Chapter 15: At Paradise Manor, Questions of Xianle

That sharp cry of desperation made Xie Lian's heart drop. He had hardly gathered his thoughts before his body was already charging in that direction. Outside the alley, there were a bunch of oddly shaped, sinister creatures gathered in a circle, yelling one after another.

"We caught him!"

"Beat him to a pulp again!"

"Fuck! However much food this little scumbag pilfered off me, I'm gonna slice the same off him, every single bit!"

Shi Qingxuan caught up. "Your Highness, what's going on?"

Xie Lian didn't respond. He walked toward the group step by step, his pace growing in speed, and soon he broke into a run. He forcefully pushed past a couple of ghosts on the outside of the circle and saw that the one getting beaten was a boy dressed in tattered clothes. Judging by his size, he appeared to be around fifteen or sixteen years old, and he was curled up on the ground trembling uncontrollably.

Even though he clung tightly to his head, the layers of bandages that were messily wrapped around it were still visible. The bandages were covered in dirt, the same as his hair.

Wasn't this the same bandaged boy that Xie Lian had briefly met at Mount Yujun, the boy who had run off and couldn't be found?

No wonder the Palace of Ling Wen had been saying they couldn't find any trace of him. How could Heaven's Palace of Ling Wen find him in the Mortal Realm if the boy had escaped to the Ghost Realm's territory?

The ghosts that had been pushed aside by Xie Lian were outraged and shoved him out again, just as one of them moved to yank on the bandages on that boy's head.

"This little beggar is probably a freak, even uglier than me! Look how scared he is of people pulling these things off his face…"

Lang Qianqiu was furious. "What are you doing?!" he cried, then he walked up and hurled a few ghosts off to one side.

Shi Qingxuan didn't have time to stop him and could only wave around with his fan. "Qianqiu, I thought we agreed not to act so impulsively!"

This time around, Qianqiu had riled up even more ghosts than before. "Where the hell did you come from?" they roared as they tackled him.

"I'm sorry, Lord Wind Master," Lang Qianqiu called. "This will be the last time!" Then he jumped into the fight, whacking the ghosts about.

Shi Qingxuan let out an exasperated sigh. "Ugh, I'm never going on a mission with you again!" After that, of course he also had to join the brawl.

Annoyingly, they couldn't use any spells—lest they give off spiritual light—so they had to resort to fighting with fists and feet. A smaller part of the group that was still beating up the boy was forcibly broken up by Xie Lian. He knelt, wanting to help the boy up.

"Are you all right?"

Upon hearing his voice, the boy shuddered and took a peek at him from his fetal position. Now that Xie Lian could see his face, he finally noticed that the bandages wrapped around the boy's head were thoroughly drenched in blood. With patches of black and red, it was a frightening sight, an appearance more terrifying than when they had last parted. The two big eyes peeping out of the gaps between the bandages were rapt, black iris against the white, unusually clear. And yet those ink-black eyes that reflected Xie Lian's silhouette were filled with terror.

Xie Lian took the boy by the arm. "Come, stand up. Everything is fine now."

To his surprise, the boy screamed, shoved Xie Lian away, leapt to his feet, and bolted.

Since this boy had once been infected with Human Face Disease, he must have a connection to the Kingdom of Xianle. Xie Lian's mind shivered at the mere sight of him, and he couldn't help but be a little dazed. Caught off guard by the force of the push, even his bamboo hat fell to the ground.

After the initial shock, he called out, "Wait!"

Just as Xie Lian was about to give chase, the few ghosts that he had pulled away earlier grabbed on to him. The boy headed down the street, which was livelier than ever. At the rate that he was effortlessly weaving through the groups of ghouls and ghosts with his small frame, he would disappear soon. It would be difficult for Ruoye to track down a person in this kind of setting, so in that split-second of urgency, Xie Lian called out behind him.

"My lords, I'll leave this matter with you. Let's separate for now. Go hide and we'll meet here again in three days at the latest!"

Ruoye slid out and sent those ghosts flying in the direction of the other two officials, while Xie Lian bent over slightly, picked up his bamboo hat, and set off running in the direction of the boy.

He squeezed through the crowd with immense difficulty, shouting all the while, "Excuse me! Excuse me!"

Because the boy had spent most of his life hiding and dodging in the Mortal Realm, escaping was practically second nature to him. His head could be seen in one second, then there was a shadow the next, and after that, there was nothing more; he was getting farther and farther away. Xie Lian didn't know if it was his imagination, but he felt that the crowds on the street were getting thicker by the minute. With humans and ghosts alike pressed against each other, it made it really difficult for him to jostle through. Xie Lian's mind was in disarray, so he knocked over a number of stalls, and he cried "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" as he continued to run.

