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alias_sqbrGuide and links
Content Notes for the book in general: consent issues, sexualisation of children, gore, mixed treatment of cross-dressing, suicide, child harm, incest subtext, emotional abuse, ANGST
Under the cut: SPOILERS for chapters 231-244 aka THE END OF THE STORY
Fen Xin: HE HIT ME ON THE HEAD AND KNOCKED ME OUT!!
Mu Qing: DID NOT
Fen Xin: Plus he came to help out in a dangerous place- it must be a fake!
Mu Qing: Having a son isn't something you'd usually do either, yet here we are!
So yeah. It's the real Mu Qing.
Xie Lian: Fine, let's check using something only the three of us know. What were you arguing about on the mountain top?
Mu Qing: ...
Feng Xin: ...you're missing the point. The real Mu Qing hates us both anyway so it wouldn't be strange for him to try to hurt us.
Mu Qing: D:<
Xie Lian: Let's calm down by training some idioms!
(And...ok, either I missed it, or we never actually find out what they were arguing about?? Maybe it's in the extras I haven't read all of those yet)
Things calm down enough for Xie Lian to look around and realise he's in the sort of armoury he loved as a young man. It's always strange being reminded how into weapons he used to be.
And then RuoYe pulls Xie Lian towards something in the dark...it's Hua Cheng!
Hua Cheng: The path sealed up and we bumped into something a little difficult, and I lost track of Guoshi. Anyway, what are these two fighting about this time?
Mu Qing: Maybe this is a fake Hua Cheng!
Hua Cheng: Uh huh. And what's that on your wrist? What did you and Jun Wu talk about? Why did you lure us here?
Mu Qing, covering his wrist: WAIT I CAN EXPLAIN
Feng Xin: It was you who hit me on the head, wasn't it?
Mu Qing: OK YES TECHNICALLY BUT LISTEN
Mu Qing says he couldn't persuade Feng Xin to stop searching for Jian Lan, so knocked him out to take him away by force. But then he was attacked by Cuo Cuo and had to run, leaving Feng Xin's comatose body with Cuo Cuo and Jian Lan, who must have brought it here.
Hua Cheng: And the shackle? Are you under Jun Wu's command?
Mu Qing: NO! Ugh, you're not going to believe me anyway.
Xie Lian: Let him finish.
Mu Qing: This is...because, he wanted me to...to do detrimental things to his Highness, and I refused, so... UGH you don't believe me!
Hua Cheng: You do have a track record. How did cultivation go after you stole land from His Highness? :)
Mu Qing: D:
Xie Lian wonders how Hua Cheng can know: Mu Qing is obviously deeply ashamed, and the thirty or so heavenly officials who bullied him would hardly admit to it.
And then Xie Lian remembers how Hua Cheng came to fame as a Supreme: a battle against 30 or so heavenly officials ending with their temples in flames. He'd forgotten the names of the officials who'd bullied him by then, but could it have been the same people?
But then they're distracted, when the weapons on the walls decide they haven't killed anyone in too long and get hungry for blood.
And Mu Qing has vanished.
Feng Xin: Did he really... :(
Xie Lian reaches for his sword, and Hua Cheng says darkly "What are you planning doing with that? Put down your sword." After all, this is the same black sword, Fang Xin, that Xie Lian was stabbed by so many times the night Hua Cheng became a savage ghost, and then stabbed himnself with to prevent the second coming of the human face plague.
Hua Cheng has never gotten this angry and demanding at Xie Lian before, and he's taken aback (and a little sad after Hua Cheng slices all the pretty antique sword to pieces)
Xie Lian: Wait, did you think I was going to stab myself? I wouldn't have!
Hua Cheng: Really? ):<
Xie Lian: Yes! I promised you! And there were so many, I would have been stabbed mush hahaha...
Hua Cheng: *pulls Xie Lian into a tight hug* Your Highness please don't laugh like that any more. It's not funny...not funny at all.
Xie Lian: I'm sorry. I won't joke like that again.
The chill in the air starts to lift, and they see a light ahead...
...it's an approaching river of lava.
And then Mu Qing rushes past! The others chase him across the lava, surfing atop empty shelled corpses.
(If you've forgotten, I'm talking about these sorts of body casts but possessed by the resentful spirits of the dead)
Feng Xin: MU QING STOP RUNNING!
Mu Qing: AND HAVE YOU ALL ATTACK ME?!
Xie Lian: CLIFF!
(It occurred to me that afaict Chinese doesn't have capital letters. So I wonder what the allcaps symbolises, if anything. Bold font?)
RuoYe manages to flip Xie Lian, Hua Cheng and Feng Xin to safety on a rooftop. But Mu Qing is too slow and is pulled by the lava over the edge.
Feng Xin: Did he fall? :(
But Mu Qing managed to slam his sabre into the wall of the cliff, and is barely hanging on as the heat of the lava weakens his sword and singes his skin.
Feng Xin: Can you save him??
You know I didn't really see Feng Xin/Mu Qing before but...yeah ok.
Mu Qing: YOUR HIGHNESS YOU KNOW I WOULDN'T HAVE REALLY HURT ANY OF YOU RIGHT??
Xie Lian is suddenly reminded of all the times he had to beg from Mu Qing. Mu Qing looks like he's remembering it too.
Hua Cheng: Gege, let me remind you of a few things. First, any rescue attempt will be life threateningly dangerous. Second, if Mu Qing is working for Jun Wu then presumably Jun Wu has some way to save him. Think about his behaviour throughout this trip.
Hua Cheng calmly lets go of a silver butterfly. It makes it about halfway to Mu Qing before burning into ash. Xie Lian just stands there in silence.
Mu Qing realises that not only is there possibly no-one willing to save him, there is probably no-one able to save him. And then...he feels himself pulled at by countless boiling hot hands. It's the spirits of the dead, trying to drag him down to join them.
Mu Qing's burned fingers finally reach their limit, and he falls...only to stop in mid air, held up by the bandage RuoYe!
And above him, holding the other end, is Xie Lian, balanced carefully on the hilt of the sabre.
Xie Lian: Thank goodness, you're alright! This hand isn't extended too late, right? :)
It turns out his long pause wasn't doubt, he was just figuring out a solution. In the end he threw his sword into the lava as a halfway point to jump off.
Xie Lian: Can you jump?
Mu Qing: >.>
Xie Lian: Hmm, the sabre can't take the weight of the two of us much longer. Only one of us can remain here. So up you go! *throws Mu Qing up over the cliff*
Hua Cheng: Gege if you don't come back up soon I'm going to come down and get you >:(
Xie Lian: I'm fine I'll be back soon!
Feng Xin: Considering how much you hate Mu Qing I would have expected you to stop His Highness.
Hua Cheng: I certainly don't think he's worth saving. But only His Highness can make his own decisions. And I will never oppose him.
And then, just before Xie Lian can jump back to safety, he feels something cold pulling him down...
WHITE NO FACE
D:
Mu Qing works with RuoYe to try and pull him back up, but they both just end up tumbling down with Xie Lian over the edge of the cliff.
Xie Lian looks above and see Hua Cheng jumping towards him. And below...is a pool of lava.
Xie Lian blacks out.
Chapter title: The Heaven Crossing Bridge: Three Idiots Return to Olden Times
Xie Lian comes to next to Mu Qing on a huge piece of broken bridge.
The bridge hangs in the air above the lava, seeming to go in either direction forever, broken in pieces and made of black material that looks like it has experienced a thousand years of storms and fire.
It's the remains of the Heaven Crossing Bridge Jun Wu made 2000 years ago. They must have been sent here by teleportation array. And Hua Cheng is nowhere to be seen.
Xie Lian: We should get going. Are you able to move?
Mu Qing stares at his proffered hand then says "I can't go. My hands and feet are injured."
Xie Lian, lifting him up: Let me assist you then.
Mu Qing: ...why? Aren't you suspicious of me?
Xie Lian: Haven't I said before? You might spit in someone's cup, but you wouldn't poison them. Plus me and San Lang could kill you in one blow so you're no threat ^_^
Mu Qing: Your Highness, you're really...
Xie Lian: You're dependant on me here, don't say anything to make me throw you into the lava :)
Mu Qing: Why are you saving me when you know what I think of you?
Xie Lian: I'm just following my principles. Besides, while you're weird, and there was a time when I wanted to punch you to death, I didn't succeed and now I've lost interest. And no matter how weird you are, and how much I want to punch you, your sins don't warrant death.
These guys ;_;
And then the bridge segment they're on starts to tilt and crack, and Xie Lian has to jump them both across to the next. He puts Mu Qing on his back and lightly steps across the ground like a swallow skimming across water, centuries of training without spiritual powers making him strong and controlled.
He's stopped in his tracks by a pillar of fire. The resentful sprits in the lava below are trying to bring them down. Mu Qing still has his spiritual powers, and tries to knock them away, but it's hard to aim while they're running and so far up in the air.
Mu Qing: ...put me down.
Xie Lian: What? But you love life and are afraid of death!
Mu Qing: Well excuse me for not wanting to die! But since I'm going to die anyway...put me down before I change my mind.
Xie Lian: Stop messing around, you'll make me lose focus.
Mu Qing: Who's messing around? I'll take care of these trash while you go on ahead.
And then he jumps onto a narrow nearby section, too weak to support both their weight so that Xie Lian can't follow.
Mu Qing: You know what? I think you're weird too. You relied on your status as Prince, your actual skills aren't much better than mine. Plus, you only like helping people to make yourself look better. I still kind of feel this way, maybe I always will.
Xie Lian: :/
Mu Qing, through clenched teeth: ...but more often than not, I'm still...in awe of you. You certainly are...rather...amazing. Also...a better person...than me. Long story short I...very much wanted...to become your...f-f-friend.
