After that line, thoughts laid heavy on Xie Lian's mind the rest of the way. He tried
prodding for more but every response Hua Cheng gave him thereafter all seemed to
mean "That's all I'll say on the subject". Thus, Xie Lian didn't pursue anymore.
When they returned to Puqi shrine, dawn had yet broken upon the horizon.
Pushing the door open, Xie Lian could see that all the dishes were cleaned and put
away. Lang Ying, Guzi, and Qi Rong were all sleeping inside, a blanket covering them,
looking very comfortable. It seemed that after he left, there really was someone who
took care of things attentively, and had already left silently.
This time when Xie Lian returned, what followed was a large pile of prayers.
Puqi Shrine had never received this many prayers before, but he didn't think it had
anything to do with that wealthy merchant spreading his good name – that's right. That
wealthy merchant who lived in town finally came to fulfill his promise.
However, even if he did come by, he either didn't notice the very obvious sign Xie Lian
placed right out front, or he purposely ignored it. He also didn't donate however much
money he promised he would. The most important purpose of his coming here was to
gift a brocade banner, and he enthusiastically presented it to Xie Lian before all the folks
in the village. Xie Lian rolled it open unsuspectingly and immediately folded it close.
Still, the giant words on that brocade banner were deeply ingrained in his mind –
"Return Babes through Miraculous Hands*"
"???"
After sending that wealthy merchant off, he exhaled a long sigh. He'd been worried
everyday wondering when the shack would finally collapse; he really didn't know when it
could be repaired. Hua Cheng, who had been leaning against the door, seemed to have
guessed what he was sighing over, and said, "I've long wanted to say something. If
gege doesn't feel secure living here, why not just move somewhere else?"
Xie Lian shook his head, "That's easy for you to say, San Lang. Where would I move
to?"
Hua Cheng smiled, "Why not move over to my place?"
Xie Lian knew that those words couldn't be as nonchalant as they sound, but ever since
the 'joke' the other night, a small shadow manifested in his heart for some reason, and
he daren't respond to any more words Hua Cheng would say using that 'joking'
demeanor, only acknowledging with a smile, inclining his head.
As for those prayers received, although they were nothing more than the mundane such
as the old ox broke his leg and couldn't work in the fields or the wife in the house got
pregnant and couldn't help in the fields, etc., nonetheless they were still prayers, and he
must treat all worshippers equally. After a couple days, Xie Lian responded to the
prayers and went into the village to help plow and plant the fields.
Since Hua Cheng had been staying with him, naturally he went along to play. Because
this was hard manual labour, at first Xie Lian hadn't wanted him to work the fields too
but he refused to be persuaded, thus, the two changed into coarse clothing, rolling up
their sleeves and pant legs, and entered the waters of rice paddy fields.
Panning across distance, large expanse of lush green rice paddy fields were littered
with bustling farmers, and among them, there were two silhouettes that were particularly
conspicuous.
Even if he was dressed in Xie Lian's gritty clothing, not a single bit of Hua Cheng's
impressive airs could be hidden away. More like, that ragged outfit accentuated his face
and figure. The two of them were both pale skinned, their arms beautiful, their legs long
and straight, painting an eye-catching, scintillating picture among the muddy faced
farmers, making the village girls who were used to seeing boors blush and their hearts
race. They kept sneaking glances, and as they transplanted seedlings, soon their grafts
were planted off course and into curved lines, becoming laughing stocks.
Hua Cheng's blanched skin was the colour that was devoid of blood. Xie Lian on the
other hand, was rosy through the translucent white, and, due to his natural physique,
the more he sweated the more his skin became fair like jade. With the blazing sun
overhead, he only worked for a while before his entire person was white like powder.
The dry heat was intolerable, and he kept wiping at the beads of sweat rolling down his
collar bones. However, when he thought of how ghosts were all creature of the
shadows, disgusted with the sun, Hua Cheng must be even more irritated, and Xie Lian
turned his head to look over. Sure enough, Hua Cheng also straightened up languidly,
using a hand to block out the sun, his eyes squinting. Hiding in the shadows of his right
hand, he was also gazing in Xie Lian's direction.
Xie Lian walked over and pressed the bamboo hat over his head, "Here."
Hua Cheng was slightly taken aback at first, but he soon squinted into a smile, "Ok."
Although Hua Cheng said he was going to work the fields just for fun, but when he
actually got down to work he was way faster than Xie Lian, swift and efficient, extremely
skilled. An hour later, Xie Lian finished transplanting his field of paddies, but he was
already sore and in pain, knocking and massaging his waist, and Hua Cheng came over
to help him out. Xie Lian took a look and he couldn't believe that after only so long, Hua
Cheng actually finished a large field silently all by himself, each green rice stalk
standing in the watery paddies, neat and orderly, pleasing to the eye. Xie Lian said
earnestly, "San Lang you really do learn fast. You don't need to help me, go sit and rest,
and drink some water or something."
Thus, Hua Cheng went to the the field ridges to retrieve water. The Village Head had
been watching on the side for some time, and just then he gave a thumbs up,
"Daozhang, which house does that little lad belong to? He's so diligent! So amazing!
