In the dark night, Xie Lian's pupils instantly shrank to tiny dots.
His voice quivered.
"It's you…?!"
White No-Face!
The hairs rose on Xie Lian's neck, and he leapt to his feet, groping for his sword—but there was nothing there, and only then did he remember that he'd pawned all of them. Even the branch he'd used as a weapon earlier had been broken. He was facing this creature without spiritual power or weapons!
Years ago, when Xianle fell, White No-Face had quietly disappeared.
Xie Lian had never bothered to search for him back then, and he never considered searching for him now—he only prayed that he would remain missing and never reappear. Who could have expected that the creature would find him so suddenly?!
The white-clothed figure approached languidly. Cold terror filled Xie Lian. He couldn't help but back away a couple of steps, but then he immediately shook himself out of it. He couldn't back away—fleeing was futile anyway!
"What do you want?!" he cried sharply.
White No-Face didn't answer, just continued to approach with his hands clasped behind his back. Xie Lian was shaking from his fingers to his toes; even the white puffs of air from his lips seemed to tremble.
He forced himself to recall the jeering, the indifference, and the mocking laughter of the thirty-some heavenly officials, and the sight of Mu Qing turning his face away. With those images in his mind, he forgot his fear and shouted as he struck out with a hand chop.
However, before his strike landed, he was hit by a wave of excruciating pain. The creature had predicted Xie Lian's move and was a step faster, flashing behind Xie Lian to kick him in the back of the knee!
He was too fast!
Xie Lian dropped heavily to his knees, and, for the first time, a terrifying thought entered his mind—this creature was moving faster than he could even think!
The very next moment, Xie Lian felt something even more horrifying —a freezing hand, its fingers stretched wide, was gripping the top of his head!
He started screaming. The creature easily pulled Xie Lian's entire body up by the head. With strength like that, Xie Lian had no doubt his fingers could easily crush his skull should he curl them inward, turning his head into a pulp of bloody flesh mashed between bone. He also had no doubt that White No-Face planned to do exactly that!
Xie Lian drew sharp, erratic breaths, thinking he was dead for sure, and squeezed his eyes shut. Yet unexpectedly, the creature seemed like he wasn't planning on exerting any more force, and instead he withdrew his murderous intent with a soft sigh. For a long time after that soft sound, the creature stayed perfectly still. Surrounded by the dead silence, Xie Lian reopened his eyes little by little.
Ghost fires filled the air, dancing in wild joy. Each ball of flame was a spirit of the deceased cackling in uproarious laughter as they watched the show. However, most of the ghost fires did not dare to approach them— they appeared to have been cowed by something. But one ball of ghost fire, blazing abnormally brightly, was hanging above the two of them, using its flames to crash against the creature behind him again and again. It was impossible to tell exactly what it was trying to do, but for all the effect it was having, it might as well have been an insect fighting a tree.
And then, Xie Lian abruptly froze.
White No-Face was hugging him.
As Xie Lian tilted and fell to his knees in a slump, he had been captured by a pair of cold, powerful arms that pulled him into a lifeless embrace. At some point, White No-Face had sat down on the ground with him.
"So sad, so sad," he murmured. "Your Highness, look. Look at what they've done to you."
He whispered softly as he stroked Xie Lian's head, his hands gentle and full of pity. It was like he was petting a wounded puppy or his own gravely ill child on the brink of death. The smiling half of the crying-smiling mask was hidden in the darkness; the moonlight revealed only the half that was crying, looking like genuine tears of grief shed for Xie Lian.
Xie Lian remained stiff and curled in on himself, moving no further.
The man in white behind him raised his fingers to wipe the filthy mud from Xie Lian's face. He sensed a peculiar kind of loving compassion in the man's touch. Like the embrace of a close friend or a dear family member, it miraculously returned a bit of warmth to Xie Lian's shivering body.
He never expected that this sinister creature would be the one to finally offer him compassion.
Choked sobs escaped from the depths of Xie Lian's throat, and he trembled harder and harder. The ball of ghost fire flew near his heart but didn't press close—it was like it wanted to warm him but wasn't confident that it could help chase away the cold.
White No-Face helped wipe Xie Lian clean of mud. "Come to my side," he beckoned.
Xie Lian's voice trembled. "I… I…" Instead of finishing his sentence, his hand flashed out and went straight for White No-Face's mask! His attack was successful and smacked the mask high into the air. Xie Lian leapt to his feet and flipped meters away, his earlier terror now completely absent.
"Who would ever go to your side, you…monster!" he raged in a dark voice.
The ghastly, pale cry-smiling mask fell to the ground, and all the ghost fires in the air seemed shocked. They abruptly lost all semblance of order, dancing in a frenzy without pause, shrieking without sound. White No-Face, on the other hand, covered his face and started chuckling softly.
The laugh made Xie Lian's hair stand on end. "What are you laughing about?"
White No-Face humphed softly. "You will come to my side one day," he stated with certainty.
Xie Lian didn't understand what he meant and said in disbelief, "What even is your side? You destroyed Xianle, but you still want me to go to you? Are you crazy? I think you're insane!"
Xie Lian had never learned to cuss; even in extreme rage only those mild denouncements burst out of him. But if he had, he would've used the world's most vicious, most vengeful words to curse that creature. White No-Face laughed out loud, and he held his head high as he covered his unmasked face with his hand.
"You will come. No one in this world will ever truly understand you, and no one will stay by your side forever—except me."
Xie Lian was frightened, but he still tried to argue. "Get out of here!
Enough with your self-righteous nonsense! That isn't true just because you say so!"
One ball of ghost fire flew to his side and moved up and down like it was nodding in agreement. However, Xie Lian was surrounded by wicked wisps just like it, so Xie Lian didn't notice that particular one.
"Oh? Is there someone?" White No-Face asked amiably. "Maybe there were people like that in your past, but do you really think they'll be with you much longer?"
"What do you mean…? What are you hinting at?" Xie Lian demanded.
White No-Face didn't answer. He only sneered and turned around like he was about to drift away.
"I will wait for you here, Your Highness," he said softly.
As if Xie Lian would let him go so easily. "Wait! Don't go! What did you do to them? Did you do something to my parents and Feng Xin?!"
