Chapter 246: The Prince's Strange Memory Drift
Xie Lian opened his eyes and found himself lying on the ground.
It was a strange room. He was utterly bewildered.
He was clearly practicing in Huangji Temple on Taicang Mountain, so how could he be here?
Xie Lian sat up, slightly bewildered. He realized he was wearing a plain white Taoist robe. It was too plain, bland and plain, like the attire of a mere pauper. The material wasn't great either, rather rough, rubbing against his skin.
Xie Lian frowned and tried to get up from the ground, but as soon as he stood up, he felt even more discomfort.
My waist, legs, abdomen, and neck are sore. Could it be because I lay on the ground and blew all night?
...Impossible. He's not that fragile.
Where were Feng Xin and Mu Qing? Xie Lian thought of them and called out, "Feng... cough, cough cough...???"
His throat wasn't feeling well either. He remembered that Feng Xin and Mu Qing had been arguing over trivial matters again last night, so much so that he couldn't concentrate on meditation. He'd ordered them out to play idiom chain games. After listening to them resentfully and gnashing their teeth as they chanted about two hundred idioms, sleepiness set in, and he went to bed. How had he woken up to find himself in such an incredible, bewildering situation?
Xie Lian stood up, holding onto a nearby table. He surveyed his surroundings. This place should be an inn, but generally speaking, if he chose to stay in an inn instead of camping, he wouldn't stay in an inn like this one, which looked so economical.
He wasn't tied up, and the door wasn't locked, which meant he wasn't under house arrest. If someone or something was plotting against him, what was the point of throwing him here?
The more Xie Lian thought about it, the weirder it seemed. But the weirdest thing was his physical condition. Enduring the pain in his arms, he took off his coat, ready to check for any injuries. Unexpectedly, as he took it off, he looked down and saw his face instantly drained of color.
From his abdomen to his chest, a dense mass of ambiguous red marks covered his skin, as white as mutton-fat jade, as if covered in large petals, blooming into a vibrant crimson. The redness stunned him so much that he rushed to the mirror to take a look.
Sure enough! Not only on the chest and abdomen, but also on the neck and back!
“…”
Xie Lian didn’t dare to remove his lower clothing and continue watching.
The matter is very clear.
During the time he was unconscious for unknown reasons, someone... took his virginity.
For the first time in his life, Xie Lian felt his feet go weak, but he managed to hold on and stand firm.
He had long ago heard his maids tell him some horror stories from outside the palace, stories of shady shops specializing in rape, kidnapping, and robbery, and of wicked men who drugged girls and then did evil things to them. But...but...
Xie Lian held his head in his hands and muttered, "But, I am a man!..."
His current state was truly unbearable to watch. Besides the kiss marks, the rubbing marks from pinching too hard, and the embarrassing bite marks, Xie Lian covered his face, feeling his head burning and his body cold.
Suddenly, he thought of something extremely serious: Oh no!
The way he practiced was to absolutely abstain from sexual intercourse, but by doing this, wouldn't that be breaking the precepts?!
Xie Lian quickly tried it. As expected, it was completely useless!
Xie Lian was usually quite calm, but in this situation, he was about to collapse.
I don’t know how, but when I woke up, things became like this. Feng Xin and Mu Qing were gone, and I didn’t even know who had done what to me, but I lost my virginity. I’m really going to collapse!
For a long moment, he couldn't accept this fact, his heart aching. But he couldn't stay like this forever, so he just picked up his clothes and put them on, then left the inn. No one stopped him along the way, and Xie Lian breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't even notice the surrounding buildings, the pedestrians' clothing, or the rather strange accents.
But perhaps because he had a guilty conscience, he always felt that others had noticed what was happening to him and were looking at him with strange eyes, forcing him to walk faster and faster. Finally, he ran madly, rushed into a forest, punched a tree, and directly broke it with a "crack", and shouted angrily: "Asshole!!!"
He wanted to curse the person who had done this to him with the most vicious words, but he could only curse "bastard, bastard, asshole!" over and over again. The anger in his heart could not be vented, and he felt suffocated. He couldn't cry out loud, so he could only beat the tree fiercely. "Bang bang bang bang bang bang bang", he broke dozens of large trees in a row, and finally the land here crawled out crying and hugged his thighs: "Your Highness! Your Highness, please stop beating me!"
Xie Lian was filled with rage, but this old man had suddenly emerged from the earth, and he was no ordinary man. He was slightly startled and asked, "Who are you?"
The old man wiped his tears and said, "I am the land of this place, Your Highness! This forest is where I will live in my old age! If you hit me again, I will be left with nothing!"
