The young boy seemed unaware of what "White-Clad Calamity" meant and just looked at Xie Lian in confusion. Suddenly, he let out a loud "Ah!" because Xie Lian had unknowingly grabbed his shoulder tightly. Realizing this, Xie Lian quickly let go and apologized, "Sorry."
Hua Cheng said in a deep voice, "You're too tired. You should rest first."
As soon as he finished speaking, two young women gracefully entered through a small side door of the hall and took the boy away. The boy kept looking back, and Xie Lian reassured him, "It's okay, I'll come find you later."
Hua Cheng turned to Xie Lian and said, "You should sit down and rest for now. Don't see him for the time being. If you want to know anything, I'll get him to talk."
The phrase "get him to talk" sounded a bit harsh, so Xie Lian quickly said, "No need. If he can't say anything, then let it be. Let's take it slow."
Hua Cheng sat down next to him and asked, "What do you plan to do with this boy?"
Xie Lian thought for a moment and said, "I'll keep him by my side for now and see how it goes."
Hua Cheng suggested, "He's a ghost, not a human. You might as well leave him in the Ghost City. I won't mind having one more mouth to feed."
Xie Lian replied, "San Lang, thank you. But... I want to keep him with me not just to take care of him."
The Ghost City was indeed Hua Cheng's territory. If he was willing to protect the boy, no one would dare harm him or let him go hungry. However, the most important thing was to slowly guide this boy, helping him clear his mind and speech so he could become more normal.
The Ghost City, though lively, was filled with chaos and wasn't suitable for this purpose. Besides himself, Xie Lian couldn't think of anyone else who would have the patience to guide this boy. He said, "You've already done me a great favor by finding him.
I can't trouble you with anything more."
Hua Cheng didn't seem to agree but didn't say much more. He just said, "It's no trouble. If you need anything while you're here, just let me know. Go wherever you want."
Suddenly, Xie Lian noticed something strange. The curved blade at Hua Cheng's waist seemed to have changed somehow.
Looking down, he was surprised to see that the handle of the blade was carved with a silver eye. The pattern of the eye was just a few simple silver lines, yet it was lifelike, as if it had a soul. He hadn't noticed it before because the eye had been closed, forming a single line. But now it was open, revealing a ruby-like pupil that rolled around.
Hua Cheng noticed it too and said in a deep voice, "Brother, I need to step out for a bit. I'll be right back."
Xie Lian asked, "An alarm? Could it be the Wind Master and Qianqiu appearing in the Ghost City?" He wanted to get up as well, "I'll go take a look too."
However, Hua Cheng gently pressed him back down and said, "Don't worry, it's not Prince Taihua and the others. Just sit here, no need to go."
Since Hua Cheng said so, Xie Lian didn't insist on going. Hua Cheng turned and walked out of the hall, waving his hand from afar, causing the bead curtain to part automatically. Once he left, the beads clattered back together with a crisp sound.
Xie Lian sat quietly on the black jade couch for a moment, then stood up, remembering his purpose for being there. He walked through the small door where the two young women had exited and found himself in a garden. The garden was crisscrossed with red corridors and was completely empty.
As Xie Lian was wondering where to go, he saw a black figure quickly flash by.
That figure was the Lower Moon Officer!
Recalling the curse shackle on his wrist, Xie Lian was quite concerned. Observing the person's movements, it seemed they were very cautious about being discovered. So, Xie Lian silently followed.
He trailed the person around a corner, sticking close to the wall, and peeked around. The person was indeed moving quickly, constantly checking their surroundings, clearly wary of being spotted. Xie Lian thought, "This Lower Moon Officer should be one of San Lang's subordinates. Why is he acting so sneaky on San Lang's territory?"
Suspecting that the person might have ill intentions, Xie Lian concealed himself and continued to follow. The Lower Moon Officer took several twists and turns, and Xie Lian kept his breath steady, staying three or four meters behind.
