Read Heaven Official's Blessing Chapter 101-110

Chapter 101-110

Ch.101:? ?Fight? ?for? ?Commendation;? ?E’ming? ?Battles? ?Ruoye? ?

That? ?scimitar? ?was? ?shaking? ?more? ?and? ?more? ?uncontrollably.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?at? ?a? ?loss? ?on? ?what? ?

to? ?do,? ?and? ?gently? ?stroked? ?down? ?along? ?the? ?spine? ?of? ?the? ?blade,? ?“I’m? ?sorry? ?I’m? ?sorry,? ?I? ?didn’t? ?

see? ?it? ?was? ?you,? ?I? ?won’t? ?do? ?it? ?again.”? ?

After? ?stroking? ?it? ?a? ?few? ?times,? ?E’ming? ?squinted? ?its? ?eye,? ?and? ?the? ?trembling? ?finally? ?stopped.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?then? ?asked,? ?“Where’s? ?your? ?master?”? ?

Suddenly,? ?a? ?voice? ?came? ?from? ?behind,? ?“Pay? ?it? ?no? ?mind.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?back? ?and? ?immediately? ?rose? ?to? ?his? ?feet,? ?surprised? ?and? ?delighted,? ?“San? ?

Lang?? ?Why? ?have? ?you? ?come?”? ? ?

Behind? ?him? ?was? ?a? ?youth? ?who? ?approached? ?easily? ?with? ?an? ?air? ?of? ?playful? ?arrogance.? ?It? ?was? ?

Hua? ?Cheng.? ?He? ?had? ?tied? ?his? ?black? ?hair? ?up? ?into? ?a? ?crooked? ?ponytail? ?again,? ?dressed? ?in? ?a? ?

white? ?tunic,? ?the? ?red? ?outer? ?robe? ?tied? ?around? ?his? ?waist,? ?his? ?sleeves? ?rolled? ?up,? ?revealing? ?that? ?

pale? ?white? ?but? ?firm? ?arms? ?as? ?well? ?as? ?the? ?tattoo? ?on? ?one? ?of? ?them.? ?As? ?he? ?walked,? ?the? ?little? ?

silver? ?bells? ?on? ?his? ?boots? ?chimed,? ?sounding? ?quite? ?mellow,? ?looking? ?very? ?much? ?like? ?a? ?

strapping? ?young? ?lad? ?of? ?the? ?village,? ?yet? ?exceedingly? ?carefree.? ?A? ?piece? ?of? ?weed? ?grass? ?hung? ?

from? ?his? ?lips? ?and? ?he? ?smiled? ?at? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?“Gege.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?originally? ?planned? ?on? ?visiting? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?to? ?give? ?his? ?proper? ?thanks? ?after? ?

settling? ?the? ?two? ?children,? ?but? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?himself? ?showed? ?up? ?instead.? ?Lazily,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?

came? ?next? ?to? ?him? ?and? ?pulled? ?out? ?that? ?silver? ?scimitar? ?from? ?the? ?ground? ?with? ?just? ?one? ?hand,? ?

looking? ?it? ?over,? ?then? ?lifted? ?to? ?rest? ?it? ?on? ?his? ?shoulder.? ?“Gege? ?is? ?busy? ?here,? ?there’s? ?no? ?need? ?

to? ?trouble? ?you? ?to? ?make? ?a? ?trip? ?over? ?there,? ?so? ?I? ?came? ?over? ?myself.? ?You? ?also? ?forgot? ?this.”? ? ?

There? ?was? ?actually? ?a? ?bamboo? ?hat? ?carried? ?on? ?his? ?back,? ?and? ?he? ?removed? ?it? ?to? ?give? ?it? ?to? ?Xie? ?

Lian.? ?This? ?was? ?forgotten? ?at? ?the? ?mansion? ?of? ?that? ?wealthy? ?merchant,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?

slightly? ?taken? ?aback,? ?then? ?immediately? ?said,? ?“I? ?completely? ?forgot? ?about? ?it,? ?thanks? ?for? ?

going? ?through? ?the? ?trouble.”? ?

Just? ?as? ?the? ?words? ?left? ?his? ?mouth,? ?he? ?suddenly? ?remembered? ?what? ?he? ?told? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?

after? ?that? ?something? ?that? ?had? ?happened? ?the? ?night? ?before:? ?“I’m? ?looking? ?for? ?my? ?bamboo? ?

hat,? ?my? ?bamboo? ?hat? ?is? ?missing”.? ?It? ?was? ?nonsense? ?uttered? ?out? ?of? ?confusion? ?but? ?Hua? ?

Cheng? ?actually? ?went? ?and? ?found? ?the? ?bamboo? ?hat? ?for? ?him,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?a? ?wave? ?of? ?

embarrassment,? ?afraid? ?that? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?tease? ?him? ?for? ?it.? ?Fortunately,? ?Hua? ?

Cheng? ?didn’t? ?even? ?mention? ?the? ?incident,? ?and? ?changed? ?the? ?subject? ?with? ?a? ?smile.? ?“Gege? ?

picked? ?up? ?two? ?more? ?kids?”? ?He? ?said? ?as? ?he? ?patted? ?Gu? ?Zi’s? ?head,? ?ruffling? ?his? ?hair? ?into? ?a? ?

mess.? ?Gu? ?Zi? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?scared? ?of? ?him,? ?rushing? ?to? ?hide? ?behind? ?Xie? ?Lian.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

chided,? ?“Don’t? ?worry,? ?this? ?gege? ?is? ?a? ?good? ?person.”? ? ?

However,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said,? ?“Nah,? ?I’m? ?a? ?very? ?bad? ?person.”? ?Although? ?that’s? ?what? ?he? ?said,? ?

still? ?he? ?flicked? ?his? ?hand? ?and? ?a? ?tiny? ?silver? ?butterfly? ?was? ?flipped? ?out? ?of? ?his? ?sleeve,? ?fluttering? ?

its? ?little? ?wings,? ?flying? ?errantly? ?towards? ?Gu? ?Zi.? ?Gu? ?Zi’s? ?inky? ?little? ?eyes? ?were? ?bulged,? ?staring? ?

at? ?the? ?tiny? ?silver? ?butterfly? ?with? ?eyes? ?unmoving,? ?and? ?finally? ?he? ?reached? ?out? ?to? ?try? ?to? ?catch? ?it? ?

in? ?spite? ?of? ?himself.? ?

With? ?that,? ?his? ?guard? ?against? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?was? ?greatly? ?dropped.? ?Then,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?

nonchalantly? ?swept? ?his? ?eyes? ?over? ?Lang? ?Ying,? ?but? ?his? ?gaze? ?was? ?significantly? ?different.? ?

When? ?he? ?looked? ?at? ?Lang? ?Ying,? ?his? ?eyes? ?were? ?cold? ?and? ?sharp,? ?unkind? ?and? ?unfriendly.? ?

Lang? ?Ying? ?lowered? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?also? ?shrank? ?back? ?behind? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?anxiously.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?held? ?the? ?bamboo? ?hat? ?in? ?hand? ?and? ?said,? ?“If? ?you’re? ?gonna? ?come,? ?just? ?come.? ?What? ?

are? ?you? ?doing? ?cleaning? ?Puqi? ?Shrine?”? ? ?

“It’s? ?nothing? ?more? ?than? ?some? ?house? ?cleaning,? ?don’t? ?you? ?think? ?everything? ?feels? ?so? ?much? ?

more? ?refreshing? ?now? ?that? ?all? ?the? ?trash? ?is? ?cleared? ?out?”? ? ?

“...”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?remembered? ?the? ?missing? ?Qi? ?Rong,? ?and? ?wondered? ?did? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?actually? ?

throw? ?him? ?out? ?like? ?he’s? ?garbage?? ?Just? ?then,? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?sudden? ?wail? ?from? ?behind? ?Puqi? ?

Shrine,? ?“HUA? ?CHENG? ?YOU? ?FUCKER? ?GO? ?TO? ?HELL? ?AND? ?GET? ?BOILED? ?IN? ?A? ?POT? ?OF? ?

FRYING? ?OIL!? ?MURDER!? ?HUA? ?CHENG? ?IS? ?COMMITTING? ?GHOST? ?MURDER!!!”? ? ?

Gu? ?Zi? ?cried,? ?“Dad!”? ?And? ?his? ?two? ?little? ?legs? ?ran,? ?rushing? ?on? ?out? ?over,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?hastily? ?

followed? ?too.? ?There? ?was? ?a? ?small? ?creek? ?behind? ?Puqi? ?Shrine,? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?where? ?he? ?usually? ?

did? ?laundry? ?and? ?washed? ?rice.? ?At? ?that? ?moment,? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?also? ?dunked? ?in? ?the? ?water,? ?his? ?

body? ?bound? ?tightly? ?by? ?Ruoye,? ?desperately? ?keeping? ?his? ?head? ?above? ?water,? ?roaring? ?with? ?all? ?

of? ?his? ?might,? ?“I? ?WON’T? ?GET? ?OUT,? ?I? ?REFUSE? ?TO? ?GET? ?OUT!? ?I? ?WILL? ?STAY? ?IN? ?THIS? ?

BODY? ?UNTIL? ?IT? ?DIES!? ?I? ?WON’T? ?SURRENDER!!!”? ? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?spat? ?out? ?that? ?piece? ?of? ?weed? ?grass,? ?“You? ?take? ?yourself? ?for? ?some? ?kind? ?of? ?a? ?

hero?? ?Useless? ?trash.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?explained? ?woefully,? ?“...I? ?captured? ?him? ?a? ?few? ?days? ?ago? ?on? ?some? ?mountain.? ?He’s? ?

possessing? ?someone? ?else? ?and? ?won’t? ?come? ?out.? ?The? ?man? ?is? ?still? ?alive,? ?so? ?if? ?we? ?forcibly? ?rip? ?

out? ?a? ?soul,? ?the? ?flesh? ?won’t? ?survive.? ?Honestly...? ?does? ?San? ?Lang? ?have? ?any? ?ideas? ?what? ?we? ?

can? ?do?”? ? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?replied,? ?“Hm?? ?You? ?want? ?ideas? ?on? ?how? ?to? ?make? ?him? ?suffer? ?a? ?fate? ?worse? ?than? ?

death?? ?There’s? ?plenty.”? ? ?

That? ?was? ?obviously? ?a? ?threat.? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?cussed,? ?“THE? ?TWO? ?OF? ?YOU!? ?BROKEN? ?POT? ?

MATCHING? ?A? ?ROTTEN? ?COVER!? ?HEARTS? ?OF? ?SNAKES? ?AND? ?SCORPIONS!? ?

GUrglegurglegurgle...”? ?He? ?hadn’t? ?finished? ?before? ?he? ?was? ?submerged? ?in? ?the? ?creek? ?again.? ?

Although? ?whenever? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?saw? ?him? ?he’d? ?remember? ?how? ?his? ?mother’s? ?corpse? ?was? ?

dissolved? ?into? ?ashes? ?and? ?would? ?be? ?filled? ?with? ?anguish,? ?still? ?that? ?body? ?belonged? ?to? ?another? ?

and? ?so? ?it? ?must? ?be? ?conserved.? ?Thus,? ?he? ?fished? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?up? ?from? ?the? ?creek? ?and? ?dragged? ?

him? ?to? ?the? ?front? ?door? ?of? ?Puqi? ?Shrine.? ? ?

Qi? ?Rong? ?hadn’t? ?eaten? ?for? ?a? ?full? ?day? ?and? ?night,? ?so? ?his? ?stomach? ?was? ?shriveled? ?from? ?

hunger,? ?and? ?after? ?having? ?been? ?bullied? ?by? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?he? ?was? ?full? ?of? ?rage? ?but? ?no? ?energy.? ?

He? ?wolfed? ?down? ?the? ?meat? ?pies? ?Gu? ?Zi? ?snuck? ?back? ?from? ?that? ?wealthy? ?merchant’s? ?house,? ?

leaving? ?not? ?a? ?single? ?crumb,? ?appearing? ?truly? ?wretched? ?and? ?pathetic.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?shook? ?his? ?

head? ?and? ?noticed? ?that? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?limbs? ?were? ?stiff,? ?probably? ?from? ?some? ?spell? ?casted? ?by? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?and? ?was? ?petrified,? ?so? ?he? ?called? ?out,? ?“Ruoye,? ?return.”? ? ?

Ruoye? ?had? ?spent? ?days? ?binding? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?and? ?was? ?already? ?feeling? ?extremely? ?aggrieved,? ?

so? ?with? ?the? ?call? ?it? ?immediately? ?whooshed? ?over,? ?and? ?wrapped? ?itself? ?in? ?loops? ?around? ?Xie? ?

Lian’s? ?whole? ?body? ?like? ?a? ?white? ?snake.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?pushed? ?open? ?the? ?door? ?and? ?comforted? ?it? ?

as? ?he? ?did? ?so,? ?untying? ?it? ?from? ?his? ?person,? ?“Alright,? ?alright.? ?I’ll? ?give? ?you? ?a? ?bath? ?in? ?a? ?bit,? ?don’t? ?

feel? ?bad.? ?Go? ?play? ?on? ?the? ?side.”? ? ?

Thus,? ?Ruoye? ?dragged? ?its? ?bandages? ?and? ?dejectedly? ?floated? ?to? ?the? ?side.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?also? ?

casually? ?tossed? ?E’ming,? ?and? ?E’ming? ?itself? ?assumed? ?a? ?dignifying? ?pose? ?to? ?land? ?and? ?stood.? ?

On? ?the? ?wall,? ?Ruoye? ?suddenly? ?discovered? ?a? ?silver,? ?shimmering? ?scimitar? ?leaning? ?next? ?to? ?it,? ?

and? ?very? ?carefully? ?approached.? ?That? ?eye? ?on? ?the? ?hilt? ?of? ?the? ?scimitar? ?E’ming? ?also? ?twirled? ?

and? ?looked? ?over,? ?its? ?eye? ?calculating.? ?Fang? ?Xin? ?somberly? ?did? ?not? ?move,? ?making? ?no? ?show? ?

of? ?acknowledging? ?anything.? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?been? ?spending? ?these? ?past? ?days? ?studying? ?up? ?on? ?cooking? ?and? ?felt? ?he? ?might? ?

have? ?gained? ?quite? ?the? ?insight,? ?his? ?heart? ?full? ?of? ?confidence.? ?Wanting? ?to? ?show? ?off? ?his? ?skills? ?

and? ?host? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?properly,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?kept? ?him? ?for? ?the? ?meal,? ?and? ?naturally? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?

agreed? ?to? ?it? ?cheerfully.? ?When? ?they? ?returned? ?from? ?town? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?bought? ?a? ?bunch? ?of? ?

groceries,? ?and? ?he? ?piled? ?them? ?all? ?on? ?the? ?altar.? ?Picking? ?up? ?the? ?butcher? ?knife,? ?he? ?chopped? ?

and? ?sliced,? ?clinking? ?and? ?clanking? ?the? ?pots.? ?That? ?altar? ?table? ?could? ?be? ?used? ?as? ?a? ?desk,? ?a? ?

kitchen? ?island,? ?and? ?also? ?a? ?dining? ?table;? ?cutleries? ?could? ?be? ?set,? ?kids? ?could? ?all? ?sit? ?around,? ?

truly? ?a? ?table? ?of? ?a? ?hundred? ?uses.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?leaned? ?against? ?the? ?wall? ?and? ?watched? ?for? ?a? ?

bit,? ?but? ?finally? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?watch? ?anymore? ?and? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“Do? ?you? ?need? ?help?”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?at? ?the? ?height? ?of? ?his? ?fervor? ?and? ?dismiss? ?him,? ?“No? ?need.? ?Just? ?Ruoye’s? ?help? ?is? ?

plenty.”? ?Then? ?he? ?threw? ?out? ?a? ?few? ?bundles? ?of? ?firewood? ?that? ?hadn’t? ?yet? ?been? ?chopped? ?into? ?

kindle.? ??PA!?? ?Like? ?an? ?attacking? ?viper,? ?that? ?white? ?silk? ?bandage? ?whipped? ?the? ?logs? ?and? ?the? ?

chunks? ?of? ?wood? ?that? ?were? ?thick? ?as? ?thighs? ?were? ?instantly? ?chopped? ?into? ?thin? ?sticks? ?of? ?

kindle.? ?

Having? ?shown? ?off? ?its? ?skills,? ?Ruoye? ?arched? ?into? ?an? ?exaggerated,? ?odd? ?form? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?

E’ming? ?and? ?Fang? ?Xin,? ?as? ?if? ?demonstrating? ?its? ?strength? ?and? ?beauty.? ?The? ?demonstration? ?of? ?

beauty? ?didn’t? ?last? ?long? ?before? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?moved? ?again? ?and? ?placed? ?a? ?plate? ?on? ?the? ?ground? ?

then? ?threw? ?over? ?a? ?big? ?cabbage.? ?Ruoye? ?was? ?just? ?about? ?to? ?strike? ?when? ?suddenly,? ?E’ming’s? ?

eye? ?flashed,? ?and? ?it? ?flew? ?off? ?the? ?ground,? ?whirling? ?out? ?shimmers? ?of? ?silver? ?light.? ?Leaves? ?of? ?

the? ?cabbage? ?filled? ?the? ?air,? ?and? ?when? ?it? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?land? ?on? ?the? ?ground,? ?it? ?had? ?already? ?

been? ?thinly? ?and? ?cleanly? ?chopped? ?into? ?a? ?plateful.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?squatted? ?down? ?to? ?pick? ?up? ?the? ?

plate? ?and? ?praised? ?when? ?he? ?saw? ?the? ?cabbage,? ?“Amazing.? ?You? ?cut? ?better? ?than? ?Ruoye!”? ? ?

Instantly? ?Ruoye? ?pressed? ?itself? ?against? ?the? ?wall,? ?looking? ?like? ?someone? ?backing? ?away? ?and? ?

had? ?nowhere? ?left? ?to? ?run? ?after? ?having? ?touched? ?the? ?wall.? ?E’ming? ?however,? ?started? ?twirling? ?

its? ?eye? ?crazily,? ?appearing? ?fully? ?cocky? ?and? ?content,? ?like? ?it? ?had? ?reached? ?a? ?state? ?of? ?

sainthood.? ?Between? ?the? ?sabre? ?and? ?the? ?bandage,? ?Fang? ?Xin? ?still? ?remained? ?unmoved.? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?hadn’t? ?noticed? ?the? ?little? ?battle? ?between? ?the? ?spiritual? ?devices? ?at? ?all,? ?and? ?was? ?focused? ?

on? ?throwing? ?all? ?sorts? ?of? ?different? ?veggies? ?and? ?seasonings? ?into? ?the? ?pot.? ?He? ?turned? ?to? ?ask,? ?

“By? ?the? ?way,? ?how? ?long? ?are? ?you? ?staying? ?for? ?this? ?time,? ?San? ?Lang?”? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?been? ?watching? ?his? ?actions? ?the? ?entire? ?time? ?and? ?had? ?looked? ?like? ?he? ?

wanted? ?to? ?advise? ?him? ?of? ?something? ?at? ?first,? ?but? ?in? ?the? ?end? ?said? ?nothing.? ?He? ?smiled,? ?

“Depends.? ?If? ?there’s? ?nothing? ?going? ?on? ?over? ?there,? ?I’ll? ?stick? ?around? ?here? ?and? ?play? ?for? ?a? ?few? ?

days.? ?If? ?I? ?hang? ?around,? ?pray? ?gege? ?won’t? ?mind.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?hastily? ?said,? ?“Why? ?would? ?I?? ?As? ?long? ?as? ?you? ?don’t? ?mind? ?my? ?place? ?being? ?a? ?bit? ?

cramped.”? ?Chattering? ?and? ?blabbering,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?told? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?all? ?about? ?how? ?the? ?female? ?

ghost? ?was? ?throwing? ?blames,? ?causing? ?troubles? ?the? ?moment? ?she? ?arrived? ?at? ?the? ?Great? ?

Martial? ?Hall.? ?Of? ?course,? ?he? ?refrained? ?from? ?mentioning? ?how? ?he? ?himself? ?was? ?accused? ?and? ?

the? ?whole? ?business? ?with? ?dripping? ?blood? ?on? ?Yan? ?Zhen.? ?Then,? ?he? ?remembered? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?

saying? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?planted? ?a? ?spy? ?in? ?the? ?heavenly? ?realm,? ?so? ?maybe? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?

already? ?knew? ?everything?? ?Fortunately,? ?whether? ?or? ?not? ?he? ?knew,? ?he? ?made? ?no? ?show? ?of? ?it,? ?

and? ?only? ?looked? ?contemplative.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?chatted,? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?who? ?do? ?you? ?think? ?the? ?father? ?

of? ?that? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?is?”? ? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?looked? ?up? ?and? ?smiled? ?faintly,? ?“Hard? ?to? ?say.? ?Maybe,? ?that? ?Golden? ?Belt? ?really? ?

was? ?just? ?something? ?she? ?picked? ?up? ?off? ?the? ?ground.”? ?

A? ?vague? ?response? ?like? ?this? ?wasn’t? ?at? ?all? ?like? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?usual? ?style,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?

puzzled.? ?But? ?soon,? ?a? ?bubbling? ?pot? ?robbed? ?away? ?his? ?focus.? ?

After? ?two? ?incense? ?time,? ?he? ?opened? ?the? ?cover? ?to? ?the? ?pot.? ?

Usually,? ?all? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?ate? ?were? ?offerings? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?from? ?the? ?village? ?people,? ?and? ?although? ?

it? ?was? ?nothing? ?more? ?than? ?steamed? ?buns? ?and? ?pickles,? ?noodles? ?and? ?eggs,? ?wild? ?fruits? ?or? ?

such? ?others,? ?at? ?least? ?they? ?were? ?food? ?fit? ?for? ?humans.? ?The? ?moment? ?the? ?pot? ?cover? ?opened? ?

and? ?the? ?smell? ?of? ?its? ?contents? ?wafted? ?outside? ?Puqi? ?shrine,? ?he? ?started? ?cussing? ?deafeningly,? ?

“GOD? ?FUCKING? ?XIE? ?LIAN!? ?BLACK? ?HEARTED? ?SNOW? ?LOTUS!? ?YOU? ?MIGHT? ?AS? ?WELL? ?

JUST? ?KILL? ?ME? ?WITH? ?THE? ?BLADE? ?RIGHT? ?NOW!? ?SO? ?ACTING? ?ALL? ?GOOD? ?FISHING? ?ME? ?

OUT? ?WAS? ?TO? ?MAKE? ?ME? ?SUFFER? ?THIS? ?TORTURE?!? ?I’VE? ?SEEN? ?THROUGH? ?YOU!!!”? ? ?

Before? ?opening? ?the? ?pot? ?cover? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?full? ?of? ?confidence.? ?Now,? ?he? ?started? ?doubting? ?

himself? ?again.? ?He? ?tried? ?his? ?best? ?and? ?exerted? ?so? ?much? ?effort? ?but? ?resulted? ?in? ?such? ?a? ?pot,? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?was? ?still? ?watching? ?on? ?the? ?side,? ?whatever? ?should? ?he? ?do?? ?Was? ?he? ?really? ?going? ?

to? ?make? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?eat? ?something? ?like? ?this???? ?Listening? ?to? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?screaming? ?bloody? ?

murder,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?becoming? ?even? ?more? ?demoralized.? ?Sensing? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?crossing? ?

his? ?arms? ?about? ?to? ?go? ?out,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?raised? ?his? ?hand? ?to? ?stop? ?him,? ?“Nevermind? ?him.”? ? ?

He? ?sighed,? ?filling? ?a? ?bowl? ?with? ?the? ?thing? ?from? ?the? ?pot,? ?and? ?said? ?to? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?“Don’t? ?eat? ?

anything? ?from? ?this? ?pot.? ?Just? ?wait? ?for? ?me? ?for? ?a? ?second,”? ?Then? ?he? ?went? ?out,? ?ushering? ?Gu? ?Zi? ?

and? ?Lang? ?Ying? ?to? ?go? ?get? ?a? ?bucket? ?of? ?water,? ?sending? ?them? ?away? ?from? ?the? ?premises,? ?

before? ?squatting? ?down? ?with? ?that? ?bowl,? ?looking? ?pleasant? ?and? ?airy,? ?“Little? ?cousin,? ?it’s? ?time? ?to? ?

eat.”? ? ?

Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?both? ?shocked? ?and? ?terrified,? ?“WHAT.? ?WHAT? ?ARE? ?YOU? ?DOING?? ?WHAT? ?ARE? ?

YOU? ?PLANNING?!? ?XIE? ?LIAN? ?I’M? ?WARNING? ?YOU,? ?I’VE? ?A? ?LIFE? ?IN? ?MY? ?HANDS,? ?YOU? ?

BETTER? ?THINK? ?THIS? ?THROUGH!? ?WHOEVER? ?THE? ?HELL? ?CAN? ?EAT? ?THAT? ?SHIT? ?WILL? ?

BREAK? ?FREE? ?FROM? ?THE? ?BONDAGE? ?OF? ?THE? ?THREE? ?REALMS,? ?FLEE? ?THE? ?

DHARMA? ?WHEEL,? ?NO? ?ONE...”? ?

He? ?trailed? ?off? ?when? ?he? ?saw? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?who? ?was? ?inside? ?the? ?shrine,? ?ladle? ?himself? ?a? ?full? ?

bowl,? ?sitting? ?down? ?next? ?to? ?the? ?altar? ?table,? ?and? ?taking? ?a? ?bite,? ?his? ?face? ?unchanging,? ?steady? ?

like? ?the? ?mountains.? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?shaken? ?to? ?the? ?core.? ?A? ?thought? ?he? ?had? ?never? ?had? ?

flashed? ?through? ?his? ?mind? ?–? ? ?

As? ?expected? ?of? ?a? ?Supreme!? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?pressed? ?the? ?bowl? ?against? ?his? ?face? ?and? ?said? ?calmly,? ?“It’s? ?fine? ?too? ?if? ?you? ?don’t? ?want? ?

to? ?eat? ?it.? ?If? ?you? ?come? ?out.”? ? ?

That? ?was? ?never? ?going? ?to? ?happen.? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?bit? ?down? ?his? ?teeth? ?tightly.? ?However,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

squeezed? ?his? ?cheeks? ?and? ?forced? ?open? ?his? ?mouth,? ?dumping? ?the? ?contents? ?of? ?the? ?bowl? ?

straight? ?down? ?his? ?throat.? ?

The? ?next? ?second,? ?a? ?sharp? ?scream? ?shot? ?through? ?to? ?the? ?skies? ?above? ?Puqi? ?Shrine.? ?

The? ?bowl? ?in? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?hand? ?sat? ?empty,? ?and? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?who? ?was? ?on? ?the? ?ground? ?bore? ?a? ?

twisted,? ?scrunched? ?up? ?face,? ?even? ?his? ?voice? ?was? ?hoarse? ?like? ?an? ?old? ?man? ?wasted? ?away,? ?

groaning,? ?“...I...hate...”? ?

Seeing? ?that? ?even? ?with? ?a? ?bowl? ?forced? ?down? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?still? ?refused? ?to? ?come? ?out,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

didn’t? ?know? ?whether? ?if? ?he? ?should? ?be? ?glad? ?or? ?anguished.? ?Although? ?he? ?really? ?wanted? ?to? ?

force? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?out? ?as? ?soon? ?as? ?possible,? ?but? ?since? ?he? ?didn’t? ?succeed,? ?it? ?almost? ?seemed? ?

like? ?it? ?proved? ?what? ?he? ?cooked? ?with? ?all? ?his? ?heart? ?wasn’t? ?that? ?bad? ?after? ?all,? ?and? ?maybe? ?it’s? ?

even? ?something? ?worth? ?being? ?happy? ?about.? ?Turning? ?around,? ?he? ?saw? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?also? ?had? ?

a? ?bowl? ?in? ?his? ?hand,? ?eating? ?leisurely,? ?looking? ?his? ?way? ?as? ?he? ?ate,? ?and? ?that? ?bowl? ?was? ?almost? ?

empty.? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?eyes? ?lit? ?up? ?and? ?he? ?rose? ?to? ?his? ?feet,? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?you? ?finished?”? ? ?

He? ?thought? ?he? ?flopped? ?the? ?meal? ?at? ?first? ?and? ?was? ?too? ?embarrassed? ?to? ?offer? ?it? ?to? ?Hua? ?

Cheng,? ?but? ?who? ?knew? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?himself? ?went? ?and? ?started? ?eating.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?

chuckled,? ?“Yea.”? ? ?

“...”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?prodded? ?very? ?carefully,? ?“What? ?did? ?you? ?think?”? ? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?slurped? ?up? ?the? ?soup? ?too? ?and? ?smiled,? ?“Not? ?bad.? ?A? ?little? ?thick.? ?Try? ?making? ?it? ?a? ?

little? ?lighter? ?next? ?time.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?sighed? ?a? ?breath? ?of? ?relief? ?and? ?nodded,? ?“Alright,? ?I’ll? ?remember? ?that.? ?Thanks? ?for? ?

your? ?feedback.”? ?

Qi? ?Rong:? ?“UUUUGGGGGHHHHHHHHH–!!!”? ? ?

——-? ?

?[???????? ?]? ?Dharma? ?Wheel? ?-? ?Buddhist? ?beliefs? ?in? ?the? ?six? ?realms? ?of? ?existence:? ?

Heaven,? ?Asura,? ?Human,? ?Animal,? ?Ghost,? ?Hell? ?

——-? ?

Ch.102:? ?Sage? ?Stew? ?of? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?to? ?Welcome? ?Unexpected? ?Guests? ?

At? ?first,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?planned? ?to? ?show? ?off? ?his? ?culinary? ?skills,? ?but? ?after? ?tonight,? ?his? ?

confidence? ?plunged? ?by? ?a? ?million? ?fold.? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?suggested? ?that? ?he? ?could? ?make? ?dinner? ?instead,? ?but? ?how? ?could? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

have? ?the? ?face? ?to? ?ask? ?him? ?to? ?cook? ?after? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?fixed? ?his? ?door? ?and? ?cleaned? ?his? ?shrine? ?

too?? ?Who? ?in? ?their? ?right? ?minds? ?would? ?treat? ?their? ?guests? ?this? ?way?? ?Besides,? ?who? ?did? ?he? ?

take? ?an? ?esteemed? ?Supreme? ?Ghost? ?King? ?for?? ? ?

Fortunately? ?he? ?brought? ?plenty? ?of? ?supplies? ?back? ?from? ?town? ?and? ?although? ?a? ?large? ?portion? ?of? ?

it? ?went? ?into? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?pot,? ?there? ?were? ?still? ?some? ?buns? ?and? ?pies,? ?veggies? ?and? ?fruits? ?left,? ?so? ?

they? ?munched? ?on? ?what? ?they? ?had.? ?But? ?after? ?munching,? ?what? ?then?? ?

The? ?next? ?day,? ?the? ?problem? ?was? ?solved? ?on? ?its? ?own.? ?Bright? ?and? ?early? ?in? ?the? ?morning? ?the? ?

door? ?of? ?Puqi? ?Shrine? ?opened? ?to? ?the? ?knocking? ?of? ?a? ?bunch? ?of? ?village? ?girls? ?who? ?came? ?to? ?offer? ?

large? ?pots? ?of? ?porridge? ?and? ?a? ?roasted? ?chicken.? ?The? ?village? ?girls? ?were? ?shy? ?and? ?anxious,? ?so? ?

who? ?they? ?came? ?for? ?was? ?quite? ?obvious.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?sigh? ?in? ?awe? ?to? ?himself,? ?

thinking? ?beauty? ?really? ?could? ?fill? ?a? ?stomach.? ?

That? ?roasted? ?chicken? ?was? ?divided? ?between? ?the? ?two? ?children;? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?only? ?had? ?some? ?

porridge? ?and? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?didn’t? ?touch? ?anything.? ?He? ?smiled,? ?“Gege? ?is? ?really? ?popular? ?in? ?this? ?

area.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?laughed,? ?“Don’t? ?tease? ?me,? ?San? ?Lang.? ?They? ?were? ?obviously? ?drunk? ?but? ?not? ?on? ?

wine.”? ? ?

After? ?that? ?bowl? ?went? ?down,? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?bound? ?outside? ?the? ?shrine? ?for? ?an? ?entire? ?night,? ?

howling? ?and? ?screeching,? ?yelling? ?along? ?the? ?lines? ?of? ?“I’d? ?rather? ?be? ?captured? ?by? ?Lang? ?

Qianqiu,? ?be? ?butchered? ?to? ?a? ?million? ?pieces,? ?than? ?to? ?be? ?stuck? ?here? ?and? ?fed? ?poison? ?by? ?you!”? ?

“Cousin? ?Crown? ?Prince,? ?I’m? ?wrong,? ?please? ?I? ?beg? ?you,? ?give? ?me? ?the? ?antidote!”? ?And? ?he? ?even? ?

seemed? ?to? ?have? ?hallucinated? ?and? ?became? ?delusional.? ?Little? ?Gu? ?Zi? ?was? ?horrified.? ?By? ?early? ?

morning? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?shrivelled? ?up? ?and? ?sucked? ?dry,? ?his? ?face? ?completely? ?green,? ?and? ?

lapped? ?at? ?the? ?the? ?porridge? ?Gu? ?Zi? ?held? ?in? ?his? ?hand? ?before? ?finally? ?regaining? ?some? ?strength,? ?

croaking? ?with? ?a? ?broken? ?voice,? ?“Bullshit!? ?Popular?? ?Who? ?the? ?hell? ?would? ?come? ?for? ?him??? ?

Look? ?at? ?that? ?shabby? ?appearance!? ?Also,? ?don’t? ?you? ?be? ?so? ?full? ?of? ?yourself,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?you? ?

fucker.? ?You? ?can? ?only? ?attract? ?some? ?country? ?chicks? ?from? ?remote? ?places? ?like? ?these? ?at? ?most.? ?

They? ?only? ?came? ?clinging? ?because? ?you’re? ?dressed? ?so? ?extravagantly.? ?If? ?you? ?dressed? ?the? ?

part? ?of? ?a? ?beggar,? ?I? ?doubt? ?they’d? ?even? ?look? ?at? ?you!”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?thought? ?that? ?wasn’t? ?right? ?at? ?all.? ?Even? ?if? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?dressed? ?like? ?a? ?beggar,? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?believed,? ?should? ?he? ?went? ?begging? ?he? ?would? ?collect? ?a? ?mountain? ?of? ?gold.? ?Still,? ?he? ?said? ?

nothing,? ?and? ?started? ?doing? ?chores? ?leisurely.? ?After? ?a? ?while,? ?another? ?wave? ?of? ?smell? ?wafted? ?

outside? ?and? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?roared? ?again,? ?“WHAT? ?ARE? ?YOU? ?DOING? ?NOW?!? ?WHAT? ?THE? ?

HELL!”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?replied? ?warmly,? ?“That? ?pot? ?of? ?‘Love? ?for? ?All? ?Seasons’? ?stew.? ?I’m? ?heating? ?it? ?up.”? ? ?

Hearing? ?this,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?applauded? ?softly,? ?“What? ?a? ?good? ?name.”? ? ?

“YOU? ?GAVE? ?THAT? ?FUCKING? ?THING? ?A? ?NAME?!?!? ?STOP!!!”? ?

Afraid? ?that? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?would? ?really? ?feed? ?that? ?to? ?him? ?again,? ?just? ?heating? ?the? ?thing? ?up? ?

reminded? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?of? ?his? ?terrifying? ?memories? ?so? ?he? ?daren’t? ?talk? ?anymore.? ?After? ?finishing? ?

the? ?meal,? ?Lang? ?Ying? ?silently? ?collected? ?the? ?cutleries? ?as? ?if? ?going? ?to? ?do? ?the? ?dishes? ?and? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?chided,? ?“Let? ?it? ?be.? ?Just? ?go? ?play.? ?I? ?can? ?take? ?care? ?of? ?this.”? ? ?

Maybe? ?he? ?wasn’t? ?allowed? ?to? ?cook,? ?but? ?he? ?could? ?still? ?do? ?dishes.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?watched? ?

