Xie Lian's anger was boundless. He pulled the sword from his chest, ready to strike again, but noticed there wasn't a drop of blood on it. In an instant, a realization flashed in his mind. Turning the blade around, he swiftly cut off the white-clad youth's head. It was effortless, but once separated, the head and body swiftly deflated into a flat husk.
This body was nothing but an empty shell!
Both times he had encountered this entity; it was using a false body. The real one never showed up. Though it wasn't surprising, Xie Lian was still furious. He stabbed the limp head and body with his sword repeatedly. The sharp sword qi easily shredded the husk, yet his anger was not quelled. Feng Xin, unable to stand it any longer, stopped him, saying, "Your Highness! This is just a shell."
However, this shell looked exactly like Xie Lian when he was younger. It seemed as if Xie Lian was ruthlessly slaughtering himself, making the scene rather unsettling. Panting, Xie Lian dropped the sword and sat down on the ground, saying, “I know! But how dare he use my face!”
He was truly enraged, and the two of them squatted in front of him silently. After a moment, Feng Xin asked, "Your Highness, feeling any better? Just ignore what that thing said, it’s all nonsense."
Unexpectedly, Xie Lian replied, "No, he did say something that wasn’t entirely nonsense, just…”
Feng Xin was taken aback. "Did he really tell you how to lift the curse?!"
Xie Lian dug his right hand into his hair. "He didn’t tell me how to cure the human face plague. He told me how to create it!"
Both were astonished. "Create?"
Xie Lian nodded, looking around, deciding it was best not to stay on Peizi Hill any longer. He didn’t want to see the soldiers' avoiding eyes or hear the sick's howls and complaints. So, he returned to his long-abandoned Crown Prince's sleeping chambers in the palace.
Behind closed doors, Xie Lian forced himself to calm down and said, "Those 'human faces' that grow on people are all the souls of the dead from the Eternal Peace Kingdom. Some died on the battlefield, but most perished in the great drought."
Mu Qing wasn’t surprised and said, “No wonder Eternal Peace people are immune to the human face plague; they won’t attack their own kind.”
Feng Xin frowned. "Those who died in the drought weren't killed by people from the capital, so why take their grievances out on us?”
Xie Lian sighed. "It's true, but you know, when someone dies, their soul goes through a period of confusion."
When a person dies, their soul is like a newborn child—dazed, half-conscious, not knowing who they are, where they are, or what they’re doing. The duration varies depending on the person and circumstances. This state is called the ‘chaotic period.'
During this time, their living relatives or loved ones can guide these souls or influence them. Folk customs like calling back a soul on the seventh day after death are based on this principle.
Xie Lian continued, "He told me that Eternal Peace soldiers harbor immense resentment and hostility towards the capital. Their parents, wives, and children were among those who died in the drought.
“These homeless souls are affected by their relatives’ emotions. He uses these soldiers' intense will to indoctrinate the souls with hostility towards the Celestial Music Kingdom, driving them to possess living bodies and compete for their vitality.
“Because, during their chaotic period, these souls were repeatedly told one thing: Without them, you could have survived.”
Feng Xin said, “What kind of twisted idea is that? Who decides who deserves to live and who deserves to die?”
Xie Lian covered his forehead and said, “Lang Ying accidentally buried his son's corpse in the capital. That became the catalyst for his ritual. I asked him for a solution, and he explained the entire curse technique to me. What does that mean?”
Knowing the technique doesn’t break the curse. Feng Xin cursed, “He’s just playing with you. What a load of… crap!”
Mu Qing, however, said, “He wasn’t playing with you. He did tell you the solution.”
Xie Lian and Feng Xin looked at him in surprise. "What solution?"
Mu Qing said, “The solution!”
His eyes gleamed as if he’d discovered a secret, “The curse from Eternal Peace is effective because they have resentment towards Celestial Music. However, didn't Celestial Music also hold resentment towards Eternal Peace?”
Xie Lian’s eyes widened slightly, his breath halted momentarily. Mu Qing continued, “Since he told you the curse’s method, you can use the same method against them—an eye for an eye, create a human face plague that only infects Eternal Peace people! Think about it. For the curse to work, it needs living hosts. If they are busy dealing with their own plague, and have no living hosts left, it’ll collapse on its own!”
