Chapter 40

Maybe it was just a figment of his imagination, but Hua Cheng's shoulder seemed to freeze for a moment.

"It wasn't." Wu Du said, immediately noting the small flinch of the ghost king. 

"Ah." Xie Lian said, unsure of what to feel about that confirmation.

The moment did not last long, and Hua Cheng casually replied, "I did say that when we meet at the next meeting I will greet you with my true appearance."

"Of course he would keep even that promise." He Xuan scoffed, silently glad that he had an...acquaintance who would always keep his promise. It was enlightening to know, considering that he has lived all his life as a lie. 

H̶e̶ d̶i̶d̶n̶'t̶ m̶i̶n̶d̶ t̶h̶o̶u̶g̶h̶, i̶f̶ i̶t̶ w̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ s̶a̶v̶e̶ Q̶i̶n̶g̶ X̶u̶a̶n̶ f̶r̶o̶m̶ a̶ l̶i̶f̶e̶ o̶f̶ h̶e̶l̶l̶.

Xie Lian grinned. He tapped the young man's shoulder and said solemnly, "Not bad."

"What do you mean not bad!" Feng Xin shouted. "Your highness, you didn't f-f-fa-fall in lov-lo-love with that.... him, right!" 

"Relax, Feng Xin, I was just complimenting San Lang." Xie Lian said with a wry smile.

"That's how it all starts." Pei Ming whispered with a sly smile, irking a couple of people.

Xie Lian's tone of voice also sounds so relaxed, nothing more, nothing less, and very simple. Hua Cheng smiled back at him, and this time he seemed more relaxed.

Hua Cheng smiled, knowing that no one except him knows the depth of happiness he, well his future self felt when his crush admitted to liking his real appearance.

They took a few more steps and Xie Lian suddenly remembered something important to be confirmed with Hua Cheng, and he then removed the necklace made of silver chains around his neck.

"By the way," said Xie Lian, "Have you left this?"

Hua Cheng glanced at the ring and smiled, "That ring is for you."

"What is that?" Xie Lian asked.

"That is not important." Hua Cheng replied, "Keep it for fun."

'Keep it for fun, that's your fucking ashes!' He Xuan thought in his heart, internally sighing at how happy-go-lucky Hua Cheng was in regards to his ashes. Then again, he could understand, no matter how little, why the man in red did that - after all, if his family was still alive, he would have done the same. Really, it did sound nice to perish with your loved one.

Even though that's what he said, but Xie Lian knew that this object was not something so trivial. "Then thank you, San Lang."

"You should have just thrown it away." Mu Qing mumbled with an annoyed glare at the necklace shown on the screen. 

Seeing that Xie Lian put the ring necklace around his neck again, Hua Cheng's eyes seemed to be filled with such bright sparkles.

'Of course it is.' He Xuan thought with an inward scoff. 'His ashes are being treasured by his loved one. Who wouldn't be happy?'

Xie Lian looked around and said, "Earlier when at the Gambling House you had said that you would come here, to the Heaven Manor and I thought that place was like a brothel or a red light district, but apparently this place looks more like a theater?"

"...I mean, the name does sound like one." admitted Pei Ming as Xie Lian only sheepishly smiled at Hua Cheng who looked more amused then angry.

"Should I change the name?" Hua Cheng asked.

"No need, San Lang." Xie Lian replied. "It was our fault for mistaking the name of the place."

"No, it's my fault for naming the place like that." Hua Cheng said, not wanting to pin any blame on the prince. 

"Let's just watch." Yi Zhen said with a bored look, not understanding that the two were (unknowingly for the prince) flirting.

Hua Cheng raised his eyebrows, "Gege, what are you saying? I never went to the red light district."

Xie Lian looked so impressed, "Really?"

"Of course." Hua Cheng answered.

"Surprise, surprise, that boring fucker never slept with anyone." Qi Rong said with a roll of his eyes, mocking Hua Cheng who simply smiled at him with eyes screaming murder. 

"Of course he doesn't." Pei Su whispered, only heard by Ban Yue who was beside him. "He is saving himself for his love."