Lang? ?Ying? ?take? ?Gu? ?Zi? ?out? ?to? ?play? ?and? ?said,? ?“Let? ?me? ?do? ?them.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?declined? ?the? ?offer,? ?“There’s? ?even? ?less? ?reason? ?for? ?you? ?to? ?do? ?them.? ?Just? ?sit.”? ?

Before? ?he? ?finished? ?speaking,? ?just? ?then,? ?they? ?heard? ?the? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?who? ?was? ?bored? ?with? ?

nothing? ?to? ?do? ?after? ?having? ?filled? ?his? ?stomach? ?make? ?catcalls,? ?speaking? ?with? ?a? ?greasy? ?tone,? ?

“Hey? ?chickee,? ?what’re? ?you? ?doin’? ?checking? ?me? ?out?? ?Did? ?I? ?make? ?your? ?little? ?tender? ?heart? ?

quiver?”? ? ?

That? ?ghost? ?was? ?just? ?griping? ?about? ?how? ?he? ?didn’t? ?care? ?for? ?country? ?girls? ?but? ?turned? ?around? ?

and? ?started? ?flirting,? ?and? ?so? ?tastelessly? ?too!? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?shook? ?his? ?head,? ?thinking? ?he? ?best? ?

drag? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?in? ?after? ?all,? ?lest? ?he? ?scare? ?people? ?while? ?stuck? ?outside.? ?Unexpectedly,? ?before? ?

he? ?even? ?opened? ?the? ?door,? ?voices? ?of? ?awe? ?from? ?the? ?villagers? ?rang? ?out,? ?“Whoa,? ?legendary? ?

beauty!”? ? ?

“Why? ?would? ?such? ?beautiful? ?ladies? ?come? ?to? ?our? ?village...”? ?

“I’ve? ?never? ?seen? ?such? ?pretty? ?ladies? ?in? ?my? ?life!? ?And? ?there’s? ?two? ?of? ?them!”? ?

Soon? ?after,? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?series? ?of? ?knocking? ?on? ?the? ?door? ?of? ?Puqi? ?Shrine.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?

puzzled,? ?‘Legendary? ?Beauty’?? ?Two? ?of? ?them?? ?Why? ?would? ?two? ?legendary? ?beauties? ?come? ?

knocking? ?on? ?my? ?door?? ?Ah,? ?could? ?it? ?be?? ?Did? ?that? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?bring? ?his? ?new? ?wives? ?to? ?

come? ?return? ?their? ?gratitude?’? ?Thinking? ?that? ?this? ?could? ?very? ?well? ?be? ?the? ?case,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

hurriedly? ?grabbed? ?for? ?the? ?“Please? ?donate? ?to? ?help? ?with? ?renovations? ?of? ?this? ?shrine”? ?sign,? ?

ready? ?to? ?set? ?it? ?outside.? ?But? ?then,? ?he? ?heard? ?the? ?frosty? ?voice? ?of? ?one? ?of? ?the? ?women,? ?“What’s? ?

this? ?thing? ?at? ?the? ?door?? ?Burns? ?the? ?eyes.”? ? ?

Immediately,? ?the? ?voice? ?of? ?another? ?woman? ?came,? ?sounding? ?puzzled,? ?“Maybe? ?it’s? ?for? ?

guarding? ?the? ?door?? ?No? ?way.? ?There’s? ?no? ?reason? ?to? ?sink? ?so? ?low? ?as? ?to? ?use? ?such? ?a? ?vulgar? ?

spiritual? ?beast?”? ?

Although? ?they? ?were? ?female? ?voices,? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?certainly? ?heard? ?of? ?them? ?before.? ?It? ?

was? ?Wind? ?Master? ?Qing? ?Xuan? ?and? ?Earth? ?Master? ?Yi!? ?

At? ?first? ?he? ?had? ?wanted? ?to? ?open? ?the? ?door? ?immediately,? ?but? ?then,? ?he? ?whipped? ?his? ?head? ?

around,? ?and? ?looked? ?at? ?the? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?behind? ?him? ?who? ?was? ?lazily? ?cleaning? ?up? ?the? ?altar? ?

table,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?stopped? ?his? ?hands,? ?cautiously? ?peeking? ?out? ?the? ?door? ?through? ?the? ?

cracks? ?instead.? ?

Outside? ?the? ?door? ?stood? ?two? ?slender? ?and? ?delicate? ?women.? ?One? ?was? ?dressed? ?in? ?white? ?

cultivation? ?robes,? ?her? ?lips? ?rosy,? ?her? ?form? ?charming? ?and? ?sensual,? ?a? ?whisk? ?in? ?her? ?hand,? ?her? ?

eyes? ?bright;? ?the? ?other? ?was? ?a? ?black? ?clad? ?woman,? ?skin? ?white? ?as? ?snow,? ?brows? ?beautiful? ?and? ?

sharp,? ?yet? ?her? ?expression? ?was? ?dark,? ?her? ?hands? ?clenched? ?in? ?fists,? ?looking? ?away? ?into? ?the? ?

distance.? ?That? ?white? ?robed? ?woman? ?cultivator? ?was? ?face? ?full? ?of? ?smiles,? ?waving? ?her? ?hands? ?

all? ?around,? ?“Haha,? ?thanks? ?everyone,? ?thank? ?you!? ?No? ?need? ?to? ?compliment? ?so? ?much,? ?no? ?

need? ?to? ?make? ?such? ?a? ?show.? ?I’m? ?very? ?troubled? ?with? ?you? ?all? ?like? ?this.? ?That’s? ?enough? ?now,? ?

thank? ?you.? ?Haha.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian:? ?“...”? ?

All? ?around? ?was? ?a? ?large? ?tightly? ?knit? ?crowd? ?of? ?beauty-watching? ?villagers,? ?and? ?after? ?having? ?

seen? ?beauties? ?they? ?started? ?pointing? ?and? ?bashing? ?Qi? ?Rong.? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?displeased? ?and? ?

yelled? ?madly,? ?“WHAT? ?ARE? ?YOU? ?ALL? ?LOOKIN’? ?AT!? ?SO? ?WHAT? ?IF? ?THIS? ?ANCESTOR? ?

LIKES? ?LYING? ?ON? ?THE? ?GROUND!? ?FUCK? ?OFF!? ?THERE’S? ?NOTHIN’? ?HERE? ?TO? ?SEE!”? ?

The? ?villagers? ?saw? ?how? ?freakily? ?that? ?man? ?behaved,? ?looking? ?maliciously? ?violent? ?with? ?a? ?

green? ?face,? ?and? ?dispersed? ?in? ?fright.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?turned? ?to? ?Qi? ?Rong,? ?“This...? ?green? ?

young? ?master,? ?pray? ?tell? ?is? ?His? ?Highness? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?inside? ?the? ?shrine?”? ?

Hearing? ?that? ?woman? ?address? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?as? ?“His? ?Highness? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince”,? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?

immediately? ?lost? ?interest? ?in? ?the? ?two? ?beautiful? ?women? ?before? ?him,? ?and? ?clicked? ?his? ?tongue,? ?

“TSK!? ?So? ?you’re? ?shitty? ?officials? ?from? ?the? ?Upper? ?Heavens!? ?As? ?if? ?this? ?ancestor? ?is? ?a? ?dog? ?

guarding? ?his? ?door.? ?Listen? ?here,? ?I? ?am...”? ?He? ?hadn’t? ?finished? ?before? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?glumly? ?

approached,? ?and? ?then? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?wail? ?followed? ?by? ?sounds? ?of? ?smacking.? ?From? ?Xie? ?

Lian’s? ?position? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?quite? ?see? ?just? ?what? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?was? ?doing? ?and? ?could? ?only? ?see? ?Shi? ?

Qingxuan? ?sweep? ?his? ?whisk,? ?chiding,? ?“Ming-xiong,? ?it’s? ?not? ?good? ?to? ?use? ?violence!”? ? ?

Ming? ?Yi? ?said? ?coolly,? ?“What’s? ?there? ?to? ?be? ?afraid? ?of?? ?Didn’t? ?he? ?say? ?he’s? ?not? ?a? ?domesticated? ?

spiritual? ?beast.”? ? ?

“...”? ?

To? ?prevent? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?from? ?getting? ?beaten? ?to? ?death,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?only? ?open? ?the? ?door,? ?

raising? ?his? ?hands? ?to? ?stop? ?her,? ?“My? ?lord!? ?Have? ?mercy!? ?Don’t? ?hit? ?him,? ?he’s? ?a? ?person!”? ? ?

Seeing? ?that? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?opened? ?the? ?door,? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?flipped? ?away? ?her? ?black? ?hem? ?and? ?

removed? ?her? ?boot? ?from? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?back.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?on? ?the? ?other? ?hand? ?rushed? ?up? ?and? ?

clutched? ?her? ?hands? ?in? ?a? ?curtsy? ?gesture,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?I’ve? ?come? ?a? ?few? ?days? ?early!? ?

What’s? ?with? ?that? ?person?? ?He’s? ?so? ?full? ?of? ?demonic? ?essence,? ?you? ?can’t? ?hide? ?it,? ?do? ?you? ?take? ?

us? ?for? ?blind?? ?Well,? ?let’s? ?talk? ?inside.? ?This? ?time? ?I’ve? ?something? ?really? ?important? ?I? ?need? ?your? ?

help? ?with...”? ?As? ?she? ?spoke? ?she? ?walked? ?around? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?who? ?was? ?lying? ?on? ?the? ?ground? ?

and? ?crossed? ?over? ?the? ?threshold.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?was? ?still? ?inside,? ?so? ?how? ?could? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?dare? ?

to? ?let? ?them? ?in,? ?and? ?he? ?cried? ?hastily,? ?“Wait!”? ? ?

However,? ?it? ?was? ?too? ?late.? ?Puqi? ?shrine? ?was? ?only? ?so? ?big? ?and? ?had? ?no? ?place? ?to? ?hide.? ?

Immediately? ?the? ?two? ?saw? ?behind? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?person? ?stood? ?a? ?Supreme? ?Ghost? ?King? ?who? ?

was? ?in? ?the? ?middle? ?of? ?doing? ?dishes.? ?Four? ?pairs? ?of? ?eyes? ?met;? ?sparks? ?flew.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?

smiled? ?a? ?smile? ?with? ?teeth,? ?yet? ?the? ?smile? ?was? ?ominous? ?and? ?his? ?eyes? ?had? ?no? ?trace? ?of? ?mirth.? ?

In? ?an? ?instant,? ?Ming? ?Yi’s? ?pupils? ?shrank,? ?and? ?she? ?backed? ?three? ?feet? ?away.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?

flung? ?out? ?her? ?Wind? ?Master? ?fan,? ?striking? ?an? ?attacking? ?stance,? ?exceedingly? ?alarmed,? ?

“CRIMSON? ?RAIN? ?SOUGHT? ?FLOWER!”? ? ?

Outside? ?the? ?door,? ?the? ?ashen? ?faced? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?roared? ?with? ?rage,? ?“AND? ?I’M? ?THE? ?NIGHT? ?

TOURING? ?GREEN? ?LANTERN!? ?HOW? ?COME? ?NONE? ?OF? ?YOU? ?RECOGNIZED? ?ME? ?WHEN? ?

BEATING? ?ME? ?BUT? ?KNEW? ?IT? ?WAS? ?HIM? ?WITH? ?JUST? ?ONE? ?LOOK?!”? ?

Ming? ?Yi? ?had? ?once? ?infiltrated? ?the? ?Ghost? ?City? ?and? ?spent? ?many? ?years? ?as? ?a? ?spy? ?under? ?Hua? ?

Cheng.? ?It? ?was? ?only? ?recently? ?that? ?she? ?was? ?discovered? ?and? ?captured? ?by? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?then? ?

locked? ?in? ?a? ?maze? ?dungeon? ?and? ?beaten.? ?To? ?have? ?enemies? ?face? ?each? ?other,? ?their? ?eyes? ?

bloodshot,? ?the? ?tiny? ?little? ?Puqi? ?Shrine? ?was? ?filled? ?with? ?the? ?smell? ?of? ?venom? ?inside? ?and? ?out.? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?tossed? ?the? ?rag? ?in? ?his? ?hand? ?and? ?squinted? ?a? ?smirk,? ?“Lord? ?Earth? ?Master? ?looks? ?

lively.”? ? ?

Ming? ?Yi? ?also? ?replied? ?coldly,? ?“Lord? ?Ghost? ?King? ?also? ?looks? ?leisurely? ?as? ?always.”? ?

After? ?having? ?made? ?false? ?perfunctory? ?greetings,? ?the? ?next? ?words? ?that? ?came? ?out? ?of? ?Hua? ?

Cheng’s? ?mouth? ?were? ?even? ?colder,? ?his? ?expression? ?icy.? ?

“Leave.”? ?He? ?warned,? ?”I? ?don’t? ?care? ?what? ?important? ?business? ?you? ?have.? ?Do? ?not? ?come? ?

anywhere? ?near? ?here? ?again.”? ? ?

Although? ?she? ?feared? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?still? ?she? ?refused? ?to? ?back? ?down? ?meekly? ?and? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?

responded? ?with? ?a? ?solemn? ?voice,? ?“To? ?come? ?here? ?was? ?not? ?my? ?will!”? ? ?

The? ?smell? ?of? ?venom? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?turn? ?into? ?explosives.? ?Next? ?to? ?them,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?

growing? ?nervous,? ?“W-w-what,? ?Lord? ?Wind? ?Master,? ?what? ?should? ?we? ?do?”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?knocked? ?her? ?fan? ?on? ?her? ?head? ?a? ?few? ?times? ?and? ?said,? ?“I? ?didn’t? ?expect? ?

Crimson? ?Rain? ?Sought? ?Flower? ?would? ?be? ?here? ?either!? ?Didn’t? ?you? ?guys? ?just? ?meet? ?recently?? ?

How? ?come? ?you’re? ?together? ?again? ?so? ?fast?? ?Anyway,? ?if? ?this? ?can? ?be? ?solved? ?without? ?fists? ?

that’d? ?be? ?good.? ?Violence? ?is? ?bad.? ?If? ?they? ?start? ?fighting? ?we’ll? ?have? ?to? ?hold? ?them? ?back.”? ? ?

“I? ?agree,? ?mostly.”? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?hoping? ?the? ?two? ?would? ?start? ?brawling? ?and? ?had? ?been? ?

listening? ?intently.? ?Just? ?then? ?he? ?suddenly? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“OHhh? ?–? ?so? ?you’re? ?that? ?slutty? ?woman? ?

Wind? ?Master???”? ?

Both? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?turned? ?to? ?look? ?at? ?him.? ?That? ?was? ?exactly? ?how? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?

had? ?called? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?when? ?he? ?was? ?in? ?his? ?own? ?cave,? ?but? ?even? ?before? ?the? ?person? ?

herself? ?he’d? ?dare? ?curse? ?her? ?like? ?this,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?tell? ?if? ?it? ?was? ?out? ?of? ?bravery? ?or? ?

lack? ?of? ?mental? ?capabilities.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?had? ?always? ?been? ?raised? ?in? ?dignified? ?grace,? ?so? ?

this? ?was? ?probably? ?the? ?first? ?time? ?hearing? ?someone? ?else? ?curse? ?her? ?in? ?this? ?way.? ?She? ?blinked,? ?

looking? ?confused,? ?then? ?turned? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?“Your? ?Highness.? ?Please? ?wait.”? ? ?

Then,? ?she? ?exited? ?the? ?shrine? ?and? ?closed? ?the? ?door.? ?Outside,? ?there? ?was? ?another? ?desperate? ?

wail? ?from? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?and? ?another? ?bout? ?of? ?smacking.? ?A? ?moment? ?later,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?opened? ?

the? ?door? ?to? ?come? ?back? ?in,? ?and? ?he? ?had? ?returned? ?to? ?his? ?male? ?form.? ?“Alright,? ?where? ?were? ?

we.? ?I’m? ?feeling? ?kind? ?of? ?hungry? ?too,? ?so? ?how? ?about? ?we? ?all? ?sit? ?down? ?and? ?eat? ?something?? ?

There’s? ?nothing? ?that? ?can’t? ?be? ?negotiated,? ?and? ?nothing? ?that? ?can’t? ?be? ?solved? ?at? ?the? ?dinner? ?

table.”? ?

“...”? ?

Even? ?though? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?kind? ?of? ?didn’t? ?want? ?them? ?to? ?start? ?fighting? ?inside? ?Puqi? ?Shrine,? ?but? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?extremely? ?angry? ?over? ?the? ?whole? ?affair? ?of? ?Ming? ?Yi’s? ?infiltration,? ?

and? ?without? ?knowing? ?the? ?inside? ?story,? ?it? ?seemed? ?rather? ?impossible? ?to? ?have? ?them? ?sit? ?down? ?

and? ?eat? ?agreeably.? ?However,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?actually? ?didn’t? ?seem? ?to? ?object? ?to? ?the? ?idea,? ?and? ?

after? ?a? ?frosty? ?moment,? ?the? ?ice? ?on? ?his? ?face? ?cleared? ?away? ?and? ?he? ?turned? ?back? ?to? ?continue? ?

doing? ?dishes.? ?After? ?he? ?was? ?done,? ?he? ?walked? ?to? ?the? ?pot? ?and? ?ladled? ?a? ?full? ?bowl? ?of? ?that? ?Love? ?

for? ?All? ?Seasons? ?stew.? ?

Seeing? ?that? ?he? ?backed? ?down? ?first? ?and? ?ceased? ?a? ?battle,? ?the? ?others? ?all? ?sighed? ?a? ?breath? ?of? ?

relief.? ?The? ?next? ?step? ?was? ?to? ?change? ?the? ?subject? ?and? ?liven? ?the? ?atmosphere,? ?so? ?Shi? ?

Qingxuan? ?asked,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?what’s? ?in? ?that? ?pot?? ?It? ?seems? ?to? ?be? ?hot? ?still?”? ? ?

“Oh.? ?I? ?made? ?that.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?

That? ?pot? ?had? ?been? ?stewing? ?for? ?a? ?long? ?time,? ?the? ?flavours? ?completely? ?soaked? ?in,? ?and? ?most? ?

of? ?the? ?smell? ?had? ?already? ?dissipated.? ?Although? ?the? ?colour? ?was? ?still? ?questionable,? ?but? ?the? ?

shapes? ?had? ?all? ?but? ?melted? ?away? ?from? ?the? ?stewing,? ?looking? ?much? ?better? ?than? ?it? ?did? ?the? ?

night? ?before.? ?Hearing? ?his? ?response,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?vibrating? ?with? ?excitement,? ?

“Really?? ?I’ve? ?never? ?eaten? ?anything? ?made? ?by? ?the? ?hands? ?of? ?heavenly? ?officials!? ?Come? ?come? ?

come,? ?let’s? ?have? ?a? ?taste.”? ?

He? ?said? ?as? ?he? ?went? ?to? ?grab? ?for? ?two? ?sets? ?of? ?cutleries? ?and? ?filled? ?two? ?bowls.? ?To? ?be? ?honest,? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?wanted? ?to? ?stop? ?him? ?at? ?first.? ?However,? ?because? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?been? ?so? ?

firmly? ?encouraging,? ?burying? ?seeds? ?of? ?confidence? ?within? ?him,? ?and? ?plus? ?earlier? ?that? ?

morning? ?he? ?had? ?changed? ?up? ?the? ?seasoning? ?according? ?to? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?suggestions? ?as? ?

he? ?heated? ?the? ?stew,? ?so? ?the? ?thought? ?“maybe? ?I? ?saved? ?it”? ?appeared? ?in? ?his? ?mind.? ?After? ?some? ?

hesitation,? ?he? ?still? ?didn’t? ?say? ?anything,? ?and? ?secretly? ?watched? ?with? ?hope? ?as? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?

passed? ?one? ?of? ?the? ?bowls? ?to? ?Ming? ?Yi.? ?“Come,? ?Ming-xiong.? ?This? ?one’s? ?yours.”? ? ?

Ming? ?Yi? ?took? ?a? ?look? ?at? ?the? ?contents? ?in? ?the? ?bowl? ?and? ?turned? ?her? ?face? ?away,? ?looking? ?

unwilling.? ? ?

It? ?was? ?a? ?rude? ?gesture.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?outraged,? ?and? ?forced? ?the? ?bowl? ?to? ?her,? ?

unrelenting,? ?“EAT!? ?Didn’t? ?you? ?say? ?you? ?were? ?hungry? ?earlier? ?on? ?the? ?road?”? ? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?lazily? ?raised? ?a? ?spoonful? ?and? ?blew? ?on? ?it,? ?bringing? ?it? ?to? ?his? ?lips? ?then? ?swallowed.? ?

He? ?smiled? ?at? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?“It’s? ?definitely? ?lighter? ?today.? ?The? ?flavour’s? ?just? ?right.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?smiled? ?too,? ?“Really?? ?I? ?added? ?more? ?water? ?today.”? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?took? ?another? ?bite? ?and? ?smiled? ?happily,? ?“Gege? ?did? ?his? ?best.”? ?

Watching? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?looking? ?like? ?he? ?was? ?tasting? ?some? ?delicious? ?delicacy,? ?it? ?was? ?

exceedingly? ?convincing.? ?A? ?moment? ?later,? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?took? ?the? ?bowl? ?after? ?all.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?

smiled,? ?“That’s? ?better!”? ?And? ?the? ?two? ?spooned? ?a? ?mouthful? ?at? ?the? ?same? ?time,? ?taking? ?a? ?bite.? ?

————–? ?

Ch.103:? ?Venerable? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words;? ?Mourning? ?at? ?the? ?Feast? ?

“How? ?is? ?it?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.? ?

THUD!?? ?And? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?collapsed? ?onto? ?the? ?altar? ?table? ?face? ?down,? ?as? ?if? ?she? ?lost? ?

consciousness.? ?

Next? ?to? ?her,? ?two? ?lines? ?of? ?tears? ?silently? ?streamed? ?down? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan’s? ?face.? ?

“...”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?asked? ?hesitantly,? ?“My? ?lords,? ?how? ?is? ?it? ?exactly?? ?Will? ?you? ?pull? ?yourselves? ?together? ?

and? ?give? ?me? ?some? ?constructive? ?criticism? ?using? ?words?”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?snapped? ?out? ?of? ?it,? ?wiped? ?a? ?face? ?full? ?of? ?tears? ?and? ?clutched? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?hands,? ?

pressing? ?down? ?with? ?force,? ?and? ?said? ?unintelligibly,? ?“...Your? ?Highness.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?reversed? ?the? ?hold? ?and? ?clutched? ?his? ?hands? ?back,? ?“What?”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?tongue-tied,? ?unable? ?to? ?speak,? ?and? ?a? ?moment? ?later,? ?he? ?sobbed? ?as? ?he? ?

pushed? ?Ming? ?Yi,? ?“Ming-xiong...? ?Ming-xiong!? ?Ming-xiong,? ?what’s? ?wrong?? ?Pull? ?yourself? ?

together,? ?wake? ?up!”? ? ?

Ming? ?Yi? ?laid? ?on? ?the? ?table,? ?unmoving.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?could? ?never? ?stand? ?anyone? ?ignoring? ?

him,? ?and? ?push? ?became? ?shove? ?until? ?finally? ?he? ?was? ?strangling? ?the? ?other,? ?shaking? ?with? ?

force.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?watch? ?anymore? ?and? ?suggested? ?anxiously,? ?“Lord? ?Wind? ?Master,? ?

why? ?don’t? ?you? ?put? ?down? ?the? ?broom,? ?we? ?can? ?talk? ?things? ?out.”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?strangling? ?that? ?broom? ?and? ?whipped? ?his? ?head? ?around,? ?shouting? ?“HAH?? ?

YOUR? ?HIGHNESS? ?WHAT? ?DID? ?YOU? ?SAY?? ?I? ?CAN’T? ?HEAR? ?YOU!”? ?

Feeling? ?a? ?little? ?helpless,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?yelled? ?into? ?his? ?ear,? ?“LORD? ?WIND? ?MASTER!? ?THE? ?

THING? ?IN? ?YOUR? ?HANDS? ?IS? ?NOT? ?LORD? ?EARTH? ?MASTER.? ?LORD? ?EARTH? ?MASTER? ?IS? ?

HERE.? ?HERE!”? ? ?

Just? ?then,? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?whipped? ?up.? ?He? ?actually? ?returned? ?to? ?his? ?male? ?form? ?in? ?a? ?flash,? ?his? ?face? ?

dark? ?like? ?steel,? ?and? ?he? ?proclaimed? ?scornfully,? ?“I? ?have? ?evil? ?in? ?the? ?heart? ?now.? ?Please? ?

exorcise? ?it? ?for? ?me.”? ? ?

A? ?spoonful? ?of? ?stew? ?can? ?produce? ?evil? ?in? ?the? ?heart?? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?shocked? ?to? ?the? ?core.? ?He? ?

mumbled,? ?“...That? ?can’t? ?be? ?possible...”? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?however,? ?was? ?pointing? ?at? ?Ming? ?Yi,? ?his? ?eyes? ?round? ?and? ?bulging,? ?“HOLD? ?IT!? ?

YOU!? ?What? ?evil? ?are? ?you? ?to? ?dare? ?show? ?your? ?petty? ?tricks? ?before? ?this? ?Wind? ?Master?? ?

Where’s? ?Ming-xiong?? ?Quick,? ?I’ll? ?shield? ?you!? ?Let’s? ?take? ?it? ?down? ?together.”? ?And? ?with? ?the? ?

broom? ?in? ?one? ?hand,? ?the? ?other? ?flung? ?out? ?the? ?wind? ?master? ?fan.? ?If? ?that? ?fan? ?was? ?to? ?attack,? ?

then? ?the? ?entire? ?rooftop? ?would? ?be? ?blown? ?away? ?for? ?sure!? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?hastily? ?rushed? ?up? ?to? ?hold? ?

him? ?down,? ?“DON’T? ?DON’T? ?DON’T.? ?MY? ?LORDS? ?PLEASE,? ?WILL? ?YOU? ?BOTH? ?SNAP? ?OUT? ?

OF? ?IT!”? ? ?

“HAHAHAHAHahahahHEHehehehheehheeeheheehuehuehuehue...”? ?

Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?slamming? ?his? ?fists? ?on? ?the? ?ground? ?laughing? ?outside,? ?yelling,? ?“Y’ALL? ?

DESERVED? ?IT!? ?FUCKING? ?OFFICIALS!? ?GO? ?DIE? ?AND? ?ASCEND!? ?THIS? ?IS? ?FUCKING? ?

GREAT!? ?I? ?FEEL? ?SO? ?MUCH? ?BETTER!”? ? ?

The? ?two? ?officials? ?inside? ?were? ?falling? ?all? ?over? ?themselves,? ?groaning? ?nonstop.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?

leaned? ?against? ?the? ?wall? ?with? ?his? ?arms? ?crossed,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?at? ?him,? ?then? ?looked? ?

at? ?the? ?Wind? ?Master? ?and? ?Earth? ?Master? ?clutching? ?their? ?heads? ?buckling? ?on? ?the? ?ground,? ?and? ?

whispered,? ?“Is? ?it? ?maybe? ?because? ?I? ?didn’t? ?add? ?enough? ?water? ?after? ?all...? ?why? ?would? ?their? ?

reactions? ?be? ?stronger? ?than? ?Qi? ?Rong’s?”? ? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?raised? ?his? ?brows,? ?“I? ?think? ?it’s? ?fine.? ?It’s? ?probably? ?a? ?problem? ?with? ?their? ?taste? ?

buds.? ?It? ?happens.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?however,? ?had? ?never? ?thought? ?about? ?what? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?typically? ?ate? ?and? ?what? ?

heavenly? ?officials? ?usually? ?ate.? ?Comparing? ?the? ?two,? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?were? ?much? ?more? ?

sensitive? ?and? ?emotionally? ?delicate,? ?so? ?that? ?was? ?probably? ?why? ?their? ?reactions? ?were? ?much? ?

stronger.? ?Of? ?course,? ?he? ?also? ?didn’t? ?think? ?about? ?whether? ?if? ?anything? ?had? ?been? ?added? ?after? ?

that? ?pot? ?had? ?passed? ?through? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?hands.? ?

Feeling? ?both? ?depressed? ?and? ?guilty,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?fed? ?seven? ?to? ?eight? ?bowls? ?of? ?water? ?each? ?to? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?and? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?before? ?the? ?two? ?slowly? ?came? ?to.? ?Although? ?their? ?faces? ?were? ?

green? ?like? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?and? ?their? ?eyes? ?dead,? ?at? ?least? ?they? ?were? ?conscious,? ?their? ?speech? ?

returning.? ?The? ?only? ?small? ?problem? ?was? ?the? ?unstoppable? ?tears? ?streaming? ?down? ?Shi? ?

Qingxuan’s? ?face,? ?and? ?when? ?he? ?spoke? ?he’d? ?accidentally? ?bite? ?his? ?tongue? ?at? ?times.? ?Other? ?

than? ?that? ?there? ?weren’t? ?any? ?real? ?issues.? ?

After? ?all? ?that? ?ruckus,? ?two? ?hours? ?later? ?the? ?four? ?finally? ?sat? ?down? ?orderly? ?around? ?the? ?altar? ?

table.? ?

Ming? ?Yi? ?still? ?had? ?his? ?face? ?down? ?on? ?the? ?altar,? ?still? ?as? ?a? ?corpse.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?righted? ?his? ?

expression? ?and? ?inquired? ?solemnly,? ?“Lord? ?Wind? ?Master,? ?you? ?said? ?there? ?was? ?something? ?

important? ?you? ?wanted? ?my? ?help? ?with? ?earlier?? ?What? ?is? ?it? ?exactly?”? ?

Looking? ?wan? ?and? ?sallow,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?threw? ?a? ?soundproof? ?spell? ?on? ?the? ?door,? ?making? ?

sure? ?that? ?no? ?one? ?outside? ?could? ?hear? ?anything? ?before? ?he? ?croaked? ?with? ?a? ?hoarse? ?voice,? ?

“...It’s? ?like? ?this.? ?Ahem? ?ahem.? ?Ahem? ?ahem.? ?Your? ?Highness,? ?you’ve? ?been? ?hiding? ?in? ?the? ?

world,? ?cultivating? ?in? ?the? ?mortal? ?realm? ?for? ?eight? ?hundred? ?years.? ?You’ve? ?walked? ?and? ?seen? ?

much,? ?so? ?you? ?must? ?have? ?bumped? ?into? ?plenty? ?of? ?ghosts? ?and? ?monsters,? ?right?”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?folded? ?his? ?hands? ?one? ?over? ?the? ?other? ?and? ?replied,? ?“I’ve? ?met? ?some.”? ? ?

“Then? ?I? ?want? ?to? ?ask,”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?said,? ?“Have...? ?have? ?you? ?ever? ?met? ?a? ?‘Venerable? ?of? ?

Empty? ?Words’?”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?taken? ?aback,? ?“The? ?Venerable? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?who? ?mourn? ?at? ?feasts?”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?lowered? ?his? ?voice? ?and? ?replied? ?ominously,? ?“That’s? ?right!”? ? ?

Suddenly,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?a? ?wave? ?of? ?hair-raising? ?cold? ?breeze? ?blowing? ?up? ?his? ?spine,? ?

swishing.? ?

At? ?the? ?same? ?time,? ?there? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?someone? ?next? ?to? ?his? ?ear,? ?giggling? ?coldly? ?and? ?

humming? ?an? ?exceedingly? ?creepy? ?tune.? ?

Somehow,? ?the? ?sunlight? ?that? ?shined? ?through? ?the? ?windows? ?and? ?cracks? ?warming? ?the? ?little? ?

Puqi? ?shrine? ?also? ?dimmed,? ?like? ?the? ?whole? ?place? ?was? ?enveloped? ?in? ?a? ?large? ?shadow.? ?Xie? ?

Lian’s? ?extremities? ?were? ?getting? ?colder,? ?icy? ?like? ?steel.? ?

“...”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?to? ?clutch? ?his? ?robes? ?tight? ?and? ?felt? ?this? ?must? ?be? ?brought? ?up? ?directly? ?and? ?spoke? ?

up,? ?“I? ?have? ?to? ?ask...? ?who’s? ?laughing?? ?Who’s? ?singing?? ?Who’s? ?blowing? ?cold? ?air? ?behind? ?my? ?

back?? ?Who? ?made? ?the? ?shrine? ?this? ?dark?”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?wiped? ?away? ?his? ?tears? ?and? ?said,? ?“Oh,? ?that’s? ?all? ?me.? ?It’s? ?just? ?a? ?little? ?spell,? ?

don’t? ?mind? ?it.? ?It’s? ?just? ?for? ?creating? ?the? ?mood.”? ?

The? ?other? ?three? ?at? ?the? ?altar? ?table? ?were? ?speechless.? ?A? ?moment? ?later,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?supported? ?

his? ?temple? ?and? ?said? ?exasperatedly,? ?“...Lord? ?Wind? ?Master,? ?how? ?about? ?we? ?stop? ?this? ?

breeze?? ?With? ?this? ?weather,? ?none? ?of? ?us? ?are? ?dressed? ?in? ?layers.? ?Besides,? ?the? ?mood? ?was? ?

already? ?there,? ?but? ?it’s? ?all? ?dissipated? ?after? ?you? ?added? ?the? ?cold? ?breeze? ?and? ?music...”? ?

“Huh?? ?Really?”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?said,? ?then? ?with? ?a? ?wave? ?of? ?his? ?hand,? ?the? ?blowing? ?cold? ?air? ?

behind? ?everyone’s? ?backs? ?were? ?dispersed.? ?“But? ?I? ?think? ?it’d? ?be? ?good? ?if? ?the? ?shrine? ?remains? ?

this? ?dark.? ?Let? ?me? ?light? ?a? ?candle,? ?the? ?ambiance? ?will? ?be? ?even? ?better.”? ?As? ?he? ?spoke,? ?he? ?

really? ?did? ?take? ?out? ?a? ?candle? ?and? ?lit? ?it.? ?In? ?the? ?flickering? ?candlelight? ?illuminated? ?the? ?two? ?

snow? ?white? ?faces? ?and? ?two? ?other? ?pale,? ?greenish? ?faces.? ?The? ?mood? ?was? ?actually? ?quite? ?

strong,? ?the? ?haunting? ?atmosphere? ?exceptional,? ?and? ?perhaps? ?even? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?who? ?was? ?

outside? ?would? ?howl? ?and? ?scream? ?in? ?fright? ?of? ?ghosts.? ?

The? ?other? ?three? ?didn’t? ?want? ?to? ?say? ?anything? ?anymore.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?leaned? ?back? ?and? ?Ming? ?

Yi? ?remained? ?as? ?a? ?corpse.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?rubbed? ?his? ?forehead? ?and? ?said,? ?“Let’s? ?continue...? ?

Where? ?were? ?we?? ?The? ?Venerable? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words?? ?Why? ?didn’t? ?you? ?just? ?say? ?the? ?Jinx? ?

monster?? ?Calling? ?it? ?the? ?Venerable? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words,? ?it? ?took? ?me? ?a? ?minute? ?to? ?realize? ?what? ?

you? ?were? ?talking? ?about.”? ? ?

The? ?Venerable? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words,? ?although? ?given? ?the? ?title? ?‘venerable’,? ?people? ?only? ?

addressed? ?it? ?as? ?a? ?venerable? ?for? ?show,? ?giving? ?it? ?some? ?face,? ?afraid? ?that? ?if? ?its? ?name? ?was? ?too? ?

unseemly? ?and? ?it? ?found? ?out,? ?it’d? ?come? ?after? ?you.? ?In? ?truth,? ?everyone? ?wished? ?they? ?could? ?

curse? ?it? ?as? ?the? ?foul-mouthed? ?venerable,? ?the? ?jinx? ?monster,? ?and? ?the? ?worse? ?it? ?sounded? ?the? ?

better.? ?However,? ?it? ?really? ?was? ?abominable? ?to? ?the? ?extreme.? ?

That’s? ?right.? ?Typical? ?demons? ?and? ?monsters? ?were? ?at? ?most? ?scary,? ?but? ?this? ?one? ?was? ?

