Xie Lian was slightly taken aback, "Then who can it be? Technically, a tempest like this
shouldn't involve more than fifty people."
"I suspect it might be the same person who sent that empty shelled cultivator that led to
the BanYue Pass incident"
If that was true, then it did seem like there's always been a hand that had been pushing
him to the heart of every case every time. Feeling a little baffled, Xie Lian wondered,
"What's that person after?"
Hua Cheng shook his head but seemed to be deep in thought too. Just then, there was
the laughing sounds of children playing coming from the outside, and his sharp eyes
immediately swept over. Following his gaze, Xie Lian looked out of the window, but he
only saw two little children outside playing; Guzi was riding atop of Lang Ying's
shoulders, looking carefree and cheery.
Naturally, the Water Master's audacious deception in committing a fraudulent
substitution, the Wind Master being a fraud, the Earth Master a fraud too, and that the
Water Master's head and body were separated, nowhere to be found, these four cases,
each more explosive than the next, blew up the heavens like four bombs, raising a tidal
wave that flooded the Upper and Middle Courts.
All of a sudden, everyone was shocked and shaken; no one knew what to say in
regards to the matter, and crickets filled the Great Martial Hall. Even Jun Wu's hand
didn't seem able to support his head anymore.
Since Ming Yi had never really went out of his way to be friendly with anyone, and only
someone like Shi Qingxuan who enjoyed pestering others and assume overly familiar
relationships managed to be on good terms with him, barely anyone else was close with
him. However, when they realized that one of their own colleagues was that legendary
Supreme Ghost King, the shock was truly too great.
In order to play the role of the Earth Master properly, in the past so many years, this
Ghost King had worked hard and diligently, gathering a large number of worshippers in
the mortal realm, and he even managed to make it into the top ten during the Battle of
the Lanterns in the Mid Autumn Festival Banquet, truly terrifying, as expected of a
Supreme Ghost King.
Without mentioning the grudges between Black Water Demon Xuan and Water Master
Wu Du, but the true murderer behind the real Earth Master Yi was no doubt Black Water
Demon Xuan, no questions about it. Thus, The Upper Court officially released an arrest
warrant. However, everyone knew that if a Supreme Ghost King wanted to hide, he
wouldn't be so easily found.
As they say, once a man falls, all will tread on him. In the past, the Wind and Water
Masters stood in greatness and glory with hundreds at their beck and call. Every time
Shi Wudu appeared he was extolled and celebrated. Yet now with his abrupt death,
suddenly all of his supporters didn't dare blow a single breath. Shi Qingxuan loved
making friends and was generous, yet those innumerous 'good friends' all disappeared
to who knows where. Pei Ming collected Shi Wudu's headless corpse, and on the day of
his burial, it was quiet and empty of people. Other than Xie Lian and Ling Wen, there
weren't many other heavenly officials who showed.
Xie Lian noted, in the past recent days, whether or not intentionally, but there were
already a band of people burning down and desecrating the temples of Wind and Water.
Although he couldn't bear the sight of it and tried to stop them a few times, but as time
went on, when people discover their prayers were no longer answered, the acts of
aggression would only grow worse. He could stop them once, but he couldn't stop them
forever. In another ten years, perhaps even in only a few years, people would
completely forget the two Wind and Water heavenly officials who used to rule at the
summit of heaven. He couldn't help but feel melancholic.
Once the funeral was over, Xie Lian turned to Ling Wen, "The whereabouts of Lord
Wind Master... of Qingxuan is now in your hands. We're counting on you."
Ling Wen was also looking solemn, having not smiled in days, "Without Your Highness'
appeal I would still do my utmost in my duty."
Pei Ming however, said, "Your Highness, rather than let the Palace of Ling Wen drag
their old broken ox cart feet, why not ask your Crimson Rain Sought Flower directly, see
if he can ask after that Crazy Black Water where he's taken Qingxuan? He's taken
Water Master-xiong's head already, what more does he want?"
Xie Lian shook his head and replied helplessly, "General Pei, please don't think things
so matter-of-factly. If a Supreme Demon King wanted to do something, would he need
to report it to the other?"
Thus, Pei Ming didn't say anything further.
When Xie Lian returned to Puqi Shrine, there were many villagers surrounding the
shrine whispering to each other. Xie Lian didn't need to ask to know what was
happening, because right within Puqi Shrine came howling and shrieking. The village
head was scared and nervous, tugging at him, "Daozhang, your mad little cousin, he he
he, he's..."
The excuse Xie Lian had given the world was that Qi Rong was his insane younger
cousin, rejected by others without anyone willing to care for him, so Xie Lian took him in
out of obligation. On some level, this wasn't a lie.
"Is he going mad again? Don't worry, he's properly locked up. He won't escape.
Everyone can go home." Xie Lian said.
The villagers all murmured, "Oh. Let's go, let's go." Before they dispersed, the village
head gave Xie Lian a basket of eggs, "Um, Daozhang, your Xiao Hua..."
