Chapter 141-150
Chapter 141-150
Chapter 141-150
Ch.141:? ?I? ?Choose? ?the? ?Path? ?I? ?Walk? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?suddenly? ?remembered? ?something.? ?That? ?day,? ?at? ?the? ?Great? ?Martial? ?Hall,? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?
randomly? ?accused? ?everyone,? ?but? ?she? ?never? ?pointed? ?her? ?finger? ?at? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?who? ?was? ?standing? ?in? ?
the? ?most? ?conspicuous? ?spot.? ?
?
Jian? ?Lan? ?immediately? ?denied? ?it,? ?“HE’S? ?NOT!”? ? ?
?
Fu? ?Yao? ?was? ?all? ?face? ?full? ?of? ?disbelief? ?too.? ?It? ?seemed,? ?he? ?hadn’t? ?known? ?that? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?and? ?this? ?
woman? ?had? ?any? ?connections? ?either? ?and? ?was? ?also? ?dumbfounded.? ?Hearing? ?her? ?speak,? ?he? ?finally? ?
snapped? ?out? ?of? ?it,? ?“He? ?hasn’t? ?even? ?asked? ?anything,? ?so? ?why? ?did? ?you? ?answer? ?so? ?fast?”? ? ?
?
“Please!? ?It’s? ?obvious? ?what? ?he? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?ask.”? ?Jian? ?Lan? ?said,? ?“I’m? ?telling? ?you,? ?he’s? ?not!”? ? ?
?
However,? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?was? ?looking? ?at? ?the? ?fetus? ?spirit,? ?“What? ?did? ?you? ?call? ?him?? ?Cuo? ?Cuo?”? ? ?
?
That? ?name? ?seemed? ?to? ?have? ?some? ?sort? ?of? ?special? ?meaning.? ?Jian? ?Lan? ?opened? ?her? ?mouth? ?then? ?
closed? ?it,? ?no? ?longer? ?willing? ?to? ?argue? ?and? ?said? ?frustratedly? ?instead,? ?“What’s? ?a? ?big? ?man? ?like? ?you? ?
doing? ?talking? ?so? ?much?? ?If? ?I? ?said? ?he’s? ?not,? ?he’s? ?not!? ?Who? ?the? ?hell’s? ?that? ?eager? ?to? ?recognize? ?their? ?
sons!”? ? ?
?
Feng? ?Xin? ?replied? ?angrily,? ?“What? ?are? ?you? ?saying?? ?If? ?he? ?is,? ?then? ?of? ?course? ?I’ll...”? ?
?
“You’ll? ?of? ?course? ?what?? ?Recognize? ?him?? ?Raise? ?him?”? ?Jian? ?Lan? ?countered.? ?
?
“I...”? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?was? ?stuck.? ?He? ?lowered? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?looked? ?at? ?the? ?deformed? ?little? ?monster? ?
hanging? ?off? ?of? ?his? ?arm.? ?That? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?seemed? ?to? ?bear? ?a? ?particularly? ?deep? ?hatred? ?for? ?him,? ?and? ?
latched? ?on? ?to? ?his? ?arm? ?tearing? ?and? ?chomping,? ?crying? ?“wah? ?wah? ?wah”.? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?didn’t? ?know? ?what? ?
to? ?do? ?with? ?him,? ?his? ?bloody? ?red? ?hand? ?clenched? ?into? ?a? ?fist.? ?
?
Seeing? ?how? ?he? ?was? ?stuck? ?and? ?looking? ?like? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?accept? ?the? ?truth,? ?Jian? ?Lan? ?immediately? ?
spat,? ?“I? ?already? ?said? ?he’s? ?not? ?and? ?you’re? ?still? ?pushing!? ?He’s? ?got? ?nothing? ?to? ?do? ?with? ?you,? ?so? ?stop? ?
worrying!”? ? ?
?
Qi? ?Rong? ?yapped,? ?“BULLSHIT!? ?HE? ?MUST? ?BE!? ?See,? ?I? ?wasn’t? ?wrong,? ?it’s? ?the? ?spawn? ?of? ?a? ?pleb!? ?
Everyone? ?come? ?check? ?this? ?out,? ?Feng? ?Xin’s? ?own? ?son? ?was? ?carved? ?out? ?of? ?his? ?ol’? ?mommy’s? ?belly? ?and? ?
turned? ?into? ?a? ?little? ?ghost,? ?hehe.? ?I? ?can’t? ?believe? ?people? ?actually? ?pray? ?to? ?this? ?shitty? ?‘Son-Gifting? ?Nan? ?
Yang’.? ?Watch? ?out,? ?the? ?more? ?you? ?pray? ?the? ?more? ?your? ?sons? ?are? ?gonna? ?be...”? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?raised? ?his? ?hand? ?and? ?RuoYe? ?sealed? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?mouth,? ?and? ?Jian? ?Lan? ?also? ?stomped? ?on? ?his? ?
head? ?heavily? ?a? ?few? ?times,? ?making? ?him? ?cuss? ?louder.? ?Just? ?then,? ?Gu? ?Zi? ?blearily? ?woke? ?up? ?and? ?saw? ?Qi? ?
Rong? ?was? ?getting? ?trampled,? ?and? ?immediately? ?lunged? ?forward,? ?“Don’t...? ?don’t? ?step? ?on? ?my? ?dad...”? ?
?
Seeing? ?Gu? ?Zi? ?holding? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?head,? ?Jian? ?Lan? ?couldn’t? ?stomp? ?anymore.? ?Instead,? ?she? ?changed? ?
course? ?and? ?seized? ?that? ?fetus? ?spirit’s? ?two? ?blanched? ?little? ?legs? ?and? ?bolted,? ?yelling? ?angrily,? ?“I? ?told? ?you? ?
to? ?stop? ?biting!? ?So? ?disobedient!”? ? ?
?
Feng? ?Xin? ?was? ?spacing? ?out? ?and? ?didn’t? ?manage? ?to? ?catch? ?them? ?in? ?time,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?cried? ?
subconsciously,? ?“RuoYe,? ?Chase!”? ? ?
?
RuoYe? ?went? ?to? ?chase.? ?However,? ?once? ?that? ?white? ?silk? ?bandage? ?flew? ?out? ?did? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?remember? ?
that? ?it? ?was? ?binding? ?Qi? ?Rong.? ?He? ?looked? ?back? ?and? ?sure? ?enough,? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?leapt? ?to? ?his? ?feet? ?with? ?Gu? ?
Zi? ?on? ?his? ?head? ?looking? ?pleased,? ?he? ?announced,? ?“THIS? ?ANCESTOR’S? ?FREE? ?AGAIN!”? ? ?
?
Seeing? ?that? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?finally? ?snapped? ?out? ?of? ?it,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?changed? ?his? ?instruction,? ?“RuoYe,? ?come? ?
back? ?after? ?all.”? ? ?
?
Thus,? ?RuoYe? ?came? ?flying? ?back,? ?and? ??PA!?? ?Soundly? ?slapped? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?a? ?big? ?one.? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?just? ?
humming? ?having? ?bounced? ?back,? ?but? ?was? ?whipped? ?to? ?spin? ?three? ?times? ?on? ?the? ?spot? ?and? ?tumbled,? ?
covering? ?his? ?face.? ?After? ?sprawling? ?on? ?the? ?ground? ?for? ?a? ?moment,? ?he? ?suddenly? ?went? ?berserk,? ?and? ?
seized? ?hold? ?of? ?RuoYe,? ?shouting,? ?“EVEN? ?A? ?RAG? ?LIKE? ?YOU? ?DARE? ?HIT? ?ME!!!”? ? ?
?
This? ?time,? ?RuoYe? ?was? ?stuck? ?in? ?his? ?clutch,? ?and? ?twisting? ?around,? ?it? ?couldn’t? ?twist? ?itself? ?free;? ?it? ?was? ?
like? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?strength? ?suddenly? ?exploded.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?take? ?care? ?of? ?him? ?personally? ?
when? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?suddenly? ?realized? ?there’s? ?a? ?small? ?child? ?on? ?his? ?head,? ?and? ?he? ?instantly? ?yanked? ?Gu? ?
Zi? ?down,? ?holding? ?him? ?like? ?a? ?shield? ?to? ?protect? ?his? ?person,? ?“DON’T? ?COME? ?A? ?STEP? ?CLOSER!? ?
COME? ?HERE? ?AND? ?I’LL? ?STRANGLE? ?HIM!? ?HEY? ?HEY? ?HEY,? ?LOOK? ?BEHIND? ?YOU,? ?HUA? ?CHENG? ?
THAT? ?FUCKER? ?IS? ?GONNA? ?DIE!”? ? ?
?
Shocked,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?whipped? ?around,? ?and? ?sure? ?enough? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?his? ?brows? ?tightly? ?knitted,? ?
his? ?dropped? ?hands? ?were? ?trembling,? ?like? ?he? ?was? ?forcing? ?himself? ?to? ?endure? ?something.? ?When? ?he? ?
saw? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?look? ?over,? ?he? ?immediately? ?shouted,? ?“I’m? ?fine!”? ? ?
?
The? ?arousal? ?of? ?demons!? ? ?
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The? ?tremors? ?this? ?time? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?stronger? ?than? ?all? ?the? ?times? ?before.? ?In? ?a? ?split? ?second? ?
decision,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?went? ?back? ?to? ?hold? ?him.? ?Using? ?this? ?chance,? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?hurriedly? ?escaped? ?with? ?Gu? ?
Zi? ?in? ?his? ?hands.? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?also? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?suffering? ?a? ?throbbing? ?headache,? ?covering? ?her? ?
ears,? ?and? ?that? ?fetus? ?spirit,? ?under? ?such? ?aggravation,? ?was? ?biting? ?and? ?tearing? ?even? ?more? ?violently.? ?
Feng? ?Xin? ?had? ?been? ?bitten? ?over? ?ten? ?mouthfuls? ?now,? ?his? ?blood? ?pouring? ?unceasingly,? ?but? ?he? ?still? ?
didn’t? ?dare? ?to? ?hit? ?him,? ?using? ?his? ?hand? ?to? ?tightly? ?grab? ?hold? ?of? ?Jian? ?Lan’s? ?arm.? ?That? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?
however,? ?didn’t? ?hold? ?back,? ?and? ?swung? ?its? ?claws? ?towards? ?Feng? ?Xin’s? ?face.? ?That? ?clawed? ?scratch? ?
was? ?nasty,? ?and? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?grunted,? ?covering? ?his? ?wound,? ?unsure? ?if? ?his? ?eyes? ?were? ?injured.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?
was? ?mortified? ?and? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?send? ?forth? ?RuoYe? ?but? ?Jian? ?Lan? ?stomped? ?her? ?feet? ?in? ?anger,? ?“IF? ?
YOU? ?KEEP? ?THIS? ?UP? ?I’M? ?GOING? ?TO? ?GET? ?ANGRY!!!”? ? ?
?
Only? ?after? ?hearing? ?his? ?mother? ?yell? ?did? ?that? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?jump? ?back? ?into? ?her? ?arms,? ?obediently? ?curling? ?
up? ?into? ?a? ?bundle.? ?Jian? ?Lan? ?gave? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?a? ?look? ?and? ?gritted? ?her? ?teeth,? ?“He? ?has? ?nothing? ?to? ?do? ?with? ?
you.? ?I’m? ?warning? ?you,? ?don’t? ?bother? ?us!”? ?Then? ?with? ?one? ?hand? ?hugging? ?her? ?head? ?and? ?the? ?other? ?
hugging? ?her? ?son,? ?the? ?mother? ?and? ?child? ?fled.? ?Seeing? ?this,? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?cried,? ?“Let? ?me? ?go!”? ? ?
?
Feng? ?Xin? ?half? ?knelt? ?on? ?the? ?ground,? ?covering? ?half? ?his? ?face,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?crouched? ?down? ?next? ?to? ?
him? ?with? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?in? ?his? ?arms,? ?“Are? ?you? ?alright?? ?Let? ?me? ?see? ?your? ?wounds?? ?Were? ?your? ?eyes? ?
scratched?”? ? ?
?
Blood? ?dripped? ?from? ?the? ?cracks? ?of? ?his? ?fingers,? ?and? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?replied? ?with? ?his? ?eyes? ?closed,? ?“...No.? ?
Don’t? ?ask? ?me.”? ?
?
“Feng? ?Xin,? ?Lan? ?Chang...? ?the? ?lady? ?Jian? ?Lan,? ?what? ?was? ?she? ?talking...”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.? ?
?
Yet? ?before? ?he? ?finished,? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?swung? ?out? ?his? ?fist.? ?A? ?giant? ?crack,? ?and? ?the? ?tree? ?next? ?to? ?them? ?was? ?
punched? ?in? ?half.? ?He? ?roared,? ?“I? ?TOLD? ?YOU? ?NOT? ?TO? ?ASK? ?ME!”? ?
?
That? ?voice? ?was? ?mixed? ?with? ?resentment,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?tell,? ?that? ?resentment? ?was? ?directed? ?at? ?
him,? ?and? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?be? ?taken? ?aback.? ?
?
However,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?commented? ?coldly,? ?“Who? ?turned? ?your? ?wife? ?and? ?son? ?into? ?ghosts?? ?If? ?you’ve? ?
got? ?fire? ?go? ?burn? ?the? ?right? ?person.”? ? ?
?
Hearing? ?this,? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?raised? ?his? ?head? ?slightly,? ?his? ?eyes? ?red? ?watching? ?Fu? ?Yao.? ?Taken? ?aback,? ?Fu? ?
Yao? ?was? ?instantly? ?furious,? ?“What? ?are? ?you? ?looking? ?at?? ?You? ?don’t? ?actually? ?think? ?it? ?was? ?m...? ?my? ?
general?? ?What? ?is? ?this? ?bloody? ?luck!? ?He? ?only? ?saw? ?that? ?that? ?woman? ?was? ?a? ?remnant? ?citizen? ?of? ?XianLe? ?
and? ?had? ?some? ?relation? ?to? ?the? ?royal? ?family? ?that? ?he? ?lent? ?a? ?helping? ?hand.? ?He? ?wanted? ?to? ?save? ?that? ?
fetus? ?spirit,? ?but? ?who? ?knew? ?it? ?was? ?deeply? ?ignorant,? ?not? ?only? ?did? ?it? ?not? ?want? ?to? ?be? ?saved,? ?it? ?even? ?
turned? ?into? ?a? ?Fierce!? ?Nothing? ?good? ?came? ?of? ?it? ?but? ?he? ?ended? ?up? ?stepping? ?in? ?shit.? ?Had? ?he? ?known? ?he? ?
wouldn’t? ?have? ?bothered!? ?That? ?brat? ?doesn’t? ?even? ?know? ?who? ?gave? ?birth? ?to? ?it,? ?and? ?you? ?think? ?it? ?knew? ?
who? ?killed? ?it?!”? ? ?
?
Perhaps? ?it? ?was? ?because? ?too? ?many? ?disheartening? ?things? ?were? ?bothering? ?his? ?mind? ?recently;? ?even? ?
his? ?speech? ?was? ?a? ?little? ?vulgar? ?in? ?words.? ?“Your? ?general? ?calls? ?this? ?bloody? ?luck? ?with? ?just? ?this? ?bit?? ?
Then? ?can? ?people? ?who? ?suffer? ?even? ?worse? ?luck? ?even? ?live? ?on? ?anymore?”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said.? ?
?
Feng? ?Xin? ?shook? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?murmured,? ?“...Why? ?is? ?it? ?like? ?this?? ?How? ?did? ?it? ?become? ?like? ?this?”? ? ?
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“Why...? ?don’t? ?you? ?take? ?care? ?of? ?your? ?injuries? ?first.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?tried,? ?“Did? ?you? ?bring? ?any? ?balms?”? ? ?
?
Feng? ?Xin? ?glanced? ?at? ?him? ?and? ?said? ?darkly,? ?“I’m? ?fine.? ?Don’t? ?mind? ?me!”? ? ?
?
With? ?his? ?hand? ?covering? ?his? ?wounds,? ?he? ?didn’t? ?bother? ?managing? ?it? ?and? ?stood? ?up,? ?stumbling? ?away.? ?
Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?called? ?after? ?him? ?a? ?few? ?times,? ?asking? ?if? ?he? ?was? ?going? ?back? ?to? ?the? ?heavens? ?or? ?
going? ?to? ?give? ?chase,? ?but? ?he? ?didn’t? ?answer? ?at? ?all,? ?and? ?soon,? ?his? ?silhouette? ?disappeared.? ?Fu? ?Yao? ?
struggled? ?again? ?and? ?cried? ?angrily,? ?“Your? ?Highness!? ?If? ?you? ?ol’? ?senior? ?won’t? ?give? ?chase,? ?will? ?you? ?at? ?
least? ?let? ?me??”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?snapped? ?out? ?of? ?it,? ?and? ?after? ?contemplating? ?the? ?cons? ?and? ?pros,? ?he? ?said,? ?“Alright.”? ?And? ?
actually? ?did? ?let? ?go.? ?
?
Fu? ?Yao? ?didn’t? ?think? ?he? ?would? ?actually? ?comply,? ?and? ?he? ?worked? ?out? ?the? ?kinks? ?of? ?his? ?wrists,? ?
humphing,? ?“Why? ?are? ?you? ?so? ?willing? ?to? ?let? ?me? ?go? ?now?”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?rubbed? ?his? ?forehead,? ?“The? ?Upper? ?Court? ?is? ?probably? ?even? ?more? ?of? ?a? ?mess? ?than? ?I? ?
imagined...? ?Sigh,? ?I? ?now? ?think? ?that,? ?rather? ?than? ?encouraging? ?your? ?general? ?to? ?return,? ?he? ?should? ?act? ?
freely? ?outside? ?instead.”? ? ?
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After? ?a? ?pause,? ?he? ?added,? ?“What? ?are? ?you? ?going? ?to? ?do? ?now?? ?I? ?don’t? ?think? ?that? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?was? ?
slandering? ?only? ?for? ?the? ?sake? ?of? ?escape.? ?There? ?might? ?be? ?someone? ?in? ?the? ?background? ?
manipulating? ?it.”? ? ?
?
Fu? ?Yao? ?dusted? ?off? ?his? ?sleeves? ?and? ?said,? ?“Who? ?cares? ?what’s? ?going? ?on.? ?It’s? ?going? ?towards? ?Mount? ?
TongLu,? ?so? ?I’ll? ?think? ?after? ?capturing? ?it!”? ? ?
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Then,? ?he? ?left? ?in? ?a? ?hurry.? ?The? ?inn? ?where? ?various? ?groups? ?of? ?people? ?gathered? ?was? ?suddenly? ?quiet? ?
and? ?deserted.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?around,? ?checked? ?over? ?that? ?collapsed? ?little? ?cottage,? ?flipping? ?and? ?
pulling? ?aside? ?the? ?beams? ?and? ?straws? ?to? ?look? ?around? ?and? ?made? ?sure? ?those? ?monks? ?and? ?cultivators? ?
really? ?were? ?only? ?knocked? ?out? ?and? ?would? ?probably? ?come? ?to? ?soon.? ?Reassured,? ?he? ?left? ?too.? ?
?
After? ?walking? ?for? ?a? ?while? ?and? ?leaving? ?the? ?barren? ?hills? ?behind,? ?they? ?finally? ?found? ?a? ?real? ?inn? ?and? ?the? ?
two? ?stopped? ?to? ?rest.? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?like? ?the? ?past? ?few? ?days? ?was? ?a? ?complete? ?mess,? ?and? ?he? ?sat? ?at? ?the? ?window? ?sill? ?lost? ?in? ?
thought.? ?RuoYe? ?curled? ?around? ?his? ?arm,? ?rubbing? ?against? ?him? ?gently? ?like? ?it? ?was? ?purring,? ?and? ?Xie? ?
Lian? ?scratched? ?it? ?absentmindedly.? ? ?
?
Suddenly,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?came? ?to? ?the? ?windows,? ?bathing? ?under? ?the? ?same? ?moonlight,? ?and? ?spoke? ?up,? ?
“It? ?has? ?nothing? ?to? ?do? ?with? ?you.”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?shaken? ?out? ?of? ?his? ?reverie? ?but? ?soon? ?understood? ?what? ?he? ?meant? ?and? ?shook? ?his? ?head,? ?
“I? ?don’t? ?know? ?if? ?it? ?really? ?has? ?got? ?nothing? ?to? ?do? ?with? ?me...? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?must’ve? ?befriended? ?Lady? ?Jian? ?
Lan? ?after? ?XianLe? ?had? ?fallen? ?and? ?before? ?he? ?ascended? ?himself.? ?Calculating? ?the? ?time,? ?that? ?was? ?
during? ?the? ?years? ?of? ?my? ?first? ?banishment.”? ? ?
?
“But? ?that? ?doesn’t? ?mean? ?you’re? ?at? ?fault? ?for? ?how? ?they’ve? ?turned? ?out,”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said.? ?
?
After? ?some? ?thought,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?I’ve? ?never? ?talked? ?about? ?my? ?banishment,? ?have? ?I?”? ? ?
?
“No.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said.? ?
?
“I’ve? ?never? ?told? ?anyone,? ?I? ?hope? ?you? ?won’t? ?mind? ?if? ?I? ?drag? ?you? ?to? ?listen? ?to? ?me? ?babble.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?
said.? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?lightly? ?pushed? ?himself? ?up? ?the? ?window? ?sill? ?and? ?sat? ?too,? ?“I? ?won’t.? ?Go? ?ahead.”? ? ?
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Xie? ?Lian? ?spoke? ?as? ?he? ?chased? ?his? ?memories,? ?“Back? ?then,? ?the? ?only? ?vassal? ?I? ?had? ?left? ?was? ?Feng? ?Xin,? ?
and? ?life? ?was? ?difficult.? ?I? ?started? ?out? ?as? ?a? ?martial? ?god,? ?and? ?a? ?lot? ?of? ?the? ?possessions? ?I? ?had? ?as? ?a? ?crown? ?
prince? ?were? ?all? ?pawned.”? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?chuckled,? ?“Including? ?HongJing,? ?right?”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?smiled? ?gaily,? ?“Hahaha...? ?that’s? ?right.? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?can’t? ?know? ?this,? ?do? ?keep? ?that? ?a? ?secret? ?for? ?
me.? ?And? ?those? ?tens? ?of? ?golden? ?belts,? ?they? ?were? ?all? ?pawned? ?too.”? ? ?
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“En.? ?So,? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?took? ?one? ?of? ?your? ?golden? ?bets? ?and? ?gifted? ?it? ?to? ?Lan? ?Chang?”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?asked.? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?shook? ?his? ?head,? ?“I? ?don’t? ?think? ?that’s? ?the? ?case.? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?wouldn’t? ?take? ?my? ?stuff? ?so? ?
frivolously.? ?It? ?was? ?me? ?who? ?told? ?him? ?to? ?sell? ?it? ?and? ?keep? ?the? ?money? ?for? ?himself.”? ? ?
?
Truthfully,? ?this? ?was? ?him? ?plain? ?giving? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?a? ?sum? ?of? ?money? ?for? ?no? ?reason.? ?At? ?the? ?time,? ?Feng? ?
Xin? ?declined? ?it? ?for? ?a? ?long? ?time,? ?but? ?in? ?the? ?end,? ?because? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?relentless,? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?said? ?“I’ll? ?
keep? ?it? ?for? ?you? ?for? ?now.”? ? ?
?
“It’s? ?shameful? ?to? ?say,? ?I? ?made? ?him? ?sell? ?it? ?for? ?money? ?to? ?keep? ?for? ?himself? ?not? ?just? ?out? ?of? ?guilt? ?but? ?fear? ?
too.”? ? ?
?
With? ?all? ?the? ?devotees? ?gone,? ?only? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?still? ?treated? ?him? ?like? ?the? ?Flower? ?Crowned? ?Martial? ?God? ?
and? ?His? ?Highness? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince.? ?Only? ?then? ?was? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?alerted? ?to? ?the? ?fact? ?that? ?even? ?though? ?
the? ?two? ?had? ?grown? ?up? ?together? ?-? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?being? ?his? ?trusted? ?servant? ?and? ?bodyguard? ?-? ?not? ?once? ?
had? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?received? ?any? ?sort? ?of? ?exceptional? ?rewards.? ?Suddenly,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?knew? ?fear.? ?
?
Fear? ?that? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?would? ?also? ?think? ?this? ?life? ?was? ?too? ?hard? ?and? ?stop? ?following? ?him.? ?Thus,? ?the? ?
meaning? ?of? ?that? ?golden? ?belt? ?wasn’t? ?reward,? ?and? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?purely? ?just? ?a? ?gift? ?or? ?compensation? ?of? ?
labour? ?either,? ?there? ?was? ?also? ?the? ?intent? ?of? ?a? ?little? ?bit? ?of? ?groveling? ?and? ?bribery.? ?
?
In? ?the? ?illusion? ?created? ?by? ?that? ?fetus? ?spirit,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?saw? ?a? ?protection? ?charm,? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?probably? ?
something? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?gifted? ?to? ?Jian? ?Lan.? ?After? ?XianLe? ?fell,? ?all? ?of? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?temples? ?and? ?shrines? ?
were? ?burned? ?down,? ?not? ?a? ?single? ?soul? ?believed? ?in? ?the? ?Crown? ?Prince? ?of? ?XianLe? ?anymore,? ?and? ?his? ?
protection? ?charms? ?were? ?all? ?seen? ?as? ?trash.? ?However,? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?was? ?still? ?determined? ?and? ?tireless? ?in? ?
handing? ?them? ?out,? ?telling? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?look,? ?you? ?still? ?have? ?devotees.? ?But? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?knew? ?deep? ?down? ?
that? ?those? ?protection? ?charms? ?were? ?most? ?likely? ?all? ?thrown? ?away.? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?spoke? ?slowly,? ?“Through? ?so? ?many? ?years,? ?I? ?never? ?knew? ?if? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?liked? ?anyone.? ?I? ?never? ?
asked,? ?and? ?I? ?never? ?took? ?notice.”? ? ?
?
After? ?all,? ?he? ?was? ?the? ?darling? ?of? ?the? ?heavens? ?since? ?birth,? ?high? ?and? ?mighty,? ?and? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?spun? ?
around? ?him? ?like? ?he? ?was? ?the? ?world? ?so? ?naturally,? ?so? ?how? ?could? ?he? ?possibly? ?have? ?his? ?own? ?life? ?and? ?
have? ?his? ?own? ?personal? ?heart?? ?
?
“It? ?might? ?not? ?sound? ?nice? ?to? ?gift? ?a? ?girl? ?something? ?someone? ?else? ?gave? ?you,? ?but? ?at? ?the? ?time,? ?that? ?
golden? ?belt? ?was? ?probably? ?the? ?best? ?gift? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?was? ?able? ?to? ?give.? ?After? ?all,? ?we? ?were? ?frequently? ?
missing? ?meals.? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?wasn’t? ?someone? ?who’d? ?spend? ?wastefully.? ?So,? ?it’s? ?easy? ?to? ?imagine? ?just? ?
how? ?much? ?he? ?liked? ?Lady? ?Jian? ?Lan.? ?If? ?he? ?liked? ?her? ?so? ?much...? ?why? ?did? ?they? ?split?”? ? ?
?
Whether? ?if? ?that? ?fetus? ?spirit? ?was? ?Feng? ?Xin’s? ?son,? ?if? ?it? ?was? ?that? ?period? ?of? ?poverty? ?that? ?made? ?Feng? ?
Xin? ?lose? ?the? ?girl? ?he? ?loved,? ?no? ?matter? ?what,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?wouldn’t? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?forgive? ?himself.? ?
?
However,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said,? ?“If? ?he? ?liked? ?her? ?but? ?in? ?the? ?end? ?they? ?separated,? ?then? ?it? ?only? ?shows? ?
what? ?they? ?had? ?was? ?only? ?‘like’.”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?smiled? ?wistfully,? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?things? ?aren’t? ?always? ?that? ?absolute.? ?Sometimes,? ?it’s? ?not? ?up? ?to? ?
you? ?to? ?decide? ?if? ?the? ?road? ?is? ?easy? ?to? ?walk.”? ? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?said? ?softly,? ?“I? ?might? ?not? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?decide? ?whether? ?the? ?road? ?is? ?easy? ?or? ?not,? ?but? ?
whether? ?I? ?walk? ?it? ?is? ?entirely? ?up? ?to? ?me.”? ? ?
?
Hearing? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?blinked,? ?and? ?felt? ?like? ?a? ?knot? ?in? ?his? ?heart? ?was? ?untied.? ?He? ?stared? ?at? ?Hua? ?
Cheng? ?wordlessly.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?tilted? ?his? ?head,? ?“Gege,? ?am? ?I? ?wrong?”? ? ?
?
Watching? ?his? ?twinkling? ?black? ?eyes,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?suddenly? ?grabbed? ?hold? ?of? ?him? ?and? ?placed? ?him? ?on? ?his? ?
lap,? ?“Hahaha,? ?San? ?Lang,? ?you’re? ?very? ?right!”? ? ?
?
“...”? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?stunned? ?by? ?his? ?actions,? ?and? ?allowed? ?himself? ?be? ?lifted? ?high? ?in? ?the? ?air.? ?
Xie? ?Lian? ?laughed,? ?“To? ?say? ?something? ?shameless,? ?what? ?San? ?Lang? ?just? ?said? ?and? ?the? ?way? ?you? ?said? ?
it? ?really? ?quite? ?resembles? ?me? ?when? ?I? ?was? ?younger.”? ? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?seemed? ?to? ?have? ?gotten? ?used? ?to? ?being? ?hugged? ?around? ?by? ?him? ?like? ?this,? ?and? ?he? ?raised? ?
his? ?brows,? ?“Wow,? ?what? ?a? ?dream.”? ? ?
?
The? ?two? ?of? ?them? ?played? ?around? ?in? ?the? ?room? ?for? ?a? ?while,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?threw? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?onto? ?the? ?
bed? ?then? ?climbed? ?in? ?himself,? ?facing? ?the? ?ceiling.? ?He? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?speak? ?when? ?suddenly,? ?Hua? ?
cheng? ?sat? ?up? ?and? ?his? ?pupils? ?shrank,? ?his? ?eyes? ?turning? ?sharp? ?as? ?he? ?looked? ?across? ?the? ?room.? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?immediately? ?sensed? ?something? ?wrong? ?and? ?instantly? ?sat? ?up? ?too.? ?The? ?moment? ?he? ?saw,? ?
cold? ?sweat? ?covered? ?his? ?body.? ?Silently? ?and? ?soundlessly,? ?there? ?was? ?another? ?figure? ?in? ?the? ?room? ?
since? ?who? ?knows? ?when,? ?sitting? ?by? ?the? ?table? ?with? ?a? ?pot? ?of? ?tea? ?already? ?brewed,? ?the? ?scent? ?of? ?tea? ?
fragrant.? ?Yet,? ?he? ?had? ?never? ?noticed!? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?feel? ?a? ?chill? ?go? ?down? ?his? ?spine? ?and? ?pointed? ?Fang? ?Xin? ?forward,? ?“WHO? ?IS? ?
IT?!”? ? ?
?
That? ?man? ?replied? ?gently,? ?“Don’t? ?be? ?afraid.? ?Tea,? ?XianLe?”? ? ?
?
“...”? ?
?
The? ?figure? ?and? ?voice? ?all? ?belonged? ?to? ?a? ?youth,? ?exceedingly? ?familiar,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?sighed? ?a? ?breath? ?
of? ?relief,? ?brushing? ?back? ?strands? ?of? ?hair? ?that? ?had? ?come? ?loose? ?from? ?playing? ?around? ?earlier? ?behind? ?
his? ?ears,? ?his? ?heart? ?still? ?thumping,? ?“My? ?Lord...”? ? ?
?
However,? ?before? ?his? ?breath? ?was? ?fully? ?exhaled,? ?he? ?yanked? ?and? ?pulled? ?the? ?blanket? ?and? ?buried? ?both? ?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?and? ?his? ?body? ?under,? ?“...Why? ?has? ?My? ?Lord? ?descended?”? ? ?
?
The? ?hand? ?under? ?the? ?blanket? ?held? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?down? ?tight,? ?gesturing? ?for? ?him? ?not? ?to? ?worry.? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?
leisurely? ?poured? ?three? ?cups? ?of? ?tea? ?before? ?rising? ?to? ?his? ?feet,? ?“You? ?didn’t? ?come? ?back,? ?so? ?naturally,? ?I? ?
had? ?to? ?come? ?down? ?personally? ?to? ?see.”? ? ?
?
His? ?hands? ?were? ?clenched? ?as? ?he? ?spoke,? ?walking? ?towards? ?him,? ?and? ?slowly,? ?from? ?the? ?shadows,? ?
something? ?was? ?pulled? ?out.? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?eyes? ?followed? ?down? ?his? ?white? ?robes,? ?and? ?saw? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?had? ?
in? ?his? ?hand? ?a? ?sword.? ?Startled,? ?he? ?instantly? ?jumped? ?off? ?the? ?bed,? ?“My? ?Lord,? ?I? ?can? ?explain...”? ? ?
?
Yet? ?unexpectedly,? ?behind? ?him,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?pulled? ?off? ?the? ?blanket? ?and? ?sat? ?up? ?cross? ?legged,? ?his? ?
arms? ?resting? ?casually? ?on? ?his? ?knees,? ?and? ?he? ?smiled,? ?“I? ?don’t? ?think? ?that’s? ?necessary.”? ? ?
?
?
———–? ?
?
?MXTX? ?Author’s? ?Note:? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?trained? ?under? ?the? ?same? ?cultivation? ?path,? ?and? ?
they’re? ?both? ?cultivators.? ?However,? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?had? ?never? ?registered? ?at? ?the? ?Holy? ?Royal? ?
Pavilion? ?so? ?he’s? ?not? ?a? ?cultivator,? ?he’s? ?just? ?a? ?simple? ?grassroot? ?martial? ?god,? ?so? ?he? ?doesn’t? ?
need? ?to? ?follow? ?the? ?same? ?purity? ?mandates? ?as? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?Mu? ?Qing.? ?
?
?
———-? ?
?
?
Ch.142:? ?I? ?Choose? ?the? ?Path? ?I? ?Walk? ?2? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?blocked? ?himself? ?between? ?the? ?two? ?of? ?them,? ?“I? ?think,? ?we? ?should? ?all? ?sit? ?down? ?and? ?talk.? ?Look? ?
at? ?this? ?child? ?My? ?Lord,? ?doesn’t? ?he? ?look? ?like...”? ?
?
“Your? ?son,? ?right?”? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?smiled.? ?
?
“...Ha,? ?haha,? ?hahahaha...”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?laughed? ?awkwardly? ?for? ?a? ?bit,? ?“How? ?did? ?My? ?Lord? ?know? ?what? ?I? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?say?”? ? ?
?
Jun? ?Wu? ?finally? ?moved? ?his? ?eyes? ?off? ?of? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?lightly? ?patted? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?shoulder,? ?and? ?
wordlessly? ?turned? ?around? ?to? ?sit? ?back? ?at? ?the? ?table.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?understood? ?that? ?this? ?meant? ?there? ?
wasn’t? ?going? ?to? ?be? ?any? ?confrontation? ?for? ?now,? ?and? ?unconsciously? ?sighed? ?a? ?breath? ?of? ?relief.? ?
?
If? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?intended? ?to? ?kill? ?anyone,? ?just? ?how? ?terrifying? ?he? ?was? ?after? ?unsheathing? ?the? ?sword? ?was? ?
something? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?witnessed? ?himself.? ?Under? ?no? ?circumstances? ?did? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?ever? ?want? ?Hua? ?
Cheng? ?to? ?face? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?head? ?on.? ?
?
However,? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?eyes? ?never? ?left? ?Jun? ?Wu,? ?and? ?still? ?watched? ?him? ?warily.? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?pushed? ?the? ?
teacups? ?forward,? ?“Although? ?this? ?isn’t? ?the? ?first? ?time? ?I’ve? ?met? ?your? ?excellency,? ?but? ?it? ?certainly? ?is? ?the? ?
first? ?time? ?we? ?are? ?at? ?such? ?close? ?range? ?of? ?each? ?other.? ?Since? ?it’s? ?a? ?peaceful? ?occasion,? ?why? ?not? ?take? ?
tea? ?for? ?wine,? ?and? ?smooth? ?over? ?this? ?situation.? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?cleared? ?his? ?throat? ?lightly,? ?and? ?tried? ?to? ?appear? ?as? ?casual? ?as? ?possible? ?as? ?he? ?pulled? ?on? ?his? ?
outer? ?robes,? ?asking? ?as? ?he? ?pulled? ?on? ?his? ?boots,? ?“My? ?Lord,? ?how? ?are? ?things? ?at? ?the? ?Upper? ?Court?”? ? ?
?
“...”? ?
?
Jun? ?Wu? ?put? ?down? ?his? ?teacup? ?and? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?away,? ?gazing? ?outside? ?of? ?the? ?window? ?to? ?watch? ?
the? ?moon,? ?sighing,? ?“I? ?do? ?not? ?wish? ?to? ?talk? ?of? ?it.”? ? ?
?
“...Alright.? ?I? ?won’t.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?
?
It? ?seemed? ?things? ?really? ?are? ?really? ?bad.? ?However? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?back? ?and? ?said? ?with? ?a? ?
straight? ?face,? ?“I? ?kid.? ?Even? ?if? ?I? ?do? ?not? ?wish? ?to? ?talk? ?of? ?it,? ?I? ?must.? ?Xian? ?Le,? ?leave? ?your? ?little? ?friend? ?for? ?
now? ?and? ?follow? ?me? ?outside? ?for? ?a? ?moment.”? ? ?
?
It? ?appeared? ?there? ?were? ?things? ?to? ?be? ?communicated? ?that? ?shouldn’t? ?be? ?heard? ?by? ?bystanders.? ?Xie? ?
Lian? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?comply? ?when? ?he? ?heard? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?say? ?leisurely? ?behind? ?him,? ?“Your? ?Upper? ?
Court? ?is? ?in? ?complete? ?pandemonium,? ?it’s? ?not? ?a? ?secret.? ?Even? ?little? ?country? ?bumpkin? ?ghosts? ?know? ?
that? ?the? ?gathering? ?of? ?ghosts? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?stopped? ?this? ?time? ?and? ?are? ?howling? ?nonstop? ?in? ?
excitement,? ?so? ?why? ?speak? ?outside?”? ? ?
?
He? ?climbed? ?off? ?the? ?bed? ?too? ?and? ?languidly? ?came? ?to? ?the? ?table,? ?picked? ?up? ?the? ?teacup? ?and? ?played? ?
with? ?it? ?for? ?a? ?bit,? ?looking? ?like? ?drinking? ?the? ?tea? ?was? ?of? ?no? ?interest? ?to? ?him,? ?A? ?moment? ?later,? ?the? ?three? ?
all? ?sat? ?by? ?the? ?table.? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?appearance? ?right? ?now? ?was? ?young,? ?but? ?his? ?expression? ?and? ?
manners? ?almost? ?made? ?one? ?forget? ?that? ?fact.? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?replied? ?gently,? ?“Nothing? ?could? ?deceive? ?the? ?
eyes? ?of? ?his? ?excellency.”? ? ?
?
