Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 2

by Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù

Xie Lian was thus familiar with the sight of riches, and from the look of this ring, it appeared to be made of diamond. But its shape was exquisite—even the most skilled jeweler likely couldn’t craft an equal to the ethereal natural beauty it emanated. Moreover, of all the diamonds he had ever seen, this stone was extraordinarily clear, shimmering like a crystal, fascinating and sublime. That scintillating luster made it difficult for him to determine exactly what kind of stone it could be.

The martial god who watched over the north was Pei Ming of the Palace of Ming Guang. The Martial God of the West was Quan Yizhen of the Palace of Qi Ying. The Martial God of the Southeast was Feng Xin of the Palace of Nan Yang, and the Martial God of the Southwest was Mu Qing of the Palace of Xuan Zhen. And the martial god watching over the east was Lang Qianqiu of the Palace of Tai Hua.

It appeared that this meeting wasn’t for discussing General Pei Junior and the Banyue Pass scandal. The spotlight, it seemed, was on him.

“My Lord, there are a few heavenly officials still on patrol in the Mortal Realm, unable to return.” Jun Wu nodded. “They have given their notice ahead of time.”

This martial god looked to be about twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, graceful in his demeanor but resolute in his actions. Looking at his face, Xie Lian thought he was even more attractive than that statue he’d seen at Mount Yujun. It was the kind of handsomeness that could steal hearts, very much the charming type.

On some level, Pei Ming was an awe-inspiring man. After reading through his stories, Xie Lian thought it was quite unbelievable that after so many years, only one Xuan Ji had been created from this way of life.

He wouldn’t die, and he’d even live longer than most of his peers. Until finally, one day, he lost a battle. Everyone laughed, thinking, At last, he’s met his end! But then lightning crashed and thunder roared, and in that moment of imminent peril, he ascended to the heavens. Those who hadn’t already died by his hand probably all died of outrage.

Many indecent love stories had him starring as the main male lead, and if it wasn’t for Xie Lian’s method of cultivation that demanded purity of body and of mind, he probably would have read a few of those books just out of curiosity.

If it wasn’t a wrath, then it must be a supreme! A supreme that could kill hundreds of wraths in a flash. A supreme dressed all in red. Anyone could guess who that young man probably was, yet no one wanted to be the first to say the name.

said. “According to Little Pei, you and that young man were unusually close. Not like someone you’d only just met or had only known for a few days. How can you not recall such a thing?” No, you’re wrong, that was the truth. It really was only a few days, Xie Lian thought.

“It may not be collusion. That person is powerful and wicked. Who knows what deceptive tricks he might’ve used to blind His Highness.” Pei Ming intended to pin all the chaos at Banyue Pass on Hua Cheng!

“There isn’t any spell of deception—this is all my doing. I’ve disappointed you, sir,” Pei Xiu confessed. Pei Ming was right in the middle of clearing his name when Pei Xiu said this. Pei Ming turned cold, and he said darkly, “What bewitching concoction did that State Preceptor of Banyue feed you? Shut your mouth.”

Eight hundred years earlier, when Jun Wu brought the newly ascended Xie Lian to these inner halls, the twinkling stars on the mural weren’t as dense. But now, the shimmering jewels seemed to fill one’s vision, overwhelming in their radiance.

“The Banyue Pass case was not the only reason all officials were summoned back to court. The main purpose was to use this chance to investigate everyone’s whereabouts. Aside from those who usually do not show like the Rain Master and the Earth Master, even those who couldn’t make it back reported in.”

“How would it be inconvenient?” Xie Lian asked. “First, the east is guarded by Lang Qianqiu. If you should go, you would have to cooperate with him,” Jun Wu said.

“Second,” Jun Wu continued, “do you know in whose territory Ghost City is seated?” Xie Lian was slightly taken aback. “Is it Hua Cheng?”

That distress pillar of fire blazed up seven days ago. Coincidentally, it was seven days ago when Hua Cheng left Puqi Shrine. The timing was too perfect. Could there be a connection between the two events?

Jun Wu looked at him. “Xianle, I know you are very capable and know what you are doing. However, I also know that you always think the best of everyone.” Xie Lian gave a small smile at his words. “Please don’t say it like I’m a little princess who has never left home. Those words really don’t suit me anymore.”

