Silver light flashed wildly. Xie Lian used his hands to block, and Ruoye on his wrist would automatically fight back at any sign of murderous intent, but those silver butterflies didn’t attack him at all, instead bypassed him and rushed at the two people behind.

Feng Xin and Mu Qing had suffered from the wraith butterflies before and knew that they were formidable, and both instantly raised their hands. Thousands upon thousands of silver butterflies swooped towards them, their wings flapping like a gust, but were blocked by an invisible wall in front of the two, and the collisions thumped like a downpour and produced intense white flares, shooting out like sparks.

The wraith butterflies were unstoppable and never-ending, like moths to a flame, completely insane, and the two of them furrowed their brow deeply at the onslaught of butterfly rain that was like artillery fire. Then Feng Xin heard Xie Lian let out an “ah”, thought that he was injured, and immediately said, “Don’t stand there, hurry up and get back here!”

Who knew that Xie Lian looked back, “Huh? What did you say?”

The two of them took a closer look and almost right then and there shot a mouthful of blood to the sky. They saw Xie Lian wholly unharmed, holding a small wraith butterfly in his palm, and having a mildly befuddled look on his face. It turned out that when the violent butterfly gust blew by just now, one of them might have been a little silly and hit Xie Lian’s forehead, shaking off a dusting of spiritual light. Xie Lian thought he was seeing stars, so he let out an “ah”. The little silver butterfly saw that it had bumped into him, panicked, spun a few circles, and fluttered a few times in front of Xie Lian. Xie Lian saw it trying so hard and couldn’t help but stretch out his palm underneath it. The little silver butterfly then flapped happily on his palm and refused to leave.

When he saw this, veins popped out on Feng Xin’s forehead, and he said, “What are you messing with? Don’t randomly touch things with your hands! It’s very dangerous!”

Xie Lian thought to himself I think you two who fight and throw things every time you meet me are more dangerous. Suddenly, his wrist felt tight, for someone had grabbed him and pulled him hard. His whole body was thereby pulled into the darkness beyond the front doors.

Trapped in darkness, yet he didn’t feel the least bit uneasy. Far from being frightening, this darkness was on the contrary like a layer of gentle armor, making him feel inexplicably reassured.

Mu Qing said incredulously, “How audacious, you dare come to the Heavenly Capital to cause trouble, isn’t it too brazen!” A voice laughed, “Likewise, aren’t you also quite brazen in my territory?”

Even if the person behind the darkness had not yet emerged, with the silver butterflies’ whizzing arrival, who wouldn’t know who the newcomer was? Xie Lian’s heart hung high. Feng Xin said, “Let him go!”

Hua Cheng sneered, “It depends on if you’ve got the ability.”

As soon as the words fell, the doors slammed shut!

Xie Lian felt a hand tightly clasping his wrist. It was pitch black all around, and the silence was disturbed by the clinkling of the silver chains on the black boots. The ground under his feet was uneven; the place leading outside the doors was indeed not the bright and broad avenue in the Heavenly Capital, but a remote mountain valley. Xie Lian recognized this as the valley leading to Ghost City and said in a haste, “What’s this all about! Please let go now and let me go back.”

Hua Cheng said coolly, “No.”

Xie Lian said, “Let me go back! You broke straight into the Heavenly Capital to kidnap someone like this, the Upper Court will not let it pass… …” Hua Cheng interrupted him, “I have already broken in and even opened a door to the Heavenly Capital, they won’t let it pass whether you go back or not, and am I scared of them?”

This was exactly what was most unthinkable, that Hua Cheng could somehow tamper with the front doors of the Palace of Xianle, treating the Heavenly Capital barrier as if it were nothing, simply open the doors and nab him! Xie Lian remembered what Jun Wu had told him before, that Hua Cheng had planted a piece in the Upper Court earlier than he did, this could now be confirmed.

He brooded for a while, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt that this was too serious, “I’d better go back. Maybe it hasn’t caused a big fuss yet, and I’ll just say that I ran away on my own… …”

But Hua Cheng yanked him back and said word by word, “Then I will make it a big fuss! How can the person I have kidnapped just return?”

Xie Lian said, “You…”

All of a sudden Feng Xin’s angry voice exploded in his ears, “Ling Wen! His Royal Highness is kidnapped!”

