There‌ ‌were‌ ‌two‌ ‌mats‌ ‌in‌ ‌Puqi‌ ‌Shrine,‌ ‌Hua Cheng wasn't there because he has some matter to solve in the ghost city. Feeling empty he couldn’t‌ ‌sleep,‌ ‌his‌ ‌eyes‌ ‌wide‌ ‌awake,‌ ‌but‌ ‌he‌ ‌didn’t‌ ‌dare‌ ‌to‌ ‌toss‌ ‌and‌ ‌turn‌ ‌or he will wake Hua Ying up since the little one will easily wake up during midnight.

After‌ ‌much‌ ‌internal‌ ‌struggles,‌ ‌he‌ ‌was‌ ‌just‌ ‌thinking‌ ‌he‌ ‌might‌ ‌as‌ ‌well‌ ‌go‌ ‌out‌ ‌for‌ ‌a‌ ‌breath‌ ‌of‌ ‌fresh‌ ‌air‌ quietly ‌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,‌ he could see that his little baby sleep were disturb by the noise ‌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 and his baby who have sensitive ears,‌ ‌no‌ ‌one‌ ‌would’ve‌ ‌noticed.‌ ‌Once‌ ‌he‌ ‌hopped‌ ‌in,‌ ‌he‌ ‌ran‌ ‌straight‌ ‌for‌ ‌the‌ ‌donation‌ ‌box.‌ ‌ ‌

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.‌ ‌Hua Ying open his eyes wide blinking for a while as he getting ready to cry before Xie Lian hug the boy tightly not letting the boy to start his ear killing shout carrying him towards the figure.

‌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 put Hua Ying on the table under Rouye care and ‌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 lift Hua Ying up again burying his face on his chest not wanting the baby to being horrified by the shout.

Hua Ying peek out to see what happened as he saw a curly hair man. He point towards the man as he pull Xie Lian robe. Xie‌ ‌Lian‌ ‌pretended‌ ‌not‌ ‌to‌ ‌hear‌ as he kiss Hua Ying temple ‌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.‌ ‌“You fill this with gold?”‌ ‌

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

‌“Because‌ ‌I‌ ‌have‌ ‌a‌ ‌lot.”‌ ‌Quan‌ ‌Yizhen‌ ‌replied.‌ ‌

‌“…”‌ ‌Hua Ying clap his hand as he laugh lightly. Getting the man attention Quan Yizhen poke the baby nose making the little one to giggle himself holding Quan Yizhen big finger using his small hand.

‌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 as he keep playing with little Hua Ying in Xie Lian arm.‌ ‌

‌Xie‌ ‌Lian‌ ‌didn’t‌ ‌know‌ ‌whether‌ ‌to‌ ‌laugh‌ ‌or‌ ‌cry.‌ ‌ ‌he‌ ‌didn’t‌ ‌think‌ ‌too‌ ‌much,‌ ‌and‌ ‌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.‌ ‌

Xie Lian let out heavy breathe giving wide awake Hua Ying towards Quan Yizhen. "Where did you get this how can i get one? "

Hua Ying hold into Quan Yizhen curly hair as he giggle more. "Baby you need to sleep more. "He say taking Hua Ying from Quan Yizhen again after he bun his hair up.

"Ayyy Ayyyy! "

"If you sleep more you can play all day long for tomorrow now let's get back to sleep. "Xie Lian say giving gesture for him to get out. "I'll be going to you after he sleep please sit first.

Quan Yizhen nodded as he obedience the man instruction. Xie Lian put Hua Ying down on the mat pile up with soft blanket. Hua Ying can't fall asleep back but he just obedience playing with rouye who keep tickling the boy.

It's almost dawn and Xie Lian wondering himself just how long did he doze out just now. While he keep talking with Quan Yizhen little Hua Ying already fall asleep back because he's too boring.