It's been hundreds of years since Xie Lian last felt such chill down his spine
Mei Nian Qing said White No-Face was standing right before him, and Xie Lian's first thought was it was himself, but he had forgotten. Before Mei Nian Qing, other than Xie Lian, there was still Jun Wu behind him!
Only, he had never suspected that person, so this was a startling revelation, which was why all of his hairs were now standing abruptly. Xie Lian struggled a bit but the strength of that hand was extremely powerful, gripping him firmly without budging. He said in spite of himself, "You... your face..."
Jun Wu's voice sounded like he didn't care for it at all, like he had only just noticed a trifling mistake, "Ah, a moment's carelessness and they've come out again."
Another wave of excruciating pain shot up from Xie Lian's wrist and finally, he couldn't grip the hilt anymore and loosened his grip.
The long sword dropped to the ground and CLANG!, a crisp, resounding sound filled the hall. However, it was too late.
Many of the heavenly officials nearby, like Xie Lian, had seen that horrifying face reflected in HongJing!
A blanket of dead silence covered the great hall. Almost every heavenly official was stunned, including Feng Xin, who stood the closest and saw everything clearly. Mei Nian Qing used this chance to break free of the hold and grabbed HongJing that was on the ground, raising it up with both hands to stand it upright in front of Jun Wu, "EVERYONE LOOK CLOSELY!! LOOK AT THE FACE OF THIS MAN STANDING RIGHT HERE!!!"
It was a number of martial gods that came to their senses first, and Pei Ming rushed forward and shouted, his sword pulled out, "WHO ARE YOU??"
The heavenly officials standing further away didn't understand what was happening and they started crying, "WHAT'S GOING ON?"
"Who is General Pei talking to?"
"HOW CAN HE POINT THE SWORD AT THE EMPEROR?"
Mei Nian Qing stared intensely at Jun Wu without blinking, enunciating each word, "HE, IS WHITE NO-FACE!"
Mu Qing was dumbstruck, "How could he be White No-Face? Is White No-Face impersonating the emperor? Then where's the real emperor?"
Xie Lian was now also wondering if there was an underhanded switchover, but since when had this substitute been around? How come he didn't notice anything amiss? The Heavenly Martial Emperor wasn't like the elusive low-key Earth Master, and no matter what, if he was impersonated it couldn't have gone unnoticed by all in the entire Upper Court!
Mei Nian Qing was just about to speak again when Jun Wu raised another hand, sighing, "You've disappointed me again."
Mei Nian Qing's face suddenly dropped, appearing as if he was suddenly strangled in a chokehold by someone. Lang Qian Qiu picked up his longsword and slashed out whooshing sword gales, but Jun Wu turned his head a swept a look, and Lang Qian Qiu was sent flying back.
The next second, Pei Ming, Lang Qian Qiu, Feng Xin, Mu Qing, Quan Yi Zhen, and almost all the martial gods inside the Great Martial Hall all sieged forward.
However, an incense time after, Jun Wu's hand was still gripping Xie Lian's wrist while all the martial gods that had surrounded and attacked earlier had fallen.
Within the Great Hall, the ground was sprawled with martial gods who had all lost their attacking powers, and only Jun Wu and Xie Lian remained standing. Mu Qing threw up a mouthful of blood and yelled angrily at Xie Lian who was frozen on the spot and silent, "MOVE! DO SOMETHING! WHAT ARE YOU ZONING OUT FOR?? WAITING TO BE KILLED??"
Yet little did he know, it wasn't that Xie Lian didn't want to move, but it was that he couldn't move at all!
Even though Jun Wu was only using a hand to grip him, yet Xie Lian could sense that even if he was to slightly curve a finger the other would notice and immediately snap said finger, so nevermind retaliation! Judging from whichever angle, the best decision was to remain still and cautious!
Such was the power of the number one martial god of all three realms!
The heavenly officials standing at the outer edges had scattered in trepidation, and it took a moment before they remembered to escape, rushing out of the Great Martial Hall with their faces pale, but they'd only made it to the entrance before that set of glamourous heavy doors closed shut on their own. They slapped at the doors in futile. The near hundred heavenly officials within the hall either couldn't get out or couldn't get up, truly pure chaos. As for Mei Nian Qing, his body was yanked forward by an unseen force, and Jun Wu grabbed hold of his collar, smiling, "Did you think, that by changing your mind last minute and told in front of everyone that I won't be able to do anything? Did you think, that once they knew, they could threaten me by uniting together? I can annihilate all of them with just one hand."