Xie Lian said inwardly shoot, too late now, can’t cover it up anymore. Although the voice was in his ears, the person was not in front of him. Feng Xin shouted from the Communication Array, and instantly blasted out a crowd of heavenly officials. Shi Qingxuan was the first to pop up, “How is it possible? This is the Heavenly Capital, and the Palace of Xianle and the Palace of Divine Might are on the same street; who dares to come and kidnap people?”

When Jun Wu wasn’t watching over the Heavenly Capital, all affairs were temporarily handled by the Palace of Ling Wen. Ling Wen remained composed as always, “Okay. I will go take a look. Your Royal Highness, are you listening? Can you respond?”

Xie Lian was about to answer, but Hua Cheng spun around and reached over with two fingers. The cold fingertips resting gently on his temple, Hua Cheng said with a smile, “Long time no see, how’s everyone!”

With a gentle touch of the two fingers, he entered the Communication Array of the Upper Court of Heaven through Xie Lian. These nonchalant words were not only heard by Xie Lian beside him, but also by all the other heavenly officials. Instantly the air froze, and no one caused any more ruckus.

No wonder it was so insolent, it turned out to be this person!

Xie Lian didn’t expect that when he said he’d make it a big fuss, he would be so resolute and directly announce his identity. He was dumbstruck. Hua Cheng added, “I don’t know if you’ve thought of me, but I haven’t thought of you at all.”

There were indeed many officials here in the Heavenly Realm who secretly thought of him every day, but once they heard him say that he had not thought of them, they all silently recited scriptures and prayed that he would keep on not thinking of them in the future. Then, Hua Cheng continued, “But I have been quite free lately. If someone is also very free and wants to come spar with me, that will be very welcome. And not only welcome for this occasion, but also for the long term in the future.”

The meaning couldn’t be more obvious: If anyone is brave enough to give chase, I will go challenge this person next time! If one accepted this challenge, they would definitely lose, and if one didn’t accept, they would have egg on their face. Wasn’t this a blatant threat?

Hua Cheng removed the two fingers after finishing speaking, and let go of Xie Lian’s wrist, “Ignore them; follow me.”

His voice was low, hard to make out the emotion. And he let go of Xie Lian extremely fast, almost like he threw him off.

Xie Lian originally thought that maybe Hua Cheng knew that he was confined and came specially to save him, so while he was worried, he was also vaguely happy. But once Hua Cheng let go, he abruptly remembered that he had just burned Hua Cheng’s Paradise Manor and the armory, and freed the undercover Hua Cheng had captured. Wasn’t it more likely that Hua Cheng came to settle the score?

The two of them walked with one behind the other. The more Xie Lian thought about it, the more guilty he felt, and decided to apologize first, “City Lord Hua, I’m sorry.” Hua Cheng paused in his steps, “Why are you saying sorry?”

His tone was a little harsh, and Xie Lian thought to himself shoot, he’s mad for real.

He felt himself shrink a few inches, “I went to Ghost City in order to investigate the disappearance of the Earth Master. Earlier… … I lied to you.”

Hua Cheng said, “I’m aware.”

Xie Lian shrank even further, “You treated me with great hospitality, but I burned your armory that was full of treasures as well as Paradise Manor. I’m really sorry.”

Hua Cheng said, “Didn’t I already give you the armory? It burned, then it burned, what’s there to feel sorry for.”

It’s over.

He didn’t know if it was an illusion, but Xie Lian heard a hint of coldness in his voice, and thought with stars in his eyes, “Is this mocking me?”

He said cautiously, “City Lord Hua, I know that saying ‘I’m sorry’ doesn’t carry much weight, but I will do my best to make up for it. It just may take a little longer, and if you don’t mind…”

Yet Hua Cheng suddenly said, “Why do you need to make it up to me?”

As if unable to listen anymore, he spun around, “Did you forget that it was I that hurt you with this cursed blade? Why are you saying sorry? Why do you need to make it up to me? “

Xie Lian almost forgot that his hand was still injured. Startled by his angry look, he only now remembered it and hurriedly said, “You mean the right hand? My right hand is fine, almost healed. Besides, this was never your fault!”

Hua Cheng stared at him, the light in his left eye unusually bright. And Xie Lian suddenly noticed that he seemed to be shaking.

After another moment, he found that it was not Hua Cheng who was shaking, but the scimitar at Hua Cheng’s waist that was shaking.

