In the darkness, Xie Lian's pupils instantly shrank to tiny dots. He trembled and said, "...It's you?!"
White without form!
Xie Lian's hair stood on end. He leaped to his feet, reaching for his sword but missing. Then he remembered that all his swords had been pawned long ago. Even the branch he'd used as a weapon had been severed. In other words, he was now powerless and unarmed, yet he faced this thing!
A few years ago, after the downfall of Xianle, Bai Wuxiang vanished from the world. Xie Lian hadn't looked for him, nor had he considered it, simply hoping he would disappear without a trace, never to be seen again. Who could have known this thing would suddenly appear before him today?
The figure in white slowly approached him, and Xie Lian felt a chill in his heart. He couldn't help but take two steps back, but then he realized: I can't retreat! There's no point in running away!
He snapped, "What do you want?!"
Bai Wuxiang didn't answer, but continued to approach with his hands behind his back. Xie Lian's hands and feet were trembling, as was the white air that flowed from his lips.
He forced himself to recall the faces of the more than thirty priests, some mocking, some indifferent, and some laughing, as well as Mu Qing's turned profile. Suddenly, he forgot his fear, shouted, and chopped down with a palm!
However, before the palm strike reached him, a sharp pain hit him. The opponent had anticipated Xie Lian's move, dodging behind him and kicking him in the knee!
Too fast!
Xie Lian's knees had already fallen heavily to the ground with a thud when this terrifying thought popped into his mind.
This thing's movements were actually faster than his thinking!
The next moment, Xie Lian felt something even more terrifying—a cold hand with five fingers spread out wide, covering the top of his head!
He screamed, and the hand exerted a slight force, lifting his head and body together. Xie Lian had no doubt that with the force of this thing, if those five fingers were to close together, they could crush his skull, turning his head into a bloody mess of flesh and bone in an instant. He also had no doubt that Bai Wuxiang's next move after grabbing him was to do just that!
Xie Lian gasped for air, feeling certain death, and squeezed his eyes shut. Unexpectedly, the thing behind him showed no sign of continuing to push. Instead, it withdrew its murderous aura and sighed softly.
After this soft sigh, the other party remained silent for a long moment. In the dead silence, Xie Lian slowly opened his eyes.
The sky was filled with will-o'-the-wisps dancing wildly in ecstasy, each flame a laughing, watching spirits. However, the vast majority of the will-o'-the-wisps seemed frightened by something, not daring to approach the two of them. Only one, exceptionally bright, hovered above them, lashing its flames repeatedly and violently at the person behind Xie Lian. It was unclear what it was doing, but it looked like a mayfly trying to shake a tree.
Suddenly, Xie Lian’s body stiffened.
Bai Wuxiang actually hugged him.
Xie Lian knelt crookedly on the ground, held in a lifeless embrace by a pair of cold yet strong hands.
Bai Wuxiang sat down at some point and murmured, "Poor thing, poor thing. Your Highness, look at what you've become."
He murmured softly as he stroked Xie Lian's head, his movements gentle and compassionate, as if he were stroking a wounded puppy or his own seriously ill and dying child.
Under the moonlight, the half smiling face, which was both sad and happy, was hidden in the darkness, leaving only the half crying face, as if it was sincerely crying for Xie Lian.
Xie Lian shrank stiffly, motionless. The man in white behind him raised his finger and wiped the dirty mud off his face.
Xie Lian actually felt a strange sense of kindness in his actions. It was like being in the arms of a best friend, a familiar family member. His shivering body miraculously warmed up a little.
Unexpectedly, in such a situation, the thing that gave him such kindness and warmth was such a strange thing.
Xie Lian let out suppressed sobs, and his trembling intensified. The will-o'-the-wisp flew towards his heart, as if trying to warm him, but unsure if it could dispel the cold, it didn't dare get any closer.
Bai Wuxiang helped him wipe the mud off his body and said, "Come over to me."
“…” Xie Lian trembled, “I…I…”
Before he could finish his sentence, he suddenly stretched out his palm and attacked Bai Wuxiang's mask!
The surprise attack was successful, and the mask was knocked high into the air by his palm. Xie Lian had already jumped several feet away. The fear he had just shown was gone, and he shouted in a deep voice, "Who wants to go to your side, you... monster!"