'Just like me.' he thought.

Both of them approached the black bed and both of them sat next to each other. Hua Cheng continued, "This is nothing but a place where I will renovate here and there, a kind of place to stay. I will come and relax here when I have free time. If I am busy then I will leave it as is."

"So, this is your home," commented Xie Lian.

"Residence." Hua Cheng corrected, "Not home."

"Is there a difference?" Xie Lian asked.

"Of course," Hua Cheng replied, "A house has a family in it. There a place where someone lives alone is not home."

Many squirmed in their seats, disturbed by the fact that the definition the ghost king stated hit home as most, if not all of them had no one to call 'family' anymore and a 'home' to return to.

Hearing this, Xie Lian's heart looked like it was being squeezed. By that definition, this means that it has been more than eight hundred years since he owned a 'home'. And it's been eight hundred years that he hasn't come home.

Feng Xin, Mu Qing and even Qi Rong winced a little at this, realizing that they were also similar with the crown prince. The two former ones also felt bad, recalling the bitter memories of their time together until their separation.

'What would happen if we stayed by his side?' the two thought. 

Even though Hua Cheng did not have a trace of loneliness on his face, Xie Lian thought they might be the same. Hua Cheng continued, "If it's at home, then even a small place like Pu Qi Temple will be millions of times better than my Heaven's Manor."

Xie Lian blushed a little at the statement, happy that he was able to make a 'home' with Hua Cheng, his new best friend.

Xie Lian agreed and smiled, "I didn't realize that San Lang looked so sentimental like this. But to make a comparison using my Pu Qi Temple, you really pulled my foot here."

Hua Cheng laughed, "What makes you ashamed? To be honest, even though the Pu Qi Temple belongs to a small gege, it is much more comfortable than my Heaven's Manor. That place is much more lively like home."

"Is that so?" Xie Lian said in such a warm tone, "Then, in the future, come whenever you want. The door of the Pu Qi Temple will always be open for you."

"DON'T!" Mu Qing and Feng Xin shouted before glaring at the crown prince who shrunk a little from their gaze.

"Are you stupid? Inviting a murderer in your house?!" Mu Qing demanded.

"Don't call him stupid! But, yes, are you out of your mind?!" Feng Xin scolded.

"Like that's any better, you little shit!" Mu Qing screamed at Feng Xin.

"Boys, boys, settle down." Yushi Huang said calmly before turning to look at the prince. "But they are right, your highness. While I doubt crimson rain will bring you harm, it would still be wise to be more alert towards others."

"...Yes." Xie Lian said with a little sulk, annoyed at how he was being treated like a kid.

'I can handle myself!' he thought bitterly.

Hua Cheng's face lit up, "Because I said that, I will gladly accept your offer. Never think that I will be annoying in the future."

"Impossible." Xie Lian replied. "By the way, San Lang, I want to ask for your help, but I don't know if you have time?"

"Of course he would never be annoyed with you." Ban Yue said innocently. "General Hua never gets mad."

'That isn't true.' Xie Lian thought, vaguely remembering a time where hatred rotted his soul.

"What is wrong?" Hua Cheng asked, "This is my territory. You only ask, and I will answer it"

After some thought, Xie Lian said, "Before when I was dealing with the case at Mount Yu Jun, I met a child who might be from my kingdom."

Hua Cheng blinked slowly at the word 'comes' and didn't say a word. Xie Lian continued, "I didn't handle this problem well before, and scared him. After that I asked for a search but until now there hasn't been any results. Before when I was running around the back alley of Ghost Town, I thought I had met again with that child. San Lang, you are the lord of this region. Is there a way you can help me find it? His face looks wrapped in bandages, and has just escaped from the front of the Heaven's Manor. "

Hua Cheng was silent, and then stood up to say something in such a low voice, he looked away from his face, as if he was communicating with someone. A moment later he sat down again and smiled, "Done. Just wait."

"If only heaven was as efficient as you." Ling Wen sighed, ignoring the offended looks she was being given. It wasn't her fault she was the only one brave enough to speak the truth.  

