Xie Lian turned his head and looked at the dejected stone statue kneeling not far away. He said, "Qi Rong was right about one thing. I am quite a failure."
Hua Cheng replied calmly, "You believe the words of a useless person like Qi Rong? Besides being hard to kill and running fast, what else does he have to show for himself? Even after more than 800 years, he hasn't achieved anything significant. It's not even worth dirtying your hands to hit him."
Xie Lian tugged at the corners of his mouth, thinking to himself, isn't he the same? After over 800 years, he too has only become what he is now.
Originally, seeing Lang Qianqiu ascend as the Eastern Martial God and take a place among the heavenly officials, still the same straightforward person, still dozing off during boring meetings, Xie Lian felt quite comforted. However, from this moment on, who knows what changes Lang Qianqiu will go through? When he chases after Qi Rong and catches him, how will he resolve things with him?
Xie Lian stood up and slowly walked to the stone statue. Turning to its front, the face was indeed identical to his own, except it was carved with a crying expression, tears streaming down, the features twisted and unsightly. After staring at it for a while, Xie Lian sighed softly, placed his hand on its head, and channeled a force into it.
When he removed his hand, two cracks silently crept up the statue's cheeks, and soon, the crying face shattered. The statue collapsed, turning into countless small stones that fell to the ground, never to be pieced together again.
When Xie Lian turned around again, his face was once more calm and gentle. He rubbed his forehead and said, "There are probably still many living people hidden in Qi Rong's nest. I'll go find them and set them free."
Hua Cheng also stood up and said, "Let's go."
Earlier, during the chaos, the little blue lantern ghosts in Qi Rong's nest scattered in all directions. Those who didn't escape hid in the dark, not daring to come out. The two of them searched around, grabbing a few unlucky little ghosts and forcing them to lead the way. They found several caves used to store "fresh ingredients." Roughly counting, there were no less than three hundred people captured by Qi Rong, either villagers from nearby or travelers passing through.
As they walked, they opened the cell doors, releasing the trapped people. While doing this, Xie Lian calmed his mind a bit. Now that he had the time, he chatted with Hua Cheng and said, "By the way, San Lang, there's something I've been meaning to ask you."
Hua Cheng replied, "What is it?"
Xie Lian asked, "How did you know it was Qi Rong behind the incident with the Gilded Hall?"
Even if he didn't know at first why Hua Cheng brought him and Lang Qianqiu to the Green Ghost's nest, he knew now. Hua Cheng's purpose was to let Lang Qianqiu hear Qi Rong confess the truth about the Gilded Hall incident.
Xie Lian said, "I was involved in the matter of Fang Xin, but Qi Rong didn't know. If he did, he would have come to harass me long ago. Back then, even though I discovered the old Celestial Music royal family was secretly active, I didn't know Qi Rong was the one behind it. How did you know? How long have you known?"
"Not long," Hua Cheng said, walking alongside him with his hands behind his back. "I've dealt with Qi Rong a few times and know his background. Qi Rong was from Celestial Music in life and harbored extreme hatred for Eternal Peace. He was used to sowing discord and stirring up trouble. The several major assassinations against the royal family and nobility of Eternal Peace were orchestrated by him from behind the scenes, but he hid it well."
Xie Lian shook his head and said, "So he has a history. If he hadn't hidden it well, and the people in the Heavenly Court found out he was meddling in human affairs, they wouldn't have let him off."
Hua Cheng said, "The massacre at the Gilded Hall fits his usual style, so I've always believed he was the mastermind behind it, and that the Fang Xin national teacher was his person. However, Lang Qianqiu identified the Fang Xin national teacher as you in the Heavenly Court, so Fang Xin and Qi Rong couldn't be on the same side."
Xie Lian's steps slowed slightly. It seemed that even though Hua Cheng wasn't in the heavenly realm, he was well aware of what happened in the Divine Martial Hall. Moreover, he was very clear about the history and grievances between Xie Lian and Qi Rong.
Hua Cheng continued, "But I still tend to believe that Qi Rong was the instigator, or at least he was the first to act. The ordinary remnants of Celestial Music, after Lang Qianqiu's father ascended the throne, had their situation greatly improved and were no longer as vengeful as before.
The only ones who might still want to rebel were the Celestial Music royal family. At that time, the only remaining descendant of the Celestial Music royal family was a Prince of Peace. If Qi Rong wanted to incite someone to cause trouble, it would definitely be him.
Coincidentally, this person mysteriously died of illness shortly after the Gilded Banquet, even though he had no history of illness. Isn't this obviously suspicious?"
Xie Lian nodded. Hua Cheng said, "So he was most likely killed, and the reason for the murder is related to the Gilded Banquet. The initial assumption was that it was done by the Eternal Peace royal family, but if it were them, the remnants of Celestial Music would have suffered as a result, which didn't happen. After thinking it over, this is the only conclusion I could come to."
Xie Lian smiled and sighed, "With so few clues, yet you managed to deduce it so accurately."
Hua Cheng said, "It's not difficult. It's just a matter of having enough understanding of the people involved beforehand."
Xie Lian said, "You do seem to know them well. But there's one important premise in your deduction that I don't quite understand."
Hua Cheng asked, "Which one?"
