However, Feng Xin wasn't dumbfounded for too long before he had an answer. He was just about to respond but Jian Lan only sneered, "Forget about it, you don't need to say anything. You're someone else's prisoner right now, whether if you dare to claim your son would all be empty words, I won't believe anything you say. Don't say anymore. Even if you're willing, I might not be!"
That fetus spirit was curled in her arms, slithering its tongue at Feng Xin, snickering in a grown up voice. Jian Lan spanked it forcefully with a slap on its behind, scolding, "What faces are you making still? I told you not to run off, you're driving me mad!"
That ugly little face of the fetus spirit shrivelled a bit and finally stayed still. The mother and child hurried out of the Palace of Nan Yang while Feng Xin yelled from behind, "JIAN LAN! JIAN LAN!" No response. In the end, there was only him left once again within the Palace of Nan Yang, and Feng Xin slumped, falling back into his seat, glaring at that giant white radish with rows of crooked teeth marks that was left behind. He glared for a good moment, his right hand supporting his head up, then he laid flat on the ground, even the energy to curse had left him.
Above the Palace of Nan Yang, Xie Lian also sighed.
Just then, Hua Cheng suddenly spoke up, "Gege, do you still remember that night at Mount Yu Jun, that fetus spirit had also appeared?"
Xie Lian knew he was purposely changing the subject, plus that business with the fetus spirit appearing at Mount Yu Jun was also questionable, so Xie Lian was cooperative and forced himself to lighten up, "I remember. At the time, when I was riding the marriage sedan, it used a nursery rhyme to give me hints on how to find the Ghost Bride, which was Xuan Ji. It also didn't let anyone else hear, only to me specifically, I wonder why."
"Probably by Jun Wu's direction." Hua Cheng said.
"Then the answer to the riddle would be Jun Wu's objective." Xie Lian said, "And the reason as to why it's become a fierce spirit under Jun Wu's command, I'm afraid those are all questions for Guoshi."
"Then let's go ask." Hua Cheng said, "I've got good news for gege, the wraith butterflies have already found where the Guoshi is held."
Xie Lian's spirit was immediately raised, "Where?"
The Palace of Ling Wen.
Inside and outside of the palace, the innumerous civil gods with scrolls stacked high as the mountains rushing in and out were missing, instead the new addition was the expressionless Heavenly Martial Guards patrolling rigidly. They dropped onto the corner of one of the roofs soundlessly, and Xie Lian spoke up, "Guoshi is locked up here? Is Ling Wen watching him?"
"Correct." Hua Cheng replied, "With the Brocade Immortal on her, Ling Wen is considered both a civil god and a martial god right now."
After observing intently for a moment, Xie Lian commented, "Then this is going to be tricky."
Whie the Brocade Immortal was no match for them, it still possessed a high cultivation, and it must be sharper than those patrolling guards on the grand avenue of the Heavenly Capital.
If Xie Lian and Hua Cheng snuck into the Palace of Ling Wen recklessly just like this, even if the Brocade Immortal couldn't defeat them, it could still very well detect them, and once the Brocade Immortal discovered them, then Ling Wen would also know for sure."
"Ling Wen and Jun Wu must be able to communicate with each other spiritually. If Ling Wen discovers us then Jun Wu will discover us." Xie Lian said, "Unless the Brocade Immortal isn't on her at the moment, then she'd only be a civil god and will not be able to detect us; and a removed Brocade Immortal is a mere robe, it won't be able to alert Jun Wu either. We have to think of a way to separate the two."
However, Hua Cheng replied, "We don't need to think of anything specifically, she'll have to take off that robe sooner or later."
No explanations required, Xie Lian understood.
The Brocade Immortal wasn't anything good after all; its aura of evil was thick and heavy, and since Ling Wen wasn't formally banished, she was still considered a heavenly official, so to always be wearing it on her person would be bad for her health. She'd also needed to maintain the male form which would exhaust her spiritual powers, and there probably weren't many who could keep up with that kind of exhaustion. There had to be a time everyday when she took it off to rest.
