Chapter 252 Ghost King’s Birthday
Recently, a major event is approaching.
Because of this incident, the ghosts in the Ghost Market were in a state of panic. Xie Lian was also shocked when he heard about it, and just like the ghosts who came to tell him in a mysterious way, he was worried: "Birthday?"
"Exactly!"
Exactly. The Ghost Market Lord, Hua Cheng, is about to celebrate his who knows how many years old!
Xie Lian was caught off guard, feeling inexplicably nervous. He asked, "Hey, hey, hey, how have you always celebrated Sanlang's birthday?"
The ghosts scrambled to answer in a chaotic manner, "It's very lively!"
"It's not a big deal, so let's just mess around..."
"But the city lord doesn't care at all?"
After hearing this, Xie Lian asked, “What do you mean by ignoring?”
A ghost said, "Even the city lord himself never celebrates his birthday."
"Yes, he never cares what we do on his birthday, and he never even looks at the gifts others give him. Every year we just have fun on our own."
"The old city lord is so forgetful that he seems to have forgotten his birthday at all!"
Xie Lian thought about it and immediately made up his mind. Since Hua Cheng hadn't taken his previous birthday seriously, he had to find a way to make it unique and interesting this time, so that he could be happy that day. Otherwise, wouldn't a birthday with him be the same as one without him?
First of all, a birthday gift is a must. Xie Lian fell into deep thought, wondering what to give.
The ghosts all looked at him eagerly and asked, "Master Xie, are you thinking of giving the City Lord something?"
Xie Lian said, “Hmm. To be honest, I’m… not quite sure what your City Lord would like. I’m afraid that if I don’t give him what he wants…”
The pig butcher said, "Hey, why are you so worried? Actually, as long as it's Dabogong... Thank you for the gift, Taoist Priest, I think our city lord will be very happy."
"Yeah. Even if it's just a piece of waste paper, he'll definitely be happy. Thank you... Thank you for the gift, how can it be the same as other people's gifts!"
Xie Lian chuckled dryly, feeling that this idea was too narcissistic and frivolous, lacking in sincerity and solemnity. He said, “That’s not right. Choosing a gift requires careful consideration… Do you have any suggestions?”
After all, Hua Cheng had been in the ghost market for many years, so perhaps the ghosts would have a better understanding of his preferences. Perhaps with their combined wisdom, he could find a suitable and unique gift. Sure enough, the ghosts all said, "Yes, yes, yes!"
As he spoke, a dozen pairs of chicken feet, pig trotters, tentacles, and other miscellaneous objects were passed over. Xie Lian had never seen these things before, and surrounded by them, he felt a sense of wonder. He casually picked up a small, mysterious and elegant-looking jade bottle and asked, "Oh? What is this?"
The person who presented the bottle said, "This is a top-grade love potion! Just a few drops will instantly turn the victim on their head, making them completely infatuated with the person who gave them the drug! And it doesn't harm the body!"
“…”
Xie Lian said sternly, "Thank you for the advice. However, feelings come from the heart, how can they be manipulated with drugs? Everyone should refrain from using them from now on."
The ghost who offered the medicine said timidly, "Yes, yes, no thanks, no thanks. But we don't usually use it. Isn't it because you asked what to give me, Taoist Priest?"
Xie Lian was at a loss for words, wondering why you all thought I was sending him a love potion. He smiled and said, “I don’t think your city lord would need this kind of medicine either.”
The ghosts used all their hands and feet to pin the ghost down, all shouting, "Exactly! Does the City Lord need to drug someone if he wants one? Seriously!"
Xie Lian thought to himself, this is quite the truth. For example, he didn't need any medicine at all. The moment he saw Hua Cheng, he was almost completely fascinated. He was really ashamed.
To prevent his shame from turning into a blush, he quickly picked up another box and opened it, asking, "What's in this? Pearls? Elixir?"
The ghost offering the treasure said, "This is the pill for obtaining a child!"
“…”
Xie Lian didn't even bother asking what the pills were for. He immediately slammed the box shut and said helplessly, "What the hell is this..."
Why did he have to send Huacheng such an inappropriate thing?
In short, after all the random discussions, Xie Lian knew that he would not get any useful advice, so he told the ghosts to secretly prepare for the Ghost King's birthday celebration and give Hua Cheng a surprise. He then went downstairs and continued to think slowly.
●
Perhaps he was so preoccupied with this matter that his distress was written all over his face. One day, while he was accompanying Hua Cheng in calligraphy practice, he was racking his brains when a voice suddenly came from the side: "Brother."
Xie Lian finally came back to his senses and tilted his head to ask, “What?”
Hua Cheng was staring at him. He put down his pen and said, "Could it be my imagination? Brother seems to be worried about something. Can you tell me so that Sanlang can share his worries?"
Xie Lian's heart sank, and he immediately became serious, warning, "Don't put your pen down. Don't be lazy, pick it up and continue."
Hua Cheng laughed heartily, picked up his pen again, and sighed leisurely, "I've been discovered."
Seeing that he had fooled the issue, Xie Lian secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Unexpectedly, Hua Cheng picked up his pen and wrote two lines before casually saying, "However, Brother has indeed been a little off lately."
Xie Lian's heart sank again, but he pretended to be calm and composed. "Oh? What's wrong?"
Hua Cheng studied him carefully for a moment, then smiled and said, "He seems particularly... obedient."
Xie Lian smiled and said, "Haven't I always been like this?"
He had been racking his brains to no avail, so he decided to take a risk. He started by rambling on about something, then finally said nonchalantly, "Sanlang, I have a question for you."
Hua Cheng said, "Hmm? What's the matter?"
Xie Lian asked, “Do you feel like something’s missing?”
Hua Chengdao: "Lack? What do you mean, brother? Are you lacking anything?"
Xie Lian said, “Oh, no… I was talking about you. Just asking…”
Unfortunately, he didn't dare to ask too directly, such as "What do you like, what do you want", etc., in case Hua Cheng noticed, so he had to beat around the bush; but he didn't know if beating around the bush would hit the mark, so he was extremely nervous.
Hua Cheng said, "Me? Brother, do you think I'm missing anything?"
...That’s true, Xie Lian couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.
Hua Cheng asked again: "Brother, why are you asking me this?"
Xie Lian, fearing he'd notice, threw himself at the risk, raising his hand and pushing hard. Hua Cheng, never on guard against him, was shoved back against the couch with a thud. His eyes widened, but he didn't take it seriously. He smiled and said, "Brother, what are you doing? You're so passionate, and you..."