Ghosts weren't to be crossed carelessly, however, and they yelled after him, "Sorry does shit! Catch him!"

Xie Lian suddenly felt a chill on his back as if a hand had seized him, and he immediately knocked it back. "Who is it?!"

The hand was a tentacle that had come out of nowhere, and a mob of ghosts came swarming, their screeching and rough voices surrounding him.

"Hey, hey, hey! Let's teach this little pretty boy a thing or two! How dare he start shit in Ghost City!"

A large, dense crowd of nefarious creatures poured onto the street. Seeing that he was about to lose the boy in the crowd, Xie Lian did his best to throw off the tentacle that caught him.

"Everyone! I'm really sorry. I don't mean any harm. Please allow me to find someone, and we can discuss reparations afterward?"

The horde of ghosts was relentless. "You wish!"

In all the pushing and pulling, the boy had disappeared completely. Xie Lian was dazed, not quite sure what he was feeling. Was it disappointment at not being able to catch the boy, or was it relief that a nightmare had passed once more?

Suddenly, there was a commotion in the ghost crowd. They immediately parted, forming a path, as if someone of importance had arrived. Xie Lian came to his senses and saw a tall, black-clad figure walking straight toward him through the path created by the mob.

That person yelled, "Settle down. Let him go!"

The black-clad figure, like most of the ghosts on the street, wore a mask. It was a funny mask, with a face that was contorted as if it was smiling woefully. The mob muttered under their breath, "It's the Waning Moon Officer!", and they released their hold on Xie Lian at last. It seemed this black-clad figure was someone significant in Ghost City.

The moment he approached Xie Lian, he bowed. "Greetings, Daozhang. Chengzhu wishes to see you."

"Huh? Me?" Xie Lian pointed at himself.

The Waning Moon Officer replied, "Yes. Chengzhu has been waiting for you at Paradise Manor."

All around them, the mob sucked in their breath.

"Chengzhu wants to see him? Did I hear that right?"

"Paradise Manor? That's Chengzhu's sanctuary—he's never had guests there!"

Someone who had come from a different street pointed out, "Wait a sec, isn't he the one who won against Chengzhu today at the Gambler's Den? I mean…the one Chengzhu educated?!"

All eyes were now focused on Xie Lian, each pair bigger than the next, forcing Xie Lian to raise the bamboo hat in his hand to hide from the stares.

The Waning Moon Officer beckoned. "This way please."

Xie Lian nodded and followed him.

The crowd parted once more, and the Waning Moon Officer led Xie Lian through the path. No one dared follow, and after an incense time, the two had left the bustling street behind and made their way further into a quieter, more remote part of the city.

During their walk, the two barely conversed. The Waning Moon Officer walked as though he was going to disappear into the shadows at any moment, so Xie Lian followed closely. As his eyes swept idly past the officer's wrist, he abruptly noticed that it bore a black cursed circle.

It was something he was more than familiar with.

A cursed shackle?!

His eyes widened, but he was silent in his shock. Just then, the Waning Moon Officer spoke up.

"We are here."

Xie Lian looked up and realized he had been led to a lake. There were haunting will-o'-the-wisps floating above the waters, playing around and chasing each other. Next to the lake stood a large, resplendent mansion.

The Heavenly Realm and the Ghost Realm both possessed glamorous architecture. However, the glamour of the Heavens put an emphasis on prominence and prestige, whereas the glamour of Ghost City lay in bewitching frivolity. Even the large characters displaying the name of this mansion, "Paradise Manor," emitted an evil aura.

Strange music came from the inside, airy and soft, incredibly enchanting, as if there were many women giggling and teasing, singing and dancing languidly in play.

Following the music, Xie Lian entered the mansion slowly. After raising a beaded curtain, warm perfumed air came rushing at his face. Xie Lian turned his head slightly to avoid getting engulfed in the scent.

A thick, snow-white rug made from the fur of some unknown beast covered the floors of the great hall of Paradise Manor; surprisingly, it was a full pelt. Many beautiful and captivating women, barefoot and clad in light silk, were unfurling their lithe limbs like blossoming petals, sensual and beguiling as they danced to their hearts' content. The music he heard came from them.

The ladies were spinning seductively like bouquets of roses covered in thorns, blossoming in the deep night. When they spun over to Xie Lian, they playfully teased him with their eyes. If any travelers walking in the night were to accidentally intrude upon this scene, it was hard to say whether they'd be more frightened or enchanted. However, when Xie Lian scanned the main hall, his eyes went straight through those women to the person seated in the back.

At the end of the great hall there was a large divan made of black jade, expansive in size; upon it over a dozen people could lounge. But there was only one man seated there, and it was Hua Cheng. There was a group of gorgeous ghost women dancing before him, but he didn't spare them any looks, only lazily keeping an eye on what was before him.