Xie Lian: o.O
;_;
Mu Qing: And back then, even if I was in a difficult situation...I still owe you an apology.
Xie Lian: ...it's all the past, let it go. Let's just get out of here!
Mu Qing: He told me, if I was suspicious, even if you knew I didn't do it you'd go with the flow and not save me. Because you hate me.
No need to ask who "he" is.
Mu Qing: Even though I didn't agree to help him...I've always thought deep down that you despised me, so I...I've always...anyway you don't actually think that. I'm glad.
And then the piece of bridge he's on collapses, and falls into the wailing ghosts beneath.
:(
And then... there is a huge explosion of spiritual light!
Mu Qing, standing on the quickly sinking piece of bridge: You wanted me? WELL NOW YOU HAVE ME :D
He raises his blood red hands and starts killing spirits to his heart's content, as fire begins to nip at the edge of his sleeves.
Xie Lian, holding down RuoYe: HOW HIGH CAN YOU JUMP?
Mu Qing: STOP TALKING RUBBISH AND GET OUT OF HERE!
Xie Lian: YOU FINALLY SAID SOMETHING SENSIBLE HOW CAN I LEAVE NOW?? I'LL FIND A WAY TO SAVE YOU!
Mu Qing, sinking fast and too far down to reach: ...HURRY UP THEN!!
And then...a hand reaches down. It's Feng Xin! He jumped down to hold on the end of RuoYe!
Feng Xin: WHAT'S WITH THESE DOG SHIT SPIRITS ATTACKING US? YOU'LL NEVER REACH ABSOLUTION AT THIS RATE! FUCK YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY!
Xie Lian: IF THEIR WHOLE FAMILY LOOKS LIKE THAT ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO FUCK THEM??
This is a remarkably dirty joke for Xie "can't kiss in front of anyone under 500" Lian, which is why I am recording it.
Feng Xin manages to shoot arrows at the sprits with his teeth and they make it up to relative safety.
Xie Lian: How did you get here?
Feng Xin: You all jumped, what else was I going to do? I almost went fucking crazy! I only found you two after hearing all the noise. Jumping into a lava pool! Madness!
Mu Qing: Hey, I was dragged!
Feng Xin: Also I heard what you said, who'd have thought a little bastard like you actually felt all that deep down! Didn't I always tell you, Xie Lian, this guy's feelings are more twisted than a resentful concubine. If you want to be f-friends with His Highness just say so!
Xie Lian: Don't scold him any more. Look, his face has gone all red.
Mu Qing: BOTH OF YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP.
Xie Lian: It's not good to swear :)
Feng Xin: Anyway, just know that other than that one time he got angry, His Highness never said a bad word about you in front of me.
Mu Qing: If it wasn't for you talking crap about His Highness all day I wouldn't have gotten weird! So what if he robbed? In his shoes I'd have robbed too!
Xie Lian: Ahahaha. Why don't we...stop talking about all this ancient history...and find San Lang...
Mu Qing: You really like him don't you?
Xie Lian, blushing: Ahhh? >.>
Mu Qing: I hate to say it, but maybe he didn't...make it out of...
Xie Lian: D:
Feng Xin: HE'S FINE SHUT UP
And then they find the remains of a silver butterfly. There was clearly a huge fight, leaving sword marks gouged into all the walls. Xie Lian feels himself shaking, and runs and runs, following the distant sound of weapons clashing.
Feng Xin, muttering: Dear fucking god, may all the gods and buddhas grant their blessings, that better absolutely be Crimson Rain Sought Flower, otherwise he's gonna go mad!
Mu Qing: We're the gods and buddhas ourselves and we can't grant shit. Just keep up with him and make sure he doesn't trip!
I love this book and the way it writes gods.
Xie Lian runs for miles and miles, until light fills his vision. There, at the end of the Heaven Crossing Bridge, a red clad man and a white clad man are engaged in vicious battle.
Every other time Xie Lian's seen Hua Cheng fight he smiled, and acted like it was almost a game. But now his expression is deadly serious, a splash of blood colouring his pale white face.
And No-Face's mask is split by a thick dark crack.
Every time they clash molten lava surges metres high, there's no way to get close. Not wanting to disturb Hua Cheng, Xie Lian collapses to the ground with relief in silence. (Also Guoshi is sitting to the side looking kinda trapped. I thought he was maybe Up To Something but no, he just sits around making Mentor Commentary)
Hua Cheng: Gege, next time you fall like that I'm going to get mad.
Xie Lian: Next time you jump down with me I'll get even more mad!
No-Face: Are you two sure you have time to flirt :)
Hua Cheng splits No-Face's sword in half. "Pfft. You're nothing more than an addled old fart with a heart filled with jealousy."
A white shape suddenly blocks Hua Cheng's blade: Cuo Cuo.
Xie Lian: Don't kill it!
So Hua Cheng knocks it aside instead. Cuo Cuo immediately latches onto Feng Xin's arm.
Feng Xin: FUCKING HELL! WHEN IT SEES HIM IT'S PROTECTIVE, WHEN IT SEES ME IT BITES. JUST WHO IS YOUR DAD HERE?
Mu Qing: Have you ever treated it like a son? Have you even used it's name?
Feng Xin: I...
As Hua Cheng manages to get a hit against Jun Wu's arm, Xie Lian goes to try and help Guoshi.
No-Face, looking at his own blood: Heh. It's been a while since anyone's managed to hurt me like this :)
Guoshi: Oh no. He's happy D:
No-Face: That scimitar...was it forged from your missing eye? :)
Guoshi: Oh.
Guoshi tells Xie Lian a story: many years ago, a group of regular humans somehow got trapped inside Mount Tonglu. They were doomed to become demon food, but then a young unformed ghost came along. It was barely coherent, and seemed to have suffered massive damage, but kept itself together repeating I won't leave. And it defended the humans for as long as it could.
The only way it could survive was to sacrifice something to create a blood weapon., The obvious choice was the humans. But instead it used it's own eye.
And at that very moment, there was a heavenly calamity, and someone or thing ascended to heaven. Yet, no god is known to have ascended from Mount Tonglu. Whoever it was must have rejected the chance to become divine.
Mu Qing: Wait, he ascended as a ghost? How? Why-
No-Face, suddenly up in Xie Lian's business: Xian Le, you have a very faithful believer :)
And before Hua Cheng can attack him, he's quickly moved away.
No-Face, holding Xie Lian's sword: Just taking back what was mine :)
Because for all these years, Xie Lian has been carrying the black sword Jun Wu gave him in the temple. The one that was used to kill Xie Lian so many times.
(I have been really lazy about keeping track of sword related exposition, sorry. I just don't care very much about swords, and I didn't realise this one would be so important! *goes back and adds some references*)
No-Face smiles, and his cracked mask falls away. He glows with a white light, and returns to the form of Jun Wu, Emperor of Heaven.
He's much stronger now. He strikes at Hua Cheng, but before the blow can land...Xie Lian stands in the way. He caught the blade with his bare hands.
Hua Cheng: Gege?
Xie Lian: Let's do this together! You take the top and I'll take the bottom!
So Huia Cheng strikes with his sword while Xie Lian kicks and gives instructions on what moves will best get through Jun Wu's defences.
Jun Wu: Good moves! :D
Jun Wu pulls Xie Lian towards him, and his blade...but Hua Cheng takes the blow, the black metal sticking deep into his chest.
Xie Lian: San Lang! D:
Hua Cheng: As if I would ever let you be stabbed by this sword again!
Jun Wu: Why so distressed, Xie Lian? He's already dead :)
Xie Lian: And isn't this all your fault? >:(
Jun Wu: Perhaps :) But Xian Le, have you already forgotten what you did after Xian Le fell? Do you remember a ghost called Wu Ming?
Xie Lian: DON'T!
Hua Cheng: It's fine, don't be afraid.
Xie Lian is overcome by traumatic memories and shame, and starts to shake. Hua Cheng has seen a Xie Lian basking in glory, has seen Xie Lian defeated, silly, and impoverished. But what of a Xie Lian filled with hate, who would go so far as to create the human face disease a second time? Xie Lian doesn't want to know how Hua Cheng would look at him then.
Hua Cheng: Your Highness, don't be afraid. Remember? The one basking in glory is you, the one fallen from grace is also you. No matter what, I will never leave you.
Jun Wu: Ha! 'No matter what I will never leave you'. My most faithful believers, my best friends...they told me that once too.
Hua Cheng: Believe me, please.
Xie Lian: Ahaha...Sang Lang...I'm sorry, I might...
And then before they can finish speaking, Jun Wu attacks again, stronger than before.
He's nigh unstoppable, even two against one, and this time is directing his attacks at Xie Lian, who is only armed with RuoYe. Hua Cheng strikes again and again at Jun Wu's glowing white armour but nothing even makes a dent.
Xie Lian: Aim for under his right rib!
Mu Qing: THAT'S RIDICULOUS IT'S IMPENETRABLE! Come on Feng Xin let's see what we can do.
But Hua Cheng trusts Xie Lian...and his sabre cuts through the armour under Jun Wu's rib, and RuoYe quickly ducks in to tie up his hands. Back when Xie Lian ascended for the second time, with all his spiritual powers, and sparred with Jun Wu...that was the place his swords pierced.
Guoshi: That's no use, he-
There is the sound of RuoYe being ripped apart D:
Jun Wu: Did you really think I have less experience with being pierced by swords than you? Did you think I would care?
