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Chapter 141-150
Chapter 141-150
Ch.141: I Choose the Path I Walk
Xie Lian suddenly remembered something. That day, at the Great Martial Hall, Lan Chang
randomly accused everyone, but she never pointed her finger at Feng Xin who was standing in
the most conspicuous spot.
Jian Lan immediately denied it, “HE’S NOT!”
Fu Yao was all face full of disbelief too. It seemed, he hadn’t known that Feng Xin and this
woman had any connections either and was also dumbfounded. Hearing her speak, he finally
snapped out of it, “He hasn’t even asked anything, so why did you answer so fast?”
“Please! It’s obvious what he was going to ask.” Jian Lan said, “I’m telling you, he’s not!”
However, Feng Xin was looking at the fetus spirit, “What did you call him? Cuo Cuo?”
That name seemed to have some sort of special meaning. Jian Lan opened her mouth then
closed it, no longer willing to argue and said frustratedly instead, “What’s a big man like you
doing talking so much? If I said he’s not, he’s not! Who the hell’s that eager to recognize their
sons!”
Feng Xin replied angrily, “What are you saying? If he is, then of course I’ll...”
“You’ll of course what? Recognize him? Raise him?” Jian Lan countered.
“I...” Feng Xin was stuck. He lowered his head and looked at the deformed little monster
hanging off of his arm. That fetus spirit seemed to bear a particularly deep hatred for him, and
latched on to his arm tearing and chomping, crying “wah wah wah”. Feng Xin didn’t know what
to do with him, his bloody red hand clenched into a fist.
Seeing how he was stuck and looking like he couldn’t accept the truth, Jian Lan immediately
spat, “I already said he’s not and you’re still pushing! He’s got nothing to do with you, so stop
worrying!”
Qi Rong yapped, “BULLSHIT! HE MUST BE! See, I wasn’t wrong, it’s the spawn of a pleb!
Everyone come check this out, Feng Xin’s own son was carved out of his ol’ mommy’s belly and
turned into a little ghost, hehe. I can’t believe people actually pray to this shitty ‘Son-Gifting Nan
Yang’. Watch out, the more you pray the more your sons are gonna be...”
Xie Lian raised his hand and RuoYe sealed Qi Rong’s mouth, and Jian Lan also stomped on his
head heavily a few times, making him cuss louder. Just then, Gu Zi blearily woke up and saw Qi
Rong was getting trampled, and immediately lunged forward, “Don’t... don’t step on my dad...”
Seeing Gu Zi holding Qi Rong’s head, Jian Lan couldn’t stomp anymore. Instead, she changed
course and seized that fetus spirit’s two blanched little legs and bolted, yelling angrily, “I told you
to stop biting! So disobedient!”
Feng Xin was spacing out and didn’t manage to catch them in time, and Xie Lian cried
subconsciously, “RuoYe, Chase!”
RuoYe went to chase. However, once that white silk bandage flew out did Xie Lian remember
that it was binding Qi Rong. He looked back and sure enough, Qi Rong leapt to his feet with Gu
Zi on his head looking pleased, he announced, “THIS ANCESTOR’S FREE AGAIN!”
Seeing that Feng Xin finally snapped out of it, Xie Lian changed his instruction, “RuoYe, come
back after all.”
Thus, RuoYe came flying back, and PA! Soundly slapped Qi Rong a big one. Qi Rong was just
humming having bounced back, but was whipped to spin three times on the spot and tumbled,
covering his face. After sprawling on the ground for a moment, he suddenly went berserk, and
seized hold of RuoYe, shouting, “EVEN A RAG LIKE YOU DARE HIT ME!!!”
This time, RuoYe was stuck in his clutch, and twisting around, it couldn’t twist itself free; it was
like Qi Rong’s strength suddenly exploded. Xie Lian was about to take care of him personally
when Qi Rong suddenly realized there’s a small child on his head, and he instantly yanked Gu
Zi down, holding him like a shield to protect his person, “DON’T COME A STEP CLOSER!
COME HERE AND I’LL STRANGLE HIM! HEY HEY HEY, LOOK BEHIND YOU, HUA CHENG
THAT FUCKER IS GONNA DIE!”
Shocked, Xie Lian whipped around, and sure enough Hua Cheng had his brows tightly knitted,
his dropped hands were trembling, like he was forcing himself to endure something. When he
saw Xie Lian look over, he immediately shouted, “I’m fine!”
The arousal of demons!
The tremors this time seemed to be stronger than all the times before. In a split second
decision, Xie Lian went back to hold him. Using this chance, Qi Rong hurriedly escaped with Gu
Zi in his hands. Lan Chang also seemed to be suffering a throbbing headache, covering her
ears, and that fetus spirit, under such aggravation, was biting and tearing even more violently.
Feng Xin had been bitten over ten mouthfuls now, his blood pouring unceasingly, but he still
didn’t dare to hit him, using his hand to tightly grab hold of Jian Lan’s arm. That fetus spirit
however, didn’t hold back, and swung its claws towards Feng Xin’s face. That clawed scratch
was nasty, and Feng Xin grunted, covering his wound, unsure if his eyes were injured. Xie Lian
was mortified and was about to send forth RuoYe but Jian Lan stomped her feet in anger, “IF
YOU KEEP THIS UP I’M GOING TO GET ANGRY!!!”
Only after hearing his mother yell did that fetus spirit jump back into her arms, obediently curling
up into a bundle. Jian Lan gave Feng Xin a look and gritted her teeth, “He has nothing to do with
you. I’m warning you, don’t bother us!” Then with one hand hugging her head and the other
hugging her son, the mother and child fled. Seeing this, Fu Yao cried, “Let me go!”
Feng Xin half knelt on the ground, covering half his face, and Xie Lian crouched down next to
him with Hua Cheng in his arms, “Are you alright? Let me see your wounds? Were your eyes
scratched?”
Blood dripped from the cracks of his fingers, and Feng Xin replied with his eyes closed, “...No.
Don’t ask me.”
“Feng Xin, Lan Chang... the lady Jian Lan, what was she talking...” Xie Lian asked.
Yet before he finished, Feng Xin swung out his fist. A giant crack, and the tree next to them was
punched in half. He roared, “I TOLD YOU NOT TO ASK ME!”
That voice was mixed with resentment, and Xie Lian could tell, that resentment was directed at
him, and he couldn’t help but be taken aback.
However, Hua Cheng commented coldly, “Who turned your wife and son into ghosts? If you’ve
got fire go burn the right person.”
Hearing this, Feng Xin raised his head slightly, his eyes red watching Fu Yao. Taken aback, Fu
Yao was instantly furious, “What are you looking at? You don’t actually think it was m... my
general? What is this bloody luck! He only saw that that woman was a remnant citizen of XianLe
and had some relation to the royal family that he lent a helping hand. He wanted to save that
fetus spirit, but who knew it was deeply ignorant, not only did it not want to be saved, it even
turned into a Fierce! Nothing good came of it but he ended up stepping in shit. Had he known he
wouldn’t have bothered! That brat doesn’t even know who gave birth to it, and you think it knew
who killed it?!”
Perhaps it was because too many disheartening things were bothering his mind recently; even
his speech was a little vulgar in words. “Your general calls this bloody luck with just this bit?
Then can people who suffer even worse luck even live on anymore?” Hua Cheng said.
Feng Xin shook his head and murmured, “...Why is it like this? How did it become like this?”
“Why... don’t you take care of your injuries first.” Xie Lian tried, “Did you bring any balms?”
Feng Xin glanced at him and said darkly, “I’m fine. Don’t mind me!”
With his hand covering his wounds, he didn’t bother managing it and stood up, stumbling away.
Xie Lian and Fu Yao called after him a few times, asking if he was going back to the heavens or
going to give chase, but he didn’t answer at all, and soon, his silhouette disappeared. Fu Yao
struggled again and cried angrily, “Your Highness! If you ol’ senior won’t give chase, will you at
least let me??”
Xie Lian snapped out of it, and after contemplating the cons and pros, he said, “Alright.” And
actually did let go.
Fu Yao didn’t think he would actually comply, and he worked out the kinks of his wrists,
humphing, “Why are you so willing to let me go now?”
Xie Lian rubbed his forehead, “The Upper Court is probably even more of a mess than I
imagined... Sigh, I now think that, rather than encouraging your general to return, he should act
freely outside instead.”
After a pause, he added, “What are you going to do now? I don’t think that fetus spirit was
slandering only for the sake of escape. There might be someone in the background
manipulating it.”
Fu Yao dusted off his sleeves and said, “Who cares what’s going on. It’s going towards Mount
TongLu, so I’ll think after capturing it!”
Then, he left in a hurry. The inn where various groups of people gathered was suddenly quiet
and deserted. Xie Lian turned around, checked over that collapsed little cottage, flipping and
pulling aside the beams and straws to look around and made sure those monks and cultivators
really were only knocked out and would probably come to soon. Reassured, he left too.
After walking for a while and leaving the barren hills behind, they finally found a real inn and the
two stopped to rest.
Xie Lian felt like the past few days was a complete mess, and he sat at the window sill lost in
thought. RuoYe curled around his arm, rubbing against him gently like it was purring, and Xie
Lian scratched it absentmindedly.
Suddenly, Hua Cheng came to the windows, bathing under the same moonlight, and spoke up,
“It has nothing to do with you.”
Xie Lian was shaken out of his reverie but soon understood what he meant and shook his head,
“I don’t know if it really has got nothing to do with me... Feng Xin must’ve befriended Lady Jian
Lan after XianLe had fallen and before he ascended himself. Calculating the time, that was
during the years of my first banishment.”
“But that doesn’t mean you’re at fault for how they’ve turned out,” Hua Cheng said.
After some thought, Xie Lian said, “San Lang, I’ve never talked about my banishment, have I?”
“No.” Hua Cheng said.
“I’ve never told anyone, I hope you won’t mind if I drag you to listen to me babble.” Xie Lian
said.
Hua Cheng lightly pushed himself up the window sill and sat too, “I won’t. Go ahead.”
Xie Lian spoke as he chased his memories, “Back then, the only vassal I had left was Feng Xin,
and life was difficult. I started out as a martial god, and a lot of the possessions I had as a crown
prince were all pawned.”
Hua Cheng chuckled, “Including HongJing, right?”
Xie Lian smiled gaily, “Hahaha... that’s right. Jun Wu can’t know this, do keep that a secret for
me. And those tens of golden belts, they were all pawned too.”
“En. So, Feng Xin took one of your golden bets and gifted it to Lan Chang?” Hua Cheng asked.
Xie Lian shook his head, “I don’t think that’s the case. Feng Xin wouldn’t take my stuff so
frivolously. It was me who told him to sell it and keep the money for himself.”
Truthfully, this was him plain giving Feng Xin a sum of money for no reason. At the time, Feng
Xin declined it for a long time, but in the end, because Xie Lian was relentless, Feng Xin said “I’ll
keep it for you for now.”
“It’s shameful to say, I made him sell it for money to keep for himself not just out of guilt but fear
too.”
With all the devotees gone, only Feng Xin still treated him like the Flower Crowned Martial God
and His Highness the Crown Prince. Only then was Xie Lian alerted to the fact that even though
the two had grown up together - Feng Xin being his trusted servant and bodyguard - not once
had Feng Xin received any sort of exceptional rewards. Suddenly, Xie Lian knew fear.
Fear that Feng Xin would also think this life was too hard and stop following him. Thus, the
meaning of that golden belt wasn’t reward, and it wasn’t purely just a gift or compensation of
labour either, there was also the intent of a little bit of groveling and bribery.
In the illusion created by that fetus spirit, Xie Lian saw a protection charm, and it was probably
something Feng Xin gifted to Jian Lan. After XianLe fell, all of Xie Lian’s temples and shrines
were burned down, not a single soul believed in the Crown Prince of XianLe anymore, and his
protection charms were all seen as trash. However, Feng Xin was still determined and tireless in
handing them out, telling Xie Lian, look, you still have devotees. But Xie Lian knew deep down
that those protection charms were most likely all thrown away.
Xie Lian spoke slowly, “Through so many years, I never knew if Feng Xin liked anyone. I never
asked, and I never took notice.”
After all, he was the darling of the heavens since birth, high and mighty, and Feng Xin spun
around him like he was the world so naturally, so how could he possibly have his own life and
have his own personal heart?
“It might not sound nice to gift a girl something someone else gave you, but at the time, that
golden belt was probably the best gift Feng Xin was able to give. After all, we were frequently
missing meals. Feng Xin wasn’t someone who’d spend wastefully. So, it’s easy to imagine just
how much he liked Lady Jian Lan. If he liked her so much... why did they split?”
Whether if that fetus spirit was Feng Xin’s son, if it was that period of poverty that made Feng
Xin lose the girl he loved, no matter what, Xie Lian wouldn’t be able to forgive himself.
However, Hua Cheng said, “If he liked her but in the end they separated, then it only shows
what they had was only ‘like’.”
Xie Lian smiled wistfully, “San Lang, things aren’t always that absolute. Sometimes, it’s not up to
you to decide if the road is easy to walk.”
Hua Cheng said softly, “I might not be able to decide whether the road is easy or not, but
whether I walk it is entirely up to me.”
Hearing this, Xie Lian blinked, and felt like a knot in his heart was untied. He stared at Hua
Cheng wordlessly. Hua Cheng tilted his head, “Gege, am I wrong?”
Watching his twinkling black eyes, Xie Lian suddenly grabbed hold of him and placed him on his
lap, “Hahaha, San Lang, you’re very right!”
“...”
Hua Cheng seemed to be stunned by his actions, and allowed himself be lifted high in the air.
Xie Lian laughed, “To say something shameless, what San Lang just said and the way you said
it really quite resembles me when I was younger.”
Hua Cheng seemed to have gotten used to being hugged around by him like this, and he raised
his brows, “Wow, what a dream.”
The two of them played around in the room for a while, and Xie Lian threw Hua Cheng onto the
bed then climbed in himself, facing the ceiling. He was about to speak when suddenly, Hua
cheng sat up and his pupils shrank, his eyes turning sharp as he looked across the room.
Xie Lian immediately sensed something wrong and instantly sat up too. The moment he saw,
cold sweat covered his body. Silently and soundlessly, there was another figure in the room
since who knows when, sitting by the table with a pot of tea already brewed, the scent of tea
fragrant. Yet, he had never noticed!
Xie Lian couldn’t help but feel a chill go down his spine and pointed Fang Xin forward, “WHO IS
IT?!”
That man replied gently, “Don’t be afraid. Tea, XianLe?”
“...”
The figure and voice all belonged to a youth, exceedingly familiar, and Xie Lian sighed a breath
of relief, brushing back strands of hair that had come loose from playing around earlier behind
his ears, his heart still thumping, “My Lord...”
However, before his breath was fully exhaled, he yanked and pulled the blanket and buried both
Hua Cheng and his body under, “...Why has My Lord descended?”
The hand under the blanket held Hua Cheng down tight, gesturing for him not to worry. Jun Wu
leisurely poured three cups of tea before rising to his feet, “You didn’t come back, so naturally, I
had to come down personally to see.”
His hands were clenched as he spoke, walking towards him, and slowly, from the shadows,
something was pulled out. Xie Lian’s eyes followed down his white robes, and saw Jun Wu had
in his hand a sword. Startled, he instantly jumped off the bed, “My Lord, I can explain...”
Yet unexpectedly, behind him, Hua Cheng pulled off the blanket and sat up cross legged, his
arms resting casually on his knees, and he smiled, “I don’t think that’s necessary.”
———–
●MXTX Author’s Note: Xie Lian and Mu Qing trained under the same cultivation path, and
they’re both cultivators. However, Feng Xin had never registered at the Holy Royal
Pavilion so he’s not a cultivator, he’s just a simple grassroot martial god, so he doesn’t
need to follow the same purity mandates as Xie Lian and Mu Qing.
———-
Ch.142: I Choose the Path I Walk 2
Xie Lian blocked himself between the two of them, “I think, we should all sit down and talk. Look
at this child My Lord, doesn’t he look like...”
“Your son, right?” Jun Wu smiled.
“...Ha, haha, hahahaha...”
Xie Lian laughed awkwardly for a bit, “How did My Lord know what I was going to say?”
Jun Wu finally moved his eyes off of Hua Cheng, lightly patted Xie Lian’s shoulder, and
wordlessly turned around to sit back at the table. Xie Lian understood that this meant there
wasn’t going to be any confrontation for now, and unconsciously sighed a breath of relief.
If Jun Wu intended to kill anyone, just how terrifying he was after unsheathing the sword was
something Xie Lian had witnessed himself. Under no circumstances did Xie Lian ever want Hua
Cheng to face Jun Wu head on.
However, Hua Cheng’s eyes never left Jun Wu, and still watched him warily. Jun Wu pushed the
teacups forward, “Although this isn’t the first time I’ve met your excellency, but it certainly is the
first time we are at such close range of each other. Since it’s a peaceful occasion, why not take
tea for wine, and smooth over this situation.
Xie Lian cleared his throat lightly, and tried to appear as casual as possible as he pulled on his
outer robes, asking as he pulled on his boots, “My Lord, how are things at the Upper Court?”
“...”
Jun Wu put down his teacup and turned his head away, gazing outside of the window to watch
the moon, sighing, “I do not wish to talk of it.”
“...Alright. I won’t.” Xie Lian said.
It seemed things really are really bad. However Jun Wu turned his head back and said with a
straight face, “I kid. Even if I do not wish to talk of it, I must. Xian Le, leave your little friend for
now and follow me outside for a moment.”
It appeared there were things to be communicated that shouldn’t be heard by bystanders. Xie
Lian was about to comply when he heard Hua Cheng say leisurely behind him, “Your Upper
Court is in complete pandemonium, it’s not a secret. Even little country bumpkin ghosts know
that the gathering of ghosts couldn’t be stopped this time and are howling nonstop in
excitement, so why speak outside?”