Xie Lian had never thought of this method. Hearing Mu Qing’s confident speech, he was momentarily stunned. After a pause, he blurted out, “Absolutely not!”
Mu Qing said, “Why not? Don’t forget, they were the ones who cursed us first.”
Xie Lian stood up abruptly, “No means no. Also, you’re wrong. Eternal Peace soldiers likely wouldn’t catch the human face plague easily, just like Celestial Music soldiers. Don’t ask me why, I…”
Mu Qing quickly countered, “Then even if it only infects civilians, that’s good enough! They don’t have the capital’s complete protective measures and manpower. Once a plague breaks out, it will spread faster. They won’t stand a chance! We could threaten their civilians’ safety to force them to stop the curse and surrender. They can’t withstand it as the capital can!”
Xie Lian immediately rejected this, “Absolutely not! Remember what we said about them attacking innocent civilians? It’s despicable. If we do the same, we become as despicable as they are. How are we any different?”
Mu Qing quieted his excitement and said, “Your Highness, don’t forget who tried to seduce you with sweet promises. It’s the 'innocent' civilians you speak of.”
This sentence made Xie Lian hesitate for a moment.
To be honest, it was impossible not to mind. But finally, he said, “Yes, there are such people. But it's because such people are the most fanatical, so they’re the ones you see. In reality, many civilians are clueless about why they’re fighting. Wherever there's food, that’s where they go, just trying to survive. Mu Qing, what you're suggesting is saving one group of innocents by killing another. I…”
He sighed, “I should think of another way.”
Mu Qing’s tone grew unpleasant, slightly mocking, “Why care about how the enemy’s civilians live? Your Highness, with all your self-sacrifice, who’s ever thought of you? Wouldn’t you just be a fool?”
Xie Lian felt a tightness in his heart and remained silent, but the image of that leg, filled with human faces and still twitching after being cut, filled his mind. After hesitating for a long time, he finally shook his head, “In the end, I’m not just considering others, even just for ourselves.
Curses are a double-edged sword, harming both sides. To curse others, the living must be full of resentment, and the dead won't be at peace. They suffer in life, and in death, they must inhabit others and become monsters.
Is that ‘human face’ really better off than the infected person? Curses always rebound eventually, leaving no good outcome.”
After repeatedly being denied, Mu Qing was losing patience, retorting, “Before they face a bad end, you’ll face a bad end! You have no third option or second path, wake up, Your Highness! Your time is running out.”
Xie Lian felt a heat in his head, closed his eyes, and said, “…Don’t talk for now, let me think.”
“…”
Mu Qing couldn't hold back anymore, muttering curses, “You’re… constantly torn and troubled, even now that there's a solution right in front of you, you refuse to act. You’re… is there no end to this? It drives me mad! Your followers are truly out of luck!”
Feng Xin listened to their argument in silence, because he couldn’t think of a good idea, he hadn’t chimed in. Now, suddenly, his hand shot out, smacking down with a curse, “Enough already!”
Mu Qing staggered back a few steps, and Xie Lian said, “Feng Xin?”
Feng Xin replied, “Don’t mind me, Your Highness!” Then to Mu Qing, “What are you annoyed about? Tell me, what’s there to be annoyed about? I’ve tolerated you for a long time, but today I can’t hold back anymore. I honestly can’t stand you. You’re supposed to be the deputy general, wouldn’t even be here if His Highness hadn’t promoted you, acting like you’re smarter and more capable than him. If you’re so capable, why didn’t you ascend like His Highness?”
Mu Qing said, “I…!”
Xie Lian pulled him, "Enough, Feng Xin, Mu Qing is just anxious…”
Feng Xin cut him off, “What's he anxious about? Let me tell you, it's just a chance to scold you. He always tries to show he's better any chance he gets because he truly thinks so! The fact he got promoted is lighting up his life, otherwise he’d still be eating dust somewhere. His Highness doesn't hold it against him, and I ignored him, but now he’s overstepped! You hear me: you might like despicable methods, and that’s fine, but don’t forget who you are when dealing with His Highness!”