The two were whispering plans with each other when just then, a black clad man strolled out from within the Palace of Ling Wen with a hand behind his back. He gave some sort of instructions to the soldiers guarding outside, then stepped into the side chambers. A moment later, he exited the side chambers by himself and entered the main hall anew.
That man was Ling Wen. When he went in he was in his male form, when he came out, she was in her original form. The black outer robe on her person had also disappeared, and her steps weren't as light and energetic as when she was in her male form, visibly skilled in martial arts.
She had indeed removed the robes, and now, that Brocade Immortal was in that side chamber!
The two exchanged a look. Hua Cheng said, "Now, they're separated. Gege, you've got pretty good luck."
Xie Lian also puffed a breath and gave him a look, "It's San Lang's luck that's pretty good."
Hua Cheng grinned, "Main hall? Side chamber?"
After a thought, Xie Lian decided, "Let's go with the side chamber! Who knows what the situation is like inside the main hall of the Palace of Ling Wen, and if Guoshi is guarded right next to Ling Wen then we won't be able to get around her. But, if we can get our hands on the Brocade Immortal, maybe we'd still have room to talk."
Thus, the two waited for a bit, and when the guards were changing, they took advantage of that timing and hopped off the roof, sneaking into the side chambers.
The moment they leapt inside, Xie Lian wiped away his cold sweat.
No matter what, sneaking into the private chambers of a lady official wasn't anything to be proud of. However, after he saw the state of this side chamber, his nervous expression faded a bit.
Xie Lian's old chamber was more sumptuous than this, Feng Xin's was more disorderly, and Mu Qing's was more tasteful and exquisite. In any case, this didn't look like the private chamber of a lady official at all, so Xie Lian didn't feel as stressed.
There weren't many furniture inside the chamber so it was difficult to hide anything. It didn't take long before Xie Lian fumbled out a chest. However, the moment he opened it his face darkened. It wasn't because dark energy slammed his face the moment he opened it, but because within the chest were stacked full of black robes that were exactly the same.
This again!
It was the same thing last time, where they had to try and find the real Brocade Immortal within hundreds of different clothes. It was a mess looking for the thing, practically a nightmare. This time there weren't as many sets, only a few dozen, but every robe was black with barely any difference. It was hard to tell which circumstance was the more dispiriting. Was the Brocade Immortal actually here?
Feeling his head throb, Xie Lian asked miserably, "San Lang... what's Jun Wu doing right now? Do we have enough time?"
Hua Cheng had been monitoring all movements everywhere closely, and when he heard Xie Lian's inquiry, he replied languidly, "Gege, relax. We've got plenty of time. Jun Wu hasn't noticed you'd gone. He's currently at the Great Martial Hall and had brought Mu Qing in to interrogate. By the looks of it, it'll be a while."
Hearing this, Xie Lian was taken aback, "Mu Qing? He's interrogating Mu Qing? Why?"
"Wraith butterflies can't enter the Great Martial Hall, I can't hear clearly." Hua Cheng said, "But you know." He stared at Xie Lian, "It must not be anything good."
Xie Lian recalled how Jun Wu had treated Yin Yu and felt vaguely anxious. But even if he worried now it'd be pointless, so he said resolutely, "Let's hurry then. Let me try each of the robes on. San Lang, come give me orders."
If the Brocade Immoral didn't want to be discovered or if it didn't want to take the life of whoever put it on, it could just be worn casually. However, if someone made the other wear it and gave that person orders, then that person must obey the orders. Using this method, they should definitely be able to expose the real thing, the only downside being it was a bit dangerous. Hua Cheng said, "Let me do it."
Xie Lian shook his head, "San Lang, you've worn the Brocade Immortal before, but for some reason it doesn't really work on you. Maybe it's ineffective against ghost kings? Only I could do this." He said as he removed his outer robe, dropping the white robe on the ground by his feet. Hua Cheng raised his brows and picked a black robe to hand to him, "Then, I will take up your offer."