Xie Lian reasoned that it was no one else's business, so he shouldn't vent his anger on him. Besides, no matter how low his rank was, he was still a priest, old and in need of respect. So, he managed to cool his temper a bit, withdrew his hand, and spoke more slowly, "...I'm sorry, I got carried away. How about this? I'll compensate you for the trees I broke earlier."
The land god released the hand that was hugging his thigh and said hurriedly, "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, why should I ask you to compensate me! If you are willing to talk to me, this humble place will be glorious!"
Xie Lian was a bit puzzled. This land god was a priest, after all, and looked much older than him, so why was he so afraid of him, even addressing him as "Your Excellency"? But he didn't feel like asking further questions. He politely asked, "You are the land god of this area, so you should know it well, right? Could you help me find two people?" He reached into his sleeve, trying to remove a few gold leaves for an offering. Seeing his movements, the land god frantically waved his hands away, "No, no, no! Who are you looking for?"
Xie Lian happened to have nothing to pull out, so he held out his hand and said, "My two attendants, Feng Xin and Mu Qing."
“…”
The land god's expression suddenly became strange. Xie Lian asked, "What's wrong? Are you having any trouble?"
The land god said, "No, no, no, it's not that there are difficulties. It's just..." But what's wrong with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince? After eight hundred years, he still calls General Nanyang and General Xuanzhen his attendants. I wonder if the two generals will be angry? Oh, forget it, it doesn't matter if the two generals are angry. If one doesn't serve well, it would be scary if the other gets angry. So he said, "Please wait here for a moment. I will find it for you!"
Xie Lian said, “Thank you for your help.” Just as he was about to bow, he looked up and found that the land had already disappeared.
Xie Lian felt his head still burning, so he covered his forehead. He didn’t know how long it had passed before he heard a voice in front of him ask in confusion, “What’s going on?”
Xie Lian looked up and saw Feng Xin and Mu Qing.
However, these weren't the Feng Xin and Mu Qing he knew. While their appearance remained unchanged, their demeanor was different. They didn't look like two reckless teenagers, but rather like two generals with years of battle experience. Furthermore, they were both wearing luxurious black robes, unlikely to be worn by ordinary people. At least, Xie Lian had never seen them in such attire before.
The one who asked the question was Feng Xin. He walked over and said, "Your Highness, what are you doing here alone?"
"..." Xie Lian said, "That's what I was asking, where did you two go? I asked you to hold a reception outside the door last night, so why are you gone this morning?"
Feng Xin and Mu Qing shared the same strange expression as the land itself, as if they couldn't comprehend his words. Xie Lian's head was splitting as he asked, "And what's with the way you're dressed? What's going on???"
Feng Xin looked down at himself and asked in confusion, "What's wrong with this dress? Isn't it normal?"
Mu Qing said, "What are you talking about? You must have been confused from sleeping. I wasn't here with you last night."
Xie Lian held his head in his arms, wanting to scream, but he forced himself to calm down. After a moment of reflection, he said, "I understand. You're all like me, possessed by something, right?"
Feng Xin and Mu Qing's expressions became increasingly strange. Feng Xin said, "I'm confused. Your Highness, please tell me what you want us to do."
Mu Qing rolled his eyes and said, "Don't ask. I was wondering why he came to me instead of him when he had something to do. He must be crazy."
Xie Lian had no idea what they were talking about. He asked, "Who is that? Imperial Master?"
“…”
Feng Xin and Mu Qing looked at each other. After a moment, Mu Qing stepped forward and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Xie Lian asked, “What?”
Mu Qing said: "My memory is a little fuzzy now. Tell me, do you remember what we have been doing these days?"
Xie Lian asked, “Haven’t we been training at Huangji Temple these past few days?”
Mu Qing asked, "Where is Huacheng?"
Hearing the name, Xie Lian felt a sense of familiarity. However, after thinking about it, he realized he didn't recognize it. So, he asked blankly, "Who...Hua...Cheng...?"
“……………………”
Mu Qing said, "Okay. I understand."
He winked to the side and went to discuss things with Feng Xin, who looked shocked. Xie Lian suddenly felt something was a little suspicious and asked warily, "What do you know? What are you talking about?"
After the discussion, the two turned around. Feng Xin said, "Your Highness, let's go."
Xie Lian became even more suspicious: "Where are you going?"
Mu Qing said: "I'll take you to see someone who can resolve this situation."