The silver scimitar hung on the red coat, trembling nonstop. So was the eye sketched by silver lines. If it had been on a child’s face, right now the child must have been bawling. Xie Lian reached his hand out to pet it, “What’s going on?”

Hua Cheng avoided it by turning slightly, however, and smacked the hilt of the scimitar, “Nothing. Ignore it. Is it wrong to say that you are a cursed blade?”

The Scimitar of Doom Eming, which terrorized people in the Three Realms, was shaken by his smack and trembled even more violently. Xie Lian hurriedly pressed his hand down, “City Lord Hua! Why do you have to say this in front of it? Don’t hit it either…”

In the Communication Array on the other side, Feng Xin asked with burning anxiety, “Where on earth have they gone?”

Mu Qing was much calmer than him, “The front doors of the Palace of Xianle were tampered with by Hua Cheng, and were connected to another place with Distance Shrinking Spell. But how can we activate this array?”

Ling Wen said, “According to previous information, this is one of Crimson Rain Sought Flower’s favorite jokes. You have to take a dice and roll it in front of the doors before opening it.”

Feng Xin said, “Okay! I’ll try it first.”

Xie Lian heard everything on this side. The miserable experience of running for his life at the lair of earth dragons and before the savage demons still vivid in his mind, he tried to salvage the situation, “Wait, don’t move!”

But seemingly it was already too late. Not long after, Feng Xin burst out with loud curses, which I won’t repeat here for the sake of propriety. There was also a trace of fear in his anger, and everyone was startled, asking, “What happened what happened?” Shi Qingxuan said, “Be very careful, don’t throw the dice randomly, it’s really choosy about your luck!”

Mu Qing’s voice came over, “Why did you only say it now?”

Shi Qingxuan was surprised, “Huh? Mu Qing, you also went after him? Who knew who knew, it turns out that you also care a lot about His Royal Highness!”

Xie Lian also quickly asked the owner of the spell, “Where did the dice send them?”

Hua Cheng said, “When they throw it, they will go wherever the scariest place is.”

Xie Lian slapped a hand over his face, realizing where those two had gone. Feng Xin had always been fearful at the mere mention of women, so for him, the most terrifying place in the world was definitely – the women’s bathhouse!

Over there, the two seemed to have finally escaped. Mu Qing could of course never miss such an opportunity to ridicule his opponent, sneering, “So obscene!”

Feng Xin said, “How would I know we would end up in that kind of place? It’s not like I wanted to go there! You do it if you are so good.”

Mu Qing said, “Fine, I’ll do it.”

Xie Lian had an extremely ominous premonition, but he couldn’t stop it. Sure enough, within a moment, the goosebumps that Mu Qing had dropped all over the place were ready to crawl into Xie Lian’s ears along the soundwaves as he spoke through gritted teeth, “How could there be such a hideous place in the world!”

Shi Qingxuan said, “Have you changed places again? It sounds like you are not so lucky. Where are you this time?”

Feng Xin was on the contrary collected now, “It seems to be a hill for discarding filth.”

“…”

Perhaps because he was initially a cleaning errand boy in the past, Mu Qing especially could not tolerate “dirtiness”, and would feel extremely uncomfortable if things were not cleaned up. One could imagine that when such a person as him was suddenly on top of a mountain of filth, surrounded by leftovers, sand and dust, rotten smells, and unknown dark materials from all directions, how suffocating it would be. Feng Xin said, “What are you blasting at random for!”

Deafeningly loud noises came over from that side, presumably because Mu Qing couldn’t stand it but also couldn’t clean it up, so was going to destroy everything. Feng Xin said, “Are you trying to go down together? The whole hill has been razed to the ground by you! Give me back the dice; your luck isn’t so good either!”

Mu Qing said, “What’s the problem? It looks much cleaner this way. Give me the dice, let me do it.” Feng Xin was furious, “Didn’t I give it to you already just now? Don’t say you lost it!”

Both of them insisted that the other party was luckless, and started blasting each other within sentences. The heavenly officials regretted only that the chaos wasn’t grand enough for spectating and were almost ready to cheer them on; only Xie Lian couldn’t bear it, and said to Hua Cheng, “City Lord Hua, how about you let them go?”