Before he could finish, Xie Lian stepped forward and interrupted him.
Now, Hua Cheng didn't have the heart to continue questioning him. He hugged him with his backhand and climbed on top of him, not caring what was wrong with him.
●
Unable to find a solution on his own, Xie Lian sought help. The first people he thought of were, naturally, his two capable subordinates from the past.
The three of them squatted in a hidden, dilapidated temple. After an awkward silence, Feng Xin said, "Why are you looking at me?"
The other two people continued to look at him, saying nothing.
There was no way around it. Of the three of them, Feng Xin was the only one with a wife. Logically, he should have the best idea of how to please those close to him. But Feng Xin's face darkened under their gazes. He said, "...It's useless for you to look at me. I only gave one thing to someone." It was that golden belt. It was given to him by Xie Lian.
Mu Qing was surprised that he was being asked about something like this. He was very polite to suppress his eyes and just wanted to get it over with quickly. He said, "Okay, the belt is nice. Why don't you give him a gold belt as well?"
Xie Lian automatically ignored his sarcastic tone and said, "I don't have any left." They're all gone!
Mu Qing's tone became increasingly sarcastic. "You're doing so well now, with temples and followers all over the streets. Just tell me what you want in a dream, and you'll get it. Do you think you can't get one?"
Xie Lian said, “That’s meaningless. If even birthday gifts require offerings from believers, that’s too perfunctory.”
Seeing that this man remained unmoved despite his sarcasm, Mu Qing finally spoke in a normal tone and said, "Why are you going through so much trouble? Then make it for him yourself."
Xie Lian said hurriedly, "Good idea! But I can't do it."
“You can learn if you don’t know how.”
Xie Lian: "Well said. Who should I learn from?"
Mu Qing said impatiently: "How should I know? You can just..."
Before he finished speaking, Mu Qing noticed that this time, the other two people looked at him at the same time.
Two hours later, Xie Lian's ten fingers on both hands had been pierced with seven or eight holes, and his hands were wrapped in bandages to prevent them from being covered in blood. On his hands, there was also a strip of something whose meaning and shape were unknown.
Mu Qing couldn't bear to watch it any longer and asked, "What is this?"
Xie Lian sighed, "Belt."
Mu Qing said, "I know this is a belt. What I'm asking you is, what is embroidered on it? What do these two potato-like patterns mean?"
Xie Lian said, “These aren’t potatoes! Can’t you see? These are two people.” To help them see clearly, he gestured, “Two faces. These are the eyes, and the mouths are over here…”
After confirming that these were indeed two human heads, Mu Qing said in disbelief, "How could someone embroider two large heads on a belt? Is this something you can wear outside? You don't have such bad taste in clothes, so how could you come up with something like this?"
Xie Lian had no choice. He was actually quite adept at repairing houses, digging wells, and building walls, doing it quickly and effectively. But he seemed to be naturally ill-suited to the kind of domestic tasks that tended to be female. Once he was asked to handle a needle and thread or a pot or spoon, he lost control. He glanced at his hands, which were tied like dumplings. Though he didn't feel any pain, the progress was slow, and he felt helpless. "...I'd better try some more."
But the die was cast, so what could be done? At best, they'd add a layer of petals around the two figures' heads, transforming them into two clumsy, close-knit, large-headed flowers. Feng Xin and Mu Qing's expressions became even more horrific.
Mu Qing's forehead was bulging with veins. "I can teach a pig how to do it, why are you so clumsy? You keep stabbing yourself in the hand?"
Feng Xin said, "When have you ever taught a pig anything? You're just talking big!"
Mu Qing bluntly told Xie Lian, "Forget it, you'd better give up. You don't have the talent." It was rare for him to say something like "You don't have the talent" to Xie Lian, and he actually felt right. Feng Xin couldn't stand it any longer and said, "Could you please be more quiet? You haven't said a word of praise to His Highness since then. Wearing clothes and making them yourself are two different things! Besides, it's not that bad, at least this belt is still wearable."
Mu Qing said, "Okay, I'll give you this thing he made. If you dare to wear it out, I'll respect you."
Before Feng Xin could reply, Xie Lian quickly put away the ridiculously ugly belt and said, "No, no, no. I'll keep this for myself!"
I really can't give this kind of thing away!
●
Feng Xin and Mu Qing were of no help, so Xie Lian turned to the next person for help.
"Gifts? Your Highness, you've come to the right person to ask me this. Back then, I... what rare treasures have I not seen?"
The two of them squatted on the street. Shi Qingxuan, his hair disheveled, was in high spirits, speaking eloquently and fluently. It was obvious he was an expert, and Xie Lian became even more humble in his attempts to learn. Shi Qingxuan spoke eloquently, saying, "There are indeed unclaimed treasures, but retrieving them would certainly require considerable effort."
Xie Lian said hurriedly, "That's fine. That's just what I want." The greater the effort required, the more precious it was, and wouldn't that be a sign of genuine affection? Ideally, it should be the most difficult treasure in the world, one no one had ever successfully challenged. If he could obtain it for Hua Cheng, it would be truly meaningful. The mere thought of making Hua Cheng raise an eyebrow, a quirk of the corner of his mouth, filled Xie Lian with irrepressible anticipation, eager to try.
Shi Qingxuan pondered for a moment and said, "Starry Sky Pot! Your Highness, you should have heard of it, right? This pot is a treasure. Place it in the night, and the stars and the moon in the sky will be reflected in the wine in the pot. It can absorb the essence of the sun and moon in the sky, and it is not only elegant, but also can greatly enhance your cultivation..."
Unexpectedly, the more Xie Lian listened, the stronger the ominous premonition in his heart became, and he quickly interrupted, "Wait."
"What's wrong?"
Xie Lian compared the size and said, "Qingxuan, is this the black jade pot you're talking about? Is it a small black jade pot about this size? Is it inlaid with tiny bits of starlight?"
Shi Qingxuan asked curiously, "Huh? Your Highness, how do you know? Have you seen it?"
“…”
Not only had he seen it, but last month, he wanted to pour some water to drink, but because he forgot that his hand was injured, he accidentally dropped the pot and broke it.
At that time, Hua Cheng came over immediately to ask what happened to the injury on his hand. He saw that the pot was very beautiful and strange, and asked Hua Cheng what to do and whether it could be repaired. Hua Cheng said it was nothing, just a small toy. Without even looking at it, he told his subordinates to sweep up and throw away the broken pieces of the pot, and then grabbed Xie Lian and went to heal his arm.
