CHAPTER 31

Poking the Ghost King; Crown Prince Seeks Truth

•••

As soon as the air froze instantly in place Xie Lian knew that his question might have crossed the line.

Even though the past few days the two of them seemed to get along well and were quite familiar, but if Hua Cheng had never revealed his true face, and hadn't changed back and shown it even after his identity was revealed, then he would definitely have a reason for it, and Xie Lian knew he was not in place who is able to push it even further. Without waiting for an answer from the young man Xie Lian widened his smile, "I'm just asking, don't think too much about it."

Hua Cheng closed his eyes, and after a few moments, he smiled softly, "I will let you see it someday, if there is a chance."

If there are other people who say the same thing, then it will only be words that are original and without purpose; 'one day' they say usually means 'please forget it.' 'that might never have happened' But if Hua Cheng said those words, Xie Lian somehow felt that the words 'someday' meant that it meant 'someday', and that would definitely happen. This made him even more curious, and he grinned, "Then I'll wait until you can show me. Let's rest now."

After playing around for half the night, now Xie Lian had given up on cooking anything, and he then returned to the straw mat that he had prepared before. Hua Cheng also lay beside him. Nobody bothered to question things like why after they both revealed each other's identities, that a god and a Devil could still lie together side by side on that tangled straw mat, laugh and chat with each other, and travel together.

The straw mat didn't have a pillow, so Hua Cheng used his own arm as a pillow for his head, and Xie Lian also mimicked it using his own arm. He chatted casually, "The ghost realm seems so empty and has a lot of free time. Don't you ever have to report back on something like what you have experienced or done or something like that?"

Not only did Hua Cheng appear to use his arm as a pillow, he also crossed his legs and replied, "Report to whom? We take care of our own business, no one is bothering anyone."

The ghost realm was formed by many lost soul groups and wild devils, so Xie Lian was not surprised to hear that answer. "Is that so? I think there will be like a heavenly court where there is a central government that manages. So if that's the case, have you met other demon lords before?"

"I have ever." Hua Cheng said.

"Even Green Ghost Qi Rong"

"You mean that disgusting, lowly violent trash?"

"Well, what should I say about that?" Xie Lian thought, but he didn't need to say anything as Hua Cheng continued, "I greeted him and he ran away."

Xie Lian felt the 'greetings or greetings' referred to here were not like the greetings or greetings you have ever done, and of course, Hua Cheng said casually, "And then I received the title 'Rain of Blood Reaches Flowers'."

"..."

So when he previously mentioned about wiping out another demon's lair, he was talking about the Green Ghost Qi Rong, and the 'greeting' meant here was destruction. 'Incredible greetings,' thought Xie Lian. He rubbed his chin and said, "Do you have something that makes you have to fight Green Ghost Qi Rong?"

"Yes. I don't like his face." Hua Cheng answered.

Xie Lian did not know whether he should laugh or cry, thinking whether when Hua Cheng challenged the thirty-three heavenly officials also because he did not like their faces? Even though he wants it, he doesn't ask that question, and only says, "The whole sky calls out to him violently, and even the ghost world rejects its existence. Is that right?"

"That's right. Even Black Water was disgusted with him." Hua Cheng answered.

"Who is Black Water?" Xie Lian asked, then remembered, "Oh, is he the so-called 'Black Water that sank the ship?'

"That's right. He is also known as the Black Water Devil He Xuan."

Xie Lian remembered that He Xuan's Black Water Devil was also one of the "Highest" groups, but Green Ghost Qi Rong was only a 'Supreme'.

He asked, feeling interested in this topic, "Are you close to this He Xuan Devil?"

"Not." Hua Cheng replied lazily, "There aren't many ghosts or devils in the ghost world that are close to me."

Now Xie Lian felt like he wanted to know more, "Is that so? I thought you would have lots of subordinates. Maybe the definition of what we mean by 'close' we have is different?"

Hua Cheng raised his eyebrows, "Yes. In the ghost realm, those who are lower than the 'Highest One' have no right to speak to me."

That was a very arrogant statement, but Hua Cheng made it sound indisputable and self-evident. Xie Lian smiled softly, "Even though you are not close to them you still know about them. With you who still know them to be quite good in the ghost world, there are only so many big names, not like in heaven. There are already so many names of heavenly officials to be remembered in the high court, and there are many more waiting to rise in the middle court; they are like a sea of names. I don't even cough as much as they might not remember their names at all. " And you risk offending them if you don't remember their names.

After chatting for a while, Xie Lian did not want to dig too deep into the topic of the problem so that they did not touch something sensitive, so she decided to change the subject to a different direction between the two of them. He glanced at the closed wooden door and wondered, "Ban Yue , I wonder when she will return."

The brave words "I want to save the world" returned and echoed in his head, pouring a million chaotic images into his mind, and Xie Lian had to force them to push. At that moment, Hua Cheng spoke, "Those are good words."

"Which one?" Xie Lian asked.

"I want to save the world, and save commoners." Hua Cheng casually replied.

"..."

Xie Lian felt like being struck by lightning.

He turned his body and curled up into a shrimp, hoping to use a pair of arms big enough so that he could cover his face and ears, and groaned, "... San Lang ..."

Hua Cheng seemed to push himself closer to Xie Lian, and said in a serious tone right behind him, "Hm? What's wrong with those words?"

Hua Cheng would not back down and Xie Lian could not win against him, so he turned around and said helplessly, "This is ridiculous."

"What is there to be afraid of?" Hua Cheng said, "To dare to talk about the world, whether to save or destroy is something amazing. To do the first is harder than the last, so it's even more honorable."

Xie Lian made a laugh and shook her head, "To dare to talk about something you have to be able to follow it up, and you have to really achieve it."