He climbed off the bed too and languidly came to the table, picked up the teacup and played
with it for a bit, looking like drinking the tea was of no interest to him, A moment later, the three
all sat by the table. Hua Cheng’s appearance right now was young, but his expression and
manners almost made one forget that fact. Jun Wu replied gently, “Nothing could deceive the
eyes of his excellency.”
It was tea poured by Jun Wu after all, due respect must be given, so Xie Lian drank it, and
asked as he did so, “Isn’t there still some time before the official opening and sealing of Mount
TongLu’s gates? Or is it confirmed now?”
Although Feng Xin had mentioned this before, but Xie Lian had always thought he might’ve
exaggerated and never fully took his words to heart. However, Jun Wu confirmed, “Indeed, it
couldn’t be stopped anymore.”
“It seems your original plan was like all those times before; send all the martial gods to seal off
every road leading to Mount TongLu and stop the demons en route.” Hua Cheng commented,
“But Mu Qing broke out of prison and escaped, his whereabouts unknown, so now there’s
suddenly a breach in the south.”
Xie Lian inquired, “Did Feng Xin return to the Heavenly Court? How is he? Did he say
anything?”
“He’s returned, but not in a good condition.” Jun Wu replied, “Nan Yang returned wounded and
gave a hurried report of the truth, pleading for me to give the orders to all the heavenly officials
not to touch the female ghost Lan Chang and her son. He had wanted to descend again after
reporting in, but his injuries were not optimistic, his right arm could barely move, so I buckled
him down in the Heavenly Court to recover. However, with that, the southern blockade is now
full of holes.”
If this was any other matter, like if they needed someone to go kill a monster or steal spiritual
pills or something, Xie Lian would instantly volunteer. But something like leading troops wasn’t
something so easily done by just charging ahead alone. One man could break through an army
of millions but he could not defend against an army of millions alone. Xie Lian had long since
understood that leading people and leading armies wasn’t something he was good at. Rather
than going forward bold-headedly, it was best if someone else more suited for the position be
nominated, so he wasn’t quick to volunteer himself. Instead, he asked, “Is there no other martial
god that can take up the task?”
Jun Wu replied, “The other martial gods already have their own domains and missions to take
care of and have no liberties to take on more. There was Pei Su from the Palace of Ming Guang
that could’ve been borrowed, but he’s long been exiled. As for Qi Ying, he’s the same as you, a
madman who likes to charge alone in the world, doing as he willed. Besides, his whereabouts is
also currently unknown, and that child never answers spiritual communication. The head
heavenly official of the Palace of Ling Wen is also lost on top of that. There’s a temporary head,
but the other civil gods, while they’re certainly skilled in the arts, but in terms of passing
communication, making decisions and coordination management, they are completely
incapable. These past few days...”
Listening to him, it sounded like in the past few days, the Upper Court was going to fall apart.
Xie Lian couldn’t bear to listen and his sympathies grew, “I remember My Lord once said, even if
the gathering of ghosts couldn’t be stopped, there was another way to remedy the situation?
What can be done?”
“Remedy?” Hua Cheng said, “More like suicide, probably.”
Jun Wu gave him a look and sighed, “I’ve also said, unless absolutely necessary, I didn’t want to
take that step.”
Xie Lian’s heart tightened, “Could it be...?”
Jun Wu replied slowly, “That’s right. Right now, the only way to remedy the situation was to send
a martial god to infiltrate the gathering of ghosts in Mount TongLu.”
Since the start of slaughter couldn’t be stopped, then make sure at the end of the slaughter, not
a single one is left!
Xie Lian crossed his arms into his sleeves and knitted his brows, “I’m not too familiar with Mount
TongLu, and I don’t really know how the rules work, so how should this be done? Kill every last
monster and demon that enter the mountain?”
But that was something inconceivable. To infiltrate Mount TongLu, identity must be hidden, and
not too many helpers could come either, otherwise, if the ghosts should discover there were
heavenly officials mixed in, they would for sure surround and destroy. Mount TongLu was also
an extremely evil place; a heavenly official’s spiritual powers would be significantly restricted,
much more so than when they were at the Black Water Demon Lair.
However, Jun Wu said, “No, there’s no need to exert that much effort.”
“I’m familiar with Mount TongLu. Gege, look outside.” Hua Cheng said.
Following where he was pointing, Xie Lian looked out the window. Beyond the window below
was a large field planted with some flowers or grass, and there was also a small flower pot in
the corner. Hua Cheng hopped onto the window sill and pointed at that flower pot, “At the heart
of Mount TongLu is a giant kiln.”
Just as the words left his lips, that little flower pot suddenly fell over and rolled to the centre of
the field before standing upright by itself. Soon after, with it as the heart, the once flat ground
suddenly rumbled and rolled in waves, rolling into mounds of various sizes all around.
Hua Cheng continued, “All around the ‘Kiln’ is a mountain range encircling it. This entire area is
all within Mount TongLu’s perimeters. It’s as big as seven city states.”
Xie Lian was amazed watching this, and he leapt up lightly, hopping out of the window. As he
stood among the field full of little earth mounds, it gave him the illusion of being a giant looking
down below.
Hua Cheng continued, “The slaughter of ghosts begins from the outer edges of the mountain
range, and continues on towards the ‘Kiln’ in the heart.”
He gave a wave of his hand, and many tiny objects on the ground started agitating. Xie Lian
crouched down to watch closely and discovered it was many weeds and small leaves twisting,
like a small person crossing through the mountain range. He remarked, “Which is to say, the
closer to this ‘Kiln’ in the centre, the ghosts are also stronger?”
“That’s right.” Hua Cheng said, “Because the weak weeds will have all been annihilated at the
edges.”
Another light wave of a hand, and breeze brushed by, and the weeds were completely cleaned
away by the breeze. The empty little earth mounds suddenly became desolate, looking rather
sad. However, the little flower pot in the centre suddenly emitted a red light, truly looking like a
tiny, fire blazing Kiln. Xie Lian stared at it and noticed there was a tiny little red flower, and a few
unremarkable weeds that jumped onto the little flower pot, spinning around the sides of the pot
like little people dancing. That little red flower danced the wildest. Hua Cheng crouched down
next to him, “Finally, only a handful of ghosts at most can enter the interior of the ‘Kiln’. And
then, the ‘Kiln’ will close.”
Those ‘little people’ jumped around then fell in, swallowed by the black mud. Hua Cheng
continued, “After that, within forty-nine days, a ghost must break out of this ‘Kiln’.”
That little flower pot trembled violently and exploded abruptly, a blinding red light flashed,
blasting a wave of dust.
Accompanying this ‘earth shattering’ birth, that little red flower leapt out from within the mud and
raised its two little leaves as if it was shouting to the winds to announce its might to the world.
Seeing this, Xie Lian couldn’t help but puffed a laugh.
However, perhaps it was a little too overly excited, and that little red flower slipped on the edge
of that flower pot, about to fall. Xie Lian hurriedly reached out his hands and caught it lightly,
holding it in his palms. That little red flower seemed to have gone dizzy from the fall and shook
its ‘head’, raising its ‘face’ to gaze at the one who had caught hold of itself. Xie Lian brushed off
the crumbs of dirt that was splattered onto him and asked, “So this little one is the new Ghost
King birthed from Mount TongLu?”
Hua Cheng nodded, “Correct. The slaughter of ghosts at the beginning was a strengthening
process and cannot be bypassed. If the ghost who entered the ‘Kiln’ isn’t strong enough and
can’t break out of it, then it will be suffocated inside, burned to ashes, and become fertilizer for
another.”
He rose to his feet and called to Jun Wu still sitting inside, “Your idea is to cut down the mighty
and leave out the weeds. There’s only so many with the potential to become ghost kings; once
they’re annihilated, the weak ones who remain can’t break out of the ‘Kiln’ even if they enter it. If
they can’t break out, then they still wouldn’t be recognized as ghost kings.”
Xie Lian nodded, “Sounds doable. But does it work? Has this been attempted before?”
Jun Wu approached the window and said, “No. It’s never been attempted before. In the past, the
demons had always been stopped before they were able to gather.”
Hua Cheng crossed his arms, “I’m afraid it’s not doable. To fight under these conditions is no
different than suicide. I suggest you who came up with such a brilliant idea go yourself.”
“I’ve that very intention.” Jun Wu replied easily.
Xie Lian was taken aback, “My Lord?”
Jun Wu said, “XianLe, I’ve descended for this very reason. I will be heading to Mount TongLu. I
need you to return to the Heavenly Court and take care of my duties for the time being.”
Xie Lian dropped his hands and leapt to his feet, “That won’t do! Have me take your place
temporarily? My Lord, please don’t joke, no one will listen to me.”
Jun Wu grinned, “Then, this will be a very good chance for them to start.”
Xie Lian rubbed his forehead, “My Lord, pardon me but I really can’t agree with you this time.
This is too absurd. To use a vulgar example from the mortal realm, an emperor can enter the
battlefield, but have you ever heard of an emperor go infiltrate and assassinate? That the
Heavenly Court can float so high in the heavens is all held up by you. None of the other
heavenly officials can do this, it’s all My Lord’s efforts. If you’re there, the sky won’t fall. If you’re
not there, then the sky really will fall.”
Jun Wu however, answered with his hands clenched at his sides, “XianLe, there’s no one in this
world who will fall only because the heaven’s collapsed. Once you’re used to it you’ll find, even
with whoever’s lost, life will go on. There will always be new to replace the old. To have a ghost
king be born, it’s nothing if it’s another Crimson Rain Sought Flower or Ship Sinking Black
Water, but if it’s another White Clothed Calamity, then the world will fall into chaos.”
He looked Xie Lian in the eyes, “You’ve seen with your own eyes just how difficult it was to kill a
‘Supreme’ like him. If it’s not me who goes, then there’s no other way.”
Xie Lian also knew that this wasn’t Jun Wu being humble. To be in the weakest state and
trapped with millions of ghosts, and to accurately pick out each and every one of the strongest
to kill or subdue, even if it was himself he couldn’t say for sure he could do it. Only Jun Wu had
the biggest chance of success. But, this leave might take up to ten years. What about the
outside world? What about the Upper Court?”
Just then, Hua Cheng spoke up, “Who says there’s no other way?”
———-
Ch.143: Gates Open at Mount TongLu; the Assembly of Millions of Ghosts
The next day, Xie Lian and Hua Cheng began their journey.
Hua Cheng was holding Xie Lian’s hand and spoke up, “Gege, next time you see Jun Wu, don’t
talk to him, turn around and run away.”
Xie Lian was puzzled, “Why?”
“I just knew that every time he comes looking for you, it’s never for anything good.” Hua Cheng
said.
Xie Lian laughed, “What do you mean? The work he originally assigned me wasn’t this.”
However, Hua Cheng said, “It’s the same thing. Whether if it’s going to Mount TongLu or help
him manage the heavens, neither are good assignments. The Upper Court is in complete
shambles now, might as well let it break up. Throwing that pile of mud on your lap, what’s up
with that? It’s no different than choosing between a sword and a knife to commit suicide.”
Xie Lian couldn’t help but laugh, but after laughing, he said soberly, “Still, I didn’t think you
would volunteer to accompany me to Mount TongLu. I’ve been thinking for a while and feel this
should still be said: San Lang, absolutely don’t force yourself.”
He kept feeling that Hua Cheng only volunteered to come because he knew what Xie Lian was
thinking. After all, Xie Lian really felt like rather than managing the heavens and do what he
wasn’t good at, it would be much more gratifying to get locked up in a Kiln and kill to his heart’s
content. However, Hua Cheng said, “Gege, I’ve already sworn three times I’m not forcing
myself, do you not believe me?”
“Of course it’s not that...” Xie Lian said.
Hua Cheng nodded, “Then just relax, gege. I know my limits. Don’t feel like you owe me
anything. Even standing completely in my position, I wouldn’t mind stuffing the new ghost king
back before it’s born either.”
Currently, the present ghost kings and the heavens all shared mutual benefits on this matter.
There was only so much rice and everyone wanted a bite. There was already not enough to go
around and there was friction at times, but to add another one to the mix to share the pot, no
one was willing. Besides, if this new one had an extreme character, then if they go mad no one
would have anything left to eat.
After Jun Wu listened to Hua Cheng’s suggestion, he considered it seriously. If Xie Lian was to
go alone, it certainly wouldn’t be as adequate if he went himself, but if it’s Xie Lian with a demon
king who had once trained through Mount TongLu himself, then this combination would certainly
have more odds in their favour.
Of course, Hua Cheng wouldn’t be going for nothing. Jun Wu agreed to his terms: until the next
time Mount TongLu reopens, the entire heaven must detour around the Ghost City. Also, the
entire court must announce the heroic deeds of Crimson Rain Sought Flower and sing songs of
praises for an entire year... Xie Lian tried to imagine it, and it was probably something to the
effect of “You bunch of foolish heavenly officials! Do you know who saved you!” This was
practically like tormenting the heavenly officials who were already wary of Hua Cheng and bore
complicated feelings towards him, and stepping on their faces.
Hua Cheng smiled, “With me around, this journey will be much easier for you.”
Pulling himself back, Xie Lian replied, “I still think we should go after your period of aggravation
is over, after you’ve returned to your normal self.”
“You don’t need to worry about that either. It’ll be soon.” Hua Cheng said.
Xie Lian was taken aback, “Huh...”
“What is it? Gege, what’s that face?” Hua Cheng questioned.
Xie Lian said dejectedly, “...Does that mean, San Lang’s gonna grow up?”
Hua Cheng clenched his fists by his sides, “En. I’ve endured for too long. I can’t wait anymore.”
Yet unexpectedly, just as he finished talking Xie Lian lifted him up, raising him high into the air
with his arms and laughed, “It’ll be such a shame! I won’t be able to lift you up anymore after
you grow up, so I best hug as much as I can now, hahahahahaha...”
“...”
On the way to Mount TongLu, they weren’t able to use the Distance Shortening array and could
only walk. Over ten days later, the two finally left towns and signs of life far behind them and
entered a mountainous area with endless fields of lush green forests.
The deeper they entered the woods, the more monsters and demons they saw on the road, the
bands of them growing bigger and thicker, their shapes and forms bizarre, sneaking and
hurrying. Xie Lian walked with Hua Cheng in hand and whispered, “So many have come.”
“The gathering this time certainly is bigger than before. It’s because the heavens didn’t put up a
barricade, so many who weren’t planning on coming have all come.” Hua Cheng said.
However, there weren’t only lone ghosts, there were many that came in groups. After a while,
Xie Lian and Hua Cheng ran into a large group of ragged and disheveled ghosts, their faces
savage, marching in a parade chanting:
“THE WORLD BE KILN; THE SOULS BE COPPER!”
“WATERS DEEP AND FIRES BURN; ADVERSITIES BURIED WITHIN!”
“THE WORLD BE KILN; THE SOULS BE COPPER!”
“WATERS DEEP AND FIRES BURN; ADVERSITIES BURIED WITHIN!”
Listening to the tone of their holler, not only did they not sound afraid, they sounded eager. But
hearing their slogan, Hua Cheng’s expression grew frigid, “They don’t even understand what
they’re saying but they definitely shout louder than anybody.”
Thinking of it, many of these monsters and demons had never experienced this trial before and
didn’t understand the cruelty of it, taking the becoming of a Supreme something easily
achievable, and each of them were filled with heroic determination, bringing displeasure to the
one who was experienced.
“Can they also come banded in groups?” Xie Lian asked.
“Those are typically ones who knew each other already and planned to charge the mountain
together, swearing to show mercy for each other. However, none of the promises will keep
simply because fighting to the end, the more killed the stronger you get, the more you save the
less chance you have to survive, and the easiest target is often ones closest to you.”
Then, he knitted his brows slightly, covering his right eye, seeming to have another oncoming
headache. Xie Lian quickly seized him and hid behind the trees on the side, crouching down,
feeling concerned, “San Lang, we’re about to enter the mountain. Are you sure you’ll be
alright?”
Easing his brows, Hua Cheng replied, “Don’t worry, gege, everything’s fine. It’ll be better soon.”
How could Xie Lian not be worried simply because he said so? Hua Cheng then added, “Gege,
come closer, I’ve something to tell you.”
Xie Lian didn’t know what he was planning so he drew his face closer. Hua Cheng cupped his
face with his hands and lightly touched his forehead with his. Xie Lian blinked and was stunned.
He waited until Hua Cheng released him before he started, “San Lang, what are you...”
Hua Cheng smiled, “Done. It’s all ghosts and demons here; gege is a heavenly official, your
scent would be very conspicuous in there. This will help cover it a little.”
So that was what it was. He was staining Xie Lian with his scent. Xie Lian couldn’t help but
remember how the two exchanged spiritual powers and air between them and was afraid Hua
Cheng would be reminded too and quickly said, “Alright. Let’s put on some disguise.”
In order to blend in with millions of ghosts, naturally they must go under some disguises.
However, it wasn’t anything more than draping on a cloak. There were already plenty of ghosts
and monsters who also donned masks and cloaks, so it wasn’t odd. The two dressed simply,
and Xie Lian held Hua Cheng’s hand as they continued slowly on their way. After a while, there
was the faint noise of a commotion ahead on the road. Unsure of what was happening, Xie Lian
asked, “Is there anything like a landmark that tells you you’ve entered Mount TongLu?”
“There is,” Hua Cheng answered, “But don’t trust it.”
Xie Lian was about to continue his questions but the commotion ahead of them was growing
louder. When the two exited the forest, turns out, there was a large blackened crowd of at least
three to four hundred monsters and demons stuck before a steep bluff. However, this number
was but the tip of the iceberg for the turnout of the gathering this time.
“Why is the road blocked? Did we go the wrong way?”
“That can’t be... Didn’t they say any road will lead to Mount TongLu?”
Perhaps it was because they weren’t within the boundaries of Mount TongLu and the
slaughtering hadn’t officially began, the crowd of ghosts were still considerably peaceful. Xie
Lian found a random ghost on the side and asked casually, “What’s going on over there?”
That ghost yelled, “YA AINT GOT EYES TA SEE FER YERSELF? THERE’S A MOUNTAIN IN
THE WAY, WE CAN’T GIT THROUGH!”
