Before, Xie Lian had felt like he hadn't seen her for ages, missing her terribly, even though that "long time" hadn't been more than a few days. Who knew Hua Cheng had been hiding by his side the entire time? Suddenly, his mood soared that he forgot all his previous concerns, laughing so hard he could barely stand. Hua Cheng said, "Brother, you're teasing me."
Xie Lian picked up the pen and wooden board and said, "How dare you! It was obviously Sanlang who teased me first. Let me think... you've been here since I knocked the stove down, right?"
Hua Cheng praised, "Ah, that's true. How did you know that, brother? You're truly amazing."
Xie Lian waved his hands and said, “What god? Sanlang, if you want to pretend to be someone else, then do it seriously. Don’t be so perfunctory. If I can’t tell, I’d be a true god. I actually thought there was someone else I could eat… cough, but, ‘Which one is the most handsome? Which one is the most powerful? Which one is the richest? Which one do you admire the most?’ Hahahaha…”
"..." Hua Cheng said softly, "Brother, let's forget about this."
Xie Lian flatly refused: "No. I will remember this forever."
Hua Cheng said helplessly: "Brother, although I am happy to make you happy, but, is it really that funny?"
Xie Lian burst into laughter and said, “Of course. After meeting you, I rediscovered that being happy is actually such a simple thing. Hahahahaha…”
Hearing this, Hua Cheng blinked. Xie Lian's laughter faded slightly, and he suddenly realized that his previous words were a bit too explicit. After realizing it, he felt a little embarrassed. He coughed lightly, rubbed his eyes, and said with a forced seriousness, "Alright, stop being naughty. Where is the real Lang Ying? Why are you pretending to be him? Quickly change that child back."
Hua Cheng said slowly: "I have invited him to the Ghost Market as a guest for the time being."
Xie Lian felt relieved that Hua Cheng had taken her away. He nodded, and before he could speak again, he heard the wooden door creak. Ling Wen walked out of the Puqi Temple with his hands behind his back, saying, "Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Hua Cheng had no intention of revealing his identity, and Xie Lian kept silent about it, treating him as Lang Ying in front of others. Seeing Ling Wen's solemn expression, he couldn't help but become serious too, his smile completely gone. He asked, "What's wrong? Jin Yi... Is there something wrong with Bai Jin?"
Ling Wen said: "No. There is nothing wrong with him. But, I seem to smell a strange smell coming from the kitchen. Is His Highness cooking something?"
Xie Lian hurriedly said, “Oh, yes, it’s cooking.”
After thinking for a moment, Lingwen still used a tactful tone to say something that was not so tactful, saying: "Put it away, Your Highness. Whatever you are cooking should be rotten soon."
“…”
An hour later, night fell.
Inside the Puqi Monastery, Huacheng, Lingwen, and Quan Yizhen sat in a circle around a small wooden table beside the altar. Xie Lian brought a pot from the kitchen and placed it on the table. He removed the lid, revealing dozens of adorable, round, and smooth little balls nestled neatly within.
Quan Yizhen said: "Didn't you boil it in water? Why did it turn into meatballs?"
Xie Lian introduced, “This is called the Jade Purity Pill.”
Quan Yizhen said: "Didn't you boil it in water? Why did it turn into meatballs?"
Xie Lian continued, “Because kneading the balls requires a combination of firm and soft strength, it takes quite a while.”
Quan Yizhen said: "Didn't you boil it in water? Why did it turn into meatballs?"
“…”
Since Quan Yizhen was so persistent, Xie Lian said gently, "It was originally boiled well, but I had a small problem with the heat and timing, so the whole pot boiled dry. So I simply added some new ingredients and made meatballs."
Ling Wen heard this and sincerely admired: "Your Highness's ingenious ideas are truly unprecedented. I admire them deeply."
Xie Lian said, “Thank you so much, so much.”
Ling Wen said, "No. At least I believe that there will never be another person in the world who can create such a 'Jade Purity Pill'."
