female? ?ghosts? ?who? ?had? ?been? ?giggling? ?on? ?the? ?side? ?

finally? ?couldn’t? ?hold? ?back? ?anymore,? ?and? ?called? ?out,? ?“Hey!? ?You...? ?weren’t? ?you? ?that? ?

daozhang? ?gege? ?who? ?told? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?you? ?couldn’t? ?get? ?it? ?up?”? ? ?

?

“...”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?almost? ?spat? ?out? ?his? ?mouthful? ?of? ?porridge? ?on? ?the? ?spot.? ?

?

It? ?was? ?like? ?that? ?crowd? ?of? ?ghosts? ?had? ?discovered? ?a? ?major? ?secret? ?and? ?they? ?exploded,? ?

“HOLY? ?SHIT!? ?YOU’RE? ?RIGHT!”? ?

?

“IT’S? ?HIM? ?IT’S? ?HIM? ?IT’S? ?HIM!? ?LAN? ?CHANG? ?WAS? ?GOING? ?AROUND? ?TELLING? ?

EVERYONE!”? ? ?

?

The? ?smarter? ?ghosts? ?were? ?hastily? ?smothering? ?the? ?mouths? ?of? ?those? ?chattering? ?ghosts,? ?

however,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?no? ?doubt? ?heard.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?peeked? ?up? ?and? ?saw? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?

cocking? ?an? ?eyebrow,? ?watching? ?him? ?with? ?an? ?unreadable? ?eye,? ?as? ?if? ?trying? ?to? ?make? ?sense? ?of? ?

what? ?“get? ?it? ?up”? ?had? ?to? ?do? ?with? ?Xie? ?Lian.? ?Originally,? ?that? ?was? ?the? ?excuse? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?

used? ?when? ?that? ?female? ?ghost? ?had? ?been? ?clinging? ?onto? ?him,? ?and? ?even? ?though? ?he? ?was? ?

made? ?fun? ?of? ?by? ?the? ?crowd? ?at? ?the? ?time,? ?he? ?could? ?face? ?it? ?like? ?it? ?was? ?nothing.? ?Yet? ?now? ?that? ?it? ?

had? ?been? ?thrusted? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?endure? ?it,? ?wishing? ?

desperately? ?he? ?could? ?just? ?choke? ?himself? ?to? ?death? ?with? ?a? ?mouthful? ?of? ?porridge.? ?

?

“I...”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?started.? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?waiting? ?patiently? ?for? ?him? ?to? ?continue,? ?but? ?how? ?could? ?something? ?

like? ?this? ?possibly? ?be? ?explained?? ?Was? ?he? ?really? ?going? ?to? ?argue? ?with? ?a? ?straight? ?face? ?that? ?he? ?

was? ?not,? ?in? ?fact,? ?impotent?? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?finished? ?lamely,? ?“...I’m? ?full.”? ? ?

?

That? ?wasn’t? ?a? ?lie,? ?he? ?really? ?was? ?full,? ?so? ?he? ?stood? ?up? ?immediately? ?and? ?hurried? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?

stall.? ?Behind? ?him,? ?that? ?crowd? ?of? ?ghosts? ?carried? ?their? ?mountains? ?of? ?delicacies? ?and? ?exotic? ?

dishes? ?howling? ?nonstop,? ?“MY,? ?MY? ?LORD!? ?YER? ?NOT? ?GONNA? ?EAT? ?ANYMORE?!”? ? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?ran? ?after? ?him? ?too? ?but? ?took? ?a? ?spare? ?moment? ?to? ?look? ?back? ?and? ?ordered? ?again,? ?

“Scram!”? ? ?

?

That? ?crowd? ?of? ?ghosts? ?hastily? ?scrammed? ?again.? ?Ahead,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?walked? ?randomly,? ?but? ?

seeing? ?that? ?those? ?ghosts? ?and? ?demons? ?didn’t? ?follow,? ?he? ?slowed? ?his? ?pace? ?to? ?wait? ?for? ?Hua? ?

Cheng.? ?It? ?didn’t? ?take? ?long? ?before? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?came? ?forward? ?with? ?his? ?hands? ?clasped? ?

behind? ?him,? ?speaking? ?in? ?a? ?serious? ?voice,? ?“I? ?hadn’t? ?known? ?gege? ?has? ?such? ?an? ?unspeakable? ?

affliction?”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?immediately? ?cried,? ?“I? ?DON’T!”? ?

?

Then? ?he? ?lamented? ?woefully,? ?“...San? ?Lang.”? ? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?nodded,? ?“Very? ?well.? ?San? ?Lang? ?understands.? ?I? ?won’t? ?speak? ?another? ?word? ?on? ?

the? ?subject.”? ? ?

?

He? ?put? ?on? ?the? ?face? ?of? ?one? ?extremely? ?good? ?and? ?obedient,? ?but? ?very? ?obviously? ?faking? ?it.? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?remarked,? ?“You’re? ?so? ?insincere.”? ? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?laughed,? ?“I? ?promise,? ?you? ?will? ?not? ?find? ?another? ?person? ?who? ?is? ?more? ?sincere? ?

than? ?me? ?in? ?this? ?world.”? ? ?

?

Hearing? ?that? ?familiar? ?response,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?laughed? ?too.? ? ?

?

A? ?moment? ?later,? ?he? ?asked? ?in? ?a? ?sobering? ?voice,? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?do? ?you? ?know? ?where? ?Qiandeng? ?

Temple? ?is?”? ? ?

?

?

———–? ?

?

?[?????????]? ?‘The? ?Fox? ?Assuming? ?the? ?Power? ?of? ?the? ?Tiger’? ?-? ?one? ?who? ?is? ?weak? ?

appearing? ?to? ?be? ?strong? ?only? ?because? ?they’re? ?next? ?to? ?someone? ?powerful.? ? ?

?

?The? ?Chinese? ?have? ?a? ?very? ?strict? ?hierarchy? ?by? ?age,? ?and? ?addressing? ?another? ?by? ?a? ?

title? ?older? ?than? ?one’s? ?own? ?generation? ?is? ?meant? ?as? ?a? ?form? ?of? ?respect? ?since? ?one? ?is? ?

lowering? ?one’s? ?own? ?status.? ?The? ?ghosts? ?here? ?are? ?saying? ?whatever? ?in? ?order? ?to? ?

please? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?and? ?his? ?friend,? ?it? ?has? ?nothing? ?to? ?do? ?with? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?actual? ?

age.? ?

?

Conversely,? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?addressing? ?himself? ?as? ?‘This? ?ancestor’? ?is? ?him? ?shamelessly? ?

raising? ?his? ?own? ?self? ?importance.? ?

?

?

———-? ?

?

Ch.97:? ?To? ?Compose? ?in? ?Nuit? ?Blanche;? ?Fragrance? ?Added? ?by? ?Red? ?Sleeves*? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?actually? ?already? ?kind? ?of? ?knew? ?the? ?answer? ?to? ?this? ?question.? ?However,? ?Hua? ?

Cheng’s? ?reaction? ?was? ?largely? ?different? ?than? ?what? ?he? ?expected.? ?

?

After? ?a? ?moment? ?of? ?silence,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?suddenly? ?blurted,? ?“I’m? ?sorry.”? ?

?

“What?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?confused.? ?

?

At? ?first? ?he? ?had? ?thought? ?if? ?‘Qiandeng? ?Temple’? ?wasn’t? ?some? ?kind? ?of? ?a? ?joke,? ?then? ?the? ?one? ?

who? ?would? ?have? ?the? ?most? ?connection? ?to? ?it? ?could? ?only? ?be? ?Hua? ?Cheng.? ?But? ?no? ?matter? ?how? ?

off? ?he? ?might? ?be? ?with? ?his? ?guess,? ?there? ?was? ?no? ?reason? ?for? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?to? ?apologize.? ?Hua? ?

Cheng? ?didn’t? ?respond,? ?and? ?only? ?gestured? ?for? ?him? ?to? ?keep? ?walking? ?onwards? ?with? ?him,? ?and? ?

so? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?followed? ?his? ?lead.? ?The? ?two? ?walked? ?for? ?a? ?while,? ?and? ?after? ?making? ?a? ?turn,? ?the? ?

sight? ?before? ?him? ?opened? ?to? ?a? ?broad? ?horizon;? ?a? ?bedazzling,? ?transcendent? ?temple? ?quietly? ?

appeared? ?before? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?eyes.? ?

?

In? ?an? ?instant,? ?his? ?breathing? ?stopped.? ?

?

All? ?around? ?was? ?the? ?smoky? ?dark? ?and? ?vivid? ?crimson? ?scenery? ?of? ?the? ?ghost? ?realm,? ?yet? ?

surrounded? ?by? ?such? ?an? ?ominous? ?backdrop? ?stood? ?that? ?temple,? ?beautiful? ?beyond? ?words,? ?its? ?

thousands? ?of? ?lights? ?enchanting? ?like? ?that? ?of? ?paradise.? ?

?

That? ?a? ?temple? ?with? ?brilliance? ?and? ?enlightenment? ?as? ?its? ?core? ?would? ?sit? ?within? ?the? ?rowdy,? ?

chaotic? ?pandemonium? ?the? ?likes? ?of? ?Ghost? ?City,? ?it? ?was? ?opposingly? ?conspicuous? ?yet? ?

awesome.? ?The? ?second? ?it’s? ?been? ?seen? ?it? ?would? ?leave? ?an? ?unerasable? ?deep? ?impression.? ?It? ?

took? ?a? ?while? ?before? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?speak,? ?“...This...”? ?

?

The? ?two? ?stood? ?before? ?the? ?temple,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?raised? ?his? ?head? ?to? ?look.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?also? ?

lifted? ?his? ?head? ?slightly? ?and? ?explained,? ?“It? ?was? ?the? ?Mid? ?Autumn? ?Festival? ?a? ?few? ?days? ?ago,? ?

and? ?I? ?figured? ?gege? ?would? ?probably? ?join? ?them? ?in? ?their? ?annual? ?boring? ?games,? ?so? ?I? ?set? ?this? ?

place? ?up? ?to? ?give? ?gege? ?some? ?amusement? ?while? ?attending? ?the? ?banquet,? ?make? ?things? ?

interesting.”? ? ?

?

“...”? ?

?

His? ?way? ?of? ?“make? ?things? ?interesting”? ?was? ?rather? ?too? ?shocking.? ?For? ?the? ?sake? ?of? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?

“amusement”,? ?he? ?built? ?a? ?temple? ?and? ?raised? ?three? ?thousand? ?Blessings? ?Lanterns? ?of? ?

Everlasting? ?Light!? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?lowered? ?his? ?head,? ?fixed? ?his? ?sleeves,? ?then? ?added,? ?“I? ?hadn’t? ?wanted? ?you? ?to? ?

know? ?because? ?I? ?set? ?this? ?up? ?on? ?a? ?whim.? ?I? ?built? ?gege’s? ?temple? ?in? ?such? ?a? ?chaotic? ?place,? ?pray? ?

gege? ?isn’t? ?offended.”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?immediately? ?shook? ?his? ?head.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?actually? ?thought? ?he? ?was? ?giving? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?trouble,? ?so? ?he? ?didn’t? ?want? ?him? ?to? ?know.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?really? ?didn’t? ?know? ?what? ?to? ?say.? ?At? ?

this? ?point,? ?to? ?say? ?his? ?thanks? ?again? ?would? ?fall? ?flat,? ?thus,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?steadied? ?himself,? ?sucked? ?

in? ?a? ?deep? ?breath,? ?and? ?proceeded? ?to? ?admire? ?this? ?‘Qiandeng? ?Temple’? ?attentively.? ?A? ?

moment? ?later,? ?he? ?inclined? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?asked,? ?“This? ?temple? ?is? ?gloriously? ?magnificent,? ?the? ?

artistry? ?and? ?craftsmanship? ?in? ?its? ?build? ?is? ?divine;? ?it? ?couldn’t? ?have? ?been? ?constructed? ?in? ?mere? ?

days.? ?San? ?Lang,? ?you? ?didn’t? ?just? ?build? ?this? ?recently,? ?did? ?you?”? ? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?smiled,? ?“Of? ?course? ?not.? ?Gege? ?has? ?a? ?good? ?eye,? ?this? ?was? ?built? ?a? ?long? ?time? ?ago.? ?

I? ?never? ?found? ?a? ?use? ?for? ?it,? ?so? ?I? ?had? ?it? ?hidden,? ?and? ?there’s? ?been? ?no? ?one? ?who? ?have? ?been? ?

allowed? ?in? ?before.? ?I’ll? ?have? ?to? ?thank? ?gege? ?for? ?finally? ?giving? ?it? ?a? ?purpose,? ?and? ?have? ?it? ?see? ?

the? ?light? ?of? ?day.”? ?

?

Hearing? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?let? ?out? ?a? ?breath? ?of? ?relief.? ?

?

If? ?it? ?was? ?built? ?a? ?long? ?time? ?ago? ?but? ?never? ?had? ?a? ?use? ?and? ?had? ?other? ?intents? ?at? ?the? ?

beginning,? ?then? ?it? ?was? ?only? ?adopted? ?out? ?of? ?convenience.? ?If? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?really? ?had? ?

constructed? ?a? ?temple? ?just? ?for? ?him,? ?he? ?would? ?feel? ?even? ?more? ?uncomfortable.? ?Of? ?course,? ?

with? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?personality,? ?it? ?could? ?very? ?well? ?have? ?been? ?built? ?out? ?of? ?pure? ?

entertainment.? ?Although? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?really? ?curious? ?as? ?to? ?why? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?would? ?

construct? ?a? ?building? ?that? ?was? ?so? ?completely? ?different? ?than? ?the? ?rest? ?of? ?the? ?Ghost? ?City,? ?still? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?held? ?back? ?the? ?impulse? ?to? ?ask.? ?It? ?wasn’t? ?a? ?good? ?habit? ?to? ?pry? ?too? ?much;? ?who? ?

knows? ?if? ?one? ?was? ?to? ?step? ?on? ?a? ?mine?? ?

?

“Want? ?to? ?go? ?in? ?and? ?take? ?a? ?look?”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?asked.? ?

?

“Of? ?course.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?answered? ?cheerfully.? ?

?

Side? ?by? ?side,? ?the? ?two? ?entered? ?the? ?temple? ?leisurely,? ?strolling? ?through? ?the? ?path? ?paved? ?by? ?

jaded? ?stones.? ?Looking? ?around,? ?the? ?interior? ?of? ?the? ?temple? ?was? ?wide? ?and? ?open,? ?but? ?it? ?didn’t? ?

have? ?a? ?divine? ?statue? ?nor? ?the? ?cushions? ?used? ?for? ?worshippers? ?to? ?kneel.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?spoke? ?

up,? ?“This? ?was? ?built? ?in? ?a? ?hurry,? ?so? ?if? ?there’s? ?anything? ?amiss,? ?pray? ?gege? ?won’t? ?mind.”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?grinned,? ?“Not? ?at? ?all.? ?I? ?think? ?this? ?is? ?very? ?nice.? ?Very,? ?very? ?nice.? ?It’s? ?good? ?that? ?there? ?

isn’t? ?an? ?idol? ?or? ?any? ?cushions,? ?best? ?if? ?there? ?won’t? ?ever? ?be? ?any.? ?But,? ?how? ?come? ?there’s? ?no? ?

establishment? ?plaque? ?either?”? ? ?

?

This? ?wasn’t? ?a? ?criticizing? ?question;? ?only,? ?within? ?the? ?temple? ?even? ?the? ?jaded? ?stones? ?that? ?

paved? ?the? ?paths? ?had? ?been? ?delicately? ?engraved? ?the? ?words? ?‘Qiandeng? ?Temple’,? ?and? ?only? ?

the? ?establishment? ?plaque? ?above? ?the? ?entrance? ?was? ?missing,? ?so? ?naturally? ?it? ?couldn’t? ?just? ?

be? ?a? ?simple? ?overlook,? ?which? ?was? ?why? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?curious.? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?chuckled,? ?“It? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?helped.? ?There’s? ?not? ?really? ?anyone? ?here? ?who? ?can? ?

write.? ?Look? ?at? ?the? ?crowd? ?earlier,? ?it’d? ?already? ?be? ?impressive? ?if? ?they? ?could? ?recognize? ?letters.? ?

Does? ?gege? ?like? ?any? ?particular? ?calligraphy? ?professors?? ?I’ll? ?invite? ?them? ?over? ?to? ?help? ?

compose? ?for? ?the? ?plaque.? ?Or,? ?the? ?best? ?solution? ?in? ?my? ?opinion,? ?is? ?if? ?gege? ?yourself? ?should? ?

draw? ?up? ?a? ?sign,? ?and? ?hang? ?it? ?here? ?at? ?the? ?Qiandeng? ?Temple.? ?That’d? ?be? ?more? ?than? ?

amazing.”? ? ?

?

As? ?he? ?spoke,? ?he? ?pointed? ?to? ?the? ?altar? ?in? ?the? ?great? ?hall.? ?That? ?jaded? ?bureau? ?was? ?

exceedingly? ?long? ?and? ?wide;? ?orderly? ?decorated? ?upon? ?it? ?were? ?various? ?offerings,? ?an? ?incense? ?

burner,? ?and? ?there? ?were? ?even? ?brushes,? ?inkwells,? ?and? ?paper;? ?a? ?refreshing? ?flavour? ?of? ?

scholarship.? ?The? ?two? ?approached? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“Then? ?how? ?about? ?San? ?Lang? ?

compose? ?one? ?for? ?me?”? ? ?