Hua Cheng said, “I didn’t stop them from going. They chose to follow on their own.” It didn’t seem like he was going to free them from the sea of misery. Then he heard Shi Qingxuan wonder, “This is strange! You two can’t have worse luck than His Royal Highness, can you? How come he got Hua Cheng when he threw the dice, and you got only these kinds of things? What on earth did he throw?”

Once he said this, Xie Lian also felt very fortunate; somehow he was lucky enough to have avoided entering either the women’s bathhouse or the garbage hill. He asked, “Just now I seemed to have rolled snake eyes. Will I see you as long as I roll snake eyes?”

As soon as he finished speaking, he realized that the wording was a little ambiguous, making it sound like he was probing how to see Hua Cheng. But Hua Cheng said, “No.”

A trace of embarrassment arose uncontrollably. Besides, his spiritual energy happened to be exhausted right at this moment and he could no longer receive anything from the Communication Array, the abrupt silence made the situation even more awkward. Xie Lian scratched his cheek, “Oh, then I got it wrong.”

Walking in front of him, Hua Cheng said, “If you want to see me, no matter what number you roll, you will be able to see me.”

Hua Cheng said, “When you rolled the dice, didn’t you call my name? I took that as you wanted to see me, so I went.”

It was like there was a silly little wooden fish in Xie Lian’s heart, which was suddenly hit by a little silver hammer, “deng”, the sound crisp and stirring, lingering endlessly.

After a long while, he said, “You came, just for this?”

Hua Cheng asked him back, “Otherwise? Is there any other reason for me to show up at a place like the Upper Court of Heaven?” Xie Lian was at a loss for words, “You… …”

Hua Cheng said, “What about me?”

Xie Lian was speechless, and surrendered with a sigh, “Nevermind.”

When he talked to Hua Cheng, it always seemed as if he got gently checkmated, unable to fight back, and yet willing to lose. He was truly lost for words.

All of a sudden, a dazzling white glare flashed across the sky in the distance. There was an earth-shattering sound of metal and rock cracking, and something blocked their way.

When the white glare had gradually cooled and faded, Xie Lian finally could see clearly that what dropped out of the sky was a sword.

The sword was long and slender, inserted aslant into the ground, and still quivering. A figure landed next to it directly after. The sword was Fangxin, and the man Lang Qianqiu. Evidently, although they were both Crown Princes, Lang Qianqiu’s luck had always been much better than Xie Lian’s. Only he rolled the correct number.

It’s unclear how Lang Qianqiu had retrieved the sword from the Palace of Divine Might, presumably not via any proper process. Hua Cheng’s hands behind his back twitched, and Xie Lian raised a hand to stop him, “Wait, please. This is between us, no need to trouble you.”

It was a while before Hua Cheng said, “Okay.”

Xie Lian stepped over to Fangxin, drew it up from the rocks with his left hand, and flicked lightly on the sword edge, making a crisp “ding” sound.

After hundreds of years, Fangxin was finally reawakened in his grip.

It hummed in Xie Lian’s hand. Not far away, Hua Cheng’s eyes were also excited into brilliance by the endless sword chant.

Also drawing the sword with his left hand, Lang Qianqiu said coolly, “You are finally willing to face your true self.”

Yet Xie Lian said, “What I truly am, you have never known.” He said softly, “Your Royal Highness, don’t you want to fight? Come on – you’ve asked for this!”

Seven steps were up, the swords moved!

The swords flashed splendidly, and the figures spun rapidly like shuttles. In an instant, the two had already crashed a dozen exchanges in the valley.

The World in Heart Flow was created by Jun Wu, which was also a first-rate martial art style practiced the most today by the martial gods. The Crown Prince of Xianle Xie Lian practiced this style, and so did the Crown Prince of Yong’an Lang Qianqiu.

Lang Qianqiu was already an outstanding practitioner of the World in Heart Flow, but when compared with Xie Lian, it was obvious that one appeared faintly callow, while the other was as familiar with it as breathing. The World in Heart Flow was such that the stronger the spiritual energy, the more powerful it could be. If they had been equally matched in spiritual energy, the winner would have been decided long ago. Nevertheless, who let spiritual energy also be a part of prowess?

But while Xie Lian clearly had the upper hand, his eyebrows were knitted closer and closer. After another small half of an incense’s time, he seemed unable to stand it any longer, unexpectedly withdrew from the fight, and said, “Whatever kind of fighting is this that you are doing?”

