Xie Lian knew this ring must have been left behind by Hua Cheng. He held it in his hand and wondered for a moment, What could this be?
When Xie Lian was still an esteemed crown prince, he grew up in the Palace of Xianle. The Kingdom of Xianle had always reveled in beautiful, precious objects. Collectors who held aesthetics above all else were abundant, and the palace itself was of course glorious and dazzling. Golden columns, jaded steps, innumerable treasures, and precious jewels—the noble children even played with colored gems as if they were toys. Xie Lian was thus familiar with the sight of riches, and from the look of this ring, it appeared to be made of diamond. But its shape was exquisite—even the most skilled jeweler likely couldn't craft an equal to the ethereal natural beauty it emanated. Moreover, of all the diamonds he had ever seen, this stone was extraordinarily clear, shimmering like a crystal, fascinating and sublime. That scintillating luster made it difficult for him to determine exactly what kind of stone it could be.
Still, even if he couldn't tell what the ring was made of, it was certainly an item of extreme significance. If it was found around his neck, then it had clearly not been accidentally dropped. It was most likely a gift from Hua Cheng, a keepsake.
Xie Lian was a little surprised to receive a memento like this, and he smiled softly. He resolved to take good care of it and to ask the youth what the gift meant the next time they met. All he owned was this broken-down shrine, and in it there was nowhere appropriate for him to hide treasure. After giving it some thought, he decided the best place to keep it was on his person after all. And thus, Xie Lian fastened the silver chain around his neck once more.
After running around Mount Yujun and Banyue Pass back-to-back, Xie Lian lay paralyzed in Puqi Shrine for a few days. If it wasn't for the kindness of some overly passionate villagers who came with offerings of buns and congee, he would've probably stayed incapacitated for many days more. He spent his time thus, until one day, a sudden message arrived from Ling Wen: Return to the heavens at once.
Judging by her tone, something bad was about to go down. Xie Lian could guess more or less what it was and was already mentally prepared.
"Is this about Banyue Pass?"
"That's right," Ling Wen replied. "When you've returned to the heavens, come directly to the Palace of Divine Might."
Upon hearing "Palace of Divine Might," Xie Lian froze. Jun Wu was back.
Since his third ascension, he hadn't yet seen Jun Wu. As the number one martial god, Jun Wu spent his days deep in secluded cultivation or out patrolling the realms and keeping the world at peace. With his return, it looked as though Xie Lian wouldn't be able to get out of making this trip. And so, after only a few days of rest, he hiked up to the Heavenly Capital once more.
The divine palaces of all manner of gods and immortals had been built in the Heavenly Capital, each with their own history and style. Together, they formed the great city. There were sculpted pillars and muraled buildings here, little bridges and streams there. There was a transcendent ambience in the air, and clouds diffused beneath one's feet.
The Heavenly Court had a single main road: the Grand Avenue of Divine Might. Although there were many such roads built in honor of Jun Wu in the Mortal Realm, such mortal monuments were but a hollow mimicry of their true form in the heavens. Only this road in the Heavenly Court was the true Grand Avenue of Divine Might. Xie Lian walked on down the expansive road and headed toward the Palace of Divine Might. En route, there were many heavenly officials hurrying along, but not a single one dared acknowledge him.
Truthfully, there were not many to begin with who would acknowledge him when he visited the Heavenly Court. However, "not acknowledge" meant no fellow officials would approach and walk with him or initiate any conversation, but they would still nod in greeting and give him basic due courtesy. But now they were pretending he wasn't there at all, as if a single glance at him would get them in trouble. If they were in front of him, they would hurry away. If they were behind him, they would slow their pace, leaving him a wide berth, desperately hoping his feet would carry him meters away from them.
Xie Lian had gotten used to this sort of treatment long ago, so he didn't think anything of it. After all, he did just drag down the mighty, newly ascended General Pei Junior. It would be stranger if no one stayed away. Yet unexpectedly, as he walked, a voice suddenly called out from behind him.
"Your Highness!"
Xie Lian was amazed at the call and thought whoever had dared address him truly had commendable courage. But when he turned his head to look, the junior official that called for That Highness rushed past him and ran toward someone farther ahead.
He called as he ran, "Honestly, Your Highness! How could you forget your identity medallion when heading to the Palace of Divine Might? How would you even get in?"
Only then did it dawn on Xie Lian—of course the address "Your Highness" wasn't directed at him. There were quite a few crown princes in the heavens, so some confusion on this matter wasn't anything unusual.
Yet when he glanced over and his eyes landed on the other crown prince, he paused.
That young man had strong brows, bright eyes, and a wide smile. This smile was vastly different from those of many other heavenly officials: it was pure and sincere, and added an air of childlike innocence to his handsome face. Although, if a less charitable official like Mu Qing provided comment, they would probably call it an air of foolishness.
The young man was dressed in armor and looked exceptionally heroic. However, it didn't give him the air of a warrior, of blood and battle. Rather, it gave him an air of royal nobility, candid and radiant.
Xie Lian froze mid-step and stared at the young man. The two in front sensed his gaze and turned back to face him. When the junior official saw who it was, his face dropped immediately. Xie Lian lightly inclined his head and smiled at him.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
The other crown prince was obviously the type who didn't mind the everyday details and didn't recognize his face, so when he saw someone greeting him, he immediately returned the sentiment with a brilliant smile. He shouted back, "Greetings!"
The junior official beside him gave him a subtle push. "Come on, Your Highness, let's go. We still need to get to the Palace of Divine Might."