Now that I think about it, could it be that what he broke was the rare treasure that Shi Qingxuan mentioned, the Starry Sky Pot?!
Xie Lian's heart sank. After a moment, he said, "This...maybe it's not suitable. Let's try another one."
"Oh." Shi Qingxuan was confused and scratched his hair. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Then the next one is the Eight Desolate Brush! This brush is extraordinary. It is made from the tip of an ancient demon beast's tail. The pen holder is made from a branch on the head of a jade bamboo spirit. When it is not writing, it will grow..."
Xie Lian asked, “Jade Bamboo Leaves?”
Shi Qingxuan said, "That's right! Your Highness, how did you know that? Have you seen him before?"
How could you not have seen it? That pen was what Huacheng used to practice calligraphy every day. And when his handwriting looked bad, he'd blame it on the pen, throwing it to the ground or even kicking it somewhere else. Xie Lian would often search for that poor pen afterwards, picking it up, cleaning it, and putting it away.
“…” Xie Lian said, “This one might not be suitable either. Let’s try another one.”
Shi Qingxuan listed seven or eight items in quick succession, and Xie Lian realized how familiar these rare treasures all sounded, and how tragically so. They were either Hua Cheng's stepping stool or his stall; either he used them for entertainment or he'd simply vanished them!
That's right. What other rare treasures are there in this world that Huacheng hasn't seen or even gotten?
Therefore, the Ghost King’s birthday gift is incomprehensible even if we think about it in this way.
●
Desperate, Xie Lian tried almost everyone he knew and could ask, but: Quan Yizhen, all he knew how to do was give gold bars, and Huacheng had plenty of money; Pei Ming, who only knew how to give gifts to women, couldn't come up with anything serious to say when asked what he could give to a man; Ling Wen, although protected by several high-ranking priests and desperately needed by the Heavenly Court, at least she wasn't thrown into prison, but she was already buried in the sea of files thrown at her, almost losing consciousness, and could do nothing but review documents, so she might as well be locked up.
After seeking help from all quarters but to no avail, with only two days left until Hua Cheng's birthday, Xie Lian was truly at his wit's end.
He stared with bloodshot eyes all night long, and finally, just before dawn, he thought of what to give.
His mind suddenly became confused, and he quietly got up from the couch and glanced at Hua Cheng who was sleeping soundly beside him.
Hua Cheng had black hair like a crow, long eyelashes like lacquer, and his eyes were tightly closed, so you couldn't tell that one of his eyes was missing. The natural aggressiveness in his handsome face and expression was diluted a little after he closed his eyes, and now he looked inexplicably gentle.
Xie Lian's heart stirred, and he couldn't help but reach out his right hand and lightly stroke Hua Cheng's face. But he was afraid of waking him, so he didn't dare touch him and withdrew his hand.
Unexpectedly, before he even got off the bed, his waist felt tight and a hand pulled him back in. A lazy voice came from behind him: "Brother, what are you doing up so early?"
Huacheng actually woke up!
His voice was low and husky, as if he were still half asleep. Xie Lian was caught off guard by him and, suppressing his guilt, said calmly, "Oh, I have a wish."
Hua Cheng leaned over and kissed him on the ear, saying, "It's still dark. Who would go to the temple to pray so early in the morning? Are you tired of living?"
Perhaps he had something to hide. Xie Lian's face grew hotter as he listened to him speak. "It wasn't something I just received. It was a backlog..."
As he was speaking, he found it difficult to speak normally in this position and was about to get up again, but Hua Cheng also sat up, put his arms around his neck from behind, and rested his head on his shoulder. He said, "Since it's been accumulated until now, why not let it accumulate for a while longer? Brother was exhausted last night, you should rest for a while."
Xie Lian struggled hard against his clinging arms and his inducing voice, but with great reluctance, he said, “I… have been holding it in for a long time. I can’t hold it in any longer…”
Hua Cheng said, "Oh. Then I'll go with you?"
Xie Lian hurriedly said, “No need. It won’t be long. I’ll be back soon. You should rest first!”
Hua Chengdao: "Really, you don't need me to go?"
Xie Lian said, “No need! You can’t follow me. Absolutely, absolutely not!”
Hua Cheng opened his eyes slightly and asked, "Why?"
"..." Xie Lian choked. A moment later, he turned abruptly, grasped Hua Cheng's shoulders, looked him straight in the eye, and said solemnly, "You need to practice calligraphy."
Hua Cheng looked at him innocently and blinked. Xie Lian said stubbornly, "You must stay in the temple and practice calligraphy all day today. I'll check on you when I get back!"
Hua Cheng looked more and more innocent, tilting his head, but still said obediently: "Oh."
Xie Lian barely managed to get through it, tumbling off the bed. Hua Cheng half-leaned on the stage, squinting at his fleeing figure. He smiled, pillowed his hands, and lay down again.
●
Xie Lian first went to the wild mountains and wilderness, and after getting what he wanted, he went to the copper furnace.
Inside Tonglu Mountain, in a small hut nestled in the dense forest, Xie Lian found the Imperial Master setting up a table and playing cards with three other figures, their expressions grave. Without a word, he turned and left, but the Imperial Master's eyes lit up at the sight of him, and he shouted, "Stop!"
Xie Lian knew that there was only one situation in which the Imperial Master would ask him to stop while playing cards. Sure enough, the next moment, the Imperial Master flipped the table and said, "No more playing! I have something to do, so I'll leave first! Prince, come back! What do you want from me?"
Xie Lian turned around and saw the three hollow figures stumbling on the ground. He knew full well that the Imperial Master was about to lose. He said insincerely, "It's not a big deal."
The Imperial Master hurriedly said, "No, no, I see you look serious, something serious must have happened! You can put the cards aside, let me help you first!"
“…”
But when Xie Lian explained his purpose, the Imperial Master's expression changed again. As the two of them sat on a simple bench, Xie Lian could only hear the Imperial Master berating him, "It's really not a big deal. It's just a birthday. Is it worth thinking about it for so long, traveling all the way to get something like that in person?"
Xie Lian knew he couldn't explain it to anyone else, and even if he did, no one would understand. Rubbing his brow until it turned red, he said, "Anyway, I've already got the raw materials, but I can't remember how to forge that Xianle-style longevity lock I used to wear as a child. I'd appreciate some guidance from the Imperial Master. You don't have to do it yourself; I can forge it myself."
The Imperial Master seemed to be still feeling aggrieved and said, "You don't even need to prepare any birthday gifts. You've already presented yourself to me, what else does he want???"
