Then, Hua Cheng snickered gleefully. “However, I’ve been fairly free recently. If anyone is feeling bored and wants to chat with me, I welcome them with open arms.”
“…”
Given the circumstances, the meaning of that statement was more than obvious: “If anyone is brave enough to give chase, they’ll be the next one I challenge.”
It was a challenge they were certain to lose—he would surely wipe the floor with them. Was this not a blatant threat?
The communication array had previously been boiling with excitement, and some martial gods were even proactively ready to heed the call, prepared to give chase. However, with only a short salutation from Hua Cheng, all such passion disappeared. No one wanted to be remembered by Hua Cheng. And so, they all pretended they weren’t present even while their ears remained closely tuned in to follow this development. At the same time, their minds were rolling with stormy waves. Such impertinence from that Crimson Rain Sought Flower! To come all the way to the Upper Court just to kidnap someone, and not just anyone, but the Laughingstock of the Three Realms who was already in hot water…
Silence befell the communication array; only Feng Xin was still swearing angrily. Hua Cheng removed his fingers as soon as he was done speaking.
Xie Lian blurted out, “San Lang…”
Hua Cheng, however, let go of his hand.
“Don’t mind them,” he said to Xie Lian. “Come with me.”
His voice was low, the emotion behind it hard to discern. Yet the way he let go of Xie Lian’s wrist was swift, almost like he’d been shaken off. Xie Lian was immediately reminded of the first time they met and how he had evaded his touch. Xie Lian froze on the spot.
At first, he had wanted to ask Hua Cheng why he had appeared so suddenly. He vaguely thought that maybe Hua Cheng had known about his house arrest and had come to his rescue, so when he called out “San Lang” a moment before, he was secretly a little happy. But with the way Hua Cheng had just shaken off his touch, Xie Lian abruptly realized—how could he think Hua Cheng would come to rescue him? He had just burned down Paradise Manor and the armory. Wasn’t it more plausible that Hua Cheng had come knocking to settle the score, or for payback?
Even if, in the end, the reason Paradise Manor had burned the way it did was because Shi Qingxuan fanned the flames, he was the one who kindled the fire.
The pair walked, one behind the other. The more Xie Lian thought, the guiltier he felt.
“…San Lang, I’m sorry,” he apologized in spite of himself.
Hua Cheng suddenly paused in his step. “Why are you apologizing?”
“The reason I went to Ghost City was to investigate the missing Earth Master. I didn’t tell you the full truth, so that counts as a lie. And you treated me with utmost hospitality, but I burned down your Paradise Manor and the armory full of your treasures. I am so very sorry.”
Hua Cheng didn’t speak. Xie Lian also knew that “very sorry” really didn’t amount to much and added, “But I expect I’ll be banished soon. After I descend to the Mortal Realm, I’ll definitely think of a way to repay you and see if I can—”
“Why should you have to repay me?” Hua Cheng interrupted.
His tone was a little harsh, as if he couldn’t listen anymore, and he abruptly turned around. “Did you forget that my blade wounded your arm? I hurt you, not the other way around. Why should you have to repay me?”
Xie Lian had almost forgotten the injury of his right arm. He was a little taken aback before he remembered. “My arm? My arm’s fine; it doesn’t hurt. It’ll be better soon. Besides, it’s only like this because I charged in and struck back against you. You aren’t to blame in the first place.”
Hua Cheng stared at him hard, his left eye unusually bright. Xie Lian noticed that he seemed to be shaking. A brief moment later, he realized it wasn’t Hua Cheng who was shaking but the scimitar Eming at his waist.
That silver scimitar, hung over the red robes, was shaking nonstop. The eye upon it, shaped by silver lines, was also quivering. If it were the eye of a child, then that child was clearly bawling.
Chapter 21:
Adroit Dice Solely for the Safety of One
SEEING THE STATE it was in, Xie Lian unconsciously reached out, wanting to pet it.
“What’s wrong…？”
But Hua Cheng sidestepped and turned away, avoiding Xie Lian’s touch, and smacked Eming hard on the hilt. “Nothing’s wrong. Pay it no mind.”
After being smacked soundly by Hua Cheng, the scimitar Eming—the cursed blade that caused all the gods in heaven to tremble at the mere sound of its name—shook even harder.