In front of Hua Cheng was a small golden palace. It roughly resembled a heavenly palace, but on closer inspection, that little structure was built from thin sheets of gold foil stacked upon one another. He was also absentmindedly twirling a piece of gold foil in his hand.

Gold Foil Palace. Xie Lian had played this game often when he was a child; it was no different from village kids stacking rocks to build houses. When he was younger, he disliked separation by nature, and it didn't matter what it was—as long as the objects were placed together, Xie Lian would refuse to separate them. So whatever it was he built, he'd forbid anyone to touch it, and he always wished desperately that he could glue the fragile sheets together so that it'd never collapse. When he was even younger, if he saw his golden palace fall apart, he'd be distressed to the point of refusing food and sleep until the king and queen coaxed him from his shell. The golden palace before him now was grand, made of hundreds of layered foil sheets, and fragile like an egg, as if a gentle breeze could blow it down.

Xie Lian couldn't help but chant mentally: Don't collapse, don't collapse.

A brief moment later, however, Hua Cheng gazed at his work and flashed a smile. He extended a finger and flicked the top of the golden palace—

Flitter flatter, the foil fluttered and collapsed into a heap.

Gold foil was now strewn across the ground. The golden palace was destroyed, but Hua Cheng appeared amused by his handiwork, like a child who'd pushed over a tower of building blocks.

He mindlessly threw away the gold foil sheet that was still in his hand and jumped off the divan. The dancing women immediately stopped in their steps and backed off to the sides, silencing their songs. Stepping on the gold foil sheets as he went, Hua Cheng walked toward the entrance.

"Since gege is here, why not come in? We haven't been apart for that long, so don't be a stranger to San Lang."

At this beckoning, Xie Lian let down the beaded curtain. "Earlier in the Gambler's Den, it was San Lang who pretended not to recognize me."

Hua Cheng approached and stopped at Xie Lian's side. "Lang Qianqiu was there too, so if I didn't put on an act, I'd be giving gege trouble."

That was a really sloppy act… Xie Lian thought.

Hua Cheng probably knew that Shi Qingxuan was in the crowd too, so Xie Lian stopped worrying about hiding anything.

"San Lang is knowledgeable as always."

Hua Cheng laughed. "Of course. So, is gege here only to visit me?"

"…"

If Xie Lian had to be honest with himself, had he known Hua Cheng was here, he would've asked for leave so he could pay him a visit. Alas, that was not what happened. Hua Cheng, however, wasn't waiting for a response from Xie Lian at all, and smiled.

"Whether you're here to see me or not, I'm happy either way."

Xie Lian was startled by those words. He hadn't had a chance to respond before the women standing on the sides started giggling. Hua Cheng inclined his head, and they all stopped at once, their heads bowed low. They soon filed out of the hall, leaving only the two of them in this massive chamber.

"Come have a seat here, gege," Hua Cheng said.

Xie Lian examined him as he followed, smiling. "So, this is your real appearance."

Hua Cheng paused slightly in his step.

Maybe it was his imagination, but Hua Cheng's shoulders seemed to stiffen for a flash of a second. The moment didn't last, and Hua Cheng responded naturally.

"I did say that the next time we met, I would greet you with my real appearance."

Xie Lian grinned and said earnestly, "Not bad."

Xie Lian's tone wasn't teasing or consoling, the words very simply said. Hua Cheng gave a small smile back, and this time, it was genuinely relaxed. They took a few more steps when Xie Lian suddenly remembered something important he'd wanted to confirm with Hua Cheng. He removed the silver chain from around his neck.

"By the way," Xie Lian said, "did you leave this?"

Hua Cheng glanced at the ring and smiled. "It's for you."

"What is it?" Xie Lian asked.

"Nothing important," Hua Cheng replied. "Just keep it for fun."

Although that was what he said, Xie Lian knew that this object must be truly valuable, not something so insignificant.

"Then, thank you, San Lang."

Seeing Xie Lian put the chain with the ring back around his neck, Hua Cheng's eye shimmered brightly. Xie Lian looked around him.

"Back at the Gambler's Den, you said you were going to Paradise Manor. I'd thought it was something like a brothel or the red-light district, but this looks more like an entertainment hall?"

Hua Cheng arched his brows. "Gege, what are you saying? I never go to the red-light district."

Xie Lian was amazed. "Really?"

"Of course," Hua Cheng replied. The two approached the black jaded divan and sat down next to each other. Hua Cheng continued, "This is nothing but a place I remodel now and then, a residence of sorts. I hang around here when I'm free. If I'm busy, I leave it be."

"So it's your home," Xie Lian commented.

"Residence," Hua Cheng corrected. "Not a home."

"Is there a difference?" Xie Lian asked.