Xie Lian handed over the chopsticks and said, "Okay, okay. Come on, everyone, please."
Lingwen and Quan Yizhen both took the chopsticks with their right hands, then simultaneously reached for the plate of cold steamed buns on the edge of the altar with their left hands. Only Huacheng picked up a Pure Jade Pill and put it into his mouth. After a moment, he said, "Very good."
Seeing this, Quan Yizhen's eyes widened. Hua Cheng added, "The taste is a little bland."
Xie Lian said, “Okay, I’ll make a note of that.”
Watching the young man next to him with a bandage on his face eat five or six meatballs that shone with the luster of a mudslide, and his evaluation was so sincere, Quan Yizhen seemed to be convinced. After thinking about it, he picked up one as well.
Xie Lian kept smiling the entire time. He smiled as he watched him eat, smiled as he watched his face turn pale, smiled as he fell to the ground, and finally, smiled as he asked, "What's wrong?"
Hua Cheng said, "Maybe he ate too fast and choked."
Lingwen smiled. At that moment, Xie Lian suddenly heard a familiar voice beside his ears: "Brother."
It wasn't Lang Ying's stammering voice, nor was it Hua Cheng's current, clear, leisurely voice. It was Hua Cheng's voice from the past. He was actually speaking to Xie Lian through spiritualism. Xie Lian raised his eyelids slightly and responded, "What's up?"
Hua Cheng said, "Lingwen is cunning, cold-blooded, and ruthless. If you bring her back, I'm afraid it won't be so easy to get away with it."
This was the first time Xie Lian had heard someone speak of Ling Wen in this way. After a moment’s reflection, he replied, “I noticed she harbored some goodwill towards the Jin Yi Xian, so it’s probably true.”
Hua Cheng said, "Having some kindness doesn't conflict with being ruthless. She's the number one literary god in the Upper Heavens. She has eyes and ears everywhere, and her reach is long. Brother, be careful of her seeking help."
Xie Lian asked, “General Pei?”
Hua Cheng said, "Probably not. If Shui Hengtian were still alive, she would definitely ask him to suppress it, because a master would not help his relatives but his relatives. But if it was Pei Ming, you just need to explain the whole story, and he might not choose to help the evildoer. Brother, be careful."
Xie Lian said, “Alright, I’ll be careful. Fortunately, the one-day deadline passed quickly.”
Hua Cheng's voice in his ears said solemnly, "No. Brother, you misunderstood. What I meant by be careful is something else. Someone is coming."
At that moment, the crisp sound of a bell reached Xie Lian's ears. Hua Cheng frowned slightly. Xie Lian peeked out through the crack in the window and saw a middle-aged Taoist priest staggering towards the entrance of Puqi Village, shaking a bell.
The Taoist priest was dressed in a magnificent robe and carried a treasure chest covered in yellow talismans. The bell rang as he walked. Xie Lian knew what was good; he knew it was a valuable item. Any ordinary demon or monster would have felt a headache upon hearing the ringing and would have retreated. Before he could even get close, several tall monks with white eyebrows and yellow robes, holding staffs, slowly approached.
Not long after, fifty or sixty people arrived one after another, as if they had made an appointment. They were not surprised to see each other and surrounded the Bodhisattva Temple.
These people were no mere show-offs. Their bodies were covered in a variety of magical instruments, and their movements were composed, clearly demonstrating considerable skill. Priests draw their magical powers from offerings from their followers, and some Buddhists and Taoists also seek power from their own priests. These monks and Taoists might even possess greater powers than Xie Lian, a priest himself. The sudden arrival of so many of them must be a sign of bad luck. Xie Lian frowned slightly, sensing ill intentions.
Hua Cheng put down his bowl and chopsticks and stood up. Xie Lian heard him snort in his spiritual communication and said, "That old monk and that stinking Taoist priest actually followed me here. They've brought trouble upon me. I'll go and lead them away."