The young man, completely oblivious, could not understand why his subordinate would shove him so suddenly. He wondered aloud, "Why are you pushing me?"
Xie Lian puffed out a laugh and that junior official pushed even harder, urging, "The Emperor is probably already waiting for us. Please, let's go, Your Highness!"
The other crown prince could only give Xie Lian a confused look before turning to leave.
Xie Lian stayed where he was as they walked away, and soon, distant whispers from lower-ranking officials floated to his ears.
"…Well, that was awkward. The world is such a small place."
"They're both officials in the heavens, it was only a matter of time that they met. If you ask me, General Nan Yang bumping into General Xuan Zhen is a more exciting affair."
"Ha ha, what's the rush? They'll all be coming face-to-face soon! Everyone's gathering at the Palace of Divine Might, aren't they?"
Suddenly, someone commented, "It's not just a small world—take a look at those two. I don't like to make the comparison, but even though they're both crown princes, His Highness Tai Hua is truly noble. He would never do anything shameful like that, even if he fell from grace."
"The Kingdom of Yong'an was more prosperous than the Kingdom of Xianle, so of course the Crown Prince of Yong'an is stronger than that of Xianle. How the grass grows depends on the land it grew on. Simple logic."
The martial god who watched over the north was Pei Ming of the Palace of Ming Guang. The Martial God of the West was Quan Yizhen of the Palace of Qi Ying. The Martial God of the Southeast was Feng Xin of the Palace of Nan Yang, and the Martial God of the Southwest was Mu Qing of the Palace of Xuan Zhen.
And the martial god watching over the east was Lang Qianqiu of the Palace of Tai Hua.
When Lang Qianqiu was still mortal, he was a crown prince like Xie Lian. Not just that—he was the Crown Prince of Yong'an. The Kingdom of Yong'an was the country that overtook Xianle after its fall, and the founder of Yong'an was the rebel general who successfully overthrew the imperial capital of Xianle.
While Xie Lian drifted in the Mortal Realm, he had also visited the east, so naturally he knew that the Crown Prince of Yong'an had ascended. As heavenly officials, it was inevitable that they would run into each other, so he didn't think much of it. Those gossiping junior officials, while they were supposedly whispering, weren't particularly quiet. If their prattling had been about anyone else, they might have been more wary of being overheard, but since this was Xie Lian, they spoke without fear of him hearing. Perhaps they even found the prospect exciting. So Xie Lian pretended to have heard nothing and casually walked away.
Just then, another voice came from behind and called out, "Your Highness!"
Not again, Xie Lian thought. But this time when he turned his head, it was someone who really was addressing him.
Ling Wen, with dark-circled eyes and arms full of scrolls, approached him. "Everyone has gone to the Palace of Divine Might for the meeting. Be mindful once you reach the hall."
Of course Xie Lian was aware of the situation. "What do you think General Pei Junior's sentence will be?"
"Exile, probably," Ling Wen replied.
That's actually not too bad. Not too severe, Xie Lian thought.
Exile was considered a temporary banishment for officials who had committed crimes, meaning the length of punishment was negotiable, and there might still be the opportunity to resume their duty. If they were found to be on their best behavior, they might one day get fished back up; maybe in thirty to fifty years, maybe in a hundred or two hundred years. But to Xie Lian, this "not too bad" was of course based on his own standards. To General Pei, it would be a completely different story.
Xie Lian remembered another thing. "Oh yeah. Ling Wen, how goes the search for the boy with the Human Face Disease from Mount Yujun, the one I told you about last time? Do you have any news?"
"I'm very sorry, Your Highness. I don't have anything at the moment. We'll work harder on it," Ling Wen replied.
Even for a heavenly official, finding a single person in such a vast world was not an easy task. Although the heavens might make faster work of it than mortals, it was still more like ten years for the Mortal Realm versus one year for the heavens.
Xie Lian thus said, "Thank you for your hard work."
By this point, they reached the end of the avenue, and a majestic palace came into view before them.
The palace had stood through the ages, yet it showed only enduring excellence and none of its antiquity. Interwoven glazed tiles adorned the golden roof, layer upon layer, blinding in their scintillation. Xie Lian looked up and glanced at where "Palace of Divine Might" was written beneath the golden roof. The characters, written with power and with vigor, were exactly the same as they were centuries ago, unchanged. He lowered his head and stepped into the hall. Within, numerous heavenly officials had already gathered, either in groups of two or three, or by their lonesome, standing in silence.
The only ones permitted to enter this hall were heavenly officials who had officially ascended—all imperial sons of heavens or indomitable overlords, each bursting with spiritual might. They eyed each other in silent pride and judgment, their splendor overwhelming. Gathered here, at this time and place, everyone held their breaths and did not dare utter a sound.
Upon the throne at the very end of the hall, there sat a martial god clad in white armor.
This martial god had a handsome face, and with his eyes closed and his lips unspeaking, he appeared extremely poised and solemn. Behind him stood the expanse of the magnificent Palace of Divine Might, and beneath his feet there were pure-white snowy peaks.
As if sensing that Xie Lian had entered the hall, he opened his eyes.
Those eyes were obsidian-black, but bright and clear, as if formed by the melted snow of a lake that had been frozen for millions of years. As he blinked them open, the martial god smiled softly.
"Xianle, you have come."
Xie Lian inclined his head in a respectful bow and said nothing.
When Jun Wu spoke, he was not loud, but his deep voice echoed through the entire Palace of Divine Might. All the eyes of the gathered officials focused on Xie Lian, and he understood immediately.