‘abominable’.? ?This? ?was? ?because? ?if? ?someone? ?should? ?be? ?happy,? ?in? ?their? ?moment? ?of? ?joy? ?it? ?

would? ?appear? ?and? ?dunk? ?a? ?bucket? ?of? ?cold? ?water? ?over? ?their? ?heads,? ?a? ?real? ?killjoy.? ?Think? ?for? ?a? ?

moment;? ?at? ?the? ?reception? ?of? ?a? ?pair? ?of? ?newlyweds,? ?something? ?of? ?this? ?sort? ?appeared,? ?ate? ?

up? ?the? ?feast? ?then? ?suddenly? ?claim:? ?“It? ?won’t? ?take? ?long? ?for? ?the? ?two? ?of? ?you? ?to? ?break? ?up!”? ?Or? ?

in? ?another? ?case,? ?if? ?an? ?old? ?master? ?of? ?a? ?household? ?was? ?promoted? ?in? ?office,? ?it? ?would? ?also? ?

suddenly? ?appear? ?and? ?cry? ?in? ?the? ?midst? ?of? ?congratulations:? ?“You’re? ?going? ?to? ?get? ?cuffed? ?and? ?

go? ?to? ?jail? ?in? ?a? ?few? ?years!”? ? ?

If? ?it? ?should? ?attach? ?itself? ?to? ?someone,? ?it? ?would? ?become? ?like? ?the? ?shadows? ?and? ?firmly? ?wrap? ?

itself? ?onto? ?that? ?person,? ?endlessly? ?cursing? ?for? ?the? ?opposite? ?whenever? ?a? ?joyous? ?occasion? ?

should? ?occur.? ?Truly? ?abominable.? ?Especially? ?for? ?those? ?who? ?feared? ?ominous? ?signs;? ?if? ?they? ?

ran? ?into? ?that? ?thing? ?they’d? ?die? ?from? ?distress.? ?No? ?one? ?wanted? ?something? ?of? ?the? ?sort? ?to? ?

attach? ?itself? ?to? ?themselves,? ?but? ?if? ?they? ?bump? ?into? ?it,? ?they? ?could? ?only? ?accept? ?their? ?fate,? ?

because? ?up? ?until? ?now,? ?there? ?was? ?still? ?no? ?one? ?who? ?knew? ?just? ?how? ?it? ?selected? ?prey.? ?

It? ?seemed? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?quite? ?fearful? ?of? ?that? ?creature? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?think? ?it? ?a? ?

big? ?deal,? ?“Don’t? ?worry.? ?It’s? ?nothing? ?to? ?be? ?scared? ?of.”? ?

To? ?say? ?it? ?correctly,? ?that? ?creature? ?was? ?more? ?likely? ?to? ?be? ?scared? ?of? ?him.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?

became? ?energetic,? ?“So? ?Your? ?Highness? ?has? ?met? ?one?? ?Is? ?there? ?any? ?way? ?to? ?exterminate? ?

that? ?thing? ?completely?”? ? ?

Humming? ?for? ?a? ?moment,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied,? ?“I? ?did? ?bump? ?into? ?two? ?many? ?years? ?ago,? ?but? ?

they’ve? ?never? ?shown? ?themselves? ?again,? ?so? ?I? ?don’t? ?know? ?for? ?sure? ?if? ?they? ?were? ?completely? ?

exterminated.? ?But? ?by? ?my? ?experience,? ?it’s? ?not? ?that? ?difficult? ?dealing? ?with? ?them.”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?overjoyed,? ?“TWO?? ?You? ?managed? ?to? ?deal? ?with? ?two?!? ?I’ve? ?really? ?come? ?

to? ?the? ?right? ?place!? ?So? ?what? ?happened?”? ? ?

Thus? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?began? ?his? ?tale.? ?The? ?first? ?one? ?was? ?like? ?this:? ?Many? ?years? ?ago,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

passed? ?through? ?a? ?small? ?town,? ?and? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?sending? ?his? ?daughter? ?

off? ?to? ?the? ?capital? ?to? ?study.? ?Because? ?of? ?how? ?outstanding? ?his? ?daughter? ?was,? ?he? ?made? ?a? ?big? ?

show? ?of? ?publically? ?commending? ?her,? ?a? ?joyous? ?occasion.? ?Who? ?knew,? ?from? ?joy? ?brewed? ?

tragedy,? ?and? ?at? ?the? ?sendoff? ?feast,? ?there? ?was? ?suddenly? ?a? ?voice? ?that? ?belted,? ?“Your? ?

daughter’s? ?carriage? ?will? ?overturn? ?on? ?the? ?road? ?and? ?she? ?will? ?die? ?crashing? ?down? ?the? ?valley!”? ? ?

That? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?jumped? ?to? ?his? ?feet? ?in? ?rage? ?on? ?the? ?spot? ?and? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?catch? ?

the? ?one? ?who? ?said? ?those? ?words,? ?but? ?that? ?person? ?ducked? ?under? ?the? ?table? ?right? ?after? ?and? ?

disappeared? ?into? ?thin? ?air!? ? ?

After? ?that,? ?everyone? ?was? ?scared.? ?Fortunately,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?went? ?to? ?that? ?household? ?that? ?day? ?

to? ?collect? ?junk.? ?He? ?managed? ?to? ?obtain? ?some? ?leftovers? ?and? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?head? ?back? ?when? ?

he? ?heard? ?what? ?happened.? ?He? ?knew? ?what? ?that? ?creature? ?was? ?so? ?he? ?told? ?that? ?wealthy? ?

merchant? ?not? ?to? ?worry.? ?He? ?asked? ?the? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?to? ?hire? ?some? ?twenty? ?guards,? ?and? ?

with? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?himself? ?included,? ?they? ?carefully? ?escorted? ?the? ?little? ?lady? ?to? ?the? ?capital? ?safely,? ?

and? ?protected? ?her? ?for? ?a? ?while.? ?A? ?month? ?later,? ?that? ?little? ?lady? ?won? ?first? ?place? ?in? ?a? ?beauty? ?

contest,? ?and? ?the? ?chance? ?had? ?come.? ?

That? ?night,? ?a? ?feast? ?was? ?held? ?at? ?a? ?restaurant? ?in? ?the? ?capital? ?to? ?celebrate? ?the? ?little? ?lady,? ?and? ?

sure? ?enough,? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?voice? ?mixed? ?in? ?the? ?crowd? ?again,? ?belting,? ?“You? ?will? ?be...”? ?

The? ?moment? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?heard? ?it’s? ?voice? ?he? ?immediately? ?seized? ?that? ?creature? ?from? ?the? ?

crowd,? ?choking? ?its? ?neck,? ?stopping? ?it? ?from? ?uttering? ?another? ?word.? ?Then,? ?he? ?immediately? ?

used? ?a? ?charm? ?to? ?seal? ?its? ?body,? ?beat? ?it? ?to? ?a? ?bloody? ?pulp,? ?then? ?ordered? ?for? ?a? ?carriage,? ?

taking? ?it? ?to? ?the? ?valleys? ?to? ?run? ?wildly? ?astray.? ?At? ?a? ?winding? ?corner? ?of? ?the? ?mountain? ?pass? ?the? ?

reins? ?snapped,? ?and? ?that? ?carriage? ?crashed? ?down? ?the? ?cliffs,? ?fulfilling? ?its? ?own? ?curse? ?to? ?

others.? ?

“That’s? ?it?”? ?The? ?other? ?three? ?asked.? ?

“That’s? ?it.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?“To? ?deal? ?with? ?the? ?Jinx...? ?alright,? ?the? ?Venerable? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words.? ?

To? ?deal? ?with? ?the? ?Venerable? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words,? ?there? ?are? ?three? ?ways:? ?first,? ?don’t? ?let? ?it? ?open? ?

its? ?mouth,? ?and? ?cut? ?it? ?off? ?before? ?it? ?could? ?speak.? ?This? ?can? ?only? ?help? ?guard? ?you? ?for? ?the? ?

moment? ?but? ?it? ?won’t? ?protect? ?you? ?for? ?life,? ?so? ?you? ?need? ?to? ?be? ?constantly? ?vigilant.”? ? ?

“Second,? ?if? ?it? ?should? ?speak,? ?don’t? ?let? ?the? ?subject? ?of? ?its? ?curse? ?hear.? ?Anyone? ?would? ?be? ?

scared? ?if? ?they? ?should? ?hear? ?a? ?curse? ?against? ?them? ?whilst? ?at? ?the? ?height? ?of? ?their? ?joy,? ?and? ?that? ?

creature? ?feeds? ?on? ?that? ?fear;? ?it? ?revels? ?in? ?it.? ?The? ?more? ?scared? ?you? ?are? ?the? ?happier? ?it? ?

becomes.? ?If? ?you? ?should? ?lose? ?yourself? ?from? ?terror? ?and? ?ruin? ?your? ?own? ?affairs? ?according? ?to? ?

its? ?words,? ?its? ?powers? ?will? ?increase? ?significantly.? ?But? ?unless? ?you’re? ?deaf,? ?you’ll? ?definitely? ?

hear? ?it? ?speak? ?one? ?day.? ?To? ?be? ?honest,? ?not? ?even? ?the? ?deaf? ?could? ?escape? ?probably,? ?because? ?

there? ?were? ?some? ?who’d? ?sew? ?up? ?their? ?own? ?ears? ?in? ?an? ?attempt? ?to? ?escape? ?the? ?thing? ?but? ?it? ?

was? ?still? ?useless? ?in? ?the? ?end.”? ?

“On? ?the? ?flip? ?side,? ?if? ?you? ?don’t? ?pay? ?any? ?mind? ?to? ?however? ?it? ?curses? ?or? ?however? ?it? ?pours? ?cold? ?

water? ?over? ?you,? ?then? ?it? ?can’t? ?do? ?anything? ?to? ?you.? ?So,? ?the? ?most? ?effective? ?way? ?is? ?the? ?third? ?

method:? ?surround? ?yourself? ?with? ?happy? ?thoughts? ?and? ?ignore? ?it? ?completely.? ?Let? ?it? ?speak? ?or? ?

not? ?speak,? ?but? ?forget? ?everything? ?it? ?says.? ?Make? ?yourself? ?stronger? ?and? ?continue? ?down? ?your? ?

path? ?according? ?to? ?your? ?own? ?will? ?and? ?not? ?the? ?tragedy? ?it? ?predicted? ?for? ?you.? ?This? ?way,? ?in? ?the? ?

end,? ?if? ?it? ?can’t? ?draw? ?any? ?despair? ?from? ?you,? ?it? ?will? ?most? ?likely? ?sneak? ?away? ?on? ?its? ?own.? ?Of? ?

course,? ?it? ?can? ?still? ?very? ?well? ?just? ?be? ?lying? ?low? ?waiting? ?for? ?the? ?next? ?chance? ?to? ?ambush.”? ? ?

Although? ?the? ?third? ?method? ?was? ?the? ?most? ?effective,? ?it? ?was? ?still? ?really? ?difficult? ?to? ?

accomplish.? ?After? ?all,? ?who? ?in? ?the? ?world? ?could? ?truly? ?build? ?a? ?heart? ?of? ?stone? ?and? ?feel? ?not? ?a? ?

single? ?ripple?? ?The? ?more? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?listened? ?the? ?deeper? ?his? ?frown? ?grew,? ?“Then? ?what? ?

about? ?the? ?second? ?time?? ?Did? ?you? ?take? ?care? ?of? ?it? ?the? ?same? ?way? ?the? ?second? ?time?”? ? ?

“The? ?second? ?time? ?might? ?not? ?be? ?useful? ?as? ?a? ?reference? ?for? ?anyone.? ?After? ?all,? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?

unique? ?situation.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?

“How? ?is? ?it? ?unique?”? ? ?

“The? ?one? ?it? ?attached? ?itself? ?to? ?was? ?me.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied.? ?

————? ?

Ch.104:? ?Venerable? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words;? ?Mourning? ?at? ?the? ?Feast? ?2? ? ?

It? ?was? ?also? ?many? ?years? ?ago? ?when? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?met? ?a? ?Venerable? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words.? ?

That? ?time,? ?he? ?had? ?just? ?finished? ?constructing? ?a? ?small? ?hut? ?by? ?his? ?own? ?power? ?and? ?was? ?just? ?

standing? ?there? ?admiring? ?his? ?new? ?abode? ?when? ?suddenly,? ?a? ?tiny? ?little? ?voice? ?came? ?from? ?one? ?

of? ?the? ?corners,? ?“This? ?dwelling? ?of? ?yours? ?will? ?collapse? ?in? ?two? ?months!”? ?

“So? ?what? ?did? ?you? ?do?”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?asked.? ?

“Nothing.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied.? ?“I? ?said,? ?“Two? ?months?? ?If? ?it’s? ?still? ?standing? ?in? ?seven? ?days? ?then? ?

it’d? ?be? ?a? ?real? ?miracle”.”? ? ?

“...”? ?

Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?lips? ?curved? ?slightly? ?but? ?immediately? ?that? ?smile? ?faded? ?away.? ?

That? ?Venerable? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?hid? ?in? ?the? ?shadows,? ?waiting? ?to? ?suck? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?fear,? ?

frustration,? ?insecurity,? ?and? ?other? ?such? ?negative? ?emotions.? ?However,? ?it? ?sucked? ?nothing? ?but? ?

empty? ?air,? ?and? ?even? ?when? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?finished? ?brushing? ?up? ?and? ?fell? ?asleep? ?in? ?his? ?new? ?

house,? ?it? ?still? ?hadn’t? ?managed? ?to? ?suck? ?anything.? ?

Although? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?never? ?saw? ?its? ?form,? ?he? ?could? ?still? ?sense? ?that? ?it? ?was? ?probably? ?quite? ?

angry.? ?

Not? ?a? ?few? ?days? ?later,? ?a? ?lightning? ?struck? ?down,? ?and? ?the? ?entire? ?hut? ?was? ?scorched.? ?

That? ?Venerable? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?was? ?pleased,? ?probably? ?thinking? ?that? ?scorched? ?was? ?no? ?

different? ?than? ?collapsed,? ?so? ?its? ?curse? ?was? ?technically? ?fulfilled,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?must? ?be? ?

afraid? ?now.? ?Yet? ?that? ?didn’t? ?happen.? ?It? ?still? ?didn’t? ?manage? ?to? ?suck? ?anything? ?that? ?could? ?fill? ?its? ?

stomach.? ?Of? ?course? ?it? ?was? ?malcontent,? ?thus,? ?it? ?followed? ?after? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?waited? ?for? ?the? ?

next? ?joyous? ?occasion.? ?

Who? ?knew? ?that? ?this? ?wait? ?turned? ?into? ?over? ?half? ?a? ?year,? ?and? ?in? ?that? ?half? ?a? ?year,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?

not? ?one? ?joyous? ?occasion!? ? ?

If? ?this? ?was? ?anyone? ?else? ?they? ?would’ve? ?given? ?up? ?already.? ?However,? ?the? ?Venerable? ?of? ?

Empty? ?Words? ?had? ?a? ?unique? ?trait,? ?and? ?that? ?was? ?obstinance.? ?If? ?they? ?should? ?eye? ?a? ?prey? ?they? ?

would? ?be? ?relentless? ?in? ?their? ?pursuit,? ?and? ?so? ?it? ?starved? ?pathetically? ?for? ?half? ?a? ?year.? ?Finally,? ?

an? ?opportunity? ?had? ?risen.? ?

One? ?day,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?managed? ?to? ?collect? ?a? ?large? ?bundle? ?of? ?junk? ?and? ?made? ?a? ?small? ?fortune.? ?

The? ?Venerable? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?was? ?overjoyed.? ?Having? ?waited? ?this? ?long,? ?it? ?immediately? ?

used? ?all? ?the? ?tricks? ?it? ?had? ?and? ?stream? ?after? ?streams? ?of? ?curses? ?erupted,? ?such? ?as? ?the? ?

exciting? ?life? ?of? ?after? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?struck? ?it? ?rich? ?he? ?would? ?waste? ?his? ?fortune? ?on? ?drinks? ?and? ?

gambling? ?then? ?fall? ?sick? ?with? ?long? ?strings? ?of? ?debt,? ?etc.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?counted? ?his? ?money? ?and? ?

listened? ?with? ?indulgent? ?amusement.? ?After,? ?he? ?still? ?only? ?brushed? ?up? ?and? ?went? ?to? ?bed,? ?and? ?

that? ?Venerable? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?still? ?sucked? ?nothing.? ?

That? ?night,? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?pile? ?of? ?junk? ?caught? ?on? ?fire.? ?

After? ?the? ?fire? ?was? ?put? ?out,? ?ashen? ?faced,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?sighed? ?and? ?said? ?to? ?the? ?Venerable? ?of? ?

Empty? ?Words,? ?“What? ?a? ?shame.? ?It’s? ?all? ?burnt.? ?Not? ?a? ?single? ?scrap? ?left.? ?I? ?haven’t? ?even? ?

experienced? ?any? ?of? ?those? ?drunken? ?dreams? ?and? ?lifetime? ?of? ?riches? ?you? ?spoke? ?of.? ?I? ?think? ?the? ?

things? ?you? ?say? ?are? ?quite? ?interesting,? ?so? ?how? ?about? ?you? ?tell? ?me? ?some? ?more?”? ?

This? ?happened? ?several? ?times,? ?and? ?towards? ?the? ?end,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?would? ?actually? ?ask? ?it? ?before? ?

it? ?even? ?spoke:? ?do? ?you? ?have? ?anything? ?to? ?say?? ?Do? ?you? ?want? ?to? ?say? ?something?? ?Until? ?that? ?

Venerable? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?couldn’t? ?take? ?it? ?anymore? ?and? ?fled.? ?

To? ?Venerables? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words,? ?a? ?God? ?of? ?Misfortune? ?like? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?extremely? ?

unfavourable.? ?Either? ?he’d? ?have? ?no? ?happy? ?occasions? ?and? ?it’d? ?wait? ?for? ?nothing;? ?or? ?he’d? ?

already? ?gotten? ?used? ?to? ?all? ?the? ?bad? ?luck? ?and? ?suffered? ?neither? ?fear? ?nor? ?anxiety.? ?His? ?luck? ?

was? ?so? ?bad? ?to? ?the? ?point? ?it? ?was? ?outside? ?the? ?imagination? ?of? ?that? ?Venerable? ?of? ?Empty? ?

Words,? ?so? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?nothing? ?of? ?its? ?curses,? ?and? ?even? ?treated? ?them? ?like? ?well? ?wishes? ?or? ?

daydreams.? ? ?

In? ?any? ?case,? ?after? ?that,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?never? ?ran? ?into? ?any? ?Venerable? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?again.? ?

He’d? ?even? ?suspect? ?that? ?maybe? ?after? ?having? ?fled,? ?that? ?Venerable? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?went? ?

back? ?to? ?its? ?people? ?and? ?rudely? ?publicized? ?how? ?awful? ?he? ?was.? ?

Listening? ?up? ?to? ?this? ?point,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?didn’t? ?manage? ?to? ?hold? ?it? ?in? ?and? ?and? ?snorted? ?a? ?

laugh.? ?“Is? ?it? ?very? ?funny?”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said? ?quietly.? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?knew? ?it? ?was? ?inappropriate? ?too? ?and? ?instantly? ?schooled? ?his? ?expression,? ?

apologizing? ?with? ?a? ?serious? ?tone,? ?“Sorry,? ?Your? ?Highness.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?laughed,? ?“Don’t? ?worry.? ?I? ?think? ?it’s? ?pretty? ?amusing? ?too.”? ? ?

He? ?concluded,? ?“The? ?Venerable? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?suck? ?power? ?from? ?fear? ?in? ?people’s? ?hearts,? ?

and? ?from? ?this? ?power,? ?it’d? ?push? ?for? ?its? ?predictions? ?to? ?come? ?true? ?then? ?make? ?a? ?new? ?

prediction.? ?The? ?cycle? ?continues? ?until? ?the? ?person? ?is? ?thoroughly? ?broken? ?and? ?their? ?heart? ?

destroyed.? ?So,? ?the? ?more? ?unsteady? ?the? ?heart,? ?the? ?worse? ?it? ?gets;? ?and? ?the? ?more? ?one? ?has,? ?

the? ?more? ?one? ?fears? ?loss.”? ? ?

After? ?a? ?pause,? ?he? ?suggested,? ?“Did? ?my? ?Lord? ?Wind? ?Master? ?receive? ?a? ?prayer? ?of? ?this? ?sort? ?

from? ?a? ?worshipper? ?and? ?is? ?asking? ?you? ?for? ?help?? ?You’re? ?the? ?God? ?of? ?Wind,? ?something? ?like? ?

this? ?isn’t? ?under? ?your? ?jurisdiction.? ?If? ?you? ?received? ?this? ?prayer? ?you? ?can? ?very? ?well? ?pass? ?it? ?on? ?

to? ?a? ?martial? ?god.”? ? ?

However,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?replied,? ?“It’s? ?not? ?a? ?worshipper? ?who? ?ran? ?into? ?it,? ?it? ?was? ?me.”? ? ?

Now? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?even? ?more? ?bewildered,? ?“You? ?ran? ?into? ?one? ?yourself?? ?The? ?Venerable? ?of? ?

Empty? ?Words? ?usually? ?don’t? ?dare? ?to? ?mess? ?with? ?heavenly? ?officials.? ?Even? ?if? ?they? ?messed? ?

with? ?you,? ?as? ?an? ?esteemed? ?heavenly? ?official,? ?there’s? ?nothing? ?to? ?be? ?afraid? ?of.”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?sighed,? ?“If? ?I? ?had? ?run? ?into? ?it? ?after? ?my? ?ascension? ?then? ?of? ?course? ?there’s? ?

nothing? ?to? ?worry? ?over,? ?but...? ?it’s? ?a? ?long? ?story.”? ?

This? ?was? ?many? ?hundreds? ?of? ?years? ?ago.? ?When? ?the? ?Wind? ?and? ?Water? ?Masters? ?were? ?still? ?

mortals,? ?they? ?were? ?born? ?and? ?raised? ?in? ?an? ?affluent? ?and? ?prosperous? ?merchant? ?household.? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?the? ?second? ?son,? ?and? ?when? ?he? ?was? ?born,? ?the? ?entire? ?family? ?rejoiced.? ?

They? ?gave? ?the? ?second? ?son? ?the? ?baby? ?name*? ?“Xuan”,? ?and? ?they? ?widely? ?distributed? ?porridge? ?

and? ?such? ?fares? ?to? ?feed? ?the? ?hungry? ?in? ?order? ?to? ?build? ?merits? ?through? ?acts? ?of? ?compassion.? ?

At? ?the? ?time,? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?fortune? ?teller? ?who? ?ate? ?porridge? ?and? ?saw? ?the? ?babe? ?wrapped? ?in? ?

swaddling? ?clothes.? ?He? ?asked? ?for? ?the? ?birth? ?details? ?and? ?said? ?this:? ?

“Since? ?I’ve? ?eaten? ?porridge? ?from? ?your? ?household,? ?I? ?will? ?say? ?this.? ?This? ?son? ?of? ?yours? ?might? ?

have? ?a? ?good? ?life,? ?but? ?it’s? ?hard? ?to? ?tell? ?you? ?the? ?whole? ?story.? ?Just? ?know,? ?if? ?you? ?want? ?to? ?save? ?

him,? ?he? ?must? ?be? ?kept? ?low? ?profile.? ?Don’t? ?raise? ?him? ?to? ?be? ?the? ?boisterous,? ?flaunting? ?kind;? ?

don’t? ?give? ?him? ?the? ?chance? ?to? ?shine.? ?Remember? ?to? ?build? ?fortune? ?in? ?muffled? ?quiet,? ?and? ?this? ?

will? ?ensure? ?he? ?live? ?a? ?life? ?of? ?peace.? ?Be? ?sure? ?to? ?never? ?host? ?any? ?feasts? ?for? ?him? ?or? ?it? ?will? ?bring? ?

something? ?bad.”? ?

Those? ?were? ?not? ?pleasant? ?words? ?and? ?very? ?much? ?like? ?something? ?a? ?Venerable? ?of? ?Empty? ?

Words? ?would? ?say.? ?The? ?Shi? ?family? ?was? ?a? ?merchant? ?household,? ?and? ?all? ?of? ?the? ?qualities? ?he? ?

described? ?were? ?especially? ?valuable? ?to? ?them,? ?so? ?the? ?fortune? ?teller? ?was? ?shooed? ?away? ?

immediately,? ?and? ?his? ?words? ?were? ?not? ?taken? ?seriously.? ?A? ?few? ?days? ?later,? ?a? ?feast? ?was? ?held? ?

in? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan’s? ?honour,? ?the? ?lanterns? ?shone? ?and? ?the? ?banners? ?flew,? ?drums? ?roared? ?and? ?

gongs? ?sounded.? ?

However,? ?at? ?the? ?feast,? ?just? ?as? ?the? ?guests? ?were? ?at? ?the? ?height? ?of? ?hollering? ?their? ?

congratulations,? ?singing? ?songs? ?of? ?praises? ?to? ?the? ?second? ?young? ?master? ?of? ?the? ?Shi? ?family? ?

wrapped? ?in? ?swaddling? ?cloths,? ?a? ?singsong? ?voice? ?suddenly? ?rang? ?out? ?from? ?the? ?ground,? ?

chanting,? ?“WRETCHED? ?BEGINNING,? ?WRETCHED? ?END!”? ? ?

That? ?voice? ?really? ?did? ?come? ?from? ?the? ?floor? ?but? ?it? ?overtook? ?the? ?voices? ?of? ?everyone? ?present,? ?

and? ?all? ?became? ?dumbfounded? ?with? ?shock.? ?

The? ?feast? ?ended? ?with? ?apprehension? ?thick? ?in? ?the? ?air,? ?and? ?that? ?very? ?night,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?

who? ?was? ?still? ?a? ?baby? ?became? ?hot? ?with? ?fever,? ?crying? ?nonstop,? ?and? ?the? ?heat? ?refused? ?to? ?go? ?

down? ?no? ?matter? ?what? ?was? ?done,? ?even? ?dry? ?heaving? ?at? ?times.? ?The? ?entire? ?family? ?was? ?

terrified.? ?The? ?Shi? ?family? ?remembered? ?that? ?not? ?long? ?ago? ?there? ?was? ?that? ?fortune? ?teller? ?who? ?

spoke? ?strange? ?words? ?and? ?was? ?kicked? ?out,? ?so? ?they? ?hastily? ?searched? ?all? ?over? ?and? ?invited? ?

him? ?back.? ?That? ?fortune? ?teller? ?said,? ?“I? ?told? ?you? ?to? ?keep? ?a? ?low? ?profile? ?but? ?you? ?wouldn’t? ?

listen.? ?Now? ?that? ?child? ?has? ?caught? ?the? ?eye? ?of? ?the? ?Reverend,? ?his? ?entire? ?life? ?will? ?be? ?filled? ?with? ?

misfortune.? ?This? ?bout? ?of? ?fever? ?is? ?nothing,? ?it? ?will? ?go? ?away? ?on? ?its? ?own.? ?But? ?this,? ?it’s? ?nothing? ?

more? ?than? ?a? ?greeting? ?gift!”? ? ?

Of? ?course,? ?he? ?was? ?talking? ?about? ?the? ?Venerable? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words.? ?Except,? ?this? ?wasn’t? ?a? ?

typical? ?Venerable? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?that? ?could? ?be? ?chased? ?away? ?so? ?easily,? ?but? ?one? ?that? ?

was? ?extremely? ?old? ?in? ?years,? ?one? ?that? ?was? ?strongest? ?in? ?cultivation.? ?How? ?strong?? ?Even? ?

without? ?joyous? ?occasions? ?it? ?could? ?still? ?mourn.? ?Thus,? ?it? ?was? ?called? ?the? ?‘Reverend? ?of? ?Empty? ?

Words’.? ? ?

This? ?‘Reverend’? ?was? ?the? ?so-called? ?“The? ?shop? ?that? ?can? ?close? ?for? ?three? ?years,? ?but? ?eats? ?for? ?

three? ?years? ?once? ?it? ?opens.”? ?Its? ?eyes? ?were? ?sharp? ?and? ?malicious;? ?the? ?prey? ?it? ?clung? ?to? ?were? ?

never? ?any? ?less? ?than? ?characters? ?of? ?greatness? ?whose? ?lives? ?were? ?filled? ?with? ?large? ?waves? ?

and? ?legends.? ?Some? ?managed? ?to? ?win? ?against? ?it,? ?but? ?still? ?they’d? ?pay? ?their? ?entire? ?lives? ?to? ?

battle,? ?providing? ?it? ?with? ?significant? ?portions? ?of? ?food;? ?some? ?were? ?defeated? ?and? ?thoroughly? ?

became? ?a? ?source? ?of? ?its? ?powers.? ?Having? ?hoarded? ?for? ?close? ?to? ?a? ?thousand? ?years,? ?its? ?

foundation? ?was? ?deep? ?and? ?thick.? ?Now,? ?it? ?had? ?rested? ?for? ?over? ?a? ?hundred? ?years;? ?counting? ?

the? ?days,? ?it? ?was? ?time? ?to? ?stretch? ?its? ?legs,? ?and? ?when? ?it? ?opens? ?its? ?mouth? ?to? ?feed,? ?for? ?sure? ?it’d? ?

be? ?another? ?large? ?bite.? ?Coincidentally,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?who? ?was? ?just? ?born? ?was? ?exactly? ?to? ?its? ?

taste,? ?and? ?was? ?thus? ?‘reserved’? ?by? ?this? ?Reverend.? ?Although? ?the? ?tiny? ?baby? ?wouldn’t? ?

understand? ?its? ?predictions? ?even? ?if? ?he? ?heard,? ?there? ?would? ?come? ?a? ?day? ?when? ?he? ?could? ?

understand,? ?and? ?one? ?day? ?he? ?would? ?know? ?fear.? ?Besides,? ?once? ?this? ?fear? ?was? ?planted? ?in? ?the? ?

boy’s? ?childhood,? ?it? ?would? ?be? ?deeply? ?embedded,? ?unable? ?to? ?be? ?dispelled.? ?

Fortunately,? ?monsters? ?like? ?these? ?usually? ?only? ?had? ?one? ?nerve? ?in? ?their? ?brains,? ?and? ?the? ?way? ?

they? ?thought? ?was? ?bizarre,? ?quite? ?abnormal.? ?Thus,? ?the? ?fortune? ?teller? ?thought? ?of? ?a? ?way? ?to? ?

trick? ?it:? ?Have? ?the? ?Shi? ?family? ?send? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?away? ?and? ?pretend? ?he? ?was? ?given? ?to? ?

another? ?family,? ?then? ?change? ?the? ?appearance? ?of? ?the? ?son? ?to? ?that? ?of? ?a? ?female? ?baby? ?before? ?

bringing? ?him? ?back.? ?Have? ?the? ?family? ?claim? ?that? ?the? ?female? ?babe? ?was? ?a? ?kept? ?daughter? ?and? ?

have? ?the? ?whole? ?Shi? ?Family? ?call? ?the? ?little? ?young? ?master? ?little? ?lady,? ?raise? ?him? ?as? ?a? ?girl.? ?As? ?

long? ?as? ?the? ?Reverend? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?could? ?not? ?find? ?the? ?male? ?baby? ?it? ?reserved,? ?after? ?

time? ?passed,? ?it? ?surely? ?wouldn’t? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?remember? ?who? ?it? ?picked.? ?

Thus,? ?sure? ?enough? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?matured? ?to? ?ten? ?years? ?of? ?age? ?in? ?peace.? ?

Within? ?those? ?ten? ?years,? ?the? ?once? ?wealthy? ?merchant? ?household? ?had? ?gradually? ?declined.? ?

The? ?parents? ?of? ?the? ?two? ?masters? ?passed? ?away;? ?internal? ?conflicts? ?raged? ?in? ?the? ?family,? ?

fighting? ?over? ?inheritance.? ?Shi? ?Wudu? ?was? ?tired? ?of? ?it? ?all,? ?so? ?the? ?year? ?he? ?turned? ?sixteen,? ?he? ?

left? ?home? ?bringing? ?with? ?him? ?the? ?little? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?who? ?was? ?younger? ?by? ?many? ?years.? ?

The? ?brothers? ?depended? ?on? ?each? ?other? ?to? ?survive,? ?and? ?Shi? ?Wudu? ?was? ?the? ?first? ?to? ?enter? ?

the? ?mountains? ?to? ?cultivate? ?under? ?a? ?master,? ?settling? ?the? ?little? ?brother? ?in? ?a? ?town? ?at? ?the? ?foot? ?

of? ?the? ?mountain.? ?Everyday? ?he’d? ?cultivate? ?and? ?train? ?til? ?late,? ?not? ?descending? ?the? ?mountains? ?

until? ?late? ?into? ?the? ?night.? ?There? ?was? ?nothing? ?to? ?eat? ?in? ?the? ?mountains? ?and? ?he? ?could? ?only? ?eat? ?

at? ?home? ?at? ?night.? ?One? ?evening,? ?Shi? ?Wudu? ?lost? ?sense? ?of? ?time? ?sparring? ?with? ?another.? ?Shi? ?

Qingxuan? ?waited? ?for? ?a? ?long? ?time? ?and? ?still? ?his? ?brother? ?wasn’t? ?home.? ?Worried? ?that? ?Shi? ?

Wudu? ?would? ?be? ?hungry,? ?he? ?decided? ?to? ?deliver? ?the? ?food? ?up? ?the? ?mountains.? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?still? ?a? ?child? ?at? ?the? ?time? ?and? ?didn’t? ?know? ?how? ?to? ?hike? ?the? ?mountain? ?

paths.? ?The? ?night? ?was? ?dark? ?and? ?after? ?having? ?walked? ?a? ?long? ?time? ?with? ?the? ?food? ?box,? ?he? ?

suddenly? ?needed? ?to? ?relieve? ?himself.? ?Anxiously,? ?he? ?immediately? ?pulled? ?up? ?his? ?skirt? ?at? ?the? ?

side? ?of? ?the? ?road.? ?Just? ?then,? ?a? ?black? ?shadow? ?approached? ?from? ?the? ?far? ?end? ?of? ?the? ?

mountain? ?road,? ?asking,? ?“Is? ?it? ?Xuan-Er? ?up? ?ahead?”? ? ?

Hearing? ?someone? ?call? ?his? ?baby? ?name,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?thought? ?it? ?was? ?his? ?brother? ?who? ?had? ?

send? ?someone? ?to? ?come? ?find? ?him,? ?so? ?he? ?hurriedly? ?dropped? ?his? ?skirt? ?again,? ?acknowledging? ?

the? ?call,? ?“IT’S? ?ME!”? ? ?

That? ?foreign? ?voice? ?asked? ?again,? ?“Is? ?your? ?birth? ?such? ?year? ?such? ?month? ?such? ?day? ?such? ?

time?”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?puzzled.? ?First,? ?why? ?the? ?sudden? ?ask? ?for? ?his? ?birth? ?information,? ?and? ?

second,? ?that? ?person? ?had? ?it? ?all? ?correct.? ?So? ?he? ?acknowledged? ?again,? ?“That’s? ?right!? ?How? ?did? ?

you? ?know?? ?Who? ?are? ?you?? ?Do? ?you? ?know? ?my? ?brother?”? ? ?

That? ?voice? ?didn’t? ?answer? ?but? ?in? ?the? ?end? ?it? ?said,? ?“Come? ?over? ?here? ?and? ?let? ?me? ?see? ?your? ?

face? ?properly.”? ? ?

That? ?was? ?the? ?tone? ?of? ?a? ?command.? ?At? ?this? ?point,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?finally? ?noticed? ?something? ?

amiss.? ?

He? ?hugged? ?that? ?food? ?box? ?and? ?dashed? ?away.? ?As? ?he? ?ran,? ?he? ?could? ?hear? ?whirls? ?of? ?wild? ?

winds? ?behind? ?him,? ?laughing? ?like? ?crazy.? ?That? ?thing? ?was? ?chasing? ?him? ?closely!? ?It? ?shouted,? ?

“YOU’RE? ?GOING? ?TO? ?FALL? ?RIGHT? ?NOW!”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?thoroughly? ?horrified,? ?and? ?when? ?it? ?said? ?“fall”,? ?he? ?tripped? ?and? ?fell,? ?

breaking? ?the? ?food? ?box? ?and? ?rice? ?spilled? ?all? ?over? ?the? ?ground.? ?Just? ?as? ?that? ?creature? ?was? ?

about? ?to? ?pounce,? ?Shi? ?Wudu? ?arrived.? ?