The pale face of sorrow and joy fell to the ground, and the will-o'-the-wisps in the sky seemed to be petrified, suddenly losing their order, dancing wildly and screaming silently. Bai Wuxiang covered his face with his hands and laughed softly.
Xie Lian's hair stood on end when he heard that smile. "What are you laughing at?"
Bai Wuxiang snorted softly and said, "You will come to my side."
His tone was firm. Xie Lian didn't understand what he meant. He said in disbelief, "Which side are you on? You destroyed Xianle and you want me to go to your side? Are you crazy? Are you sick?"
He didn't curse. Even when furious, he would only utter those few words. Otherwise, he would curse this thing with the most vicious and venting words in the world. Bai Wuxiang laughed heartily, covered his face with his hands, and raised his head and said, "You will come. In this world, no one except me will truly understand you, and no one will be with you forever."
Xie Lian felt a chill in his heart, but he still retorted, "Get lost! Stop your self-righteous nonsense. Just because you say there's no one, does that mean there's no one?"
A ball of will-o'-the-wisp flew to his side, flickering up and down as if nodding in agreement. But with these uncanny creatures everywhere, Xie Lian didn't notice this one.
Over there, Bai Wuxiang said gently, "Oh? Is there anyone here? There were people here before, do you think there will be any more in the future?"
“…”
Xie Lian asked, "What do you mean? What are you hinting at?"
Bai Wuxiang did not answer, but turned around with a cold smile, as if he was about to leave.
He whispered, "I'll be waiting here for you, Your Highness."
Xie Lian couldn't just let him go like that. He said, "Wait! Don't leave! What did you do to them? Did you touch my father, the queen mother, and Feng Xin?!"
He chased after him and reached out to grab the figure in white, but the other person flicked his sleeves lightly and grabbed a ball of ghost fire with his backhand.
He didn't specifically attack Xie Lian, but Xie Lian felt a terrifying force surge up from him, sending him flying high into the air and crashing into a tree. With a resounding thud, the tree, so large it took two men to hug, collapsed beneath his weight!
In the past, Xie Lian would not have even frowned even if he had knocked over ten trees like this, but now he was a mortal, and after such a collision, his bones felt like they were about to fall apart. He fell heavily to the ground and fainted.
In the last moment before closing his eyes, he seemed to see the figure in white reaching out a hand, holding a ball of blazing ghost fire in his palm, and said with a smile: "Ghost, tell me, what is your name? This is so interesting..."
When I woke up, everything was gone.
Xie Lian was upside down, his chest and mouth filled with the stench of blood. He was disoriented for a long time before suddenly rolling to his feet, mumbling, "...Father! Mother! Feng Xin!"
He remembered what had happened before he fell into a coma, and did not dare to delay for a moment. He ran for dozens of miles and finally returned to the hiding place of the king and others late one night more than 20 days after he packed his bags and left.
Xie Lian was terrified and anxious all the way, fearing that Bai Wuxiang had already murdered his family and friends. Upon returning to the shabby house, he flung open the door, barely catching his breath as he cried out, "Father! Mother! Feng Xin!"
Fortunately, the house was not in the miserable state he had imagined. Even the things were not in disarray. It was still the same as before he left.
Xie Lian ran furiously for dozens of miles, wounded all over. His throat was dry and choking. Relieved, he swallowed hard and continued walking inside, saying, "Feng Xin! Are you guys..."
As soon as he pushed open the door, his throat became stuck. Feng Xin was inside the room. Seeing Xie Lian return, he asked curiously, "Your Highness! Why are you back?"
However, Xie Lian didn't look at him, but instead stared at the person opposite him. Opposite Feng Xin stood a man in black.
It's admiration.
Mu Qing turned around and saw him, pursed her lips, and her face didn't look too good. Feng Xin walked around him and came to meet him, saying, "Didn't you go to practice? How's it going? I thought you were going to be gone for several months. You're back so early, is there any major progress?"
Xie Lian stared at Mu Qing and asked, "Where are my father, the emperor, and my mother?"
Feng Xin said, "He's asleep in the house and has already laid down to rest. Why are your clothes so dirty? What's wrong with the wound on your face? Who did you fight with?"
Xie Lian didn't answer. He was finally relieved to hear his parents were safe and sound. He asked Mu Qing, "Why are you here?"