It appeared that this meeting wasn't for discussing General Pei Junior and the Banyue Pass scandal.
The spotlight, it seemed, was on him.
Ling Wen approached the throne, dressed all in black and not sparing a word or smile. She drew a line through an item in the book she was holding.
"My Lord, there are a few heavenly officials still on patrol in the Mortal Realm, unable to return."
Jun Wu nodded. "They have given their notice ahead of time."
Ling Wen acknowledged the response, and Jun Wu turned to Xie Lian once more.
"Xianle, I am sure you are aware as to why you have been summoned here today."
Xie Lian still had his head bowed. "I can guess. However, I had actually assumed that a decision had been made on the matter with General Pei Junior."
Just then, a lyrical male voice called out from behind.
"How that matter will be decided is still hard to say."
When Xie Lian turned his head to look, a martial god stepped into the great hall. His hand resting on the hilt of his sword, he walked toward the front. When he passed by Xie Lian, he stopped in his step, and the corners of his lips lifted.
"Your Highness. I've heard so much about you."
This martial god looked to be about twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, graceful in his demeanor but resolute in his actions. Looking at his face, Xie Lian thought he was even more attractive than that statue he'd seen at Mount Yujun. It was the kind of handsomeness that could steal hearts, very much the charming type. Xie Lian didn't respond.
He continued, "Our Little Pei has certainly been in your care."
I've definitely offended him, Xie Lian thought. He returned the greeting.
"You flatter me. I've heard more about you, General Pei."
The words "I've heard more about you" were certainly not a lie. In the past few days, Xie Lian had skimmed through his scroll and briefly read the legends of some of the more famous heavenly officials. Among them was General Ming Guang, Pei Ming.
This Martial God of the North was skilled in battle, but the subject the mortals talked of with the most relish was his many amorous intrigues: the beautiful and the ugly, the stories left behind in wanton alleys. "Beautiful" stories had Pei Ming spend extravagant amounts of gold to save a famed yet pitiful escort from the brothels, prompting her to fall in love with him and henceforth remain pure and true to await his return. "Ugly" stories had Pei Ming travel a thousand miles for a one-night stand with a married woman, etcetera, and so on. On some level, Pei Ming was an awe-inspiring man. After reading through his stories, Xie Lian thought it was quite unbelievable that after so many years, only one Xuan Ji had been created from this way of life.
Because Pei Ming was accomplished in both battle and in love, his rivals and peers alike took great pleasure in cursing him to die, even better if he'd die from syphilis. But his fate was tough and relentless, and he never caught anything from the many flowers he'd plucked. He wouldn't die, and he'd even live longer than most of his peers. Until finally, one day, he lost a battle. Everyone laughed, thinking, At last, he's met his end! But then lightning crashed and thunder roared, and in that moment of imminent peril, he ascended to the heavens.
Those who hadn't already died by his hand probably all died of outrage.
After ascension, Pei Ming didn't change his way of life, and the scale of his tales of promiscuity only grew. From fairies and lady heavenly officials to female ghosts and demons: as long as they were beautiful, he would not hold back. Nonetheless, the charming ladies of the Mortal Realm still remained his favorite type. Many indecent love stories had him starring as the main male lead, and if it wasn't for Xie Lian's method of cultivation that demanded purity of body and of mind, he probably would have read a few of those books just out of curiosity.
Thus, in addition to his role as the martial god that ruled the north, the Mortal Realm also worshipped him as the God of Love. Even a number of heavenly officials would turn around and secretly pray to him should they bump into him in the heavens, hoping for some fortune in love. It had to be said that, although similar in sentiment, such a title was definitely more fortunate than Feng Xin's unwarranted title of "Tremendous Masculinity."
All the heavenly officials present in the hall were well aware of what both of those "I've heard so much about you" comments meant, and many roared with laughter in their heads.
After such pleasantries, Xie Lian said, "What does General Pei mean by 'hard to say'?"
Pei Ming snapped his fingers, and a corpse suddenly appeared in the middle of the great hall, floating in midair.
Strictly speaking, this floating body was just a shell. It had no primordial spirit, completely empty on the inside. But it was covered in blood from head to toe, so by any practical measure, it was no different from a corpse. It had a handsome face, but its eyes were firmly shut. It was indeed A-Zhao…or rather, General Pei Junior's clone.
To have such a thing appear so suddenly before an elegant crowd of heavenly officials inside the Palace of Divine Might was startling. A moment later, Pei Xiu was also brought in, but he still looked indifferent and apathetic even with shackles binding him. His head was bowed low, and he was silent.
"General Pei, what's the meaning of this?" Xie Lian asked.
Pei Xiu knelt down within the Palace of Divine Might, and Pei Ming replied, "During Little Pei's interrogation, he mentioned something I found quite curious."
Pei Ming paced halfway around Xie Lian and smiled. "I'm quite familiar with Little Pei's ability. Even if his clone's powers are reduced and nowhere near the level of his true self, it's still quite competent and capable of fighting evenly with a wrath ghost. However, he told me that he was surprised to meet a mortal who was so strong that Little Pei was unable to even withstand his attacks. Now, isn't that curious?"
Pei Ming continued, "And so I pressed for answers. It turns out, at the time, there was a red-clothed young man beside Your Highness while you were at Banyue Pass."
Hearing the words "red-clothed" made all the officials present shift expressions, and they all appeared uncomfortable. But Pei Ming's next statement made them completely agitated.