Xie Lian was bewildered at first, "??? Xiao Hua???" Then it dawned on him, "Oh, San
Lang?" Then he remembered that Hua Cheng's current identity to the outside world was
his younger brother who ran away from home and came over to play, and Xie Lian
couldn't help but feel a little flustered.
"Yea. Your Xiao Hua helped us fix some stuff again today, you'll have to reward him
properly tonight." The village head said.
"Yea! Give him some supplements, get him strong and buff. He'll get even better at
labour!"
Xie Lian couldn't help but smile, "I will, I will. For sure, for sure."
When he opened the door, Lang Ying was already asleep curled up in the corner. Qi
Rong was lying on the ground like a corpse and wailing, looking like his innards were on
fire. Guzi was massaging his shoulders, chopping his back, "Dad, are you better?"
"..."
Xie Lian removed the bamboo hat from his head and put the eggs down, "What's with
you? Ate something bad?"
Qi Rong spat, "As long as you don't fucking cook me anything, I won't suffer
stomachaches even if I were to lick shit and grime on the ground!"
Listening to him exaggerate, Xie Lian tucked his hands across in his sleeves, "Then will
you really try licking those things and see if you get stomachaches?"
"P'TUI, P'TUI, P'TUI!" Qi Rong spat again, "What the fuck did this old master say?
You're showing your evil heart again, trying to come up with different ways to torture me!
AIYOYOYOYOYOYO, my good son, that's good, that's good, now chop this side.
Hehehehe~ Aiiiieee fuck, what the fuck's going on, I've been nothing but aggravated
lately, like a fucking tom cat in rut. AM I SICK?! COUSIN CROWN PRINCE! I'M SICK!
IT MUST BE 'CAUSE YOU'VE BEEN TORTURING ME THAT I'M SICK! You god
fucking snow lotus, you're out for blood!"
Xie Lian crouched down and felt his forehead, "Are you burning up?" After a pause he
dropped his hand and frowned, "That's not it. You're not faking it, are you?"
Qi Rong was going to start cussing again and Guzi said pathetically, "Daozhang, my
dad didn't lie to you. He hasn't been feeling well lately, and he's wailed for a long time
today."
Watching Qi Rong wiggle on the floor, Xie Lian shook his head and rose to his feet
ready to look for the medicine box when he suddenly noticed that the donation box was
heavy. That donation box was newly built by Hua Cheng so it shouldn't have anything
inside. Puzzled, Xie Lian took the key out and opened it to see and was flabbergasted.
He was once again blinded by a box full of shining gold bars.
PA! Xie Lian quickly shut the donation box again.
Didn't he already return that box of gold bars given by the Water Master? Who else
would gift him something like this???
It couldn't be Hua Cheng; he wouldn't do something so simple and crude like stuffing
him with gold bars. Xie Lian turned his head around and asked, "Qi Rong, did someone
come by?"
Qi Rong pointed at his face and cussed, "OI, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU. DO YOU
REALLY TAKE ME FOR A GUARD DOG? THINK YOU'RE A SUPREME? EVEN A
SUPREME ISN'T THIS SHAMELESS. NOT EVEN THAT SHITTY BLACK WATER AND
HUA CHENG THAT FUCKER DARE TAKE ME FOR A GUARD DOG!"
BANG! The door of Puqi Shrine was kicked open by someone, and it was Hua Cheng
who came in. The moment he saw him Qi Rong instantly became mute, and silently
wriggled to the side, not daring to make any more mentions of what he saw that night.
"San Lang, you're back." Xie Lian said.
Hua Cheng smiled cheerfully, "Yea."
"Thanks for your hard work." Xie Lian said, "The village head gifted some things to have
me reward you, so we'll eat something good tonight."
"Sounds good." Hua Cheng said, "But, gege, do you want to go over to my place
tonight?"
"The Ghost City?" Xie Lian asked.
"En." Hua Cheng replied, "And take this thing along too." He pointed at Qi Rong, "See if
there's any way we can pull his soul out."
Humming for a moment, Xie Lian acquiesced, "That's probably a good idea. In any
case, it's not good to keep dragging our feet on this." Of course, the most important
reason was because Qi Rong ate too much, and his Puqi Shrine could no longer afford
it.
When Qi Rong heard they were going to send him to the Ghost City, he was terrified
and objected as hard as he could. However, his objections fell on deaf ears. A blast of
smoke later, he was turned into a green daruma by Hua Cheng, and Guzi carried him in
his hands as they left for the Ghost City.
The Ghost City was bustling as always, and walking down the main street, the ghosts all
remembered Xie Lian. Seeing that he had come again, they all shouted, "GRAND
UNCLE! ... Ah, no, Chengzhu's Lord Friend, you've come again!"
"Quack! Is it because you miss our specialty street food, quack!"
Xie Lian brought that basket of eggs along and gave them away as souvenirs from the
mortal realm. Many who received the eggs were overjoyed, some deciding to eat it
along with their own blood, and some proclaiming they will hatch an eight feet monster
from their eggs. Hua Cheng released the spell on Qi Rong and after a blast of green
smoke, the man possessed by Qi Rong appeared on the street, hugging his head and
crouching in defense, not speaking a word. Some of the ghosts caught the scent on his
body and exclaimed, "Eh? Isn't this the Green Ghost?"