“...”
Xie Lian took a look at this ghost next to him, half of its head were sliced off, and truly, it was the
one that didn’t have eyes to see. But Xie Lian wasn’t going to say anything and only said, “Can’t
we go around?”
Just then, several ghosts rushed over from the other side, spitting their tongues, “The hell, this
mountain is evil! We’ve ran around for over an hour and still saw no end of it! I’ve had to run
over an hour to come back!”
The ghosts turned to Xie Lian, “No.”
Xie Lian then asked, “Can’t we climb up or fly over?”
Just as the words left his lips, a large, seven feet bird WHOOSH and fell from the sky, crashing
heavily onto the ground, and practically dropped dead on the spot. A ghost cried out, “DEAD!
THE BIRD SPIRIT DIED FROM EXHAUSTION AND STILL IT COULDN’T FLY OVER!”
The ghosts turned to Xie Lian again, “No.”
Xie Lian tried again, “Then can’t we...”
But before he could complete his question, the ghosts all shushed him like they really wished to
seal his mouth shut, “STOP ASKING, YOU LOUDMOUTH!”
“Alright.” Xie Lian complied.
Hundreds of ghosts and demons were blocked by this unpassable, unhikable, uncrossable
mountain bluff, and various voices of endless tones buzzed, exceedingly noisy. Some said, “I
get it! It’s not a typical mountain, it’s a screen.”
Some said, “Everyone, after crossing this mountain, Mount TongLu must be right beyond. This
mountain is probably the first trial before entering the mountain. If we can’t even pass a simple
test like this, then there’s no need to even think about what would come after and might as well
just go home.”
“WAIT!”
“Wait what?”
A puzzled voice spoke up, “Why do I... smell something funny?”
“What smell? You sure it’s not that dead human meat you got with you?”
That voice said, “No, no. It’s not the flesh of the dead, it’s flesh of the living! No no no, that’s not
right either! ... It’s rather like... THE SMELL OF A HEAVENLY OFFICIAL!!!!”
The moment those words rolled out a wave of alarm was raised, and the crowd of ghosts all
cried, “WHAT?! YOU’RE SHITTIN’ ME, WHY WOULD THERE BE A HEAVENLY OFFICIAL?”
“AHH WAIT! Um... I SMELL IT TOO!”
“How come we don’t smell anything here?”
“Now that y’all are talking about it, it feels like here too... DID A HEAVENLY OFFICIAL SNEAK
IN?!”
“That’s impossible... what heavenly official is so audacious to come to a place like this?”
With all these voices calling out, alarm exploded in all directions. Xie Lian was feeling a little
trepidation but still his face next gave anything away.
Hua Cheng had obviously helped him cover up his scent earlier, so why would there be any
scent still? No one should’ve noticed he snuck in.
Hua Cheng held his hand and whispered, “Gege be careful, something is stirring the pot and
creating chaos on purpose.”
“It’s also possible that other than me, there are other heavenly officials that have snuck in.” Xie
Lian said.
Just then, the ghost that was the first to mention the smell of humans jumped onto a boulder,
“EVERYONE! Maybe, those godforsaken heavenly officials in the heavenly realm saw they
couldn’t stop us en route so they sent forth people to come to Mount TongLu to ruin our
celebration. I suggest everyone wearing masks and cloaks or heavy layers to strip them off for
now so whoever has spiritual aura will be immediately discovered. Everyone, announce your
title one by one, don’t give them the chance to sneak in among us!”
The crowd of ghosts all applauded the idea, and that ghost continued, “I’ll go first! I’m the
‘Demon of Swift Life-Extinguishing Blade’ – the decapitation blade of an executioner. There’s
only ever the one blade for killing and chopping off heads!”
“...”
In Xie Lian’s experience, typically the more exaggerated the title, with names like
“Unparallelled”, “Thousand Hands”, “Mighty” or “Life-Extinguishing” etc., the easier they were to
wipe out. Usually with just a single move. Sometimes three could be wiped out with a single
move. Immediately there were hundreds of titles being thrown out noisily, and he shook his
head as he listened. Suddenly, a ghost next to him elbowed him, “Hey, why haven’t you stripped
off your cloak yet? What are you?”
It wasn’t like he meant it disrespectfully; if he wasn’t human then he could only be called a ‘what’
so that didn’t seem wrong. In fact, there were plenty of other ghosts that didn’t remove their
cloaks and masks; there was even one close to Xie Lian, watching them with his arms crossed.
But the one called out first was Xie Lian, and seeing that all the eyes were on him, he accepted
his own bad luck and took off the cloak, speaking gently, “I’m a Puppet Master.”
The ghosts all approached and circled around, “I see! No wonder you look so much like a
human. This is my first time seeing a Puppet Master!”
Xie Lian smiled without speaking. A Puppet Master was a ghost with a very weak essence of
evil. In order to create the perfect puppet, they would experiment on all different kinds of
materials so it wasn’t strange to have been stained with different kinds of scent. Since they
particularly fancy the skins of humans, the scent of human was usually heavy on their bodies.
The dream of Puppet Masters was to pull out hairs from a heavenly official and make wigs for
their puppets, and some were even daring enough to try. Thus, it wasn’t strange if there was the
scent of heavenly officials either.
A ghost asked, “Then where’s your puppet?”
Xie Lian scanned the crowd, then bent down to lift Hua Cheng up.
The ghosts were all in awe, “Wow, so exquisite!”
“What material did you use? Tsk tsk tsk, this looks so real.”
“Feels like you’re gonna be a tough competitor...”
“How is it real? I think it looks rather fake. Isn’t the skin too white? Why would kids have such
long lashes?”
Although Hua Cheng had his arms crossed and expressionless, but there were still many
female ghosts whose unmoving hearts were struck by his looks. “I’m dying, what a handsome
poppet!” “Master, do you take commissions? Can I order one exactly the same? We can talk
price.” Some even reached out to try and pet, unable to stop themselves. Xie Lian immediately
brought him back into his arms and the ghosts were miffed, “So stingy! Treasuring him so much,
you won’t even let us touch.”
Xie Lian’s left arm held Hua Cheng even tighter, and his right hand brushed his hair, “Of course.
This is my puppet. Besides, he’s got quite the temper. No one but me can touch him, otherwise
he’ll get very angry.”
Hua Cheng raised his brows in his arms and the ghosts all laughed out loud, “AIYOH, HE CAN
EVEN RAISE BROWS! HE’S GOT ATTITUDE!”
Just then, there was suddenly a voice that spoke up, “I don’t think that’s it.”
———
Ch.144: Gates Open at Mount TongLu; the Assembly of Millions of Ghosts 2
Xie Lian turned to look and the one who spoke was that “Swift Life-Extinguishing Blade”. He
accused, “The scent of humans on you is a little too heavy.”
The crowd of ghosts all chided, “He’s a Puppet Master... it’s understandable. He’s got essence
of evil on him too.”
The Demon Swift Life-Extinguishing Blade countered, “No no, look closer everyone. This
essence of evil on this ‘Puppet Master’ doesn’t feel like it’s emitted from within, more like dyed
from the outside.”
To stain dye the essence of evil from the surface should’ve been passable originally, but once it
became the point of focus for the crowd of ghosts, the details would be magnified. This Swift
Life-Extinguishing Blade Demon didn’t look like he was very smart at first, similar to that
Heaven’s Eye, and Xie Lian had taken him for an insignificant little side character, but who knew
he wasn’t that easy to deceive. A ghost piped up, “You look like you’re well versed in this, so is
there anything concrete to your words? How do we tell? You got any ideas?”
The Swift Life-Extinguishing Blade Demon replied, “Yes. There’s a tool that can determine just
exactly what he is!”
From his sleeve he pulled out an object. The moment the crowd of ghosts saw they instantly
backed away, “THE FUCK! YOU HAVE YELLOW TALISMAN ON YOU?! YOU SURE YOU’RE
NOT THE HEAVENLY OFFICIAL?”
Swift Life-Extinguishing Blade Demon explained earnestly, “No! I’ve killed some cultivators on
the way here and took their belongings, that’s all. These are just the typical yellow talismans for
dealing with little ghosts and irrelevant little minions. Since everyone made it here, I’m sure
these talismans would do nothing to you. Watch!”
Then he slapped that yellow talisman on his forehead. Crackle crackle, that yellow talisman
burnt up into a wisp of black smoke on his face, leaving a black, ashen mark on his forehead.
That Swift Life-Extinguishing Blade Demon said, “Even though this talisman can’t do anything to
me, but I can at least prove my identity.”
Something like a paper talisman could be used to deal with ghosts and demons, but on the flip
side, it could also be used to identify whether a person was in fact, a person. Swift
Life-Extinguishing Blade Demon pointed at Xie Lian, “If you’re really a Puppet Master, then stick
this yellow talisman on your forehead. We’ll see whether if it leaves a mark.”
Xie Lian didn’t show any reaction but his mind was spinning rapidly. However, Hua Cheng
whispered, “Don’t worry, gege.”
Thus, Xie Lian knew that Hua Cheng was confident in his chances. He put Hua Cheng down
and approached easily, took that talisman and pressed it on his forehead. Crackle crackle, that
yellow talisman burnt to a wisp of black smoke, however after the smoke had cleared, Xie Lian’s
forehead was still unmarred with not a trace left behind!
This proved that the essence of evil on his person was stained from the surface!
Other than that cloaked figure with crossed arms, hundreds of ghosts instantly surrounded
them, yelling and howling, looking like they were ready to bring out all sorts of bizarre weapons,
but then they were all instantly repelled by an invisible barrier. The crowd of ghosts were
stunned, “Well, well! Pretty skilled too!”
Xie Lian flipped open his hands, “I didn’t do anything,”
Just then, Hua Cheng who was standing behind him spoke.
He approached with his fists at his sides, “You bunch of unlearned country bumpkin ghosts,
what’re you all looking so surprised for?”
“And you’re a man of the world, little ghost baby??”
“It ain’t a lie that he ain’t got essence of evil on him. Just who’re y’all, declare yaselves now!”
Hua Cheng answered, “What a bunch of fools. Of course there’s none on his body, because I’m
the real Puppet Master!”
Just as the words left his lips, the crowd of ghosts could sense an exceedingly haunting chill
blow past them, like the entire field was going to freeze. Even with their cool bodies they still
shuddered, “...What... What’s... going... on...?”
“Giving you all a taste of the world, is all.” Hua Cheng said.
He rescinded his aura and the crowd of ghosts finally stopped shivering. That Swift
Life-Extinguishing Blade Demon questioned, feeling trepidation, “If... If you’re the Puppet
Master, and he’s also a Puppet Master, then who’s the? No no, it can’t be him, so what kind of
person is he?”
Before Hua Cheng responded, Xie Lian smiled, “Obviously, the kind that belongs to him.”
The crowd of ghosts were befuddled for a moment, then it finally dawned on them, “So– So it’s
the opposite? He’s the master, and you’re the puppet?!”
Swift Life-Extinguishing Blade Demon was suspicious, “Then why did you say you were the
Puppet Master earlier? What’s the intention of your lie?”
Hua Cheng smiled, “Because, I thought it’d be amusing.”
Xie Lian smiled too, “That’s right. Master finding it amusing is the most important reason.”
After the female ghosts got over their initial shock, they tucked away their long claws and
tongues and started circling around Xie Lian anew and started examining him. From some
reason, the commentary from the female ghosts directed to him took on a completely different
flavour than when they were checking Hua Cheng out. Somehow, they sounded more bold:
“So this little gege is the real puppet? Aiyah, I like this age better, now I want one even more!
Are you sure you don’t take orders?”
Xie Lian replied gently, “Um... thank you for your affections. But, I’m actually very old...”
“This material is human skin, right? The treatment is done fairly cleanly, there isn’t any of that
stinking, rancid smell of Yang* from those burly men. Master, how do you manage the
maintenance? Do you use perfume?”
“It’s human skin,” Xie Lian replied, “No perfumes. Just bathe frequently and drink lots of water.”
“Wow! Feels like this puppet can do many things! All sorts. Both the face and body look pretty
good, eh? Looks like the feel of his skin is nice too. But he’s a little skinny, I wonder if there’s
some meat in there after stripping the clothes off hehehehe...”
Xie Lian had been maintaining a polite and humble smile the entire time, but seeing that there
were actually female ghosts coming closer ready to feel his chest with their eyes bright, his
brows twitched. Hua Cheng pressed two fingers together and lightly swung them upwards, and
the circle of delicate as well as withered hands were waved away. Xie Lian immediately
crouched behind Hua Cheng to hide. The female ghosts were annoyed, “What, are you going to
say that this puppet has a bad temper too and doesn’t like other people touching him? He looks
nice!”
Hua Cheng reached out and lifted Xie Lian’s chin, “His temper is certainly nice, but my temper is
bad. No one shall touch what I love except for me.”
Xie Lian followed along and obediently raised his face, holding back his laugh so hard his guts
were spasming. Still, he was very cooperative and gazed at Hua Cheng’s eyes, speaking
earnestly, “No. San... Master’s temper is very nice too.”
Hua Cheng laughed too, looking very satisfied. The two went back and forth, getting quite into
their roles, but another ghost on the side interrupted, “I still think the scent of human on him is
too strong.”
“Then what do you want to do?” The female ghosts questioned.
That ghost said, “I heard puppets made of skin aren’t stuffed with flesh, so if they’re stabbed
they won’t bleed. Let me stab him with a blade and see...” But before he finished his thought he
was frightened to silence with a sharp eye.
Hua Cheng said coldly, “Try touching him, I dare you. Think I would let the things I treasure
deep in my heart be so easily touched by you lot?”
The crowd of ghosts were pushed back by the power of his aura earlier, and now that Hua
Cheng was making threats, they didn’t dare move another muscle, and had subconsciously
backed away to give them a large breather area. That Swift Life-Extinguishing Blade Demon
who had started everything saw things were going downhill and actually became the first to try
and smooth things over, “Please don’t be furious, Puppet Master. We haven’t even entered the
boundaries of Mount TongLu yet, we can talk more after going in. Let’s not start things among
ourselves now.”
Hua Cheng’s eyes glanced to the side, “Rather than harassing my puppet, why not ask instead
why that one still wouldn’t remove their cloak.”
The eccentric cloaked figure that had been standing there on the side this entire time still hadn’t
removed their cloak since the ruckus started, and had been watching with his arms crossed like
they were enjoying a show, completely removed from the hubbub. Now that Hua Cheng pointed
them out, the show couldn’t be watched anymore since they became the star. Swift
Life-Extinguishing Blade Demon walked forward a step, “Will this friend also remove your cloak
to let us see?”
That cloaked figure paused for a long time, and just when Xie Lian was starting to suspect if
they were ready to kick up dirt and run away, that cloaked figure suddenly reached out and
cleanly pulled off the cloak.
Under the cloak was a handsome but plain and normal face.
Such a person, if they were thrown into a crowd, they wouldn’t look bad, but they’d be easily
forgotten, their appearance unretainable, and it made those ghosts who saw this reveal rather
disappointed. However, Xie Lian was growing wary.
“Obviously a fake face.” Hua Cheng said.
His voice could only be heard by Xie Lian, and Xie Lian nodded. Sometimes, when heavenly
officials or renown ghosts had business to do in the mortal realm, instead of using the
inconvenient real form, they’d conceive such a fake face. Times like these, the most important
element of this transformation was “plain and normal”; whether it be good looking or not, as long
as it was plain enough to ensure that no matter how long someone was to stare at their faces,
they’d still forget the moment they turn away. That would constitute a successful transformation.
The face of that cloaked figure perfectly matched the key component of such a transformation,
so, it was more than likely not his real face, and his real identity unknown.
Swift Life-Extinguishing Blade Demon handed out a yellow talisman. That cloaked figure took it
and stuck it on his forehead without hesitation. Crackle crackle, smoke, a mark.
It seemed, he was also a ghost and not a human.
After all this ruckus, the crowd was getting aggravated, “So is there actually a heavenly official
mixed in or not?”
“Who’s the one who brought this up first? You better not be wrong.”
Swift Life-Extinguishing Blade Demon raised his hand, “The first to notice is me, but it’s true! I
definitely smelt a heavenly official.. AH!”
Unexpectedly, in mid-speech he suddenly screamed and toppled over. Shocked, Xie Lian
rushed forward and there was an extra bloody hold on his body. The hold pierced through the
abdomen, and, on the wound, there was a faint residue of the kind of spiritual light only found on
the body of a heavenly official!
The crowd of ghosts were shocked, “LOOK AT HIS WOUND! THERE’S REALLY A HEAVENLY
OFFICIAL AMONG US!”
Swift Life-Extinguishing Blade Demon covered that bloody hole and cried, terrified,
“EVERYONE WATCH OUT! THEY WANT TO WIPE US OUT!”
The crowd of ghosts immediately lost their minds in terror, like a pot had exploded, and they all
raised their weapons ready to face enemies from any direction, yelling, “WHO IS IT?! WHO
WANTS TO WIPE US OUT?! WHERE ARE YOU HIDING?!”
When that Swift Life-Extinguishing Blade Demon was first hit, the first thought that flashed
through Xie Lian’s mind was, “I knew those who give themselves such ridiculous titles are the
first to go down!” Then after blinking, he shouted, “EVERYONE SAW JUST NOW, RIGHT? MY
MASTER AND I WERE BOTH UNDER YOUR SCRUTINY THE ENTIRE TIME, WE DIDN’T DO
ANYTHING.” As he spoke, he glanced sharply at that cloaked figure. The other also raised his
hand, his suppressed voice low, “Same.”
Xie Lian leaned down to check over Swift Blade Demon’s injuries and claimed, “It’s a sword
wound. Whoever’s using a sword right now is...” When he turned his head, he was instantly
speechless. It seemed, the sword wasn’t just the most popular weapon in the mortal and
heavenly realms, but also in the ghost realm. Of the four hundred some ghosts present, at least
more than three hundred wielded swords, completely uncountable. Xie Lian cleared his throat,
“If only there’s more yellow talismans we can use like the ones earlier, we won’t have to worry
over who’s who.”