He chased after the white-clothed man, reaching out to grab at him.
Yet unexpectedly, the man snatched a ball of ghost fire with a light sweep of his sleeve. The motion wasn't intended as an attack, but Xie Lian sensed a horrifying force coming at him and he was thrown high into the air, landing hard by slamming against a tree. With a loud crack, the giant, thick-trunked tree split and fell from the force of the collision.
In the past, Xie Lian wouldn't have even batted an eye at crashing into and shattering ten trees. But he was mortal right now, and the impact made him feel like all the bones in his body were crumbling. He fell heavily to the ground and lost consciousness.
The final moment before his eyes closed, Xie Lian saw the white-clothed figure's hand. A ball of ghost fire blazed in his palm.
White No-Face chuckled. "Spirit, tell me, what is your name? How very interesting…"
***
When Xie Lian regained consciousness, everything was gone.
His chest and mouth were steeped in the thick, astringent tang of blood. His head spun for a good while before he suddenly jolted and attempted to crawl to his feet.
"…Father! Mother! Feng Xin!" he muttered.
He had remembered everything that had happened before he passed out and didn't dare to waste a single second. He ran frantically for dozens of kilometers, until he finally made it back to their hideout in the deep of the night, twenty-some days after he'd left with a satchel on his back.
Xie Lian was torn with panic and anxiety the entire way, scared that White No-Face had already murdered his friend and family. He slammed the door open the moment he arrived at the dilapidated cottage.
"Father! Mother! Feng Xin!" he blurted before even catching his breath.
Thank goodness—the house didn't look as wretched as he had dreaded. There was nothing out of place either. It still looked exactly the same as when he had left.
Xie Lian had been frantically running for a long distance with a battered body; his throat was so dry that he thought it might start smoking.
He relaxed a little, then swallowed and continued deeper into the house.
"Feng Xin! Where are you guys—" He pushed a door open, and his voice died in his throat.
Feng Xin was inside, and when he saw Xie Lian had returned, he exclaimed in amazement, "Your Highness! Why are you back?"
However, Xie Lian wasn't looking at him. He was staring intently at the one facing Feng Xin.
A black-clad man stood there. It was Mu Qing.
Mu Qing turned his head and saw Xie Lian. He pressed his lips together, looking grim. Feng Xin went around him and came over to greet Xie Lian.
"Didn't you go train? How was it? I thought you'd be gone for several months at least. Did you come back so soon because you made good progress?"
Xie Lian stared at Mu Qing. "Where are Father and Mother?"
"Sleeping in their room. They've already gone to bed," Feng Xin said. "Why are your clothes so dirty? What's with the cuts on your face?
Who'd you fight?"
Xie Lian didn't answer. Only when he heard his parents were fine did he completely relax, and he turned to Mu Qing. "Why are you here?"
Mu Qing didn't speak, so Feng Xin replied on his behalf. "He came to deliver some stuff."
"What stuff?" Xie Lian questioned.
Mu Qing raised his hand slightly and pointed to the side, where there were several large, clean sacks that probably contained rice or grain.
Seeing Xie Lian so quiet, Mu Qing said softly, "I heard you need medicine. I'll think of a way to get some later."
"Sounds good," Feng Xin said. "I'll give my thanks, then. We do need all that stuff right now. Heavenly officials can't give mortals private gifts, so you be careful too." Then he shuffled over to Xie Lian's side and whispered, "I'm pretty surprised that he actually came back to help. I'm the one who judged him wrong. In any case—" "Don't need it." Xie Lian interrupted.
Mu Qing's expression turned ashen for a moment, and he clenched his fists.
Feng Xin was puzzled. "What don't we need?"
"I don't need your help." Xie Lian said each word slowly and clearly.
"I also…don't want any of your stuff. Please leave."
When he heard the words "please leave," Mu Qing's face got even more glum.
Now Feng Xin noticed that something was wrong. "Just what is going on?"
Mu Qing bowed his head. "I'm sorry."
They'd known Mu Qing for so many years, but this was the first time they ever heard him say those words—it was also his first genuine apology.
But there was no more room in Xie Lian's mind for surprise.
"Please leave!"
With that, he lost his temper and started throwing the sacks at Mu Qing. White rice spilled across the ground and made a mess of Mu Qing.
Nonetheless, the black-clad man only raised an arm to block and held back from making any further move. Startled, Feng Xin held Xie Lian down.
"Your Highness! What's going on? What did he do?! Didn't you leave to cultivate?! What happened out there?!"
As he was held down, Xie Lian said with red eyes, "Why don't you ask him? I did go to train…but why don't you ask him why I've returned?!"
Their argument was too noisy, and the queen was startled awake in her room. She emerged after pulling on an outer robe. "My son, you've returned? What happened to you—" "Nothing!" Feng Xin quickly assured her. "Your Majesty, please go back inside!" He forcefully pushed her back into her room and closed the door, then he demanded, "What did you do? Mu Qing, what did you do?!
Your Highness, did the cuts on your face come from him?!"
Xie Lian's breathing was growing increasingly frantic and erratic, and he couldn't utter a single word.
"It wasn't me!" Mu Qing exclaimed. "I didn't hit His Highness—I only asked him to leave. Other than that, I didn't say anything harsh, and I didn't move against him! They were determined to take over that spiritual land, and it would've kept escalating if you didn't leave!"
"You—!"
With just those few words, Feng Xin got the gist of what had transpired. His eyes widened, and he pointed at Mu Qing, unable to speak.
A moment later, he bent down and grabbed a sack, then flung it at Mu Qing.
"Get out!" he roared. "Get out, get out, get out!"
Mu Qing was once again hit in the face by the sacks of rice he had brought and backed two steps away. All three of them were panting harshly.
"I was wondering why you suddenly had a change of heart!" Feng Xin cried. "I can't fucking believe this, holy shit… Don't let me see you ever again!"
"Yes! I was wrong, I admit it, and I apologize!" Mu Qing exclaimed with a cracked voice. "But I wanted to solve our current problems before considering anything else! Your parents and my mother, the three of us, who knows how long we would have had to struggle in this quagmire! But I thought that if I went back first, maybe we'd still have a chance—" "All fucking bullshit—enough with your bullshit!" Feng Xin cussed.
