"With all honesty, I haven't my lord"
Xiao Ling was lying clearly. Of course, he knew he met the one alive in that cursed land, of course he knew that he was alive. But in what sense of mind had he told such a lie. He stood up and asked
"However, my lord, if you don't mind me asking. What if I did find him, what will be his fate?"
Every official looked at him like they'd seen a ghost. Probably, screaming at him mentally. Breaking the awkward silence, Liu Ling spoke again, but this time it had been much more gruesome in his tone.
"He will pass away. The mere act of naming the realm itself is a curse, thus he must die at all costs. All of the land is doomed. And the very thought of one returning brings out the worst in everyone!"
Xiao Ling's expression was at fade. Anyone could tell that he hadn't expected such an outburst from him. Everyone's eyes were low. Lord Liu Ling's aura was almost near being bloodlust. He stood up and walked away. Leaving Xiao Ling standing
***
Ever since the meeting ended, officials present there had been eyeing him wherever he stood. The eyes where almost speaking, haven't you had enough!?
He couldn't even sleep. Getting weird nightmares of the mysterious man that he had met over and over again, seeming as if there was no end to it. He always awoke with a cold sweat. At night, he sneaked into General Nan Xuanjin's manor. Easily opening the barrier door with his own bare hands, stealthily entering inside.
Swoosh. Just a wind had come and without even noticing Nan Xuanjin had caught him. Xiao Ling gasped.
"it's me! Let go!"
"And what must you have been up to snooping around the manor. Are you pulling any pranks at this hour of time...?" General Nan Xuanjin said in a sly manner.
"You're no better! But- oh, your voice is quite deep, were you asleep?"
"No? Its normally like this. But glad to know that you're noticing it now" he said again teasingly. Xiao Ling sarcastically gasped, seeing it made Nan Xuanjin chuckle a bit.
"Say your highness, what sneakily brings you here?"
"wasn't able to sleep so to keep it short I needed some sort of company" Xiao Ling spilled. Quite interestingly, General Nan Xuanjin hummed and spoke again.
"I was about to come there myself for the same reason although I would knock before entering" he smirked, sitting on the couch as he spoke. Hearing this Xiao Ling didn't know whether to cry or laugh.
He rested himself next to Nan Xuanjin. Both sat there staring blankly at wall.
"Was it true you haven't met the one alive?" Nan Xuanjin asked breaking the silence. Xiao Ling shook his head "nope..." "guess the charm was bit of waste." "maybe"
"..." ""so um...Do you know perhaps... the unknown god from the tale of two slits of the crimson flower?" Xiao Ling asked. Nan Xuanjin fell a bit silent. After a brief second, he answered.
The deity that avenged the spirits there, the god that people knew that not even an ounce of information existed of him. However, no single rumor was accurate. It's true that people still revere him and are aware of him. The unidentified god is... Liu Ming. A few ghosts obviously didn't appeal to the Ghost King. Neither even sought vengeance.
The thing that mostly made Xiao Ling uneasy of the statue was the familiar hint that he hadn't notice.
"General Nan Xuanjin?"
"Yes?"
"If it doesn't bother, would you mind me asking if I could stay in the crimson for two weeks to be exact?"