Xie Lian was so shocked that he was speechless.
Shi Qingxuan scratched his hair and said, "Oh hahahahahahahahahaha, I was planning to disguise myself as someone else and secretly observe you. I didn't expect that Your Highness the Crown Prince has such a sharp eye! I can't help it, it must be because my graceful demeanor remains the same, making people unforgettable that this is happening! Hahahahahahahahahahaha..."
“…” Xie Lian placed his hands on his shoulders and said in a deep voice, “…Master Wind Master.”
Shi Qingxuan stopped laughing, but he still scratched his hair, as if it was full of lice and it was itchy. He said, "Your Highness, I'm not a Wind Master."
Xie Lian said, “Okay. Qingxuan.”
After a pause, he said, "How did you become like this?"
Shi Qingxuan said, "Well, it's hard to put it into words. Anyway, it was like this, like that, here, there, and then it became like this."
At this time, everyone in the temple asked, "What? Lao Feng! Do you know these two?"
Shi Qingxuan turned around, put his arm around Xie Lian's shoulders, and patted him vigorously, saying, "I know him! He's my old friend!"
"What! It's your friend? Why didn't you tell me earlier, Lao Feng?"
"Old Feng, you're such a jerk! How dare you know this pretty boy who looks so delicate and spoiled?! You're bragging again!"
The audience's fuss should have been amused, but Xie Lian felt a pang of unease. After all, of the three of them, only the former Wind Master was a genuine "delicate, tender-skinned, sweet-scented pretty boy." Shi Qingxuan angrily barked, "What are you saying? I'm not bragging!"
"Come on, when you were still sick, you kept talking nonsense all day long. Do you think we've forgotten?"
Shi Qingxuan yelled something incomprehensible and said, "I have to go help a friend now. Let's go! Anyone else coming?"
This time, everyone looked at each other for a while and said, "Okay, if it's Lao Feng's friend, then it's different."
"Go with Lao Feng, lest he be beaten to death with missing limbs."
Shi Qingxuan said: "Hey!"
Someone else persisted and asked, "Is there really no reward? Even if there's no money, a few chicken legs to chew on will be fine."
Xie Lian and Shi Qingxuan exchanged a few words until both sides understood the situation. Shi Qingxuan thought for a moment and said, "I understand you can't use coercion or bribery in this matter, but can we give you some food? It's been ages since we've had a good meal."
As long as they weren't driven by greed, it would be fine. Xie Lian said, "It should be possible. But, you said so." After a few whispers, Shi Qingxuan said, "I thought so too." Turning around, he said loudly, "After we're done with this, I'll treat everyone to chicken legs and soup. Everyone gets a share, whether you come or not! Pay attention, you don't have to go to get a share, as long as you volunteer!"
This statement was brilliant. "Everyone gets a share." Whether you come or not, there's food to eat. So, those who choose to come are truly precious. Shi Qingxuan called out, "Anyone else coming? The more the better! Come on, come on! Tell them, those without money, are here to help me, save the people, or surround the imperial city. It doesn't matter, as long as they volunteer! I'll treat everyone to a good meal afterward!"
Perhaps it was the newfound enthusiasm that suddenly transformed the temple from deserted to bustling with activity. The beggars then split up to inform more homeless people they knew. Xie Lian, Hua Cheng, and Shi Qingxuan stood before the dilapidated temple. Xie Lian looked up and saw that where the plaque should have been, it was empty. He couldn't help but think of the dilapidated Feng Shui temple in Bogu Town, and its headless statue of the Water Master and its missing limbs. Unable to contain himself, he turned to Shi Qingxuan and asked uncertainly, "...Qingxuan?"
Shi Qingxuan took his hand off his shoulder and said, "What's the matter? Your Highness, I'm sorry, my hands are a little dirty. Your clothes, haha."
Sure enough, his arm left a dirty, gray mark on the shoulder of Xie Lian's white Taoist robe. He looked like he wanted to help Xie Lian wipe it off, but then realized it would only make it dirtier. He withdrew his hand and rubbed his nose awkwardly. Xie Lian didn't care about that. He was just worried about one thing. He said, "Feng... Qingxuan, your destiny..."
Shi Qingxuan was stunned and asked, "What's wrong with my fate?"
Xie Lian asked, “Could it be that the Black Water has been replaced…?”
Shi Qingxuan suddenly realized and said hurriedly, "No, no, no, no, no. You misunderstood. He didn't do anything."
Xie Lian had originally thought that Heishui wouldn't end up changing Shi Qingxuan's fate as well, so he asked, "So, where are your brothers and sisters?"
Shi Qingxuan grabbed his hair again and said sheepishly, "This isn't him either. How should I put it... It's a combination of carelessness and sheer bad luck. Actually, it's all my fault."
He didn't elaborate, and Xie Lian didn't press his questions. However, somehow, Shi Qingxuan's current situation still fulfilled the venting of anger He Xuan had predicted in the Feng Shui temple. He wondered what the mystery was.
Xie Lian said, “My magical powers were suddenly drained that day, so I couldn’t help you. I’m truly sorry.”
Shi Qingxuan waved his hand and said, "It's none of your business in the first place. If Your Highness hadn't told me what was going on first, I would probably still be confused until the end."
Xie Lian asked, “What happened after that day?”