Mu Qing didn't say anything, so Feng Xin answered for him: "He came to deliver something."
Xie Lian asked, “What is that?”
Mu Qing raised his hand slightly and pointed to the side. He was pointing to a few clean bags, probably filled with rice.
Seeing Xie Lian remain silent, Mu Qing whispered, "I heard you're short on medicine. I'll try to get some later."
Feng Xin said, "Alright, thanks in advance. I'm in need of these right now. Priests can't give gifts to mortals without permission, so be careful." He leaned closer to Xie Lian and whispered, "I'm surprised he came back to help. I was wrong about him before. Anyway..." Xie Lian suddenly said, "No need."
Mu Qing's face darkened and he clenched his fists. Feng Xin asked curiously, "What do you mean you don't need it?"
Xie Lian said word by word, "I don't need your help. I also... don't want your things. Please leave."
Hearing the words "please leave", Mu Qing's face became even more gloomy.
Feng Xin also noticed something was wrong and asked, "What happened?"
Mu Qing lowered his head and said, "I'm sorry."
Having known Mu Qing for so many years, this was the first time he had heard him utter those three words, and the first time he had seen him apologize sincerely. However, Xie Lian was no longer in the mood to be surprised and said, "Please leave!"
He lost control of his emotions, grabbed the bags, and threw them at Mu Qing. The white rice scattered all over the floor, and Mu Qing was embarrassed by him, but he just raised his hand to block it and remained patient. Feng Xin grabbed Xie Lian and said in shock, "Your Highness! What happened? What did he do?! Didn't you go to practice?! What happened in the meantime?!"
Xie Lian was pulled back by him, his eyes red as he said, “… Ask him. I went to practice, so why did I come back? Ask him!”
The noise outside was so loud that the queen, who was already asleep in the room, was awakened. She came out, dressed in her clothes, and said, "My prince, are you back? What happened to you..." Feng Xin hurriedly said, "It's okay! Your Majesty, please come in!" He pushed her back in, closed the door, and demanded, "What did you do? Mu Qing, what on earth did you do?! Your Highness, did he give you that wound on your face?!"
Xie Lian's breathing became increasingly rapid and erratic, and he was completely speechless. Mu Qing said, "It wasn't me! I didn't hit His Highness, I just told him to leave. Apart from that, I didn't say a single harsh word, nor did I attack him! They're determined to take that sacred land. If you don't leave, there's no way you can stop it!"
"you!……"
In a few words, Feng Xin finally understood what was happening. He opened his eyes wide, pointed at Mu Qing, and couldn't say a word. After a while, he bent down, grabbed the cloth bag on the ground, and threw it in his face, roaring, "Get out! Get out, get out, get out!"
Mu Qing was hit in the face by the rice bag he brought with him and took two steps back. The three people in the room were breathing heavily. Feng Xin said, "I was wondering why you suddenly changed your ways? I'm so fucked, this fucking... don't let me see you again!"
Mu Qing said hoarsely, "Yes! I was wrong, I admit it, I apologize! But I want to solve the current problem first, then talk about other things! If I don't go back to the lower heaven, everyone will be doomed! Your parents and my mother, the three of us, don't know how long we will struggle in the mud! If I go back first, there will still be a chance..."
Feng Xin cursed, "That's all bullshit! Stop talking nonsense! No one wants to listen to your excuses. Get out of here!"
Mu Qing said, "If we were in each other's shoes..." Feng Xin interrupted him, "I told you to stop talking nonsense! I won't listen! I just know that no matter what the situation, I would never do the same thing as you. There's no need to switch places. You're just being ungrateful!"
Mu Qing's face turned green. He took a step forward and said, "Your Highness was also forced to rob when he was in trouble. Why can't you put yourself in my shoes?"
Feng Xin snorted, "Huh? Robbery? Who robbed? Your Highness robbed? What the hell are you talking about?"
“…”
Xie Lian suffocated.
Seeing Feng Xin's furious expression gradually turn into astonishment, Mu Qing finally realized something was wrong. He turned hesitantly to Xie Lian and said, "You...you didn't...?"
He also didn't expect that Xie Lian didn't tell Feng Xin about this!
“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!”