Guoshi: ...he doesn't feel pain any more :(
Mu Qing: Also he's recovering faster than you can hit him :(
Jun Wu: A necessary skill when you've been stabbed in the back as many times as me :) Still, you two are quite something. Now, Crimson Rain Sought Flower, I suggest you stand back, unless you want to see me wring Xian Le's neck :)
Jun Wu is holding Xie Lian by the neck over the lava. Hua Cheng backs away.
And then Jun Wu slams Xie Lian into the rock wall.
Jun Wu: Does this hurt?
Xie Lian, blood pouring down his face: SAN LANG STAY BACK I'M FINE
Jun Wu: DOES IT HURT *slam* DOES IT HURT *slam*
Xie Lian: IT HURTS!!
Jun Wu stops attacking him, and instead gently wipes his face. "You foolish child, if it hurts, why not turn back? Do you think that if you keep slamming into the wall, it will eventually break? Why not change your direction instead?"
Xie Lian: I won't.
Jun Wu: D:<
Guoshi: YOU DON'T WANT TO KILL HIM!! LITTLE HIGHNESS IS STILL YOUNG, HE'LL UNDERSTAND ONE DAY!
Jun Wu: Don't lie to me. The one you think is immature is me, not him.
Guoshi: D:
Jun Wu: You've spent so much time nurturing him, guiding him, hoping you could win against me, aqnd prove me wrong. So you can hold the perfect Crown Prince to face and dismiss the Jun Wu of now. BUT NOBODY CAN WIN AGAINST ME. ESPECIALLY NOT HIM!!
He starts slamming Xie Lian into the rocks again, shouting "WILL YOU CHANGE? WILL YOU CHANGE?!"
Xia Lian: I WON'T! EVEN IF IT'S PAINFUL EVEN IF DIE I WON'T CHANGE!!
And then Jun Wu feels himself hit by a round of Feng Xin's arrows, and while he's distracted, Mu Qing cuts off his right hand. The one holding Xie Lian.
Jun Wu, putting his hand back on like a fallen glove: Aren't you forgetting something?
Mu Qing cries out and looks down at the cursed shackle on his wrist, which is tightening and filling with blood just like the one on Yin Yu did D: And before Feng Xin can do anything Jun Wu flips his wrist and shoots all the arrows back at him, piercing Feng Xin's chest D:
Xie Lian sees his friends struggle against their wounds, and the bridge they're standing on begins to break into pieces.
Jun Wu is walking towards him at a leisurely pace. "Xian Le, you know there is no doubt of your defeat."
Xie Lian thinks "He's right. But I'm going to fight anyway."
Hua Cheng: No. You can win. You're stronger than him. So what if he has millions of believers. For you, one person is enough.
Hua Cheng pulls him close. And Xie Lian feels himself fill with spiritual powers, more than ever before. When Hua Cheng releases him, he falls to the ground. And then he feels at his neck.
The shackle is gone. Hua Cheng filled him with so much energy that the two shackles burst and broke.
Jun Wu strikes towards him...and Xie Lian simply flicks the sword away. It's been so long he'd forgotten what this felt like.
He punches Jun Wu in the face.
Mu Qing and Feng Xin try to sneak around to grab the sword, but get knocked into the lava by Jun Wu and barely saved by Guoshi. Mu Qing manages to reach down and grab the sword and throw it to Xie Lian, but before they can come back up a bunch of spirits grab onto Feng Xin and start pulling him down.
Just when all looks lost, Feng Xin is saved...by Cuo Cuo!!
A little baby demon isn't much threat to a gang of thousand year old spirits, and Cuo Cuo is soon burned and bloody. But he keeps crazily tearing at the sprits with it's teeth.
Feng Xin: HOW FUCKING SHAMELESS, A GROUP OF ADULTS BULLYING A CHILD!! CUO CUO! COME OVER HERE!!
Feng Xin shoots down the angry spirits while a gleeful Cuo Cuo gloats from his shoulder.
Aww.
Jun Wu is gaining the upper hand on Xie Lian and gloats that he knows all of Xie Lian's moves...but Hua Cheng reminds him that he knows one more. Xie Lian slams them into the wall, shattering Jun Wu's armour. (This was his finishing move as a busker, not sure I mentioned that >.>)
Jun Wu starts shouting at his own body as the three mountain spirits start harassing him again. Xie Lian takes the chance to hit Jun Wu with everything he's got, and there is a huge explosion and the mountain collapses on top of Jun Wu.
Bloody and broken, Jun Wu moves his hands as if to cast some final spell.
Guoshi: Your Highness, let it go.
Jun Wu: GO AWAY
Guoshi: It's been so many years. You've been a god and a ghost king. All that should be killed are dead, all that you wanted was in your hands. So what are you trying to prove?
Jun Wu: YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO JUDGE ME
Guoshi: My dear Highness. Teaching his Royal mHighness was never about creating a better version of you. He's his own person, and you have always walked different paths. I just miss you. I miss our people, and the days before we ascended. That's all. It's been so many years. Just watching you makes me so tired. Aren't you tired too? You've lost. You're free.
Xie Lian realises that for the first time, Jun Wu's complexion looks pale and sickly, with no warmth or kindness. But he looks alive.
Jun Wu: ...what was that finishing move called?
Xie Lian: Shattering boulders on the chest.
Jun Wu: Beautiful.
And then he closes his eyes.
Guoshi: You should all go now. I'll stay with him, now, like I didn't before.
Rain begins to fall, washing the life and blood from Jun Wu. Xie Lian takes off his bamboo hat, and uses it to cover Jun Wu's face. Cuo Cuo gently crawls beside Jun Wu and carefully touches his face.
The cursed shackle on Mu Qing's wrist breaks, and he throws it into the lava.
Xie Lian throws himself into Hua Cheng's arms.
Hua Cheng: Didn't I say you'd win? *uses butterflies to heal Xie Lian's cuts* But you're like this again :/
Xie Lian: Do you remember I said there was something I wanted to tell you? Jun Wu already said some bits and pieces, I should have said it a long time ago but I was afraid you'd-
Hua Cheng: Afraid I'd find out you used to be the White Clothed Calamity?
He bends down on one knee and says "Gege do you remember me now?"
And Xie Lian finally realises that Hua Cheng was the ghost Wu Ming, who stood by his side in his darkest hour. He knew the worst of Xie Lian from the start, and still accepted him.
Xie Lian's heart swirls with shame, gratitude and joy...and above all, love. He joyfully tackles Hua Cheng to the ground, hugging him and laughing.
Me: Aww, this is lovely. I thought the ending was supposed to be bittersweet!
And then Xie Lian looks down and realises Hua Cheng's robes are starting to look transparent.
END OF CHAPTER 240
...
YOU KNOW WHAT
I'M NOT GOING TO END IT THERE
BECAUSE I AM NOT AS MEAN AS MXTX
Goddamn though. COME ON LET THEM BE HAPPY FOR FIVE SECONDS.
Xie Lian: SAN LANG WHAT'S GOING ON??
Hua Cheng: I just overdid it a little that's all :)
Xie Lian realises Hua Cheng gave him all his spiritual powers. Panicking, Xie Lian kisses him, and tries to give them back, but it's no good.
Hua Cheng: I'm happy gege is so forward but there's no need to give me spiritual powers. I'm just taking a little break. Don't be scared.
Xie Lian: How can I not be scared? WHAT DO I DO D:
Hua Cheng, brushing his fingers through Xie Lian's hair: Your Highness, do you know why I refuse to leave this world? Because I have a beloved still in it.
Xie Lian: Oh.
Hua Cheng: He's brave, noble, and gracious. He saved my life, and I've looked up to him ever since I was young. I wanted to catch up, and become even stronger for him, even though he may not remember me. I want to protect him. If your dream is to protect the common people...then my dream is only you.
Xie Lian, remembering a little ghost he spoke to years before: Then you won't be able to rest in peace.
Hua Cheng: I pray never to rest in peace.
Hua Cheng: I understand your everything: your kindness, your pain, your hate, your intelligence, your foolishness. If I could I would have you use me as your stepping stone, the sinner butchered by a million knives. But I know you won't allow it.
Xie Lian knows now, all the ways he's met Hua Cheng, all the times Hua Cheng has been by his side.
Xie Lian: Don't be like this, I've borrowed so many spiritual powers I haven't returned yet! And actually I'm not done saying everything I wanted to, and it's been so long since anyone listened to me talk, won't you stay? And...it's been twice already! Don't do this to me a third time!
Hua Cheng: To die in battle for you is my greatest honour.
;_;
Xie Lian, crying: You said you'd never leave me!
Hua Cheng: There's no banquet that doesn't come to and end.
Xie Lian: ;_;
Hua Cheng: ..but I will never leave you. I will come back. Your Highness believe me.
Xie Lian looks up and Hua Cheng is silently gazing at him with love, saying something in silence as he finally fades away. And then Hua Cheng shatters into thousands of silver butterflies, that fly away up out of his arms.
;_;
Feng Xin: WTF WAS THAT
Mu Qing: CRIMSON RAIN SOUGHT FLOWER YOU COME BACK THIS INSTANT
A last silver butterfly brushes against Xie Lian's hand as if in a final goodbye. But looking down he realises that the string on his finger is still tied bright and red.
Flash forward: The temporary residence of the Gods on top of Mount TaiCang, which I think is where Xie Lian lived with his family while in exile.
The gods face one of their greatest challenges yet...
Who's going to do the accounts?
Pei Ming: I wish Ling Wen was here :(
But instead they're visited by...Rain Master, who's brought vegetables that boost spiritual power, and a strip of white cloth for Xie Lian.
Xie Lian: Great I can fix up RuoYe!
Feng Xin: OH NO YOU DON'T I'VE SEEN YOUR SEWING. GIVE IT TO MU QING.
