Ch.31: Poking the Ghost King; Crown Prince Seeks Truth 2—Once the air froze Xie Lian knew his question may have crossed the line.Although the past few days the two of them had gotten along well, but if Hua Chengnever revealed his real face, and didn’t change back even after his identity wasrevealed, then he had his reasons, and Xie Lian was in no place to push. Withoutwaiting for his response Xie Lian widened his smile, “I was just asking, don’t take it toheart.”Hua Cheng closed his eyes, and after a moment, he smiled softly, “I’ll let you see itsomeday, if there’s a chance.”If anyone else were to say that, then it’d naturally be perfunctory; ‘someday’ usuallymeant ‘please forget it.’ But it was Hua Cheng who said those words, so Xie Lian felt‘someday’ meant ‘someday’, and it would for sure happen. This made him even morecurious, and he grinned, “Then I’ll wait til the day you can show me. Let’s rest for now.”After messing around for half the night, Xie Lian had long given up on cooking anything,and returned to the straw mat. Hua Cheng also laid down next to him. No one botheredquestioning why after revealing each other’s identities that a god and a ghost could stilllay together on a rumpled mat, laughing and chatting, and simply just hanging out.The straw mat didn’t have pillows, so Hua Cheng used his own arm, and Xie Lianimitated him using his own arm too. He chatted casually, “The ghost realm seems soidle. Don’t you guys ever need to report back to anything?”Hua Cheng not only had his arm as a pillow, he crossed his legs too and replied,“Report to whom? I’m the biggest there is. Besides, we mind our own business, no onebothers with anyone.”So the ghost realm was formed by many disorganized bands of lost souls and feralghosts. Xie Lian replied, “Is that so? I thought it’d be like the Heavenly Court wherethere’s a central government. So if that’s the case, have you met any other ghost kingsbefore?”“I have.” Hua Cheng said.“Even the Green Ghost Qi Rong?”“You mean that lowly, vulgar trash?”‘Well what do I say to that?’ Xie Lian thought, but thankfully he needn’t say anything asHua Cheng continued, “I greeted him and he ran away.”Instincts told Xie Lianthis ‘greeting’ couldn’t be your regular kind of greeting, and sureenough, Hua Cheng said casually, “And then I received the title ‘Crimson Rain SoughtFlower’.”“…”So when he mentioned wiping out the nest of another ghost, he was talking about theGreen Ghost Qi Rong, and this ‘greeting’ was annihilation. What an extraordinarygreeting, Xie Lian thought. He rubbed his chin and asked, “Do you have somethingagainst the Green Ghost Qi Rong?”“Yea.” Hua Cheng replied.“What’s that?”“Can’t stand his face.”Xie Lian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, thinking did Hua Cheng challenge thosethirty three heavenly officials also because he didn’t like their faces? “The heavens allcall him vulgar, and even the ghost realm rejects him. Is that true?”“It’s true. Even Black Water is disgusted with him.” Hua Cheng replied.“Who’s Black Water?” Xie Lian asked, then recalled, “Oh, is that the one called‘Ship-Sinking Black Water’?”“That’s right. He’s also known as the Black Water Demon Xuan.”Xie Lian remembered that this Black Water Demon Xuan was also a ‘Supreme’, but theGreen Ghost Qi Rong was only almost a ‘Supreme’. He asked, interested, “Are youclose with this Demon Xuan?”“No.” Hua Cheng replied lazily, “There aren’t many in the ghost realm I’m close with.”Now Xie Lian was curious, “Is that so? I thought you’d have many subordinates. Maybeour definition of ‘close’ is different?”Hua Cheng raised his brows, “Yea. In the ghost realm, those lower than ‘Supreme’ haveno right to speak to me.”It was an exceedingly arrogant statement, but Hua Cheng made it sound soindisputable and self-evident. Xie Lian smiled softly, “Even though you’re not close youstill know about them. You have it pretty good in the ghost realm, there’s only so manybig names, not like the heavens. There’s already so many officials to remember in theupper court, and more waiting to ascend in the middle court; they’re like an ocean ofnames.”“What good is it to remember their names? Don’t bother. It’s a waste of your brains.”Hua Cheng said.“Haha, it’s kind of offensive if you can’t remember their names.” The heavenly officialsloved their faces. Hua Cheng clicked his tongue, “If they can be offended by such asmall thing, then they’re nothing but narrow minded trash.”After chatting for a while, Xie Lian didn’t want to dig too deeply into the subject lest theytouch on something sensitive, so he changed the topic away from the differencebetween the two realms. He glanced at the closed wooden door and wondered, “BanYue, that child, I wonder when she’ll come back in.”The bold words “I want to save the world” returned and reverberated in his head,pouring a million chaotic images in his mind, and Xie Lian had to forcibly push themdown. Just then, Hua Cheng spoke up, “Those were good words.”