Just one of him is as good as ten men! If any girl is to catch his eye then it'd be her
good fortune!"
Xie Lian "pfft"-ed and laughed, but it wasn't long before a few others came secretly to
inquire too, "Hey, hey, daozhang, where's that little lad staying at your shrine from? Is he
married yet? There couldn't be a wife in his household yet, right?"
"Surely not? He's so young!"
Xie Lian didn't know whether to laugh or cry and answered vaguely, "Um... I guess.
He's young, so it's not time to consider anything yet."
Those villagers immediately said, "Well that's not right. It's precisely because he's
young that the affair gotta be settled soon."
"Daozhang, you gotta talk to him. Men gotta settle early before they can mature. Gotta
build a home before anything else."
"That's right! Young people! They're ***! They won't be able to withstand lonely nights!"
Those villagers were all from households with daughters and wanted to dig for some
information, and just as Xie Lian was courteously turning them away, Hua Cheng
walked over with a bamboo water bottle dangling in his hand, "I'm married. There's a
wife at home."
When those villagers heard, they were greatly disappointed but still unrelenting, "Which
house is the lady from? Won't the little buddy tell us?"
"You're not lying to us, are you?"
"She must be virtuous and beautiful?"
Hua Cheng raised his brows, 'En. that's right. Virtuous and beautiful. A real noble and
gracious special someone that I've liked since I was young. I've had that crush for many
years and pursued really hard before I was able to win that person over."
He spoke with such serious certainty without a hint of falsehood that those villagers felt
there was no more game and could only disperse, feeling defeatedly disappointed.
Xie Lian was spacing out listening to him when Hua Cheng passed over a cloth and a
water bottle, "Water?"
Xie Lian took the cloth and wiped the hands that were covered with mud before taking
the water bottle to drink a few swallows, then he passed it back. Subconsciously, the
cloth in his hands was bunched messily into a ball, and he wiped himself here and
there. After trying to hold it in for a while, he still couldn't help but ask, "...is that true?"
Hua Cheng took the bamboo bottle and drank a swallow himself, his adam's apple
rolling up and down once, before he lowered his head, "Hm? What is?"
Xie Lian raised his sleeve and wiped some sweat on the side of his face, wondering if
the sun was a little too big because both his forehead and his cheeks were both burning
up. He tried his best to sound as casual as possible and smiled, "There's a wife at
home, virtuous and beautiful, a real noble, gracious special someone. You've had that
crush since you were young and pursued really hard before you won that person over."
"Oh." Hua Cheng said, "That's a lie."
Xie Lian hadn't noticed himself, but he let out a sigh of relief. This time, his smile was
genuine, and he copied Hua Cheng's tone from before, "You liar."
Hua Cheng grinned and added, "But, it wasn't all a lie. I just haven't won that person
over yet."
Hearing this, Xie Lian was stunned but Hua Cheng had already turned around, leaving
to keep labouring in the fields.
Xie Lian stood where he was for a good while, dazed, before bending down and slowly
went back to work. For some reason, he was feeling a little unhappy. Soon after, he
discovered a small row of his grafts were off the course and immediately pulled his mind
back.
As he worked the fields, he tried connecting privately with the Wind Master through the
private communication array. Although Hua Cheng warned him against getting close to
the Wind Master and his group, Xie Lian couldn't do it. These past few days he tried
sending messages multiple times but still there weren't any responses, nothing but
silence. Thus, he changed his tactics and reached out to Ling Wen instead, "Ling Wen,
how does Lord Wind Master? Is he a little better?"
Ling Wen was instantly connected, and her voice sounded next to Xie Lian's ears, "Lord
Wind Master? I think he's a little better."
Xie Lian instinctively knew she wasn't telling the truth but didn't pursue it. However, that
did help him make up his mind in going up in a bit to go take a look.
Just then, Ling Wen added, "By the way, Lord Water Master sent a gift over to you and
it's arrived. Please remember to take a look, Your Highness."
Xie Lian was taken aback, "A gift? There's no need for it. I haven't done anything
deserving of a reward."
"There's no need to be humble," Ling Wen said, "Lord Wind Master would grab anyone
to accompany him when he's feeling impulsive, and you've endured hardships by his
side for so long, so in all manners of speaking there is no shame in accepting the gift.
Lord Water Master said it was nothing but a small show of gratefulness, so just take it."
Xie Lian still didn't think it appropriate and kept it on his mind.
After finishing his work and wrapping up, Hua Cheng went over to the Villager Head's
house to help repair his plow and Xie Lian returned to Puqi shrine first. After moving the
three "good-for-nothings" as Hua Cheng had called them behind the shrine, Xie Lian
searched all over the small abode, wondering, 'Where's the gift?'
Thinking it might have fallen in the cracks behind the donation box, he rolled his sleeves
and was just about to move the box when unexpectedly, when he tried to lift the box
was unmoving. That donation box was excessively heavy like it had grown roots into the
ground. Perplexed, Xie Lian took out the key and opened the box. The moment he did
the bright golden light almost blinded him.