?

Hearing? ?this,? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?eyes? ?slightly? ?widened,? ?as? ?if? ?not? ?expecting? ?him? ?to? ?say? ?that,? ?

“Me?”? ? ?

?

“Yea.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied.? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?pointed? ?at? ?himself,? ?“You? ?really? ?want? ?me? ?to? ?write?”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?noticed? ?his? ?discomfort? ?and? ?asked,? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?is? ?there? ?something? ?wrong?”? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?cocked? ?an? ?eyebrow? ?and? ?replied,? ?“Nothing’s? ?wrong,? ?it’s? ?just...”? ? ?

?

Seeing? ?that? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?waiting? ?for? ?him? ?to? ?answer,? ?he? ?clenched? ?his? ?fists? ?and? ?replied,? ?

somewhat? ?helplessly,? ?“Alright.? ?It’s? ?just,? ?I? ?don’t? ?write? ?well.”? ? ?

?

Now? ?this? ?was? ?something? ?new.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?really? ?couldn’t? ?imagine? ?there? ?was? ?anything? ?Hua? ?

Cheng? ?couldn’t? ?do? ?well.? ?He? ?smiled,? ?“Oh?? ?Really?? ?Write? ?something? ?and? ?show? ?me?”? ? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?asked? ?again,? ?“You? ?really? ?want? ?me? ?to? ?write?”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?took? ?out? ?a? ?few? ?sheets? ?of? ?blank? ?paper,? ?laid? ?them? ?out? ?neatly? ?upon? ?the? ?jaded? ?

bureau? ?and? ?attentively? ?flattened? ?them,? ?then? ?he? ?picked? ?out? ?a? ?fine? ?looking? ?purple? ?brush? ?

and? ?put? ?it? ?into? ?his? ?hand.? ?“Come.”? ?

?

Seeing? ?that? ?he? ?had? ?everything? ?prepared,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said,? ?“Alright,? ?fine.? ?But? ?don’t? ?

laugh.”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?nodded,? ?“But? ?of? ?course.”? ?

?

Thus,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?took? ?the? ?brush? ?and? ?started? ?writing,? ?assuming? ?an? ?air? ?of? ?seriousness.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?watched,? ?standing? ?next? ?to? ?him,? ?but? ?the? ?more? ?he? ?watched,? ?the? ?more? ?his? ?face? ?

changed? ?colours.? ?

?

He? ?really? ?wanted? ?to? ?hold? ?it? ?in,? ?but? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?do? ?it.? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?while? ?drawing? ?madness,? ?

writing? ?recklessly? ?on? ?that? ?paper,? ?chided? ?half? ?warningly? ?half? ?jokingly,? ?“Gege.”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?immediately? ?schooled? ?his? ?expression,? ?“My? ?bad.”? ? ?

?

He? ?didn’t? ?want? ?to,? ?but? ?what? ?could? ?he? ?do?? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?writing? ?was? ?just? ?too? ?funny!!!? ?

?

In? ?all? ?the? ?history? ?of? ?crazed? ?writing? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?ever? ?seen,? ?none? ?even? ?held? ?a? ?torch? ?

halfway? ?to? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?wild? ?brushwork,? ?and? ?within? ?the? ?wildness? ?carried? ?a? ?malevolent? ?

whirlwind? ?and? ?the? ?air? ?of? ?evil.? ?If? ?any? ?calligraphy? ?professors? ?were? ?to? ?see? ?this? ?they’d? ?

probably? ?roll? ?their? ?eyes? ?back? ?and? ?perish? ?on? ?the? ?spot.? ?It? ?took? ?a? ?long? ?time? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?with? ?

immense? ?difficulty? ?before? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?make? ?out? ?“the? ?sea”,? ?“waters”,? ?“the? ?peak”,? ?

“clouds”? ?and? ?other? ?such? ?devilish? ?characters,? ?and? ?guessed? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?must? ?be? ?writing? ?

“?No? ?water’s? ?enough? ?when? ?you? ?have? ?crossed? ?the? ?sea;? ?

No? ?cloud? ?is? ?beautiful? ?but? ?that? ?which? ?crowns? ?the? ?peak?*”? ? ?

?

Thinking? ?of? ?how? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?dominated? ?the? ?ghost? ?realm,? ?feared? ?by? ?all? ?of? ?heavens? ?and? ?

hell,? ?finally? ?showed? ?such? ?an? ?expression? ?on? ?something,? ?and? ?when? ?he? ?wrote? ?it? ?was? ?such? ?

verses,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?burst? ?his? ?gut? ?holding? ?in? ?his? ?laughter.? ?He? ?picked? ?up? ?with? ?

both? ?hands? ?the? ?end? ?product? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?completed? ?with? ?but? ?one? ?swing? ?of? ?his? ?hand,? ?and? ?

forcibly? ?pretended? ?to? ?be? ?calm,? ?“Good.? ?It’s? ?got? ?such? ?personality,? ?a? ?great? ?sense? ?of? ?unity.? ?It’s? ?

got? ?‘style’.”? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?placed? ?the? ?brush? ?back,? ?looking? ?poised? ?and? ?proper,? ?and? ?squinted? ?with? ?a? ?

smile,? ?“Madness,? ?you? ?mean.”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?pretended? ?not? ?to? ?hear,? ?and? ?started? ?commenting? ?with? ?an? ?air? ?of? ?seriousness,? ?“In? ?

truth,? ?it’s? ?not? ?hard? ?to? ?write? ?well,? ?it’s? ?writing? ?with? ?‘style’? ?that’s? ?what’s? ?difficult.? ?If? ?it? ?was? ?only? ?

to? ?look? ?good,? ?but? ?looked? ?exactly? ?the? ?same? ?as? ?thousands? ?others,? ?then? ?it’d? ?still? ?be? ?nothing? ?

more? ?than? ?common.? ?San? ?Lang? ?has? ?a? ?good? ?foundation,? ?the? ?talent? ?of? ?profession,? ?the? ?force? ?

to? ?swallow? ?mountains...”? ?there? ?were? ?two? ?other? ?idioms? ?that? ?followed:? ?Broken? ?landscapes,? ?

ruined? ?armies.? ?It? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?helped;? ?making? ?up? ?praises? ?was? ?also? ?quite? ?hard.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?

stood? ?there,? ?and? ?the? ?more? ?he? ?listened? ?the? ?higher? ?his? ?brows? ?raised.? ?He? ?asked? ?doubtfully,? ?

“Really?”? ? ?

?

“When? ?have? ?I? ?ever? ?lied? ?to? ?San? ?Lang?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?calmly? ?and? ?lazily? ?added? ?a? ?few? ?incense? ?blocks? ?into? ?the? ?small? ?golden? ?vessel? ?

on? ?the? ?side,? ?and? ?in? ?the? ?midst? ?of? ?fresh,? ?faint? ?fragrance,? ?he? ?conversed? ?with? ?an? ?air? ?of? ?

nonchalance,? ?“I? ?do? ?want? ?to? ?write? ?well,? ?but? ?there’s? ?no? ?one? ?to? ?teach? ?me,? ?and? ?I? ?don’t? ?know? ?if? ?

there? ?are? ?any? ?tricks? ?to? ?it.”? ? ?

?

He? ?certainly? ?asked? ?the? ?right? ?person.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?hummed? ?and? ?replied,? ?“There’s? ?really? ?no? ?

trick? ?to? ?it,? ?just...”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?contemplated,? ?but? ?felt? ?that? ?in? ?the? ?end? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?just? ?tell? ?and? ?

not? ?show,? ?so? ?he? ?shuffled? ?closer,? ?picking? ?up? ?the? ?brush? ?himself,? ?and? ?wrote? ?down? ?the? ?last? ?

two? ?verses? ?to? ?the? ?poem? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?written.? ?It? ?was? ?done? ?all? ?in? ?one? ?breath,? ?and? ?after? ?

staring? ?at? ?it? ?for? ?a? ?moment,? ?he? ?laughed? ?with? ?a? ?sigh,? ?“Much? ?ashamed,? ?I? ?haven’t? ?had? ?much? ?

chance? ?to? ?write? ?in? ?many? ?years,? ?so? ?it’s? ?not? ?as? ?good? ?anymore.”? ? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?stared? ?at? ?the? ?four? ?verses? ?that? ?looked? ?as? ?different? ?as? ?heaven? ?and? ?hell,? ?the? ?

characters? ?with? ?styles? ?foreign? ?of? ?each? ?other,? ?especially? ?the? ?last? ?two? ?verses? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

added? ?–? ?“Crossing? ?through? ?blossoms? ?the? ?eye? ?is? ?lazy;? ?Half? ?fate? ?in? ?cultivation,? ?half? ?fate? ?in? ?

the? ?one”.? ?He? ?put? ?the? ?verses? ?together? ?and? ?read? ?them? ?over? ?a? ?few? ?times,? ?his? ?eye? ?twinkling? ?

and? ?unmoving.? ?It? ?was? ?a? ?moment? ?before? ?he? ?looked? ?up,? ?“Teach? ?me?”? ? ?

?

“Well? ?I? ?daren’t? ?lecture.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?Thus,? ?he? ?began? ?to? ?tell? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?all? ?about? ?the? ?

introductions? ?to? ?calligraphy? ?without? ?holding? ?back,? ?providing? ?insights? ?and? ?personal? ?

reflections? ?of? ?when? ?he? ?practiced? ?calligraphy? ?in? ?his? ?younger? ?years.? ?

?

The? ?perfumed? ?air? ?wafted? ?gently,? ?the? ?bright? ?lights? ?shimmering.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?lectured? ?earnestly? ?

and? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?listened? ?intently.? ?Within? ?the? ?great? ?hall,? ?they? ?chattered? ?lightly? ?and? ?

leisurely,? ?their? ?voices? ?low,? ?painting? ?a? ?picture? ?of? ?softness.? ?After? ?a? ?while,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

prompted,? ?“Why? ?don’t? ?you? ?try? ?again?”? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?“Oh”-ed? ?and? ?took? ?the? ?brush? ?from? ?his? ?hand,? ?and? ?composed? ?himself? ?solemnly? ?

before? ?writing? ?down? ?another? ?few? ?characters.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?stood? ?next? ?to? ?him? ?and? ?watched,? ?

crossing? ?his? ?arms,? ?and? ?inclined? ?his? ?head,? ?“Interesting.? ?But...”? ?

?

But,? ?he? ?still? ?felt? ?there? ?was? ?something? ?wrong? ?with? ?the? ?way? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?wrote.? ?He? ?

observed? ?with? ?a? ?frown? ?for? ?a? ?bit? ?and? ?suddenly? ?realized? ?just? ?where? ?it? ?went? ?wrong? ?–? ?Hua? ?

Cheng? ?wasn’t? ?holding? ?the? ?brush? ?right? ?in? ?the? ?first? ?place!? ? ?

?

Even? ?the? ?way? ?he? ?held? ?the? ?brush? ?was? ?all? ?over? ?the? ?place,? ?of? ?course? ?it’d? ?go? ?wrong!? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?know? ?whether? ?to? ?laugh? ?or? ?cry? ?and? ?stood? ?closer,? ?extending? ?his? ?hand? ?to? ?

correct? ?him? ?without? ?thinking,? ?“You’re? ?holding? ?it? ?wrong,? ?it’s? ?like? ?this...”? ?

?

It? ?was? ?only? ?when? ?he? ?reached? ?out? ?did? ?he? ?suddenly? ?realize? ?it? ?might? ?be? ?inappropriate.? ?The? ?

two? ?weren’t? ?teacher? ?and? ?young? ?disciple,? ?so? ?to? ?instruct? ?with? ?hand? ?over? ?hand? ?may? ?be? ?

overly? ?familiar.? ?However,? ?since? ?the? ?hand? ?was? ?already? ?out,? ?there? ?was? ?no? ?reason? ?to? ?pull? ?

back;? ?it’d? ?only? ?seem? ?overly? ?self-conscious? ?otherwise.? ?Thus,? ?after? ?some? ?hesitation,? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?didn’t? ?remove? ?his? ?hand.? ?Then? ?he? ?thought,? ?the? ?last? ?time? ?at? ?the? ?Gambler’s? ?Den,? ?didn’t? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?teach? ?him? ?how? ?to? ?roll? ?dice? ?with? ?hands? ?over? ?hands? ?like? ?this? ?too?? ?Although? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?felt? ?he? ?learned? ?absolutely? ?nothing? ?last? ?time,? ?and? ?there? ?was? ?even? ?a? ?slight? ?sense? ?he’d? ?

been? ?deceived? ?somehow,? ?this? ?time? ?he? ?was? ?sincere? ?in? ?wanting? ?to? ?teach? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?

something.? ?Thus,? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?warm? ?palm? ?was? ?at? ?ease,? ?pressing? ?close? ?against? ?Hua? ?

Cheng’s? ?cold? ?hand,? ?gently? ?holding? ?it,? ?and? ?carried? ?it? ?to? ?guide? ?the? ?brush? ?across? ?the? ?paper,? ?

whispering,? ?“Like? ?this...”? ? ?

?

He? ?could? ?feel? ?under? ?his? ?hand? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?brush? ?growing? ?wilder,? ?so? ?he? ?exerted? ?some? ?

force? ?to? ?control? ?it,? ?correcting? ?its? ?path.? ?However,? ?it? ?didn’t? ?take? ?long? ?before? ?it? ?went? ?even? ?

more? ?off? ?course,? ?resisting? ?the? ?control,? ?so? ?he? ?could? ?only? ?grasp? ?it? ?tighter.? ?The? ?characters? ?

drawn? ?through? ?the? ?power? ?of? ?the? ?two? ?combined? ?were? ?crooked? ?and? ?twisted,? ?unseemly? ?and? ?

ugly,? ?and? ?the? ?more? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?guided? ?the? ?more? ?he? ?felt? ?something? ?was? ?off,? ?and? ?finally? ?he? ?

couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?gape,? ?“Wha...”? ?

?

As? ?if? ?his? ?silly? ?prank? ?was? ?a? ?success,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?snickered? ?softly.? ?The? ?ink? ?on? ?the? ?paper? ?

was? ?chaotically? ?tyrannical,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?exasperated,? ?“San? ?Lang...? ?don’t? ?be? ?like? ?

this.? ?Learn? ?properly.? ?Write? ?properly.”? ?

?

“Oh.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?acquiesced.? ?

?

Just? ?one? ?look? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?obvious? ?he? ?was? ?only? ?pretending? ?to? ?be? ?serious.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?shook? ?

his? ?head,? ?feeling? ?ridiculous.? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?hand? ?may? ?be? ?cold,? ?but? ?in? ?his? ?grasp,? ?for? ?some? ?reason,? ?it? ?felt? ?like? ?a? ?lump? ?of? ?

hot? ?coal,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?dare? ?to? ?hold? ?on? ?any? ?tighter.? ?Just? ?then,? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?eyes? ?

suddenly? ?swept? ?to? ?the? ?edge? ?of? ?the? ?altar,? ?and? ?he? ?stopped.? ?

?

When? ?he? ?looked? ?over,? ?at? ?the? ?corner? ?of? ?the? ?jaded? ?bureau,? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?tiny,? ?lonesome? ?

flower.? ?

?

?

——–? ?

?

?[?????????]? ?‘Fragrance? ?Added? ?by? ?Red? ?Sleeves’? ?is? ?a? ?verse? ?that? ?described? ?the? ?

luxury? ?of? ?a? ?happy? ?marriage,? ?as? ?“red? ?sleeves”? ?symbolized? ?a? ?bride,? ?and? ?“adding? ?

fragrance”? ?depicted? ?a? ?scholar? ?studying? ?with? ?the? ?accompaniment? ?of? ?a? ?beautiful? ?

woman.? ?MXTX? ?was? ?using? ?the? ?verse? ?as? ?a? ?pun.? ?

?

????? ?

[??????????????????????????????? ?

??????????????????????????????]? ?

?

Ache? ?of? ?Separation? ?(From? ?my? ?Wife)? ?

No? ?water’s? ?enough? ?when? ?you? ?have? ?crossed? ?the? ?sea??? ?

No? ?cloud? ?is? ?beautiful? ?but? ?that? ?which? ?crowns? ?the? ?peak.? ?

I? ?pass? ?by? ?flowers? ?that? ?fail? ?to? ?attract? ?poor? ?me? ?

Half? ?for? ?your? ?sake? ?and? ?half? ?for? ?Taoism? ?I? ?seek.? ? ?

(Translation? ?from? ?

http://www.chinesetimeschool.com/en-us/articles/chinese-poem-think-of-my-dear?

-wife/?)? ?

?

This? ?was? ?a? ?poem? ?written? ?by? ?the? ?Tang? ?poet? ?Yuan? ?Zhen,? ?expressing? ?his? ?undying? ?

love? ?and? ?devotion? ?to? ?his? ?dead? ?wife.? ?After? ?seeing? ?the? ?vast? ?sea? ?(his? ?wife),? ?other? ?

bodies? ?of? ?water? ?could? ?no? ?longer? ?compare;? ?after? ?removing? ?the? ?clouds? ?and? ?mists? ?of? ?