Mu Qing: AM I YOUR SERVANT NOW?
Xie Lian: Never mind I'll do it.
But Mu Qing has already walked off with it, rolling his eyes.
Xie Lian goes with Rain Master to visit her old general, Xuan Ji. But the guards, Pei Su and Ban Yue, awkwardly explain that she dissipated in the night. She finally thought things through and let go of her obsession with Pei Ming. Xie Lian leaves Rain Master to perform death rites for the only other survivor of the Kingdom of YuShi.
He stumbles across Jian Lan as she's trying to sneak away.
Jian Lan: Are you here to stop me?
Xie Lian: No, just to give you a gift. Cuo Cuo's grudge is rather strong, I know you're purifying him but your cultivation isn't as strong as his. This will help.
He hands her a protection charm.
Xie Lian: But why go? Feng Xin will keep his word and look after you both. Do you not love him any more?
Jian Lan: This has nothing to do with love. I don't want to force him to be tied to us.
Xie Lian: He must really love you, back then he was so completely spent, but refused to let you go.
Jian Lan: He was stupid, spending all day making money so he could hire me for the night, just to sit with me and chat. But that was the past. A heavenly official carrying two ghosts, isn't that just trouble for him? I kicked him away when I looked my best, so he'd remember me that way, not in tacky makeup with crows feet. If he had to look at us like this every day, one day he'd see us as a nuisance. So why bother?
As she speaks, Cuo Cuo affectionately licks her face with his long tongue.
Jian Lan: Cuo Cuo is enough for me. Who hasn't made promises of forever in their youth? But the more I hang around the world, the more I understand that forever is impossible.
;_;
Xie Lian bumps into Lang Qian Qiu, and asks how Gu Zi is doing (You left Gu Zi...with the guy...who wanted to kill his dad?)
Lang Qian Qiu: I don't know. He kept asking for his dad so I gathered all the soul particles in a lamp and now he keeps hugging the lamp and asking when it will get bigger :/ But what I actually wanted to talk to you about was...this.
He hands Xie Lian a little red pearl earring.
Lang Qian Qiu: The founding father of YongAn said the one who gave him this was his saviour, a very good man. He said he did something that made the man lose everything, and while he didn't regret it...he still felt like me wronged the man. I saw the matching pearl in Crimson Rain Sought Flower's hair, and heard the generals say it belonged to you. So I am returning it.
Xie Lian stands silently, holding the pearl, his again after 800 years. But it should be part of a pair.
And then Heaven breaks into rejoicing: LING WEN HAS BEEN CAPTURED. She escaped during the battle, but Xie Lian still had the Brocade Immortal and used it to lure her into a trap. I can't believe he wore it all that time and it didn't backfire even a little.
Pei Ming: Ling Wen! Time to pay for your sins!
Ling Wen, watching the stacks of reports piling up in front of her: :/
Official: Also I have some extra books I've been putting off dealing with...
Xie Lian: Let her catch her breath first.
Officials: Of course! I wouldn't argue with His Highness!
The tables have turned. Now Xie Lian is the voice to listen to in Heaven.
Ling Wen: Congratulations, Your Highness. You have your spiritual powers back and even ghosts worship you and follow your orders.
Xie Lian: They're just my friends I asked to help.
Ling Wen: I see.
He asks her why the Brocade Immortal didn't work when he and Hua Cheng gave each other orders. She starts by saying she did kill Bai Jing to bring down the country and thus her old boss, but didn't know he'd turn into a monster. Whenever people used the robe with malicious intent, he was glad to oblige. But Hua Cheng and Xie Lian were similar to him, and had no malice towards each other. They would do anything the other asked without question either way.
She points to the ring on a chain around Xie Lian's neck: it's Hua Cheng's ashes, the key to his immortality.
Ling Wen: To have love bind your reason, and give objects tied to your life to someone else... it's too beautiful, and ends in tragedy. Something like a genuine heart is made to be trampled.
Xie Lian: So Bai Jing was like that too?
Ling Wen: Why else would he be deceived by me :)
Xie Lian: Yet you went to so much trouble to help him become a Supreme and regain his senses.
Ling Wen: Don't say it like I'd do anything for him. After all, I'm cold blooded and recognise no loved ones, why would I do anything like that?
Ling Wen ;_;
The Heavenly Capital is built, and everyone moves on. But Xie Lian stays, and builds himself a little shack on the mountain. He wanders through the maple trees where he trained in his youth. And he waits.
He spent 800 years on his own, and thought he was used to it. But now that he has tasted sweetness, it's hard to swallow the bitterness of loneliness again.
In the first month, he planted flowering trees, hoping that by the time Hua Cheng returned, they would blossom.
The second month he rebuilt the shack so Hua Cheng wouldn't send people over to clean.
At the end of the sixth month he watched the last flowers fall. He didn't cry or break down. Instead, he became more and more calm. Hua Cheng waited 800 years. What does it matter if he waits another eight hundred?
One day he is making his way through the forest in his junk cart and he sees lights in the sky: it's the autumn lantern festival. He realises this was when he and Hua Cheng met, the 17 year old prince and the small child covered in filth falling from the city walls.
And then he realises that there are lights on the mountain peak. And there is someone standing by his shack, his red clad back facing Xie Lian as he lets the last lantern fly up into the sky.
There are no words. A step, another step, and they start running. And then they fall into each other's embrace.
Chapter 244: By the Heaven Official's Blessing No Paths Are Bound
It is the opening of the new PuQi Shrine. It was built by the villagers: after the original shrine collapsed, they found the gold bars Quan Yi Zhen left behind, and used it to rebuild the shrine.
It is unbelievably ugly.
But Xie Lian doesn't care. At least it's sturdy.
Many heavenly officials come to congratulate Xie Lian, and subtly try to get into the good graces of his socially unacceptable but very rich demon boyfriend.
Even if he's caused the bell of heaven to ring constantly every day.
And then a disheveled group arrive, cheerfully admiring the huge piles of food (which Xie Lian reassures everyone he did not cook himself) It's Shi Qing Xuan and his beggar friends, who took a while to gather for their reward but are very happy to enjoy it now.
Heaven's Eye: WAIT I SEE ESSENCE OF EVIL ON THESE BOWLS STOP EATING
Beggars: SECONDS PLEASE
Mu Qing and Feng Xin go to check the kitchen...and sees that the cooks are demons, including a rooster soaking himself in the stock pot.
Rooster: Grand uncle! We took baths before coming! Very clean!
Heaven's Eye: But Xie Doazhang the essence of evil on you is even worse! It's even internal this time!
Xie Lian: >.>
Mu Qing and Feng Xin: :/
Shi Qing Xuan: Does Crimson Rain Sought Flower know? Why isn't he taking better care of you?
Hua Cheng, putting his arms around Xie Lian: Why don't you all go to your seats and stop worrying about anything beyond food :)
Shi Qing Xuan: Crimson Rain Sought Flower have you checked His Highness's body?
Shi Qing Xuan you are several hundred years old. Mu Qing took a vow of chastity and even he figured it out.
Beggars: MORE MEAT :D
Mu Qing: This is a temple, have some respect for the gods.
But they know Shi Qing Xuan, and saw the 'proper' gods snivelling and useless during the fight in the capital. They know gods are just poeople now.
Rooster: AHHH A GHOST CAME AND ATE ALL THE SOUP!!
Boar butcher: You're a ghost.
Xie Lian: He probably came to congratulate as well. Of course he's welcome, but now we're out of soup.
Hua Cheng: Add it to his interest.
Black Water Xuan that was rude.
Hua Cheng and Xie Lian leave the chaos behind for a while, and walk out hand in hand under the trees.
And now we see Xie Lian fresh from a bath, sitting in his inner robe making a calligraphy copy book for a rather bored Hua Cheng, who gets sick of waiting for Xie Lian to come to bed and leans over him, resting his head on Xie Lian's shoulder and stopping him from writing properly.
Xie Lian signs for Hua Cheng, and so Hua Cheng signs for him in his usual awful handwriting. Xie Lian realises he has seen this unreadable scrawl before...in a faded tattoo on Hua Cheng's arm.
Xie Lian: Did you do this when you were little?
Hua Cheng nods, and Xie Lian thinks of the last words he said before he dissipated into butterflies in Mount TongLu.
"I am forever your most devoted believer."
---
They say, in the common world, that there is a Scrap Immortal.
He has the strength to annihilate the world, but the heart to cherish a flower. Yet it is said that if you worship him your luck is guaranteed to be bad.
The also say, in the common world, that there is a Red Robed Ghost King.
Although inhuman, he has many worshippers. But ghosts aren't like gods. If he's happy, he'll help even if you don't pray. If he's displeased, even if you give a thousand gold he will turn away or even take your life. Give your respects, but stay far away.
But it is said, that if you worship the two together, the Scrap Immortal's robes are revealed to be gold not white, and a miracle will happen.
By the Heaven Official's Blessing, No Paths Are Bound!
THE END
I have more to say, but this is already really long, so I'll post my thoughts separately.
BUT THAT'S IT. WE'RE DONE. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT!
(fic recs to come later ;))
Content Notes for the book in general: consent issues, sexualisation of children, gore, mixed treatment of cross-dressing, suicide, child harm, incest subtext, emotional abuse, ANGST
Under the cut: SPOILERS for chapters 231-244 aka THE END OF THE STORY
Fen Xin: HE HIT ME ON THE HEAD AND KNOCKED ME OUT!!
Mu Qing: DID NOT
Fen Xin: Plus he came to help out in a dangerous place- it must be a fake!
Mu Qing: Having a son isn't something you'd usually do either, yet here we are!