Xie Lian was now extremely alert, retreating repeatedly. Seeing that he seemed to be trying to escape, Mu Qing said, "Don't go!" He stretched out his hand and swung out a spiritual light, as if to bind him. But how could Xie Lian not leave?
Run away!
As he ran away, Feng Xin and Mu Qing were both overwhelmed. They chased him, roaring into the wind. Feng Xin said, "Oh my god! I really am! What's wrong with him? He can't be so forgetful! He can't forget things for eight hundred years?!"
Mu Qing said, "Finally! Finally, eating too much of that mess has ruined my brain!"
"How is that possible! I'm afraid he had an accident when he went out alone. Let's find him quickly! He only has the brainpower of a seventeen-year-old now!"
Mu Qing didn't forget to make a sarcastic remark at this time: "Yes, the innocent, silly, spoiled seventeen-year-old Crown Prince!"
"Wait! Tell him first. Tell him first!"
When something like this happens, of course you have to tell that person first!
·
Xie Lian ran for over twenty miles in one breath, and only after stopping did he catch his breath slightly. He felt as if he was still trapped in a huge, mysterious fog web and hadn't yet broken free.
What is going on?
Abnormal. Very abnormal!
Doesn't he know Mu Qing's true strength? That spiritual light would take him at least a few hundred years to cultivate. How could this be the real Mu Qing? It must be fake!
And he. He wasn't normal either. As he ran, he realized he was as light as a swallow. Although he was already as light as a swallow, now his movements seemed even faster and more powerful.
Everything is wrong!
Calming down, calming down, and calming down again, Xie Lian suddenly remembered that Mu Qing seemed to have mentioned a name just now.
He murmured, "Huacheng."
For some reason, this name should have been very unfamiliar to him, but as soon as he said it, his heart moved slightly, as if a small flower had bloomed in a corner of his heart. So, he couldn't help but recite this name over and over again.
This person must be very important, perhaps the key to this incident. We must find him first.
Having made up his mind, Xie Lian headed towards the town.
Although Xie Lian was completely unable to accept what had happened when he first realized it, he recovered within half an hour. Although he still felt extremely uncomfortable both mentally and physically, he had no time to dwell on the mystery he was currently trapped in. The fact that the real Feng Xin Mu Qing had disappeared proved that the person behind this was extremely powerful. He had to pull himself together and get to the bottom of it immediately.
So, by the time he stepped into the town, he had returned to his normal demeanor.
He randomly picked a teahouse and sat upstairs by the window, but he had no desire to drink tea. Xie Lian picked up the cup on the table and looked at it. The cup was covered with old tea stains that could not be wiped clean. The mere sight of it made him tired, so he put it down and ignored it.
Inside the teahouse, a beautiful young woman was holding a pipa, playing and singing softly. A group of men, young and old, sat around, watching her with amusement. The woman was singing a common local tune, about a young woman going out to pick flowers early in the morning. But after a while, a group of masters said, "It's boring, not good, change it!" "Yes, this one is not good, change it!" "Change it!" "Change it to mine!"
The singing girl had no choice but to comply with their wishes and change to a rather erotic and charming tune. She sang it softly and gently, the melody so soft and velvety that it made people blush and their hearts beat faster. The crowd of onlookers was finally satisfied and cheered. Xie Lian, sitting in a corner window seat on the second floor, felt very uncomfortable.
Listening carefully to the lyrics, it seemed to capture the passionate love between a young couple on their wedding night. It was truly daring and explicit. Xie Lian had never heard such erotic lyrics and music in the Imperial City. In the past, even if he had heard it, he would have dismissed it as a passing whimper, completely unconcerned with him. He would never have considered such a thing. But now, things were different.
Although he had no recollection of what had happened, he was already a human being, and hearing this kind of thing again made him think differently. Furthermore, he discovered something terrifying: his mind was completely out of his control!
The more frivolous the lyrics were, the more his heart swam. Furthermore, fragmented images kept popping up in his mind: two hands tightly clasped together, the red thread entwined between them; he could still hear broken gasps, pleading sobs, and a man's coaxing whispers.
...What are these. What are these?!
Xie Lian was both embarrassed and annoyed. He bit his lower lip and clenched his fist. After a while, he could no longer endure it and finally slammed the table hard.
A loud bang startled the guests at several nearby tables, causing them to stare at him with wide eyes. Xie Lian, startled awake, muttered an apology, and wished he could plug his ears with his hands to block out any sound. He knew if he continued singing, he would be fired!
Suddenly, the singing stopped, a scream yanking him out of his reverie. Xie Lian looked up to see a large crowd surrounding her, seemingly assaulting her. The singer, clutching her pipa, stood up in fear, her voice piercing, "Gentlemen, let's just listen to the song, don't do anything..."