Seeing? ?someone? ?had? ?come,? ?that? ?Reverend? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?disappeared? ?out? ?of? ?sight.? ?

Shi? ?Wudu? ?hugged? ?the? ?little? ?brother? ?who? ?was? ?face? ?covered? ?in? ?blood? ?and? ?rice? ?from? ?the? ?fall,? ?

both? ?of? ?them? ?shocked? ?and? ?terrified.? ?

It? ?still? ?found? ?him!? ?

After? ?having? ?hidden? ?for? ?so? ?many? ?years,? ?the? ?Reverend? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?finally? ?had? ?its? ?first? ?

taste? ?of? ?sweetness,? ?and? ?from? ?then? ?on,? ?it? ?would? ?appear? ?regularly,? ?each? ?time? ?more? ?

mysterious? ?than? ?the? ?last.? ?The? ?cultivation? ?of? ?that? ?creature? ?was? ?too? ?strong;? ?the? ?Shi? ?family? ?

fortune? ?was? ?already? ?depleted? ?and? ?the? ?cultivators? ?that? ?Shi? ?Wudu? ?managed? ?to? ?hire? ?could? ?

do? ?nothing? ?to? ?it.? ?He? ?hadn’t? ?the? ?power? ?to? ?throw? ?out? ?a? ?million? ?merits? ?to? ?have? ?his? ?voice? ?

heard? ?directly? ?by? ?the? ?heavens? ?either.? ?Although? ?that? ?creature? ?never? ?asked? ?for? ?Shi? ?

Qingxuan’s? ?life,? ?still? ?the? ?two? ?brothers? ?knew? ?that? ?it? ?was? ?only? ?biding? ?its? ?time,? ?waiting? ?to? ?

butcher? ?only? ?when? ?the? ?prey? ?was? ?fattened.? ?Right? ?now? ?it? ?was? ?only? ?slapping? ?your? ?face? ?

gently,? ?reminding? ?you? ?to? ?fear? ?it,? ?but? ?there? ?would? ?be? ?one? ?day? ?when? ?the? ?slap? ?would? ?hurt.? ?

This? ?was? ?like? ?a? ?hunter? ?who? ?wouldn’t? ?kill? ?its? ?prey? ?with? ?just? ?one? ?arrow,? ?and? ?had? ?to? ?brush? ?

many? ?against? ?it,? ?thoroughly? ?terrifying? ?the? ?prey,? ?feeding? ?off? ?its? ?terror.? ?

This? ?was? ?nothing? ?more? ?than? ?death? ?by? ?a? ?thousand? ?cuts*.? ?

Fortunately,? ?a? ?turning? ?point? ?had? ?finally? ?come.? ?After? ?many? ?years? ?of? ?aggressive? ?training,? ?

Shi? ?Wudu? ?ascended.? ?

The? ?moment? ?he? ?ascended? ?he? ?immediately? ?brought? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?to? ?the? ?Middle? ?Court,? ?

aggressively? ?throwing? ?rare? ?treasures? ?and? ?divine? ?riches? ?all? ?over? ?him,? ?and? ?a? ?few? ?years? ?

later,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?also? ?successfully? ?ascended.? ?That? ?Reverend? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?thus? ?

quieted? ?and? ?disappeared.? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?naturally? ?believed? ?that? ?it? ?finally? ?gave? ?up? ?and? ?backed? ?off? ?knowing? ?its? ?own? ?

hardship.? ?Yet,? ?it? ?seemed? ?it? ?was? ?he? ?who? ?thought? ?too? ?well? ?of? ?things.? ?

A? ?few? ?days? ?ago,? ?he? ?invited? ?a? ?bunch? ?of? ?friends? ?to? ?drink,? ?and? ?as? ?he? ?was? ?inebriated,? ?he? ?

suddenly? ?heard? ?a? ?malicious? ?voice? ?in? ?his? ?ear:? ?“You? ?will? ?never? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?see? ?your? ?brother? ?

again!”? ? ?

That? ?voice? ?was? ?exceedingly? ?familiar;? ?in? ?the? ?days? ?between? ?he? ?was? ?ten? ?and? ?before? ?his? ?

ascension,? ?he? ?could? ?hear? ?that? ?voice? ?at? ?least? ?once? ?or? ?twice? ?every? ?year,? ?his? ?fear? ?for? ?it? ?

sunken? ?deeply? ?into? ?his? ?bones,? ?and? ?this? ?was? ?like? ?an? ?explosive? ?had? ?exploded? ?next? ?to? ?his? ?

ear.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?sobered? ?up? ?instantly? ?and? ?rushed? ?to? ?Pei? ?Ming’s? ?domain? ?in? ?terror,? ?only? ?

relaxing? ?when? ?he? ?personally? ?saw? ?Shi? ?Wudu? ?well? ?and? ?hanging? ?out? ?with? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?and? ?the? ?

other.? ?

Afterwards,? ?he? ?wondered? ?if? ?that? ?voice? ?was? ?his? ?own? ?delusion.? ?After? ?all,? ?that? ?creature? ?had? ?

planted? ?a? ?deep? ?shadow? ?in? ?his? ?heart? ?since? ?he? ?was? ?young,? ?and? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?the? ?first? ?time? ?

that’s? ?happened.? ?However,? ?after? ?some? ?thought,? ?he? ?was? ?still? ?worried,? ?so? ?he? ?dragged? ?Ming? ?

Yi? ?over? ?to? ?find? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?to? ?ask? ?for? ?assistance.? ?He? ?hadn’t? ?expected? ?to? ?bump? ?into? ?Hua? ?

Cheng? ?at? ?Puqi? ?Shrine,? ?truly? ?the? ?road? ?is? ?narrow? ?for? ?enemies.? ?

After? ?hearing? ?the? ?story,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?commented,? ?“So,? ?the? ?one? ?Lord? ?Wind? ?Master? ?met? ?and? ?

the? ?one? ?I? ?met? ?were? ?on? ?completely? ?different? ?levels.”? ?After? ?some? ?thought,? ?he? ?turned? ?to? ?Hua? ?

Cheng,? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?have? ?you? ?ever? ?seen? ?that? ?Reverend? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?before?”? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?was? ?toying? ?with? ?a? ?pair? ?of? ?chopsticks? ?in? ?his? ?hand? ?and? ?replied,? ?“Hm?? ?I’ve? ?never? ?

seen? ?it? ?personally.? ?But,? ?I? ?know? ?someone? ?who? ?had.”? ? ?

Although? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?curious? ?who? ?this? ?“someone? ?he? ?knows”? ?was,? ?he? ?didn’t? ?ask? ?after? ?it,? ?

and? ?only? ?said,? ?“Just? ?how? ?strong? ?is? ?its? ?cultivation?? ?Is? ?it? ?really? ?that? ?powerful?”? ? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?tossed? ?the? ?chopsticks? ?and? ?replied? ?lazily,? ?“Very? ?strong.”? ?

Hearing? ?this,? ?both? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?and? ?Ming? ?Yi’s? ?expression? ?grew? ?solemn.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?

added,? ?“It’s? ?not? ?like? ?your? ?regular? ?little? ?minions.? ?It’s? ?definitely? ?hard? ?to? ?deal? ?with.”? ?

Although? ?he? ?said? ?“hard? ?to? ?deal? ?with”,? ?still? ?his? ?expression? ?remained? ?neutral,? ?like? ?he? ?was? ?

only? ?saying? ?it? ?out? ?of? ?courtesy.? ?However,? ?to? ?receive? ?such? ?a? ?comment? ?from? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?it? ?

was? ?definitely? ?something.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“Lord? ?Wind? ?Master,? ?this? ?problem? ?doesn’t? ?seem? ?

small.? ?Why? ?not? ?tell? ?Lord? ?Water? ?Master?”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?waved? ?his? ?hand,? ?“No,? ?no.? ?You? ?have? ?to? ?know,? ?my? ?brother? ?is? ?about? ?to? ?

undergo? ?another? ?heavenly? ?calamity.? ?If? ?he? ?should? ?go? ?fight? ?that? ?Reverend? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?

during? ?this? ?time,? ?what? ?if? ?he? ?loses? ?focus?? ?I? ?have? ?to? ?keep? ?this? ?a? ?secret,? ?no? ?one? ?must? ?know.? ?

I? ?didn’t? ?tell? ?a? ?single? ?official? ?who? ?has? ?a? ?good? ?relationship? ?with? ?my? ?brother.”? ? ?

A? ?heavenly? ?official? ?didn’t? ?just? ?go? ?through? ?a? ?heavenly? ?calamity? ?the? ?once.? ?The? ?more? ?

calamities? ?passed,? ?the? ?greater? ?their? ?divine? ?state,? ?the? ?more? ?unshakable? ?their? ?status,? ?and? ?

the? ?stronger? ?their? ?spiritual? ?powers.? ?Shi? ?Wudu? ?was? ?a? ?heavenly? ?official? ?who? ?had? ?passed? ?

two? ?calamities? ?already,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?also? ?heard? ?in? ?the? ?leisurely? ?chats? ?in? ?the? ?spiritual? ?

communication? ?array? ?that? ?he? ?was? ?waiting? ?for? ?the? ?third? ?one? ?now.? ?It? ?definitely? ?wouldn’t? ?be? ?

favourable? ?should? ?he? ?lose? ?focus.? ?To? ?fail? ?to? ?pass? ?a? ?calamity,? ?no? ?matter? ?what,? ?the? ?attained? ?

divine? ?state? ?would? ?be? ?dropped.? ?

————-? ?

?Baby? ?names? ?are? ?nicknames? ?given? ?before? ?a? ?formal? ?name? ?is? ?decided.? ?

?The? ?torture? ?described? ?in? ?the? ?original? ?text? ?is? ?Ling? ?Chi? ?[?????].? ?It’s? ?a? ?torture? ?technique? ?

that? ?appeared? ?in? ?the? ?early? ?tenth? ?century? ?where? ?the? ?executioner? ?would? ?slice? ?the? ?

flesh? ?of? ?the? ?condemned? ?with? ?a? ?small? ?knife? ?bit? ?by? ?bit? ?until? ?the? ?person? ?is? ?dead.? ? ?

?Suika? ?Notes:? ?To? ?ascend,? ?a? ?mortal? ?must? ?pass? ?through? ?a? ?“heavenly? ?calamity”,? ?a? ?test? ?

of? ?strength? ?to? ?see? ?if? ?the? ?person? ?has? ?what? ?it? ?takes? ?to? ?become? ?divine? ?(usually? ?it? ?

involves? ?hella? ?thunder? ?and? ?lightning? ?strikes).? ?Once? ?ascended,? ?a? ?god? ?can? ?go? ?

through? ?many? ?more? ?trials? ?to? ?level? ?up,? ?aka? ?“attain? ?a? ?greater? ?divine? ?state”.? ?The? ?trials? ?

are? ?non-negotiable? ?and? ?written? ?into? ?the? ?fate? ?of? ?each? ?god,? ?so? ?they? ?come? ?at? ?

different? ?times.? ?Each? ?trial? ?is? ?different;? ?sometimes? ?the? ?god? ?descends? ?to? ?live? ?one? ?

lifetime? ?as? ?a? ?mortal,? ?or? ?fight? ?natural? ?disasters,? ?etc.,? ?etc.? ?To? ?fail? ?a? ?trial? ?however,? ?

means? ?dropping? ?in? ?the? ?attained? ?divine? ?state? ?and? ?losing? ?powers,? ?so? ?the? ?stakes? ?are? ?

high? ?going? ?in? ?and? ?there’s? ?no? ?turning? ?back.? ?

————? ?

Ch.105:? ?Three? ?Gods? ?One? ?Ghost;? ?Reverend? ?Nowhere? ?in? ?Sight? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?returned? ?to? ?being? ?serious? ?and? ?continued,? ?“I? ?want? ?to? ?try? ?and? ?see? ?if? ?I? ?could? ?

take? ?care? ?of? ?that? ?thing? ?myself.? ?Your? ?Highness? ?also? ?has? ?more? ?experience,? ?so? ?are? ?you? ?

free?? ?If? ?not,? ?don’t? ?force? ?yourself.”? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?had? ?helped? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?out? ?many? ?times? ?before? ?in? ?the? ?past,? ?and? ?now? ?that? ?he? ?

had? ?an? ?emergency? ?and? ?came? ?to? ?him? ?for? ?assistance,? ?there? ?was? ?no? ?way? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?

decline? ?and? ?say? ?he? ?had? ?the? ?heart? ?but? ?not? ?the? ?power.? ?However,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?came? ?from? ?

faraway? ?as? ?a? ?guest? ?and? ?hadn’t? ?even? ?stayed? ?for? ?more? ?than? ?a? ?few? ?days.? ?If? ?he? ?left,? ?who’s? ?

going? ?to? ?host? ?Hua? ?Cheng?? ?Although? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?like? ?he? ?was? ?a? ?very? ?good? ?host.? ?

Just? ?as? ?he? ?was? ?considering? ?his? ?options,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?supported? ?his? ?chin? ?with? ?one? ?hand? ?

and? ?smiled,? ?“Is? ?gege? ?going? ?to? ?try? ?and? ?catch? ?a? ?glimpse? ?of? ?that? ?Reverend? ?of? ?Empty? ?

Words?? ?If? ?it? ?wouldn’t? ?be? ?a? ?bother,? ?will? ?you? ?bring? ?me? ?along?? ?It’s? ?a? ?rare? ?monster? ?after? ?all,? ?

I’ve? ?never? ?seen? ?it? ?myself? ?either.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?thought? ?to? ?himself,? ?‘Much? ?ashamed,? ?but? ?San? ?Lang? ?understands? ?me.’? ?Filled? ?with? ?

gratefulness? ?of? ?his? ?consideration,? ?he? ?nodded.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?didn’t? ?say? ?anything? ?on? ?the? ?

subject;? ?of? ?course? ?he? ?knew? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?coming? ?along? ?wasn’t? ?to? ?help? ?him,? ?but? ?at? ?least? ?he? ?

wouldn’t? ?be? ?messing? ?around,? ?so? ?whether? ?if? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?came? ?meant? ?nothing? ?to? ?him.? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?then? ?said,? ?“That? ?Reverend? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?is? ?a? ?mysterious? ?creature,? ?who? ?knows? ?

when? ?or? ?where? ?it? ?would? ?appear? ?again?”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?replied,? ?“I? ?don’t? ?know? ?either.? ?If? ?anything,? ?I? ?plan? ?on? ?going? ?to? ?the? ?imperial? ?

capital? ?and? ?reserve? ?the? ?best? ?room? ?at? ?the? ?best? ?restaurant? ?to? ?drink? ?eighty? ?or? ?a? ?hundred? ?

days,? ?put? ?on? ?plays? ?and? ?set? ?off? ?firecrackers? ?everyday.? ?It’ll? ?come? ?out? ?eventually.”? ? ?

“That’s? ?one? ?way? ?to? ?do? ?it,”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“However,? ?even? ?if? ?it? ?comes? ?out? ?we? ?might? ?not? ?be? ?

able? ?to? ?capture? ?it.? ?The? ?best? ?way? ?to? ?win? ?every? ?battle? ?is? ?to? ?know? ?oneself? ?and? ?the? ?enemy? ?

inside? ?and? ?out.? ?Has? ?Lord? ?Wind? ?Master? ?investigated? ?what? ?its? ?preys? ?had? ?been? ?in? ?the? ?past?? ?

How? ?does? ?it? ?operate?? ?See? ?if? ?there’s? ?any? ?patterns.”? ?

“Od? ?course? ?my? ?brother? ?had? ?already? ?investigated? ?this.”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?said? ?as? ?he? ?took? ?out? ?

a? ?scroll? ?from? ?his? ?sleeve,? ?spreading? ?it? ?open.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?scooted? ?closer? ?to? ?take? ?a? ?look? ?and? ?

was? ?awe? ?in? ?spite? ?of? ?himself,? ?“Amazing.? ?Amazing.”? ? ?

What? ?a? ?guy!? ?That? ?creature? ?really? ?only? ?fished? ?for? ?the? ?big? ?ones.? ?The? ?series? ?of? ?names? ?on? ?

that? ?scroll? ?were? ?pretty? ?much? ?all? ?the? ?big? ?names? ?in? ?the? ?mortal? ?realm,? ?each? ?of? ?them? ?a? ?

character? ?of? ?notoriety,? ?and? ?almost? ?all? ?of? ?them? ?ended? ?in? ?tragedy.? ?Every? ?one? ?of? ?those? ?tragic? ?

ends? ?were? ?all? ?suicides? ?after? ?breakdowns.? ? ?

There? ?were? ?those? ?who? ?slit? ?their? ?own? ?throats? ?after? ?armies? ?were? ?ruined? ?like? ?mountains? ?fell;? ?

those? ?who? ?cleanly? ?offed? ?themselves? ?by? ?a? ?three? ?meter? ?long? ?white? ?bandage? ?after? ?their? ?

amassed? ?fortune? ?dissipated? ?overnight;? ?and? ?those? ?who? ?were? ?sunken? ?into? ?the? ?depths? ?of? ?

despair? ?having? ?spent? ?their? ?entire? ?lifetimes? ?seeking? ?influence? ?and? ?affluence? ?but? ?achieved? ?

nothing.? ?They? ?weren’t? ?necessarily? ?defeated? ?in? ?the? ?hands? ?of? ?the? ?Reverend? ?of? ?Empty? ?

Words,? ?they? ?were? ?defeated? ?by? ?the? ?fear? ?of? ?‘loss’? ?in? ?their? ?own? ?hearts.? ?

However,? ?there? ?weren’t? ?any? ?emperors? ?or? ?kings? ?on? ?that? ?list.? ?True? ?kings? ?had? ?the? ?protection? ?

of? ?the? ?aura? ?of? ?heaven’s? ?son,? ?and? ?evil? ?could? ?not? ?invade? ?easily.? ?Generally? ?speaking,? ?those? ?

who? ?had? ?the? ?potential? ?to? ?ascend? ?would? ?also? ?have? ?a? ?natural? ?spiritual? ?shield? ?covering? ?their? ?

bodies? ?and? ?force? ?the? ?demons? ?and? ?monsters? ?to? ?evade,? ?so? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?whatever? ?it? ?was? ?

that? ?attached? ?itself? ?to? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?wasn’t? ?something? ?so? ?simple,? ?and? ?perhaps? ?there’s? ?

someone? ?behind? ?the? ?scenes? ?purposely? ?coming? ?for? ?him.? ?If? ?that? ?was? ?the? ?case,? ?whoever? ?it? ?

was? ?must? ?be? ?quite? ?formidable.? ?However,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?marked? ?when? ?he? ?was? ?but? ?a? ?

baby,? ?so? ?how? ?did? ?he? ?attract? ?such? ?a? ?character?? ?

Just? ?then,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“Gege,? ?may? ?I? ?take? ?a? ?look?”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?passed? ?the? ?scroll? ?over? ?to? ?him? ?“Here.”? ? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?only? ?swept? ?a? ?look? ?over? ?it? ?roughly? ?and? ?questioned,? ?“Who? ?put? ?this? ?scroll? ?

together?”? ? ?

“My? ?brother.? ?What?”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?replied.? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?tossed? ?the? ?scroll? ?back? ?on? ?the? ?table? ?and? ?said,? ?“Nothing.? ?It’s? ?crap? ?full? ?of? ?

mistakes.? ?I? ?suggest? ?your? ?brother? ?try? ?again.”? ? ?

Hearing? ?him,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?throw? ?a? ?fit,? ?“CRIMSON? ?RAIN? ?SOUGHT? ?

FLOWER!”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?immediately? ?held? ?him? ?down? ?and? ?said? ?apologetically,? ?“Lord? ?Wind? ?Master,? ?please? ?

sit? ?down.? ?Sit? ?down.? ?Let? ?it? ?go,? ?San? ?Lang? ?always? ?talks? ?like? ?this.? ?He? ?doesn’t? ?mean? ?it.”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?sat? ?down,? ?sounding? ?doubtful,? ?“Always? ?like? ?this?”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?to? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?and? ?asked,? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?you? ?said? ?it’s? ?full? ?of? ?mistakes.? ?How? ?

so?”? ? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?shuffled? ?over? ?too? ?and? ?the? ?two? ?sat? ?much? ?closer? ?than? ?before.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?

pointed? ?at? ?a? ?few? ?names? ?and? ?said,? ?“These? ?ones? ?are? ?wrong.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?at? ?the? ?names? ?closely? ?and? ?they? ?were? ?all? ?vengeful,? ?malevolent? ?tyrants.? ?

“How? ?do? ?you? ?know?”? ? ?

“Because? ?I? ?killed? ?them.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said.? ?

“...”? ?

“Doesn’t? ?this? ?say? ?they? ?all? ?died? ?by? ?suicide?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?

“Before? ?I? ?make? ?my? ?move? ?I’d? ?send? ?messengers? ?to? ?greet? ?them? ?first,? ?and? ?they’d? ?end? ?

themselves.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?replied,? ?“So? ?I? ?don’t? ?know? ?if? ?that? ?counts? ?as? ?my? ?kill?”? ? ?

Who? ?knows? ?whether? ?if? ?that? ?counted? ?as? ?his? ?kill,? ?but? ?at? ?least? ?he? ?was? ?honest.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?

coughed? ?a? ?few? ?times? ?uncomfortably,? ?his? ?lips? ?twitching,? ?“Can? ?ghosts? ?please? ?not? ?so? ?plainly? ?

describe? ?how? ?they? ?kill? ?people? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?heavenly? ?officials?? ?Can? ?ghosts? ?please? ?not? ?

discuss? ?these? ?types? ?of? ?questions? ?openly? ?with? ?other? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?other? ?

heavenly? ?officials?”? ? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?pointed? ?at? ?a? ?few? ?other? ?names? ?and? ?said,? ?“These? ?ones? ?are? ?wrong? ?too.”? ? ?

“And? ?who? ?killed? ?those? ?ones?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.? ?

“Black? ?Water? ?killed? ?them.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?taken? ?aback,? ?“That? ?Black? ?Water? ?Demon? ?Xuan?? ?Doesn’t? ?he? ?always? ?lie? ?low?”? ? ?

“Doesn’t? ?mean? ?he? ?doesn’t? ?kill.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said.? ?

Then,? ?he? ?turned? ?to? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan,? ?“Your? ?esteemed? ?brother? ?gave? ?you? ?a? ?scroll? ?that’s? ?

inaccurate? ?and? ?full? ?of? ?mistakes,? ?there’s? ?no? ?heart? ?in? ?this? ?investigation? ?at? ?all,? ?and? ?it? ?only? ?

looks? ?like? ?a? ?suspicious? ?red? ?herring,? ?a? ?bunch? ?of? ?rags.? ?So,? ?I? ?suggest,? ?you? ?rip? ?this? ?up? ?and? ?

rewrite? ?another? ?one.”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?grabbed? ?that? ?scroll? ?back? ?and? ?exclaimed,? ?“My? ?brother? ?isn’t? ?like? ?that!”? ?

Although? ?his? ?words? ?were? ?weak,? ?his? ?tone? ?was? ?firm.? ?Shi? ?Wudu? ?wouldn’t? ?be? ?so? ?careless? ?

when? ?it? ?came? ?to? ?his? ?own? ?younger? ?brother,? ?so,? ?there? ?could? ?only? ?be? ?one? ?possibility,? ?and? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?asked,? ?“Every? ?profession? ?has? ?its? ?own? ?niche,? ?Lord? ?Water? ?Master? ?should’ve? ?

borrowed? ?another’s? ?power? ?in? ?his? ?investigation.? ?May? ?I? ?ask? ?who? ?was? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?actually? ?

put? ?the? ?scroll? ?together?”? ? ?

After? ?some? ?hesitation,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?replied,? ?“Ling? ?Wen.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?rubbed? ?his? ?forehead? ?and? ?stopped? ?speaking.? ?Although? ?the? ?other? ?heavenly? ?

officials? ?all? ?cursed? ?the? ?Palace? ?of? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?for? ?its? ?inefficiency,? ?still? ?it? ?shouldn’t? ?have? ?made? ?

so? ?many? ?mistakes;? ?it’d? ?almost? ?look? ?like? ?this? ?was? ?nothing? ?more? ?than? ?a? ?rough? ?draft.? ?The? ?

Tumours? ?look? ?like? ?they? ?shared? ?a? ?good? ?relationship,? ?at? ?least? ?on? ?the? ?surface.? ?Just? ?what? ?

twists? ?and? ?turns? ?were? ?underneath,? ?outsiders? ?would? ?probably? ?never? ?know.? ? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?shuffled? ?back? ?and? ?continued,? ?“Let? ?me? ?tell? ?you? ?another? ?way? ?to? ?tell? ?the? ?

difference? ?between? ?what’s? ?true? ?and? ?fake:? ?once? ?the? ?Reverend? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?sets? ?its? ?

eyes? ?on? ?a? ?prey,? ?it? ?will? ?pull? ?the? ?weed? ?out? ?by? ?the? ?roots.? ?Not? ?only? ?will? ?its? ?prey? ?suffer? ?

breakdowns? ?and? ?die,? ?the? ?families? ?and? ?friends? ?of? ?said? ?prey? ?will? ?all? ?be? ?affected.? ?So,? ?those? ?

who? ?only? ?died? ?by? ?themselves? ?here? ?on? ?this? ?scroll? ?whose? ?friends? ?and? ?families? ?are? ?alive? ?and? ?

well,? ?those? ?names? ?are? ?all? ?wrong? ?too.”? ? ?

Hearing? ?this,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan’s? ?face? ?paled? ?by? ?another? ?shade.? ?Soon? ?after,? ?he? ?regained? ?his? ?

cheer? ?and? ?laughed? ?drily? ?at? ?Ming? ?Yi,? ?“Ming-xiong,? ?doesn’t? ?that? ?mean? ?you’re? ?in? ?danger? ?

too?? ?You’re? ?my? ?best? ?friend? ?after? ?all!”? ? ?

Ming? ?Yi? ?shifted? ?to? ?sit? ?further? ?away? ?from? ?him,? ?his? ?entire? ?face? ?written? ?with? ?“Can? ?I? ?not? ?have? ?

you? ?as? ?a? ?best? ?friend? ?please”.? ?This? ?move? ?brought? ?him? ?closer? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?and? ?Hua? ?

Cheng’s? ?eyes? ?swept? ?over? ?him,? ?sharp? ?as? ?knives.? ?Seeing? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?still? ?hadn’t? ?

forgotten? ?to? ?joke? ?around? ?even? ?at? ?times? ?like? ?these,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?smile.? ?

Nevertheless,? ?he? ?could? ?faintly? ?tell? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?anxious.? ?Or? ?rather,? ?it? ?was? ?because? ?

he? ?was? ?anxious? ?that? ?he? ?had? ?to? ?use? ?extra? ?cheer? ?to? ?push? ?it? ?down.? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?flashed? ?his? ?Wind? ?Master? ?fan? ?and? ?fanned? ?faster? ?than? ?usual? ?by? ?five,? ?six? ?

times,? ?his? ?black? ?hair? ?flying? ?wildly? ?in? ?the? ?wind,? ?“Then? ?let’s? ?go? ?right? ?now!? ?To? ?the? ?fanciest,? ?

tallest? ?tower? ?to? ?drink? ?ourselves? ?into? ?oblivion!? ?I? ?gotta? ?see? ?for? ?myself? ?if? ?it’d? ?dare? ?come? ?out? ?

with? ?so? ?many? ?of? ?us? ?around.? ?We’ve? ?got? ?the? ?numbers,? ?HAHAHAHahahahaha...”? ?

“...”? ?

“Lord? ?Wind? ?Master,? ?please? ?calm? ?yourself.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“Wait? ?for? ?me? ?for? ?a? ?moment,? ?I’ve? ?

got? ?some? ?little? ?things? ?to? ?take? ?care? ?of? ?in? ?the? ?shrine? ?still.”? ? ?

Who? ?knows? ?how? ?many? ?days? ?this? ?trip? ?would? ?take,? ?and? ?with? ?two? ?children,? ?two? ?mouths? ?plus? ?

a? ?godforsaken? ?ghost? ?possessing? ?a? ?man,? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?just? ?leave? ?them? ?be.? ?He? ?thought? ?

about? ?finding? ?someone? ?reliable? ?in? ?the? ?village? ?to? ?help? ?watch? ?other? ?them,? ?but? ?it? ?seemed? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?knew? ?all? ?of? ?his? ?worries? ?and? ?considerations? ?and? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“If? ?gege? ?must? ?go,? ?

then? ?go? ?without? ?a? ?worry.? ?I’ve? ?got? ?hands.? ?When? ?you’re? ?gone,? ?there’ll? ?naturally? ?be? ?people? ?

to? ?watch? ?over? ?the? ?shrine.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?let? ?out? ?a? ?breath? ?of? ?relief,? ?“Thank? ?goodness? ?for? ?San? ?Lang.? ?It’d? ?be? ?better? ?if? ?there’s? ?

someone? ?here? ?to? ?watch? ?over? ?things.”? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?smiled? ?too,? ?“Yea.? ?There? ?needs? ?to? ?be? ?someone? ?watching? ?over? ?things.”? ? ?

Their? ?“watch? ?over”? ?obviously? ?meant? ?different? ?things.? ?However,? ?no? ?one? ?pried? ?about? ?it.? ?

Ming? ?Yi? ?moved? ?the? ?altar? ?table? ?away? ?and? ?started? ?drawing? ?the? ?Distance? ?Shortening? ?array? ?

on? ?the? ?ground.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan’s? ?fan? ?was? ?fanning? ?so? ?rapidly,? ?its? ?form? ?no? ?longer? ?seen,? ?“By? ?

the? ?way,? ?Your? ?Highness,? ?I? ?forgot? ?to? ?ask? ?earlier.? ?Just? ?who? ?is? ?that? ?outside? ?the? ?door?? ?How? ?

did? ?I? ?piss? ?him? ?off,? ?to? ?have? ?such? ?rude? ?words? ?come? ?out? ?of? ?his? ?mouth?”? ? ?

To? ?be? ?asked? ?about? ?only? ?at? ?the? ?end? ?and? ?in? ?such? ?an? ?offhanded? ?manner,? ?if? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?heard,? ?

he’d? ?no? ?doubt? ?suffer? ?heartburns? ?again.? ?It? ?really? ?was? ?rude,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?thought? ?as? ?he? ?packed? ?

up? ?Ruoye? ?and? ?Fang? ?Xin? ?leaning? ?against? ?the? ?corner,? ?“Didn’t? ?he? ?already? ?announce? ?his? ?own? ?

title?”? ? ?

“What,? ?that? ?really? ?was? ?the? ?Green? ?Ghost?”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?surprised,? ?“A? ?face? ?with? ?that? ?

attitude?? ?You? ?really? ?gotta? ?see? ?things? ?for? ?yourself? ?indeed!”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?rubbed? ?his? ?forehead? ?and? ?briefly? ?gave? ?an? ?account? ?of? ?things,? ?reminding? ?him? ?to? ?

keep? ?things? ?a? ?secret,? ?especially? ?to? ?Lang? ?Qianqiu.? ?Between? ?their? ?exchange,? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?also? ?

finished? ?drawing? ?the? ?Distance? ?Shortening? ?array.? ?The? ?one? ?Nan? ?Feng? ?drew? ?the? ?last? ?time? ?

was? ?crude? ?and? ?rough? ?and? ?it? ?took? ?him? ?a? ?long? ?time.? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?was? ?the? ?complete? ?opposite;? ?

his? ?hands? ?were? ?swift? ?and? ?precise,? ?completing? ?the? ?drawing? ?with? ?but? ?one? ?line,? ?and? ?the? ?

circle? ?he? ?drew? ?was? ?cleaner? ?and? ?more? ?accurate? ?than? ?if? ?one? ?was? ?to? ?use? ?a? ?ruler.? ?The? ?

characters? ?were? ?also? ?neat? ?and? ?orderly? ?like? ?they? ?were? ?pressed? ?prints,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?gape? ?in? ?awe? ?secretly.? ?

With? ?the? ?array? ?finished,? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?said,? ?“Let’s? ?go.”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?sucked? ?in? ?a? ?breath? ?and? ?

blew? ?gently,? ?extinguishing? ?the? ?candlelight.? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?took? ?the? ?lead? ?and? ?was? ?the? ?first? ?to? ?push? ?the? ?door.? ?The? ?little? ?door? ?creaked? ?

open,? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?pitch? ?black? ?outside,? ?as? ?if? ?the? ?door? ?was? ?connected? ?to? ?an? ?old? ?house? ?that’s? ?

been? ?abandoned? ?for? ?many? ?years,? ?the? ?air? ?was? ?thick? ?with? ?mold? ?and? ?dust.? ? ?

Following? ?behind? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?was? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?softly? ?thanking? ?the? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?who? ?took? ?the? ?

initiative? ?to? ?open? ?the? ?door? ?as? ?he? ?crossed? ?through,? ?then? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan,? ?and? ?the? ?last? ?one? ?

was? ?Ming? ?Yi.? ?Once? ?he? ?crossed? ?over,? ?he? ?closed? ?the? ?door? ?behind? ?him.? ?

The? ?moment? ?that? ?door? ?was? ?shut,? ?within? ?the? ?darkness? ?came? ?a? ?voice? ?from? ?behind? ?the? ?

door,? ?gloomy? ?and? ?chilling,? ?“The? ?place? ?you? ?wish? ?to? ?go? ?will? ?become? ?the? ?nightmare? ?you? ?

wish? ?to? ?never? ?remember!”? ? ?

The? ?instant? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?heard? ?the? ?voice? ?his? ?foot? ?kicked? ?out.? ? ?

That? ?door? ?instantly? ?collapsed? ?from? ?his? ?kick,? ?yet? ?once? ?that? ?array? ?was? ?used? ?it’d? ?lose? ?its? ?

effect,? ?and? ?behind? ?the? ?door? ?was? ?no? ?longer? ?Puqi? ?shrine? ?but? ?a? ?pile? ?of? ?trash.? ?That? ?intense? ?

action? ?roused? ?thick? ?clouds? ?of? ?dust,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?coughed,? ?a? ?little? ?glad? ?that? ?he? ?didn’t? ?

break? ?the? ?door? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?made,? ?and? ?said? ?with? ?his? ?sleeve? ?covering? ?his? ?face,? ?“Was? ?that? ?

the? ?Reverend? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words?”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?gripping? ?his? ?whisk? ?and? ?his? ?Wind? ?Master? ?fan? ?tightly? ?and? ?replied,? ?

“That’s? ?its? ?voice!? ?Has...? ?has? ?it? ?been? ?following? ?me?”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?waved? ?away? ?the? ?dusty? ?air? ?and? ?negated,? ?“No.? ?There? ?were? ?only? ?three? ?heavenly? ?

officials? ?and? ?one? ?ghost? ?king? ?earlier,? ?if? ?something? ?was? ?following? ?you,? ?how? ?would? ?we? ?not? ?

know?? ?Clearly? ?it’d? ?only? ?just? ?come.”? ? ?

Ming? ?Yi? ?said? ?too,? ?“Calm? ?down.”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?exclaimed,? ?“I’m? ?calm.? ?I’m? ?very? ?calm.? ?I’ve? ?been? ?calming!”? ? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?however,? ?stood? ?ahead? ?and? ?said? ?leisurely,? ?“Calm? ?is? ?good.? ?But? ?there’s? ?

definitely? ?something? ?going? ?on.? ?Does? ?anyone? ?know? ?where? ?we? ?are?”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?around? ?and? ?wondered? ?too,? ?“Weren’t? ?we? ?going? ?to? ?the? ?nicest? ?restaurant? ?in? ?

the? ?imperial? ?capital?”? ? ?