Lang Qianqiu was startled. Xie Lian parried a strike, “The World in Heart Flow is the martial art of kings, which emphasizes calmness, openness, and righteousness. Only by being upright and generous can it last. You’re simply brandishing it like crazy, do you think yourself a desperado getting by by licking the blade?”

He was strict like this when he taught Lang Qianqiu in the past; bad memories of being beaten into a pig’s head for a single wrong move still vivid in his mind, Lang Qianqiu felt mildly suffocated, gritted his teeth and fought even harder. After a while, Xie Lian again couldn’t take it any more and said, “What’s the matter with you? Have you completely forgotten all the essentials? Do you think this way of fighting is very fierce very mighty very powerful? You’ve got flaws all over you; if you continue like this, you will die by my hands within three moves.”

Lang Qianqiu had blue veins pop out on his forehead, “Shut up!”

How could he not know the essence of the World in Heart Flow? It’s just that, with the personal enemy before him, how could he maintain the grace? And if he did as Xie Lian said, it would seem like he was reminded by him.

What’s even more infuriating was that while he had lost the heart of a king, every move of the other party was calm, open, and righteous, like a perfect exemplar of the World in Heart Flow, and even if you measured it with a ruler, you couldn’t find any deviations.

Why! Why could a murderer with blood on his hands practice such an open and righteous martial art style, and practice it so magnanimously? As if he was truly upright and candid!

The more Lang Qianqiu thought about it, the more he resented it. Seeing his expression getting more and more violent, Xie Lian shouted, “Three. Arm, pull back!” “Pop”, Fangxin’s blade hit Lang Qianqiu’s forearm, and Lang Qianqiu dropped a cold sweat, feeling greatly alarmed.

If this strike wasn’t slapped with the side of the blade but cut straight with the edge, his arm would have been broken!

But for Lang Qianqiu, being chopped might have been easier to take, because there was a burning pain from the place where the sword blade had slapped him, like a child being slapped on the palm with a ruler by the teacher. But that wasn’t the end of it yet, and Xie Lian again shouted, “Two. Center of gravity, off!”

“Pop!” Another strike hit him in the chest.

Lang Qianqiu couldn’t help but reshift his center of gravity and snarled, “What are you hitting!”

Xie Lian backhanded another strike, “You are the one who wanted to fight! The last move, one. Feet, too light!”

The last strike smacked him on the leg. This was the most painful strike, and Lang Qianqiu also noticed that Xie Lian, he, he totally used Fangxin as a ruler!

Xie Lian then gave it a lift and sent Lang Qianqiu’s sword flying, “Three moves are over, and you are already dead.”

Lang Qianqiu couldn’t bear it any longer and slapped away the blade he held in front of his throat, “Have you had enough? I’m here to fight you to the death, not to take your lesson!”

Xie Lian backhanded another strike on his arm, as if he would have also added a boot had he not been so reserved, “What makes you think that you can fight me to the death? Look at whatever fighting you just did, where did you get the nerve to say so? Do you deserve it? Between heaven and earth, those who are qualified to fight me to the death can be counted on one hand, and do you think you are in it?”

Lang Qianqiu was going crazy with anger for the “No. 1 in the Three Realms” look on his face, and withdrew his sword again without even thinking, “Come again!”

Xie Lian said sternly, “Your heart is not at the right place and your anger is too strong; it will be useless even if you try ten thousand times. You refuse to listen to me just because I’m the one speaking, do you think this is fighting me? You are sabotaging your martial arts practice out of spite! Is this something you can treat with spite?”

Lang Qianqiu gnashed his teeth at his words, angry to the extreme. When he reached the apex of anger, suddenly his heart dropped into emptiness, and he let fly a strike!

The strike was quick and the dodge was also quick. Xie Lian ducked swiftly, gave out a “huh”, touched his face, and saw a trace of blood on his hand. When he looked up, his face showed a tiny cut.

Hua Cheng’s expression abruptly changed. Yet Xie Lian smoothed his brow and praised, “Now this is right.”

Lang Qianqiu jumped up and the two again started fighting. Next, it turned out as he had said, Lang Qianqiu’s moves were calm and the strikes were beautiful. The World in Heart Flow relied heavily on spiritual energy; he had more spiritual energy than Xie Lian in the first place, after adjusting his mindset, he rapidly gained back an advantage. This time, it was Xie Lian’s turn to gradually struggle to resist. Right at this moment, an extremely fast and furious strike from Lang Qianqiu arrived.