It turned out that after He Xuan severed Shi Wudu's head, Shi Qingxuan became dazed. He couldn't understand anything He Xuan said to him, and he only vaguely remembered that He Xuan had taken him away from Blackwater Island. Later, he was thrown into the Imperial City. He didn't know why it was the Imperial City, but Shi Qingxuan had always insisted on going there for drinks, tea, and banquets, so he was quite familiar with the place. After a period of confusion, he finally sobered up and simply changed his name and stationed here.
Because he had lost all his magical powers, had no identification, and spent all day hanging out in dirty corners that he had never set foot in before, it was natural that the Heavenly Court could not find any trace of him.
Shi Qingxuan said, "Anyway, it had nothing to do with him. I never saw him again."
It was good that he hadn't seen her. This was a difficult situation. Should he be killed or not? Furthermore, Shuishi had disgusted He Xuan in the final moments before his death. Xie Lian was truly worried for Master Qingxuan. Just then, the beggars returned with their men, making a clamorous noise and shouting, "Old Feng, Old Feng! How about we bring all these people to you?"
Shi Qingxuan gave a thumbs-up and said, "Well done! Everyone, have a chicken drumstick!"
"Can we afford to feed so many people?"
Shi Qingxuan waved his hand, and at that moment, Xie Lian almost felt like he was about to unleash a hundred thousand merits. He only heard him say, "That's nothing! Forget all these people! Even if there were ten times as many, we could still afford it!"
After finally coming to his senses, he roughly realized that he had somehow gathered more than 200 people. This was beyond Xie Lian's imagination. He said happily, "Master Feng... Qingxuan, you are really helpful!"
Shi Qingxuan said proudly, "Of course. Wherever I go, I'm always popular. Maybe in the future I can even form a gang and become the leader. Hahahahahahahahaha..."
The beggars behind him all said, "Old Feng is sick again."
"Yes, it's blowing again!"
Shi Qingxuan said: "What? I really am not bragging!"
A few beggars, determined to rip him off, said to Xie Lian, "My friend, you don't know this, but when Lao Feng first arrived, he was quite the jerk. He spent all day blabbering and boasting to everyone that he was a deity."
Shi Qingxuan's face showed a slight embarrassment, and he immediately said, "I don't have time to listen to your nonsense, save your mouth for the chicken leg!"
Xie Lian listened to this, his smile faded slightly, but his heart felt like a piece of rice paper that was being clenched into a ball and then slowly stretched out.
Master Fengshi has changed, yet he hasn't changed.
Very good.
Shi Qingxuan said, "Your Highness, what should we do next? I have found the person and I will hand him over to you."
Although we didn't have enough people, it was only temporary. We should first surround the formation and then find a solution. Xie Lian said, "Okay, then we'll find an open space that can accommodate so many people."
During their conversation just now, Hua Cheng had not interrupted. It was unknown what he was thinking. Only then did he say, "That's easy. Just come with me, brother."
Xie Lian nodded. Shi Qingxuan, limping and jumping, turned back and called out earnestly, “Everyone, follow us! Don’t get lost!”
Xie Lian instinctively wanted to help him, but seeing no one else did, and since he was walking no slower than the others, he understood. A chaotic group of beggars noisily squeezed out of the slums and poured onto the street. They hadn't taken a few steps when they heard a sudden shout: "Stop! What are you doing? There are so many of you, gathering in the middle of the night, trying to cause trouble?!"
The beggars were horrified and said, "Oh no! It's the patrol!"
Xie Lian didn’t even turn his head, because Hua Cheng didn’t turn his head either. He said, “Don’t worry about it.” Before he finished speaking, the soldier fell down.
The beggars were amazed and chattered. Shi Qingxuan said, "Quiet! Don't attract more soldiers!" Then everyone booed each other again. Hua Cheng paused and said, "Brother, let's go this street."
Xie Lian said, “This one? It’s indeed the most suitable one in terms of location, but won’t it be too conspicuous?”
This street was very wide, stretching straight ahead. It was the main thoroughfare of the imperial city, so of course it attracted attention! Everyone said, "Yes, it would be terrible if someone discovered them and chased them away!"
Hua Cheng said, "It doesn't matter. Even if they find out, they can't drive them away."
Xie Lian nodded and said, "Everyone, I must make it clear that what we are about to deal with is a very dangerous thing, and it may be dangerous. If it breaks in, the entire imperial city will be in danger. Therefore, we must ensure that everyone is willing and has no second thoughts. Is there anyone who is afraid and wants to withdraw?"
No one was there. Xie Lian said, "Alright, now everyone, please take one person at a time and hold another's hand, forming a circle."
Someone asked in confusion, "What kind of formation is this? Why does it sound like little kids holding hands?"
Shi Qingxuan snorted, "Stop talking nonsense and just do as I tell you."
"Hey Lao Feng, what you said is wrong. You know, no one talks as much nonsense as you do!"
Everyone followed their instructions, chattering away. Over two hundred people linked hands and formed a massive human circle on the broad, open main road of the Imperial City. Shi Qingxuan asked, "Will we be unable to break into the Imperial City if we're still pulling those things?"
Xie Lian said, “No. They’ll rush down sooner or later.”
Shi Qingxuan asked in confusion, "Then what is the purpose of this formation?"
Xie Lian said, “It’s a trap. Once this formation is set up, those things that break through the Imperial City’s protective boundary and rush down won’t be able to roam freely. Instead, they will all be drawn into this circle and fall into the trap.”
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