Seeing that he was taking things quite hard, Xie Lian contemplated and in the end went with the guidance route, "Actually, it's not that big of a deal..."
Mu Qing sneered, "I knew I was right! Is it fun? Were you enjoying watching me act? HM???"
Now that they're being honest with each other, Mu Qing was now tearing him a new but real one. On the side, Nan Feng, no, Feng Xin was also looking rather awkward at first, but he really couldn't stand listening to Mu Qing anymore, "Watch your tone!"
Mu Qing is pale faced and thin skinned, and when blood rushed to his face it was very obvious, and his entire face was flustered. He whipped his head around, "What tone? Don't forget you're one of the jokes! I'm not so generous as you, having been someone's entertainment for so long and still have no complaints!"
"I wasn't trying to watch you guys make fools of yourselves." Xie Lian said.
Feng Xin also added, "Stop thinking people are as narrow-minded as you. Even when that shitty deed of yours landed you in Heaven's Prison His Highness still tried to help you..."
"HA! Well thanks so much. But me ending up in Heaven's Prison was all thanks to your son! WHAT! WANNA FIGHT?! NOT AFRAID TO HAVE A SON BUT AFRAID OF TALK??"
Feng Xin really wanted to knock him dead for having raised the subject of his son. Unfortunately, all three of them were bound into balls by that cobweb at the moment so they couldn't move a muscle and could only curse at each other, all manners and class gone.
Xie Lian saw Feng Xin was getting red in the face from anger, and was afraid the moment he got aggravated he would start his whole martial god cursing the streets act, so he tried wiggling a bit, rolled a few times, and rolled to Mu Qing's side, "Mu Qing, Mu Qing? Can you try turning around a bit?"
Mu Qing stopped his yelling and took a breath, "What do you want?"
"Feng Xin is too far, I can't roll over, but since these cobwebs can be ripped apart by teeth, I want to try and see if I can break the bind on your wrists." Xie Lian explained.
Mu Qing glared at him for a moment, his expression suddenly cold like a dead fish watching the heavens, "No thanks."
"I really do want to help." Xie Lian said helplessly.
"Your Highness possesses the body of a thousand gold, I can't possibly trouble your greatness." Mu Qing said coldly.
Feng Xin cussed, "WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK! WHAT ARE YOU BEING ALL SARCASTIC FOR AT A TIME LIKE THIS?? HE'S HELPING YOU TRYING TO SAVE YOU, SO HOW DOES HE OWE YOU ANYTHING HUH!"
Mu Qing's head shot up, "Who asked him for help? Xie Lian! Why must you always show up at a time like this??"
Xie Lian was a little taken aback, and suddenly remembered vaguely that Mu Qing seemed to have asked him the same thing a long time ago. How did he answer then? He couldn't remember. "Is there something wrong with showing up at times like these?"
Mu Qing laid back down, "Either way I don't need your help."
"Why?" Xie Lian questioned, "Sometimes one does need the help of others in order to get by."
"Don't bother with him anymore." Feng Xin said, "He's just a show-off and thinks you helping him would make him lose face."
Mu Qing and Feng Xin were choking each other's throats on the side while that wraith butterfly danced leisurely around Xie Lian, shimmering its faint silver light, unhurried and calm, and it made Xie Lian remember something so he immediately changed the subject, "Stop arguing, you two. It's more a joke if others were to see you like this. There'll be someone coming to get us out in a bit."
Mu Qing said derisively, "None in the heavens nor earth will heed calls in this hellish place, who's gonna come save us? Unless it's..."
Before he finished he thought of a person, and the end of his thought stopped abruptly. Feng Xin however, asked directly, "Crimson Rain Sought Flower's come with you?"
Mu Qing was doubtful, "You trust him that much? You sure he's gonna come?"
Xie Lian was confident, "He will come."
Although Hua Cheng had been behaving oddly this entire way, and there were several times he was almost suspicious that the one next to him was a fake Hua Cheng, but, instincts also told him that was impossible. Mu Qing added, "Even if he came, how would he find this cave?"