This strike was incredible. Xie Lian blocked with his right hand without thinking. But he forgot that his right hand was still injured. When the weapons struck, severe pain spreaded!

Hua Cheng moved fractionally, however, Xie Lian had talked to him beforehand, so he ultimately stayed put. Over there, Xie Lian’s eyes were forced wide open by the severe pain in his right hand, and he almost fell to his knees on the spot; immediately there was a big opening!

Lang Qianqiu raised his sword and was about to attack, but he soon realized what was going on. He saw the pain on Xie Lian’s face, remembered how his arm was injured, and hesitated for an instant.

Just this instant, the outcome was decided. Lang Qianqiu fell heavily to the ground.

In his shock, he looked down and discovered that at some point, a piece of snow-white silk band had wrapped around him like a poisonous snake!

Xie Lian tossed Fangxin aside and wiped his sweat, “So close so close.” With a short dry laugh, Xie Lian slapped a Freeze Spell on him and put away the white silk band.

Lang Qianqiu said incredulously, “Use a sword to do it if you want to fight or kill; what kind of man are you if you sneak attack with such a trick?” Xie Lian turned a deaf ear to it. Nevermind calling him unmanly; he had worn a woman’s outfit, and when he opened his mouth, out came “I can’t get erect”, would he care about this? He said sincerely, “As long as you can survive at the moment of life and death, don’t worry about anything else.”

Lang Qianqiu was flabbergasted. When this person was still the Imperial Preceptor of the Kingdom of Yong’an, his teachings to him had always been some such thing as being upright and candid, and marching forward without hesitation. He really didn’t expect that one day these words would be spitted from the same mouth. He said, “You were not like this in the past!”

Xie Lian said, “I told you a long time ago, don’t take it upon yourself to build me a sacred and inviolable monument in your heart. The truth is, I have always been like this.”

He crouched down next to Lang Qianqiu, “In terms of swordsmanship, you did make progress, but what happened to your comportment? The World in Heart Flow does not distinguish itself with outbursts; when you practice it, if you are so hot-blooded and have difficulty controlling yourself, you won’t be able to get to the next level.”

Lang Qianqiu was about to explode, “What makes you think you can talk to me like this! Do you know me that well?”

Xie Lian smiled, “Qianqiu, I sure do know you well.”

Lang Qianqiu was taken aback. Xie Lian said, “You child is too soft-hearted. In the past when you hammered nails into my chest, you cried your heart out; today when you saw your enemy being hurt, you would still hesitate and stop. I’m very happy that you’re still of the same character after so many years. But I’m also very worried, because if your opponent hadn’t been me, right now you really would have been dead.”

After a pause, Xie Lian added, “You are very suited for the World in Heart Flow. While the king’s comportment values steadiness, it values ​​benevolence even more. However, you also need to tone down your temper and make up for the openings. No matter how much you hate me, you must not lose your fundamental mind, otherwise the loss will outweigh any gain. Did you remember the three slaps I gave you just now? You must remember – don’t let go of your fighting spirit, be true to your fundamental mind, and stay grounded on your feet.”

Lang Qianqiu looked like he wanted to cover his ears, “What makes you think you can lecture me in such a tone? What makes you think you can proclaim yourself my master?”

Xie Lian said, “It won’t happen again.”

Lang Qianqiu was taken aback, and Xie Lian added, “This is the last time. The problems need to be addressed, and the rest is up to you to slowly figure it out.”

Seeing that he was getting up to leave, Lang Qianqiu said hastily, “Stop!”

Xie Lian already turned around, without looking back, picked up Fangxin, and said to Hua Cheng, “Thanks for waiting. Let’s talk about other things elsewhere.”

Hua Cheng nodded, “Okay.” While walking, Hua Cheng grasped his right hand. Xie Lian was briefly stunned, then soon realized from the rapid relief of pain in his right hand that Hua Cheng was helping him heal. As he was about to say thanks, Lang Qianqiu shouted from behind, “Stop! What are you running for? What are you afraid of? You’re so tough then come face me! How much did you hate me, that day was my seventeenth birthday!”

Hua Cheng faintly frowned, Xie Lian gave him a dry laugh, and picked up the pace, “Let’s go, let’s go.”