No? ?matter? ?how? ?he? ?looked,? ?this? ?old? ?abandoned? ?house? ?looked? ?nothing? ?like? ?that? ?restaurant? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?spoke? ?of.? ?The? ?four? ?of? ?them? ?explored? ?around? ?and? ?found? ?the? ?entrance? ?but? ?it? ?

was? ?locked? ?by? ?giant? ?locks!? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?kicked? ?again? ?and? ?the? ?locks? ?broke,? ?opening? ?the? ?

doors.? ?Once? ?the? ?doors? ?opened,? ?what? ?appeared? ?before? ?the? ?four? ?were? ?neither? ?hellish? ?fires? ?

nor? ?mysterious? ?landscapes? ?of? ?evil.? ?It? ?was? ?a? ?perfectly? ?normal,? ?indistinct? ?little? ?town.? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?raised? ?his? ?brows,? ?“The? ?imperial? ?capital? ?shouldn’t? ?look? ?like? ?this.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?agreed? ?wholeheartedly.? ?The? ?aura? ?of? ?an? ?imperial? ?capital? ?could? ?not? ?be? ?compared? ?

to? ?such? ?a? ?small? ?town,? ?and? ?he? ?turned? ?around,? ?“Lord? ?Earth? ?Master,? ?did? ?you? ?make? ?a? ?

mistake? ?in? ?your? ?array?”? ? ?

Ming? ?Yi? ?however,? ?said,? ?“I? ?didn’t? ?make? ?any? ?mistakes.? ?The? ?original? ?destination? ?wasn’t? ?

here.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?immediately? ?understood.? ?This? ?meant? ?that? ?creature? ?had? ?meddled.? ?They? ?were? ?

sent? ?by? ?it? ?to? ?this? ?place.? ?

———–? ?

Ch.106:? ?Three? ?Gods? ?One? ?Ghost;? ?Reverend? ?Nowhere? ?in? ?Sight? ?2? ?

“It? ?dodged? ?in? ?to? ?tamper? ?with? ?the? ?array? ?the? ?moment? ?we? ?left? ?Puqi? ?Shrine?”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?

said,? ?but? ?immediately? ?debunked? ?his? ?own? ?theory,? ?“No!? ?It? ?can’t? ?have.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?said? ?too,? ?“That’s? ?impossible.? ?We? ?had? ?already? ?pushed? ?the? ?door? ?open? ?earlier,? ?so? ?

even? ?if? ?it? ?snuck? ?in? ?to? ?meddle? ?with? ?things? ?we? ?should’ve? ?still? ?arrived? ?at? ?our? ?original? ?

destination? ?because? ?the? ?spell? ?of? ?the? ?array? ?was? ?already? ?initiated,? ?so? ?changing? ?it? ?wouldn’t? ?

have? ?done? ?anything.? ?So,? ?it? ?only? ?had? ?a? ?split? ?second? ?time? ?to? ?do? ?anything.”? ?

Which? ?meant? ?it? ?was? ?the? ?brief? ?moment? ?after? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?finished? ?drawing? ?the? ?array,? ?Shi? ?

Qingxuan? ?blew? ?out? ?the? ?candles,? ?and? ?the? ?entire? ?Puqi? ?Shrine? ?fell? ?into? ?complete? ?darkness.? ? ?

However,? ?that? ?contradicted? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?own? ?theory? ?earlier.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?said,? ?“But? ?earlier? ?

in? ?the? ?shrine? ?there? ?were? ?clearly? ?only? ?the? ?four? ?of? ?us.”? ?

In? ?the? ?tiny? ?Puqi? ?shrine,? ?there? ?were? ?three? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?and? ?one? ?ghost? ?king;? ?if? ?there? ?

was? ?anything? ?extra? ?would? ?they? ?not? ?notice?? ?And? ?if? ?it? ?was? ?someone? ?amongst? ?them? ?

meddling? ?in? ?the? ?darkness,? ?who’s? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?was? ?more? ?likely? ?to? ?do? ?it?? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?steal? ?a? ?glance? ?at? ?Hua? ?Cheng.? ?Although? ?he? ?stopped? ?

himself? ?immediately,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?didn’t? ?miss? ?that? ?glimpse? ?and? ?smiled,? ?“What’s? ?with? ?that? ?

look?? ?In? ?my? ?opinion,? ?don’t? ?you? ?think? ?Lord? ?Earth? ?Master? ?is? ?the? ?most? ?suspicious? ?one?”? ? ?

Ming? ?Yi’s? ?eyes? ?also? ?swept? ?over.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?added,? ?“Instead? ?of? ?focusing? ?on? ?guessing? ?

who? ?meddled? ?after,? ?what? ?if? ?the? ?array? ?he? ?drew? ?was? ?wrong? ?from? ?the? ?beginning?”? ? ?

Ming? ?Yi? ?didn’t? ?rebuke,? ?acknowledging? ?nothing.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?however,? ?couldn’t? ?listen? ?

anymore,? ?“Lord? ?Hua,? ?you? ?stop? ?right? ?there,? ?alright.? ?I? ?know? ?the? ?two? ?of? ?you? ?have? ?had? ?a? ?

quarrel? ?before? ?in? ?the? ?past,? ?but,? ?Ming-xiong? ?really? ?isn’t? ?someone? ?like? ?that.? ?I? ?dragged? ?him? ?

out? ?here? ?last? ?minute,? ?so? ?he? ?has? ?no? ?reason? ?to? ?meddle.”? ?

“You? ?don’t? ?necessarily? ?need? ?a? ?reason? ?to? ?do? ?something.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said,? ?“Lord? ?Wind? ?

Master,? ?you? ?yourself? ?are? ?suspicious? ?too.”? ? ?

“Huh?”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?had? ?never? ?thought? ?the? ?tables? ?would? ?turn? ?on? ?him,? ?and? ?pointed? ?at? ?

himself,? ?“Who?? ?ME?!”? ? ?

“Yea.? ?A? ?thief? ?crying? ?thief? ?is? ?a? ?common? ?thing.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said,? ?“Just? ?why? ?have? ?you? ?

come?? ?If? ?you? ?and? ?your? ?esteemed? ?brother? ?are? ?truly? ?scared? ?of? ?the? ?Reverend? ?of? ?Empty? ?

Words,? ?why? ?were? ?those? ?bunches? ?of? ?rags? ?put? ?together?? ?It’s? ?not? ?a? ?stretch? ?to? ?say? ?that? ?the? ?

two? ?of? ?you? ?schemed? ?and? ?falsely? ?led? ?us? ?here? ?intentionally.”? ? ?

Just? ?by? ?looking? ?at? ?his? ?expression? ?one? ?could? ?tell? ?that? ?he? ?was? ?cheekily? ?gabbing? ?nonsense,? ?

but? ?he? ?looked? ?so? ?confident,? ?so? ?much? ?so? ?that? ?almost? ?anyone? ?would? ?start? ?doubting? ?too.? ?Shi? ?

Qingxuan? ?was? ?almost? ?shaken,? ?“Am...? ?am? ?I? ?that? ?nonsensical?”? ? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?chuckled,? ?“Same? ?logic.? ?I’m? ?not? ?that? ?nonsensical? ?either.”? ? ?

However? ?anyone? ?hit? ?him,? ?he’d? ?hit? ?right? ?back? ?the? ?same? ?way.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?still? ?musing? ?and? ?

waved? ?his? ?hand,? ?“Alright,? ?everyone? ?stop.? ?Nothing’s? ?been? ?solved? ?yet? ?and? ?we’ve? ?already? ?

started? ?doubting? ?our? ?own? ?people.”? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?laughed? ?out? ?loud? ?and? ?stopped? ?talking.? ?However,? ?his? ?attitude? ?was? ?more? ?than? ?

clear:? ?he? ?wouldn’t? ?help? ?and? ?he? ?wouldn’t? ?cause? ?trouble;? ?he? ?was? ?purely? ?there? ?for? ?fun.? ?

There? ?was? ?no? ?need? ?to? ?expect? ?anything? ?from? ?him,? ?and? ?there? ?wasn’t? ?any? ?need? ?to? ?guard? ?

against? ?him? ?either.? ?After? ?humming? ?for? ?a? ?moment,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“Actually,? ?there’s? ?another? ?

possibility,? ?which? ?is? ?after? ?Lord? ?Earth? ?Master? ?had? ?drawn? ?the? ?array? ?inside? ?the? ?shrine,? ?there? ?

was? ?already? ?someone? ?else? ?outside? ?drawing? ?a? ?stronger? ?array? ?on? ?the? ?door.”? ? ?

At? ?the? ?time,? ?in? ?order? ?for? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?who? ?was? ?outside? ?the? ?door? ?not? ?to? ?hear,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?

casted? ?a? ?soundproof? ?spell,? ?sealing? ?Puqi? ?shrine.? ?Relatively? ?speaking,? ?if? ?anything? ?was? ?

tampered? ?with? ?on? ?the? ?outside,? ?it? ?wouldn’t? ?be? ?easily? ?detected? ?from? ?the? ?inside.? ?Two? ?spells? ?

of? ?the? ?same? ?calibre? ?colliding,? ?the? ?more? ?powerful? ?one? ?would? ?win.? ?This? ?‘power’? ?didn’t? ?just? ?

depend? ?on? ?whether? ?if? ?the? ?caster? ?was? ?stronger,? ?it? ?also? ?depended? ?on? ?the? ?material.? ?At? ?the? ?

time,? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?used? ?the? ?aged? ?cinnabar? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?picked? ?up? ?while? ?collecting? ?junk? ?that? ?even? ?

other? ?scrappers? ?rejected.? ?If? ?someone? ?had? ?used? ?fresh? ?blood? ?to? ?‘suppress? ?the? ?array’,? ?of? ?

course? ?it’d? ?be? ?stronger? ?by? ?a? ?notch.? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?immediately? ?accepted? ?that? ?possibility.? ?“Outside? ?the? ?shrine?? ?Could? ?it? ?be? ?the? ?

Green? ?Ghost?? ?Can? ?he? ?even? ?do? ?anything? ?in? ?that? ?state?”? ?

“I? ?don’t? ?think? ?so...”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?said? ?flatly,? ?“He? ?can’t? ?even? ?dream? ?of? ?moving? ?in? ?the? ?next? ?seven? ?days.? ?But,? ?it? ?

wasn’t? ?just? ?him? ?outside? ?the? ?shrine.”? ?

He? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?implying? ?something.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“In? ?any? ?case,? ?let’s? ?not? ?panic? ?first? ?

and? ?hurt? ?our? ?own? ?trust? ?in? ?each? ?other.”? ? ?

After? ?walking? ?a? ?few? ?steps? ?he? ?added,? ?“But? ?that? ?monster’s? ?words? ?were? ?really? ?strange.? ?Why? ?

did? ?it? ?say? ?that? ?this? ?place? ?will? ?become? ?Lord? ?Wind? ?Master’s? ?“nightmare? ?you? ?wish? ?to? ?never? ?

remember”?? ?Are? ?we? ?going? ?to? ?run? ?into? ?anything? ?here?”? ? ?

Looking? ?around,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan’s? ?frowned? ?slightly,? ?“...Wait.? ?Is? ?this...”? ?

He? ?hadn’t? ?even? ?finished? ?when? ?suddenly? ?Ming? ?Yi’s? ?eyes? ?grew? ?sharp,? ?his? ?hand? ?flashing? ?

out? ?and? ?chopped? ?right? ?for? ?the? ?back? ?of? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan’s? ?head.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?shouted,? ?“LORD? ?

WIND? ?MASTER? ?WATCH? ?YOUR? ?BACK!”? ? ?

PANG!?? ?Ming? ?Yi’s? ?hand? ?chop? ?cracked? ?a? ?large? ?rectangular? ?object? ?into? ?two.? ?That? ?object? ?

came? ?plunging? ?down? ?from? ?above? ?and? ?was? ?going? ?straight? ?for? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan’s? ?head.? ?He? ?

leapt? ?a? ?few? ?feet? ?away,? ?patting? ?his? ?heart,? ?“That? ?was? ?close!”? ?Then? ?he? ?looked? ?down? ?and? ?his? ?

pupils? ?shrank.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?approached? ?to? ?take? ?a? ?look? ?and? ?was? ?also? ?stunned.? ?That? ?object? ?

was? ?an? ?establishment? ?plaque,? ?blue? ?based? ?and? ?golden? ?letters? ?with? ?the? ?giant? ?words? ?

“Temple? ?of? ?Wind? ?and? ?Water”.? ?

To? ?split? ?the? ?establishment? ?plaque? ?of? ?the? ?palace? ?of? ?a? ?heavenly? ?official? ?into? ?two? ?was? ?a? ?huge? ?

taboo.? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?dropped? ?his? ?hand,? ?his? ?expression? ?icy.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?stunned? ?for? ?a? ?

moment? ?but? ?immediately? ?waved? ?his? ?sleeve,? ?sweeping? ?away? ?the? ?broken? ?pieces? ?of? ?that? ?

plaque,? ?speaking? ?in? ?a? ?small? ?voice,? ?“Keep? ?this? ?a? ?secret.? ?No? ?one? ?say? ?anything!? ?Don’t? ?

anyone? ?speak? ?of? ?this.? ?If? ?my? ?brother? ?knew? ?his? ?plaque? ?was? ?cracked? ?he’d? ?go? ?mad? ?angry!”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?around,? ?speaking? ?in? ?disbelief,? ?“This...? ?is? ?a? ?Temple? ?of? ?Wind? ?and? ?Water?”? ? ?

Indeed,? ?the? ?broken? ?down? ?house? ?they? ?ended? ?up? ?in? ?was? ?a? ?Temple? ?of? ?Wind? ?and? ?Water.? ?

The? ?Water? ?Master? ?was? ?the? ?God? ?of? ?Wealth;? ?no? ?one? ?detested? ?money? ?and? ?the? ?temples? ?that? ?

worshipped? ?him? ?were? ?always? ?abundant? ?in? ?donations.? ?To? ?see? ?it? ?desecrated? ?was? ?

practically? ?as? ?impossible? ?as? ?seeing? ?a? ?bundle? ?of? ?cash? ?thrown? ?out? ?onto? ?the? ?streets,? ?

exposed? ?to? ?the? ?elements? ?without? ?anyone? ?picking? ?it? ?up.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?rushed? ?back? ?into? ?

the? ?hall? ?anew,? ?and? ?the? ?interior? ?of? ?the? ?temple? ?was? ?full? ?of? ?cobwebs? ?and? ?layers? ?of? ?dust,? ?

desolate? ?from? ?neglect.? ?He? ?rummaged? ?around? ?and? ?finally? ?pulled? ?out? ?two? ?pitiful? ?divine? ?

statues? ?from? ?a? ?pile? ?of? ?rubbish.? ?

The? ?divine? ?statue? ?of? ?the? ?Lady? ?Wind? ?Master? ?was? ?missing? ?a? ?leg? ?and? ?an? ?arm,? ?and? ?the? ?

divine? ?statue? ?of? ?the? ?Lord? ?Water? ?Master? ?was? ?straight? ?up? ?decapitated.? ?Those? ?damages? ?

didn’t? ?look? ?like? ?they? ?were? ?from? ?decay? ?through? ?the? ?years? ?either,? ?but? ?rather? ?that? ?someone? ?

had? ?used? ?something? ?sharp? ?to? ?smash? ?them,? ?as? ?if? ?they? ?were? ?venting? ?infinite? ?hatred? ?onto? ?

the? ?statues.? ?Those? ?two? ?divine? ?statues? ?were? ?extremely? ?realistic? ?too,? ?almost? ?as? ?if? ?alive,? ?so? ?

to? ?see? ?them? ?lie? ?on? ?the? ?ground? ?with? ?curved? ?smiles? ?on? ?their? ?faces? ?in? ?this? ?state? ?of? ?

unbearable? ?abuse? ?within? ?this? ?chilling? ?temple? ?was? ?exceedingly? ?uncomfortable.? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?held? ?a? ?divine? ?statue? ?in? ?each? ?of? ?his? ?arms? ?and? ?wondered,? ?“What? ?is? ?this? ?

hate?? ?What? ?is? ?this? ?grudge?”? ? ?

Even? ?if? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?this? ?was? ?a? ?sight? ?filled? ?with? ?malevolence,? ?in? ?order? ?to? ?steady? ?Shi? ?

Qingxuan’s? ?mind,? ?he? ?replied? ?gently,? ?“Lord? ?Wind? ?Master,? ?steady? ?yourself.? ?As? ?long? ?as? ?

there? ?are? ?those? ?who? ?worship,? ?there? ?will? ?be? ?those? ?who? ?desecrate.? ?It’s? ?a? ?common? ?sight? ?in? ?

the? ?world,? ?no? ?need? ?to? ?pay? ?it? ?any? ?mind.? ?This? ?must? ?be? ?intentionally? ?set? ?up? ?by? ?that? ?creature? ?

for? ?the? ?very? ?purpose? ?of? ?fanning? ?fear? ?in? ?your? ?heart? ?and? ?absorb? ?spiritual? ?power? ?from? ?you.”? ? ?

Ming? ?Yi? ?however,? ?was? ?succinct? ?in? ?his? ?words,? ?“You? ?good? ?or? ?not?? ?If? ?not,? ?leave.”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?wiped? ?away? ?the? ?grime? ?on? ?the? ?faces? ?of? ?those? ?divine? ?statues,? ?gritted? ?his? ?

teeth? ?and? ?gripped? ?his? ?Wind? ?Master? ?fan? ?then? ?rose? ?to? ?his? ?feet? ?abruptly,? ?“I’M? ?GOOD!? ?Now? ?I? ?

have?? ?to? ?see? ?just? ?what? ?that? ?creature’s? ?made? ?out? ?of!”? ? ?

The? ?four? ?exited? ?that? ?rundown? ?Temple? ?of? ?Wind? ?and? ?Water? ?and? ?walked? ?around? ?that? ?little? ?

town.? ?It? ?was? ?a? ?very? ?quiet? ?town,? ?peaceful,? ?not? ?bustling? ?but? ?not? ?behind? ?the? ?times? ?either,? ?

nothing? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?ordinary.? ?Rather,? ?the? ?most? ?bizarre? ?was? ?them.? ?To? ?be? ?thrown? ?into? ?a? ?

crowd? ?of? ?mortals,? ?their? ?appearances,? ?look? ?and? ?style? ?were? ?all? ?overly? ?conspicuous.? ?Thus,? ?

soon? ?after,? ?they? ?ducked? ?into? ?a? ?small? ?alley? ?and? ?changed? ?their? ?attire.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?already? ?dressed? ?plainly? ?so? ?he? ?didn’t? ?need? ?to? ?change,? ?but? ?the? ?other? ?three? ?all? ?

changed? ?completely? ?from? ?head? ?to? ?toe.? ?On? ?the? ?side,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?having? ?opinions? ?

on? ?Ming? ?Yi’s? ?new? ?get? ?up.? ?Over? ?here,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?changed? ?into? ?a? ?set? ?of? ?refreshing? ?

black? ?robes,? ?his? ?long? ?hair? ?neatly? ?tied? ?up? ?with? ?a? ?white? ?jade? ?accessory,? ?losing? ?some? ?

sluggishness? ?and? ?instead? ?giving? ?him? ?an? ?air? ?of? ?youthful? ?energy,? ?looking? ?like? ?an? ?

extraordinarily? ?handsome,? ?talented? ?and? ?clever? ?young? ?disciple? ?of? ?some? ?renown? ?house.? ?

He? ?was? ?still? ?extremely? ?conspicuous;? ?an? ?emperor? ?really? ?couldn’t? ?look? ?like? ?a? ?beggar? ?even? ?if? ?

you? ?force? ?him? ?to? ?dress? ?like? ?one.? ?Looking? ?at? ?him,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?remember? ?the? ?

saying:? ?“For? ?men? ?to? ?look? ?handsome? ?they? ?must? ?dress? ?in? ?all? ?black”,? ?and? ?he? ?said? ?to? ?himself? ?

that? ?really? ?was? ?true.? ?Coming? ?to,? ?he? ?looked? ?over? ?to? ?Lords? ?Wind? ?and? ?Earth? ?Masters? ?and? ?

remembered? ?something,? ?and? ?he? ?whispered,? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?there’s? ?something? ?I’ve? ?been? ?

meaning? ?to? ?ask? ?you.”? ? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?fixed? ?his? ?sleeves? ?and? ?said,? ?“What? ?is? ?it?”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?clenched? ?a? ?hand? ?into? ?a? ?fist? ?and? ?pressed? ?it? ?against? ?his? ?lips,? ?clearing? ?his? ?throat? ?

lightly,? ?then? ?tried? ?to? ?sound? ?extremely? ?casual,? ?“...What’s? ?the? ?verbal? ?password? ?to? ?your? ?

private? ?communication? ?array?”? ? ?

In? ?order? ?to? ?communicate? ?and? ?pass? ?on? ?messages? ?directly? ?through? ?a? ?private? ?spiritual? ?

array,? ?one? ?must? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?receive? ?the? ?other? ?party’s? ?verbal? ?password.? ?For? ?example,? ?to? ?

reach? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan,? ?one? ?must? ?loudly? ?recite? ?four? ?verses? ?of? ?a? ?doggerel? ?mentally:? ?“Lord? ?

Wind? ?Master? ?is? ?boundlessly? ?talented”? ?“Lord? ?Wind? ?Master? ?is? ?funny? ?and? ?carefree”? ?“Lord? ?

Wind? ?Master? ?is? ?kind? ?and? ?righteous”? ?“Lord? ?Wind? ?Master? ?is? ?aged? ?sweet? ?sixteen”.? ?Of? ?

course,? ?usually? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?wouldn’t? ?setup? ?verbal? ?passwords? ?that? ?were? ?so? ?painful? ?

to? ?say? ?and? ?were? ?much? ?more? ?simple.? ?

The? ?verbal? ?passwords? ?of? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?in? ?the? ?Upper? ?Court? ?weren’t? ?given? ?away? ?so? ?

freely,? ?and? ?only? ?to? ?those? ?who? ?were? ?close.? ?As? ?a? ?Supreme? ?Ghost? ?King,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?was? ?

naturally? ?the? ?same.? ?The? ?two? ?might? ?not? ?have? ?known? ?each? ?other? ?for? ?long,? ?but? ?their? ?

relationship? ?could? ?be? ?said? ?to? ?be? ?fairly? ?good.? ?That? ?they? ?haven’t? ?exchanged? ?passwords? ?yet? ?

was? ?a? ?little? ?strange.? ?But? ?looking? ?back,? ?every? ?time? ?there? ?was? ?anything,? ?they’d? ?meet? ?

directly,? ?so? ?whether? ?if? ?the? ?passwords? ?were? ?exchanged? ?didn’t? ?seem? ?to? ?be? ?a? ?big? ?deal.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?never? ?asked? ?for? ?the? ?verbal? ?password? ?of? ?any? ?heavenly? ?official? ?because? ?if? ?

anything? ?should? ?happen? ?he’d? ?just? ?call? ?out? ?within? ?the? ?spiritual? ?communication? ?array,? ?and? ?if? ?

he? ?needed? ?to? ?speak? ?to? ?anyone? ?privately,? ?he? ?could? ?still? ?ask? ?for? ?them? ?in? ?the? ?array.? ?This? ?was? ?

also? ?the? ?first? ?time? ?he? ?asked? ?for? ?someone’s? ?private? ?communication? ?first? ?and? ?didn’t? ?have? ?

much? ?prior? ?experience? ?so? ?he? ?was? ?a? ?little? ?worried? ?he? ?might? ?be? ?too? ?forward.? ?Seeing? ?that? ?

Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?eyes? ?were? ?twinkling? ?but? ?didn’t? ?move,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?a? ?little? ?awkward? ?and? ?

hurriedly? ?added,? ?“Is? ?it? ?inconvenient?? ?Don’t? ?worry? ?if? ?it? ?is,? ?don’t? ?mind? ?me,? ?I? ?was? ?just? ?asking? ?

casually.? ?Because? ?I? ?wanted? ?to? ?discuss? ?something? ?privately? ?later? ?so? ?I? ?was? ?being? ?

presumptuous.? ?I? ?can? ?also? ?try? ?and? ?talk? ?to? ?you? ?in? ?secret...”? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?cut? ?him? ?off,? ?“It’s? ?not? ?inconvenient.? ?I’m? ?really? ?happy.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?taken? ?aback,? ?“Huh?”? ? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?sighed? ?and? ?said,? ?“I’m? ?really? ?happy? ?that? ?gege? ?finally? ?asked? ?me.? ?Because? ?you? ?

never? ?brought? ?it? ?up,? ?I? ?thought? ?it? ?was? ?inconvenient? ?for? ?you,? ?that? ?you? ?didn’t? ?want? ?to? ?

exchange? ?passwords? ?with? ?other? ?people,? ?so? ?I? ?never? ?asked.? ?Now? ?that? ?I’ve? ?finally? ?had? ?gege? ?

ask,? ?how? ?can? ?you? ?say? ?it? ?was? ?only? ?a? ?“casual”? ?request?”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?let? ?out? ?a? ?breath? ?of? ?relief? ?and? ?immediately? ?brightened? ?up,? ?grabbing? ?onto? ?Hua? ?

Cheng’s? ?hand,? ?“So? ?we? ?both? ?had? ?the? ?same? ?concern!? ?It? ?was? ?my? ?bad? ?earlier,? ?those? ?were? ?

the? ?casual? ?words,? ?I? ?apologize? ?to? ?San? ?Lang.? ?So,? ?your? ?verbal? ?password? ?is?”? ? ?

Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?eyes? ?shimmered? ?and? ?he? ?leaned? ?over? ?slightly,? ?“This? ?is? ?my? ?verbal? ?password,? ?

gege,? ?listen? ?closely,? ?I’m? ?only? ?going? ?to? ?say? ?it? ?once.”? ?Then? ?he? ?whispered? ?a? ?phrase.? ?

After? ?listening,? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?eyes? ?widened,? ?“...What?? ?Is? ?that? ?really? ?it?? ?San? ?Lang,? ?you? ?didn’t? ?

make? ?a? ?mistake?”? ? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?looked? ?at? ?ease? ?and? ?replied,? ?“Yes,? ?that’s? ?it.? ?If? ?gege? ?doesn’t? ?believe? ?me? ?why? ?

not? ?give? ?it? ?a? ?go?”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?dare.? ?“Then...? ?then? ?doesn’t? ?that? ?mean? ?every? ?time? ?someone? ?tries? ?to? ?reach? ?

you? ?they? ?have? ?to? ?recite? ?that? ?phrase? ?three? ?times? ?mentally?? ?W...? ?Wouldn’t? ?that? ?be? ?very? ?

embarrassing?”? ? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?snickered,? ?“It’s? ?because? ?I? ?don’t? ?want? ?anyone? ?to? ?reach? ?me? ?that? ?I? ?purposely? ?

set? ?the? ?password? ?to? ?that? ?phrase.? ?Let? ?them? ?know? ?to? ?back? ?off.? ?But,? ?if? ?it’s? ?gege? ?who’s? ?trying? ?

to? ?reach? ?me,? ?I’m? ?always? ?free.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?feeling? ?a? ?little? ?incredulous? ?and? ?thought,? ?‘That’s? ?really? ?mean...’? ?

He? ?hesitated,? ?wanting? ?to? ?initiate? ?the? ?private? ?communication? ?array,? ?but? ?just? ?couldn’t? ?recite? ?

those? ?words? ?no? ?matter? ?what.? ?Even? ?mentally? ?it? ?was? ?difficult.? ?Seeing? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?cover? ?half? ?of? ?

his? ?face? ?with? ?his? ?hand,? ?turning? ?his? ?head? ?away? ?but? ?still? ?couldn’t? ?make? ?up? ?his? ?mind,? ?Hua? ?

Cheng? ?finally? ?had? ?enough? ?fun? ?and? ?said,? ?“Alright.? ?Fine.? ?If? ?gege? ?daren’t? ?recite? ?it,? ?then? ?I’ll? ?be? ?

the? ?one? ?to? ?reach? ?you.? ?What’s? ?your? ?verbal? ?password?”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?back? ?around? ?and? ?said,? ?“Just? ?recite? ?the? ?Ethics? ?Sutra? ?a? ?thousand? ?

times.”? ? ?

“...”? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?cocked? ?an? ?eyebrow.? ?A? ?moment? ?later,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?heard? ?his? ?voice? ?next? ?to? ?his? ?

ear,? ?“It’s? ?the? ?phrase? ?‘Just? ?recite? ?the? ?Ethics? ?Sutra? ?a? ?thousand? ?times’,? ?right?”? ? ?

The? ?two? ?were? ?clearly? ?standing? ?facing? ?each? ?other? ?but? ?their? ?lips? ?were? ?closed? ?unspeaking,? ?

communicating? ?with? ?their? ?eyes,? ?whispering? ?secrets? ?to? ?one? ?another? ?using? ?a? ?voice? ?others? ?

couldn’t? ?hear,? ?having? ?a? ?good? ?time.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied? ?using? ?the? ?private? ?communication? ?

array? ?too,? ?“That’s? ?right.? ?I? ?can’t? ?believe? ?you? ?weren’t? ?fooled.”? ? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?blinked? ?and? ?continued? ?to? ?reply,? ?“Hahahaha,? ?I? ?was? ?almost? ?fooled.? ?It’s? ?too? ?

good.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?blinked? ?too,? ?his? ?merry? ?apparent.? ?

It? ?must? ?be? ?known? ?that? ?this? ?verbal? ?password? ?was? ?something? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?came? ?up? ?with? ?very? ?

seriously? ?eight? ?hundred? ?years? ?ago.? ?He? ?himself? ?thought? ?it? ?was? ?fun? ?so? ?he? ?employed? ?it? ?after? ?

he? ?ascended.? ?Only,? ?not? ?too? ?many? ?other? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?thought? ?it? ?was? ?amusing,? ?and? ?

even? ?after? ?they? ?were? ?fooled? ?they? ?were? ?more? ?speechless? ?than? ?entertained.? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?told? ?

him? ?directly? ?“Your? ?Highness? ?your? ?idea? ?is? ?terrible,? ?forgive? ?me? ?if? ?I? ?can’t? ?laugh”,? ?and? ?

although? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?laughed? ?to? ?the? ?point? ?of? ?rolling? ?on? ?the? ?ground? ?screaming? ?himself? ?

hoarse,? ?he? ?was? ?a? ?person? ?who? ?laughed? ?at? ?almost? ?anything? ?for? ?no? ?reason,? ?so? ?him? ?

laughing? ?didn’t? ?make? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?feel? ?any? ?bit? ?accomplished.? ?Since? ?now? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?laughed? ?

too,? ?maybe? ?that? ?meant? ?it? ?really? ?was? ?somewhat? ?amusing.? ?

The? ?original? ?plan? ?was? ?to? ?go? ?to? ?the? ?best? ?restaurant? ?in? ?the? ?imperial? ?capital? ?to? ?drink,? ?but? ?

since? ?they? ?didn’t? ?make? ?it? ?to? ?the? ?imperial? ?capital,? ?it? ?made? ?no? ?difference? ?where? ?they? ?drank,? ?

so? ?the? ?group? ?went? ?and? ?reserved? ?a? ?room? ?at? ?the? ?biggest? ?restaurant? ?in? ?town,? ?sitting? ?around? ?

bored? ?and? ?spiritless.? ?When? ?the? ?waiter? ?brought? ?their? ?drinks,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?inquired,? ?“May? ?I? ?ask? ?

just? ?where? ?this? ?place? ?is?”? ? ?

Although? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?strange? ?question,? ?it? ?was? ?still? ?the? ?most? ?direct? ?and? ?effective? ?way.? ?That? ?

waiter? ?was? ?amazed,? ?“Did? ?the? ?honoured? ?guests? ?not? ?come? ?because? ?of? ?our? ?reputation?? ?

This? ?is? ?the? ?town? ?of? ?Fu? ?Gu.”? ?

“Reputation?? ?What? ?reputation?”? ? ?

That? ?waiter? ?gave? ?a? ?thumbs? ?up,? ?“Our? ?town’s? ?Fire? ?Social!? ?It’s? ?really? ?famous? ?around? ?here.? ?

Every? ?year? ?around? ?this? ?time? ?there? ?are? ?quite? ?a? ?number? ?of? ?outsiders? ?who’d? ?come? ?to? ?watch? ?

the? ?spectacles.”? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?curious,? ?“What’s? ?a? ?Fire? ?Social?”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?answered,? ?“Celebratory? ?festivities? ?during? ?folk? ?holidays.? ?There? ?will? ?be? ?some? ?

busking,? ?some? ?local? ?plays,? ?etc.? ?It’s? ?worth? ?watching.”? ?It? ?was? ?similar? ?to? ?the? ?ShangYuan? ?

Heavenly? ?Ceremonial? ?Procession? ?of? ?Xianle? ?back? ?in? ?the? ?days.? ?However,? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?

Ceremonial? ?Processions? ?were? ?sponsored? ?by? ?the? ?monarch,? ?hosted? ?by? ?the? ?authorities,? ?but? ?

Fire? ?Socials? ?were? ?festivities? ?of? ?the? ?commoners.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?commented,? ?“But? ?it’s? ?not? ?a? ?

holiday? ?today?? ?At? ?most,? ?it’s? ?only? ?the? ?end? ?of? ?Autumn? ?tomorrow.”? ? ?

“It? ?doesn’t? ?have? ?to? ?be? ?a? ?holiday,”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?explained,? ?“Sometimes? ?it’s? ?for? ?remembering? ?

someone,? ?and? ?the? ?folks? ?pick? ?a? ?special? ?day? ?to? ?celebrate,? ?have? ?some? ?fun.”? ? ?

Just? ?then,? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?huge? ?commotion? ?down? ?the? ?main? ?streets? ?below? ?the? ?restaurant,? ?

and? ?someone? ?was? ?shouting,? ?“MOVE,? ?MOVE!? ?CHILDREN? ?AND? ?WOMEN? ?DON’T? ?STAND? ?

AROUND!? ?BACK? ?AWAY,? ?THE? ?TROUPE? ?IS? ?COMING!”? ? ?

The? ?four? ?looked? ?below.? ?And? ?what? ?a? ?look!? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?eyes? ?immediately? ?widened.? ?There? ?

was? ?a? ?long? ?procession? ?parading? ?down? ?the? ?maint? ?street,? ?and? ?in? ?that? ?procession,? ?everyone? ?

was? ?covered? ?in? ?heavy? ?layers? ?of? ?bright,? ?vivid? ?makeup,? ?dressed? ?in? ?strange? ?and? ?bizarre? ?

outfits,? ?and? ?also,? ?a? ?weapon? ?embedded? ?on? ?each? ?of? ?their? ?heads.? ?

Those? ?sharp? ?or? ?dull? ?axes,? ?butcher? ?knives,? ?iron? ?tongs,? ?scissors,? ?were? ?all? ?deeply? ?buried? ?in? ?

their? ?skulls,? ?piercing? ?their? ?brains,? ?and? ?some? ?even? ?had? ?eyeballs? ?squeezed? ?out,? ?hanging? ?

on? ?the? ?cheek? ?dripping? ?with? ?blood.? ?Some? ?were? ?stabbed? ?from? ?the? ?forehead? ?and? ?pierced? ?

through? ?the? ?back? ?of? ?their? ?heads,? ?exceedingly? ?gorey.? ?Each? ?of? ?the? ?person? ?parading? ?all? ?had? ?

tightly? ?knitted? ?brows,? ?their? ?expressions? ?full? ?of? ?agony,? ?their? ?faces? ?covered? ?in? ?blood.? ?Yet,? ?

they? ?continued? ?to? ?trumpet? ?and? ?play? ?music,? ?marching? ?forward? ?slowly,? ?like? ?a? ?procession? ?of? ?

ghostly? ?spirits.? ?

————? ?

Ch.107:? ?Gods? ?and? ?Ghost? ?Hear? ?the? ?Tale? ?of? ?the? ?Blood-Soaked? ?Fire? ?Social? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?immediately? ?rose? ?to? ?this? ?feet.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan,? ?too,? ?stomped? ?a? ?foot? ?down? ?on? ?the? ?

table,? ?rolling? ?up? ?his? ?sleeves? ?as? ?if? ?ready? ?to? ?charge? ?right? ?down.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?hastily? ?held? ?him? ?

back? ?and? ?said,? ?“It’s? ?nothing,? ?don’t? ?worry,? ?Lord? ?Wind? ?Master,? ?please? ?calm? ?down.”? ?

“IS? ?IT? ?NOTHING? ?EVEN? ?WITH? ?EYEBALLS? ?SQUEEZED? ?OUT???”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?

alarmed.? ?