They turned into a long corridor, which ended with a grand door. Xie Lian thought, "If he turns around now, there's nowhere to hide."
Just as he thought this, the Lower Moon Officer paused and looked back.
When the person stopped, Xie Lian knew it wasn't good. In a moment of desperation, Ruoye flew out, wrapped around the wooden beams above, and lifted him high up, sticking him to the ceiling.
The Lower Moon Officer didn't see anyone when he looked back and didn't think to look up, so he turned and continued on.
However, Xie Lian didn't dare lower himself too quickly. He maintained his position on the ceiling, silently moving forward, feeling like a gecko. Fortunately, the person didn't go much further and stopped in front of the grand door. Xie Lian stopped as well, watching to see what would happen.
In front of the small building's door stood a statue of a graceful woman. From Xie Lian's angle, he could see her round head and the round jade plate she was holding. But instead of opening the door, the Lower Moon Officer turned to the statue and tossed something into the jade plate. There was a "ding dong" sound, and Xie Lian guessed, "Dice?"
He had heard this sound many times today and wouldn't forget it for a long time. Sure enough, when the Lower Moon Officer moved his hand, there were two dice in the jade plate, both showing six red dots.
Only then did the Lower Moon Officer put away the dice and open the door to go inside. The door wasn't locked, and after he entered, he closed it without locking or latching it. After waiting for a moment, Xie Lian floated down like a piece of paper, studying the door.
Logically, this room wasn't large, so any activity inside should make some noise. However, after the Lower Moon Officer closed the door, there was no sound at all. Xie Lian decisively pushed the door open.
Sure enough, the room was empty, looking like an ordinary lavish room. The furnishings were clear at a glance, with no hidden passages.
Xie Lian closed the door and thoughtfully looked at the statue and the jade plate.
It seemed the secret lay in the two dice in the jade plate.
The room was locked, but not with a physical lock, rather a magical one.
To open this lock, one needed a key or a passphrase. Rolling two sixes with the dice in the plate would reveal the true destination.
However, rolling two sixes on the spot was nearly impossible. Xie Lian could only sigh at the door, pacing for a while before heading back. After walking a bit, he suddenly stopped. A tall figure in red approached, with a long silver curved blade at his waist—it was Hua Cheng.
He crossed his arms and said while walking, "Brother, you made it hard for me to find you."
He looked the same as when he left, but now the curved blade was unsheathed, hanging alongside the scabbard on his bright red robe, clinking as he walked, very audacious. The eye on the blade's handle was closed again. Xie Lian calmly said, "I was going to check on that boy, but your place is so big, I took a wrong turn."
He initially wanted to tell Hua Cheng about the encounter but held back.
He had come to the Ghost City to investigate the missing god official. Every strange clue couldn't be ignored. Perhaps the missing official was hidden in that room.
He needed to find a way to get through that door. If the two matters were unrelated, he would immediately inform Hua Cheng of his subordinate's suspicious actions; if they were related...
Hua Cheng led him back while saying, "If you want to see him, I'll have someone bring him over. No need to go yourself."
Probably because he felt guilty, Xie Lian's tone softened when speaking to Hua Cheng, "Hmm... you finished things so quickly?"
Hua Cheng replied, "Yes, it's done. It was just a bunch of useless troublemakers making a scene."
Hearing him call them "useless," a familiar tone, Xie Lian guessed, "Was it the green ghost Qi Rong causing trouble?"
Hua Cheng laughed, "Exactly. Like I said, everyone has their eyes on my place. That useless guy has been eyeing the Ghost City for years, but all he can do is dream about it. He's so envious that he often sends even more useless troublemakers to cause chaos. It's nothing new. Don't mind it. I actually have a place I want to show you. Would you do me the honor of coming with me?"
Xie Lian happily agreed, "Of course."
The two walked through several corridors, and Hua Cheng led him to a grand hall.
The hall's door seemed to be made of steel, carved with fierce beasts, intimidating to behold. Hua Cheng approached, and the beasts parted, opening the door. Before Xie Lian even entered, he felt a wave of killing intent, and the veins on his hand stood out, with Ruoye ready to act.