Mount? ?Wu? ?(his? ?wife),? ?no? ?other? ?landscapes? ?could? ?compare.? ?Walking? ?through? ?

bushes? ?of? ?flowers? ?(other? ?women),? ?his? ?mind? ?is? ?only? ?focused? ?on? ?his? ?cultivation? ?and? ?

his? ?wife.? ?

?

The? ?first? ?two? ?verses? ?are? ?currently? ?used? ?to? ?express? ?the? ?nostalgia? ?of? ?having? ?had? ?

something? ?good? ?and? ?beautiful,? ?and? ?the? ?loneliness? ?of? ?having? ?nothing? ?else? ?that? ?can? ?

compare? ?thereafter.? ?

?

——-? ?

?

Ch.98:? ?Bizarre? ?Game? ?Plan;? ?Doors? ?Open? ?to? ?the? ?Fetus? ?Ghost? ?Thief? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?blinked.? ?A? ?fargone? ?memory? ?was? ?like? ?a? ?dust-covered? ?picture,? ?and? ?when? ?he? ?tried? ?

to? ?wipe? ?it? ?clean,? ?it? ?was? ?still? ?blurry.? ?He? ?loosened? ?his? ?hand? ?and? ?picked? ?up? ?that? ?flower,? ?

solemn? ?and? ?wordless.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?put? ?down? ?the? ?brush? ?too,? ?and? ?quietly? ?grinded? ?the? ?ink,? ?

“What? ?is? ?it?”? ? ?

?

“...”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?smiled,? ?“Nothing.? ?Just,? ?this? ?flower? ?is? ?refreshing,? ?I’ve? ?always? ?liked? ?it.”? ? ?

?

It? ?wasn’t? ?rare? ?to? ?see? ?offerings? ?of? ?flowers? ?in? ?temples? ?and? ?palaces.? ?Only,? ?most? ?would? ?use? ?

bright? ?reds? ?or? ?purples,? ?large? ?bouquets? ?of? ?fresh? ?flowers? ?or? ?handmade? ?fake? ?ones? ?that? ?

would? ?never? ?wilt.? ?After? ?a? ?pause,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“Could? ?it? ?be? ?that? ?‘Crimson? ?Rain? ?Sought? ?

Flower’? ?sought? ?for? ?this? ?kind? ?of? ?flower?”? ? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?smiled,? ?“Gege? ?has? ?the? ?premonition? ?of? ?gods.”? ? ?

?

In? ?between? ?laughter,? ?the? ?two? ?finally? ?completed? ?a? ?set? ?of? ?composition? ?together,? ?and? ?the? ?

subject? ?was? ?still? ?those? ?four? ?verses.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?picked? ?it? ?up? ?to? ?admire? ?it,? ?looking? ?very? ?

pleased,? ?“En.? ?Pretty? ?good.? ?Frame? ?it.”? ? ?

?

Hearing? ?him? ?say? ?“pretty? ?good”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?“eh”-ed.? ?When? ?he? ?heard? ?“frame? ?it”,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

“eh”-ed? ?again.? ?“You’re? ?not? ?thinking? ?of? ?hanging? ?it? ?on? ?the? ?wall,? ?are? ?you?”? ?If? ?his? ?deceased? ?

teachers? ?were? ?to? ?see? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?involvement? ?in? ?such? ?a? ?set? ?of? ?composition,? ?they’d? ?

probably? ?rise? ?from? ?the? ?dead? ?to? ?haunt? ?him? ?as? ?a? ?zombie.? ?However,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?only? ?

laughed,? ?“No.? ?I’m? ?keeping? ?it? ?for? ?myself.? ?I’m? ?not? ?showing? ?this? ?to? ?anyone.”? ? ?

?

Just? ?then,? ?the? ?two? ?suddenly? ?heard? ?faint? ?series? ?of? ?screaming? ?from? ?the? ?outside:? ?

?

“FIRE!”? ?

?

“FIRE!”? ?

?

“PARADISE? ?MANOR? ?IS? ?ON? ?FIRE!”? ? ?

?

It? ?was? ?exceedingly? ?quiet? ?inside? ?the? ?main? ?hall? ?of? ?Qiandeng? ?temple,? ?and? ?since? ?the? ?two? ?

both? ?possessed? ?stronger? ?than? ?normal? ?senses,? ?the? ?moment? ?they? ?heard? ?they? ?instantly? ?

looked? ?at? ?each? ?other,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?blurted,? ?“Paradise? ?Manor? ?again?”? ? ?

?

The? ?words? ?already? ?left? ?his? ?lips? ?before? ?he? ?realized? ?it? ?was? ?silly? ?to? ?say? ?“again”.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?

didn’t? ?seem? ?worried,? ?and? ?unhurriedly? ?put? ?away? ?the? ?compositions,? ?“No? ?need? ?to? ?worry.? ?

Gege? ?just? ?sit? ?here? ?and? ?relax.? ?I’ll? ?be? ?back? ?shortly.”? ? ?

?

As? ?if? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?sit? ?back? ?and? ?relax.? ?“I’ll? ?come? ?with? ?you!”? ?He? ?said,? ?and? ?hastily? ?followed,? ?

feeling? ?a? ?little? ?bummed,? ?‘How? ?come? ?every? ?time? ?I? ?come,? ?Paradise? ?Manor? ?gets? ?set? ?on? ?fire?’? ?

His? ?title? ?of? ?God? ?of? ?Misfortune? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?be? ?ratified? ?again.? ?Although? ?this? ?time? ?it? ?had? ?

nothing? ?to? ?do? ?with? ?him,? ?but? ?being? ?sorry? ?was? ?practically? ?a? ?habit? ?by? ?now.? ?The? ?two? ?of? ?them? ?

rushed? ?back? ?to? ?Paradise? ?Manor,? ?and? ?on? ?the? ?way? ?the? ?entire? ?main? ?street? ?was? ?heavy? ?with? ?

smoke,? ?little? ?ghosts? ?and? ?monsters? ?screaming? ?and? ?howling? ?as? ?they? ?ran? ?back? ?and? ?forth? ?

with? ?buckets? ?of? ?water.? ?When? ?they? ?saw? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?arriving,? ?they? ?all? ?called? ?

out,? ?“MY? ?LORD!? ?DON’CHA? ?WORRY? ?YER? ?OL’? ?LORDSHIP,? ?THE? ?FIRE? ?AIN’T? ?BIG,? ?IT’S? ?

ALREADY? ?PUT? ?OUT!”? ? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?didn’t? ?show? ?any? ?response,? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?however,? ?let? ?out? ?a? ?breath? ?of? ?relief? ?

and? ?said? ?gently,? ?“Thank? ?goodness!? ?Thanks? ?for? ?everyone’s? ?hard? ?work.”? ? ?

?

The? ?little? ?ghosts? ?hadn’t? ?expected? ?any? ?kind? ?of? ?gratitude,? ?and? ?the? ?“thanks? ?for? ?your? ?hard? ?

work”? ?came? ?from? ?the? ?lord’s? ?friend? ?no? ?less,? ?so? ?they? ?all? ?became? ?excited? ?with? ?delight,? ?“NOT? ?

HARD!? ?IT’S? ?NOTHIN’? ?MAJOR!”? ?“IT’S? ?OUR? ?DUTY!”? ? ?

?

Only? ?then? ?did? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?realize,? ?for? ?him? ?to? ?show? ?gratitude? ?was? ?rather? ?inappropriate? ?

because? ?he? ?wasn’t? ?the? ?master? ?of? ?this? ?establishment.? ?However,? ?since? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?himself? ?

hadn’t? ?said? ?anything,? ?if? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said? ?something? ?it? ?shouldn’t? ?be? ?too? ?horrible.? ?He? ?

reprimanded? ?himself? ?mentally? ?and? ?stopped? ?worrying.? ?The? ?two? ?entered? ?Paradise? ?Manor? ?

and? ?looked? ?at? ?where? ?the? ?arson? ?started,? ?and? ?sure? ?enough? ?it? ?was? ?only? ?a? ?small? ?area,? ?

nothing? ?more? ?than? ?the? ?corner? ?of? ?an? ?insignificant? ?small? ?house.? ?No? ?wonder? ?the? ?fire? ?was? ?

extinguished? ?so? ?fast.? ?

?

Yet,? ?after? ?this? ?was? ?confirmed,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?became? ?alarmed.? ?He? ?turned? ?to? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?“The? ?

arsonist? ?wasn’t? ?trying? ?to? ?play? ?an? ?ignorant,? ?gutsy? ?prank,? ?and? ?this? ?wasn’t? ?for? ?torching? ?

anything? ?either,? ?more? ?like? ?a? ?red? ?herring,? ?attracting? ?everyone’s? ?attention? ?away.”? ?

?

But,? ?if? ?that? ?was? ?the? ?case,? ?what? ?was? ?the? ?distraction? ?for?? ?

?

In? ?a? ?flash,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?figured? ?it? ?out,? ?“THAT? ?FETUS? ?SPIRIT!”? ? ?

?

Before? ?when? ?they? ?left? ?Paradise? ?Manor,? ?even? ?having? ?walked? ?a? ?long? ?way? ?that? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?

continued? ?to? ?wail? ?and? ?cry,? ?the? ?sound? ?of? ?its? ?sobbing? ?sharp? ?to? ?the? ?ears,? ?even? ?calling? ?for? ?

mom? ?at? ?times.? ?Yet? ?now,? ?that? ?voice? ?was? ?gone!? ? ?

?

The? ?two? ?then? ?rushed? ?to? ?a? ?side? ?chamber? ?outside? ?the? ?main? ?hall? ?of? ?Paradise? ?Manor? ?to? ?

check.? ?When? ?the? ?two? ?had? ?left,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?casually? ?placed? ?the? ?clay? ?pot? ?that? ?

contained? ?the? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?on? ?a? ?desk,? ?and? ?before? ?them,? ?that? ?clay? ?pot? ?was? ?still? ?there,? ?but? ?

when? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?reached? ?out? ?and? ?grabbed? ?it,? ?he? ?immediately? ?felt? ?the? ?weight? ?was? ?different;? ?

it? ?was? ?too? ?light.? ?When? ?he? ?opened? ?it,? ?sure? ?enough,? ?there? ?was? ?nothing? ?inside.? ?

?

There? ?was? ?no? ?way? ?whatever? ?was? ?locked? ?up? ?within? ?the? ?clay? ?pot? ?could? ?break? ?that? ?seal.? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?immediately? ?said,? ?“Someone? ?let? ?the? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?loose.”? ? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?however,? ?didn’t? ?look? ?fussed? ?at? ?all,? ?“It? ?was? ?stolen.? ?That? ?thing? ?was? ?injured? ?in? ?

the? ?troop? ?of? ?butterflies? ?and? ?badly? ?wounded.? ?it? ?couldn’t? ?get? ?far? ?on? ?its? ?own.”? ? ?

?

“Then? ?that’s? ?easy? ?to? ?take? ?care? ?of.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?does? ?your? ?Paradise? ?Manor? ?

have? ?guards? ?that? ?patrol? ?the? ?premises?? ?See? ?if? ?they? ?saw? ?anyone? ?suspicious.”? ? ?

?

“There? ?are? ?none.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said.? ?

?

“...”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?blinked,? ?“None?”? ? ?

?

“Yea.? ?There’s? ?never? ?been? ?any.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?replied.? ?

?

No? ?wonder? ?when? ?he? ?snuck? ?around? ?Paradise? ?Manor? ?last? ?time? ?there? ?were? ?no? ?guards? ?to? ?be? ?

seen.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?once? ?thought? ?it? ?was? ?because? ?they? ?were? ?hidden? ?too? ?well? ?so? ?he? ?didn’t? ?

notice,? ?but? ?he? ?didn’t? ?realize? ?there? ?actually? ?weren’t? ?any.? ?Slightly? ?stunned,? ?he? ?said,? ?“You’re? ?

that? ?lax? ?about? ?Paradise? ?Manor?”? ? ?

?

“Gege,? ?have? ?you? ?ever? ?paid? ?attention? ?to? ?the? ?doors? ?in? ?Paradise? ?Manor?”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?

asked.? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?thought? ?about? ?it? ?and? ?replied,? ?“No,? ?I? ?haven’t.? ?Could? ?it? ?be? ?there’s? ?something? ?

extraordinary? ?about? ?them?”? ? ?

?

“Correct.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said.? ?

?

He? ?pointed? ?at? ?the? ?set? ?of? ?the? ?doors? ?to? ?the? ?side? ?chamber? ?and? ?said,? ?“If? ?one? ?is? ?not? ?the? ?master? ?

of? ?this? ?establishment,? ?then? ?those? ?who? ?take? ?without? ?permission? ?what? ?was? ?originally? ?inside? ?

that? ?didn’t? ?belong? ?to? ?them,? ?even? ?just? ?one? ?item,? ?they? ?won’t? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?open? ?the? ?doors,? ?and? ?

they? ?would? ?be? ?trapped? ?inside? ?the? ?room.”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?recalled? ?the? ?last? ?time? ?he? ?came? ?to? ?Paradise? ?Manor,? ?and? ?at? ?the? ?time? ?he? ?had? ?

always? ?opened? ?doors? ?with? ?dice,? ?and? ?when? ?he? ?finally? ?left,? ?it? ?was? ?through? ?the? ?whirlwind? ?

created? ?by? ?the? ?Wind? ?Master,? ?raising? ?the? ?roof,? ?and? ?avoided? ?leaving? ?through? ?the? ?‘doors’.? ?

Those? ?were? ?all? ?images? ?of? ?violence,? ?and? ?the? ?more? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?remembered? ?the? ?more? ?he? ?

thought? ?he? ?should? ?stop? ?thinking,? ?feeling? ?slightly? ?ashamed.? ?After? ?a? ?pause,? ?he? ?then? ?asked,? ?

“Then? ?say? ?if? ?San? ?Lang? ?were? ?to? ?steal? ?a? ?spiritual? ?device? ?from? ?me? ?and? ?kept? ?it? ?within? ?

Paradise? ?Manor,? ?since? ?I? ?was? ?the? ?original? ?owner? ?of? ?the? ?device,? ?can? ?I? ?not? ?take? ?it? ?away?”? ? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?raised? ?his? ?brows,? ?“Of? ?course? ?not.? ?Once? ?it’s? ?in? ?my? ?hands? ?it’s? ?mine.? ?But,? ?don’t? ?

wrong? ?me,? ?gege,? ?I? ?would? ?never? ?steal? ?any? ?of? ?your? ?spiritual? ?devices.”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?cleared? ?his? ?throat,? ?“Of? ?course.? ?I? ?knew? ?that.? ?That’s? ?why? ?I? ?said? ?‘if’.? ?Besides...? ?I? ?

don’t? ?really? ?have? ?any? ?spiritual? ?devices? ?worth? ?stealing? ?anyway...”? ?

?

Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?jokes? ?ended? ?there.? ?He? ?smiled? ?then? ?continued,? ?“So,? ?to? ?steal? ?something? ?from? ?

me? ?without? ?notice? ?is? ?impossible.? ?Naturally,? ?there’s? ?no? ?need? ?for? ?guards.”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian’s? ?first? ?reaction? ?was,? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?stole? ?the? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?didn’t? ?leave? ?through? ?the? ?

doors? ?and? ?employed? ?a? ?different? ?method.? ?But? ?looking? ?around,? ?this? ?side? ?chamber’s? ?roof? ?

showed? ?no? ?damage,? ?the? ?floors? ?looked? ?pristine,? ?and? ?the? ?walls? ?were? ?fine? ?too,? ?not? ?a? ?trace? ?of? ?

any? ?break-ins.? ?He? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?come? ?with? ?a? ?more? ?skin-crawling? ?thought:? ?

?

Could? ?it? ?be? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?stole? ?the? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?hadn’t? ?left,? ?and? ?was? ?still? ?in? ?this? ?side? ?

chamber?? ? ?

?

Although? ?there? ?was? ?nowhere? ?in? ?the? ?side? ?chamber? ?to? ?hide,? ?still? ?there? ?were? ?plenty? ?of? ?ways? ?

in? ?the? ?world? ?to? ?go? ?invisible.? ?Maybe? ?that? ?thief? ?was? ?near? ?them? ?this? ?very? ?moment,? ?watching? ?

their? ?every? ?action? ?quietly.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?around? ?intently,? ?vigilant? ?of? ?any? ?odd? ?movement? ?

in? ?the? ?air.? ?Yet? ?whether? ?if? ?it? ?was? ?his? ?eyes? ?or? ?his? ?instincts,? ?both? ?told? ?him? ?that? ?there? ?was? ?no? ?

third? ?person? ?or? ?ghosts.? ?He? ?might? ?have? ?to? ?pursue? ?a? ?different? ?train? ?of? ?thought.? ?Just? ?then,? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?chuckled,? ?“There’s? ?no? ?need? ?for? ?gege? ?to? ?be? ?concerned.? ?I? ?have? ?my? ?own? ?way? ?of? ?

finding? ?the? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?thief.”? ? ?

?

He? ?actually? ?looked? ?mighty? ?confident.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?to? ?him,? ?and? ?after? ?musing? ?for? ?a? ?

moment,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?became? ?pleasantly? ?optimistic? ?too.? ?

?