"And this young man, in the dark, was able to eradicate every Banyue-soldier-turned-wrath in a flash.
"Now, Your Highness, might you enlighten us as to who this red-clothed young man might be?"
If it wasn't a wrath, then it must be a supreme! A supreme that could kill hundreds of wraths in a flash. A supreme dressed all in red.
Anyone could guess who that young man probably was, yet no one wanted to be the first to say the name. Xie Lian cast a glance at the silent Pei Xiu and replied a little unnaturally.
"Ahem, really? Uh, I don't remember it very well. There was a caravan trapped in Banyue Pass at the time, and we spent a few days together. Maybe it was someone from the caravan."
"That can't be right, Your Highness," Pei Ming said. "According to Little Pei, you and that young man were unusually close. Not like someone you'd only just met or had only known for a few days. How can you not recall such a thing?"
No, you're wrong, that was the truth. It really was only a few days, Xie Lian thought. Nevertheless, his face gave nothing away.
Just then, from the sidelines, a white-clad cultivator casually waved his whisk and spoke up.
"General Pei, you've only heard Little Pei's side of the story. Little Pei has committed a crime, and he's currently in detention, soon to be exiled. Whether his words are believable is still hard to say, no?"
"Then we shall see if General Nan Yang and General Xuan Zhen can assist us," Pei Ming replied.
Following his line of sight, Xie Lian found Feng Xin and Mu Qing standing separately in the southwest and southeast corners of the hall.
Feng Xin still looked the same as in his memories—tall as always, standing extremely straight, his eyes determined, and his brows forever slightly furrowed. It made it seem that there was always something irritating him, but really he wasn't irritated at all.
Mu Qing, on the other hand, was somewhat different from what he remembered. His face was still pale without much redness, and his lips still thin and pursed, his eyes half-lidded. However, there was an aloof air surrounding him, one that clearly indicated he was interested in neither conversation nor the dispensing of compliments. He stood with his arms crossed, a finger on his right hand tapping his left elbow softly. It was hard to tell if he was at ease or if he was scheming something.
While the two were considered good-looking men, each had their own flaws. Hearing Pei Ming call them out, they both looked toward Jun Wu at the same time. It was only when Jun Wu gave a slight nod that they reluctantly stepped forward.
This was the first time since Xie Lian's third ascension that he'd come face-to-face with the two of them. He could sense all the eyes upon them going wild with excitement.
Wild was inevitable. It must be known that the Palace of Divine Might was the number one martial palace of heaven, and those without the title of heavenly official had no right to enter or attend court. The first time the Crown Prince of Xianle ascended, Feng Xin and Mu Qing were his deputy generals. At the time, they were only low-ranking officials from the Middle Court without even the right to scrub the floors of the Palace of Divine Might. And now, not only could these former junior officials stand openly in the palace's hall, but their ranks were even higher than that of their former master. What a turn of fate, how times had changed.
The three of them looked at each other, eyes flitting all over, stealing glimpses at one another but swiftly turning away and pretending not to care. Who knew what the other two were thinking? However, Xie Lian had pretty much figured out why Pei Ming had called them out to help.
As suspected, Pei Ming said, "General Nan Yang and General Xuan Zhen have both fought Hua Cheng before. I'm sure they can speak with authority regarding the weapon used by that person."
So the point of bringing forth the empty shell A-Zhao was for the court to inspect its wounds. Feng Xin and Mu Qing slowly approached the floating body. Xie Lian himself took a few steps forward to take a look, but it was splotched with so much dark blood that it was hard to discern anything. The other two, faces austere, took their time in their inspection. Finally, they raised their heads and swept a look at each other, seeming like neither of them wanted to speak first.
Ling Wen prompted from next to the throne. "Generals. Your conclusion?"
It was Feng Xin who spoke first, his voice dark. "It's him."
"The scimitar Eming," Mu Qing added.
Xie Lian was probably the only one among the heavenly officials present at the Palace of Divine Might who didn't know the significance of those words.
The scimitar Eming was the very same freakish weapon Hua Cheng had used when he challenged those thirty-three officials and single-handedly beat them to a pulp, annihilating their souls and dignity both!
Inside the Palace of Divine Might, the heavenly officials started whispering to each other, unreadable eyes watching Xie Lian.
"Many thanks to the two generals for confirming this fact, which verified my conjecture," Pei Ming said. "If the red-clothed young man who traveled next to Your Highness really was that person, then this matter is considerably more complicated."
The white-clad cultivator from before spoke up again. "General Pei, do you truly mean to imply that His Highness colluded with a supreme ghost king to frame General Pei Junior?"
Both times that cultivator spoke, he was on Xie Lian's side, so Xie Lian had to see who exactly this curious fellow cultivator was. What he saw was a person with clear, bright eyes. He wore a white jaded belt, held a whisk in his arms, and had a long sword carried on his back, with a folding fan tucked at his waist. His form was graceful and elegant, his expression spirited. And while he did look familiar, Xie Lian couldn't recall when he had met a friend such as this.
Pei Ming also gave the man a look, appearing like an annoyed elder who didn't want to deal with children. He shook his head and waved dismissively, dispersing the floating empty shell that was A-Zhao, then turned around and continued his argument.
"It may not be collusion. That person is powerful and wicked. Who knows what deceptive tricks he might've used to blind His Highness."
Pei Ming intended to pin all the chaos at Banyue Pass on Hua Cheng!