Lang Qianqiu knew that he would not return, so he simply started scolding, “Xie Lian, I despise you! Your kind is the kind of people I hate the most in the world; if you are not doing well, you can’t stand others doing well! Why do you think you can put on a good face at this point? What kind of bullshit master are you! I will never ever become someone like you!”

Xie Lian had been walking briskly with his head down, but when he heard the last sentence, it was immediately like his feet were nailed to the ground. Hua Cheng also stopped, and a trace of anger flashed across his face.

Xie Lian suddenly walked back and pointed at Lang Qianqiu, “What did you just say? Say it again if you’ve got the guts.”

Of course Lang Qianqiu had the guts. He raised his head without any hint of fear, “I said, I despise you! You don’t deserve to be my master. I never want to be like you. No matter how you have treated me or what you have taught me, I will never become like you. Never ever!”

Xie Lian crossed his arms, looked at him from up above, and looked at him expressionlessly.

After a good while, his lips twitched and he bursted out – laughing.

Lang Qianqiu felt humiliated, angry, and shocked, “Why are you laughing? What’s so funny?”

Xie Lian laughed even more blithely, clapped his hands as he was laughing, and exclaimed, “Good! Good! Well said!”

He couldn’t remember the last time he had laughed so heartily. After he eventually managed to stop laughing, a very faint tint of red appeared at the corners of Xie Lian’s eyes and the tip of his nose, and he nodded at Lang Qianqiu with a smile, “Remember what you have said today, you will never become like me.”

Lang Qianqiu said, “You’ve got something wrong with you!”

Xie Lian smiled slightly, “Yes, did you just find out today?”

“Huh?”

Before Lang Qianqiu could muster up the energy to continue scolding, there was a “bang”, something exploded. Xie Lian’s eyes widened slightly, and billowing red smoke drifted sideways in the wind. When the smoke dissipated, there was only a roly-poly doll swinging left and right where Lang Qianqiu had been lying. The roly-poly had a round head and body, sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, and a long sword on his back, looking extremely perky.

Hua Cheng had been watching on the sideline with arms folded, and now he finally took action. He walked over leisurely, gave the roly-poly a flick, and handily put it away to heaven knows where. Xie Lian was dumbfounded, “This, City Lord Hua, what’s this?”

Hua Cheng tilted his head and smiled, “Gege, this disciple is so disobedient, he should no longer be tolerated. You are too kind-hearted to give him a harsh lesson, so San Lang will step out of line a little and do it for you, saving you the trouble.”

Xie Lian hastily said, “No no no, you misunderstood, I haven’t been his master since a long time ago. Besides, Qianqiu is a good kid, you can’t blame this on him.”

Hua Cheng said indifferently, “Really? What’s so good about him? Can Gege please tell me, perhaps I will be moved.”

Xie Lian promptly said, “For example, he’s guileless.”

“He’s just obtuse.”

“He’s very honest!”

“He’s just obtuse.”

“He’s very… … very… …”

“He’s just obtuse.”

“I haven’t said it yet… …”

Xie Lian listed a pile of virtues, but who knew that Hua Cheng maintained the indifferent look on his face, not really acknowledging it. Left with no choice, Xie Lian said, “You know the history between the Kingdom of Yong’an and the Kingdom of Xianle. I initially did not intend to have anything to do with the Kingdom of Yong’an. It was because of Qianqiu that I stayed and became the Imperial Preceptor.”

Hua Cheng looked at him and finally followed up with a question, “Why?”

Xie Lian said, “How I became the Imperial Preceptor of Yong’an back then, I trust that you are already aware.”

Hua Cheng said, “Repelling demons with a flower branch.”

Xie Lian said, “You make it sound so elegant, but it was actually very messy. Anyway, Qianqiu went on a trip to pray for blessings, and was saved by me. I guided him and some guards in the direction of the palace, and on the way there were constant demon attacks. Qianqiu was in poor health back then, and had been dazed and slept in the carriage the entire time. One day I knocked over the carriage, he woke up and crawled out, and as soon as he saw me… …, he cried.”

Hua Cheng stayed quiet.

Xie Lian smiled, “I thought he was crying because he saw me full of murderous intent. Because I was covered in blood and carried a head in my hand, seeing him crying so hard, I had to throw away the head and try to cheer him up, but who knew that he actually started to howl. I was exhausted, too, after all the killing along the way, and had no more energy to cheer up a kid, therefore I was quite annoyed and thought he was very spoiled. You know, I never cried as much as he did when I was little.”