The crowd of ghosts all approached and surrounded him, and smelling about they were
all thrilled, "HAHAHAHHAHAHA, IT REALLY IS THE GREEN GHOST! THIS DUMB ***
IS HERE AGAIN HAHAHAHAHAHHAHA!"
"HAVEN'T YOU BEEN BEATEN ENOUGH LAST TIME HAHAHAHAHA AND YOU
DARE COME AGAIN!"
"Watch over the little one," Hua Cheng said, "As for the big one, think of a way to drag
him out without hurting the body."
"YESSIR! MY LORD!"
Thus, several beautiful female ghosts hugged Guzi, hummed a little lullaby and put him
to sleep. The other demons, monsters, and ghosts then started playing tag with Qi
Rong. One screaming as he fled, and the group of ghosts hot in pursuit behind him. Hua
Cheng and Xie Lian watched for a bit then turned away, heading inside Qiandeng
Temple.
The two stepped in to the hall leisurely and approached the altar. That altar was still
covered with brushes, ink, and paper. Xie Lian had been feeling rather heavy recently,
and seeing those stationary, he had the intention to relax the mood. He smiled softly,
"Last time when I taught you, I said you'll need to practice when you've got the time.
But, I suppose you haven't been practicing lately,"
Hua Cheng cleared his throat, "Gege, you've given away my reward to other people,
what will I eat tonight?"
Xie Lian imitated him and raised his brows slightly, "Don't change the subject."
"I can practice the sword but not calligraphy." Hua Cheng said, "If gege isn't beside me
to instruct, I'll probably go astray practicing all by myself, and get worse the more I
write."
Xie Lian's brows were rising higher, "San Lang is so smart, how can there be anything
you're no good at?"
Hua Cheng picked up a brush and dipped it in a bit of ink, looking very humble, "It's
true. Pray gege teach me."
Xie Lian sighed a breath, "Why don't you write something first."
Thus, Hua Cheng very seriously wrote two verses. Xie Lian watched for a bit but really
couldn't watch anymore, "...Stop, stop. You... best stop after all."
Don't waste good paper and ink any more. "Oh," Hua Cheng said obediently and really
did stop, putting the brush away. Xie Lian shook his head, "San Lang, don't... don't tell
anyone that I taught you how to write."
"Gege, I tried my best." Hua cheng pouted. The way he spoke really sounded like he
was aggrieved. A proud Supreme Ghost King; if his name should be announced, all
three realms would shiver in fright. Yet right now he stood like a young student,
obediently listening to Xie Lian's critique. Having lectured on a few more crucial points,
Xie Lian held his hand again like the last time, "Let's try again. Be serious this time."
"Alright." Hua Cheng said,
The two were immersed in composing. After writing for a while, Xie Lian asked casually,
"Why is it still 'Ache of Separation'*?"
Hua Cheng also answered casually, "I like this poem."
"I like it too," Xie Lian said, "But, does San Lang have any other poems you like? Once
you're familiar with copying this poem, you can try copying others." Roughly counting,
this poem only had so many words. The two of them had written it for over ten times, so
it should be time to change to a different one. However, Hua Cheng was adamant, "This
one is fine."
Placing the brush down, he blew lightly at the ink and smiled, "If I like something, then
my heart will not have room for any other, and I'll always treasure it. A thousand times, a
million times, no matter how many years this will not change. This poem is the same."
"..." Xie Lian gave a small smile, "Is that right."
"En." Hua Cheng replied.
"..."
Xie Lian released his hand and cleared his throat quietly, "Then, very well. San Lang is
a sentimental man. That's good... oh, why don't you practice some more by yourself.
Ah, that's right. Qi Rong doesn't seem to be feeling well lately."
Hua Cheng put down the paper and picked up the brush again, "How is he unwell?"
Xie Lian turned around with his back facing Hua Cheng, "He said something like he was
feeling agitated all over. But I've looked him over and it didn't seem to be caused by that
man's body. It can't be because the weather's bad?"
Behind him, Hua Cheng questioned, "When did this start?"
"It should be just in the past few days." Xie Lian replied, "Today was especially bad..."
Before he finished his sentence, a sense of foreboding suddenly grew in his mind. Just
then, there was a light PA! sound behind him, like an object was dropped in mid air.
Xie Lian whipped around, "SAN LANG?!"
The brush that was in Hua Cheng's hand earlier had dropped, landing on the snow
white paper, slashing a long erratic trail of ink. Hua Cheng's expression was sullen, his
body unsteady, and he held himself up with a hand clutching the edge of the altar, while
the other hand covered his right eye.
————
● "Ache of Separation" is the title of the poem Hua Cheng was writing in
chapter 97.
●MXTX Author's Note: Hua Hua is aggravated too! It's [ ] season again!