Xie Lian rebuked him, "General Pei, even if you won't believe me, you should still believe in Lord Wind Master. General Pei Junior admitted to the crime of luring passersby to Banyue Pass with his clone, and Lord Wind Master heard everything."
Pei Ming glanced at the white-clad cultivator again.
Xie Lian continued, "Besides, since we're both here at the Palace of Divine Might, you can simply ask the Emperor whether there are traces of any spells of deception cast on me."
Jun Wu, who sat high above, remained calm and unchanging. That meant Xie Lian was absolved.
Xie Lian then continued, "General Pei, let's keep things clear and separate. Let's not talk about whether the young man I traveled with was Hua Cheng or not. At the very least, even if he was indeed Hua Cheng, that has nothing to do with what General Pei Junior has done. A supreme ghost king might have the worst possible name on people's tongues, but not everything can be blamed on him."
Xie Lian's own expression was composed and neutral when he uttered that name, but many in the hall felt cold shivers run down their backs.
Pei Ming replied, "Regardless, I believe this case needs to be re-examined. It would be best if the State Preceptor of Banyue that Your Highness has taken could be brought in for interrogation too."
To interrogate her for what? Torture her to confess a lie? Xie Lian hadn't yet responded when someone else spoke up.
Pei Xiu looked as if he didn't want to remain in the Palace of Divine Might a moment longer. He said in a low voice, "General. Let it go."
"What?" Pei Ming was irritated.
"There isn't any spell of deception—this is all my doing. I've disappointed you, sir," Pei Xiu confessed.
Pei Ming was right in the middle of clearing his name when Pei Xiu said this. Pei Ming turned cold, and he said darkly, "What bewitching concoction did that State Preceptor of Banyue feed you? Shut your mouth."
However, Pei Xiu raised his head. "Let it go, General! Little Pei isn't afraid to admit to things he's done. Since I've been caught red-handed, I'm prepared to receive any punishment that is handed down."
Pei Ming's face was written with shock, and it clearly read as: You've always been so sensible, so why did you suddenly go nuts today? He was just about to kick some sense back into Pei Xiu when Jun Wu spoke.
"Enough."
The moment that word was said, Pei Ming withdrew his leg and bowed.
Thus spoke Jun Wu: "The case of the Banyue Pass is settled. Take Little Pei away. He is to be exiled in a few days' time."
After some silence, Pei Ming acknowledged, "Yes, My Lord."
Xie Lian had only just breathed in relief when Pei Ming continued,"But, Nan Yang and Xuan Zhen have proven that the wounds on that empty shell were indeed inflicted by the scimitar Eming."
"I understand," Jun Wu replied. "That is a whole other matter."
"Pray My Lord will look into it," Pei Ming said.
"I will investigate, naturally. There is no need for concern." After a pause, Jun Wu continued. "You are all dismissed for today. Xianle, you stay."
It looked like Xie Lian would be personally interrogated. The heavenly officials had nothing left to say and bowed.
"Yes, My Lord."
Having been dismissed, the other heavenly officials exited in their groups of two or three. When Feng Xin passed by, he glanced at Xie Lian, looking like he had something to say, but he stopped himself. Xie Lian smiled at him, and he looked startled before hurriedly leaving after all. Mu Qing, on the other hand, walked past without sparing a look, as if Xie Lian didn't exist. And yet, he deliberately took a path to pass in front of him.
As for that white-clad cultivator, he walked over with his whisk in hand and a huge smile, ready to speak. But Pei Ming, who had just suffered a setback, walked over too, with one hand resting on his hilt and the other rubbing his nose.
He said helplessly, "Qingxuan, for your older brother's sake, can you stop stirring up trouble?"
The smile disappeared from the face of the white-clad cultivator. "General Pei, there's no need to use my brother against me. I'm not afraid of him."
"You—" Pei Ming seemed to be gritting his teeth in impotent rage, unable to do anything about this. Finally, he pointed at the other cultivator. "You…you've really done in Little Pei this time. Two hundred years of exile."
The white-clad cultivator swung his whisk wildly. "That's Little Pei's own doing. This has nothing to do with me!"
Looking like he didn't want to continue this quarrel with Pei Ming, the white-clad cultivator flounced off. Xie Lian thought Pei Ming might stick around to taunt him further, but he didn't, and simply exited the hall directly. In the large and spacious Palace of Divine Might, the only one left besides Jun Wu on his throne and Xie Lian standing below him was, surprisingly, the Crown Prince of Yong'an, Lang Qianqiu. Xie Lian thought that strange. Why did he stay? When Xie Lian approached, he saw that the man had his eyes closed and that he was somehow fast asleep on his feet.
Xie Lian didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and feeling quite awed, he gently tapped the young man's shoulder. "Your Highness. Your Highness?"
Lang Qianqiu jolted awake. "What happened?!"
"Nothing's happened. The meeting is over," Xie Lian explained.
Having just woken up, Lang Qianqiu was still a little dazed, and he asked in confusion, "Over? Just like that? What did we all discuss? I didn't hear anything."
"If you didn't hear anything, then don't worry about it," Xie Lian said. "It wasn't anything important anyway. Come now, time to go back."
"Oh!" Lang Qianqiu went to leave, but when he reached the doors, he looked behind him. Still confused, he nevertheless flashed Xie Lian a big smile. "Thanks for waking me!"
Xie Lian waved at him with a cheerful grin. With everyone now finally cleared out, Xie Lian slowly turned around. Jun Wu descended from the throne. Hands clasped behind his back, he came before Xie Lian.