Even as Xie Lian tried to intervene, Feng Xin shouted out everything. Every sentence drained the color from Mu Qing’s face. He seemed like he wanted to fight back but remained silent, staring coldly at Feng Xin. Xie Lian, furious, shouted, “Are you done? Do I have to throw both of you out?!”
Feng Xin was red-faced, clearly overwhelmed, and said stubbornly, “Throw me out, I don't care. Being a heavenly official’s nothing special! If it’s not decreed by His Highness, I’m not interested. But even if I’m cast down, I’ll always be loyal to you, and at your command, I’ll be the first to charge. I despise traitors! But him here, he might not be so willing to stay by your side if he can’t be a heavenly official. I bet he wouldn’t have a good word to say. There, I said it!”
Mu Qing had been silent, but now, after being pushed too far, retorted, “Screw you! You’re really sticking gold on your face, what do you know?”
Xie Lian was exasperated, "Both of you, shut up!!! Shut up!!!”
Both begrudgingly fell silent. After such a big fight, reconciliation seemed impossible, but Xie Lian eventually calmed down and said with a headache, "In any case, we absolutely cannot go through with the curse."
Mu Qing let out a cold laugh but said, “Yes, the decision is yours.”
Feng Xin simply said, “I’ll follow your lead.”
Mu Qing returned to his calm demeanor and added, “And whatever happens, His Highness will bear the consequences.”
Feng Xin snorted in response. Just then, Xie Lian declared, “Of course. I’ve just thought of…”
At that moment, all three felt the ground tremble beneath them. As they attempted to steady themselves, Xie Lian exclaimed, “What’s happening?”
Feng Xin was the first to react. “An earthquake!”
With any earthquake, casualties were bound to follow. Xie Lian shouted, “Rescue the people!”
But as they prepared to rush out, a figure rolled out from under the bed, hand outstretched, shouting, “Cousin! Cousin, don’t forget me! Take me with you!”
When Xie Lian saw this person, he was more astonished than ever. “Qi Rong, what are you doing in my palace?!”
He couldn’t comprehend Qi Rong’s bizarre daily routine of collecting everything related to him. Who knows how long Qi Rong had been lurking here? With urgent matters at hand, there was no time for questions. Xie Lian grabbed Qi Rong, rushing outside to safety, where he released him. Amidst the chaos in the palace, palace servants were running, screaming from the ornate halls. Xie Lian shouted, “Is anyone injured? Is anyone trapped!”
Fortunately, the tremor subsided soon, and no casualties were immediately evident. But as he started to relax, screams erupted again as many pointed to the sky behind him. Turning swiftly, Xie Lian’s eyes widened. The central piece of the palace—a tall, magnificent pagoda—was slowly tipping to one side.
The Sky Pagoda was about to collapse!
The Sky Pagoda, fully named the Celestial Pagoda, was a centuries-old symbol of the Celestial Music Kingdom’s palace and the tallest structure in the kingdom. Located at the palace and city’s center, it was a landmark. If it fell, countless lives would undoubtedly be lost. Panic gripped the palace as servants and townspeople fled in terror. Seeing this, Xie Lian quickly formed several incantations with his right hand, calling towards the direction of Mount Taicang, “Come!”
The pagoda continued to tilt. When it leaned a third of the way, people felt another tremor.
This tremor, unlike an earthquake, had rhythm and grew faster and closer. As the pagoda leaned further, people realized the tremor came from something approaching.
A gigantic golden statue, more than five meters tall, holding a sword in one hand and a flower in the other, was stepping rapidly towards the palace, robes shimmering in the sunset.
Someone shouted in awe, “Isn’t that the Prince’s statue from the Celestial Music Palace at Mount Taicang!”
Indeed, more and more recognized it, “Yes, that’s the golden statue! Look, it ran down from Mount Taicang!”
The golden statue covered several meters per step, careful not to step on anyone, advancing with thunderous steps into the palace, and bracing the leaning pagoda, halting its fall.
Under the setting sun, the golden body glistened, raising both hands, straining to support the tall pagoda. It was a divine and wondrous sight, leaving countless people below dumbfounded and amazed. Xie Lian slowly lowered his hands, looking up at the statue, mesmerized by the serene, handsome face of the statue, a fleeting sense of confusion sweeping his heart.