"Of course," Hua Cheng replied. "A home has family. A place where someone lives alone is not a home."

Xie Lian felt his heart stirred by this. By that definition, it had been over eight hundred years since he had anything that could be called a "home." Although Hua Cheng had no trace of loneliness on his face, Xie Lian thought they were perhaps alike.

Hua Cheng continued, "If it's home, then even a small place like Puqi Shrine is a million times better than my Paradise Manor."

Xie Lian agreed sincerely with the sentiment and smiled. "I didn't realize that San Lang was this sentimental. But to compare this to my Puqi Shrine, you're really pulling my leg here."

Hua Cheng laughed. "What's there to be embarrassed about? Truth be told, gege's Puqi Shrine is small, but it's so much more comfortable than my Paradise Manor. It's more like a home."

"Is that so?" Xie Lian said warmly. "Then if you like it, in the future, come over whenever you want. The doors of Puqi Shrine will always open for you."

Hua Cheng's face lit up. "Since gege says so, then I'll gladly take you up on your offer. Don't think of me as a nuisance in the future."

"There's no way!" Xie Lian said. "By the way, San Lang, I want to ask you for a favor, but I don't know if you'd have the time?"

"What is it?" Hua Cheng asked. "This is my territory. If you ask, I'll deliver."

After some thought, Xie Lian said, "Before, when I was dealing with the case at Mount Yujun, I ran into a boy who might have originated from my kingdom."

Hua Cheng narrowed his eye but didn't say a word. Xie Lian continued his description.

"The boy was too scared and fled, and I couldn't find him for the longest time. But earlier, when I was running around the streets of Ghost City, I discovered that he'd fled here. San Lang, you are the lord of this land. Is there any way you can help me find him? The boy's face is wrapped in bandages, and he only just ran away from the front steps of Paradise Manor."

Hua Cheng smiled. "All right, I understand. There's no need to worry, gege. Just wait."

Xie Lian sighed a breath of relief. "Truly, thank you again."

"This is nothing," Hua Cheng said. "But you left Lang Qianqiu just like that?"

Xie Lian thought to himself, If Lang Qianqiu were here, straightforward and obtuse, who knows what trouble he'd start. It's probably best that we meet up later.

Xie Lian replied casually, "His Highness Tai Hua caused you trouble earlier at the Gambler's Den. Sorry about that."

That slightly condescending smirk appeared on Hua Cheng's face again. "What are you saying? Who is he to even count as trouble?"

"The things he broke…" Xie Lian started, and Hua Cheng laughed.

"For gege's sake, I'll clear his account. He can go around as he wishes, as long as he doesn't show his face in front of me."

Xie Lian was amazed. "You don't care if there are heavenly officials frolicking about in your territory?" Could Hua Cheng really be that confident?

Hua Cheng smiled.

"Gege might not know this, but while all three realms proclaim Ghost City to be a hell of corruption, a pandemonium, in reality, everyone wants to come to carouse. So many heavenly officials pretend not to care or speak ill of this place, but behind everyone's back, they often come in disguise and conduct unspeakable business. I've seen too much. If they don't stir up trouble, then I don't care, and if they do, then even better, because then I can wipe them out all at once."

"It wasn't that His Highness Tai Hua was trying to cause havoc on purpose. It was just that, after seeing a round of that sort of bets go down, he felt he had to stop it. He acted on impulse," Xie Lian explained.

"That's his lack of experience," Hua Cheng said impassively. "Humans are all the same: when given the choice between gaining ten extra years of life or cutting their enemy's life ten years shorter, they pick the latter without hesitation." He then crossed his arms. "That an idiot like Lang Qianqiu can ascend…the heavens are truly lacking in humanity."

Xie Lian rubbed his forehead, feeling a little guilty. You can't say it like that. After all, someone like me…ascended three times…

After some hesitation, Xie Lian spoke up again. "San Lang, it may be out of line for me, but I still have to say it. That Gambler's Den of yours is incredibly dangerous. Won't it blow up in your face one day?"

A place that allowed the betting of sons and daughters and people's lives, granting wishes for others' sudden death—it was dreadfully sinful. Never mind a little brawl; if one day the bets got out of hand, the Heavenly Realm wouldn't be able to stay on the sidelines. Hua Cheng gave him a look.

"Your Highness, did you ask Lang Qianqiu why he had to jump into that mess?"

Xie Lian was slightly taken aback, not quite understanding the intent of the question.

Hua Cheng continued, "I bet he must've told you that if he didn't do it, no one else would."

He was amazingly on the mark, obviously having seen through Lang Qianqiu.

"That's indeed what he said." Xie Lian admitted.

"Then I'm the complete opposite," Hua Cheng said. "If I don't control a place like this, then someone else will. I'd rather that person be me."

Xie Lian knew when to back down, and he nodded. "I understand."