The? ?two? ?waited? ?in? ?silence.? ?After? ?a? ?while,? ?the? ?sound? ?of? ?commotion? ?came? ?closer,? ?and? ?a? ?

large? ?group? ?of? ?ghosts,? ?demons,? ?and? ?monsters? ?all? ?came? ?pouring? ?in,? ?gathering? ?outside? ?the? ?

side? ?chamber? ?like? ?a? ?flock? ?of? ?flappy? ?birds,? ?“My? ?lord!? ?What? ?does? ?your? ?ol’? ?lordship? ?desire,? ?

calling? ?us? ?over?”? ? ?

?

At? ?minimum? ?this? ?crowd? ?was? ?close? ?to? ?a? ?thousand? ?in? ?number,? ?and? ?had? ?it? ?not? ?been? ?for? ?the? ?

large? ?courtyard? ?and? ?chambers? ?of? ?Paradise? ?Manor,? ?they? ?might? ?have? ?not? ?all? ?fit.? ?The? ?one? ?

who? ?brought? ?them? ?was? ?that? ?masked? ?man,? ?and? ?he? ?reported? ?to? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?“My? ?lord,? ?

everyone? ?who? ?appeared? ?on? ?the? ?streets? ?today? ?should? ?all? ?be? ?here.? ?The? ?Ghost? ?City? ?is? ?also? ?

locked? ?down,? ?no? ?one? ?can? ?leave.”? ? ?

?

It? ?was? ?the? ?same? ?voice? ?of? ?that? ?young? ?man? ?from? ?the? ?last? ?time,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?

but? ?steal? ?a? ?glance? ?at? ?him.? ?The? ?ghosts? ?cried,? ?“My? ?lord!? ?Did? ?ya? ?catch? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?set? ?the? ?

fire?”? ? ?

?

“They? ?sayin’? ?somethin’? ?was? ?stolen,? ?even!? ?They? ?tired? ?o’? ?livin’? ?or? ?wanna? ?die? ?again? ?or? ?what!”? ? ?

?

“SO? ?INSOLENT!? ?SETTIN’? ?FIRES? ?AN’? ?STEALIN’? ?SHIT,? ?THEY’D? ?DARE? ?MESS? ?WIT’? ?THE? ?

GREAT? ?ANCESTOR!? ?THERE’S? ?NO? ?WAY? ?MY? ?LORD? ?WILL? ?LET? ?’EM? ?GO?!”? ? ?

?

“...”? ? ?

?

Although? ?that? ?crowd? ?of? ?ghosts? ?weren’t? ?talking? ?about? ?him,? ?but? ?as? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?set? ?the? ?

building? ?on? ?fire? ?the? ?last? ?time,? ?kidnapped? ?someone,? ?and? ?was? ?let? ?go? ?by? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?felt? ?like? ?he? ?was? ?pierced? ?by? ?countless? ?arrows,? ?and? ?softly? ?cleared? ?his? ?throat,? ?feeling? ?

more? ?and? ?more? ?guilty.? ?He? ?peeked? ?a? ?look? ?at? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?but? ?coincidentally? ?met? ?eyes? ?with? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?who? ?also? ?swept? ?an? ?unreadable? ?look? ?over,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?immediately? ?dropped? ?

his? ?eyes.? ?Then,? ?he? ?could? ?hear? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?say? ?flatly,? ?“The? ?one? ?who? ?stole? ?the? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?

can? ?come? ?forward? ?yourself,? ?don’t? ?waste? ?my? ?time.”? ? ?

?

The? ?crowd? ?was? ?shaken.? ?“Among? ?us?”? ?

?

“I? ?thought? ?it? ?was? ?something? ?from? ?the? ?outside...”? ?

?

“Who? ?the? ?hell? ?is? ?it,? ?just? ?go? ?forward? ?already!”? ? ?

?

A? ?moment? ?later,? ?the? ?wave? ?had? ?calmed? ?but? ?no? ?one? ?came? ?forward.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said,? ?“Very? ?

good.? ?Brave? ?as? ?expected.? ?Men? ?on? ?the? ?left,? ?women? ?on? ?the? ?right,? ?divide? ?and? ?line? ?up.”? ? ?

?

Although? ?the? ?demons? ?and? ?ghosts? ?were? ?puzzled,? ?they? ?didn’t? ?dare? ?to? ?disobey? ?Hua? ?

Cheng’s? ?word,? ?and? ?immediately? ?did? ?as? ?told,? ?forming? ?two? ?large? ?groups.? ?The? ?male? ?ghosts? ?

squished? ?on? ?the? ?left,? ?their? ?voices? ?rough;? ?the? ?female? ?ghosts? ?were? ?thus? ?on? ?the? ?right,? ?each? ?

seductive? ?and? ?flirtatious.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?shared? ?a? ?look,? ?then? ?went? ?directly? ?to? ?

the? ?right? ?side,? ?walking? ?through? ?the? ?female? ?ghosts,? ?tossing? ?them? ?looks,? ?going? ?through? ?ten? ?

with? ?each? ?sweep? ?of? ?their? ?eyes.? ?After? ?many? ?steps,? ?when? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?walked? ?past? ?a? ?female? ?

ghost,? ?he? ?paused? ?slightly.? ?This? ?female? ?ghost? ?wore? ?a? ?long? ?dress,? ?her? ?face? ?heavy? ?with? ?

layers? ?of? ?white? ?powder,? ?terrifyingly? ?pale,? ?her? ?real? ?face? ?indiscernible.? ?However,? ?that? ?

exaggerated? ?pretty? ?face? ?was? ?somewhat? ?familiar,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?called? ?out,? ?“My? ?lady? ?Lan? ?

Chang?”? ? ?

?

That? ?female? ?ghost? ?was? ?taken? ?aback,? ?as? ?if? ?she? ?was? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?just? ?saw? ?a? ?ghost.? ?Sure? ?

enough,? ?it? ?was? ?that? ?female? ?ghost? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?who? ?clung? ?onto? ?him? ?on? ?the? ?streets? ?of? ?Ghost? ?

City,? ?fought? ?with? ?the? ?boar? ?butcher,? ?laughed? ?at? ?his? ?“can’t? ?get? ?erect”? ?and? ?spread? ?that? ?

around.? ?

?

After? ?shaking? ?off? ?her? ?shock,? ?she? ?put? ?her? ?hands? ?on? ?her? ?hips? ?and? ?raised? ?her? ?head,? ?“What?? ?

Yer? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?said? ?ya? ?can’t? ?get? ?it? ?up!? ?I? ?didn’t? ?wrong? ?you!? ?Ya? ?gonna? ?seek? ?revenge? ?an’? ?

tell? ?on? ?me? ?to? ?my? ?lord?”? ? ?

?

Although? ?the? ?female? ?ghosts? ?were? ?all? ?a? ?little? ?nervous,? ?but? ?hearing? ?her,? ?they? ?still? ?giggled? ?

softly.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?walked? ?over? ?too,? ?and? ?even? ?though? ?his? ?expression? ?wasn’t? ?readable,? ?

that? ?female? ?ghost? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?was? ?still? ?a? ?little? ?afraid,? ?becoming? ?demure? ?and? ?no? ?longer? ?

stirring? ?anything? ?up.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said? ?gently,? ?“My? ?lady? ?can? ?talk? ?however? ?she? ?wants? ?about? ?a? ?

joke? ?like? ?that.? ?However,? ?that? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?has? ?harmed? ?many,? ?its? ?blood? ?heavy,? ?and? ?it? ?

shouldn’t? ?be? ?let? ?loose,? ?so? ?please? ?return? ?it.”? ? ?

?

Even? ?with? ?the? ?heavy? ?foundation? ?on? ?Lan? ?Chang’s? ?face? ?it? ?was? ?still? ?obvious? ?her? ?face? ?

became? ?paler.? ?She? ?backed? ?up? ?in? ?a? ?hurry,? ?but? ?since? ?she? ?was? ?in? ?a? ?crowd? ?of? ?other? ?female? ?

ghosts,? ?she? ?didn’t? ?get? ?very? ?far? ?before? ?she? ?was? ?caught,? ?sealing? ?her? ?chance? ?of? ?escape,? ?

and? ?so? ?she? ?could? ?only? ?cry,? ?“I? ?DUNNO? ?WHAT? ?YER? ?SAYIN’!? ?WHAT? ?FETUS? ?SPIRIT?”? ? ?

?

“Please? ?return? ?it.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?beckoned.? ?

?

“RETURN? ?WHAT?? ?I? ?DUN? ?HAVE? ?IT!? ?You? ?accusin’? ?me? ?of? ?stealin’? ?from? ?my? ?lord’s? ?house,? ?

but? ?everyone? ?knows? ?there’s? ?no? ?way? ?anythin’? ?can? ?be? ?taken? ?from? ?my? ?lord’s? ?house.? ?

Whatever? ?we? ?take? ?we? ?can’t? ?take? ?it? ?out!”? ?

?

The? ?crowd? ?of? ?ghosts? ?all? ?agreed,? ?yea,? ?that’s? ?right,? ?they? ?all? ?knew,? ?and? ?even? ?the? ?boar? ?

butcher? ?was? ?grumbling.? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?added,? ?“Paradise? ?Manor? ?on? ?fire? ?only? ?jus’? ?happened.? ?

I’ve? ?been? ?on? ?the? ?street? ?and? ?I? ?never? ?left.? ?If? ?I? ?stole? ?anything,? ?I? ?wouldn’t? ?have? ?the? ?time? ?to? ?

hide? ?it?”? ?As? ?she? ?spoke? ?she? ?opened? ?her? ?arms,? ?showing? ?off? ?her? ?empty? ?hands,? ?and? ?even? ?

lifted? ?her? ?dress? ?to? ?prove? ?she? ?wasn’t? ?hiding? ?anything.? ?However,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?pointed? ?out,? ?“My? ?

lady,? ?the? ?last? ?time? ?I? ?met? ?you,? ?it? ?was? ?freezing? ?cold? ?but? ?you? ?still? ?dressed? ?so? ?lightly.? ?Today,? ?

the? ?day? ?is? ?beautiful? ?and? ?yet? ?you’re? ?wearing? ?a? ?long? ?dress?? ?Why? ?the? ?sudden? ?change?? ?Or? ?

are? ?you? ?hiding? ?something?”? ? ?

?

It? ?was? ?only? ?after? ?he? ?brought? ?it? ?up? ?did? ?the? ?ghosts? ?realize,? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?usually? ?dressed? ?

revealingly,? ?and? ?to? ?have? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?say? ?‘lightly’? ?was? ?already? ?very? ?polite.? ?On? ?the? ?streets? ?

she’d? ?almost? ?be? ?exposing? ?her? ?cleavage.? ?However,? ?today? ?she? ?was? ?wearing? ?a? ?long? ?dress,? ?

covering? ?her? ?legs? ?and? ?waist? ?completely,? ?exceedingly? ?strange.? ?Besides,? ?earlier? ?when? ?Hua? ?

Cheng? ?was? ?taking? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?around? ?to? ?stroll? ?the? ?Ghost? ?City? ?streets? ?and? ?the? ?crowd? ?of? ?

ghosts? ?were? ?hollering,? ?stuffing? ?them? ?with? ?dishes,? ?they? ?didn’t? ?see? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?who? ?loved? ?

to? ?show? ?off? ?and? ?cuss? ?the? ?streets,? ?passionately? ?proclaiming? ?“IT’S? ?NOT? ?ME,? ?HE’S? ?THE? ?

ONE? ?WHO? ?CAN’T? ?GET? ?IT? ?UP!”,? ?and? ?so? ?they? ?became? ?agitated.? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?explained? ?slowly,? ?“You? ?didn’t? ?take? ?what? ?didn’t? ?belong? ?to? ?you;? ?you? ?only? ?took? ?away? ?

what? ?was? ?part? ?of? ?you.? ?That? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?is? ?in? ?your? ?belly? ?right? ?this? ?moment!”? ? ?

?

If? ?the? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?thief? ?had? ?no? ?other? ?ways? ?to? ?leave? ?and? ?didn’t? ?stick? ?around? ?in? ?the? ?side? ?

chamber,? ?then? ?there? ?could? ?only? ?be? ?one? ?explanation:? ?that? ?thief? ?left? ?the? ?front? ?doors? ?openly.? ?

?

If? ?that? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?was? ?already? ?born,? ?then? ?it? ?would? ?be? ?a? ?child,? ?an? ?independent? ?person.? ?

However,? ?that? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?was? ?forcibly? ?removed? ?from? ?its? ?mother’s? ?womb? ?before? ?it? ?

reached? ?term,? ?therefore,? ?if? ?its? ?mother? ?stuffed? ?it? ?back? ?into? ?her? ?belly,? ?then? ?naturally? ?it’d? ?

count? ?as? ?something? ?that? ?belonged? ?to? ?her.? ?No,? ?it? ?should? ?be? ?said,? ?that? ?that? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?was? ?

no? ?different? ?than? ?a? ?piece? ?of? ?her? ?flesh,? ?a? ?part? ?of? ?her? ?body.? ?After? ?all,? ?blood? ?bond? ?between? ?a? ?

mother? ?and? ?child? ?was? ?thick,? ?and? ?under? ?the? ?circumstances,? ?they? ?were? ?but? ?one? ?body,? ?so? ?

that? ?female? ?ghost? ?could? ?naturally? ?leave? ?without? ?harm,? ?and? ?exit? ?Paradise? ?Manor? ?openly.? ?

?

Therefore,? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?stole? ?the? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?must? ?be? ?a? ?female? ?ghost,? ?as? ?well? ?as? ?the? ?

mother? ?to? ?that? ?child.? ?Locking? ?down? ?the? ?Ghost? ?City? ?then? ?bringing? ?forth? ?all? ?the? ?female? ?

ghosts? ?who? ?appeared? ?on? ?the? ?street? ?before? ?and? ?after? ?the? ?fire? ?to? ?investigate? ?would? ?surely? ?

lead? ?them? ?to? ?the? ?culprit.? ?Thinking? ?back,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?must’ve? ?thought? ?of? ?all? ?this? ?the? ?

moment? ?they? ?entered? ?the? ?side? ?chamber.? ?

?

Suddenly,? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?let? ?out? ?a? ?loud? ?scream,? ?and? ?grabbed? ?her? ?own? ?belly? ?in? ?a? ?mad? ?fit.? ?

?

?

———-? ?

Ch.99:? ?Bizarre? ?Game? ?Plan;? ?Doors? ?Open? ?to? ?the? ?Fetus? ?Ghost? ?Thief? ?2? ?

?

“My? ?lady?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?exclaimed.? ?

?

Lan? ?Chang’s? ?face? ?was? ?white? ?as? ?a? ?sheet? ?and? ?she? ?couldn’t? ?utter? ?a? ?single? ?word.? ?Suddenly,? ?

it? ?was? ?like? ?something? ?in? ?her? ?belly? ?exploded,? ?and? ?the? ?abdomen? ?that? ?was? ?flat? ?before? ?

swelled? ?into? ?a? ?large? ?ball,? ?almost? ?ripping? ?that? ?long? ?dress? ?part,? ?and? ?rolls? ?of? ?black? ?smoke? ?

were? ?leaking? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?seams.? ?

?

The? ?female? ?ghosts? ?were? ?loosening? ?their? ?hold? ?but? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?held? ?on? ?to? ?her? ?belly? ?with? ?a? ?

death? ?grip,? ?yelling? ?in? ?alarm,? ?“STOP? ?MESSIN’? ?AROUND!”? ? ?

?

It? ?was? ?that? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?in? ?her? ?womb? ?that? ?was? ?thrashing? ?about.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said? ?calmly,? ?

“Gege,? ?stand? ?back.”? ? ?

?

“It’s? ?fine!”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?exclaimed.? ?

?

Lan? ?Chang? ?fell? ?to? ?her? ?knees? ?on? ?the? ?ground,? ?her? ?face? ?twisting? ?with? ?agony,? ?“LISTEN? ?TO? ?

ME!? ?BE? ?GOOD!? ?JUST? ?BE? ?GOOD!!!? ?STOP? ?MESSIN’? ?AROUND!!!”? ? ?

?

“Lady? ?Lan? ?Chang,? ?just? ?let? ?it? ?out? ?first.”? ?

?

Lan? ?Chang? ?shook? ?her? ?head? ?wildly,? ?“NO!? ?NONONO!? ?I? ?will? ?keep? ?him? ?in? ?my? ?womb? ?and? ?

raise? ?him? ?well? ?for? ?sure,? ?he? ?won’t? ?go? ?out? ?to? ?harm? ?anyone? ?anymore!? ?My? ?lord,? ?please? ?I? ?beg? ?

you,? ?don’t? ?take? ?my? ?son? ?away.? ?I’ve? ?searched? ?for? ?him? ?for? ?centuries!? ?Don’t? ?take? ?my? ?son? ?

away!? ?Don’t? ?hand? ?him? ?to? ?those? ?scoundrels? ?in? ?the? ?heavens!”? ? ?

?