It seemed that Jun Wu would bring Mei Nian Qing up first wasn't simply to allow Xie Lian bid his farewell to Hua Cheng. He had told or threatened Mei Nian Qing with some things, which was why the Guoshi was interrogated in the hall without concerns. Yet who knew at the last second, Mei Nian Qing would go back on his word. He clutched Jun Wu's sleeves and shouted to Xie Lian, "Your Highness, RUN AWAY! HE'S GONE CRAZY!"
"Guoshi!" Xie Lian exclaimed.
The next second, Mei Nian Qing couldn't speak any longer, like something was choking his neck, but he had always dressed in robes that covered his neck so Xie Lian couldn't see clearly what was wrong with it. Jun Wu sighed, "You dummy, what you're doing is no different than pushing them into a fire pit. Originally, this affair had nothing to do with them, but now, no one shall leave the Heavenly Capital alive."
With things this urgent, Xie Lian immediately called through the spiritual communication, "SAN LANG!"
He had never taken the initiative to recite Hua Cheng's verbal password to the communication array before, but under such dire circumstances, he didn't have the time to worry about being shy, yet after reciting mentally a few times, it was still complete silence on the other end without any response.
This feeling of communication blockage was exactly the same as in Mount TongLu!
With but a glance and Jun Wu could tell what he was thinking, "No need to keep trying. If I do not permit then you cannot communicate."
The Heavenly Court was built on Jun Wu's powers, this place was his domain, he's the biggest, so of course he could do whatever he wanted. Which also meant, the entire Upper Court, the entire Heavenly Capital was now thoroughly isolated from everywhere else. This had truly become "Crying for the heavens in vain; crying for the earth to no avail".
Suddenly, the doors to the Great Martial Hall burst open. The heavenly officials all regained their spirits in rejoice, yet when they saw who was standing at the entrance, they were all taken aback. Outside the hall stood a tall, black clad man, his aura chilling and unapproachable, blocking everyone's way out. It was Ling Wen wearing the Brocade Immortal!
The heavenly officials were all at a loss on what to do as Ling Wen crossed over the threshold and entered the hall, bending one knee to the ground towards Jun Wu, speaking with solemn respect, "My Lord."
"Rise and get to work." Jun Wu said, "You know what to do."
Ling Wen inclined her head and smiled, "Of course."
Mu Qing struggled to stand using the wall as support, and seeing this, he was both shocked and dubious, "Wasn't Ling Wen still at large in Mount TongLu?"
"That's correct." Jun Wu replied, "However, I feel Ling Wen is very useful, and only made an insignificant mistake, so, I've summoned him back."
Indeed, compared to the White Clothed Calamity, that Brocade Immortal Ling Wen created really was an "insignificant mistake". And now, both Ling Wen and the Brocade Immortal had become this "Jun Wu"'s subordinates. Just then, a bundle of white shadow flashed and something leapt in, latching onto Jun Wu's foot and started nuzzling his boot. Feng Xin looked and cried angrily, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING? GET BACK HERE!"
That thing was the fetus spirit. Not only did it not obey the words of its own father, it'd even started snaking its tongue out maliciously at him. Feng Xin was just beaten to the ground and puking blood by Jun Wu, yet now his own son was hugging the leg of the enemy who'd wounded him, like it had no idea who its dad was, and Feng Xin was so enraged he puked another round of blood. Soon after, a troop of expressionless martial gods came pouring into the hall.
Those martial gods were all officials Jun Wu had appointed up, and had ever only obeyed his command. Ling Wen received Jun Wu's control and ordered, "Take every heavenly official back to their own palace and watch over them."
Pei Ming was sitting nearby, his expression complicated, "Ling Wen, how heartless of you."
Ling Wen patted his shoulder, "Didn't you know of my heartlessness from the first day we met? How about it, wanna join? You're always welcome."
Pei Ming gave a dry chuckle but didn't speak.
Once again, Xie Lian received special treatment and it was Jun Wu who would personally escort him back to the Palace of Xian Le. Jun Wu chided, "Come."
Xie Lian looked back and glanced at Mei Nian Qing. Just what is going on? Who are you? What did you want to achieve? Who is this person? Is he Jun Wu or White No-Face? What is he planning?
There were too, too many questions he wanted to ask, but they must be asked in private and very carefully. Only Mei Nian Qing could answer those questions, but Jun Wu would definitely not give him this chance.