It? ?was? ?tea? ?poured? ?by? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?after? ?all,? ?due? ?respect? ?must? ?be? ?given,? ?so? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?drank? ?it,? ?and? ?
asked? ?as? ?he? ?did? ?so,? ?“Isn’t? ?there? ?still? ?some? ?time? ?before? ?the? ?official? ?opening? ?and? ?sealing? ?of? ?Mount? ?
TongLu’s? ?gates?? ?Or? ?is? ?it? ?confirmed? ?now?”? ? ?
?
Although? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?had? ?mentioned? ?this? ?before,? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?always? ?thought? ?he? ?might’ve? ?
exaggerated? ?and? ?never? ?fully? ?took? ?his? ?words? ?to? ?heart.? ?However,? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?confirmed,? ?“Indeed,? ?it? ?
couldn’t? ?be? ?stopped? ?anymore.”? ? ?
?
“It? ?seems? ?your? ?original? ?plan? ?was? ?like? ?all? ?those? ?times? ?before;? ?send? ?all? ?the? ?martial? ?gods? ?to? ?seal? ?off? ?
every? ?road? ?leading? ?to? ?Mount? ?TongLu? ?and? ?stop? ?the? ?demons? ?en? ?route.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?commented,? ?
“But? ?Mu? ?Qing? ?broke? ?out? ?of? ?prison? ?and? ?escaped,? ?his? ?whereabouts? ?unknown,? ?so? ?now? ?there’s? ?
suddenly? ?a? ?breach? ?in? ?the? ?south.”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?inquired,? ?“Did? ?Feng? ?Xin? ?return? ?to? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Court?? ?How? ?is? ?he?? ?Did? ?he? ?say? ?
anything?”? ? ?
?
“He’s? ?returned,? ?but? ?not? ?in? ?a? ?good? ?condition.”? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?replied,? ?“Nan? ?Yang? ?returned? ?wounded? ?and? ?
gave? ?a? ?hurried? ?report? ?of? ?the? ?truth,? ?pleading? ?for? ?me? ?to? ?give? ?the? ?orders? ?to? ?all? ?the? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?
not? ?to? ?touch? ?the? ?female? ?ghost? ?Lan? ?Chang? ?and? ?her? ?son.? ?He? ?had? ?wanted? ?to? ?descend? ?again? ?after? ?
reporting? ?in,? ?but? ?his? ?injuries? ?were? ?not? ?optimistic,? ?his? ?right? ?arm? ?could? ?barely? ?move,? ?so? ?I? ?buckled? ?
him? ?down? ?in? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Court? ?to? ?recover.? ?However,? ?with? ?that,? ?the? ?southern? ?blockade? ?is? ?now? ?
full? ?of? ?holes.”? ? ?
?
If? ?this? ?was? ?any? ?other? ?matter,? ?like? ?if? ?they? ?needed? ?someone? ?to? ?go? ?kill? ?a? ?monster? ?or? ?steal? ?spiritual? ?
pills? ?or? ?something,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?would? ?instantly? ?volunteer.? ?But? ?something? ?like? ?leading? ?troops? ?wasn’t? ?
something? ?so? ?easily? ?done? ?by? ?just? ?charging? ?ahead? ?alone.? ?One? ?man? ?could? ?break? ?through? ?an? ?army? ?
of? ?millions? ?but? ?he? ?could? ?not? ?defend? ?against? ?an? ?army? ?of? ?millions? ?alone.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?long? ?since? ?
understood? ?that? ?leading? ?people? ?and? ?leading? ?armies? ?wasn’t? ?something? ?he? ?was? ?good? ?at.? ?Rather? ?
than? ?going? ?forward? ?bold-headedly,? ?it? ?was? ?best? ?if? ?someone? ?else? ?more? ?suited? ?for? ?the? ?position? ?be? ?
nominated,? ?so? ?he? ?wasn’t? ?quick? ?to? ?volunteer? ?himself.? ?Instead,? ?he? ?asked,? ?“Is? ?there? ?no? ?other? ?martial? ?
god? ?that? ?can? ?take? ?up? ?the? ?task?”? ? ?
?
Jun? ?Wu? ?replied,? ?“The? ?other? ?martial? ?gods? ?already? ?have? ?their? ?own? ?domains? ?and? ?missions? ?to? ?take? ?
care? ?of? ?and? ?have? ?no? ?liberties? ?to? ?take? ?on? ?more.? ?There? ?was? ?Pei? ?Su? ?from? ?the? ?Palace? ?of? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?
that? ?could’ve? ?been? ?borrowed,? ?but? ?he’s? ?long? ?been? ?exiled.? ?As? ?for? ?Qi? ?Ying,? ?he’s? ?the? ?same? ?as? ?you,? ?a? ?
madman? ?who? ?likes? ?to? ?charge? ?alone? ?in? ?the? ?world,? ?doing? ?as? ?he? ?willed.? ?Besides,? ?his? ?whereabouts? ?is? ?
also? ?currently? ?unknown,? ?and? ?that? ?child? ?never? ?answers? ?spiritual? ?communication.? ?The? ?head? ?
heavenly? ?official? ?of? ?the? ?Palace? ?of? ?Ling? ?Wen? ?is? ?also? ?lost? ?on? ?top? ?of? ?that.? ?There’s? ?a? ?temporary? ?head,? ?
but? ?the? ?other? ?civil? ?gods,? ?while? ?they’re? ?certainly? ?skilled? ?in? ?the? ?arts,? ?but? ?in? ?terms? ?of? ?passing? ?
communication,? ?making? ?decisions? ?and? ?coordination? ?management,? ?they? ?are? ?completely? ?
incapable.? ?These? ?past? ?few? ?days...”? ?
?
Listening? ?to? ?him,? ?it? ?sounded? ?like? ?in? ?the? ?past? ?few? ?days,? ?the? ?Upper? ?Court? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?fall? ?apart.? ?
Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?bear? ?to? ?listen? ?and? ?his? ?sympathies? ?grew,? ?“I? ?remember? ?My? ?Lord? ?once? ?said,? ?even? ?if? ?
the? ?gathering? ?of? ?ghosts? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?stopped,? ?there? ?was? ?another? ?way? ?to? ?remedy? ?the? ?situation?? ?
What? ?can? ?be? ?done?”? ? ?
?
“Remedy?”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said,? ?“More? ?like? ?suicide,? ?probably.”? ? ?
?
Jun? ?Wu? ?gave? ?him? ?a? ?look? ?and? ?sighed,? ?“I’ve? ?also? ?said,? ?unless? ?absolutely? ?necessary,? ?I? ?didn’t? ?want? ?to? ?
take? ?that? ?step.”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian’s? ?heart? ?tightened,? ?“Could? ?it? ?be...?”? ? ?
?
Jun? ?Wu? ?replied? ?slowly,? ?“That’s? ?right.? ?Right? ?now,? ?the? ?only? ?way? ?to? ?remedy? ?the? ?situation? ?was? ?to? ?send? ?
a? ?martial? ?god? ?to? ?infiltrate? ?the? ?gathering? ?of? ?ghosts? ?in? ?Mount? ?TongLu.”? ? ?
?
Since? ?the? ?start? ?of? ?slaughter? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?stopped,? ?then? ?make? ?sure? ?at? ?the? ?end? ?of? ?the? ?slaughter,? ?not? ?
a? ?single? ?one? ?is? ?left!? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?crossed? ?his? ?arms? ?into? ?his? ?sleeves? ?and? ?knitted? ?his? ?brows,? ?“I’m? ?not? ?too? ?familiar? ?with? ?Mount? ?
TongLu,? ?and? ?I? ?don’t? ?really? ?know? ?how? ?the? ?rules? ?work,? ?so? ?how? ?should? ?this? ?be? ?done?? ?Kill? ?every? ?last? ?
monster? ?and? ?demon? ?that? ?enter? ?the? ?mountain?”? ? ?
?
But? ?that? ?was? ?something? ?inconceivable.? ?To? ?infiltrate? ?Mount? ?TongLu,? ?identity? ?must? ?be? ?hidden,? ?and? ?
not? ?too? ?many? ?helpers? ?could? ?come? ?either,? ?otherwise,? ?if? ?the? ?ghosts? ?should? ?discover? ?there? ?were? ?
heavenly? ?officials? ?mixed? ?in,? ?they? ?would? ?for? ?sure? ?surround? ?and? ?destroy.? ?Mount? ?TongLu? ?was? ?also? ?
an? ?extremely? ?evil? ?place;? ?a? ?heavenly? ?official’s? ?spiritual? ?powers? ?would? ?be? ?significantly? ?restricted,? ?
much? ?more? ?so? ?than? ?when? ?they? ?were? ?at? ?the? ?Black? ?Water? ?Demon? ?Lair.? ?
?
However,? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?said,? ?“No,? ?there’s? ?no? ?need? ?to? ?exert? ?that? ?much? ?effort.”? ? ?
?
“I’m? ?familiar? ?with? ?Mount? ?TongLu.? ?Gege,? ?look? ?outside.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said.? ?
?
Following? ?where? ?he? ?was? ?pointing,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?out? ?the? ?window.? ?Beyond? ?the? ?window? ?below? ?
was? ?a? ?large? ?field? ?planted? ?with? ?some? ?flowers? ?or? ?grass,? ?and? ?there? ?was? ?also? ?a? ?small? ?flower? ?pot? ?in? ?
the? ?corner.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?hopped? ?onto? ?the? ?window? ?sill? ?and? ?pointed? ?at? ?that? ?flower? ?pot,? ?“At? ?the? ?heart? ?
of? ?Mount? ?TongLu? ?is? ?a? ?giant? ?kiln.”? ? ?
?
Just? ?as? ?the? ?words? ?left? ?his? ?lips,? ?that? ?little? ?flower? ?pot? ?suddenly? ?fell? ?over? ?and? ?rolled? ?to? ?the? ?centre? ?of? ?
the? ?field? ?before? ?standing? ?upright? ?by? ?itself.? ?Soon? ?after,? ?with? ?it? ?as? ?the? ?heart,? ?the? ?once? ?flat? ?ground? ?
suddenly? ?rumbled? ?and? ?rolled? ?in? ?waves,? ?rolling? ?into? ?mounds? ?of? ?various? ?sizes? ?all? ?around.? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?continued,? ?“All? ?around? ?the? ?‘Kiln’? ?is? ?a? ?mountain? ?range? ?encircling? ?it.? ?This? ?entire? ?area? ?is? ?
all? ?within? ?Mount? ?TongLu’s? ?perimeters.? ?It’s? ?as? ?big? ?as? ?seven? ?city? ?states.”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?amazed? ?watching? ?this,? ?and? ?he? ?leapt? ?up? ?lightly,? ?hopping? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?window.? ?As? ?he? ?
stood? ?among? ?the? ?field? ?full? ?of? ?little? ?earth? ?mounds,? ?it? ?gave? ?him? ?the? ?illusion? ?of? ?being? ?a? ?giant? ?looking? ?
down? ?below.? ? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?continued,? ?“The? ?slaughter? ?of? ?ghosts? ?begins? ?from? ?the? ?outer? ?edges? ?of? ?the? ?mountain? ?
range,? ?and? ?continues? ?on? ?towards? ?the? ?‘Kiln’? ?in? ?the? ?heart.”? ? ?
?
He? ?gave? ?a? ?wave? ?of? ?his? ?hand,? ?and? ?many? ?tiny? ?objects? ?on? ?the? ?ground? ?started? ?agitating.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?
crouched? ?down? ?to? ?watch? ?closely? ?and? ?discovered? ?it? ?was? ?many? ?weeds? ?and? ?small? ?leaves? ?twisting,? ?
like? ?a? ?small? ?person? ?crossing? ?through? ?the? ?mountain? ?range.? ?He? ?remarked,? ?“Which? ?is? ?to? ?say,? ?the? ?
closer? ?to? ?this? ?‘Kiln’? ?in? ?the? ?centre,? ?the? ?ghosts? ?are? ?also? ?stronger?”? ? ?
?
“That’s? ?right.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said,? ?“Because? ?the? ?weak? ?weeds? ?will? ?have? ?all? ?been? ?annihilated? ?at? ?the? ?
edges.”? ? ?
?
Another? ?light? ?wave? ?of? ?a? ?hand,? ?and? ?breeze? ?brushed? ?by,? ?and? ?the? ?weeds? ?were? ?completely? ?cleaned? ?
away? ?by? ?the? ?breeze.? ?The? ?empty? ?little? ?earth? ?mounds? ?suddenly? ?became? ?desolate,? ?looking? ?rather? ?
sad.? ?However,? ?the? ?little? ?flower? ?pot? ?in? ?the? ?centre? ?suddenly? ?emitted? ?a? ?red? ?light,? ?truly? ?looking? ?like? ?a? ?
tiny,? ?fire? ?blazing? ?Kiln.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?stared? ?at? ?it? ?and? ?noticed? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?tiny? ?little? ?red? ?flower,? ?and? ?a? ?few? ?
unremarkable? ?weeds? ?that? ?jumped? ?onto? ?the? ?little? ?flower? ?pot,? ?spinning? ?around? ?the? ?sides? ?of? ?the? ?pot? ?
like? ?little? ?people? ?dancing.? ?That? ?little? ?red? ?flower? ?danced? ?the? ?wildest.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?crouched? ?down? ?
next? ?to? ?him,? ?“Finally,? ?only? ?a? ?handful? ?of? ?ghosts? ?at? ?most? ?can? ?enter? ?the? ?interior? ?of? ?the? ?‘Kiln’.? ?And? ?
then,? ?the? ?‘Kiln’? ?will? ?close.”? ? ?
?
Those? ?‘little? ?people’? ?jumped? ?around? ?then? ?fell? ?in,? ?swallowed? ?by? ?the? ?black? ?mud.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?
continued,? ?“After? ?that,? ?within? ?forty-nine? ?days,? ?a? ?ghost? ?must? ?break? ?out? ?of? ?this? ?‘Kiln’.”? ? ?
?
That? ?little? ?flower? ?pot? ?trembled? ?violently? ?and? ?exploded? ?abruptly,? ?a? ?blinding? ?red? ?light? ?flashed,? ?
blasting? ?a? ?wave? ?of? ?dust.? ?
?
Accompanying? ?this? ?‘earth? ?shattering’? ?birth,? ?that? ?little? ?red? ?flower? ?leapt? ?out? ?from? ?within? ?the? ?mud? ?and? ?
raised? ?its? ?two? ?little? ?leaves? ?as? ?if? ?it? ?was? ?shouting? ?to? ?the? ?winds? ?to? ?announce? ?its? ?might? ?to? ?the? ?world.? ?
Seeing? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?puffed? ?a? ?laugh.? ?
?
However,? ?perhaps? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?little? ?too? ?overly? ?excited,? ?and? ?that? ?little? ?red? ?flower? ?slipped? ?on? ?the? ?edge? ?
of? ?that? ?flower? ?pot,? ?about? ?to? ?fall.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?hurriedly? ?reached? ?out? ?his? ?hands? ?and? ?caught? ?it? ?lightly,? ?
holding? ?it? ?in? ?his? ?palms.? ?That? ?little? ?red? ?flower? ?seemed? ?to? ?have? ?gone? ?dizzy? ?from? ?the? ?fall? ?and? ?shook? ?
its? ?‘head’,? ?raising? ?its? ?‘face’? ?to? ?gaze? ?at? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?had? ?caught? ?hold? ?of? ?itself.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?brushed? ?off? ?
the? ?crumbs? ?of? ?dirt? ?that? ?was? ?splattered? ?onto? ?him? ?and? ?asked,? ?“So? ?this? ?little? ?one? ?is? ?the? ?new? ?Ghost? ?
King? ?birthed? ?from? ?Mount? ?TongLu?”? ? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?nodded,? ?“Correct.? ?The? ?slaughter? ?of? ?ghosts? ?at? ?the? ?beginning? ?was? ?a? ?strengthening? ?
process? ?and? ?cannot? ?be? ?bypassed.? ?If? ?the? ?ghost? ?who? ?entered? ?the? ?‘Kiln’? ?isn’t? ?strong? ?enough? ?and? ?
can’t? ?break? ?out? ?of? ?it,? ?then? ?it? ?will? ?be? ?suffocated? ?inside,? ?burned? ?to? ?ashes,? ?and? ?become? ?fertilizer? ?for? ?
another.”? ? ?
?
He? ?rose? ?to? ?his? ?feet? ?and? ?called? ?to? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?still? ?sitting? ?inside,? ?“Your? ?idea? ?is? ?to? ?cut? ?down? ?the? ?mighty? ?
and? ?leave? ?out? ?the? ?weeds.? ?There’s? ?only? ?so? ?many? ?with? ?the? ?potential? ?to? ?become? ?ghost? ?kings;? ?once? ?
they’re? ?annihilated,? ?the? ?weak? ?ones? ?who? ?remain? ?can’t? ?break? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?‘Kiln’? ?even? ?if? ?they? ?enter? ?it.? ?If? ?
they? ?can’t? ?break? ?out,? ?then? ?they? ?still? ?wouldn’t? ?be? ?recognized? ?as? ?ghost? ?kings.”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?nodded,? ?“Sounds? ?doable.? ?But? ?does? ?it? ?work?? ?Has? ?this? ?been? ?attempted? ?before?”? ? ?
?
Jun? ?Wu? ?approached? ?the? ?window? ?and? ?said,? ?“No.? ?It’s? ?never? ?been? ?attempted? ?before.? ?In? ?the? ?past,? ?the? ?
demons? ?had? ?always? ?been? ?stopped? ?before? ?they? ?were? ?able? ?to? ?gather.”? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?crossed? ?his? ?arms,? ?“I’m? ?afraid? ?it’s? ?not? ?doable.? ?To? ?fight? ?under? ?these? ?conditions? ?is? ?no? ?
different? ?than? ?suicide.? ?I? ?suggest? ?you? ?who? ?came? ?up? ?with? ?such? ?a? ?brilliant? ?idea? ?go? ?yourself.”? ? ?
?
“I’ve? ?that? ?very? ?intention.”? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?replied? ?easily.? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?taken? ?aback,? ?“My? ?Lord?”? ? ?
?
Jun? ?Wu? ?said,? ?“XianLe,? ?I’ve? ?descended? ?for? ?this? ?very? ?reason.? ?I? ?will? ?be? ?heading? ?to? ?Mount? ?TongLu.? ?I? ?
need? ?you? ?to? ?return? ?to? ?the? ?Heavenly? ?Court? ?and? ?take? ?care? ?of? ?my? ?duties? ?for? ?the? ?time? ?being.”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?dropped? ?his? ?hands? ?and? ?leapt? ?to? ?his? ?feet,? ?“That? ?won’t? ?do!? ?Have? ?me? ?take? ?your? ?place? ?
temporarily?? ?My? ?Lord,? ?please? ?don’t? ?joke,? ?no? ?one? ?will? ?listen? ?to? ?me.”? ? ?
?
Jun? ?Wu? ?grinned,? ?“Then,? ?this? ?will? ?be? ?a? ?very? ?good? ?chance? ?for? ?them? ?to? ?start.”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?rubbed? ?his? ?forehead,? ?“My? ?Lord,? ?pardon? ?me? ?but? ?I? ?really? ?can’t? ?agree? ?with? ?you? ?this? ?time.? ?
This? ?is? ?too? ?absurd.? ?To? ?use? ?a? ?vulgar? ?example? ?from? ?the? ?mortal? ?realm,? ?an? ?emperor? ?can? ?enter? ?the? ?
battlefield,? ?but? ?have? ?you? ?ever? ?heard? ?of? ?an? ?emperor? ?go? ?infiltrate? ?and? ?assassinate?? ?That? ?the? ?
Heavenly? ?Court? ?can? ?float? ?so? ?high? ?in? ?the? ?heavens? ?is? ?all? ?held? ?up? ?by? ?you.? ?None? ?of? ?the? ?other? ?
heavenly? ?officials? ?can? ?do? ?this,? ?it’s? ?all? ?My? ?Lord’s? ?efforts.? ?If? ?you’re? ?there,? ?the? ?sky? ?won’t? ?fall.? ?If? ?you’re? ?
not? ?there,? ?then? ?the? ?sky? ?really? ?will? ?fall.”? ?
?
Jun? ?Wu? ?however,? ?answered? ?with? ?his? ?hands? ?clenched? ?at? ?his? ?sides,? ?“XianLe,? ?there’s? ?no? ?one? ?in? ?this? ?
world? ?who? ?will? ?fall? ?only? ?because? ?the? ?heaven’s? ?collapsed.? ?Once? ?you’re? ?used? ?to? ?it? ?you’ll? ?find,? ?even? ?
with? ?whoever’s? ?lost,? ?life? ?will? ?go? ?on.? ?There? ?will? ?always? ?be? ?new? ?to? ?replace? ?the? ?old.? ?To? ?have? ?a? ?ghost? ?
king? ?be? ?born,? ?it’s? ?nothing? ?if? ?it’s? ?another? ?Crimson? ?Rain? ?Sought? ?Flower? ?or? ?Ship? ?Sinking? ?Black? ?
Water,? ?but? ?if? ?it’s? ?another? ?White? ?Clothed? ?Calamity,? ?then? ?the? ?world? ?will? ?fall? ?into? ?chaos.”? ? ?
?
He? ?looked? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?in? ?the? ?eyes,? ?“You’ve? ?seen? ?with? ?your? ?own? ?eyes? ?just? ?how? ?difficult? ?it? ?was? ?to? ?kill? ?a? ?
‘Supreme’? ?like? ?him.? ?If? ?it’s? ?not? ?me? ?who? ?goes,? ?then? ?there’s? ?no? ?other? ?way.”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?also? ?knew? ?that? ?this? ?wasn’t? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?being? ?humble.? ?To? ?be? ?in? ?the? ?weakest? ?state? ?and? ?
trapped? ?with? ?millions? ?of? ?ghosts,? ?and? ?to? ?accurately? ?pick? ?out? ?each? ?and? ?every? ?one? ?of? ?the? ?strongest? ?
to? ?kill? ?or? ?subdue,? ?even? ?if? ?it? ?was? ?himself? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?say? ?for? ?sure? ?he? ?could? ?do? ?it.? ?Only? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?had? ?
the? ?biggest? ?chance? ?of? ?success.? ?But,? ?this? ?leave? ?might? ?take? ?up? ?to? ?ten? ?years.? ?What? ?about? ?the? ?
outside? ?world?? ?What? ?about? ?the? ?Upper? ?Court?”? ? ?
?
Just? ?then,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“Who? ?says? ?there’s? ?no? ?other? ?way?”? ? ?
?
?
———-? ?
?
Ch.143:? ?Gates? ?Open? ?at? ?Mount? ?TongLu;? ?the? ?Assembly? ?of? ?Millions? ?of? ?Ghosts? ?
?
The? ?next? ?day,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?began? ?their? ?journey.? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?was? ?holding? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?hand? ?and? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“Gege,? ?next? ?time? ?you? ?see? ?Jun? ?Wu,? ?don’t? ?
talk? ?to? ?him,? ?turn? ?around? ?and? ?run? ?away.”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?puzzled,? ?“Why?”? ? ?
?
“I? ?just? ?knew? ?that? ?every? ?time? ?he? ?comes? ?looking? ?for? ?you,? ?it’s? ?never? ?for? ?anything? ?good.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?
said.? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?laughed,? ?“What? ?do? ?you? ?mean?? ?The? ?work? ?he? ?originally? ?assigned? ?me? ?wasn’t? ?this.”? ? ?
?
However,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said,? ?“It’s? ?the? ?same? ?thing.? ?Whether? ?if? ?it’s? ?going? ?to? ?Mount? ?TongLu? ?or? ?help? ?
him? ?manage? ?the? ?heavens,? ?neither? ?are? ?good? ?assignments.? ?The? ?Upper? ?Court? ?is? ?in? ?complete? ?
shambles? ?now,? ?might? ?as? ?well? ?let? ?it? ?break? ?up.? ?Throwing? ?that? ?pile? ?of? ?mud? ?on? ?your? ?lap,? ?what’s? ?up? ?
with? ?that?? ?It’s? ?no? ?different? ?than? ?choosing? ?between? ?a? ?sword? ?and? ?a? ?knife? ?to? ?commit? ?suicide.”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?laugh,? ?but? ?after? ?laughing,? ?he? ?said? ?soberly,? ?“Still,? ?I? ?didn’t? ?think? ?you? ?
would? ?volunteer? ?to? ?accompany? ?me? ?to? ?Mount? ?TongLu.? ?I’ve? ?been? ?thinking? ?for? ?a? ?while? ?and? ?feel? ?this? ?
should? ?still? ?be? ?said:? ?San? ?Lang,? ?absolutely? ?don’t? ?force? ?yourself.”? ? ?
?
He? ?kept? ?feeling? ?that? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?only? ?volunteered? ?to? ?come? ?because? ?he? ?knew? ?what? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?
thinking.? ?After? ?all,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?really? ?felt? ?like? ?rather? ?than? ?managing? ?the? ?heavens? ?and? ?do? ?what? ?he? ?
wasn’t? ?good? ?at,? ?it? ?would? ?be? ?much? ?more? ?gratifying? ?to? ?get? ?locked? ?up? ?in? ?a? ?Kiln? ?and? ?kill? ?to? ?his? ?heart’s? ?
content.? ?However,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said,? ?“Gege,? ?I’ve? ?already? ?sworn? ?three? ?times? ?I’m? ?not? ?forcing? ?
myself,? ?do? ?you? ?not? ?believe? ?me?”? ? ?
?
“Of? ?course? ?it’s? ?not? ?that...”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?nodded,? ?“Then? ?just? ?relax,? ?gege.? ?I? ?know? ?my? ?limits.? ?Don’t? ?feel? ?like? ?you? ?owe? ?me? ?
anything.? ?Even? ?standing? ?completely? ?in? ?my? ?position,? ?I? ?wouldn’t? ?mind? ?stuffing? ?the? ?new? ?ghost? ?king? ?
back? ?before? ?it’s? ?born? ?either.”? ? ?
?
Currently,? ?the? ?present? ?ghost? ?kings? ?and? ?the? ?heavens? ?all? ?shared? ?mutual? ?benefits? ?on? ?this? ?matter.? ?
There? ?was? ?only? ?so? ?much? ?rice? ?and? ?everyone? ?wanted? ?a? ?bite.? ?There? ?was? ?already? ?not? ?enough? ?to? ?go? ?
around? ?and? ?there? ?was? ?friction? ?at? ?times,? ?but? ?to? ?add? ?another? ?one? ?to? ?the? ?mix? ?to? ?share? ?the? ?pot,? ?no? ?
one? ?was? ?willing.? ?Besides,? ?if? ?this? ?new? ?one? ?had? ?an? ?extreme? ?character,? ?then? ?if? ?they? ?go? ?mad? ?no? ?one? ?
would? ?have? ?anything? ?left? ?to? ?eat.? ?
?
After? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?listened? ?to? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?suggestion,? ?he? ?considered? ?it? ?seriously.? ?If? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?to? ?
go? ?alone,? ?it? ?certainly? ?wouldn’t? ?be? ?as? ?adequate? ?if? ?he? ?went? ?himself,? ?but? ?if? ?it’s? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?with? ?a? ?demon? ?
king? ?who? ?had? ?once? ?trained? ?through? ?Mount? ?TongLu? ?himself,? ?then? ?this? ?combination? ?would? ?certainly? ?
have? ?more? ?odds? ?in? ?their? ?favour.? ?
?
Of? ?course,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?wouldn’t? ?be? ?going? ?for? ?nothing.? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?agreed? ?to? ?his? ?terms:? ?until? ?the? ?next? ?
time? ?Mount? ?TongLu? ?reopens,? ?the? ?entire? ?heaven? ?must? ?detour? ?around? ?the? ?Ghost? ?City.? ?Also,? ?the? ?
entire? ?court? ?must? ?announce? ?the? ?heroic? ?deeds? ?of? ?Crimson? ?Rain? ?Sought? ?Flower? ?and? ?sing? ?songs? ?of? ?
praises? ?for? ?an? ?entire? ?year...? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?tried? ?to? ?imagine? ?it,? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?probably? ?something? ?to? ?the? ?
effect? ?of? ?“You? ?bunch? ?of? ?foolish? ?heavenly? ?officials!? ?Do? ?you? ?know? ?who? ?saved? ?you!”? ?This? ?was? ?
practically? ?like? ?tormenting? ?the? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?who? ?were? ?already? ?wary? ?of? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?and? ?bore? ?
complicated? ?feelings? ?towards? ?him,? ?and? ?stepping? ?on? ?their? ?faces.? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?smiled,? ?“With? ?me? ?around,? ?this? ?journey? ?will? ?be? ?much? ?easier? ?for? ?you.”? ?
?
Pulling? ?himself? ?back,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied,? ?“I? ?still? ?think? ?we? ?should? ?go? ?after? ?your? ?period? ?of? ?aggravation? ?
is? ?over,? ?after? ?you’ve? ?returned? ?to? ?your? ?normal? ?self.”? ?
?
“You? ?don’t? ?need? ?to? ?worry? ?about? ?that? ?either.? ?It’ll? ?be? ?soon.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said.? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?taken? ?aback,? ?“Huh...”? ?
?
“What? ?is? ?it?? ?Gege,? ?what’s? ?that? ?face?”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?questioned.? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?said? ?dejectedly,? ?“...Does? ?that? ?mean,? ?San? ?Lang’s? ?gonna? ?grow? ?up?”? ? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?clenched? ?his? ?fists? ?by? ?his? ?sides,? ?“En.? ?I’ve? ?endured? ?for? ?too? ?long.? ?I? ?can’t? ?wait? ?anymore.”? ? ?
?
Yet? ?unexpectedly,? ?just? ?as? ?he? ?finished? ?talking? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?lifted? ?him? ?up,? ?raising? ?him? ?high? ?into? ?the? ?air? ?
with? ?his? ?arms? ?and? ?laughed,? ?“It’ll? ?be? ?such? ?a? ?shame!? ?I? ?won’t? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?lift? ?you? ?up? ?anymore? ?after? ?
you? ?grow? ?up,? ?so? ?I? ?best? ?hug? ?as? ?much? ?as? ?I? ?can? ?now,? ?hahahahahaha...”? ?
?
“...”? ?
?
On? ?the? ?way? ?to? ?Mount? ?TongLu,? ?they? ?weren’t? ?able? ?to? ?use? ?the? ?Distance? ?Shortening? ?array? ?and? ?could? ?
only? ?walk.? ?Over? ?ten? ?days? ?later,? ?the? ?two? ?finally? ?left? ?towns? ?and? ?signs? ?of? ?life? ?far? ?behind? ?them? ?and? ?
entered? ?a? ?mountainous? ?area? ?with? ?endless? ?fields? ?of? ?lush? ?green? ?forests.? ?
?
The? ?deeper? ?they? ?entered? ?the? ?woods,? ?the? ?more? ?monsters? ?and? ?demons? ?they? ?saw? ?on? ?the? ?road,? ?the? ?
bands? ?of? ?them? ?growing? ?bigger? ?and? ?thicker,? ?their? ?shapes? ?and? ?forms? ?bizarre,? ?sneaking? ?and? ?
hurrying.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?walked? ?with? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?in? ?hand? ?and? ?whispered,? ?“So? ?many? ?have? ?come.”? ? ?
?
“The? ?gathering? ?this? ?time? ?certainly? ?is? ?bigger? ?than? ?before.? ?It’s? ?because? ?the? ?heavens? ?didn’t? ?put? ?up? ?a? ?
barricade,? ?so? ?many? ?who? ?weren’t? ?planning? ?on? ?coming? ?have? ?all? ?come.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said.? ?
?
However,? ?there? ?weren’t? ?only? ?lone? ?ghosts,? ?there? ?were? ?many? ?that? ?came? ?in? ?groups.? ?After? ?a? ?while,? ?
Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?ran? ?into? ?a? ?large? ?group? ?of? ?ragged? ?and? ?disheveled? ?ghosts,? ?their? ?faces? ?
savage,? ?marching? ?in? ?a? ?parade? ?chanting:? ? ?
?
“THE? ?WORLD? ?BE? ?KILN;? ?THE? ?SOULS? ?BE? ?COPPER!”? ? ?
?
“WATERS? ?DEEP? ?AND? ?FIRES? ?BURN;? ?ADVERSITIES? ?BURIED? ?WITHIN!”? ? ?
?
“THE? ?WORLD? ?BE? ?KILN;? ?THE? ?SOULS? ?BE? ?COPPER!”? ? ?
?
“WATERS? ?DEEP? ?AND? ?FIRES? ?BURN;? ?ADVERSITIES? ?BURIED? ?WITHIN!”? ? ?
?
Listening? ?to? ?the? ?tone? ?of? ?their? ?holler,? ?not? ?only? ?did? ?they? ?not? ?sound? ?afraid,? ?they? ?sounded? ?eager.? ?But? ?
hearing? ?their? ?slogan,? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?expression? ?grew? ?frigid,? ?“They? ?don’t? ?even? ?understand? ?what? ?
they’re? ?saying? ?but? ?they? ?definitely? ?shout? ?louder? ?than? ?anybody.”? ? ?
?
Thinking? ?of? ?it,? ?many? ?of? ?these? ?monsters? ?and? ?demons? ?had? ?never? ?experienced? ?this? ?trial? ?before? ?and? ?
didn’t? ?understand? ?the? ?cruelty? ?of? ?it,? ?taking? ?the? ?becoming? ?of? ?a? ?Supreme? ?something? ?easily? ?
achievable,? ?and? ?each? ?of? ?them? ?were? ?filled? ?with? ?heroic? ?determination,? ?bringing? ?displeasure? ?to? ?the? ?
one? ?who? ?was? ?experienced.? ? ?
?
“Can? ?they? ?also? ?come? ?banded? ?in? ?groups?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.? ?
?
“Those? ?are? ?typically? ?ones? ?who? ?knew? ?each? ?other? ?already? ?and? ?planned? ?to? ?charge? ?the? ?mountain? ?
together,? ?swearing? ?to? ?show? ?mercy? ?for? ?each? ?other.? ?However,? ?none? ?of? ?the? ?promises? ?will? ?keep? ?
simply? ?because? ?fighting? ?to? ?the? ?end,? ?the? ?more? ?killed? ?the? ?stronger? ?you? ?get,? ?the? ?more? ?you? ?save? ?the? ?
less? ?chance? ?you? ?have? ?to? ?survive,? ?and? ?the? ?easiest? ?target? ?is? ?often? ?ones? ?closest? ?to? ?you.”? ?
?
Then,? ?he? ?knitted? ?his? ?brows? ?slightly,? ?covering? ?his? ?right? ?eye,? ?seeming? ?to? ?have? ?another? ?oncoming? ?
headache.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?quickly? ?seized? ?him? ?and? ?hid? ?behind? ?the? ?trees? ?on? ?the? ?side,? ?crouching? ?down,? ?
feeling? ?concerned,? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?we’re? ?about? ?to? ?enter? ?the? ?mountain.? ?Are? ?you? ?sure? ?you’ll? ?be? ?
alright?”? ? ?
?
Easing? ?his? ?brows,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?replied,? ?“Don’t? ?worry,? ?gege,? ?everything’s? ?fine.? ?It’ll? ?be? ?better? ?soon.”? ?
?
How? ?could? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?not? ?be? ?worried? ?simply? ?because? ?he? ?said? ?so?? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?then? ?added,? ?“Gege,? ?
come? ?closer,? ?I’ve? ?something? ?to? ?tell? ?you.”? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?know? ?what? ?he? ?was? ?planning? ?so? ?he? ?drew? ?his? ?face? ?closer.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?cupped? ?his? ?
face? ?with? ?his? ?hands? ?and? ?lightly? ?touched? ?his? ?forehead? ?with? ?his.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?blinked? ?and? ?was? ?stunned.? ?
He? ?waited? ?until? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?released? ?him? ?before? ?he? ?started,? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?what? ?are? ?you...”? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?smiled,? ?“Done.? ?It’s? ?all? ?ghosts? ?and? ?demons? ?here;? ?gege? ?is? ?a? ?heavenly? ?official,? ?your? ?
scent? ?would? ?be? ?very? ?conspicuous? ?in? ?there.? ?This? ?will? ?help? ?cover? ?it? ?a? ?little.”? ? ?
?
So? ?that? ?was? ?what? ?it? ?was.? ?He? ?was? ?staining? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?with? ?his? ?scent.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?
remember? ?how? ?the? ?two? ?exchanged? ?spiritual? ?powers? ?and? ?air? ?between? ?them? ?and? ?was? ?afraid? ?Hua? ?
Cheng? ?would? ?be? ?reminded? ?too? ?and? ?quickly? ?said,? ?“Alright.? ?Let’s? ?put? ?on? ?some? ?disguise.”? ? ?
?
In? ?order? ?to? ?blend? ?in? ?with? ?millions? ?of? ?ghosts,? ?naturally? ?they? ?must? ?go? ?under? ?some? ?disguises.? ?
However,? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?anything? ?more? ?than? ?draping? ?on? ?a? ?cloak.? ?There? ?were? ?already? ?plenty? ?of? ?ghosts? ?
and? ?monsters? ?who? ?also? ?donned? ?masks? ?and? ?cloaks,? ?so? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?odd.? ?The? ?two? ?dressed? ?simply,? ?
and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?held? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?hand? ?as? ?they? ?continued? ?slowly? ?on? ?their? ?way.? ?After? ?a? ?while,? ?there? ?
was? ?the? ?faint? ?noise? ?of? ?a? ?commotion? ?ahead? ?on? ?the? ?road.? ?Unsure? ?of? ?what? ?was? ?happening,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?
asked,? ?“Is? ?there? ?anything? ?like? ?a? ?landmark? ?that? ?tells? ?you? ?you’ve? ?entered? ?Mount? ?TongLu?”? ? ?
?
“There? ?is,”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?answered,? ?“But? ?don’t? ?trust? ?it.”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?continue? ?his? ?questions? ?but? ?the? ?commotion? ?ahead? ?of? ?them? ?was? ?growing? ?
louder.? ?When? ?the? ?two? ?exited? ?the? ?forest,? ?turns? ?out,? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?large? ?blackened? ?crowd? ?of? ?at? ?least? ?
three? ?to? ?four? ?hundred? ?monsters? ?and? ?demons? ?stuck? ?before? ?a? ?steep? ?bluff.? ?However,? ?this? ?number? ?
was? ?but? ?the? ?tip? ?of? ?the? ?iceberg? ?for? ?the? ?turnout? ?of? ?the? ?gathering? ?this? ?time.? ?
?
“Why? ?is? ?the? ?road? ?blocked?? ?Did? ?we? ?go? ?the? ?wrong? ?way?”? ? ?
?
“That? ?can’t? ?be...? ?Didn’t? ?they? ?say? ?any? ?road? ?will? ?lead? ?to? ?Mount? ?TongLu?”? ? ?
?
Perhaps? ?it? ?was? ?because? ?they? ?weren’t? ?within? ?the? ?boundaries? ?of? ?Mount? ?TongLu? ?and? ?the? ?
slaughtering? ?hadn’t? ?officially? ?began,? ?the? ?crowd? ?of? ?ghosts? ?were? ?still? ?considerably? ?peaceful.? ?Xie? ?
Lian? ?found? ?a? ?random? ?ghost? ?on? ?the? ?side? ?and? ?asked? ?casually,? ?“What’s? ?going? ?on? ?over? ?there?”? ? ?