“The scimitar Eming is a cursed blade, a blade of misfortune. To forge such an evil weapon would require terrifyingly cruel sacrifice and bloody determination. Do not touch it, and do not let it touch you either.

“Thank Nan Yang,” Jun Wu replied. “I heard Ling Wen say it was he who privately approached her and said there was no need for you to pay back the reconstruction cost.”

So, what Palace of Xianle?” “I have granted you a new one,” Jun Wu said. “You cannot possibly always cram yourself into that decrepit little shrine?”

He stood outside the palace gates for a long time, but not a shred of desire to enter came to him. The Scrap Immortal was still best suited to a scrapped shrine, after all. A proud and glamorous heavenly palace like this wasn’t a place he could stay.

“Um…Lord Wind Master, you—you—you—why did you disguise yourself as a woman last time?!” “What? Was I not beautiful?” the Wind Master asked. “Yes? But…” Xie Lian was still confused. “If I was beautiful, then there’s no but! As long as I look good!” The Wind Master smiled brightly. “Of course, it’s because I knew I’d look good that I was in disguise!”

Befitting of his title, his personality was like a breeze: he was sociable and generous, uncaring about petty details, and very popular in the heavens,

But at the end of the day, as his older brother was the god who controlled mortal wealth, of course the Wind Master was generous and uncaring about petty details. Indeed, the older brother of Wind Master Qingxuan was the one they called “Water Tyrant,” the Water Master Wudu.

Shi Qingxuan laughed it off. “It’s nothing. My brother and I grew up in the same place, went to school under the same teacher, and cultivated the same path, so naturally we ascended together in the same lifetime.”

“Won’t this cause a rift between Lord Water Master and General Pei?” “If it caused a rift, even better! I wish my brother would stop hanging out with him and leave that ‘Three Tumors’ label behind one day,” Shi Qingxuan said.

‘The Three Tumors’ is the moniker given to the three heavenly officials who have a bad rep with basically everyone but are best buddies with each other: namely, Ming Guang, Ling Wen, and my brother.” I can’t believe it’s not Xie Lian, Xie Lian, and Xie Lian, Xie Lian thought.

Perhaps people thought that a single temple worshipping two male gods together was lacking something. Lords and Ladies go hand in hand, so people thought having one male god and one female god would make it seem more complete. Thus, someone took a certain initiative, and that initiative was to sculpt the Wind Master as a goddess.

If one should ask any mortal “Is Ling Wen a man or a woman?” any one of them would respond with confidence: a man. And although her personality was partly to blame, much of it was due to another reason. Come now, of course a civil god must be male! For that alone, when Ling Wen ascended, she suffered brutal disadvantages. She was a civil goddess, but many in the Mortal Realm thought: How could a woman ever reach that position? How could a lady possibly ensure good fortune in scholarly pursuits? She must not be effective!

rebuilt her statues into male forms, transforming Ling Wen-yuanjun to Ling Wen-zhenjun, and crafted their own astonishing legends and backstories. After this change, her temples became prosperous, and everyone praised how effective Ling Wen was. But in truth, it was still the same heavenly official, her spiritual powers never changed, and the legends were all fake.

In the four hours that they spent traveling down from the Heavenly Realm together, Shi Qingxuan had tirelessly tried to persuade Xie Lian to disguise himself as a woman, with extremely convincing reasons such as: “Women have stronger yin energy—therefore, it’ll be much easier for you to hide in the Ghost City crowds.”

A strange and mysterious world opened before him. They were on a long street. It was so long that there was no end in sight. Along the edges of the great street were all types of bustling stores and stalls. Colorful signs flew high above, and giant red lanterns were hung below. “People” filled the street, most wearing masks of faces crying, laughing, angry—some human, some not human. Those without masks could only be described as “bizarre.”

Humans butchering pigs was a common sight, but pigs butchering humans wasn’t, so Xie Lian couldn’t help but steal a few extra peeks.