“…”
Does this mean that "you are the best gift"? Xie Lian couldn't stand this kind of argument, and couldn't even think about it himself. He slapped his palm on his forehead and thought to himself, "I'm not that narcissistic."
Seeing him repeatedly shaking his head, the Imperial Master resisted from the bottom of his heart and said, "You are too hopeless. You, the only priest to have ascended to heaven and earth three times! The Flower Crowned Martial God! The Prince of Xianle! At the age of seventeen, you dared to say in front of the whole world that you wanted to save the people! At the age of eighteen..."
Xie Lian immediately shouted, “Master! Stop! Master! Stop! Stop!”
What is there to be proud of such a dark history!
The Imperial Master looked at him with a complicated expression, as if he was disappointed with his son, and said, "Your Highness, there's really no need to put yourself so low."
Xie Lian said, “It’s not that I put myself down, it’s just…”
It's just that when you're with someone you like, you naturally want to give them the best in the world. But at the same time, you can't help but feel that you're not good enough.
Seeing him like this, the Imperial Master sighed, put his hands in his sleeves, and thought for a while before saying, "It's a longevity lock, right? Wait a minute, let me think about it. It's too long ago, and I can't say I remember all the craftsmanship and the consecration ceremony."
Xie Lian said, “That’s not a problem. If you can’t remember it, I’ll build it from memory. I believe sincerity will work.”
After a moment, the Imperial Master looked at him and said, "Do you want to ask him?"
“…”
He didn't say his name, but Xie Lian knew who "he" was.
Jun Wu was suppressed deep underground in this copper furnace.
After a long silence, Xie Lian finally shook his head.
●
After spending the better part of a day at Tonglu Mountain, Xie Lian returned to the Ghost Market.
At this point, only a few hours remained until Hua Cheng's birthday. The ghosts and Xie Lian had agreed to a plan, pretending nothing was happening, but secretly they were all preparing for the ghost market. Xie Lian slipped into a small shop, and soon the ghosts surrounded him, eagerly and chaotically asking, "How is it? How is it?"
Xie Lian thought this was just like committing a crime. He asked, "How's your city lord? Did he notice anything unusual?"
The ghosts said, "No, no. The City Lord has been at Qiandeng Temple all day."
Xie Lian was slightly surprised: "You've been here all day?"
"Yes! The City Lord seems to be in a good mood today. Thank you, Taoist Priest, have you prepared a birthday gift for the City Lord?"
Xie Lian finally felt relieved. He stroked the silver longevity locket he had painstakingly crafted in his sleeve, smiled faintly, and said, "It's ready."
The ghosts were overjoyed. They discussed arrangements for tomorrow's birthday celebration before returning to Qiandeng Temple. Upon entering, they found Huacheng practicing calligraphy.
Hua Cheng actually took the initiative to practice calligraphy without his urging. This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; it seemed he was truly in a good mood. Xie Lian was inexplicably amused by the sight of that poor, precious Eight Desolations brush producing such distorted and ugly words under his hand, and shook his head. Hearing that Xie Lian had returned, Hua Cheng put down the brush, finally giving up torturing it. He smiled faintly and said, "Brother, you're back? Just in time, come and see what I've accomplished today."
Xie Lian smiled and said, "Okay." He was about to step forward. But at that moment, his expression froze, his feet paused, and he froze with a frown.
Hua Cheng immediately sensed something was wrong, and the next moment, he was right next to Xie Lian: "What's wrong?"
Xie Lian's expression immediately returned to normal: "It's okay."
It’s not that he’s okay. Just at that moment, his heart ached slightly.
Hua Cheng wouldn't let him be careless. He walked over, held his wrist, and asked, "Where have you been? Are you injured again?"
Xie Lian said, “No.”
This was the truth. Indeed, nothing. Despite the recent hustle and bustle, things had been relatively smooth, with no danger. Hua Cheng pondered for a moment, finding nothing, and lowered his hand. Xie Lian, after practicing his own breathing techniques, also found nothing, figuring it might be an illusion. He smiled and said, "Maybe I just twisted a nerve. Now, let's see what you've accomplished today."
Hua Cheng then smiled, took his hand, and said, "Come here."
Before Xie Lian could respond, his heart suddenly ached again.
This time it wasn't an illusion! He felt it clearly. If the first time was like being pricked by a needle, the second time was like being scratched by something with sharp nails. If Hua Cheng hadn't turned his head away, Xie Lian wouldn't have been able to use "it's okay" to get away with it this time.
But the timing wasn't right, and Xie Lian didn't want to alert Hua Cheng just yet. After the two of them had some fun at Qiandeng Temple, he found a random excuse to leave and examine himself more carefully.
After a while, he put down his hand, his expression solemn.
The result was of course no problem, otherwise, Hua Cheng would have found out when he grabbed his hand just now.
Then why do I feel heartache for no reason?
After a moment's contemplation, Xie Lian suspected that some evil spirit had taken over his body, or perhaps he had been poisoned by some strange poison. But he wasn't panicking, at least not yet. Hua Cheng's birthday would be coming up soon. If something happened now, Hua Cheng would definitely not be thinking about it, and he'd probably have to hold him down to treat his injuries again.
Xie Lian was used to enduring pain and had experienced this kind of strange thing before, so he didn't take it seriously. He decided to get through the day first and then solve the problem quietly on his own.
That evening, as the hour drew near, Xie Lian returned to Qiandeng Temple. Hua Cheng was still inside, bored and pretentiously scribbling, creating a waste of paper. Xie Lian couldn't help but laugh, but before the smile reached him, a pang of heartache returned. Rubbing his chest with his fingers proved futile, and he thought to himself, "Looks like this thing still has some power... I'll have to bear with it a little longer."
He took a deep breath, walked out, and said softly, "Sanlang? There's something I need your help with."
Hua Cheng put down his pen and asked, "What can I do for you?"
Xie Lian said, “Please close your eyes first.”
Hua Cheng raised an eyebrow, but didn't ask any more questions, closing his eyes as he was told. Xie Lian took his hands and said with a smile, "Come with me."
This was the complete opposite of the night with Junshan. Hua Cheng smiled and said, "Okay."
Xie Lian took his hands and slowly walked to the door, saying, "Be careful with the threshold."
Hua Cheng had been wandering around the Thousand Lanterns Temple for an unknown amount of time, so he naturally didn't need any reminders about where to go. But he waited for his instructions before he lifted his boots. The silver chains on his boots jingled as they stepped out of the gate and onto the long street.