“It’s? ?nothing.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?reiterated.? ?“What? ?a? ?rare? ?chance? ?that? ?we? ?can? ?witness? ?a? ?Bloody? ?Fire? ?

Social? ?here!”? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?immediately? ?dropped? ?the? ?leg? ?that? ?was? ?on? ?the? ?table? ?and? ?asked,? ?“Bloody? ?

Fire? ?Social?? ?What’s? ?that?”? ? ?

The? ?two? ?sat? ?down? ?anew? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?explained,? ?“Different? ?regions? ?have? ?different? ?kinds? ?

of? ?Fire? ?Socials,? ?and? ?the? ?Bloody? ?Fire? ?Social? ?belongs? ?to? ?a? ?special? ?type,? ?extremely? ?rare.? ?I’ve? ?

only? ?heard? ?about? ?it? ?too,? ?I’ve? ?never? ?seen? ?it? ?before.? ?Since? ?their? ?performances? ?are? ?

gruesome? ?and? ?freakish,? ?and? ?their? ?makeup? ?artistry? ?is? ?an? ?untold? ?secret? ?that? ?isn’t? ?passed? ?

down,? ?there’s? ?less? ?and? ?less? ?of? ?them.”? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?stunned,? ?“Makeup? ?artistry?? ?That’s? ?all? ?fake?? ?Th-th-th...? ?That’s? ?just? ?too? ?

real,? ?and? ?here? ?I? ?thought? ?it? ?was? ?something? ?transformed? ?by? ?evil!”? ? ?

His? ?words? ?weren’t? ?exaggerated,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?sighed? ?in? ?awe? ?too,? ?“There? ?are? ?many? ?

extraordinarily? ?talented? ?people? ?in? ?the? ?world.”? ? ?

Watching? ?those? ?performers? ?in? ?the? ?parade,? ?not? ?only? ?did? ?they? ?have? ?weapons? ?“deeply? ?

embedded”? ?in? ?their? ?skulls,? ?some? ?also? ?had? ?exposed? ?innards,? ?missing? ?limbs,? ?crawling? ?on? ?

the? ?ground,? ?crying? ?and? ?howling;? ?there? ?were? ?a? ?few? ?carrying? ?a? ?large? ?wooden? ?stack,? ?a? ?

woman? ?hung? ?on? ?one? ?of? ?the? ?beams,? ?a? ?rope? ?wrapped? ?around? ?her? ?neck? ?as? ?if? ?she? ?was? ?hung? ?

to? ?death;? ?and? ?then? ?came? ?two? ?who? ?were? ?dragging? ?the? ?two? ?legs? ?of? ?a? ?woman,? ?and? ?that? ?

woman? ?herself? ?had? ?clothes? ?all? ?ripped? ?into? ?rags,? ?her? ?face? ?down? ?dragged? ?along? ?the? ?road? ?

the? ?entire? ?way? ?leaving? ?long? ?trails? ?of? ?blood.? ?This? ?was? ?truly? ?a? ?very? ?real? ?sight? ?of? ?hell.? ?Even? ?

though? ?it? ?was? ?clearly? ?a? ?performance? ?done? ?by? ?humans,? ?it? ?was? ?more? ?horrifying? ?than? ?the? ?

ghosts? ?of? ?Ghost? ?City.? ?In? ?comparison,? ?Ghost? ?City? ?was? ?almost? ?like? ?a? ?bustling? ?human? ?

market.? ?Just? ?how? ?was? ?all? ?the? ?makeup? ?done?? ?Even? ?if? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?heard? ?of? ?this? ?tradition,? ?

at? ?first? ?glance? ?he’d? ?also? ?almost? ?thought? ?it? ?was? ?the? ?coming? ?of? ?ghosts.? ?

There? ?were? ?quite? ?a? ?few? ?women? ?and? ?children? ?who? ?tried? ?to? ?squeeze? ?in? ?the? ?front? ?of? ?crowd? ?

to? ?spectate? ?out? ?of? ?curiosity,? ?but? ?screamed? ?from? ?fright? ?after? ?having? ?actually? ?seen? ?and? ?

backed? ?away.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?commented,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?didn’t? ?you? ?say? ?that? ?the? ?point? ?

of? ?FIre? ?Socials? ?was? ?to? ?celebrate?? ?Who? ?celebrates? ?like? ?this?? ?People? ?are? ?running? ?scared,? ?

and? ?those? ?little? ?girls? ?are? ?going? ?to? ?have? ?nightmares.? ?Do? ?people? ?really? ?feel? ?happy? ?watching? ?

these? ?kinds? ?of? ?performances?”? ? ?

It? ?really? ?was? ?hard? ?to? ?tell? ?whether? ?if? ?people? ?would? ?feel? ?happy? ?after? ?watching? ?such? ?

performances.? ?However,? ?in? ?truth,? ?slaughter? ?and? ?the? ?sight? ?of? ?blood? ?did? ?create? ?excitement? ?

in? ?people.? ?Whether? ?or? ?not? ?there? ?was? ?fear,? ?after? ?the? ?initial? ?shock? ?was? ?over,? ?a? ?rush? ?of? ?

adrenaline? ?would? ?be? ?produced? ?in? ?many’s? ?heart.? ?There? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?a? ?slang? ?for? ?Bloody? ?

Fire? ?Socials? ?such? ?as? ?this? ?called? ?“Stabbing? ?Ecstacy”,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?figured? ?it? ?meant:? ?once? ?

a? ?person? ?was? ?stabbed? ?violently? ?to? ?death,? ?the? ?heart? ?would? ?be? ?filled? ?with? ?ecstasy.? ?

There’s? ?a? ?thirst? ?for? ?‘slaughter’? ?deep? ?in? ?the? ?hearts? ?of? ?people.? ?

Of? ?course,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?say? ?that? ?much? ?on? ?the? ?subject? ?and? ?only? ?watched? ?intently? ?for? ?a? ?

while.? ?In? ?that? ?impressive? ?parading? ?troupe,? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?pale-faced? ?man? ?dressed? ?in? ?black,? ?

his? ?form? ?tall? ?but? ?skinny? ?as? ?a? ?twig,? ?his? ?hand? ?gripped? ?a? ?weapon,? ?and? ?he? ?was? ?striking? ?

towards? ?the? ?head? ?of? ?one? ?of? ?the? ?lavishly? ?dressed? ?performer.? ?That? ?knife? ?instantly? ?

penetrated? ?through? ?the? ?other’s? ?skull,? ?and? ?he? ?took? ?out? ?a? ?long? ?spear? ?right? ?after,? ?hoisting? ?

the? ?other? ?up? ?and? ?hung? ?the? ?other? ?in? ?the? ?air,? ?cruel? ?and? ?gruesome,? ?as? ?if? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?real? ?murder? ?

happening? ?right? ?there,? ?and? ?the? ?crowd? ?screamed? ?in? ?waves? ?of? ?horror? ?though? ?some? ?also? ?

cheered.? ? ?

“I’m? ?guessing? ?they’re? ?enacting? ?a? ?tale.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“That? ?black? ?clad? ?man? ?should? ?be? ?the? ?

protagonist? ?and? ?the? ?people? ?he? ?killed? ?should? ?be? ?the? ?antagonists,? ?the? ?villains.? ?This? ?entire? ?

story? ?is? ?expressing? ?the? ?defeat? ?of? ?evil? ?and? ?the? ?proclamation? ?of? ?good.”? ? ?

Having? ?said? ?that,? ?something? ?clicked? ?in? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?mind? ?and? ?he? ?said,? ?“Lord? ?Wind? ?Master,? ?

watch? ?closely.”? ?

“I? ??am?? ?watching.”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?said.? ?

“No,? ?I’m? ?telling? ?you? ?to? ?watch? ?for? ?the? ?story.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?explained,? ?“Watch? ?for? ?the? ?characters? ?

they’re? ?performing,? ?and? ?the? ?kind? ?of? ?story? ?this? ?is.? ?There? ?must? ?be? ?a? ?reason? ?why? ?that? ?

Reverend? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?brought? ?you? ?here,? ?and? ?picked? ?today? ?of? ?all? ?days.? ?Maybe? ?it? ?was? ?

so? ?you’d? ?watch? ?this? ?Bloody? ?Fire? ?Social.”? ?

That? ?black? ?clad? ?man? ?had? ?a? ?deep? ?frown,? ?looking? ?to? ?be? ?in? ?severe? ?agony,? ?‘butchering’? ?

hundreds? ?of? ?‘villains’? ?in? ?the? ?troupe? ?by? ?himself,? ?and? ?he? ?himself? ?was? ?also? ?pierced? ?by? ?all? ?

sorts? ?of? ?weapons? ?all? ?over? ?his? ?body.? ?At? ?the? ?end,? ?he? ?carried? ?a? ?number? ?of? ?mangled? ?

‘corpses’? ?with? ?white? ?bandages? ?around? ?their? ?throats? ?and? ?lowered? ?his? ?head,? ?unmoving.? ?It? ?

was? ?an? ?ending? ?where? ?all? ?perished? ?together.? ?As? ?one? ?troupe? ?went? ?past,? ?another? ?troupe? ?

followed? ?and? ?continued? ?to? ?perform,? ?and? ?the? ?parade? ?cycled? ?around? ?thus.? ? ?

“Have? ?you? ?all? ?figured? ?out? ?what? ?the? ?story? ?was? ?about?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?knitted? ?his? ?brows? ?and? ?said,? ?“No.? ?I? ?don’t? ?think? ?I? ?understand.? ?He’s? ?doing? ?

nothing? ?but? ?killing? ?people.”? ? ?

Next? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said? ?lazily,? ?“Seems? ?it’s? ?not? ?a? ?widely? ?known? ?story.? ?Ask? ?a? ?

local? ?and? ?see? ?if? ?it’s? ?someone? ?of? ?renown? ?from? ?around? ?here.”? ? ?

Coincidentally,? ?that? ?waiter? ?came? ?by? ?again? ?to? ?bring? ?their? ?orders? ?and? ?inquired,? ?“Honoured? ?

guests,? ?how’s? ?the? ?show?? ?Is? ?it? ?exciting?”? ?

“It’s? ?good.? ?Very? ?exciting.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?responded,? ?“May? ?I? ?ask,? ?who? ?is? ?the? ?character? ?this? ?

town’s? ?Bloody? ?Fire? ?Social? ?is? ?enacting?”? ? ?

Sure? ?enough,? ?that? ?waiter? ?said,? ?“Oh,? ?outsiders? ?usually? ?don’t? ?know? ?and? ?always? ?had? ?to? ?ask.? ?

The? ?Fire? ?Social? ?of? ?our? ?town? ?Fu? ?Gu? ?enacts? ?the? ?story? ?of? ?a? ?legendary? ?character.? ?This? ?was? ?

passed? ?down? ?through? ?word? ?of? ?mouth,? ?but? ?many? ?centuries? ?ago,? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?scholar? ?here? ?

named? ?He.”? ?

“This? ?He? ?Sheng,? ?although? ?his? ?family? ?was? ?very,? ?very? ?poor,? ?he? ?was? ?quite? ?the? ?man? ?of? ?

talents.? ?He? ?was? ?scarily? ?intelligent? ?since? ?his? ?youth,? ?and? ?picked? ?things? ?up? ?fast? ?and? ?precise.? ?

He? ?was? ?also? ?known? ?everywhere? ?as? ?a? ?good? ?son;? ?there’s? ?really? ?nothing? ?bad? ?to? ?say? ?about? ?

the? ?guy.? ?Unfortunately? ?for? ?him,? ?he’s? ?just? ?very? ?unlucky,? ?and? ?nothing? ?good? ?ever? ?lasts.”? ?

“He? ?studied? ?hard? ?and? ?took? ?national? ?exams,? ?and? ?even? ?though? ?he? ?clearly? ?did? ?well,? ?the? ?best? ?

of? ?them? ?all,? ?because? ?he? ?didn’t? ?pay? ?up? ?a? ?greeting? ?gift? ?to? ?the? ?examiner,? ?he? ?offended? ?the? ?

officials? ?and? ?they? ?hid? ?his? ?test? ?scrolls,? ?exchanging? ?them? ?for? ?blank? ?ones,? ?and? ?for? ?years? ?he? ?

couldn’t? ?land? ?a? ?rank.? ?He? ?got? ?engaged,? ?his? ?fiancee? ?was? ?a? ?childhood? ?friend,? ?beautiful? ?like? ?

flowers,? ?kind? ?and? ?compassionate,? ?but? ?both? ?his? ?wife? ?and? ?little? ?sister? ?were? ?kidnapped? ?by? ?a? ?

wealthy? ?household? ?who? ?turned? ?them? ?into? ?bed? ?attendants;? ?one? ?wouldn’t? ?obey? ?and? ?was? ?

beaten? ?to? ?death,? ?the? ?other? ?couldn’t? ?bear? ?the? ?shame? ?and? ?committed? ?suicide.? ?He? ?went? ?to? ?

quarrel? ?but? ?the? ?other? ?turned? ?around? ?and? ?accused? ?him? ?of? ?committing? ?adultery? ?instead.? ?He? ?

was? ?locked? ?up? ?in? ?jail? ?and? ?almost? ?died? ?from? ?starvation.? ?His? ?old? ?ma? ?and? ?pa? ?of? ?seventy? ?

years? ?begged? ?for? ?mercy? ?for? ?him,? ?kowtowed? ?their? ?heads? ?an? ?entire? ?night,? ?but? ?no? ?use.? ?He? ?

was? ?jailed? ?for? ?two? ?years? ?before? ?he? ?was? ?released.? ?His? ?mom? ?had? ?no? ?one? ?to? ?take? ?care? ?of? ?

her? ?and? ?was? ?long? ?dead? ?from? ?illness,? ?and? ?his? ?dad? ?had? ?to? ?labour? ?for? ?the? ?family? ?by? ?himself? ?

and? ?had? ?only? ?but? ?a? ?breath? ?left.? ?He? ?couldn’t? ?study? ?anymore? ?and? ?got? ?into? ?business,? ?but? ?

because? ?he? ?was? ?too? ?good? ?at? ?it,? ?the? ?other? ?merchants? ?ganged? ?up? ?on? ?him? ?to? ?suppress? ?him.? ?

All? ?the? ?money? ?he? ?made? ?was? ?cleaned? ?away? ?and? ?instead? ?he? ?owed? ?an? ?entire? ?string? ?of? ?

debt.”? ? ?

“...”? ?

“So? ?what? ?do? ?y’all? ?think?”? ?That? ?waiter? ?sighed,? ?“How? ?can? ?anyone? ?be? ?so? ?unlucky?”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?cleared? ?his? ?throat? ?quietly? ?and? ?said? ?earnestly,? ?“Yea.”? ? ?

How? ?can? ?anyone? ?be? ?so? ?unlucky? ?other? ?than? ?him!? ?

After? ?having? ?lamented,? ?that? ?waiter’s? ?face? ?changed,? ?looking? ?cheery? ?and? ?alive,? ?“And? ?then? ?

that? ?man? ?went? ?crazy,? ?going? ?completely? ?mad.? ?One? ?night,? ?the? ?day? ?before? ?the? ?last? ?day? ?of? ?

Autumn? ?just? ?like? ?today,? ?he? ?took? ?up? ?a? ?bunch? ?of? ?weapons? ?and? ?butchered? ?everyone? ?who? ?

hurt? ?him!? ?It? ?was? ?a? ?bloody? ?sight,? ?flesh? ?and? ?gore? ?flying? ?all? ?over,? ?extremely? ?satisfying!? ?Since? ?

all? ?those? ?he? ?killed? ?bullied? ?all? ?the? ?people? ?in? ?town? ?for? ?ages,? ?everyone? ?cheered? ?for? ?him.? ?So? ?

that’s? ?why,? ?every? ?year? ?on? ?the? ?day? ?before? ?the? ?last? ?day? ?of? ?Autumn,? ?the? ?town? ?would? ?

commemorate? ?him? ?with? ?a? ?Bloody? ?Fire? ?Social,? ?pray? ?Lord? ?He? ?Sheng? ?would? ?watch? ?over? ?us? ?

and? ?kill? ?all? ?the? ?villains.”? ?

Although? ?it? ?was? ?supposed? ?to? ?be? ?the? ?defeat? ?of? ?evil? ?and? ?the? ?proclamation? ?of? ?good,? ?it? ?

seemed? ?like? ?neither? ?ended? ?well.? ?That? ?waiter? ?went? ?away? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?saw? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?

had? ?on? ?a? ?face? ?of? ?contemplation? ?so? ?he? ?asked,? ?“Lord? ?Wind? ?Master,? ?do? ?you? ?have? ?any? ?

thoughts?”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?snapped? ?out? ?of? ?it? ?and? ?said,? ?“I’m? ?having? ?some? ?baffling? ?thoughts,? ?but...? ?it’s? ?

too? ?confusing? ?so? ?I? ?can’t? ?put? ?my? ?finger? ?on? ?it.? ?What? ?about? ?you,? ?Your? ?Highness?”? ? ?

“I’m? ?thinking,? ?could? ?the? ?Reverend? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?be? ?this? ?He? ?Sheng? ?in? ?its? ?past? ?life?”? ? ?

In? ?between? ?their? ?exchanges? ?the? ?next? ?troupe? ?had? ?started? ?performing? ?the? ?same? ?story? ?

again? ?and? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?looked? ?over,? ?“His? ?past? ?life?”? ?

“That’s? ?right.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“Monsters? ?that? ?are? ?similar? ?to? ?humans? ?are? ?usually? ?born? ?from? ?

the? ?extreme? ?grudge? ?or? ?obsession? ?of? ?some? ?person.? ?For? ?example,? ?I? ?hear? ?there’s? ?a? ?

monster? ?in? ?Dongying? ?called? ?‘The? ?Bridge? ?Princess”,? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?formed? ?by? ?the? ?grudge? ?of? ?

women.? ?They? ?say? ?it? ?was? ?from? ?the? ?grief? ?of? ?women? ?who? ?waited? ?for? ?husbands? ?that? ?never? ?

returned,? ?and? ?others? ?say? ?it? ?was? ?the? ?madness? ?of? ?jealousy.? ?If,? ?the? ?Reverend? ?of? ?Empty? ?

Words? ?came? ?from? ?the? ?misfortune? ?of? ?someone,? ?it’s? ?not? ?impossible? ?to? ?say? ?it? ?was? ?formed? ?by? ?

that? ?person’s? ?jealousy? ?of? ?another’s? ?fortune? ?or? ?the? ?hatred? ?of? ?his? ?fate?”? ? ?

“Check? ?for? ?landmarks.? ?Match? ?the? ?timeline.”? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?said.? ?

“Right.? ?This? ?needs? ?to? ?be? ?verified.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?

To? ?find? ?out? ?if? ?this? ?theory? ?stood,? ?they? ?must? ?investigate? ?how? ?many? ?hundreds? ?of? ?years? ?ago? ?

this? ?“He? ?Sheng”? ?character? ?appeared.? ?If? ?his? ?appearance? ?was? ?later? ?than? ?the? ?earliest? ?record? ?

of? ?the? ?Reverend? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?than? ?this? ?theory? ?would? ?not? ?hold.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?nodded,? ?

pondered,? ?but? ?still? ?said,? ?“And? ?another? ?thing...”? ?

Just? ?then,? ?a? ?booming? ?voice? ?suddenly? ?came? ?from? ?below,? ?laughing? ?heartily,? ?“JUST? ?WAIT!? ?

YOUR? ?CLOSEST? ?FAMILY,? ?YOUR? ?BESTEST? ?FRIEND,? ?THEY? ?WILL? ?ALL? ?DIE? ?

TRAGICALLY? ?BECAUSE? ?OF? ?YOU!”? ? ?

Hearing? ?this,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan’s? ?face? ?immediately? ?changed.? ?He? ?slapped? ?down? ?on? ?the? ?table? ?

with? ?his? ?left? ?hand? ?and? ?leapt? ?down? ?the? ?restaurant,? ?light? ?as? ?a? ?feather.? ?

That? ?voice? ?had? ?come? ?from? ?the? ?parading? ?troupes!? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?yelled? ?from? ?atop? ?the? ?building,? ?“LORD? ?WIND? ?MASTER!? ?COME? ?BACK!”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?landed? ?in? ?that? ?crowd? ?of? ?bloody,? ?live? ?dead? ?people? ?and? ?raged,? ?“COME? ?THE? ?

HELL? ?OUT!? ?COME? ?OUT!!!”? ? ?

However,? ?those? ?performers? ?all? ?bore? ?wooden? ?expressions;? ?no? ?one? ?cared? ?for? ?him,? ?and? ?

they? ?continued? ?to? ?march? ?like? ?they? ?were? ?in? ?a? ?dream? ?state.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?getting? ?

pushed? ?around? ?all? ?over? ?by? ?the? ?flowing? ?crowd,? ?and? ?couldn’t? ?figure? ?out? ?just? ?who? ?looked? ?

fishier;? ?this? ?one? ?looked? ?suspicious,? ?and? ?he’d? ?whip? ?out? ?his? ?Wind? ?Master? ?fan? ?to? ?knock? ?at? ?

them,? ?but? ?then? ?another? ?over? ?there? ?would? ?look? ?more? ?suspicious.? ?If? ?he? ?hit? ?wrong,? ?then? ?it’d? ?

be? ?a? ?life? ?on? ?his? ?hands.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?pushed? ?the? ?veggies? ?he? ?hadn’t? ?touched? ?on? ?his? ?plate? ?

into? ?a? ?smiley? ?face,? ?never? ?having? ?looked? ?up? ?once,? ?“It’s? ?useless.? ?It’s? ?too? ?easy? ?for? ?a? ?

thousand-year? ?old? ?monster? ?to? ?hide? ?its? ?foxtails.”? ? ?

Amidst? ?such? ?a? ?freakish? ?parade,? ?it? ?was? ?too? ?easy? ?for? ?anything? ?unhuman? ?to? ?infiltrate.? ?

Besides,? ?the? ?Venerables? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?already? ?took? ?on? ?the? ?forms? ?of? ?humans,? ?

nevermind? ?the? ?Reverend? ?who? ?was? ?the? ?strongest? ?among? ?them? ?all?? ?

A? ?moment? ?later,? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?jumped? ?down? ?too? ?and? ?pulled? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?out.? ?The? ?group? ?of? ?

them? ?left? ?the? ?main? ?street,? ?walking? ?towards? ?that? ?Temple? ?of? ?Wind? ?and? ?Water.? ?Shi? ?

Qingxuan’s? ?hand? ?that? ?gripped? ?his? ?Wind? ?Master? ?fan? ?was? ?still? ?trembling,? ?but? ?rather? ?than? ?

from? ?fear? ?like? ?earlier,? ?it? ?was? ?more? ?from? ?anger.? ?A? ?small? ?pot? ?of? ?wine? ?from? ?the? ?restaurant? ?

hung? ?from? ?his? ?hand,? ?and? ?after? ?walking? ?for? ?a? ?while,? ?he? ?took? ?a? ?long? ?drink? ?from? ?the? ?pot? ?

before? ?the? ?seething? ?redness? ?of? ?his? ?eyes? ?faded? ?away.? ?“Ming-xiong,? ?maybe? ?you? ?shouldn’t? ?

be? ?my? ?best? ?friend? ?for? ?the? ?time? ?being.? ?Wait? ?til? ?I’ve? ?killed? ?that? ?thing? ?first!”? ? ?

Ming? ?Yi? ?however,? ?instantly? ?said? ?without? ?holding? ?back,? ?“Who’s? ?that.? ?I’ve? ?never? ?been.”? ? ?

“...”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?outraged,? ?“MING-XIONG? ?THAT’S? ?TOO? ?MUCH.? ?CAN? ?YOU? ?NOT? ?

TURN? ?YOUR? ?BACK? ?ON? ?PEOPLE? ?SO? ?FAST? ?WHEN? ?THINGS? ?GET? ?TOUGH???”? ?

The? ?two? ?of? ?them? ?were? ?bickering? ?and? ?noisy,? ?and? ?Xie? ?LIan? ?shook? ?his? ?head,? ?bringing? ?out? ?

two? ?little? ?objects? ?from? ?his? ?sleeve,? ?“Here,? ?Lord? ?Wind? ?Master? ?I? ?think? ?you? ?best? ?use? ?these? ?

after? ?all.”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?took? ?the? ?objects,? ?“Ear? ?plugs?”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?nodded,? ?“The? ?idea? ?might? ?be? ?a? ?little? ?dumb? ?and? ?it? ?doesn’t? ?help? ?the? ?root? ?problem,? ?

but? ?it? ?still? ?works? ?for? ?the? ?time? ?being.? ?As? ?long? ?as? ?you? ?can’t? ?hear,? ?that? ?creature? ?can’t? ?do? ?

anything? ?to? ?you.? ?I? ?casted? ?an? ?array,? ?the? ?verbal? ?password? ?is? ?“By? ?Heaven? ?Official’s? ?

Blessings,? ?No? ?Paths? ?are? ?Bound”.? ?Let’s? ?just? ?talk? ?in? ?the? ?array? ?if? ?we? ?need? ?to? ?talk? ?to? ?you.”? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?plugged? ?his? ?ears? ?and? ?sure? ?enough,? ?he? ?could? ?hear? ?nothing? ?after,? ?and? ?the? ?

four? ?entered? ?the? ?array? ?one? ?after? ?the? ?other.? ?Just? ?then,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?suddenly? ?heard? ?Hua? ?

Cheng’s? ?voice? ?floating? ?next? ?to? ?his? ?ears,? ?“Gege,? ?gege.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?over? ?and? ?saw? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?was? ?blinking? ?at? ?him.? ?His? ?lips? ?weren’t? ?moving? ?

but? ?his? ?voice? ?was? ?still? ?resounding? ?next? ?to? ?his? ?ears,? ?“Didn’t? ?you? ?say? ?you? ?wanted? ?to? ?talk? ?to? ?

me?? ?You? ?won’t? ?come? ?to? ?me,? ?so? ?I’m? ?reaching? ?out? ?to? ?you.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?smiled? ?and? ?replied,? ?“Well,? ?you’re? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?set? ?your? ?password? ?to? ?something? ?

like? ?that.”? ? ?

“Fine,? ?fine.? ?My? ?bad.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said.? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?adjusted? ?the? ?ear? ?plugs? ?and? ?saw? ?the? ?two? ?of? ?them? ?were? ?looking? ?at? ?each? ?

other? ?smiling? ?without? ?saying? ?a? ?word,? ?and? ?asked? ?in? ?the? ?communication? ?array,? ?puzzled,? ?

“Your? ?Highness,? ?Crimson? ?Rain? ?Sought? ?Flower,? ?what? ?are? ?the? ?two? ?of? ?you? ?doing?? ?Did? ?you? ?

exchange? ?verbal? ?passwords?? ?And? ?now? ?you’re? ?exchanging? ?secrets?”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?cleared? ?his? ?throat? ?and? ?said? ?in? ?the? ?communication? ?array? ?with? ?a? ?serious? ?voice,? ?

“Nothing? ?of? ?the? ?sort.”? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?raised? ?his? ?brows? ?slightly? ?and? ?passed? ?another? ?message,? ?“You? ?liar.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian’s? ?slipped? ?in? ?his? ?step.? ?

Looking? ?only? ?straight? ?ahead? ?as? ?he? ?walked? ?pretending? ?to? ?be? ?serious,? ?he? ?replied,? ?“San? ?

Lang,? ?stop? ?teasing? ?me...? ?I? ?need? ?your? ?help? ?with? ?something.”? ? ?

The? ?two? ?of? ?them? ?walked? ?side? ?by? ?side,? ?not? ?looking? ?at? ?each? ?other,? ?and? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?asked,? ?

“What? ?is? ?it?”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?replied,? ?“Work? ?with? ?me? ?to? ?test? ?and? ?see? ?if? ?someone? ?is? ?the? ?Reverend? ?of? ?Empty? ?

Words.”? ?

————-? ?

Ch.108:? ?In? ?the? ?Temple? ?of? ?Wind? ?and? ?Water;? ?Night? ?Chatter? ?to? ?Discern? ?Truth? ?

Hearing? ?this,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?his? ?eyes? ?fell? ?on? ?the? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?and? ?

Ming? ?Yi? ?who? ?were? ?strangling? ?each? ?other? ?behind? ?them,? ?and? ?he? ?signaled,? ?“Him?”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?nodded.? ?

“How? ?do? ?you? ?want? ?to? ?test? ?it?”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?asked.? ?

“Many? ?years? ?ago? ?I? ?went? ?up? ?against? ?two? ?Venerables? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words,? ?and? ?even? ?had? ?one? ?

cling? ?on? ?to? ?me? ?for? ?over? ?half? ?a? ?year.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied,? ?“During? ?those? ?times,? ?I’ve? ?tried? ?to? ?

trap? ?their? ?words? ?and? ?discovered? ?one? ?of? ?their? ?unique? ?traits.? ?They? ?themselves? ?didn’t? ?realize? ?

they? ?have? ?such? ?a? ?trait,? ?so? ?with? ?just? ?a? ?little? ?push,? ?they’ll? ?be? ?easily? ?identified.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?then? ?

passed? ?on? ?the? ?secret.? ?Once? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?heard,? ?he? ?said,? ?“That’s? ?easy.? ?Let’s? ?do? ?it? ?this? ?

way.”? ?

The? ?two? ?finished? ?their? ?discussion? ?and? ?coincidentally? ?they? ?arrived? ?back? ?at? ?that? ?broken? ?

Temple? ?of? ?Wind? ?and? ?Water.? ?It? ?was? ?slightly? ?chilly? ?in? ?the? ?autumn? ?air,? ?the? ?skies? ?were? ?

dimmed.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?searched? ?all? ?over? ?for? ?the? ?head? ?of? ?his? ?brother’s? ?divine? ?statue? ?and? ?

glued? ?it? ?back? ?on,? ?righting? ?the? ?two? ?statues,? ?and? ?placed? ?them? ?in? ?their? ?proper? ?place? ?on? ?the? ?

altar? ?anew.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?started? ?a? ?small? ?fire? ?inside? ?the? ?temple? ?using? ?rotten? ?logs? ?he? ?picked? ?up? ?

from? ?around,? ?and? ?the? ?four? ?sat? ?around? ?the? ?fire.? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?had? ?his? ?ears? ?plugged? ?and? ?petulantly? ?drank? ?a? ?few? ?swigs? ?but? ?finally? ?couldn’t? ?

sit? ?still? ?anymore,? ?“We? ?can’t? ?possibly? ?just? ?sit? ?around? ?to? ?wait? ?for? ?that? ?thing?? ?Is? ?there? ?

anything? ?we? ?can? ?do? ?for? ?entertainment?”? ?

He? ?brought? ?it? ?up? ?first? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?just? ?as? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?wanted.? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?poked? ?at? ?the? ?fire? ?

and? ?said,? ?“You? ?can? ?still? ?think? ?of? ?entertainment? ?at? ?a? ?time? ?like? ?this?”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?spat,? ?“It’s? ?necessary!? ?That? ?thing? ?wants? ?me? ?scared?? ?This? ?ancestor? ?ain’t? ?

scared!? ?This? ?Wind? ?Master? ?will? ?play? ?as? ?happily? ?as? ?he? ?will,? ?happier? ?than? ?ever? ?before.? ?It’ll? ?be? ?

like? ?new? ?years!? ?I? ?hope? ?it? ?dies? ?from? ?anger.”? ?

In? ?the? ?communication? ?array,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?suggested,? ?“How? ?about? ?let’s? ?roll? ?some? ?dice?”? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?pulled? ?a? ?long? ?face,? ?“Dice? ?again?? ?Betting? ?over? ?big? ?and? ?small? ?rolls? ?again?? ?

Your? ?Highness? ?are? ?you? ?perhaps? ?addicted?”? ? ?

“What?? ?No...”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?

“Nevermind.? ?There’s? ?nothing? ?else? ?around? ?anyway.? ?Dice? ?it? ?is.? ?But? ?there’s? ?four? ?of? ?us? ?here,? ?

won’t? ?things? ?get? ?a? ?little? ?confusing?”? ? ?

“It? ?won’t.? ?Here.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?

He? ?opened? ?his? ?palm? ?and? ?revealed? ?two? ?crafty? ?little? ?dice.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?explained,? ?“The? ?four? ?of? ?

us? ?can? ?form? ?two? ?teams.? ?San? ?Lang? ?and? ?I? ?will? ?be? ?one? ?team,? ?my? ?lords? ?can? ?be? ?another? ?team,? ?

and? ?we’ll? ?compete? ?to? ?see? ?who? ?has? ?the? ?better? ?luck.? ?Two? ?dice.? ?Each? ?team? ?gets? ?one? ?turn,? ?

each? ?person? ?rolls? ?once,? ?and? ?add? ?up? ?the? ?rolls? ?of? ?that? ?turn.? ?If? ?the? ?roll? ?is? ?big,? ?that? ?team? ?wins,? ?

and? ?can? ?ask? ?any? ?question? ?of? ?the? ?losing? ?team? ?that? ?they? ?must? ?answer,? ?or? ?have? ?them? ?do? ?

something.”? ?

“I? ?have? ?a? ?question.”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?said.? ?

“Please? ?ask.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied,? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?tapped? ?his? ?foot,? ?“Why? ?are? ?the? ?two? ?of? ?you? ?so? ?naturally? ?a? ?team?? ?Did? ?you? ?

take? ?our? ?feelings? ?into? ?consideration? ?when? ?you? ?divided? ?the? ?teams?”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?cleared? ?his? ?throat? ?softly,? ?“Um,? ?well,? ?if? ?you? ?want? ?to? ?switch? ?up? ?the? ?teams? ?that’s? ?fine? ?

too.? ?It? ?makes? ?no? ?difference.”? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?stuffed? ?his? ?whisk? ?into? ?the? ?back? ?collar? ?of? ?his? ?outer? ?robe? ?and? ?said,? ?

“Whatever.? ?I? ?don’t? ?have? ?any? ?complaints? ?about? ?it? ?anyway,? ?but? ?Crimson? ?Rain? ?Sought? ?

Flower? ?has? ?such? ?good? ?luck,? ?wouldn’t? ?we? ?be? ?at? ?a? ?disadvantage?”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?smiled? ?cheerfully? ?at? ?him,? ?“That’s? ?not? ?entirely? ?true.? ?Our? ?team’s? ?San? ?Lang? ?might? ?

be? ?extremely? ?lucky,? ?but? ?my? ?luck? ?is? ?extremely? ?bad.? ?With? ?the? ?two? ?combined,? ?one? ?good? ?one? ?

bad,? ?don’t? ?we? ?cancel? ?each? ?other? ?out?”? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?gave? ?it? ?a? ?thought? ?and? ?it? ?did? ?make? ?sense,? ?so? ?he? ?smacked? ?his? ?thigh? ?and? ?

shouted,? ?“GOOD!? ?Then? ?let’s? ?have? ?at? ?it!”? ?Then? ?he? ?elbowed? ?Ming? ?Yi,? ?“Ming-xiong,? ?did? ?you? ?

hear? ?the? ?rules?? ?Don’t? ?drag? ?me? ?down,? ?alright?”? ?

Ming? ?Yi? ?gave? ?him? ?a? ?look,? ?and? ?within? ?the? ?spiritual? ?communication? ?array? ?came? ?his? ?cold? ?

voice,? ?“Forgive? ?me? ?but? ?I’m? ?not? ?playing.”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?hastily? ?dragged? ?him? ?back,? ?“It-It-It’s? ?ok? ?if? ?you? ?drag? ?me? ?down? ?too!? ?

Nevermind,? ?nevermind,? ?come? ?come? ?come!? ?Just? ?play.? ?Otherwise? ?it’s? ?too? ?sad? ?for? ?me? ?to? ?be? ?

in? ?a? ?team? ?all? ?by? ?myself!”? ? ?

Thus,? ?the? ?four? ?swore? ?to? ?a? ?simple? ?oath? ?of? ?following? ?the? ?rules? ?and? ?started? ?playing.? ?The? ?first? ?

round,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?rolled? ?out? ?a? ?‘five’,? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?rolled? ?out? ?a? ?‘four’;? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?rolled? ?out? ?

a? ?‘six’? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?rolled? ?out? ?a? ?‘one’.? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?overjoyed,? ?“HAHAHAHAHAHA!? ?YOUR? ?HIGHNESS? ?YOUR? ?LUCK? ?