“Which ones?” Xie Lian asked.“‘I want to save the world, the common people’.” Hua Cheng replied leisurely.“…”Xie Lian was thunderstruck.He flipped around and curled into a shrimp, wishing for another pair of arms so he couldcover both his face and his ears, and groaned, “…San Lang…”Hua Cheng seemed to have nudged closer, and said in a serious tone right behind him,“Hm? What’s wrong with those words?”Hua Cheng wouldn’t back down and Xie Lian couldn’t win against him so he flippedback over and said helplessly, “It’s silly.”“What’s there to be afraid of?” Hua Cheng said, “To dare speak of the world, whether tosave or to destroy is admirable. The former is harder than the latter, so it’s even morerespectable.”Xie Lian puffed a laugh and shook his head, “To dare speak you have to be able tofollow through, and you have to actually achieve it.”He laid an arm over his eyes, “Oh, alright. I suppose that’s nothing. What Ban Yue saidwas already pretty good. I’ve said sillier things when I was even younger.”Hua Cheng laughed, “Oh? Like what? Let’s hear it.”Xie Lian was pensive for a moment, and smiled softly as he chased his memories,“Many, many years ago, there was someone who told me they couldn’t live on anymore.They asked me for what they were alive, and what was the meaning of their life.”He glanced at Hua Cheng, “Do you know how I answered?”It might just be Xie Lian’s imagination, but there seemed to be light in Hua Cheng’seyes. He asked gently, “How did you answer?”Xie Lian said, “I told them: ‘If you don’t know how to live on anymore, then live for me!’“‘If you don’t know the meaning to your life, then make me that meaning, and use me asthe reason to live’.”“Ha ha ha….”As Xie Lian spoke, he couldn’t help but let out a small laugh and shook his head, “Evennow I don’t understand what I was thinking back then. How did I ever have the courageto tell someone to make me the meaning of their life?”Hua Cheng was silent and Xie Lian continued. “It really was something that could onlybe said back then. Long ago, I really thought I was invincible and fearless. If you ask meto say the same words now, there is no way they will ever leave my lips again.”Xie Lian continued slowly, “I don’t know what happened to that person after. But tobecome someone’s reason to live was already a heavy responsibility, how dare I speakof the world?”Silence blanketed inside Puqi shrineAfter a while, San Lang said softly, “Something like saving the world, it really doesn’tmatter how you do it. But, although brave, it’s foolish.”“Yea.” Xie Lian agreed.Hua Cheng continued, “Although foolish, it’s brave.”Xie Lian grinned, “Thanks.”“You’re welcome.” Hua Cheng said.The two stared at the holey ceiling of Puqi shrine in amiable silence, and Hua Chengspoke up again. “You know, we’ve only known each other for so many days. Is it alrightfor you to say so much to me?”Xie Lian puffed again and waved his hand, “What’s the problem? Whatever. Those whohave known each other for decades can become strangers in a day. We’ve met bychance, and we may part by chance. If we like each other then we shall continue tomeet; if we don’t then we shall part. There’s no banquet in the world that doesn’t cometo an end, so I’ll say what I want to say.”Hua Cheng seemed to have chuckled, then suddenly said, “If,”Xie Lian turned his head to face him, “If?”Hua Cheng didn’t turn around, but continued to look at the dilapidated ceiling of theshrine, and Xie Lian observed the left side face of the handsome young man.Hua Cheng said softly, “If I was ugly,”“Huh?” Xie Lian gaped.Hua Cheng finally turned his head slightly, “If my real face is ugly, would you still want tosee it?”Xie Lian was taken aback, “Is it? Although there’s no real reason, but I think your realface mustn’t be that bad.”“Who knows,” Hua Cheng said half jokingly, “What if I’m discoloured, disfigured, ugly,monstrous and horrible, what will you do?”At first Xie Lian thought this line of inquiry was rather fascinating. So the number oneghost king of the ages, feared by the heavens, would care about his looks? But when hethought about it deeply, he didn’t think it very funny anymore.If he remembered correctly, in the many backstories about Hua Cheng, one had said hewas a disfigured child from birth, or something along those lines. If that was the case,then he must’ve grown up discriminated by others. Maybe it was because of this reasonthat he’s particularly sensitive about his looks.Thus, Xie Lian chewed on his words, “Well…”He used his warmest, most sincere tone, “To be honest, the reason I want to see yourreal face is only because, you see, we’re already like this…”“Hm?” Hua Cheng piped up, “Like what?”