After walking for a while, Xie Lian said, "Alright, open your eyes."
Hua Cheng finally opened his eyes as he was told. In an instant, his dark eye lit up as if it had been lit by a bright lamp.
The long street was decorated with lights and lanterns. It looked much cleaner and tidier than the messy streets of the past. It seemed that every household had worked hard to clean it up. The tattered signs had been replaced with new ones, and the eaves and gables were shining and brand new.
The ghosts surrounded them without knowing when, and they didn't dare to breathe just now. As soon as Hua Cheng opened his eyes, he started to blow and beat music desperately, shouting in a disorderly manner, "Happy birthday to the City Lord!" Some also took advantage of the chaos to shout "Have a happy marriage for a hundred years" and "Have a baby soon", which was a terrible noise!
Seeing this dismal result, Xie Lian slapped his forehead. They had clearly been training for a long time before, and they could barely chant in unison, so why were they still shouting in a disorganized manner?
Hua Cheng had a blank expression on his face, seemingly unmoved. He simply raised an eyebrow and said, "What are you doing? You're making so much noise."
The ghosts had already given up on their training, and each of them was incredibly thick-skinned. They said, "Let's die! There's no one here anyway!"
Hua Cheng scoffed and turned around to see Xie Lian standing behind him, his hands hidden behind his back. He said, "Sanlang, I heard... today is your birthday?"
Hua Cheng seemed to have been waiting for a long time. He crossed his arms, tilted his head to look at him, and said with a smile: "Yeah. Yes."
Xie Lian coughed lightly a few times, then suddenly jumped up and slammed the longevity lock around his neck. He said, “This… was made in a hurry. I hope you don’t mind!”
The longevity lock was carved with the same patterns as his wristband: maple leaves, butterflies, and ferocious beasts. It was exquisitely crafted and imbued with a powerful spiritual energy. It was obvious at first glance that it was no ordinary item. The ghosts all exclaimed, "Wonderful! So beautiful! What kind of treasure is this!"
"Ah! Only the city lord is worthy of such a treasure! Only such a treasure is worthy of the city lord!"
Their exclamations were so exaggerated that Xie Lian didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He grew even more nervous, wondering whether he should ask Hua Cheng what he thought. Hua Cheng remained silent, his eyes shining brightly, a smile playing on his lips.
After a while, he picked up the silver lock and seemed to be about to speak, but at this moment, something strange happened.
Xie Lian's knees suddenly gave way and he fell to the ground.
This was so sudden that the ghosts who had been watching happily let out a series of cries of surprise. Hua Cheng's smile instantly vanished. He quickly caught him and said, "Brother? What's wrong?"
Xie Lian’s face turned pale, and he forced a smile, saying, “No…”
Before he could finish his words, his throat choked.
Oh no, it happens again!
The inexplicable heartache came again, and this time, the pain was more intense than ever before, as if my heart had exploded.
Xie Lian secretly cried out inwardly, “Oh no!” He hadn’t expected the pain to come so fiercely, each time more severe than the last, and to strike at this critical moment!
He remained relatively calm, but the excruciating pain continued, as if someone were wielding a mahogany wedge, hammering it into his heart. Xie Lian struggled to breathe, barely able to lift his head, sweat dripping down his forehead. Hua Cheng's expression completely changed: "Your Highness?!"
He grabbed Xie Lian's wrist, but still didn't reach out, and said, "Your Highness! Where did you go yesterday?!"
Panicked cries filled the air from all directions. Xie Lian opened his mouth, but something seemed to be stuck in his throat, preventing him from uttering a single word.
Hua Cheng's arms, clasped around him, were trembling. Seeing Hua Cheng's usually calm and handsome face tinged with a frantic anxiety, Xie Lian felt as if his heart had been struck by a heavy hammer. Finally, he gave in and fainted.
Before he lost consciousness, all he could think of was "I'm sorry."
Today is Huacheng’s birthday.
●
After an unknown amount of time, Xie Lian suddenly woke up with a start. Before he could even catch his breath, he stared blankly at the ceiling above, hazily thinking, "Is this... Thousand Lantern Temple? What happened to me... did I fall asleep?"
He was still slowly regaining consciousness when suddenly a hand came to support him. Hua Cheng's voice was close at hand: "Your Highness?"
Xie Lian looked up and saw Hua Cheng's face, a burning look between his brows. He was startled for a moment, and just as he was about to speak, he felt another sharp pain in his heart.
Now, he was completely awake. He immediately arched his body, his five fingers almost digging into the flesh of his chest with such force that it seemed as if he was ripping his heart out. Seeing this, Hua Cheng immediately grabbed his wrist and said, "Your Highness!"
If he hadn't caught him quickly, Xie Lian would have had five bloody holes in his chest. At this moment, a voice said, "I think something's wrong. Why don't you let him go first?"
Mu Qing is actually here too. Hua Cheng said, "What if I let go and he hurts himself?!"
Feng Xin's voice rang out immediately: "Let me help you hold him down! If you don't figure out what's going on quickly, the pain won't stop!"
Xie Lian hunched over, feeling another hand grab his wrist. Upon hearing this, Hua Cheng froze for a moment, then let him go.
Strangely enough, the moment he let go of Xie Lian, the pain subsided considerably. Xie Lian was finally able to move. Turning over, he found Feng Xin and Mu Qing standing by the couch, likely summoned to inquire about the situation. Hua Cheng stood not far away, staring intently at him.
Seeing this, the pain that Xie Lian had finally managed to fade away returned with a vengeance. Mu Qing saw his expression change again and said to Hua Cheng, "Stand away! He seems to feel pain whenever he gets close to you or even just looks at you!"
Upon hearing this, Hua Cheng froze, his expression horrifying beyond words, yet he immediately dodged and retreated outside. As soon as he disappeared from Xie Lian's sight, the excruciating pain in his chest abruptly ceased. The pain had been relentless, nearly driving Xie Lian mad. He gasped for breath and spoke with difficulty, "What... is... going on?"
Mu Qing and Feng Xin were still holding him down, preventing him from moving around to look at Hua Cheng. They said, "What's going on? I need to ask you! What's wrong with you? You must have gotten into trouble!"
Xie Lian said, “…If I had gotten into trouble with something, wouldn’t I have known about it?”
Besides, Huacheng had also been examined. Mu Qing asked, "Have you been to any strange places these days?"
Xie Lian said, “The only places I’ve been to in the past few days are Tonglu Mountain and… the Imperial Master’s Tomb.”