?
That? ?ghost? ?yelled,? ?“YA? ?AINT? ?GOT? ?EYES? ?TA? ?SEE? ?FER? ?YERSELF?? ?THERE’S? ?A? ?MOUNTAIN? ?IN? ?
THE? ?WAY,? ?WE? ?CAN’T? ?GIT? ?THROUGH!”? ? ?
?
“...”? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?took? ?a? ?look? ?at? ?this? ?ghost? ?next? ?to? ?him,? ?half? ?of? ?its? ?head? ?were? ?sliced? ?off,? ?and? ?truly,? ?it? ?was? ?the? ?
one? ?that? ?didn’t? ?have? ?eyes? ?to? ?see.? ?But? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?wasn’t? ?going? ?to? ?say? ?anything? ?and? ?only? ?said,? ?“Can’t? ?
we? ?go? ?around?”? ? ?
?
Just? ?then,? ?several? ?ghosts? ?rushed? ?over? ?from? ?the? ?other? ?side,? ?spitting? ?their? ?tongues,? ?“The? ?hell,? ?this? ?
mountain? ?is? ?evil!? ?We’ve? ?ran? ?around? ?for? ?over? ?an? ?hour? ?and? ?still? ?saw? ?no? ?end? ?of? ?it!? ?I’ve? ?had? ?to? ?run? ?
over? ?an? ?hour? ?to? ?come? ?back!”? ? ?
?
The? ?ghosts? ?turned? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?“No.”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?then? ?asked,? ?“Can’t? ?we? ?climb? ?up? ?or? ?fly? ?over?”? ? ?
?
Just? ?as? ?the? ?words? ?left? ?his? ?lips,? ?a? ?large,? ?seven? ?feet? ?bird? ??WHOOSH?? ?and? ?fell? ?from? ?the? ?sky,? ?crashing? ?
heavily? ?onto? ?the? ?ground,? ?and? ?practically? ?dropped? ?dead? ?on? ?the? ?spot.? ?A? ?ghost? ?cried? ?out,? ?“DEAD!? ?
THE? ?BIRD? ?SPIRIT? ?DIED? ?FROM? ?EXHAUSTION? ?AND? ?STILL? ?IT? ?COULDN’T? ?FLY? ?OVER!”? ? ?
?
The? ?ghosts? ?turned? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?again,? ?“No.”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?tried? ?again,? ?“Then? ?can’t? ?we...”? ?
?
But? ?before? ?he? ?could? ?complete? ?his? ?question,? ?the? ?ghosts? ?all? ?shushed? ?him? ?like? ?they? ?really? ?wished? ?to? ?
seal? ?his? ?mouth? ?shut,? ?“STOP? ?ASKING,? ?YOU? ?LOUDMOUTH!”? ? ?
?
“Alright.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?complied.? ?
?
Hundreds? ?of? ?ghosts? ?and? ?demons? ?were? ?blocked? ?by? ?this? ?unpassable,? ?unhikable,? ?uncrossable? ?
mountain? ?bluff,? ?and? ?various? ?voices? ?of? ?endless? ?tones? ?buzzed,? ?exceedingly? ?noisy.? ?Some? ?said,? ?“I? ?
get? ?it!? ?It’s? ?not? ?a? ?typical? ?mountain,? ?it’s? ?a? ?screen.”? ?
?
Some? ?said,? ?“Everyone,? ?after? ?crossing? ?this? ?mountain,? ?Mount? ?TongLu? ?must? ?be? ?right? ?beyond.? ?This? ?
mountain? ?is? ?probably? ?the? ?first? ?trial? ?before? ?entering? ?the? ?mountain.? ?If? ?we? ?can’t? ?even? ?pass? ?a? ?simple? ?
test? ?like? ?this,? ?then? ?there’s? ?no? ?need? ?to? ?even? ?think? ?about? ?what? ?would? ?come? ?after? ?and? ?might? ?as? ?well? ?
just? ?go? ?home.”? ? ?
?
“WAIT!”? ? ?
?
“Wait? ?what?”? ? ?
?
A? ?puzzled? ?voice? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“Why? ?do? ?I...? ?smell? ?something? ?funny?”? ? ?
?
“What? ?smell?? ?You? ?sure? ?it’s? ?not? ?that? ?dead? ?human? ?meat? ?you? ?got? ?with? ?you?”? ? ?
?
That? ?voice? ?said,? ?“No,? ?no.? ?It’s? ?not? ?the? ?flesh? ?of? ?the? ?dead,? ?it’s? ?flesh? ?of? ?the? ?living!? ?No? ?no? ?no,? ?that’s? ?not? ?
right? ?either!? ?...? ?It’s? ?rather? ?like...? ?THE? ?SMELL? ?OF? ?A? ?HEAVENLY? ?OFFICIAL!!!!”? ?
?
The? ?moment? ?those? ?words? ?rolled? ?out? ?a? ?wave? ?of? ?alarm? ?was? ?raised,? ?and? ?the? ?crowd? ?of? ?ghosts? ?all? ?
cried,? ?“WHAT?!? ?YOU’RE? ?SHITTIN’? ?ME,? ?WHY? ?WOULD? ?THERE? ?BE? ?A? ?HEAVENLY? ?OFFICIAL?”? ? ?
?
“AHH? ?WAIT!? ?Um...? ?I? ?SMELL? ?IT? ?TOO!”? ? ?
?
“How? ?come? ?we? ?don’t? ?smell? ?anything? ?here?”? ? ?
?
“Now? ?that? ?y’all? ?are? ?talking? ?about? ?it,? ?it? ?feels? ?like? ?here? ?too...? ?DID? ?A? ?HEAVENLY? ?OFFICIAL? ?SNEAK? ?
IN?!”? ? ?
?
“That’s? ?impossible...? ?what? ?heavenly? ?official? ?is? ?so? ?audacious? ?to? ?come? ?to? ?a? ?place? ?like? ?this?”? ? ?
?
With? ?all? ?these? ?voices? ?calling? ?out,? ?alarm? ?exploded? ?in? ?all? ?directions.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?feeling? ?a? ?little? ?
trepidation? ?but? ?still? ?his? ?face? ?next? ?gave? ?anything? ?away.? ? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?obviously? ?helped? ?him? ?cover? ?up? ?his? ?scent? ?earlier,? ?so? ?why? ?would? ?there? ?be? ?any? ?
scent? ?still?? ?No? ?one? ?should’ve? ?noticed? ?he? ?snuck? ?in.? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?held? ?his? ?hand? ?and? ?whispered,? ?“Gege? ?be? ?careful,? ?something? ?is? ?stirring? ?the? ?pot? ?and? ?
creating? ?chaos? ?on? ?purpose.”? ?
?
“It’s? ?also? ?possible? ?that? ?other? ?than? ?me,? ?there? ?are? ?other? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?that? ?have? ?snuck? ?in.”? ?Xie? ?
Lian? ?said.? ?
?
Just? ?then,? ?the? ?ghost? ?that? ?was? ?the? ?first? ?to? ?mention? ?the? ?smell? ?of? ?humans? ?jumped? ?onto? ?a? ?boulder,? ?
“EVERYONE!? ?Maybe,? ?those? ?godforsaken? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?in? ?the? ?heavenly? ?realm? ?saw? ?they? ?
couldn’t? ?stop? ?us? ?en? ?route? ?so? ?they? ?sent? ?forth? ?people? ?to? ?come? ?to? ?Mount? ?TongLu? ?to? ?ruin? ?our? ?
celebration.? ?I? ?suggest? ?everyone? ?wearing? ?masks? ?and? ?cloaks? ?or? ?heavy? ?layers? ?to? ?strip? ?them? ?off? ?for? ?
now? ?so? ?whoever? ?has? ?spiritual? ?aura? ?will? ?be? ?immediately? ?discovered.? ?Everyone,? ?announce? ?your? ?
title? ?one? ?by? ?one,? ?don’t? ?give? ?them? ?the? ?chance? ?to? ?sneak? ?in? ?among? ?us!”? ? ?
?
The? ?crowd? ?of? ?ghosts? ?all? ?applauded? ?the? ?idea,? ?and? ?that? ?ghost? ?continued,? ?“I’ll? ?go? ?first!? ?I’m? ?the? ?
‘Demon? ?of? ?Swift? ?Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade’? ?–? ?the? ?decapitation? ?blade? ?of? ?an? ?executioner.? ?There’s? ?
only? ?ever? ?the? ?one? ?blade? ?for? ?killing? ?and? ?chopping? ?off? ?heads!”? ? ?
?
“...”? ?
?
In? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?experience,? ?typically? ?the? ?more? ?exaggerated? ?the? ?title,? ?with? ?names? ?like? ?
“Unparallelled”,? ?“Thousand? ?Hands”,? ?“Mighty”? ?or? ?“Life-Extinguishing”? ?etc.,? ?the? ?easier? ?they? ?were? ?to? ?
wipe? ?out.? ?Usually? ?with? ?just? ?a? ?single? ?move.? ?Sometimes? ?three? ?could? ?be? ?wiped? ?out? ?with? ?a? ?single? ?
move.? ?Immediately? ?there? ?were? ?hundreds? ?of? ?titles? ?being? ?thrown? ?out? ?noisily,? ?and? ?he? ?shook? ?his? ?
head? ?as? ?he? ?listened.? ?Suddenly,? ?a? ?ghost? ?next? ?to? ?him? ?elbowed? ?him,? ?“Hey,? ?why? ?haven’t? ?you? ?stripped? ?
off? ?your? ?cloak? ?yet?? ?What? ?are? ?you?”? ? ?
?
It? ?wasn’t? ?like? ?he? ?meant? ?it? ?disrespectfully;? ?if? ?he? ?wasn’t? ?human? ?then? ?he? ?could? ?only? ?be? ?called? ?a? ?‘what’? ?
so? ?that? ?didn’t? ?seem? ?wrong.? ?In? ?fact,? ?there? ?were? ?plenty? ?of? ?other? ?ghosts? ?that? ?didn’t? ?remove? ?their? ?
cloaks? ?and? ?masks;? ?there? ?was? ?even? ?one? ?close? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?watching? ?them? ?with? ?his? ?arms? ?crossed.? ?
But? ?the? ?one? ?called? ?out? ?first? ?was? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?and? ?seeing? ?that? ?all? ?the? ?eyes? ?were? ?on? ?him,? ?he? ?accepted? ?
his? ?own? ?bad? ?luck? ?and? ?took? ?off? ?the? ?cloak,? ?speaking? ?gently,? ?“I’m? ?a? ?Puppet? ?Master.”? ? ?
?
The? ?ghosts? ?all? ?approached? ?and? ?circled? ?around,? ?“I? ?see!? ?No? ?wonder? ?you? ?look? ?so? ?much? ?like? ?a? ?
human.? ?This? ?is? ?my? ?first? ?time? ?seeing? ?a? ?Puppet? ?Master!”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?smiled? ?without? ?speaking.? ?A? ?Puppet? ?Master? ?was? ?a? ?ghost? ?with? ?a? ?very? ?weak? ?essence? ?of? ?
evil.? ?In? ?order? ?to? ?create? ?the? ?perfect? ?puppet,? ?they? ?would? ?experiment? ?on? ?all? ?different? ?kinds? ?of? ?
materials? ?so? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?strange? ?to? ?have? ?been? ?stained? ?with? ?different? ?kinds? ?of? ?scent.? ?Since? ?they? ?
particularly? ?fancy? ?the? ?skins? ?of? ?humans,? ?the? ?scent? ?of? ?human? ?was? ?usually? ?heavy? ?on? ?their? ?bodies.? ?
The? ?dream? ?of? ?Puppet? ?Masters? ?was? ?to? ?pull? ?out? ?hairs? ?from? ?a? ?heavenly? ?official? ?and? ?make? ?wigs? ?for? ?
their? ?puppets,? ?and? ?some? ?were? ?even? ?daring? ?enough? ?to? ?try.? ?Thus,? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?strange? ?if? ?there? ?was? ?the? ?
scent? ?of? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?either.? ?
?
A? ?ghost? ?asked,? ?“Then? ?where’s? ?your? ?puppet?”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?scanned? ?the? ?crowd,? ?then? ?bent? ?down? ?to? ?lift? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?up.? ? ?
?
The? ?ghosts? ?were? ?all? ?in? ?awe,? ?“Wow,? ?so? ?exquisite!”? ? ?
?
“What? ?material? ?did? ?you? ?use?? ?Tsk? ?tsk? ?tsk,? ?this? ?looks? ?so? ?real.”? ?
?
“Feels? ?like? ?you’re? ?gonna? ?be? ?a? ?tough? ?competitor...”? ? ?
?
“How? ?is? ?it? ?real?? ?I? ?think? ?it? ?looks? ?rather? ?fake.? ?Isn’t? ?the? ?skin? ?too? ?white?? ?Why? ?would? ?kids? ?have? ?such? ?
long? ?lashes?”? ? ?
?
Although? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?his? ?arms? ?crossed? ?and? ?expressionless,? ?but? ?there? ?were? ?still? ?many? ?
female? ?ghosts? ?whose? ?unmoving? ?hearts? ?were? ?struck? ?by? ?his? ?looks.? ?“I’m? ?dying,? ?what? ?a? ?handsome? ?
poppet!”? ?“Master,? ?do? ?you? ?take? ?commissions?? ?Can? ?I? ?order? ?one? ?exactly? ?the? ?same?? ?We? ?can? ?talk? ?
price.”? ?Some? ?even? ?reached? ?out? ?to? ?try? ?and? ?pet,? ?unable? ?to? ?stop? ?themselves.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?immediately? ?
brought? ?him? ?back? ?into? ?his? ?arms? ?and? ?the? ?ghosts? ?were? ?miffed,? ?“So? ?stingy!? ?Treasuring? ?him? ?so? ?much,? ?
you? ?won’t? ?even? ?let? ?us? ?touch.”? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian’s? ?left? ?arm? ?held? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?even? ?tighter,? ?and? ?his? ?right? ?hand? ?brushed? ?his? ?hair,? ?“Of? ?course.? ?
This? ?is? ?my? ?puppet.? ?Besides,? ?he’s? ?got? ?quite? ?the? ?temper.? ?No? ?one? ?but? ?me? ?can? ?touch? ?him,? ?otherwise? ?
he’ll? ?get? ?very? ?angry.”? ? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?raised? ?his? ?brows? ?in? ?his? ?arms? ?and? ?the? ?ghosts? ?all? ?laughed? ?out? ?loud,? ?“AIYOH,? ?HE? ?CAN? ?
EVEN? ?RAISE? ?BROWS!? ?HE’S? ?GOT? ?ATTITUDE!”? ? ?
?
Just? ?then,? ?there? ?was? ?suddenly? ?a? ?voice? ?that? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“I? ?don’t? ?think? ?that’s? ?it.”? ?
?
?
———? ?
?
Ch.144:? ?Gates? ?Open? ?at? ?Mount? ?TongLu;? ?the? ?Assembly? ?of? ?Millions? ?of? ?Ghosts? ?2? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?to? ?look? ?and? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?spoke? ?was? ?that? ?“Swift? ?Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade”.? ?He? ?
accused,? ?“The? ?scent? ?of? ?humans? ?on? ?you? ?is? ?a? ?little? ?too? ?heavy.”? ? ?
?
The? ?crowd? ?of? ?ghosts? ?all? ?chided,? ?“He’s? ?a? ?Puppet? ?Master...? ?it’s? ?understandable.? ?He’s? ?got? ?essence? ?
of? ?evil? ?on? ?him? ?too.”? ? ?
?
The? ?Demon? ?Swift? ?Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?countered,? ?“No? ?no,? ?look? ?closer? ?everyone.? ?This? ?
essence? ?of? ?evil? ?on? ?this? ?‘Puppet? ?Master’? ?doesn’t? ?feel? ?like? ?it’s? ?emitted? ?from? ?within,? ?more? ?like? ?dyed? ?
from? ?the? ?outside.”? ?
?
To? ?stain? ?dye? ?the? ?essence? ?of? ?evil? ?from? ?the? ?surface? ?should’ve? ?been? ?passable? ?originally,? ?but? ?once? ?it? ?
became? ?the? ?point? ?of? ?focus? ?for? ?the? ?crowd? ?of? ?ghosts,? ?the? ?details? ?would? ?be? ?magnified.? ?This? ?Swift? ?
Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon? ?didn’t? ?look? ?like? ?he? ?was? ?very? ?smart? ?at? ?first,? ?similar? ?to? ?that? ?
Heaven’s? ?Eye,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?taken? ?him? ?for? ?an? ?insignificant? ?little? ?side? ?character,? ?but? ?who? ?knew? ?
he? ?wasn’t? ?that? ?easy? ?to? ?deceive.? ?A? ?ghost? ?piped? ?up,? ?“You? ?look? ?like? ?you’re? ?well? ?versed? ?in? ?this,? ?so? ?is? ?
there? ?anything? ?concrete? ?to? ?your? ?words?? ?How? ?do? ?we? ?tell?? ?You? ?got? ?any? ?ideas?”? ? ?
?
The? ?Swift? ?Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon? ?replied,? ?“Yes.? ?There’s? ?a? ?tool? ?that? ?can? ?determine? ?just? ?
exactly? ?what? ?he? ?is!”? ? ?
?
From? ?his? ?sleeve? ?he? ?pulled? ?out? ?an? ?object.? ?The? ?moment? ?the? ?crowd? ?of? ?ghosts? ?saw? ?they? ?instantly? ?
backed? ?away,? ?“THE? ?FUCK!? ?YOU? ?HAVE? ?YELLOW? ?TALISMAN? ?ON? ?YOU?!? ?YOU? ?SURE? ?YOU’RE? ?
NOT? ?THE? ?HEAVENLY? ?OFFICIAL?”? ? ?
?
Swift? ?Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon? ?explained? ?earnestly,? ?“No!? ?I’ve? ?killed? ?some? ?cultivators? ?on? ?
the? ?way? ?here? ?and? ?took? ?their? ?belongings,? ?that’s? ?all.? ?These? ?are? ?just? ?the? ?typical? ?yellow? ?talismans? ?for? ?
dealing? ?with? ?little? ?ghosts? ?and? ?irrelevant? ?little? ?minions.? ?Since? ?everyone? ?made? ?it? ?here,? ?I’m? ?sure? ?
these? ?talismans? ?would? ?do? ?nothing? ?to? ?you.? ?Watch!”? ? ?
?
Then? ?he? ?slapped? ?that? ?yellow? ?talisman? ?on? ?his? ?forehead.? ??Crackle? ?crackle?,? ?that? ?yellow? ?talisman? ?
burnt? ?up? ?into? ?a? ?wisp? ?of? ?black? ?smoke? ?on? ?his? ?face,? ?leaving? ?a? ?black,? ?ashen? ?mark? ?on? ?his? ?forehead.? ?
That? ?Swift? ?Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon? ?said,? ?“Even? ?though? ?this? ?talisman? ?can’t? ?do? ?anything? ?to? ?
me,? ?but? ?I? ?can? ?at? ?least? ?prove? ?my? ?identity.”? ? ?
?
Something? ?like? ?a? ?paper? ?talisman? ?could? ?be? ?used? ?to? ?deal? ?with? ?ghosts? ?and? ?demons,? ?but? ?on? ?the? ?flip? ?
side,? ?it? ?could? ?also? ?be? ?used? ?to? ?identify? ?whether? ?a? ?person? ?was? ?in? ?fact,? ?a? ?person.? ?Swift? ?
Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon? ?pointed? ?at? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?“If? ?you’re? ?really? ?a? ?Puppet? ?Master,? ?then? ?stick? ?
this? ?yellow? ?talisman? ?on? ?your? ?forehead.? ?We’ll? ?see? ?whether? ?if? ?it? ?leaves? ?a? ?mark.”? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?show? ?any? ?reaction? ?but? ?his? ?mind? ?was? ?spinning? ?rapidly.? ?However,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?
whispered,? ?“Don’t? ?worry,? ?gege.”? ? ?
?
Thus,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?knew? ?that? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?was? ?confident? ?in? ?his? ?chances.? ?He? ?put? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?down? ?
and? ?approached? ?easily,? ?took? ?that? ?talisman? ?and? ?pressed? ?it? ?on? ?his? ?forehead.? ?Crackle? ?crackle,? ?that? ?
yellow? ?talisman? ?burnt? ?to? ?a? ?wisp? ?of? ?black? ?smoke,? ?however? ?after? ?the? ?smoke? ?had? ?cleared,? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?
forehead? ?was? ?still? ?unmarred? ?with? ?not? ?a? ?trace? ?left? ?behind!? ?
?
This? ?proved? ?that? ?the? ?essence? ?of? ?evil? ?on? ?his? ?person? ?was? ?stained? ?from? ?the? ?surface!? ? ?
?
Other? ?than? ?that? ?cloaked? ?figure? ?with? ?crossed? ?arms,? ?hundreds? ?of? ?ghosts? ?instantly? ?surrounded? ?
them,? ?yelling? ?and? ?howling,? ?looking? ?like? ?they? ?were? ?ready? ?to? ?bring? ?out? ?all? ?sorts? ?of? ?bizarre? ?weapons,? ?
but? ?then? ?they? ?were? ?all? ?instantly? ?repelled? ?by? ?an? ?invisible? ?barrier.? ?The? ?crowd? ?of? ?ghosts? ?were? ?
stunned,? ?“Well,? ?well!? ?Pretty? ?skilled? ?too!”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?flipped? ?open? ?his? ?hands,? ?“I? ?didn’t? ?do? ?anything,”? ? ?
?
Just? ?then,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?who? ?was? ?standing? ?behind? ?him? ?spoke.? ?
?
He? ?approached? ?with? ?his? ?fists? ?at? ?his? ?sides,? ?“You? ?bunch? ?of? ?unlearned? ?country? ?bumpkin? ?ghosts,? ?
what’re? ?you? ?all? ?looking? ?so? ?surprised? ?for?”? ? ?
?
“And? ?you’re? ?a? ?man? ?of? ?the? ?world,? ?little? ?ghost? ?baby??”? ? ?
?
“It? ?ain’t? ?a? ?lie? ?that? ?he? ?ain’t? ?got? ?essence? ?of? ?evil? ?on? ?him.? ?Just? ?who’re? ?y’all,? ?declare? ?yaselves? ?now!”? ? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?answered,? ?“What? ?a? ?bunch? ?of? ?fools.? ?Of? ?course? ?there’s? ?none? ?on? ?his? ?body,? ?because? ?I’m? ?
the? ?real? ?Puppet? ?Master!”? ? ?
?
Just? ?as? ?the? ?words? ?left? ?his? ?lips,? ?the? ?crowd? ?of? ?ghosts? ?could? ?sense? ?an? ?exceedingly? ?haunting? ?chill? ?
blow? ?past? ?them,? ?like? ?the? ?entire? ?field? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?freeze.? ?Even? ?with? ?their? ?cool? ?bodies? ?they? ?still? ?
shuddered,? ?“...What...? ?What’s...? ?going...? ?on...?”? ? ?
?
“Giving? ?you? ?all? ?a? ?taste? ?of? ?the? ?world,? ?is? ?all.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said.? ?
?
He? ?rescinded? ?his? ?aura? ?and? ?the? ?crowd? ?of? ?ghosts? ?finally? ?stopped? ?shivering.? ?That? ?Swift? ?
Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon? ?questioned,? ?feeling? ?trepidation,? ?“If...? ?If? ?you’re? ?the? ?Puppet? ?
Master,? ?and? ?he’s? ?also? ?a? ?Puppet? ?Master,? ?then? ?who’s? ?the?? ?No? ?no,? ?it? ?can’t? ?be? ?him,? ?so? ?what? ?kind? ?of? ?
person? ?is? ?he?”? ? ?
?
Before? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?responded,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?smiled,? ?“Obviously,? ?the? ?kind? ?that? ?belongs? ?to? ?him.”? ? ?
?
The? ?crowd? ?of? ?ghosts? ?were? ?befuddled? ?for? ?a? ?moment,? ?then? ?it? ?finally? ?dawned? ?on? ?them,? ?“So–? ?So? ?it’s? ?
the? ?opposite?? ?He’s? ?the? ?master,? ?and? ?you’re? ?the? ?puppet?!”? ?
?
Swift? ?Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon? ?was? ?suspicious,? ?“Then? ?why? ?did? ?you? ?say? ?you? ?were? ?the? ?
Puppet? ?Master? ?earlier?? ?What’s? ?the? ?intention? ?of? ?your? ?lie?”? ? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?smiled,? ?“Because,? ?I? ?thought? ?it’d? ?be? ?amusing.”? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?smiled? ?too,? ?“That’s? ?right.? ?Master? ?finding? ?it? ?amusing? ?is? ?the? ?most? ?important? ?reason.”? ? ?
?
After? ?the? ?female? ?ghosts? ?got? ?over? ?their? ?initial? ?shock,? ?they? ?tucked? ?away? ?their? ?long? ?claws? ?and? ?
tongues? ?and? ?started? ?circling? ?around? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?anew? ?and? ?started? ?examining? ?him.? ?From? ?some? ?
reason,? ?the? ?commentary? ?from? ?the? ?female? ?ghosts? ?directed? ?to? ?him? ?took? ?on? ?a? ?completely? ?different? ?
flavour? ?than? ?when? ?they? ?were? ?checking? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?out.? ?Somehow,? ?they? ?sounded? ?more? ?bold:? ?
?
“So? ?this? ?little? ?gege? ?is? ?the? ?real? ?puppet?? ?Aiyah,? ?I? ?like? ?this? ?age? ?better,? ?now? ?I? ?want? ?one? ?even? ?more!? ?
Are? ?you? ?sure? ?you? ?don’t? ?take? ?orders?”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?replied? ?gently,? ?“Um...? ?thank? ?you? ?for? ?your? ?affections.? ?But,? ?I’m? ?actually? ?very? ?old...”? ?
?
“This? ?material? ?is? ?human? ?skin,? ?right?? ?The? ?treatment? ?is? ?done? ?fairly? ?cleanly,? ?there? ?isn’t? ?any? ?of? ?that? ?
stinking,? ?rancid? ?smell? ?of? ?Yang*? ?from? ?those? ?burly? ?men.? ?Master,? ?how? ?do? ?you? ?manage? ?the? ?
maintenance?? ?Do? ?you? ?use? ?perfume?”? ? ?
?
“It’s? ?human? ?skin,”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied,? ?“No? ?perfumes.? ?Just? ?bathe? ?frequently? ?and? ?drink? ?lots? ?of? ?water.”? ? ?
?
“Wow!? ?Feels? ?like? ?this? ?puppet? ?can? ?do? ?many? ?things!? ?All? ?sorts.? ?Both? ?the? ?face? ?and? ?body? ?look? ?pretty? ?
good,? ?eh?? ?Looks? ?like? ?the? ?feel? ?of? ?his? ?skin? ?is? ?nice? ?too.? ?But? ?he’s? ?a? ?little? ?skinny,? ?I? ?wonder? ?if? ?there’s? ?
some? ?meat? ?in? ?there? ?after? ?stripping? ?the? ?clothes? ?off? ?hehehehe...”? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?been? ?maintaining? ?a? ?polite? ?and? ?humble? ?smile? ?the? ?entire? ?time,? ?but? ?seeing? ?that? ?there? ?
were? ?actually? ?female? ?ghosts? ?coming? ?closer? ?ready? ?to? ?feel? ?his? ?chest? ?with? ?their? ?eyes? ?bright,? ?his? ?
brows? ?twitched.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?pressed? ?two? ?fingers? ?together? ?and? ?lightly? ?swung? ?them? ?upwards,? ?and? ?
the? ?circle? ?of? ?delicate? ?as? ?well? ?as? ?withered? ?hands? ?were? ?waved? ?away.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?immediately? ?
crouched? ?behind? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?to? ?hide.? ?The? ?female? ?ghosts? ?were? ?annoyed,? ?“What,? ?are? ?you? ?going? ?to? ?
say? ?that? ?this? ?puppet? ?has? ?a? ?bad? ?temper? ?too? ?and? ?doesn’t? ?like? ?other? ?people? ?touching? ?him?? ?He? ?looks? ?
nice!”? ? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?reached? ?out? ?and? ?lifted? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?chin,? ?“His? ?temper? ?is? ?certainly? ?nice,? ?but? ?my? ?temper? ?is? ?
bad.? ?No? ?one? ?shall? ?touch? ?what? ?I? ?love? ?except? ?for? ?me.”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?followed? ?along? ?and? ?obediently? ?raised? ?his? ?face,? ?holding? ?back? ?his? ?laugh? ?so? ?hard? ?his? ?guts? ?
were? ?spasming.? ?Still,? ?he? ?was? ?very? ?cooperative? ?and? ?gazed? ?at? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?eyes,? ?speaking? ?
earnestly,? ?“No.? ?San...? ?Master’s? ?temper? ?is? ?very? ?nice? ?too.”? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?laughed? ?too,? ?looking? ?very? ?satisfied.? ?The? ?two? ?went? ?back? ?and? ?forth,? ?getting? ?quite? ?into? ?
their? ?roles,? ?but? ?another? ?ghost? ?on? ?the? ?side? ?interrupted,? ?“I? ?still? ?think? ?the? ?scent? ?of? ?human? ?on? ?him? ?is? ?
too? ?strong.”? ? ?
?
“Then? ?what? ?do? ?you? ?want? ?to? ?do?”? ?The? ?female? ?ghosts? ?questioned.? ?
?
That? ?ghost? ?said,? ?“I? ?heard? ?puppets? ?made? ?of? ?skin? ?aren’t? ?stuffed? ?with? ?flesh,? ?so? ?if? ?they’re? ?stabbed? ?
they? ?won’t? ?bleed.? ?Let? ?me? ?stab? ?him? ?with? ?a? ?blade? ?and? ?see...”? ?But? ?before? ?he? ?finished? ?his? ?thought? ?he? ?
was? ?frightened? ?to? ?silence? ?with? ?a? ?sharp? ?eye.? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?said? ?coldly,? ?“Try? ?touching? ?him,? ?I? ?dare? ?you.? ?Think? ?I? ?would? ?let? ?the? ?things? ?I? ?treasure? ?
deep? ?in? ?my? ?heart? ?be? ?so? ?easily? ?touched? ?by? ?you? ?lot?”? ? ?
?
The? ?crowd? ?of? ?ghosts? ?were? ?pushed? ?back? ?by? ?the? ?power? ?of? ?his? ?aura? ?earlier,? ?and? ?now? ?that? ?Hua? ?
Cheng? ?was? ?making? ?threats,? ?they? ?didn’t? ?dare? ?move? ?another? ?muscle,? ?and? ?had? ?subconsciously? ?
backed? ?away? ?to? ?give? ?them? ?a? ?large? ?breather? ?area.? ?That? ?Swift? ?Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon? ?
who? ?had? ?started? ?everything? ?saw? ?things? ?were? ?going? ?downhill? ?and? ?actually? ?became? ?the? ?first? ?to? ?try? ?
and? ?smooth? ?things? ?over,? ?“Please? ?don’t? ?be? ?furious,? ?Puppet? ?Master.? ?We? ?haven’t? ?even? ?entered? ?the? ?
boundaries? ?of? ?Mount? ?TongLu? ?yet,? ?we? ?can? ?talk? ?more? ?after? ?going? ?in.? ?Let’s? ?not? ?start? ?things? ?among? ?
ourselves? ?now.”? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?eyes? ?glanced? ?to? ?the? ?side,? ?“Rather? ?than? ?harassing? ?my? ?puppet,? ?why? ?not? ?ask? ?instead? ?
why? ?that? ?one? ?still? ?wouldn’t? ?remove? ?their? ?cloak.”? ? ?
?
The? ?eccentric? ?cloaked? ?figure? ?that? ?had? ?been? ?standing? ?there? ?on? ?the? ?side? ?this? ?entire? ?time? ?still? ?hadn’t? ?
removed? ?their? ?cloak? ?since? ?the? ?ruckus? ?started,? ?and? ?had? ?been? ?watching? ?with? ?his? ?arms? ?crossed? ?like? ?
they? ?were? ?enjoying? ?a? ?show,? ?completely? ?removed? ?from? ?the? ?hubbub.? ?Now? ?that? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?pointed? ?
them? ?out,? ?the? ?show? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?watched? ?anymore? ?since? ?they? ?became? ?the? ?star.? ?Swift? ?
Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon? ?walked? ?forward? ?a? ?step,? ?“Will? ?this? ?friend? ?also? ?remove? ?your? ?cloak? ?
to? ?let? ?us? ?see?”? ?
?
That? ?cloaked? ?figure? ?paused? ?for? ?a? ?long? ?time,? ?and? ?just? ?when? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?starting? ?to? ?suspect? ?if? ?
they? ?were? ?ready? ?to? ?kick? ?up? ?dirt? ?and? ?run? ?away,? ?that? ?cloaked? ?figure? ?suddenly? ?reached? ?out? ?and? ?
cleanly? ?pulled? ?off? ?the? ?cloak.? ?
?
Under? ?the? ?cloak? ?was? ?a? ?handsome? ?but? ?plain? ?and? ?normal? ?face.? ?
?
Such? ?a? ?person,? ?if? ?they? ?were? ?thrown? ?into? ?a? ?crowd,? ?they? ?wouldn’t? ?look? ?bad,? ?but? ?they’d? ?be? ?easily? ?
forgotten,? ?their? ?appearance? ?unretainable,? ?and? ?it? ?made? ?those? ?ghosts? ?who? ?saw? ?this? ?reveal? ?rather? ?
disappointed.? ?However,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?growing? ?wary.? ?
?
“Obviously? ?a? ?fake? ?face.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said.? ?
?
His? ?voice? ?could? ?only? ?be? ?heard? ?by? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?nodded.? ?Sometimes,? ?when? ?heavenly? ?
officials? ?or? ?renown? ?ghosts? ?had? ?business? ?to? ?do? ?in? ?the? ?mortal? ?realm,? ?instead? ?of? ?using? ?the? ?
inconvenient? ?real? ?form,? ?they’d? ?conceive? ?such? ?a? ?fake? ?face.? ?Times? ?like? ?these,? ?the? ?most? ?important? ?
element? ?of? ?this? ?transformation? ?was? ?“plain? ?and? ?normal”;? ?whether? ?it? ?be? ?good? ?looking? ?or? ?not,? ?as? ?long? ?
as? ?it? ?was? ?plain? ?enough? ?to? ?ensure? ?that? ?no? ?matter? ?how? ?long? ?someone? ?was? ?to? ?stare? ?at? ?their? ?faces,? ?
they’d? ?still? ?forget? ?the? ?moment? ?they? ?turn? ?away.? ?That? ?would? ?constitute? ?a? ?successful? ?transformation.? ?
The? ?face? ?of? ?that? ?cloaked? ?figure? ?perfectly? ?matched? ?the? ?key? ?component? ?of? ?such? ?a? ?transformation,? ?
so,? ?it? ?was? ?more? ?than? ?likely? ?not? ?his? ?real? ?face,? ?and? ?his? ?real? ?identity? ?unknown.? ?
?
Swift? ?Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon? ?handed? ?out? ?a? ?yellow? ?talisman.? ?That? ?cloaked? ?figure? ?took? ?it? ?
and? ?stuck? ?it? ?on? ?his? ?forehead? ?without? ?hesitation.? ?Crackle? ?crackle,? ?smoke,? ?a? ?mark.? ? ?
?
It? ?seemed,? ?he? ?was? ?also? ?a? ?ghost? ?and? ?not? ?a? ?human.? ?
?
After? ?all? ?this? ?ruckus,? ?the? ?crowd? ?was? ?getting? ?aggravated,? ?“So? ?is? ?there? ?actually? ?a? ?heavenly? ?official? ?
mixed? ?in? ?or? ?not?”? ? ?
?
“Who’s? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?brought? ?this? ?up? ?first?? ?You? ?better? ?not? ?be? ?wrong.”? ?
?
Swift? ?Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon? ?raised? ?his? ?hand,? ?“The? ?first? ?to? ?notice? ?is? ?me,? ?but? ?it’s? ?true!? ?I? ?
definitely? ?smelt? ?a? ?heavenly? ?official..? ?AH!”? ? ?
?
Unexpectedly,? ?in? ?mid-speech? ?he? ?suddenly? ?screamed? ?and? ?toppled? ?over.? ?Shocked,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?
rushed? ?forward? ?and? ?there? ?was? ?an? ?extra? ?bloody? ?hold? ?on? ?his? ?body.? ?The? ?hold? ?pierced? ?through? ?the? ?
abdomen,? ?and,? ?on? ?the? ?wound,? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?faint? ?residue? ?of? ?the? ?kind? ?of? ?spiritual? ?light? ?only? ?found? ?on? ?
the? ?body? ?of? ?a? ?heavenly? ?official!? ?
?
The? ?crowd? ?of? ?ghosts? ?were? ?shocked,? ?“LOOK? ?AT? ?HIS? ?WOUND!? ?THERE’S? ?REALLY? ?A? ?HEAVENLY? ?
OFFICIAL? ?AMONG? ?US!”? ? ?
?
Swift? ?Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon? ?covered? ?that? ?bloody? ?hole? ?and? ?cried,? ?terrified,? ?
“EVERYONE? ?WATCH? ?OUT!? ?THEY? ?WANT? ?TO? ?WIPE? ?US? ?OUT!”? ? ?
?
The? ?crowd? ?of? ?ghosts? ?immediately? ?lost? ?their? ?minds? ?in? ?terror,? ?like? ?a? ?pot? ?had? ?exploded,? ?and? ?they? ?all? ?
raised? ?their? ?weapons? ?ready? ?to? ?face? ?enemies? ?from? ?any? ?direction,? ?yelling,? ?“WHO? ?IS? ?IT?!? ?WHO? ?
WANTS? ?TO? ?WIPE? ?US? ?OUT?!? ?WHERE? ?ARE? ?YOU? ?HIDING?!”? ? ?
?
When? ?that? ?Swift? ?Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon? ?was? ?first? ?hit,? ?the? ?first? ?thought? ?that? ?flashed? ?
through? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?mind? ?was,? ?“I? ?knew? ?those? ?who? ?give? ?themselves? ?such? ?ridiculous? ?titles? ?are? ?the? ?
first? ?to? ?go? ?down!”? ?Then? ?after? ?blinking,? ?he? ?shouted,? ?“EVERYONE? ?SAW? ?JUST? ?NOW,? ?RIGHT?? ?MY? ?
MASTER? ?AND? ?I? ?WERE? ?BOTH? ?UNDER? ?YOUR? ?SCRUTINY? ?THE? ?ENTIRE? ?TIME,? ?WE? ?DIDN’T? ?DO? ?
ANYTHING.”? ?As? ?he? ?spoke,? ?he? ?glanced? ?sharply? ?at? ?that? ?cloaked? ?figure.? ?The? ?other? ?also? ?raised? ?his? ?
hand,? ?his? ?suppressed? ?voice? ?low,? ?“Same.”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?leaned? ?down? ?to? ?check? ?over? ?Swift? ?Blade? ?Demon’s? ?injuries? ?and? ?claimed,? ?“It’s? ?a? ?sword? ?
wound.? ?Whoever’s? ?using? ?a? ?sword? ?right? ?now? ?is...”? ?When? ?he? ?turned? ?his? ?head,? ?he? ?was? ?instantly? ?
speechless.? ?It? ?seemed,? ?the? ?sword? ?wasn’t? ?just? ?the? ?most? ?popular? ?weapon? ?in? ?the? ?mortal? ?and? ?
heavenly? ?realms,? ?but? ?also? ?in? ?the? ?ghost? ?realm.? ?Of? ?the? ?four? ?hundred? ?some? ?ghosts? ?present,? ?at? ?least? ?
more? ?than? ?three? ?hundred? ?wielded? ?swords,? ?completely? ?uncountable.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?cleared? ?his? ?throat,? ?