So yeah. It's the real Mu Qing.
Xie Lian: Fine, let's check using something only the three of us know. What were you arguing about on the mountain top?
Mu Qing: ...
Feng Xin: ...you're missing the point. The real Mu Qing hates us both anyway so it wouldn't be strange for him to try to hurt us.
Mu Qing: D:<
Xie Lian: Let's calm down by training some idioms!
(And...ok, either I missed it, or we never actually find out what they were arguing about?? Maybe it's in the extras I haven't read all of those yet)
Things calm down enough for Xie Lian to look around and realise he's in the sort of armoury he loved as a young man. It's always strange being reminded how into weapons he used to be.
And then RuoYe pulls Xie Lian towards something in the dark...it's Hua Cheng!
Hua Cheng: The path sealed up and we bumped into something a little difficult, and I lost track of Guoshi. Anyway, what are these two fighting about this time?
Mu Qing: Maybe this is a fake Hua Cheng!
Hua Cheng: Uh huh. And what's that on your wrist? What did you and Jun Wu talk about? Why did you lure us here?
Mu Qing, covering his wrist: WAIT I CAN EXPLAIN
Feng Xin: It was you who hit me on the head, wasn't it?
Mu Qing: OK YES TECHNICALLY BUT LISTEN
Mu Qing says he couldn't persuade Feng Xin to stop searching for Jian Lan, so knocked him out to take him away by force. But then he was attacked by Cuo Cuo and had to run, leaving Feng Xin's comatose body with Cuo Cuo and Jian Lan, who must have brought it here.
Hua Cheng: And the shackle? Are you under Jun Wu's command?
Mu Qing: NO! Ugh, you're not going to believe me anyway.
Xie Lian: Let him finish.
Mu Qing: This is...because, he wanted me to...to do detrimental things to his Highness, and I refused, so... UGH you don't believe me!
Hua Cheng: You do have a track record. How did cultivation go after you stole land from His Highness? :)
Mu Qing: D:
Xie Lian wonders how Hua Cheng can know: Mu Qing is obviously deeply ashamed, and the thirty or so heavenly officials who bullied him would hardly admit to it.
And then Xie Lian remembers how Hua Cheng came to fame as a Supreme: a battle against 30 or so heavenly officials ending with their temples in flames. He'd forgotten the names of the officials who'd bullied him by then, but could it have been the same people?
But then they're distracted, when the weapons on the walls decide they haven't killed anyone in too long and get hungry for blood.
And Mu Qing has vanished.
Feng Xin: Did he really... :(
Xie Lian reaches for his sword, and Hua Cheng says darkly "What are you planning doing with that? Put down your sword." After all, this is the same black sword, Fang Xin, that Xie Lian was stabbed by so many times the night Hua Cheng became a savage ghost, and then stabbed himnself with to prevent the second coming of the human face plague.
Hua Cheng has never gotten this angry and demanding at Xie Lian before, and he's taken aback (and a little sad after Hua Cheng slices all the pretty antique sword to pieces)
Xie Lian: Wait, did you think I was going to stab myself? I wouldn't have!
Hua Cheng: Really? ):<
Xie Lian: Yes! I promised you! And there were so many, I would have been stabbed mush hahaha...
Hua Cheng: *pulls Xie Lian into a tight hug* Your Highness please don't laugh like that any more. It's not funny...not funny at all.
Xie Lian: I'm sorry. I won't joke like that again.
The chill in the air starts to lift, and they see a light ahead...
...it's an approaching river of lava.
And then Mu Qing rushes past! The others chase him across the lava, surfing atop empty shelled corpses.
(If you've forgotten, I'm talking about these sorts of body casts but possessed by the resentful spirits of the dead)
Feng Xin: MU QING STOP RUNNING!
Mu Qing: AND HAVE YOU ALL ATTACK ME?!
Xie Lian: CLIFF!
(It occurred to me that afaict Chinese doesn't have capital letters. So I wonder what the allcaps symbolises, if anything. Bold font?)
RuoYe manages to flip Xie Lian, Hua Cheng and Feng Xin to safety on a rooftop. But Mu Qing is too slow and is pulled by the lava over the edge.
Feng Xin: Did he fall? :(
But Mu Qing managed to slam his sabre into the wall of the cliff, and is barely hanging on as the heat of the lava weakens his sword and singes his skin.
Feng Xin: Can you save him??
You know I didn't really see Feng Xin/Mu Qing before but...yeah ok.
Mu Qing: YOUR HIGHNESS YOU KNOW I WOULDN'T HAVE REALLY HURT ANY OF YOU RIGHT??
Xie Lian is suddenly reminded of all the times he had to beg from Mu Qing. Mu Qing looks like he's remembering it too.
Hua Cheng: Gege, let me remind you of a few things. First, any rescue attempt will be life threateningly dangerous. Second, if Mu Qing is working for Jun Wu then presumably Jun Wu has some way to save him. Think about his behaviour throughout this trip.
Hua Cheng calmly lets go of a silver butterfly. It makes it about halfway to Mu Qing before burning into ash. Xie Lian just stands there in silence.
Mu Qing realises that not only is there possibly no-one willing to save him, there is probably no-one able to save him. And then...he feels himself pulled at by countless boiling hot hands. It's the spirits of the dead, trying to drag him down to join them.
Mu Qing's burned fingers finally reach their limit, and he falls...only to stop in mid air, held up by the bandage RuoYe!
And above him, holding the other end, is Xie Lian, balanced carefully on the hilt of the sabre.
Xie Lian: Thank goodness, you're alright! This hand isn't extended too late, right? :)
It turns out his long pause wasn't doubt, he was just figuring out a solution. In the end he threw his sword into the lava as a halfway point to jump off.
Xie Lian: Can you jump?
Mu Qing: >.>
Xie Lian: Hmm, the sabre can't take the weight of the two of us much longer. Only one of us can remain here. So up you go! *throws Mu Qing up over the cliff*
Hua Cheng: Gege if you don't come back up soon I'm going to come down and get you >:(
Xie Lian: I'm fine I'll be back soon!
Feng Xin: Considering how much you hate Mu Qing I would have expected you to stop His Highness.
Hua Cheng: I certainly don't think he's worth saving. But only His Highness can make his own decisions. And I will never oppose him.
And then, just before Xie Lian can jump back to safety, he feels something cold pulling him down...
WHITE NO FACE
D:
Mu Qing works with RuoYe to try and pull him back up, but they both just end up tumbling down with Xie Lian over the edge of the cliff.
Xie Lian looks above and see Hua Cheng jumping towards him. And below...is a pool of lava.
Xie Lian blacks out.
Chapter title: The Heaven Crossing Bridge: Three Idiots Return to Olden Times
Xie Lian comes to next to Mu Qing on a huge piece of broken bridge.
The bridge hangs in the air above the lava, seeming to go in either direction forever, broken in pieces and made of black material that looks like it has experienced a thousand years of storms and fire.
It's the remains of the Heaven Crossing Bridge Jun Wu made 2000 years ago. They must have been sent here by teleportation array. And Hua Cheng is nowhere to be seen.
Xie Lian: We should get going. Are you able to move?
Mu Qing stares at his proffered hand then says "I can't go. My hands and feet are injured."
Xie Lian, lifting him up: Let me assist you then.
Mu Qing: ...why? Aren't you suspicious of me?
Xie Lian: Haven't I said before? You might spit in someone's cup, but you wouldn't poison them. Plus me and San Lang could kill you in one blow so you're no threat ^_^
Mu Qing: Your Highness, you're really...
Xie Lian: You're dependant on me here, don't say anything to make me throw you into the lava :)
Mu Qing: Why are you saving me when you know what I think of you?
Xie Lian: I'm just following my principles. Besides, while you're weird, and there was a time when I wanted to punch you to death, I didn't succeed and now I've lost interest. And no matter how weird you are, and how much I want to punch you, your sins don't warrant death.
These guys ;_;
And then the bridge segment they're on starts to tilt and crack, and Xie Lian has to jump them both across to the next. He puts Mu Qing on his back and lightly steps across the ground like a swallow skimming across water, centuries of training without spiritual powers making him strong and controlled.
He's stopped in his tracks by a pillar of fire. The resentful sprits in the lava below are trying to bring them down. Mu Qing still has his spiritual powers, and tries to knock them away, but it's hard to aim while they're running and so far up in the air.
Mu Qing: ...put me down.
Xie Lian: What? But you love life and are afraid of death!
Mu Qing: Well excuse me for not wanting to die! But since I'm going to die anyway...put me down before I change my mind.
Xie Lian: Stop messing around, you'll make me lose focus.
Mu Qing: Who's messing around? I'll take care of these trash while you go on ahead.
And then he jumps onto a narrow nearby section, too weak to support both their weight so that Xie Lian can't follow.
Mu Qing: You know what? I think you're weird too. You relied on your status as Prince, your actual skills aren't much better than mine. Plus, you only like helping people to make yourself look better. I still kind of feel this way, maybe I always will.
Xie Lian: :/
Mu Qing, through clenched teeth: ...but more often than not, I'm still...in awe of you. You certainly are...rather...amazing. Also...a better person...than me. Long story short I...very much wanted...to become your...f-f-friend.
Xie Lian: o.O
;_;
Mu Qing: And back then, even if I was in a difficult situation...I still owe you an apology.
Xie Lian: ...it's all the past, let it go. Let's just get out of here!
Mu Qing: He told me, if I was suspicious, even if you knew I didn't do it you'd go with the flow and not save me. Because you hate me.
No need to ask who "he" is.
Mu Qing: Even though I didn't agree to help him...I've always thought deep down that you despised me, so I...I've always...anyway you don't actually think that. I'm glad.