“…Well, now we’re sort of friends, right? So, if we’re friends, then we should be honestwith each other. So me wanting to see your real face has nothing to do with how youlook. You ask what I will do, of course I won’t do anything. Don’t worry, as long as it’syour real face, I’m sure I’ll… why are you laughing? I’m being serious.”When Xie Lian reached the last bit of his words, he could feel the boy next to himshaking. At first for a moment he had thought ‘are my words so moving that he’stouched like this?’, and was too embarrassed to turn around to see. But after a while,the soft laughter from next to him was very obviously leaked out. Xie Lian felt ratherbummed, and placed a hand on his shoulder to give it a little push, “San Lang… whyare you laughing so much? Did I say something wrong?”Hua Cheng immediately stopped shaking and turned around, “No, you’re very right.”Xie Lian felt even more bummed at those words, “You’re so insincere…”“I promise, you won’t find another person more sincere than me in this world.” HuaCheng replied.Xie Lian didn’t want to talk anymore and flipped over, his back facing Hua Cheng,“Forget it, time to sleep. Don’t talk.”Hua Cheng laughed softly again then said, “Next time.”Even though he was determined to sleep, hearing Hua Cheng speak, Xie Lian couldn’thelp but reply, “What, next time?”Hua Cheng whispered, “The next time we meet, I will use my real appearance to greetyou.”There was much to ponder about those words, and Xie Lian should’ve kept questioninghim, but after a long night, an unstoppable drowsiness overtook him, he couldn’t hangon and fell deeply asleep.The next morning, when Xie Lian woke, the spot next to him was already empty.He stumbled to get up and dazedly walked around the shrine. When he opened thedoor, there were no silhouettes to be seen outside. It appeared it was real. The boy hadindeed left.However, the fallen leaves had been swept into a pile, and next to it was a small claypot. Xie Lian took the pot inside and placed it on the altar. Right then, he suddenlydiscovered there seemed to be something extra on his usually bare chest.Xie Lian raised his hand to touch it, and found just below the cursed collar, there was anexceedingly thin chain, hanging loosely and light.Xie Lian immediately removed it from his neck. So it was a silver chain, and since it wasthin and light, he didn’t feel there was anything on his body before. And hanging fromthe chain was a crystal clear ring.—●MXTX Author Note: Hua Hua says he’s not good looking, is that even possible?Would this author write ugly characters? Of course not! [SPOILER in white font]Gift an Ashes Diamond Ring first for the romantic engagement! Next time, HuaHua will meet His Highness on main!Ch.32: In the Great Martial Hall; Crown Prince Meets Crown PrinceXie Lian knew, this ring must be something Hua Cheng left behind. He held it in hishand and wondered for a moment, ‘what could this be?’When Xie Lian was still a Crown Prince, he grew up in the Palace of Xianle. Thekingdom of Xianle had always revelled in beautiful, precious objects; collectors wereabundant, and the palace itself was therefore of course glorious and bedazzling. Goldencolumns, jaded steps, innumerous treasures and precious jewels, even the noblechildren played around with various coloured gems like toys. By the looks of this ring, itdid seem like it was made of diamond.However, its shape was exquisite; perhaps even the most skilled jeweler would not beable to craft the ethereal natural beauty it emanated. Moreover, of all the diamonds hehad ever seen, this stone was extraordinarily clear, shimmering like a crystal,fascinating and sublime, making it hard for him to determine exactly what it might bemade of.Still, even if he couldn’t tell what the ring was made of, it was for sure an item ofextreme significance. Besides, if it was found around his neck, then this was notsomething that was accidentally dropped, and more than likely a gift from Hua Cheng asa keepsake.Xie Lian was a little surprised receiving a keepsake like this. He smiled softly, resolvedto take good care of it, then ask the boy what the gift meant the next time they meet.The only place he owned was the broken down shrine; there was nowhere appropriatefor him to hide treasure, so after some thought, the best place was on his person afterall, and Xie Lian put the silver chain around his neck once more.After returning from running around Mount Yujun and the Banyue Pass back to back,Xie Lian laid in Puqi Shrine paralyzed for a few days. If it wasn’t for some of the overlypassionate villagers who’d come and offer buns or porridge, he’d probably stayincapacitated for many more days. He spent his days thus until one day, Ling Wensuddenly sent him a notice: Return to the heavens at once.Judging by her tone, something bad was about to go down. Xie Lian could more or lessguess what it might be and was already mentally prepared. “Is this about the BanyuePass?”