REALLY? ?IS? ?BAD,? ??SO?? ?BAD!? ?HAHAHAHA....”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?rubbed? ?his? ?forehead? ?and? ?said? ?gently,? ?“Although? ?what? ?lord? ?Wind? ?Master? ?said? ?is? ?

the? ?truth,? ?but,? ?can? ?you? ?not? ?say? ?it? ?with? ?such? ?glee?”? ? ?

“Ahem!? ?Fine.? ?Then? ?what,? ?we? ?won.? ?This? ?Wind? ?Master? ?will? ?ask? ?the? ?two? ?of? ?you? ?to? ?do? ?

something.”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?said,? ?“Then,? ?Your? ?Highness,? ?Crimson? ?Rain? ?Sought? ?Flower!? ?I? ?

order? ?you? ?to? ?–? ?to? ?immediately? ?strip? ?each? ?other’s? ?clothing!”? ?

Xie? ?Lian:? ?“???”? ?

“Lord? ?Wind? ?Master???”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?alarmed.? ?

Ming? ?Yi? ?turned? ?around? ?looking? ?disgusted,? ?covering? ?his? ?face? ?as? ?if? ?he? ?didn’t? ?want? ?to? ?see? ?

such? ?a? ?repulsive? ?sight.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?cheered,? ?“Come? ?come? ?come,? ?don’t? ?be? ?a? ?sore? ?loser.? ?

An? ?esteemed? ?heavenly? ?official? ?and? ?an? ?esteemed? ?ghost? ?king,? ?you? ?won’t? ?bail,? ?right?? ?I’m? ?

sitting? ?in? ?place,? ?now,? ?please? ?start? ?your? ?show.”? ?

“...”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?to? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?and? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?flipped? ?open? ?his? ?arms,? ?mouthing? ?the? ?

words? ?“Gege,? ?it’s? ?not? ?my? ?fault.”? ?

Feeling? ?helpless,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?only? ?ask,? ?“How? ?much? ?do? ?we? ?strip?”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?only? ?playing? ?around? ?and? ?would? ?of? ?course? ?not? ?make? ?them? ?look? ?bad,? ?so? ?

he? ?laughed? ?with? ?his? ?legs? ?shaking,? ?“Just? ?one? ?layer? ?is? ?fine.? ?Keep? ?a? ?few? ?on? ?for? ?later,? ?

hehehehehe.”? ?

He? ?actually? ?wanted? ?to? ?continue...? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?hesitated? ?and? ?secretly? ?passed? ?his? ?voice,? ?“San? ?

Lang...”? ?

Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?face? ?showed? ?no? ?ripple? ?of? ?reaction? ?but? ?the? ?voice? ?next? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?ears? ?was? ?

comforting? ?him? ?earnestly,? ?“Don’t? ?worry.? ?Didn’t? ?we? ?agree? ?to? ?let? ?them? ?win? ?a? ?few? ?rounds?? ?

They’ll? ?lose? ?eventually.”? ?

That? ?was? ?indeed? ?something? ?they? ?agreed? ?upon,? ?only,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?not? ?expect? ?Shi? ?

Qingxuan? ?would? ?play? ?like? ?this,? ?and? ?felt? ?like? ?he? ?was? ?slapping? ?his? ?own? ?face.? ?He? ?reluctantly? ?

shuffled? ?over? ?to? ?untie? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?waistband,? ?painstakingly? ?helping? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?out? ?of? ?

his? ?black? ?outer? ?robe,? ?revealing? ?the? ?snow? ?white? ?inner? ?tunic? ?underneath.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?also? ?

helped? ?him? ?out? ?of? ?his? ?outer? ?robe? ?looking? ?at? ?ease,? ?his? ?hands? ?slow? ?and? ?gentle,? ?and? ?didn’t? ?

touch? ?any? ?part? ?of? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?body.? ?The? ?two? ?of? ?them? ?really? ?only? ?removed? ?their? ?outer? ?robes,? ?

nothing? ?extraordinary? ?and? ?nothing? ?unseemly,? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?still? ?felt? ?extremely? ?weirded? ?out.? ?

Assuming? ?a? ?proper? ?sitting? ?position,? ?he? ?stammered,? ?“A...? ?Again.”? ?

The? ?second? ?round,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?rolled? ?out? ?a? ?‘three’,? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?a? ?‘six’;? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?rolled? ?

out? ?a? ?‘six’? ?once? ?again,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?still? ?rolled? ?a? ?‘one’.? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?slammed? ?his? ?fist? ?on? ?the? ?ground? ?repeatedly,? ?laughing? ?out? ?loud,? ?and? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?looked? ?to? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?again,? ?the? ?two? ?of? ?them? ?still? ?connected? ?through? ?the? ?private? ?

communication? ?array,? ?“...San? ?Lang!”? ? ?

This? ?is? ?different? ?than? ?what? ?they? ?agreed? ?on!? ? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?apologized? ?profusely,? ?“Sorry? ?sorry,? ?I? ?forgot? ?just? ?now.? ?Don’t? ?be? ?mad,? ?gege.? ?It’s? ?

my? ?fault? ?this? ?time.”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?cheered? ?again,? ?rolling? ?up? ?his? ?sleeves,? ?“Alright,? ?this? ?round,? ?I? ?order? ?you? ?to...”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?hurriedly? ?cut? ?in,? ?“Stop!? ?Last? ?round? ?we? ?did? ?the? ?request? ?and? ?stripped.? ?This? ?round? ?

should? ?be? ?questions.”? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?laughed? ?heartily,? ?“Ask? ?questions?? ?That’s? ?fine? ?too.? ?Then? ?my? ?first? ?question:? ?

Crimson? ?Rain? ?Sought? ?Flower,? ?what’s? ?the? ?worst? ?suffering? ?in? ?the? ?world? ?to? ?you?”? ? ?

Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?smile? ?faded? ?away? ?and? ?a? ?brief? ?silence? ?settled? ?in? ?the? ?Temple? ?of? ?Wind? ?and? ?

Water.? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?added,? ?“Don’t? ?misunderstand,? ?I? ?don’t? ?mean? ?anything? ?by? ?it,? ?I’m? ?just? ?really? ?

curious.? ?To? ?make? ?it? ?as? ?a? ?ghost? ?king? ?like? ?Crimson? ?Rain? ?Sought? ?Flower,? ?is? ?there? ?really? ?

anything? ?left? ?in? ?this? ?world? ?that? ?can? ?make? ?you? ?suffer?? ?Maybe,? ?nothing? ?of? ?the? ?sort? ?exists?”? ? ?

“What? ?do? ?you? ?think?”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?asked? ?back.? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?pondered? ?and? ?guessed,? ?“The? ?City? ?of? ?Gu? ?at? ?Mount? ?Tong’lu?”? ? ?

There? ?were? ?indeed? ?many? ?who’d? ?come? ?with? ?that? ?answer? ?when? ?they? ?ponder? ?this? ?question.? ?

However,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?only? ?smiled? ?faintly,? ?“That’s? ?nothing? ?to? ?fear.”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?amazed,? ?“That’s? ?not? ?it?? ?Then? ?what? ?is? ?it?”? ? ?

Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?lips? ?curled? ?but? ?that? ?curve? ?soon? ?disappeared,? ?“I’ll? ?tell? ?you? ?what? ?it? ?is.”? ? ?

He? ?said? ?softly,? ?“To? ?watch? ?with? ?your? ?own? ?eyes? ?your? ?beloved? ?be? ?trampled? ?and? ?ridiculed? ?yet? ?

unable? ?to? ?do? ?anything.? ?That’s? ?the? ?worst? ?suffering? ?in? ?the? ?world.”? ? ?

Hearing? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?breathing? ?stopped? ?and? ?his? ?body? ?froze.? ?In? ?that? ?rundown? ?Temple? ?

of? ?Wind? ?and? ?Water,? ?not? ?a? ?single? ?soul? ?spoke.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?couldn’t? ?find? ?anything? ?to? ?say,? ?

and? ?only? ?squeezed? ?out? ?after? ?some? ?time,? ?“...Oh.”? ? ?

Ming? ?Yi’s? ?face? ?still? ?remained? ?cold? ?and? ?he? ?poked? ?at? ?the? ?fire.? ?“Continue.”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?scratched? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?waved? ?his? ?hand,? ?“I’m? ?done.? ?Ming-xiong,? ?you? ?ask? ?

something.”? ?

Thus,? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?looked? ?up? ?slightly,? ?staring? ?at? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?“Your? ?Highness.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?snapped? ?out? ?of? ?it? ?and? ?answered,? ?“Hm?”? ?

Ming? ?Yi? ?asked,? ?“What’s? ?the? ?biggest? ?regret? ?of? ?your? ?life?”? ?

Ming? ?Yi? ?was? ?usually? ?quiet? ?and? ?unspeaking,? ?but? ?the? ?moment? ?he? ?opened? ?his? ?mouth? ?it? ?was? ?

unexpectedly? ?a? ?question? ?of? ?such? ?weight,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?stunned? ?for? ?the? ?moment.? ?

Was? ?it? ?his? ?unheeding? ?of? ?advice? ?and? ?warning,? ?and? ?selfish? ?descent? ?to? ?the? ?lesser? ?realm?? ?

Was? ?it? ?his? ?hubris? ?in? ?thinking? ?himself? ?powerful? ?enough? ?to? ?create? ?rain? ?for? ?Yong’an?? ?Was? ?it? ?

his? ?wishful? ?thinking? ?he? ?could? ?save? ?Xianle?? ?Or? ?was? ?it? ?his? ?reluctance? ?in? ?killing? ?certain? ?

people?? ?

He? ?knew? ?it? ?was? ?none? ?of? ?that.? ?

It? ?was? ?a? ?moment? ?before? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?answered,? ?“My? ?second? ?ascension.”? ? ?

The? ?other? ?three? ?in? ?the? ?temple? ?all? ?looked? ?at? ?him,? ?unspeaking.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?spaced? ?out? ?for? ?a? ?

moment,? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?while? ?before? ?he? ?snapped? ?out? ?of? ?it? ?and? ?asked,? ?“What? ?is? ?it?? ?

Everyone,? ?I’ve? ?answered? ?the? ?question.”? ? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?said? ?quietly,? ?“It’s? ?nothing.? ?Let’s? ?continue.”? ?

The? ?third? ?round,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?rolled? ?a? ?‘two’,? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?a? ?‘two’;? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?rolled? ?a? ?‘six’? ?

and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?a? ?‘one’.? ? ?

Seeing? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?let? ?out? ?a? ?big,? ?big? ?sigh? ?of? ?relief.? ?

By? ?heaven? ?official’s? ?blessings,? ?they’ve? ?finally? ?won!? ?

It? ?was? ?finally? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan’s? ?team’s? ?turn? ?to? ?be? ?punished,? ?but? ?he? ?was? ?eager? ?and? ?thrilled,? ?

as? ?if? ?he? ?was? ?afraid? ?of? ?nothing,? ?“Come? ?at? ?me!? ?Hit? ?me? ?with? ?your? ?best? ?shot!”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?smiled,? ?“Then? ?I? ?will.? ?Lord? ?Earth? ?Master,? ?you? ?first.”? ? ?

He? ?turned? ?to? ?Ming? ?Yi,? ?“My? ?lord,? ?please? ?answer? ?the? ?questions? ?I’m? ?about? ?to? ?ask? ?properly,? ?

and? ?please? ?don’t? ?lie.”? ? ?

Ming? ?Yi? ?didn’t? ?say? ?anything? ?and? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?waved? ?his? ?hand,? ?“Don’t? ?worry.? ?Ming-xiong? ?

is? ?someone? ?who? ?doesn’t? ?even? ?know? ?how? ?to? ?lie.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?grinned,? ?“Very? ?well.? ?First? ?question:? ?Who? ?am? ?I?”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?taken? ?aback,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?what? ?kind? ?of? ?question? ?is? ?that?? ?Aren’t? ?

you,? ?you?? ?Who? ?else? ?can? ?you? ?be???”? ?

Hearing? ?this,? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?slowly? ?raised? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?looked? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?in? ?the? ?eyes,? ?then? ?he? ?

answered,? ?“The? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?of? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?Xianle,? ?Xie? ?Lian.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?nodded,? ?then? ?asked,? ?“The? ?second? ?question,? ?who’s? ?the? ?one? ?sitting? ?next? ?to? ?me?”? ?

After? ?a? ?pause,? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?answered,? ?“The? ?Lord? ?of? ?Ghost? ?City,? ?Crimson? ?Rain? ?Sought? ?

Flower.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?then? ?asked? ?again,? ?“Then,? ?the? ?last? ?question? ?–? ?who’s? ?the? ?one? ?sitting? ?next? ?to? ?you?”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?becoming? ?more? ?and? ?more? ?confused,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?what? ?are? ?you? ?

two? ?playing? ?at?? ?Who? ?am? ?I?? ?I’m? ?the? ?Wind? ?Master???”? ? ?

“Lord? ?Earth? ?Master,? ?please? ?answer.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?pressed.? ?

This? ?time,? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?didn’t? ?answer? ?as? ?fast.? ?

After? ?having? ?run? ?into? ?the? ?Venerables? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?many? ?times,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?discovered? ?a? ?

fascinating? ?trait? ?they? ?possess? ?and? ?that? ?was? ?this:? ?whenever? ?the? ?Venerables? ?of? ?Empty? ?

Words? ?speak,? ?out? ?of? ?three? ?sentences,? ?at? ?least? ?one? ?would? ?be? ?a? ?lie.? ?

This? ?unique? ?trait? ?was? ?akin? ?to? ?how? ?a? ?normal? ?human? ?being,? ?no? ?matter? ?how? ?healthy? ?or? ?

strong,? ?would? ?need? ?to? ?drink? ?water? ?in? ?the? ?span? ?of? ?three? ?days,? ?otherwise? ?they’d? ?die? ?from? ?

dehydration,? ?and? ?this? ?nature? ?could? ?not? ?be? ?changed? ?no? ?matter? ?how? ?powerful? ?one? ?was.? ?

The? ?Distance? ?Shortening? ?Array? ?was? ?drawn? ?by? ?Ming? ?Yi,? ?the? ?last? ?one? ?out? ?the? ?door? ?was? ?

also? ?Ming? ?Yi,? ?so? ?if? ?anyone? ?should? ?meddle,? ?he? ?had? ?the? ?most? ?chance.? ?Therefore,? ?of? ?course? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?would? ?suspect? ?him.? ?However,? ?at? ?the? ?time? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?obviously? ?

distraught,? ?so? ?if? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?voiced? ?his? ?suspicion,? ?it? ?would? ?no? ?doubt? ?only? ?make? ?Shi? ?

Qingxuan? ?even? ?more? ?distressed,? ?allowing? ?for? ?the? ?Reverend? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?to? ?suck? ?

more? ?negative? ?emotions? ?from? ?him,? ?turning? ?them? ?into? ?its? ?powers.? ?Thus,? ?at? ?that? ?time,? ?Xie? ?

Lian? ?immediately? ?found? ?another? ?possibility.? ?But,? ?in? ?reality,? ?he? ?had? ?never? ?given? ?up? ?on? ?the? ?

most? ?straightforward? ?possibility.? ?

Although? ?generally? ?speaking? ?the? ?Wind? ?Master? ?and? ?the? ?Earth? ?Master? ?shared? ?a? ?very? ?good? ?

relationship,? ?and? ?it’d? ?be? ?impossible? ?for? ?the? ?Wind? ?Master? ?not? ?to? ?notice? ?if? ?the? ?Reverend? ?of? ?

Empty? ?Words? ?was? ?pretending? ?to? ?be? ?the? ?Earth? ?Master.? ?However,? ?what? ?if? ?the? ?Reverend? ?of? ?

Empty? ?Words? ?really? ?did? ?surreptitiously? ?possess? ?Ming? ?Yi?? ? ?

Thus,? ?at? ?the? ?beginning? ?he? ?wanted? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?to? ?work? ?with? ?him? ?to? ?beat? ?around? ?the? ?bush? ?

and? ?trap? ?Ming? ?Yi’s? ?words.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?however,? ?suggested? ?that? ?since? ?they? ?never? ?really? ?

conversed,? ?if? ?he? ?should? ?be? ?the? ?one? ?to? ?trap? ?Ming? ?Yi’s? ?words? ?it’d? ?be? ?unnatural.? ?Why? ?not? ?

use? ?the? ?pretense? ?of? ?a? ?game? ?and? ?create? ?opportunities?? ?Let? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?himself? ?speak? ?then? ?

see? ?if? ?they? ?could? ?observe? ?and? ?find? ?anything? ?without? ?the? ?Wind? ?Master? ?and? ?the? ?Earth? ?

Master? ?noticing.? ?

Yet,? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?had? ?always? ?been? ?a? ?man? ?of? ?few? ?words,? ?and? ?even? ?in? ?a? ?fervent? ?atmosphere? ?

each? ?of? ?his? ?words? ?were? ?precious? ?like? ?gold.? ?Earlier? ?in? ?the? ?duration? ?of? ?the? ?game,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

paid? ?close? ?attention? ?to? ?everything? ?he? ?said? ?but? ?it? ?was? ?all? ?equivocal,? ?nothing? ?that? ?could? ?

determine? ?whether? ?if? ?he? ?was? ?lying.? ?In? ?the? ?end,? ?he? ?had? ?to? ?use? ?the? ?killing? ?hand? ?and? ?borrow? ?

Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?skill,? ?secretly? ?controlling? ?the? ?roll? ?of? ?dice? ?to? ?make? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?lose? ?intentionally.? ?

Then? ?with? ?the? ?three? ?sudden? ?questions,? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?would? ?have? ?no? ?choice? ?but? ?to? ?answer? ?on? ?

the? ?spot.? ?

Because? ?it? ?was? ?all? ?a? ?game,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?hadn’t? ?yet? ?realized? ?anything? ?and? ?thought? ?they? ?

were? ?still? ?joking? ?around,? ?and? ?thus? ?that? ?Reverend? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?couldn’t? ?take? ?the? ?

chance? ?to? ?sneak? ?in? ?and? ?suck? ?out? ?power.? ?However,? ?should? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?answer? ?wrong,? ?he’d? ?

show? ?himself? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?would? ?seize? ?him? ?immediately.? ?

A? ?creature? ?like? ?the? ?Venerable? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?would? ?lie? ?within? ?three? ?sentences.? ?Now,? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?asked? ?two? ?questions,? ?and? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?answered? ?both? ?correctly.? ?Which? ?meant,? ?if? ?

Ming? ?Yi? ?was? ?the? ?Reverend? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words,? ?he? ?would? ?no? ?doubt? ?answer? ?the? ?last? ?question? ?

with? ?a? ?lie.? ?

————-? ?

Ch.109:? ?In? ?the? ?Temple? ?of? ?Wind? ?and? ?Water;? ?Night? ?Chatter? ?to? ?Discern? ?Truth? ?2? ?

If? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?really? ?wanted? ?to? ?fudge? ?the? ?test,? ?he? ?could? ?very? ?well? ?answer? ?ambiguously? ?or? ?

pretend? ?to? ?joke.? ?However,? ?he? ?answered? ?the? ?first? ?two? ?questions? ?simply? ?and? ?succinctly? ?

without? ?any? ?tricks,? ?so? ?the? ?last? ?answer? ?should? ?also? ?be? ?the? ?same,? ?otherwise? ?it? ?would? ?be? ?out? ?

of? ?Ming? ?Yi’s? ?character? ?which? ?would? ?also? ?prove? ?that? ?he? ?wasn’t? ?normal.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?stared? ?at? ?each? ?other? ?calmly.? ?A? ?moment? ?later,? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?finally? ?spoke.? ?

He? ?used? ?a? ?tone? ?that? ?was? ?no? ?different? ?than? ?the? ?last? ?two? ?times? ?he? ?responded,? ?“One? ?of? ?the? ?

five? ?elemental? ?masters,? ?the? ?younger? ?brother? ?of? ?the? ?Water? ?Master? ?Wudu,? ?the? ?Wind? ?

Master? ?Qingxuan.”? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?shook? ?his? ?head,? ?“Sigh,? ?why? ?the? ?hell? ?didn’t? ?you? ?say? ?“My? ?best? ?friend”?”? ? ?

Ming? ?Yi? ?looked? ?at? ?him,? ?“Who’s? ?that?”? ? ?

Hearing? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?silently? ?blew? ?out? ?a? ?breath.? ? ?

As? ?aforementioned,? ?although? ?the? ?Reverend? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?was? ?called? ?‘Reverend’,? ?it? ?

wasn’t? ?a? ?real? ?man? ?of? ?cloth? ?with? ?any? ?holy? ?spirituality.? ?As? ?long? ?as? ?it? ?remained? ?classified? ?as? ?

ghosts? ?and? ?demons,? ?it? ?would? ?never? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?escape? ?from? ?the? ?unique? ?traits? ?of? ?their? ?

kind.? ?Three? ?sentences? ?had? ?been? ?fulfilled,? ?and? ?all? ?three? ?were? ?undoubtedly? ?true,? ?so? ?it? ?

seemed? ?there’s? ?nothing? ?amiss? ?with? ?Ming? ?Yi.? ?Except? ?unless? ?Shi? ?Wudu? ?and? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?

were? ?not? ?real? ?blood? ?brothers,? ?but? ?such? ?an? ?unbelievably? ?shocking? ?turn? ?of? ?events? ?shouldn’t? ?

be? ?possible.? ?

Unexpectedly,? ?before? ?he? ?fully? ?exhaled,? ?Ming? ?Yi’s? ?hand? ?suddenly? ?shot? ?out,? ?grabbing? ?

straight? ?for? ?his? ?throat!? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?both? ?moved? ?to? ?fend? ?off? ?that? ?hand? ?at? ?the? ?same? ?time,? ?three? ?

hands? ?fast? ?as? ?lightning,? ?so? ?intense? ?it? ?made? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?leap? ?to? ?his? ?feet,? ?

“MING-XIONG!? ?WHAT? ?ARE? ?YOU? ?DOING?”? ? ?

Ming? ?Yi? ?glared? ?at? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?intently,? ?speaking? ?with? ?a? ?dark? ?voice,? ?“You? ?asked? ?three? ?

questions,? ?but? ?in? ?the? ?last? ?round? ?I? ?only? ?asked? ?one.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?smiled,? ?“Lord? ?Earth? ?Master,? ?please? ?think? ?back? ?on? ?the? ?rules? ?carefully.? ?I? ?never? ?

said? ?you? ?could? ?only? ?ask? ?one? ?question? ?per? ?round.”? ?

“Very? ?well.”? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?said,? ?“Then? ?I’ll? ?add? ?to? ?my? ?question? ?now.? ?Who? ?are? ?you?”? ? ?

“Didn’t? ?you? ?already? ?answer? ?this? ?question? ?yourself? ?earlier?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.? ?

Ming? ?Yi? ?replied,? ?“Perhaps? ?I? ?answered? ?wrong.? ?Otherwise,? ?will? ?His? ?Highness? ?please? ?

explain? ?why? ?the? ?need? ?to? ?setup? ?this? ?game? ?so? ?suddenly,? ?and? ?why? ?ask? ?those? ?three? ?strange? ?

questions?? ?Lord? ?Ghost? ?King? ?is? ?skilled? ?in? ?the? ?art? ?of? ?manipulation,? ?but? ?to? ?use? ?it? ?on? ?petty? ?

entertainment? ?seems? ?to? ?be? ?overkill? ?and? ?unnecessary.”? ? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?laughed,? ?“Well,? ?now.? ?As? ?long? ?as? ?I? ?feel? ?like? ?it,? ?I’ll? ?use? ?it? ?however? ?I? ?will.”? ? ?

It? ?must? ?be? ?said? ?that? ?while? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?saw? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?as? ?suspicious,? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?

too? ?thought? ?them? ?equally? ?suspicious.? ?From? ?the? ?moment? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?suddenly? ?struck,? ?they? ?

had? ?spoken? ?through? ?their? ?lips,? ?and? ?stopped? ?using? ?the? ?communication? ?array.? ?Shi? ?

Qingxuan? ?didn’t? ?know? ?what? ?they? ?were? ?arguing? ?about? ?but? ?he? ?didn’t? ?dare? ?remove? ?his? ?ear? ?

plugs? ?rashly? ?either,? ?so? ?he? ?could? ?only? ?say,? ?“Stop? ?stop? ?stop,? ?I? ?order? ?you? ?all? ?to? ?stop? ?right? ?

now? ?and? ?tell? ?me? ?what? ?happened.? ?Otherwise...? ?OTHERWISE? ?I’M? ?GONNA? ?BUTT? ?IN? ?

TOO!”? ?Then? ?he? ?flashed? ?open? ?his? ?Wind? ?Master? ?fan.? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?however,? ?shoved? ?him? ?aside,? ?

“Move!? ?Stop? ?adding? ?to? ?the? ?trouble!”? ? ?

Just? ?then,? ?a? ?sudden? ?eerie? ?breeze? ?blew? ?past,? ?and? ?the? ?flames? ?of? ?the? ?small? ?campfire? ?the? ?

four? ?surrounded? ?quivered? ?with? ?the? ?eerie? ?wind,? ?dancing? ?wildly.? ?Silhouettes? ?and? ?shadows? ?

illuminated? ?by? ?the? ?flames? ?flickered? ?madly,? ?such? ?that? ?even? ?the? ?two? ?one? ?male? ?one? ?female? ?

divine? ?statues? ?on? ?the? ?altar? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?smiling? ?but? ?not,? ?crying? ?but? ?not,? ?exceedingly? ?

creepy.? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?then? ?dragged? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?up? ?and? ?said,? ?alarmed,? ?“Something’s? ?here.”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?first? ?shoved? ?by? ?him? ?head? ?first? ?to? ?the? ?ground? ?in? ?a? ?heap? ?and? ?now? ?was? ?

dragged? ?up? ?abruptly,? ?he? ?was? ?dizzy? ?and? ?seeing? ?stars,? ?“MING-XIONG!? ?CAN? ?YOU? ?

PLEASE? ?BE? ?NICER? ?TO? ?ME!!!!”? ? ?

“No? ?time.”? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?said.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?been? ?watching? ?and? ?staring? ?at? ?the? ?two? ?statues? ?and? ?suddenly? ?said,? ?“Look? ?at? ?

their? ?eyes!”? ? ?

The? ?four? ?looked? ?over? ?and? ?saw? ?on? ?the? ?smiling? ?faces? ?of? ?those? ?two? ?divine? ?statues? ?hung? ?four? ?

lines? ?of? ?blood.? ?From? ?the? ?eyes? ?of? ?those? ?clay? ?divine? ?statues? ?streamed? ?tears? ?of? ?blood.? ?

Divine? ?statues? ?that? ?had? ?been? ?blessed? ?in? ?ceremonies? ?and? ?worshipped? ?possessed? ?certain? ?

repelling? ?powers? ?against? ?evil.? ?Even? ?if? ?evil? ?wasn’t? ?warded? ?off? ?for? ?miles,? ?it? ?typically? ?still? ?

couldn’t? ?be? ?defiled? ?and? ?abused? ?by? ?non? ?humans.? ?That? ?Reverend? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?was? ?

certainly? ?powerful.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?still? ?here? ?and? ?it? ?made? ?the? ?statue? ?of? ?the? ?Wind? ?

Master? ?cry? ?blood? ?tears? ?before? ?the? ?Wind? ?Master? ?himself.? ?The? ?tears? ?of? ?blood? ?were? ?growing? ?

thicker? ?and? ?heavier,? ?dripping? ?to? ?the? ?ground? ?and? ?gathering? ?into? ?a? ?twisted,? ?complex? ?form.? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?bewildered,? ?“What’s? ?that? ?thing?? ?Is? ?it...? ?drawing?”? ? ?

He? ?couldn’t? ?make? ?out? ?just? ?what? ?shapes? ?it? ?was? ?forming? ?and? ?he? ?didn’t? ?go? ?closer,? ?only? ?

looking? ?at? ?it? ?from? ?different? ?angles? ?trying? ?to? ?figure? ?it? ?out.? ?Soon? ?after,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?suddenly? ?

snapped? ?out? ?of? ?it:? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?a? ?drawing,? ?it? ?was? ?an? ?upside? ?down? ?word!? ?

He? ?immediately? ?shouted,? ?“DON’T? ?LOOK!? ?IT’S? ?WRITTEN? ?FOR? ?YOU!”? ? ?

Ming? ?Yi? ?struck? ?out? ?a? ?palm? ?and? ??BOOM!?? ?Both? ?the? ?traces? ?of? ?blood? ?on? ?the? ?ground? ?and? ?the? ?

two? ?divine? ?statues? ?were? ?blasted? ?into? ?pieces.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?eyes? ?wide? ?with? ?shock,? ?

“Ming-xiong!? ?You...? ?you? ?you? ?you,? ?you? ?can’t? ?let? ?my? ?brother? ?know? ?about? ?this,? ?otherwise? ?

he’ll? ?never? ?forgive? ?you!”? ? ?

To? ?destroy? ?a? ?heavenly? ?official’s? ?divine? ?statue? ?was? ?to? ?be? ?extremely? ?disrespectful? ?of? ?said? ?

heavenly? ?official.? ?Yet? ?today,? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?first? ?cracked? ?the? ?establishment? ?plaque? ?into? ?two? ?then? ?

blasted? ?the? ?statues? ?into? ?pieces.? ?This? ?was? ?no? ?different? ?than? ?bashing? ?down? ?someone’s? ?

household? ?then? ?soundly? ?slapping? ?the? ?face? ?of? ?said? ?household’s? ?old? ?master.? ?If? ?this? ?went? ?

out? ?and? ?the? ?person? ?in? ?question? ?found? ?out,? ?they? ?wouldn’t? ?sit? ?back? ?and? ?do? ?nothing;? ?who? ?

knows? ?if? ?a? ?bloody? ?storm? ?would? ?rise? ?from? ?it.? ? ?

Just? ?then,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?inadvertently? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?suddenly? ?noticed? ?the? ?plaque? ?that? ?

they? ?broke? ?earlier? ?and? ?properly? ?set? ?aside? ?had? ?characters? ?that? ?weren’t? ?quite? ?right.? ?That? ?

establishment? ?plaque? ?had? ?a? ?blue? ?base? ?and? ?golden? ?letters? ?with? ?the? ?words? ?“Temple? ?of? ?

Wind? ?and? ?Water”,? ?but? ?now? ?the? ?words? ?had? ?turned? ?into? ?twisted,? ?bloody? ?red? ?shapes,? ?

seemingly? ?forming? ?the? ?word? ?“Death”.? ? ?

In? ?a? ?blink? ?of? ?a? ?second,? ?he? ?covered? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan’s? ?eyes? ?and? ?yelled? ?in? ?the? ?communication? ?

array,? ?“CLOSE? ?YOUR? ?EYES!”? ? ?

“WHAT? ?NOW?!”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?shouted? ?back.? ?

“Nothing.? ?But? ?the? ?words? ?on? ?the? ?establishment? ?plaque? ?of? ?your? ?temple? ?have? ?changed? ?too.? ?

That? ?creature? ?knows? ?you? ?can’t? ?hear? ?anymore? ?so? ?it’s? ?changed? ?to? ?writing.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

explained.? ?

“The? ?hell!”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?exclaimed,? ?“Now? ?I? ?can’t? ?hear? ?anything? ?nor? ?see? ?anything,? ?am? ?I? ?

not? ?both? ?deaf? ?and? ?blind?!”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?let? ?go? ?of? ?his? ?hands? ?and? ?said,? ?“Don’t? ?worry,? ?just? ?calm? ?down.? ?We’re? ?here? ?for? ?you.”? ?

Ming? ?Yi? ?grabbed? ?hold? ?of? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan’s? ?back? ?collar? ?and? ?dragged? ?him? ?aside.? ?Shi? ?

Qingxuan? ?still? ?had? ?his? ?eyes? ?closed? ?and? ?he? ?put? ?his? ?palms? ?together? ?as? ?in? ?a? ?prayer,? ?“So? ?

reassuring!”? ? ?

Just? ?as? ?the? ?words? ?left? ?his? ?mouth,? ?there? ?was? ?suddenly? ?a? ?huge? ?noisy? ?commotion? ?that? ?came? ?

from? ?just? ?outside? ?the? ?rundown? ?temple.? ?Black? ?blurs? ?crossed? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?eyes? ?and? ?the? ?next? ?

moment,? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?large? ?rowdy? ?crowd? ?of? ?people? ?howling? ?like? ?devils? ?and? ?they? ?poured? ?in? ?

like? ?blackened? ?tide.? ?

The? ?crowd? ?was? ?truly? ?full? ?of? ?bizarre? ?strangeness,? ?weird? ?forms? ?and? ?monstrous? ?shapes.? ?

Some? ?had? ?decapitated? ?heads,? ?some? ?were? ?hanged,? ?some? ?had? ?large? ?blades? ?piercing? ?their? ?

skulls,? ?some? ?had? ?their? ?abdomens? ?cut? ?open...? ?all? ?sorts.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?couldn’t? ?hear? ?and? ?

couldn’t? ?see,? ?but? ?instinctively? ?sensed? ?the? ?footsteps? ?all? ?around? ?were? ?disorderly? ?and? ?

chaotic,? ?and? ?in? ?the? ?ruckus? ?he? ?was? ?also? ?pushed? ?around? ?a? ?couple? ?times.? ?He? ?asked? ?in? ?the? ?

communication? ?array,? ?bewildered,? ?“What’s? ?going? ?on?? ?What’s? ?come?? ?Why? ?are? ?there? ?

suddenly? ?so? ?many? ?people???”? ? ?

“It’s? ?nothing? ?major,”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“It’s? ?the? ?night? ?parade? ?of? ?the? ?Bloody? ?Fire? ?Social.? ?Let’s? ?

just? ?get? ?out? ?of? ?here.”? ? ?

The? ?Bloody? ?Fire? ?Social? ?of? ?some? ?regions,? ?other? ?than? ?parades? ?in? ?the? ?day,? ?sometimes? ?there? ?

would? ?be? ?further? ?entertainment? ?in? ?the? ?night.? ?Not? ?only? ?did? ?the? ?parading? ?performers? ?want? ?

to? ?get? ?their? ?fill? ?of? ?scaring? ?people,? ?many? ?common? ?people? ?also? ?had? ?the? ?urge? ?to? ?do? ?the? ?

same,? ?thus,? ?they? ?would? ?imitate? ?the? ?eerie? ?makeup? ?of? ?the? ?Bloody? ?Fire? ?Social? ?and? ?use? ?the? ?

dark? ?of? ?night? ?to? ?come? ?out? ?and? ?scare? ?others.? ?Unfortunately? ?the? ?four? ?of? ?them? ?seemed? ?to? ?

have? ?run? ?into? ?such? ?a? ?group? ?of? ?night? ?cruisers.? ?

This? ?rowdy? ?crowd? ?of? ?ordinary? ?common? ?people? ?didn’t? ?have? ?the? ?same? ?realistic,? ?intricate? ?

makeup? ?as? ?the? ?parading? ?troupes,? ?but? ?they? ?were? ?nevertheless? ?formidable? ?due? ?to? ?sheer? ?

numbers,? ?and? ?was? ?quite? ?the? ?sight? ?to? ?behold.? ?Especially? ?with? ?the? ?dimmed? ?skies,? ?their? ?

appearances? ?were? ?exceedingly? ?ghastly.? ?Thus,? ?towns? ?that? ?had? ?such? ?after? ?hours? ?

entertainment,? ?on? ?the? ?night? ?of? ?Bloody? ?Fire? ?Social,? ?the? ?locals? ?would? ?all? ?lock? ?up? ?tightly,? ?

keeping? ?indoors.? ?Those? ?night? ?cruisers? ?had? ?been? ?wandering? ?about? ?for? ?some? ?time,? ?and? ?

when? ?they? ?finally? ?saw? ?there? ?were? ?people? ?inside? ?the? ?broken? ?shrine,? ?they? ?were? ?quite? ?

excited? ?as? ?if? ?they? ?spotted? ?prey,? ?and? ?in? ?an? ?instant? ?over? ?fifty? ?of? ?them? ?charged? ?in,? ?

overcrowding? ?that? ?small? ?temple.? ?