Of course, this was an offhanded comment, making himself sound helpful. If there really were
heavenly colleagues who infiltrated this crowd, he certainly didn’t want to help pick them out.
This Swift Blade Demon also couldn’t possibly have that many yellow talismans at the ready
either. Yet unexpectedly, just as he made his comment, Swift Life-Extinguishing Blade Demon
actually did pull out a thick stack of yellow talismans, “OH! I DO HAVE MORE!”
“...”
Xie Lian couldn’t help but want to take a look behind his back, “Just where did you pull those
out?”
“THAT’S NOT IMPORTANT!” Swift Life-Extinguishing Blade Demon said.
“No, it’s very important.” Xie Lian said, “Normally you don’t take such heavy burdens with you on
the road, they’re heavy enough to be thrown like bricks to kill people... just how many cultivators
did you kill?”
Swift Life-Extinguishing Blade Demon glared at him, “Maybe twenty some.”
...No wonder. If every cultivator carried with them over ten talismans, then adding them all
together there were at least over two hundred!
Without further ado, the crowd of ghosts were anxious to find out who among them were
heavenly officials, and quickly came up with a rough method. They formed into groups of two,
each sticking a yellow talisman on their partner’s forehead, and observe whether if their partners
left ashen marks. Some small time ghosts were still afraid, “Do I actually have to do this? Won’t
this break my spirit...”
“It won’t, it won’t, it’s exactly like those talismans they were using earlier, the powers are weak,
so at most they’ll just leave a mark.”
“Oh...”
Hua Cheng narrowed his eyes and seemed to have noticed something. Soon, in the four
hundred some ghosts, fields after fields of them all had that yellow talisman taped onto their
forehead, looking peculiar and silly. However, after the talismans were stuck on, nothing
happened.
The ghosts all looked at each other, “What’s going on?”
“Hey, Swift Blade Demon, what kind of cultivators did you kill? Why are the talismans so shitty,
they’re not working.”
Xie Lian had thought things were off from the start, and now his brows were knit. He was just
about to speak when a female ghost next to him pursed her lips and whined, “I’m not doing this
anymore, I’m ripping this off... huh? What’s going on? Why can’t I rip this off?”
Several female ghosts all started shrieking at once, “ME TOO! WHY WON’T THIS RIP OFF?!”
Crap!
Just at the same time, Hua Cheng warned in a low voice, “Gege, crouch down!”
Xie Lian immediately followed his instruction, and Hua Cheng immediately covered his ears. Not
far from them, that cloaked figure also immediately pulled his cloak over, half knelt to the
ground. Soon after, “BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!” Like a series
of firecrackers exploding, the loud rumbles roared to the skies!
———-
Ch.145: Gates Open at Mount TongLu; the Assembly of Millions of Ghosts 3
Xie Lian could only feel waves of violent tremors rippling from all directions, and a peculiar
stench that was hard to describe permeated the air.
Those yellow talismans all exploded!
And the ghosts and demons who had them stuck to their foreheads, the solid ones all had their
brains blown out, blood and flesh splattering, and the hollow ones were blown out of shape,
black smokes dispersing. Before the mountain bluffs was a field of howling and wailing. Hua
Cheng released the hands covering Xie Lian’s ears looking unaffected. Xie Lian rose to his feet,
feeling slightly alarmed. He had inspected those yellow talismans one by one earlier and they
were all the normalest of exorcism charms so how could it have such a shocking effect?
Just then, amidst the smoking skies came fluttering down a shredded paper, and with a swift
hand, Xie Lian seized it to take a look, and instantly figured it out, “How cunning.”
This was a sliver of a shredded corner of a yellow talisman. If it wasn’t shredded it might not be
noticeable, but there were actually two layers!
One sheet of paper covered the top and it was drawn with the more normal of spells, but there
was another extremely thin sheet of charm paper, and although it’s already been burnt to the
point where the spell was no longer recognizable, but needless to say it must be the most
vicious and aggressive of spells.
Clouds of dust flew and filled the air, things couldn’t be seen clearly, and there were still many
ghosts who were screaming like someone was taking this chance to ambush. Xie Lian instantly
laid low, and a ghost was shouting, “WAIT! THE SLAUGHTERING HASN’T STARTED, WHY
ARE YOU ALL MAKING YOUR MOVES NOW?!”
“YEA! DIDN’T WE ALL AGREE THAT SINCE WE’RE ALL GHOSTS, WE’LL PEACEFULLY
FIND A WAY TO CROSS THE MOUNTAIN TO ENTER FIRST??”
A savage voice laughed, “Idiots like you deserve to be annihilated in the first round! There’s
never been any indication of when slaughter begins, and since we’re all opponents anyway,
obviously the faster you’re done in the better! Think I’m gonna say hi before I make my move?”
“WAIT! WAIT! I’M BACKING OUT! WE’RE NOT AT MOUNT TONGLU YET! CAN’T I BACK
OUT NOW??”
The clouds of smoke and dust cleared slightly, and once the ghosts could see clearly, they were
all mortified, “HUH?! HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!”
Not just them, even Xie Lian was slightly stunned by the sight before him.
When they first came, ahead on the road was a tall mountain bluff that couldn’t be bypassed nor
crossed blocking the way. Yet looking at it now, somehow, that mountain had disappeared.
No, it didn’t disappear. It migrated to behind them.
It seemed, without them realizing it, they’ve already entered the boundaries of Mount TongLu!
Xie Lian suddenly understood why when he first asked if Mount TongLu had any landmarks,
Hua Cheng said there was but not to trust them. Because those ‘landmarks’ were like
mischievous children playing pranks and would move around on their own!
Suddenly, Xie Lian heard a voice behind him sneer, “I gotta see just what kind of a puppet
you’re made of, or perhaps you’re something else?”
The Swift Life-Extinguishing Blade Demon!
Xie Lian whipped around yet before RuoYe had flown out, there was a chilling flash of light, and
that Swift Life-Extinguishing Blade Demon hadn’t even had the chance to scream before it was
slashed in two from the waist!
Xie Lian rushed up to check, and sure enough, he was legitimately chopped cleanly into two
halves, and couldn’t be more dead. He raised his head and saw the one who struck was that
eccentric cloaked figure who was just slowly sliding his sword into his sheath as he walked over
in steady, confident steps.
Xie Lian felt both the figure and the way he walked was somewhat familiar and straightened up,
“My good sir, you are?”
That man smirked and was about to answer when he suddenly bent down. Seeing this
unexpected action, alarms went off in Xie Lian’s head and he watched him intently, preparing for
any surprise attacks. Yet that man only leaned down and circled his two arms around the
slender waists of two female ghosts, “Are my ladies alright?”
Those two female ghosts both bore charming looks and figures, and because they didn’t wield
swords, they didn’t use that yellow talismans and was able to escape the disaster. Nevertheless,
the shockwave from the blasts knocked them out. Now that they’re being embraced in
someone’s arms and being beckoned so passionately, they languidly came to, feeling grateful,
“I’m alright, Thank...”
Yet abruptly, before that “thank you” fully left their lips, those two female ghosts faces changed
and shoved that eccentric cloaked figure away, “GET OUTTA HERE!” Then they hurriedly
crawled away. That man wasn’t annoyed even after being slapped twice, and only appeared
rather confused, rubbing his chin as his brows knitted, “That’s not right? This face isn’t that
ugly?”
“...”
Although he was still in disguise, but Xie Lian already knew who he was. “General Pei, why are
you here too?”
That man turned to him and smiled, his hand brushed by his face and revealed his true
appearance. It was Pei Ming.
“Naturally, it’s because the Emperor asked me to give Your Highness a hand.”
“For real?” Xie Lian said, “Thank you thank you. Sorry for the trouble. It’s very dangerous here,
as you can see.”
“Gege there’s no need to be so grateful. He’s obviously negotiated full benefits with Jun Wu.”
Hua Cheng said.
Pei Ming walked over and stopped in front of Hua Cheng, crouched down and made a hand
gesture to measure his current height, laughing, “Do my eyes deceive me? Is this My Lord
Crimson Rain Sought Flower? One certainly changes for the better with time, so what did you
eat to grow backwards? Ha...”
He only “ha’-ed once and Xie Lian’s silk bandage was released, whipping so hard he was
almost sent flying and only barely dodged, leaping backwards, “Your Highness, just how much
do you treasure Hua Chengzhu? Can’t even take a joke?”
Xie Lian demanded somberly, “Are you really General Pei?”
Pei Ming patted the sacred sword hung on his waist, flashing it for him to see, “Genuine and
authentic, exchange if fake.”
“No exchange. If fake, return directly.” Xie Lian said.
“Gege, kill it. It’s fake.” Hua Cheng said.
“Hey!”
“If you’re really General Pei, then why did that yellow talisman leave an ashen mark on your
forehead earlier?” Xie Lian questioned.
“It’s simple.” Pei Ming said, “It’s all thanks to this.” Then he tossed a small item to Xie Lian.
Since he was guarded, Xie Lian didn’t catch with his hands but use the tip of the sword and
skewered it, bringing it to his eyes, “Candy?”
On the tip of the sword was a black and shiny little candy. Pei Ming threw another in his mouth,
“Ghost Scent Candy I bought from Ghost City. Just chew one and you’d get a mouthful of
essence of evil, flowing from inside out. Rather useful when pretending to be inhuman
creatures.”
Xie Lian twiddled that Ghost Scent Candy and was amazed, “You can buy such magical things
at the Ghost City?”
Pei Ming munched on the candy, “Ask Hua Chengzhu who’s right next to you, he knows best.
You can buy anything at the Ghost City if you know how. Flavour’s not bad, Your Highness,
wanna try one?”
Xie Lian was also curious how ghosts would taste and turned to Hua Cheng, “If that’s case, we
should’ve gotten some of those Ghost Scent Candies before we came.”
However, Hua Cheng took the candy from his hand and said, “Gege, if you want anything in
Ghost City you only need to ask me. But don’t eat stuff like this.”
“Why?”
Hua Cheng didn’t exert any powers but that candy shrieked and dissolved into a wisp of black
smoke. He explained, “Everything in the Ghost City is dangerous. Like this candy; it comes from
a shady production house, and the ingredients are mostly vulgar, puny ghosts with unknown
origins. Eating it will damage the body.”
Pei Ming didn’t think anything of it, “It’s alright. It’s only for emergencies, not like it’s eaten
regularly.”
Hua Cheng continued, “And the smell is poignant. Heavenly officials and mortals can’t smell it,
but the more vulgar the ghost, the more rancid the smell.”
Pei Ming: “...”
Hua Cheng snickered, “Do you understand now why those two female ghosts told you to get
lost?”
“...”
Because they felt the essence of evil on Pei Ming was extremely vulgar and disgusting!
Xie Lian cleared his throat softly and said courteously, “General Pei, let’s... not eat this
anymore.”
Pei Ming made a gesture and pulled out the leftover Ghost Scent Candies, tossing them all out.
“Fine. But, we’ve only just reached the outer edges of Mount TongLu. After going further in there
will be even more powerful monsters and demons that can tell with but a look that we’re
suspicious. What shall we do then?”
Those female ghosts swarmed around Hua Cheng like ducks, no doubt they really liked his
scent. The essence of evil Hua Cheng transferred to him was undoubtedly the highest of quality,
so there certainly wasn’t a real need to buy Ghost Scent Candies. Only, if he didn’t want anyone
to discover the essence was only stained on the surface, then they might need to press their lips
together like last time and exchange bodily fluids and exchange air. Thinking of this, Xie Lian
immediately stopped himself and said matter-of-factly, “I don’t know either. I’m just a puppet.”
Meaning he was going to continue acting.
“Fine. Then Your Highness, best keep close to your master now.” Pei Ming said.
Xie Lian pretended not to hear and scanned their surroundings, humming, “I hadn’t imagined
casualties would be this devastating from the get go.”
The four hundred some ghosts that had gathered here originally were mostly dead or injured.
Xie Lian couldn’t help but recall that scene Hua Cheng enacted for him that night, and it truly
wasn’t an exaggeration. It really was like as if a gust of wind had blown past and all the weeds
were ripped out. The ones who managed to escape this trial and hadn’t died out completely
were scraggly and few, their limbs all over the place, moaning and groaning. Hua Cheng stood
in front of them, “Do you all understand what kind of place Mount TongLu is now?”
The surviving ghosts didn’t dare make a sound. Xie Lian said gently, “You’re all still only on the
outer edges right now, there’s still a chance to pull out. If you don’t want to continue to keep
going in and run into scarier things, then wait around here and find a chance to leave.”
The ghosts had that very intention, and seeing Xie Lian and company didn’t plan on wiping them
out, they hurriedly pulled each other up, supporting one another, and fled for as far as they
could. Watching their retreating backs, Xie Lian spoke meaningfully, “That Swift
Life-Extinguishing Blade Demon might have an exaggerated name but he was unexpectedly
impressive. Vicious.”
Pei Ming agreed, “That creature was extremely good at manipulation, and was stirring the pot
from the start. He was also quick on his feet. Your Highness, that strike of yours gave him the
perfect chance to use his injuries for trickery.”
Xie Lian blinked, “Wait, my ‘strike’? What strike? I didn’t unsheath my sword.”
“No?” Pei Ming wondered, “That small slash on his abdomen. If it wasn’t for him creating panic
and that little gash stained with your spiritual light, no ghosts would’ve believed him and stick
those talismans on their foreheads.”
Xie Lian was puzzled, “To be honest, I thought that strike had come from you, General Pei?”
“Your Highness, do you have some sort of misunderstanding of me? I don’t do ambushes or
sneak attacks.” Pei Ming said.
“If it wasn’t you and it wasn’t me, then was there a third heavenly official present? Or perhaps
the spiritual light on that Swift Blade Demon’s wound is problematic...” He turned around and
was about to inspect and verify but where that Swift Life-Extinguishing Blade Demon’s corpse
once lied was empty.
Startled, he demanded, “Where’s the corpse of that Swift Blade Demon?”
Pei Ming was also somewhat taken aback, “I clearly slashed him at the waist just now.”
Hua Cheng said darkly, “Gege, be careful. In Mount TongLu, the more opponents killed, the
stronger the slayer.”
And earlier, within an instant, that Swift Light-Extinguishing Blade Demon slaughtered close to
four hundred monsters and demons!
———–
Ch.146: Ambivalent Regrets; General Ming Snaps the Hateful Sword
Corpses piled over the ground, black smoke was dispersing, and the three were tense and
guarded.
After that tall mountain had migrated behind them undetected, the path ahead finally came into
view. Thick, black woods layered and overlapped, exceedingly horrifying, and every so often
there’d be the strange squawks of black crows. While Xie Lian heightened the alert of all his
senses, he unconsciously reached for Hua Cheng’s hand at the same time. Yet unexpectedly,
the moment their hands touched he noticed an alarming sign.
Hua Cheng was obviously a ghost, but at that very moment, his body temperature was blistering
hot like a high fever. Xie Lian was instantly taken aback and whispered, “San Lang, are... are
you changing back?”
Although Hua Cheng was burning from his forehead to his finger tips, his expression never
changed, “Soon.”
Hua Cheng was going to change back and in their current situation, it was definitely great news.
However, the time before he formally returns to his old self must be the most important, most
critical point. Making a split second decision, Xie Lian cried, “I’ll set up an array and shield you!”
Then he went straight into action. He called forth RuoYe and made it circle around Hua Cheng
to form a large circle of four meters, then plunged Fang Xin in front of the circle as the ‘door
lock’ to the sealing circle. Hua Cheng sat down on the ground to meditate and said, “Gege, keep
Fang Xin with you for defense.”
“No, this array can’t be sloppy, there must be a bladed weapon that’s touched human blood...”
Before he finished speaking, he felt there was something rubbing against him behind his back,
and when he looked around, he was instantly speechless. There was a tiny little silver scimitar
standing upright behind him, blinking its big silver eye and rubbing against him with its hilt, like it
was nominating itself for the task.
“...” Xie Lian crouched down, “E-Ming, how come you’re like this too?”
The infamous scimitar E-Ming, its blade long and slender, wickedly seductive and wild, had now
shrunk at least half in size. That silver eye used to be long and narrow, but now it looked like it
also transformed to an eye of a child, big and round, bright and shining. However, hearing Xie
Lian, it seemed to feel aggrieved, and continued to try and push its hilt into Xie Lian’s hand. Pei
Ming also crouched down, “So this is the infamous scimitar E-Ming?”
He looked like he was about to reach out and touch it but E-Ming changed face instantly,
pointing its blade threateningly towards him. Fortunately, Pei Ming pulled away just in time,
otherwise blood would’ve certainly spilt. Xie Lian stroked E-Ming, “Fang Xin is still better suited.”
Fang Xin didn’t move. E-Ming, who tried so enthusiastically to offer up itself but ended up so
blatantly rejected, weepingly hopped back to Hua Cheng’s side. Hua Cheng didn’t even spare it
a look before he smacked it with a backhand slap. “What are you crying about? Isn’t it all
because you’re useless? Trash!”
E-Ming fell flat on the ground like a piece of unwanted scrap metal, like it dropped dead from
that strike. Xie Lian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry and immediately picked E-Ming up and
stroked it a couple times in his arms, “Nothing of the sort. Don’t listen to him, you’re not trash,
you’re very useful!”
Pei Ming couldn’t stand the mood in the circle anymore and stepped out, standing at the
boundary, slowly pulling out his sword once more, “Things weren’t supposed to be this stressful,
but who knew we’d run into such an impressive, troublesome character from the start. Your
Highness really does have the best of luck.”
The reason why the group of them made the trip to Mount TongLu was to annihilate any
candidates who had the potential to become a Supreme, so they must seek the more powerful
amongst the ghosts. Xie Lian also couldn’t tell anymore whether if this counted as good luck or
bad luck. However, Hua Cheng said, “Why does General Pei think so matter-of-factly that it’s
His Highness’ luck that’s the problem? Have you never thought that maybe that Swift
Life-Extinguishing Blade Demon was coming after you?”