"No one wants to hear your excuses! Get out, get out, get out, get out, get out, get out, get out!"
Mu Qing tried again. "If you put yourself in my shoes—" Feng Xin cut him off. "I told you I've had enough of your bullshit!
I'm not listening! I just know that even in your shoes, I wouldn't have done what you did. No need to put myself in your shoes because you're nothing more than a traitor!"
Mu Qing looked angry now, and he took a step forward. "When His Highness was in a tight spot, wasn't he forced to commit robbery? So why can't you accept hardship as an excuse when it comes to me?"
Feng Xin sputtered. "Huh? Robbery? Who committed robbery? His Highness robbed someone? What crap are you fucking saying?"
Xie Lian stopped breathing.
Watching Feng Xin's rage gradually turn to shock, Mu Qing finally realized something wasn't right, and he hesitantly turned to Xie Lian.
"You…you didn't…?"
It had never occurred to him that Xie Lian hadn't told Feng Xin about what happened!
"Aaaaaaaaaah!"
Xie Lian went mad and grabbed a random object to chase Mu Qing away. Mu Qing realized that he seriously screwed up and didn't dare to speak even after Xie Lian hit him multiple times. Yet when he looked back, the thing Xie Lian was using to chase him out the door was a broom. His face instantly darkened.
"Do you have to taunt me like this?!"
"Get out of here!" Xie Lian cried brokenly.
Sharp gales blew from the force of Xie Lian's punch. Mu Qing dodged the brunt of the attack, but only barely, and he still received a thin, bloody cut on his cheek. He touched the wound, then looked at the blood on his hand with an unreadable expression on his face.
"…Fine. I'm leaving."
Xie Lian was doubled over, racked with shivers from head to toe. Mu Qing took a few steps forward and placed the rice sacks back down on the ground.
"I'm really leaving."
Xie Lian's head shot up. When Mu Qing saw the look in Xie Lian's eyes, he swallowed and didn't linger any longer, leaving with a sweep of his sleeves.
Only then did the thoroughly stunned Feng Xin come running outside. "Your Highness! He's bullshitting, right? What robbery?"
Xie Lian covered his forehead. "…Don't ask anymore. Please, Feng Xin, I beg you, please don't ask anymore."
"No, of course I don't believe it," Feng Xin said. "I just want to know what really happened—" Xie Lian screamed and covered his ears, fleeing back inside the cottage and locking himself in his room.
Feng Xin was genuinely convinced that he would never do such a thing, but that was precisely why this was the worst-case scenario!
Xie Lian wanted to just run away, to escape to a place where no one knew him. But when he remembered what White No-Face had said, he didn't dare go too far. He could only shut himself inside his room. No matter how Feng Xin and the queen called for him, he refused to emerge.
It took two days for Xie Lian to feel calmer, and next time Feng Xin knocked, he silently opened the door.
Feng Xin stood there, holding a plate. "Her Majesty made you this earlier today and wanted me to bring it to you."
The things on the plate were green and purple. It was a terrifying sight.
"Your Highness, if you're scared for your life, I can eat it for you," Feng Xin continued. "I won't tell Her Majesty, ha ha…" Xie Lian could tell that Feng Xin still really wanted to prod and ask about the robbery, but he was also scared that Xie Lian might lock himself up again. He had forced his curiosity down and pretended not to care, like the incident had never happened and there was nothing to question to begin with. However, he wasn't good at joking, and his failed attempt at comedy only made things even more awkward.
The taste of his mother's cooking was honestly terrifying to the extreme. The more times she entered the kitchen, and the more effort she put in, the more she progressed down the wrong path. Xie Lian had never cooked in the past either, but the meals he made now didn't taste too bad.
The only explanation was natural talent. Nevertheless, Xie Lian took the plate and sat at the table dutifully to eat it. He couldn't taste anything he ate anymore, either way.
There was one silver lining. He was sure the king had overheard their argument a few nights prior, and Xie Lian had thought he was done for. But based on how things had gone over the past few days, it looked like the king and queen still weren't aware of the robbery incident. Otherwise, considering the king's temperament, he would've bawled Xie Lian out already. He knew Feng Xin would never tell them about it, so Xie Lian could relax for now.
As he was thinking, Feng Xin abruptly rose to his feet, and Xie Lian snapped out of it. "What are you doing?"
Feng Xin grabbed his bow. "It's time for me to go busking."
Xie Lian stood up too. "I'll go with you."
After a moment of hesitation, Feng Xin said, "Nah. You just rest a bit more."
Although Feng Xin didn't ask any more questions, Xie Lian still felt miserable all over—now that Feng Xin had heard what he'd done, he kept feeling like something between them had changed and that they could never return to the way they had once been. Every word and look Feng Xin gave him seemed take on a different meaning, worthy of deeper interpretation.
Xie Lian shook his head and sighed. "I'll be honest with you. I don't have the mind to cultivate right now."
Feng Xin had more or less expected this, and he bowed his head, not knowing what to say.
"Since that's the case, instead of rotting inside the house, I might as well go busk too," Xie Lian continued. "That way I can earn us some money, so at least I'm not…" At least he wouldn't be an invalid, he meant to say. Yet for some reason, he couldn't bring himself to speak the word. Perhaps it was because he already felt like an invalid, so he didn't dare say it so casually.
Feng Xin was still a little worried. "I'll be fine on my own too. Your Highness, you've only had one meal over the past two days, so why don't you rest for a while longer?"
The more he insisted, the more anxious Xie Lian was to prove himself, and he turned to look in the mirror.
"It's fine, I'll just clean myself up and—" He'd planned to tidy himself up so he at least wouldn't look like a disheveled, crazy beggar. But when he looked in the mirror, a horrifying image was reflected back.
The "him" in the mirror didn't have a face. That was because his reflection was wearing a half-crying, half-smiling mask.
Xie Lian screamed, and Feng Xin jumped in surprise.
"What? What is it?!"
Xie Lian pointed at the mirror, his face pale. "Him! I… My… My…" Feng Xin followed his pointing finger and looked at the mirror. A long moment later, he turned to look at Xie Lian again, bewildered. "What's with you?"