Feng Xin suggested, "Why don't we holler some more? The more people the louder the voices."
"No need." Xie Lian said, "We only need to sit and wait. No, just lie down and wait. Because Hua Cheng and I are joined by a red string..."
Before he even finished his sentence he could see Feng Xin and Mu Qing's faces twitching, like some worm had crawled into their ears. "...What's with those faces?" Xie Lian asked, "Don't get me wrong. The red string I'm talking about isn't something so frivolous as the 'red string of fate', it's a spiritual device. Just a spiritual device."
Only then did the two stopped their twitching. Feng Xin replied, "Oh, I see." Mu Qing on the other hand, was doubtful, "And what kind of spiritual device is that? What does it do?"
"It's quite useful." Xie Lian said. "It's a red string tied on both our hands with an invisible connection in between. One can use this red string to find the other, and as long as one is still breathing, the red string will never break..."
Before he even finished the other two couldn't listen anymore and cut him off, "HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT THAN THE 'RED STRING OF FATE'? IT'S EXACTLY THE SAME THING!"
Xie Lian was taken aback, "No, I don't think so... it's different!"
"Think a bit for yourself how it's different, will you? It's very much the same thing, alright?!" Mu Qing exclaimed.
Xie Lian pondered over it and discovered, it's true! The meaning and function of this spiritual device really was quite similar to that 'red string of fate' the more he thought about it. Just as he thought he shouldn't ponder more on it anymore, a voice came from above, "Gege? Are you down there?"
The moment he heard that voice, Xie Lian felt himself relax and instantly looked up, "SAN LANG! I'M DOWN HERE!"
Then he turned to the other two in the pit, "You see? I told you he'd come."
Seeing how happy he looked, both Feng Xin and Mu Qing wore complicated expressions. Hua Cheng didn't peek a head over the edge, but they could all hear his helpless voice, "Gege, I said not to run off. Now what should we do."
Hearing his tone of voice, Xie Lian was taken aback and his delight faltered, "Huh? Is this cobweb difficult to deal with? Can E-Ming not slash through it either?"
He seemed to have heard Hua Cheng say faintly, "What's difficult isn't this silk..." But he wasn't sure if Hua Cheng actually said it. A brief moment later, Hua Cheng said softly, "E-Ming's not in a good state right now."
XIe Lian thought it strange, wasn't E-Ming perfectly fine and energetic the last time? How was it in a bad state now?
Next to him, Mu Qing humphed, "No need to ask him anymore. How can the scimitar E-Ming be in a bad state? He's clearly looking for an excuse not to help."
"Don't say that." Xie Lian said. He felt it was more possible that E-Ming was being disciplined and Hua Cheng wouldn't allow it to come out. Just as he was thinking this, a black shadow flashed from above, and the next moment, a red clad figured soundlessly landed right by Xie Lian's side, and he leaned down to hold his hand. Xie Lian turned his gaze on him and hurriedly said, "San Lang, why did you jump down too? Watch out for those cobwebs!"
Sure enough, the white silk strings at the bottom of the pit came attacking. Hua Cheng didn't bother looking back. He casually waved his hand and hundreds of silver butterflies shielded his back, forming a butterfly armour, and started fighting with those cobwebs ruthlessly. Hua Cheng ripped off the white silk binding Xie Lian and hugged his waist with his left arm while his right hand shook out a red umbrella, "Let's go!"
The other remaining two saw he had zero intention of saving them and was completely dumbfounded, "Have you two forgotten something?"
Xie Lian hadn't yet spoken but Hua Cheng looked back, "Oh, that's right."
Then, the heavily wrapped Fang Xin went flying straight into his hand. Hua Cheng handed the sword to Xie Lian, "Gege, your sword."
"..."
That was what was forgotten?! Feng Xin and Mu Qing both cried, "HEY!!!"