He covered his eyes and sat himself, "Oh, fine. I guess it's nothing. What Ban Yue said was good enough. I had said more ridiculous things when I was young."

Hua Cheng laughed, "Oh? Like what? Let's listen."

Xie Lian was pensive for a moment, and smiled softly as he chased after his memory, "Many, many years ago, someone told me that they could not continue their lives. They asked me what they were living for, and what was the meaning of the life they lived. . "

He glanced at Hua Cheng, "Do you know how I answer?"

It might have only existed in Xie Lian's imagination, but he seemed to see that there was light in Hua Cheng's eyes. The boy asked gently, "How do you answer that?"

Xie Lian said, "I told them: 'If you don't know how to get your life back, then live for me!'"

"If you don't know the meaning of life that you live, then make me the meaning itself, and use me as your reason to stay alive!"

"Ha ha...."

Xie Lian couldn't help but laugh a little and shake her head, "Even now I don't understand what I was thinking at that time. How do I have the courage to tell someone to make me a meaning to keep them alive?"

Hua Cheng was speechless and Xie Lian continued. "That was really something that could only be said at that time. In the past, I really thought I was invincible and fearless. If you ask me to say the same words now, there's no way those words would leave and be spoken. from my lips again. "

Xie Lian continued slowly, "I don't know what happened to that person afterwards. But to be the reason for someone to live is already a heavy responsibility, how can I dare to talk about the world?"

Silence enveloped inside the Pu Qi temple, and after a while, San Lang said softly, "Something like saving the world, really doesn't matter how you do it. But, even so brave, it's also stupid."

"Yes." Xie Lian agreed.

Hua Cheng continued, "Even though it's stupid, it's brave."

Xie Lian smiled at those words, "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Hua Cheng answered.

Both of them stared at the hollow ceiling inside the Pu Qi temple in friendly silence, and Hua Cheng spoke again. "You know, we've only known each other for a few days. Is it okay for you to say so many things to me."

Xie Lian sighed and waved his hand, "What's the problem? Whatever. Those who have known each other for decades can be strangers in a day. We meet by chance, and we might separate by chance. If we like each other then we will keep on meeting; if not then we will separate. Let us both go with the flow, and I will say what I want to say. "

Hua Cheng chuckled, and suddenly said, "If ..."

Xie Lian turned her head to face him, "If?"

Hua Cheng did not turn around, but continued to look at the dilapidated ceiling of the temple, and Xie Lian studied the left side of the handsome young man's face.

Hua Cheng said softly, "If I'm ugly .."

"Hah?" Xie Lian gaped.

Hua Cheng finally turned his head to stare a little at Xie Lian, "If my real face is very ugly, do you still want to see it?"

Xie Lian was shocked, "Really? Although there is no real reason, but I thought your real face must not be that bad."

"Who knows," Hua Cheng said half-jokingly, "What if I were discolored, deformed, ugly, gigantic and terrible, what would you do?"

At first Xie Lian thought this question was rather interesting. So the number one demon king of that era, who was feared by heaven, would care so much about his appearance? But when he thought about it deeply, he no longer found it funny.

If he remembers it correctly, in many stories about Hua Cheng, there are those who say that he is a child with birth defects, or something like that. If that is the case, then he will certainly grow up with discrimination from others. Maybe for this reason he is so sensitive with his appearance.

So, Xie Lian chewed on his words and said, "About that ..."

He uses his warmest and most sincere tone, "To be honest, the reason I want to see your true face is just because we are friends now, right? See, even now we're both here like this ... So, if we are friends, then we should honest with each other. So my desire to see your true face has nothing to do with your appearance. Of course I wouldn't mind if ... why are you laughing? I'm serious! Hey! "

When Xie Lian reached the last part of his words, he could feel the boy next to him was trembling. Initially for a moment he thought 'are my words so touching that he was touched like this?', And too embarrassed to turn around to look at him. But after a while, a soft laugh came from beside him. Xie Lian felt disappointed. "San Lang ... why are you laughing?"

Hua Cheng immediately stopped shaking and turned, "Nothing, you are absolutely right."

Xie Lian felt even more annoyed hearing those words, "You are so insincere ..."

"I promise, you will not find anyone more sincere than me in this world." Hua Cheng answered.

Xie Lian didn't want to talk anymore and threw Ruoye. The white silk ribbon fluttered and landed on top of them, and he turned with his back to Hua Cheng. "Never mind. Time to go to sleep. Go to sleep and don't talk anymore."

Hua Cheng laughed again and said, "Next time."

Although he was determined to sleep, hearing Hua Cheng speak, Xie Lian could not help but respond and then answer. "What next time?"

Hua Cheng whispered, "Next time we meet, I will use my real appearance to greet you."

There was much to ponder about those words, and Xie Lian should have kept asking him questions, but after a long night, unstoppable drowsiness followed him, he could not endure and fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, when Xie Lian woke up, the place next to him was empty.

Maybe the cyclone had made him run out of minds; Xie Lian felt a slight headache. He stumbled when he intended to rise from his sleep and confusedly walked around the temple. When he opened the door, no silhouette could be seen outside. The boy has indeed left.

The fallen leaves had been swept into a pile there, and next to it was a small clay pot. Xie Lian took the pot and placed it on the altar table. Some sand fell on the table; it must be the sand he brought back from the Gobi desert. Xie Lian closed the door, took off his clothes and was ready to change clothes. When he loosened his belt, he suddenly found something on his chest. Xie Lian raised his hand to touch the object, and found just below the damned collar, there was a very thin silver chain.

The chain hung loosely around his neck, and Xie Lian then removed it from his neck. It was a silver chain, thin and light, he had not felt anything in his body before. And what was hanging on the chain was a ring that was crystal clear and very, very beautiful.