Xie Lian was terrified to the marrow. He gripped Feng Xin hard, only squeezing out a few words with great difficulty. "My…! My…! My face!
Don't you see it? The thing on my face!"
Feng Xin stared at him and sighed. Xie Lian was still confused why he hadn't reacted when Feng Xin said, "Your Highness, have you finally noticed the cuts on your face?"
It was like Xie Lian had been plunged into an icy cellar.
Why? How could this be? Why would Feng Xin say that?
Did this mean that Feng Xin couldn't see the mask on his face in the mirror?!
"You don't see it? There's something on my face!" Xie Lian blurted.
Feng Xin was puzzled. "What thing? What do you mean? I don't see anything."
Xie Lian looked at the mirror again. "That's impossible! I…" But when he looked again, the mask on his reflection's face had disappeared. Only his own panicked expression looked back at him.
There were bruises and crisscrossing cuts all over his face. He looked beside himself with fear and wretched to the extreme, like a laborer who had been beaten to a pulp by their landlord. Xie Lian was stunned in spite of himself and probed the side of his cheek as he wondered, Is this...me?
Just then, he heard Feng Xin speak. "Your Highness, are you…a bit overtired, perhaps? Or are you just exhausted from being angry at that stinkin' bastard? Listen to me, don't go out for the next few days. Just take it easy."
Xie Lian finally snapped out of it and saw that Feng Xin was about to leave, his bow slung on his back and a stool dangling from his hand.
"No!" Xie Lian exclaimed hastily. "I…" Feng Xin pushed the door open and looked back. "Is there something else?"
Although the words almost made it to his lips, Xie Lian forcefully swallowed them, because a strange thought had appeared in his mind. Their life was already very difficult. If he told Feng Xin that White No-Face could be coming back to harass them, what would he do?
Feng Xin had also been traumatized by White No-Face. Would he distance himself from Xie Lian and leave like Mu Qing?
While Xie Lian's imagination ran wild, Feng Xin left. Xie Lian snapped back to reality at the sound of the door closing, but he could only shrink back to bed and wrap himself in blankets to take another nap.
Suddenly, he smelled something foul.
Xie Lian crawled upright. At first, he thought it was the queen cooking again, or that some rat had died in a corner, and he got up to check.
He looked everywhere, but eventually he discovered that the source of the foul smell was actually himself.
Only then did Xie Lian remember that it had been over two weeks since he'd last washed up or changed clothes. Of course he smelled.
Xie Lian held his breath. A wave of self-hatred crashed through him.
Just thinking about how his parents and Feng Xin surely must've noticed but hadn't bothered to tell him made him feel another wave of mortification. He sneakily opened the door and looked around; seeing there was no one outside, he found himself a set of fresh clothing and got to work heating some water for a bath.
After much struggle, he finally lowered himself into the bathtub. He sank beneath the water's surface and held his breath until he was drowning, only resurfacing when he felt like he was going to pass out. Then he scrubbed his face roughly a few times.
After he finished scrubbing himself down, Xie Lian reached out to grab for his clothes. He shook out the robes absentmindedly and was about to get out of the water and put them on when he suddenly noticed something wrong.
These weren't his clothes. This was White No-Face's ghastly white funeral garb, expansive sleeves and all!
In an instant, Xie Lian felt the hot water he was soaking in turn into an icy pond. His hair stood on end, and he cried out in dismay, "Who?!
Who did this?!"
Who had swapped out his clothes in secret while he wasn't paying attention?!
He jumped out, still wet and dripping, and knocked the bathtub over with a loud splash. The entire cottage was flooded in an instant with bathwater, startling the king and queen in the next room. The queen supported the king as they walked out to see—only to find Xie Lian sprawled naked on the flooded floor. In her shock, the queen came rushing forward to hug him.
"My son, what happened to you?!"
Xie Lian was wet and dripping, his hair strewn around him. He looked up and hugged her back. "Mom, a ghost, there's a ghost, there's a ghost clinging to me! He follows me everywhere!"
He looked no different from someone who had lost his mind, and the queen couldn't take it anymore. She wept in anguish and held her son. The king also watched Xie Lian in shock. Although he was a man of only forty-some years of age, he now looked like he was over sixty. The frigid air of winter jolted Xie Lian, and he pointed.
"The clothes. Look at the clothes…!"
But when he looked at the clothes again, he didn't see the funeral garb at all. Those were just…his normal white cultivation robes?
Rage seized Xie Lian, and he slammed a fist against the wooden tub.
"Just what do you want?!" he roared. "Are you toying with me?!"
The queen forced back her tears and hugged him again. "My son, don't be angry, just put on some clothes first, put them on, don't catch a cold…"
That day, Feng Xin came back very late. Exhaustion was written on his face, much more than usual.
Xie Lian had been waiting for him for a long time, and he said impatiently, "Feng Xin, I have something very important to tell you."
White No-Face was too strange and too powerful a creature; even if Xie Lian told Feng Xin about him, any warnings made ahead of time would probably be pointless. Nevertheless, after much thinking, Xie Lian still believed he shouldn't keep something like this a secret from Feng Xin. He decided to tell him the truth.
Unexpectedly, Feng Xin didn't ask him what it was and only said, "Oh good. I've got something I wanted to say to you too."
Xie Lian assumed the matter with White No-Face would be most critical, and important things were best talked of last, so he sat down at the table and asked, "You go first. What is it?"
Feng Xin hesitated for a moment but said, "Your Highness, you go first."
Xie Lian didn't care to decline politely anymore. "Feng Xin, you must be extremely careful. White No-Face has returned," he said in a hushed voice.
Feng Xin's expression abruptly changed. "White No-Face is back…?
Why would you say that? You saw him?"
"Yes!" Xie Lian exclaimed. "I saw him!"
Feng Xin paled. "That's… That's not right. Why would he let you see him? Why are you still here in one piece?!"
Xie Lian buried his face in his hands. "…I don't know! Not only did he not kill me, he even…" He had even hugged him and patted his head like a loving elder. He beckoned him to his side.
After listening to Xie Lian describe the strange encounters from the past few days, Feng Xin's shock gradually faded away and was replaced by confusion. "What exactly does he want?"