Xie Lian grabbed him and said, "Don't move."
Ling Wen was puzzled and asked, "What's wrong?"
Xie Lian used his psychic powers to speak to Hua Cheng, "Don't leave. Tell me honestly, has the reopening of Tonglu Mountain had a significant impact on you?"
Hua Cheng said: "No."
Xie Lian stared intently at his eyes behind the bandages and said, "Stop lying. You're the Ghost King of Despair, and you don't need to fear mortals like them. Why don't you just beat them away, but instead lure them away? You're like this, you're not really trying to be funny, are you?"
With the reopening of Tonglu Mountain, the higher the level of demons and monsters, the greater the impact. Xie Lian witnessed firsthand the unrest in Huacheng during the first demonic upheaval. Furthermore, the closer the departure date approaches, the greater the turmoil. In such a situation, Xie Lian would choose to temporarily seal his true form, transforming into a smaller form to conserve his magic power and prevent a rampage, waiting until the official opening of the mountain to release it.
While this would save him from the pain of chaos, because his strength was sealed, it would also provide opportunities for others to take advantage of him. Xie Lian cursed, "Qi Rong..."
That night, Qi Rong had threatened to summon all the Taoist priests and monks who had a grudge against Hua Cheng, but he hadn't realized it was just a rant. Hua Cheng shook his head slightly and said, "Brother, they're coming for me. I'll just leave. While I can't kill them in one blow in my current form, I can certainly make them get lost."
Xie Lian said, “If you leave now, don’t ever come to see me again.”
“…”
Hua Chengdao: "Your Highness!"
Hua Cheng has always been calm and composed, and has never made any mistakes. In the past, he has helped Xie Lian so many times. This time, Xie Lian finally has the opportunity to help him, so how could he let him leave alone?
Xie Lian said solemnly, "Sit down. I'll meet them."
Quan Yizhen forced his eyes open and said in a daze, "Is there someone outside? Do you want me to... drive them away?"
“…”
His voice was hoarse. Xie Lian helped him close his eyes and said, "Qiying, you should just lie down. Also, don't hit mortals randomly, or your merit will be deducted."
Xie Lian pressed himself against the wooden door, carefully observing the movements outside. Some villagers who had just finished work and hadn't had time to go home for dinner were surprised to see so many Taoists and monks suddenly arrive. They all asked, "What are you all doing here, Master? Are you looking for Taoist Xie?"
A murderous monk clasped his hands together and said, "Amitabha. Benefactors, are you aware that this place has been invaded by evil creatures?"
"What!" The villagers were shocked. "An evil thing? What kind of evil thing?!"
Another monk said in an enigmatic manner, "A devilish king unprecedented in history!"
The villagers said: "What should we do?"
The first Taoist priest in fancy clothes said, "Leave it to us! We, the other Taoists, have gathered here today for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to capture this evil creature!" He was about to step forward when the village chief pulled him back. The Taoist priest glared at him, "Who are you? What do you want?"
The village chief said, "Well, everyone, I'm the village chief. Thank you very much, but, hey, let me be honest. You guys look very expensive..."
“…”
The Taoist in gorgeous clothes said, "We are here to subdue demons and monsters. Do you think we are here for a reward?" He was about to charge forward again, but the villagers stopped him again. The monks and Taoists were a little unhappy, but they couldn't force their way in. They patiently asked, "What's the matter?"
The village chief rubbed his hands and said, "If you don't want any money, that would be great. Thank you all for your selfless efforts in subduing demons and monsters. But... well, all the work in this village has long been contracted to Taoist Master Xie. As the village chief, I can't explain to Taoist Master Xie that these masters are coming here to take over the work."
The monks looked at each other in confusion: "Thank you, Taoist Priest?"
So, they gathered together to discuss a few words: "Is there any famous Taoist master in the industry with the surname Xie?"
“It seems not.”
"Anyway, I haven't heard of it. It's probably something third-rate."