It seemed, although Hua Cheng was the sentimental sort, he also cared more about control and power than Xie Lian realized.

Hua Cheng continued, "Nonetheless, thank you, gege, for your concern."

Just then, Xie Lian heard a voice from the door.

"Chengzhu, I've brought him."

Xie Lian looked to the front entrance and saw the Waning Moon Officer from before, bowing just beyond the beaded curtain. In his arms he held none other than the ragged boy in bandages.

Hua Cheng didn't even turn his head. "Bring him over."

Thus, the Waning Moon Officer carried the boy inside and put him gently on the ground. Xie Lian couldn't help but peek at the officer's wrist again to see whether there really was a cursed shackle, but he bowed and stood down swiftly after delivering the boy. Since there were more important matters at hand, Xie Lian cut in first and soothed the boy.

"Don't be scared. It was my fault last time; I won't do it again."

The boy's eyes were wide with fear and confusion, but he stayed in place—perhaps because he had run out of energy to escape, or perhaps because he knew he couldn't get away. He peeked at Xie Lian, then peeked at the lap table on the black jade divan. Xie Lian followed his line of sight and saw he was eyeing a plate of luscious fruit.

The boy must've been hiding for too long and had not eaten. Xie Lian turned to Hua Cheng, but before he said anything, Hua Cheng answered.

"Go ahead, no need to ask me."

It wasn't the time for politeness, so Xie Lian uttered a thanks and reached for the plate of fruit, giving it to the boy. That boy snatched the plate from Xie Lian and started stuffing fruit into his mouth.

It appeared he really was desperately starving. Even when Xie Lian was at his worst, starved like a stray dog, he'd never shoved food into his face like this.

"Slow down," he chided gently. After a pause, he attempted, "What's your name?"

The boy mumbled as he ate, looking as if he was trying to say something but couldn't do so clearly.

"He may not have spoken in many years and has forgotten how," Hua Cheng suggested.

Indeed, it looked like this boy did not speak much, not even to Xiao-Ying, and had likely been like this for a long time. Xie Lian sighed.

"We can do this slowly."

By then, all the fruit on the plate had been devoured like a whirlwind. Seeing that his bandages were soaked with dried blood, covered in black and red spots alike, Xie Lian made a gentle offer after a moment of thought.

"There are wounds on your face, and they seem serious. Let me help take a look."

At the mention of unwrapping his bandages, fear immediately engulfed the boy's eyes. However, after Xie Lian's tireless soothing and encouragement, he once more sat down obediently. Xie Lian retrieved a bottle of medicinal powder from his sleeve, moving slowly as he unraveled the mess of bandages around his head.

As he had suspected, although the boy's face was a mangled mess, all the terrifying little human faces were gone, replaced by large blotches of bright red scars.

The last time they met at Mount Yujun, there were burns covering his face but not as much blood. This boy must've used a knife to cut away the human faces from his own since then, leaving those scars behind.

Xie Lian's hands trembled softly as he rubbed the medicine in. Hua Cheng caught his wrist and said, "Let me."

Xie Lian shook his head and gently pulled his hand free, then said in a low voice, "No. Let me do this myself."

Eight hundred years ago in the Kingdom of Xianle, many who contracted this disease found themselves with no other options and chose this route of self-mutilation. It was hell on earth. Some would miss their target and cut where they shouldn't—and die from blood loss as a result. Some, although successful in removing the terrible lesions, never healed from those wounds.

As Xie Lian wrapped fresh bandages around the boy's head, he realized that his features were actually quite proper: his nose straight and refined, his eyes black and clear. He should've been a handsome young man, but now he bore such a terrifying appearance. He was like many others before him: even if he cut away the distorted human faces, his face would forever be a nightmare, never to recover.

Xie Lian finished wrapping the new bandages before he asked with a shaky voice, "Are you…from Xianle?"

The boy turned to gaze at him with his big eyes. Xie Lian repeated his question, but the boy only shook his head.

Xie Lian then asked, "Then where are you from, exactly?"

The boy answered arduously: "…Yong'an!"

The Human Face Disease had only ever erupted within the Kingdom of Xianle, yet this boy was from the Kingdom of Yong'an!

Xie Lian felt his sight go dark, and he blurted out, "Have you ever met White-Clothed Calamity?"

White-Clothed Calamity. The origin of plagues. The symbol of misfortune.

He was the nightmare of the previous generation of gods, before Crimson Rain Sought Flower was born. If not for Jun Wu, who personally exterminated him, that nightmare would've probably continued even to this day.

That supreme was always dressed in snow-white funeral garb, his expansive sleeves fluttering, and he wore a cry-smiling mask on his face. The mask was called that because the right half of it was smiling and the left half was crying—half joyous, half sad. If he was seen somewhere, it meant that place would soon be doomed to ruin and that chaos would befall the land.