"It can't be anything good. He also seems to be following me everywhere," Xie Lian said. "In any case…you just have to be careful!
Help me remind Father and Mother to be careful too, but don't frighten them."
"All right," Feng Xin said. "I won't leave for the next few days. The stuff that bastard gave us…should last for a while."
It was quite embarrassing to admit. When Mu Qing went away, he left behind everything he'd brought them. Although Xie Lian had lost control of himself, flung the provisions in Mu Qing's face, and declared that he didn't need his stuff nor his help, they'd still picked up everything in defeat once they calmed down.
Xie Lian sighed and nodded. Then he said, "Oh yes, what was it that you wanted to say to me?"
Now that the subject was raised, Feng Xin hesitated again. After a pause, he opened his mouth, hemming and hawing and scratching at his head as he stammered out, "Actually, it's… Your Highness, do you still have any money on you? Or something that can be pawned?"
Xie Lian was perplexed that he'd ask such a foolish question at a time like this. "Huh? Why do you ask?"
Feng Xin was sweating, but he replied boldly, "It's nothing… Just… If you happen to have some, can you…lend it to me?"
Xie Lian laughed bitterly. "Do you really think I have anything?"
Feng Xin sighed. "I didn't think so."
After giving it some thought, Xie Lian asked, "Didn't I give you that golden belt?"
"That's not enough," Feng Xin mumbled. "Far from it…" Xie Lian was shocked. "Feng Xin? What exactly did you do? How could a golden belt not be enough to cover whatever you need? Did you beat someone up and need to pay them off? Tell me?"
Feng Xin came back to himself and quickly said, "Oh no! Don't take this to heart. I was only asking!"
Xie Lian pressed him over and over, but Feng Xin still swore everything was fine. Finally, Xie Lian said with worry, "Well, if there's anything, you must tell me. We can think of a solution together."
"Don't worry about me," Feng Xin said. "There's no way a solution will just fall from the sky. Your Highness, you just focus on solving your own problems!"
When he mentioned that topic, Xie Lian's heart sank again.
***
Just as he'd expected, the creature harassed him ceaselessly in the days that followed and wouldn't leave him alone.
Xie Lian constantly spotted a cry-smiling mask or a white silhouette in many unexpected places. Sometimes it'd be at the head of the bed in the deep of night, sometimes it'd be a reflection in the water, sometimes the door would swing open abruptly and it would be standing there, and sometimes it'd even be standing right behind Feng Xin.
White No-Face seemed to take pleasure in scaring him, and he purposely made certain that he could only be seen by Xie Lian. Whenever Xie Lian couldn't take it anymore and pointed at him screaming, he'd disappear as soon the others rushed to Xie Lian's side or looked over. Xie Lian spent his days in jumpy agitation, so bitter that he wished he could catch that creature and chop him into eight large chunks—but he couldn't even manage to step on his shadow. Inevitably, his days and nights flipped, and his heart and body were exhausted.
One night, deep in the darkest hours, he jolted awake and felt irrepressibly thirsty. Recalling that he hadn't drank anything the previous day, he crawled up to get some water. However, outside the room, he heard faint voices and weak candlelight. Startled, Xie Lian quickly hid behind the door, his heart thumping.
Who could it be? If it's Father, Mother, or Feng Xin, why would they sneak around like this?
But as it turned out, the ones sneaking around really were his father, mother, and Feng Xin.
Feng Xin's voice was extremely hushed. "His Highness is resting now, right?"
The queen also whispered her reply. "He's asleep."
"Finally," the king said. "Don't wake him too early tomorrow. Let him sleep some more."
Those words made Xie Lian's heart squeeze. Soon after, he heard the queen sigh. "If this keeps up, how will my son ever get better?"
Xie Lian could feel something amiss with those words, and Feng Xin replied in a quiet voice.
"He's only like this because he's exhausted. Too much has happened lately. Will Your Majesties also keep a close eye on him? Please let me know as soon as possible if there's anything not right with His Highness, but don't tell him you did. Also, avoid saying anything that might provoke him—" Xie Lian stayed in his eavesdropping spot, his mind going blank as he listened. Waves of blood rushed to his brain.
What did this mean? What did they mean?
I'm not crazy! I didn't lie! I was telling the truth! he screamed internally.
Xie Lian slammed the door open, startling the trio inside the room.
Feng Xin rose to his feet.
"Your Highness? Why aren't you asleep?!"
Xie Lian lashed out, shouting in his face, "You don't believe me?!"
Feng Xin was taken aback. "Of course I believe you! You—" Xie Lian cut him off. "Then what did you mean just now? Are you saying that everything I saw was a hallucination? That I'm just delusional?"
The king and queen tried to intercept the argument, but Xie Lian stopped them. "Don't speak! You two don't understand anything!"
"No!" Feng Xin exclaimed. "I believe you, Your Highness, but it's also true that you've been exhausted lately!"
Xie Lian stared at him but didn't reply. There were chilling winds blowing somewhere inside of him.
He trusted that Feng Xin really did believe him. At least mostly…but not completely. After all, Xie Lian had spent his recent days in quite a disturbed state of mind—if any outsider saw him, they would no doubt declare him a madman. What right did Xie Lian have to demand anyone wholly believe him?
But it shouldn't have been like this. Feng Xin used to have absolute faith in him, without reservation! Even if he only doubted it twenty percent, that was still unbearable!
Xie Lian was filled with indignation and resentment, but he couldn't tell who it was aimed at—White No-Face, Feng Xin, everyone, or himself.
Without a single word, he turned to leave. Feng Xin chased after him out the door.
"Your Highness, where are you going?"
Xie Lian said with forced calm, "Don't worry about it. Don't follow me. Go back."
"No, where are you going? I'll go with you!" Feng Xin said.
Having made up his mind, Xie Lian suddenly took off in a mad run.
Feng Xin wasn't as fast as him and was soon left far behind—he could only shout after him. The king and queen both came outside and started shouting after him too, but Xie Lian pretended not to hear and ran faster and faster.
He had no choice but to go on the attack!
If White No-Face wanted to kill Xie Lian, or Feng Xin, or his parents, he could do it easily. Yet he wouldn't just kill and be done with it— instead, he was playing with Xie Lian like a toy, making a fool of him!
