Chapter 128: Blinded by the Heart; Brocade Immortal Forged by Blood

After a pause, Jun Wu asked, "Where's Qi Ying?"

Xie Lian looked around and indeed there wasn't a shadow of that young martial god.

Perhaps because incidents upon incidents kept happening in the heavens, the Palace

of Ling Wen was so busy it was going to fly off, and Ling Wen also had a few more dark

circles under her eyes. "It's been a long time since Qi Ying came to these meetings.

We've never been able to connect with him."

Some heavenly officials on the side clicked their tongues, "Where did that little brat run

off to again?"

"Not here again? So envious that he doesn't need to attend all these meetings."

"Since we do not know Qi Ying's whereabouts, once we find him we will let you know

and have the two of you coordinate." Jun Wu said.

Xie Lian inclined his head in acknowledgement, "Yes, My Lord."

The mortal realm was in the midst of autumn, the weather was chilly, and it was so

inside Puqi Shrine. Although Xie Lian wore just the one layer, he didn't feel cold;

however, on the way home, he still used the money he made from collecting scraps to

buy two new sets of robes for Lang Ying.

Hua Cheng had returned to the Ghost City and Qi Rong ran away with Guzi in tow, so

now there was only Lang Ying left in Puqi Shrine. It had felt cramped before, but now it

suddenly became deserted. As he walked, Xie Lian could see from afar Lang Ying

sweeping in front of the shrine silently, raking the fallen golden leaves into a pile.

Maybe it was all in his mind, but Lang Ying used to slouch, coiled in fear and

nervousness, but now his limbs seemed to be stretched out, finally assuming the

appearance of a cheerful boy, and Xie Lian couldn't help but feel heartened. He

approached and took the broom, and was just about to bring him inside when the

villagers who had been hiding in wait for some time all ambushed him, aunties and

grandpas, uncles and sisters all clamoured around him, "Daozhang, you're back!"

"Did you go collect scraps in town again? You've worked hard, you've worked hard...

Um, how come we haven't seen Xiao Hua lately?"

"Yea, yea, we haven't seen him for days! We miss the little guy."

"..." Xie Lian smiled awkwardly, "Xiao... Hua went back home."

"Huh?" The village head was puzzled, "Which home? I thought this was Xiao Hua's

home? Isn't he living with you???"

"No, no," Xie Lian replied, "He only came over to play. Now that we're all busy, we

parted ways."

That night, Hua Cheng had hounded him for answers afterwards, but Xie Lian was

stubbornly adamant that the two only had a fight. Now that Mount Tong'lu reopened,

Hua Cheng now had more on his plate. If a new Supreme Ghost King really emerged, it

would mean an assault on all three realms. Hua Cheng and Black Water, although one

was flashy and the other low-key, they both had their own styles and more or less knew

their place and kept themselves in order. But who knows what kind of creature would

emerge this time. What if Mount Tong'lu birthed a madman like Qi Rong who would fight

them for their domains, then that'd be rather difficult to deal with. Thus, Xie Lian used

the excuse that he was busy and said the two best not see each other for the time being

and focus on their own duties, then the two bid farewell amiably.

Although it seemed sudden and cold, like he turned his back on a friend, but Xie Lian

really didn't know what else to do.

He didn't have the confidence he could hide his feelings right now.

Just then, behind him, Lang Ying suddenly spoke up, "Fire."

"...???"

Only then did Xie Lian realize that while he was spacing out lost in thought, he

accidentally took up the pot and spatula and ruined all the meat and vegetables he just

brought back to Puqi Shrine. The fire under the pot was meters high, almost scorching

the ceiling, and Xie Lian hastily slapped at the flames to put it out. However, he slapped

too hard and the entire stove collapsed. Much rumbles later, Xie Lian stood there dazed

with a pot in hand, not knowing what to do. It was just around meal time and the

villagers were all holding their bowls eating happily outside the door. Surprised by the

ruckus, they all came around again, "WHAT'S HAPPENED?! WHAT'S HAPPENED?!

Daozhang, did your place blow up again?!"

Xie Lian quickly opened the window, "It's nothing, it's nothing! Cough cough cough

cough..."

The village head came over to take a look, "Jeebus, this is an absolute tragedy!