In the last battle before the fall of his kingdom, Xie Lian stood upon the towering city walls of Xianle's imperial capital. His face was covered in grime and tears and written with a lost and bemused expression as he gazed down at his kingdom. In his blurred vision, there stood a white silhouette among the fields of corpses just outside the city walls, his giant white sleeves fluttering, his figure distinct. Xie Lian dropped his head to look down at him, and the white apparition raised his head to look at Xie Lian— and waved directly at him.

That cry-smiling mask was the nightmare Xie Lian couldn't chase away, even after hundreds of years.

The boy didn't seem to know what the "White No-Face" was and only watched Xie Lian with a blank expression. All of a sudden, he let out a loud cry of "Aah!"

It turned out that Xie Lian had unconsciously grabbed his shoulder and gripped too hard. It wasn't until the shout that Xie Lian snapped out of it and hurriedly released his grip.

"I'm sorry."

Hua Cheng spoke in a low voice, "You're tired. Go rest."

As soon as he said those words, two dainty girls entered the hall from a small door on the side wall and took the boy away. He frequently looked back at Xie Lian as he was being led off, and Xie Lian comforted him.

"Don't worry. I'll come find you again in a bit."

Hua Cheng turned to Xie Lian. "Sit down and relax, and leave him for now. If you have any questions for him, I have my ways of prying open his lips."

"Prying open his lips" sounded rather horrifying, and Xie Lian hurriedly replied, "No, that's all right. If he couldn't say anything, then let it go. We'll take this slow."

Hua Cheng sat down next to Xie Lian. "What are your plans for the boy?"

Xie Lian gave the question some thought. "Keep him with me and bring him along."

"He's a ghost, not a human," Hua Cheng said. "Why don't you leave him here in Ghost City? I'll have no trouble feeding another mouth."

Xie Lian replied earnestly, "San Lang, truly, thank you. But…when I said I would bring him along with me, it's not just for the purpose of keeping him around."

Ghost City was indeed Hua Cheng's territory, and if he was willing to protect the boy, then no one could harm him, nor would he go hungry. However, the most important thing was to actually guide the boy, to help him organize his mind and speech so that he could look and behave normally. Ghost City was a bustling place, but it was chaotic and wild and

unsuitable for such counseling. Xie Lian couldn't think of anyone who would have the patience to undertake this task, besides himself.

Xie Lian replied, "I'm already immensely grateful that you found him for me. I can't trouble you any more with the aftermath."

Hua Cheng appeared to disagree but didn't push further. He said plainly, "It's really no trouble. While you're here, just let me know if you need anything, and you're free to go wherever you want."

Just then, Xie Lian noticed movement. The scimitar on Hua Cheng's waist seemed to have gone through a sudden change.

Xie Lian looked down and was instantly amazed. It turned out there was a silver eye crafted on the hilt of that scimitar. The pattern of the eye was formed by a mere few silver strokes, but although simple, it looked vivid enough to be alive. He didn't notice it at first because the eye was closed in a thin line, but just now, the eye fluttered open and revealed a crimson, gem-like pupil, rattling as it spun once.

Hua Cheng noticed it too and said solemnly, "Gege, I need to leave for a bit. I'll be right back."

"An alarm?" Xie Lian asked. Could Lord Wind Master and Qianqiu have shown their true selves here in Ghost City? Xie Lian rose too. "I'll come with you."

Hua Cheng gently pushed him back down. "Don't worry, it's not His Highness Tai Hua or the other one. Gege, just sit here. There's no need for you to go."

Since Hua Cheng made it that clear, Xie Lian couldn't keep insisting on going along. Hua Cheng turned and left the main hall, waving from the doorway. The beaded curtain parted automatically as he approached, and once he exited, it let itself back down, clacking as it did.

Seated on the black jaded divan, Xie Lian relaxed briefly and thought about the bandaged boy. Remembering the objective of his trip, however, he rose to his feet. He passed through the small door the girls had left from and came to a small garden. The vermilion corridor cutting across the garden was empty of life.

Xie Lian was still wondering which way he should go when suddenly a black shadow flashed by.

That retreating silhouette—it was the Waning Moon Officer.

Xie Lian recalled the cursed shackle on the officer's wrist; it had been on his mind. He was about to call out to him when the silhouette disappeared. From the way the man moved, it seemed he was wary of being discovered. Thus, Xie Lian soundlessly followed after him.

Making his way to the corner of the building behind which the officer disappeared, Xie Lian clung to the wall and stealthily gazed over. That youth moved swiftly and was constantly on the lookout around him, extremely cautious and indeed afraid to be seen.

Xie Lian wondered, The Waning Moon Officer should be one of San Lang's subordinates, so why is he sneaking around inside San Lang's territory?