Xie Lian roared into the black night as he dashed. "Come the hell out! You gutter monster! Get the hell over here!"
White No-Face was coming for him specifically, so he believed that the creature would surely be following him. But even after Xie Lian cursed to hell and back with his insufficient vocabulary, none of the usual sneers drifted from unexpected shadowy corners, nor did anyone appear languidly behind his back to place their hand on his unsuspecting head.
Xie Lian ran madly for kilometers before he finally exhausted his strength. He doubled over, hands on his knees to support himself as he panted harshly. His chest and throat were flooded with a metallic taste.
A long while later, he abruptly straightened up and continued forward, muttering under his breath as he went. "So…you want to drag this out? Fine, we'll drag this out slowly!"
He walked alone for who-knew-how-long through the wild hills, old woods, and deep mountains. Fog gradually rolled in and thickened.
All around Xie Lian were old trees sunken in the darkness, flashing their claws. The trees leaned forward and bent at such extreme angles that it seemed like they were bowing, inviting him to step into a forbidden land of no return. Xie Lian could tell that whatever was ahead wasn't anything good but also that it was unavoidable. He needed to put an end to this, so he had to come here sooner or later. Thus, he continued forward with grim determination.
As he walked, something faint and shimmering emerged from within the white fog ahead. It looked like a glowing wall. Xie Lian had never seen anything like it, and he furrowed his brow slightly, coming to a stop. As for that "wall," it was slowly moving forward toward him!
Xie Lian tensed in alarm and snapped a branch off a nearby tree, gripping it at the ready. Only when the wall was less than two meters away did he realize in bewilderment that it wasn't a wall at all—it was countless ghost fires. There were so many that, from afar, it looked like a blazing wall or a giant net.
While the ghost fires were strange, they didn't show any murderous intent. They simply drifted toward him silently, blocking him from continuing onward. Xie Lian tried going around them, but the ghost fires immediately changed direction and continued to block him.
Xie Lian heard many voices, all talking at the same time:
"Don't go there."
"Don't go."
"There are bad things ahead."
"Turn around, don't continue onward!"
The voices were stoic and densely layered, washing over him like a tide and giving Xie Lian chills. He found himself surrounded. In the sea of ghost fire, Xie Lian noticed a ball of flame that was especially bright and especially silent.
A ghost fire didn't have eyes, but when Xie Lian looked at this one, he could almost sense its burning gaze staring back at him.
It seemed this particular ghost was the strongest of those present; all the other ghost fires were only following it.
"Move," Xie Lian said coldly.
The ghost fire didn't move.
"Why are you blocking my way?" Xie Lian demanded.
The ghost fire didn't answer. All the other, smaller ghost fires simply repeated, "Don't go there!" over and over again. Xie Lian didn't want to bother with all this, so he struck out with a hand. He didn't disperse their souls; the strike was only meant to break apart the formation of the ghost fires blocking him, like waving away a band of fireflies or a school of little goldfish.
Xie Lian quickly passed through them, dry branches and broken leaves crackling under his feet. Yet when he looked back, the ghost fires were swiftly catching up to him, poised to form another wall.
"Don't follow me," Xie Lian warned.
The brightest, hottest ghost fire was leading at the very front, and it did not heed his words. Xie Lian raised his hand like he was going to strike again.
"Keep following me and I might just disperse your souls!" he warned fiercely.
With a threat like that, many of the ghost fires were frightened, fluttering and shriveling away. However, the leading ghost fire only faltered for a moment in midair before it continued to trail him, no more than five paces behind. It seemed to be telling Xie Lian, "It doesn't matter if you disperse me"—or perhaps it knew that Xie Lian wouldn't really do it.
A sudden and inexplicable anger filled Xie Lian. In the past, what little minion would have dared continue to harass him if he shouted at them? They would've disappeared in a flash with their tail between their legs. Now, not only did people step all over him whenever they liked, even this tiny ball of ghost fire wouldn't obey him and took his threats as nothing.
Xie Lian's eyes reddened from anger. "Even a little ghost like you is like this… You're all like this… Everyone's like this!" he mumbled.
It was a little funny to be so enraged by something so small, yet Xie Lian was genuinely filled with furious indignation. Unexpectedly, after his grumbling, the ball of ghost fire seemed to understand his anger and anguish, and it stopped in midair, no longer trailing him. It slowly led the hundreds of little ghost fires away, and they disappeared into the night soon after.
Xie Lian exhaled, turned around, and continued onward.
After walking for seven or eight hundred paces more, he could faintly see the eaves of a building within the beguiling fog ahead. It appeared to be an old temple of the deep mountains. When Xie Lian approached and looked closer, his eyes widened slightly.
It was…a Temple of the Crown Prince.
This was a broken-down Temple of the Crown Prince, of course. It had already been pillaged and wrecked by mobs, and the establishment plaque had fallen to the ground, broken in half. Xie Lian paused in front of the temple's entrance for a moment, then he stepped over the sundered establishment plaque and went inside.
The divine statue within the great hall had long since vanished— perhaps it had been smashed, or burnt, or thrown into the sea. The altar was empty and desolate, and only the scorched base of the statue remained. On either side, the words, "Body in Abyss, Heart in Paradise," had been slashed some thirty times. Like a lovely woman whose face had been scarred by knives, it was no longer a beautiful sight, only chilling and hideous.
Xie Lian kept his composure and sat on the ground inside the great hall, waiting for White No-Face to appear. After an incense time, a figure really did emerge from the beguiling fog outside the temple.
However, it didn't look right—the figure had none of White No-Face's habitual ease, and its hurried steps were very unlike White No-Face's silent creeping. The one approaching mustn't be him, nor anyone Xie Lian knew.
But then who could it be?
Xie Lian was on high alert, but he only got a clear look when the person finally rushed into the Temple of the Crown Prince. Unfortunately, this person didn't match any of his guesses—no matter how Xie Lian studied him, he was only a human passerby, nothing suspicious or notable about him.
However, Xie Lian still didn't relax his guard. Who knew if this was one of White No-Face's disguises?