“If? ?only? ?there’s? ?more? ?yellow? ?talismans? ?we? ?can? ?use? ?like? ?the? ?ones? ?earlier,? ?we? ?won’t? ?have? ?to? ?worry? ?
over? ?who’s? ?who.”? ? ?
?
Of? ?course,? ?this? ?was? ?an? ?offhanded? ?comment,? ?making? ?himself? ?sound? ?helpful.? ?If? ?there? ?really? ?were? ?
heavenly? ?colleagues? ?who? ?infiltrated? ?this? ?crowd,? ?he? ?certainly? ?didn’t? ?want? ?to? ?help? ?pick? ?them? ?out.? ?
This? ?Swift? ?Blade? ?Demon? ?also? ?couldn’t? ?possibly? ?have? ?that? ?many? ?yellow? ?talismans? ?at? ?the? ?ready? ?
either.? ?Yet? ?unexpectedly,? ?just? ?as? ?he? ?made? ?his? ?comment,? ?Swift? ?Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon? ?
actually? ?did? ?pull? ?out? ?a? ?thick? ?stack? ?of? ?yellow? ?talismans,? ?“OH!? ?I? ?DO? ?HAVE? ?MORE!”? ? ?
?
“...”? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?want? ?to? ?take? ?a? ?look? ?behind? ?his? ?back,? ?“Just? ?where? ?did? ?you? ?pull? ?those? ?
out?”? ? ?
?
“THAT’S? ?NOT? ?IMPORTANT!”? ?Swift? ?Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon? ?said.? ?
?
“No,? ?it’s? ?very? ?important.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“Normally? ?you? ?don’t? ?take? ?such? ?heavy? ?burdens? ?with? ?you? ?on? ?
the? ?road,? ?they’re? ?heavy? ?enough? ?to? ?be? ?thrown? ?like? ?bricks? ?to? ?kill? ?people...? ?just? ?how? ?many? ?cultivators? ?
did? ?you? ?kill?”? ? ?
?
Swift? ?Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon? ?glared? ?at? ?him,? ?“Maybe? ?twenty? ?some.”? ?
?
...No? ?wonder.? ?If? ?every? ?cultivator? ?carried? ?with? ?them? ?over? ?ten? ?talismans,? ?then? ?adding? ?them? ?all? ?
together? ?there? ?were? ?at? ?least? ?over? ?two? ?hundred!? ? ?
?
Without? ?further? ?ado,? ?the? ?crowd? ?of? ?ghosts? ?were? ?anxious? ?to? ?find? ?out? ?who? ?among? ?them? ?were? ?
heavenly? ?officials,? ?and? ?quickly? ?came? ?up? ?with? ?a? ?rough? ?method.? ?They? ?formed? ?into? ?groups? ?of? ?two,? ?
each? ?sticking? ?a? ?yellow? ?talisman? ?on? ?their? ?partner’s? ?forehead,? ?and? ?observe? ?whether? ?if? ?their? ?partners? ?
left? ?ashen? ?marks.? ?Some? ?small? ?time? ?ghosts? ?were? ?still? ?afraid,? ?“Do? ?I? ?actually? ?have? ?to? ?do? ?this?? ?Won’t? ?
this? ?break? ?my? ?spirit...”? ?
?
“It? ?won’t,? ?it? ?won’t,? ?it’s? ?exactly? ?like? ?those? ?talismans? ?they? ?were? ?using? ?earlier,? ?the? ?powers? ?are? ?weak,? ?
so? ?at? ?most? ?they’ll? ?just? ?leave? ?a? ?mark.”? ? ?
?
“Oh...”? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?narrowed? ?his? ?eyes? ?and? ?seemed? ?to? ?have? ?noticed? ?something.? ?Soon,? ?in? ?the? ?four? ?
hundred? ?some? ?ghosts,? ?fields? ?after? ?fields? ?of? ?them? ?all? ?had? ?that? ?yellow? ?talisman? ?taped? ?onto? ?their? ?
forehead,? ?looking? ?peculiar? ?and? ?silly.? ?However,? ?after? ?the? ?talismans? ?were? ?stuck? ?on,? ?nothing? ?
happened.? ?
?
The? ?ghosts? ?all? ?looked? ?at? ?each? ?other,? ?“What’s? ?going? ?on?”? ?
?
“Hey,? ?Swift? ?Blade? ?Demon,? ?what? ?kind? ?of? ?cultivators? ?did? ?you? ?kill?? ?Why? ?are? ?the? ?talismans? ?so? ?shitty,? ?
they’re? ?not? ?working.”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?thought? ?things? ?were? ?off? ?from? ?the? ?start,? ?and? ?now? ?his? ?brows? ?were? ?knit.? ?He? ?was? ?just? ?
about? ?to? ?speak? ?when? ?a? ?female? ?ghost? ?next? ?to? ?him? ?pursed? ?her? ?lips? ?and? ?whined,? ?“I’m? ?not? ?doing? ?this? ?
anymore,? ?I’m? ?ripping? ?this? ?off...? ?huh?? ?What’s? ?going? ?on?? ?Why? ?can’t? ?I? ?rip? ?this? ?off?”? ? ?
?
Several? ?female? ?ghosts? ?all? ?started? ?shrieking? ?at? ?once,? ?“ME? ?TOO!? ?WHY? ?WON’T? ?THIS? ?RIP? ?OFF?!”? ? ?
?
Crap!? ?
?
Just? ?at? ?the? ?same? ?time,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?warned? ?in? ?a? ?low? ?voice,? ?“Gege,? ?crouch? ?down!”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?immediately? ?followed? ?his? ?instruction,? ?and? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?immediately? ?covered? ?his? ?ears.? ?Not? ?
far? ?from? ?them,? ?that? ?cloaked? ?figure? ?also? ?immediately? ?pulled? ?his? ?cloak? ?over,? ?half? ?knelt? ?to? ?the? ?
ground.? ?Soon? ?after,? ?“?BOOM? ?BOOM? ?BOOM? ?BOOM? ?BOOM? ?BOOM? ?BOOM? ?BOOM!?”? ?Like? ?a? ?series? ?
of? ?firecrackers? ?exploding,? ?the? ?loud? ?rumbles? ?roared? ?to? ?the? ?skies!? ? ?
?
?
———-? ?
?
Ch.145:? ?Gates? ?Open? ?at? ?Mount? ?TongLu;? ?the? ?Assembly? ?of? ?Millions? ?of? ?Ghosts? ?3? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?could? ?only? ?feel? ?waves? ?of? ?violent? ?tremors? ?rippling? ?from? ?all? ?directions,? ?and? ?a? ?peculiar? ?
stench? ?that? ?was? ?hard? ?to? ?describe? ?permeated? ?the? ?air.? ?
?
Those? ?yellow? ?talismans? ?all? ?exploded!? ?
?
And? ?the? ?ghosts? ?and? ?demons? ?who? ?had? ?them? ?stuck? ?to? ?their? ?foreheads,? ?the? ?solid? ?ones? ?all? ?had? ?their? ?
brains? ?blown? ?out,? ?blood? ?and? ?flesh? ?splattering,? ?and? ?the? ?hollow? ?ones? ?were? ?blown? ?out? ?of? ?shape,? ?
black? ?smokes? ?dispersing.? ?Before? ?the? ?mountain? ?bluffs? ?was? ?a? ?field? ?of? ?howling? ?and? ?wailing.? ?Hua? ?
Cheng? ?released? ?the? ?hands? ?covering? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?ears? ?looking? ?unaffected.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?rose? ?to? ?his? ?feet,? ?
feeling? ?slightly? ?alarmed.? ?He? ?had? ?inspected? ?those? ?yellow? ?talismans? ?one? ?by? ?one? ?earlier? ?and? ?they? ?
were? ?all? ?the? ?normalest? ?of? ?exorcism? ?charms? ?so? ?how? ?could? ?it? ?have? ?such? ?a? ?shocking? ?effect?? ?
?
Just? ?then,? ?amidst? ?the? ?smoking? ?skies? ?came? ?fluttering? ?down? ?a? ?shredded? ?paper,? ?and? ?with? ?a? ?swift? ?
hand,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?seized? ?it? ?to? ?take? ?a? ?look,? ?and? ?instantly? ?figured? ?it? ?out,? ?“How? ?cunning.”? ? ?
?
This? ?was? ?a? ?sliver? ?of? ?a? ?shredded? ?corner? ?of? ?a? ?yellow? ?talisman.? ?If? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?shredded? ?it? ?might? ?not? ?be? ?
noticeable,? ?but? ?there? ?were? ?actually? ?two? ?layers!? ?
?
One? ?sheet? ?of? ?paper? ?covered? ?the? ?top? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?drawn? ?with? ?the? ?more? ?normal? ?of? ?spells,? ?but? ?there? ?
was? ?another? ?extremely? ?thin? ?sheet? ?of? ?charm? ?paper,? ?and? ?although? ?it’s? ?already? ?been? ?burnt? ?to? ?the? ?
point? ?where? ?the? ?spell? ?was? ?no? ?longer? ?recognizable,? ?but? ?needless? ?to? ?say? ?it? ?must? ?be? ?the? ?most? ?
vicious? ?and? ?aggressive? ?of? ?spells.? ?
?
Clouds? ?of? ?dust? ?flew? ?and? ?filled? ?the? ?air,? ?things? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?seen? ?clearly,? ?and? ?there? ?were? ?still? ?many? ?
ghosts? ?who? ?were? ?screaming? ?like? ?someone? ?was? ?taking? ?this? ?chance? ?to? ?ambush.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?instantly? ?
laid? ?low,? ?and? ?a? ?ghost? ?was? ?shouting,? ?“WAIT!? ?THE? ?SLAUGHTERING? ?HASN’T? ?STARTED,? ?WHY? ?
ARE? ?YOU? ?ALL? ?MAKING? ?YOUR? ?MOVES? ?NOW?!”? ? ?
?
“YEA!? ?DIDN’T? ?WE? ?ALL? ?AGREE? ?THAT? ?SINCE? ?WE’RE? ?ALL? ?GHOSTS,? ?WE’LL? ?PEACEFULLY? ?
FIND? ?A? ?WAY? ?TO? ?CROSS? ?THE? ?MOUNTAIN? ?TO? ?ENTER? ?FIRST??”? ?
?
A? ?savage? ?voice? ?laughed,? ?“Idiots? ?like? ?you? ?deserve? ?to? ?be? ?annihilated? ?in? ?the? ?first? ?round!? ?There’s? ?
never? ?been? ?any? ?indication? ?of? ?when? ?slaughter? ?begins,? ?and? ?since? ?we’re? ?all? ?opponents? ?anyway,? ?
obviously? ?the? ?faster? ?you’re? ?done? ?in? ?the? ?better!? ?Think? ?I’m? ?gonna? ?say? ?hi? ?before? ?I? ?make? ?my? ?move?”? ?
?
“WAIT!? ?WAIT!? ?I’M? ?BACKING? ?OUT!? ?WE’RE? ?NOT? ?AT? ?MOUNT? ?TONGLU? ?YET!? ?CAN’T? ?I? ?BACK? ?
OUT? ?NOW??”? ? ?
?
The? ?clouds? ?of? ?smoke? ?and? ?dust? ?cleared? ?slightly,? ?and? ?once? ?the? ?ghosts? ?could? ?see? ?clearly,? ?they? ?were? ?
all? ?mortified,? ?“HUH?!? ?HOW? ?DID? ?THIS? ?HAPPEN?!”? ?
?
Not? ?just? ?them,? ?even? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?slightly? ?stunned? ?by? ?the? ?sight? ?before? ?him.? ?
?
When? ?they? ?first? ?came,? ?ahead? ?on? ?the? ?road? ?was? ?a? ?tall? ?mountain? ?bluff? ?that? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?bypassed? ?nor? ?
crossed? ?blocking? ?the? ?way.? ?Yet? ?looking? ?at? ?it? ?now,? ?somehow,? ?that? ?mountain? ?had? ?disappeared.? ?
?
No,? ?it? ?didn’t? ?disappear.? ?It? ?migrated? ?to? ?behind? ?them.? ?
?
It? ?seemed,? ?without? ?them? ?realizing? ?it,? ?they’ve? ?already? ?entered? ?the? ?boundaries? ?of? ?Mount? ?TongLu!? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?suddenly? ?understood? ?why? ?when? ?he? ?first? ?asked? ?if? ?Mount? ?TongLu? ?had? ?any? ?landmarks,? ?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?said? ?there? ?was? ?but? ?not? ?to? ?trust? ?them.? ?Because? ?those? ?‘landmarks’? ?were? ?like? ?
mischievous? ?children? ?playing? ?pranks? ?and? ?would? ?move? ?around? ?on? ?their? ?own!? ?
?
Suddenly,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?heard? ?a? ?voice? ?behind? ?him? ?sneer,? ?“I? ?gotta? ?see? ?just? ?what? ?kind? ?of? ?a? ?puppet? ?
you’re? ?made? ?of,? ?or? ?perhaps? ?you’re? ?something? ?else?”? ? ?
?
The? ?Swift? ?Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon!? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?whipped? ?around? ?yet? ?before? ?RuoYe? ?had? ?flown? ?out,? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?chilling? ?flash? ?of? ?light,? ?and? ?
that? ?Swift? ?Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon? ?hadn’t? ?even? ?had? ?the? ?chance? ?to? ?scream? ?before? ?it? ?was? ?
slashed? ?in? ?two? ?from? ?the? ?waist!? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?rushed? ?up? ?to? ?check,? ?and? ?sure? ?enough,? ?he? ?was? ?legitimately? ?chopped? ?cleanly? ?into? ?two? ?
halves,? ?and? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?more? ?dead.? ?He? ?raised? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?saw? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?struck? ?was? ?that? ?
eccentric? ?cloaked? ?figure? ?who? ?was? ?just? ?slowly? ?sliding? ?his? ?sword? ?into? ?his? ?sheath? ?as? ?he? ?walked? ?over? ?
in? ?steady,? ?confident? ?steps.? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?both? ?the? ?figure? ?and? ?the? ?way? ?he? ?walked? ?was? ?somewhat? ?familiar? ?and? ?straightened? ?up,? ?
“My? ?good? ?sir,? ?you? ?are?”? ? ?
?
That? ?man? ?smirked? ?and? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?answer? ?when? ?he? ?suddenly? ?bent? ?down.? ?Seeing? ?this? ?
unexpected? ?action,? ?alarms? ?went? ?off? ?in? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?head? ?and? ?he? ?watched? ?him? ?intently,? ?preparing? ?for? ?
any? ?surprise? ?attacks.? ?Yet? ?that? ?man? ?only? ?leaned? ?down? ?and? ?circled? ?his? ?two? ?arms? ?around? ?the? ?
slender? ?waists? ?of? ?two? ?female? ?ghosts,? ?“Are? ?my? ?ladies? ?alright?”? ? ?
?
Those? ?two? ?female? ?ghosts? ?both? ?bore? ?charming? ?looks? ?and? ?figures,? ?and? ?because? ?they? ?didn’t? ?wield? ?
swords,? ?they? ?didn’t? ?use? ?that? ?yellow? ?talismans? ?and? ?was? ?able? ?to? ?escape? ?the? ?disaster.? ?Nevertheless,? ?
the? ?shockwave? ?from? ?the? ?blasts? ?knocked? ?them? ?out.? ?Now? ?that? ?they’re? ?being? ?embraced? ?in? ?
someone’s? ?arms? ?and? ?being? ?beckoned? ?so? ?passionately,? ?they? ?languidly? ?came? ?to,? ?feeling? ?grateful,? ?
“I’m? ?alright,? ?Thank...”? ?
?
Yet? ?abruptly,? ?before? ?that? ?“thank? ?you”? ?fully? ?left? ?their? ?lips,? ?those? ?two? ?female? ?ghosts? ?faces? ?changed? ?
and? ?shoved? ?that? ?eccentric? ?cloaked? ?figure? ?away,? ?“GET? ?OUTTA? ?HERE!”? ?Then? ?they? ?hurriedly? ?
crawled? ?away.? ?That? ?man? ?wasn’t? ?annoyed? ?even? ?after? ?being? ?slapped? ?twice,? ?and? ?only? ?appeared? ?
rather? ?confused,? ?rubbing? ?his? ?chin? ?as? ?his? ?brows? ?knitted,? ?“That’s? ?not? ?right?? ?This? ?face? ?isn’t? ?that? ?
ugly?”? ? ?
?
“...”? ?
?
Although? ?he? ?was? ?still? ?in? ?disguise,? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?already? ?knew? ?who? ?he? ?was.? ?“General? ?Pei,? ?why? ?are? ?
you? ?here? ?too?”? ?
?
That? ?man? ?turned? ?to? ?him? ?and? ?smiled,? ?his? ?hand? ?brushed? ?by? ?his? ?face? ?and? ?revealed? ?his? ?true? ?
appearance.? ?It? ?was? ?Pei? ?Ming.? ?
?
“Naturally,? ?it’s? ?because? ?the? ?Emperor? ?asked? ?me? ?to? ?give? ?Your? ?Highness? ?a? ?hand.”? ? ?
?
“For? ?real?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“Thank? ?you? ?thank? ?you.? ?Sorry? ?for? ?the? ?trouble.? ?It’s? ?very? ?dangerous? ?here,? ?
as? ?you? ?can? ?see.”? ? ?
?
“Gege? ?there’s? ?no? ?need? ?to? ?be? ?so? ?grateful.? ?He’s? ?obviously? ?negotiated? ?full? ?benefits? ?with? ?Jun? ?Wu.”? ?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?said.? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?walked? ?over? ?and? ?stopped? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?crouched? ?down? ?and? ?made? ?a? ?hand? ?
gesture? ?to? ?measure? ?his? ?current? ?height,? ?laughing,? ?“Do? ?my? ?eyes? ?deceive? ?me?? ?Is? ?this? ?My? ?Lord? ?
Crimson? ?Rain? ?Sought? ?Flower?? ?One? ?certainly? ?changes? ?for? ?the? ?better? ?with? ?time,? ?so? ?what? ?did? ?you? ?
eat? ?to? ?grow? ?backwards?? ?Ha...”? ?
?
He? ?only? ?“ha’-ed? ?once? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?silk? ?bandage? ?was? ?released,? ?whipping? ?so? ?hard? ?he? ?was? ?
almost? ?sent? ?flying? ?and? ?only? ?barely? ?dodged,? ?leaping? ?backwards,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?just? ?how? ?much? ?
do? ?you? ?treasure? ?Hua? ?Chengzhu?? ?Can’t? ?even? ?take? ?a? ?joke?”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?demanded? ?somberly,? ?“Are? ?you? ?really? ?General? ?Pei?”? ? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?patted? ?the? ?sacred? ?sword? ?hung? ?on? ?his? ?waist,? ?flashing? ?it? ?for? ?him? ?to? ?see,? ?“Genuine? ?and? ?
authentic,? ?exchange? ?if? ?fake.”? ?
?
“No? ?exchange.? ?If? ?fake,? ?return? ?directly.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?
?
“Gege,? ?kill? ?it.? ?It’s? ?fake.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said.? ?
?
“Hey!”? ? ?
?
“If? ?you’re? ?really? ?General? ?Pei,? ?then? ?why? ?did? ?that? ?yellow? ?talisman? ?leave? ?an? ?ashen? ?mark? ?on? ?your? ?
forehead? ?earlier?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?questioned.? ?
?
“It’s? ?simple.”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?said,? ?“It’s? ?all? ?thanks? ?to? ?this.”? ?Then? ?he? ?tossed? ?a? ?small? ?item? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian.? ?
Since? ?he? ?was? ?guarded,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?catch? ?with? ?his? ?hands? ?but? ?use? ?the? ?tip? ?of? ?the? ?sword? ?and? ?
skewered? ?it,? ?bringing? ?it? ?to? ?his? ?eyes,? ?“Candy?”? ? ?
?
On? ?the? ?tip? ?of? ?the? ?sword? ?was? ?a? ?black? ?and? ?shiny? ?little? ?candy.? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?threw? ?another? ?in? ?his? ?mouth,? ?
“Ghost? ?Scent? ?Candy? ?I? ?bought? ?from? ?Ghost? ?City.? ?Just? ?chew? ?one? ?and? ?you’d? ?get? ?a? ?mouthful? ?of? ?
essence? ?of? ?evil,? ?flowing? ?from? ?inside? ?out.? ?Rather? ?useful? ?when? ?pretending? ?to? ?be? ?inhuman? ?
creatures.”? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?twiddled? ?that? ?Ghost? ?Scent? ?Candy? ?and? ?was? ?amazed,? ?“You? ?can? ?buy? ?such? ?magical? ?things? ?
at? ?the? ?Ghost? ?City?”? ? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?munched? ?on? ?the? ?candy,? ?“Ask? ?Hua? ?Chengzhu? ?who’s? ?right? ?next? ?to? ?you,? ?he? ?knows? ?best.? ?
You? ?can? ?buy? ?anything? ?at? ?the? ?Ghost? ?City? ?if? ?you? ?know? ?how.? ?Flavour’s? ?not? ?bad,? ?Your? ?Highness,? ?
wanna? ?try? ?one?”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?also? ?curious? ?how? ?ghosts? ?would? ?taste? ?and? ?turned? ?to? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?“If? ?that’s? ?case,? ?we? ?
should’ve? ?gotten? ?some? ?of? ?those? ?Ghost? ?Scent? ?Candies? ?before? ?we? ?came.”? ?
?
However,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?took? ?the? ?candy? ?from? ?his? ?hand? ?and? ?said,? ?“Gege,? ?if? ?you? ?want? ?anything? ?in? ?
Ghost? ?City? ?you? ?only? ?need? ?to? ?ask? ?me.? ?But? ?don’t? ?eat? ?stuff? ?like? ?this.”? ? ?
?
“Why?”? ? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?didn’t? ?exert? ?any? ?powers? ?but? ?that? ?candy? ?shrieked? ?and? ?dissolved? ?into? ?a? ?wisp? ?of? ?black? ?
smoke.? ?He? ?explained,? ?“Everything? ?in? ?the? ?Ghost? ?City? ?is? ?dangerous.? ?Like? ?this? ?candy;? ?it? ?comes? ?from? ?
a? ?shady? ?production? ?house,? ?and? ?the? ?ingredients? ?are? ?mostly? ?vulgar,? ?puny? ?ghosts? ?with? ?unknown? ?
origins.? ?Eating? ?it? ?will? ?damage? ?the? ?body.”? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?didn’t? ?think? ?anything? ?of? ?it,? ?“It’s? ?alright.? ?It’s? ?only? ?for? ?emergencies,? ?not? ?like? ?it’s? ?eaten? ?
regularly.”? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?continued,? ?“And? ?the? ?smell? ?is? ?poignant.? ?Heavenly? ?officials? ?and? ?mortals? ?can’t? ?smell? ?it,? ?
but? ?the? ?more? ?vulgar? ?the? ?ghost,? ?the? ?more? ?rancid? ?the? ?smell.”? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming:? ?“...”? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?snickered,? ?“Do? ?you? ?understand? ?now? ?why? ?those? ?two? ?female? ?ghosts? ?told? ?you? ?to? ?get? ?
lost?”? ? ?
?
“...”? ?
?
Because? ?they? ?felt? ?the? ?essence? ?of? ?evil? ?on? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?was? ?extremely? ?vulgar? ?and? ?disgusting!? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?cleared? ?his? ?throat? ?softly? ?and? ?said? ?courteously,? ?“General? ?Pei,? ?let’s...? ?not? ?eat? ?this? ?
anymore.”? ? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?made? ?a? ?gesture? ?and? ?pulled? ?out? ?the? ?leftover? ?Ghost? ?Scent? ?Candies,? ?tossing? ?them? ?all? ?out.? ?
“Fine.? ?But,? ?we’ve? ?only? ?just? ?reached? ?the? ?outer? ?edges? ?of? ?Mount? ?TongLu.? ?After? ?going? ?further? ?in? ?there? ?
will? ?be? ?even? ?more? ?powerful? ?monsters? ?and? ?demons? ?that? ?can? ?tell? ?with? ?but? ?a? ?look? ?that? ?we’re? ?
suspicious.? ?What? ?shall? ?we? ?do? ?then?”? ? ?
?
Those? ?female? ?ghosts? ?swarmed? ?around? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?like? ?ducks,? ?no? ?doubt? ?they? ?really? ?liked? ?his? ?
scent.? ?The? ?essence? ?of? ?evil? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?transferred? ?to? ?him? ?was? ?undoubtedly? ?the? ?highest? ?of? ?quality,? ?
so? ?there? ?certainly? ?wasn’t? ?a? ?real? ?need? ?to? ?buy? ?Ghost? ?Scent? ?Candies.? ?Only,? ?if? ?he? ?didn’t? ?want? ?anyone? ?
to? ?discover? ?the? ?essence? ?was? ?only? ?stained? ?on? ?the? ?surface,? ?then? ?they? ?might? ?need? ?to? ?press? ?their? ?lips? ?
together? ?like? ?last? ?time? ?and? ?exchange? ?bodily? ?fluids? ?and? ?exchange? ?air.? ?Thinking? ?of? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?
immediately? ?stopped? ?himself? ?and? ?said? ?matter-of-factly,? ?“I? ?don’t? ?know? ?either.? ?I’m? ?just? ?a? ?puppet.”? ? ?
?
Meaning? ?he? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?continue? ?acting.? ? ?
?
“Fine.? ?Then? ?Your? ?Highness,? ?best? ?keep? ?close? ?to? ?your? ?master? ?now.”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?said.? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?pretended? ?not? ?to? ?hear? ?and? ?scanned? ?their? ?surroundings,? ?humming,? ?“I? ?hadn’t? ?imagined? ?
casualties? ?would? ?be? ?this? ?devastating? ?from? ?the? ?get? ?go.”? ?
?
The? ?four? ?hundred? ?some? ?ghosts? ?that? ?had? ?gathered? ?here? ?originally? ?were? ?mostly? ?dead? ?or? ?injured.? ?
Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?recall? ?that? ?scene? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?enacted? ?for? ?him? ?that? ?night,? ?and? ?it? ?truly? ?
wasn’t? ?an? ?exaggeration.? ?It? ?really? ?was? ?like? ?as? ?if? ?a? ?gust? ?of? ?wind? ?had? ?blown? ?past? ?and? ?all? ?the? ?weeds? ?
were? ?ripped? ?out.? ?The? ?ones? ?who? ?managed? ?to? ?escape? ?this? ?trial? ?and? ?hadn’t? ?died? ?out? ?completely? ?
were? ?scraggly? ?and? ?few,? ?their? ?limbs? ?all? ?over? ?the? ?place,? ?moaning? ?and? ?groaning.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?stood? ?
in? ?front? ?of? ?them,? ?“Do? ?you? ?all? ?understand? ?what? ?kind? ?of? ?place? ?Mount? ?TongLu? ?is? ?now?”? ? ?
?
The? ?surviving? ?ghosts? ?didn’t? ?dare? ?make? ?a? ?sound.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said? ?gently,? ?“You’re? ?all? ?still? ?only? ?on? ?the? ?
outer? ?edges? ?right? ?now,? ?there’s? ?still? ?a? ?chance? ?to? ?pull? ?out.? ?If? ?you? ?don’t? ?want? ?to? ?continue? ?to? ?keep? ?
going? ?in? ?and? ?run? ?into? ?scarier? ?things,? ?then? ?wait? ?around? ?here? ?and? ?find? ?a? ?chance? ?to? ?leave.”? ?
?
The? ?ghosts? ?had? ?that? ?very? ?intention,? ?and? ?seeing? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?company? ?didn’t? ?plan? ?on? ?wiping? ?them? ?
out,? ?they? ?hurriedly? ?pulled? ?each? ?other? ?up,? ?supporting? ?one? ?another,? ?and? ?fled? ?for? ?as? ?far? ?as? ?they? ?
could.? ?Watching? ?their? ?retreating? ?backs,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?spoke? ?meaningfully,? ?“That? ?Swift? ?
Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon? ?might? ?have? ?an? ?exaggerated? ?name? ?but? ?he? ?was? ?unexpectedly? ?
impressive.? ?Vicious.”? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?agreed,? ?“That? ?creature? ?was? ?extremely? ?good? ?at? ?manipulation,? ?and? ?was? ?stirring? ?the? ?pot? ?
from? ?the? ?start.? ?He? ?was? ?also? ?quick? ?on? ?his? ?feet.? ?Your? ?Highness,? ?that? ?strike? ?of? ?yours? ?gave? ?him? ?the? ?
perfect? ?chance? ?to? ?use? ?his? ?injuries? ?for? ?trickery.”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?blinked,? ?“Wait,? ?my? ?‘strike’?? ?What? ?strike?? ?I? ?didn’t? ?unsheath? ?my? ?sword.”? ? ?
?
“No?”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?wondered,? ?“That? ?small? ?slash? ?on? ?his? ?abdomen.? ?If? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?for? ?him? ?creating? ?panic? ?
and? ?that? ?little? ?gash? ?stained? ?with? ?your? ?spiritual? ?light,? ?no? ?ghosts? ?would’ve? ?believed? ?him? ?and? ?stick? ?
those? ?talismans? ?on? ?their? ?foreheads.”? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?puzzled,? ?“To? ?be? ?honest,? ?I? ?thought? ?that? ?strike? ?had? ?come? ?from? ?you,? ?General? ?Pei?”? ? ?
?
“Your? ?Highness,? ?do? ?you? ?have? ?some? ?sort? ?of? ?misunderstanding? ?of? ?me?? ?I? ?don’t? ?do? ?ambushes? ?or? ?
sneak? ?attacks.”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?said.? ?
?
“If? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?you? ?and? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?me,? ?then? ?was? ?there? ?a? ?third? ?heavenly? ?official? ?present?? ?Or? ?perhaps? ?
the? ?spiritual? ?light? ?on? ?that? ?Swift? ?Blade? ?Demon’s? ?wound? ?is? ?problematic...”? ?He? ?turned? ?around? ?and? ?
was? ?about? ?to? ?inspect? ?and? ?verify? ?but? ?where? ?that? ?Swift? ?Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon’s? ?corpse? ?
once? ?lied? ?was? ?empty.? ?
?
Startled,? ?he? ?demanded,? ?“Where’s? ?the? ?corpse? ?of? ?that? ?Swift? ?Blade? ?Demon?”? ? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?was? ?also? ?somewhat? ?taken? ?aback,? ?“I? ?clearly? ?slashed? ?him? ?at? ?the? ?waist? ?just? ?now.”? ? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?said? ?darkly,? ?“Gege,? ?be? ?careful.? ?In? ?Mount? ?TongLu,? ?the? ?more? ?opponents? ?killed,? ?the? ?
stronger? ?the? ?slayer.”? ?
?
And? ?earlier,? ?within? ?an? ?instant,? ?that? ?Swift? ?Light-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon? ?slaughtered? ?close? ?to? ?
four? ?hundred? ?monsters? ?and? ?demons!? ?
?
?
———–? ?
?
Ch.146:? ?Ambivalent? ?Regrets;? ?General? ?Ming? ?Snaps? ?the? ?Hateful? ?Sword? ?
?
Corpses? ?piled? ?over? ?the? ?ground,? ?black? ?smoke? ?was? ?dispersing,? ?and? ?the? ?three? ?were? ?tense? ?and? ?
guarded.? ?
?
After? ?that? ?tall? ?mountain? ?had? ?migrated? ?behind? ?them? ?undetected,? ?the? ?path? ?ahead? ?finally? ?came? ?into? ?
view.? ?Thick,? ?black? ?woods? ?layered? ?and? ?overlapped,? ?exceedingly? ?horrifying,? ?and? ?every? ?so? ?often? ?
there’d? ?be? ?the? ?strange? ?squawks? ?of? ?black? ?crows.? ?While? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?heightened? ?the? ?alert? ?of? ?all? ?his? ?
senses,? ?he? ?unconsciously? ?reached? ?for? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?hand? ?at? ?the? ?same? ?time.? ?Yet? ?unexpectedly,? ?
the? ?moment? ?their? ?hands? ?touched? ?he? ?noticed? ?an? ?alarming? ?sign.? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?was? ?obviously? ?a? ?ghost,? ?but? ?at? ?that? ?very? ?moment,? ?his? ?body? ?temperature? ?was? ?blistering? ?
hot? ?like? ?a? ?high? ?fever.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?instantly? ?taken? ?aback? ?and? ?whispered,? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?are...? ?are? ?
you? ?changing? ?back?”? ? ?
?
Although? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?was? ?burning? ?from? ?his? ?forehead? ?to? ?his? ?finger? ?tips,? ?his? ?expression? ?never? ?
changed,? ?“Soon.”? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?change? ?back? ?and? ?in? ?their? ?current? ?situation,? ?it? ?was? ?definitely? ?great? ?news.? ?
However,? ?the? ?time? ?before? ?he? ?formally? ?returns? ?to? ?his? ?old? ?self? ?must? ?be? ?the? ?most? ?important,? ?most? ?
critical? ?point.? ?Making? ?a? ?split? ?second? ?decision,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?cried,? ?“I’ll? ?set? ?up? ?an? ?array? ?and? ?shield? ?you!”? ? ?
?
Then? ?he? ?went? ?straight? ?into? ?action.? ?He? ?called? ?forth? ?RuoYe? ?and? ?made? ?it? ?circle? ?around? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?
to? ?form? ?a? ?large? ?circle? ?of? ?four? ?meters,? ?then? ?plunged? ?Fang? ?Xin? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?the? ?circle? ?as? ?the? ?‘door? ?
lock’? ?to? ?the? ?sealing? ?circle.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?sat? ?down? ?on? ?the? ?ground? ?to? ?meditate? ?and? ?said,? ?“Gege,? ?keep? ?
Fang? ?Xin? ?with? ?you? ?for? ?defense.”? ? ?
?
“No,? ?this? ?array? ?can’t? ?be? ?sloppy,? ?there? ?must? ?be? ?a? ?bladed? ?weapon? ?that’s? ?touched? ?human? ?blood...”? ?
?
Before? ?he? ?finished? ?speaking,? ?he? ?felt? ?there? ?was? ?something? ?rubbing? ?against? ?him? ?behind? ?his? ?back,? ?
and? ?when? ?he? ?looked? ?around,? ?he? ?was? ?instantly? ?speechless.? ?There? ?was? ?a? ?tiny? ?little? ?silver? ?scimitar? ?
standing? ?upright? ?behind? ?him,? ?blinking? ?its? ?big? ?silver? ?eye? ?and? ?rubbing? ?against? ?him? ?with? ?its? ?hilt,? ?like? ?it? ?
was? ?nominating? ?itself? ?for? ?the? ?task.? ?
?
“...”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?crouched? ?down,? ?“E-Ming,? ?how? ?come? ?you’re? ?like? ?this? ?too?”? ? ?
?
The? ?infamous? ?scimitar? ?E-Ming,? ?its? ?blade? ?long? ?and? ?slender,? ?wickedly? ?seductive? ?and? ?wild,? ?had? ?now? ?
shrunk? ?at? ?least? ?half? ?in? ?size.? ?That? ?silver? ?eye? ?used? ?to? ?be? ?long? ?and? ?narrow,? ?but? ?now? ?it? ?looked? ?like? ?it? ?
also? ?transformed? ?to? ?an? ?eye? ?of? ?a? ?child,? ?big? ?and? ?round,? ?bright? ?and? ?shining.? ?However,? ?hearing? ?Xie? ?
Lian,? ?it? ?seemed? ?to? ?feel? ?aggrieved,? ?and? ?continued? ?to? ?try? ?and? ?push? ?its? ?hilt? ?into? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?hand.? ?Pei? ?
Ming? ?also? ?crouched? ?down,? ?“So? ?this? ?is? ?the? ?infamous? ?scimitar? ?E-Ming?”? ? ?
?
He? ?looked? ?like? ?he? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?reach? ?out? ?and? ?touch? ?it? ?but? ?E-Ming? ?changed? ?face? ?instantly,? ?
pointing? ?its? ?blade? ?threateningly? ?towards? ?him.? ?Fortunately,? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?pulled? ?away? ?just? ?in? ?time,? ?
otherwise? ?blood? ?would’ve? ?certainly? ?spilt.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?stroked? ?E-Ming,? ?“Fang? ?Xin? ?is? ?still? ?better? ?suited.”? ?
?
Fang? ?Xin? ?didn’t? ?move.? ?E-Ming,? ?who? ?tried? ?so? ?enthusiastically? ?to? ?offer? ?up? ?itself? ?but? ?ended? ?up? ?so? ?
blatantly? ?rejected,? ?weepingly? ?hopped? ?back? ?to? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?side.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?didn’t? ?even? ?spare? ?it? ?
a? ?look? ?before? ?he? ?smacked? ?it? ?with? ?a? ?backhand? ?slap.? ?“What? ?are? ?you? ?crying? ?about?? ?Isn’t? ?it? ?all? ?
because? ?you’re? ?useless?? ?Trash!”? ? ?
?
E-Ming? ?fell? ?flat? ?on? ?the? ?ground? ?like? ?a? ?piece? ?of? ?unwanted? ?scrap? ?metal,? ?like? ?it? ?dropped? ?dead? ?from? ?
that? ?strike.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?know? ?whether? ?to? ?laugh? ?or? ?cry? ?and? ?immediately? ?picked? ?E-Ming? ?up? ?and? ?
stroked? ?it? ?a? ?couple? ?times? ?in? ?his? ?arms,? ?“Nothing? ?of? ?the? ?sort.? ?Don’t? ?listen? ?to? ?him,? ?you’re? ?not? ?trash,? ?
you’re? ?very? ?useful!”? ? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?couldn’t? ?stand? ?the? ?mood? ?in? ?the? ?circle? ?anymore? ?and? ?stepped? ?out,? ?standing? ?at? ?the? ?
boundary,? ?slowly? ?pulling? ?out? ?his? ?sword? ?once? ?more,? ?“Things? ?weren’t? ?supposed? ?to? ?be? ?this? ?stressful,? ?
but? ?who? ?knew? ?we’d? ?run? ?into? ?such? ?an? ?impressive,? ?troublesome? ?character? ?from? ?the? ?start.? ?Your? ?
Highness? ?really? ?does? ?have? ?the? ?best? ?of? ?luck.”? ?
?
The? ?reason? ?why? ?the? ?group? ?of? ?them? ?made? ?the? ?trip? ?to? ?Mount? ?TongLu? ?was? ?to? ?annihilate? ?any? ?
candidates? ?who? ?had? ?the? ?potential? ?to? ?become? ?a? ?Supreme,? ?so? ?they? ?must? ?seek? ?the? ?more? ?powerful? ?
amongst? ?the? ?ghosts.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?also? ?couldn’t? ?tell? ?anymore? ?whether? ?if? ?this? ?counted? ?as? ?good? ?luck? ?or? ?
bad? ?luck.? ?However,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said,? ?“Why? ?does? ?General? ?Pei? ?think? ?so? ?matter-of-factly? ?that? ?it’s? ?