Xie Lian suspected this man could possess ill intent, so he also hid himself and followed. The Waning Moon Officer made a number of turns through the hallways, but Xie Lian held his breath and was always within a dozen steps behind. They rounded a corner and came to a long hallway, and at the end there was a set of large, beautifully decorated doors.

If he turns around now, there won't be anywhere to hide, Xie Lian thought.

Unexpectedly, just as the thought crossed his mind, the Waning Moon Officer stopped and turned his head.

Xie Lian knew he was in trouble the moment the Officer paused. Hastily, Ruoye flew out and wrapped itself several times around the wooden beam overhead, pulling Xie Lian up to the ceiling where he clung to the beam.

The Waning Moon Officer didn't see anyone behind him and didn't think to look up, so he turned around again and continued on his way.

Nonetheless, Xie Lian still didn't dare to let himself down too soon. He remained pressed against the ceiling as he inched forward silently, thinking that he resembled a gecko as he moved. Good thing the other party didn't go far and stopped before a set of doors. Xie Lian stopped too, to observe.

Before this door was a statue of a woman, wily and beautiful. Of course, from Xie Lian's angle, all he could see clearly was her round head and a shallow, round jaded plate in her hands. The Waning Moon Officer didn't move to open the door first but instead turned to the statue and tossed something into the jaded plate. It made a crisp, clacking sound.

Dice? Xie Lian guessed.

It was a sound he'd heard many times today, and not one he'd forget for a long time. Sure enough, when the masked youth removed his hand and Xie Lian looked, it was indeed two dice in the jaded plate, both revealing six red dots.

The Waning Moon Officer tucked the dice away before opening the door. It was surprisingly unlocked, and when he entered through the doors and closed them behind him, Xie Lian didn't hear any sound of locks or latches either. He waited for a moment before he fluttered down to the ground as quietly as a piece of paper and crossed his arms as he examined the doors.

This room didn't appear to be that big, and whatever the Waning Moon Officer was doing inside should make noise. Yet once he entered, there was not a sound from within. Xie Lian decisively raised a hand and pushed.

Sure enough, when he opened the door, there was not a soul inside. From the looks of it, this was a perfectly normal, if quite luxurious, little room. Everything inside was in order at a glance, and there was no possibility that there was a secret path.

Xie Lian closed the door and looked thoughtfully at the female statue and at the jaded plate in her hands. It seemed that the mechanism lay in that jaded plate and the two dice.

The room was still locked—not with a physical lock but a magic one. A key was required to open this lock, or an authorization incantation. The dice must roll two sixes in that plate for one to see the real destination behind those doors.

But Xie Lian rolling two sixes right then and there was something that would never happen. He could only gaze at the door and sigh. After he paced for a bit in front of the doors, he withdrew and returned from whence he came. After walking for a while, he stopped abruptly. Walking toward him from the other end of the path was a tall, red-clad figure, with a slender and long silver scimitar hung at his waist. It was Hua Cheng.

He walked over with his arms crossed. "Gege, I've been looking for you."

He looked exactly as he did when he left, the only difference being that the scimitar on his waist was out of its scabbard. It, along with the scabbard, clattered against him, clanking as he walked, painting a picture of arrogance. However, that silver eye on the hilt of Eming was closed.

Xie Lian composed himself and said, "I was going to go see the child, but I didn't realize your house was so big. I got lost."

At first Xie Lian was going to tell Hua Cheng about what had just happened, but when the words came to his lips, they turned around and he swallowed them.

The reason he had come to Ghost City was to investigate the missing heavenly official. Any signs of suspiciousness must not be ignored. And who knows, maybe the missing official was imprisoned in that room. It'd be best if he could find a way to go through those doors first. If the two matters were unrelated, Xie Lian would report to Hua Cheng about his subordinate's suspicious actions. But if the two matters were related…

Hua Cheng spoke as he led Xie Lian back to the main hall.

"If you want to see that boy, I can send someone to bring him to you. There's no need for you to seek him out yourself."

It was probably because Xie Lian had something to hide, but the way he spoke to Hua Cheng unconsciously became more docile.

"Mm…you finished your business so fast?"

"It's finished," Hua Cheng replied. "Just another gang of useless trash embarrassing themselves, that's all."

The tone in which he said "useless trash" was very familiar, and Xie Lian guessed, "Did Green Ghost Qi Rong come and cause trouble?"

Hua Cheng laughed. "That's right. Didn't I tell you that many have their eyes on my place here? Qi Rong has wanted Ghost City for himself for years now, but the most he can ever do is want and burn with envy. So every so often he'll send some even more useless underlings to cause mischief. Nothing worth mentioning. Don't worry about it. Actually, I just happen to have a place I want to show gege. Might gege grant me the pleasure?"