However, upon seeing the situation inside, he blinked, his defensive stance dropping instantly, and his legs carried him inside.
Inside the hall, the walls were lined with all sorts of weapons: swords, spears, shields, whips, hammers... it was an armory!
No matter who you are, as long as you're a man, being surrounded by all kinds of weapons would feel like heaven, making your blood boil. Xie Lian was no exception, his eyes wide with excitement. The last time he looked like this was in Jun Wu's armory.
His face remained calm, but inside, he was thrilled, so much so that he stuttered, "Can... can I touch them?"
Hua Cheng laughed, "Brother, feel free."
Xie Lian's hand reached out, lingering among the various weapons and treasures, deeply engrossed, "These... are all treasures! This sword is excellent, a must in a battle against many; this sword is also great! Wait, this knife is..."
Hua Cheng leaned against the door, watching Xie Lian's flushed face and reluctance to let go, "Brother, what do you think?"
Xie Lian was so absorbed in the weapons that he didn't even turn his head, "What do you mean?"
Hua Cheng asked, "Do you like them?"
Xie Lian replied, "I do."
Hua Cheng continued, "Do you like them a lot?"
Xie Lian answered, "I like them a lot!"
Hua Cheng seemed to chuckle, but Xie Lian didn't notice, his heart racing as he drew a gleaming four-foot-long sword from its scabbard, marveling at it. Hua Cheng said, "Brother, is there one you fancy?"
Xie Lian, glowing with admiration, praised, "I like them all."
Hua Cheng said, "I initially thought you didn't have a suitable weapon, so if you find one here you like, just take it. But since you said you like them all, I'll give them all to you."
Xie Lian quickly said, "No, no, no, there's no need. I don't need a weapon."
Hua Cheng said, "Really? But I see you clearly like swords."
Xie Lian replied, "Liking something doesn't mean I have to have it. I haven't used one in years, just seeing them makes me happy. Besides, if you give them all to me, I have nowhere to put them."
Hua Cheng said, "That's simple. I'll give you this room too."
Xie Lian thought he was joking, smiling, "I can't take such a big room with me."
Hua Cheng said, "No need to take it. I'll give you the land too. You can come and see them whenever you want."
Xie Lian said, "Forget it, forget it. An armory needs regular cleaning and maintenance. I'm afraid I won't take good care of them."
He carefully placed the sword back on the rack, reminiscing, "I used to have an armory like this, but it got burned down. These weapons are rare treasures, San Lang, you must cherish them."
Hua Cheng said, "That's easy. I can help you clean the armory when I'm free."
Xie Lian laughed, "I can't afford to hire you. How can I ask the Ghost King to do chores for me?"
Suddenly, he remembered Jun Wu's warning before he left: "The demonic blade E'ming, a cursed blade, an ominous weapon. Such an evil weapon requires extremely cruel sacrifices and bloody determination to forge. Don't touch it or get hurt by it. The consequences are unpredictable."
Thinking about it, Xie Lian still said, "But, San Lang, these weapons probably can't compare to your curved blade E'ming, right?"
Hua Cheng raised his left eyebrow, "Oh? Brother, have you heard of it? My blade."
Xie Lian said, "I've heard a little."
Hua Cheng chuckled, "I guess it's not good things you've heard. Did someone tell you my blade was forged using evil blood rituals, with live sacrifices?"
As always, extremely perceptive. Xie Lian said, "Not really. Everyone has some bad rumors, but not everyone believes them. May I have the honor of seeing the legendary curved blade E'ming?"
Hua Cheng said, "Brother, you've actually seen it already."
He took a few steps toward Xie Lian and said softly, "Look, Brother, this is E'ming."
The eye on the handle of the blade at his waist rolled towards Xie Lian. Whether it was an illusion or not, Xie Lian felt that the silver eye seemed to squint slightly.