As could be expected from two people who had suddenly run into each other inside a broken-down temple out in the wild, Xie Lian was cautious of the man—and the man was similarly cautious of Xie Lian.
A moment passed, then the man finally ventured to ask, "Um… Daozhang? Do you know what this place is?"
Xie Lian knitted his brow slightly and looked up. "You don't know what this place is? Then how did you get here?"
"I got lost!" the man said. "I've walked around and around, but I just can't seem to get out of this forest!"
Xie Lian knew that this man hadn't gotten lost at all. If he really wasn't White No-Face in disguise, then he had most likely been lured in by something.
"Stop walking around. You won't be able to get out that way," Xie Lian said.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
But Xie Lian didn't respond further, just continued to meditate. If this man had been lured in by White No-Face, panicking would be pointless.
There would be no leaving if he didn't want to let them go, so it'd be better for Xie Lian to wait quietly and see what he planned on doing.
The man was tired from running around, so he sat on one side of the room to rest, the two of them now at peace with each other. It wasn't long before another figure emerged from the fog and entered the temple— another confused traveler. Seeing that there were people inside, he quickly approached them.
"Hey, pal! Can I ask what this place is?"
The two travelers started chatting, and a premonition started growing in Xie Lian's mind.
It wasn't over. More would come.
Sure enough, dozens of people arrived at this Temple of the Crown Prince within the span of two hours, one after the other. There were all kinds: men, women, seniors, children, some by themselves, some in groups of three or four, some whole families, and most of them had come here after getting lost. The reasons for their getting lost were numerous and bizarre— some had even been strolling down a city street and had inexplicably found themselves lost in this forest. It was completely incredible. Xie Lian even noticed that one was the same street performer who had been so adamant about competing against him in boulder shattering. He didn't look very well; it seemed the competition had injured him badly. The two of them spotted each other but didn't say a word, only nodded in acknowledgment.
It was easy to see that these were all ordinary people, and they had all been intentionally brought into the deep mountains by White No-Face!
The alarm in Xie Lian's head was sounding louder and louder, but still, he didn't move. He dug out a cold steamed bun from his sleeve and bit into it forcefully, chewed forcefully, and then swallowed forcefully. He had to conserve all his energy to face the great battle that was likely coming.
Four hours later, this Temple of the Crown Prince was full to bursting with "lost" people. Xie Lian counted silently and determined there were about a hundred in total. Not a single one would be able to leave these woods.
With crowds came bustling noise, and everyone started chatting.
"Did you also randomly end up here? This reeks of evil!"
"Why don't we try to find a way out again?"
"Let's go, let's go. I refuse to believe that not a single one of us will be able to find a way!"
Xie Lian was sitting in the corner and looked up abruptly. "It won't matter how far you walk. There is no exit."
The crowd looked at him. "How come?"
"Because you were led here by a monster. You're his toys, so why would he let you go so easily?" Xie Lian said bitterly.
Silence descended upon the room.
Within the crowd, some thought he was an alarmist, some thought he was deliberately being cryptic, and some thought he shouldn't be underestimated.
One of them stood up and asked Xie Lian, "Who are you? What makes you say that?"
"I think he was the first one here. He was already sitting there when I came."
"Weird…" "Yeah, and his face is covered too."
"Do you have any proof?" one asked.
"There is no proof. Believe it if you will," Xie Lian said evenly. "The monster certainly didn't lure you here to invite you all in for a meal. I don't think I need to tell you to be a little more careful."
After he spoke but before anyone could respond, the sound of frantic footsteps came from the far distance. Everyone instantly perked up.
"Another one's coming!"
There were some who wanted to go outside and check it out, but just as they crossed the temple threshold, they hastily slipped back inside. This was because the running noise was accompanied by waves of crazed screaming.
The screaming voice didn't sound human at all. Everyone's faces dropped, and they all backed further into the temple.
"What the heck! Who could that be? It's not some beast, is it?!"
As the figure within the beguiling fog swiftly approached the temple, Xie Lian narrowed his eyes. "No, it's a person!"
Except the person was running in their direction and howling deafeningly at the same time, his hands covering his face. Seeing that he would make it to the temple at any second, Xie Lian squeezed through the crowd and stood at the front to see what was happening.
It was as if the man had no eyes. He crashed straight into a tree at the entrance of the Temple of the Crown Prince. Bang! He bounced back a good three meters, then fell to the ground unconscious.
The crowd was shocked. Still crammed inside the temple, they all stretched their necks out to gawk. "What… What happened to that man?"
they wondered apprehensively.
Some, like the street performer, were gutsier and declared that they were going to examine him.
"Don't go near him!" Xie Lian immediately called out.
Those people jumped at his severe tone. "Then what do we do? Just let him lie there?"
"I will go take a look," Xie Lian said.
"Then you be careful, okay?" the crowd said.
Xie Lian nodded and approached the tree slowly, then crouched next to the man. He was about to move the hand covering the man's face when he suddenly jumped and let out two shrieks.
Yes, two shrieks at once—two sounds happened at the same time.
One came from his mouth and the other came from his face—another face on the man's face!
Human Face Disease!
Goosebumps instantly raised on Xie Lian's skin, and his pupils shrank. The crowd within the temple was frozen watching this horrifying scene. After the man sprang up, he dropped his hands and began to charge over to where the people were, but thankfully Xie Lian had quick reflexes and struck. The Human Face Disease victim was instantly sent flying dozens of meters away by his slap. Xie Lian then hastily backed away to shield the entrance of the temple while exclamations of panic and shock sounded from the crowd behind him.
"I thought that disease only appeared in the imperial capital! So many people died—but wasn't the plague extinguished?!"
"It's not real! It can't be real! Is that really a face on his face?!"
The horror only increased in the next moment when more wailing echoed from all around. Over ten wobbling figures were approaching the temple.
They didn't need to look closer to know they all had Human Face Disease!
"Everyone, run! Spread out! Don't let them come close!" someone yelled.
But Xie Lian shouted, "Don't spread out! Who knows how many more of them there are in the woods?! If there are others out there, it'll all be over!"
"Then what do we do?!"
"We can't stay here like sitting ducks!"
"Isn't that just waiting for death to come to me?!"