The moment they crossed out of the Great Martial Hall, Xie Lian was slightly taken aback. Upon the great avenue of the Heavenly Capital, the skies were gloomy, the clouds rolling nefariously; all had changed in the blink of an eye, and the once scintillating brightness was no more. Only the martial gods under Jun Wu's command still acted as they usually did as they sent every heavenly official back to their own palaces, and everything appeared uneasy and somber. As for the junior officials that had been rushing about, they were all now sprawled all over the grounds unconscious.
Needless to say, this must've been Jun Wu's doing. From afar came the DANG– DANG– chiming of the bell. It seemed, the problem laid with the bell.
The two slowly walked towards the Palace of Xian Le along the great avenue of the Heavenly Capital. On the way, Xie Lian had been spinning his mind trying to think of a way to escape, but he was no match against Jun Wu, and any clever little tricks he could think of would be completely useless against the emperor. Besides, Jun Wu didn't just have the martial might, he could also see through what Xie Lian was thinking.
By the time they entered the Palace of Xian Le, Xie Lian still hadn't come up with any idea, and he told himself to let it go, that it'd be fine even if he couldn't think of anything, because if he didn't communicate with Hua Cheng for too long, Hua Cheng would definitely notice something wrong. As long as things didn't get out of hand before that happened. However, after the doors were shut, Jun Wu suddenly said, "Do you miss Crimson Rain Sought Flower?"
"..."
Jun Wu's words made his heart jump to his throat, and his heart started pounding.
Xie Lian didn't know how to respond; if "yes", would Jun Wu do something to Hua Cheng? If "no", Jun Wu might not believe him.
Hearing no response, Jun Wu smiled, "No need to worry, I know, you must miss him. I'm sure you really want to communicate with him."
The way he spoke to Xie Lian was still the same as before; warm, tolerant, composed, dependable, there were no changes. But the more he was like this the more Xie Lian was confused and terrified.
Then, Jun Wu continued, "If you really miss him, then why don't you connect with him for a bit and chat."
"..."
He had guessed what Xie Lian was thinking when they entered the doors just now. Everything was within his grasp!
Jun Wu continued smiling, "Xian Le, you know what to say. Don't let him be worried. I'm sure that Crimson Rain Sought Flower of yours would be very happy that you're connecting with him as well."
Then, he placed a hand on Xie Lian's shoulder. Xie Lian felt an intricate wave of movement and knew Jun Wu had casted some sort of spell that could hear the content of their communication. Even if Jun Wu wouldn't be able to speak he could still hear. Naturally, Xie Lian knew what Jun Wu wanted to hear him say.
After a pause, he gathered his courage and bold-headedly said Hua Cheng's verbal password out loud.
Having heard that verbal password, Jun Wu seemed to have found it funny and chuckled a bit. However, Xie Lian had no time to be embarrassed or shy. It only took a breath of a second before Hua Cheng's voice rang next to Xie Lian's ears. He sighed, "Gege, gege, it's been so long, you've finally remembered San Lang."
Xie Lian exchanged a look with Jun Wu. He replied, "San Lang, I haven't even left for two hours."
However, Hua Cheng said, "To me, the point is 'you left', not 'only two hours'. Even for an instant it's still separation."
Jun Wu was listening right next to him, hey!
Even with the situation so perilous right now, Xie Lian still managed to feel some genuine embarrassment. Jun Wu spoke up, "Unfortunately, he will have to wait longer than two hours. Continue. Tell him that until the resentful spirits have been taken cared of, he will not be able to see you. Don't give any hints in a roundabout way, I can hear everything."
To finish taking care of resentful spirits, that'd be seven days and seven nights. After a pause, Xie Lian said, "If you can't even wait for two hours, what will you do if I need to take a long time this time?"
"Did Jun Wu stuff you with a big pile of missions?" Hua Cheng asked.
"Yea." Xie Lian replied.
"Let me help you." Hua Cheng said.
Jun Wu said, "Tell him after you complete the missions, I will permit you to take a three year break."
Xie Lian said, "There's no need. San Lang, you're already a great help guarding that array for me, so just let me handle everything else. The emperor already said that after I complete this big pile of missions I can have a three year break, I won't have to do anything."
"Only three years?" Hua Cheng asked.
"Is three years not enough?" Xie Lian said, "It's already a small perk."
"Alright, fine. But–" Hua Cheng said languidly, "Gege, that's your perk. What about mine?"