Xie Lian went crazy, picked up something at random and chased Mu Qing out. Mu Qing also realized that he might have caused a big mess, and dared not say a word after being beaten several times. But when he ran outside, he saw that the thing Xie Lian used to hit him was actually a broom. His face darkened again and he said, "You can't mock me like this, right?!"
Xie Lian collapsed and said, “Get lost!”
He threw a powerful punch, and Mu Qing was hit by it, barely dodging it, leaving a trace of blood on his face. He reached out and touched the blood on his hand, his expression fluctuating. After a while, he said, "...Okay. I'm leaving."
Xie Lian trembled all over, bending deeply at the waist. Mu Qing took a few steps, but still placed the rice bag on the ground and said, "I'm really leaving."
Xie Lian raised his head suddenly. Mu Qing saw his eyes and moved his throat. He no longer hesitated and left with a flick of his sleeves.
Feng Xin, who was stunned inside, finally chased out and said, "Your Highness! What the hell is this robbery?"
Xie Lian covered his forehead and said, “…Don’t ask anymore, Feng Xin, I beg you not to ask.”
Feng Xin said: "No, of course I don't believe it, I just want to know what's going on..."
Xie Lian screamed, covered his ears, fled into the house, and locked himself in.
Feng Xin truly believed that he would never do such a thing. But because of this, the situation became the worst!
Xie Lian wanted to run away, to a place where no one knew him, but he remembered what Bai Wuxiang had said and didn't dare go too far. He could only lock himself in the room. No matter how Feng Xin and the Queen called out to him, he refused to come out.
It wasn't until two days later that Xie Lian felt a little calmer. When Feng Xin knocked on the door again, he silently opened it. Feng Xin stood at the doorway, holding a plate and said, "This is what Her Majesty the Queen made for you this morning. She told me to bring it to you."
The contents of the plate were bluish-purple in color, frightening to the eye. Feng Xin added, "If your Highness is worried about your life, I'll help you out. I won't tell Her Majesty the Queen, haha."
It was obvious that Feng Xin still wanted to ask what the robbery was all about, but he was afraid that Xie Lian would lock him up again, so he had to suppress it, pretending that nothing had happened and not asking, pretending to be relaxed. But he was not good at joking, and his jokes were dry and embarrassing.
Honestly, his mother's cooking tasted horrible. And the more often she cooked, the more attentive she became, the more she progressed in a direction she shouldn't have. Xie Lian had never cooked before, but his cooking tasted delicious. Apparently, it could only be explained by a natural talent. Despite this, Xie Lian took the plate and sat at the table, eating obediently. Anyway, he couldn't taste anything right now.
It was a blessing in disguise. Although he'd thought he was doomed that night, having been overheard, based on the past few days, it seemed the king and queen were unaware of his robbery. Otherwise, with the king's temper, he would have scolded him profusely. Feng Xin certainly wouldn't tell them, so he could rest easy for the time being.
Thinking of this, Feng Xin suddenly stood up, startling Xie Lian awake and asking, "What are you doing?"
Feng Xin took the bow and said, "It's time to go out and perform."
Xie Lian stood up and said, "I'll go too."
After hesitating for a moment, Feng Xin said, "Forget it, you should take a rest."
Although Feng Xin didn't press the issue further, Xie Lian felt a pang of discomfort. He felt that after Feng Xin knew about this, something between them would never be undone. Every word and every look from Feng Xin seemed to hold a hidden meaning, worthy of further investigation. Xie Lian shook his head, sighed, and said, "To be honest, I don't have the heart to cultivate right now."
Feng Xin had expected this, and he lowered his head, unsure what to say. Xie Lian continued, "In that case, instead of sitting around boredom-stricken, why not go out and perform? At least you can earn some money, and not look like a..."
Not like a useless person.
For some reason, he couldn't utter the last two words. Perhaps it was because he truly felt that he was a useless person, so he didn't dare to utter these two words easily.
Feng Xin was still a little worried and said, "I can do it alone. Your Highness, you just had a meal these past two days. You should rest for a few more days."
The more he said this, the more anxious Xie Lian became to prove himself. He turned around, looked in the mirror, and said, "It's okay. I'll just tidy it up..."
He originally wanted to tidy up his appearance, at least not look so messy like a beggar or a madman, but who knew that he saw an extremely horrifying picture in the mirror.
The man in the mirror actually had no face - because the face reflected in it was a half-crying, half-smiling expression of sadness and joy.
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