Xie Lian swiftly put on that robe. Thank goodness, thank goodness. Ling Wen's black robe wasn't revealing in the bosom area, wasn't sensual in any way, and was very conservative and proper, so putting it on wasn't difficult. Xie Lian looked up, "Okay, you can now give me an order."
"..."
Hua Cheng's right hand was holding his left elbow while his left hand supported his chin, and he looked at Xie Lian, seeming to be thinking very seriously for a moment before he said, "Then, gege, my order is–"
A moment later came the anticipated command. Hua Cheng smiled happily, "–Let's borrow some spiritual powers."
"..."
Of course Xie Lian understood what he meant by "Borrow spiritual powers" and his head almost smoked. He quickly took off the robe and said, "It's, it's not this one!"
"Ah, what a shame. It's not this one." Hua Cheng lamented.
Xie Lian schooled his expression, "San Lang, you... this isn't right. You have to be more serious, don't give orders like these."
Hua Cheng replied modestly, "Am I not serious enough? Then what kind of orders do you mean, can gege be more specific on that?"
"..." Xie Lian coughed twice softly and replied with seriousness, "Either way, you can't make me borrow spiritual powers from you. Everything else is fine, like turn around in a circle, jump twice or something, whatever you want."
Hua Cheng cocked an eyebrow, "Everything else is fine, right? Very well, I understand."
Then, he handed Xie Lian another set of robes. Xie Lian swiftly put it on and looked up again at Hua Cheng.
Hua Cheng watched him for a moment, "Gege..."
A short moment later, he smiled widely, "Don't borrow spiritual powers from me."
"..."
He's been careless! How could Hua Cheng do this!
Xie Lian hastily removed that robe, "OKAY! It's not this one eith..." But Hua Cheng stopped him, "Wait, gege, who says it's not this one? You haven't proven it yet."
"Don't borrow spiritual powers from me" was Hua Cheng's order. If Xie Lian was to prove the robe he was wearing right now wasn't the Brocade Immortal then he must not obey Hua Cheng's order. Which meant, he had to do the opposite thing – "Borrow spiritual powers from Hua Cheng".
Going around in circles and they came back to the same starting point!
Xie Lian was shaken while staring at Hua Cheng's serious face, "...That's, you're too cunning, you can't do that."
Hua Cheng hugged his arms, "Why not? Gege, didn't you say so yourself? Other than to borrow spiritual powers from me, everything else is fine. Since you didn't like that command then I gave something that was the complete opposite, so how can you say I'm cunning? Wasn't I just staying true to your words?"
"..."
Xie Lian didn't know what to say to retaliate at all, and he raised his finger to point at him for a moment, "You... you, ah, I can't win with you, stop playing around!" Then without any delay, he rushed up and "chu"-ed. Even though he knew there was clearly no one around, but after he'd done the deed he still looked around, as if cautious of anyone who might be peeping.
Hua Cheng's face didn't twitch in the slightest, and said calmly, "Very good. It's been verified, this one is indeed not it either."
Xie Lian removed that black robe, "...Don't give that order again either, alright?"
Hua Cheng passed the third one to him and smiled, "Fine, fine. As gege wishes."
Xie Lian took the robe from him woefully, thinking to himself, 'It feels like San Lang is harder and harder to deal with... is this just my imagination?'
He was still worried Hua Cheng might give more prankish orders, but after joking around twice, Hua Cheng indeed stopped teasing him. Yet now that he was being serious, Xie Lian actually felt it odd.
However, after trying on the few dozens of robes inside the chest, Xie Lian didn't obey any of the orders.
Could the real Brocade Immortal not be here?
That was impossible. Ling Wen must've already taken it off, and the entire chest was tainted with its aura of evil, so it must be in here!
Hua Cheng leaned against the door bar, "Gege, it seems, this Brocade Immortal isn't just ineffective against me, it doesn't work for you either."
What was the problem?