"Of course," Xie Lian replied happily.

Traversing the long corridor, Hua Cheng led Xie Lian to another lofty great hall.

The doors of the hall seemed to be made of steel with violent beasts carved upon them, horrible and terrifying. The moment Hua Cheng approached, the beasts parted and opened the doors. A blast of killing intent assaulted Xie Lian before he even stepped foot into the hall, and he tensed, veins popping on his hands, prepared to face anything.

However, once he saw clearly what was inside the hall, he blinked. His defenses melted away in an instant, and his legs moved on their own, bringing him inside.

Within the great hall, all manner of weapons were hung on all four walls. There were sabers, swords, spears, shields, whips, war hammers… It was an armory!

Any man finding himself in an armory such as this, surrounded by all kinds of weaponry, would feel as if he were in heaven, and his blood would boil with excitement. Xie Lian was no exception; his eyes were wide and his face bright. The last time he had felt such exhilaration was in Jun Wu's armory.

Although his expression remained schooled, he was already so excited he was stammering, "May…may I touch?"

Hua Cheng smiled. "As gege likes."

Xie Lian's hands instantly flew out to feel the various weapons hung on the walls, so absorbed he couldn't tear himself away. "These…all of these are masterpieces! This sword is splendid, a battle of one against many would most definitely bring out its godly powers! This one too! Wait, and that saber…"

Hua Cheng was leaning on the wall near the door, watching Xie Lian's face flush with delight. "Gege, what do you think?"

Xie Lian was examining each piece so intently he was reluctant to turn around. "What do I think, what?"

"Do you like it?" Hua Cheng asked.

"I do!" Xie Lian replied.

"Do you like it a lot?" Hua Cheng asked again.

"Very much!" Xie Lian exclaimed.

Hua Cheng seemed to have snickered, but Xie Lian didn't notice. His heart was busy racing as he unsheathed a cold and shimmering verdant blade at least four feet long, marveling as he did so.

"Has gege found any that he particularly fancies?" Hua Cheng spoke up again.

Xie Lian's entire face was bright and glowing, and he was unable to stop singing praises. "Yes! Yes! All of them!"

"Originally, I was thinking gege didn't have any useful weapons on hand, so if there was anything here you fancied you could just take it for yourself," Hua Cheng said. "But since gege likes them all, I'll give them all to you."

"No, no, no, there's no need," Xie Lian quickly said. "I have no use for weapons anyway."

"Really?" Hua Cheng said. "But I clearly see that gege loves swords?"

"Liking them doesn't mean I have to own them," Xie Lian said. "I haven't used one in years. Just looking makes me happy. Besides, I'd have nowhere to put them if you gave them all to me."

"That's easy to solve," Hua Cheng replied. "I'll give this entire armory to you."

Xie Lian took that as a joke and grinned. "There's no way I could take away a room this big."

"No need to take it away," Hua Cheng said. "I'll give you the property too. Just come visit when you're free."

"No, it's okay," Xie Lian said. "An armory requires constant maintenance. I'd hate to neglect the weapons."

Xie Lian placed the sword carefully back onto its holder and said nostalgically, "Once upon a time, I owned an armory like this too, but it was burned down. All of these weapons are precious devices to be desired; you have to cherish them, San Lang."

"That's easy too," Hua Cheng said. "If I'm free, I can help gege maintain the armory."

Xie Lian laughed. "Well, I certainly don't have the guts to ask My Lord the Ghost King to do chores for me."

All of a sudden, Jun Wu's warning right before he left for this mission echoed in Xie Lian's mind: "The scimitar Eming is a cursed blade, a blade of misfortune. To forge such an evil weapon would require terrifyingly cruel sacrifice and bloody determination. Do not touch it, and do not let it touch you either. If you do, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Xie Lian contemplated but still decided to ask in the end. "But San Lang, none of these weapons are a match against your scimitar Eming, right?"

Hua Cheng cocked his left brow. "Oh? Has gege heard of my scimitar too?"

"I've heard some rumors," Xie Lian replied.

Hua Cheng snickered. "I bet they weren't nice rumors. Did someone tell you that my scimitar was forged by an evil, bloody ritual? That I sacrificed living humans?"

Sharp as always. Xie Lian responded, "Nothing too horrible. Everyone has negative gossip said about them, but not everyone would believe it. But perhaps I might have the honor of seeing the legendary scimitar Eming?"

"You've actually already seen it, gege," Hua Cheng said.

He took a few steps closer to Xie Lian and said softly, "Look, gege, this is Eming."

The eye upon the scimitar that hung at his waist rattled as it swiveled in Xie Lian's direction. It might've been Xie Lian's imagination, but he thought that silver eye was subtly squinting into a crescent.