Pei Ming laughed out loud, “If that ghost was a woman I’ll believe it.”
Yet unexpectedly, he hadn’t laughed for very long before his face suddenly changed and leapt to
the side. When he looked up again, blood dripped and flowed down his cheek.
A bloody cut appeared on Pei Ming’s face!
He felt his face in disbelief and his whole palm was smeared with blood; this was no scratch.
The two of them were both on high alert, yet, Xie Lian was perfectly fine and didn’t sense any
killing intent directed at him at all, so he said truthfully, “It seems... it really is coming for you,
General Pei.”
Pei Ming was about to speak but the sound of a sharp blade slashing through the air came once
more. This time he was prepared and swung his sword. This strike really did hit something, and
a figure appeared in the air, splitting into two from the strike, and crashed to the ground, one half
upper body, the other half the lower body, the eyes gloomy and vicious, glaring at Pei Ming. It
was that Swift Life-Extinguishing Blade Demon!
Pei Ming walked over and stepped on his chest, the tip of his sword pointing at his throat, “What
are you?”
That creature had said he was once the blade of an executioner, but if that really was the case,
then after Pei Ming chopped him in half he should’ve shown its true form and end this ridiculous
act. What kind of blade could still do as it pleased after snapping in half?
Yet unexpectedly, that Swift Blade Demon bulged his eyes, sneered, and broke Pei Ming’s
sword with his bare hands!
CLANG! Pei Ming’s eyes instantly widened.
It wasn’t just him, even Xie Lian had a similar reaction.
At the very least, Pei Ming was a formally ascended martial god, and even if he was situated in
Mount TongLu and his spiritual powers were suppressed to the bare minimum, his spiritual
device still shouldn’t have been so easily broken!
The Swift Life-Extinguishing Blade demon laughed soundly, “I can’t believe you’d use such a
trashy sword!”
The sword was broken, so Pei Ming resorted to using fists as the sword, but that Swift
Life-Extinguishing Blade Demon slapped his left hand on the ground and pushed himself into
the air, pressing the fingers of his right hand together and shot out a blast. Where his palm blast
blew by, a bright chilling light of metal shone; it was a gust with razor edges. It appeared, that its
true form really was a sharp weapon!
Xie Lian stood within the circle and was about to leave to help but was stopped by Hua Cheng
who said with a low voice, “Gege, watch closely.”
Pei Ming also shouted, “NO NEED TO INTERFERE!” If he, an esteemed martial god of the
north, couldn’t even defeat a mere ghost blade from the outer edges of Mount TongLu, then how
could he face himself?
However, although that ghost blade only had his upper half body, he was extremely agile, and
no matter where Pei Ming struck, it looked as if he already predicted every step, which made
things rather pessimistic for Pei Ming. After hundreds of moves, there were actually over ten
gashes on Pei Ming. Xie Lian couldn’t watch anymore and called out, “General Pei, come back
into the circle first!”
Pei Ming’s face was growing grimmer and grimmer. He refused to retreat, and Xie Lian couldn’t
bluntly join the fight to make it two against one. To some martial gods, to require help when
fighting one on one was a form of humiliation. Xie Lian tried again, “General Pei, come back
first! There’s something weird going on, can’t you tell? This man knows too well of your sword
techniques!”
Naturally, Pei Ming also noticed, he just couldn’t believe it for the moment. But since even Xie
Lian who was observing on the side had noticed, he had to believe it even if he didn’t want to.
Xie Lian pulled Fang Xin out and temporarily opened a small gap. Pei Ming took the chance to
leap back into the circle, his expression extremely grim. Xie Lian plugged Fang Xin anew and
asked, “General Pei, aren’t you going to pick up your broken spiritual device?”
Pei Ming wiped away the blood on his forehead and replied darkly, “That’s not my spiritual
device. It’s just a decent sword I picked randomly.”
Hearing this, Xie Lian sighed a breath of relief. Although any sword Pei Ming picked randomly
would be a fairly sumptuous sword, but it still couldn’t be measured as equals to a spiritual
device. He asked, “Why doesn’t General Pei bring your spiritual device when coming here?”
“I didn’t forge any.” Pei Ming replied.
Xie Lian was even more curious now, “Why not?” Typically, martial gods would forge their most
agreeable weapon into a spiritual device, and it’d be akin to adding wings to a tiger in battle. Pei
Ming hadn’t yet answered and that Swift Life-Extinguishing Blade Demon humphed coldly,
“That’s obvious because, his most agreeable sword no longer exists!”
Pei Ming frowned, “Who exactly are you?”
“You’re not asking ‘what’ exactly he is?” Xie Lian asked.
The Swift Life-Extinguishing Blade Demon humphed, “Who am I? HA! Pei Ming, back then you
snapped me with a palm blast. Did you ever expect for today to happen?”
Xie Lian’s eyes widened, “General Pei, do you know him?”
Pei Ming pondered for a long while, and his expression grew more and more solemn. He tried,
“You’re... Ming Guang?”
Hearing that name, the Swift Life-Extinguishing Blade Demon’s smile faded. The him now no
longer looked like that common, puny little ghost from earlier. Xie Lian questioned, “He’s called
‘Ming Guang’? General Pei, aren’t you supposed to be General Ming Guang?”
In an instant, countless possible stories like fraudulent substitution flashed through his mind, but
because there were precedents in the heavens, they weren’t outlandish assumptions. He
couldn’t help but think, ‘Is this another Earth Master Yi?’
Pei Ming seemed to have seen through what he was thinking and said while covering his
wounds with his hands, “Your Highness, what’re you thinking? I already told you I’m the
genuine, authentic General Pei. I’m the real thing!”
“Then why did you call him Ming Guang?” Xie Lian demanded.
“Because his name is Ming Guang. It’s the name I came up with. He’s my sword!”
Xie Lian “Ah”-ed and said, “Could it be – ‘The Sword-Snapping General’?”
“That’s right.” Pei Ming replied, “‘Ming Guang’ was my personal sword when I was a mortal, and
was personally snapped by yours truly hundreds of years ago.”
No wonder!
No wonder this “Swift Life-Extinguishing Blade Demon” knew Pei Ming’s sword techniques so
well, like he could predict his every move. No wonder even when it’s been slashed into two, it
could still move so willfully, like that abdominal injury had no effect on him whatsoever. Because,
this sword had followed Pei Ming and won countless victories from north to south, so naturally it
knew Pei Ming’s art from inside out; because, he was already snapped into two!
“So, that gash from before was him stabbing himself?” Xie Lian said, “Then the spiritual light on
his wound was?”
“Mine.” Pei Ming said. “Back then, I ascended as soon as I snapped him in half. I suppose that
must be when the light stained him. That won’t clean away.”
The Swift Life-Extinguishing Blade Demon – no, Ming Guang started using his hand as a sword,
slashing towards Fang Xin with every move. His expression was gloomy and sharp, like he was
attacking Pei Ming’s person. Xie Lian couldn’t help but ask, “Um... General Pei, why does your
sword resent you so much? What did you do to it? What’s the story behind the ‘Sword-Snapping
General’?”
Pei Ming was feeling for his pill bottle and replied, “Some raggedy story from hundreds of years
ago, what’s the point of talking of it now? Let’s find a way to beat him first!”
Although there was RuoYe forming the circle, but if Fang Xin should cut down, then half the
array would fall, just like how after breaking the lock, there was only a door left. Xie Lian glanced
behind him; Hua Cheng had entered his meditation, his eyes closed shut, seeming to sense no
movement of the outside world, and Xie Lian was slightly reassured. However, Pei Ming’s voice
pulled him back, “Your Highness, will your sword hold?”
Xie Lian turned his head back around, “I don’t know. Fang Xin’s old after all.”
“That’s alright.” Pei Ming said, “Ming Guang’s pretty old too.”
Xie Lian sighed in relief, “If that’s the case, as long as there’s no outside help, then we should
be able to hang on for a w...”
Yet unexpectedly, before he finished his words, a series of heavy footsteps sounded from the
direction of the forest. Soon, a giant, savage looking, dark skinned burly man donned in broken
armour appeared.
That burly man was abnormally tall, and the moment they saw him, both Xie Lian and Pei Ming
dripped a drop of cold sweat.
That burly man had noticed that in their direction there was a man chopping at a sword madly
with bare hands and seemed to find it astonishing so he walked over. Xie Lian and Pei Ming
both covered their faces with their hands at the same time and turned around. As for Ming
Guang, when he noticed a giant corpse walking towards him, looking like he’s one of great
strength, called to him, “Hey, big guy, give me a hand! Help me knock out this sword and break
the array, I’ll split the heads inside with you!”
Yet, that burly man didn’t seem to be a man of the midlands, didn’t die a ghost of the midlands,
so the languages were different, and he didn’t seem to understand what was said, and only
shouted back. The two shouted at each other for a while but nothing was achieved except veins
popping. Pei Ming did his best to appear the way he was covering his face was more natural
and more suave, and he whispered, “Your Highness, what’s that savage yelling about?”
Xie Lian whispered too, “He thought your sword is trying to provoke him so he got mad, telling
him to kneel down and beg for mercy, otherwise he’ll beat him to death.”
“Oh good,” Pei Ming said, “Hope they start fighting soon then.”
Yet unexpectedly, that giant man seemed to have heard their whispers and turned his head
around, staring at them closely. Xie Lian and Pei Ming tightened the hands covering their faces,
no longer able to care about appearing natural. However, that burly man still recognized them
and stomped, the entire ground quaking. He roared, “IT’S YOU! SCRAP COLLECTING
CULTIVATOR! PEI SU’S BOSS!”
Since they were recognized, the two dropped their hands. After some hesitation, Xie Lian said
warmly using Banyue tongue, “General Ke Mo, please calm down.”
That peculiar burly man was naturally Ke Mo who had escaped his seal after Mount TongLu’s
tremors aroused millions of ghosts. He was first captured by Xie Lian, and had also seen Pei
Ming who stood next to Pei Su during trial. Seeing his enemies, his eyes reddened, and without
another word, he kicked at Fang Xin, and that sword was instantly knocked off centre by an
inch!
Seeing this, Ming Guang clapped and cheered “DIVINE!” and continued to shoot out blasts after
blasts. Seeing Fang Xin shaking harder and harder under their combined attacks, Xie Lian felt
Hua Cheng’s forehead but his hand instantly shrank back from the heat. “What should we do?!”
——–
Ch.147: Ambivalent Regrets; General Ming Snaps the Hateful Sword 2
Xie Lian needed to shield Hua Cheng with the array and couldn’t be distracted, and Pei Ming
posed not a single threat to the weapon he was the most familiar with.
Just then, they suddenly heard Ming Guang cuss, “YOU BLOODY SAVAGE! CAN YOU NOT
SMASH WHEN I’M SMASHING?? YOU’VE HIT MY HAND!” However, Ke Mo completely
ignored him. Seeing there was friction between the two, Xie Lian grabbed hold of Pei Ming,
“General Pei! Ke Mo won’t believe you mean him no harm and will keep coming after you!
Quick, press the fingers of both your hands together, cross your wrists above your head, then
press downwards before opening your arms. This is the hand gestures his peoples use to ask
for truce. Either way just show him your good will and make him stop for now!:
Pei Ming was bewildered, “HUH? You must know that the resentment between Ke Mo and them
isn’t just a small misunderstanding, how can it be pacified with just some hand gestures?”
But Xie Lian paid him no mind and grabbed hold of him, “Come, do this with me to make him
stop!”
However, Pei Ming’s hand was injured, and with this grab, the corners of his lips twitched. He
was about to follow as instructed but Ming Guang had already heard everything they said, and
charged in front of Ke Mo, crossing his hands above his head and slid his arms down before
opening them, smirking to the two in the circle, “As if I’d let you!”
Yet unexpectedly, when Ke Mo saw that gesture, his eyes bulged, and thick lines of veins
popped on his iron dark skin. He opened his palm and swung his hand like an iron cattail leaf
fan, sending Ming Guang flying in the air,
The moment that slap swung out, both Pei Ming and Ming Guang still hadn’t wrapped their
heads around what happened. If was only a moment later before it dawned on Pei Ming, and he
turned to Xie Lian, “Your Highness, I thought Ming Guang was already cunning, but I hadn’t
thought you’re more cunning than he is. I’m impressed.”
Xie Lian wiped away his cold sweat, “It’s nothing, it’s nothing, much ashamed.”
That speech just now appeared to be said for Pei Ming but it was actually said for Ming Guang.
After Ming Guang heard, in order for them not to do as they will, he would of course fight to
show good will to Ke Mo first. However, the set of gestures Xie Lian taught wasn’t for calling
truce in the first place but provocation. And it was the most insultiving kind of provocation in the
Banyue tongue, something akin to “Chop off your bitch head”, “Fuck your wife”, “Murder your
whole family”, “Level your ancestors’ graves”; four power attacks all at once, how could Ke Mo
not be outraged after seeing it? Under any other circumstances. Ming Guang might be
suspicious of the truth in Xie Lian’s words, but because the situation was dire and Pei Ming’s
hands were almost raised and Ming Guang didn’t take the time to think carefully and fell into this
deception.
Ming Guang quickly snapped out of it after Ke Mo sent him flying and wanted to remedy the
situation, but because they couldn’t communicate and he only yelled instinctively, it looked more
like he was cursing Ke Mo. He also tried a few other hand gestures, like thumbs up, but this was
no different than someone who just used the most malicious, vulgar swears to abuse you
suddenly turning around to beg for mercy and showing good will, so it didn’t feel sincere at all,
and he got pounded a few more times. On top of that, Ke Mo also knew some rough midlands
curses, so he swore as he struck, and Ming Guang was becoming a little irked too, the two of
them beating each other harder and harder. Pei Ming almost wanted to cheer them on.
Ming Guang swept a glance over, incredibly irritated, and suddenly reached out, waved in front
of Ke Mo, the pointed at the other two before doing that forking hand gesture again.
Ke Mo actually did stop and asked with a frown, “Are you doing this to me or to them?”
Xie Lian became apprehensive but didn’t dare speak recklessly because he couldn’t be sure
how to best coax Ke Mo. Seeing there might be a way to turn this around, Ming Guang exerted
more efforts and turned to Pei Ming to repeat the gestures savagely, but when he turned back to
Ke Mo he turned calm. Matching the expression in his eyes and doing this repeatedly, Ke Mo
finally understood what he was saying:
They have the same enemies!
Once they were unified, Ming Guang and Ke Mo came charging at the array once more. Xie
Lian’s mind spun rapidly, inhaled deeply, and yelled on top of his lungs in Banyue tongue,
“GENERAL PEI JUNIOR! BAN YUE!”
Hearing those two names, Ke Mo stopped abruptly in his step and demanded sharply, “ARE
THEY CLOSE BY TOO?!”
Xie Lian didn’t answer him, only focused on continuing his call, “GENERAL PEI JUNIOR! BAN
YUE! KE MO IS HERE, DON’T COME OVER, HURRY AND RUN AWAY! AND DON’T COME
BACK!”
Yelling like this, Ke Mo naturally thought those two were actually nearby, and Xie Lian was
informing them telling them to flee. Ke Mo was instantly enraged, “AS IF I’D LET YOU!” Then he
rushed away. “OI! BIG GUY! WHAT ARE YOU RUNNING FOR?! HE MUST BE LYING, COME
BACK!”
However, Ke Mo was long gone. Ming Guang stomped his foot in anger, “DUMBASS!”
Xie Lian wiped his cold sweat away for the second time, his heart suddenly grateful, “Learning
another language is infinitely beneficial for life!” And seeing Ming Guang was about to continue
attacking Fang Xin, he raised his hand, “Stop! Keep this up and we won’t be so courteous!”
“And how are you courteous to me now?” Ming Guang countered.
“Did you forget something?” Xie Lian asked.
“Forget what?”
Pei Ming was about to speak but stopped, then dragged an object out from behind him, “How
can you forget such a big thing?”
What he was dragging was the two legs of that lower half of the body. The moment Ming Guang
saw his expression froze, “HUH? MY LOWER BODY!”
Earlier, he had been using palms in place of feet, using his arms to prop him up and jump
around, and seemed to have gotten used to moving this way without him realizing it, completely
having forgotten that he hadn’t yet retrieved his lower body. While he and Ke Mo were fighting,
Pei Ming took the chance to leave the circle and dragged that deserted, immobile lower half
body into the boundary. Pei Ming threatened, “You better not do anything unnecessary.”
Only, this threat was obviously very awkward. Since, if a hostage was a complete person, Pei
Ming could very well sink his fingers into the other’s neck or skull when making the threat, and
the picture would appear much more effective, like he wasn’t bluffing. However, right now they
only have a lower half body in hand, so where can his hands go that won’t both be awkward and
still strike fear?
Pei Ming couldn’t think of a way so he simply stepped on to the leg. “Are you shitting me?” Ming
Guang said,
Xie Lian also didn’t think this looked serious at all and said courteously, “General Pei, stepping
on legs really isn’t very convincing, can you maybe... make him think you’ve got him by
something critical?”
“Your Highness, don’t say something like that so easily,” Pei Ming said, “If it wasn’t because I
refuse to do something so classless, you think I want to step on legs? Why don’t you come grab
him by where it hurts?”
“...”
In any case, neither of them were willing to grab that kind of critical place. “Nevermind,” Xie Lian
said, “Then why don’t we do this!”
After huddling, the two of them each grabbed onto one of Ming Guang’s legs.Now this looked
more threatening and unawkward. “Please back off,” Xie Lian demanded, “Otherwise your true
body might suffer some breakage.”
However, Ming Guang sneered, “Ha! Did you actually believe my lower half body is useless?”
Just as he finished, Xie Lian sensed a killing intent increasing rapidly up his arms, and instantly
tossed out, “General Pei, watch out!”