Because Hua Cheng is the ruler who oversees this Ghost City, it will be much more comfortable and easier for him to act. Xie Lian sighed in relief, "Really, thanks again."

"This is nothing," Hua Cheng answered. "But this means you left Lang Qian Qiu just like that?"

"Both of you would probably fight or something so good job for leaving that guy out, your highness." Yin Yu praised.

"We won't fight, Yin Yu." Hua Cheng said with narrowed eyes.

'I won't fight in front of his highness.' was what he meant.

"You don't know for sure, Hua-chengzhu. Tai Hua has a reputation for annoying ghosts." Yin Yu replied.

'He'll probably say something stupid about his highness and you'll either maim him beyond belief or kill him.' was what he means. 

Hua Cheng considered his words before agreeing, nodding his head.

If Lang Qian Qiu was there, someone who would say all things directly and have a short mind, it would be difficult to predict what nonsense would come out of his mouth and restart a problem who would know what kind of problem it was. Maybe they should meet later, Xie Lian thought. "His Highness Tai Hua has caused you trouble before at the Gambling House. Sorry about that."

Qian Qiu just mumbled his complains, knowing he would get scolded again if he said something and that was not what he can afford right now, especially since his ears have been chewed off by the scolding he received before.

Hua Cheng flashed an arrogant smile and said, "What are you saying? That's not a problem at all."

'You looked mad before though.' many thought but kept silent, seeing the relieved smile of Xie Lian.

"The things that he has destroyed ..." Xie Lian began to say that and immediately Hua Cheng laughed, "For the sake of gege I will delete his account and forget it. He can do whatever he wants as long as he doesn't show his face in front of me."

"No need, I can pa-ugh!" Qing Xuan hit him with his fan, preventing Qian Qiu from completing his sentence.

"Don't complete that sentence, you idiot!" she hissed at him.

"Yes, ma'am!" Qian Qiu shouted while bowing a full ninety degree bow, not realizing what he was doing until Yi Zhen asked him.

'How scary.' Qian Qiu thought as he warily looked at the huffing wind master.

'That's my sibling/friend.' thought both Wu Du and He Xuan respectively although the latter shivered when he realized what he just thought.

Xie Lian now looked so curious, and asked, "You don't care if there are heavenly officials playing around about your territory?" Could it be that Hua Cheng really had no fear at all?

"Only one." Hua Cheng easily admitted with a smile.

'Losing you.' he thought.

"Oh~" Xie Lian said in curiosity and awe but didn't pry, wondering what could make Hua Cheng scared. It was definitely not dying or angering anyone.

Hua Cheng smiled, "Of course you might not know about this, but gege, the three realms have stated that the Ghost City is a place filled with great corruption, demonic chaos, but in reality, everyone wants to come to this place. So much heavenly officials who pretend to not care and speak ill of this place, but behind everyone, they often come in disguise and do business that can't be said, I've seen too many events like that, if they don't cause trouble then I don't care, and if they do, it's even better, because they're the first to disturb and create chaos. "

"Looks like heaven needs a clean up." Jun Wu said with a calm voice, a clear contrast to Ling Wen who silently groaned while rubbing her forehead, thinking about the extra jobs she would receive once they return.

'Can I retire?' she thought. 'I'm sure they would be fine on their own.'

"His Holiness Tai Hua is basically like that, so when he sees such a round of betting, he must stop it and cannot resist the urge to get involved and cause trouble," Xie Lian explained.

"That's because he has so little experience," Hua Cheng said clearly. "To choose between letting yourself live longer for ten years and cutting your enemy's life shorter for ten years and then choosing the latter, that is the basis of human hatred." He snorted and crossed his arms, "Even an idiot like Lang Qian Qiu can ascend, heaven is truly blind."

"What do you mean by that!" demanded said idiot but no one answered him, much less looked at him except for one.

"It's self explanatory." Qing Xuan said bluntly. 

"..."