And then the piece of bridge he's on collapses, and falls into the wailing ghosts beneath.
:(
And then... there is a huge explosion of spiritual light!
Mu Qing, standing on the quickly sinking piece of bridge: You wanted me? WELL NOW YOU HAVE ME :D
He raises his blood red hands and starts killing spirits to his heart's content, as fire begins to nip at the edge of his sleeves.
Xie Lian, holding down RuoYe: HOW HIGH CAN YOU JUMP?
Mu Qing: STOP TALKING RUBBISH AND GET OUT OF HERE!
Xie Lian: YOU FINALLY SAID SOMETHING SENSIBLE HOW CAN I LEAVE NOW?? I'LL FIND A WAY TO SAVE YOU!
Mu Qing, sinking fast and too far down to reach: ...HURRY UP THEN!!
And then...a hand reaches down. It's Feng Xin! He jumped down to hold on the end of RuoYe!
Feng Xin: WHAT'S WITH THESE DOG SHIT SPIRITS ATTACKING US? YOU'LL NEVER REACH ABSOLUTION AT THIS RATE! FUCK YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY!
Xie Lian: IF THEIR WHOLE FAMILY LOOKS LIKE THAT ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO FUCK THEM??
This is a remarkably dirty joke for Xie "can't kiss in front of anyone under 500" Lian, which is why I am recording it.
Feng Xin manages to shoot arrows at the sprits with his teeth and they make it up to relative safety.
Xie Lian: How did you get here?
Feng Xin: You all jumped, what else was I going to do? I almost went fucking crazy! I only found you two after hearing all the noise. Jumping into a lava pool! Madness!
Mu Qing: Hey, I was dragged!
Feng Xin: Also I heard what you said, who'd have thought a little bastard like you actually felt all that deep down! Didn't I always tell you, Xie Lian, this guy's feelings are more twisted than a resentful concubine. If you want to be f-friends with His Highness just say so!
Xie Lian: Don't scold him any more. Look, his face has gone all red.
Mu Qing: BOTH OF YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP.
Xie Lian: It's not good to swear :)
Feng Xin: Anyway, just know that other than that one time he got angry, His Highness never said a bad word about you in front of me.
Mu Qing: If it wasn't for you talking crap about His Highness all day I wouldn't have gotten weird! So what if he robbed? In his shoes I'd have robbed too!
Xie Lian: Ahahaha. Why don't we...stop talking about all this ancient history...and find San Lang...
Mu Qing: You really like him don't you?
Xie Lian, blushing: Ahhh? >.>
Mu Qing: I hate to say it, but maybe he didn't...make it out of...
Xie Lian: D:
Feng Xin: HE'S FINE SHUT UP
And then they find the remains of a silver butterfly. There was clearly a huge fight, leaving sword marks gouged into all the walls. Xie Lian feels himself shaking, and runs and runs, following the distant sound of weapons clashing.
Feng Xin, muttering: Dear fucking god, may all the gods and buddhas grant their blessings, that better absolutely be Crimson Rain Sought Flower, otherwise he's gonna go mad!
Mu Qing: We're the gods and buddhas ourselves and we can't grant shit. Just keep up with him and make sure he doesn't trip!
I love this book and the way it writes gods.
Xie Lian runs for miles and miles, until light fills his vision. There, at the end of the Heaven Crossing Bridge, a red clad man and a white clad man are engaged in vicious battle.
Every other time Xie Lian's seen Hua Cheng fight he smiled, and acted like it was almost a game. But now his expression is deadly serious, a splash of blood colouring his pale white face.
And No-Face's mask is split by a thick dark crack.
Every time they clash molten lava surges metres high, there's no way to get close. Not wanting to disturb Hua Cheng, Xie Lian collapses to the ground with relief in silence. (Also Guoshi is sitting to the side looking kinda trapped. I thought he was maybe Up To Something but no, he just sits around making Mentor Commentary)
Hua Cheng: Gege, next time you fall like that I'm going to get mad.
Xie Lian: Next time you jump down with me I'll get even more mad!
No-Face: Are you two sure you have time to flirt :)
Hua Cheng splits No-Face's sword in half. "Pfft. You're nothing more than an addled old fart with a heart filled with jealousy."
A white shape suddenly blocks Hua Cheng's blade: Cuo Cuo.
Xie Lian: Don't kill it!
So Hua Cheng knocks it aside instead. Cuo Cuo immediately latches onto Feng Xin's arm.
Feng Xin: FUCKING HELL! WHEN IT SEES HIM IT'S PROTECTIVE, WHEN IT SEES ME IT BITES. JUST WHO IS YOUR DAD HERE?
Mu Qing: Have you ever treated it like a son? Have you even used it's name?
Feng Xin: I...
As Hua Cheng manages to get a hit against Jun Wu's arm, Xie Lian goes to try and help Guoshi.
No-Face, looking at his own blood: Heh. It's been a while since anyone's managed to hurt me like this :)
Guoshi: Oh no. He's happy D:
No-Face: That scimitar...was it forged from your missing eye? :)
Guoshi: Oh.
Guoshi tells Xie Lian a story: many years ago, a group of regular humans somehow got trapped inside Mount Tonglu. They were doomed to become demon food, but then a young unformed ghost came along. It was barely coherent, and seemed to have suffered massive damage, but kept itself together repeating I won't leave. And it defended the humans for as long as it could.
The only way it could survive was to sacrifice something to create a blood weapon., The obvious choice was the humans. But instead it used it's own eye.
And at that very moment, there was a heavenly calamity, and someone or thing ascended to heaven. Yet, no god is known to have ascended from Mount Tonglu. Whoever it was must have rejected the chance to become divine.
Mu Qing: Wait, he ascended as a ghost? How? Why-
No-Face, suddenly up in Xie Lian's business: Xian Le, you have a very faithful believer :)
And before Hua Cheng can attack him, he's quickly moved away.
No-Face, holding Xie Lian's sword: Just taking back what was mine :)
Because for all these years, Xie Lian has been carrying the black sword Jun Wu gave him in the temple. The one that was used to kill Xie Lian so many times.
(I have been really lazy about keeping track of sword related exposition, sorry. I just don't care very much about swords, and I didn't realise this one would be so important! *goes back and adds some references*)
No-Face smiles, and his cracked mask falls away. He glows with a white light, and returns to the form of Jun Wu, Emperor of Heaven.
He's much stronger now. He strikes at Hua Cheng, but before the blow can land...Xie Lian stands in the way. He caught the blade with his bare hands.
Hua Cheng: Gege?
Xie Lian: Let's do this together! You take the top and I'll take the bottom!
So Huia Cheng strikes with his sword while Xie Lian kicks and gives instructions on what moves will best get through Jun Wu's defences.
Jun Wu: Good moves! :D
Jun Wu pulls Xie Lian towards him, and his blade...but Hua Cheng takes the blow, the black metal sticking deep into his chest.
Xie Lian: San Lang! D:
Hua Cheng: As if I would ever let you be stabbed by this sword again!
Jun Wu: Why so distressed, Xie Lian? He's already dead :)
Xie Lian: And isn't this all your fault? >:(
Jun Wu: Perhaps :) But Xian Le, have you already forgotten what you did after Xian Le fell? Do you remember a ghost called Wu Ming?
Xie Lian: DON'T!
Hua Cheng: It's fine, don't be afraid.
Xie Lian is overcome by traumatic memories and shame, and starts to shake. Hua Cheng has seen a Xie Lian basking in glory, has seen Xie Lian defeated, silly, and impoverished. But what of a Xie Lian filled with hate, who would go so far as to create the human face disease a second time? Xie Lian doesn't want to know how Hua Cheng would look at him then.
Hua Cheng: Your Highness, don't be afraid. Remember? The one basking in glory is you, the one fallen from grace is also you. No matter what, I will never leave you.
Jun Wu: Ha! 'No matter what I will never leave you'. My most faithful believers, my best friends...they told me that once too.
Hua Cheng: Believe me, please.
Xie Lian: Ahaha...Sang Lang...I'm sorry, I might...
And then before they can finish speaking, Jun Wu attacks again, stronger than before.
He's nigh unstoppable, even two against one, and this time is directing his attacks at Xie Lian, who is only armed with RuoYe. Hua Cheng strikes again and again at Jun Wu's glowing white armour but nothing even makes a dent.
Xie Lian: Aim for under his right rib!
Mu Qing: THAT'S RIDICULOUS IT'S IMPENETRABLE! Come on Feng Xin let's see what we can do.
But Hua Cheng trusts Xie Lian...and his sabre cuts through the armour under Jun Wu's rib, and RuoYe quickly ducks in to tie up his hands. Back when Xie Lian ascended for the second time, with all his spiritual powers, and sparred with Jun Wu...that was the place his swords pierced.
Guoshi: That's no use, he-
There is the sound of RuoYe being ripped apart D:
Jun Wu: Did you really think I have less experience with being pierced by swords than you? Did you think I would care?
Guoshi: ...he doesn't feel pain any more :(
Mu Qing: Also he's recovering faster than you can hit him :(
Jun Wu: A necessary skill when you've been stabbed in the back as many times as me :) Still, you two are quite something. Now, Crimson Rain Sought Flower, I suggest you stand back, unless you want to see me wring Xian Le's neck :)
Jun Wu is holding Xie Lian by the neck over the lava. Hua Cheng backs away.
And then Jun Wu slams Xie Lian into the rock wall.
Jun Wu: Does this hurt?
Xie Lian, blood pouring down his face: SAN LANG STAY BACK I'M FINE
Jun Wu: DOES IT HURT *slam* DOES IT HURT *slam*
Xie Lian: IT HURTS!!