Several men started to jeer, "So what if we did it? We're definitely not the only ones doing it. I don't believe you haven't been touched a few times since you started selling yourself!"
The singer's eyes turned red with anger. She said, "What do you mean I'm selling myself? I'm singing for money, not selling my body!"
The others deliberately ignored her explanation and said, "Hey! You talk like a chaste heroine! If you were really that righteous, you wouldn't be selling yourself out!"
"That's right! Just now he was singing this song to tease people, and now he says he doesn't want to sell it. What kind of memorial archway is this? It's ridiculous!"
The singer was so angry that she almost fainted. She trembled and said, "You made me sing. I sang because you told me to sing!"
However, no matter what she said, the group of unhappy listeners always had something to say: "We asked you to sing and you sang? So obedient? It means you've been wanting to sing this kind of thing to seduce people for a long time!"
Xie Lian couldn’t bear to listen any longer.
He was already furious, and now his fury was even greater. A flash of white shadow, and before the group of men could even grasp what was happening, he had knocked them all over. The leading man, his butt raised in the air, cursed, "Who the hell are you?! How dare you mess with us?!"
Xie Lian stood in front of the singing girl, his knuckles cracking, but his face remained expressionless. He said in a deep voice, "Stop it. A beauty like a flower would tempt anyone. But if you don't know how to treat her with courtesy, it's vulgar and shameful."
Someone shouted, "She clearly sang it first. If she can sing it, we can't touch it?!"
Xie Lian, however, said word for word, "That's right. Even if she sings, you can't touch her!"
Before he could finish his words, seven or eight burly men were thrown off the building, landing on their butts. Their falls were frightening, but they weren't actually seriously injured. It was still terrifying, though, because no one could see how he struck, let alone defend against a counterattack. They fled in panic. Upstairs, Xie Lian looked back. The singing girl stood up and bowed to him gratefully, saying, "Thank you, Taoist priest, for rescuing me!"
Xie Lian said, “It’s just a small favor. Young lady, do you still want to stay here?”
The singer nodded, and Xie Lian also nodded, saying, "Okay. Then you can continue singing."
After saying that, he sat back, lifted his clothes, sat upright, and stayed here.
Seeing him not leaving and still staring at them, the other men didn't dare to harass him. The singer understood his feelings and felt even more grateful. She began to sing her usual lively local tune in a gentle and graceful manner.
Xie Lian poured himself a cup of tea and was about to drink it when he looked down and saw the old tea stains inside. He hesitated for a moment, but couldn't overcome himself. He put the cup down and sighed. He turned around unintentionally and was stunned.
Across the long street, on top of another more luxurious red building tavern, there was a person sitting alone.
He was a tall man in red.
Though he wore a black eyepatch, it didn't obscure his handsomeness; instead, it accentuated his wildness. His clothes were redder than maple leaves, his skin white as snow, and he held a silver cup, the cup gleaming with the same aura as his silver wristbands. At first glance, he was dazzling, staring directly at him, facing him from afar. Noticing Xie Lian's gaze, he smiled faintly, raising his cup slightly, as if offering a toast to him from afar.
“…”
For some reason, the moment Xie Lian made eye contact with the man, he felt as if an electric shock had passed through his body, and he quickly averted his gaze.
But even though he pretended not to care, his heart began to pound.
It was strange. The man was indeed strikingly handsome, with a mysterious allure, but he had seen men of similar appearance before, so why did he react this way to that man?
After thinking about it, he rejected the idea. It was simply not right. Because, thinking about it carefully, he had never seen such a handsome man before.
Thinking of this, Xie Lian thought, this is a rare person, why not pay more attention to him, and turned to look. However, when he looked, the man in red had disappeared.
It had vanished, just like that. Like a gorgeous maple leaf, drifting slowly down, playfully flashing before his eyes, brightening his vision before vanishing. As if it weren't real, just a fleeting illusion.
After a moment of reserved contemplation, he gazed around the magnificent restaurant, but it was nowhere to be seen. Xie Lian finally gave up, perhaps feeling a little disappointed. He let out a soft breath, rubbed his brow, and thought to himself, "Forget it."
Unexpectedly, when he turned around, he saw a person sitting opposite him, with his chin supported by one hand, staring at him.
Their eyes met, and Xie Lian was slightly startled. The man leaned back and said with a smile, "Master, could you please buy me a drink?"
It was the man in red who had just raised his glass to greet him from afar.
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