It? ?seemed? ?the? ?ghosts? ?and? ?demons? ?in? ?the? ?Ghost? ?City? ?were? ?aware? ?that? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?of? ?the? ?

heavenly? ?realm? ?after? ?all.? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?wailed? ?and? ?started? ?rolling? ?on? ?the? ?ground,? ?holding? ?

her? ?abdomen,? ?as? ?if? ?her? ?belly? ?no? ?longer? ?made? ?part? ?of? ?her? ?body? ?and? ?was? ?instead? ?its? ?own? ?

live? ?creature,? ?shrinking? ?at? ?times,? ?swelling? ?at? ?times,? ?and? ?moved? ?all? ?around? ?at? ?times.? ?The? ?

black? ?smoke? ?was? ?growing? ?thicker;? ?it? ?must’ve? ?regained? ?some? ?strength? ?after? ?having? ?

recovered? ?some? ?in? ?its? ?mother’s? ?womb,? ?and? ?was? ?ready? ?to? ?start? ?trouble? ?again.? ?The? ?crowd? ?

of? ?female? ?ghosts? ?had? ?broken? ?up? ?but? ?went? ?back? ?to? ?hold? ?her? ?down,? ?yet? ?they? ?were? ?

powerless,? ?and? ?all? ?the? ?other? ?ghosts? ?on? ?the? ?left? ?clamoured,? ?“WE? ?GOT? ?THIS!”? ?and? ?rushed? ?

forward? ?to? ?push? ?her? ?down.? ?It? ?was? ?pandemonium? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?clenched? ?his? ?fists,? ?

shouting,? ?“MY? ?LADY? ?LAN? ?CHANG!? ?THE? ?POWER? ?OF? ?THE? ?FETUS? ?IN? ?YOUR? ?BELLY? ?IS? ?

MUCH? ?STRONGER? ?THAN? ?YOURS,? ?IT? ?CAN? ?HURT? ?YOU? ?BUT? ?YOU? ?COULDN’T? ?BEAR? ?

TO? ?HURT? ?IT,? ?YOU? ?CAN’T? ?DO? ?ANYTHING!? ?IT? ?WILL? ?SUCK? ?YOU? ?DRY? ?SOONER? ?OR? ?

LATER,? ?LET? ?IT? ?OUT? ?NOW!”? ? ?

?

If? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?refused? ?to? ?let? ?go? ?of? ?the? ?thing? ?hidden? ?in? ?her? ?belly? ?herself,? ?she? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?

be? ?sucked? ?dry? ?and? ?ripped? ?apart? ?by? ?that? ?cruel? ?and? ?violent? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?sooner? ?or? ?later,? ?

which? ?would? ?leave? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?no? ?choice? ?but? ?to? ?personally? ?cut? ?it? ?out? ?himself.? ?Although? ?it? ?

might? ?be? ?better? ?than? ?watching? ?her? ?being? ?ripped? ?apart? ?by? ?her? ?own? ?son,? ?but? ?unless? ?there? ?

was? ?really? ?no? ?other? ?way,? ?it? ?really? ?wasn’t? ?something? ?he? ?wanted? ?to? ?do.? ?He? ?didn’t? ?want? ?to? ?do? ?

it,? ?and? ?he? ?certainly? ?wouldn’t? ?want? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?to? ?do? ?it? ?for? ?him.? ?However,? ?this? ?female? ?ghost? ?

Lan? ?Chang? ?was? ?stubborn? ?as? ?a? ?mule,? ?and? ?even? ?as? ?she? ?wailed? ?in? ?agony? ?she? ?refused? ?to? ?let? ?

that? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?out.? ?This? ?couldn’t? ?go? ?on? ?for? ?much? ?longer,? ?so? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?would? ?rather? ?do? ?it? ?

himself.? ?He? ?gritted? ?his? ?teeth? ?and? ?cried,? ?“EXCUSE? ?MY? ?IMPOSITION!”? ? ?

?

However,? ?when? ?he? ?his? ?hand? ?reached? ?for? ?Fang? ?Xin’s? ?hilt,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?immediately? ?held? ?

him? ?down,? ?telling? ?him? ?with? ?a? ?serious? ?voice,? ?“No? ?need.”? ?At? ?the? ?same? ?time,? ?a? ?flash? ?of? ?

golden? ?light? ?suddenly? ?erupted? ?from? ?the? ?centre? ?of? ?her? ?abdomen,? ?its? ?rays? ?stabbing? ?at? ?that? ?

crowd? ?of? ?ghosts? ?and? ?monsters? ?and? ?they? ?all? ?screamed,? ?fleeing? ?to? ?give? ?her? ?room,? ?“WHAT? ?

THE? ?SHIT!?”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?fixed? ?his? ?eyes? ?on? ?it,? ?and? ?when? ?that? ?golden? ?light? ?died? ?down,? ?the? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?that? ?

was? ?desperate? ?to? ?rush? ?out? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?fettered? ?by? ?something,? ?and? ?Lan? ?Chang’s? ?

abdomen? ?flatten? ?down? ?to? ?its? ?normal? ?form.? ?The? ?thing? ?that? ?fettered? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?belt? ?on? ?her? ?

waist.? ?

?

That? ?belt? ?looked? ?normal? ?and? ?indistinct,? ?but? ?when? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?took? ?a? ?good? ?look,? ?he? ?was? ?

astonished,? ?“...Why? ?would? ?something? ?like? ?this? ?be? ?on? ?you?”? ? ?

?

Even? ?if? ?its? ?colour? ?had? ?faded? ?from? ?wash,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?tell? ?that? ?that? ?belt? ?was? ?something? ?

that? ?belonged? ?to? ?the? ?heavens.? ?

?

There? ?were? ?many? ?objects? ?in? ?heaven? ?that? ?were? ?artful? ?spiritual? ?devices.? ?Thus,? ?only? ?in? ?dire? ?

circumstances? ?would? ?they? ?show? ?themselves? ?to? ?protect? ?their? ?masters? ?in? ?a? ?moment? ?of? ?

urgency.? ?Also,? ?even? ?if? ?the? ?embroidered? ?patterns? ?on? ?it? ?was? ?heavily? ?rubbed? ?off? ?and? ?

damaged,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?still? ?determine? ?that? ?it? ?must? ?be? ?the? ?‘Golden? ?Belt’? ?that? ?only? ?

heavenly? ?officials? ?could? ?possess.? ?

?

Looking? ?at? ?its? ?make,? ?it? ?was? ?also? ?from? ?one? ?of? ?the? ?Upper? ?Court!? ? ?

?

In? ?the? ?heavenly? ?realm,? ?to? ?gift? ?a? ?Golden? ?Belt? ?was? ?a? ?trendy? ?act? ?of? ?elegance,? ?and? ?it? ?

possessed? ?a? ?special? ?meaning.? ?If? ?a? ?male? ?official? ?was? ?to? ?gift? ?his? ?belt? ?to? ?another,? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?

gesture? ?of? ?affection,? ?and? ?there? ?was? ?no? ?need? ?to? ?further? ?explain? ?what? ?the? ?‘special? ?meaning’? ?

would? ?be.? ?Thus,? ?something? ?like? ?a? ?belt? ?would? ?of? ?course? ?not? ?be? ?easily? ?given? ?away,? ?and? ?not? ?

so? ?easily? ?lost? ?either.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?gaped,? ?“My? ?lady,? ?could? ?it? ?be,? ?your? ?child...”? ?

?

He? ?trailed? ?off? ?as? ?he? ?suddenly? ?remembered,? ?that? ?no? ?matter? ?if? ?this? ?was? ?the? ?lair? ?of? ?evil,? ?to? ?

inquire? ?such? ?personal? ?details? ?of? ?a? ?woman? ?in? ?public? ?wasn’t? ?a? ?courteous? ?thing? ?to? ?do,? ?so? ?he? ?

immediately? ?cut? ?himself? ?off.? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?instantly? ?cried,? ?“NO!”? ? ?

?

‘I? ?haven’t? ?even? ?said? ?anything,? ?what? ?are? ?you? ?saying? ?“no”? ?to?’? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?wondered.? ?

?

He? ?asked? ?instead,? ?“Did? ?you? ?depend? ?on? ?this? ?Golden? ?Belt? ?to? ?support? ?yourself? ?throughout? ?

the? ?past? ?seven,? ?eight? ?hundred? ?years?”? ? ?

?

Hearing? ?this,? ?all? ?the? ?female? ?ghosts? ?were? ?stunned,? ?“...HOLY? ?SHIT? ?LAN? ?CHANG,? ?YER? ?

THAT? ?OLD?!”? ? ?

?

“DIDN’CHA? ?ALWAYS? ?SAY? ?YER? ?ONLY? ?THREE? ?HUNDRED? ?SUMTHIN’?”? ? ?

?

“NO,? ?SHE’S? ?EVEN? ?SAID? ?SHE? ?WAS? ?TWO? ?HUNDRED? ?BEFORE!!? ?YA? ?FALSIFYIN’? ?YER? ?

AGE!!!”? ? ?

?

That? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?had? ?about? ?seven? ?to? ?eight? ?hundred? ?years? ?of? ?cultivation,? ?then? ?its? ?mother? ?

would? ?naturally? ?be? ?around? ?that? ?age? ?too.? ?However,? ?that? ?female? ?ghost? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?didn’t? ?

possess? ?that? ?heavy? ?of? ?a? ?grudge,? ?so? ?to? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?stay? ?in? ?the? ?corporeal? ?world? ?for? ?so? ?long? ?

as? ?a? ?normal? ?ghost? ?the? ?Golden? ?Belt? ?with? ?such? ?immense? ?spiritual? ?powers? ?must’ve? ?helped? ?

her? ?out? ?a? ?great? ?deal.? ?If? ?the? ?father? ?of? ?that? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?was? ?a? ?heavenly? ?official,? ?then? ?it? ?made? ?

sense? ?for? ?it? ?to? ?be? ?so? ?vicious.? ?

?

A? ?heavenly? ?official? ?having? ?had? ?an? ?affair? ?with? ?a? ?mortal? ?woman,? ?who? ?knows? ?if? ?he? ?ended? ?up? ?

abandoning? ?or? ?neglecting? ?her,? ?but? ?that? ?woman? ?met? ?a? ?violent? ?end,? ?her? ?baby? ?forcibly? ?

removed? ?from? ?her? ?womb.? ?Now? ?both? ?mother? ?and? ?son? ?had? ?become? ?of? ?the? ?ghost? ?realm,? ?

and? ?that? ?fetus? ?could? ?very? ?well? ?have? ?murdered? ?countless? ?others.? ?No? ?matter? ?what,? ?this? ?

affair? ?was? ?no? ?less? ?serious? ?than? ?the? ?affair? ?with? ?Xuan? ?Ji,? ?and? ?it? ?even? ?seemed? ?rather? ?similar.? ?

?

As? ?for? ?how? ?to? ?deal? ?with? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?already? ?decided.? ?He? ?immediately? ?turned? ?to? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?and? ?said,? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?this? ?lady...”? ?

?

No? ?need? ?for? ?him? ?to? ?say? ?more,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said,? ?“Do? ?what? ?you? ?must.? ?No? ?need? ?to? ?ask? ?me.”? ? ?

?

“Hn.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?acquiesced? ?softly.? ?

?

Once? ?receiving? ?permission,? ?he? ?turned? ?to? ?Lan? ?Chang.? ?Just? ?then,? ?all? ?the? ?ghosts? ?were? ?

demanding,? ?“LAN? ?CHANG? ?LAN? ?CHANG,? ?WHO’S? ?THE? ?DAD? ?TO? ?YER? ?BABY???”? ? ?

?

“WHAT? ?AN? ?OUTRAGE!? ?DID? ?HE? ?ONLY? ?CARE? ?FOR? ?KILLING? ?BUT? ?NOT? ?BURIAL?? ?HE? ?

ONLY? ?CARED? ?TO? ?KNOCK? ?YA? ?UP? ?BUT? ?NOT? ?RAISE? ?THE? ?KID?”? ?

?

“JUST? ?WHO? ?IS? ?IT?? ?YA? ?GOTTA? ?AVENGE? ?YASELF!”? ?

?

Lan? ?Chang? ?gritted? ?her? ?teeth? ?and? ?glared? ?at? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?“...Who? ?else? ?can? ?it? ?be?”? ? ?

?

She? ?hadn’t? ?said? ?the? ?name? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?understood,? ?“Come? ?to? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Court? ?with? ?

me.”? ? ?

?

“NO!!!”? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?immediately? ?shouted.? ?

?

Of? ?course? ?it? ?was? ?useless? ?for? ?her? ?to? ?say? ?no;? ?willing? ?or? ?not? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?must? ?take? ?her? ?away.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?hardened? ?his? ?expression? ?and? ?said? ?solemnly,? ?“This? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?is? ?exceedingly? ?

violent;? ?who? ?knows? ?how? ?much? ?blood? ?is? ?on? ?its? ?hands.? ?The? ?case? ?has? ?become? ?too? ?

convoluted,? ?you? ?can’t? ?protect? ?it.? ?This? ?must? ?be? ?confronted? ?and? ?reported? ?to? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?

Court.? ?If? ?that? ?heavenly? ?official? ?is? ?an? ?honest? ?one,? ?or? ?if? ?there? ?was? ?some? ?kind? ?of? ?

misunderstanding? ?between? ?you,? ?then? ?we? ?can? ?have? ?you? ?and? ?your? ?child? ?be? ?recognized,? ?

and? ?have? ?the? ?matter? ?with? ?the? ?child? ?dealt? ?with.? ?If? ?that? ?heavenly? ?official? ?has? ?wronged? ?you? ?or? ?

did? ?something? ?even? ?worse,? ?then? ?there’s? ?even? ?more? ?reason? ?for? ?you? ?to? ?demand? ?justice.? ?

No? ?matter? ?what,? ?this? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?is? ?your? ?son,? ?but? ?also? ?his? ?son.? ?How? ?can? ?anyone? ?else? ?

interfere? ?if? ?the? ?father? ?is? ?ignorant? ?of? ?this? ?affair?”? ?

?

The? ?ghosts? ?all? ?thought? ?his? ?speech? ?made? ?sense.? ?Also,? ?if? ?they? ?let? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?take? ?her? ?son? ?

to? ?cause? ?a? ?riot? ?in? ?the? ?heavens,? ?then? ?how? ?exciting? ?would? ?that? ?be?? ?The? ?bigger? ?the? ?chaos? ?

the? ?better,? ?even!? ?So? ?they? ?all? ?urged,? ?“Yea,? ?Lan? ?Chang,? ?what? ?are? ?you? ?afraid? ?of?!? ?Go? ?settle? ?

yer? ?score? ?with? ?that? ?guy!”? ? ?

?

“If? ?he? ?won’t? ?recognize? ?you? ?we’ll? ?burn? ?down? ?his? ?temples!”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?to? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?“I? ?will? ?make? ?a? ?trip? ?up? ?to? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Court? ?this? ?instant? ?

and? ?report? ?this? ?affair? ?at? ?once.”? ? ?

?

Lan? ?Chang? ?however,? ?was? ?still? ?objecting? ?but? ?knew? ?she? ?couldn’t? ?stop? ?him.? ?After? ?snapping? ?

back? ?from? ?her? ?shock,? ?she? ?suddenly? ?bowed? ?down? ?to? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?and? ?said,? ?“My? ?lord,? ?

thank? ?you? ?for? ?your? ?kindness? ?and? ?grace? ?in? ?sheltering? ?me!”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?taken? ?aback,? ?and? ?she? ?continued,? ?“Lan? ?Chang? ?setting? ?fires? ?to? ?Paradise? ?

Manor? ?was? ?out? ?of? ?desperation,? ?and? ?broke? ?the? ?rules? ?of? ?Ghost? ?City,? ?I? ?am? ?ever? ?so? ?sorry!? ?

Pray? ?my? ?lord? ?won’t? ?hold? ?it? ?against? ?me.”? ?

?

She? ?had? ?always? ?been? ?a? ?sauntering? ?shrew,? ?but? ?when? ?she? ?opened? ?her? ?mouth? ?now,? ?it? ?was? ?

as? ?if? ?she? ?was? ?a? ?different? ?person,? ?making? ?many? ?of? ?the? ?demons? ?and? ?monsters? ?who? ?were? ?

familiar? ?with? ?her? ?watch? ?in? ?shock.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?however,? ?still? ?appeared? ?indifferent? ?and? ?

turned? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?“Gege? ?came? ?by? ?in? ?too? ?much? ?of? ?a? ?hurry? ?this? ?time.? ?I’ll? ?wait? ?for? ?you? ?to? ?

come? ?down? ?again? ?and? ?host? ?you? ?properly? ?next? ?time.”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?nodded? ?then? ?took? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?and? ?rushed? ?straight? ?to? ?the? ?heavens.? ?

?

As? ?he? ?walked? ?down? ?the? ?main? ?streets? ?of? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Court,? ?he? ?announced? ?in? ?the? ?

spiritual? ?communication? ?array,? ?“Everyone!? ?Please? ?do? ?make? ?way? ?to? ?the? ?Great? ?Martial? ?Hall.? ?

There’s? ?something? ?that? ?needs? ?to? ?be? ?discussed.”? ?He? ?exited? ?the? ?array? ?the? ?moment? ?he? ?was? ?

done,? ?and? ?didn’t? ?waste? ?any? ?time,? ?bringing? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?to? ?the? ?Great? ?Martial? ?Hall.? ?Due? ?to? ?

the? ?fact? ?that? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?was? ?a? ?female? ?ghost? ?and? ?couldn’t? ?enter? ?the? ?golden? ?pavilion,? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?waited? ?outside? ?with? ?her? ?for? ?a? ?moment? ?until? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?himself? ?arrived? ?and? ?gave? ?

permission? ?before? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?was? ?allowed? ?in.? ?