Mu Qing frowned and said, "What? The Imperial Master's Tomb? What Imperial Master's Tomb?"
Hua Cheng, standing outside the house, already understood and asked, "The tomb of Imperial Master Fangxin?"
Xie Lian said, “Sanlang, you better come in…”
Hua Cheng's deep voice came from outside: "Brother, just recuperate here. I'll go take a look."
Xie Lian said, "I'll go too!" But as soon as he stood up, he immediately collapsed in pain. Hua Cheng hadn't said a word since he finished speaking, so he must have left. Xie Lian tried to force himself to get up again, but Mu Qing said, "I think you'd better stop moving around. You can't even walk!"
Xie Lian was pinned down by two people with four hands. He was still struggling and said, "It's not like I haven't felt pain before. I get used to it after a while." He couldn't just stop seeing Hua Cheng because of the pain.
Mu Qing said, "You are willing to be hurt, but your Sanlang is not."
Xie Lian was stunned, thinking back to Hua Cheng's expression before he fainted from the pain, and then thinking back to Hua Cheng's expression when he realized the pain he felt just getting close to him. His breath hitched, and a sudden, heart-wrenching pain pierced his lungs. His face turned pale. Feng Xin and Mu Qing were staring at him. Feng Xin said in astonishment, "Didn't Xueyu Tanhua leave? Why is he still in pain?"
Mu Qing was very perceptive and asked, "Were you thinking about him just now?"
Xie Lian gritted his teeth and endured for a long time before he reluctantly said, "How... can't I even think about it?"
Mu Qing said, "Don't think about it. Your attacks seem to be getting worse and worse. The more you think about it, the more you'll suffer. Let me pour you a glass of water."
Xie Lian didn't even have the energy to shake his head and say forget it. Mu Qing stood up to pour water, while he closed his eyes and tried to calm down. But the calmer he became, the more worried he became. He didn't know what evil creature had come to him, and neither of them could find out what was going on. He was really worried about Hua Cheng going alone. At this time, Mu Qing handed over the teacup. The teacup was snow-white and elegant. Thinking of Hua Cheng having used it the night before, Xie Lian's face turned pale again, and he lay down without saying a word. Mu Qing knew who his heart had flown to again, and he couldn't pass the tea in his hand to him. He said with a dark face: "Why do you have to think about him for everything? Don't you want to die?!"
Xie Lian said, “How can I control this?”
If you could just say you don’t want to be alone, there would not be many troubles and sufferings in the world.
Mu Qing said, "I think we should just knock him out, so he doesn't lose control of his mind."
However, as Xie Lian's former attendant, Feng Xin would never hit Xie Lian. Of course, he wouldn't allow anyone to hit Xie Lian in front of him either. He immediately said, "No! I think you should talk to him more and distract him. That way, he won't keep thinking about Blood Rain."
Mu Qing said, "What can I say to him? Wouldn't he think of Blood Rain Scholar? It's better to just knock him out!"
Feng Xin said, "Anyway, we can't fight! This way, he won't have time to think about anything else, right? I guarantee he won't have time. I'll go first, and live as long as the Southern Mountains!"
He loathed the game so much that he barely began, his expression gritting his teeth. Mu Qing loathed it even more, but still reluctantly continued, "...the mountains and rivers are awful."
Xie Lian was completely at his wit’s end, so he continued weakly, “…the evil purple took away the red…”
As soon as he finished speaking, he curled up again. Mu Qing said in disbelief: "How can you think of him at this moment? There is no connection at all!"
Xie Lian thought: How can it not be related? Zhu, the color of Zhu, Zhu Yi, and Hong Yi. Thinking of Hong Yi, how could he not think of Hua Cheng?
Unable to endure the torture, he unleashed a fierce force, breaking free from the two men holding him down and tumbling off the couch with a thud. Even though Feng Xin and Mu Qing had anticipated his immense explosive power and had secretly reserved their strength, they still couldn't hold him down. Seeing him break free, they rushed to restrain him, only to be slapped to the ground. Mu Qing looked up and saw him fleeing through the door. "Where are you going? Don't run around!"
Xie Lian, however, was almost at his limit. He pulled out two exquisite dice from his sleeve, rolled them, and stumbled into a door.
Hua Cheng had said that if Xie Lian wanted to see him, he would be able to see him no matter what number he rolled. Xie Lian had no idea where the dice had taken him, but he landed right in someone's arms. Hua Cheng's slightly startled voice rang out above him: "Your Highness!"
Xie Lian quickly hugged him, afraid he would disappear again, and said, "Sanlang! Don't go alone. I... will go with you..."
Hua Cheng seemed to want to hug him immediately, but his arms froze in mid-air. With difficulty, he restrained himself and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, please go back quickly. You will be in great pain."
The Desperate Ghost King, Blood Rain Tanhua, feared by everyone in the Three Realms, seemed unsure what to do with him. He couldn't hold him, nor could he push him. Holding him hurt, pushing him hurt even more. Xie Lian gritted his teeth and hugged him tighter, his voice trembling, "It hurts!!!"
Hua Chengdao: "Your Highness!"
Rather than sitting somewhere else thinking about Hua Cheng until he was dying of pain, it would be better to hug Hua Cheng tightly and let the pain kill him. The more pain he felt, the tighter he wanted to hug him. Beads of sweat covered Xie Lian's head as he spoke incoherently, "Wait for me a moment, just a moment, I'll be fine, I'll get used to it soon. I can tolerate pain very well. With you by my side, I can still bear the pain. If you leave, then really... the pain will be unbearable..."
After hearing these words, Hua Cheng was completely stunned. After a long while, he whispered, "Your Highness..."
This sound was like a sigh and pain, and seemed to be more tormented than Xie Lian's.
Xie Lian took the initiative to hug him tightly, waiting for the unbearable pain to pass. As he was trying to calm his breathing, a voice suddenly came from behind: "Is this made by melting and forging your mask?"
Dizzy and dazed, Xie Lian finally realized they were in a desolate and eerie cemetery—the very tomb of the Imperial Master he had visited the day before. And standing behind them was a tall figure: none other than Lang Qianqiu.
He had been half-conscious when he came over, so naturally he hadn't noticed the third person. Now that he noticed, he didn't care about shame. At this time, Feng Xin and Mu Qing also caught up. Mu Qing had just been knocked to the ground by his palm, and he was so angry that the veins on his forehead seemed to never disappear. He shouted: "What are you running around for! Two people with four hands can't hold you down! - What kind of hell is this place? It looks like a grave!"