Xie Lian rubbed her forehead with a slightly guilty feeling, thinking, 'You can't say it like that, after all, someone who collects rubbish like me can also go up ..'

"You're better than him by a long, no by a large margin you can't even begin to imagine." Hua Cheng said with a very sincere voice. "You're better than anyone in heaven."

"As much as I hate that guy, I agree." Feng Xin said with Mu Qing slightly nodding.

Unfortunately, Xie Lian didn't believe them and only thought they were trying to make him feel better.

After looking so hesitant, Xie Lian spoke again, "San Lang, maybe I can't say this, but I still have to say it. Gambling house is dangerous, don't you ever think that someday maybe that place will be able to destroy you?"

"Don't worry, gege, that will never be able to destroy me." Hua Cheng said with a gently smile. "Nothing would unless I allow it."

And wasn't that the truth? For Hua Cheng kept reincarnating just for the prince without giving up.

A place that allows someone to risk their sons and daughters and even the lives of all people, even to death, is very sinful. Forget about the few fights that might occur. If one day the bet cannot be controlled, heaven will not be able to sit still and close their eyes. There will be times when they act.

"Not like they got the guts to go against me." Hua Cheng arrogantly said. It was true, no matter how bitter it makes the officials except Yushi Huang and Xie Lian feel as they knew the ghost king was stronger then most, if not all, of them. Well, of course he is weaker compared to the heavenly emperor, Jun Wu.

Hua Cheng looked at him, "Your Majesty. Have you ever asked Lang Qian Qiu why he acted so hastily before?"

Xie Lian was a little surprised, didn't really understand the meaning of the question. Hua Cheng continued, "I'm sure he would have told you that if he didn't do it, nobody else would."

"You're right," said Xie Lian, "That's what he said."

"I'm the opposite." Hua Cheng said. "If I don't control a place like this, then someone else will control it. I would prefer if that person was me."

"That makes sense." Wu Du agreed. "It's better to have the control instead of anyone else lest they ruin everything."

"Still, you must have a lot of faith with your skills to actually do so." Ling Wen said before glancing at Hua Cheng. "Well, it's not like there is any problem with that."

Hua Cheng just smiled at the praise, not feeling anything since it didn't come from you know who.

Xie Lian understood when it was time for him to stop and give up and then he nodded, "I understand."

It seemed that even though Hua Cheng was a sentimental person, he also paid attention to the arrangement and strength more than what Xie Lian realized. Hua Cheng continued, "Even so, I thank the GeGe for your attention."

"You'll always have my attention, San Lang." Xie Lian cheerfully said, much to the annoyance of certain people.

'Should I kill him?' Jun Wu thought.

At that moment, Xie Lian heard a voice coming from the door. A young man said, "My lord, I have found the boy wrapped in bandages."

Xie Lian sighed in relief, glad that he could fulfill his promise and take care of the young man. Besides, It was his responsibility to fix his mistake of letting his kingdom down and causing the child to suffer with that disease.

Xie Lian looked towards the front door and saw that it was Officer XiaXianYue from before who at that time was bending right behind the beaded curtain. And what was on his arm was none other than the tattered looking boy.

Hua Cheng never looked at him and said, "Bring him in."

The young man in black took the child inside and gently laid him on the floor. Xie Lian could not help but peek at the officer's wrist once more to see if there were indeed damned fetters there, but he bent down, quickly he returned to his feet after delivering the boy. Because there were things that were more important to Xie Lian at that time, he then bent down and sat down next to the boy wrapped in bandages and immediately calmed him down, "Don't be afraid. What happened last time was my fault, I won't do it again."

"It wasn't." Feng Xin insisted with a stern look, knowing how Xie Lian easily blamed himself for things, especially when their home fell. "It's normal to flinch when you suddenly saw something like that."

"Still, I should have been more responsible." Xie Lian said with a depreciating smile. 

The boy's eyes seemed to widen and filled with fear and confusion, but after running away many times, he no longer had the energy to run back. He peeked at where Xie Lian was, then peeked at the small table on the bed made of black jade. Xie Lian followed his line of sight and saw that he was watching a plate of delicious fruit on the lap table.