His? ?Highness’? ?luck? ?that’s? ?the? ?problem?? ?Have? ?you? ?never? ?thought? ?that? ?maybe? ?that? ?Swift? ?
Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon? ?was? ?coming? ?after? ?you?”? ? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?laughed? ?out? ?loud,? ?“If? ?that? ?ghost? ?was? ?a? ?woman? ?I’ll? ?believe? ?it.”? ? ?
?
Yet? ?unexpectedly,? ?he? ?hadn’t? ?laughed? ?for? ?very? ?long? ?before? ?his? ?face? ?suddenly? ?changed? ?and? ?leapt? ?to? ?
the? ?side.? ?When? ?he? ?looked? ?up? ?again,? ?blood? ?dripped? ?and? ?flowed? ?down? ?his? ?cheek.? ?
?
A? ?bloody? ?cut? ?appeared? ?on? ?Pei? ?Ming’s? ?face!? ?
?
He? ?felt? ?his? ?face? ?in? ?disbelief? ?and? ?his? ?whole? ?palm? ?was? ?smeared? ?with? ?blood;? ?this? ?was? ?no? ?scratch.? ?
The? ?two? ?of? ?them? ?were? ?both? ?on? ?high? ?alert,? ?yet,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?perfectly? ?fine? ?and? ?didn’t? ?sense? ?any? ?
killing? ?intent? ?directed? ?at? ?him? ?at? ?all,? ?so? ?he? ?said? ?truthfully,? ?“It? ?seems...? ?it? ?really? ?is? ?coming? ?for? ?you,? ?
General? ?Pei.”? ? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?speak? ?but? ?the? ?sound? ?of? ?a? ?sharp? ?blade? ?slashing? ?through? ?the? ?air? ?came? ?once? ?
more.? ?This? ?time? ?he? ?was? ?prepared? ?and? ?swung? ?his? ?sword.? ?This? ?strike? ?really? ?did? ?hit? ?something,? ?and? ?
a? ?figure? ?appeared? ?in? ?the? ?air,? ?splitting? ?into? ?two? ?from? ?the? ?strike,? ?and? ?crashed? ?to? ?the? ?ground,? ?one? ?half? ?
upper? ?body,? ?the? ?other? ?half? ?the? ?lower? ?body,? ?the? ?eyes? ?gloomy? ?and? ?vicious,? ?glaring? ?at? ?Pei? ?Ming.? ?It? ?
was? ?that? ?Swift? ?Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon!? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?walked? ?over? ?and? ?stepped? ?on? ?his? ?chest,? ?the? ?tip? ?of? ?his? ?sword? ?pointing? ?at? ?his? ?throat,? ?“What? ?
are? ?you?”? ? ?
?
That? ?creature? ?had? ?said? ?he? ?was? ?once? ?the? ?blade? ?of? ?an? ?executioner,? ?but? ?if? ?that? ?really? ?was? ?the? ?case,? ?
then? ?after? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?chopped? ?him? ?in? ?half? ?he? ?should’ve? ?shown? ?its? ?true? ?form? ?and? ?end? ?this? ?ridiculous? ?
act.? ?What? ?kind? ?of? ?blade? ?could? ?still? ?do? ?as? ?it? ?pleased? ?after? ?snapping? ?in? ?half?? ?
?
Yet? ?unexpectedly,? ?that? ?Swift? ?Blade? ?Demon? ?bulged? ?his? ?eyes,? ?sneered,? ?and? ?broke? ?Pei? ?Ming’s? ?
sword? ?with? ?his? ?bare? ?hands!? ?
?
CLANG!? ??Pei? ?Ming’s? ?eyes? ?instantly? ?widened.? ?
?
It? ?wasn’t? ?just? ?him,? ?even? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?a? ?similar? ?reaction.? ?
?
At? ?the? ?very? ?least,? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?was? ?a? ?formally? ?ascended? ?martial? ?god,? ?and? ?even? ?if? ?he? ?was? ?situated? ?in? ?
Mount? ?TongLu? ?and? ?his? ?spiritual? ?powers? ?were? ?suppressed? ?to? ?the? ?bare? ?minimum,? ?his? ?spiritual? ?
device? ?still? ?shouldn’t? ?have? ?been? ?so? ?easily? ?broken!? ? ?
?
The? ?Swift? ?Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?demon? ?laughed? ?soundly,? ?“I? ?can’t? ?believe? ?you’d? ?use? ?such? ?a? ?
trashy? ?sword!”? ? ?
?
The? ?sword? ?was? ?broken,? ?so? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?resorted? ?to? ?using? ?fists? ?as? ?the? ?sword,? ?but? ?that? ?Swift? ?
Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon? ?slapped? ?his? ?left? ?hand? ?on? ?the? ?ground? ?and? ?pushed? ?himself? ?into? ?
the? ?air,? ?pressing? ?the? ?fingers? ?of? ?his? ?right? ?hand? ?together? ?and? ?shot? ?out? ?a? ?blast.? ?Where? ?his? ?palm? ?blast? ?
blew? ?by,? ?a? ?bright? ?chilling? ?light? ?of? ?metal? ?shone;? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?gust? ?with? ?razor? ?edges.? ?It? ?appeared,? ?that? ?its? ?
true? ?form? ?really? ?was? ?a? ?sharp? ?weapon!? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?stood? ?within? ?the? ?circle? ?and? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?leave? ?to? ?help? ?but? ?was? ?stopped? ?by? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?
who? ?said? ?with? ?a? ?low? ?voice,? ?“Gege,? ?watch? ?closely.”? ? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?also? ?shouted,? ?“NO? ?NEED? ?TO? ?INTERFERE!”? ?If? ?he,? ?an? ?esteemed? ?martial? ?god? ?of? ?the? ?
north,? ?couldn’t? ?even? ?defeat? ?a? ?mere? ?ghost? ?blade? ?from? ?the? ?outer? ?edges? ?of? ?Mount? ?TongLu,? ?then? ?how? ?
could? ?he? ?face? ?himself?? ?
?
However,? ?although? ?that? ?ghost? ?blade? ?only? ?had? ?his? ?upper? ?half? ?body,? ?he? ?was? ?extremely? ?agile,? ?and? ?
no? ?matter? ?where? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?struck,? ?it? ?looked? ?as? ?if? ?he? ?already? ?predicted? ?every? ?step,? ?which? ?made? ?
things? ?rather? ?pessimistic? ?for? ?Pei? ?Ming.? ?After? ?hundreds? ?of? ?moves,? ?there? ?were? ?actually? ?over? ?ten? ?
gashes? ?on? ?Pei? ?Ming.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?watch? ?anymore? ?and? ?called? ?out,? ?“General? ?Pei,? ?come? ?back? ?
into? ?the? ?circle? ?first!”? ? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming’s? ?face? ?was? ?growing? ?grimmer? ?and? ?grimmer.? ?He? ?refused? ?to? ?retreat,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?
bluntly? ?join? ?the? ?fight? ?to? ?make? ?it? ?two? ?against? ?one.? ?To? ?some? ?martial? ?gods,? ?to? ?require? ?help? ?when? ?
fighting? ?one? ?on? ?one? ?was? ?a? ?form? ?of? ?humiliation.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?tried? ?again,? ?“General? ?Pei,? ?come? ?back? ?
first!? ?There’s? ?something? ?weird? ?going? ?on,? ?can’t? ?you? ?tell?? ?This? ?man? ?knows? ?too? ?well? ?of? ?your? ?sword? ?
techniques!”? ?
?
Naturally,? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?also? ?noticed,? ?he? ?just? ?couldn’t? ?believe? ?it? ?for? ?the? ?moment.? ?But? ?since? ?even? ?Xie? ?
Lian? ?who? ?was? ?observing? ?on? ?the? ?side? ?had? ?noticed,? ?he? ?had? ?to? ?believe? ?it? ?even? ?if? ?he? ?didn’t? ?want? ?to.? ?
Xie? ?Lian? ?pulled? ?Fang? ?Xin? ?out? ?and? ?temporarily? ?opened? ?a? ?small? ?gap.? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?took? ?the? ?chance? ?to? ?
leap? ?back? ?into? ?the? ?circle,? ?his? ?expression? ?extremely? ?grim.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?plugged? ?Fang? ?Xin? ?anew? ?and? ?
asked,? ?“General? ?Pei,? ?aren’t? ?you? ?going? ?to? ?pick? ?up? ?your? ?broken? ?spiritual? ?device?”? ? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?wiped? ?away? ?the? ?blood? ?on? ?his? ?forehead? ?and? ?replied? ?darkly,? ?“That’s? ?not? ?my? ?spiritual? ?
device.? ?It’s? ?just? ?a? ?decent? ?sword? ?I? ?picked? ?randomly.”? ?
?
Hearing? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?sighed? ?a? ?breath? ?of? ?relief.? ?Although? ?any? ?sword? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?picked? ?randomly? ?
would? ?be? ?a? ?fairly? ?sumptuous? ?sword,? ?but? ?it? ?still? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?measured? ?as? ?equals? ?to? ?a? ?spiritual? ?
device.? ?He? ?asked,? ?“Why? ?doesn’t? ?General? ?Pei? ?bring? ?your? ?spiritual? ?device? ?when? ?coming? ?here?”? ? ?
?
“I? ?didn’t? ?forge? ?any.”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?replied.? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?even? ?more? ?curious? ?now,? ?“Why? ?not?”? ?Typically,? ?martial? ?gods? ?would? ?forge? ?their? ?most? ?
agreeable? ?weapon? ?into? ?a? ?spiritual? ?device,? ?and? ?it’d? ?be? ?akin? ?to? ?adding? ?wings? ?to? ?a? ?tiger? ?in? ?battle.? ?Pei? ?
Ming? ?hadn’t? ?yet? ?answered? ?and? ?that? ?Swift? ?Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon? ?humphed? ?coldly,? ?
“That’s? ?obvious? ?because,? ?his? ?most? ?agreeable? ?sword? ?no? ?longer? ?exists!”? ? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?frowned,? ?“Who? ?exactly? ?are? ?you?”? ? ?
?
“You’re? ?not? ?asking? ?‘what’? ?exactly? ?he? ?is?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.? ?
?
The? ?Swift? ?Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon? ?humphed,? ?“Who? ?am? ?I?? ?HA!? ?Pei? ?Ming,? ?back? ?then? ?you? ?
snapped? ?me? ?with? ?a? ?palm? ?blast.? ?Did? ?you? ?ever? ?expect? ?for? ?today? ?to? ?happen?”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian’s? ?eyes? ?widened,? ?“General? ?Pei,? ?do? ?you? ?know? ?him?”? ? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?pondered? ?for? ?a? ?long? ?while,? ?and? ?his? ?expression? ?grew? ?more? ?and? ?more? ?solemn.? ?He? ?tried,? ?
“You’re...? ?Ming? ?Guang?”? ?
?
Hearing? ?that? ?name,? ?the? ?Swift? ?Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon’s? ?smile? ?faded.? ?The? ?him? ?now? ?no? ?
longer? ?looked? ?like? ?that? ?common,? ?puny? ?little? ?ghost? ?from? ?earlier.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?questioned,? ?“He’s? ?called? ?
‘Ming? ?Guang’?? ?General? ?Pei,? ?aren’t? ?you? ?supposed? ?to? ?be? ?General? ?Ming? ?Guang?”? ? ?
?
In? ?an? ?instant,? ?countless? ?possible? ?stories? ?like? ?fraudulent? ?substitution? ?flashed? ?through? ?his? ?mind,? ?but? ?
because? ?there? ?were? ?precedents? ?in? ?the? ?heavens,? ?they? ?weren’t? ?outlandish? ?assumptions.? ?He? ?
couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?think,? ?‘Is? ?this? ?another? ?Earth? ?Master? ?Yi?’? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?seemed? ?to? ?have? ?seen? ?through? ?what? ?he? ?was? ?thinking? ?and? ?said? ?while? ?covering? ?his? ?
wounds? ?with? ?his? ?hands,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?what’re? ?you? ?thinking?? ?I? ?already? ?told? ?you? ?I’m? ?the? ?
genuine,? ?authentic? ?General? ?Pei.? ?I’m? ?the? ?real? ?thing!”? ?
?
“Then? ?why? ?did? ?you? ?call? ?him? ?Ming? ?Guang?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?demanded.? ?
?
“Because? ?his? ?name? ??is?? ?Ming? ?Guang.? ?It’s? ?the? ?name? ?I? ?came? ?up? ?with.? ?He’s? ?my? ?sword!”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?“Ah”-ed? ?and? ?said,? ?“Could? ?it? ?be? ?–? ?‘The? ?Sword-Snapping? ?General’?”? ?
?
“That’s? ?right.”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?replied,? ?“‘Ming? ?Guang’? ?was? ?my? ?personal? ?sword? ?when? ?I? ?was? ?a? ?mortal,? ?and? ?
was? ?personally? ?snapped? ?by? ?yours? ?truly? ?hundreds? ?of? ?years? ?ago.”? ?
?
No? ?wonder!? ?
?
No? ?wonder? ?this? ?“Swift? ?Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon”? ?knew? ?Pei? ?Ming’s? ?sword? ?techniques? ?so? ?
well,? ?like? ?he? ?could? ?predict? ?his? ?every? ?move.? ?No? ?wonder? ?even? ?when? ?it’s? ?been? ?slashed? ?into? ?two,? ?it? ?
could? ?still? ?move? ?so? ?willfully,? ?like? ?that? ?abdominal? ?injury? ?had? ?no? ?effect? ?on? ?him? ?whatsoever.? ?Because,? ?
this? ?sword? ?had? ?followed? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?and? ?won? ?countless? ?victories? ?from? ?north? ?to? ?south,? ?so? ?naturally? ?it? ?
knew? ?Pei? ?Ming’s? ?art? ?from? ?inside? ?out;? ?because,? ?he? ?was? ?already? ?snapped? ?into? ?two!? ?
?
“So,? ?that? ?gash? ?from? ?before? ?was? ?him? ?stabbing? ?himself?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“Then? ?the? ?spiritual? ?light? ?on? ?
his? ?wound? ?was?”? ? ?
?
“Mine.”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?said.? ?“Back? ?then,? ?I? ?ascended? ?as? ?soon? ?as? ?I? ?snapped? ?him? ?in? ?half.? ?I? ?suppose? ?that? ?
must? ?be? ?when? ?the? ?light? ?stained? ?him.? ?That? ?won’t? ?clean? ?away.”? ? ?
?
The? ?Swift? ?Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon? ?–? ?no,? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?started? ?using? ?his? ?hand? ?as? ?a? ?sword,? ?
slashing? ?towards? ?Fang? ?Xin? ?with? ?every? ?move.? ?His? ?expression? ?was? ?gloomy? ?and? ?sharp,? ?like? ?he? ?was? ?
attacking? ?Pei? ?Ming’s? ?person.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?ask,? ?“Um...? ?General? ?Pei,? ?why? ?does? ?your? ?
sword? ?resent? ?you? ?so? ?much?? ?What? ?did? ?you? ?do? ?to? ?it?? ?What’s? ?the? ?story? ?behind? ?the? ?‘Sword-Snapping? ?
General’?”? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?was? ?feeling? ?for? ?his? ?pill? ?bottle? ?and? ?replied,? ?“Some? ?raggedy? ?story? ?from? ?hundreds? ?of? ?years? ?
ago,? ?what’s? ?the? ?point? ?of? ?talking? ?of? ?it? ?now?? ?Let’s? ?find? ?a? ?way? ?to? ?beat? ?him? ?first!”? ? ?
?
Although? ?there? ?was? ?RuoYe? ?forming? ?the? ?circle,? ?but? ?if? ?Fang? ?Xin? ?should? ?cut? ?down,? ?then? ?half? ?the? ?
array? ?would? ?fall,? ?just? ?like? ?how? ?after? ?breaking? ?the? ?lock,? ?there? ?was? ?only? ?a? ?door? ?left.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?glanced? ?
behind? ?him;? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?entered? ?his? ?meditation,? ?his? ?eyes? ?closed? ?shut,? ?seeming? ?to? ?sense? ?no? ?
movement? ?of? ?the? ?outside? ?world,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?slightly? ?reassured.? ?However,? ?Pei? ?Ming’s? ?voice? ?
pulled? ?him? ?back,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?will? ?your? ?sword? ?hold?”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?back? ?around,? ?“I? ?don’t? ?know.? ?Fang? ?Xin’s? ?old? ?after? ?all.”? ? ?
?
“That’s? ?alright.”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?said,? ?“Ming? ?Guang’s? ?pretty? ?old? ?too.”? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?sighed? ?in? ?relief,? ?“If? ?that’s? ?the? ?case,? ?as? ?long? ?as? ?there’s? ?no? ?outside? ?help,? ?then? ?we? ?should? ?
be? ?able? ?to? ?hang? ?on? ?for? ?a? ?w...”? ?
?
Yet? ?unexpectedly,? ?before? ?he? ?finished? ?his? ?words,? ?a? ?series? ?of? ?heavy? ?footsteps? ?sounded? ?from? ?the? ?
direction? ?of? ?the? ?forest.? ?Soon,? ?a? ?giant,? ?savage? ?looking,? ?dark? ?skinned? ?burly? ?man? ?donned? ?in? ?broken? ?
armour? ?appeared.? ?
?
That? ?burly? ?man? ?was? ?abnormally? ?tall,? ?and? ?the? ?moment? ?they? ?saw? ?him,? ?both? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?
dripped? ?a? ?drop? ?of? ?cold? ?sweat.? ?
?
That? ?burly? ?man? ?had? ?noticed? ?that? ?in? ?their? ?direction? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?man? ?chopping? ?at? ?a? ?sword? ?madly? ?
with? ?bare? ?hands? ?and? ?seemed? ?to? ?find? ?it? ?astonishing? ?so? ?he? ?walked? ?over.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?
both? ?covered? ?their? ?faces? ?with? ?their? ?hands? ?at? ?the? ?same? ?time? ?and? ?turned? ?around.? ?As? ?for? ?Ming? ?
Guang,? ?when? ?he? ?noticed? ?a? ?giant? ?corpse? ?walking? ?towards? ?him,? ?looking? ?like? ?he’s? ?one? ?of? ?great? ?
strength,? ?called? ?to? ?him,? ?“Hey,? ?big? ?guy,? ?give? ?me? ?a? ?hand!? ?Help? ?me? ?knock? ?out? ?this? ?sword? ?and? ?break? ?
the? ?array,? ?I’ll? ?split? ?the? ?heads? ?inside? ?with? ?you!”? ? ?
?
Yet,? ?that? ?burly? ?man? ?didn’t? ?seem? ?to? ?be? ?a? ?man? ?of? ?the? ?midlands,? ?didn’t? ?die? ?a? ?ghost? ?of? ?the? ?midlands,? ?
so? ?the? ?languages? ?were? ?different,? ?and? ?he? ?didn’t? ?seem? ?to? ?understand? ?what? ?was? ?said,? ?and? ?only? ?
shouted? ?back.? ?The? ?two? ?shouted? ?at? ?each? ?other? ?for? ?a? ?while? ?but? ?nothing? ?was? ?achieved? ?except? ?veins? ?
popping.? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?did? ?his? ?best? ?to? ?appear? ?the? ?way? ?he? ?was? ?covering? ?his? ?face? ?was? ?more? ?natural? ?
and? ?more? ?suave,? ?and? ?he? ?whispered,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?what’s? ?that? ?savage? ?yelling? ?about?”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?whispered? ?too,? ?“He? ?thought? ?your? ?sword? ?is? ?trying? ?to? ?provoke? ?him? ?so? ?he? ?got? ?mad,? ?telling? ?
him? ?to? ?kneel? ?down? ?and? ?beg? ?for? ?mercy,? ?otherwise? ?he’ll? ?beat? ?him? ?to? ?death.”? ? ?
?
“Oh? ?good,”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?said,? ?“Hope? ?they? ?start? ?fighting? ?soon? ?then.”? ? ?
?
Yet? ?unexpectedly,? ?that? ?giant? ?man? ?seemed? ?to? ?have? ?heard? ?their? ?whispers? ?and? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?
around,? ?staring? ?at? ?them? ?closely.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?tightened? ?the? ?hands? ?covering? ?their? ?faces,? ?
no? ?longer? ?able? ?to? ?care? ?about? ?appearing? ?natural.? ?However,? ?that? ?burly? ?man? ?still? ?recognized? ?them? ?
and? ?stomped,? ?the? ?entire? ?ground? ?quaking.? ?He? ?roared,? ?“IT’S? ?YOU!? ?SCRAP? ?COLLECTING? ?
CULTIVATOR!? ?PEI? ?SU’S? ?BOSS!”? ?
?
Since? ?they? ?were? ?recognized,? ?the? ?two? ?dropped? ?their? ?hands.? ?After? ?some? ?hesitation,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said? ?
warmly? ?using? ?Banyue? ?tongue,? ?“General? ?Ke? ?Mo,? ?please? ?calm? ?down.”? ? ?
?
That? ?peculiar? ?burly? ?man? ?was? ?naturally? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?who? ?had? ?escaped? ?his? ?seal? ?after? ?Mount? ?TongLu’s? ?
tremors? ?aroused? ?millions? ?of? ?ghosts.? ?He? ?was? ?first? ?captured? ?by? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?and? ?had? ?also? ?seen? ?Pei? ?
Ming? ?who? ?stood? ?next? ?to? ?Pei? ?Su? ?during? ?trial.? ?Seeing? ?his? ?enemies,? ?his? ?eyes? ?reddened,? ?and? ?without? ?
another? ?word,? ?he? ?kicked? ?at? ?Fang? ?Xin,? ?and? ?that? ?sword? ?was? ?instantly? ?knocked? ?off? ?centre? ?by? ?an? ?
inch!? ? ?
?
Seeing? ?this,? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?clapped? ?and? ?cheered? ?“DIVINE!”? ?and? ?continued? ?to? ?shoot? ?out? ?blasts? ?after? ?
blasts.? ?Seeing? ?Fang? ?Xin? ?shaking? ?harder? ?and? ?harder? ?under? ?their? ?combined? ?attacks,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?felt? ?
Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?forehead? ?but? ?his? ?hand? ?instantly? ?shrank? ?back? ?from? ?the? ?heat.? ?“What? ?should? ?we? ?do?!”? ?
?
?
——–? ?
?
Ch.147:? ?Ambivalent? ?Regrets;? ?General? ?Ming? ?Snaps? ?the? ?Hateful? ?Sword? ?2? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?needed? ?to? ?shield? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?with? ?the? ?array? ?and? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?distracted,? ?and? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?
posed? ?not? ?a? ?single? ?threat? ?to? ?the? ?weapon? ?he? ?was? ?the? ?most? ?familiar? ?with.? ? ?
?
Just? ?then,? ?they? ?suddenly? ?heard? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?cuss,? ?“YOU? ?BLOODY? ?SAVAGE!? ?CAN? ?YOU? ?NOT? ?
SMASH? ?WHEN? ?I’M? ?SMASHING??? ?YOU’VE? ?HIT? ?MY? ?HAND!”? ?However,? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?completely? ?
ignored? ?him.? ?Seeing? ?there? ?was? ?friction? ?between? ?the? ?two,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?grabbed? ?hold? ?of? ?Pei? ?Ming,? ?
“General? ?Pei!? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?won’t? ?believe? ?you? ?mean? ?him? ?no? ?harm? ?and? ?will? ?keep? ?coming? ?after? ?you!? ?
Quick,? ?press? ?the? ?fingers? ?of? ?both? ?your? ?hands? ?together,? ?cross? ?your? ?wrists? ?above? ?your? ?head,? ?then? ?
press? ?downwards? ?before? ?opening? ?your? ?arms.? ?This? ?is? ?the? ?hand? ?gestures? ?his? ?peoples? ?use? ?to? ?ask? ?
for? ?truce.? ?Either? ?way? ?just? ?show? ?him? ?your? ?good? ?will? ?and? ?make? ?him? ?stop? ?for? ?now!:? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?was? ?bewildered,? ?“HUH?? ?You? ?must? ?know? ?that? ?the? ?resentment? ?between? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?and? ?them? ?
isn’t? ?just? ?a? ?small? ?misunderstanding,? ?how? ?can? ?it? ?be? ?pacified? ?with? ?just? ?some? ?hand? ?gestures?”? ?
?
But? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?paid? ?him? ?no? ?mind? ?and? ?grabbed? ?hold? ?of? ?him,? ?“Come,? ?do? ?this? ?with? ?me? ?to? ?make? ?him? ?
stop!”? ? ?
?
However,? ?Pei? ?Ming’s? ?hand? ?was? ?injured,? ?and? ?with? ?this? ?grab,? ?the? ?corners? ?of? ?his? ?lips? ?twitched.? ?He? ?
was? ?about? ?to? ?follow? ?as? ?instructed? ?but? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?had? ?already? ?heard? ?everything? ?they? ?said,? ?and? ?
charged? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?Ke? ?Mo,? ?crossing? ?his? ?hands? ?above? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?slid? ?his? ?arms? ?down? ?before? ?
opening? ?them,? ?smirking? ?to? ?the? ?two? ?in? ?the? ?circle,? ?“As? ?if? ?I’d? ?let? ?you!”? ? ?
?
Yet? ?unexpectedly,? ?when? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?saw? ?that? ?gesture,? ?his? ?eyes? ?bulged,? ?and? ?thick? ?lines? ?of? ?veins? ?
popped? ?on? ?his? ?iron? ?dark? ?skin.? ?He? ?opened? ?his? ?palm? ?and? ?swung? ?his? ?hand? ?like? ?an? ?iron? ?cattail? ?leaf? ?
fan,? ?sending? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?flying? ?in? ?the? ?air,? ?
?
The? ?moment? ?that? ?slap? ?swung? ?out,? ?both? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?and? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?still? ?hadn’t? ?wrapped? ?their? ?
heads? ?around? ?what? ?happened.? ?If? ?was? ?only? ?a? ?moment? ?later? ?before? ?it? ?dawned? ?on? ?Pei? ?Ming,? ?and? ?he? ?
turned? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?I? ?thought? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?was? ?already? ?cunning,? ?but? ?I? ?hadn’t? ?
thought? ?you’re? ?more? ?cunning? ?than? ?he? ?is.? ?I’m? ?impressed.”? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?wiped? ?away? ?his? ?cold? ?sweat,? ?“It’s? ?nothing,? ?it’s? ?nothing,? ?much? ?ashamed.”? ? ?
?
That? ?speech? ?just? ?now? ?appeared? ?to? ?be? ?said? ?for? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?but? ?it? ?was? ?actually? ?said? ?for? ?Ming? ?Guang.? ?
After? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?heard,? ?in? ?order? ?for? ?them? ?not? ?to? ?do? ?as? ?they? ?will,? ?he? ?would? ?of? ?course? ?fight? ?to? ?
show? ?good? ?will? ?to? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?first.? ?However,? ?the? ?set? ?of? ?gestures? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?taught? ?wasn’t? ?for? ?calling? ?
truce? ?in? ?the? ?first? ?place? ?but? ?provocation.? ?And? ?it? ?was? ?the? ?most? ?insultiving? ?kind? ?of? ?provocation? ?in? ?the? ?
Banyue? ?tongue,? ?something? ?akin? ?to? ?“Chop? ?off? ?your? ?bitch? ?head”,? ?“Fuck? ?your? ?wife”,? ?“Murder? ?your? ?
whole? ?family”,? ?“Level? ?your? ?ancestors’? ?graves”;? ?four? ?power? ?attacks? ?all? ?at? ?once,? ?how? ?could? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?
not? ?be? ?outraged? ?after? ?seeing? ?it?? ?Under? ?any? ?other? ?circumstances.? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?might? ?be? ?
suspicious? ?of? ?the? ?truth? ?in? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?words,? ?but? ?because? ?the? ?situation? ?was? ?dire? ?and? ?Pei? ?Ming’s? ?
hands? ?were? ?almost? ?raised? ?and? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?didn’t? ?take? ?the? ?time? ?to? ?think? ?carefully? ?and? ?fell? ?into? ?this? ?
deception.? ?
?
Ming? ?Guang? ?quickly? ?snapped? ?out? ?of? ?it? ?after? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?sent? ?him? ?flying? ?and? ?wanted? ?to? ?remedy? ?the? ?
situation,? ?but? ?because? ?they? ?couldn’t? ?communicate? ?and? ?he? ?only? ?yelled? ?instinctively,? ?it? ?looked? ?more? ?
like? ?he? ?was? ?cursing? ?Ke? ?Mo.? ?He? ?also? ?tried? ?a? ?few? ?other? ?hand? ?gestures,? ?like? ?thumbs? ?up,? ?but? ?this? ?was? ?
no? ?different? ?than? ?someone? ?who? ?just? ?used? ?the? ?most? ?malicious,? ?vulgar? ?swears? ?to? ?abuse? ?you? ?
suddenly? ?turning? ?around? ?to? ?beg? ?for? ?mercy? ?and? ?showing? ?good? ?will,? ?so? ?it? ?didn’t? ?feel? ?sincere? ?at? ?all,? ?
and? ?he? ?got? ?pounded? ?a? ?few? ?more? ?times.? ?On? ?top? ?of? ?that,? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?also? ?knew? ?some? ?rough? ?midlands? ?
curses,? ?so? ?he? ?swore? ?as? ?he? ?struck,? ?and? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?was? ?becoming? ?a? ?little? ?irked? ?too,? ?the? ?two? ?of? ?
them? ?beating? ?each? ?other? ?harder? ?and? ?harder.? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?almost? ?wanted? ?to? ?cheer? ?them? ?on.? ? ?
?
Ming? ?Guang? ?swept? ?a? ?glance? ?over,? ?incredibly? ?irritated,? ?and? ?suddenly? ?reached? ?out,? ?waved? ?in? ?front? ?
of? ?Ke? ?Mo,? ?the? ?pointed? ?at? ?the? ?other? ?two? ?before? ?doing? ?that? ?forking? ?hand? ?gesture? ?again.? ? ?
?
Ke? ?Mo? ?actually? ?did? ?stop? ?and? ?asked? ?with? ?a? ?frown,? ?“Are? ?you? ?doing? ?this? ?to? ?me? ?or? ?to? ?them?”? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?became? ?apprehensive? ?but? ?didn’t? ?dare? ?speak? ?recklessly? ?because? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?sure? ?
how? ?to? ?best? ?coax? ?Ke? ?Mo.? ?Seeing? ?there? ?might? ?be? ?a? ?way? ?to? ?turn? ?this? ?around,? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?exerted? ?
more? ?efforts? ?and? ?turned? ?to? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?to? ?repeat? ?the? ?gestures? ?savagely,? ?but? ?when? ?he? ?turned? ?back? ?to? ?
Ke? ?Mo? ?he? ?turned? ?calm.? ?Matching? ?the? ?expression? ?in? ?his? ?eyes? ?and? ?doing? ?this? ?repeatedly,? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?
finally? ?understood? ?what? ?he? ?was? ?saying:? ?
?
They? ?have? ?the? ?same? ?enemies!? ? ?
?
Once? ?they? ?were? ?unified,? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?and? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?came? ?charging? ?at? ?the? ?array? ?once? ?more.? ?Xie? ?
Lian’s? ?mind? ?spun? ?rapidly,? ?inhaled? ?deeply,? ?and? ?yelled? ?on? ?top? ?of? ?his? ?lungs? ?in? ?Banyue? ?tongue,? ?
“GENERAL? ?PEI? ?JUNIOR!? ?BAN? ?YUE!”? ? ?
?
Hearing? ?those? ?two? ?names,? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?stopped? ?abruptly? ?in? ?his? ?step? ?and? ?demanded? ?sharply,? ?“ARE? ?
THEY? ?CLOSE? ?BY? ?TOO?!”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?answer? ?him,? ?only? ?focused? ?on? ?continuing? ?his? ?call,? ?“GENERAL? ?PEI? ?JUNIOR!? ?BAN? ?
YUE!? ?KE? ?MO? ?IS? ?HERE,? ?DON’T? ?COME? ?OVER,? ?HURRY? ?AND? ?RUN? ?AWAY!? ?AND? ?DON’T? ?COME? ?
BACK!”? ? ?
?
Yelling? ?like? ?this,? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?naturally? ?thought? ?those? ?two? ?were? ?actually? ?nearby,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?
informing? ?them? ?telling? ?them? ?to? ?flee.? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?was? ?instantly? ?enraged,? ?“AS? ?IF? ?I’D? ?LET? ?YOU!”? ?Then? ?he? ?
rushed? ?away.? ?“OI!? ?BIG? ?GUY!? ?WHAT? ?ARE? ?YOU? ?RUNNING? ?FOR?!? ?HE? ?MUST? ?BE? ?LYING,? ?COME? ?
BACK!”? ? ?
?
However,? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?was? ?long? ?gone.? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?stomped? ?his? ?foot? ?in? ?anger,? ?“DUMBASS!”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?wiped? ?his? ?cold? ?sweat? ?away? ?for? ?the? ?second? ?time,? ?his? ?heart? ?suddenly? ?grateful,? ?“Learning? ?
another? ?language? ?is? ?infinitely? ?beneficial? ?for? ?life!”? ?And? ?seeing? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?continue? ?
attacking? ?Fang? ?Xin,? ?he? ?raised? ?his? ?hand,? ?“Stop!? ?Keep? ?this? ?up? ?and? ?we? ?won’t? ?be? ?so? ?courteous!”? ? ?
?
“And? ?how? ?are? ?you? ?courteous? ?to? ?me? ?now?”? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?countered.? ?
?
“Did? ?you? ?forget? ?something?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.? ?
?
“Forget? ?what?”? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?speak? ?but? ?stopped,? ?then? ?dragged? ?an? ?object? ?out? ?from? ?behind? ?him,? ?“How? ?
can? ?you? ?forget? ?such? ?a? ?big? ?thing?”? ? ?
?
What? ?he? ?was? ?dragging? ?was? ?the? ?two? ?legs? ?of? ?that? ?lower? ?half? ?of? ?the? ?body.? ?The? ?moment? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?
saw? ?his? ?expression? ?froze,? ?“HUH?? ?MY? ?LOWER? ?BODY!”? ? ?
?
Earlier,? ?he? ?had? ?been? ?using? ?palms? ?in? ?place? ?of? ?feet,? ?using? ?his? ?arms? ?to? ?prop? ?him? ?up? ?and? ?jump? ?
around,? ?and? ?seemed? ?to? ?have? ?gotten? ?used? ?to? ?moving? ?this? ?way? ?without? ?him? ?realizing? ?it,? ?completely? ?
having? ?forgotten? ?that? ?he? ?hadn’t? ?yet? ?retrieved? ?his? ?lower? ?body.? ?While? ?he? ?and? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?were? ?fighting,? ?
Pei? ?Ming? ?took? ?the? ?chance? ?to? ?leave? ?the? ?circle? ?and? ?dragged? ?that? ?deserted,? ?immobile? ?lower? ?half? ?
body? ?into? ?the? ?boundary.? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?threatened,? ?“You? ?better? ?not? ?do? ?anything? ?unnecessary.”? ?
?
Only,? ?this? ?threat? ?was? ?obviously? ?very? ?awkward.? ?Since,? ?if? ?a? ?hostage? ?was? ?a? ?complete? ?person,? ?Pei? ?
Ming? ?could? ?very? ?well? ?sink? ?his? ?fingers? ?into? ?the? ?other’s? ?neck? ?or? ?skull? ?when? ?making? ?the? ?threat,? ?and? ?
the? ?picture? ?would? ?appear? ?much? ?more? ?effective,? ?like? ?he? ?wasn’t? ?bluffing.? ?However,? ?right? ?now? ?they? ?
only? ?have? ?a? ?lower? ?half? ?body? ?in? ?hand,? ?so? ?where? ?can? ?his? ?hands? ?go? ?that? ?won’t? ?both? ?be? ?awkward? ?and? ?
still? ?strike? ?fear?? ? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?couldn’t? ?think? ?of? ?a? ?way? ?so? ?he? ?simply? ?stepped? ?on? ?to? ?the? ?leg.? ?“Are? ?you? ?shitting? ?me?”? ?Ming? ?
Guang? ?said,? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?also? ?didn’t? ?think? ?this? ?looked? ?serious? ?at? ?all? ?and? ?said? ?courteously,? ?“General? ?Pei,? ?stepping? ?
on? ?legs? ?really? ?isn’t? ?very? ?convincing,? ?can? ?you? ?maybe...? ?make? ?him? ?think? ?you’ve? ?got? ?him? ?by? ?
something? ?critical?”? ? ?
?
“Your? ?Highness,? ?don’t? ?say? ?something? ?like? ?that? ?so? ?easily,”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?said,? ?“If? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?because? ?I? ?
refuse? ?to? ?do? ?something? ?so? ?classless,? ?you? ?think? ?I? ?want? ?to? ?step? ?on? ?legs?? ?Why? ?don’t? ?you? ?come? ?grab? ?
him? ?by? ?where? ?it? ?hurts?”? ? ?
?
“...”? ?
?
In? ?any? ?case,? ?neither? ?of? ?them? ?were? ?willing? ?to? ?grab? ?that? ?kind? ?of? ?critical? ?place.? ?“Nevermind,”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?
said,? ?“Then? ?why? ?don’t? ?we? ?do? ?this!”? ? ?
?
After? ?huddling,? ?the? ?two? ?of? ?them? ?each? ?grabbed? ?onto? ?one? ?of? ?Ming? ?Guang’s? ?legs.Now? ?this? ?looked? ?
more? ?threatening? ?and? ?unawkward.? ?“Please? ?back? ?off,”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?demanded,? ?“Otherwise? ?your? ?true? ?
body? ?might? ?suffer? ?some? ?breakage.”? ?
?
However,? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?sneered,? ?“Ha!? ?Did? ?you? ?actually? ?believe? ?my? ?lower? ?half? ?body? ?is? ?useless?”? ? ?
?
Just? ?as? ?he? ?finished,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?sensed? ?a? ?killing? ?intent? ?increasing? ?rapidly? ?up? ?his? ?arms,? ?and? ?instantly? ?
tossed? ?out,? ?“General? ?Pei,? ?watch? ?out!”? ? ?
?
That? ?seemingly? ?dead? ?lower? ?half? ?body? ?suddenly? ?swung? ?out? ?its? ?two? ?legs? ?and? ?kicked? ?without? ?
warning.? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?also? ?threw? ?out? ?the? ?limb? ?in? ?time? ?and? ?avoided? ?being? ?struck? ?by? ?the? ?swift? ?legs? ?
carrying? ?blades? ?in? ?the? ?wind.? ?Those? ?two? ?legs? ?flipped? ?itself? ?around? ?in? ?the? ?air? ?and? ?landed? ?with? ?a? ?
single? ?knee? ?to? ?the? ?ground.? ?Then? ?it? ?slowly? ?straightened? ?and? ?stood? ?upright? ?on? ?its? ?own.? ?The? ?moves? ?
were? ?clean? ?and? ?and? ?impressive,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?praised? ?in? ?spite? ?of? ?himself,? ?“Nice!”? ?But? ?then? ?he? ?
immediately? ?changed? ?tune,? ?“NOT? ?NICE!”? ? ?
?
