"Ok, good." Hsien Lian muttered, rolling out his shoulders. "So, he's dead. Who killed him?" Chen Guo asks, lowering the light in his palm to Jin Lei's face. Everyone turned to XingYing, but he only shrugged. "I promise. I didn't even touch him." He raises both of his hands defensively. Hsien Lian nodded. "I get that, but did you see what happened?"
Fang Hai rubbed his forehead. "You must have seen something, you were outside. You tossed in his head and body." Fang Hai pointed out, kicking Jin Lei's head away. His neck was cut cleanly. His body already started to fade out into black dust as all ghosts do. His face was stilled, his eyes and muscles relaxed.
Hsien Lian leaned closer, seeing the pitch black eyes, no soul in them. Not anymore. Jin Lei seemed old, with wrinkles and bags. His hair was a deep gray, darker than Jing Mei's. "Fang Hai, can you tell them?" Hsien Lian asked, looking up at the god, who frowned. "Why can't- oh. Yeah." Hsien Lian only had to give the sea god for him to understand. XingYing sighed. "I just saw his dead body, and tossed it in here to show you guys. Maybe he killed himself." XingYing hypothesizes.
Chen Guo raised the man's left arm, where he was severely burnt. "I have a feeling this isn't his body. Ghosts don't get burned. That part of their body just turns to ash. He probably killed this person to hide himself. Fang Hai sighed, turning back to look at them. "Jing Mei and Tao Wu should be here soon. Do we hide XingYing or…"
"I'll be fine. No need to hide me." XingYing answers, standing up straight. Hsien Lian glances up before doing the same. He nods. "Yeah, he'll be fine. Let's just pray Tao Wu doesn't erase his mind." Chen Guo smiled, before clearing his throat. A bright golden circle began to form, Tao Wu and Jing Mei stepping out.
The golden portal shut behind Tao Wu and Jing Mei, both gods staring at XingYing, who wasn't even looking at them. Instead, he was looking at Hsien Lian. "Who is he?" Jing Mei asked, turning to the floral god. Hsien Lian glanced at XingYing, who started laughing. "He's someone I met on the way here. He just helped us capture the ghost." Hsien Lian informed. Fang Hai nodded his head. "Yeah, he's not bad."
Tao Wu didn't seem that impressed by the boy. He looked XingYing up and down carefully. "Do you know who we are?" Tao Wu asked, making XingYIng roll his eyes. "I just saw you two walk out of a portal. And saw them three change how they look, and cast magic out of their hands. If I didn't know, I don't think I would be so calm." XingYing voiced sarcastically. Tao Wu sucked his breath before sighing. "What are you doing here? You understand it's dangerous to walk into a fight between one of Heaven's Deity and a ghost, correct?" Tao Wu asked, his voice sharper. XingYing, however, didn't notice. Well, that or he didn't even care.
"I wanted to protect Hsien Lian."
Tao Wu glanced at Hsien Lian, before back at XingYing. "You, a human, wanted to protect a god." Tao Wu voiced, XingYing instantly nodded his head. Hsien Lian grabbed onto XingYing's hand, pulling him back to his side. He bowed towards Tao Wu. "Sorry, uh Fang Hai can you tell him what happened?" Hsien Lian asked, begging for a topic change.
He didn't expect XingYing to be so rude. Well, not rude. Just, so confident. He should have, since XingYing was very confident. But even for a human, speaking like that to an elder is going to be more on the rude side. XingYing didn't let go of Lian's hand, even when he had tried to let go. He wasn't mad about that. Slight warmth flooded through his body at the connecting.
"Well, we saw a ghost. However it wasn't Da Hong. Instead a male ghost named Jin Lei. Yet, though they were two different ghosts with different intents, they still did the same thing. Go to your temple and hunt people. They both hung them up, though it seemed Jin Lei had been doing it for way longer than Da Hong. He had a lot more dead bodies. He was also a lot more powerful." Fang Hai explained, his long hair flowed in the wind as the summer breeze flew their way.
Jing Mei hummed softly. "So what are you saying, Fang Hai?" She asked softly. Fang Hai sighed, looking to the ground for a moment before backing up at Jing Mei. "Well, I think what I'm saying is that they might be connected. I don't know how, and it might just be a coincidence. But it seems too…. Obviously it was a coincidence. To direct." Fang Hai shrugged lightly.
"Um Jing Mei?" Chen Guo asked, beginning to talk. SHe turned her head to him. "Do you think Chao Ju could check the human records to see if a Ha Dong and a Jin Lei ever lived. During ancient times, specifically when traditional cheongsams were popular. They were both wearing those." Chen Guo observed softly. Jing Mei smiled and nodded.
"Yes I can. I will send you the books on who both of them were." Jing Mei smiled. Chen Guo smiled back. "Thank you. I have a feeling that we can find out why they became ghosts in the first place based on who they were." Chen Guo explained briefly. "Also, Tao Wu. I understand that this is none of my business. But shouldn't Hsien Lian become a Melee God now. He caught a ghost. And unraveled an entire plan." Fang Hai asked as Hsien Lian turned to him.
The prince quickly shook his head. "No, no it's ok. I can figure out the rest of this case first. I don't want to become a Melee God if I haven't proven myself-" Fang Hai frowned, shaking his head. "But you have proven yourself! You literally fought a ghost, without all you're abilities." Fang Hai reasoned, but Hsien Lian still shook his head. Tao Wu hummed. "If Hsien Lian wants to prove himself more, then we shall let him." Tao Wu rationalized.
Jing Mei claps her hands lightly, placing everyone's attention on her. "Well, if that will be all, we must go. XingYing," She looks directly at him with an endearing smile. "Thank you for helping Hsien Lian." She voiced softly, her white hair floating in the wind. XingYing softly smiled back, nodding his head.
"It's what I was born for."