"Crimson Rain Sought Flower. The scimitar Eming."
Xie Lian was like a cat picked up by the scruff of his neck, and he involuntarily straightened.
"So. What is going on?" Jun Wu questioned.
Xie Lian looked at him, then suddenly kneeled.
Before Xie Lian's knees touched the floor, Jun Wu reached out and held his elbow, preventing him from kneeling. He sighed.
"Xianle."
Xie Lian straightened once more, his head bowed. "I'm sorry."
Jun Wu watched him. "Are you acknowledging your wrongs?"
"I am," Xie Lian replied.
"Then, why not tell me what wrong you are acknowledging?" Jun Wu said.
Xie Lian was silent and Jun Wu shook his head.
"I did not think you would know."
The Heavenly Emperor inclined his head, gesturing for Xie Lian to follow, and the two walked slowly toward the chambers behind the hall.
As they walked, Jun Wu, with his hands clasped in front, commented, "Xianle is all grown up now."
Naturally, Xie Lian didn't dare answer that comment. Jun Wu continued.
"Eight hundred years ago, when I sent you down, I told you to keep in periodic communication with me so you would not have to roll in the mud all by yourself. But once you left, there was not a word from you for eight hundred years, and all the while you unnecessarily tormented yourself down below. You've been ascended for some time now, but not once have you reported to the Palace of Divine Might. If anyone else was this impertinent, the Palace of Ling Wen would have censured them directly."
Of course, Xie Lian's "I'm sorry" earlier wasn't directed to this matter, and Jun Wu was aware of this also.
He added, "If your apology was for those few sword attacks, then let it go. You said it yourself: 'All is forgotten after a stabbing.'"
Xie Lian smiled wryly. "…How could I forget?"
"Then look to the future," Jun Wu replied quietly. "There is still much we need you for."
Xie Lian rubbed his forehead. "Xianle is but a lowly scrap immortal, without power. There is no need for me. I only hope not to be a burden."
"Why deprecate yourself so? Did you not perform splendidly in these last two cases?" Jun Wu said.
"Except I may have offended General Pei." Xie Lian sighed ruefully.
"Ming Guang is fine. I will keep an eye on him; you do not need to worry. However…" Jun Wu turned around. "Tell me, what kind of extraordinary character did you engage with when you descended this time?"
Xie Lian raised his hand. "My Lord, I swear I did nothing. Just, one day by chance, I encountered an interesting young man on the road, and we spent some time together. I didn't think much of it."
Jun Wu nodded. "Chance encounter, young man, Supreme Ghost King. Xianle, surely you are aware what the consequences would be if Ming Guang was to question you further and you confessed to this in front of the other officials? No one would believe you."
"Xianle knows," Xie Lian replied woefully. "So, I am grateful for My Lord's timely intervention. My Lord, you're not actually going to interrogate me, are you? I wouldn't collude with the Ghost Realm. These are absurd concerns."
"Naturally, I know you would not intentionally collude with the Ghost Realm," Jun Wu said.
"I am grateful for My Lord's trust," Xie Lian replied.
"However, with things thus, it may no longer be appropriate to send you to investigate an urgent matter that I have on hand."
"What is it?" Xie Lian inquired.
At this time, the two of them reached the chamber behind the great hall, separated from the main hall by a large mural. The front depicted a golden palace towering above a sea of clouds, radiant and brilliant. The back of the mural was another view, depicting mountains and valleys spanning over an enormous distance. Gazing over the expanse of the painting, one could see many tiny pearls embedded on this giant map, glinting like stars.
Each one of those pearls embedded on the map represented the location of a Temple of Divine Might built in the Mortal Realm. Eight hundred years earlier, when Jun Wu brought the newly ascended Xie Lian to these inner halls, the twinkling stars on the mural weren't as dense. But now, the shimmering jewels seemed to fill one's vision, overwhelming in their radiance.
Jun Wu stood before the mural and pointed at a place in the east. "Seven days ago, many saw with their own eyes a dragon of fire suddenly soaring into the sky from the deep mountains in this area."
Xie Lian's face grew serious.
Jun Wu, with one hand behind his back, used the other to softly rap on a place on the mural. "That dragon of fire lasted for two incense time before burning out. In that time, many witnessed the sight, but not a single person was injured. Do you know what that means?"
"The spell for the Ascending Fire Dragon emits intense flames that do not harm but can be seen by many due to the vast expanse of its display. It's a call for help," Xie Lian replied.
"Correct. It was a distress signal, and it came from a heavenly official," Jun Wu said.
"And it's no ordinary call for help, it's one of desperation," Xie Lian added.
The flames of the Ascending Fire Dragon spell were extremely intense and needed to be strictly controlled to avoid causing any harm. Those strict controls would most assuredly drain an immense amount of a heavenly official's spiritual power. If the casting official was not careful, their powers could easily backfire and they would destroy themself in the process. Unless they were absolutely desperate, very few heavenly officials would take such a risk. A sighting of this nature meant that a heavenly official had fallen into grave peril, with no other options left.
"Are there any officials whose whereabouts are currently unknown?" Xie Lian asked.
"The Banyue Pass case was not the only reason all officials weresummoned back to court. The main purpose was to use this chance to investigate everyone's whereabouts. Aside from those who usually do not show like the Rain Master and the Earth Master, even those who couldn't make it back reported in."
Xie Lian contemplated for a moment, then speculated: "Maybe it wasn't any of the officials from this term? Maybe it's one of the retired officials?"