Not? ?nice? ?indeed.? ?The? ?protection? ?circle? ?he? ?so? ?arduously? ?created? ?was? ?made? ?for? ?the? ?purpose? ?of? ?
keeping? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?out,? ?but? ?now? ?things? ?had? ?certainly? ?become? ?complicated;? ?even? ?though? ?Ming? ?
Guang’s? ?top? ?half? ?of? ?the? ?body? ?was? ?still? ?outside,? ?his? ?lower? ?half? ?had? ?come? ?in!? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?also? ?realized? ?this? ?and? ?uttered,? ?“We’ve? ?been? ?had.”? ? ?
?
Ghosts? ?and? ?demons? ?with? ?their? ?true? ?bodies? ?split? ?in? ?half,? ?some? ?could? ?only? ?move? ?with? ?one? ?half? ?
leading,? ?and? ?some? ?could? ?move? ?both? ?parts? ?at? ?will.? ?They? ?couldn’t? ?determine? ?which? ?kind? ?Ming? ?
Guang? ?belonged? ?to,? ?but? ?that? ?lower? ?half? ?body? ?of? ?his? ?had? ?been? ?rigid? ?like? ?the? ?dead,? ?unmoving? ?even? ?
when? ?stepped? ?on,? ?so? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?had? ?thought? ?him? ?the? ?former.? ?It? ?seemed,? ?he? ?was? ?pretending? ?not? ?to? ?
move.? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?was? ?clapping? ?in? ?mirth? ?outside? ?the? ?boundary,? ?“THAT’S? ?RIGHT!? ?THIS? ?IS? ?WHAT? ?
THEY? ?CALL? ?‘INVITING? ?A? ?WOLF? ?INTO? ?YOUR? ?OWN? ?HOME’? ?AND? ?‘CATCHING? ?TURTLES? ?IN? ?
THE? ?POT’!”? ?
?
Now? ?the? ?three? ?in? ?the? ?circle,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?his? ?eyes? ?shut? ?meditating,? ?facing? ?a? ?critical? ?time,? ?Pei? ?
Ming’s? ?sword? ?was? ?long? ?broken? ?by? ?Ming? ?Guang,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?Fang? ?Xin? ?was? ?acting? ?as? ?the? ?lock? ?
to? ?their? ?protection? ?array? ?so? ?the? ?two? ?had? ?no? ?weapons? ?in? ?their? ?hands.? ?Without? ?any? ?other? ?choice,? ?
Xie? ?Lian? ?called,? ?“E-MING!”? ? ?
?
Scimitar? ?E-Ming? ?who? ?had? ?been? ?lying? ?on? ?the? ?ground? ?like? ?scrap? ?metal? ?instantly? ?stood? ?up? ?and? ?flew? ?
into? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?hand.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?gripped? ?the? ?hilt? ?and? ?slashed.? ?Ming? ?Guang’s? ?lower? ?half? ?body? ?raised? ?
a? ?leg? ?and? ?kicked,? ?blocked? ?the? ?strike? ?but? ?was? ?pushed? ?back? ?a? ?couple? ?steps,? ?almost? ?falling? ?out? ?of? ?
the? ?boundary.? ?The? ?upper? ?half? ?body? ?watched? ?from? ?the? ?outside,? ?expression? ?faltering,? ?looking? ?rather? ?
wary.? ?He? ?clapped? ?his? ?hands? ?and? ?that? ?lower? ?half? ?body? ?returned? ?to? ?its? ?true? ?form,? ?a? ?Verdant? ?
Pinnacle? ?sword*? ?of? ?nearly? ?three? ?feet? ?boiled? ?with? ?killing? ?intent? ?as? ?it? ?hung? ?in? ?the? ?air.? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?use? ?scimitars? ?often,? ?but? ?E-Ming? ?was? ?agreeable? ?in? ?his? ?hands.? ?He? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?
charge? ?when? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?I’m? ?not? ?trying? ?to? ?cause? ?trouble? ?at? ?a? ?time? ?like? ?
this,? ?but? ?your? ?Hua? ?Chengzhu? ?seems? ?to? ?be? ?having? ?a? ?little? ?bit? ?of? ?trouble?”? ? ?
?
Shocked,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?whipped? ?his? ?head? ?around,? ?and? ?sure? ?enough,? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?brows? ?were? ?even? ?
more? ?tightly? ?knitted,? ?the? ?hands? ?making? ?seals? ?resting? ?on? ?his? ?knees? ?were? ?also? ?shaking.? ?The? ?
moment? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?distracted,? ?that? ?broken? ?verdant? ?blade? ?instantly? ?seized? ?the? ?opening? ?to? ?
lunge.? ?Yet? ?just? ?at? ?the? ?same? ?time,? ?E-Ming? ?slipped? ?out? ?of? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?control? ?on? ?its? ?own? ?and? ?blocked? ?
that? ?broken? ?sword? ?loudly? ?in? ?the? ?air!? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?called,? ?“E-Ming,? ?please? ?hang? ?on? ?for? ?a? ?bit!”? ?Then? ?he? ?crouched? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?
“Why? ?is? ?it? ?like? ?this?? ?What? ?went? ?wrong?”? ? ?
?
“Don’t? ?look? ?at? ?me,? ?Your? ?Highness,”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?said,? ?“I’m? ?not? ?as? ?familiar? ?with? ?the? ?Ghost? ?King? ?as? ?you? ?
are!”? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?called? ?out? ?to? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?“San? ?Lang?? ?Can? ?you? ?hear? ?me?? ?Don’t? ?endure? ?anymore,? ?come? ?
out!”? ? ?
?
Just? ?then,? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?shouted? ?from? ?outside? ?the? ?circle,? ?“A? ?LITTLE? ?BLADE? ?DARE? ?BLOCK? ?ME?!”? ? ?
?
Between? ?the? ?exchanges,? ?the? ?broken? ?sword? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?and? ?E-Ming? ?had? ?already? ?parried? ?
countlessly? ?times? ?within? ?an? ?instant,? ?making? ?sparks? ?fly.? ?If? ?this? ?was? ?the? ?usual? ?Scimitar? ?E-Ming,? ?it? ?
would? ?obviously? ?gain? ?the? ?upper? ?hand.? ?Yet? ?now,? ?before? ?the? ?long? ?sword? ?of? ?Ming? ?Guang,? ?the? ?
shrunken? ?E-Ming? ?really? ?did? ?look? ?like? ?a? ?child? ?getting? ?beaten? ?around? ?by? ?an? ?adult.? ?Although? ?vicious,? ?
since? ?its? ?limbs? ?weren’t? ?long? ?enough,? ?it? ?was? ?restricted.? ?There? ?were? ?a? ?few? ?instances? ?that? ?were? ?
fairly? ?close,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?spared? ?a? ?glance? ?between? ?his? ?focus? ?on? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?“WATCH? ?OUT!”? ? ?
?
After? ?he? ?called? ?out,? ?E-Ming? ?suddenly? ?flipped? ?and? ?flashed? ?into? ?a? ?stream? ?of? ?silver? ?whirlwind,? ?
successfully? ?striking? ?the? ?broken? ?sword.? ?The? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?outside? ?the? ?circle? ?“Ah”-ed,? ?seeming? ?like? ?
that? ?hit? ?wasn’t? ?a? ?light? ?one.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?praised,? ?“Good? ?E-Ming!”? ? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?suddenly? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“Wait,? ?Your? ?Highness,? ?I? ?think? ?when? ?you? ?complimented? ?it,? ?it? ?grew? ?
bigger?”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?closely,? ?“Really?”? ? ?
?
“Seems? ?like? ?it.”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?said,? ?“Why? ?don’t? ?you? ?try? ?again?”? ? ?
?
It? ?was? ?only? ?some? ?praises,? ?no? ?big? ?deal,? ?so? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“Very? ?well.? ?E-Ming,? ?listen? ?well:? ?You,? ?are? ?
handsome? ?and? ?carefree,? ?cute? ?and? ?kind,? ?clever? ?and? ?intelligent,? ?gentle? ?and? ?determined,? ?number? ?
one? ?in? ?the? ?world...”? ?
?
He? ?trailed? ?off? ?and? ?stopped.? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?started? ?clapping? ?soundly,? ?and? ?outside? ?the? ?circle,? ?Ming? ?
Guang? ?was? ?all? ?face? ?full? ?of? ?disbelief,? ?crying? ?furiously,? ?“WHAT? ?KIND? ?OF? ?WICKED? ?SPELL? ?IS? ?THIS?? ?
HOW? ?COME? ?I’VE? ?NEVER? ?HEARD? ?OF? ?IT? ?BEFORE?!”? ? ?
?
Indeed!? ?With? ?every? ?praise? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?sang,? ?E-Ming’s? ?body? ?grew? ?a? ?bit? ?longer;? ?if? ?earlier? ?it’s? ?said? ?to? ?
look? ?like? ?a? ?ten? ?year? ?old? ?child,? ?then? ?now? ?it’s? ?a? ?youth? ?of? ?fourteen? ?to? ?fifteen!? ?
?
That? ?broken? ?sword? ?facing? ?the? ?now? ?grown? ?E-Ming? ?was? ?now? ?in? ?trouble,? ?moving? ?awkwardly? ?left? ?and? ?
right,? ?whereas? ?E-Ming? ?was? ?growing? ?swifter? ?and? ?more? ?unpredictable.? ?With? ?the? ?results? ?of? ?the? ?
match? ?growing? ?more? ?obvious,? ?outside? ?the? ?circle,? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?made? ?a? ?hand? ?seal.? ?The? ?moment? ?
Pei? ?Ming? ?saw? ?he? ?instantly? ?called? ?out,? ?“No? ?good,? ?he’s? ?transferred? ?all? ?of? ?his? ?spiritual? ?power? ?onto? ?
this? ?lower? ?half? ?body!”? ? ?
?
Sure? ?enough,? ?the? ?black? ?aura? ?surrounding? ?the? ?body? ?of? ?that? ?broken? ?blade? ?blew? ?up,? ?and? ?when? ?
E-Ming? ?struck,? ?it? ?was? ?bounced? ?away? ?by? ?that? ?black? ?aura,? ?plunging? ?slantingly? ?into? ?the? ?ground.? ?Xie? ?
Lian? ?immediately? ?pulled? ?it? ?out,? ?“Are? ?you? ?alright?”? ? ?
?
“Don’t? ?worry,? ?watch? ?this.”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?said,? ?then? ?he? ?took? ?E-Ming? ?from? ?his? ?hands.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?still? ?
puzzled? ?when? ?he? ?suddenly? ?felt? ?cold? ?on? ?his? ?skin,? ?and?? ?PA!? ??Pei? ?Ming? ?had? ?tapped? ?the? ?scimitar? ?on? ?his? ?
face,? ?and? ?the? ?hilt? ?part? ?coincidently? ?patted? ?his? ?lips.? ?
?
“...”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?removed? ?E-Ming? ?from? ?his? ?face,? ?and? ?rubbed? ?the? ?edges? ?of? ?his? ?lips? ?that? ?were? ?slightly? ?
numbed? ?by? ?the? ?taps,? ?baffled,? ?“General? ?Pei,? ?is? ?there? ?any? ?meaning? ?to? ?your? ?actions?”? ? ?
?
“Of? ?course.? ?It’s? ?very? ?meaningful.”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?said,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?please? ?look? ?down.”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?down? ?and? ?was? ?instantly? ?speechless.? ?E-Ming? ?had? ?grown? ?even? ?longer!? ?
?
Ming? ?Guang? ?really? ?couldn’t? ?hold? ?back? ?anymore? ?and? ?yelled? ?from? ?outside? ?the? ?circle,? ?‘WHAT? ?THE? ?
FUCK,? ?AND? ?WHAT? ?WICKEDNESS? ?IS? ?THAT?? ?YOU? ?MIGHT? ?AS? ?WELL? ?USE? ?ALL? ?YOUR? ?TRICKS? ?
AT? ?ONCE!”? ? ?
?
“Truth? ?to? ?be? ?told,? ?I? ?also? ?want? ?to? ?know? ?what’s? ?caused? ?this.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?
?
Full? ?of? ?spirit? ?once? ?more,? ?E-Ming? ?leapt? ?to? ?its? ?feet? ?and? ?lunged? ?towards? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?the? ?broken? ?
sword.? ?One? ?sword? ?one? ?scimitar,? ?they? ?battled? ?relentlessly? ?in? ?the? ?air.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?went? ?back? ?to? ?check? ?
up? ?on? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?and? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?watched? ?the? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?who? ?was? ?bent? ?over? ?not? ?far? ?away.? ?
Right? ?now,? ?all? ?of? ?Ming? ?Guang’s? ?spiritual? ?power? ?was? ?transferred? ?to? ?the? ?lower? ?half? ?who? ?was? ?
currently? ?battling? ?E-Ming,? ?so? ?the? ?threat? ?of? ?this? ?upper? ?half? ?body? ?was? ?greatly? ?lessened.? ?Everyone? ?
was? ?conscious? ?of? ?this? ?and? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?moved,? ?ready? ?to? ?take? ?him? ?down,? ?when? ?another? ?series? ?of? ?
heavy? ?footfalls? ?came? ?running,? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?who? ?had? ?returned.? ?He? ?cried? ?furiously,? ?“YOU? ?
CUNNING? ?MIDLANDS? ?CULTIVATORS!? ?YOU? ?LIED? ?AGAIN!? ?GO? ?COLLECT? ?JUNK? ?FOR? ?THE? ?
REST? ?OF? ?YOUR? ?LIFE!? ?THEY? ?WEREN’T? ?NEARBY? ?AT? ?ALL!”? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?hadn’t? ?expected? ?to? ?keep? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?away? ?for? ?long? ?either,? ?but? ?he? ?seemed? ?to? ?have? ?returned? ?
earlier? ?than? ?expected,? ?and? ?right? ?at? ?an? ?inconvenient? ?time? ?too.? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?was? ?overjoyed? ?and? ?he? ?
pointed? ?at? ?Fang? ?Xin,? ?“BIG? ?GUY!? ?QUICK!? ?KNOCK? ?THAT? ?SWORD? ?OVER!? ?ONCE? ?THE? ?ARRAY? ?IS? ?
BROKEN? ?THE? ?ONES? ?INSIDE? ?WILL? ?BE? ?HELPLESS!”? ? ?
?
He? ?hadn’t? ?needed? ?to? ?say? ?anything;? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?swung? ?his? ?hand? ?down? ?to? ?chop? ?and? ?Fang? ?Xin? ?was? ?
knocked? ?over? ?two? ?more? ?inches;? ?another? ?chop,? ?another? ?two? ?inches;? ?another? ?chop,? ?and? ?Fang? ?Xin? ?
fell!? ?
?
The? ?protection? ?array? ?was? ?finally? ?broken!? ?
?
That? ?broken? ?sword? ?stopped? ?fighting? ?E-ming? ?and? ?flew? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?circle,? ?returning? ?to? ?Ming? ?Guang’s? ?
side? ?and? ?transformed? ?into? ?two? ?legs,? ?stitching? ?itself? ?back? ?into? ?a? ?complete? ?body.? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?leapt? ?
to? ?his? ?feet,? ?patted? ?Ke? ?Mo,? ?pointed? ?at? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?then? ?pointed? ?at? ?himself,? ?pointed? ?at? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?then? ?
pointed? ?at? ?Ke? ?Mo.? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?understood? ?–? ?this? ?meant? ?they’re? ?splitting? ?the? ?prey.? ?He? ?nodded,? ?his? ?iron? ?
like? ?fists? ?cracking? ?as? ?he? ?walked? ?towards? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?who? ?was? ?blocking? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?Hua? ?Cheng.? ?
?
Ming? ?Guang? ?on? ?the? ?other? ?hand,? ?worked? ?out? ?his? ?legs? ?as? ?he? ?smiled? ?savagely,? ?“Pei? ?Ming,? ?are? ?you? ?
going? ?to? ?snap? ?me? ?in? ?half? ?again?? ?Come? ?give? ?it? ?a? ?shot?”? ? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?didn’t? ?speak.? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?sneered,? ?“‘The? ?Sword? ?Snapping? ?General’,? ?the? ?General? ?who? ?
snapped? ?the? ?sword,? ?hehe!? ?What? ?a? ?beautiful? ?tale.? ?That? ?such? ?a? ?thing? ?could? ?become? ?a? ?beautiful? ?
tale,? ?it’s? ?obvious? ?the? ?world? ?is? ?blind.”? ?
?
“I? ?never? ?took? ?it? ?for? ?a? ?beautiful? ?tale.”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?said.? ?
?
“Bullshit!”? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?spat,? ?“You? ?know? ?full? ?well? ?just? ?how? ?many? ?brothers? ?and? ?subordinates? ?who? ?
followed? ?you? ?for? ?so? ?many? ?years? ?you’ve? ?killed.”? ?
?
Meanwhile,? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?had? ?also? ?drew? ?close? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?gripped? ?E-Ming? ?tight;? ?he? ?wasn’t? ?
afraid? ?of? ?him,? ?but? ?he? ?was? ?worried? ?something? ?would? ?happen? ?to? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?if? ?he? ?was? ?careless.? ?Ke? ?
Mo? ?saw? ?his? ?eyes? ?were? ?unfocused? ?like? ?he? ?was? ?thinking,? ?and? ?said,? ?“No? ?need? ?to? ?think? ?of? ?any? ?more? ?
cunning? ?tricks,? ?I? ?won’t? ?be? ?deceived? ?by? ?you? ?anymore!”? ? ?
?
“I? ?wasn’t? ?lying? ?to? ?you,”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“Ban? ?Yue? ?and? ?General? ?Pei? ?Junior? ?really? ?were? ?in? ?this? ?area? ?
earlier,? ?it’s? ?just? ?that? ?after? ?I’ve? ?informed? ?them? ?of? ?you? ?they? ?fled.? ?Eh?? ?Ban? ?Yue?? ?Why? ?are? ?you? ?here?!”? ? ?
?
Ke? ?Mo? ?raged,? ?“DO? ?YOU? ?TAKE? ?ME? ?FOR? ?A? ?FOOL?? ?A? ?DUMB? ?TRICK? ?LIKE? ?THIS...”? ?
?
Yet? ?before? ?he? ?finished,? ?a? ?voice? ?rang? ?from? ?above? ?him,? ?“KE? ?MO!”? ? ?
?
That? ?was? ?said? ?in? ?Banyue? ?tongue,? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?very? ?familiar? ?voice.? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?instantly? ?looked? ?up,? ?
and? ?faced? ?a? ?large? ?bundle? ?of? ?something? ?wine? ?red? ?falling? ?from? ?above.? ?His? ?face? ?instantly? ?dropped,? ?
hugging? ?his? ?head? ?as? ?he? ?roared,? ?“GO? ?AWAY!”? ? ?
?
What? ?came? ?falling? ?down? ?was? ?that? ?poisonous? ?snake? ?born? ?only? ?of? ?BanYue,? ?the? ?scorpion? ?tailed? ?
snake!? ?And? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?threw? ?them? ?out? ?were? ?naturally? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?of? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?BanYue.? ?
?
Ban? ?Yue? ?leapt? ?down? ?from? ?the? ?tree? ?and? ?landed? ?next? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?side,? ?“General? ?Hua...”? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?to? ?Ke? ?Mo,? ?“I? ?told? ?you,? ?it? ?was? ?really? ?Ban? ?Yue...”? ?
?
Ke? ?Mo? ?wasn’t? ?listening? ?to? ?what? ?he? ?was? ?saying? ?at? ?all,? ?and? ?only? ?roared? ?at? ?Ban? ?Yue,? ?“YOU? ?THREW? ?
AT? ?ME!!? ?YOU? ?THREW? ?THOSE? ?SCORPION? ?TAILED? ?SNAKES? ?AT? ?ME!!!? ?YOU? ?KNEW? ?I? ?HATE? ?
THE? ?SCORPION? ?TAILED? ?SNAKE? ?BUT? ?YOU? ?STILL? ?THREW? ?THEM? ?AT? ?ME!!!”? ?
?
Ban? ?Yue? ?crouched? ?down,? ?“I’m? ?sorry...? ?but,? ?I? ?only? ?know? ?how? ?to? ?throw? ?scorpion? ?tailed? ?snakes...”? ?
?
Ming? ?Guang? ?also? ?noticed? ?the? ?situation? ?was? ?shifting? ?and? ?was? ?alarmed,? ?“WHO’S? ?THERE!”? ? ?
?
A? ?black? ?shadow? ?of? ?a? ?figure? ?leapt? ?down? ?from? ?the? ?tree? ?and? ?obstructed? ?before? ?him,? ?answering,? ?“The? ?
former? ?Deputy? ?Martial? ?God? ?Official? ?of? ?the? ?Palace? ?of? ?Ming? ?Guang,? ?Pei? ?Su!”? ? ?
?
Miracle? ?soldiers? ?had? ?come? ?from? ?heaven,? ?and? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?was? ?dumbfounded,? ?“Little? ?Pei?? ?How? ?
come? ?you’ve? ?come? ?too?”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?on? ?the? ?other? ?hand,? ?asked,? ?“Ban? ?Yue,? ?weren’t? ?you? ?following? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master?”? ? ?
?
Hearing? ?the? ?name? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master,? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?knitted? ?his? ?brows? ?slightly.? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?replied,? ?“En.? ?
That’s? ?why,? ?this? ?time? ?we’ve? ?come? ?following? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master.”? ? ?
?
?
———–? ?
?
?[???????]? ?The? ?Verdant? ?Pinnacle? ?Sword? ?-? ?This? ?sword? ?has? ?two? ?separate? ?origins:? ?first,? ?it? ?was? ?
a? ?weapon? ?that? ?belonged? ?to? ?the? ?legendary? ?warrior? ?god? ?Er-Lang? ?who? ?was? ?a? ?renown? ?figure? ?
in? ?Taoism? ?and? ?appeared? ?often? ?to? ?defeat? ?evil? ?in? ?classic? ?civil.? ?Second,? ?this? ?was? ?a? ?double? ?
sword? ?wielded? ?by? ?the? ?emperor? ?Liu? ?Bei? ?during? ?the? ?Romance? ?of? ?the? ?Three? ?Kingdoms.? ?One? ?
of? ?the? ?two? ?swords? ?was? ?lost? ?during? ?a? ?siege,? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?later? ?to? ?be? ?said? ?to? ?have? ?become? ?the? ?
wielded? ?weapon? ?of? ?Hou? ?Junji,? ?a? ?Tang? ?general? ?during? ?the? ?founding? ?era? ?of? ?the? ?Tang? ?
Dynasty.? ?
?
———–? ?
?
Ch.148:? ?Ambivalent? ?Regrets;? ?General? ?Ming? ?Snaps? ?the? ?Hateful? ?Sword? ?3? ?
?
Ming? ?Guang? ?looked? ?over? ?Pei? ?Su? ?calculatingly,? ?“You’re? ?Little? ?Pei?”? ? ?
?
“I? ?am.”? ?Pei? ?Su? ?answered.? ?
?
Ming? ?Guang? ?narrowed? ?his? ?eyes? ?and? ?glanced? ?at? ?Ban? ?Yue,? ?taunting,? ?“I? ?heard? ?you? ?threw? ?away? ?your? ?
heavenly? ?official? ?status? ?for? ?a? ?little? ?girl?? ?Haha,? ?Pei? ?Ming,? ?didn’t? ?you? ?always? ?used? ?to? ?promote? ?
‘Brothers? ?like? ?limbs;? ?Women? ?like? ?clothes’?? ?Why’s? ?your? ?descendant? ?nothing? ?like? ?you?? ?He? ?didn’t? ?
even? ?learn? ?a? ?tenth? ?of? ?your? ?eye? ?for? ?picking? ?women;? ?this? ?Guoshi? ?of? ?Banye? ?looks? ?like? ?a? ?little? ?quail,? ?
what? ?the? ?hell?? ?Were? ?you? ?maybe? ?cucked? ?all? ?those? ?hundreds? ?of? ?years? ?ago? ?and? ?bore? ?someone? ?
else’s? ?spawn?? ?Hahahaha...”? ?
?
“Nothing? ?but? ?nonsense.”? ?Pei? ?Su? ?said,? ?then? ?shot? ?a? ?blast? ?from? ?his? ?palm.? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?also? ?leapt? ?into? ?the? ?
air,? ?roaring,? ?“WE? ?ARE? ?SWORN? ?ENEMIES!”? ? ?
?
Ming? ?Guang? ?shouted,? ?“HEY!? ?BIG? ?GUY,? ?WE’RE? ?ON? ?THE? ?SAME? ?SIDE!”? ? ?
?
Ke? ?Mo? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?back? ?and? ?saw? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?jumping? ?up,? ?transforming? ?into? ?a? ?long? ?bladed? ?
verdant? ?sword? ?and? ?flew? ?into? ?his? ?hand.? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?opened? ?his? ?iron? ?fan-like? ?large? ?palms,? ?clutched? ?onto? ?
the? ?hilt,? ?and? ?a? ?cloud? ?of? ?black? ?aura? ?instantly? ?exploded? ?from? ?his? ?giant? ?body.? ?
?
A? ?menacing? ?corpse? ?with? ?a? ?demonic? ?sword? ?in? ?hand? ?was? ?like? ?a? ?savage? ?beast? ?growing? ?venomous? ?
fangs!? ?
?
Earlier? ?when? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?tapped? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?face? ?with? ?E-Ming? ?gave? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?an? ?idea.? ?Although? ?he? ?
couldn’t? ?quite? ?understand? ?why,? ?but? ?he? ?felt? ?maybe? ?the? ?same? ?trick? ?could? ?help? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?and? ?was? ?
going? ?to? ?sneakily? ?transfer? ?some? ?air? ?to? ?him? ?while? ?no? ?one? ?was? ?looking,? ?see? ?if? ?it? ?would? ?bring? ?some? ?
relief.? ?However,? ?watching? ?the? ?dire? ?situation? ?unfold,? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?shout? ?“WATCH? ?OUT!”? ? ?
?
It? ?was? ?awkward? ?for? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?to? ?join? ?the? ?fight,? ?so? ?only? ?Pei? ?Su? ?and? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?banded? ?together? ?to? ?
attack.? ?While? ?one? ?was? ?sharp? ?and? ?direct? ?and? ?the? ?other? ?agile? ?and? ?eccentric,? ?just? ?their? ?physical? ?
strength? ?wasn’t? ?enough;? ?Pei? ?Su? ?had? ?no? ?spiritual? ?power? ?and? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?possessed? ?no? ?aggression.? ?
Facing? ?a? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?who? ?had? ?both? ?spiritual? ?power? ?and? ?aggression,? ?they? ?were? ?feeling? ?the? ?strain.? ?
?
Ban? ?Yue? ?was? ?just? ?berated? ?by? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?so? ?she? ?was? ?too? ?embarrassed? ?to? ?throw? ?any? ?more? ?scorpion? ?
tailed? ?snakes,? ?but? ?Pei? ?Su? ?had? ?none? ?of? ?that? ?concern,? ?throwing? ?snakes? ?out? ?like? ?rain? ?while? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?
roared? ?unceasingly? ?with? ?fury,? ?and? ?only? ?thanks? ?to? ?Ming? ?Guang’s? ?sword? ?aura? ?for? ?protection? ?did? ?
none? ?of? ?the? ?snakes? ?dare? ?approach.? ?However,? ?be? ?that? ?as? ?it? ?may,? ?after? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?watched? ?the? ?fight? ?
for? ?a? ?while? ?he? ?began? ?to? ?relax.? ?This? ?was? ?because? ?he? ?could? ?tell? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?and? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?didn’t? ?
match? ?well.? ?
?
Ke? ?Mo? ?grew? ?up? ?in? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?Banyue? ?and? ?was? ?used? ?to? ?wielding? ?a? ?mace.? ?He? ?was? ?used? ?to? ?
large? ?and? ?heavy? ?weapons,? ?so? ?a? ?sword? ?was? ?not? ?something? ?he? ?was? ?skilled? ?with.? ?Even? ?if? ?he? ?
possessed? ?unimaginable? ?strength? ?and? ?the? ?weapon? ?in? ?hand? ?was? ?incomparably? ?sharp;? ?together,? ?
they? ?might? ?not? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?unleash? ?their? ?full? ?capabilities? ?and? ?wouldn’t? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?learn? ?the? ?tricks? ?of? ?
the? ?trade? ?immediately.? ?Thus,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?seized? ?this? ?chance,? ?clapped? ?his? ?palms? ?together? ?in? ?a? ?prayer? ?
towards? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?and? ?said,? ?“Forgive? ?me!”? ? ?
?
But,? ?when? ?he? ?looked? ?at? ?this? ?handsome,? ?snow-white? ?little? ?face? ?with? ?eyes? ?closed? ?before? ?him,? ?Xie? ?
Lian? ?felt? ?it? ?was? ?difficult? ?to? ?make? ?a? ?move,? ?and? ?when? ?he? ?finally? ?made? ?up? ?his? ?mind,? ?shutting? ?his? ?eyes? ?
to? ?press? ?close,? ?in? ?his? ?moment? ?of? ?nervousness,? ?he? ?missed? ?and? ?ended? ?up? ?kissing? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?
forehead.? ?It? ?was? ?light? ?and? ?gentle,? ?but? ?his? ?heart? ?was? ?crushed.? ?Next? ?to? ?him,? ?a? ?voice? ?spoke? ?up,? ?
“Your? ?Highness,? ?you’ve? ?gotten? ?it? ?wrong.? ?What’s? ?the? ?use? ?in? ?kissing? ?the? ?forehead?!”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?almost? ?fell? ?over? ?from? ?shock.? ?When? ?he? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?to? ?look,? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?was? ?crouched? ?
down? ?next? ?to? ?him.? ?Sounding? ?unusually? ?indignant? ?and? ?resentful,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“General? ?Pei,? ?can? ?
you? ?not? ?look!”? ? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?raised? ?his? ?hands,? ?“Alright,? ?alright,? ?alright,? ?I? ?won’t? ?look.”? ?Then? ?he? ?turned? ?around? ?to? ?watch? ?
the? ?fight? ?on? ?the? ?other? ?side.? ?After? ?observing? ?for? ?a? ?while,? ?he? ?piped? ?up,? ?speaking? ?to? ?Ke? ?Mo,? ?“You? ?
don’t? ?use? ?swords? ?like? ?that.? ?If? ?you? ?don’t? ?know? ?how? ?to? ?use? ?swords? ?then? ?don’t? ?use? ?them!”? ?
?
Naturally,? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?didn’t? ?understand,? ?but? ?the? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?in? ?his? ?hands? ?said,? ?“Yea,? ?unlike? ?you,? ?who? ?
personally? ?snapped? ?swords,? ?and? ?could? ?only? ?stand? ?around? ?uselessly? ?while? ?criticizing!”? ? ?
?
Just? ?as? ?he? ?yelled,? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?suddenly? ?flew? ?and? ?entered? ?the? ?brawl,? ?landing? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?Ke? ?Mo.? ?Ke? ?
Mo? ?swung? ?the? ?sword? ?but? ?there? ?was? ?an? ?exceedingly? ?crisp? ??CLANG!?? ?This? ?strike? ?didn’t? ?hit? ?anything,? ?
and? ?when? ?he? ?looked? ?down,? ?he? ?was? ?dumbfounded.? ?
?
The? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?Sword? ?in? ?his? ?grip? ?was? ?snapped? ?once? ?again!? ?
?
Seizing? ?this? ?chance,? ?Pei? ?Su? ?threw? ?another? ?large? ?wave? ?of? ?scorpion? ?tailed? ?snakes? ?over,? ?like? ?spilling? ?
a? ?large? ?vat? ?of? ?dye,? ?covering? ?Ke? ?Mo? ?with? ?dark? ?wine? ?red? ?from? ?head? ?to? ?toe,? ?and? ?he? ?growled? ?as? ?he? ?
desperately? ?tried? ?to? ?smack? ?off? ?those? ?slippery? ?snakes? ?off? ?his? ?body.? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?on? ?the? ?other? ?hand,? ?
looked? ?down? ?at? ?that? ?sword? ?and? ?said,? ?“You? ?know? ?my? ?techniques? ?inside? ?and? ?out,? ?and? ?naturally,? ?I’d? ?
know? ?where? ?you’d? ?break? ?the? ?easiest.”? ?
?
Ban? ?Yue? ?dropped? ?from? ?the? ?sky? ?with? ?two? ?pots? ?raised,? ?and? ?without? ?a? ?word? ?she? ?leapt? ?down? ?with? ?the? ?
mouths? ?of? ?the? ?pots? ?down,? ?trapping? ?and? ?detaining? ?the? ?shocked? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?and? ?the? ?roaring? ?Ke? ?
Mo? ?within.? ?And? ?with? ?this,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?finally? ?breathed? ?a? ?sigh? ?of? ?relief,? ?inwardly? ?remarking,? ?‘More? ?
people? ?definitely? ?get? ?things? ?done? ?faster!’? ?
?
Ban? ?Yue? ?sealed? ?the? ?clay? ?pots? ?and? ?shook? ?them? ?in? ?her? ?hands,? ?pressing? ?her? ?ears? ?close? ?to? ?listen? ?for? ?
the? ?echoes? ?insides.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?hastily? ?chided,? ?“Ban? ?Yue,? ?stop? ?playing? ?around.? ?Put? ?them? ?away? ?and? ?
be? ?careful? ?not? ?to? ?let? ?them? ?escape.”? ?
?
Ban? ?Yue? ?nodded,? ?crouched? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?looked? ?at? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?“General? ?Hua,? ?is? ?this? ?
your? ?son?”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?smiled,? ?“Regrettably,? ?he’s? ?not.”? ? ?
?
But? ?soon,? ?he? ?couldn’t? ?smile? ?anymore.? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?“oh”-ed? ?and? ?said,? ?“I? ?saw? ?you? ?kiss? ?him? ?earlier? ?and? ?
thought? ?that? ?he? ?was.”? ? ?
?
“...”? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?want? ?to? ?say? ?anything? ?anymore? ?and? ?covered? ?his? ?forehead? ?with? ?his? ?palm.? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?
however,? ?seemed? ?to? ?find? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?rather? ?precious? ?and? ?pulled? ?at? ?one? ?of? ?his? ?little? ?braids,? ?
speaking? ?with? ?deep? ?concern,? ?“He? ?seems? ?to? ?be? ?sick.? ?Should? ?I? ?put? ?him? ?in? ?the? ?pot? ?to? ?have? ?him? ?
recuperate?? ?Last? ?time? ?after? ?I? ?entered? ?General? ?Hua’s? ?pot,? ?I? ?felt? ?I? ?recovered? ?really? ?fast.”? ? ?
?
Pei? ?Su? ?finally? ?walked? ?over,? ?“No? ?need.? ?Stop? ?minding? ?him,? ?His? ?Highness? ?will? ?take? ?good? ?care? ?of? ?
him.”? ? ?
?
“Oh.”? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?said.? ?
?
Just? ?then,? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?glanced? ?at? ?her,? ?“You’re? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?of? ?BanYue?”? ? ?
?
He? ?watched? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?condescendingly? ?from? ?above;? ?Ban? ?Yue,? ?who? ?was? ?crouching? ?on? ?the? ?ground? ?
and? ?shrouded? ?in? ?his? ?shadows,? ?nodded.? ?Pei? ?Su? ?took? ?an? ?unconscious? ?step? ?forward? ?but? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?
pushed? ?him? ?aside? ?and? ?came? ?before? ?Ban? ?Yue,? ?seeming? ?to? ?want? ?to? ?observe? ?her? ?closely.? ?Yet? ?
unexpectedly,? ?when? ?he? ?was? ?only? ?about? ?two? ?steps? ?away? ?from? ?her,? ?Ban? ?Yue’s? ?face? ?suddenly? ?
dropped? ?and? ?zoomed? ?to? ?hide? ?behind? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?like? ?she? ?couldn’t? ?get? ?away? ?fast? ?enough.? ?However,? ?
judging? ?from? ?her? ?expression,? ?it? ?didn’t? ?seem? ?like? ?she? ?was? ?scared.? ?Everyone? ?was? ?puzzled? ?but? ?Xie? ?
Lian? ?soon? ?understood,? ?and? ?courteously? ?hinted,? ?“General? ?Pei,? ?um...? ?the? ?Ghost? ?Scent? ?Candy...”? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?blinked,? ?his? ?face? ?growing? ?dark.? ?It? ?seemed? ?the? ?sweetness? ?of? ?that? ?Ghost? ?Scent? ?Candy? ?
hadn’t? ?gone? ?away,? ?and? ?since? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?was? ?a? ?female? ?ghost,? ?she? ?wasn’t? ?able? ?to? ?withstand? ?that? ?
vulgar? ?essence? ?of? ?evil? ?either,? ?and? ?fled? ?from? ?the? ?stink...? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?smile? ?but? ?immediately? ?schooled? ?his? ?expression,? ?“Why? ?has? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?
Master? ?also? ?come? ?to? ?Mount? ?TongLu?? ?Where? ?is? ?My? ?Lord?? ?How? ?come? ?you’re? ?not? ?all? ?together?”? ? ?
?
“Due? ?to? ?the? ?arousal? ?of? ?ghosts,? ?large? ?numbers? ?of? ?inhuman? ?creatures? ?banded? ?to? ?swarm? ?towards? ?
Mount? ?TongLu.? ?When? ?they? ?passed? ?by? ?YuShi? ?Country,? ?they? ?captured? ?some? ?farmers? ?as? ?rations.? ?At? ?
the? ?time,? ?both? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master? ?and? ?the? ?Protection? ?Steed? ?were? ?not? ?present;? ?it? ?was? ?after? ?learning? ?
the? ?fact? ?that? ?we’ve? ?come? ?in? ?pursuit.”? ?Pei? ?Su? ?explained,? ?“We? ?were? ?together? ?at? ?first,? ?but? ?on? ?the? ?way,? ?
we? ?heard? ?Your? ?Highness? ?yelling? ?for? ?us? ?in? ?BanYue? ?tongue,? ?so? ?we’ve? ?split? ?to? ?come? ?check? ?things? ?
out.”? ? ?
?
At? ?the? ?time,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?only? ?shouting? ?randomly? ?out? ?of? ?urgency? ?and? ?hadn’t? ?thought? ?they? ?were? ?
actually? ?close? ?by,? ?hitting? ?the? ?mark? ?by? ?fluke.? ?That? ?YuShi? ?Country? ?had? ?the? ?appearance? ?of? ?a? ?quiet? ?
small? ?village,? ?so? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?strange? ?for? ?ghosts? ?to? ?pass? ?by? ?and? ?stupidly? ?grab? ?people.? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?
frowned,? ?“Before,? ?I? ?couldn’t? ?find? ?you? ?in? ?the? ?mortal? ?realm.? ?How? ?did? ?you? ?end? ?up? ?with? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?
Master?? ?Don’t? ?tell? ?me? ?you? ?were? ?chasing? ?after? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?of? ?BanYue.”? ?
?
Pei? ?Su? ?lowered? ?his? ?head? ?slightly,? ?“No.? ?It? ?was? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master? ?who? ?saved? ?me.”? ? ?
?
Turns? ?out,? ?after? ?Pei? ?Su? ?was? ?exiled? ?to? ?the? ?lower? ?realm,? ?he? ?had? ?been? ?traveling? ?all? ?over? ?aimlessly.? ?