Jun Wu stops attacking him, and instead gently wipes his face. "You foolish child, if it hurts, why not turn back? Do you think that if you keep slamming into the wall, it will eventually break? Why not change your direction instead?"
Xie Lian: I won't.
Jun Wu: D:<
Guoshi: YOU DON'T WANT TO KILL HIM!! LITTLE HIGHNESS IS STILL YOUNG, HE'LL UNDERSTAND ONE DAY!
Jun Wu: Don't lie to me. The one you think is immature is me, not him.
Guoshi: D:
Jun Wu: You've spent so much time nurturing him, guiding him, hoping you could win against me, aqnd prove me wrong. So you can hold the perfect Crown Prince to face and dismiss the Jun Wu of now. BUT NOBODY CAN WIN AGAINST ME. ESPECIALLY NOT HIM!!
He starts slamming Xie Lian into the rocks again, shouting "WILL YOU CHANGE? WILL YOU CHANGE?!"
Xia Lian: I WON'T! EVEN IF IT'S PAINFUL EVEN IF DIE I WON'T CHANGE!!
And then Jun Wu feels himself hit by a round of Feng Xin's arrows, and while he's distracted, Mu Qing cuts off his right hand. The one holding Xie Lian.
Jun Wu, putting his hand back on like a fallen glove: Aren't you forgetting something?
Mu Qing cries out and looks down at the cursed shackle on his wrist, which is tightening and filling with blood just like the one on Yin Yu did D: And before Feng Xin can do anything Jun Wu flips his wrist and shoots all the arrows back at him, piercing Feng Xin's chest D:
Xie Lian sees his friends struggle against their wounds, and the bridge they're standing on begins to break into pieces.
Jun Wu is walking towards him at a leisurely pace. "Xian Le, you know there is no doubt of your defeat."
Xie Lian thinks "He's right. But I'm going to fight anyway."
Hua Cheng: No. You can win. You're stronger than him. So what if he has millions of believers. For you, one person is enough.
Hua Cheng pulls him close. And Xie Lian feels himself fill with spiritual powers, more than ever before. When Hua Cheng releases him, he falls to the ground. And then he feels at his neck.
The shackle is gone. Hua Cheng filled him with so much energy that the two shackles burst and broke.
Jun Wu strikes towards him...and Xie Lian simply flicks the sword away. It's been so long he'd forgotten what this felt like.
He punches Jun Wu in the face.
Mu Qing and Feng Xin try to sneak around to grab the sword, but get knocked into the lava by Jun Wu and barely saved by Guoshi. Mu Qing manages to reach down and grab the sword and throw it to Xie Lian, but before they can come back up a bunch of spirits grab onto Feng Xin and start pulling him down.
Just when all looks lost, Feng Xin is saved...by Cuo Cuo!!
A little baby demon isn't much threat to a gang of thousand year old spirits, and Cuo Cuo is soon burned and bloody. But he keeps crazily tearing at the sprits with it's teeth.
Feng Xin: HOW FUCKING SHAMELESS, A GROUP OF ADULTS BULLYING A CHILD!! CUO CUO! COME OVER HERE!!
Feng Xin shoots down the angry spirits while a gleeful Cuo Cuo gloats from his shoulder.
Aww.
Jun Wu is gaining the upper hand on Xie Lian and gloats that he knows all of Xie Lian's moves...but Hua Cheng reminds him that he knows one more. Xie Lian slams them into the wall, shattering Jun Wu's armour. (This was his finishing move as a busker, not sure I mentioned that >.>)
Jun Wu starts shouting at his own body as the three mountain spirits start harassing him again. Xie Lian takes the chance to hit Jun Wu with everything he's got, and there is a huge explosion and the mountain collapses on top of Jun Wu.
Bloody and broken, Jun Wu moves his hands as if to cast some final spell.
Guoshi: Your Highness, let it go.
Jun Wu: GO AWAY
Guoshi: It's been so many years. You've been a god and a ghost king. All that should be killed are dead, all that you wanted was in your hands. So what are you trying to prove?
Jun Wu: YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO JUDGE ME
Guoshi: My dear Highness. Teaching his Royal mHighness was never about creating a better version of you. He's his own person, and you have always walked different paths. I just miss you. I miss our people, and the days before we ascended. That's all. It's been so many years. Just watching you makes me so tired. Aren't you tired too? You've lost. You're free.
Xie Lian realises that for the first time, Jun Wu's complexion looks pale and sickly, with no warmth or kindness. But he looks alive.
Jun Wu: ...what was that finishing move called?
Xie Lian: Shattering boulders on the chest.
Jun Wu: Beautiful.
And then he closes his eyes.
Guoshi: You should all go now. I'll stay with him, now, like I didn't before.
Rain begins to fall, washing the life and blood from Jun Wu. Xie Lian takes off his bamboo hat, and uses it to cover Jun Wu's face. Cuo Cuo gently crawls beside Jun Wu and carefully touches his face.
The cursed shackle on Mu Qing's wrist breaks, and he throws it into the lava.
Xie Lian throws himself into Hua Cheng's arms.
Hua Cheng: Didn't I say you'd win? *uses butterflies to heal Xie Lian's cuts* But you're like this again :/
Xie Lian: Do you remember I said there was something I wanted to tell you? Jun Wu already said some bits and pieces, I should have said it a long time ago but I was afraid you'd-
Hua Cheng: Afraid I'd find out you used to be the White Clothed Calamity?
He bends down on one knee and says "Gege do you remember me now?"
And Xie Lian finally realises that Hua Cheng was the ghost Wu Ming, who stood by his side in his darkest hour. He knew the worst of Xie Lian from the start, and still accepted him.
Xie Lian's heart swirls with shame, gratitude and joy...and above all, love. He joyfully tackles Hua Cheng to the ground, hugging him and laughing.
Me: Aww, this is lovely. I thought the ending was supposed to be bittersweet!
And then Xie Lian looks down and realises Hua Cheng's robes are starting to look transparent.
END OF CHAPTER 240
...
YOU KNOW WHAT
I'M NOT GOING TO END IT THERE
BECAUSE I AM NOT AS MEAN AS MXTX
Goddamn though. COME ON LET THEM BE HAPPY FOR FIVE SECONDS.
Xie Lian: SAN LANG WHAT'S GOING ON??
Hua Cheng: I just overdid it a little that's all :)
Xie Lian realises Hua Cheng gave him all his spiritual powers. Panicking, Xie Lian kisses him, and tries to give them back, but it's no good.
Hua Cheng: I'm happy gege is so forward but there's no need to give me spiritual powers. I'm just taking a little break. Don't be scared.
Xie Lian: How can I not be scared? WHAT DO I DO D:
Hua Cheng, brushing his fingers through Xie Lian's hair: Your Highness, do you know why I refuse to leave this world? Because I have a beloved still in it.
Xie Lian: Oh.
Hua Cheng: He's brave, noble, and gracious. He saved my life, and I've looked up to him ever since I was young. I wanted to catch up, and become even stronger for him, even though he may not remember me. I want to protect him. If your dream is to protect the common people...then my dream is only you.
Xie Lian, remembering a little ghost he spoke to years before: Then you won't be able to rest in peace.
Hua Cheng: I pray never to rest in peace.
Hua Cheng: I understand your everything: your kindness, your pain, your hate, your intelligence, your foolishness. If I could I would have you use me as your stepping stone, the sinner butchered by a million knives. But I know you won't allow it.
Xie Lian knows now, all the ways he's met Hua Cheng, all the times Hua Cheng has been by his side.
Xie Lian: Don't be like this, I've borrowed so many spiritual powers I haven't returned yet! And actually I'm not done saying everything I wanted to, and it's been so long since anyone listened to me talk, won't you stay? And...it's been twice already! Don't do this to me a third time!
Hua Cheng: To die in battle for you is my greatest honour.
;_;
Xie Lian, crying: You said you'd never leave me!
Hua Cheng: There's no banquet that doesn't come to and end.
Xie Lian: ;_;
Hua Cheng: ..but I will never leave you. I will come back. Your Highness believe me.
Xie Lian looks up and Hua Cheng is silently gazing at him with love, saying something in silence as he finally fades away. And then Hua Cheng shatters into thousands of silver butterflies, that fly away up out of his arms.
;_;
Feng Xin: WTF WAS THAT
Mu Qing: CRIMSON RAIN SOUGHT FLOWER YOU COME BACK THIS INSTANT
A last silver butterfly brushes against Xie Lian's hand as if in a final goodbye. But looking down he realises that the string on his finger is still tied bright and red.
Flash forward: The temporary residence of the Gods on top of Mount TaiCang, which I think is where Xie Lian lived with his family while in exile.
The gods face one of their greatest challenges yet...
Who's going to do the accounts?
Pei Ming: I wish Ling Wen was here :(
But instead they're visited by...Rain Master, who's brought vegetables that boost spiritual power, and a strip of white cloth for Xie Lian.
Xie Lian: Great I can fix up RuoYe!
Feng Xin: OH NO YOU DON'T I'VE SEEN YOUR SEWING. GIVE IT TO MU QING.
Mu Qing: AM I YOUR SERVANT NOW?
Xie Lian: Never mind I'll do it.
But Mu Qing has already walked off with it, rolling his eyes.
Xie Lian goes with Rain Master to visit her old general, Xuan Ji. But the guards, Pei Su and Ban Yue, awkwardly explain that she dissipated in the night. She finally thought things through and let go of her obsession with Pei Ming. Xie Lian leaves Rain Master to perform death rites for the only other survivor of the Kingdom of YuShi.
He stumbles across Jian Lan as she's trying to sneak away.