“That’s right.” Ling Wen replied, “When you’ve returned to the heavens come directly toThe Great Martial Hall.”Upon hearing ‘The Great Martial Hall’, Xie Lian froze. Jun Wu1 was back.After his third ascension, he still hadn’t greeted Jun Wu. As the number one MartialGod, Jun Wu spent his days deep in cultivation behind closed doors or was outpatrolling the realms, keeping the world secure. Now that Jun Wu was back, Xie Liancouldn’t get out of making this trip to the heavens, and so he hiked up to the HeavenlyCapital once more after only so many days of rest.All manners of gods and immortals had their divine palaces built here, and bandingtogether they formed the great city, each with their own history and style; sculpted pillarsand muraled buildings here, little bridges and streams there.The Heavenly Court had one main road: the Martial Deity Avenue. Although there weremany such roads built in remembrance of Jun Wu in the mortal realm, they were onlymere shadows and copies of the real one in the heavens. Xie Lian walked on throughthe expansive road and headed towards the Heavenly Court. En route, there were manyheavenly officials in a hurry, and not a single one dared greet him.Truthfully, there was usually not many who would greet him when he visited theHeavenly Court. However, ‘not greet’ meant no fellow officials would approach him orinitiate any conversation but they would still nod in acknowledgement as was proper.Right now, everyone was pretending he wasn’t there, as if just glancing at him would getthem in trouble. If they were in front of him they would hurry away; if they were behindhim they would slow their pace, leaving him a wide berth, afraid to approach. Xie Lianwas already used to this treatment and didn’t think anything of it; after all, he did justdrag down the popular and newly ascended General Pei Junior. It’d be more strange ifno one stayed away. Yet unexpectedly, as he walked, a voice suddenly called out frombehind him, “Your Royal Highness!”Hearing the call, Xie Lian was amazed, thinking whoever it was that dared call him trulyhad commendable courage. But when he turned his head back, the junior official thatcalled for the Royal Highness rushed by him, and ran towards someone who waswalking further ahead of him. He called as he ran, “Jeez, Your Royal Highness! Howcan you forget your identity pass going to the Great Martial Hall? How would you evenget in?”On then did Xie Lian get it. Now wonder. Of course the address ‘Your Royal Highness’wasn’t directed at him. There’s a number of Crown Princes in the heavens, so someconfusion wasn’t anything extraordinary.Yet when he glanced over and saw the other Crown Prince, he paused.That young man had thick brows and bright eyes with a wide smile. This smile wasvastly different than many other heavenly officials; it was one that was pure and genuinewithout anything behind it, and added an air of youth to his handsome face. To haveanother harsher official, like Mu Qing, to comment, however, he would probably call it anair of foolishness. The young man was decked in armour, proud and heroic; but thearmour on him didn’t give off a sense of blood and battle, rather it gave him an air ofroyal nobility, candid and brilliant.Xie Lian stopped in his step and stared at the young man. The two in front felt his gazeand turned back to face him. When the junior official saw who it was, his face droppedimmediately. Xie Lian lightly nodded his head and smiled at him, “Greetings, Your RoyalHighness.”The other Crown Prince obviously was one who didn’t mind the everyday details anddidn’t recognize his face, so when he saw someone greeting him, he immediatelyreturned it with a bright smile and shouted, “Greetings!”The junior official beside him gave him a little push, and hurried, “Let’s go, YourHighness. We still need to go to the Great Martial Hall.”The young man, still unaware and inconscient, was weirded out by the sudden push,“Why are you pushing me???”Xie Lian puffed out a laugh and that junior official looked to be in even more of a hurry,and he urged, “The Emperor is probably already waiting for us, please let’s go, YourHighness!” The other Crown Prince could only give Xie Lian a confused look beforeturning to leave.Xie Lian stayed where he was, as they walked away, and soon, whispers from officialsof a lower rank floated into his ears from afar.“… Well that was awkward. The world is such a small place.”“But they’re both officials in the heavens, it was only a matter of time. If you ask me,General Nan Yang bumping into General Xuan Zhen is more exciting an affair.”“Hahaha, what’s the rush? They’ll be bumping into each other real soon! They’re allwaiting for him at the Great Martial Hall, aren’t they?”Suddenly, someone commented, “Nevermind a small world, really it’s people comparingeach other that really does it. People really are so different from one another; they’reboth Crown Princes, but His Highness Tai Hua is truly noble, and if it was him, hewouldn’t do anything shameful even when fallen from grace.”