That donation box was piled thick high with gold bars, and with just a rough look, there
was at least enough to turn into a million merits!
Xie Lian instantly threw the cover shut soundly, pressing it down heavily with both
hands, thinking, 'Nothing but a small show of gratitude?!'
To gift something so hefty for no reason, was this a lip-sealing fee? At first he had
considered that if it really was nothing more than a small gift, like a spiritual jade
bracelet for saving power or something, then maybe it'd be best to take it. After all,
returning a gift might injure that Water Master's face and the Water Master was proud
so it wouldn't be a nice thing to do. But now, alright, as expected from the God of
Wealth. A chest this big filled to the rim with gold bars, he had to return it.
It just so happened he planned on making a trip to the heavens immediately to check up
on the Wind Master. Figuring that Hua Cheng wouldn't return so fast, he left a note then
carried that oppressively heavy donation box on his back before taking off.
Unexpectedly, the moment he reached the Heavenly Court, it was mayhem all around
and Xie Lian stood dumbfounded with wide eyes. The perfectly good Great Martial
Avenue was full of wreckage and potholes, cracks and craters filled the street. A group
of junior heavenly officials were running back and forth, and Ling Wen was squatting
next to a deep crater, massaging her throbbing temple. Xie Lian approached and asked,
"What's happened?"
Ling Wen looked up and was taken aback by that giant donation box carried on his
back, "Your highness, what are you doing carrying such a big donation box up here???
What's happened? Sigh, don't even talk about it. General Nan Yang and General Xuan
Zhen are fighting and destroyed each other's palaces."
Feng Xin and Mu Qing? Xie Lian was amazed, "Why are the two of them fighting
again?"
"What else can it be but that business with the fetus spirit the last time? A few of the
martial gods were in discussion, debating on how to deal with that pair of ghost mother
and son. General Nan Yang suggested to bring that fetus spirit to the refinery to
dissolve it, since that creature really did murder a great number of people, but Xuan
Zhen wouldn't let him. His tone wasn't the nicest, so Nan Yang said as if you've ever
been so benevolent, maybe you hold a guilty conscience, etc., etc. Your highness, you
know how it is. They're like that. Parse a few words and they'd raise their fists. Just
look. Look around. Look what state their brawl has caused us. I've long since said that
you martial gods really don't have a good culture, the expense for repairs in the
Heavenly Court this year is too terrifying, I've only counted halfway and now I've
forgotten everything again. Really..."
Her headache really did look quite painful, and Xie Lian said, "Then... I'll leave you to it.
I'll go check up on Lord Wind Master."
Ling Wen looked up, "Visit Lord Wind Master? Don't bother, Your Highness. Lord Wind
Master isn't allowing visitors right now."
"Didn't you say he was a bit better?" Xie Lian asked.
"That's what Lord Water Master said." Ling Wen said, "But the Lord Wind Master not
allowing visitors was also Lord Water Master's words. Right now not even I can see
Lord Wind Master, so he probably needs more time to recuperate. You best not go, Your
Highness. Speaking of, isn't your donation box also too..."
WHAM! Xie Lian dropped the donation box on the ground. "Then please help give this
to Lord Water Master for me. I haven't done anything deserving of a reward. Even if he
didn't give me anything, Xie Lian wouldn't say anything that shouldn't be said." He felt at
ease after throwing that box down and left hastily. Ling Wen called after him from
behind, but getting no response, she let it go, and continued to look at that deep crater
with her throbbing head.
However, although Xie Lian did leave, of course he wouldn't have just descended back
to the mortal realm just like that. Instead, he snuck to the esteemed Palace of the Wind
and Water Masters in the Heavenly Capital.
Although the palace was thick with security guards both inside and out, but a small thing
like this couldn't stop Xie Lian. Shi Qingxuan had brought him over last time so he had a
general idea where the Wind Master's bedchambers was located. He flipped over the
wall and changed between running across roofs stealthily and sneaking around in the
grounds. It didn't take him long before he arrived. The only thing he worried about was
the Wind Master having been moved by his older brother to somewhere else and wasn't
even there.
Fortunately his worry didn't come true. He climbed onto the roof and found a blind spot
where others couldn't see him and used his legs to hook onto one of the beams,
hanging upside down from the eaves, looking into the interior of the bedchamber.
However, the moment he looked he was shocked.
Shi Qingxuan was trussed up tightly, his hands and legs all bound with ropes. He was
tied onto his own bed but was still struggling unceasingly. Next to him, Shi Wudu was
pacing back and forth by the bed, a bowl full of something black and unknown in his
hands. He paused for a moment, then suddenly walked over, and forced its contents
down Shi Qingxuan's throat.
————
●'Return Babes through Miraculous Hands' was a play on the idiom 'Return to Spring through Miraculous Hands', which is a compliment for
doctors who are so skilled they can bring the dead back to life. In this case, the
wealthy merchant wanted to praise Xie Lian's skill in returning fetuses