"If that is the case, then I'm afraid our search parameters will need to expand. Many retired officials lost contact with the heavens long ago. It would be impossible to deduce who could be the one in peril," Jun Wu said.
So, this was probably why Ling Wen and many of the civil officials had dark circles under their eyes and walked with such weak steps—they were working constantly on this case. No wonder they couldn't break away to investigate the whereabouts of that boy with the Human Face Disease from Mount Yujun.
Xie Lian asked, "To corner a heavenly official to the point where they would use such a self-destructive spell, there must be great evil at work. Are there any demonic gatherings or lairs in that area?"
"There are," Jun Wu replied. "And very close by. Do you know of Ghost City?"
Xie Lian thought about it and replied, "I've heard of it."
Ghost City was the most prosperous place within the Ghost Realm, situated right at the crossroads of the Mortal and the Ghost Realms. It was where all manner of ghosts gathered in swarms to conduct trade and exchange, and it was complete pandemonium. Some cultivators of a certain skill level would venture there to do business or seek information. Sometimes, there would even be heavenly officials in disguise, touring the city for curiosity's sake or other unspeakable reasons. Once in a while, there would also be those who'd entered by mistake, and they would either be eaten alive or scared half to death.
Since ancient times—although not as ancient as Xie Lian—there had always been many tales of Ghost City in the Mortal Realm. Xie Lian remembered one of the stories had a man traveling at night, who saw a bustling market before him decked out with large red lanterns and colorful signs. He entered the market in high spirits but found that everyone around him wore a mask, and if they were not cloaked as such, then they were extremely ugly—very curious! He didn't think deeply on it, and bought abowl of noodles and sat down to eat. But as he dug into his food and ate, the food didn't feel right; when he looked closely, the noodles were actually squirming strands of hair!
Xie Lian brought himself back to the present, and Jun Wu continued.
"After that pillar of fire appeared, I immediately sent officials to investigate the area—but there was no evidence of anything, so it is very possible that they moved to Ghost City. However, the Heavenly Realm and the Ghost Realm have always drawn very clear borders, and without enough proof, we cannot intrude on Ghost City. Which is why I need someone to descend in secret this time and investigate."
"We can't alert the enemy and have them move again," Xie Lian said. "Is that why this couldn't be discussed openly at the great hall with everyone? To prevent information leaks?"
"Correct," Jun Wu replied.
"Then, My Lord, pray give Xianle your command."
"You were the first candidate I originally had in mind," Jun Wu said. "But for this, it may be inconvenient for you to go."
"How would it be inconvenient?" Xie Lian asked.
"First, the east is guarded by Lang Qianqiu. If you should go, you would have to cooperate with him," Jun Wu said.
Xie Lian responded, "That would not be a problem, please rest assured."
"Second," Jun Wu continued, "do you know in whose territory Ghost City is seated?"
Xie Lian was slightly taken aback. "Is it Hua Cheng?"
Jun Wu nodded slowly, and Xie Lian's guess was confirmed. But then, something else came to mind.
That distress pillar of fire blazed up seven days ago. Coincidentally, it was seven days ago when Hua Cheng left Puqi Shrine. The timing was too perfect. Could there be a connection between the two events?
"It would seem you have a rather good relationship with him, which is fine," Jun Wu said. "The only thing I am concerned about is whether he is involved. If this makes it awkward for you, then do not force yourself. If you have any other suggestions or anyone you would nominate, do let me know."
However, Xie Lian still said, "Let me go. I don't think Crimson Rain Sought Flower is a disingenuous person."
Jun Wu looked at him. "Xianle, I know you are very capable and know what you are doing. However, I also know that you always think the best of everyone."
Xie Lian gave a small smile at his words. "Please don't say it like I'm a little princess who has never left home. Those words really don't suit me anymore."
Jun Wu shook his head. "I should not comment on the friends you make, but I will still say this: be careful of Hua Cheng."
Hearing this, Xie Lian bowed his head slightly, keeping his eyes down and saying nothing. He should've responded with "Yes, My Lord," as he should have been able to say yes with ease by that point. Yet, for some reason, he really didn't want to say that particular "yes."
"Be especially careful of that wicked blade of his," Jun Wu added.
"What do you mean?" Xie Lian asked.
"The scimitar Eming is a cursed blade, a blade of misfortune. To forge such an evil weapon would require terrifyingly cruel sacrifice and bloody determination. Do not touch it, and do not let it touch you either. If you do, the consequences will be unimaginable," Jun Wu replied.
Xie Lian couldn't tell where his sudden surge of confidence came from, but inwardly, he thought: San Lang probably wouldn't strike at me with a blade.
Still, he responded, "Xianle understands."
Jun Wu nodded. "I will of course be at ease knowing that you have taken this case. Since this does not make things awkward for you, then it is ideal. Nonetheless, going on this mission alone may be too much. Are there any officials you would like to join you?"
"…It doesn't matter," Xie Lian said, after some thought. "But preferably someone easy to get along with. It'd be best if they're powerful too, so they can lend me some spiritual power sometimes."
Jun Wu smiled. "You disqualified both Nan Yang and Xuan Zhen with the first condition."
That was true. No one could say that the Feng Xin and Mu Qing of today were personalities that were easy to get along with. Xie Lian started chuckling too.
"How are things between the three of you? Have you spoken with them yet?" Jun Wu asked.
The Heavenly Emperor himself never entered the communication array and thus was naturally unaware of the buzzing chitchat that went on among the officials.