Daozhang, I think it's best if you call Xiao Hua back."

Wordless for a moment, Xie Lian said, "It's alright. After all... he's not from my

household."

When he snapped out of it, Lang Ying had already started to help him clean up the

mess on the ground, and a plate of something colourfully red and purple was on the

table – it was randomly plated when he was zoning out. If the thing he made last time

was named 'Love for All Seasons Stew', then this time it should be named 'Fried Riot of

Colours'. But other than Hua Cheng, there was probably no second person on this earth

who could swallow the stuff. Xie Lian himself couldn't bear the sight of it and turned

around to wash the pot, rubbing his forehead, "Nevermind, don't eat it. Throw it away."

However, after he finished washing the pot and turned around, he saw Lang Ying who

had taken the plate had already silently eaten the food. Stunned, Xie Lian immediately

went over to stop him, and held him by the shoulders, "...God, are you alright? Do you

feel bad anywhere???"

Lang Ying shook his head. Since his face was completely wrapped in bandages, his

expression was hidden. Even Qi Rong and Black Water would lose their minds when

they ate what he cooked, but Lang Ying was actually able to handle it, so just how

hungry was he? Or did his strength suddenly increase? Xie Lian teased himself and

forced a smile, then cleaned up and went to bed.

There were two mats in Puqi Shrine, one for each person. When Xie Lian was reminded

that the mat beneath him was laid upon by both him and Hua Cheng together, he

couldn't sleep, his eyes wide awake, but he didn't dare to toss and turn lest he rouse

Lang Ying. After much internal struggles, he was just thinking he might as well go out for

a breath of fresh air when suddenly, he heard the window creak. Someone had pushed

open the wooden frame softly and hopped inside.

Xie Lian's back was facing the window, and he laid there on the ground on his side,

shocked.

What kind of person would be so hard on themselves as to come steal in Puqi Shrine?

Wasn't this just labour without returns?

That person was light on their feet, extremely skilled, and if not for someone like Xie

Lian who was extraordinarily sharp in his senses, no one would've noticed. Once he

hopped in, he ran straight for the donation box. Xie Lian immediately remembered that

the donation box was full of gold bars before, so was this person here for the gold? But

those gold bars had long been given to Ling Wen to have her find their master. Listening

attentively, Xie Lian realized that person wasn't actually cracking the lock, but was

stuffing something one after the other into the donation box!

After that individual had done their work, they seemed to be looking to hop outside of

the window to leave. Xie Lian mentally plotted thinking that he'd follow after that person

once they were out to see just where they're going and who they were. Yet

unexpectedly, when that person passed the altar table and saw it filled with plates, they

seemed to be hungry and didn't think before munching down on those leftover Fried

riot of Colours, stuffing a few mouthfuls down their throat.

The next second, THUD! And they were knocked out on the ground.

Xie Lian immediately turned over and sat up, 'My trouble's actually saved!' He lit up the

lights to look, and on the ground was a purple faced figure lying flat, and Xie Lian hastily

went to rescue his life, pouring large mouthfuls of water down his throat before that

person slowly came to. The first thing he uttered when he woke was, "WHAT THE HELL

WAS THAT THING!"

Xie Lian pretended not to hear and chided solemnly, "Your Highness Qi Ying, you really

are too rash, stuffing whatever you find in your mouth without knowing what it is."

That youth had a straight nose and deep brows, his head full of raven black curly hair;

who else could it be but the Martial God of the West, Quan Yizhen?

He glared, "How should I know that anyone would actually poison their own food offered

in their own shrine?"

"..." Xie Lian rubbed his forehead and opened that donation box to see it was filled to

the rim with gold bars. "Was it also you who filled the box last time?"

Quan Yizhen nodded. Xie Lian asked, "Why are you giving me all this?"

"Because I have a lot." Quan Yizhen replied.

"..."

Truthfully, even if he wouldn't say it Xie Lian could probably guess that this was most

likely because at the Mid Autumn Banquet, Xie Lian slung out a chopstick to cut down

the curtains of the stage. "Take those back with you, I won't accept rewards without

having done anything." Xie Lian said.

Quan Yizhen didn't say anything, very obviously not listening.