“Hey there, little gege. Yer lookin’ mighty fine.” This woman was in an exceedingly revealing dress, her makeup terrifyingly loud. The white powder was uneven, and when she opened her mouth, clumps of it would flake off her face. Her bosom was stuffed full, as if something were packed under her flesh. Truly, a shocking sight. Xie Lian gently pushed away her thin, claw-like fingers and said, “Miss, there’s no need to speak like that.”

Little did she realize, Xie Lian had grown up in the Royal Holy Temple, practicing abstinence for most of his mortal life. His body and mind had always been guarded and as steady as the mountains. It didn’t matter what he saw, his heart was as still as water.

Hearing those words, Xie Lian deadpanned with a straight face: “That’s not it. It’s because I have an unspeakable affliction. I can’t get erect.”

Xie Lian walked up to the doors, and on the two pillars at the entrance, there was a set of couplets. The left said “Money Over Life,” and the right said “Gains Over Shame.” On the top horizontal beam, it said “HA HA HA HA.” “…”

The calligraphy was also wild, clumsy, and frenzied—a disgrace to call it calligraphy at all! It was as if someone took a brush while drunk and scribbled with foul intent, and then the words were blown over by a blast of evil aura to form it.

Hearing that voice, Xie Lian’s heart suddenly jumped. He silently mouthed the name, “San Lang.” He’d indeed just heard the voice of that young man. Yet it was slightly deeper than he remembered, which was precisely why it sounded even more pleasing to the ears.

Just then, Hua Cheng chuckled lightly from behind the curtains. Xie Lian’s heart skipped a beat. The youth had often laughed when he was with Xie Lian, so now Xie Lian could judge fairly well when the laughter was genuine versus when it was mocking. Or when it was laced with killing intent.

Amused, Hua Cheng said, “This den of mine is a carnival of hell to begin with. There’s a path for you in heaven, but you refuse to take it and instead chose to barge into the despairing depths of hell. So, what shall we do with you?” The moment they heard the word “heaven,” Xie Lian and Shi Qingxuan instantly knew. Just as they’d suspected, Hua Cheng had already seen through Lang Qianqiu and knew exactly where he came from!

Even though Lang Qianqiu had been apprehended before the crowd, there was at least one upside: namely, his identity was probably still safe for now. If he had continued the brawl and released his powers, it would be hard to explain why Tai Hua-zhenjun, the Martial God of the East, had come to Ghost City to wreak havoc.

The croupier responded, “Chengzhu says that he is in a good mood today and wants to play a couple of rounds with everyone. Anyone is free to bet against him. Whoever wins can take home the thing up above. Whether to steam it, boil it, fry it, or pickle it will be completely up to the winner.”

To all the previous gamblers, she had always used a casual way of speaking. Despite the ordinary words she uttered, her tone wasn’t polite in the slightest. However, to Xie Lian now, not only had she started using honorifics, the tone she used was also exceedingly polite and respectful.

The croupier replied, “Chengzhu said that your cup-shaking posture isn’t quite right.” Xie Lian thought to himself, So there really is a correct way of doing this? Could all my bad luck earlier be due to my bad posture? He asked modestly, “Then may I ask what the correct posture is?” The croupier responded, “Chengzhu has invited you to come up, as he is willing to teach you, gongzi.”

Slowly, Xie Lian lifted his eyes. A youth, roughly eighteen or nineteen years of age, stood silently behind the cloudlike red silk curtains. It was San Lang. His robes were still the same maple red, his skin still white as snow. It was the same uniquely handsome and dangerously sharp, youthful face, but its contours were now slightly more defined. While he could still be called a youth, he could also be called a man.

This time, Hua Cheng looked not only a few years older, but he’d also grown taller. Before, when Xie Lian looked at him, he could maintain eye contact comfortably, but now he had to strain his neck to look up.

As he shook, Xie Lian lifted his eyes to sneak a peek at the other person and realized that Hua Cheng wasn’t looking at the gambling cup at all. Instead, he was watching him intently with the corners of his mouth curved up.

“What’s with Chengzhu? I thought he was gonna show him who’s boss, but he’s actually teaching him for real?!” “How can you not count this round?! Can you even gamble like that?” “If this doesn’t count, when will it count?” “Looks like Chengzhu really is in a good mood today…”