The boy must have been hiding for too long and haven't eaten at all. Xie Lian turned towards Hua Cheng and before he said anything, Hua Cheng gestured, "Do whatever you want, no need to ask me."

"San Lang..." Xie Lian said with a wry smile.

'Why do you spoil me so much?' he wanted to ask but failed in the end when he saw Hua Cheng looking at him with such a sincere look.

"Don't hold back, gege." he said with a gentle smile. 

"...Then, thank you, San Lang." Xie Lian just thanked him in the end.

It was not the time to be polite, so Xie Lian then thanked him and grabbed the plate of fruit before giving it to the boy. The boy took the plate from Xie Lian and began to put the fruit in his mouth.

It seemed he had been starving for days, and was very hungry. Even when Xie Lian was in his worst condition and was so starving like a stray dog, he never put food in his mouth like this. He did not know what to say, and only said softly, "Slow down."

Some frowned at this statement but before anyone could say anything, Xie Lian spoke up.

"That sounds bad." Xie Lian admitted. "But that is far from the truth."

'Yeah right.' those who knew him thought as Hua Cheng vowed to always make Xie Lian full.

After a pause, he tried to ask again, "What's your name?"

The boy whispered and murmured while he was still eating his food, as if trying to say something but couldn't do it clearly.

"He may not have talked for years and forgot how to talk." Hua Cheng said.

"How sad." Yushi Huang said, clearly feeling bad for the boy who suffered so much.

"Indeed." Jun Wu calmly said.

Indeed, it seemed that this boy did not say much, even to Xiao Ying, and had been like this for a long time. Xie Lian sighed, "We can do this slowly."

At that time, all the fruit on the plate had been eaten. Seeing that the bandage looked wet with dried blood, covered in black and red spots, Xie Lian said softly, "Your face is hurt and looks worse. Let me see it."

Hearing those words, fear immediately enveloped the boy's eyes. However, after Xie Lian calmed and encouraged him, he resumed sitting there obediently.

"Your good with kids, gege." Hua Cheng said.

"I am?" Xie Lian asked. "I mean, they are lovable."

"Don't even think about it, crimson rain." Mu Qing hissed.

Xie Lian then approached him and sat down beside him and then seemed to take out a bottle of medicinal powder from his sleeve, ready to take off the dirty bandages when Hua Cheng intercepted him, "Let me do it."

"It's fine, San Lang." Xie Lian said. "If you do all of those, I won't be able to do anything."

"It's fine." Hua Cheng insisted. "I like spoiling you."

Xie Lian didn't understand why he felt warm all of a sudden and just smiled, his cheeks turning a little pink.

Xie Lian shook his head and moved his hand slowly, opening the bandage wrapped in indiscriminate from the boy's head.

As he had expected, even though the boy's face was a mess, all the scary little human faces had disappeared, with only large patches of bright red.

"So he really isn't capable of spreading the disease." Pei Su said with a relieved smile. "What a relief."

"N-not that I didn't trust your words, general Hua!" he quickly followed up when he realized his words could be offensive as it shows he didn't trust Xie Lian's words.

"No need to worry, it's alright." Xie Lian assured the young man who was panicking. 

'He really has a lot of respect for the crown prince.' Pei Ming thought.

Last time when they met at Yu Jun Mountain, there was a burn that covered his face but not much blood at that time. This boy must have used a knife to cut the human faces from his own face and leave all the scars there.

"How brave." Yi Zhen praised, knowing he wouldn't be able to do it. Well, maybe.  

Xie Lian's hands seemed to tremble slowly as she rubbed the medicine over the boy's wounds. Hua Cheng grabbed his wrist and said again, "Let me do it."

Many looked sad at seeing Xie Lian still being haunted by his memories.

'Cousin crown prince...' Qi Rong thought, feeling something he doesn't know how to describe. 

Xie Lian shook his head again and gently pulled his hand, and said in a low voice, "No. Let me do this myself."