Since? ?he? ?was? ?so? ?free,? ?he? ?went? ?and? ?knocked? ?over? ?Qi? ?Rong’s? ?little? ?lairs? ?a? ?few? ?times.? ?Irked,? ?Qi? ?
Rong? ?wound? ?up? ?a? ?large? ?bunch? ?of? ?who? ?knows? ?what? ?to? ?surround? ?and? ?destroy? ?him.? ?If? ?Pei? ?Su? ?had? ?
spiritual? ?powers? ?then? ?those? ?crude? ?nobodies? ?couldn’t? ?do? ?anything? ?to? ?him,? ?but? ?he? ?now? ?possessed? ?a? ?
mortal? ?body,? ?so? ?when? ?attacked? ?by? ?hundreds? ?of? ?ghosts,? ?he? ?still? ?sustained? ?injuries? ?in? ?the? ?end,? ?
trapped? ?in? ?a? ?miserable? ?predicament.? ?Just? ?as? ?he? ?was? ?hanging? ?on? ?by? ?a? ?thread? ?fighting,? ?the? ?Rain? ?
Master? ?happened? ?to? ?pass? ?by? ?riding? ?the? ?ox? ?and? ?lent? ?a? ?helping? ?hand.? ?After? ?clearing? ?his? ?identity? ?and? ?
story,? ?Pei? ?Su? ?was? ?taken? ?to? ?YuShi? ?Country? ?to? ?recover? ?for? ?the? ?time? ?being.? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?somewhat? ?astounded,? ?“Lord? ?Rain? ?Master? ?didn’t? ?give? ?you? ?trouble?”? ? ?
?
According? ?to? ?Shi? ?Qing? ?Xuan,? ?Yushi? ?Country? ?and? ?the? ?Palace? ?of? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?had? ?disagreements? ?
in? ?the? ?past,? ?and? ?hundreds? ?of? ?years? ?ago,? ?the? ?Rain? ?Master? ?knocked? ?off? ?Pei? ?Ming’s? ?earlier? ?deputy? ?
general.? ?It? ?seemed,? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?didn’t? ?think? ?the? ?Rain? ?Master? ?heavenly? ?official? ?was? ?someone? ?
generous? ?either.? ?Pei? ?Su? ?however,? ?said,? ?“No.? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master? ?had? ?never? ?given? ?me? ?a? ?hair? ?of? ?
trouble.? ?On? ?the? ?contrary,? ?I’ve? ?received? ?much? ?support.”? ?
?
Just? ?then,? ?an? ?echoing? ?voice? ?suddenly? ?sounded,? ?“Rain? ?Master?? ?Is? ?the? ?Rain? ?Master? ?someone? ?from? ?
the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?YuShi?”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?replied? ?without? ?thinking,? ?“That’s? ?right.”? ?But? ?after? ?he? ?answered? ?did? ?he? ?noticed,? ?that? ?voice? ?
belonged? ?to? ?Ming? ?Guang.? ?He? ?was? ?already? ?locked? ?into? ?the? ?pot? ?but? ?was? ?still? ?listening? ?intently? ?for? ?
the? ?situation? ?outside.? ?After? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?responded,? ?he? ?clicked? ?his? ?tongue,? ?“Pei? ?Ming!? ?Did? ?you? ?sleep? ?
with? ?so? ?many? ?women? ?just? ?to? ?produce? ?this? ?kind? ?of? ?useless? ?descendent?!? ?He? ?actually? ?needed? ?the? ?
protection? ?of? ?someone? ?from? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?YuShi? ?to? ?survive,? ?and? ?he’s? ?even? ?speaking? ?well? ?of? ?
them!? ?Truly,? ?each? ?generation? ?gets? ?worse? ?than? ?the? ?one? ?before? ?it!? ?HA!”? ? ?
?
Hearing? ?them,? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?looked? ?somewhat? ?mal? ?at? ?ease.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?understand? ?and? ?asked? ?
Ban? ?Yue? ?in? ?a? ?whisper,? ?“Do? ?you? ?understand? ?what? ?he’s? ?saying?”? ?
?
“Not? ?really,”? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?replied,? ?“But,? ?I? ?think? ?I’ve? ?heard? ?Pei? ?Su? ?gege? ?say? ?that? ?before? ?his? ?general? ?
ascended,? ?he? ?was? ?a? ?general? ?of? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?XuLi.”? ?
?
“...”? ?
?
Was? ?there? ?anything? ?wrong? ?with? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?being? ?the? ?general? ?of? ?XuLi?? ? ?
?
Very? ?much? ?so!? ?
?
Because,? ?as? ?far? ?as? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?knew,? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?YuShi? ?was? ?flattened? ?by? ?the? ?iron? ?steeds? ?of? ?the? ?
Kingdom? ?of? ?XuLi!? ?
?
Ban? ?Yue? ?added,? ?“Lord? ?Rain? ?Master? ?was? ?the? ?last? ?ruler? ?of? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?YuShi.”? ?
?
No? ?wonder? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?always? ?looked? ?strange? ?whenever? ?the? ?Rain? ?Master? ?was? ?mentioned,? ?and? ?no? ?
wonder? ?the? ?Rain? ?Master? ?never? ?held? ?back? ?when? ?disciplining? ?that? ?former? ?deputy? ?heavenly? ?official.? ?
Turns? ?out,? ?both? ?parties? ?held? ?a? ?long? ?and? ?ancient? ?grudge.? ?
?
It? ?must? ?be? ?known? ?that? ?although? ?to? ?heavenly? ?officials,? ?it? ?certainly? ?was? ?more? ?than? ?natural? ?for? ?
kingdoms? ?of? ?the? ?mortal? ?realm? ?to? ?fight? ?and? ?annihilate? ?one? ?another,? ?the? ?acts? ?of? ?the? ?plays? ?changing? ?
endlessly,? ?but? ?when? ?it? ?came? ?their? ?own? ?turn,? ?it? ?was? ?often? ?hard? ?to? ?let? ?things? ?go.? ?If? ?one? ?must? ?stand? ?in? ?
the? ?same? ?court? ?as? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?annihilated? ?their? ?own? ?kingdom,? ?and? ?that? ?man? ?cavorted? ?the? ?
heavens,? ?exceedingly? ?flashy,? ?then? ?it? ?must? ?be? ?vexing.? ?
?
Pei? ?Su? ?added? ?a? ?talisman? ?and? ?stuck? ?it? ?on? ?the? ?surface? ?of? ?the? ?pot,? ?and? ?Ming? ?Guang’s? ?voice? ?came? ?to? ?
an? ?abrupt? ?stop.? ?He? ?asked,? ?“Why? ?has? ?the? ?general? ?come? ?too?”? ?
?
“Isn’t? ?it? ?all? ?so? ?I? ?can? ?drag? ?you? ?back? ?sooner.”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?replied.? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?remembered? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?words.? ?It? ?seemed,? ?this? ?was? ?the? ?‘benefit’? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?negotiated? ?
with? ?Jun? ?Wu? ?for? ?him? ?to? ?be? ?dispatched? ?to? ?Mount? ?TongLu.? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?patted? ?Pei? ?Su’s? ?shoulder,? ?
“Since? ?you’re? ?here,? ?then? ?do? ?me? ?proud.? ?If? ?you? ?perform? ?well? ?here? ?then? ?perhaps? ?you? ?can? ?be? ?pulled? ?
back? ?to? ?the? ?Upper? ?Court? ?earlier.”? ?
?
Pei? ?Su? ?hadn’t? ?yet? ?answered? ?but? ?the? ?charmed? ?talisman? ?on? ?the? ?pot? ?in? ?his? ?hand? ?burnt? ?up.? ?It? ?was? ?
Ming? ?Guang? ?locked? ?inside? ?who? ?used? ?his? ?fury? ?to? ?burn? ?the? ?talisman.? ?“PEI? ?MING!!!? ?DO? ?YOU? ?STILL? ?
REMEMBER? ?WHAT? ?YOU? ?SAID? ?BACK? ?THEN?!”? ? ?
?
Pei? ?Su? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?add? ?another? ?taliman? ?to? ?shut? ?him? ?up? ?but? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?stopped? ?him.? ?“I’ve? ?spoken? ?
too? ?many? ?words? ?in? ?this? ?lifetime.? ?What? ?are? ?you? ?referring? ?to?”? ? ?
?
Ming? ?Guang? ?spat? ?hatefully,? ?“Do? ?you? ?still? ?remember? ?what? ?excuse? ?you? ?used? ?to? ?kill? ?all? ?those? ?
subordinates? ?who? ?followed? ?you? ?for? ?years?? ?‘Some? ?people? ?can? ?be? ?killed,? ?some? ?can’t;? ?some? ?things? ?
can? ?be? ?done,? ?some? ?can’t.’–? ?Sounding? ?like? ?you? ?possessed? ?the? ?heart? ?of? ?Buddha? ?forgiving? ?of? ?all!? ?
And? ?now?? ?Did? ?you? ?think? ?no? ?one? ?knows? ?what? ?despicable? ?deeds? ?your? ?Little? ?Pei? ?has? ?done?? ?
WORDS? ?HAVE? ?ALREADY? ?SPREAD!? ?And? ?here? ?you? ?are? ?trying? ?to? ?wipe? ?his? ?ass? ?and? ?help? ?him? ?hide? ?
his? ?past?? ?So? ?the? ?brothers? ?who? ?followed? ?you? ?to? ?battles? ?from? ?north? ?to? ?south? ?deserved? ?to? ?die,? ?but? ?
when? ?it? ?came? ?to? ?your? ?descendent,? ?he? ?didn’t?? ?SOMEONE? ?LIKE? ?YOU? ?WHO? ?TOSSES? ?USED? ?
CLOTHES? ?AND? ?DITCHES? ?USED? ?LIMBS,? ?IS? ?YOUR? ?LITTLE? ?PEI? ?A? ?GEM? ?AND? ?THE? ?REST? ?OF? ?
US? ?WEEDS?!”? ? ?
?
He? ?roared? ?furiously? ?and? ?mindlessly,? ?but? ?when? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?listened? ?to? ?the? ?end,? ?he? ?suddenly? ?said,? ?
“You,? ?are? ?not? ?Ming? ?Guang.”? ? ?
?
The? ?pot? ?instantly? ?became? ?silent.? ?A? ?moment? ?later,? ?Ming? ?Guang’s? ?resounding? ?voice? ?came,? ?“What? ?
bullshit? ?are? ?you? ?spouting?? ?Have? ?you? ?not? ?seen? ?whether? ?if? ?I’m? ?Ming? ?Guang?? ?Did? ?you? ?not? ?see? ?my? ?
form?!”? ? ?
?
However,? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?stated? ?with? ?conviction,? ?“No.? ?You’re? ?not? ?Ming? ?Guang.”? ?
?
The? ?voice? ?inside? ?the? ?pot? ?was? ?grouchy,? ?“Then? ?who? ?else? ?can? ?I? ?be?”? ? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?took? ?the? ?pot? ?from? ?Pei? ?Su’s? ?hands,? ?sounding? ?sure,? ?“I? ?think? ?you’re? ?Rong? ?Guang.”? ? ?
?
When? ?the? ?name? ?was? ?called? ?out,? ?that? ?pot? ?had? ?fallen? ?in? ?complete? ?silence.? ?
?
Hearing? ?this? ?name,? ?Pei? ?Su’s? ?eyes? ?widened? ?slightly.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked,? ?“General? ?Pei? ?Jr,? ?who? ?is? ?this? ?
Rong? ?Guang?”? ?
?
Pei? ?Su? ?snapped? ?out? ?of? ?it? ?and? ?was? ?a? ?little? ?hesitant? ?before? ?he? ?answered,? ?“Before? ?the? ?general? ?
ascended,? ?he? ?was? ?the? ?deputy? ?general? ?who? ?followed? ?him? ?the? ?longest,? ?and? ?the? ?most? ?capable? ?
subordinate.”? ?
?
And? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?finally? ?learned? ?the? ?story? ?behind? ?the? ?‘Sword-Snapping? ?General’.? ?
?
Back? ?then? ?when? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?was? ?still? ?mortal,? ?he? ?was? ?successful? ?in? ?the? ?battlefields? ?of? ?both? ?love? ?and? ?
war;? ?a? ?general? ?who? ?was? ?constantly? ?victorious? ?without? ?a? ?single? ?defeat? ?to? ?his? ?name? ?for? ?over? ?
decades.? ?There? ?was? ?naturally? ?his? ?own? ?courage? ?and? ?skill? ?involved,? ?but? ?the? ?support? ?of? ?his? ?deputy? ?
general? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?dismissed.? ?This? ?Deputy? ?General? ?was? ?named? ?Rong? ?Guang.? ?
?
Rong? ?Guang? ?was? ?famous? ?for? ?cunning? ?deception? ?and? ?manipulation.? ?Although? ?the? ?two? ?had? ?very? ?
different? ?personalities? ?and? ?styles,? ?but? ?they? ?knew? ?each? ?other? ?since? ?young,? ?and? ?their? ?collaboration? ?
was? ?unexpectedly? ?good;? ?one? ?in? ?the? ?light,? ?one? ?in? ?the? ?shadows,? ?their? ?relationship? ?spanned? ?years,? ?a? ?
friendship? ?made? ?of? ?steel.? ?Pei? ?Ming’s? ?sacred? ?sword? ?“Ming? ?Guang”? ?was? ?a? ?name? ?they? ?came? ?up? ?with? ?
together,? ?a? ?combination? ?of? ?the? ?homonyms? ?of? ?“Ming”? ?and? ?“Guang”? ?from? ?their? ?own? ?names.? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?knew? ?how? ?to? ?fight? ?wars,? ?and? ?in? ?a? ?chaotic? ?time? ?period? ?of? ?history,? ?knowing? ?how? ?to? ?fight? ?
wars? ?was? ?much? ?more? ?important? ?than? ?knowing? ?how? ?to? ?make? ?money? ?or? ?anything? ?else,? ?so? ?naturally? ?
he? ?continued? ?to? ?rise? ?in? ?ranks.? ?However,? ?no? ?matter? ?how? ?high? ?he? ?climbed,? ?the? ?highest? ?he? ?could? ?go? ?
was? ?‘General’.? ?There? ?could? ?be? ?endless? ?honourable? ?and? ?esteemed? ?titles? ?to? ?be? ?hung? ?before? ?word? ?
‘General’,? ?but? ?there? ?would? ?always? ?be? ?another? ?sitting? ?on? ?his? ?head;? ?before? ?the? ?king? ?he? ?must? ?also? ?
bow? ?and? ?kneel.? ?
?
For? ?himself,? ?he? ?didn’t? ?have? ?any? ?particular? ?opinions? ?on? ?the? ?matter.? ?However,? ?as? ?he? ?sieged? ?
fortresses? ?after? ?fortresses? ?and? ?the? ?shine? ?of? ?glory? ?of? ?his? ?armour? ?grew? ?brighter? ?and? ?brighter,? ?the? ?
troop? ?under? ?Rong? ?Guang’s? ?lead? ?was? ?growing? ?restless.? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?himself? ?was? ?never? ?so? ?proud? ?he? ?forgot? ?his? ?roots? ?and? ?principles,? ?but? ?his? ?subordinates? ?
were? ?swelling? ?infinitely? ?on? ?his? ?behalf.? ?
?
The? ?worst? ?offender? ?was? ?Rong? ?Guang.? ?Since? ?he? ?built? ?close? ?ties? ?with? ?the? ?soldiers,? ?he? ?could? ?easily? ?
fan? ?their? ?hearts,? ?and? ?planted? ?many? ?ideas? ?in? ?the? ?minds? ?of? ?veteran? ?subordinates? ?like? ?“General? ?Pei? ?
deserves? ?more? ?than? ?the? ?status? ?he’s? ?been? ?given”,? ?“General? ?Pei? ?and? ?us? ?are? ?oppressed”,? ?“The? ?
Kingdom? ?of? ?XuLi? ?needed? ?General? ?Pei? ?and? ?us? ?to? ?save? ?it”.? ?They? ?plotted? ?and? ?planned? ?to? ?invade? ?the? ?
Imperial? ?Palace? ?of? ?XuLi? ?to? ?name? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?king,? ?have? ?him? ?lead? ?the? ?veteran? ?troops? ?to? ?great? ?
achievement? ?and? ?bring? ?them? ?to? ?stand? ?at? ?the? ?summit? ?as? ?the? ?strongest? ?kingdom.? ?They? ?even? ?
concocted? ?the? ?grand? ?scheme? ?of? ?flattening? ?all? ?four? ?seas? ?with? ?their? ?steeds? ?of? ?steel? ?and? ?unify? ?the? ?
world.? ?
?
Unfortunately,? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?himself? ?had? ?no? ?interest? ?in? ?becoming? ?king? ?whatsoever.? ?
?
His? ?greatest? ?joy? ?in? ?life? ?was? ?to? ?fight? ?victorious? ?battles? ?and? ?bed? ?beautiful? ?women,? ?and? ?he? ?didn’t? ?
need? ?to? ?be? ?king? ?to? ?do? ?either.? ?Besides,? ?although? ?the? ?king? ?of? ?XuLi? ?wasn’t? ?anyone? ?amazing,? ?he? ?
didn’t? ?do? ?anything? ?wrong? ?either.? ?If? ?he? ?was? ?to? ?take? ?over,? ?he? ?might? ?not? ?do? ?better? ?either.? ?To? ?rashly? ?
cause? ?havoc? ?had? ?more? ?cons? ?than? ?pros,? ?so? ?why? ?bother? ?stir? ?up? ?trouble? ?for? ?no? ?reason?? ?Thus,? ?every? ?
time? ?Rong? ?Guang? ?excitedly? ?tried? ?to? ?throw? ?hints? ?at? ?him,? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?skillfully? ?thwarted? ?him.? ?
?
After? ?many? ?attempts,? ?not? ?only? ?was? ?Rong? ?Guang? ?unconvinced,? ?he? ?was? ?becoming? ?more? ?and? ?more? ?
obsessed,? ?until? ?finally,? ?one? ?day,? ?the? ?group? ?of? ?them? ?gathered? ?to? ?resolve,? ?that? ?no? ?matter? ?what,? ?they? ?
shall? ?revolt? ?first.? ?Once? ?the? ?deed? ?was? ?done,? ?there? ?would? ?be? ?no? ?way? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?could? ?back? ?down.? ?
?
Listening? ?to? ?this? ?point,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?speechless,? ?thinking,? ?‘How? ?can? ?something? ?like? ?this? ?be? ?as? ?
easy? ?as? ?ushering? ?ducks...’? ?
?
Pei? ?Su? ?saw? ?he? ?was? ?pensive? ?and? ?said,? ?“Rong? ?Guang? ?might? ?not? ?have? ?truly? ?wanted? ?to? ?name? ?Pei? ?
Ming? ?king,? ?but? ?he? ?must? ?borrow? ?the? ?general’s? ?name? ?to? ?revolt.? ?Since? ?his? ?prestige? ?wasn’t? ?as? ?high? ?as? ?
the? ?general’s,? ?if? ?he? ?raised? ?his? ?own? ?flags? ?he? ?might? ?not? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?appease? ?the? ?people.”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?pondered,? ?“That? ?might? ?not? ?be? ?entirely? ?true.”? ? ?
?
The? ?reason? ?they? ?used? ?Pei? ?Ming’s? ?name? ?was? ?to? ?put? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?on? ?the? ?throne,? ?so? ?naturally,? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?
couldn’t? ?pretend? ?not? ?to? ?know? ?what? ?was? ?going? ?on.? ?He? ?instantly? ?picked? ?up? ?the? ?sword? ?and? ?lead? ?a? ?
small,? ?trustworthy? ?troop? ?of? ?soldiers,? ?and? ?charged? ?the? ?palace? ?to? ?fight.? ?
?
And? ?this? ?fight? ?was? ?the? ?last? ?battle? ?of? ?his? ?life.? ?
?
?
———-? ?
?
Ch.149:? ?Panic? ?Left? ?and? ?Right;? ?East? ?or? ?West? ?Undecided? ?
?
“Did? ?General? ?Pei? ?win? ?or? ?lose?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.? ?
?
“Won.? ?And? ?lost.”? ?Pei? ?Su? ?answered.? ? ?
?
All? ?the? ?insurgents? ?died? ?under? ?Pei? ?Ming’s? ?sword,? ?and? ?among? ?them? ?were? ?many? ?veterans? ?who? ?
shared? ?decades? ?of? ?friendship? ?with? ?him.? ?
?
The? ?sword? ?‘Ming? ?Guang’? ?had? ?always? ?been? ?used? ?to? ?fight? ?alongside? ?them,? ?and? ?now,? ?it? ?had? ?become? ?
the? ?weapon? ?to? ?butcher? ?them.? ?
?
Just? ?as? ?the? ?slaughtering? ?was? ?coming? ?to? ?an? ?end,? ?and? ?the? ?results? ?of? ?the? ?fight? ?clear,? ?the? ?ruler? ?of? ?
XuLi? ?judiciously? ?ordered? ?for? ?the? ?bloodied,? ?barely? ?mobile? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?to? ?be? ?surrounded? ?under? ?the? ?
offense? ?of? ?treason.? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?might? ?be? ?good? ?in? ?fighting? ?wars,? ?but? ?if? ?the? ?battlefield? ?wasn’t? ?one? ?of? ?real? ?swords? ?and? ?
weapons,? ?he? ?might? ?not? ?be? ?victorious.? ?He? ?was? ?clearly? ?fighting? ?foes? ?and? ?defending? ?the? ?throne,? ?but? ?
in? ?the? ?end? ?he? ?only? ?won? ?a? ?“Kill? ?on? ?Sight!”? ? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?held? ?that? ?pot? ?in? ?his? ?hand;? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?that? ?he? ?didn’t? ?hear? ?what? ?they? ?were? ?discussing,? ?only? ?
he? ?didn’t? ?have? ?the? ?time? ?to? ?care.? ?“I? ?should’ve? ?known? ?it? ?was? ?you.? ?This? ?is? ?very? ?much? ?your? ?style.”? ?
?
Thinking? ?back,? ?it? ?must’ve? ?been? ?Rong? ?Guang’s? ?resentment? ?possessing? ?that? ?broken? ?sword? ?so? ?
thoroughly? ?dyed? ?in? ?the? ?blood? ?of? ?millions,? ?and? ?having? ?connected? ?with? ?its? ?bitterness? ?that? ?he? ?
survived? ?this? ?long.? ?However,? ?the? ?voice? ?inside? ?the? ?pot? ?was? ?still? ?cold,? ?“Your? ?brothers? ?are? ?all? ?long? ?
dead.? ?I’m? ?nothing? ?but? ?a? ?sword.”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?knew? ?that? ?he? ?may? ?probably? ?never? ?admit? ?to? ?it? ?and? ?continuing? ?to? ?question? ?would? ?be? ?
fruitless.? ?“Nevermind,? ?General? ?Pei.”? ? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?nodded? ?and? ?returned? ?the? ?pot? ?to? ?Pei? ?Su.? ?
?
Thus,? ?they? ?subdued? ?two? ?particularly? ?nasty? ?ghosts.? ?Overlooking? ?all? ?others,? ?this? ?could? ?be? ?
considered? ?a? ?good? ?start.? ?“General? ?Pei? ?and? ?I? ?will? ?continue? ?to? ?go? ?further? ?into? ?Mount? ?TongLu,”? ?Xie? ?
Lian? ?said,? ?“Ban? ?Yue,? ?how? ?about? ?you? ?two?? ?Will? ?you? ?go? ?find? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master?”? ? ?
?
“Lord? ?Rain? ?Master? ?had? ?already? ?gone? ?on? ?ahead? ?to? ?chase? ?after? ?the? ?ghosts? ?who? ?kidnapped? ?
farmers.”? ?Pei? ?Su? ?said,? ?“If? ?we? ?go? ?it’d? ?be? ?the? ?same? ?way,? ?so? ?we? ?are? ?willing? ?to? ?assist? ?General? ?and? ?
Your? ?Highness,? ?and? ?join? ?you.”? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?snapped? ?out? ?of? ?it? ?and? ?knitted? ?his? ?brows? ?slightly,? ?“Then? ?we? ?best? ?hurry.? ?The? ?Ruler? ?of? ?
YuShi? ?isn’t? ?a? ?martial? ?god? ?but? ?went? ?on? ?faster? ?than? ?us,? ?so? ?they? ?might? ?run? ?into? ?danger? ?ahead.”? ? ?
?
Thus,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?picked? ?up? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?tucked? ?the? ?two? ?pots? ?away,? ?and? ?the? ?party? ?hastily? ?
made? ?way? ?deeper? ?into? ?the? ?thick? ?woods.? ?
?
Since? ?they? ?were? ?still? ?situated? ?on? ?the? ?outer? ?edges? ?of? ?Mount? ?TongLu,? ?they? ?didn’t? ?run? ?into? ?any? ?
impressive? ?characters;? ?most? ?were? ?nothing? ?but? ?weeds? ?and? ?the? ?group? ?wasn’t? ?interested? ?in? ?fighting? ?
at? ?all,? ?going? ?past? ?them? ?directly.? ?Some? ?were? ?foolish? ?enough? ?to? ?challenge? ?them,? ?but? ?they? ?were? ?all? ?
scared? ?away? ?by? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?and? ?Pei? ?Su’s? ?snakes.? ?Thus,? ?after? ?a? ?day? ?of? ?journey,? ?they? ?had? ?finally? ?left? ?
the? ?forest? ?and? ?entered? ?the? ?second? ?level? ?of? ?Mount? ?TongLu.? ?
?
Here,? ?the? ?woods? ?were? ?growing? ?sparse,? ?the? ?roads? ?growing? ?wider,? ?and? ?there? ?were? ?traces? ?of? ?
inhabitation.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?even? ?saw? ?off? ?the? ?side? ?of? ?the? ?road? ?a? ?broken? ?down,? ?blackened? ?little? ?house,? ?
which? ?was? ?exceedingly? ?bizarre? ?in? ?this? ?isolated? ?land,? ?and? ?he? ?wondered,? ?“Why? ?are? ?there? ?houses? ?
here?”? ?
?
Ban? ?Yue? ?and? ?Pei? ?Su? ?both? ?shook? ?their? ?heads? ?to? ?indicate? ?they? ?didn’t? ?know.? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?also? ?replied,? ?
“I’m? ?afraid? ?this? ?is? ?something? ?you’ll? ?have? ?to? ?ask? ?that? ?Lord? ?Ghost? ?King? ?in? ?your? ?arms.”? ? ?
?
After? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked? ?he? ?had? ?already? ?thought? ?if? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?was? ?awake? ?then? ?he’d? ?for? ?sure? ?have? ?
the? ?answers? ?to? ?his? ?questions,? ?and? ?he? ?looked? ?down.? ?Although? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?unusually? ?hot? ?body? ?
temperature? ?was? ?gradually? ?cooling,? ?his? ?eyes? ?were? ?still? ?shut,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?worry.? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?reminded? ?him,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?we’re? ?about? ?to? ?enter? ?the? ?next? ?level.? ?What? ?we? ?will? ?run? ?
into? ?further? ?ahead? ?will? ?be? ?even? ?more? ?powerful.? ?Shall? ?we? ?take? ?a? ?break? ?and? ?wait? ?for? ?Hua? ?Chengzhu? ?
to? ?wake?”? ? ?
?
Just? ?then,? ?the? ?group? ?of? ?them? ?had? ?come? ?to? ?a? ?fork? ?in? ?the? ?road.? ?One? ?path? ?headed? ?east,? ?and? ?the? ?
other? ?headed? ?west.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?contemplated? ?and? ?hummed,? ?“The? ?night? ?has? ?deepened,? ?let’s? ?camp? ?
here? ?for? ?the? ?night.”? ? ?
?
After? ?travelling? ?for? ?a? ?day,? ?it? ?was? ?well? ?time? ?to? ?rest,? ?and? ?focus? ?on? ?shielding? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?to? ?help? ?him? ?
recover.? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“Pei? ?Su? ?gege? ?also? ?needs? ?rest.”? ? ?
?
Only? ?then? ?did? ?the? ?group? ?remember? ?that? ?Pei? ?Su? ?was? ?mortal? ?at? ?the? ?moment,? ?and? ?required? ?rest? ?as? ?
well? ?as? ?sustenance,? ?it’s? ?just? ?he? ?had? ?been? ?silent? ?the? ?whole? ?time.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?cursed? ?shackles? ?on? ?
his? ?body? ?and? ?was? ?the? ?same,? ?but? ?because? ?of? ?his? ?worry? ?for? ?Hua? ?Cheng,? ?he? ?had? ?completely? ?
forgotten.? ?
?
The? ?group? ?of? ?them? ?thus? ?stopped? ?at? ?this? ?fork? ?in? ?the? ?road? ?and? ?built? ?camp.? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?started? ?the? ?fire? ?
and? ?Pei? ?Su? ?went? ?hunting.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?saw? ?everyone? ?was? ?busy? ?minding? ?their? ?own? ?business,? ?and? ?
started? ?staring? ?at? ?Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?face? ?again.? ?A? ?moment? ?later,? ?instincts? ?made? ?him? ?whip? ?his? ?head? ?
around,? ?and? ?sure? ?enough,? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?was? ?watching? ?the? ?two? ?of? ?them.? ?
?
The? ?two? ?stared? ?at? ?each? ?other,? ?and? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?huffed? ?a? ?dry? ?laugh,? ?“Fine.? ?I’ll? ?go? ?away.”? ?
?
“No,? ?it’s? ?fine.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?
?
It? ?wasn’t? ?like? ?he? ?was? ?thinking? ?of? ?doing? ?anything? ?that? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?seen,? ?so? ?why? ?did? ?he? ?make? ?it? ?
sound? ?like? ?he? ?was? ?thieving? ?around?!? ?
?
Just? ?then,? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?walked? ?over? ?with? ?a? ?pot? ?for? ?food,? ?“General? ?Hua...”? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?both? ?turned? ?their? ?heads.? ?“What? ?is? ?it?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.? ?
?
That? ?black? ?pot? ?had? ?within? ?it? ?a? ?terrified? ?wild? ?chicken? ?that? ?was? ?tied? ?up.? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?showed? ?them? ?the? ?
pot,? ?“Pei? ?Su? ?gege? ?caught? ?it? ?to? ?have? ?me? ?cook,? ?but,? ?I? ?don’t? ?know? ?how.”? ? ?
?
After? ?Pei? ?Su? ?hunted? ?he? ?went? ?ahead? ?to? ?scout.? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?on? ?the? ?other? ?hand,? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?
dissatisfied? ?with? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?no? ?matter? ?how? ?he? ?looked? ?at? ?her,? ?and? ?berated? ?presumptuously,? ?“Aren’t? ?
you? ?a? ?girl?? ?Fighting? ?and? ?killing? ?all? ?day,? ?nevermind? ?not? ?painting? ?your? ?face,? ?but? ?how? ?come? ?you? ?don’t? ?
even? ?know? ?how? ?to? ?cook?”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?were? ?speechless.? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?wasn’t? ?a? ?delicate? ?girl? ?raised? ?in? ?a? ?normal? ?
household,? ?and? ?had? ?not? ?a? ?clue? ?of? ?how? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?judged? ?beauty.? ?She? ?couldn’t? ?understand? ?his? ?
words? ?and? ?was? ?puzzled.? ?As? ?for? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?he? ?had? ?pretty? ?much? ?figured? ?things? ?out? ?by? ?now.? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?
was? ?someone? ?hard? ?to? ?describe? ?when? ?it? ?came? ?to? ?women.? ?“Put? ?it? ?down,? ?Ban? ?Yue.? ?I’ll? ?teach? ?you.”? ?
Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?
?
Ban? ?Yue? ?already? ?deeply? ?admired? ?him? ?so? ?she? ?happily? ?followed? ?his? ?instructions.? ?An? ?incense? ?time? ?
later.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?pulled? ?at? ?the? ?colourful? ?feathers? ?off? ?the? ?wild? ?chicken,? ?and? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?raised? ?his? ?
blood-soaked? ?hands,? ?lamenting,? ?“The? ?Chicken-Killing? ?General? ?and? ?the? ?Feather-Plucking? ?Crown? ?
Prince? ?can? ?be? ?considered? ?famous? ?sights? ?too? ?now.”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?watched? ?him? ?kill? ?the? ?chicken? ?with? ?his? ?bare? ?hands,? ?a? ?bloody? ?and? ?grimy? ?sight,? ?“General? ?
Pei,? ?couldn’t? ?you? ?have? ?used? ?a? ?knife? ?or? ?something?? ?It? ?would’ve? ?been? ?cleaner.”? ?
?
“And? ?is? ?there? ?any?”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?demanded.? ?
?
Just? ?as? ?the? ?words? ?left? ?his? ?lips,? ?the? ?two? ?glanced? ?at? ?the? ?two? ?pots? ?sitting? ?on? ?the? ?ground? ?on? ?the? ?side.? ?
Rong? ?Guang? ?who? ?was? ?inside? ?the? ?pot? ?seemed? ?to? ?have? ?noticed? ?the? ?two? ?peculiar? ?looks,? ?and? ?the? ?pot? ?
shuddered? ?violently,? ?shouting,? ?“GET? ?OUTTA? ?HERE!? ?SCRAM? ?FAR? ?AWAY!? ?CAREFUL,? ?I? ?JUST? ?
MIGHT? ?SMEAR? ?VENOM? ?ON? ?MY? ?BLADE? ?AND? ?POISON? ?YOU? ?ALL!”? ? ?
?
The? ?two? ?hurried? ?away.? ?Once? ?they? ?were? ?sure? ?that? ?pot? ?couldn’t? ?hear,? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?shook? ?is? ?head? ?and? ?
said? ?to? ?Xie? ?Lian,? ?“And? ?he? ?keeps? ?denying? ?it.? ?He’s? ?always? ?had? ?that? ?temper,? ?of? ?course? ?it’s? ?him.”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?also? ?heard? ?how? ?Rong? ?Guang? ?cussed? ?at? ?Pei? ?Ming,? ?and? ?had? ?long? ?grown? ?an? ?odd? ?sense? ?of? ?
sympathy,? ?“I? ?understand? ?completely.? ?I? ?have? ?a? ?little? ?cousin? ?who’s? ?somewhat? ?like? ?General? ?Rong.? ?
He? ?knows? ?how? ?to? ?cuss? ?more? ?but? ?doesn’t? ?know? ?how? ?to? ?do? ?much.”? ? ?
?
At? ?least? ?Rong? ?Guang? ?could? ?help? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?fight? ?battles.? ?If? ?Qi? ?Rong? ?was? ?to? ?go? ?help? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?fight? ?
battles,? ?then? ?before? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?killed? ?by? ?enemies? ?he’d? ?already? ?be? ?ruined? ?by? ?Qi? ?Rong.? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?
seemed? ?to? ?have? ?imagined? ?what? ?a? ?Rong? ?Guang? ?who? ?only? ?knew? ?how? ?to? ?cuss? ?but? ?didn’t? ?know? ?how? ?
to? ?fight? ?was? ?like? ?and? ?remarked? ?earnestly,? ?“That’s? ?indeed? ?frightening.”? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?threw? ?the? ?now? ?fully? ?plucked? ?wild? ?chicken? ?back? ?into? ?the? ?pot,? ?filled? ?it? ?with? ?water,? ?and? ?
started? ?cooking? ?it? ?atop? ?the? ?fire,? ?adding? ?some? ?wild? ?fruits? ?or? ?herbs? ?every? ?now? ?and? ?then? ?to? ?add? ?
flavour.? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?copied? ?him? ?and? ?tried? ?very? ?hard? ?to? ?find? ?anything? ?that? ?looked? ?edible? ?to? ?stuff? ?into? ?
the? ?pot.? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?didn’t? ?know? ?what? ?they? ?were? ?doing,? ?but? ?since? ?he’d? ?never? ?entered? ?the? ?kitchen? ?
himself,? ?he? ?didn’t? ?see? ?any? ?problems,? ?so? ?he? ?helped? ?by? ?adding? ?firewood? ?to? ?the? ?campfire.? ?“Your? ?
Highness,? ?I’ve? ?always? ?had? ?a? ?question? ?I? ?wanted? ?to? ?ask? ?you,? ?but? ?since? ?we? ?weren’t? ?acquainted,? ?it? ?
wasn’t? ?appropriate? ?to? ?ask.”? ? ?
?
It’s? ?true? ?they? ?weren’t? ?close.? ?Before,? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?impression? ?of? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?was? ?pretty? ?much? ?a? ?
physically? ?skilled? ?but? ?ill-minded? ?womanizer,? ?and? ?they’ve? ?even? ?faced? ?each? ?other? ?a? ?couple? ?times.? ?
Yet? ?now? ?that? ?they’ve? ?crossed? ?paths? ?a? ?few? ?times,? ?unknowingly,? ?his? ?opinions? ?have? ?changed,? ?and? ?
their? ?relationship? ?could? ?be? ?considered? ?somewhat? ?friendlier.? ?“By? ?all? ?means,? ?General? ?Pei,? ?please? ?
ask.”? ? ?
?
“You’ve? ?been? ?banished? ?twice,? ?with? ?two? ?cursed? ?shackles? ?on? ?your? ?person.”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?said,? ?“After? ?
you’ve? ?ascended? ?for? ?the? ?third? ?time,? ?you? ?could’ve? ?asked? ?the? ?Emperor? ?to? ?remove? ?them,? ?so? ?why? ?
didn’t? ?you?”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?watched? ?as? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?thought? ?really? ?hard? ?before? ?cheerfully? ?pulling? ?out? ?a? ?few? ?long,? ?wine? ?
red? ?scorpion? ?tailed? ?snakes,? ?and? ?put? ?them? ?into? ?the? ?bubbling? ?pot.? ?He? ?replied? ?easily,? ?“Then,? ?General? ?
Pei,? ?I’ve? ?also? ?got? ?a? ?question? ?I? ?want? ?to? ?ask? ?you.”? ? ?
?
“Please.”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?said.? ?
?
“How? ?come? ?after? ?you? ?snapped? ?Ming? ?Guang? ?you’ve? ?never? ?forged? ?a? ?new? ?sword? ?as? ?a? ?spiritual? ?
device? ?again?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?raised? ?his? ?brows,? ?“What? ?an? ?unpleasant? ?question.”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?matched? ?his? ?expression,? ?“Likewise.”? ? ?
?
The? ?two? ?chuckled? ?a? ?bit.? ?Suddenly,? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?said,? ?“I? ?never? ?thought? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?beautiful? ?tale.”? ? ?
?
“I? ?get? ?you.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?
?
He? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?speak? ?when? ?suddenly? ?there? ?was? ?movement? ?behind? ?him,? ?and? ?his? ?heart? ?jumped,? ?
looking? ?back,? ?“San? ?Lang?”? ?
?
Sure? ?enough,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?had? ?sat? ?up!? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?both? ?surprised? ?and? ?delighted? ?and? ?immediately? ?went? ?over? ?to? ?help? ?hold? ?him? ?up? ?by? ?the? ?
shoulders,? ?“San? ?Lang!? ?You’re? ?awake!? ?You...? ?seem? ?bigger?”? ? ?
?