That seemingly dead lower half body suddenly swung out its two legs and kicked without
warning. Pei Ming also threw out the limb in time and avoided being struck by the swift legs
carrying blades in the wind. Those two legs flipped itself around in the air and landed with a
single knee to the ground. Then it slowly straightened and stood upright on its own. The moves
were clean and and impressive, and Xie Lian praised in spite of himself, “Nice!” But then he
immediately changed tune, “NOT NICE!”
Not nice indeed. The protection circle he so arduously created was made for the purpose of
keeping Ming Guang out, but now things had certainly become complicated; even though Ming
Guang’s top half of the body was still outside, his lower half had come in!
Pei Ming also realized this and uttered, “We’ve been had.”
Ghosts and demons with their true bodies split in half, some could only move with one half
leading, and some could move both parts at will. They couldn’t determine which kind Ming
Guang belonged to, but that lower half body of his had been rigid like the dead, unmoving even
when stepped on, so Pei Ming had thought him the former. It seemed, he was pretending not to
move. Ming Guang was clapping in mirth outside the boundary, “THAT’S RIGHT! THIS IS WHAT
THEY CALL ‘INVITING A WOLF INTO YOUR OWN HOME’ AND ‘CATCHING TURTLES IN
THE POT’!”
Now the three in the circle, Hua Cheng had his eyes shut meditating, facing a critical time, Pei
Ming’s sword was long broken by Ming Guang, and Xie Lian’s Fang Xin was acting as the lock
to their protection array so the two had no weapons in their hands. Without any other choice,
Xie Lian called, “E-MING!”
Scimitar E-Ming who had been lying on the ground like scrap metal instantly stood up and flew
into Xie Lian’s hand. Xie Lian gripped the hilt and slashed. Ming Guang’s lower half body raised
a leg and kicked, blocked the strike but was pushed back a couple steps, almost falling out of
the boundary. The upper half body watched from the outside, expression faltering, looking rather
wary. He clapped his hands and that lower half body returned to its true form, a Verdant
Pinnacle sword* of nearly three feet boiled with killing intent as it hung in the air.
Xie Lian didn’t use scimitars often, but E-Ming was agreeable in his hands. He was about to
charge when Pei Ming spoke up, “Your Highness, I’m not trying to cause trouble at a time like
this, but your Hua Chengzhu seems to be having a little bit of trouble?”
Shocked, Xie Lian whipped his head around, and sure enough, Hua Cheng’s brows were even
more tightly knitted, the hands making seals resting on his knees were also shaking. The
moment Xie Lian was distracted, that broken verdant blade instantly seized the opening to
lunge. Yet just at the same time, E-Ming slipped out of Xie Lian’s control on its own and blocked
that broken sword loudly in the air!
Xie Lian called, “E-Ming, please hang on for a bit!” Then he crouched in front of Hua Cheng,
“Why is it like this? What went wrong?”
“Don’t look at me, Your Highness,” Pei Ming said, “I’m not as familiar with the Ghost King as you
are!”
Xie Lian called out to Hua Cheng, “San Lang? Can you hear me? Don’t endure anymore, come
out!”
Just then, Ming Guang shouted from outside the circle, “A LITTLE BLADE DARE BLOCK ME?!”
Between the exchanges, the broken sword Ming Guang and E-Ming had already parried
countlessly times within an instant, making sparks fly. If this was the usual Scimitar E-Ming, it
would obviously gain the upper hand. Yet now, before the long sword of Ming Guang, the
shrunken E-Ming really did look like a child getting beaten around by an adult. Although vicious,
since its limbs weren’t long enough, it was restricted. There were a few instances that were
fairly close, and Xie Lian spared a glance between his focus on Hua Cheng, “WATCH OUT!”
After he called out, E-Ming suddenly flipped and flashed into a stream of silver whirlwind,
successfully striking the broken sword. The Ming Guang outside the circle “Ah”-ed, seeming like
that hit wasn’t a light one. Xie Lian praised, “Good E-Ming!”
Pei Ming suddenly spoke up, “Wait, Your Highness, I think when you complimented it, it grew
bigger?”
Xie Lian looked closely, “Really?”
“Seems like it.” Pei Ming said, “Why don’t you try again?”
It was only some praises, no big deal, so Xie Lian said, “Very well. E-Ming, listen well: You, are
handsome and carefree, cute and kind, clever and intelligent, gentle and determined, number
one in the world...”
He trailed off and stopped. Pei Ming started clapping soundly, and outside the circle, Ming
Guang was all face full of disbelief, crying furiously, “WHAT KIND OF WICKED SPELL IS THIS?
HOW COME I’VE NEVER HEARD OF IT BEFORE?!”
Indeed! With every praise Xie Lian sang, E-Ming’s body grew a bit longer; if earlier it’s said to
look like a ten year old child, then now it’s a youth of fourteen to fifteen!
That broken sword facing the now grown E-Ming was now in trouble, moving awkwardly left and
right, whereas E-Ming was growing swifter and more unpredictable. With the results of the
match growing more obvious, outside the circle, Ming Guang made a hand seal. The moment
Pei Ming saw he instantly called out, “No good, he’s transferred all of his spiritual power onto
this lower half body!”
Sure enough, the black aura surrounding the body of that broken blade blew up, and when
E-Ming struck, it was bounced away by that black aura, plunging slantingly into the ground. Xie
Lian immediately pulled it out, “Are you alright?”
“Don’t worry, watch this.” Pei Ming said, then he took E-Ming from his hands. Xie Lian still
puzzled when he suddenly felt cold on his skin, and PA! Pei Ming had tapped the scimitar on his
face, and the hilt part coincidently patted his lips.
“...” Xie Lian removed E-Ming from his face, and rubbed the edges of his lips that were slightly
numbed by the taps, baffled, “General Pei, is there any meaning to your actions?”
“Of course. It’s very meaningful.” Pei Ming said, “Your Highness, please look down.”
Xie Lian looked down and was instantly speechless. E-Ming had grown even longer!
Ming Guang really couldn’t hold back anymore and yelled from outside the circle, ‘WHAT THE
FUCK, AND WHAT WICKEDNESS IS THAT? YOU MIGHT AS WELL USE ALL YOUR TRICKS
AT ONCE!”
“Truth to be told, I also want to know what’s caused this.” Xie Lian said,
Full of spirit once more, E-Ming leapt to its feet and lunged towards Ming Guang the broken
sword. One sword one scimitar, they battled relentlessly in the air. Xie Lian went back to check
up on Hua Cheng, and Pei Ming watched the Ming Guang who was bent over not far away.
Right now, all of Ming Guang’s spiritual power was transferred to the lower half who was
currently battling E-Ming, so the threat of this upper half body was greatly lessened. Everyone
was conscious of this and Pei Ming moved, ready to take him down, when another series of
heavy footfalls came running, and it was Ke Mo who had returned. He cried furiously, “YOU
CUNNING MIDLANDS CULTIVATORS! YOU LIED AGAIN! GO COLLECT JUNK FOR THE
REST OF YOUR LIFE! THEY WEREN’T NEARBY AT ALL!”
Xie Lian hadn’t expected to keep Ke Mo away for long either, but he seemed to have returned
earlier than expected, and right at an inconvenient time too. Ming Guang was overjoyed and he
pointed at Fang Xin, “BIG GUY! QUICK! KNOCK THAT SWORD OVER! ONCE THE ARRAY IS
BROKEN THE ONES INSIDE WILL BE HELPLESS!”
He hadn’t needed to say anything; Ke Mo swung his hand down to chop and Fang Xin was
knocked over two more inches; another chop, another two inches; another chop, and Fang Xin
fell!
The protection array was finally broken!
That broken sword stopped fighting E-ming and flew out of the circle, returning to Ming Guang’s
side and transformed into two legs, stitching itself back into a complete body. Ming Guang leapt
to his feet, patted Ke Mo, pointed at Pei Ming then pointed at himself, pointed at Xie Lian then
pointed at Ke Mo. Ke Mo understood – this meant they’re splitting the prey. He nodded, his iron
like fists cracking as he walked towards Xie Lian who was blocking in front of Hua Cheng.
Ming Guang on the other hand, worked out his legs as he smiled savagely, “Pei Ming, are you
going to snap me in half again? Come give it a shot?”
Pei Ming didn’t speak. Ming Guang sneered, “‘The Sword Snapping General’, the General who
snapped the sword, hehe! What a beautiful tale. That such a thing could become a beautiful
tale, it’s obvious the world is blind.”
“I never took it for a beautiful tale.” Pei Ming said.
“Bullshit!” Ming Guang spat, “You know full well just how many brothers and subordinates who
followed you for so many years you’ve killed.”
Meanwhile, Ke Mo had also drew close to Xie Lian. Xie Lian gripped E-Ming tight; he wasn’t
afraid of him, but he was worried something would happen to Hua Cheng if he was careless. Ke
Mo saw his eyes were unfocused like he was thinking, and said, “No need to think of any more
cunning tricks, I won’t be deceived by you anymore!”
“I wasn’t lying to you,” Xie Lian said, “Ban Yue and General Pei Junior really were in this area
earlier, it’s just that after I’ve informed them of you they fled. Eh? Ban Yue? Why are you here?!”
Ke Mo raged, “DO YOU TAKE ME FOR A FOOL? A DUMB TRICK LIKE THIS...”
Yet before he finished, a voice rang from above him, “KE MO!”
That was said in Banyue tongue, and it was a very familiar voice. Ke Mo instantly looked up,
and faced a large bundle of something wine red falling from above. His face instantly dropped,
hugging his head as he roared, “GO AWAY!”
What came falling down was that poisonous snake born only of BanYue, the scorpion tailed
snake! And the one who threw them out were naturally the Guoshi of the Kingdom of BanYue.
Ban Yue leapt down from the tree and landed next to Xie Lian’s side, “General Hua...”
Xie Lian turned to Ke Mo, “I told you, it was really Ban Yue...”
Ke Mo wasn’t listening to what he was saying at all, and only roared at Ban Yue, “YOU THREW
AT ME!! YOU THREW THOSE SCORPION TAILED SNAKES AT ME!!! YOU KNEW I HATE
THE SCORPION TAILED SNAKE BUT YOU STILL THREW THEM AT ME!!!”
Ban Yue crouched down, “I’m sorry... but, I only know how to throw scorpion tailed snakes...”
Ming Guang also noticed the situation was shifting and was alarmed, “WHO’S THERE!”
A black shadow of a figure leapt down from the tree and obstructed before him, answering, “The
former Deputy Martial God Official of the Palace of Ming Guang, Pei Su!”
Miracle soldiers had come from heaven, and Pei Ming was dumbfounded, “Little Pei? How
come you’ve come too?”
Xie Lian on the other hand, asked, “Ban Yue, weren’t you following Lord Rain Master?”
Hearing the name Lord Rain Master, Pei Ming knitted his brows slightly. Ban Yue replied, “En.
That’s why, this time we’ve come following Lord Rain Master.”
———–
●[青鋒劍] The Verdant Pinnacle Sword - This sword has two separate origins: first, it was
a weapon that belonged to the legendary warrior god Er-Lang who was a renown figure
in Taoism and appeared often to defeat evil in classic civil. Second, this was a double
sword wielded by the emperor Liu Bei during the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. One
of the two swords was lost during a siege, and it was later to be said to have become the
wielded weapon of Hou Junji, a Tang general during the founding era of the Tang
Dynasty.
———–
Ch.148: Ambivalent Regrets; General Ming Snaps the Hateful Sword 3
Ming Guang looked over Pei Su calculatingly, “You’re Little Pei?”
“I am.” Pei Su answered.
Ming Guang narrowed his eyes and glanced at Ban Yue, taunting, “I heard you threw away your
heavenly official status for a little girl? Haha, Pei Ming, didn’t you always used to promote
‘Brothers like limbs; Women like clothes’? Why’s your descendant nothing like you? He didn’t
even learn a tenth of your eye for picking women; this Guoshi of Banye looks like a little quail,
what the hell? Were you maybe cucked all those hundreds of years ago and bore someone
else’s spawn? Hahahaha...”
“Nothing but nonsense.” Pei Su said, then shot a blast from his palm. Ke Mo also leapt into the
air, roaring, “WE ARE SWORN ENEMIES!”
Ming Guang shouted, “HEY! BIG GUY, WE’RE ON THE SAME SIDE!”
Ke Mo turned his head back and saw Ming Guang jumping up, transforming into a long bladed
verdant sword and flew into his hand. Ke Mo opened his iron fan-like large palms, clutched onto
the hilt, and a cloud of black aura instantly exploded from his giant body.
A menacing corpse with a demonic sword in hand was like a savage beast growing venomous
fangs!
Earlier when Pei Ming tapped Xie Lian’s face with E-Ming gave Xie Lian an idea. Although he
couldn’t quite understand why, but he felt maybe the same trick could help Hua Cheng, and was
going to sneakily transfer some air to him while no one was looking, see if it would bring some
relief. However, watching the dire situation unfold, he couldn’t help but shout “WATCH OUT!”
It was awkward for Pei Ming to join the fight, so only Pei Su and Ban Yue banded together to
attack. While one was sharp and direct and the other agile and eccentric, just their physical
strength wasn’t enough; Pei Su had no spiritual power and Ban Yue possessed no aggression.
Facing a Ke Mo who had both spiritual power and aggression, they were feeling the strain.
Ban Yue was just berated by Ke Mo so she was too embarrassed to throw any more scorpion
tailed snakes, but Pei Su had none of that concern, throwing snakes out like rain while Ke Mo
roared unceasingly with fury, and only thanks to Ming Guang’s sword aura for protection did
none of the snakes dare approach. However, be that as it may, after Xie Lian watched the fight
for a while he began to relax. This was because he could tell Ke Mo and Ming Guang didn’t
match well.
Ke Mo grew up in the Kingdom of Banyue and was used to wielding a mace. He was used to
large and heavy weapons, so a sword was not something he was skilled with. Even if he
possessed unimaginable strength and the weapon in hand was incomparably sharp; together,
they might not be able to unleash their full capabilities and wouldn’t be able to learn the tricks of
the trade immediately. Thus, Xie Lian seized this chance, clapped his palms together in a prayer
towards Hua Cheng, and said, “Forgive me!”
But, when he looked at this handsome, snow-white little face with eyes closed before him, Xie
Lian felt it was difficult to make a move, and when he finally made up his mind, shutting his eyes
to press close, in his moment of nervousness, he missed and ended up kissing Hua Cheng’s
forehead. It was light and gentle, but his heart was crushed. Next to him, a voice spoke up,
“Your Highness, you’ve gotten it wrong. What’s the use in kissing the forehead?!”
Xie Lian almost fell over from shock. When he turned his head to look, Pei Ming was crouched
down next to him. Sounding unusually indignant and resentful, Xie Lian said, “General Pei, can
you not look!”
Pei Ming raised his hands, “Alright, alright, alright, I won’t look.” Then he turned around to watch
the fight on the other side. After observing for a while, he piped up, speaking to Ke Mo, “You
don’t use swords like that. If you don’t know how to use swords then don’t use them!”
Naturally, Ke Mo didn’t understand, but the Ming Guang in his hands said, “Yea, unlike you, who
personally snapped swords, and could only stand around uselessly while criticizing!”
Just as he yelled, Pei Ming suddenly flew and entered the brawl, landing in front of Ke Mo. Ke
Mo swung the sword but there was an exceedingly crisp CLANG! This strike didn’t hit anything,
and when he looked down, he was dumbfounded.
The Ming Guang Sword in his grip was snapped once again!
Seizing this chance, Pei Su threw another large wave of scorpion tailed snakes over, like spilling
a large vat of dye, covering Ke Mo with dark wine red from head to toe, and he growled as he
desperately tried to smack off those slippery snakes off his body. Pei Ming on the other hand,
looked down at that sword and said, “You know my techniques inside and out, and naturally, I’d
know where you’d break the easiest.”
Ban Yue dropped from the sky with two pots raised, and without a word she leapt down with the
mouths of the pots down, trapping and detaining the shocked Ming Guang and the roaring Ke
Mo within. And with this, Xie Lian finally breathed a sigh of relief, inwardly remarking, ‘More
people definitely get things done faster!’
Ban Yue sealed the clay pots and shook them in her hands, pressing her ears close to listen for
the echoes insides. Xie Lian hastily chided, “Ban Yue, stop playing around. Put them away and
be careful not to let them escape.”
Ban Yue nodded, crouched in front of Xie Lian and looked at Hua Cheng, “General Hua, is this
your son?”
Xie Lian smiled, “Regrettably, he’s not.”
But soon, he couldn’t smile anymore. Ban Yue “oh”-ed and said, “I saw you kiss him earlier and
thought that he was.”
“...”
Xie Lian didn’t want to say anything anymore and covered his forehead with his palm. Ban Yue
however, seemed to find Hua Cheng rather precious and pulled at one of his little braids,
speaking with deep concern, “He seems to be sick. Should I put him in the pot to have him
recuperate? Last time after I entered General Hua’s pot, I felt I recovered really fast.”
Pei Su finally walked over, “No need. Stop minding him, His Highness will take good care of
him.”
“Oh.” Ban Yue said.
Just then, Pei Ming glanced at her, “You’re the Guoshi of BanYue?”
He watched Ban Yue condescendingly from above; Ban Yue, who was crouching on the ground
and shrouded in his shadows, nodded. Pei Su took an unconscious step forward but Pei Ming
pushed him aside and came before Ban Yue, seeming to want to observe her closely. Yet
unexpectedly, when he was only about two steps away from her, Ban Yue’s face suddenly
dropped and zoomed to hide behind Xie Lian, like she couldn’t get away fast enough. However,
judging from her expression, it didn’t seem like she was scared. Everyone was puzzled but Xie
Lian soon understood, and courteously hinted, “General Pei, um... the Ghost Scent Candy...”
Pei Ming blinked, his face growing dark. It seemed the sweetness of that Ghost Scent Candy
hadn’t gone away, and since Ban Yue was a female ghost, she wasn’t able to withstand that
vulgar essence of evil either, and fled from the stink...
Xie Lian couldn’t help but smile but immediately schooled his expression, “Why has Lord Rain
Master also come to Mount TongLu? Where is My Lord? How come you’re not all together?”
