He paused in his step and couldn’t speak for a long time. A moment later, he suddenly asked, “San Lang, who are you, really?”
Hua Cheng stopped too, and he turned his head to look at him.
Xie Lian looked him squarely in his eye and asked seriously, “You knew who Qi Rong was and his background. You knew who I was and how to paint the God-Pleasing Crown Prince. You seem to know everything about me. You know a lot. Maybe even more than you let on.”
Hua Cheng arched his brows. “Don’t I always know a lot?”
Xie Lian shook his head. “It’s not the same.”
His left hand held his right elbow while his right hand propped up his chin. He looked at Hua Cheng in wonder.
“I’ve always had the feeling that you’re someone from my past and that you must’ve known me from very early on. Maybe it was during my first ascension; no, maybe even earlier. Yet…I really don’t remember. When have I ever met a character like you?”
Someone like Hua Cheng would be unforgettable from the first meeting. Xie Lian had never bashed his head in and lost his memories, so if they had met, there was no reason he wouldn’t remember.
Xie Lian gazed at him, fixated and somewhat bemused. “Who are you exactly? Have I met you before?”
Hua Cheng didn’t answer, but his lips lifted softly. Xie Lian immediately returned to his senses and realized that his questions were extremely inappropriate.
A ghost’s real name was usually a secret. Not counting unfathomably abnormal cases like Qi Rong, a ghost usually wouldn’t tell it to anyone.
Xie Lian hurriedly said, “I’m sorry, don’t mind me. I was just asking. You don’t have to answer me. Who you are doesn’t matter.”
Just then, Hua Cheng’s eye squinted. Xie Lian sensed something as well and looked back. From nearby, in the caves behind them, came the sound of noisy chatter and the clear, loud voice of a woman.
“I told you, my powers are stronger in my female form, and even my luck is better! Yet you still wouldn’t let me. Do you see now? We rolled it right this time!!”
It was Shi Qingxuan’s voice.
Xie Lian blurted out, “Lord Wind Master!”
As he had guessed, a white-clad lady cultivator came sprinting out of a cave opening, and her eyes lit up when she saw Xie Lian.
“I found him! His Highness is here!”
However, she then saw Hua Cheng standing behind Xie Lian, and her face fell immediately. She leapt backwards and flashed the Wind Master fan before her. But before Xie Lian had the chance to say anything, a man’s voice echoed from within the cave.
“Did you find him? Is everything all right?”
The voice approached quickly, and soon another figure appeared—it was Feng Xin. He had a long, black bow in his left hand, and the moment he saw Hua Cheng, he pulled back the silver bowstring, on high alert. Hua Cheng sneered and made no comment.
Xie Lian hurriedly said, “Put away your weapons, we can talk this out.”
The four had run into each other on the narrow path of the Green Ghost’s lair, two against two. Feng Xin had his bowstring fully taut. A strand of spiritual light formed into the shape of an arrow within his right hand, and he aimed it at Hua Cheng.
Feng Xin spoke first, his voice full of warning. “Your Highness, come here.”
Feng Xin’s bow was gifted to him by Jun Wu; named Fengshen,10 it was a rather troublesome spiritual device to face off against. Xie Lian was afraid he’d shoot for real, and he rushed to stand in front of Hua Cheng, shielding him. But unexpectedly, Hua Cheng grabbed him from behind and pulled him right back.
That pull startled the other two. Shi Qingxuan immediately raised his hand.
“Hua Cheng! Crimson Rain Sought Flower! D-d-d-don’t do anything rash! The burning of your Paradise Manor was an accident! If you’re upset, we can talk! The Heavens can pay you back. The Heavenly Emperor isn’t that short on cash. Let go of His Highness, and we can talk.”
Xie Lian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but he was still immensely grateful. “Lord Wind Master, you’re mistaken. Actually…”
He wanted to explain that Hua Cheng hadn’t come looking for payback because of Paradise Manor, but Shi Qingxuan was throwing him guileful looks as if telling him not to speak a word. Hua Cheng didn’t argue either, just raised his voice to speak.
“And what about Jun Wu setting up a spy under my nose? We have nothing to talk about.”
Xie Lian finally understood. Shi Qingxuan could see that Hua Cheng had no ill intent, but on the surface, they had to pretend that Hua Cheng had only barged into the Heavens to collect his due. It would prevent gossip from those who might suggest that Xie Lian had maliciously and intentionally absconded. Hua Cheng understood Shi Qingxuan’s intent and had played along. However, Xie Lian didn’t want to go this route.