Feng Xin was also looking around and said, "This is the tomb, right? It's a dug-up grave. Is this the tomb of Imperial Preceptor Fangxin? Why is His Highness Taihua here too?"
Lang Qianqiu's face was not very good. He said, "I heard that there was some unusual movement at the Imperial Master's tomb the other day. It looked like it was visited by tomb robbers. I came to take a look."
He came to check it out, and ended up running into Hua Cheng and Xie Lian. He didn't know what he was thinking, and wasn't in the mood to say hello or explain. He stared at Xie Lian and asked again, "Is that the longevity lock you forged using that silver mask? Did you come back the day before yesterday and take the mask away?"
After hesitating for a moment, Xie Lian nodded.
In his former days, he served as Imperial Preceptor of the Yong'an Kingdom, always wearing a silver mask. The mask itself was made of rare silver, forged by a half-pound silver demon. Besides concealing his features, its true power lay in its ability to deflect spells and protect his life. After Imperial Preceptor Fangxin's "death," the mask was buried with him in his coffin.
When giving a gift, one should, of course, give something that one would treasure. Xie Lian racked his brains, finally remembering a treasure he once possessed that was incredibly useful and had helped him numerous times. He couldn't let go of the mask, but he hadn't taken it with him when he climbed out of the coffin. So, he rushed to the tomb of Imperial Master Fangxin that night, dug up the mask from his own grave, and melted it into silver, refining it into a longevity protective lock.
Everyone looked puzzled. After all, no one had ever visited Imperial Master Fangxin's tomb, and the grass had grown several feet tall. Xie Lian hadn't even bothered to sweep it for himself when he returned. Not sweeping the tomb would have been fine, but he'd even dug up his own grave... No one could do such a thing!
After a moment of awkward silence, Xie Lian saw Lang Qianqiu's strange expression and explained, "That mask wasn't taken from your house. It was made from a silver demon I once subdued..."
If it was something from the Yong'an royal family, he would never have thought of using it as raw material to make a birthday gift for Huacheng. He didn't know Lang Qianqiu was still keeping an eye on the Imperial Preceptor's tomb. He thought Lang Qianqiu had buried him and left him alone, otherwise he would at least fill the soil he dug out and not alert Lang Qianqiu to come and check.
Lang Qianqiu was stunned for a moment, then angrily said, "I'm not arguing with you about this!"
Hua Cheng glanced at him, his eyes slightly cold, and Lang Qianqiu's expression froze. Xie Lian, on the other hand, looked at the silver lock and suddenly frowned, as if remembering something.
His eyes met Lang Qianqiu's, and he saw that he was looking at the same thing. Hua Cheng naturally wouldn't miss it and said, "The problem is with this longevity lock? Your Highness, do you know what it is?"
Xie Lian did have an idea, a glimpse into what was going on, but he didn't know how to begin. Lang Qianqiu, his face pale, spoke for him.
He said, "It was him."
Hua Cheng said coldly: "What do you mean?"
Xie Lian hurriedly said, “Qianqiu!”
Lang Qianqiu glanced at him, but continued, "I was the one who brought him here after the Gilded Banquet."
Xie Lian said, “Stop talking.”
Lang Qianqiu glanced at him and shut up, probably unsure of what to say next. But if he didn't say anything, others would be able to take over.
After the Gilded Banquet, Yong'an Crown Prince Lang Qianqiu captured his beloved Imperial Preceptor and, in revenge, had him nailed to death in a coffin. He then sealed the coffin in a desolate wilderness, forbidding anyone from offering sacrifices or mourning. Of course, few would have done so anyway.
At that time, after being pierced through the heart by the long peach wood spike, the blood that flowed from Xie Lian's chest dyed the silver mask that was buried with him red. The silver demon's evil spirit preserved the blood, allowing it to leave Xie Lian's body, and he remained alive.
The day before yesterday, Xie Lian returned to visit, dug up his own grave, and took the silver demon mask to forge the longevity lock. The blood on the mask was awakened by him, and took the opportunity to return to his body.
No wonder Huacheng and he couldn't find anything unusual despite repeated investigations. It was simply because the cause of the problem was something in his body, his own blood, so of course there was nothing unusual!
Hua Cheng moved slightly, but Xie Lian couldn't see his expression, so he quickly held him down: "San Lang!"
Lang Qianqiu had killed him out of revenge; the old Lord of Yong'an had indeed died at his hands. Being nailed to his coffin with a few nails by him was simply a tit-for-tat. Xie Lian took a few breaths, then felt a sharp pain in his heart again, and he couldn't help but groan. Hua Cheng's brows were once again tinged with indignation, and he said, "Your Highness?"
Lang Qianqiu hesitated for a moment, then saw that Xie Lian's face was as pale as paper, and said, "I... do you want me to help you?"
Xie Lian knew what he would think given his temperament, so he quickly said, "It's okay, it's okay, Qianqiu. I don't need your help. This is none of your business, it's not your problem. It was my own carelessness. You don't need to worry about it."
Mu Qing also felt that it was really awkward for Lang Qianqiu to be both the victim and the murderer in this situation, so he said, "That's right, Your Highness Taihua, you don't need to worry about him. Go back."
After a moment of silence, Lang Qianqiu said, "Okay."
But even though he said okay, he still didn't leave. Everyone else couldn't care less because Xie Lian was writhing in pain again. But even though he was writhing in pain, he still held on to Hua Cheng tightly, refusing to let go. Feng Xin said, "Let's solve this first! ... Your Highness? What's wrong with you?"
Xie Lian was struggling fiercely just now, but after a clear "click" sound, he suddenly calmed down, lying in Hua Cheng's arms with cold sweat on his forehead, motionless.
Hua Cheng hugged him back tightly and whispered, "Your Highness, it's okay. It doesn't hurt anymore."
Everyone then realized that he was holding a handful of broken silver powder in his hand, and the longevity lock that he had once cherished on his chest had disappeared.
As long as the longevity lock was destroyed, Xie Lian's heart blood, tainted by the demonic energy, would naturally calm down. So, he grasped the longevity lock, gave it a gentle squeeze, and it shattered.
Xie Lian's breathing gradually steadied. He tilted his head and saw tiny specks of silver light streaming from between Hua Cheng's fingers. He met Hua Cheng's gaze again. For some reason, he felt a slight pang of pain in his heart.
He murmured, "Hmm...it doesn't hurt anymore."
●
The curse was finally lifted. Xie Lian said goodbye to Feng Xin, Mu Qing, Lang Qianqiu and the others, and walked slowly back towards the ghost market with Hua Cheng.