“The kingdom of Yong’An is more prosperous than the kingdom of Xianle after all, so ofcourse the Crown Prince of Yong’An would be stronger than that of Xianle. How thegrass grows depends on the land it grew on. Simple logic.”The Northern territory belonged to the Palace of Ming Guang, the Martial God Pei Ming;the Western Palace Qi Ying was Quan Yizheng; The Southeast Palace of Nan Yangwas Feng Xin; the Southwest Palace of Xuan Zhen was Mu Qing; and the one theEastern territory belonged to was the Palace of Tai Hua, the Martial God Lang Qianqiu.Lang Qianqiu, when he was a mortal, was a crown prince like Xie Lian. However, hewas the Crown Prince of Yong’An. The Kingdom of Yong’An was the country that builtover the fall of Xianle, and the founder of Yong’An was the rebel general whosuccessfully overthrew the royal capital of Xianle.When Xie Lian drifted in the mortal realm, he had also visited the east, and naturallyknew that the Crown Prince of Yong’An had ascended. As heavenly officials, it would beinevitable for them to bump into each other, so he didn’t think much of it. Maybe toanyone else, the gossiping whispers, albeit not really whispers, would probably neverbe heard for fear of retribution. But those words were uttered without fear of Xie Lianhearing, maybe even hoping for something exciting to happen should he overheard, soXie Lian pretended to have heard nothing, and casually walked away. Just then, anothervoice came from behind called out, “Your Highness!”‘Not again?!’ Xie Lian thought, but this time when he turned around, it was someonewho was addressing him for real. Ling Wen, with her two dark circled eyes and arms fullof scrolls, approached him, “Everyone has gone to the Great Martial Hall for themeeting. Be more mindful once you’ve reached the hall.”Xie Lian understood. “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 committed crimes,meaning the term of punishment was negotiable, and there may still be opportunities forresuming duties. If one day they should be found to be on their best behaviour, theymay yet get fished back up; maybe in thirty to fifty years, maybe in a hundred or twohundred years. But to Xie Lian, ‘not too bad’ was of course to his standards. To GeneralPei it would be a completely different story.Xie Lian remembered another thing and said, “Oh yea. Ling Wen, how goes the searchfor the boy with the human face disease from Mount Yujun I told you about last time?Do you have any news?”“I’m really sorry, Your Highness. I don’t have anything at the moment. We’re working onit.” Ling Wen replied.Even for a heavenly official, to find a person in such a vast world was not an easy task.Although the heavens may be faster, it was still only a difference between ten years inthe mortal realm versus one year in the heavens. Xie Lian could only express gratitude,“Thank you for your hard work.”Just then, they reached the end of the avenue, and a majestic palace came to viewbefore him.The palace had stood through the ages, yet it only showed enduring excellence, andnone of its antiquity; layers of glazed golden shingles pyramided, blinding in theirscintillation. Xie Lian raised his head and glanced at the ‘The Great Martial Hall’beneath the golden roof, the words written with power and with vigour were exactly thesame as a few hundred years ago, unchanging. He lowered his head and stepped intothe hall. Within, numerous heavenly officials had already gathered, either in their owngroups of two or three, or by their own lonesome, standing in silence.The only ones who may enter the hall were the heavenly officials who had officiallyascended, all imperial sons of heavens or indomitable overlords, each bursting withspiritual might. They eyed each other in silent pride and judgment, their splendoroverwhelming. At this time and place, everyone held their breaths, not daring to make asound. On the throne at the very end of the hall sat a martial god decked in a pure whitearmour.This martial god was refined and dignified, his eyes closed and his lips unspeaking,poised and solemn. Behind him was the magnificent Great Martial Hall, but beneath hisfeet was a pure white snowy peak. As if sensing Xie Lian entering the hall, he openedhis eyes.That pair of eyes were obsidian black but bright and clear, as if formed by the meltedsnow of a lake frozen for millions of years. When he blinked open his eyes, this martialgod smiled softly, “Xianle, you’ve come.”Xie Lian lowered his head in a bow and said nothing.When Jun Wu spoke, he was not loud, but his deep voice echoed through the entireGreat Martial Hall. Then, all the eyes of the officials focused on Xie Lian, and heunderstood immediately.It appeared this meeting wasn’t for discussing General Pei Junior and the Banyue Passscandal.The spotlight, it seemed, was on him.