Jian Lan: Are you here to stop me?
Xie Lian: No, just to give you a gift. Cuo Cuo's grudge is rather strong, I know you're purifying him but your cultivation isn't as strong as his. This will help.
He hands her a protection charm.
Xie Lian: But why go? Feng Xin will keep his word and look after you both. Do you not love him any more?
Jian Lan: This has nothing to do with love. I don't want to force him to be tied to us.
Xie Lian: He must really love you, back then he was so completely spent, but refused to let you go.
Jian Lan: He was stupid, spending all day making money so he could hire me for the night, just to sit with me and chat. But that was the past. A heavenly official carrying two ghosts, isn't that just trouble for him? I kicked him away when I looked my best, so he'd remember me that way, not in tacky makeup with crows feet. If he had to look at us like this every day, one day he'd see us as a nuisance. So why bother?
As she speaks, Cuo Cuo affectionately licks her face with his long tongue.
Jian Lan: Cuo Cuo is enough for me. Who hasn't made promises of forever in their youth? But the more I hang around the world, the more I understand that forever is impossible.
;_;
Xie Lian bumps into Lang Qian Qiu, and asks how Gu Zi is doing (You left Gu Zi...with the guy...who wanted to kill his dad?)
Lang Qian Qiu: I don't know. He kept asking for his dad so I gathered all the soul particles in a lamp and now he keeps hugging the lamp and asking when it will get bigger :/ But what I actually wanted to talk to you about was...this.
He hands Xie Lian a little red pearl earring.
Lang Qian Qiu: The founding father of YongAn said the one who gave him this was his saviour, a very good man. He said he did something that made the man lose everything, and while he didn't regret it...he still felt like me wronged the man. I saw the matching pearl in Crimson Rain Sought Flower's hair, and heard the generals say it belonged to you. So I am returning it.
Xie Lian stands silently, holding the pearl, his again after 800 years. But it should be part of a pair.
And then Heaven breaks into rejoicing: LING WEN HAS BEEN CAPTURED. She escaped during the battle, but Xie Lian still had the Brocade Immortal and used it to lure her into a trap. I can't believe he wore it all that time and it didn't backfire even a little.
Pei Ming: Ling Wen! Time to pay for your sins!
Ling Wen, watching the stacks of reports piling up in front of her: :/
Official: Also I have some extra books I've been putting off dealing with...
Xie Lian: Let her catch her breath first.
Officials: Of course! I wouldn't argue with His Highness!
The tables have turned. Now Xie Lian is the voice to listen to in Heaven.
Ling Wen: Congratulations, Your Highness. You have your spiritual powers back and even ghosts worship you and follow your orders.
Xie Lian: They're just my friends I asked to help.
Ling Wen: I see.
He asks her why the Brocade Immortal didn't work when he and Hua Cheng gave each other orders. She starts by saying she did kill Bai Jing to bring down the country and thus her old boss, but didn't know he'd turn into a monster. Whenever people used the robe with malicious intent, he was glad to oblige. But Hua Cheng and Xie Lian were similar to him, and had no malice towards each other. They would do anything the other asked without question either way.
She points to the ring on a chain around Xie Lian's neck: it's Hua Cheng's ashes, the key to his immortality.
Ling Wen: To have love bind your reason, and give objects tied to your life to someone else... it's too beautiful, and ends in tragedy. Something like a genuine heart is made to be trampled.
Xie Lian: So Bai Jing was like that too?
Ling Wen: Why else would he be deceived by me :)
Xie Lian: Yet you went to so much trouble to help him become a Supreme and regain his senses.
Ling Wen: Don't say it like I'd do anything for him. After all, I'm cold blooded and recognise no loved ones, why would I do anything like that?
Ling Wen ;_;
The Heavenly Capital is built, and everyone moves on. But Xie Lian stays, and builds himself a little shack on the mountain. He wanders through the maple trees where he trained in his youth. And he waits.
He spent 800 years on his own, and thought he was used to it. But now that he has tasted sweetness, it's hard to swallow the bitterness of loneliness again.
In the first month, he planted flowering trees, hoping that by the time Hua Cheng returned, they would blossom.
The second month he rebuilt the shack so Hua Cheng wouldn't send people over to clean.
At the end of the sixth month he watched the last flowers fall. He didn't cry or break down. Instead, he became more and more calm. Hua Cheng waited 800 years. What does it matter if he waits another eight hundred?
One day he is making his way through the forest in his junk cart and he sees lights in the sky: it's the autumn lantern festival. He realises this was when he and Hua Cheng met, the 17 year old prince and the small child covered in filth falling from the city walls.
And then he realises that there are lights on the mountain peak. And there is someone standing by his shack, his red clad back facing Xie Lian as he lets the last lantern fly up into the sky.
There are no words. A step, another step, and they start running. And then they fall into each other's embrace.
Chapter 244: By the Heaven Official's Blessing No Paths Are Bound
It is the opening of the new PuQi Shrine. It was built by the villagers: after the original shrine collapsed, they found the gold bars Quan Yi Zhen left behind, and used it to rebuild the shrine.
It is unbelievably ugly.
But Xie Lian doesn't care. At least it's sturdy.
Many heavenly officials come to congratulate Xie Lian, and subtly try to get into the good graces of his socially unacceptable but very rich demon boyfriend.
Even if he's caused the bell of heaven to ring constantly every day.
And then a disheveled group arrive, cheerfully admiring the huge piles of food (which Xie Lian reassures everyone he did not cook himself) It's Shi Qing Xuan and his beggar friends, who took a while to gather for their reward but are very happy to enjoy it now.
Heaven's Eye: WAIT I SEE ESSENCE OF EVIL ON THESE BOWLS STOP EATING
Beggars: SECONDS PLEASE
Mu Qing and Feng Xin go to check the kitchen...and sees that the cooks are demons, including a rooster soaking himself in the stock pot.
Rooster: Grand uncle! We took baths before coming! Very clean!
Heaven's Eye: But Xie Doazhang the essence of evil on you is even worse! It's even internal this time!
Xie Lian: >.>
Mu Qing and Feng Xin: :/
Shi Qing Xuan: Does Crimson Rain Sought Flower know? Why isn't he taking better care of you?
Hua Cheng, putting his arms around Xie Lian: Why don't you all go to your seats and stop worrying about anything beyond food :)
Shi Qing Xuan: Crimson Rain Sought Flower have you checked His Highness's body?
Shi Qing Xuan you are several hundred years old. Mu Qing took a vow of chastity and even he figured it out.
Beggars: MORE MEAT :D
Mu Qing: This is a temple, have some respect for the gods.
But they know Shi Qing Xuan, and saw the 'proper' gods snivelling and useless during the fight in the capital. They know gods are just poeople now.
Rooster: AHHH A GHOST CAME AND ATE ALL THE SOUP!!
Boar butcher: You're a ghost.
Xie Lian: He probably came to congratulate as well. Of course he's welcome, but now we're out of soup.
Hua Cheng: Add it to his interest.
Black Water Xuan that was rude.
Hua Cheng and Xie Lian leave the chaos behind for a while, and walk out hand in hand under the trees.
And now we see Xie Lian fresh from a bath, sitting in his inner robe making a calligraphy copy book for a rather bored Hua Cheng, who gets sick of waiting for Xie Lian to come to bed and leans over him, resting his head on Xie Lian's shoulder and stopping him from writing properly.
No water's enough when you have crossed the sea
No cloud is beautiful but that which crowns the peak
I pass by flowers that fail to attarct poor me
Half for your sake and half for Taoism I seek
Xie Lian signs for Hua Cheng, and so Hua Cheng signs for him in his usual awful handwriting. Xie Lian realises he has seen this unreadable scrawl before...in a faded tattoo on Hua Cheng's arm.
Xie Lian: Did you do this when you were little?
Hua Cheng nods, and Xie Lian thinks of the last words he said before he dissipated into butterflies in Mount TongLu.
"I am forever your most devoted believer."
---
They say, in the common world, that there is a Scrap Immortal.
He has the strength to annihilate the world, but the heart to cherish a flower. Yet it is said that if you worship him your luck is guaranteed to be bad.
The also say, in the common world, that there is a Red Robed Ghost King.
Although inhuman, he has many worshippers. But ghosts aren't like gods. If he's happy, he'll help even if you don't pray. If he's displeased, even if you give a thousand gold he will turn away or even take your life. Give your respects, but stay far away.
But it is said, that if you worship the two together, the Scrap Immortal's robes are revealed to be gold not white, and a miracle will happen.
By the Heaven Official's Blessing, No Paths Are Bound!
THE END
I have more to say, but this is already really long, so I'll post my thoughts separately.
BUT THAT'S IT. WE'RE DONE. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT!
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 12
OMG WE'RE DONE
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WOW I CAN'T BELIEVE I READ ALL OF THAT
8 (66.7%)
ACTUALLY I DIDN'T READ *ALL* OF THAT BUT CONGRATS ON WRITING IT
1 (8.3%)
I HOPE THERE'S FIC WHERE THEY KISS MORE AND STUFF DAMN CHINESE GOVERNMENT CENSORSHIP
9 (75.0%)
REALLY I JUST FEEL LIKE TICKING
4 (33.3%)
(fic recs to come later ;))
no subject
Date: 2019-11-19 01:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-11-21 04:43 am (UTC)Yeah. I mean, I think Xie Lian in particular has mostly let go of his noble privileged assumptions, but he and Feng Xin still grew up as nobles with the idea that the vassal of a Prince, especially a commoner vassal like Mu Qing, should be unshakingly loyal no matter what. And I think deep down they're still in that mindset where walking away from your Prince is one of the worst things you can do.