The two walked side by side, and Xie Lian's face was hot all the way.
This is all Feng Xin and Mu Qing’s fault.
Before they parted ways, Feng Xin wiped his sweat and couldn't help asking, "So why did His Highness act like this when he saw Blood Rain Tanhua? What's wrong with his heart blood? Are they deliberately trying to make things difficult for him?"
Xie Lian knew exactly what was going on, so upon hearing his question, he quickly said, "Let's not delve into this!"
Feng Xin asked in confusion, "Why don't you investigate further? Otherwise, what if it happens again next time? We have to get to the bottom of it."
Mu Qing snorted, "You can't even figure this out? The blood has been out of his body for too many years. He won't be used to it after it goes back, so he'll definitely be upset. If he's calm and composed, it would be fine..."
However, if his heart is restless and he moves, his blood will surge, causing him unbearable pain and making him relive the pain of the peach wood piercing his heart.
Xie Lian didn't even dare to look at Hua Cheng's expression at that time. He just felt that he would lose all his face in front of Hua Cheng for the rest of his life.
What this means is that whenever he sees or thinks of Huacheng, he can't help but feel excited, so he rolls on the ground in pain!
Thinking of this, Xie Lian’s heart began to beat wildly again.
Fortunately, now, even if his heart beats faster, it won't hurt.
Suddenly, Hua Cheng, who had been silent for a long time, said, "Your Highness."
Xie Lian immediately responded, “What?”
Hua Cheng said, "How long did you stay in that tomb?"
Xie Lian was stunned for a moment and said, “I can’t remember clearly.”
It was a long, long time, so long I didn't want to count. Pain, hunger, blood loss, hallucinations. At first, I remained motionless, but then, overcome with regret, I pounded frantically on the coffin, trying to break free, only to find myself mired in endless darkness.
It wasn't the pain of a hundred swords piercing my heart, the kind that felt like it would never end. But it was a dull ache that lingered on, seemingly without end.
He sighed. Hua Cheng immediately asked, "What's wrong, Your Highness? Is it still painful?"
Xie Lian shook his head. After a moment, he muttered, "Sanlang, I'm sorry."
Hua Cheng asked curiously, "Why are you saying sorry to me?"
After hesitating for a moment, Xie Lian said, "Today is clearly your birthday. I wanted to give you a good time, but instead I've been tossing and turning all day, trying to figure out how to break the curse."
He had originally planned to hold it in at least until the end of his birthday, but he still couldn't hold it in.
Xie Lian said, “Even the birthday gift I sent you was destroyed because I was trying to help me break the curse.”
Moreover, Hua Cheng had crushed it himself. Thinking it over, Xie Lian felt that today's incident was nothing. He was extremely depressed and couldn't imagine how Hua Cheng must feel.
Hua Cheng said softly, "Your Highness."
He paused and said, "I have received your birthday gift."
Xie Lian was stunned: "What?"
But don't say anything like you are the best gift or something like that, as that will make him even more ashamed.
Hua Cheng stared at him, smiled slightly, and said, "His Highness said that even if it hurts, he still wants to come see me. Even if it hurts like that, he doesn't want to leave."
“…”
Hua Cheng whispered, "I'm very happy."
Remembering how miserable he had looked when he'd said this to Hua Cheng, Xie Lian coughed softly and tried to cover his face with his hands, pretending to be calm. But Hua Cheng suddenly pulled him in, tightly enveloping him in his arms.
Xie Lian was stunned, and when he heard his deep voice, he pressed against his slightly shaking chest.
Hua Chengdao: "Really. I'm very happy."
“…”
I'm very happy too, Xie Lian thought to himself.
During the long hundred years, no matter how much pain it hurt, Huacheng never thought of giving up on him.
Xie Lian was the happiest when he discovered this.
The two hugged each other tightly, and Hua Cheng said, "But, although I am very happy, I don't want you to endure that kind of pain again."
●
The two returned to the ghost market. The ghosts, who had been apprehensive all day, were immediately overwhelmed by their unharmed return, turning from chaotic chaos into a frenzy of celebration. Hua Cheng, once again, ignored them completely and entered the Qiandeng Temple with Xie Lian. However, upon entering, they discovered a number of new items.
Hua Cheng said, "Who let them in?"
Xie Lian picked them up, examined them one by one, and said, "It seems to be a gift box? This is from Master Yu, right? Such fresh vegetables... Is this from Qingxuan?... Okay, this must be from General Pei..."
He nodded, becoming more and more delighted as he did so, smiling broadly, "Sanlang! Congratulations! This is everyone's birthday gift to His Excellency the Ghost King."
He was like a possessed man during those days, asking people everywhere what birthday gifts to give. Although he didn't say who it was for, probably no one could guess who it was for.
Hua Cheng, however, showed no interest in these things and said, "Brother, don't look at them. We'll throw them all away later. They take up space."
Seeing he was really planning to send someone to throw it away, Xie Lian hurriedly said, "Then let's not throw it away. It's a token of our appreciation after all... Wait, why are there these too? Who sent them?!" He had even spotted aphrodisiacs and fertility pills mixed in with the more serious gifts. He felt a sense of embarrassment and tossed them aside like a hot potato. Hua Cheng, however, seemed to be somewhat interested in these things and was about to pick them up to examine them. "Hmm? What are these?"
Xie Lian quickly stopped him: "It's not a good thing! Don't look at it!"
●
In the end, after some hesitation, Xie Lian gave the belt he had made to Hua Cheng to replace the longevity lock.
Hua Cheng watched, almost breathless with laughter—though ghosts didn't need to breathe. Anyway, he hugged him and kissed him for a long time, praising him nonstop until Xie Lian felt so ashamed that he lay on the bed pretending to be dead.
What made Xie Lian want to play dead even more was that the next morning, Hua Cheng actually wore the thing, looking his usual self as he prepared to go out. Xie Lian nearly fainted when he saw it. He immediately rolled off the bed and pleaded with Hua Cheng for a long time. Only then, with great reluctance, did Hua Cheng agree to let him use it in reverse, showing the unembroidered side to everyone. This way, Xie Lian avoided the public humiliation of his craftsmanship.
As for the huge commotion in Huacheng that day, everyone in heaven and on earth knew that Xie Lian had fainted on his birthday. After the whole story became clear, everyone in heaven and on earth knew that Xie Lian was completely bewitched by Xueyu Tanhua and was almost dead. But that’s a story for later!
(End of the book)
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