Xie Lian said, "Why are you so sure that Qi Rong was the first to act in the Gilded Banquet?"
Hua Cheng said, "It's not that I'm sure he did it. I'm just sure it wasn't you."
Hearing this, Xie Lian's smile faded.
After a moment of silence, he asked, "Why?"
Hua Cheng said, "If you admitted to the massacre at the Gilded Banquet for another reason, then maybe it was indeed you, and I would believe it. But the ruler of Eternal Peace is diligent and loved by the people, and Lang Qianqiu said that you told him the reason was 'you couldn't stand seeing them sit in that position.'"
He continued, "That's a typical usurper's declaration. But if it came from you, it would be a clumsy self-defamation."
Hearing the words "self-defamation," Xie Lian smiled silently and said, "Self-defamation? Haven't you considered that maybe I really felt that way deep down? Maybe I did harbor some resentment?"
Hua Cheng said, "So what if you did? You wouldn't act on it."
Xie Lian closed his mouth tightly. After a while, he said, "San Lang, I'm not exactly the person you think I am."
"You—" He closed his eyes and shook his head, as if unsure whether to speak. Hua Cheng said, "Go ahead, it's fine."
After hesitating for a while, Xie Lian finally said, "I just think that in this world, it's better not to have too much hope in anyone."
Hua Cheng replied, "Oh? What do you mean by 'too much hope'?"
Xie Lian said, "Don't imagine someone to be too perfect. If you never interact with them and only see a distant, imaginary shadow, then it's fine. But if you get to know them, as time goes on, you'll eventually find that they're not what you imagined, maybe even the complete opposite. At that point, you'll be very disappointed."
Hua Cheng said, "Not necessarily. Whether others are disappointed or not doesn't concern me. But for some people, the mere existence of someone in this world is hope."
Although he didn't specify who "some people" or "someone" referred to, and his tone was calm as if he was just casually refuting, Xie Lian's heart suddenly felt light and buoyant.
He stopped in his tracks, unable to speak for a while. After a moment, he suddenly asked, "San Lang, who are you really?"
Hua Cheng also stopped and looked back at him.
Xie Lian met his gaze and said seriously, "You know who Qi Rong is and understand his background. You know who I am and can draw the Crown Prince's Divine Harmony Picture. You know a lot about me. Maybe even more."
Hua Cheng raised an eyebrow and said, "Haven't I always known a lot?"
Xie Lian shook his head and said, "It's different."
He supported his right elbow with his left hand and rubbed his chin with his right, slightly lost in thought. He said, "I always have this feeling that you are an old acquaintance of mine. Maybe you've known me since my first ascension, or maybe even earlier. But... I really don't remember meeting someone like you before."
Someone like Hua Cheng, once met, would never be forgotten. Xie Lian hadn't suffered a head injury or lost his memory; if he had met him, there was no reason he wouldn't remember.
Xie Lian gazed at him, slightly puzzled, and asked, "Who are you really? Have I met you before?"
Hua Cheng didn't answer, only smiled slightly. Xie Lian immediately realized that this question was indeed very inappropriate.
A ghost's true name is usually a secret. Unless it's someone like Qi Rong, who can't be understood by common sense, there's no reason to casually tell others.
He quickly said, "I'm sorry, don't mind me. I was just asking casually. You don't have to answer me, and it doesn't matter who you are."
Just then, Hua Cheng's eyes narrowed slightly. Xie Lian sensed something and turned to look. They heard a commotion coming from a cave not far behind them, followed by a clear female voice saying, "I told you, transforming into a female form not only increased my spiritual power but also improved my luck! You wouldn't believe me, but look, I was right this time!"
It was Shi Qingxuan's voice. Xie Lian blurted out, "Wind Master!"
Sure enough, a woman in white Taoist robes ran out of the cave. When she saw Xie Lian, her eyes lit up, and she said, "Found him, the Crown Prince is here!"
However, she immediately noticed Hua Cheng behind Xie Lian, her face changed, and she jumped back, holding the Wind Master's fan in front of her. Before Xie Lian could speak, a male voice came from the cave, saying, "Did you find him? How is it?"
Footsteps approached, and a figure flashed out. It was Feng Xin. He held a black longbow in his left hand, and upon seeing Hua Cheng, he immediately drew the silver-white bowstring, assuming a defensive stance. Hua Cheng chuckled softly, making no comment. Xie Lian quickly said, "Let's talk it over, put the weapons away first."
The four of them met in the narrow confines of the Green Ghost's lair, facing each other. Feng Xin pulled the bowstring taut, a thread of spiritual light forming into an arrow shape in his right hand, aiming at Hua Cheng. He spoke first, in a deep voice, "Crown Prince, come over here."
Feng Xin's bow was a gift from Emperor Jun Wu, called the Wind God Bow, a troublesome magical weapon. Fearing he might actually shoot, Xie Lian moved to shield Hua Cheng, but Hua Cheng pulled him back.
This pull startled the two newcomers. Shi Qingxuan immediately raised her hand and said, "Hua Cheng! Blood Rain Seeker! Don't do anything rash. The Elysium Pavilion burned down accidentally. If you have any grievances, we can discuss it. The Heavenly Court can compensate you. The Emperor can afford it. Let the Crown Prince go, and everything can be settled."