Indeed,? ?before? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?only? ?looked? ?to? ?be? ?a? ?little? ?older? ?than? ?ten,? ?but? ?now? ?he? ?appeared? ?to? ?be? ?at? ?
least? ?thirteen? ?or? ?fourteen,? ?and? ?when? ?he? ?spoke,? ?his? ?voice? ?also? ?changed? ?from? ?that? ?of? ?a? ?child? ?to? ?the? ?
slightly? ?raspy? ?voice? ?of? ?a? ?teen.? ?“Yes.? ?Thank? ?you? ?gege,? ?for? ?giving? ?me? ?relief.”? ? ?
?
“What? ?a? ?joyous? ?occasion,”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?commented.? ?
?
“No? ?need? ?to? ?thank? ?me,? ?I...”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied? ?before? ?he? ?noticed? ?there? ?was? ?the? ?word? ?‘relief’? ?and? ?his? ?
smile? ?froze,? ?wondering,? ?‘It’s? ?not? ?what? ?I? ?think? ?it? ?is,? ?is? ?it?’? ?
?
The? ?next? ?second,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?grabbed? ?his? ?shoulders? ?and? ?said? ?darkly,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?listen? ?to? ?
me.? ?Something? ?is? ?coming? ?rapidly? ?from? ?the? ?east.? ?You? ?must? ?get? ?away? ?for? ?now!”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?taken? ?aback.? ?The? ?two? ?both? ?looked? ?to? ?the? ?east,? ?like? ?they? ?could? ?see? ?through? ?the? ?
endless? ?black? ?night? ?and? ?saw? ?a? ?figure? ?skulking? ?in? ?the? ?darkness.? ?Although? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?sense? ?
anything? ?but? ?still? ?he? ?said,? ?“Very? ?well!? ?We’ll? ?take? ?leave.”? ? ?
?
“Where? ?to?”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?asked.? ?
?
The? ?fork? ?in? ?the? ?road? ?only? ?had? ?two? ?paths,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“The? ?west!”? ? ?
?
Ban? ?Yue? ?grabbed? ?that? ?cooking? ?pot? ?over? ?the? ?flames,? ?looking? ?like? ?she? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?bring? ?it? ?along,? ?
and? ?said,? ?“Pei? ?Su? ?gege? ?hasn’t? ?returned? ?yet!”? ? ?
?
Just? ?as? ?she? ?spoke,? ?a? ?shadow? ?came? ?hurrying? ?from? ?the? ?road? ?to? ?the? ?west,? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?Pei? ?Su? ?who? ?
had? ?returned? ?from? ?scouting.? ?“General!? ?Don’t? ?go? ?down? ?this? ?road!? ?There’s? ?a? ?large? ?number? ?of? ?
ghosts? ?coming? ?this? ?way? ?right? ?now!”? ? ?
?
“How? ?many?”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?demanded.? ?
?
Pei? ?Su? ?noticed? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?asked? ?was? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?and? ?was? ?stunned? ?for? ?a? ?moment,? ?“Judging? ?by? ?
the? ?tremors? ?of? ?the? ?ground,? ?at? ?least? ?five? ?hundred!”? ? ?
?
As? ?a? ?martial? ?god,? ?unless? ?there? ?was? ?absolutely? ?no? ?other? ?choice,? ?‘retreat’? ?would? ?never? ?be? ?
considered.? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?demanded,? ?“Do? ?we? ?go? ?west? ?or? ?east?”? ? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?said? ?with? ?conviction,? ?“West!”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?answered? ?too,? ?“West.”? ? ?
?
For? ?some? ?reason,? ?although? ?there? ?were? ?more? ?ghosts? ?coming? ?from? ?the? ?west? ?and? ?not? ?a? ?single? ?
shadow? ?in? ?the? ?east,? ?but? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?instincts? ?told? ?him? ?the? ?west? ?must? ?be? ?the? ?safer? ?choice? ?than? ?the? ?
east.? ?Without? ?further? ?ado,? ?the? ?group? ?hastily? ?went? ?on? ?their? ?way.? ?At? ?first,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?was? ?already? ?
prepared? ?to? ?kill? ?without? ?hesitation? ?should? ?they? ?run? ?into? ?the? ?first? ?wave,? ?but? ?after? ?running? ?for? ?several? ?
miles,? ?not? ?a? ?single? ?movement? ?was? ?detected,? ?and? ?he? ?was? ?rather? ?puzzled,? ?“General? ?Pei? ?Junior,? ?
where? ?and? ?when? ?did? ?you? ?hear? ?that? ?over? ?five? ?hundred? ?ghosts? ?were? ?approaching?”? ? ?
?
“Just? ?nearby? ?here.”? ?Pei? ?Su? ?said,? ?“At? ?the? ?time,? ?they? ?were? ?only? ?five? ?to? ?six? ?miles? ?behind? ?me,? ?and? ?
were? ?going? ?very? ?fast.”? ? ?
?
“Then? ?this? ?is? ?strange!”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?
?
The? ?group? ?continued? ?to? ?run? ?to? ?the? ?west,? ?and? ?that? ?five? ?hundred? ?some? ?ghosts? ?were? ?running? ?
eastward;? ?both? ?parties? ?were? ?fast? ?so? ?they? ?should’ve? ?bumped? ?into? ?each? ?other? ?head? ?on? ?by? ?now.? ?So? ?
why? ?was? ?there? ?not? ?a? ?single? ?ghost,? ?and? ?not? ?even? ?any? ?movement?? ?
?
“Little? ?Pei? ?wouldn’t? ?have? ?heard? ?wrong.”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?said,? ?“Maybe? ?they? ?went? ?back? ?the? ?way? ?they? ?
came?”? ? ?
?
“I? ?don’t? ?think? ?that’s? ?likely.”? ?Pei? ?Su? ?said,? ?“Because? ?the? ?speed? ?of? ?their? ?pace? ?was? ?really? ?fast.? ?It? ?
sounded? ?as? ?if? ?they? ?were...”? ?
?
“Running? ?for? ?their? ?lives.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said.? ?
?
Suddenly,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?stopped? ?in? ?his? ?step.? ?Not? ?just? ?him? ?but? ?the? ?entire? ?group? ?stopped.? ?Because,? ?just? ?
ahead? ?of? ?them? ?was? ?a? ?field? ?of? ?corpses? ?that? ?was? ?blocking? ?their? ?way.? ?
?
Those? ?corpses,? ?some? ?were? ?beasts,? ?some? ?were? ?men,? ?bodies? ?all? ?shapes? ?and? ?sizes,? ?there? ?were? ?
even? ?battered? ?souls,? ?wisps? ?of? ?black? ?smoke? ?and? ?ghost? ?fires? ?floating? ?in? ?the? ?air.? ?An? ?exceedingly? ?
chilling? ?sight.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?squatted? ?down? ?to? ?check? ?and? ?said,? ?“They? ?really? ?were? ?running? ?for? ?their? ?lives,? ?
they? ?just...? ?didn’t? ?succeed.”? ?
?
After? ?Pei? ?Su? ?heard? ?them,? ?he? ?immediately? ?turned? ?back? ?to? ?inform? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?the? ?others.? ?And? ?it? ?
was? ?right? ?after? ?he? ?left? ?that? ?something? ?had? ?pursued? ?and? ?killed? ?them? ?all? ?in? ?one? ?go.? ?
?
“It’s? ?the? ?work? ?of? ?one? ?person.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said,? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?nodded.? ?If? ?both? ?parties? ?were? ?great? ?in? ?numbers,? ?then? ?the? ?kill? ?wouldn’t? ?be? ?this? ?clean,? ?and? ?
the? ?battle? ?wouldn’t? ?have? ?ended? ?so? ?straightforwardly.? ?
?
And? ?to? ?have? ?killed? ?over? ?five? ?hundred? ?ghosts? ?and? ?monsters? ?in? ?such? ?a? ?short? ?period? ?of? ?time,? ?no? ?
doubt? ?it? ?was? ?something? ?stronger? ?than? ?the? ?Swift? ?Life-Extinguishing? ?Blade? ?Demon,? ?so? ?it? ?seemed,? ?it? ?
was? ?one? ?they? ?should? ?keep? ?an? ?eye? ?on.? ?
?
Ban? ?Yue? ?said,? ?holding? ?her? ?soup? ?pot,? ?“I? ?hope? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master? ?didn’t? ?choose? ?this? ?path...”? ?
?
“No? ?need? ?to? ?worry,? ?My? ?Lord? ?has? ?the? ?protection? ?steed.”? ?Pei? ?Su? ?said.? ?
?
Right? ?at? ?the? ?same? ?time,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?heard? ?a? ?strange? ?chattering? ?noise? ?from? ?not? ?far? ?away,? ?and? ?when? ?
he? ?went? ?over? ?to? ?look,? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?skull? ?whose? ?jaws? ?were? ?chattering,? ?and? ?the? ?noise? ?came? ?from? ?it.? ?
When? ?it? ?noticed? ?someone? ?had? ?discovered? ?itself,? ?it? ?cried,? ?terrified,? ?“MERCY,? ?I’LL? ?NEVER? ?COME? ?
AGAIN,? ?I? ?WANNA? ?GO? ?BACK,? ?I? ?WANNA? ?GO? ?HOME!”? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?cupped? ?it? ?with? ?both? ?his? ?hands? ?and? ?said? ?gently,? ?“Don’t? ?be? ?scared,? ?we’re? ?only? ?passing? ?by.? ?
Can? ?you? ?tell? ?us? ?just? ?what? ?exactly? ?happened? ?here?”? ? ?
?
That? ?skull’s? ?jaws? ?chattered? ?as? ?it? ?bit? ?out,? ?“Y-you’re? ?passersby?? ?Don’t? ?keep? ?going? ?onwards? ?
anymore,? ?there’s? ?someone? ?really? ?scary? ?ahead...? ?counting? ?us,? ?he’s? ?already? ?killed? ?over? ?a? ?thousand? ?
ghosts,? ?and? ?he’s? ?still? ?dissatisfied,? ?he’s? ?still,? ?he’s? ?still...”? ?
?
Over? ?a? ?thousand!? ?
?
That? ?was? ?way? ?more? ?than? ?they? ?had? ?imagined.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked,? ?“Who? ?is? ?it? ?that? ?you? ?speak? ?of?? ?Do? ?
you? ?know? ?what? ?his? ?name? ?is?? ?Or? ?title?? ?Or? ?what? ?he? ?looks? ?like?”? ?
?
“N-no.”? ?The? ?skull? ?said,? ?“I? ?didn’t? ?see? ?very? ?clearly.? ?It? ?didn’t? ?take? ?long? ?for? ?him? ?to? ?kill? ?us.? ?I? ?only? ?faintly? ?
saw? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?black? ?clad? ?man,? ?very? ?young,? ?his? ?face? ?very? ?pale...”? ?
?
“Sounds? ?a? ?little? ?troublesome.”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?said,? ?“Your? ?Highness,? ?Hua? ?Chengzhu,? ?are? ?you? ?sure? ?we? ?
should? ?be? ?heading? ?westward? ?right? ?now,? ?and? ?not? ?east?”? ? ?
?
That? ?skull? ?heard? ?and? ?shrieked,? ?“THE? ?EAST? ?WON’T? ?DO? ?EITHER!? ?NOT? ?THE? ?EAST!!!”? ?
?
“What’s? ?happened? ?in? ?the? ?east?”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?asked.? ?
?
That? ?skull? ?said,? ?“We...? ?didn’t? ?dare? ?go? ?east,? ?which? ?is? ?why? ?we? ?chose? ?the? ?west.? ?Because,? ?on? ?the? ?
road? ?to? ?the? ?east,? ?there’s? ?a? ?white? ?clad? ?young? ?man,? ?who? ?within? ?a? ?day,? ?had? ?already? ?killed? ?over? ?two? ?
thousand? ?ghosts.? ?He’s? ?far? ?more? ?terrifying? ?than? ?this? ?one? ?in? ?the? ?west...”? ?
?
?
———-? ?
?
Ch.150:? ?Panic? ?Left? ?and? ?Right;? ?East? ?or? ?West? ?Undecided? ?2? ?
?
Over? ?two? ?thousand!? ? ?
?
Hearing? ?this,? ?everyone’s? ?expressions? ?stiffened.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?glimpsed? ?at? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?and? ?said,? ?“It? ?
seems? ?it? ?was? ?the? ?right? ?choice? ?to? ?pick? ?the? ?west? ?road.”? ? ?
?
That? ?skull’s? ?teeth? ?chattered,? ?“Sigh!? ?Either? ?roads? ?is? ?a? ?mistake,? ?there’s? ?no? ?path? ?to? ?go!? ?
?
Indeed,? ?for? ?normal? ?little? ?minions,? ?either? ?direction? ?was? ?an? ?obliteration? ?disaster.? ?No? ?matter? ?east? ?or? ?
west,? ?either? ?could? ?easily? ?crush? ?them;? ?no? ?matter? ?which? ?road? ?they? ?choose,? ?the? ?end? ?result? ?was? ?
blown? ?to? ?smoke? ?and? ?become? ?fertilizer? ?for? ?others.? ?After? ?dry? ?howling? ?a? ?few? ?more? ?times,? ?the? ?ghost? ?
fires? ?in? ?that? ?skull’s? ?empty? ?sockets? ?gradually? ?went? ?out.? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?gently? ?placed? ?it? ?down? ?on? ?the? ?side? ?of? ?the? ?road,? ?“San? ?Lang,? ?do? ?you? ?know? ?what? ?the? ?
creature? ?in? ?the? ?east? ?is?”? ? ?
?
“Can’t? ?be? ?sure? ?right? ?now,”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?replied,? ?“But? ?it’s? ?still? ?coming? ?this? ?way.? ?Under? ?the? ?current? ?
circumstances,? ?I? ?don’t? ?recommend? ?we? ?face? ?it? ?head? ?on.? ?This? ?one? ?in? ?the? ?west? ?is? ?a? ?little? ?easier? ?to? ?
deal? ?with.”? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?nodded,? ?“Very? ?well.? ?Then? ?we’ll? ?continue? ?westward.”? ? ?
?
The? ?group? ?of? ?them? ?traversed? ?through? ?that? ?field? ?of? ?corpses? ?and? ?hurried? ?on? ?their? ?way.? ?They? ?walked? ?
all? ?night? ?but? ?never? ?ran? ?into? ?that? ?black? ?clad? ?man? ?the? ?skull? ?spoke? ?of? ?nor? ?see? ?any? ?trace? ?of? ?the? ?Rain? ?
Master,? ?and? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?couldn’t? ?help? ?but? ?start? ?to? ?worry.? ?
?
As? ?they? ?journeyed,? ?the? ?houses? ?and? ?buildings? ?alongside? ?the? ?roads? ?increased? ?in? ?numbers,? ?and? ?
soon,? ?they? ?could? ?even? ?recognize? ?this? ?was? ?the? ?impoverished? ?slums,? ?this? ?was? ?the? ?theatre? ?house? ?
for? ?leisure,? ?this? ?was? ?a? ?general? ?store,? ?this? ?was? ?the? ?backyard? ?of? ?a? ?wealthy? ?household...? ?the? ?road? ?
they? ?walked? ?beneath? ?their? ?feet? ?were? ?also? ?paved? ?by? ?people,? ?the? ?patterns? ?of? ?the? ?bricks? ?could? ?still? ?
faintly? ?be? ?seen.? ?This? ?was? ?obviously? ?a? ?prosperous? ?little? ?town,? ?only? ?it? ?was? ?empty? ?of? ?the? ?living,? ?and? ?
strangely? ?desolate? ?and? ?quiet.? ?
?
There? ?was? ?an? ?old? ?well? ?on? ?the? ?roadside,? ?and? ?when? ?water? ?was? ?pulled? ?up,? ?the? ?water? ?was? ?still? ?
relatively? ?clean,? ?and? ?so? ?the? ?group? ?decided? ?to? ?rest? ?there? ?for? ?a? ?bit.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?and? ?Pei? ?Su? ?both? ?drank? ?
a? ?bit? ?of? ?water? ?and? ?washed? ?their? ?faces.? ?When? ?they? ?looked? ?up,? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?had? ?walked? ?over.? ?
?
Ban? ?Yue? ?had? ?been? ?holding? ?onto? ?that? ?black? ?clay? ?pot? ?this? ?whole? ?time? ?and? ?had? ?been? ?waiting? ?for? ?a? ?
long? ?time,? ?“General? ?Hua,? ?Pei? ?Su? ?gege,? ?eat? ?something.”? ?
?
“Alright.? ?Thank? ?you? ?for? ?your? ?efforts.”? ?Pei? ?Su? ?said.? ?
?
“Thanks? ?for? ?everyone’s? ?hard? ?work,? ?let’s? ?all? ?give? ?this? ?a? ?try.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?said.? ?
?
Thus? ?the? ?group? ?all? ?gathered.? ?However,? ?the? ?moment? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?opened? ?the? ?pot,? ?many? ?faces? ?
stiffened.? ?
?
Although? ?‘smell’? ?was? ?something? ?colourless? ?and? ?formless,? ?but? ?the? ?instant? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?removed? ?the? ?
pot? ?cover,? ?it? ?was? ?as? ?if? ?some? ?mysterious? ?object? ?had? ?twisted? ?all? ?the? ?air? ?around? ?the? ?mouth? ?of? ?that? ?
pot.? ?
?
The? ?group? ?stared? ?at? ?the? ?sight? ?within? ?the? ?pot? ?for? ?a? ?long? ?time,? ?each? ?one? ?of? ?their? ?pupils? ?reflecting? ?an? ?
endless,? ?bottomless? ?darkness,? ?like? ?it? ?could? ?pull? ?them? ?into? ?the? ?abyss,? ?and? ?no? ?words? ?could? ?
describe? ?the? ?sentiment? ?expressed? ?within? ?their? ?eyes.? ?A? ?moment? ?later,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?patted? ?Ban? ?Yue’s? ?
shoulder? ?and? ?gave? ?a? ?thumbs? ?up,? ?“Not? ?bad.? ?It’s? ?good? ?for? ?a? ?first? ?time.”? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?looked? ?at? ?them? ?in? ?disbelief,? ?“It’s? ?her? ?first? ?time,? ?but? ?is? ?it? ?Your? ?Highness’? ?first? ?time?? ?If? ?I? ?
recall,? ?you? ?made? ?her? ?follow? ?your? ?every? ?step,? ?and? ?you’ve? ?done? ?more? ?than? ?she? ?did.? ?I? ?knew? ?there? ?
was? ?something? ?not? ?right? ?with? ?what? ?you? ?two? ?were? ?doing,? ?so? ?it? ?wasn’t? ?my? ?imagination.”? ? ?
?
However,? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?spoke? ?up,? ?“Is? ?that? ?right?? ?Well? ?since? ?gege? ?made? ?this,? ?I? ?gotta? ?try.”? ? ?
?
Hearing? ?this,? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?and? ?Pei? ?Su’s? ?eyes? ?both? ?whipped? ?over? ?to? ?look? ?at? ?him,? ?their? ?eyes? ?full? ?of? ?
awe,? ?terror,? ?respect,? ?and? ?other? ?such? ?emotions.? ?“Gege,? ?what’s? ?this? ?dish? ?called?”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?
asked.? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?cleared? ?his? ?throat? ?lightly,? ?“...‘Toppled? ?Phoenixes’*”? ?
?
“Good? ?name.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?complimented? ?earnestly.? ?
?
Then,? ?he? ?reached? ?into? ?that? ?bottomlessly? ?dark? ?pot.? ?The? ?way? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?and? ?Pei? ?Su? ?watched? ?him,? ?it? ?
was? ?like? ?they? ?were? ?anxious? ?he? ?was? ?going? ?to? ?be? ?swallowed? ?whole? ?by? ?the? ?pot.? ?However,? ?Hua? ?
Cheng? ?calmly? ?and? ?easily? ?took? ?out? ?a? ?small,? ?burnt,? ?piece? ?of? ?something? ?that? ?resembled? ?a? ?broken? ?
corpse,? ?and? ?serenely? ?placed? ?it? ?in? ?his? ?mouth.? ?
?
“How? ?is? ?it?”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?asked.? ?
?
“Tastes? ?like? ?its? ?name.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said.? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?turned? ?to? ?Pei? ?Su? ?whose? ?expression? ?was? ?unreadably? ?complicated,? ?“It’s? ?made? ?for? ?you.? ?
Enjoy.”? ?
?
Pei? ?Su:? ?“...”? ?
?
He? ?took? ?the? ?pot? ?from? ?Ban? ?Yue’s? ?hands,? ?and? ?expressionlessly? ?reached? ?a? ?hand? ?in.? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?used? ?the? ?cold? ?water? ?to? ?wipe? ?his? ?face? ?again,? ?fixed? ?his? ?hair,? ?and? ?turned? ?around,? ?no? ?longer? ?
looking? ?at? ?the? ?others.? ?He? ?scanned? ?the? ?surroundings? ?and? ?asked,? ?“How? ?come? ?in? ?this? ?land? ?isolated? ?
from? ?the? ?rest? ?of? ?the? ?world? ?has? ?so? ?many? ?traces? ?of? ?settlements?? ?Is? ?Mount? ?TongLu? ?really? ?
inhabitable?”? ? ?
?
He? ?had? ?already? ?asked? ?this? ?question? ?the? ?day? ?before,? ?only,? ?there? ?was? ?no? ?one? ?who? ?could? ?answer? ?
him? ?at? ?the? ?time.? ?Now? ?there? ?was.? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?replied,? ?“It’s? ?inhabitable,? ?but,? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?long? ?time? ?ago.? ?
Mount? ?TongLu? ?is? ?the? ?size? ?of? ?seven? ?fortress? ?cities,? ?its? ?territory? ?spread? ?far? ?and? ?wide,? ?and? ?it? ?used? ?to? ?
be? ?an? ?ancient? ?kingdom.? ?These? ?houses? ?are? ?all? ?historical? ?remains? ?of? ?cities? ?and? ?townships? ?from? ?the? ?
ancient? ?kingdom.? ?The? ?closer? ?we? ?are? ?to? ?the? ?heart? ?of? ?the? ?‘Kiln’,? ?the? ?more? ?relics? ?there? ?will? ?be,? ?and? ?
the? ?more? ?prosperous? ?they’ll? ?appear.”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?question? ?this? ?answer? ?at? ?all,? ?“I? ?see.”? ? ?
?
Just? ?then,? ?Pei? ?Ming’s? ?voice? ?came? ?from? ?behind? ?them,? ?“Little? ?Pei,? ?what? ?are? ?you? ?doing?? ?Men? ?don’t? ?
kneel? ?so? ?easily,? ?get? ?up!”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?didn’t? ?turn? ?around,? ?“What’s? ?the? ?name? ?of? ?this? ?ancient? ?kingdom?? ?San? ?Lang,? ?do? ?you? ?
know?”? ? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?didn’t? ?turn? ?around? ?either,? ?and? ?his? ?fists? ?hung? ?easily? ?at? ?his? ?sides,? ?“The? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?
WuYong.”? ? ?
?
Pei? ?Ming? ?admonished,? ?“Your? ?Highness?? ?Your? ?Highness,? ?do? ?you? ?have? ?an? ?antidote? ?or? ?something?? ?
You? ?can’t? ?just? ?leave? ?him? ?like? ?this.? ?And? ?you.? ?What? ?are? ?you? ?feeding? ?him?? ?What’s? ?with? ?this? ?snake?? ?
It’s? ?still? ?moving? ?after? ?it’s? ?been? ?cooked? ?for? ?so? ?long?? ?Did? ?it? ?become? ?a? ?spirit?!”? ? ?
?
Ban? ?Yue? ?seemed? ?to? ?be? ?kowtowing? ?to? ?apologize? ?unceasingly,? ?“I’m? ?sorry...? ?I’m? ?sorry...? ?I’m? ?sorry...? ?
it’s? ?indeed? ?turned? ?into? ?a? ?spirit,? ?I? ?didn’t? ?know? ?how? ?long? ?it’d? ?cook? ?for? ?it? ?to? ?become? ?a? ?spirit...? ?I’m? ?
sorry...”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?supported? ?his? ?cheek? ?with? ?a? ?hand? ?and? ?pondered,? ?“I’m? ?ignorant? ?and? ?ill-informed,? ?I? ?don’t? ?
seem? ?to? ?recall? ?ever? ?hearing? ?the? ?name? ?of? ?this? ?kingdom.? ?How? ?ancient? ?is? ?it?”? ? ?
?
However,? ?just? ?as? ?the? ?words? ?left? ?his? ?lips? ?he? ?wasn’t? ?so? ?sure? ?anymore.? ?WuYong,? ?WuYong.? ?Hearing? ?it? ?
from? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?blue? ?it? ?did? ?sound? ?foreign.? ?But? ?if? ?he? ?thought? ?about? ?it? ?deeply,? ?it? ?seemed? ?a? ?long,? ?long? ?
time? ?ago,? ?someone? ?somewhere? ?had? ?uttered? ?it? ?before.? ? ?
?
“The? ?details? ?aren’t? ?clear,”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said,? ?“But? ?it? ?must? ?be? ?older? ?than? ?the? ?Kingdom? ?of? ?XianLe.? ?At? ?
least? ?two? ?thousand? ?years.”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?around? ?their? ?surroundings,? ?“But? ?looking? ?at? ?these? ?buildings,? ?they? ?don’t? ?look? ?like? ?
they? ?lived? ?through? ?two? ?thousand? ?years.”? ?
?
“Naturally.”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?replied,? ?“Because? ?most? ?of? ?the? ?time,? ?Mount? ?TongLu? ?wasn’t? ?open? ?to? ?the? ?
outside.? ?Like? ?sealed? ?within? ?a? ?massive? ?mausoleum? ?and? ?completely? ?shut? ?out? ?from? ?the? ?outside? ?
world,? ?they? ?would? ?of? ?course? ?be? ?kept? ?in? ?a? ?good? ?state.”? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?bowed? ?his? ?head? ?and? ?became? ?pensive.? ?On? ?the? ?other? ?side,? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?finally? ?left? ?Pei? ?Su? ?on? ?
his? ?own? ?devices? ?and? ?came? ?over,? ?“Lord? ?Ghost? ?King? ?sure? ?knows? ?everything.? ?But,? ?isn’t? ?this? ?
information? ?rather? ?too? ?out? ?of? ?this? ?world?? ?Might? ?I? ?ask? ?what? ?your? ?source? ?is?? ?I’ve? ?never? ?heard? ?a? ?
single? ?word? ?of? ?any? ?of? ?this? ?going? ?around? ?in? ?the? ?outside.”? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?didn’t? ?look? ?at? ?him,? ?“And? ?might? ?I? ?ask? ?General? ?Pei,? ?what? ?kind? ?of? ?individual? ?has? ?the? ?
ability? ?to? ?gather? ?this? ?kind? ?of? ?information? ?in? ?Mount? ?TongLu?”? ?
?
“Logically,? ?any? ?ghost? ?can.”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?said,? ?“But? ?by? ?Mount? ?TongLu’s? ?slaughtering? ?rules,? ?the? ?more? ?
valuable? ?information? ?one? ?wishes? ?to? ?obtain,? ?the? ?longer? ?one? ?must? ?remain,? ?so? ?it? ?must? ?be? ?a? ?powerful? ?
individual.”? ?
?
“And? ?what? ?kind? ?of? ?individual? ?can? ?come? ?out? ?of? ?Mount? ?TongLu? ?after? ?gathering? ?all? ?this? ?information?”? ?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?asked.? ?
?
“It? ?must? ?be? ?a? ?Supreme? ?Ghost? ?King? ?like? ?My? ?Lord.”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?said.? ?
?
“So,”? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?said,? ?“I? ?gathered? ?this? ?information? ?myself.? ?As? ?long? ?as? ?I? ?don’t? ?speak? ?of? ?it,? ?of? ?
course? ?there? ?wouldn’t? ?be? ?any? ?word? ?of? ?it? ?going? ?around? ?in? ?the? ?outside.”? ? ?
?
He? ?finally? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?back? ?and? ?mocked? ?slightly,? ?“To? ?the? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?of? ?the? ?Upper? ?
Court,? ?keeping? ?secrets? ?might? ?be? ?more? ?difficult? ?than? ?passing? ?a? ?heavenly? ?calamity,? ?but? ?not? ?to? ?me.”? ? ?
?
“...”? ?
?
He? ?wasn’t? ?wrong.? ?If? ?information? ?of? ?such? ?magnitude? ?was? ?to? ?be? ?learned? ?by? ?some? ?heavenly? ?officials? ?
in? ?the? ?Upper? ?Court,? ?it? ?wouldn’t? ?take? ?two? ?hours? ?before? ?it? ?could? ?be? ?heard? ?excitedly? ?discussed? ?in? ?
every? ?spiritual? ?communication? ?array.? ?That? ?Hua? ?Cheng? ?was? ?able? ?to? ?keep? ?this? ?in? ?for? ?so? ?many? ?years? ?
without? ?selling? ?it? ?to? ?anyone? ?and? ?didn’t? ?speak? ?of? ?it? ?to? ?boast,? ?it? ?showed? ?just? ?how? ?mature? ?and? ?
resolved? ?he? ?was.? ?
?
“I? ?get? ?it.”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?said,? ?“It? ?appears,? ?when? ?it? ?comes? ?to? ?His? ?Highness,? ?not? ?only? ?is? ?Hua? ?Chengzhu? ?
knowledgeable? ?of? ?all,? ?but? ?would? ?also? ?tell? ?all? ?that? ?you? ?know.”? ?
?
“No.”? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?suddenly? ?said.? ?
?
Everyone? ?turned? ?to? ?look,? ?“What,? ?no?”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?been? ?deep? ?in? ?thought? ?earlier,? ?and? ?now,? ?finally,? ?his? ?right? ?hand? ?folded? ?into? ?a? ?fist? ?and? ?
lightly? ?tapped? ?his? ?left? ?palm,? ?“I? ?said? ?earlier? ?that? ?I? ?don’t? ?think? ?I’ve? ?heard? ?of? ?the? ?name? ?WuYong? ?
before,? ?but? ?that’s? ?wrong.? ?I’ve? ?heard? ?of? ?that? ?name? ?before!”? ? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng’s? ?stiffened? ?lightly,? ?“Gege,? ?where? ?did? ?you? ?hear? ?of? ?it?”? ? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?around,? ?“In? ?my? ?youth? ?when? ?I? ?was? ?training? ?in? ?the? ?Royal? ?Holy? ?Pavilion? ?in? ?
XianLe,? ?my? ?master? ?was? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?of? ?XianLe.? ?When? ?he? ?first? ?took? ?me? ?in? ?as? ?a? ?disciple,? ?he? ?once? ?
told? ?me? ?a? ?story.”? ?
?
It? ?actually? ?couldn’t? ?be? ?considered? ?a? ?story,? ?more? ?like? ?instilling? ?some? ?grand,? ?glorious? ?imageries? ?of? ?
legends? ?in? ?young? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?mind? ?–? ?Once? ?upon? ?a? ?time? ?there? ?was? ?an? ?ancient? ?kingdom.? ?In? ?that? ?
kingdom? ?there? ?was? ?a? ?crown? ?prince? ?who? ?was? ?ingeniously? ?talented,? ?intelligent? ?and? ?clever,? ?skilled? ?in? ?
both? ?martial? ?and? ?literary? ?arts,? ?and? ?was? ?a? ?scintillating? ?character? ?that? ?only? ?appeared? ?once? ?in? ?
history.? ?He? ?loved? ?his? ?people? ?and? ?his? ?people? ?loved? ?him.? ?Long? ?after? ?he? ?died,? ?his? ?people? ?never? ?
forgot? ?him.? ?
?
The? ?Guoshi? ?spoke? ?solemnly? ?and? ?tenderly,? ?“My? ?child,? ?I? ?hope? ?you? ?will? ?become? ?a? ?person? ?like? ?him.”? ? ?
?
At? ?the? ?time,? ?young? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?sat? ?poised? ?and? ?proper,? ?and? ?said? ?without? ?thinking,? ?“I? ?don’t? ?want? ?to? ?
become? ?a? ?person? ?like? ?him.? ?I? ?want? ?to? ?become? ?a? ?god.”? ?
?
“...”? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?said,? ?“If? ?that? ?crown? ?prince? ?was? ?really? ?as? ?amazing? ?as? ?you? ?say,? ?how? ?come? ?he? ?didn’t? ?
become? ?a? ?god?”? ? ?
?
“...”? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?continued,? ?“If? ?the? ?people? ?really? ?never? ?forgot? ?him,? ?then? ?how? ?come? ?I’ve? ?never? ?heard? ?
anyone? ?speak? ?of? ?this? ?crown? ?prince? ?before?”? ? ?
?
“........”? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?swore? ?that? ?when? ?he? ?first? ?raised? ?those? ?questions? ?he? ?had? ?never? ?intended? ?to? ?provoke? ?or? ?
rebel? ?and? ?really? ?was? ?just? ?curious,? ?looking? ?for? ?answers? ?to? ?his? ?query.? ?However,? ?after? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?
listened? ?to? ?him? ?his? ?face? ?turned? ?quite? ?the? ?shade.? ?
?
Why? ?could? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?recite? ?the? ?Ethics? ?Sutra? ?back? ?and? ?forth? ?like? ?it? ?was? ?nothing?? ?Because,? ?that? ?
night,? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?made? ?him? ?copy? ?the? ?Ethics? ?Sutra? ?a? ?hundred? ?times? ?to? ?do? ?good? ?by? ?its? ?name? ?and? ?
“cultivate? ?both? ?the? ?body? ?and? ?mind”.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?deeply? ?suspected? ?that? ?had? ?it? ?not? ?been? ?for? ?his? ?
honourary? ?status? ?of? ?the? ?crown? ?prince,? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?might’ve? ?had? ?him? ?kneel? ?on? ?nails? ?to? ?copy? ?the? ?
scriptures.? ?
?
In? ?any? ?case,? ?after? ?that,? ?every? ?word? ?of? ?the? ?Ethics? ?Sutra? ?was? ?deeply? ?burned? ?into? ?Xie? ?Lian’s? ?brain.? ?
At? ?the? ?same? ?time.? ?A? ?tiny? ?impression? ?of? ?this? ?“Crown? ?Prince? ?of? ?WuYong”? ?remained.? ?
?
Xie? ?Lian? ?had? ?always? ?enjoyed? ?reading? ?but? ?had? ?never? ?come? ?across? ?any? ?records? ?relating? ?to? ?the? ?
Kingdom? ?of? ?WuYong? ?in? ?any? ?old? ?scrolls,? ?so? ?he? ?figured? ?the? ?story? ?was? ?something? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?made? ?
up? ?to? ?educate? ?him,? ?or? ?perhaps? ?the? ?Guoshi? ?had? ?played? ?cards? ?too? ?much? ?and? ?remembered? ?wrong.? ?
However,? ?he? ?didn’t? ?feel? ?the? ?need? ?to? ?blow? ?his? ?cover? ?nor? ?the? ?need? ?to? ?copy? ?the? ?Ethics? ?Sutra? ?for? ?
another? ?hundred? ?times,? ?so? ?he? ?didn’t? ?bother? ?to? ?fight? ?for? ?the? ?truth? ?and? ?didn’t? ?take? ?it? ?to? ?heart.? ?
?
“Your? ?Highness,? ?it? ?sounds? ?like? ?this? ?Guoshi? ?of? ?your? ?XianLe? ?has? ?quite? ?the? ?background? ?and? ?knows? ?a? ?
lot,”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?said,? ?“Might? ?I? ?ask? ?what’s? ?happened? ?to? ?him?”? ? ?
?
After? ?some? ?hesitation,? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?replied,? ?“I? ?don’t? ?know.? ?After? ?XianLe? ?fell,? ?I? ?haven’t? ?seen? ?how? ?many? ?
people? ?were? ?afterwards.”? ? ?
?
Just? ?then,? ?he? ?suddenly? ?felt? ?something? ?tighten? ?on? ?his? ?ankle? ?and? ?he? ?froze,? ?“WHAT’S? ?THERE?!”? ? ?
?
He? ?was? ?about? ?to? ?stomp? ?and? ?break? ?the? ?bones? ?of? ?whatever? ?it? ?was,? ?but? ?when? ?he? ?looked? ?down,? ?he? ?
breathed? ?a? ?sigh? ?of? ?relief,? ?“General? ?Pei? ?Junior,? ?what? ?are? ?you? ?doing? ?appearing? ?like? ?this?? ?That? ?was? ?
close,? ?I? ?almost? ?ruined? ?your? ?hand.”? ? ?
?
That? ?hand? ?indeed? ?belonged? ?to? ?Pei? ?Su.? ?His? ?entire? ?person? ?was? ?sprawled? ?on? ?the? ?ground,? ?his? ?face? ?in? ?
the? ?mud,? ?his? ?two? ?arms? ?outstretched,? ?one? ?hand? ?gripping? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?and? ?the? ?other? ?gripping? ?Xie? ?Lian.? ?
The? ?two? ?crouched? ?down,? ?“What? ?is? ?it? ?you? ?want? ?to? ?say?”? ? ?
?
Ban? ?Yue? ?was? ?holding? ?her? ?pot,? ?“I? ?don’t? ?know.? ?Earlier,? ?Pei? ?Su? ?gege? ?kept? ?crawling? ?all? ?over? ?the? ?
ground? ?and? ?seemed? ?to? ?have? ?discovered? ?something? ?important.”? ? ?
?
“Oh?”? ?Pei? ?Ming? ?was? ?amazed,? ?“You? ?can? ?find? ?something? ?even? ?in? ?such? ?a? ?state?? ?As? ?expected? ?of? ?
Little? ?Pei.? ?So? ?what? ?did? ?you? ?discover?”? ? ?
?
Pei? ?Su? ?loosened? ?the? ?hand? ?gripping? ?him? ?and? ?pointed? ?in? ?a? ?direction.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?looked? ?to? ?the? ?
direction? ?he? ?pointed? ?at? ?and? ?said,? ?“This? ?is...”? ?
?
The? ?group? ?all? ?gathered? ?to? ?examine,? ?“Oxen? ?hoof? ?marks?”? ? ?
?
Pei? ?Su? ?finally? ?raised? ?his? ?head? ?from? ?the? ?mud? ?and? ?croaked,? ?“This,? ?is...? ?m,? ?arks? ?left? ?behind? ?by? ?L,? ?ord? ?
Rain? ?Master’s? ?Protection? ?St,? ?eed.”? ?
?
“Pei? ?Su? ?gege,? ?your? ?commas? ?are? ?all? ?over? ?the? ?place.”? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?remarked.? ?
?
Pei? ?Su? ?replied,? ?“I’m? ?al,? ?right.? ?Lord? ?Rain? ?Master,? ?lord,? ?lord...”? ?
?
He? ?was? ?stuck? ?on? ?the? ?word? ?‘lord’? ?and? ?couldn’t? ?continue? ?anymore.? ?Xie? ?Lian? ?wondered,? ?“Could...? ?he? ?
be? ?poisoned? ?by? ?the? ?scorpion? ?tailed? ?snake?”? ? ?
?
“Their? ?poison? ?doesn’t? ?work? ?like? ?this...”? ?Ban? ?Yue? ?said.? ?
?
Hua? ?Cheng? ?said,? ?“The? ?Rain? ?Master? ?had? ?already? ?run? ?into? ?the? ?black? ?clad? ?man? ?in? ?the? ?west,? ?and? ?
fought? ?a? ?battle.”? ? ?
?
?
———–? ?