Hua Cheng hugged Xie Lian closer, flinging his right hand to open that red umbrella, "Gege, hold on tight to me!" And that umbrella started flying up, taking the two of them with it. Xie Lian hugged him tightly as instructed, and just as they were about six meters off the ground, the cries of the other two started and Xie Lian didn't know whether to cry or laugh, "I won't forget!" Then he released RuoYe from his right hand.
That white silk bandage wrapped itself around the two giant cocoons a few times and pulled them out of the pit together. Halfway up, Feng Xin called out, "WAIT! Wait! I've left something behind!"
"What is it?" Xie Lian called back from above.
"A sword!" Feng Xin shouted, "It's fallen to the corner!"
Xie Lian looked down and sure enough, in the corner of all that white silk, the hilt of a sword was somewhat visible. Thus, he made RuoYe extend another stretch and wrapped that sword too, taking them all out together. Finally, the four all made it back to above ground.
RuoYe threw the two thick cocoons onto the ground, and instantly wrapped itself back onto Xie Lian's wrist, like it was terrified of that white silk that was so much like itself but much more aggressive and evil, trembling slightly. Xie Lian soothed it while cutting off the cobwebs on the two with Fang Xin. The moment Feng Xin and Mu Qing could move, they both leapt to their feet and ripped at the rest of the cobwebs. Xie Lian handed Feng Xin the sword RuoYe helped bring up, but when he looked down, he was amazed, "This is... HongJing? Nan Feng, your general repaired the sword?"
It was an offhand comment, but the moment the words left his lips he realized how bad it sounded. Feng Xin and Mu Qing were still in the forms of "Nan Feng" and "Fu Yao" at the moment, so Xie Lian had accidentally forgotten that their identities were already exposed, and was still going along with their acts subconsciously. While the original intent was to be considerate, but the effect of this consideration wasn't great, and the two fell into a strange silence.
Feng Xin couldn't hide his expression and awkwardness floated onto his face. He transformed back to his real self and took the sword, "...Yes, it's repaired. There are plenty of ghosts on Mount TongLu after all, so using it to flash around makes things somewhat easier."
Xie Lian peeked at the main culprit who shattered HongJing next to him and cleared his throat softly, "Sorry for the trouble." After all, it really wasn't easy to repair a sword shattered to bits.
Mu Qing also transformed back to his real self and dusted off the rest of the cobwebs, "It's good that it's fixed. After all, so many of the monsters and demons are adept at disguises, so if one isn't good at using the brain, one could only escape being deceived using HongJing."
Feng Xin was pissed, "Who are you calling brainless so passive-aggressively? Think I can't tell?"
Here they go again. Xie Lian shook his head and turned to Hua Cheng, "San Lang, I ran off too quickly earlier, sorry for leaving you behind."
Hua Cheng tucked that umbrella away and replied, "Don't worry. As long as gege doesn't run off like that again."
Xie Lian grinned, but just as he was about to speak, he suddenly saw Mu Qing glance at Hua Cheng, his gaze stopped and stared, his expression odd, so Xie Lian said instead, "Mu Qing? What's with you?"
Hearing his question, Mu Qing immediately snapped out of it, and gave him a look, "Nothing. I've never seen Crimson Rain Sought Flower like this and thought it was curious, that's all."
Xie Lian couldn't fully believe in this explanation. While this certainly should be the first time Mu Qing had seen Hua Cheng's true appearance, but it wasn't like he hadn't seen Hua Cheng in his sixteen, seventeen year old form, and the two skins weren't that different, so why that look?
The four left that cave, and after only a few steps, Feng Xin was astonished, "...What is this place?"
Mu Qing was also stunned, "What's going on?"
They were trapped at the bottom of the cobweb pit earlier, so they never had the chance to investigate the situation outside, which was why the moment they came out, they were quite shocked to see that beneath this great snowy mountain, there was actually such a mysterious, otherworldly place with cave after caves filled with innumerous differing divine statues.
"This is a Cave of Ten Thousand God's." Xie Lian explained.