“Due to the arousal of ghosts, large numbers of inhuman creatures banded to swarm towards
Mount TongLu. When they passed by YuShi Country, they captured some farmers as rations. At
the time, both Lord Rain Master and the Protection Steed were not present; it was after learning
the fact that we’ve come in pursuit.” Pei Su explained, “We were together at first, but on the way,
we heard Your Highness yelling for us in BanYue tongue, so we’ve split to come check things
out.”
At the time, Xie Lian was only shouting randomly out of urgency and hadn’t thought they were
actually close by, hitting the mark by fluke. That YuShi Country had the appearance of a quiet
small village, so it wasn’t strange for ghosts to pass by and stupidly grab people. Pei Ming
frowned, “Before, I couldn’t find you in the mortal realm. How did you end up with Lord Rain
Master? Don’t tell me you were chasing after the Guoshi of BanYue.”
Pei Su lowered his head slightly, “No. It was Lord Rain Master who saved me.”
Turns out, after Pei Su was exiled to the lower realm, he had been traveling all over aimlessly.
Since he was so free, he went and knocked over Qi Rong’s little lairs a few times. Irked, Qi
Rong wound up a large bunch of who knows what to surround and destroy him. If Pei Su had
spiritual powers then those crude nobodies couldn’t do anything to him, but he now possessed a
mortal body, so when attacked by hundreds of ghosts, he still sustained injuries in the end,
trapped in a miserable predicament. Just as he was hanging on by a thread fighting, the Rain
Master happened to pass by riding the ox and lent a helping hand. After clearing his identity and
story, Pei Su was taken to YuShi Country to recover for the time being.
Pei Ming seemed to be somewhat astounded, “Lord Rain Master didn’t give you trouble?”
According to Shi Qing Xuan, Yushi Country and the Palace of Ming Guang had disagreements
in the past, and hundreds of years ago, the Rain Master knocked off Pei Ming’s earlier deputy
general. It seemed, Pei Ming didn’t think the Rain Master heavenly official was someone
generous either. Pei Su however, said, “No. Lord Rain Master had never given me a hair of
trouble. On the contrary, I’ve received much support.”
Just then, an echoing voice suddenly sounded, “Rain Master? Is the Rain Master someone from
the Kingdom of YuShi?”
Xie Lian replied without thinking, “That’s right.” But after he answered did he noticed, that voice
belonged to Ming Guang. He was already locked into the pot but was still listening intently for
the situation outside. After Xie Lian responded, he clicked his tongue, “Pei Ming! Did you sleep
with so many women just to produce this kind of useless descendent?! He actually needed the
protection of someone from the Kingdom of YuShi to survive, and he’s even speaking well of
them! Truly, each generation gets worse than the one before it! HA!”
Hearing them, Pei Ming looked somewhat mal at ease. Xie Lian couldn’t understand and asked
Ban Yue in a whisper, “Do you understand what he’s saying?”
“Not really,” Ban Yue replied, “But, I think I’ve heard Pei Su gege say that before his general
ascended, he was a general of the Kingdom of XuLi.”
“...”
Was there anything wrong with Pei Ming being the general of XuLi?
Very much so!
Because, as far as Xie Lian knew, the Kingdom of YuShi was flattened by the iron steeds of the
Kingdom of XuLi!
Ban Yue added, “Lord Rain Master was the last ruler of the Kingdom of YuShi.”
No wonder Pei Ming always looked strange whenever the Rain Master was mentioned, and no
wonder the Rain Master never held back when disciplining that former deputy heavenly official.
Turns out, both parties held a long and ancient grudge.
It must be known that although to heavenly officials, it certainly was more than natural for
kingdoms of the mortal realm to fight and annihilate one another, the acts of the plays changing
endlessly, but when it came their own turn, it was often hard to let things go. If one must stand in
the same court as the one who annihilated their own kingdom, and that man cavorted the
heavens, exceedingly flashy, then it must be vexing.
Pei Su added a talisman and stuck it on the surface of the pot, and Ming Guang’s voice came to
an abrupt stop. He asked, “Why has the general come too?”
“Isn’t it all so I can drag you back sooner.” Pei Ming replied.
Xie Lian remembered Hua Cheng’s words. It seemed, this was the ‘benefit’ Pei Ming negotiated
with Jun Wu for him to be dispatched to Mount TongLu. Pei Ming patted Pei Su’s shoulder,
“Since you’re here, then do me proud. If you perform well here then perhaps you can be pulled
back to the Upper Court earlier.”
Pei Su hadn’t yet answered but the charmed talisman on the pot in his hand burnt up. It was
Ming Guang locked inside who used his fury to burn the talisman. “PEI MING!!! DO YOU STILL
REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAID BACK THEN?!”
Pei Su was about to add another taliman to shut him up but Pei Ming stopped him. “I’ve spoken
too many words in this lifetime. What are you referring to?”
Ming Guang spat hatefully, “Do you still remember what excuse you used to kill all those
subordinates who followed you for years? ‘Some people can be killed, some can’t; some things
can be done, some can’t.’– Sounding like you possessed the heart of Buddha forgiving of all!
And now? Did you think no one knows what despicable deeds your Little Pei has done?
WORDS HAVE ALREADY SPREAD! And here you are trying to wipe his ass and help him hide
his past? So the brothers who followed you to battles from north to south deserved to die, but
when it came to your descendent, he didn’t? SOMEONE LIKE YOU WHO TOSSES USED
CLOTHES AND DITCHES USED LIMBS, IS YOUR LITTLE PEI A GEM AND THE REST OF
US WEEDS?!”
He roared furiously and mindlessly, but when Pei Ming listened to the end, he suddenly said,
“You, are not Ming Guang.”
The pot instantly became silent. A moment later, Ming Guang’s resounding voice came, “What
bullshit are you spouting? Have you not seen whether if I’m Ming Guang? Did you not see my
form?!”
However, Pei Ming stated with conviction, “No. You’re not Ming Guang.”
The voice inside the pot was grouchy, “Then who else can I be?”
Pei Ming took the pot from Pei Su’s hands, sounding sure, “I think you’re Rong Guang.”
When the name was called out, that pot had fallen in complete silence.
Hearing this name, Pei Su’s eyes widened slightly. Xie Lian asked, “General Pei Jr, who is this
Rong Guang?”
Pei Su snapped out of it and was a little hesitant before he answered, “Before the general
ascended, he was the deputy general who followed him the longest, and the most capable
subordinate.”
And Xie Lian finally learned the story behind the ‘Sword-Snapping General’.
Back then when Pei Ming was still mortal, he was successful in the battlefields of both love and
war; a general who was constantly victorious without a single defeat to his name for over
decades. There was naturally his own courage and skill involved, but the support of his deputy
general couldn’t be dismissed. This Deputy General was named Rong Guang.
Rong Guang was famous for cunning deception and manipulation. Although the two had very
different personalities and styles, but they knew each other since young, and their collaboration
was unexpectedly good; one in the light, one in the shadows, their relationship spanned years, a
friendship made of steel. Pei Ming’s sacred sword “Ming Guang” was a name they came up with
together, a combination of the homonyms of “Ming” and “Guang” from their own names.
Pei Ming knew how to fight wars, and in a chaotic time period of history, knowing how to fight
wars was much more important than knowing how to make money or anything else, so naturally
he continued to rise in ranks. However, no matter how high he climbed, the highest he could go
was ‘General’. There could be endless honourable and esteemed titles to be hung before word
‘General’, but there would always be another sitting on his head; before the king he must also
bow and kneel.
For himself, he didn’t have any particular opinions on the matter. However, as he sieged
fortresses after fortresses and the shine of glory of his armour grew brighter and brighter, the
troop under Rong Guang’s lead was growing restless.
Pei Ming himself was never so proud he forgot his roots and principles, but his subordinates
were swelling infinitely on his behalf.
The worst offender was Rong Guang. Since he built close ties with the soldiers, he could easily
fan their hearts, and planted many ideas in the minds of veteran subordinates like “General Pei
deserves more than the status he’s been given”, “General Pei and us are oppressed”, “The
Kingdom of XuLi needed General Pei and us to save it”. They plotted and planned to invade the
Imperial Palace of XuLi to name Pei Ming king, have him lead the veteran troops to great
achievement and bring them to stand at the summit as the strongest kingdom. They even
concocted the grand scheme of flattening all four seas with their steeds of steel and unify the
world.
Unfortunately, Pei Ming himself had no interest in becoming king whatsoever.
His greatest joy in life was to fight victorious battles and bed beautiful women, and he didn’t
need to be king to do either. Besides, although the king of XuLi wasn’t anyone amazing, he
didn’t do anything wrong either. If he was to take over, he might not do better either. To rashly
cause havoc had more cons than pros, so why bother stir up trouble for no reason? Thus, every
time Rong Guang excitedly tried to throw hints at him, Pei Ming skillfully thwarted him.
After many attempts, not only was Rong Guang unconvinced, he was becoming more and more
obsessed, until finally, one day, the group of them gathered to resolve, that no matter what, they
shall revolt first. Once the deed was done, there would be no way Pei Ming could back down.
Listening to this point, Xie Lian was speechless, thinking, ‘How can something like this be as
easy as ushering ducks...’
Pei Su saw he was pensive and said, “Rong Guang might not have truly wanted to name Pei
Ming king, but he must borrow the general’s name to revolt. Since his prestige wasn’t as high as
the general’s, if he raised his own flags he might not be able to appease the people.”
Xie Lian pondered, “That might not be entirely true.”
The reason they used Pei Ming’s name was to put Pei Ming on the throne, so naturally, Pei Ming
couldn’t pretend not to know what was going on. He instantly picked up the sword and lead a
small, trustworthy troop of soldiers, and charged the palace to fight.
And this fight was the last battle of his life.
———-
Ch.149: Panic Left and Right; East or West Undecided
“Did General Pei win or lose?” Xie Lian asked.
“Won. And lost.” Pei Su answered.
All the insurgents died under Pei Ming’s sword, and among them were many veterans who
shared decades of friendship with him.
The sword ‘Ming Guang’ had always been used to fight alongside them, and now, it had become
the weapon to butcher them.
Just as the slaughtering was coming to an end, and the results of the fight clear, the ruler of
XuLi judiciously ordered for the bloodied, barely mobile Pei Ming to be surrounded under the
offense of treason.
Pei Ming might be good in fighting wars, but if the battlefield wasn’t one of real swords and
weapons, he might not be victorious. He was clearly fighting foes and defending the throne, but
in the end he only won a “Kill on Sight!”
Pei Ming held that pot in his hand; it wasn’t that he didn’t hear what they were discussing, only
he didn’t have the time to care. “I should’ve known it was you. This is very much your style.”
Thinking back, it must’ve been Rong Guang’s resentment possessing that broken sword so
thoroughly dyed in the blood of millions, and having connected with its bitterness that he
survived this long. However, the voice inside the pot was still cold, “Your brothers are all long
dead. I’m nothing but a sword.”
Xie Lian knew that he may probably never admit to it and continuing to question would be
fruitless. “Nevermind, General Pei.”
Pei Ming nodded and returned the pot to Pei Su.
Thus, they subdued two particularly nasty ghosts. Overlooking all others, this could be
considered a good start. “General Pei and I will continue to go further into Mount TongLu,” Xie
Lian said, “Ban Yue, how about you two? Will you go find Lord Rain Master?”
“Lord Rain Master had already gone on ahead to chase after the ghosts who kidnapped
farmers.” Pei Su said, “If we go it’d be the same way, so we are willing to assist General and
Your Highness, and join you.”
Pei Ming snapped out of it and knitted his brows slightly, “Then we best hurry. The Ruler of
YuShi isn’t a martial god but went on faster than us, so they might run into danger ahead.”
Thus, Xie Lian picked up Hua Cheng, Ban Yue tucked the two pots away, and the party hastily
made way deeper into the thick woods.
Since they were still situated on the outer edges of Mount TongLu, they didn’t run into any
impressive characters; most were nothing but weeds and the group wasn’t interested in fighting
at all, going past them directly. Some were foolish enough to challenge them, but they were all
scared away by Ban Yue and Pei Su’s snakes. Thus, after a day of journey, they had finally left
the forest and entered the second level of Mount TongLu.
Here, the woods were growing sparse, the roads growing wider, and there were traces of
inhabitation. Xie Lian even saw off the side of the road a broken down, blackened little house,
which was exceedingly bizarre in this isolated land, and he wondered, “Why are there houses
here?”
Ban Yue and Pei Su both shook their heads to indicate they didn’t know. Pei Ming also replied,
“I’m afraid this is something you’ll have to ask that Lord Ghost King in your arms.”
After Xie Lian asked he had already thought if Hua Cheng was awake then he’d for sure have
the answers to his questions, and he looked down. Although Hua Cheng’s unusually hot body
temperature was gradually cooling, his eyes were still shut, and Xie Lian couldn’t help but worry.
Pei Ming reminded him, “Your Highness, we’re about to enter the next level. What we will run
into further ahead will be even more powerful. Shall we take a break and wait for Hua Chengzhu
to wake?”
Just then, the group of them had come to a fork in the road. One path headed east, and the
other headed west. Xie Lian contemplated and hummed, “The night has deepened, let’s camp
here for the night.”
After travelling for a day, it was well time to rest, and focus on shielding Hua Cheng to help him
recover. Ban Yue spoke up, “Pei Su gege also needs rest.”
Only then did the group remember that Pei Su was mortal at the moment, and required rest as
well as sustenance, it’s just he had been silent the whole time. Xie Lian had cursed shackles on
his body and was the same, but because of his worry for Hua Cheng, he had completely
forgotten.
The group of them thus stopped at this fork in the road and built camp. Ban Yue started the fire
and Pei Su went hunting. Xie Lian saw everyone was busy minding their own business, and
started staring at Hua Cheng’s face again. A moment later, instincts made him whip his head
around, and sure enough, Pei Ming was watching the two of them.
The two stared at each other, and Pei Ming huffed a dry laugh, “Fine. I’ll go away.”
“No, it’s fine.” Xie Lian said.
It wasn’t like he was thinking of doing anything that couldn’t be seen, so why did he make it
sound like he was thieving around?!
Just then, Ban Yue walked over with a pot for food, “General Hua...”
Xie Lian and Pei Ming both turned their heads. “What is it?” Xie Lian asked.
That black pot had within it a terrified wild chicken that was tied up. Ban Yue showed them the
pot, “Pei Su gege caught it to have me cook, but, I don’t know how.”
After Pei Su hunted he went ahead to scout. Pei Ming on the other hand, seemed to be
dissatisfied with Ban Yue no matter how he looked at her, and berated presumptuously, “Aren’t
you a girl? Fighting and killing all day, nevermind not painting your face, but how come you don’t
even know how to cook?”
Xie Lian and Ban Yue were speechless. Ban Yue wasn’t a delicate girl raised in a normal
household, and had not a clue of how Pei Ming judged beauty. She couldn’t understand his
words and was puzzled. As for Xie Lian, he had pretty much figured things out by now. Pei Ming
was someone hard to describe when it came to women. “Put it down, Ban Yue. I’ll teach you.”
Xie Lian said.
Ban Yue already deeply admired him so she happily followed his instructions. An incense time
later. Xie Lian pulled at the colourful feathers off the wild chicken, and Pei Ming raised his
blood-soaked hands, lamenting, “The Chicken-Killing General and the Feather-Plucking Crown
Prince can be considered famous sights too now.”
Xie Lian watched him kill the chicken with his bare hands, a bloody and grimy sight, “General
Pei, couldn’t you have used a knife or something? It would’ve been cleaner.”
“And is there any?” Pei Ming demanded.
Just as the words left his lips, the two glanced at the two pots sitting on the ground on the side.
Rong Guang who was inside the pot seemed to have noticed the two peculiar looks, and the pot
shuddered violently, shouting, “GET OUTTA HERE! SCRAM FAR AWAY! CAREFUL, I JUST
MIGHT SMEAR VENOM ON MY BLADE AND POISON YOU ALL!”
The two hurried away. Once they were sure that pot couldn’t hear, Pei Ming shook is head and
said to Xie Lian, “And he keeps denying it. He’s always had that temper, of course it’s him.”
Xie Lian also heard how Rong Guang cussed at Pei Ming, and had long grown an odd sense of
sympathy, “I understand completely. I have a little cousin who’s somewhat like General Rong.
He knows how to cuss more but doesn’t know how to do much.”
At least Rong Guang could help Pei Ming fight battles. If Qi Rong was to go help Xie Lian fight
battles, then before Xie Lian was killed by enemies he’d already be ruined by Qi Rong. Pei Ming
seemed to have imagined what a Rong Guang who only knew how to cuss but didn’t know how
to fight was like and remarked earnestly, “That’s indeed frightening.”
Xie Lian threw the now fully plucked wild chicken back into the pot, filled it with water, and
started cooking it atop the fire, adding some wild fruits or herbs every now and then to add
flavour. Ban Yue copied him and tried very hard to find anything that looked edible to stuff into
the pot. Pei Ming didn’t know what they were doing, but since he’d never entered the kitchen
himself, he didn’t see any problems, so he helped by adding firewood to the campfire. “Your
Highness, I’ve always had a question I wanted to ask you, but since we weren’t acquainted, it
wasn’t appropriate to ask.”
It’s true they weren’t close. Before, Xie Lian’s impression of Pei Ming was pretty much a
physically skilled but ill-minded womanizer, and they’ve even faced each other a couple times.
Yet now that they’ve crossed paths a few times, unknowingly, his opinions have changed, and
their relationship could be considered somewhat friendlier. “By all means, General Pei, please
ask.”
“You’ve been banished twice, with two cursed shackles on your person.” Pei Ming said, “After
you’ve ascended for the third time, you could’ve asked the Emperor to remove them, so why
didn’t you?”
Xie Lian watched as Ban Yue thought really hard before cheerfully pulling out a few long, wine
red scorpion tailed snakes, and put them into the bubbling pot. He replied easily, “Then, General
Pei, I’ve also got a question I want to ask you.”