The corners of Hua Cheng’s lips curled up, and he seemed to have unconsciously pinched the bright red coral bead at the end of the small braid, “Really?”

Xie Lian said, “Of course! That said, I had originally wanted to rest against that carriage, and now I had no choice but to walk further away, so he wouldn’t be so scared and kept howling. Surprisingly, I had taken only a couple steps when he swooped out and hung on my arm, asking me if other people had been bullying me.”

Hua Cheng’s gaze slightly shifted. Xie Lian said, “I was very surprised, and said, what are you talking about, Your Royal Highness? No one was bullying me. But he opened his eyes wide and asked, then why is it that when the demons came just now, nobody moved, and only you went up to fight?”

“The other guards all immediately knelt on the ground. The situation was getting out of hand, so I had to state shamelessly that it was because I was the strongest.”

Hua Cheng said, “What shameless? It’s just plain truth. It’s easy to imagine, everyone else must have been hiding behind you like useless trash, waiting to pick up the odds and ends.”

Xie Lian briefly choked, then said, “You can’t put it that way. Most of those people were mortals and couldn’t see the demons, it would have been suicide for them if they went up, so I let them prioritize protecting His Royal Highness.”

After a moment of silence, Hua Cheng said, “It’s not fair.”

Xie Lian glanced at him, suddenly broke into a smile, and said, “Qianqiu said the same thing.

“He said, ‘But this is too unfair. No one else was injured, and you were the only one who was so seriously injured!’”

He sighed, “That moment I thought… … what a good boy. Later, he dressed my wounds, talked about heaven and earth, and talked about his childhood wish, saying that he wanted to have me as his master, to learn my skills, and when he grew up, he could save the resentful spirits of the Kingdom of Xianle in the old imperial city. Everyone said that I saved His Royal Highness, but I think it can also be said that he saved me.”

Hua Cheng turned his head aside, difficult to make out his expression. Xie Lian asked, “Are you okay? Sorry, did I talk too much?”

Hua Cheng looked back, wearing the same expression as usual, and said with a faint smile, “No. Tell me, please. I really want to hear it.”

Xie Lian struck while the iron was hot, “So, City Lord Hua, you are the nicest person, so please don’t tease him, he can’t take it so well, could you please just undo the spell.”

Yet Hua Cheng spoke with conviction, “I’m not nice, and I’m not a person.”

Xie Lian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “You… …”

Hua Cheng said, “He made a big ruckus in my territory, I’m just punishing him a little.”

Since he said this, Xie Lian was too embarrassed to continue to plead, so he resorted to saying, “City Lord Hua, I was the main culprit who spied on your Ghost City. No matter what he had done, it was all to help me, and I can hardly absolve myself from the blame. I can promise you anything, but could you please forgive him this time?”

Hua Cheng grinned, “Oh? Promise me anything?”

Xie Lian nodded repeatedly. Hua Cheng said, “Speaking of which, I do have something important here. Gege, would you be willing to do me a favor?”

It’s more than Xie Lian could wish for, so he quickly said, “What kind of favor?”

Hua Cheng said, “I can’t tell you yet. You will know when the time comes. If gege is willing to help me, please come with me now.”

Xie Lian was surprised, “Go right now? Are you in such a hurry?”

Hua Cheng said, “Let’s go right now. It’s a very urgent, very important, and very dangerous matter, and there’s no moment to spare. Once it’s taken care of, I will let Lang Qianqiu go.”

Supreme Ghost Kings never asked for help. Since he asked him for help, it must be tricky, maybe there was an imminent attack from a powerful enemy. Xie Lian would have helped him even if he hadn’t captured Lang Qianqiu. He initially thought about notifying the Upper Court of Heaven, but he had no more spiritual energy, and on second thought, if word got back to the Heavenly Capital, Hua Cheng would inevitably be slandered again. He might as well act first and ask for forgiveness later, help Hua Cheng finish the matter then bring Lang Qianqiu back safe and sound. That way, the worst that could happen would be the Upper Court faulting him for failing to notify them in a timely manner. Anyway, given where things were at this point, he was not worried about any additional punishment, so he nodded, “Then let’s go.”

Hua Cheng pretended to admonish him, “Gege can absolutely not leave without saying goodbye this time.”

Xie Lian naturally agreed at once, “Absolutely not.”