"We spoke a few words," Xie Lian replied.
"It's been so many years, and yet you have only spoken a few words?" Jun Wu inquired. "Ah, yes. I heard that when you ascended this time, you destroyed many of your fellow officials' palaces, one of which was Nan Yang's."
Xie Lian argued back, "I paid back that debt! All eight million eight hundred and eighty thousand merits! And for this, I need to thank My Lord for giving me the opportunity to go to Mount Yujun."
"Thank Nan Yang," Jun Wu replied. "I heard Ling Wen say it was he who privately approached her and said there was no need for you to pay back the reconstruction cost."
Xie Lian was stunned. "I…didn't know about this at all."
No wonder those eight million eight hundred and eighty thousand merits were so easily repaid if it turned out that so much of it had already been intentionally forgiven. Yet at the time, it was the Palace of Nan Yang that suffered the most damage; he'd been told half of the golden roof had collapsed.
"Nan Yang made sure Ling Wen would not tell you, so you were naturally unaware. Since he did not want you to know, it would be best to continue feigning ignorance," Jun Wu said.
Xie Lian didn't know how to feel about this. Complicated and bittersweet feelings clouded his mind, and his thoughts scattered all over the place. Finally, he only sighed soundlessly and thought, Truly, in this world, the words "don't tell anyone" are empty.
Jun Wu contemplated for a moment, then asked once more, "If Nan Yang and Xuan Zhen will not do, how about the Wind Master?"
Xie Lian pondered the option. "Lord Wind Master is a very good person, but I don't know if she would want to go on this mission with me."
"The Wind Master is powerful," Jun Wu said. "A lively person who enjoys making friends and thus matches your first condition of 'easy to get along with.' When reporting in with me, the Wind Master also spoke well of you. I think you two will be fine. If you do not have any other questions, then descend with the Wind Master and go forth to investigate Ghost City. Also…"
"Yes?"
Jun Wu said unhurriedly, "Work hard, but do not force yourself."
Xie Lian was startled by those words. A moment later, he smiled. "What is My Lord saying? I'm not forcing myself."
Jun Wu patted Xie Lian's shoulders. "Return to the Palace of Xianle to rest for now. I will send word to summon the Wind Master."
Xie Lian blinked. "I don't have enough merits, so no palace has been erected. The Palace of Xianle from the past has long since been torn down. So, what Palace of Xianle?"
"I have granted you a new one," Jun Wu said. "You cannot possibly always cram yourself into that decrepit little shrine?"
Xie Lian left the Palace of Divine Might and was led to the Palace of Xianle by a junior official from Jun Wu's palace.
This Palace of Xianle was very nearly an exact copy of the one he had in the past: glazed tiles with red walls, sumptuous and elegant. He stood outside the palace gates for a long time, but not a shred of desire to enter came to him. The Scrap Immortal was still best suited to a scrapped shrine, after all. A proud and glamorous heavenly palace like this wasn't a place he could stay.
He loitered outside the entrance and waited for Lord Wind Master to come find him, but after a while, the one who appeared was unexpectedly not the lady cultivator in white Daoist robes but another white-clad cultivator.
This cultivator was in glowing spirits, with an air of transcendence fluttering about him. It was the one from the meeting at the Palace of Divine Might who had randomly fought with Pei Ming, Qingxuan.
He waved his whisk, a smile hanging from his lips. "Greetings, Your Highness!"
Xie Lian smiled back. "Greetings, fellow cultivator."
Truthfully, he really wanted to ask who he was but thought it'd be rude. He was about to sneak a peek at his scroll to see which heavenly official was named Qingxuan when the person in question walked up to him and exclaimed, "Let's go! Let's go take a stroll down below."
Xie Lian was taken aback. "My friend, I'm waiting for someone."
Hearing this, the cultivator stuffed his whisk into the back collar of his outer robe and turned around in wonder. "Who else are you waiting for?"
"I'm waiting for Lord Wind Master," Xie Lian replied.
The white-clad cultivator looked even more confused. "Aren't I right here?"
"…" Xie Lian's brows jumped. "You're the Wind Master?"
The other flashed open his fan and started fanning. "I am the Wind Master; was there ever any doubt? Did you not know who I was?! Have you never heard my name: the Wind Master Qingxuan?!"
His tone was irrefutable and absolute, strong and confident, as if Xie Lian not knowing his name was an impossible thought to entertain. The folding fan had the word for wind, "feng,"1
written on the front, while the back had three flowing, inclining lines—the exact same fan that the lady cultivator in white had held!
Xie Lian suddenly recalled that Fu Yao had mentioned that some upper court heavenly officials, under special circumstances, had the ability to transform their appearance. While at Banyue, Nan Feng had also uttered an incomplete sentence:
"The Wind Master had always been…"
Had always been? Been what?
A man?!
After getting dragged for a few steps, Xie Lian still couldn't fully process this information.
"Um…Lord Wind Master, you—you—you—why did you disguise yourself as a woman last time?!"
"What? Was I not beautiful?" the Wind Master asked.
"Yes? But…" Xie Lian was still confused.
"If I was beautiful, then there's no but! As long as I look good!" The Wind Master smiled brightly. "Of course, it's because I knew I'd look good that I was in disguise!"
Having said that, he looked like he'd suddenly come up with an idea and closed his fan. He gave Xie Lian a once-over with a calculating expression, then spoke after a moment.
"Speaking of which, don't we need to go undercover for this mission to Ghost City?"
"…???" Xie Lian replied.