Mu Qing scanned around their surroundings and mumbled, "Who knows how manys years and how much blood and sweat it'd take to build something like this. This really is... really is...."
He seemed at a loss in finding words to describe it. Xie Lian could understand his feelings. After all, a stone cave was meant for cultivation and worshipping gods, and back then, his parents had also constructed caves for him. What heavenly official wouldn't be astounded by such a gigantic Cave of Ten Thousand Gods? If one of their own statues was to be worshipped in such a place, surely their divine state would be greatly benefitted.
Feng Xin was confused, "What god is worshipped in this cave? Why are the faces all veiled?"
"Naturally, it's to prevent us future passersby to see." Xie Lian replied.
"Now that's strange." Mu Qing said, "They could've just smashed the heads of the statues, so why must they go through this trouble? If you really wanted to see it, a thin veil like this can't prevent anything."
As he spoke, he went up to peel away the veil of the nearest divine statue. Xie Lian hadn't yet have the chance to stop him when there was a chilling flash, and the tip of a silver blade hung not inches away from Mu Qing's fingers.
This sudden murderous intent instantly made the air among the four tense. Feng Xin was alarmed, "What are you doing?"
Even with the blade before him, Mu Qing didn't appear scared at all, "Your scimitar looks just fine, so why the "it's not in a good state"?"
Hua Cheng was right behind him, and said lazily, "Didn't anyone teach you not to touch things randomly while in other people's territory?"
"It's not your territory so what justice are you upholding?" Mu Qing countered.
Hua Cheng said flatly, "I just don't want to cause unnecessary trouble. This is Mount TongLu after all, who knows what would happen if the veils are removed."
"I can't believe there'd be a day that an arrogant character like Crimson Rain Sought Flower would be afraid to cause unnecessary trouble." Mu Qing said. Then, his hand moved downward, trying again to touch the robe of that statue. The scimitar E-Ming followed after and pointed at him once more.
"This time I'm only trying to feel the material of the stone, not removing the veil, so why is Crimson Rain Sought Flower stopping me again?" Mu Qing questioned.
Hua Cheng smiled fakely, "I'm stopping you from starting trouble."
Xie Lian put himself between the two and said, "Stop, stop. It's not like we have to see what god is being worshipped here. We shouldn't stick around for too long, let's leave first. Don't forget, we still have a mission to accomplish."
Hua Cheng stared at Mu Qing's hand, "Since gege says so, then, have him put his hand away and I'll let this go."
"Mu Qing, back off, alright?" Xie Lian pleaded.
Mu Qing glared at him, "Are you nuts? Why isn't it him who backs off first? What if I back off and he doesn't?"
Between a heavenly official and a ghost, Feng Xin would naturally choose to stand on the side of the heavenly official, "At most we'll accept having both sides back off at the same time."
Hua Cheng showed no signs of backing off, "You wish."
Seeing that neither side would back down, Xie Lian rested his hand on Mu Qing's arm and urged gently, "Mu Qing, drop it. After all, you're the one who started this first, so you should be the first one to let go, alright? Think of it as giving me some face? I swear if you back off San Lang will keep his promise."
Although Mu Qing wasn't too willing, but after staying in stalemate for a brief moment, he still slowly dropped his hand, and they returned to the road. Finally, that taut string was relaxed, and Xie Lian also sighed a breath of relief. It just so happened that they've come to another fork in the road, and he turned to Hua Cheng, "Which way do you think we should go this time?"
Hua Cheng seemed to have casually picked a path, "Then, this way."
Feng Xin and Mu Qing were walking behind them and seemed to be at each other's throats again, but between their arguments, Mu Qing demanded, "How did you two pick? Why this way?"
The two in front turned their heads back, "It's random."
Feng Xin frowned, "How can you pick randomly? Let's not go blindly lest we drop into some pit again."
Hua Cheng smiled, "Even if we drop into a pit I have ways to take His Highness out. You can follow if you want, if you don't then you can go off by yourselves. But to be honest, I don't want to rescue you again."