“Please.” Pei Ming said.
“How come after you snapped Ming Guang you’ve never forged a new sword as a spiritual
device again?” Xie Lian asked.
Pei Ming raised his brows, “What an unpleasant question.”
Xie Lian matched his expression, “Likewise.”
The two chuckled a bit. Suddenly, Pei Ming said, “I never thought it was a beautiful tale.”
“I get you.” Xie Lian said.
He was about to speak when suddenly there was movement behind him, and his heart jumped,
looking back, “San Lang?”
Sure enough, Hua Cheng had sat up!
Xie Lian was both surprised and delighted and immediately went over to help hold him up by the
shoulders, “San Lang! You’re awake! You... seem bigger?”
Indeed, before Hua Cheng only looked to be a little older than ten, but now he appeared to be at
least thirteen or fourteen, and when he spoke, his voice also changed from that of a child to the
slightly raspy voice of a teen. “Yes. Thank you gege, for giving me relief.”
“What a joyous occasion,” Pei Ming commented.
“No need to thank me, I...” Xie Lian replied before he noticed there was the word ‘relief’ and his
smile froze, wondering, ‘It’s not what I think it is, is it?’
The next second, Hua Cheng grabbed his shoulders and said darkly, “Your Highness, listen to
me. Something is coming rapidly from the east. You must get away for now!”
Xie Lian was taken aback. The two both looked to the east, like they could see through the
endless black night and saw a figure skulking in the darkness. Although Xie Lian didn’t sense
anything but still he said, “Very well! We’ll take leave.”
“Where to?” Pei Ming asked.
The fork in the road only had two paths, and Xie Lian said, “The west!”
Ban Yue grabbed that cooking pot over the flames, looking like she was going to bring it along,
and said, “Pei Su gege hasn’t returned yet!”
Just as she spoke, a shadow came hurrying from the road to the west, and it was Pei Su who
had returned from scouting. “General! Don’t go down this road! There’s a large number of
ghosts coming this way right now!”
“How many?” Hua Cheng demanded.
Pei Su noticed the one who asked was Hua Cheng and was stunned for a moment, “Judging by
the tremors of the ground, at least five hundred!”
As a martial god, unless there was absolutely no other choice, ‘retreat’ would never be
considered. Pei Ming demanded, “Do we go west or east?”
Hua Cheng said with conviction, “West!”
Xie Lian answered too, “West.”
For some reason, although there were more ghosts coming from the west and not a single
shadow in the east, but Xie Lian’s instincts told him the west must be the safer choice than the
east. Without further ado, the group hastily went on their way. At first, Xie Lian was already
prepared to kill without hesitation should they run into the first wave, but after running for several
miles, not a single movement was detected, and he was rather puzzled, “General Pei Junior,
where and when did you hear that over five hundred ghosts were approaching?”
“Just nearby here.” Pei Su said, “At the time, they were only five to six miles behind me, and
were going very fast.”
“Then this is strange!” Xie Lian said.
The group continued to run to the west, and that five hundred some ghosts were running
eastward; both parties were fast so they should’ve bumped into each other head on by now. So
why was there not a single ghost, and not even any movement?
“Little Pei wouldn’t have heard wrong.” Pei Ming said, “Maybe they went back the way they
came?”
“I don’t think that’s likely.” Pei Su said, “Because the speed of their pace was really fast. It
sounded as if they were...”
“Running for their lives.” Hua Cheng said.
Suddenly, Xie Lian stopped in his step. Not just him but the entire group stopped. Because, just
ahead of them was a field of corpses that was blocking their way.
Those corpses, some were beasts, some were men, bodies all shapes and sizes, there were
even battered souls, wisps of black smoke and ghost fires floating in the air. An exceedingly
chilling sight. Xie Lian squatted down to check and said, “They really were running for their lives,
they just... didn’t succeed.”
After Pei Su heard them, he immediately turned back to inform Xie Lian and the others. And it
was right after he left that something had pursued and killed them all in one go.
“It’s the work of one person.” Hua Cheng said,
Xie Lian nodded. If both parties were great in numbers, then the kill wouldn’t be this clean, and
the battle wouldn’t have ended so straightforwardly.
And to have killed over five hundred ghosts and monsters in such a short period of time, no
doubt it was something stronger than the Swift Life-Extinguishing Blade Demon, so it seemed, it
was one they should keep an eye on.
Ban Yue said, holding her soup pot, “I hope Lord Rain Master didn’t choose this path...”
“No need to worry, My Lord has the protection steed.” Pei Su said.
Right at the same time, Xie Lian heard a strange chattering noise from not far away, and when
he went over to look, there was a skull whose jaws were chattering, and the noise came from it.
When it noticed someone had discovered itself, it cried, terrified, “MERCY, I’LL NEVER COME
AGAIN, I WANNA GO BACK, I WANNA GO HOME!”
Xie Lian cupped it with both his hands and said gently, “Don’t be scared, we’re only passing by.
Can you tell us just what exactly happened here?”
That skull’s jaws chattered as it bit out, “Y-you’re passersby? Don’t keep going onwards
anymore, there’s someone really scary ahead... counting us, he’s already killed over a thousand
ghosts, and he’s still dissatisfied, he’s still, he’s still...”
Over a thousand!
That was way more than they had imagined. Xie Lian asked, “Who is it that you speak of? Do
you know what his name is? Or title? Or what he looks like?”
“N-no.” The skull said, “I didn’t see very clearly. It didn’t take long for him to kill us. I only faintly
saw it was a black clad man, very young, his face very pale...”
“Sounds a little troublesome.” Pei Ming said, “Your Highness, Hua Chengzhu, are you sure we
should be heading westward right now, and not east?”
That skull heard and shrieked, “THE EAST WON’T DO EITHER! NOT THE EAST!!!”
“What’s happened in the east?” Xie Lian asked.
That skull said, “We... didn’t dare go east, which is why we chose the west. Because, on the
road to the east, there’s a white clad young man, who within a day, had already killed over two
thousand ghosts. He’s far more terrifying than this one in the west...”
———-
Ch.150: Panic Left and Right; East or West Undecided 2
Over two thousand!
Hearing this, everyone’s expressions stiffened. Xie Lian glimpsed at Hua Cheng and said, “It
seems it was the right choice to pick the west road.”
That skull’s teeth chattered, “Sigh! Either roads is a mistake, there’s no path to go!
Indeed, for normal little minions, either direction was an obliteration disaster. No matter east or
west, either could easily crush them; no matter which road they choose, the end result was
blown to smoke and become fertilizer for others. After dry howling a few more times, the ghost
fires in that skull’s empty sockets gradually went out.
Xie Lian gently placed it down on the side of the road, “San Lang, do you know what the
creature in the east is?”
“Can’t be sure right now,” Hua Cheng replied, “But it’s still coming this way. Under the current
circumstances, I don’t recommend we face it head on. This one in the west is a little easier to
deal with.”
Xie Lian nodded, “Very well. Then we’ll continue westward.”
The group of them traversed through that field of corpses and hurried on their way. They walked
all night but never ran into that black clad man the skull spoke of nor see any trace of the Rain
Master, and Xie Lian couldn’t help but start to worry.
As they journeyed, the houses and buildings alongside the roads increased in numbers, and
soon, they could even recognize this was the impoverished slums, this was the theatre house
for leisure, this was a general store, this was the backyard of a wealthy household... the road
they walked beneath their feet were also paved by people, the patterns of the bricks could still
faintly be seen. This was obviously a prosperous little town, only it was empty of the living, and
strangely desolate and quiet.
There was an old well on the roadside, and when water was pulled up, the water was still
relatively clean, and so the group decided to rest there for a bit. Xie Lian and Pei Su both drank
a bit of water and washed their faces. When they looked up, Ban Yue had walked over.
Ban Yue had been holding onto that black clay pot this whole time and had been waiting for a
long time, “General Hua, Pei Su gege, eat something.”
“Alright. Thank you for your efforts.” Pei Su said.
“Thanks for everyone’s hard work, let’s all give this a try.” Xie Lian said.
Thus the group all gathered. However, the moment Ban Yue opened the pot, many faces
stiffened.
Although ‘smell’ was something colourless and formless, but the instant Ban Yue removed the
pot cover, it was as if some mysterious object had twisted all the air around the mouth of that
pot.
The group stared at the sight within the pot for a long time, each one of their pupils reflecting an
endless, bottomless darkness, like it could pull them into the abyss, and no words could
describe the sentiment expressed within their eyes. A moment later, Xie Lian patted Ban Yue’s
shoulder and gave a thumbs up, “Not bad. It’s good for a first time.”
Pei Ming looked at them in disbelief, “It’s her first time, but is it Your Highness’ first time? If I
recall, you made her follow your every step, and you’ve done more than she did. I knew there
was something not right with what you two were doing, so it wasn’t my imagination.”
However, Hua Cheng spoke up, “Is that right? Well since gege made this, I gotta try.”
Hearing this, Pei Ming and Pei Su’s eyes both whipped over to look at him, their eyes full of
awe, terror, respect, and other such emotions. “Gege, what’s this dish called?” Hua Cheng
asked.
Xie Lian cleared his throat lightly, “...‘Toppled Phoenixes’*”
“Good name.” Hua Cheng complimented earnestly.
Then, he reached into that bottomlessly dark pot. The way Pei Ming and Pei Su watched him, it
was like they were anxious he was going to be swallowed whole by the pot. However, Hua
Cheng calmly and easily took out a small, burnt, piece of something that resembled a broken
corpse, and serenely placed it in his mouth.
“How is it?” Pei Ming asked.
“Tastes like its name.” Hua Cheng said.
Pei Ming turned to Pei Su whose expression was unreadably complicated, “It’s made for you.
Enjoy.”
Pei Su: “...”
He took the pot from Ban Yue’s hands, and expressionlessly reached a hand in.
Xie Lian used the cold water to wipe his face again, fixed his hair, and turned around, no longer
looking at the others. He scanned the surroundings and asked, “How come in this land isolated
from the rest of the world has so many traces of settlements? Is Mount TongLu really
inhabitable?”
He had already asked this question the day before, only, there was no one who could answer
him at the time. Now there was. Hua Cheng replied, “It’s inhabitable, but, it was a long time ago.
Mount TongLu is the size of seven fortress cities, its territory spread far and wide, and it used to
be an ancient kingdom. These houses are all historical remains of cities and townships from the
ancient kingdom. The closer we are to the heart of the ‘Kiln’, the more relics there will be, and
the more prosperous they’ll appear.”
Xie Lian didn’t question this answer at all, “I see.”
Just then, Pei Ming’s voice came from behind them, “Little Pei, what are you doing? Men don’t
kneel so easily, get up!”
Xie Lian didn’t turn around, “What’s the name of this ancient kingdom? San Lang, do you
know?”
Hua Cheng didn’t turn around either, and his fists hung easily at his sides, “The Kingdom of
WuYong.”
Pei Ming admonished, “Your Highness? Your Highness, do you have an antidote or something?
You can’t just leave him like this. And you. What are you feeding him? What’s with this snake?
It’s still moving after it’s been cooked for so long? Did it become a spirit?!”
Ban Yue seemed to be kowtowing to apologize unceasingly, “I’m sorry... I’m sorry... I’m sorry...
it’s indeed turned into a spirit, I didn’t know how long it’d cook for it to become a spirit... I’m
sorry...”
Xie Lian supported his cheek with a hand and pondered, “I’m ignorant and ill-informed, I don’t
seem to recall ever hearing the name of this kingdom. How ancient is it?”
However, just as the words left his lips he wasn’t so sure anymore. WuYong, WuYong. Hearing it
from out of the blue it did sound foreign. But if he thought about it deeply, it seemed a long, long
time ago, someone somewhere had uttered it before.
“The details aren’t clear,” Hua Cheng said, “But it must be older than the Kingdom of XianLe. At
least two thousand years.”
Xie Lian looked around their surroundings, “But looking at these buildings, they don’t look like
they lived through two thousand years.”
“Naturally.” Hua Cheng replied, “Because most of the time, Mount TongLu wasn’t open to the
outside. Like sealed within a massive mausoleum and completely shut out from the outside
world, they would of course be kept in a good state.”
Xie Lian bowed his head and became pensive. On the other side, Pei Ming finally left Pei Su on
his own devices and came over, “Lord Ghost King sure knows everything. But, isn’t this
information rather too out of this world? Might I ask what your source is? I’ve never heard a
single word of any of this going around in the outside.”
Hua Cheng didn’t look at him, “And might I ask General Pei, what kind of individual has the
ability to gather this kind of information in Mount TongLu?”
“Logically, any ghost can.” Pei Ming said, “But by Mount TongLu’s slaughtering rules, the more
valuable information one wishes to obtain, the longer one must remain, so it must be a powerful
individual.”
“And what kind of individual can come out of Mount TongLu after gathering all this information?”
Hua Cheng asked.
“It must be a Supreme Ghost King like My Lord.” Pei Ming said.
“So,” Hua Cheng said, “I gathered this information myself. As long as I don’t speak of it, of
course there wouldn’t be any word of it going around in the outside.”
He finally turned his head back and mocked slightly, “To the heavenly officials of the Upper
Court, keeping secrets might be more difficult than passing a heavenly calamity, but not to me.”
“...”
He wasn’t wrong. If information of such magnitude was to be learned by some heavenly officials
in the Upper Court, it wouldn’t take two hours before it could be heard excitedly discussed in
every spiritual communication array. That Hua Cheng was able to keep this in for so many years
without selling it to anyone and didn’t speak of it to boast, it showed just how mature and
resolved he was.
“I get it.” Pei Ming said, “It appears, when it comes to His Highness, not only is Hua Chengzhu
knowledgeable of all, but would also tell all that you know.”
“No.” Xie Lian suddenly said.
Everyone turned to look, “What, no?”
Xie Lian had been deep in thought earlier, and now, finally, his right hand folded into a fist and
lightly tapped his left palm, “I said earlier that I don’t think I’ve heard of the name WuYong
before, but that’s wrong. I’ve heard of that name before!”
Hua Cheng’s stiffened lightly, “Gege, where did you hear of it?”
Xie Lian turned his head around, “In my youth when I was training in the Royal Holy Pavilion in
XianLe, my master was the Guoshi of XianLe. When he first took me in as a disciple, he once
told me a story.”
It actually couldn’t be considered a story, more like instilling some grand, glorious imageries of
legends in young Xie Lian’s mind – Once upon a time there was an ancient kingdom. In that
kingdom there was a crown prince who was ingeniously talented, intelligent and clever, skilled in
both martial and literary arts, and was a scintillating character that only appeared once in
history. He loved his people and his people loved him. Long after he died, his people never
forgot him.
The Guoshi spoke solemnly and tenderly, “My child, I hope you will become a person like him.”
At the time, young Xie Lian sat poised and proper, and said without thinking, “I don’t want to
become a person like him. I want to become a god.”
“...”
Xie Lian said, “If that crown prince was really as amazing as you say, how come he didn’t
become a god?”
“...”
Xie Lian continued, “If the people really never forgot him, then how come I’ve never heard
anyone speak of this crown prince before?”
“........”
Xie Lian swore that when he first raised those questions he had never intended to provoke or
rebel and really was just curious, looking for answers to his query. However, after the Guoshi
listened to him his face turned quite the shade.
Why could Xie Lian recite the Ethics Sutra back and forth like it was nothing? Because, that
night, the Guoshi made him copy the Ethics Sutra a hundred times to do good by its name and
“cultivate both the body and mind”. Xie Lian deeply suspected that had it not been for his
honourary status of the crown prince, the Guoshi might’ve had him kneel on nails to copy the
scriptures.
In any case, after that, every word of the Ethics Sutra was deeply burned into Xie Lian’s brain.
At the same time. A tiny impression of this “Crown Prince of WuYong” remained.
Xie Lian had always enjoyed reading but had never come across any records relating to the
Kingdom of WuYong in any old scrolls, so he figured the story was something the Guoshi made
up to educate him, or perhaps the Guoshi had played cards too much and remembered wrong.
However, he didn’t feel the need to blow his cover nor the need to copy the Ethics Sutra for
another hundred times, so he didn’t bother to fight for the truth and didn’t take it to heart.
“Your Highness, it sounds like this Guoshi of your XianLe has quite the background and knows a
lot,” Pei Ming said, “Might I ask what’s happened to him?”
After some hesitation, Xie Lian replied, “I don’t know. After XianLe fell, I haven’t seen how many
people were afterwards.”
Just then, he suddenly felt something tighten on his ankle and he froze, “WHAT’S THERE?!”
He was about to stomp and break the bones of whatever it was, but when he looked down, he
breathed a sigh of relief, “General Pei Junior, what are you doing appearing like this? That was
close, I almost ruined your hand.”
That hand indeed belonged to Pei Su. His entire person was sprawled on the ground, his face in
the mud, his two arms outstretched, one hand gripping Pei Ming and the other gripping Xie Lian.
The two crouched down, “What is it you want to say?”
Ban Yue was holding her pot, “I don’t know. Earlier, Pei Su gege kept crawling all over the
ground and seemed to have discovered something important.”
“Oh?” Pei Ming was amazed, “You can find something even in such a state? As expected of
Little Pei. So what did you discover?”
Pei Su loosened the hand gripping him and pointed in a direction. Xie Lian looked to the
direction he pointed at and said, “This is...”
The group all gathered to examine, “Oxen hoof marks?”
Pei Su finally raised his head from the mud and croaked, “This, is... m, arks left behind by L, ord
Rain Master’s Protection St, eed.”
“Pei Su gege, your commas are all over the place.” Ban Yue remarked.
Pei Su replied, “I’m al, right. Lord Rain Master, lord, lord...”
He was stuck on the word ‘lord’ and couldn’t continue anymore. Xie Lian wondered, “Could... he
be poisoned by the scorpion tailed snake?”
“Their poison doesn’t work like this...” Ban Yue said.
Hua Cheng said, “The Rain Master had already run into the black clad man in the west, and
fought a battle.”
———–
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