?

It? ?didn’t? ?take? ?long? ?before? ?all? ?the? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?present? ?in? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Court? ?made? ?

their? ?way? ?to? ?the? ?hall,? ?and? ?when? ?they? ?saw? ?that? ?crude? ?female? ?ghost? ?in? ?heavy? ?makeup? ?who? ?

stood? ?clashingly? ?next? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?they? ?were? ?all? ?bewildered.? ?A? ?black? ?clad? ?heavenly? ?official? ?

strolled? ?into? ?the? ?hall,? ?and? ?when? ?he? ?saw? ?what? ?was? ?in? ?the? ?centre? ?of? ?the? ?hall? ?he? ?paused? ?for? ?

a? ?moment.? ?It? ?was? ?Mu? ?Qing.? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?also? ?glanced? ?at? ?him? ?and? ?immediately? ?lowered? ?

her? ?head,? ?her? ?lips? ?quivering.? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?however,? ?didn’t? ?show? ?any? ?reaction,? ?and? ?only? ?asked? ?

plainly,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?who? ?is? ?that? ?woman?”? ? ?

?

Hearing? ?the? ?word? ?“Your? ?Highness”,? ?Lan? ?Chang’s? ?face? ?changed? ?and? ?looked? ?at? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?

as? ?if? ?remembering? ?something,? ?but? ?wasn’t? ?too? ?sure.? ?Just? ?then,? ?both? ?the? ?Wind? ?and? ?Water? ?

Masters? ?arrived? ?too,? ?a? ?pair? ?of? ?brothers? ?who? ?looked? ?quite? ?similar? ?to? ?each? ?other,? ?each? ?with? ?

their? ?own? ?fans? ?fanning? ?gently,? ?their? ?white? ?robes? ?fluttering,? ?painting? ?a? ?beautiful? ?picture.? ?Shi? ?

Qingxuan? ?fanned? ?as? ?he? ?spoke,? ?“Yea,? ?Temple? ?Master.? ?Why? ?did? ?you? ?bring? ?up? ?a? ?female? ?

ghost? ?today?”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?puzzled,? ?“Temple? ?Master?”? ?What? ?Temple? ?Master?? ?Of? ?Puqi? ?Shrine?? ?Why? ?

the? ?sudden? ?address?? ?Then? ?he? ?realized,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?probably? ?meant? ?‘Temple? ?Master? ?of? ?

Qiandeng? ?Temple’!? ?

?

He? ?didn’t? ?know? ?how? ?to? ?acknowledge? ?the? ?title? ?and? ?could? ?only? ?pretend? ?he? ?didn’t? ?hear.? ?Shi? ?

Qingxuan? ?however,? ?was? ?cheerfully? ?pleased;? ?he? ?greeted? ?around? ?then? ?turned? ?to? ?the? ?ghost,? ?

“Eh?? ?This? ?female? ?ghost? ?jiejie? ?has? ?something? ?in? ?her? ?belly???? ?Why? ?do? ?I? ?feel? ?it’s...”? ?

?

He? ?said? ?as? ?he? ?approached,? ?looking? ?like? ?he? ?wanted? ?to? ?touch.? ?Shi? ?Wudu? ?snapped? ?his? ?fan? ?

shut? ?and? ?shouted,? ?“Qingxuan!”? ? ?

?

Shi? ?Qingxuan’s? ?hand? ?instantly? ?shrank? ?back,? ?and? ?he? ?tried? ?to? ?justify? ?himself,? ?“I? ?just? ?thought? ?

there? ?was? ?an? ?aura? ?of? ?evil,? ?and? ?wanted? ?to? ?see? ?if? ?there’s? ?something? ?dangerous...”? ? ?

?

Shi? ?Wudu? ?admonished,? ?“You’re? ?a? ?man,? ?and? ?a? ?heavenly? ?official.? ?This? ?is? ?the? ?Great? ?Martial? ?

Hall,? ?how? ?can? ?you? ?do? ?something? ?so? ?disgraceful?? ?Don’t? ?turn? ?into? ?a? ?woman? ?either!? ?Even? ?in? ?

a? ?woman’s? ?form? ?it’s? ?equally? ?disgraceful,? ?change? ?back? ?right? ?this? ?instant!”? ? ?

?

Ling? ?Wen? ?shook? ?his? ?head,? ?folded? ?a? ?stack? ?of? ?documents? ?and? ?reports? ?under? ?his? ?arm? ?and? ?

approached? ?to? ?place? ?his? ?hand? ?on? ?Lan? ?Chang’s? ?belly.? ?After? ?a? ?moment? ?of? ?pause,? ?he? ?

dropped? ?his? ?hand? ?and? ?hummed,? ?“What? ?a? ?vicious? ?fetus? ?spirit.? ?How? ?many? ?hundreds? ?of? ?

years? ?old?”? ? ?

?

“About? ?seven? ?to? ?eight? ?hundred? ?years.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?answered.? ?

?

He? ?gave? ?an? ?account? ?of? ?the? ?two? ?times? ?he? ?met? ?the? ?fetus? ?spirit,? ?and? ?how? ?the? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?led? ?

to? ?finding? ?the? ?female? ?ghost? ?after? ?having? ?harmed? ?pregnant? ?women.? ?He? ?didn’t? ?bring? ?up? ?the? ?

details? ?of? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?and? ?the? ?Ghost? ?City,? ?and? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?would? ?naturally? ?remain? ?quiet? ?

on? ?the? ?subject.? ?After? ?he? ?finished,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“And? ?that? ?was? ?how? ?it? ?came? ?to? ?be.? ?I? ?don’t? ?

know? ?if? ?that? ?heavenly? ?official? ?is? ?still? ?in? ?this? ?world? ?or? ?still? ?working,? ?or? ?if? ?there’s? ?some? ?

misunderstanding? ?in? ?all? ?this,? ?whether? ?if? ?he? ?knew?? ?That’s? ?why? ?I? ?brought? ?this? ?lady? ?up? ?

here.”? ? ?

?

Feng? ?Xin? ?frowned,? ?“If? ?there? ?wasn’t? ?any? ?misunderstanding? ?and? ?he? ?knew? ?about? ?the? ?mother? ?

and? ?child,? ?to? ?let? ?them? ?be? ?without? ?any? ?communication? ?is? ?too? ?irresponsible.”? ? ?

?

Pei? ?Ming? ?crossed? ?his? ?arms? ?and? ?commented? ?leisurely,? ?“I? ?completely? ?agree? ?with? ?General? ?

Nan? ?Yang.? ?This? ?is? ?too? ?irresponsible.? ?Don’t? ?know? ?which? ?heavenly? ?colleague? ?this? ?

discarded? ?baggage? ?belongs? ?to? ?but? ?if? ?he’s? ?on? ?duty? ?he? ?best? ?come? ?forward? ?himself.”? ? ?

?

Just? ?as? ?he? ?finished,? ?he? ?felt? ?countless? ?eyes? ?on? ?him,? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?blanket? ?of? ?silence? ?inside? ?

the? ?Great? ?Martial? ?Hall.? ?

?

After? ?a? ?moment,? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?said,? ?“...Do? ?you? ?all? ?have? ?some? ?sort? ?of? ?misunderstanding? ?of? ?

me?”? ? ?

?

“...”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?stopped? ?fanning? ?his? ?fan? ?too? ?and? ?commented,? ?“I? ?don’t? ?think? ?it’s? ?a? ?

misunderstanding,? ?more? ?like? ?we? ?know? ?you? ?too? ?well.”? ?

?

Pei? ?Ming? ?immediately? ?countered,? ?“It’s? ?not? ?me!”? ? ?

?

Everyone? ?laughed? ?dryly,? ?and? ?even? ?Shi? ?Wudu? ?and? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?didn’t? ?look? ?like? ?they? ?were? ?

convinced.? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?was? ?growing? ?frustrated? ?and? ?supported? ?his? ?temple,? ?explaining? ?with? ?

an? ?earnest? ?voice,? ?“Um...? ?I? ?did? ?have? ?some? ?flings? ?with? ?women? ?of? ?the? ?ghost? ?realm? ?before,? ?

but? ?I? ?really? ?don’t? ?recognize? ?this? ?woman.”? ? ?

?

If? ?those? ?words? ?were? ?taken? ?seriously,? ?it? ?was? ?believable.? ?How? ?could? ?the? ?man? ?himself? ?not? ?

know? ?who? ?he? ?had? ?a? ?past? ?with?? ?Pei? ?Ming’s? ?promiscuity? ?might? ?have? ?been? ?criticized? ?by? ?

many,? ?but? ?he? ?had? ?never? ?denied? ?any? ?affairs,? ?and? ?never? ?denounced? ?anything? ?he’d? ?done;? ?it? ?

wasn’t? ?like? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?afford? ?it.? ?The? ?women? ?who? ?had? ?an? ?affair? ?with? ?him,? ?unless? ?they? ?

were? ?like? ?Xuan? ?Ji? ?who? ?no? ?longer? ?wanted? ?to? ?follow? ?him,? ?they? ?were? ?all? ?at? ?least? ?guaranteed? ?

a? ?life? ?of? ?riches? ?and? ?care,? ?soaking? ?in? ?wealth? ?and? ?sweetness.? ?If? ?this? ?female? ?ghost? ?truly? ?had? ?

a? ?fleeting? ?affair? ?with? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?whilst? ?alive,? ?she? ?shouldn’t? ?have? ?suffered? ?having? ?her? ?womb? ?

ripped? ?open,? ?her? ?son? ?robbed,? ?and? ?become? ?a? ?vicious? ?ghost.? ?

?

Besides,? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?had? ?high? ?standards? ?when? ?it? ?came? ?to? ?women.? ?Those? ?who? ?he? ?flirted? ?

with? ?were? ?extraordinary? ?in? ?appearance,? ?and? ?he’d? ?also? ?preferred? ?beauties? ?with? ?a? ?natural? ?

look.? ?As? ?everyone? ?could? ?see? ?in? ?the? ?hall,? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?had? ?such? ?a? ?heavy? ?layer? ?of? ?makeup? ?

on,? ?her? ?real? ?face? ?was? ?indiscernible;? ?her? ?general? ?looks,? ?class,? ?and? ?behaviour? ?were? ?all? ?far? ?

different? ?than? ?the? ?chosen? ?lovers? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?usually? ?had,? ?so? ?when? ?he? ?claimed? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?him,? ?

everyone? ?silently? ?believed? ?somewhat.? ?Only,? ?it? ?was? ?still? ?just? ?‘silently’? ?and? ?‘somewhat’.? ?

With? ?such? ?an? ?occasion? ?to? ?see? ?General? ?Pei? ?get? ?checkmated,? ?how? ?fun? ?was? ?that?? ?And? ?so? ?

they? ?stood? ?by? ?and? ?watched? ?him? ?argue? ?with? ?a? ?smile,? ?amused? ?and? ?entertained.? ?

?

At? ?first,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?also? ?thought? ?the? ?father? ?was? ?more? ?than? ?likely? ?to? ?be? ?Pei? ?Ming;? ?he? ?had? ?a? ?

track? ?record? ?after? ?all.? ?But? ?watching? ?Pei? ?Ming’s? ?expression,? ?it? ?didn’t? ?seem? ?like? ?he? ?was? ?

lying,? ?so? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?wasn’t? ?so? ?certain? ?anymore.? ?He? ?recalled? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?saying? ?that? ?Pei? ?

Ming? ?wasn’t? ?a? ?shady? ?man,? ?that? ?there? ?wasn’t? ?anything? ?to? ?be? ?afraid? ?of,? ?so? ?after? ?some? ?

contemplation,? ?he? ?added,? ?“Before,? ?the? ?lady? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?did? ?ask? ?back? ?the? ?question? ?

ambiguously? ?“who? ?else? ?can? ?it? ?be”,? ?so? ?I? ?had? ?also? ?assumed.? ?But,? ?since? ?General? ?Pei? ?denies? ?

such? ?claims,? ?maybe? ?there’s? ?some? ?misunderstanding.? ?It? ?can’t? ?be? ?the? ?same? ?person? ?every? ?

time? ?after? ?all,? ?so? ?why? ?don’t? ?we? ?ask? ?around...”? ?

?

Unexpectedly,? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?suddenly? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“It’s? ?not? ?him.”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?taken? ?aback? ?and? ?turned? ?to? ?her.? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?repeated,? ?“It’s? ?not? ?him.”? ? ?

?

Ling? ?Wen? ?commented? ?coolly,? ?“What,? ?so? ?it’s? ?not?”? ? ?

?

Shi? ?Wudu? ?also? ?politely? ?commented,? ?“So? ?it? ?actually? ?isn’t.”? ? ?

?

“...”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?turned? ?to? ?Shi? ?Wudu? ?and? ?Ling? ?Wen,? ?“I? ?already? ?said? ?it? ?wasn’t.? ?The? ?two? ?of? ?you? ?

are? ?adding? ?insult? ?to? ?injury.? ?Just? ?you? ?wait.”? ? ?

?

The? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?were? ?all? ?disappointed,? ?but? ?then? ?became? ?even? ?more? ?excited.? ?After? ?

all,? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?had? ?always? ?produced? ?wanton? ?scandals,? ?so? ?even? ?if? ?it? ?was? ?him,? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?

anything? ?new.? ?If? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?him,? ?however,? ?it? ?meant? ?quite? ?likely,? ?there? ?was? ?another? ?male? ?

official,? ?present? ?or? ?not,? ?who? ?might? ?be? ?creating? ?a? ?‘new? ?wave’,? ?so? ?how? ?could? ?they? ?not? ?be? ?

thrilled?? ? ?

?

Earlier? ?at? ?the? ?Ghost? ?City,? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?had? ?hinted? ?clearly? ?that? ?it? ?was? ?Pei? ?Ming,? ?but? ?now? ?

she? ?was? ?denying? ?it.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?feel? ?something? ?amiss? ?but? ?didn’t? ?make? ?a? ?show? ?of? ?it.? ?He? ?

inquired,? ?“Hm.? ?Then? ?who? ?is? ?it?”? ? ?

?

Lan? ?Chang? ?stared? ?at? ?him,? ?her? ?eyes? ?unmoving,? ?“You.”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?thought? ?she? ?wasn’t? ?finished? ?and? ?asked,? ?“What? ?about? ?me?”? ? ?

?

“I? ?said,? ?that? ?man,? ?is? ?you!”? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?proclaimed.? ?

?

?

———–? ?

?

Ch.100:? ?Mad? ?Confrontation;? ?Laughter? ?of? ?Ridicule? ?Without? ?Closure? ?

?

If? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?had? ?said? ?something? ?to? ?the? ?likes? ?of? ?“The? ?one? ?who? ?killed? ?me? ?was? ?you”? ?it? ?still? ?

wouldn’t? ?be? ?as? ?startlingly? ?a? ?bolt? ?from? ?the? ?blue? ?as? ?this? ?proclamation.? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?practically? ?knocked? ?out? ?by? ?her? ?thunderbolt.? ?“ME?!”? ? ?

?

Upon? ?the? ?throne,? ?even? ?Jun? ?Wu’s? ?hand? ?that? ?was? ?supporting? ?his? ?temple? ?seemed? ?to? ?have? ?

slipped.? ?The? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?were? ?all? ?shocked? ?into? ?silence,? ?then? ?immediately? ?turned? ?

towards? ?him,? ?and? ?Jun? ?Wu’s? ?hand? ?righted? ?itself,? ?continuing? ?to? ?appear? ?sombre? ?with? ?his? ?

hand? ?on? ?his? ?head.? ?The? ?officials? ?then? ?looked? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?in? ?unison.? ? ?

?

Was? ?this? ?it?? ?The? ?third? ?banishment? ?to? ?come? ?before? ?the? ?eyes? ?of? ?all?!? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?only? ?feel? ?his? ?entire? ?mind? ?numb? ?and? ?shaking,? ?and? ?forced? ?himself? ?to? ?

swallow? ?back? ?that? ?habitually? ?used? ?“I? ?can’t? ?get? ?erect”? ?that? ?almost? ?escaped? ?through? ?his? ?

teeth.? ?

?

That? ?was? ?only? ?a? ?casual? ?excuse,? ?not? ?appropriate? ?to? ?be? ?used? ?in? ?circumstances? ?like? ?these.? ?

Besides,? ?there? ?were? ?already? ?vulgar? ?commentary? ?that? ?passed? ?around? ?in? ?private? ?in? ?the? ?

Upper? ?Court? ?in? ?regards? ?to? ?various? ?martial? ?gods? ?and? ?their? ?attitudes? ?towards? ?women:? ?

When? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?saw? ?women? ?he’d? ?stay? ?respectfully? ?far? ?away;? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu? ?blushed? ?the? ?

moment? ?he? ?saw? ?women;? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?refused? ?to? ?see? ?ugly? ?women;? ?when? ?Pei? ?Su? ?saw? ?women? ?

he’d? ?be? ?expressionless? ?but? ?who? ?knows? ?what? ?he’s? ?actually? ?thinking;? ?Quan? ?Yizhen? ?didn’t? ?

even? ?have? ?women? ?on? ?his? ?mind;? ?and? ?Pei? ?Ming’s? ?mind? ?was? ?all? ?women.? ?If? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?made? ?

his? ?excuses? ?now,? ?no? ?doubt? ?his? ?name? ?would? ?be? ?added? ?to? ?the? ?list.? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?said? ?earnestly,? ?“My? ?lady? ?Lan? ?Chang,? ?please? ?calm? ?down.? ?There’s? ?definitely? ?no? ?

such? ?possibility.”? ? ?