The branch Xie Lian had broken off en route was hanging at his waist, and he grasped it to wield like a sword. "Don't worry, they won't come here. I get to decide whether they can approach!"
This was his domain, the Temple of the Crown Prince!
"You…" Not waiting for any further questions, Xie Lian leapt out. With a few swings of the branch, all the Human Face Disease victims fell to the ground in an instant. Committing word to action wasn't hard for Xie Lian at all, and sure enough, none of the disfigured wretches could get close. The crowd within the temple watched, punctuating the scene with harsh, gasping breaths, growing more and more shaken as the fight went on. When they saw that Xie Lian had triumphed, they all cheered, hollering thanks to the heavens.
At some point, ghost fires had come drifting on the night air from within the woods, and now they were dancing madly everywhere. Xie Lian couldn't tell if they were helping drive away the disfigured wretches, but in any case, he didn't think they were trying to obstruct him.
After making a sweep of the area, Xie Lian tried to sheathe his sword out of habit; only after his hand came up empty when grasping for his scabbard did he remember that he was wielding not a sword but a tree branch. He felt awkward for a moment.
Suddenly, he spotted a white-clad figure not far away, waving and beckoning him. Xie Lian's blood was still boiling from the fight, and he instantly gave chase.
"Don't even think about escaping!"
The band of ghost fires zoomed over and followed his charge like they were lighting his way. Naturally, White No-Face wasn't trying to escape. He strolled at an easy pace, his steps languid, but he always remained seven or eight paces ahead. Xie Lian pursued him for a few steps before he realized something and immediately turned back. Noticing that he wasn't chasing anymore, White No-Face stopped.
"Why aren't you following me?"
Xie Lian looked back. "You just want to lead me away so you can spread another wave of Human Face Disease. Why would I follow you and let you have your way?"
"No, you're mistaken. My objective isn't to 'lead you away.' My objective is you."
Although his expression was concealed by the cry-smiling mask, for some reason, Xie Lian could sense he was smiling.
Luring Xie Lian away truly made no sense. If White No-Face wanted to spread Human Face Disease again, he could've done so anywhere else in the world and Xie Lian wouldn't have been able to stop him. So why was he doing it in these deep mountains?
Xie Lian stopped. "Then what exactly do you want?!"
He had asked that same question countless times and was starting to lose his patience.
"I've already told you. I want you to come to my side," White No-Face replied.
Xie Lian wielded his tree branch and pointed it at him. While it was not threatening whatsoever—even a little funny—it was nonetheless the only weapon he had on hand. Thank goodness, a particularly bright ball of ghost fire landed on the tip of the branch and helped add some battle aura.
"Why do you want me on your side? To take your life?" Xie Lian demanded sharply.
White No-Face only chuckled softly. "Your Highness, you are a beautiful block of jade," he said warmly. "Allow me to guide and educate you."
Xie Lian could not immediately formulate a response. Feeling both incredulous and furious, he couldn't help but click his tongue. "You?
Educate me? My master is the State Preceptor of Xianle. What the heck are you?! Where did you come from, you monster?!"
White No-Face extended a finger and waggled it.
"You're mistaken again. Your Highness, perhaps it would be better to say that I am the only one worthy to educate you. Your master? The State Preceptor of Xianle?" His voice turned strangely arrogant and condescending. "That thing isn't worth mentioning in my presence. On the contrary, you've been absorbing my lessons very well."
"What did you teach me?" Xie Lian spat angrily. "What the heck are you talking about? I don't understand at all!"
White No-Face snorted a laugh. "The first thing I taught you is that you are powerless in the face of many things in this world."
At his words, countless chaotic images and voices flashed through Xie Lian's mind. He gritted his teeth and lunged with his "sword," but White No-Face easily evaded.
"The second thing—" He seized Xie Lian, making him lose his balance and almost trip. Xie Lian felt a hand stroke the top of his head.
"Do you want to save the common people? They don't need you to save them. They aren't worthy."
Xie Lian's movement faltered for a moment, but then he slapped that hand away before turning and stabbing again. White No-Face snapped the branch in his hand and dodged behind Xie Lian, quickly placing two ice-cold fingers on a fatal point on the back of his head!
Xie Lian was sure his brain was going to be pierced at any moment by those prodding fingers. He froze in place.
From behind him, White No-Face spoke again. "If you don't come to my side, then you will never win against me, and I will always defeat you."
Xie Lian panted and said darkly, "…Come at me anytime!" He paused for a moment, then kept speaking, saying each word slowly and clearly.
"I can't win, but that's only for now. You can defeat me countless times, but you can't kill me. And as long as you can't kill me, I will surely defeat you one day!"
When the ghost fire heard his words, it blazed even more ferociously, like it was going to brighten the entire night sky.
Behind him, White No-Face was silent for a moment. Then he said, "I can't kill you?"
Xie Lian held his breath and didn't speak. In truth, he didn't fully know what the undying body Jun Wu had granted him could handle. If White No-Face really did pierce his skull in a moment of fury, would he still live?
White No-Face continued, his tone even, "Indeed, I can't kill you. I won't kill you either. But don't be too confident, now—I hope you don't have any regrets about this later."
Regret? What would he regret?
Xie Lian hadn't yet figured it out when a hand chopped his neck violently. He instantly sank into darkness.
***
Within that darkness, there was light and warmth some distance ahead. Xie Lian moved toward the light and regained consciousness little by little.
He opened his eyes slowly. The first thing he saw was a ball of ghost fire floating above him. It seemed that the little ghost fire was the source of the light and warmth he had felt while unconscious.
Seeing that he was awake, the ghost fire immediately pressed close to Xie Lian, then quickly decided that getting too close wasn't acceptable and backed off a little. Xie Lian couldn't help but consider this ball of ghost fire exceptional—if he remembered correctly, it was the same one who had created a formation to block his path through the woods. He wanted to reach out and poke at it, yet when he tried, for some reason his hand didn't move at all.
Xie Lian was perplexed and instantly snapped out of his reverie. He dropped his head to look and quickly discovered why he couldn't move his hand. His arms and legs were bound.
He was firmly tied down on the altar atop the scorched base of the missing statue. There were many people squeezed around the altar, and hundreds of round, unblinking eyes were staring up at him.