The? ?four? ?of? ?them? ?were? ?drowned? ?in? ?the? ?pandemonium;? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?kept? ?looking? ?back? ?but? ?

could? ?only? ?see? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?who? ?was? ?still? ?next? ?to? ?him,? ?never? ?more? ?than? ?two? ?steps? ?away,? ?

and? ?the? ?other? ?two? ?were? ?pushed? ?more? ?than? ?seven? ?to? ?eight? ?feet? ?away.? ?He? ?shouted,? ?

“Everyone,? ?let’s? ?get? ?out!”? ? ?

However,? ?among? ?the? ?night? ?cruisers,? ?some? ?were? ?purely? ?there? ?for? ?fun,? ?but? ?there? ?were? ?

others? ?who? ?were? ?shrewd? ?small? ?merchants,? ?there? ?specifically? ?to? ?scam? ?some? ?money? ?from? ?

tourists? ?who? ?had? ?come? ?from? ?afar? ?to? ?watch? ?the? ?Bloody? ?Fire? ?Social.? ?They? ?blocked? ?them,? ?

not? ?letting? ?them? ?leave,? ?clingy? ?and? ?tenacious? ?as? ?they? ?cajoled,? ?“Young? ?masters,? ?grant? ?us? ?

some? ?rewards!”? ? ?

“We? ?worked? ?so? ?hard? ?to? ?dress? ?up,? ?if? ?you? ?had? ?fun? ?then? ?grant? ?us? ?some? ?rewards!”? ? ?

“Yea,? ?it? ?ain’t? ?easy? ?for? ?us? ?either,? ?and? ?this? ?is? ?only? ?a? ?once? ?a? ?year? ?thing!”? ? ?

“If? ?you? ?don’t? ?reward? ?us? ?watch? ?out? ?for? ?the? ?Old? ?Ghost? ?Master? ?who’ll? ?come? ?haunt? ?you!”? ? ?

Since? ?this? ?whole? ?affair? ?had? ?nothing? ?to? ?do? ?with? ?him,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?only? ?watched? ?from? ?the? ?

side,? ?not? ?a? ?single? ?bit? ?anxious,? ?so? ?when? ?he? ?heard? ?he? ?only? ?laughed? ?out? ?loud,? ?“Well? ?now,? ?I? ?

like? ?to? ?see? ?what? ?kind? ?of? ?ghost? ?dare? ?come? ?knocking? ?on? ?my? ?door!”? ? ?

Just? ?then,? ?as? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?swept? ?a? ?look? ?at? ?the? ?crowd,? ?he? ?suddenly? ?saw? ?at? ?the? ?edge? ?a? ?pale? ?

faced? ?hanged? ?ghost? ?who? ?was? ?just? ?smiling? ?creepily? ?as? ?it? ?wrapped? ?a? ?rope? ?around? ?

someone’s? ?neck.? ?

Although? ?it? ?was? ?riotous? ?all? ?around? ?and? ?everyone? ?was? ?covered? ?in? ?blood,? ?their? ?faces? ?

askew,? ?endlessly? ?enacting? ?you? ?kill? ?me,? ?I? ?kill? ?you,? ?you’re? ?now? ?dead,? ?I’m? ?now? ?dead,? ?and? ?

oftentimes? ?there’d? ?be? ?someone? ?who’s? ?wail? ?and? ?fall,? ?hard? ?to? ?differentiate? ?the? ?real? ?from? ?the? ?

fake,? ?still? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?instincts? ?told? ?him? ?that? ?‘person’? ?wasn’t? ?right,? ?and? ?he? ?threw? ?out? ?his? ?

arm.? ?Ruoye? ?flew? ?out? ?and? ?struck? ?that? ?hanged? ?ghost? ?squarely? ?on? ?the? ?head.? ?

Sure? ?enough,? ?that? ?hanged? ?ghost? ?wailed? ?and? ?turned? ?into? ?a? ?wisp? ?of? ?black? ?smoke,? ?fleeing? ?

through? ?a? ?small? ?crack? ?in? ?the? ?ground.? ?No? ?one? ?around? ?noticed? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?saw? ?everything? ?

clearly.? ?He? ?warned? ?in? ?the? ?communication? ?array,? ?“Everyone? ?be? ?careful!? ?Something’s? ?here? ?

mixed? ?within!”? ? ?

Compared? ?to? ?earlier,? ?there? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?an? ?added? ?cloud? ?of? ?evil? ?within? ?the? ?Temple? ?of? ?

Wind? ?and? ?Water;? ?it? ?naturally? ?wouldn’t? ?be? ?the? ?Reverend? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?but? ?some? ?little? ?

minions? ?that? ?came? ?from? ?who? ?knows? ?where.? ?Having? ?enacted? ?ghosts? ?for? ?so? ?long,? ?there? ?

would? ?for? ?sure? ?be? ?a? ?day? ?real? ?ones? ?be? ?attracted.? ?To? ?have? ?them? ?show? ?up? ?right? ?now,? ?it? ?really? ?

was? ?adding? ?oil? ?to? ?fire.? ?There? ?really? ?was? ?too? ?many? ?people,? ?too? ?much? ?chaos? ?in? ?the? ?temple,? ?

heads? ?knocking? ?heads,? ?feet? ?stepping? ?on? ?feet,? ?too? ?difficult? ?to? ?determine? ?just? ?who? ?that? ?

essence? ?of? ?evil? ?came? ?from.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?grabbed? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?and? ?ran? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?Temple? ?of? ?

Wind? ?and? ?Water.? ?He? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?ask? ?after? ?the? ?others? ?but? ?found? ?he? ?didn’t? ?have? ?enough? ?

powers,? ?that? ?his? ?power? ?was? ?almost? ?depleted? ?and? ?couldn’t? ?enter? ?the? ?communication? ?

array.? ?In? ?that? ?moment? ?of? ?urgency? ?he? ?turned? ?to? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?lend? ?me? ?a? ?bit? ?of? ?

spiritual? ?power,? ?I’ll? ?pay? ?you? ?back? ?later!”? ? ?

Of? ?course,? ?his? ?“I’ll? ?pay? ?you? ?back? ?later”? ?was? ?nonsense.? ?He? ?had? ?never? ?been? ?able? ?to? ?pay? ?

back? ?any? ?powers? ?he? ?borrowed.? ?“Alright.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said,? ?then? ?extended? ?his? ?hand? ?to? ?

hold? ?Xie? ?Lian’s.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?faintly? ?feel? ?warmth? ?passing? ?over,? ?and? ?it? ?just? ?so? ?happened? ?

a? ?few? ?bloody? ?individuals? ?came? ?running? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?temple? ?straight? ?for? ?him.? ?The? ?last? ?one? ?

behind? ?who? ?was? ?dropping? ?innards? ?as? ?he? ?ran,? ?his? ?face? ?full? ?of? ?livor? ?mortis,? ?setting? ?off? ?a? ?

faint? ?essence? ?of? ?evil,? ?and? ?without? ?thinking,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?raised? ?his? ?hand? ?to? ?blast? ?a? ?shot? ?from? ?

his? ?palm.? ?

A? ?booming? ?sound? ?like? ?that? ?of? ?an? ?explosion? ?was? ?heard,? ?and? ?at? ?the? ?same? ?time,? ?a? ?blinding? ?

white? ?light? ?flashed.? ?It? ?was? ?only? ?after? ?a? ?good? ?moment? ?before? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?came? ?to.? ?

The? ?place? ?where? ?that? ?ghost? ?with? ?the? ?cut? ?belly? ?was? ?mixed? ?with? ?the? ?crowd? ?had? ?only? ?a? ?

mound? ?of? ?black? ?ash? ?like? ?residue.? ?As? ?for? ?the? ?Temple? ?of? ?Wind? ?and? ?Water? ?before? ?them,? ?the? ?

entire? ?rooftop? ?was? ?blown? ?away.? ?The? ?rioting? ?night? ?cruisers? ?in? ?the? ?temple? ?were? ?all? ?stilled,? ?

frozen? ?in? ?shock? ?from? ?that? ?booming? ?sound? ?and? ?that? ?white? ?light.? ?

“...”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?raised? ?his? ?head? ?to? ?look? ?at? ?that? ?Temple? ?of? ?Wind? ?and? ?Water? ?with? ?a? ?missing? ?roof? ?

then? ?looked? ?down? ?at? ?his? ?own? ?hand? ?before? ?finally? ?slowly? ?turning? ?his? ?head? ?back? ?around? ?to? ?

look? ?at? ?the? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?standing? ?behind? ?him.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?smiled? ?at? ?him,? ?“It? ?that? ?enough?”? ? ?

“...”? ?

“It? ?is.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“Actually...? ?really,? ?just? ?a? ?little? ?bit,? ?would’ve? ?been? ?fine.”? ? ?

“That? ?was? ?a? ?little? ?bit,”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said,? ?“Do? ?you? ?want? ?more?? ?You? ?can? ?have? ?as? ?much? ?as? ?

you? ?want.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?immediately? ?shook? ?his? ?head.? ?Before,? ?he? ?had? ?also? ?borrowed? ?spiritual? ?power? ?from? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan,? ?Nan? ?Feng,? ?and? ?others,? ?and? ?they? ?lent? ?very? ?generously.? ?However,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

had? ?never? ?experienced? ?such? ?a? ?feeling,? ?as? ?if? ?all? ?the? ?blood? ?in? ?his? ?veins? ?had? ?turned? ?into? ?

electricity? ?and? ?was? ?charging? ?through? ?his? ?body.? ?If? ?it’s? ?said? ?the? ?powers? ?he? ?borrowed? ?from? ?

before? ?had? ?to? ?be? ?economized? ?and? ?saved,? ?taking? ?one? ?bite? ?at? ?a? ?time? ?afraid? ?to? ?waste? ?it,? ?

then? ?now,? ?he? ?felt? ?like? ?he? ?could? ?eat? ?one? ?full? ?bowl? ?and? ?throw? ?away? ?ten? ?others? ?and? ?it? ?

wouldn’t? ?be? ?a? ?problem.? ?

The? ?powers? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?passed? ?onto? ?him? ?was? ?too? ?great,? ?filling? ?his? ?entire? ?body,? ?to? ?the? ?

point? ?where? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?almost? ?afraid? ?to? ?move,? ?scared? ?that? ?with? ?just? ?a? ?wave? ?of? ?his? ?

hand,? ?something? ?else? ?next? ?to? ?him? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?explode.? ?Using? ?the? ?temporary? ?calm? ?of? ?

their? ?surroundings,? ?he? ?hurriedly? ?entered? ?the? ?communication? ?array? ?and? ?asked,? ?“Lord? ?

Wind? ?Master,? ?where? ?are? ?you?? ?I’ve? ?left? ?the? ?temple? ?but? ?I? ?didn’t? ?see? ?you.”? ?

“Ugh,? ?my? ?god...”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?groaned? ?inside? ?the? ?communication? ?array,? ?“Your? ?Highness? ?

why? ?did? ?your? ?voice? ?suddenly? ?turn? ?so? ?loud?? ?I? ?left? ?the? ?Temple? ?of? ?Wind? ?and? ?Water? ?too.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?lowered? ?a? ?bit? ?of? ?the? ?power? ?and? ?replied,? ?“Sorry,? ?I’m? ?having? ?some? ?trouble? ?

controlling? ?it.? ?How? ?did? ?you? ?leave?? ?Are? ?you? ?alright?”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?had? ?his? ?ears? ?plugged? ?

and? ?eyes? ?closed? ?right? ?now.? ? ?

“Pff,? ?how? ?else? ?could? ?I? ?have? ?left?? ?Ming-xiong? ?pulled? ?me? ?out.? ?Thank? ?goodness? ?I? ?wasn’t? ?

trampled? ?to? ?death? ?by? ?that? ?crowd.”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?said.? ?

Soon? ?after,? ?Ming? ?Yi’s? ?voice? ?also? ?sounded? ?in? ?the? ?spiritual? ?communication? ?array.? ?However,? ?

his? ?words? ?froze? ?the? ?small? ?smile? ?that? ?only? ?just? ?surfaced? ?on? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?face.? ?“That’s? ?wasn’t? ?

me!”? ?He? ?said.? ?

It? ?wasn’t?!? ?

Oh? ?no!? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?whipped? ?his? ?head? ?around,? ?“LORD? ?WIND? ?MASTER!? ?JUST? ?WHO? ?WAS? ?IT? ?

THAT? ?PULLED? ?YOU? ?AWAY?!”? ?

———-? ?

Ch.110:? ?Fight? ?the? ?Reverend;? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?Takes? ?Wind? ?Master’s? ?Place? ?

However,? ?no? ?more? ?sounds? ?came? ?from? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?feeling? ?unsettled,? ?“Lord? ?Wind? ?Master,? ?what? ?happened? ?to? ?you?? ?Are? ?you? ?still? ?

here?? ?What’s? ?going? ?on?? ?Why? ?aren’t? ?you? ?saying? ?anything???”? ? ?

If? ?he? ?was? ?only? ?taken? ?away? ?by? ?rowdy? ?night? ?cruisers? ?who? ?were? ?only? ?seeking? ?a? ?bit? ?of? ?fun,? ?he? ?

wouldn’t? ?be? ?so? ?quiet? ?so? ?suddenly,? ?so? ?had? ?he? ?met? ?harm? ?already?? ?But? ?being? ?anxious? ?and? ?

distraught? ?was? ?useless,? ?since? ?he? ?didn’t? ?even? ?know? ?where? ?Wind? ?Master? ?was.? ?

The? ?crowd? ?finally? ?quieted? ?down? ?and? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?was? ?finally? ?able? ?to? ?push? ?out? ?from? ?the? ?Temple? ?

of? ?Wind? ?and? ?Water.? ?The? ?heavenly? ?realm? ?had? ?a? ?decree? ?to? ?never? ?use? ?spiritual? ?powers? ?

selfishly? ?on? ?mortals? ?nor? ?appear? ?before? ?them? ?at? ?will.? ?If? ?mortal? ?lives? ?were? ?harmed? ?or? ?taken,? ?

it? ?would? ?be? ?recorded? ?and? ?penalized.? ?That? ?decree? ?certainly? ?made? ?things? ?difficult? ?for? ?

law-abiding? ?heavenly? ?officials,? ?otherwise,? ?with? ?just? ?a? ?wave? ?of? ?their? ?hands,? ?those? ?people? ?

would? ?fly? ?away? ?like? ?that? ?roof.? ?The? ?crowd? ?finally? ?snapped? ?out? ?of? ?it? ?and? ?started? ?screaming? ?

wildly,? ?“IT,? ?IT’S? ?APPEARED!? ?IT? ?REALLY? ?APPEARED!”? ?“THE? ?MONSTERS? ?HAVE? ?

COME!”? ?And? ?the? ?crowd? ?broke? ?up? ?and? ?dispersed.? ?

“Lord? ?Earth? ?Master!”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked? ?anxiously,? ?“How? ?come? ?you? ?didn’t? ?hold? ?on? ?to? ?Lord? ?

Wind? ?Master? ?earlier?? ?Have? ?you? ?seen? ?him?? ?When? ?was? ?he? ?lost?”? ? ?

“There? ?were? ?ghosts? ?snuck? ?in? ?and? ?ambushing? ?people? ?in? ?the? ?crowd? ?earlier.”? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?

explained.? ?

It? ?seemed? ?that? ?he? ?saw? ?there? ?were? ?lives? ?on? ?the? ?line? ?and? ?split? ?his? ?attention? ?to? ?go? ?save? ?

them,? ?attacking? ?ghosts? ?but? ?lost? ?a? ?friend.? ? ?

“Let’s? ?split? ?up? ?and? ?search!”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“He? ?shouldn’t? ?have? ?gone? ?far.”? ? ?

Suddenly,? ?within? ?the? ?communication? ?array? ?came? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan’s? ?voice? ?anew.? ?He? ?was? ?

laughing? ?boisterously,? ?“HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA....”? ?

This? ?laughter? ?came? ?abruptly? ?and? ?at? ?least? ?there? ?was? ?finally? ?something,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

hurriedly? ?asked,? ?“Lord? ?Wind? ?Master!? ?What? ?happened? ?to? ?you? ?just? ?now,? ?why? ?did? ?you? ?

suddenly? ?stop? ?talking?? ?I? ?thought? ?something? ?happened? ?to? ?you.”? ?

“HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA? ?HOWCANANYTHINGHAPPEN? ?TO? ?THIS? ?WINDMASTER? ?I? ?

WASONLYTRYINGTOSCAREYOUALL? ?HAHAHAHAHAHA? ?MINGXIONGYOUBASTARD? ?

HOWDARE? ?YOUNOTGRABHOLD? ?OFME? ?IF? ?I? ?DIE? ?

I’MDEFINITELYTURNINGINTOASUPREMETOCOME? ?AND? ?HAU? ?N? ?T? ?Y? ?O? ?U? ?u? ?

HAHAHAHAHAH...”? ? ?

“Stop? ?your? ?haha-ing.? ?Say? ?something? ?sensible!”? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?demanded.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?already? ?knew? ?that? ?the? ?more? ?anxious? ?and? ?frightened? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?the? ?more? ?

he? ?would? ?hahaha.? ?In? ?fact,? ?he’d? ?even? ?forgotten? ?to? ?pause? ?between? ?words.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

interrupted,? ?“You? ?didn’t? ?open? ?your? ?mouth? ?to? ?speak,? ?did? ?you?? ?Your? ?expression? ?didn’t? ?show? ?

any? ?obvious? ?changes?? ?Have? ?you? ?fought? ?back?”? ? ?

“I? ?didn’t? ?speak.? ?My? ?expressions? ?didn’t? ?change.? ?I? ?didn’t? ?fight? ?back.”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?said.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?relaxed? ?his? ?tone? ?and? ?said? ?gently,? ?“Very? ?good.? ?Lord? ?Wind? ?Master,? ?listen? ?to? ?me.? ?

Everything’s? ?alright,? ?don’t? ?be? ?scared.? ?Keep? ?up? ?the? ?current? ?status? ?quo? ?and? ?pretend? ?you? ?

didn’t? ?notice? ?anything.? ?If? ?you? ?have? ?something? ?to? ?say? ?just? ?tell? ?it? ?to? ?us? ?here? ?in? ?the? ?

communication? ?array? ?secretly.? ?Absolutely? ?do? ?not? ?let? ?that? ?creature? ?notice? ?you? ?already? ?

know? ?what? ?it? ?is.? ?Slowly? ?spread? ?your? ?spiritual? ?aura? ?and? ?form? ?a? ?spiritual? ?barrier? ?to? ?protect? ?

your? ?person,? ?that? ?way? ?you? ?can? ?at? ?least? ?ensure? ?you? ?won’t? ?trip? ?or? ?fall? ?into? ?a? ?ditch.? ?If? ?any? ?

weapons? ?should? ?attack? ?you? ?you’d? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?sense? ?it? ?too.”? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan’s? ?voice? ?sounded? ?like? ?weeping? ?without? ?tears,? ?“Oh.? ?And? ?then?”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?continued,? ?“And? ?then? ?take? ?deep? ?breaths.? ?Just? ?like? ?that.? ?Do? ?it? ?a? ?couple? ?times...? ?

do? ?you? ?feel? ?a? ?little? ?better?”? ? ?

His? ?tone? ?was? ?very? ?soft? ?and? ?gentle,? ?quite? ?effective? ?when? ?it? ?came? ?to? ?comforting? ?another.? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?said,? ?“Maybe? ?a? ?little? ?bit.? ?Thanks,? ?Your? ?Highness.”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?then? ?tried? ?probing,? ?“Now...? ?how? ?do? ?you? ?think? ?you? ?would? ?feel? ?if? ?you? ?tried? ?to? ?open? ?

your? ?eyes? ?and? ?sneak? ?a? ?look? ?at? ?that? ?creature? ?pulling? ?you?”? ?Would? ?he? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?hang? ?on?? ?

“I’ll? ?probably? ?die.”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?said.? ?

“...”? ?

It? ?seemed? ?if? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?to? ?open? ?his? ?eyes,? ?his? ?terror? ?would? ?peak? ?the? ?moment? ?the? ?

eyes? ?could? ?see,? ?and? ?turn? ?into? ?the? ?most? ?delicious? ?and? ?delicate? ?meal? ?for? ?the? ?Reverend? ?of? ?

Empty? ?Words.? ?After? ?that,? ?he? ?would? ?probably? ?lose? ?all? ?ability? ?to? ?fight.? ?Besides,? ?if? ?the? ?

moment? ?he? ?opened? ?his? ?eyes? ?and? ?that? ?thing? ?was? ?also? ?staring? ?back? ?at? ?him,? ?the? ?esteemed? ?

Wind? ?Master? ?would? ?probably? ?foam? ?at? ?the? ?mouth? ?on? ?the? ?spot? ?and? ?crash? ?like? ?a? ?fallen? ?star.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“Then? ?you? ?just? ?keep? ?your? ?eyes? ?closed.”? ? ?

“After? ?it? ?took? ?you? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?Temple? ?of? ?Wind? ?and? ?Water,? ?which? ?direction? ?did? ?you? ?go?”? ?

Ming? ?Yi? ?asked.? ?

Right? ?now? ?what? ?they? ?needed? ?the? ?most? ?was? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan’s? ?location.? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan’s? ?

eyes? ?were? ?closed? ?and? ?couldn’t? ?see? ?where? ?he? ?was? ?going,? ?but? ?he? ?should? ?still? ?have? ?a? ?

general? ?idea? ?of? ?his? ?position? ?and? ?use? ?the? ?count? ?of? ?his? ?steps? ?to? ?determine? ?how? ?far? ?away? ?he? ?

was.? ?

Yet,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?replied,? ?“I? ?don’t? ?know.”? ?

“You? ?don’t? ?even? ?know? ?such? ?a? ?thing?!”? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?outraged,? ?“Who? ?in? ?their? ?right? ?minds? ?would? ?remember? ?those? ?things?? ?

And? ?didn’t? ?I? ?think? ?it? ?was? ?you? ?pulling? ?me?!”? ?

On? ?the? ?side,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?was? ?still? ?only? ?observing,? ?and? ?was? ?already? ?bored? ?to? ?the? ?point? ?

where? ?he? ?changed? ?back? ?into? ?his? ?red? ?robes.? ?Then? ?he? ?changed? ?to? ?black? ?robes? ?again.? ?Then? ?

to? ?white? ?robes.? ?Almost? ?every? ?time? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?back,? ?he? ?would? ?be? ?donning? ?a? ?different? ?

appearance,? ?and? ?every? ?look? ?accompanied? ?different? ?hairstyles,? ?accessories,? ?and? ?boots,? ?

etc.,? ?sometimes? ?playful,? ?sometimes? ?elegant,? ?sometimes? ?deadly,? ?sometimes? ?glamourous.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?growing? ?dizzy? ?from? ?all? ?the? ?colours? ?and? ?kept? ?looking? ?back,? ?unable? ?to? ?look? ?

away.? ?Yet? ?the? ?moment? ?he? ?realized? ?what? ?he? ?was? ?doing? ?he? ?blinked? ?fiercely,? ?stopping? ?

himself? ?from? ?blurting? ?out,? ?“That? ?outfit’s? ?not? ?bad”? ?“That? ?looks? ?good”,? ?and? ?said? ?instead,? ?

“Stop,? ?stop,? ?now’s? ?not? ?the? ?time? ?to? ?argue.? ?With? ?every? ?word? ?Lord? ?Wind? ?Master? ?takes? ?

another? ?step,? ?and? ?the? ?more? ?he? ?goes? ?the? ?harder? ?he’d? ?be? ?to? ?find.”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?moaned? ?grievously,? ?“I? ?say,? ?is? ?it? ?really? ?that? ?hard? ?for? ?you? ?guys? ?to? ?find? ?me?? ?It’s? ?

not? ?more? ?than? ?fifty-sixty? ?steps?? ?It? ?can’t? ?be? ?over? ?a? ?hundred,? ?and? ?we’re? ?not? ?even? ?going? ?that? ?

fast!!!”? ? ?

Not? ?over? ?a? ?hundred? ?steps?? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?immediately? ?charged? ?out,? ?disappearing? ?at? ?the? ?end? ?of? ?

the? ?street.? ?Not? ?long? ?after,? ?he? ?reappeared? ?fast? ?as? ?lightning? ?before? ?the? ?entrance? ?of? ?the? ?

Temple? ?of? ?Wind? ?and? ?Water.? ?“Not? ?there!”? ? ?

Curses.? ?“The? ?Distance? ?Shortening? ?Array!”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?cried.? ?

After? ?that? ?Reverend? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?used? ?that? ?chaos? ?to? ?take? ?the? ?Wind? ?Master? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?

Temple? ?of? ?Wind? ?and? ?Water,? ?it? ?probably? ?casted? ?the? ?Distance? ?Shortening? ?array? ?and? ?sent? ?

them? ?both? ?elsewhere.? ?Otherwise,? ?a? ?distance? ?within? ?a? ?hundred? ?steps? ?should’ve? ?been? ?

easy? ?to? ?find.? ?Once? ?that? ?spell? ?was? ?used,? ?who? ?knows? ?where? ?in? ?the? ?world? ?they? ?were? ?sent?? ?

Searching? ?for? ?the? ?Wind? ?Master? ?was? ?no? ?different? ?than? ?searching? ?for? ?a? ?needle? ?in? ?a? ?

haystack!? ?

They? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?careless? ?in? ?this? ?affair,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?immediately? ?said,? ?“I? ?will? ?go? ?report? ?

this? ?to? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Court.”? ?

However,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?hastily? ?stopped? ?him,? ?“Wait!? ?Your? ?Highness,? ?don’t? ?go!? ?You? ?

promised? ?me? ?to? ?keep? ?this? ?a? ?secret.? ?My? ?brother’s? ?third? ?heavenly? ?calamity? ?is? ?about? ?to? ?

approach.? ?The? ?third? ?one? ?is? ?huge,? ?he? ?can’t? ?be? ?perturbed? ?right? ?now!”? ? ?

“Keep? ?this? ?up,? ?I’ll? ?make? ?you? ?go? ?through? ?a? ?trial? ?right? ?now.”? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?said.? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?was? ?enraged,? ?“I? ?said? ?no? ?and? ?I? ?mean? ?it.? ?How? ?many? ?eyes? ?are? ?watching? ?my? ?

brother?? ?This? ?thing? ?definitely? ?picked? ?this? ?timing? ?intentionally,? ?I? ?won’t? ?let? ?it? ?have? ?its? ?way!? ?

Never!? ?Even? ?if? ?I? ?die? ?and? ?my? ?bones? ?rot,? ?it’ll? ?still? ?have? ?to? ?be? ?after? ?my? ?brother’s? ?completed? ?

his? ?trial? ?before? ?I? ?be? ?dug? ?out!”? ? ?

A? ?moment? ?later? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?relented,? ?“Fine.? ?Very? ?good.”? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?sharp? ?and? ?sensed? ?that? ?in? ?his? ?tone? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?wave? ?of? ?fury? ?oppressed,? ?and? ?

it? ?was? ?an? ?intense? ?emotion? ?that? ?never? ?surfaced? ?before,? ?making? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?feel? ?rather? ?

unsettled.? ?Unwilling? ?for? ?any? ?other? ?issues? ?to? ?start,? ?he? ?cut? ?in,? ?“Lord? ?Wind? ?Master,? ?is? ?that? ?

creature? ?still? ?moving? ?with? ?you? ?in? ?hand?”? ?

“Yea.”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?replied,? ?“It’s? ?dragging? ?my? ?arm.”? ?

“Is? ?there? ?anything? ?notable? ?on? ?its? ?body?? ?Like? ?a? ?peculiar? ?essence? ?of? ?evil,? ?or? ?a? ?certain? ?

scent,? ?feel,? ?or? ?something?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.? ?

“No.? ?There’s? ?nothing.”? ? ?

“What? ?about? ?your? ?surroundings?? ?Like,? ?is? ?the? ?path? ?under? ?your? ?feet? ?jagged? ?or? ?smooth?? ?

Have? ?you? ?stepped? ?on? ?something? ?or? ?kicked? ?something?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?wanted? ?to? ?see? ?if? ?he? ?

could? ?draw? ?a? ?general? ?perimeter? ?based? ?on? ?surrounding? ?environments.? ? ?

“The? ?path? ?is? ?very? ?strange!”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?said,? ?“Very? ?soft,? ?very? ?light,? ?like? ?clouds.”? ?

“...”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?thought,? ?‘You’re? ?probably? ?just? ?weak? ?in? ?the? ?knees? ?from? ?terror....’? ?

Two? ?out? ?of? ?five? ?of? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan’s? ?senses? ?were? ?already? ?sealed;? ?it? ?was? ?hard? ?to? ?scrape? ?any? ?

clues? ?and? ?they? ?would? ?more? ?than? ?likely? ?break? ?off? ?from? ?here.? ?Although? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?

always? ?been? ?next? ?to? ?them? ?watching? ?the? ?show? ?leisurely,? ?but? ?him? ?coming? ?had? ?always? ?been? ?

only? ?for? ?entertainment;? ?he? ?had? ?no? ?attachments? ?to? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?whatsoever? ?and? ?as? ?an? ?

entity? ?of? ?the? ?ghost? ?realm,? ?he? ?had? ?no? ?reason? ?to? ?help? ?a? ?heavenly? ?official.? ?Second,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?

didn’t? ?want? ?to? ?trouble? ?him? ?and? ?beg? ?him? ?for? ?help? ?all? ?the? ?time.? ?Thus,? ?he? ?steadied? ?himself? ?

and? ?said,? ?“Lord? ?Wind? ?Master,? ?I? ?have? ?a? ?way? ?to? ?have? ?you? ?break? ?away? ?from? ?that? ?creature? ?

immediately.? ?But,? ?I? ?need? ?your? ?permission.”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?instantly? ?replied,? ?“Ok!? ?I? ?give? ?you? ?permission!”? ? ?

However,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?suddenly? ?stopped,? ?“The? ?Soul? ?Shifting? ?Spell?”? ? ?

“What?”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?responded,? ?“That’s? ?right.? ?The? ?Soul? ?Shifting? ?Spell!”? ? ?

The? ?Soul? ?Shifting? ?Spell? ?was? ?exactly? ?like? ?as? ?its? ?name? ?indicated? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?stint? ?to? ?switch? ?

souls.? ?Using? ?my? ?eyes? ?to? ?see? ?what? ?you? ?see.? ?This? ?spell? ?wasn’t? ?often? ?used;? ?first? ?it? ?brutally? ?

burns? ?spiritual? ?power,? ?second,? ?very? ?few? ?were? ?willing? ?to? ?give? ?up? ?control? ?of? ?their? ?own? ?

bodies.? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?expression? ?grew? ?serious,? ?“Gege,? ?prudence.”? ? ?

“What’re? ?you? ?gonna? ?do? ?if? ?it? ?faces? ?you?”? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?asked.? ?

“I’m? ?not? ?scared? ?of? ?it? ?so? ?it? ?doesn’t? ?matter.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied.? ?

“Do? ?it.”? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?said.? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?however,? ?pressed? ?again,? ?“Gege,? ?please? ?reconsider.”? ? ?

Suddenly,? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?said,? ?“It’s? ?stopped.”? ?

Hearing? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?shouted? ?in? ?the? ?communication? ?array,? ?“No? ?more? ?time? ?to? ?hesitate!? ?

Now!”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?gritted? ?his? ?teeth? ?and? ?said,? ?“It’s? ?all? ?up? ?to? ?you? ?now,? ?Your? ?Highness!”? ? ?

“Ok!”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?

Just? ?as? ?the? ?words? ?left? ?his? ?mouth,? ?he? ?closed? ?both? ?his? ?eyes? ?and? ?his? ?body? ?suddenly? ?felt? ?

feather? ?light,? ?light? ?to? ?the? ?point? ?it? ?felt? ?like? ?he? ?was? ?floating? ?into? ?the? ?heavens;? ?abruptly? ?it? ?

became? ?exceedingly? ?heavy,? ?to? ?the? ?point? ?like? ?he? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?bore? ?into? ?the? ?earth.? ?It? ?was? ?

after? ?a? ?wave? ?of? ?nauseating? ?whirling? ?before? ?senses? ?returned? ?to? ?him.? ?He? ?steadied? ?his? ?form? ?

but? ?his? ?eyes? ?were? ?still? ?closed.? ?However,? ?not? ?a? ?single? ?sound? ?could? ?be? ?heard? ?from? ?his? ?

ears.? ?

There? ?was? ?an? ?hand? ?grabbing? ?hold? ?of? ?his? ?arm,? ?standing? ?still.? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?opened? ?his? ?eyes? ?in? ?a? ?flash,? ?one? ?hand? ?removing? ?the? ?ear? ?plugs? ?and? ?the? ?other? ?

flipped,? ?seizing? ?the? ?Reverend? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words? ?in? ?reverse.? ?He? ?smiled,? ?“Hi? ?there.”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?had? ?his? ?eyes? ?closed? ?for? ?a? ?long? ?time,? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?pitch? ?black? ?all? ?around,? ?

thus,? ?in? ?the? ?instant? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?opened? ?the? ?eyes? ?of? ?his? ?body,? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?yet? ?adjust? ?to? ?the? ?

darkness? ?and? ?couldn’t? ?see? ?anything.? ?However,? ?what? ?was? ?grabbing? ?onto? ?him? ?was? ?now? ?

something? ?he? ?grabbed? ?onto.? ?Ruoye? ?wasn’t? ?around? ?so? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?casted? ?a? ?hand? ?locking? ?

spell,? ?and? ?secured? ?that? ?hand? ?like? ?a? ?steal? ?cuff? ?to? ?prevent? ?the? ?other? ?to? ?escape? ?using? ?magic.? ? ?

Within? ?the? ?communication? ?array? ?came? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan’s? ?voice,? ?“Your? ?Highness!? ?Are? ?you? ?

alright?? ?Maybe? ?it’s? ?better? ?if? ?you? ?switch? ?back? ?and? ?I’ll? ?take? ?over? ?myself!!!”? ? ?

It? ?seemed? ?Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?had? ?also? ?safely? ?switched? ?to? ?this? ?body.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?in? ?his? ?hand? ?

a? ?firm? ?grip? ?on? ?that? ?Reverend? ?of? ?Empty? ?Words,? ?and? ?his? ?leg? ?shot? ?out,? ?kicking? ?at? ?it? ?over? ?

thirty? ?times,? ?“I’m? ?fine!”? ?Since? ?souls? ?were? ?only? ?just? ?switched,? ?it? ?would? ?need? ?time? ?to? ?adjust.? ?

Once? ?he’s? ?gotten? ?used? ?to? ?it,? ?his? ?moves? ?would? ?become? ?even? ?more? ?brutal.? ? ?

“Your? ?Highness,? ?let? ?me? ?tell? ?you? ?the? ?incantation? ?for? ?manipulating? ?my? ?spiritual? ?devices,? ?use? ?

as? ?much? ?of? ?my? ?spiritual? ?power? ?as? ?you? ?need,? ?don’t? ?hold? ?back!”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?no? ?sword? ?to? ?wield? ?and? ?flashed? ?open? ?the? ?Wind? ?Master? ?fan,? ?“Ok!”? ? ?

Shi? ?Qingxuan? ?then? ?added,? ?“I’ll? ?tell? ?you? ?the? ?spell? ?for? ?transforming? ?into? ?a? ?woman? ?too,? ?I’m? ?

stronger? ?in? ?my? ?feminine? ?form!”? ? ?

Xie? ?Lian? ?resolutely? ?refused,? ?“No.? ?That’s? ?not? ?necessary.”? ?

Hua? ?Cheng? ?spoke? ?up? ?gravely,? ?“Gege,? ?hurry? ?and? ?take? ?a? ?look? ?at? ?the? ?surroundings.? ?Tell? ?me? ?

what? ?place? ?it? ?is.”? ?

“No,”? ?Ming? ?Yi? ?said,? ?“Tell? ?us? ?first? ?what? ?is? ?fighting? ?you? ?right? ?now.”? ? ?

After? ?some? ?exchanges,? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?eyes? ?were? ?gradually? ?adjusted? ?to? ?the? ?dark? ?

environment.? ?He? ?squinted? ?and? ?looked? ?to? ?that? ?black? ?shadow? ?before? ?him.? ?

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