?

Lan? ?Chang’s? ?eyes? ?were? ?bulged? ?bigger? ?than? ?bells,? ?“Yes,? ?there? ?is.? ?It’s? ?you,? ?the? ?Crown? ?

Prince? ?of? ?Xianle!”? ? ?

?

“...”? ?

?

Even? ?though? ?the? ?timing? ?of? ?when? ?this? ?woman? ?died? ?was? ?after? ?his? ?ascension? ?and? ?could? ?

maybe? ?match? ?up,? ?but? ?wouldn’t? ?he? ?know? ?better? ?than? ?anyone? ?whether? ?if? ?he’d? ?met? ?her? ?

before?? ?In? ?between? ?all? ?the? ?whispering? ?around,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?became? ?solemn? ?and? ?said? ?sternly,? ?

“My? ?lady,? ?I? ?may? ?not? ?be? ?a? ?saint,? ?but? ?I? ?still? ?know? ?of? ?a? ?faithful? ?heart.? ?If? ?I? ?don’t? ?love? ?someone,? ?

I? ?will? ?never? ?cross? ?any? ?lines? ?with? ?that? ?person.? ?If? ?I? ?do,? ?then? ?even? ?if? ?I? ?must? ?beg? ?and? ?collect? ?

junk,? ?busk? ?and? ?perform? ?on? ?the? ?streets? ?to? ?feed? ?my? ?family,? ?I? ?will? ?still? ?never? ?allow? ?that? ?

person? ?to? ?suffer? ?any? ?bit? ?of? ?grievances.? ?You? ?are? ?in? ?the? ?Great? ?Martial? ?Palace,? ?do? ?not? ?speak? ?

falsehoods.”? ? ?

?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?piped? ?up? ?too,? ?“If? ?it? ?really? ?was? ?his? ?highness? ?who? ?committed? ?such? ?a? ?deed,? ?

why? ?would? ?he? ?bring? ?this? ?female? ?ghost? ?jiejie? ?up? ?to? ?the? ?heavens? ?to? ?confront? ?anyone?? ?And? ?

why? ?is? ?it? ?only? ?now? ?that? ?this? ?lady? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?recognized? ?him?? ?Just? ?thinking? ?about? ?it? ?

makes? ?no? ?sense.”? ? ?

?

It? ?was? ?easy? ?to? ?see? ?it? ?didn’t? ?make? ?sense.? ?Yet,? ?with? ?such? ?a? ?show,? ?no? ?one? ?cared? ?if? ?it? ?made? ?

no? ?sense.? ?The? ?crowd? ?maintained? ?a? ?reserved? ?attitude,? ?and? ?there? ?was? ?even? ?an? ?official? ?who? ?

blindly? ?guessed,? ?“Maybe? ?it? ?was? ?like? ?this:? ?perhaps? ?His? ?Highness? ?lost? ?his? ?memory? ?so? ?he? ?

doesn’t? ?remember? ?the? ?things? ?he’s? ?done?”? ? ?

?

“Honestly,? ?I? ?think? ?it’s? ?more? ?believable? ?that? ?he’s? ?bold? ?enough? ?to? ?think? ?maybe? ?after? ?eight? ?

hundred? ?years? ?no? ?one? ?would? ?recognize? ?him.”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?speechless? ?and? ?cautioned? ?the? ?crowd,? ?“To? ?prove? ?something? ?impossible? ?by? ?

fabricating? ?something? ?even? ?more? ?inconceivable? ?is? ?a? ?dangerous? ?path? ?to? ?go? ?down,? ?my? ?

lords.”? ? ?

?

On? ?the? ?side,? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?looked? ?like? ?he? ?wanted? ?to? ?say? ?something,? ?but? ?looking? ?like? ?he? ?

couldn’t? ?make? ?up? ?his? ?mind,? ?he? ?paused,? ?and? ?in? ?the? ?end? ?remained? ?silent.? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?cleared? ?

his? ?throat? ?and? ?questioned,? ?“Xian? ?Le,? ?how? ?many? ?Golden? ?Belts? ?did? ?you? ?have? ?in? ?your? ?

possession? ?in? ?the? ?past?”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?covered? ?his? ?forehead? ?with? ?his? ?hand,? ?“...Too? ?many.? ?At? ?least? ?ten...”? ? ?

?

Mu? ?Qing? ?answered? ?flatly,? ?“Over? ?forty,? ?each? ?with? ?different? ?embroidery? ?and? ?patterns.”? ? ?

?

It? ?was? ?only? ?when? ?the? ?words? ?left? ?his? ?lips? ?did? ?he? ?realize? ?it? ?was? ?improper? ?and? ?shut? ?up,? ?

because? ?there? ?were? ?already? ?people? ?who? ?instantly? ?remembered? ?that? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?used? ?to? ?be? ?

Xie? ?Lian’s? ?personal? ?attendant,? ?and? ?took? ?care? ?of? ?his? ?daily? ?living,? ?which? ?was? ?how? ?he? ?had? ?

known? ?such? ?details.? ?Many? ?of? ?the? ?officials? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?think,? ?just? ?Golden? ?Belts? ?alone? ?

and? ?there? ?were? ?over? ?forty,? ?this? ?Highness? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?really? ?lived? ?an? ?extraordinarily? ?

luxurious? ?life.? ?Not? ?just? ?the? ?others,? ?even? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?himself? ?when? ?thinking? ?back? ?felt? ?rather? ?

embarrassed.? ?Back? ?then,? ?he’d? ?change? ?into? ?a? ?different? ?extravagant? ?attire? ?everyday,? ?and? ?

his? ?belts? ?changed? ?each? ?time,? ?matching? ?with? ?whatever? ?outfit? ?he? ?had? ?on,? ?unlike? ?now,? ?

where? ?in? ?an? ?entire? ?year? ?he’d? ?only? ?have? ?the? ?three? ?sets? ?of? ?clothing? ?to? ?wear? ?over? ?and? ?over? ?

again.? ?Those? ?three? ?sets? ?all? ?looked? ?exactly? ?the? ?same? ?too,? ?and? ?with? ?just? ?one? ?look? ?people? ?

must? ?think? ?him? ?so? ?poor? ?he’d? ?only? ?have? ?one? ?set? ?of? ?clothes? ?to? ?wear.? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?asked,? ?“And? ?

where? ?are? ?they? ?now,? ?do? ?you? ?remember?”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?both? ?“eh”-ed? ?silently.? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?rubbed? ?his? ?forehead,? ?“Ahem,? ?not? ?really.? ?They’re? ?things? ?from? ?eight? ?hundred? ?

years? ?ago? ?after? ?all.? ?I’ve? ?long? ?forgotten? ?where? ?they’ve? ?gone.”? ? ?

?

Not? ?just? ?because? ?they? ?were? ?tossed? ?out,? ?but? ?the? ?main? ?reason? ?was? ?because? ?he? ?and? ?Feng? ?

Xin? ?often? ?pawned? ?items? ?off? ?whenever? ?things? ?got? ?tight.? ?Too? ?much? ?were? ?pawned? ?away? ?and? ?

whether? ?if? ?there? ?were? ?any? ?belts? ?left? ?he? ?really? ?couldn’t? ?remember.? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?didn’t? ?have? ?

the? ?heart? ?to? ?discuss? ?this? ?subject? ?but? ?still? ?said,? ?“To? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?obtain? ?that? ?Golden? ?Belt,? ?it? ?

must’ve? ?been? ?given? ?by? ?someone? ?else? ?or? ?maybe? ?picked? ?up? ?somewhere.”? ? ?

?

Jun? ?Wu? ?hadn’t? ?actually? ?expected? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?to? ?remember? ?either? ?and? ?said,? ?“Xian? ?Le,? ?I? ?

remember? ?that? ?your? ?cultivation? ?method? ?demanded? ?a? ?body? ?of? ?purity? ?lest? ?your? ?spiritual? ?

power? ?be? ?greatly? ?damaged.”? ? ?

?

“Yes.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?

?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?piped? ?up? ?again,? ?“Well.? ?Just? ?by? ?looking? ?at? ?His? ?Highness? ?I? ?can? ?tell? ?he? ?

must’ve? ?cultivated? ?such? ?a? ?path,? ?so? ?I? ?was? ?right.? ?If? ?that’s? ?the? ?case,? ?nevermind? ?knocking? ?

anyone? ?up,? ?I? ?bet? ?he’s? ?never? ?even? ?held? ?anyone’s? ?hands.”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?say? ?“that’s? ?right”,? ?but? ?in? ?his? ?mind,? ?suddenly,? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?pale? ?

white,? ?slender? ?hand,? ?cool? ?as? ?jade,? ?reflected? ?upon? ?a? ?bright? ?red? ?wedding? ?veil,? ?its? ?third? ?

finger? ?knotted? ?with? ?a? ?thin? ?red? ?thread.? ?The? ?“that’s? ?right”? ?got? ?stuck? ?in? ?his? ?throat,? ?no? ?longer? ?

able? ?to? ?roll? ?out.? ?Everyone? ?in? ?the? ?hall? ?was? ?staring? ?at? ?him? ?intently,? ?and? ?with? ?just? ?one? ?look? ?it? ?

was? ?obvious? ?that? ?this? ?stump? ?meant? ?“that’s? ?not? ?true”!? ? ?

?

However,? ?“never? ?held? ?hands”? ?was? ?too? ?low? ?of? ?a? ?standard,? ?and? ?even? ?if? ?hands? ?were? ?held? ?it? ?

wasn’t? ?a? ?big? ?deal.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?immediately? ?added,? ?“Even? ?if? ?he’s? ?held? ?hands,? ?he? ?

must’ve? ?never? ?kissed? ?anyone? ?before.”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?wanted? ?to? ?say? ?“that’s? ?right”? ?again,? ?but? ?this? ?time,? ?before? ?his? ?eyes? ?suddenly? ?

floated? ?streams? ?after? ?streams? ?of? ?crystal? ?like? ?air? ?bubbles,? ?the? ?translucent? ?beads? ?

dispersing.? ?Then,? ?there? ?was? ?an? ?exceptionally? ?handsome? ?face? ?with? ?eyes? ?closed,? ?a? ?small? ?

widow’s? ?peak? ?on? ?top? ?of? ?that? ?shapely? ?forehead,? ?beautiful? ?to? ?behold.? ?

?

This? ?time,? ?not? ?only? ?did? ?not? ?a? ?single? ?word? ?get? ?squeezed? ?out,? ?his? ?entire? ?face? ?flushed? ?a? ?

bright? ?red.? ?

?

“...”? ?

?

“...”? ?

?

“...”? ?

?

Instantly? ?every? ?heavenly? ?official? ?in? ?the? ?hall? ?understood,? ?and? ?dry? ?coughs? ?sounded? ?all? ?

around.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?starting? ?to? ?regret? ?saying? ?anything,? ?knocking? ?his? ?fan? ?over? ?his? ?

own? ?head? ?once,? ?and? ?secretly? ?passed? ?a? ?message? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?through? ?their? ?private? ?

communication? ?array,? ?“Sorry? ?about? ?that,? ?Your? ?Highness.? ?I? ?only? ?wanted? ?to? ?convince? ?

everyone? ?that? ?you’re? ?really? ?of? ?the? ?innocent? ?sort,? ?but? ?I? ?hadn’t? ?realized? ?you? ?weren’t.? ?So? ?

you’ve? ?had? ?such? ?experiences,? ?I? ?really? ?couldn’t? ?tell!”? ? ?

?

That? ?“I? ?really? ?couldn’t? ?tell”? ?shattered? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?will.? ?He? ?choked? ?out? ?with? ?difficulty,? ?“Don’t? ?

say? ?anymore.? ?That? ?was,? ?an? ?accident...”? ? ?

?

Jun? ?Wu’s? ?hand? ?folded? ?into? ?a? ?fist? ?and? ?pressed? ?it? ?against? ?his? ?lips,? ?clearing? ?his? ?throat? ?loudly,? ?

“Very? ?good.? ?You? ?haven’t? ?violated? ?your? ?vows? ?in? ?these? ?years,? ?correct?”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?finally? ?let? ?out? ?a? ?breath? ?of? ?relief,? ?“Yes.”? ? ?

?

“Then? ?that’ll? ?be? ?easy.”? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?said.? ?“I? ?have? ?a? ?sword? ?here? ?named? ?‘Yan? ?Zhen’*? ?and? ?it? ?

possesses? ?a? ?particular? ?ability.? ?Should? ?the? ?blood? ?of? ?a? ?virgin? ?flow? ?upon? ?it,? ?it? ?shall? ?not? ?be? ?

stained? ?but? ?become? ?brighter? ?as? ?it? ?is? ?washed.? ?Take? ?a? ?drop? ?of? ?your? ?blood? ?and? ?drip? ?upon? ?it,? ?

and? ?we? ?shall? ?see? ?the? ?truth.”? ? ?

?

Although? ?everyone? ?knew? ?for? ?years? ?that? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?had? ?the? ?hobby? ?of? ?collecting? ?rare? ?and? ?

strange? ?swords,? ?but? ?still? ?all? ?the? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?thought? ?in? ?their? ?minds,? ?‘Why? ?does? ?my? ?

lord? ?have? ?all? ?those? ?messed? ?up? ?swords?? ?What’s? ?even? ?the? ?use? ?in? ?collecting? ?those...’? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?himself? ?was? ?feeling? ?more? ?and? ?more? ?confused? ?by? ?the? ?situation? ?and? ?only? ?wanted? ?

to? ?end? ?it? ?as? ?soon? ?as? ?possible.? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?brought? ?forth? ?that? ?sensual? ?“Yan? ?Zhen”? ?sword,? ?

and? ?immediately? ?slid? ?the? ?blade? ?across? ?his? ?hand.? ?Countless? ?eyes? ?watched? ?intently,? ?and? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?clapped,? ?“GOOD.? ?CASE? ?CLOSED!”? ? ?

?

Drops? ?of? ?blood? ?slid? ?past? ?the? ?blade,? ?leaving? ?not? ?a? ?trace? ?as? ?expected.? ?The? ?proof? ?was? ?as? ?

solid? ?as? ?the? ?mountains,? ?and? ?the? ?crowd? ?could? ?only? ?break? ?up,? ?“Ah,? ?I? ?see.”? ?“Then? ?who? ?can? ?it? ?

be?”? ?Their? ?voices? ?lacklustre,? ?dripping? ?with? ?disappointment.? ?

?

Ling? ?Wen? ?turned? ?to? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?politely,? ?“My? ?lady,? ?please? ?tell? ?us? ?honestly? ?just? ?who? ?this? ?

heavenly? ?official? ?is.? ?The? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?in? ?your? ?womb? ?is? ?unruly? ?and? ?your? ?powers? ?aren’t? ?

strong,? ?so? ?only? ?its? ?blood? ?bound? ?father? ?can? ?calm? ?and? ?discipline? ?it.? ?I...”? ?

?

Unexpectedly,? ?before? ?he? ?finished,? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?pointed? ?at? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?and? ?cried,? ?“YOU!? ?

THAT? ?MAN? ?IS? ?YOU!”? ? ?

?

“...”? ?

?

Ling? ?Wen:? ?“???”? ?

?

Ling? ?Wen? ?probably? ?only? ?just? ?came? ?from? ?his? ?temple? ?to? ?attend? ?this? ?meeting,? ?and? ?was? ?in? ?the? ?

form? ?of? ?a? ?man.? ?To? ?suddenly? ?be? ?pointed? ?as? ?the? ?child’s? ?father? ?by? ?Lan? ?Chang,? ?he? ?was? ?in? ?

baffled? ?shock.? ?All? ?the? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?spat? ?out.? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?thus? ?laughed,? ?“Noble? ?Jie,? ?did? ?

you? ?finish? ?administrating? ?your? ?reports? ?and? ?went? ?to? ?find? ?a? ?nice? ?girl? ?to? ?knock? ?up?? ?

HAHAhahahahaha...”? ?

?

This? ?was? ?probably? ?what? ?they? ?called? ?instant? ?karma.? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?shook? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?

gratefully? ?declined? ?Shi? ?Wudu’s? ?compassionate? ?gesture? ?of? ?wanting? ?to? ?give? ?his? ?‘good? ?

nephew’? ?a? ?red? ?packet.? ?His? ?expression? ?returned? ?to? ?normal? ?and? ?said,? ?“I? ?didn’t? ?finish,? ?and? ?

I’ve? ?no? ?time.”? ? ?

?

After? ?such? ?riotous? ?back? ?and? ?forth,? ?suspecting? ?a? ?number? ?of? ?officials,? ?naturally? ?no? ?one? ?

would? ?believe? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?anymore.? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?couldn’t? ?watch? ?any? ?longer? ?and? ?said? ?

grumpily,? ?“I? ?get? ?it.? ?This? ?female? ?ghost? ?is? ?completely? ?mad? ?from? ?the? ?start,? ?and? ?is? ?only? ?here? ?to? ?

throw? ?around? ?blame,? ?here? ?to? ?stir? ?up? ?trouble.”? ? ?