Xie Lian didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Just then, Lang Ying spoke up coldly, "He's

telling you to take those away."

When had he sat up? Xie Lian looked back to glance at him, feeling strange. In the past,

Lang Ying basically made himself invisible, desperately shrinking himself into the

ground, so why did he say so much without prompting today? And using such unfriendly

tones too. But, he didn't think too much, and figured if anything, he could just give the

box to Ling Wen to stuff it back to Quan Yizhen. He straightened his expression, "Your

Highness, you've come just in time. You didn't attend the meeting at the Great Martial

Hall today, but Jun Wu has given us a mission, have you seen the scroll? Nevermind,

it's alright, I know you haven't looked through it. I've looked through it already. This time

we're a team together, and the creature we're responsible for is called the 'Brocade

Immortal'."

The Venerable of Empty Words was called a 'venerable' because people didn't dare to

call it a rogue, a hellion, or an annoying devil so directly, so it was a tentative flattery.

Why was that Brocade Immortal venerated as an immortal? This was because

according to legends, that creature truly possessed the ability to become a god once.

Legends say many centuries ago, there was a young man in some ancient kingdom,

who although dumb and foolish by nature, his intellect no better than that of a six year

old child, but once on the battlefield he was no longer the same. His martial skills were

extraordinary and was also brave but kind. When two kingdoms collided in battle, his

kingdom was able to claim overwhelming victories because he charged in the front

lines. Because he was mentally weak and had no family, all the rewards he gained from

battle were taken by others, leaving him penniless. No households were willing to have

their daughters marry such a man, and very few girls were willing to come close. That

young man was also dumb to a certain point, and ever since he was young he had

never made any contacts with ladies, never daring to speak a word.

However, this person possessed the potential to ascend, and he should've risen to the

heavens in a few years. At first, it didn't matter if no girls liked him, but the sad thing

was, he still fell in love with a girl, and he fell deeply. On the day of his birthday, that girl

sewed him a brocade robe as a gift.

Although it was a brocade robe, it was extremely bizarre. It was more like a horrid

pocket. This was the first time in that young man's life that he received a gift from a girl

he loved, and filled with exalted joy, plus his natural stupidity, he didn't notice anything

strange with it, eagerly pulling the 'brocade robe' over his body. There weren't any

sleeves for the arms to go through, so he asked his beloved girl, "How come my arms

can't stretch out?"

That girl smiled cheerfully, "This is my first time sewing so I'm not very skilled. But, if you

don't have any arms then this won't be a problem?"

Thus, this young man raised a weapon and chopped off his arms. Now, the robe fit.

However, it wasn't enough, and he asked again, "How come my legs can't stretch out?"

That girl replied, "If you don't have any legs then this won't be a problem?"

Thus, this young man asked another to chop off his legs too. Finally, he asked, "How

come my head can't peek out?"

The conclusion was easily imaginable.

Originally, Xie Lian had also thought the 'Brocade Immortal' was perhaps a monster or a

demon wearing a brocade robe, but turns out it was actually the robe itself. When Mount

tong'lu reopened and millions of ghosts were roused, someone had robbed away that

robe. Having been smeared by the obsessed blood of that young man, that brocade

robe was forged into an exceedingly malicious and powerful spiritual device, and

throughout the centuries, it changed hands among ghosts, using it to cause harm.

Therefore, never accept any old, used clothing from unknown origins, and if you are to

run into someone who wish to gift you a brocade robe on the street in the middle of the

night, never take it. Should you wear this brocade robe, you will become a pig for

slaughter.

Of course, this was only a legend and sounded rather outlandish, and the stories could

very well be made up by people who simply extracted from the unique nature of the

brocade robe. Nevertheless, this Brocade Immortal must be stopped. They must not let

it go to Mount Tong'lu.

———-

●MXTX Author's Note: First, the real Lang Ying has no relation to Hua Hua

whatsoever. But, believe me, there's only Hua Hua in this world who can eat the

things the crown prince cooks (So, Hua Hua never left! He switched Lang Ying

out with himself today.)

I don't understand why no one noticed

_(:з」∠)_ I thought I made it very obvious

already!!! Since that's the case, I might as well rip off his mask directly,

hahahahaha!