"If you don't have it, then you're not famous. Don't worry about it."
After the discussion, the Taoist in gorgeous clothes turned around and asked, "Is the Taoist Master Xie you are talking about the one who lives in there?"
The villagers said, "Yes." They all shouted, "Thank you, Taoist priest! Thank you, Taoist priest! You have companions here! There are so many people! Are you home?"
An old monk in yellow clasped his hands together and said, "Amitabha, it doesn't matter whether Taoist Master Xie is here or not. But that evil creature is hiding in this room!"
The villagers were stunned: "What???!"
Just then, Xie Lian calmly pushed the door open and came out, saying, "I'm here. What are you all doing?"
The villagers hurriedly said, "Master, these senior monks and Taoist priests said that there is a ghost hiding in your house..."
Xie Lian smiled and said, “Huh? You figured that out?”
Everyone outside the temple was shocked and asked, "Really?"
"You admitted it so readily!"
Xie Lian threw out a jar: "Yes, there is indeed a ghost!"
The Taoist priest in gorgeous clothes took the jar and was delighted at first, but when he opened it and looked, his smile fell and he said, "A woman with half-makeup on her face?"
Then, he threw the jar back, angrily saying, "Fellow Daoist, please stop pretending. This low-level monster isn't even evil! You know exactly what we're talking about."
Xie Lian caught the jar, sensing the force of the man's toss. He had indeed cultivated for years, no mere slouch. Several monks addressed the splendidly dressed Taoist, "Brother Daoist, I see a demonic aura emanating from this Taoist. Could he be..."
The Taoist in gorgeous clothes said, "Whether it is true or not, I can tell it with my divine eyes!"
With that, he roared, bit his finger, and slashed a vertical scar across his forehead, creating a third eye. Seeing his technique, Xie Lian secretly praised it and leaned against the door, admiring him as he performed the spell. The Taoist in splendid robes stared at him for a moment, then said, "Sure enough... there's a ghostly aura! Such a spooky ghostly aura!!! Ghost King! You've truly transformed yourself!"
Xie Lian was shocked.
How could he, a dignified priest serving in the Heavenly Court, have such a ghostly aura? Just now I was thinking this man had some skills, how could he suddenly start spouting nonsense?
Upon hearing this, the fifty or sixty mages in the circle took their positions, as if facing a formidable enemy. Hua Cheng spoke to Xie Lian, "These people are truly annoying."
Xie Lian said, “It’s okay. It’s okay. Just sit down.”
After a while, the Taoist in gorgeous clothes asked doubtfully again: "...That's not right?"
A monk beside him said, "What's wrong?"
The Taoist priest in gorgeous clothes rubbed the bloodstain on his forehead, as if rubbing his eyes, and said, "It's really strange. When I look at this person, sometimes he looks ghostly, sometimes he is full of spirit, and sometimes he is dull and lifeless... It's really strange."
"What? How could this happen? Brother Dao, can you do this? If not, let us do it."
"Yeah, why is it so weird?"
The Taoist in gorgeous clothes shouted angrily, "What? I can't do it? If I can't do it, you can?! I've been in the Dao for so many years with my 'Sky Eyes Open', and I've never made a mistake!"
Xie Lian rubbed his brow, shook his head, and said gently, "Then why don't you take a look at where on my body the most sinister and evil spirit is?"
Tianyankai rubbed his forehead vigorously, looked for a moment, and said firmly: "Lips!"
“……………………”
The author has something to say: Ghost energy cannot be removed by brushing your teeth or rinsing your mouth with clean water... You have to use blessed talisman water (. It's super bitter and weird
My interest in developing new dishes for Xie Lian is just a little less than my enthusiasm for buying Hua Hua new clothes.
Jade Cleansing Ice Pills, originally intended to be called Shengxue Qishuang Pills, but then I suddenly had the urge to call it Aoxue Lingshuang Pills. After thinking about it, I felt that I was being unfair to a friend (. So forget it.
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