?

Lan? ?Chang? ?cackled,? ?sounding? ?more? ?and? ?more? ?like? ?a? ?crazy? ?hag.? ?If? ?that? ?should? ?continue,? ?

who? ?knows? ?who? ?she’d? ?accuse? ?next,? ?and? ?the? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?all? ?changed? ?their? ?track,? ?

“Yea,? ?who? ?knows,? ?maybe? ?that? ?Golden? ?Belt? ?was? ?stolen...:”? ?

?

However,? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?wouldn’t? ?let? ?anything? ?go,? ?putting? ?her? ?hands? ?on? ?her? ?hips,? ?she? ?

screamed,? ?“WHAT,? ?TRY’NA? ?GET? ?AWAY?? ?TOO? ?LATE!? ?NO? ?WAY!? ?IS? ?IT? ?YOU,? ?IS? ?IT? ?YOU,? ?

OR? ?IS? ?IT? ?YOU!”? ? ?

?

At? ?this? ?point? ?it? ?was? ?obvious? ?she? ?was? ?pointing? ?fingers? ?randomly,? ?and? ?even? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?who? ?

was? ?standing? ?in? ?a? ?corner? ?silently,? ?focusing? ?on? ?chewing? ?whatever? ?his? ?cheeks? ?were? ?stuffed? ?

with,? ?was? ?forcibly? ?recognized? ?as? ?the? ?father? ?once.? ?It? ?was? ?chaos? ?in? ?the? ?great? ?hall,? ?and? ?

everyone? ?was? ?fleeing,? ?“TAKE? ?HER? ?AWAY,? ?TAKE? ?HER? ?AWAY!”? ?“DON’T? ?LET? ?HER? ?

SPOUT? ?ANYMORE? ?NONSENSE!”? ?“THIS? ?JIEJIE? ?ISN’T? ?MY? ?TYPE? ?DON’T? ?YOU? ?

SLANDER? ?ME!”? ?“SO? ?DISGRACEFUL!”? ? ?

?

Jun? ?Wu? ?waved? ?his? ?hand? ?and? ?a? ?junior? ?official? ?came? ?in? ?to? ?take? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?down.? ?Even? ?as? ?

she? ?was? ?dragged? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?Great? ?Martial? ?Hall,? ?she? ?continued? ?to? ?scream? ?and? ?laugh? ?

shrilly.? ?The? ?officials? ?within? ?the? ?hall? ?could? ?finally? ?calm? ?their? ?hearts? ?and? ?stand? ?back? ?in? ?

position,? ?their? ?heads? ?throbbing.? ?At? ?first? ?everyone? ?had? ?thought? ?the? ?matter? ?didn’t? ?involve? ?

them? ?and? ?was? ?only? ?there? ?for? ?a? ?good? ?show,? ?but? ?now? ?they? ?weren’t? ?so? ?sure? ?whether? ?if? ?a? ?

bucket? ?of? ?shit? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?get? ?thrown? ?over? ?their? ?heads,? ?maybe? ?even? ?landing? ?

themselves? ?a? ?new? ?play? ?in? ?the? ?mortal? ?realm? ?of? ?a? ?female? ?ghost? ?lover? ?with? ?gaudy? ?makeup? ?

and? ?a? ?ghost? ?son? ?who? ?had? ?murdered? ?thousands.? ?Feeling? ?the? ?danger,? ?they? ?all? ?threw? ?their? ?

hands? ?with? ?abandon,? ?“THERE’S? ?NO? ?WAY? ?TO? ?INVESTIGATE? ?THIS? ?MATTER!”? ? ?

?

“I? ?think? ?she’s? ?simply? ?mad? ?in? ?the? ?head.? ?No? ?need? ?to? ?investigate,? ?it’d? ?be? ?a? ?waste? ?of? ?time.? ?

Just? ?lock? ?her? ?up.”? ?

?

“This? ?can? ?very? ?well? ?be? ?the? ?ghost? ?realm? ?causing? ?trouble? ?on? ?purpose.”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?agree,? ?however,? ?“Earlier? ?on? ?the? ?way? ?here,? ?lady? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?was? ?quite? ?

conscient,? ?so? ?why? ?did? ?she? ?become? ?this? ?way? ?the? ?moment? ?she? ?entered? ?the? ?Great? ?Martial? ?

Hall?? ?I’m? ?afraid? ?it’s? ?not? ?something? ?that? ?can? ?be? ?explained? ?away? ?with? ?a? ?simple? ?“mad? ?in? ?the? ?

head”.”? ?

?

Thus,? ?the? ?crowd? ?broke? ?down? ?to? ?two? ?sides,? ?debating? ?and? ?arguing,? ?but? ?in? ?the? ?end? ?the? ?

conclusion? ?was? ?still? ?that? ?never-changing? ?“We’ll? ?see,? ?we’ll? ?see”.? ?After? ?the? ?meeting? ?was? ?

dismissed,? ?he? ?bid? ?farewell? ?to? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?who? ?promised? ?he’d? ?descend? ?in? ?a? ?few? ?days? ?to? ?

visit? ?and? ?play,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?walked? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?Great? ?Martial? ?Hall,? ?sighing? ?mentally,? ?“They? ?

all? ?say? ?the? ?Palace? ?of? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?isn’t? ?efficient,? ?but? ?it? ?can’t? ?be? ?helped.? ?Every? ?time? ?we? ?gather? ?

to? ?discuss? ?anything,? ?there’s? ?so? ?much? ?noise? ?and? ?vaguity,? ?and? ?in? ?the? ?end? ?the? ?conclusions? ?

are? ?mostly? ?nothing? ?concrete,? ?so? ?how? ?can? ?the? ?Palace? ?of? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?conduct? ?anything?”? ? ?

?

Just? ?then,? ?he? ?sensed? ?someone? ?behind? ?coming? ?close,? ?and? ?he? ?turned? ?around? ?to? ?see? ?it? ?was? ?

Feng? ?Xin.? ?Slightly? ?taken? ?aback,? ?he? ?hadn’t? ?even? ?greeted? ?before? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?hastily? ?said? ?

under? ?his? ?breath,? ?“Watch? ?out? ?for? ?Mu? ?Qing.”? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?lowered? ?his? ?voice? ?too,? ?“Mu? ?Qing?”? ? ?

?

“When? ?he? ?entered? ?the? ?hall? ?that? ?female? ?ghost? ?reacted? ?oddly,? ?like? ?she? ?was? ?afraid? ?of? ?him.”? ?

Feng? ?Xin? ?said,? ?“I? ?don’t? ?care? ?for? ?other? ?people’s? ?personal? ?affairs,? ?but? ?in? ?any? ?case,? ?you? ?

watch? ?yourself.”? ?He? ?hurried? ?away? ?after? ?having? ?his? ?say.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?stood? ?where? ?he? ?was? ?and? ?

waited? ?til? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?was? ?far? ?gone? ?before? ?he? ?started? ?again.? ?

?

Even? ?though? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?noticeable? ?in? ?his? ?expression,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?actually? ?been? ?paying? ?

close? ?attention? ?to? ?every? ?heavenly? ?official’s? ?minute? ?expression? ?as? ?well? ?as? ?Lan? ?Chang’s? ?

reaction,? ?and? ?naturally? ?he? ?didn’t? ?miss? ?Mu? ?Qing.? ?

?

However,? ?he? ?didn’t? ?think? ?the? ?father? ?of? ?that? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?was? ?likely? ?to? ?be? ?Mu? ?Qing.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

couldn’t? ?even? ?imagine? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?doing? ?such? ?a? ?thing.? ?To? ?be? ?real,? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?was? ?someone? ?

who? ?focused? ?heart? ?and? ?mind? ?on? ?cultivation,? ?improving? ?his? ?martial? ?arts,? ?and? ?expanding? ?

his? ?territory,? ?growing? ?believers.? ?Besides,? ?they? ?practiced? ?the? ?same? ?cultivation? ?method,? ?

and? ?would? ?never? ?touch? ?women? ?to? ?ruin? ?his? ?cultivation.? ?However,? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?knew? ?Lan? ?

Chang;? ?that? ?was? ?definitely? ?not? ?wrong.? ?But? ?with? ?so? ?little? ?clues,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?shook? ?his? ?head? ?

and? ?descended? ?from? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Court.? ?

?

Although? ?the? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?was? ?subdued,? ?and? ?Lang? ?Ying? ?and? ?Guzi? ?were? ?settled? ?in? ?that? ?

wealthy? ?merchant’s? ?abode? ?with? ?food? ?and? ?drink,? ?there? ?was? ?nothing? ?to? ?worry? ?about,? ?still? ?it? ?

wasn’t? ?good? ?for? ?him? ?to? ?be? ?away? ?for? ?too? ?long.? ?If? ?he? ?took? ?his? ?time,? ?without? ?even? ?a? ?shadow? ?

of? ?him,? ?that? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?would? ?probably? ?start? ?grousing.? ?Thus,? ?the? ?moment? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

descended? ?he? ?went? ?straight? ?for? ?the? ?town? ?of? ?Puqi.? ?When? ?that? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?saw? ?him? ?

he? ?immediately? ?clutched? ?his? ?hands? ?and? ?cried? ?excitedly,? ?“DAOZHANG!? ?VENERABLE,? ?A? ?

VENERABLE!? ?You? ?slept? ?in? ?my? ?mistress’? ?chambers? ?last? ?night? ?and? ?the? ?doors? ?were? ?all? ?

locked,? ?yet? ?this? ?morning? ?when? ?we? ?opened? ?up,? ?I? ?couldn’t? ?believe? ?my? ?eyes!? ?You’d? ?gone!? ?

Strong!? ?TOO? ?STRONG!? ?SO?!? ?DID? ?YOU? ?CATCH? ?THE? ?MONSTER?”? ? ?

?

“It’s? ?caught,? ?don’t? ?worry.? ?Everything’s? ?fine? ?now.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied.? ?“How? ?are? ?the? ?two? ?

children? ?I? ?brought? ?with? ?me?”? ? ?

?

It? ?was? ?like? ?that? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?received? ?absolution,? ?and? ?he? ?cried? ?joyously,? ?“Good,? ?

they’re? ?very? ?good!? ?They? ?didn’t? ?eat? ?much? ?at? ?all!? ?Daozhang,? ?where’s? ?your? ?Qiandeng? ?

Temple?? ?I’m? ?gonna? ?go? ?donate? ?and? ?return? ?my? ?gratitude!? ?From? ?today? ?onwards,? ?I? ?will? ?hang? ?

my? ?title? ?as? ?one? ?of? ?the? ?worshippers? ?in? ?your? ?temple,? ?and? ?let? ?none? ?fight? ?me!”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?know? ?whether? ?to? ?laugh? ?or? ?cry,? ?but? ?no? ?matter? ?what? ?he? ?had? ?grown? ?new? ?

worshippers,? ?and? ?one? ?that’s? ?rich? ?too,? ?so? ?he? ?was? ?feeling? ?rather? ?glad.? ?He? ?lectured? ?and? ?

nagged? ?to? ?that? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?the? ?ways? ?of? ?virtue,? ?advising? ?him? ?not? ?to? ?be? ?so? ?

promiscuous? ?in? ?the? ?future,? ?to? ?be? ?more? ?devoted? ?and? ?loving? ?to? ?his? ?wife? ?and? ?family,? ?then? ?

finally,? ?told? ?him? ?to? ?visit? ?Puqi? ?Shrine? ?on? ?another? ?day.? ?Then,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?left? ?with? ?Lang? ?Ying? ?

and? ?Guzi? ?in? ?tow.? ?

?

The? ?three? ?returned? ?to? ?Puqi? ?village? ?and? ?came? ?before? ?Puqi? ?shrine.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?took? ?that? ?

please-donate-and-help-with-renovations? ?sign? ?and? ?placed? ?it? ?in? ?a? ?more? ?conspicuous? ?spot,? ?

secretly? ?hoping? ?that? ?when? ?that? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?came? ?he? ?could? ?see? ?it? ?immediately,? ?then? ?

he? ?pushed? ?the? ?doors? ?in? ?to? ?enter? ?the? ?shrine.? ?However,? ?the? ?moment? ?he? ?opened? ?the? ?door? ?

he? ?sensed? ?something? ?different? ?with? ?the? ?place.? ?

?

Walking? ?into? ?the? ?shrine,? ?sure? ?enough,? ?it? ?was? ?very? ?different.? ?The? ?floors? ?of? ?the? ?place? ?had? ?

been? ?swept,? ?the? ?altar? ?table? ?and? ?chairs? ?had? ?been? ?wiped,? ?dust? ?had? ?been? ?cleared,? ?and? ?

even? ?the? ?trash? ?in? ?the? ?corner? ?had? ?been? ?cleaned? ?out.? ?It? ?was? ?like? ?the? ?Lady? ?River? ?Snail*? ?had? ?

paid? ?a? ?visit;? ?everything? ?was? ?too? ?clean.? ?

?

Even? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?gone!? ? ?

?

With? ?his? ?disappearance,? ?it? ?was? ?like? ?the? ?entire? ?place? ?was? ?spacious? ?and? ?bright,? ?and? ?even? ?

the? ?air? ?had? ?cleared? ?somewhat.? ?However,? ?Guzi? ?had? ?carried? ?in? ?his? ?arms? ?the? ?meat? ?pies? ?he? ?

brought? ?from? ?town? ?especially,? ?and? ?when? ?he? ?peeked? ?in? ?and? ?didn’t? ?see? ?anyone,? ?he? ?was? ?

anxious,? ?“Big? ?brother,? ?where’s? ?dad?”? ? ?

?

Xie? ?Lian? ?immediately? ?turned? ?around.? ?He? ?hadn’t? ?even? ?left? ?the? ?doors? ?before? ?sensing? ?a? ?

dangerous,? ?chilling? ?light? ?attacking,? ?and? ?instantly? ?he? ?pulled? ?out? ?Fang? ?Xin? ?to? ?strike? ?back.? ?

CLANG?!? ?That? ?chilling? ?shine? ?was? ?struck? ?out? ?high? ?into? ?the? ?air,? ?falling? ?miles? ?out? ?away.? ?

?

He? ?unsheathed? ?as? ?fast? ?as? ?lightning,? ?and? ?sheathed? ?just? ?as? ?fast,? ?returning? ?Fang? ?Xin? ?to? ?its? ?

place.? ?He? ?let? ?out? ?a? ?puff? ?of? ?breath? ?but? ?immediately? ?became? ?puzzled,? ?‘That’s? ?it?? ?How? ?come? ?

after? ?that? ?flash? ?there’s? ?no? ?more? ?follow-up? ?moves?’? ?

?

He? ?turned? ?to? ?look? ?at? ?that? ?chilling? ?light;? ?after? ?he? ?had? ?struck? ?it? ?landed? ?on? ?the? ?ground? ?far? ?

away,? ?crookedly? ?embedded? ?into? ?the? ?earth.? ?Looking? ?at? ?it? ?from? ?a? ?far? ?distance,? ?that? ?curved? ?

silver? ?arch? ?was? ?appearing? ?more? ?and? ?more? ?familiar.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?brought? ?the? ?two? ?children? ?

over,? ?and? ?when? ?he? ?saw? ?clearly? ?what? ?it? ?was,? ?he? ?immediately? ?knelt? ?down? ?and? ?exclaimed,? ?

“It...? ?Isn’t? ?this? ?E’ming?? ?What’s? ?wrong?”? ? ?

?

Asking? ?“what’s? ?wrong”? ?to? ?a? ?scimitar? ?was? ?an? ?extremely? ?odd? ?sight.? ?A? ?few? ?farmers? ?who? ?

walked? ?past? ?watched? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?strangely,? ?and? ?elbowed? ?each? ?other? ?secretly,? ?“Look,? ?that? ?

man,? ?he’s? ?talking? ?to? ?a? ?knife...”? ?“Yea,? ?I? ?see? ?it.? ?That’s? ?freaky,? ?let’s? ?get? ?outta? ?here...”? ?

However,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?to? ?ask,? ?because? ?E’ming’s? ?entire? ?blade? ?body,? ?including? ?the? ?silver? ?

contoured? ?eye? ?on? ?the? ?hilt? ?were? ?shaking? ?violently,? ?as? ?if? ?it? ?had? ?contracted? ?a? ?disease,? ?

shaking? ?harder? ?by? ?the? ?minute.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?reached? ?out? ?in? ?spite? ?of? ?himself? ?and? ?asked? ?

worriedly,? ?“Did? ?I? ?hurt? ?you? ?just? ?now?”? ? ?

?

?

———-? ?

?

?[???]? ?‘Yan? ?Zhen’? ?translates? ?to? ?“Glamourous? ?Virtue”.? ?

?

?The? ?Lady? ?River? ?Snail? ?is? ?a? ?character? ?from? ?a? ?folklore? ?who? ?once? ?was? ?saved? ?by? ?a? ?

fisherman,? ?and? ?was? ?kept? ?in? ?his? ?house.? ?When? ?he? ?was? ?gone? ?during? ?the? ?day? ?she’d? ?

transform? ?into? ?a? ?girl? ?and? ?perform? ?domestic? ?duties.? ?Once? ?he? ?found? ?out? ?they? ?lived? ?

happily? ?ever? ?after.? ?