Eight hundred years ago in the kingdom of Xian Le, many who had contracted this disease, without any other means, all chose the path of mutilating themselves. It is truly like hell on earth. Some people will lose their purpose and decide to cut where they shouldn't be and then end up dying from blood loss. Some people, even if they succeed in removing the little human faces on their faces, they will never recover from the wounds.

Many winced or was in shock when they saw the horrors the Xian Le kingdom experienced.

"You don't need to watch this if you don't want to, Xian Le." Jun Wu said with a gentle smile.

'They might reveal my secret, however unlikely.' he thought.

"It's okay, your majesty." Xie Lian assured with a somewhat shaky smile.

When Xie Lian wrapped and wrapped a new bandage around the boy's head, he realized that his face was really quite handsome, his nose straight and smooth, his eyes were so black and clear; he should be a handsome young man if it were not for this terrible disease.

Hua Cheng frowned a little, feeling quite jealous but quickly swallowed it down. 

 He was like many others who had it before himself; even if he cut off a human's face that was so disturbing from his own face, his face would forever become a nightmare, unable to recover as before.

Xie Lian finally finished wrapping and wrapping a new bandage and asked in a trembling voice, "Are you from Xian Le?"

The boy turned to look at him with his big eyes, and Xie Lian repeated his question several times but he only shook his head. Xie Lian then asked, "Then where are you from, more precisely?"

"So he's not from our kingdom, then is he from..." Mi Qing didn't finish but everyone related to Xian Le knew what he meant and frowned.

The boy answered with a lot of struggle ".. Yong ... An."

This kid is from Yong An!

"You shouldn't have saved him." Feng Xin scowled.

"Exactly." Qi Rong agreed with visible disgust.

Xie Lian felt his vision darken, and he said, "Have you ever met ... The Faceless White?"

"You should sleep for now, Gege." Hua Cheng softly said, letting Xie Lian lean on him while the latter closed his eyes, fatigue entering his bones because of the stress of seeing his worst nightmare.

Feng Xin and Mu Qing, who saw this, forgave it just this once, knowing the video might break Xie Lian if he continues watching.

White Faceless / White Disaster. The origin of the plague. The symbol of state misfortune and destruction.

The Devil who belongs to the 'Great' group often wears snow-white funeral clothes, and carries a Spirit Calling cloth flag in his hand, and wears a Smile Crying mask on his face. This mask is called by that name because half of the mask shows a smiling face, and the other half cries; joined together, it's hard to say whether the wearer is smiling or crying. If he is seen somewhere somewhere, it means that that place will soon be destroyed, and the world will fall into chaos.

Jun Wu smirked without anyone noticing, proud of his accomplishments and the fear he brought to Xie Lian. It also makes him wonder if the man only needs a little push before he spirals down like him.

'I can't wait.' he thought.

Xie Lian can remember clearly the first time he met White No-Face. At that time he was standing at the top of the highest tower of Xian Le palace, his face covered with dust and tears, looking so blank and confused as he looked down at the direction where his kingdom was. In his blurred vision, there was a white silhouette between the corpse fields outside the fortress walls, his broad sleeves fluttering, clearly and distinctly different. Xie Lian lowered his head to look at him, and the white apparition also raised her head to look towards Xie Lian, and waved to him directly.

"Was...the white no-face interested with his highness?" Qian Qiu asked, not knowing the effects of his words. Immediately, Feng Xin, Mu Qing, and Hua Cheng's atmosphere darkened.

"He should hope he isn't." Hua Cheng darkly murmured.

"I'll kill him." Mu Qing said.

"I'll join you." Feng Xin echoed.

"Well, shit, you just basically help end the world." Pei Ming told Qian Qiu who looked confused.

The Weeping Smile Mask was a nightmare for Xie Lian who could not be driven out of his memory even after hundreds of years.

"Poor prince." Qing Xuan said with a sad look. "It's brave of him to continue on."

"...It is." He Xuan begrudgingly agreed as his respect for the prince increased a little. It isn't easy to live when you're haunted by memories, after all.